proclamation, for apprehending patrick grahame of inchbraco, with promise of a reward. scotland. privy council. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). b wing s estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. b ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) proclamation, for apprehending patrick grahame of inchbraco, with promise of a reward. scotland. privy council. scotland. sovereign ( - : william ii) sheet ([ ] p.) printed by the heirs and successors of andrew anderson, printer to his most excellent majesty, edinburgh : anno dom. . caption title. initial letter. intentional blank spaces in text. dated: given under our signet at edinburgh, the fourth day of june, and of our reign the seventh year, . signed: gilb. eliot. cls. sti. concilii. reproduction of the original in the national library of scotland. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng graham, patrick, -- of inchbrakie. murderers -- scotland -- early works to . arrest -- scotland -- early works to . broadsides -- scotland -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - elspeth healey sampled and proofread - elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion proclamation , for apprehending patrick grahame of inchbraco , with promise of a reward . william by the grace of god , king of great-britain , france and ireland , defender of the faith ; to our lovits , _____ macers of our privy council , messengers at arms , our sheriffs in that part , conjunctly and severally specially constitute , greeting . forasmuch , as it is informed , that patrick grahame younger of inchbraco hath lately killed john master of rollo , without any occasion or provocation ; and after the committing thereof , hath withdrawn and fled from underlying the law. therefore we , with advice of the lords of our privy council , have thought fit to certifie all our leidges , of this inhumane slaughter , and to require all magistrats , and all our other officers , civil and military , with all our other leidges , to do their outmost to apprehend the said patrick grahame , that he may be brought to condign punishment ; indemnifying hereby any person from the hazard of slaughter , or any other act of violence which they may be necessitat to commit against the said patrick grahame , or any who shall joyn with him , in his resisting to be apprehended . and further , we do promise and assure the sum of eighteen hundred merks scots to any person or persons who shall seiz and apprehend the said patrick grahame , and deliver him to any of our magistrats , or officers of our army , to be by them safely keeped , in order to his tryal ; discharging hereby all our leidges to shelter , harbour , or any ways assist or supply the said patrick grahame , upon their highest peril . our will is herefore , and we charge you strictly , and commands that incontinent , these our letters seen , ye pass to the mercat-cross of edinburgh , and remanent mercat-crosses of the head-burghs of the several-shires within this kingdom , and there in our name and authority make publication hereof , that none may pretend ignorance . and ordains these presents to be printed and published . given under our signet at edinburgh , the fourth day of june , and of our reign the seventh year , . per actum dominorun secreti concilii . gilb . eliot . cls. sti. concilii . god save the king . edinburgh , printed by the heirs and successors of andrew anderson , printer to his most excellent majesty , anno dom. . a true narrative of the proceedings at the sessions-house in the old-bayly at a sessions there held; which began on wednesday the th of this instant decemb. and ended on saturday the th, . setting forth the several facts and tryals of several malefactors. with the tryal of the maid that set her master's barns on fire at harrow on the hill, at michaelmas last. with an account how many are condemned, burn'd in the hand, to be whipt, and transported. with allowance. roger l'estrange. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing t a estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a true narrative of the proceedings at the sessions-house in the old-bayly at a sessions there held; which began on wednesday the th of this instant decemb. and ended on saturday the th, . setting forth the several facts and tryals of several malefactors. with the tryal of the maid that set her master's barns on fire at harrow on the hill, at michaelmas last. with an account how many are condemned, burn'd in the hand, to be whipt, and transported. with allowance. roger l'estrange. england and wales. court of quarter sessions of the peace (london) p. printed for d.m., london : . copy has print show-through. reproduction of the original in the guildhall library, london. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng trials -- england -- early works to . crime -- england -- early works to . criminals -- england -- early works to . murder -- england -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a true narrative of the proceedings at the sessions-house in the old-bayly , at a sessions there held ; which began on wednesday the th of this instant decemb. and ended on saturday the th , . setting forth the several facts and tryals of several malefactors . with the tryal of the maid that set her master's barns on fire at harrow on the hill , at michaelmas last . with an account how many are condemned , burn'd in the hand , to be whipt , and transported . with allowance . roger l'estrange . london : printed for d. m. . a narrative of the proceedings at the sessions begun the th of december , at the oly bayly . the first person tried , was for making away her bastard-childe ; but upon hearing the evidence , and examination both of the midwife and coroner , it appeared to be onely a miscarriage ; and by several circumstances there was reason to judge that she had not gone above sixteen weeks , and had never been quick , the abortive infant being not above eight inches long , and no symptoms of wounds or bruises being to be seen on the body to argue any violence used to it , the jury thereupon thought fit to bring her in not guilty . a young man was arraigned for murther , killing an old man in st. james's park : two fellows being running together in the evening the poor ancient man unlukily happen'd to be in their way , and one of them tumbled him down and bruised him , of which bruise the next day he died ; but the evidence testifying that it was done meerly by accident , without any grudge or quarrel precedent , and that the prisoner as food as he perceived he had done an injury , went immediately and call'd a chair to carry him home , &c. there was no reason for finding the indictment , so that he was discharged . a servant maid was found guilty of stealing a silver tankard of the value of five pounds : she living at a publick house in the old jury , took an opportunity to take it away ; and having knock'd off the lid , brought it to a goldsmith to sell , who perceiving the cover lately broke off , would not buy it , unless she would shew it him ; which after much importunity she did , and upon that was engraven the name of the owner , whose wife she then pretended to be , and had the goldsmith to a confederates house , who seemed to say as much : but at last being trapp'd in their words by him , she confess'd the felony to him , and afterwards on her examination before the justice , and acknowledg'd in effect as much now at the bar , onely said that the tankard was delivered her to sell by a fellow servant ; but there being neither proof nor probability of any such things , she was convicted . a woman was indicted for burning her master's barns at harrow on the hill , in which a considerable parcel of wheat and other corn was consumed on michaelmas day last . her master and his wife gave evidence , but nothing of their own knowledge , onely that she had confess'd the fact , that in their absence in the evening she took a fire-brand , and carrying it out of the house put it in at a hole in the barn amongst a mow of unthrash'd oats , whereby that barn , and another adjoyning were burn'd down , and the dwelling house with much difficulty preserved . and this likewise appeared on reading her examination ; for which mischievous act she could alleadge no other provocation but that her master would not lend her money to go to a wedding . however the justice that committed her , assuring the court from his personal knowledge , that the prisoners father was a very m●lanch●ly and dist●mper'd man , and that she her self had a defect in her understanding , and many times at least not the use of common reason or sense , and the evidence against her in effect acknowledging as much , which was confirmed by her present stupid carriage at the b●r. the jury looking upon her as non compos mentis at the time of the fact committed , could not finde her guilty in the eye of the law , of the crime for which she stood indicted . two legerdemain ladies of profound experience in the mysteries of shop lifting ; one of them having been whipt at the carts tail but the very last sessions , were convicted for stealing two pieces of callicoe , under pretence of buying ●o●kerum . the goods were taken before they got out of sight in one of their aprons , who alleadged a very civil excuse , assuring the court that she was drunk with brandy , and knew not what she did ; but that plea was over-rul'd , and both of them found guilty . a french gentleman , came in voluntarily to take a tryal for killing a marshal's man's follower , in april last was two years , at the end of st. martins-lane . the marshals man himself was gone another way , and the party kill'd , and three or four more seiz'd the prisoner ( as they subpose it was ) but without having any warrant at that instant with them ; and besides , the warrant their master had was wrong in the christian name . upon their taking the party , divers of his companions drew their swords , and one of the bayliffs lost his life in the fray ; but the evidence could not say who kill'd him , nor positively that the prisoner at bar was the person they had arrested : so that he was acquitted both of murther and manslaughter . the next was a tedious tryal of a young fellow for breaking open the house of a worthy gentleman his late master , and stealing thence a spanish gun , and other goods , to the value of fourty pound . there appeared several violent presumptions of guilt , and a person where the gun was found had sworn directly before the justice , that the prisoner was the man that sold it ; and another , that he verily believ'd him to be the man ; but now neither of them would say further , than that he was somewhat like him . the prisoner had a great number to speak in his behalf , but few couln say any thing to the purpose ; and the court declared themselves sensible of much practice us'd on the prisoner's behalf , to conceal the truth , yet on a full hearing , for want of direct evidence , the jury brought him in not guilty . a flemming born in the city of antwerp , was indicted on the statute for exercising the trade of a gold-beater here , not having served seven years an apprentice ; but it being prov'd by several witnesses that he serv'd the said term to his father of the same trade in the said city of antwerp , and that he was an excellent artist . the court considering the intent of the said statute , which is onely to prevent unskilful and insufficient workmen ; and that the art it self prohibi●s onely those that have been apprentices , or not serv'd as apprentices : and though he were not apprentice in england , yet he had serv'd as an apprentice abroad ; which they concluded to be within the intent of the statute : for otherwise it would be too great a discouragement to foreigners to instruct us in the usual inventions ; and therefore the jury found him not guilty . an old offender was convicted for stealing a bay gelding of six pound price , a quarter of grownd mault and two sacks : the horse was taken out of the stable on the th of nov. and the two sacks of mault with it . the very next day the owner coming to london met the prisoner driving his horse along st. gileses's , with one of the sacks empty on his arm , and there seiz'd him , who now pretended that the sack was given him by two strangers , he knew not who , for his pains to drive the horse along tyburn road , but he knew not whether ; and therefore seeming onely a forged excuse , without any proof to confirm it , he was found guilty , it being avert'd in court that he had three times already been burnt in the hand and convicted . two persons , one by his own confession , and the other by verdidict , were convicted for stealing a silver tankard in the woolstaple westminster , from a publique house , whence at once they stole away themselves , the plate and the reckoning , but were discovered by a female crony , upon a disgust , that she was not allowed snips in the prize , &c. a woman as principal , and a man as accessary , were conviicted for stealing plate , and other rich goods , to the value of pound from a frenchman at westminster ; whose servant the woman being , to●k the opportun●●y of his absence , and ransackt several of his rooms , and stole the said goods , after which the said other prisoner took her a lodging , disposed of a watch , and some of the plate ; for which both were found guilty . a lighterman and his wife were arraigned , for stealing of about pieces of serge , out of a lighter on the thomes ; the prosecuter produced several witnesses , and one very roundly swore , that she saw two of the pieces of serge in the prisoners house in the cradle , and that his wife seemed much afraid of a search ; and threatned to fling them into the house or office , &c. but upon a full examination , it appearing that there had been several suits and brangles between the parties , that the prisoner was sick at the time of the robbery , that it was two years ago , and no prosecution all this while , that the husband prisoner was a person of good fame , &c. they were both acquitted by the jury . there was great exbectation of the tryal of one lodowick muggleton , for spreading detestable opinions , and publishing several impious books ; but the same was put off , till witnesses might be ready for a full discovery of his villanies , and therefore the reader is to take notice , that any pamphlets published concerning his tryal , are faigned stories . there were t●nn burnt in the hand , seven allowed transportation , ten to be whipt , and one to stand in the pillory . finis . a cruell murther committed lately upon the body of abraham gearsy who liv'd in the parish of westmill, in the county of harford; by one robert reeve, and richard reeve, both of the same parish: for which fact robert was prest to death, on munday the . of march, and the tuesday following richard was hang'd; and after both of them were hang'd up in chaines, where now they doe remaine, to the affrightment of all beholders. . to the tune of fortune my foe. crimsal, richard. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a cruell murther committed lately upon the body of abraham gearsy who liv'd in the parish of westmill, in the county of harford; by one robert reeve, and richard reeve, both of the same parish: for which fact robert was prest to death, on munday the . of march, and the tuesday following richard was hang'd; and after both of them were hang'd up in chaines, where now they doe remaine, to the affrightment of all beholders. . to the tune of fortune my foe. crimsal, richard. sheet ([ ] p.) : ill. for iohn wyright iunior, dwelling at the upper end of the old baily, printed at london : [ ?] verse - "i pray give eare unto my tale of woe,". signed at end: r.c., i.e. richard crimsal. publication date conjectured by stc. in two parts; woodcuts at head of each part. reproductions of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng ballads, english -- th century. murder -- england -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a cruell murther committed lately upon the body of abraham gearsy , who liv'd in the parish of westmill , in the county of harford ; by one robert reeve , and richard reeve , both of the same parish : for which fact robert was prest to death , on munday the . of march , and the tuesday following richard was hang'd ; and after both them were hang'd up in chaines , where now they doe remaine , to the affrightment of all beholders . . to the tune of fortune my foe . i pray give eare unto my tale of wee , which i le declare that all may plainly knowe . neare harford lately was a murder done , o t was a cruell one , as ever was knowne , the good with evil herein was repaide , him that did good the evil hath betraid , the world is lately growne to such a passe , that one may feare another in this case . this money is the cause of manies death , as t was the cause that one late lost his breath , the devill and the money workes together , as by my subiect you may well consider . with teares of woe i am inforst to write , that which may cause a tender heart to sigh , and sighing say , this was a wofull case , that men should be so much voide of all grace . two brethren were there that did doe the same , the first calld robert reeve , the others name was richard reeve , these did a horrid déed , as in my following verses shall proceede . behold these lines , you that have any care , and from bloodshedding alwayes doe forbeare ; though murder be committed secretlye , yet for revenge to god it loud doth crye . and that sinne goes not long unpunished , therefore let all men of this sinne take héede : many are daily for such crimes accused , and yet alas too commonly t is used . one of these brothers was in debt i heare , vnto that man , which was his neighbour néere , but hée repaid him with a envious mind , as in the story you shall plainly find . abraham gearsie was his name , that was kild , by those two brothers , as the devill wild : he on a day demanded mony due , i pray give eare and marke what doth insue . they wish'd him to come home for to be paid , but for his life it s●●mes they wast had laid : for one day t was his chance for to come there , n●t dreading that his death had bin so néere . now these two brothers kild him instantly , no neighbour was there that did heare him cry : and being dead floung him in a sawpit , and coverd him with such as they could get . now having hid this murder in that kind , great search was made , but none this man could find his friends lamented for him very sore . and made inquiris all the country ore . the second part , to the same tune . six wéekes it was ere it was plainly knowne , and many were examin'd herevpon : but these two brothers much suspected were , and at the last the truth it did appeare . some murmured and sayd that they did owe him mony , and desired for to know whether they had giuen him satisfaction , who said , they had , and they did owe him none . about this mony all did come to light , now being put for to approue this right they could in no wise iustifie the same . when they to true examination came . now they were asked for a quittans made , but they had none , then others present said , where is your bond or witnes of the same ? this must be prou'd , or you will suffer blame . they being taxed on this wise confest , how they in bloody murder had transgrest : then were they sent to harford gaile with spéed , where they did answere , for this wicked déed . this lent on sises last their fact was tri'd , where they were cast , condemnd and for it di'd , robert was prest to death because that hée would not bée tride by god and the country . richard was hangd by his owne fathers dore , which did torment and grieue his friends full sore , now hée and 's brother both do hang in chains , this is a iust reward for murders gaines . i would intreat all men sor to beware , of ●hue this crying sinne and still for beare , good lord , me thinkes it is a cruell thing , of all sins else this may each conscience sting . this being done , what is hée can forbeare , with troubled conscience to shed many a feare ? 't is fearefull sure for to be thought upon , although that it be ners so secret done . our god is love , and he doth charg us all , to love each other , but we often fall from love and unity , to envious evill , thus leave we god , and runne unto the devill . this may be warning for all other men , that doe but heare of those vile bretheren : and more consider 't is a fearefull sight to see them hang'd , it would our hearts afright ▪ yet some there are that will not frighted be at all , the warnings that they dayly sée : too many doe estéeme such things as nought , or else there would not be such murther wrought . thus to conclude , pray le ts to god for grace , and alwaies have his feare before our face : fly bloody murther , and such horrid sinnes , then god will kéep you from such shamefull ends . finis . r. c. printed at london for iohn wright iunior , dwelling at the upper end of the old baily . the lamentation of edward bruton, and james riley, who for the bloody murder committed on the bodies of henry howell, and his wife, vpon queenes downe, were executed and hanged in chaines, neere the same place on the . day of march. . to the tune of, fortune my foe. bruton, edward, d. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). b estc r stc . estc r interim tract supplement guide br f . b [ x] interim tract supplement guide c. .f. [ / ] ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. b ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books; tract supplement ; a : [ ]; a : [ ]) the lamentation of edward bruton, and james riley, who for the bloody murder committed on the bodies of henry howell, and his wife, vpon queenes downe, were executed and hanged in chaines, neere the same place on the . day of march. . to the tune of, fortune my foe. bruton, edward, d. . riley, james, d. . sheet ([ ] p.) : ill. printed for h.g., london, : [ ] publication date suggested by stc. verse: "kind countreymen and our acquaintance all ..." in two parts, separated for mounting; woodcut at head of second. part has title: another bloody murder committed neare ware, in hartfordshire, by some notorious offenders, who were executed in the same moneth item at a : [ ] imperfect: mutilated, affecting text; cropped, affecting title. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng howell, henry, d. -- early works to . bruton, edward, d. -- early works to . riley, james, d. -- early works to . murder -- england -- poetry -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - john pas sampled and proofread - john pas text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the lamentation of edward bruton , and james riley , who for the bloody murder committed on the bodies of henry howell , and his wife , vpon queenes downe , were executed and hanged in chaines , neere the same place on the . day of march. . to the tune of , fortune my foe . kind countreymen and our acquaintance all , example take by this our sodaine fa●l , dip not your bands in blood that 's innocent , for which offence we both too sate repent . the crying sinnes of murther pierceth heauen , and great repentance craues to be forgiuen , one bloody déed deserues ten thousand deaths : but we bereaued diuers of their breaths . the harmelesse man that did no hurt intend , most b●tcher-like we brought unto his end , and that good woman his most louing wi●s inhumanely bereaned we of life , she great with child ( oh how it grieues our hearts that we should act such bloody tragicke parts ! ) the harmelesse in●ant that was in her wombe , we likewise slew , whose mother was its tombe . their other children sitting by the fire we likewise hurt , who mercy did require , but we no mercy had , nor grace at all , when as these ●a●es for life did cry and call . and for the same no mercy here we find : deserved death are for our s●●●es assign'd , death is our doome , we here our ●●ues must pay , our glasse is out , this is our dying day . a samelesse end for our most shamefull sinne we must receiue , that we haue liued in , here on this tree we must resigne our breath : yet ●ha●s not all , though here we dis this death . our bodies must no but ●all place possesse , this is our doome for our vild wickednesse , twixt earth & hea●● we here most hang in chains as lung as 〈◊〉 , flesh or bones remaines . fowles of the aire our eyes they forth will p●ll , féed on our flesh , and ●eck vpon our s●ull , we shall be pointing stocks to euery one that passeth by , though we are dead and gone . earth scornes to hide our bodies from the light , but in the ayre must tottering hang in sight . and here in ●ent we ne're shall bee forgot , although our i●in●s by piecemeale dropping 〈◊〉 , vnto each other trauellers will say . sée you those murtherets , as they passe this way , those are the villat●●es that the blood did sp●●● of innocents , thats hanging on yon hill . thus shall we be discourse for after-times , which we deserue most ●ust●y for our crimes , and we shall be recorded for this 〈◊〉 , that we so mercilesse and foule did ●ct . great god forgiue our sinnes that are so foule , and unto mercy take each sinfull soule , deale not in iustice with our sinnes , o lord , but grace and pardon to our soules afford . thy mercy ( lord ) is great than our sinne , and if thou please in heauen to let vs in , we doe repent vs of our wicked deed , the thought of which doth make our souses to bléed ▪ but woe to him that was the cause of this , which did iutice vs first to doe amiss● , oh bloody darbie , it wes long of thée we did consent to do this vilianie . though thou art fled , yet god will find thee out , and will take vengeance on thee , there 's no doubt , hee 'l not ●et scape so foule and vile a crime , as he hath iustly done on vs this time . but we confesse , we have deseru'd to dys , and to the lord we now for mercy cry : receiue vs , iesus christ , to t●ee we pray , wh●se precious blood wa●● all our sinnes away . thus haue you heard how these same two did dye , ending their times with shame and infamy , and one of them that was on th' other side , connected , and a prote●●ant he dide . the lord ( no doubt ) to them did mercy ●end , who were so peni●ent before their and , their soules i hope in heauen sho●● 〈◊〉 dwell ▪ but yet another bloody sale i●e ●ell . finis . another bloody murther committed neere vvare , in hartfordshire , by some notorious offenders , who were executed in the same moneth . to the same tune . kind hearts giue eare to that which i shall ●ell of a sad story which of late befell , in hartforoshire néere ware did chance this thin●● , which caus'd salt teares from many eyes to spring . two men were riding in an euening late , that had a charge of money and estate , and home ward they intended for to goe , but destiny doth oftentimes say no. and for these men foure villaines they did watch , which had way● layd thē●ow they them might catch : at him which was the formost they did lay , but this swift horse did beare him safe away . the vext they hit , and fell'd him to the ground , and ●is●●ng him , they ●a●e him many a wound , so leauing him , as they did thinke for dead ▪ hauing his gold , away they streightway fl●● . yet one of them did backward cast his eye , and did perceiue him stir as he did lye , saying , i le backe , and giue him his deaths bla● for euery one of vs he well doth know . and with his staffe his braynes be out did be●fe . then straight this villains to them did retreats ; but marke how god did bring this thing so light , for blood and murther he will soone requ●●e . one of these theeues a péete of gold would chang● with one that 〈◊〉 to him , that did thi●ke it stran● he should haue gold , yet not the vale● knew , into suspition straite his mind it drein . and hearing of the murther done of late , would vnderstand how he came by this state , and t●reatning him , he ●he●●oufest 〈◊〉 way , both him and th●m which that same man did 〈◊〉 they were conui●ted , 〈◊〉 by law were tride , and for the same all foure ●● the act ●●y di●e , and ●e that last ●●●●t●●●e , did suffer 〈◊〉 , iust in the place ●e spirit the true mans brea●h . and at the common execution place , the other three did and their 〈◊〉 : a iust reward for murtherers ●s their 〈◊〉 , that beare so base and 〈◊〉 a bloody mind . for he that sits aboue the heauenly skye , v●ewes all below with his all seeing e●e , and will take vengeance when he sees his will , on all that glories harmelesse blood to spill ▪ great god , preserue vs from all sodaine death , prepare our soules before we lose our breath , make vs all ready for the any to c●●e , when thou shalt giue to euery one 〈…〉 . finis , london , printed for h. g. whereas a most barbarous and outragious murder and robbery was committed, on sunday the seventh day of this instant october in the evening, in the town of radrom in the county of wicklow ... by the lord lieutenant and council, ormond. ireland. lord lieutenant ( - : ormonde) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing i estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) whereas a most barbarous and outragious murder and robbery was committed, on sunday the seventh day of this instant october in the evening, in the town of radrom in the county of wicklow ... by the lord lieutenant and council, ormond. ireland. lord lieutenant ( - : ormonde) ormonde, james butler, duke of, - . broadside. s.n., [dublin : ] title from first lines of text. statement of responsibility transposed from head of title. imprint suggested by wing. "given at the council chamber in dublin the th. day of october ." reproduction of original in the society of antiquaries library, london. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng murder -- ireland -- rathdrum. ireland -- history -- - . ireland -- politics and government -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion c r diev et mon droit honi soit qvi mal y pense royal blazon or coat of arms by the lord lieutenant and council . ormond . vvhereas a most barbarous and outragious murder and robbery was committed , on sunday the seventh day of this instant october in the evening , in the town of radr●m in the county of wicklow , by several traiterous and rebellious persons then assembled together in armes to the great terror of his majesties good subjects , and the disturbance of the peace of this kingdom , & whereas some of the said offendors , being since apprehended , & committed to his majesties goal at wicklow , we have caused a special commission of oyer and terminer to be issued , for the speedy tryal , & bringing to just punishment , the said persons so apprehended , & such others who shall be found to have been guilty of the said crimes , but divers of the persons who were actors therein having not as yet been discovered or taken ; we think fit hereby , in his majesties name straightly to charge & command , all his majesties loyal subjects , upon their duty & allegiance to his majestie , not only to forbear to receive , or relieve , any the persons who were actors in the sai● murder or robbery , but also to make diligent search and enquiry after the said persons , and by all means possible , to apprehend and take the bodies of them , and them to bring or cause to be brought , under safe custody , to the high sherriffs of the respective counties , where they shall be apprehended to be by such sheriffs , safely conveyed to the said goal of wicklow , to the end they may be there legally proceeded against , and tryed for their said offences . and we do hereby further declare , that whatsoever person or persons shall knowingly comfort , relieve or abet , the said offendors , or any of them , they are and shall be reputed , deemed and adjudged traitors , in like degree , with the offendors themselves , and to be proceeded against according to law ; and we do hereby also declare , that whosoever shall discover and apprehend , or cause to be apprehended , any of the persons , who were actors in the said murder or robbery , and are not yet in custody , shall upon conviction of any such persons , have for a reward for his said discovery and apprehension of any such malefactors , for each person so discovered and brought in , ten pounds , for payment whereof , we will give warrant as occasion shall require . and whosoever of the said offendors , not yet seised upon , shall first discover , ●ither to us the lord lieutenant , or any of his majesties privy council , or iudges in this kingdom , the whole plot and conspiracy entred into , for committing the said robbery , and the several persons engag'd therein , or shall at any time hereafter , bring unto the high sheriff of any country in this kingdom , any of the said other persons , who were guilty of the said crimes , and are not yet in custody , he shall upon such his discovery , or the conviction of such person so brought in by him , together with his said reward , receive his pardon , and towards the speedy effecting of this service , all commanders of horse , and foot , and all other his majesties officers and loving subjects are to be aiding and assisting as they and every of them will answer the contrary at their perils . given at the councel chamber in dublin the th . day of october . ja : armachanus . mich : dublin . cance . blesinton . lanesborough . hen : midensis r : coot . ro : booth : j : temple john cole . ja : hayes . tho : radcliffe . the vnnaturall father, or, the cruell murther committed by [one] iohn rowse of the towne of ewell, ten m[iles] from london, in the county of surry, vpon two of his owne children with his prayer and repentance in prison, his arrai[gn]ment and iudgement at the sessions, and his execution for the said fact at croydon, on munday the second of iuly, . taylor, john, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc a estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the vnnaturall father, or, the cruell murther committed by [one] iohn rowse of the towne of ewell, ten m[iles] from london, in the county of surry, vpon two of his owne children with his prayer and repentance in prison, his arrai[gn]ment and iudgement at the sessions, and his execution for the said fact at croydon, on munday the second of iuly, . taylor, john, - . [ ] p. printed for i.t. and h.g., london : . attributed to john taylor by stc ( nd ed.) and nuc pre- imprints. t.p. cropped with loss of print; bracketed title information suggested by nuc pre- imprints. signatures: a⁴(-a ) b-c⁴. t.p. contains woodcut illustration. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng murder -- england -- anecdotes. great britain -- history -- early stuarts, - . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - jennifer kietzman sampled and proofread - jennifer kietzman text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the vnnaturall father : or , the cruell murther committed by iohn rowse of the towne of ewell , ten miles from london , in the county of surry , vpon two of his owne children . with his prayer and repentance in prison , his arraignment and iudgement at the sessions , and his execution for the said fact at croydon , on munday the second of iuly . . london printed for i. t. and h. g. . the vnnatvrall father . as a chaine consists of diuers linkes , and euery linke depends and is inyoak'd vpon one another : euen so our sinnes , being the chaine wherewith satan doth binde and manacle vs , are so knit , twisted , and sodered together , that without our firme faith ascending , and gods grace descending , wee can neuer bee freed from those infernall fetters ; for sloth is linked with drunkennes , drunkennes with fornication and adultery , & adultery with murder , and so of al the rest of the temptations , suggestions and actions , wherewith miserable men and women are insnared , and led captiue into perpetuall perdition , except the mercy of our gracious god be our defence and safegard . for a lamentable example of the diuels malice , and mans misery , this party , of whom i treat at this time , was a wretch , not to be matched , a fellow not be fellowed , & one that scarce hath an equall , for matchlesse misery , and vnnaturall murther . but to the matter . this iohn rowse being a fishmonger in london , gaue ouer his trade , and liued altogether in the towne of ewell , neere nonesuch , in the county of surry , ten miles from london , where he had land of his owne for himselfe and his heires for euer to the value of fifty pounds a yeere , with which hee liued in good and honest fashion , being well reputed of all his neighbours , and in good estimation with gentlemen and others that dwelt in the adioyning villages . vntill at the last he married a very honest and comely woman , with whom hee liued quietly and in good fashion some six moneths , till the diuell sent an instrument of his , to disturbe their matrimoniall happinesse : for they wanting a maidseruant , did entertain into their house a wench , whose name was iane bl●ndell , who in short time was better acquainted with her masters bed then honesty required , which in time was found out and knowne by her mistris , and brake the peace , in such sort , betweene the said rowse and his wife , that in the end , after two yeeres continuance , it brake the poore womans heart , that she dyed & left her husband a widdower , where he and his whore were the more free to vse their cursed contentments , and vngodly embracements . yet that estate of being vnmarried was displeasing to him , so that he tooke to wife another woman , who for her outward feature , and inward qualities was euery way fit for a very honest man , although it were her hard fortune to match otherwise . with this last wife of his he liued much discontented , by reason of his keeping his lewd tr●ll in his house , so that by his dayly ryot , excessiue drinking , & vnproportionable spending , his estate began to be much impouerished , much of his land morgag'd and forfeited , himselfe aboue two hundred pounds indebted , and in processe of time to be ( as a lewd liuer ) of all his honest neighbours reiected and contemned . his estate and credit being almost past recouerie wasted and impaired , he forsooke his wife , came vp to london with his wench , where hee fell in new league with a corrupted friend ; who ( as he said ) did most courteously coozen him of all that euer he had , & whom at this time i forbeare to name ; because it was iohn rowse his request before his execution , that he should not be named in any booke or ballad , but yet vpon a dye his name may be picked out betwixt a sinke & a trey . this false friend of his ( as he said ) did perswade him to leaue his wife for altogether , and did lodge and boord him and his paramore certaine weekes in his house , and afterward caused him and her to be lodged ( hauing chang'd his name ) as man and wife in an honest mans house neere bishopsgate , at beuis marks , where they continued so long , till his money was gone , ( as indeede he neuer had much , but now and then small petty summes from his secret friend aforesaid ) and he being fearefull to bee smoak'd out by his creditors , was counselled to leaue his country , and depart for ireland ; and before his going ouer-sea , his friend wrought so , that all his land was made ouer in trust to him , and bonds , couenants , and leases made , as fully bought and sold for a summe of two hundred and threescore pounds ; of all which money the said rowse did take the sacrament and his death , that hee neuer did receiue one penny , but hee said that now and then he had fiue or ten shillings at a time from his said friend , and neuer aboue twenty shillings , and that all that euer he had of him , being summ'd together , was not aboue three & twenty pounds , the which moneys his friend did pay himselfe out of his rents . but some more friend to him , then he was to himselfe , did doubt that he was cheated of his land : whereupon ( to make all sure ) he said that his false friend did so farre preuaile with him , that hee the said rowse tooke an oath in the open court at westminster hall , that hee had lawfully sold his land , and had receiued the summe abouesaid , in full satisfaction and paiment , and his said friend did vow and protest many times vnto him , with such oathes and vehement curses , that he neuer would deceiue his trust , but that at any time when hee would command all those forged bonds and leases , that hee would surrender them vnto him , and that hee should neuer be damnifide by them or him , to the value of one halfe-penny . vpon which protestations ( hee said ) he was enticed to vndoe himselfe out of all his earthly possessions , & by a false oath to make hazard of his inheritance in heauen . in ireland he stayd not long , but came ouer againe , and was by his friend perswaded to goe into the low countries : which he did , neuer minding his wife and two small children which he had by her , hauing likewise a brace of bastards by his whore ( as some say ) but he said that but one of them was of his begetting . but he , after some stay in holland , saw that he could not fadge there , according to his desire , and withall , suspecting that he was cheated of his land , and aboue all , much perplexed in his conscience for the false oath that he had taken , pondering his miserable estate , and ruing his vnkindnesse to his wife , and vnnaturall dealing to his children , thinking with himselfe what course were best to take to helpe himselfe out of so many miseries which did incompasse him , he came ouer againe into england to his too deare friend , demanding of him his bonds and leas●s of his land which hee had put him in trust withall . but then his friend did manifest himselfe what he was , and told him plainly , that he had no writings , not any land of his , but what hee had dearely bought and paid for . all which ( rowse replyed vnto him ) was false , as his owne conscience knew . then said the other , haue i not heere in my custody your hand and seale to confirme my lawfull possession of your land ? and moreouer haue i not a record of an oath in open court , which you tooke concerning the truth of all our bargaine ? and seeing that i haue all these especiall points of the law , as an oath , indentures , and a sure possession , take what course you will , for i am resolued to hold vvhat i haue . these ( or the like ) words , in effect passed betwixt rowse and his friend ( trusty roger ) which entring at his eares , pierced his heart like daggers ; and beeing out of money and credit , a man much infamous for his bad life , indebted beyond all possible meanes of paiment ; a periured wretch to coozen himselfe , hauing no place or meanes to feede or lodge , and fearefull of being arrested , hauing so much abused his wife , and so little regarded his children , being now brought to the pits brim of desperation , not knowing amongst these calamities which way to turne himselfe , hee resolued at last to goe home to ewell againe to his much wronged wife , for his last refuge in extremitie . the poore woman receiued him with ioy , and his children with all gladnesse welcomed home the prodigall father , with whom he remained in much discontentment and perplexitie of minde : the diuell still tempting him 〈◊〉 mischiefe and despaire ; putting him in minde of his 〈…〉 better estate , comparing pleasures past with present miseries , and hee re●oluing that hee had beene a man in that towne had beene a gentlemans companion , of good reputation and calling , that hee had friends , lands , money , apparell , and credit , with meanes sufficient to haue left for the maintenance of his family , and that now he had nothing left him but pouerty and beggery , and that his two children were like to be left to go from doore to doore for their liuing . being thus tormented and tost with restlesse imaginations ; hee seeing dayly to his further griefe , the poore case of his children , and fearing that worse would befall them hereafter , hee resolued to worke some meanes to take away their languishing liues , by a speedy & vntimely death , the which practise of his ( by the diuels instigation and assistance ) he effected as followeth . to bee sure that no body should stop or preuent his diuellish enterprise ; hee sent his wife to london in a friuolous errand , for a riding coate : and she being gone somewhat timely , and too soone in the morning , both her children being in bed and fast asleepe , beeing two very pretty girles , one of the age of sixe yeeres , and the other foure yeeres old , none being in the house but themselues , their vnfortunate father , and his ghostly counsellor , the dores being fast locked , hee hauing an excellent spring of water in the seller of his house ( which , to a good minde that would haue imploy'd it well , would haue beene a blessing : for the water is of that christaline purity , and cleerenesse , that queen elizabeth of famous memory would dayly send for it for her owne vse ) in which hee purposed to drowne his poore innocent children sleeping : for he going into the chamber where they lay , took the yongest of 〈◊〉 named elizabeth forth of her bed , and carried her 〈◊〉 the stayres into his seller , and there put her in the spring of water , holding downe her head vnder that pure element with his hands , till at last the poore harmelesse soule and body parted one from another . which first act of this his inhumane tragedy being ended , hee carried the dead corps vp three payre of stayres , and laying it downe on the floore , left it , and went down into the chamber where his other daughter , named marry , was in bed ; being newly awaked , and seeing her father , demanded of him where her sister was ? to whom he made answer that he would bring her where she was . so taking her in his armes , hee carried her downe towards the seller : and as hee was on the seller stayres , shee asked him what he would doe , and whither he would carry her ? feare nothing , my child ( quoth hee ) i will bring thee vp againe presently : and being come to the spring , as before hee had done with the other , so hee performed his last vnfatherly deed vpon her , & to be as good as his word , carried her vp the stayres & laid her by her sister ; that done , he laid them out , and couered them both with a sheete , walking vp and downe his house , weeping and lamenting his owne misery , and his friends treachery , that was the maine ground of all his misfortunes , & the death of his children : and though there was time and opportunity enough for him to flye , & to seeke for safety ; yet the burthen and guilt of his conscience was so heauy to him , and his desperate case was so extreme , that hee neuer offered to depart ; but as a man weary of his life , would , and did stay , till such time as hee was apprehended and sent to prison , where he lay till he was rewarded with a iust deserued death . what his other intents were , after hee had drowned his children , is vncertaine ; for hee drew his sword and laid it naked on a table , and after , he gate a poore woman downe into the seller , and in the same place where the two infants lost their liues , hee did helpe the woman to wring a bucke of his clothes , and then he requested her to help to conuey his goods out of his house ; for hee said that hee feared that the sheriffe of surry would come and seaze vpon all . but the woman not thinking of any of the harme that was done , imagined that he had meant that his goods would be seazed for debt , and not for murther . but to returne to the miserable mother of the murdered children , shee said that her heart throbbed all day , as fore-boading some heauy mischance to come : and hauing done her businesse that shee came about to london , as soone as shee came home , she asked for her children , to whom her husband answered that they were at a neighbours house in the towne . then said she , i will goe thither to fetch them home . no quoth he , i will goe my selfe presently for them . thē said his wife , let the poore woman that is heere goe and bring them home . but at last she saw such delay was vsed , she was going her selfe ; then her husband told her that hee had sent them to a kinsmans of his at a village called sutton , foure miles from ewell , and that hee had prouided well for them , and prayd ▪ her to bee contented and feare nothing , for they were well . these double tales of his , made her to doubt somwhat was amisse : therefore shee intreated him for gods sake to tell her truely where they were . wherevpon he said , if you will needs know where they are , goe but vp the staires into such a chamber , and there you shall finde them . but in what a lamentable perplexity of mind the poore woman was when shee perceiued how and which way they lost their liues , any christian that hath an heart of flesh may imagine . presently the constable was sent for , who tooke him into his custody , who amongst other talke , demanded of him why and how hee could commit so vnnaturall a fact , as to murder his children ? to whom he answered , that he did it , because he was not able to keepe them , and that hee was loth they should goe about the towne a begging : and moreouer , that they were his owne , and being so , that hee might doe what hee would with them , and that they had their liues from him , and therefore he had taken their liues from them , and was contented to lose his life for them : for he was sure that their miseries were past , and for his part , he had an assured hope to goe to them , though they could not come to him . so being had before a iustice , his examination was very briefe ; for he confest all the whole circumstances of the matter freely ; so that he was sent to the common prison of surry , cal'd the white lyon , where hee remained fourteene or fifteene weekes a wonderfull penitent prisoner , neuer , or very seldome , being without a bible or some other good booke meditating vpon ; and whon any one did but mention his children , he would fetch a deep sigh , and weepe , desiring euery one to pray for him and vpon his owne earnest request , he was praide for at pauls crosse , and at most of the churches in london , and at many in the country , and at the sessions holden at croydon , the latter end of iune last , he made such free confession at the barre , declaring the manner of his life , his odious drinking , his abominable whoring , his cruell murther , and the false dealing of his deceitfull friend , which was the cause of his finall wracke : with which relations of his pronounced , with such vehemency and protestations , he moued all that heard him to commiseration and pitie . so , according to law and iustice , he was there condemned and iudged ( for the murthering of his two children ) to be hang'd ; which iudgement was executed on him at the common gallowes at croydon , on munday the second day of iune , . where he dyed with great penitency and remorce of conscience . this was the lamentable end of iohn rowse , a man of the age of fifty yeeres , and one that might haue liu'd and dyed in better fashion , if he had laid hold on the grace of heauen , and craued gods protection and fatherly assistance : but of all that herein is declared , this one thing which i now declare , is most lamentable & remarkable ; which is , that ewell being a market towne , not much aboue ten miles from london , in a christian kingdome , and such a kingdome , where the all-sauing word of the euer-liuing god is most diligently , sincerely , and plentifully preached ; & yet amidst this diligence , as it were in the circle or center of this sincerity , and in the floud of this plenty , the towne of ewell hath neither preacher nor pastor : for although the parsonage be able to maintaine a sufficient preacher , yet the liuing beeing in a lay-mans hand , is rented out to another for a great sum , & yet no preacher maintained there . now the chief landlord out of his portion , doth allow but seuen pounds yeerely for a reader , and the other that doth hyre the parsonage at a great rent , doth giue the said reader foure pound the yeere more out of his meanes and courtesie : and by this meanes the towne is serued with a poore old man that is halfe blinde , and by reason of his age can scarcely read : for all the world knowes , that so small a stipend cannot finde a good preacher bookes , and very hardly bread to liue on ; so that the poore soules dwelling there , are in danger of famishing , for want of a good preacher to breake the bread of life vnto them : for a sermon amongst them , is as rare as warm weather in december , or ice in iuly : both which i haue seene in england , though but seldome . and as the wolfe is most bold with the sheepe , when there is either no shepheard , or an impotent insufficient one , so the diuell ( perhaps ) tooke his aduantage of this wretched man , seeing he was so badly guarded , & so weakely guided to withstand his force and malice : for where god is least known and called vpon , there satan hath most power and domination . but howsoeuer , i wish with all my heart , that that towne and many more were better prouided then they are , and then such numbers of soules would not be in hazzard to perish ; nor so many sufficient schollers that can preach and teach well , liue in penury through want of maintenance . i could runne further vpon this point , but that i doe shortly purpose to touch it more to the quick in another booke . by this mans fall , we may see an example of gods iustice against drunkennes , whoredome , and murder ; the diuel being the first author , who was a murtherer from the beginning : who fil'd cain with enuy , that hee murdered his brother abel : who tempted dauid first to adultery , and afterwards to murther ; who prouoked herod to cause the blessed seruant of god iohn baptist to lose his head , because hee told him it was not lawfull for him to marry his brother philips wife ; and who was the prouoker of the aforesaid herod to murther all the innocent male children in his kingdome . and let vs but marke and consider the plagues and punishments that god hath inflicted vpon murderers , adulterers , and incestuous persons : first , cain , although by his birth hee was the first man that euer was borne , a prince by his birth , and heire apparant to all the world ; yet for the murther by him committed on his brother , he was the first vagabond and runnagate on the face of the earth , almost fearefull of his owne shaddow : and after he had liued along time terrifide in conscience , was himselfe slaine ( as is supposed ) by lamech . simeon and leu● the sonnes of iacob were accurst of their father for the slaughter of the sichemites ; ioab the captaine of dauids host , was slaine for the murthering of abner ; dauid himselfe , for the death of vrias , and the adultery committed with bethsheba , was continually plagued and vexed with the sword of warre , with the rebellion of his owne sonnes , and with the vntimely deaths of amnon , and abs●lon . baanah and r●chab , for the slaying of ishbosheth the sonne of saul , they were both by dauids commandement put to death , who had both their hands and feete cut off , & were afterward hanged ouer the poole in hebron : samuel . . the examples are infinite out of diuine and humane histories , that god did neuer suffer murder to goe vnrewarded : and this miserable man , of whom i haue heere related , is a most manifest spectacle of gods reuenging vengeance , for that crying and hainous sinne . as concerning lust and incontinency , it is a short pleasure , bought with long paine , a hunnied poyson , a gul●●● of shame , a pickpurse , a breeder of diseases , a gall to the conscience , a corrosiue to the heart , turning mans wit into foolish madnesse , the bodies bane , and the soules perdition : it is excessiue in youth , and odious in age ; besides , god himselfe doth denounce most fearefull threats against fornicators and adulterers , as the apostle saith , that whoremongers and adulterers shall not inherit the kingdome of heauen , . cor. . . and god himselfe saith , that he will be a swift witnes against adulterers , mal. . . and the wise man saith , that because of the whorish woman , a man is brought to a morsell of bread , and a woman will hunt for the precious life of a man : for , saith he , can a man take fire in his bosome , and his cloathes not bee burnt ? or can a man goe vpon hot coales , and his feete not be burnt ? so hee that goeth in to his neighbours wife , shall not be innocent , prou. . , , . abimelech , one of the sonnes of gedeon , murdered threescore and ten of his brethren ; and in reward thereof ( by the iust iudgement of god ) a woman with a piece of a milstone beate out his braines , after hee had vsurped the kingdome three yeeres , iudges the . our english chronicles make mention , that roger mortimer , lord baron of wallingford , murdered his master king edward the second , and caused the kings vncle , edmund earle of kent , causelessely to bee beheaded : but gods iustice ouertooke him at last , so that for the said murders hee was shamefully executed . humphrey duke of glocester was murdered in the abbey of bury by william de la poole duke of suffolke , who afterward was beheaded himselfe on the sea by a pyrat . arden of feuersham , and page of plimmouth , both their murders are fresh in memory , and the fearefull ends of their wiues and their ayders in those bloudy actions will neuer bee forgotten . it is too manifestly knowne , what a number of stepmothers and strumpets haue most inhumanely murdred their children , and for the same haue most deseruedly been executed . but in the memory of man ( nor scarcely in any history ) it is not to be found , that a father did euer take two innocent children out of their beds , and with weeping teares of pittilesse pitie , and vnmercifull mercy , to drowne them , shewing such compassionate cruelty , and sorrowfull sighing remorcelesse remorce in that most vnfatherly and vnnaturall deede . all which may be attributed to the malice of the diuell , whose will and endeuour is that none should be saued , who layes out his traps and snares , intangling some with lust , some with couetousnesse , some with ambition , drunkennesse , enuy , murder , sloth , or any vice whereto hee sees a man or a woman inclined most vnto , as hee did by this wretched man , lulling him , as it were , in the cradle of sensuality , and vngodly delight , vntill such time as all his meanes , reputation , and credit was gone , and nothing left him but misery and reproach . then hee leades him along through doubts and feares , to haue no hope in gods prouidence , perswading his conscience that his sinnes were vnpardonable , and his estate and credit vnrecouerable . vvith these suggestions , he led him on to despaire , and in desperation to kill his children , and make shipwracke of his owne soule , in which the diligence of the diuel appeareth , that he labours and trauels vncessantly : and as saint bernard saith , in the last day shall rise in condemnation against vs , because he hath euer been more diligent to destroy soules , then wee haue been to saue them . and for a conclusion , let vs beseech god of his infinite mercy to defend vs from all the subtill temptations of satan . iohn rovvse his prayer for pardon of his lewd life , which hee vsed to pray in the time of his imprisonment . god of my soule and body , haue mercy vpon mee : the one i haue cast away by my folly , and the other is likely to perish in thy fury , vnlesse in thy great mercy thou saue it . my sinnes are deepe seas to drowne mee ; i am swallowed vp in the bottomlesse gulph of my own transgressions . with cain i haue beene a murderer , and with iudas a betrayer of the innocent . my body is a slaue to satan , and my wretched soule is deuoured vp by hell. blacke haue beene my thoughts , and blacker are my deeds . i haue beene the diuels instrument , and am now become the scorne of men ; a serpent vpon earth , and an out-cast from heauen . what therefore can become of mee ( miserable caitiffe ? ) if i looke vp to my redeemer , to him i am an arch traitor , if vpon earth , it is drowned with blood of my shedding , if into hell , there i see my conscience , burning in the brimstone lake . god of my soule and body haue mercy therefore vpon mee : saue mee , o saue mee , or else i perish for euer : i dye for euer in the world to come , vnlesse ( sweet lord ) thou catchest my repentant soule in thine armes ; o saue me , saue me , saue me . iohn rovvse of ewell his own arraignment , confession , condemnation , and iudgement of himselfe , whilst he lay prisoner in the white lyon , for drowning of his two children . i am arraign'd at the blacke dreadfull barre , where sinnes ( so red as scarlet ) iudges are ; all my inditements are my horrid crimes , whose story will affright succeeding times , as ( now ) they driue the present into wonder , making men tremble , as trees struck with thunder . if any askes what euidence comes in ? o'tis my conscience , which hath euer bin a thousand witnesses : and now it tels a tale , to cast me to ten thousand hels . the iury are my thoughts ( vpright in this , ) they sentence me to death for doing amisse : examinations more there need not then , than what 's confest heere both to god and men. the cryer of the court is my blacke shame , which when it cals my iury , doth proclaime vnlesse ( as they are summon'd ) they appeare , to giue true verdict of the prisoner , they shall haue heau 〈…〉 set , such , as may 〈…〉 uens debt . about me round sit innocence and truth , as clerkes to this high court ; and little ruth from peoples eyes is cast vpon my face , because my facts are barbarous , damn'd , and base . the officers that 'bout me ( thicke ) are plac't , to guard me to my death , ( when i am cast ) are the blacke stings my speckled soule now feeles , which like to furies dogge me , close at heeles . the hangman , that attends me is despaire , and gnawing wormes my fellow-prisoners are . his inditement for murder of his children . the first who ( at this sessions ) lowd doth call me , is murder , whose grim visage doth appall me , his eyes are fires , his voice rough windes out-rores , and on my head the diuine vengeance scores : so fast and fearfully i sinke to ground , and wish i were in twenty oceans drownd . he sayes i haue a bloudy villaine bin , and ( to proue this ) ripe euidence steps in , brow'd like my selfe : iustice so brings about , that blacke sinnes still hunt one another out : 't is like a rotten frame ready to fall , for one maine post being shaken , puls downe all . to this inditement , ( holding vp my hand , ) fettered with terrors mor● then irons stand , and being ask'd what to the bill i say , guilty i cry . o dreadfull sessions day ! his iudgement . for these thick stygian streams in which th' ast swom , thy guilt hath on thee laid this bitter doome ; thy loath'd life on a tree of shame must take a leaue compeld by law , e're old age make her signed passe-port ready . thy offence no longer can for dayes on earth dispense . time blot thy name out of this bloudy roule , and so the lord haue mercy on my soule . his speech what hee could say for himselfe . owretched caytiffe ! what perswasiue breath can call back this iust sentence of quicke death ? i begge no boone , but mercy at gods hands , ( the king of kings , the soueraigne that commands both soule and body ) o let him forgiue my treason to his throne , and whilst i liue , iebbits and racks shall torture limme by limme , through worlds of deaths i le breake to fly to him . my birth-day gaue not to my mothers wombe , more ease , then this shall ioyes , when e're it come . my body mould to earth , sinnes sinke to hell , my penitent soule win heauen , vaine world farewell . finis . a proclamation for apprehending the lord bellendine. edinburgh the fourth day of july, . scotland. privy council. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). b wing s estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. b ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a proclamation for apprehending the lord bellendine. edinburgh the fourth day of july, . scotland. privy council. scotland. sovereign ( - : william and mary) sheet ([ ] p.) printed by the heir of andrew anderson, by order of the privy council, edinburgh : anno dom. . caption title. signed: gilb. eliot, cls. sti. concilii. reproduction of the original in the national library of scotland. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng bellandine, john, -- lord. murderers -- scotland -- early works to . broadsides -- scotland -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a proclamation , for apprehending the lord bellendine . edinburgh , the fourth day of july , . the lord high commissioner , and lords of his majesties privy council being well informed of the horrid murder , committed by iohn lord bellendine , on the third of this instant iuly , upon one of his majesties souldiers , under the command of major general m ccay , without any occasion or provocation : therefore the lords of his majesties privy council , in his majesties name and authority , have thought fit , by open proclamation , to certifie the leidges of this inhumane murder , and do require all magistrats , souldiers , and other leidges , to do their outmost indeavour and diligence , to apprehend the said lord bellendine , that he may be brought to condign punishment , especially such of the leidges as lives at passes , or ferries ; and in case any of the leidges may have seen the said lord bellendine before they were certified of his crime , and required to apprehend him , that immediatly upon intimation of this proclamation , these persons give notice to the next magistrats , justices of peace , officers of the army , or constables , where they did see the said lord bellendine , since the committing of the said murder , to the effect he may be pursued , and seised . indemnifying hereby any person from the hazard of slaughter , mutilation , or any other acts of violence , which they may commit against the said lord bellendine , or any persons with him , in apprehending of him : and for the further incouragement of this service , the lords of his majesties privy council , do promise and assure the sum of two thousand merks scots to any person or persons , who shall seize the said lord bellendine , and deliver him to any of his majesties magistrats or officers of his army ; discharging hereby any of his majesties leidges to shelter , harbour , or any ways assist or supply the said lord bellendine upon their highest peril . and ordains these presents to be printed and published by macers , pursevants , or messengers , at the mercat crosse of edinburgh , or any other places necessary . extracted by me , gilb . eliot , cls. sti. concilii . edinburgh , printed by the heir of andrew anderson , by order of the privy council , anno dom. . a murderer punished and pardoned, or, a true relation of the wicked life, and shameful-happy death of thomas savage imprisoned, justly condemned, and twice executed at ratcliff, for his bloody fact in killing his fellow-servant, on wednesday, octob. , / by us who were often with him in the time of his imprisonment in newgate, at at his execution, robert franklin, thomas vincent, thomas doolitel, james janeway, hugh baker ; to which is annexed a sermon preached at his funeral. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing a a estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a murderer punished and pardoned, or, a true relation of the wicked life, and shameful-happy death of thomas savage imprisoned, justly condemned, and twice executed at ratcliff, for his bloody fact in killing his fellow-servant, on wednesday, octob. , / by us who were often with him in the time of his imprisonment in newgate, at at his execution, robert franklin, thomas vincent, thomas doolitel, james janeway, hugh baker ; to which is annexed a sermon preached at his funeral. r. a. (richard alleine), - . janeway, james, ?- . franklin, robert, - . the twelfth edition: p. printed for p. p., london, in the year, . attributed to richard alleine by wing ( nd ed.). the sermon is by james janeway--cf. bm catalog. imperfect: stained, torn and tightly bound, with slight loss of print. reproduction of original in: william andrews clark memorial library, university of california, los angeles. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng savage, thomas, d. . blay, hannah. bible. -- n.t. -- timothy, nd, ii, -- sermons. murder -- england. trials (murder) -- england. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a murderer punished ; and pardoned or , a true relation of the wicked life , and shameful-happy death of thomas savage ; imprisoned , justly condemned , and twice executed at ratcliff , for his bloody fact in killing his fellow-servant , on wednesday , octob. . . by us who were often with him in the time of his imprisonment in newgate , and at his execution : robert franklin , thomas vincent , thomas doolitel , james janeway , hugh baker . to which is annexed a sermon preached at his funeral . the twelfth edition : with the addition of the leud life , and shameful death of hannah blay , who was condemned and executed for being guilty of the bloody murther committed by thomas savage . with other new additions . london , printed for p. p. in the year , . to the reader . in the following narrative you have a relation of the bloody murther committed by t. savage , with an account of the wonderful mercies of god to his poor soul after the committing so bloody a sin . to which is added a short relation of the carriage and behaviour of that vile strumpet hannah blay , during the time of her being in newgate to her execution : which , though it hath nothing in it worthy to be related , yet , she being an instrumental cause of that bloody resolution , was thought fit to be inserted , that she may remain as an example of shame to all leud women , and a severe example of gods justice upon such cruel monsters , who are not contented with endangering the soul of such ignorant young men , that have not the fear of god before their eyes , with their abominable whoredomes and adulteries , but as it were to make sure of destroying both body and soul together by adding to their former sins the guilt of shedding innocent blood : and as you have a wonderful instance of gods free-grace to the soul of t. s. so the foulness of his fact , the danger of damning his soul , and the twice shameful execution which he suffred , may be a means to preserve all young men and apprentices from being guilty of the like fact . and as a help to you herein , you are advised to be very careful what company you keep . that you addict not your selves to drinking , or gaming , or company-keeping , which is the ruin of many young men , who by getting a habit of keeping company , or other vices , are to often drawn to purloin from their masters , to maintain them in their extravagancies . by which means they do not only run the hazard of exposing their bodies to publique-shame , if they be discovered , to the great grief , and even heart breaking of their friends , when they hear of their ill courses but the wrath of god and eternal damnation of their poor souls , as you may see in the narrative of t. s. who first began with company-keeping , from company-keeping to whoring , from whoring to thieving and murther . and lastly , be careful to spend the lords-day , and all thy other spare time in the service of god , as reading , praying , hearing the word preached , which may be a means to preserve thee from the guilt of sins of this nature , and other sins likewise , if thou apply thy self seriously to this work . but whiles i am advising of others , i my self commit an error in exceeding my ●onds , being confined to a page , i rest . a real well-wisher to the eternal happiness of your immortal soul . blood doth cry aloud ; the blood of man , when violently shed by cruel hands for private revenge or covetousness , or the satisfaction of some such base lust , doth cry as far from earth to heaven for vengeance : and however some horrible murder may be secretly plotted and as secretly effected , yet seldom are they long unpunished even in this world , for besides that sometimes the guilty accusing consciences of such persons who have committed this heinous crime , do so inwardly lash and torment them , that they can find no rest until they have made discovery of the fact with their own mouth ; there is the all-seeing eye of sin revenging god , which doth find them , and a strange hand of his providence which doth often follow them , and entangle them in their steps ( when they are flying and seeking some hiding-place ) which doth as it were bind them before they are in chains , and deliver them before they are aware , into the hands of justice to be punished . but there is another blood which doth send forth a louder cry , namely the blood of the lord jesus christ , which was shed for the sins of men , which speaketh better things than the blood of abel , crying for mercy and forgiveness , this blood hath such prevalency and vertue , that when it is applyed by faith unto the most notorious malefactor guilty of blood , as well as other wickedness : it doth out-cry and drown the voice of blood and every other sin , and washeth the most impure soul , dyed in sin unto a scarlet and crimson hue . this blood we hope was sprinkled upon the conscience of this murtherer , who had a little before embrued his hands in the blood of his fellow-servant : for having given such evidence of his sincere repentance , and true faith , unto several of us ministers and other christians that were with him , before and at his execution : we hope , though he were justly punished with the first death by the hand of man for his crime , that through infinite free grace and christs blood , he hath escaped the second death and wrath of god in hell. the narrative may give the same satisfaction to others , which the publishers hereof have received , which is as followeth . thomas savage , born in the parish of giles in the fields , he was put out apprentice to mr. collins , vintner at the ship-tavern in ratcliff , where he lived about the space of one year and three quarters : in which time he manifested himself to all that knew him , to be a meer monster in sin : in all that time he never once knew what it was to hear one whole sermon ; but used to go in at one door , and out at the other ; and accounted them fools that could spare so much time from sin as or hours on a lords day to spend in the lords service . he spent the sabbath commonly at the ale-house , or rather at a base house with that vile strumpet hannah blay , which was the cause of his ruine ; he was by a young man ( now gone to sea ) first enticed to go drink there , and after that he went alone , and now and then used to bring her a bottle or two of wine which satisfied not her wicked desires ; but she told him , if he would frequent her house , he must bring money with him : he told her often , he could bring none but his masters , and he never wronged his master of two-pence in his life : still she enticed him to take it privately : he replyed he could not do it , because the maid was always at home with him . hang her jade saith this impudent slut , knock her brains out , and i will receive the money ; this she many times said , and that day that he committed the murther , he was with her in the morning , and she made him drunk with burnt brandy , and he wanted one groat to pay of his reckoning : she then again perswaded him to knock the maid on the head , and she would receive the money ; he going home between twelve and one of the clock , his master standing at the street-door , did not dare to go in that way , but climbed over a back-door , and commeth into the room where his fellow-servants were at dinner : o saith the maid to him , sirrah , you have been now at this bawdy-house , you will never leave till you are undone by them : he was much vexed at her ; and while he was at dinner , the devil entered so strong into him , that nothing would satisfie him but he must kill her ; and no other way , but with the hammer ; to which end , when his master was gone with all the rest of his family to church , leaving only the maid and this boy at home ; he goeth into the bar , fetcheth the hammer : and taketh the bellows in his hand , and sitteth down by the fire , and there knocketh the bellows with the hammer : the maid saith to him ; sure the boy is mad , sirrah , what do you make this noise for ? he said nothing , but went from the chair , and lay along in the kitchin window , and knocked with the hammer there ; and on a sudden threw the hammer with such force at the maid ; that hitting her on the head she fell down presently , screaking out , then he taketh up the hammer three times , and did not dare to strike her any more , at last the devil was so great with him , that he taketh the hammer , and striketh her many blows with all the force he could , and even rejoyced that he had got the victory over her ; which done , he immediately taketh the hammer , and with it strikes at the cupboard door in his masters chamber , which being but slit-deal presently flew open , and thence he taketh out a bag of money , and putting it upon his arm , under his cloak , he went out at a back-door straight-way to this base house again : when he came thither , the slut would fain have seen what he had under his cloak , and knowing what he had done , would very fain have had the money : he gave her half a crown , and away he went without any remorse for what he had done . going over a stile he sat down to rest himself , and then began to think with himself ; lord what have i done ! and he would have given ten thousand worlds he could have recalled the blow . after this , he was in so much horrour , that he went not one step but he thought every one he met came to take him . he got that night to green-wich , and lay there ; telling the people of the house that he was to go down to gravesend : that night he rose and walked about , and knew not what to do , conscience so flew in his face , the mistress of the house percieving the lad to have money , and not sealed up , said , i wish this lad came by this money honestly . the next morning he going away towards woolliedge , the mistress of the house could not be satisfied , but sent for him back , and told him , sweetheart , i fear you came not by this money honestly . yes indeed mistress , saith he , i did ; for i am carrying of it down to gravesend to my master , a wine cooper . vve live upon london-bridge , and if you please to send any one to my mistress i will leave my money with you . so there were some people going to london , and he writ a note to send to his mistress , and he left the money with the woman of the house , and went his way , wandring toward vvoolliedge , and there was in the ship-yard ; about which time news came to greenwich of the murther that was committed at ratcliff by a youth , upon his fellow-servant , and that a bag of money was taken away : the mistress of the house forthwith concluded that sureit was the same youth that was at her house and that that was the money ; whereupon she sent men out presently to seek him : who found him in an ale-house , where he had called for a pot of beer , and was laid down with his head on the table and fallen asleep : one of the men calling him by his name , tom , saith he , did you not live at ratcliff ? he said , yes , and did you not murther your fellow-servant ? he confessed it : and you took so much money from your master ? he acknowledged all : then said they , you must go along with us : he said , yes , with all my heart . so they went forthwith to greenwich , to the house where he lay that night : where when he came , he met his master with some friends , and when his master spake to him of it , he was not much affected at first , but after a little while burst out into many tears : thence he was conveyed to the justice at ratcliff , where he fully confessed the fact again , and by him was committed close prisoner in the gaol of newgate , where mr. h. b. ( who after some acquaintance with him , had this preceeding narrative from his own mouth ) came to see and speak with him : and he seemed but little sensible of what he had done . are you ( said he ) the person that committed the murther upon the maid at ratcliff ? he said , yes : o what think you of your condition ) what do you think will become of your precious sou ? you have by this sin not only brought your body to the grave , but your soul to hell , without gods infinite mercy : were you not troubled for the fact when you did it ? not for the present , sir , said he ; but soon after i was , when i began to think with my self what i had done . the next time he asked him , whether he were sorry for the fact ? he said , wringing his hands , and striking his breast , with tears in his eyes yes , sir , for it cuts me to the heart to think that i should take away the life of a poor innocent creature ; and that is not all , but for any thing i know , i have sent her soul to hell : o how can i think to appear before god's barr , when she shall stand before me , and say , lord , this wretch took away my life , and gave me not the least space that i might turn to thee : he gave me no warning at all , lord. o then what will become of me ? soon after the imprisonment of this thomas savage , in new gate . upon the desire of one of his friends , mr. r. f. and t. v. went to him in the prison , and had liberty , with much readiness , from the keepers , to discourse with him : they asked him , if he were the person that had murthered the maid ? he answered , that he was ; they did then open to him the heinous nature of that sin , endeavouring to set it home upon his conscience , telling him of the express law of god , thou shalt not kill , and the express threatnings , that whosoever sheddeth mans blood , by man shall his blood be shed . they spake to him of the law of the land , and the punishment of death which would certainly be inflicted upon him ; that he had but a few vveeks more to live , and then he would be tryed , and condemned , and executed : but they told him , that the punishment of the temporal death was but small in comparison with the punishment of eternal death in hell , which he had deserved , and was exposed unto . they told him , that so long as death should make a separation between his soul and body , that his soul must immediately appear before the dreadful tribunal of the sin revenging god , and there receive its final doom , and be irreversibly sentenced to depart from the presence of the lord , into everlasting fire , if he were found under the guilt of this , or any other sin . they asked him if he knew what hell was ? telling him what a fearful thing it would be for him to fall into the hands of the living god ; how intolerable the immediate expressions of gods wrath would be upon his soul , what horror and anguish he would there be filled withal , and how he would be bound up in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day ; and then told him of the glorious appearance of the lord jesus christ to judgment : that soul and body should be then joyned together , and condemned together , and punished together with such exquisite torments as never entred into the heart of man to concieve ; declaring the extremity and the eternity of the torments of hell , which were the just demerit of his sins . then they asked him , whether he had any hopes of escaping this dreadful punishment of hell ? he answered , that he had : they enquired into the grounds of his hopes ? he told them , that he repented of his fault , and hoped god would have mercy on his soul : they asked him , whether he thought his repentance could procure for him a pardon ? he knew no other way . they told him that god was just , and his justice must be satisfied : and there was no way for him to do it , but by undergoing the eternal torments of hell : and did he know no way of satisfying god's justice besides ? and pacifying his anger that was kindled against him ? no , he knew not any , and yet did he hope to be saved ? he answered , yes . they enquired whether ever he had experience of a gracious change wrought in him . herein he could give no account , and yet hoped to be saved . they told him his hopes were unfound , having no good foundation ; and he would find himself disappointed : that it was not his repentance , his tears , and prayers ( though he ought to use them as means ) that would save him , if he fixed the anchor of his hope upon them . that if he hoped to be saved in the condition which for the present he was in , he would certainly be damned : that he must cast away all those groundless hopes he had conceived , and endeavour to despair in himself , that being pricked and pained at heart , through the apprehensions of the wrath of god ready to fall upon him , and seeing no possibility of flying and escapeing , if he looked onely to himself , he might cry out , vvhat shall i do to be saved ? and enquire after a saviour : and then they spake to him of the lord jesus christ , and the way of salvation by him , which before he was sottishly ignorant of , as if he had been brought up in a country of infidels , and not of christians . the words spoken to him by these two ministers , seemed to take little impression upon him whilst they were present ; yet after they were gon , the lord did begin to work , and he did acknowledge to mr. b. that two had been with him ( he knew not their names ) whose words were like arrows shot into his heart , and he did wish he had those words in writing especially one expression of t. v. that he would not be in his condition for ten thousand worlds , did affect and affright him that he said it made his hair stand an end . an account of a discourse betwixt t. d. and t. s. about fourteen dayes after he was prisoner in newgate . vvhen i came to him and saw him in irons , i said , were these fetters for the sake of the gospel , they would be far more precious than chains of gold : but see here the cursed fruits of sin ; thou that shouldst all thy life-time have been a faithful servant of god , hast neglected no time to serve the devil . i asked him how old he was ? he said , sixteen years old : i told him , he was a young man , but an old sinner ; then i began to set my self to bring him to a sense of his sins , and of his miserable and lost estate ; and asked him , whether he belived there was a god ? he answered , yes : and dost thou believe that this god is true ? he said , yes : and taking up the bible , i asked him , dost thou believe that this is the word of god ? he answered , yes : then i told him , according to this word he was a damned wretch , and god had past a sentence of death upon him , and told him plainly , that he should not enter into the kingdom of god , but be a companion of devils in a lake of brimstone to all eternity , ( meaning without repentance , conversion and faith in christ . ) then i turned him to several scriptures , and told him , this was the word by which he must be judged at the barr of god , and be damned or saved according as then he should be found to be , converted or unconverted : the scriptures were as followeth , cor. . . know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of god ? be not deceived ; neither fornicators , nor idolaters , nor adulterers , nor effeminate , nor abusers of themselves with mankind , verse . nor thieves , nor covetous , nor drunkards , nor revilers , nor extortioners , shall inherit the kingdom of god. another scripture i read to him , was gal. . . now the works of the flesh are manifest , which are these , adultery , fornication , vncleanness , lasciviousness , v. . idolatry , witchcraft , hatred , variance , emulations , wrath , strife , seditions , heresies , v. . envyings , murders , drunkenness , revellings , and such like , of the which i tell you before , as i have also told you in time past : that they which do such things , shall not inherit the kingdom of god. the next scripture to the same purpose , was , rev. . . but the fearful and unbelieving , and the abominable , and murderers , and whoremongers , and sorcerers , and idolaters , and all lyars , shall have there part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone , which is the second death . i told him these were the words of the holy , true , and infallible god ; this was the sentence which god had passed upon him , as the desert of those abominable sins which he was guilty of : for these scriptures pointed at several of the sins which he confessed he had lived in , and had committed , as drunkenness , lying , uncleanness , and murther . i cryed , you confess your self guilty of these sins , and that god threatneth you with eternal death , with everlasting torments , and exclusion from his presence and kingdom , not only gods justice but gods truth also , stood betwixt him and eternal happiness ; and told him , that i spake it with reverence that the holy god must be a lyar , or else he dying in the guilt of these sins . must be certainly and eternally damned . i asked him , what do you think ? how will you escape the damnation of hell , and the great wrath that is come ? you have heard what god saith ? what do you say ? what course will you take , and what means will you use , that you may not , according to god's threatning , be cast amongst devils , into eternal devouring flames ? to this , at present , he made no reply , but did often shake his head , and lifted up his eyes towards heaven . next i endeavoured to bring him to a sight and sense of the corruption of his nature , and of the sinfulness of his heart : and told him , all those sins were in his heart , before they were actually committed : and turned him to the saying of christ , in the th of matthew , ver . . for out of the heart proceedeth evil thoughts , murders , adulteries , fornications , thefts , false-witnesses , blasphemies , and told him , that in his repentance for those sins , he must not only lay to heart and be grieved for the outward acts , but lament and bewail the inward principle of corruption , whereby he was so strongly inclined to such horrid abominations , according to the example of david after his sins of adultery and murther , in his confession did follow them up to the rise and original from whence they did spring , psal . . . behold , i was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me , by this time i perceived some workings of heart within him , and that he was in some measure sensible of his lost estate , and by his deportment and carriage , to be cast down , not knowing what to do ; i was unwilling to leave him without some grounds of hope , that it may be , he might be saved ; that there was a possibility that he might obtain pardoning mercy , and be delivered from that great damnation that was due to him for his great transgressions , i began to open to him the readiness of christ , the fulness and sufficiency of christ to save the greatest sinners : and that god ( i hoped , in mercy to his soul ) had sent me , one of his embassadors , to offer him a pardon , and eternal life , if he were but willing to accept of christ upon the terms of the gospel , for his lord and saviour : and did encourage and assure him , upon repentance and faith in christ , there was mercy yet for him , though a murderer , from these scriptures , isa . . . come now and let us reason together , saith the lord , though your sins be as scarlet , they shall be as white as snow ; and though they be as red as crimson they shall be as wool . as i opened to him the great mercy of god in christ toward sinners , dyed in grain , that were sinners of a scarlet colour , that had committed heinous transgressions , he brake forth into tears , and wept plentifully at the tydings of mercy , and possibility that such a one as he might be saved . besides , i turned him to some scripture-promises , that god would certainly forgive his sins , and save his soul , if he could repent , and get faith in christ : such as prov. . . he that confesseth and forsaketh his sin , shall find mercy : and isa . . . let the wicked forsake his way , and the unrighteous man his thoughts ; and let him return unto the lord , and he will have mercy upon him ; and to our god , for he will abundantly pardon . this scripture he diligently heeded , and turned it down in his bible ; and these two scriptures ( the night before he suffered ) amongst others he alledged as the grounds of his hopes of mercy . i also gave him some scripture instances of great sinners that had obtained mercy ; turned him to the example of manasseh , chron. . to that of mary magdalen , luke . , . to that of the jews , acts . , . that were guilty of the blood of christ , that had murdered the son of god , a greater murther than which could not be committed : and yet upon repentance and faith many of them were pardoned and saved : to that of paul , tim. . , , , . shewed him how god had set up paul as a pattern of free-grace , towards great sinners , for the encouragement of such , that ( though guilty of great sins ) afterwards should believe . to all these he hearkned very carefully , and took notice of the places of scripture , for his meditation after i left him . and last of all , i endeavoured to set before him jesus christ , as the only remedy and saviour for his soul ; and shewed him the insufficiency of all his duties , prayers and tears , to get off the guilt of the least sin : that if he could shed a thousand tears of blood for any one vain thought , it would be no better than puddle water to justifie or to save him . much discourse i had with him at this time , besides what is here inserted , and several other times when i went to visit him in newgate ; which i willingly omit , because this book should not swell to too great a bulk . after all , i went to prayer with him : in which duty he was much dissolved into tears : he seemed to me , and his faithful friend that was most with him above all others , to be very earnest in prayer , and with weeping eyes to beg for pardon and for converting grace , and christ to be his saviour ; which was much insisted on in the prayer that was made for him . after which , advising him to consider of what i had said , for that time i took my leave of him . the next time after this discourse , that mr. baker came to him , he enquired how it was with him : he said , what t. d. had said , did very much startle him , that he knew not what to reply , and cryed out very much of the heinousness of his sins , that he should commit that horrid sin of murder : and knew not what to do , for that left a deep impression upon his heart , that god must be a lyar , or else he ( in that condition of impenitency ) must be damned : yet he laid hold upon that promise that was unfolded to him , that if a sinner turned from his wicked ways , god would abundantly pardon : and afterwards read on the verse that followed , isa . . for my thoughts are not your thoughts , neither are your ways my ways , saith the lord. upon which considering , said men cry out for death and vengeance , no mercy to be had from men : but gods thoughts to a repenting sinner were life , for he delighteth not in the death of a sinner . about four or five days after this , he was puzled about his performing of duties , and resting only upon christ for salvation ; for he was tempted , if he performed duties . to rest upon them : or to let them alone , and leave them off , if he must rest only upon christ . at which time . h. b. coming to him , enquired how it was with him now ? and how he hoped to be saved ? he answered by repentance and faith : and i could easily tell you , to satisfie you , that i do repent , and do believe : but truly so to do as i ought , i find it the hardest thing in the world : i do believe , and i do not : i cannot tell how to believe that christ dyed for sinners , so as to throw my self wholly and fully upon him , and to think my tears and prayers will do me no good . but here , reader , we must take notice of the unwearied diligence of the devil , in using all means from time to time , to undo , ruine , and wound the soul of this poor malefactor , who would not forbear to solicit him to sin , after he was cast into prison for former iniquities he had committed ; for we cannot but judge that the devil was loth to loose such a prey as his immortal soul ; when he had brought him to the very mouth and gates of hell , to have him snatched out of his hands by the free-grace of god , the devil did work the more ( because he knew his time to tempt him , was but short ) to blemish and eclipse the gracious work of god upon his heart , and cloud the glory of gods mercy , in saving such a sinner . he was by some former acquaintance visiting of him , ( who shewed their love to a death deserving sinner , no other way then by calling for drink , and desiring him to drink with them ) overcome therewith , and after some former convictions of sin , and his lost estate , did twice relapse into the sin of drunkenness , whereby he caused many to fear , that all this while he had no more than some common workings of the spirit ; and put us to stand , that we knew not what would be the issue of these things : but yet not daring to omit endeavours ( if possible ) as instrumenents under god to save his soul , we did after this , visit him again and again , and set forth unto him the greatness of his sin , that he should sin yet more against the lord , and in his affliction and chains , to provoke the lord to greater wrath against his soul ; with many words to that purpose . after which , his soul was wounded , his heart was pierced , he knew not what to do : he asked , may mercy be had for a back-sliding sinner ? to which were given him some scriptures , where god called to back-sliding sinners to return , and invited them to repent , and promised mercy to them if they did , even after they had done as wickedly as they could : and this was much enlarged upon before him , from jer. . ver . , to . verse . but god that had begun to awaken and to rowse his conscience , that he might set him up as a pattern of free-grace , would not let the devil go thus away with his soul , but brought him to a deep sense of his falling into sin , that he much lamented with many tears the sadness of his state , the misery of his soul , saying what will become of my soul ! my immortal soul ! i cannot think what will become of my soul ! i deserve hell ten thousand times over ; and have i now but one grain of sand left in the glass to work for eternity ? shall i neglect god any longer ? o , i have neglected god too long already ! striking his hand upon his breast , and wringing his hands , and shaking his head , and weeping abundantly , said , lord , what shall i do ? o god , what shall i do ? lord , what will become of me ? if god had dealt justly with me , i had now been in hell , i had been dashed into hell when i murthered that poor innocent creature , i wonder that i am not now in hell ; that such a wretch as i , am not in hell : god hath been pleased to manifest more mercy to me , in sparing of me , and affording me so long time for repentance ; but i have neglected time , and relapsed into drunkenness and vain talking , time after time . i thought this place ( meaning the hole in newgate , ) hell upon earth , and did account it a heaven to be among other prisoners : but now god hath tryed me , whether sin will be bitter and displeasing to me , or not ; i have this day ( being the lords day ) been among the prisoners , and they asked me to play at cards : but instead of complying with them , i reproved them , and told them , for my part i had profaned sabbaths enough already , i have but a little time to work for my soul , and i ought not to neglect time now ; that they likewise ( he told them ) if they rightly considered , had something else to do , and striking his hand upon his breast , with much earnestness he cryed out with tears , now , now i find that god hath been at work upon my soul ; he hath , i am sure , been at work : for now i see so much evil , and taste such bitterness in sin , that i am not so much troubled that i am to dye , nor so much troubled that i am in danger of hell , as to think i should so dishonour god , that i should so offend so gracious and merciful a god , and spurn against all his mercies . oh my soul , my immortal soul ! i know not what will become of it to all eternity . it is the grief of my very soul , that i have neglected time as i have done : now i see so much need of a christ , and so much preciousness and excellency in christ , that if the greatest king in the world should come and throw his crown at my foot , and tell me i should enjoy it , and all the glory of it for millions of years , and should have my liberty presently , and should say , but it must be without christ , i would sooner chose to dye this moment ; nay , to be racked to pieces by ten thousand deaths , or burn ten years together , so i may have a christ , i speak freely from my heart , so far as i know my heart ; and now i find it is not only the devil 's tempting me , hath brought me to this , but this cursed , wretched , devilish heart of mine within . it is within me , so that it was in me before it was committed by me : i deserved hell ten thousand times over , before i committed this horrid sin : well , now i am resolved , i will pray as much as i can , and weep and wrestle with god , as if i were to have heaven for it : but when i have done all , i will deny all ; for my prayers and tears cannot save me : and i will fully and wholly throw my self at the feet of christ ; and if i am damned , i will be damned there . and more he spake to this purpose in mr. baker's hearing . about three days after , mr. baker coming to him , asked him how it was with him . he told him , that the devil was very busie with him , and did solicit him grievously with his temptations , perswading him to have thoughts of escaping : these things ( said he ) hindred my minding of god one part of the day ; the other part of the day the devil fills me with drowsiness , that i can neither pray , nor read , nor perform any duty , nor mind any one that prays with me . sometimes he tempts me to delay , telling me that it is time enough for me to think of repentance when i am condemned ; and , that god is a merciful god ; and sometimes he tempted me to despair , telling me that it was impossible that so monstrous a sinner as i had been , should be saved . but blessed be god that he made me to think that these were but the devils temptations , although i have been sadly hurried with them for some days : but that which did most fill me with terror , was the frequent fears of the devil 's appearing personally to me ; which did so exceedingly trouble me in prayer , so that i could say nothing when i kneeled down , but was fain to set the candle down before me , and durst not look one way nor other , for fear i should see him ; and my thoughts have been so vain many times , when you have been reading to me , that i have scarce heard a word of what you said . a discourse betwixt h. b. and t. s. prisoner in newgate , after some friends went away dissatisfied , fearing he had not a sense of his sin , &c. h. b. asking him how it was with him ? he replied , it is the grief of my soul that i should be no more affected : i think i have the most rocky , stony heart in the world : if ever there was an heart of iron , i have one , it is not fit to be called an heart . to have others come and pray with me , and instruct me , and see how they are affected with my condition , and yet i not at all affected with my own condition ; oh it is the grief of my soul to see it so ! and yet as soon as ministers and good people are gone , and i walk about and consider , oh it melts me , and breaketh my heart in pieces to think , i can mourn for sin , and grieve for sin no more , when gods people are with me ! because it causeth them to think that i am not sensible of my sin ; though blessed be god i am in some measure sensible of the evil of my sins ; and it is the grief of my soul to think how i have dishonoured god , and abused his mercy , and spurned against his mercy and patience . after this , they both spent some time in prayer , and h. b. asked him , how it was with him now ? he said , i find so much sweetness in prayer . although i cannot find god loveth me , that to think i am not cursing and swearing as others are , but be confessing my sin , my very tears trickle down my cheeks for joy : sometimes i find my heart so dead and dull in duty , that i know not what to say in prayer : at other times i find my heart so full , and so much affected in duty , that i could wish i might never rise off my knees . the night before the sessions , h. b. coming to him , asked him if it was not terrible to him to think of appearing before the barr of men ? he answered , methinks when i consider seriously of it , what a light poor thing mans barr is in comparison of gods barr , yet mans barr is enough to daunt one , to hear them say , take him gaoler , tye him up : but to appear before gods barr , who knoweth all the sins that ever i committed ; he saw all my secret sins ; and for god to say , take him gaoler , take him devil , shut him up in the dungeon of hell : oh! that is enough . i believe , to make the stoutest heart in the world to tremble : for there is no recalling that sentence ; and i believe there are many go out of this prison , as i saw formerly three that went to be hanged , and they were almost drunk , and did sing all the way they went : but oh , their note was soon changed , when they came to stand before gods barr. the morning before he went to the sessions , h. b. and the prisoner spent some time in prayer , the prisoner in his prayer did earnestly beg of god that he would keep him from those temptations he might be exposed unto by bad company : after this he was taken down to the sessions house , but was not called because the jury of middlesex did not sit that day . at night h. b. came to him again , and asking how it was with him ; he answered , he found it no easie thing to be a true christian : i thought before i came to prison , that reading a chapter now and then , and saying the lords prayer , and the creed at night when i went to bed , would have saved me , though many times i was asleep before i had half done : but now i find it no such easie thing to get to heaven ; nay , i find it the hardest thing in the world , for my prayers and tears and duties , if i could fall upon my knees and never rise off from them while i live , they would not save me ; for all this is but my duty : but i now know there is merit enough in the blood of christ to save me ; and he did earnestly beg of god in prayer , that god would wash his soul in the blood of christ , and blot out all his sins out of the book of his remembrance , and turn them behind his back , though i as earnestly beg they might be all spread before my face , that i might have a more humble and throughly broken heart for them : lord , one drop of that blood is enough to wash away all my sins : and so after some conference , h. b. left him for that night , who heard from one that was with him that night , that he spent that time most in prayer and reading . the second morning , in the time of the sessions , mr. baker , that was a careful friend for the good of his soul , went to the sessions house , where he found him well , and in good frame , and continued with him for the space of two or three hours that morning ; after which time mr. baker was from him to hear the tryal of the person that was arraigned , and afterward executed for the fire upon the house burnt down in mincing-lane , for the space of half an hour , or thereabout ; in which time , in company of other prisoners , he was much distempered with something that he had drank amongst them , which did take from him his understanding , that he was not his own man ; we judge ( that though this did cast a blemish upon the profession that he had made after he came to newgate ) it was not a voluntary act , but some surprisal or design of the other upon him ; partly , because the quantity was far less than what at other times he could drink without any disturbance to his head . a friend also heard hannah the strumpet that enticed him to his former wickedness , say , others have made you drunk to day , but i will make you drunk to morrow . but afterwards he was afraid to drink in their company , but rather denied to take what was necessary for his refreshment . the prisoners , were much against his accusing of that harlot ; and did much perswade him to take something to chear his spirits ; and when t. d. was with him on saturday before he dyed , he charged him with his sin , which had caused such a blot upon all the profession he had made , and what great cause he had to be humbled before god ; and desired him , to tell him , as a dying man , whether it was his voluntary act and delight in excessive drinking , or no ? and he did prosefs , that he knew it was not the quantity that he had drank , which was not near so much as at other times he did use without distempering of himself however , god was pleased to make him taste the bitterness of that cup in that he had given such occasion to sinners to speak evil of the wayes of god , and beating his hands ( being returned to himself , ) upon the stones , cryed out , oh that i should offend god! and though he did much lament the scandal , yet he always said , that he looked not upon it as a sin of drunkenness , but a circumvention ; or to use his own words , that something was put into the drink , to distemper his head . on saturday during the sessions , he was arraigned , and pleaded guilty , confessing with many tears and wringing his hands , that he , through the instigation of the devil , and enticement of that wretched creature ( meaning the harlot ) had committed that bloody fact , which was such an horror to his conscience , that he would not do it again for ten thousand worlds : his carriage and confession was such , that he much moved the honourable bench and jury , and most of the beholders . on monday next he received his sentence of death ; after which time he was with the other condemned prisoners , and did pray with them four times a day , and read to them , and sung psalms with them . after the execution of the rest . he had time given or procured him by the honourable sheriff of london , for some days , which he improved to the great advantage of his soul. on friday night he uttered these expressions , in company with h. b. being the day that the other prisoners were executed . i find , saith he , so much sweetness and delight , and pleasure in gods ways , and so much folly in the ways of sin , that if there were no heaven to reward , nor any hell to punish , i could not but love the ways of god , and the people of god : oh , it is so sweet to be in company with them , praying and conversing with them , over what is in hearing others swear , and curse , that i account it as great a mercy as any almost , that i may be in their company . o methinks it is a heaven to me to be with god's ministers and people : and prayer now is so sweet , that i grudge the time always when i am off from my knees , or go down to the grate . now there is nothing in the world i prize like christ ; one christ above ten thousand worlds : now i do repent , and i do believe through mercy : it is the lords work ; but i earnestly beg and pray for a more humble , and a more broken heart , and a more through sense of sin , and a greater sorrow for it , and beg that god would enable me to come to him , to believe in him ; lord , saith he , faith is thy work , repentance is thy work ; do thou enable me to repent ; nay , thou hast enabled me to repent , and i do from the very bottom of my heart , lord , as far as i know my own heart : i repent that i should offend so gracious , and so merciful a god as thou art , lord ; and faith is thy work . lord , saith he , hast thou not said , no man can come to thee , except the father draw him . draw me , o lord , and i shall run to thee ; enable me to believe . lord , and i shall believe ; nay , i do believe , lord , that jesus christ his blood was not shed in vain . did christ die for nothing , lord ? did he not die to save all repenting and believing sinners of whom i am chief ? on saturday at night , in company with mr. baker , he discoursed thus . oh! my dear friend . taking me by the hand , come hither , saith he , and opening the coffin , look here is the ship , saith he , in which i must lanch out into the ocean of eternity : and is it not a terrible thing ( saith he ) to see one's own coffin and burying-cloaths , when at the same time i am as well as you ? do you think it would not daunt you ? to go to the gallows , to have the halter , and to dye there ; were this for the sake of the gospel , i should not care , were it ten hundred times a worse death : but to suffer this cursed death for such horrid sins , o this is sad ! why , said i , you have a greater mercy in some respect , than those that dye in their beds ; for they are full of sickness and pain , and cannot so well mind repentance as you , who are well , and have nothing else to mind . ah sir , saith he , their sins are of a far less nature than mine , and so they do not need so much repentance as mine do : my dying for such horrid sins , makes my repentance to be so much the more hard . o , saith he , i believe it , it is a hard work to dye : i could carry it out as bravely as any , ( do you think i could not ? ) but to consider , that as i die , and am sentenced from god's barr so i must be for ever , immediately either be everlastingly happy , or everlastingly miserable : to consider this , would make a stout heart to tremble : those poor creatures that were here the other night ( meaning the other condemned prisoners ) they know now what it is to be in an eternal state , and if they are gone to hell , o lord , how miserably are they disappointed , who hoped for to have gone to heaven , and are sent from thy barr to endless burning ! lord , what a mercy is it that i have a little time longer left , let it be improved to thy glory and let my soul live , and i shall praise thee . the last lords day , he lived , he desired to be alone , and spent it in wrestling with god by prayers , and in other duties in order to his preparation for his great change by death , that then he expected the next day ; in which duties he found so much of god , that he had some fore-tasts of the joys of heaven ; and when we asked him what of god he had found that day ; he replyed , that he had such pleasure and delight in mourning for sin , and praying unto god , that he was loath to come off from his knees . at night there were some ministers that sat up with him , and spent that night in prayer with him , and for him , and in conference ; on monday morning came t. d. to him before day ( thinking it was his last day ; for an order was sent on friday for his execution on monday ) and said to him , thomas , how is it with you now ? your last day begins to dawn . he said , blessed be god i am not afraid to dye , because i hope i shall go to jesus christ . after some time in prayer for him , we desired him to spend some time in that duty ! which he performed with so much affection , and earnest pleading with god , that all the company were exceedingly melted , and their hearts beyond ordinary measure warmed and raised , that the room did ring with sighs and groans ; and there was such a mighty presence of the spirit poured out upon him , and on those that joyned with him , that we do not remember the time when ever we had experience of the like . in which prayer , after the confession of his sins , he begged earnestly for pardon , and for an interest in christ ; saying , o lord , wilt thou let me dye without a christ ? shall i leave this world , before thou smilest upon my soul ? thou hast promised pardon , and mercy , and salvation to those that do repent , and to those that do believe : lord , i do repent , and do believe , if i know my own heart , i do repent , i do believe ; lord i roll my self upon thy son , i cast my self at his foot for mercy . thou wouldst be just , if thou dost damn me ; but thou hast pardoned others , and it will be to the praise of thy free-grace to pardon me . lord , shall those prayers that have been made , and all those tears that have been shed for me , and all those instructions which have been given me , be all in vain ? with many other expressions in that prayer , which wonderfully affected the hearts of those that were with him ; that afterwards we looked upon one another , wondring at the grace of god towards him , that one so wicked all his days , so young , ( being sixteen years old ) so lately acquainted with the ways of god , should have such a spirit of prayer poured out upon him : after this , he prayed with more life and fervency than before ; and the nearer he came to his end , the more we perceived god was ripening him for glory . after this we took our leave of him , not knowing but that was the last day ; for the cart stood below , and the coffin fetched down , and some of the honourable sheriffs of londons men , came into the prison : but the sheriff of middlesex having not notice to be ready , his execution was deferred till wednesday following . reader , here take notice , that the report that the reason why he was not executed on monday , was because he was drunk , is an abominable falshood ; for to our knowledge that were with him , he did not eat nor drink that morning . when we went up to him again , we told him we perceived he was not to dye that day , giving him caution , not to think there was any pardon intended for him : and one came from the sheriff to acquaint him with the reason of the delay of his execution . when his coffin was carried up to him again , one asked what he thought , and what were the workings of his heart when he saw his coffin brought back ? he said he was much troubled , and it daunted him to see it ; for he could willingly have dyed that day to go to christ . on monday in the afternoon he had an excessive pain in his teeth , ( as we judge occasioned by his leaving off his cloaths , and putting on some thin apparel to dye in ) and that evening he expressed great willingness to dye and leave the world. he said , i see and feel so much excellency in christ , that he is so pure in grace , pure in holiness , pure in all things . lord , i count it an hell to be upon earth , i so long to be where i might enjoy thee : and he spent some time in prayer , ( notwithstanding his pain ) with much affection , wherein he said , the pain of the teeth was great , but the pain of hell was greater . on tuesday , the day before he dyed , after some time spent in prayer both by him and h. b. being full of joy , he expressed himself thus : o my dear friend , what a welcome shall i give you when you come to heaven , and say to you , come see , come see , this is the glory that you told me of : but all that you ever told me , was nothing to what i have found : o what a place is this ! o how shall we love one another then ! sure it cannot be , but heaven must be a glorious place , where god , christ , and angels be . the night before he dyed , a minister came to thomas savage , and after other serious discourse , sor satisfaction of a christian friend that had seen him before , he demanded of him , what were now the grounds of his hopes of salvation ? he made this reply , god both in infinite mercy made me deeply sensible of great sins , and not only of them , but of the vileness of my heart and nature , and god hath made me to abhor my self for my sins , and i hope truly to repent of them : for that which hath been the delight of my soul , is now as bad as hell ; and god hath given me to see , that all my own prayers and tears , and all the prayers of all the good people that come to me , are not able to save . a christ alone ; i throw my self at the feet of christ for mercy , and if i perish , i will perish there . i feel longings and breathings after christ , and love him more than my life : i long to be with him ; and i would not be to live any longer : this world is a little hell because of sin . i fear not death , for i hope the sting of it is taken out for me . this last night before his death , he desired us to sit up with him , in order to his better preparation for the great work he had to do the next day , that we might wrestle with god on his behalf , that when death approacheth so near unto him , he might have some nearer accesses unto god into his soul , that when pale death stared him in the face , he might see gods smiling countenance , which opportunity we readily embraced , and spent the former part of the night in prayer , till two of the clock in the morning ; about which time he desired us to go down into the lodge , that he might have some part of the night for prayer and meditation alone , and to discourse a while with his friend mr. baker , to whom he most of all did open his very heart , and spake more freely to , than to any other ( whom for that reason we left with him ) and when we were gone down , his friend being with him , who told us afterwards , he fell into admiration , and said , what a prodigy am i ? what a wonder of mercy that god should encline the hearts of his ministers to come and pray with me ! and pour out their souls in prayer thus for me ! for me a murtherer , for me a drunkard , for me so vile and sinful ! well , i cannot but love god ; and though i go to hell , yet i will love god for his goodness and graciousness to me already manifested in this world : yea , though i should be damned for my sin , yet i could and would love god. what , would they venture to come and pray with me a murtherer ? how did they know but i might have murthered some of them ? pray for me ! wrestle for me ; well , i know god loves ; i am sure god loves me . when he was in prayer , some of us heard him say , now lord i am coming to thee , thou art mine , and christ is mine ; and what need i be afraid of death ? lord , give me some sense and some sign of thy love , that when my soul shall be separated from my body , it may be received into glory . afterwards when he looked upon his cloaths he had put on to dye in , said , what have i got on my dying-cloaths ; dying-cloaths did i say ? they are my living-cloaths ; the cloaths out of which i shall go into eternal glory ; they are the best cloaths that ever i put on . about four of the clock in the morning ; we went up to him again , full of expectation what we would say to us , and what we should hear from him ; and t. d. stood behind him , and took his expressions as he spake them , from his own mouth : and first , he told us , i account it a great mercy that god hath shewed me the evil of sin , before he cast me into hell : sin hath not only brought my body to the grave , but my soul in danger of everlasting burning . the lord will have mercy on me , i hope ; i am filled with joy , i am no more afraid to die , than to stand in this place , the lord make me thankful . the lord hath been working on my soul , for it was not i that could pray , nor refrain from company , nor delight in any thing that is good : i have cause to bless god that ever i was taken , ( and this we have often heard him say ) for if i had escaped , i had gone on in my sin , and might have lost my soul for ever . one asked him , which he thought was worse , hell or sin ? using some gesture of body ; said , hell is very dreadful , but sin is worse then hell . because sin brings mens souls to hell , and sin is that which offendeth god. one asked him what he thought of heaven ? and he with a smiling countenance said , heaven ! it cannot be , but heaven must be an excellent place , for it is an holy place . we spake to him concerning his coffin that was by him , whether it did not trouble and amaze him to have it in his sight : he replyed , with all my soul i coul go into my coffin : oh ! it is a comfortable place ( he spake it with joy ) i can comfortably dye : i have found such a deal of joy and comfort , that i would not for a world have been without it . we enquired whether death did not affright him ; morning light will presently appear : he answered , death indeed did trouble me , but now not at all : i long for day , i am not daunted at death . dye , it is nothing : this life is nothing : but to dye eternally and to loose god , and christ , and heaven , that is death . hell-tormens is not so much , as to be shut from the presence of god. alas ! who would not dye this death to go to jesus christ ? when my body is upon the gibbet , my soul shall be carried by angels into heaven . my heart is so drawn out after god , that i could leave this world to be with him . this world is nothing , those that have the pleasures of it , have nothing : i desire to dye , because i long to be with christ , there i shall never sin more : there is no sin , but joy , where i shall sing hallelujahs and praise to god. we askt what he thought of the company of gods people ; for he had now experience of company good and bad : he said , i had rather be here , ( meaning the hole in newgate ) with bread and water with such company , then to have the company of wicked persons , with the greatest dainties . it was wicked company that drew me away . i account it the greatest mercy to have the prayers of gods people for me : had i had my deserts , i had been now in hell , where i should have had no prayers , no instructions : god doth love me , for he hath inclined the hearts of his people and ministers to pray for me , and their prayers have prevailed . being ask'd what promises he found to be his support against the guilt of sin , now he was to dye , he alledged these , repeating the words himself . whosoever will , let him come and drink of the waters of life freely : and , he that confesseth and for saketh his sin , shall find mercy : and , let the wicked for sake his way , and the unrighteous man his thoughts , and let him return unto the lord , and he will have mercy on him : and to our god , for he will abundantly pardon . this word ( abundantly pardon ) did often refresh his soul , i have sinned abundantly , but god will pardon abundantly . after these , he mentioned another , viz , this is a faithfull saying , and worthy of all acceptation , that jesus christ came to save sinners , of whom i am chief : and said , i do relie and throw my self upon jesus christ : i do believe there is merit enough in him , and all sufficiency in him to save me : it is nothing that i can do will save me . he complained , that it was the grief of his soul that he could love god no more , and love christ no more for his mercy toward him , in giving him so much time , and so many helps , in sending so many ministers to instruct him ; but added , when several ministers had been with me , i threw of all , and returned to sin , and did as vainly as any : i could not have repented and believed of my self , it is the work of god. he often said , i fear not death , it was nothing with him to die and go to christ . he often said , that he had rather die immediately , having an interest in christ than to live a thousand years in this world , in the enjoyment of all the pleasures of it , without christ . and that he had found more pleasure and delight in the ways of god since he came into prison , than ever he found in all the ways of sin . he confessed his sins , saying , he first neglected and profaned the sabbath ; and said , this was the beginning of all his wickedness , that on the sabbath morning he studied what company to go into , in what place of sin he might spend the sabbath , then to wicked society , then to ale-houses , then to brothel-houses , then to murther , then to theft , then to newgate , and yet at last he hoped to heaven . he lamented , saying , i have striven to dishonour god , and to run into sin : oh that i should spend so much time in serving of the devil , and now have but a little moment of time to spend in the service of god , and to the glory of god. this discourse being ended , we desired him now on his last morning before he went into eternity , to pray with us , and he willingly consented , and his prayer was as followeth , being taken from his mouth by thomas doe-little , that also took in writing his preceding discourse , verbatim . the prayer of tho. savage in newgate , with those that sat up with him the night before his execution . o most merciful and ever blessed lord god , i beseech thee , o lord , look down upon me , with an eye of pity , if it be thy blessed will : it is thy infinite mercy that i am on this side the grave , and out of hell : o lord , i have deserved to be cast into torments to all eternity . how have i offended thee , and run on in fin , and thought i could never do enough to abuse thy mercy ! pardon the sins that i have committed , wash that blood from off my soul ; let not me perish to eternity . it was an horrid crime to shed innocent blood ; pardon that sin ; o lord , let the blood of christ cry more for mercy than the blood of that creature cry for for vengeance . o lord , thou hast been merciful to me in giving me time to repent ; for ought i know her soul is undone for ever : lord forgive me , lord forgive me , i knew not what i did . forgive my sabbath-breaking , lying , cursing , forgive my drunkenness , blot them out of the book of thy remembrance , turn them away behind thee . lord , i have repented of them from my soul that ever i should offend a god so good , and so merciful , and gracious . i do believe on thee , and do wholly throw my self upon thee . i acknowledge it would be just in thee to damn my soul , but it will be infinite mercy in thee to save me ; and what free grace will it be in thee to pardon me ! it is dreadful to lose the body , but how dreadful will it be to lose the soul to all eternity ! lord , let it not be in vain that i had so many instructions : o let me not go down to hell , let my soul bless and praise thy name for ever , for what thou hast done for me ; thou hast been at work upon my heart , and thou hast helped me to repent , the lord be praised . lord , i desire to be more and more humble under the sence of my sins , for they are dreadful : there are many souls that have not committed those sins , that are now in hell , o what a mercy is it that i am not in those flames , in those devouring flames ! lord , as thou hast spared me here , spare me to eternity . let not my soul perish . lord , reveal thy self unto me , make known thy love unto me , tell me my sins are pardoned ; tell me that i have an interest in christ , before i go hence , and be seen no more ; that i might leave some testimony behind me , that i might tell thy ministers what thou hast done for me , and tell thy people what thou hast done for my soul. lord , this will not be onely for my satisfaction , but for thy glory : blessed lord , pardon the sins that i am guilty of , and take away this cursed base heart of mine , break this rocky stony heart in pieces , these sins of murder and drunkenness , &c. were in my heart before : i thought no eye did see me commit those sins , but thou didst see me : lord , turn my heart to thee , and take away this heart of stone , and take away this cursed nature ; for it was this cursed nature that brought me to these sins , and to this end ; and i was in danger of loosing my soul to all eternity : but lord , though i a great sinner , christ is a great saviour , he is able to save me from my sins , though they be never so great : i do believe , lord , i speak freely from my heart , so far as i know my heart , i do believe : it is my grief i can sorrow no more for my sins , which have been the cause of offending thee so long , and so much . one drop of thy blood sprinkled upon my soul , will pardon all my sins . lord , cross the black line of my sins , with the red line of thy blood : i am not able to answer for one vain thought , much less for all my horrid crimes , lord , save my immortal soul : that i might sing praise to thee to all eternity . thou hast pardoned manasseh , that was a great sinner , and mary , magdalen , and paul , that were great sinners , and the thief upon the cross ; and thy mercies are as great , thy mercy and thy love to repenting sinners is not shortned ; though my sins be great , yet thy mercies are greater then my sins : lord be with me in my death , then let me have some comfortable assurance of thy love unto my soul , of the pardon of my sins : do thou be my god and my guide now , and to all eternity , amen . this prayer he put up with much earnestness , with great brokenness of heart for sin , that all that joyned with him , were exceedingly affected , and blessed god for the spirit of prayer , they discerned god had so plentifully poured out upon him . after we had some other discourse with him , we took our leave of him , telling him we purposed to see him again at the place of execution . after two or three hours , when the time of his going from newgate drew near , we were willing to return to see him once more there : and the rather , because one minister that had not yet been with him , was desirous to visit him ; and then again after some few words with him , we asked him to go to prayer again once more , saying , now this will be the last time that we shall pray with you in this place . and he did perform this duty with great liveliness , that now he excelled himself , and the nearer he came to his end , the more fervently we perceived he prayed : but we took notice , that in this last duty in newgate he was much in praising god , and blessing god for his mercy to him , to our great astonishment . after a few words , when this duty was over , we took some of us our final farewell of him : and he , expressing his thanks to gods people for their prayers for him , and to the ministers for their love and pains with him , was commended by us to the grace of god , saying ' thomas , the lord be with you , the lord of heaven be with you , o the lord of mercy help you , and have compassion on you . this morning he expressed himself to his friend h. b. thus : oh my friend , we cannot tell how glorious a place heaven is : but if once i get thither , and could drop down a letter to you , and tell you of the glorious things i there shall find ; how would it rejoyce your heart ? and to his friend , parting with him said , i know god loveth me , and that i am going to the kingdom of heaven . the last speech of thomas savage at the place of his execution at ratcliff . gentlemen , here i am come to dye a cursed and ignominious death , and i most justly deserve it , for i have murthered a poor innocent creature , and for ought i know , have not only murthered her body , but if god had no more mercy of her soul , then i had of her body , she is undone to all eternity : so that i deserve not only death from men , but damnation from god. i would have you all that look upon me , take warning by me : the first sin i began with , was sabbath-breaking , whereby i got acquaintance with bad company , and so we went to the ale-house , from the ale-house to the bawdy house , there i was perswaded to rob my master , as also to murther this poor innocent creature , for which i am come to this shameful end . i was drawn aside i say , by ill company , pray take heed of that , for it will not only bring your bodies to the grave , but your soul to hell : have a care of neglecting the sabbaths , it is that which hath not only brought my body to the grave , but my soul in danger of eternal torments . and try the ways of god , for the lord be praised i have found so much of excellency and sweetness in gods ways , that i bless god that ever i came into a prison . and now , though i am leaving this world , i know i shall go to a better place : for i have repented from my soul for all my sins ; not because i am to dye for them , but to see that i should do that whereby i should deserve hell ten thousand times over , and so dishonour god. now the lord have mercy on my soul. the prayer of thomas savage at the place of execution . o most merciful , and for ever blessed lord god , i beseech thee look down upon my poor immortal soul , which now is taking its flight into another world , which now is ready to appear before thy barr . lord , i beseech thee prepare me for it , and receive my soul into the arms of thy mercy ; and though my body die , and i come to die this shameful death , yet let my soul live with thee for ever . lord pardon all the horrid sins that i have committed , the sabbath breaking , lying , swearing , cursing , vncleanness , and all the rest of my sins that ever i have committed . lord , give me a new heart , and give me faith that i may lay hold and throw my self fully and wholly upon thee : enable me , o lord , give me saving repentance , that i may come to thy bar , and thence be recieved into glory : let me not be a prey to devils to all eternity : let not my soul perish ; though my body die , let my soul live . lord let me not be shut out from thy presence , and let not all the prayers , and tears , and counsels , and instructions , that have been made and shed on my behalf , be in vain ; pity my poor soul . lord , my immortal soul ; lord , it would be just with thee to cast me into everlasting burning . i have been a great sinner , but christ is a great saviour . o lord , thou hast pardoned great sinners , and thou canst do it lord ; and lord , wilt thou not do it ! lord , let me not be a fire-brand in hell , and a prey to devils to all eternity , let me not then be shut up with devils and damned souls , when my soul takes its flight into another world. lord , i have repented for what i have done , from the bottom of my heart i have repented : and lord if thou wouldst damn me , thou wouldst be just : but how infinitely more would it be for the glory of thy free grace , to save such a sinner as i am : good lord pour down thy spirit upon my soul . o tell me that i have an interest in christs blood , good father , good lord , before i go hence lord i am willing , i am willing to leave this world : i can prize thee above all : there is nothing i can prize like to thee ; wilt thou not recieve my soul ? recieve it into thy arms , and say , come thou blessed of my father ; good father for jesus christs sake pity my poor soul , for pities sake . lord , it is not my prayers or tears will save my soul ; but if ever i am saved , it must be through free-grace , and the blood of christ ; and if there be not enough in that blood , lord , i am willing to be damned . lord , look down upon my poor soul ; and though i have been such a sinner , thou art able to pardon me , and wash me , apply one drop of thy blood to my soul , lord , my immortal soul , that is more worth then ten thousand worlds . it is true , lord , i confess i have taken a great deal of pleasure in sin , i have run on in sin , and could not invent where to go on thy day , and was wont to study into what place , and into what company i might go upon the sabbath day : forgive me , lord wash me , receive me into thy arms , o lord : oh for one glimp of mercy : lord if thou wilt please to reveal thy self to me i shall tell it to all that behold me . it is a mercy , lord , that i am not in hell , and that thou showest me the bitterness of sin before i come into hell : it is a mercy , lord , that i have had the prayers , converse , and instructions of so many of thy ministers and people . lord , recieve my soul , one smile , lord , one word of comfort for jesus sake . oh , let me not go out of this world , let not my soul perish : though i killed a poor innocent creature , lord , deal not with me as i dealt with her ; but pity me , pity me for jesus christ sake , amen . one asked him in the cart , well now , thomas , how is it with your soul ? what sense have you of god's love ? he answered , sir ▪ i thank god through infinite mercy , i find god loves me , and that now i can chearfully go . after his cap was over his eyes , he used these expressions . lord jesus recieve my spirit . lord one smile . good lord one word of comfort for christs sake : though death make a separation between my soul and body , let nothing separate between thee and my soul to all eternity . good lord hear me . good father hear me . o lord jesus receive my soul . vvhilst he did thus pathetically express himself to the people , especially to god in prayer , there was a great moving upon the affections of those who stood by , and many tears were drawn from their eyes by his melting speeches . all this was the more remarkable in this young man , being under sixteen years of age when he was first apprehended . after he was turned off the cart , he strugled for a while , heaving up his body , which a young man ( his friend ) perceiving , to put him quickly out of his pain , struck him with all his might on the breast several times together , then no motion was perceived in him ; and hanging some considerable time after that , and as to all outward appearance dead , insomuch as one said to another friend of his , namely mr. b. now he is in eternity ; and the people beginning to move away , the sheriff commanded him to be cut down , and being receiv'd in the arms of some of his friends , he was conveyed by them into a house not far distant from the place of execution , where being laid upon a table , unto the astonishment of the beholders , he began to stir and breath , and rattle in his throat , and it was evident his life was whole in him ; from the table he was carried to a bed in the same house , where he breathed more strongly , and opened his eyes and his mouth ( though his teeth were set before ) and offered to speak , but could not recover the use of his tongue ; but his reviving being known within an hour the officers came to the house where he was , and conveyed him to the place of execution again , and hung him up again , until he was quite dead , whence he was carried by his mourning friends to islington , where he now sleepeth in the bed of his grave , until the morning of the resurrection , from whence , though buried in dishonour , he will then be raised in glory . thus you have had the relation of one that was but young in years , but old in wickedness : you have read of his sabbath-breaking prophaness , swearing , lying , stealing , drunkenness , fornication , and the like sins , which he confessed himself frequently and deeply guilty of : and to compleat and fill up the measure of his sins he added to the rest the horrid sin of murther . i believe you have scarcely heard of sin grown up to such maturity in so short a time as it did in him , who when he was imprisoned , was under sixteen years of age . and what could any expect should be the issue and product of sin arriv'd to such perfection , but death and wrath , and the vengeance of eternal fire ? but behold here an instance of free-grace ! his sins did abound , but gods grace did super abound . sometimes god doth sow the seed of grace in the heart that is most unlikely to receive it ; and reapeth great glory to his name by pardoning great sins . vve read that when ephraim was bent upon wickedness , so that a man could hardly expect the restraining of gods anger any longer , but that it should kindle in his breast , and break forth in a flame , to devour a people so rebellious ; yet the lord expresseth himself in a way of wonderful mercy and astonishing free-grace , hos . . , . how shall i give thee up , o ephraim ? how shall i make thee as admah ? how shall i set thee as zeboim ? my heart is turned within me : ( not against ephraim , but towards him ) my repentings ( not mine anger ) are kindled together , i will not execute the fierceness of mine anger . and the reason is not drawn from any thing in ephraim to move him , but only from himself , for i am god and not man. if one man had been so provoked by another , and it had lain in the power of his hand to have avenged himself on his enemy , surely he would not have spared or shewn any favour . but because he is god and not man , whose thoughts are not like our thoughts , and whose mercies are not like our mercies , but further removed above them , then the heavens are removed above the earth : in comparison with whose mercies , our most tender mercies are not less then cruelty : therefore because he is god and not man , and herein would act like himself , he hath pity , and sheweth favour unto ephraim . take another instance in israel , who had made god to serve with his sins , and wearied him with his iniquities , having pressed god herewith , as a cart is pressed with sheaves , and nothing but vengeance could rationally be expected , and that god should say as at another time ( for god doth not shew such favour to all , and at all times , that the freeness of it might be the more evident ) ah , i will ease me of my adversaries , and avenge me on my enemies , and i , even i , am he that will make such audacious sinners see , and feel , what an evil and fearful thing it is to affront and provoke me : yet read how graciously god pardoned israel , declaring the ground of it to be only for the glory of his own name , isa . . . i , even i , am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake , and will not remember thy sins . surely no motive from this young mans person , or any good previous disposition ( he being so exceeding vitiated by such defiling sins ) could in the least encline god to have mercy upon him ; but the motive was taken from himself and his own bowels . he had mercy on him , only because he would have mercy , and compassion , only because he would have compassion . if some , yea many , are passed by , who have escaped the more gross pollutions which are in the world , through lust , and never committed such god-provoking sins as you read in the narrative that he committed , but for lesser faults are punished everlastingly , when god hath had mercy upon him , and thrown the skirt of his love over him , and wrought a gracious change in him , we must say with our saviour , mat. . . even so father , because it so seemed good in thy sight . it is through free grace that any are saved ; but in the salvation of such a one , god hath demonstrated the exceeding riches of his grace towards him , through jesus christ . eph. . . let not any from this example of gods free grace , presume to continue and indulge themselves in a sinful course , hoping to obtain mercy at the last , as he hath done , and so turn god's glory into shame , and his grace into wantonness : for it is a rare example , hardly again to be parallel'd : will a man run himself through the body , because some have been healed of such wounds ? will a man drink down poyson , because some by an antidote have expelled the poyson , and escaped with life ? is not presumption the bane and ruine of millions of souls ? may not god cut you off in the act of some of your sins , and not give you time for repentance ? and if life doth continue , may not he deny you the grace of repentance ? doth not custom and continuance in sin , harden your heart , and fasten you in satans chains ? hath not god threatned , that such who cry peace , peace , to themselves , though they walk after the imagination of their own hearts , to add drunkenness to thirst : that he will not spare them , but his anger and his jealousie shall smoak against them , and that he will blot out their name from under heaven , deut. . , . the great improvement which should be made of gods gracious dealings with this young man , is for all to admire god's free-grace ; and especially for poor distressed souls that are upon the brink of hell in their own apprehensions , and are ready to despair of gods mercy because of the greatness of their sins , to take encouragement from hence , and hopes that there may be mercy in store for them : they have not been murderers , whatever their sins have not been , and if a murderer hath been received into favour , why may not they hope ? let such think with themselves , that it is free grace hath saved him , and let them sue out at the throne of grace , for the same grace which is freely tendred unto them . a recollection out of this narrative of those passages ; from which in charity we do conclude that the work of grace was really wrought in his soul : or the evidences of t. s. of his title to eternal happiness . . he bitterly lamented his sins , and loathed himself for them , especially as they were against a good and gracious god , according to psal . . . and luk. . . . he was deeply sensible of , and grieved for the corruption of his heart , from whence his actual sins did proceed , according to psal . . . . he mourned over his back-slidings , because god was thereby dishonoured . . he found it hard to believe , yet professed , he would roll himself , and relie upon the merits of christ alone for salvation ; and if he perished , he would perish there . . he was much in a little time in duty , yet did profess himself , he saw the insufficiency of them to justifie or save him , according to phil. . . . he made choice of christ before all , before life it self , according to phil. . . . he longed for the morning when he was to dye , because he desired to be with christ , according to ph. . . . he greatly loved god , because much was forgiven him , according to luk. . . and said though god should damn him , yet he could and would love god. . he loved the company of gods people , and professed he had rather be with gods people in prison with bread and water , than with the ungodly with liberty and greatest dainties , according to jo. . . . he blessed god that ever he was taken and imprisoned ; thinking it better to be in chains , and brought to dye , than to go on in sin . . he was most broken and melted for his sins , when those that came to visit him , were gone from him , and not in their presence ; when hypocrites mourn before others , and are less affected when alone : yet this was sometimes his trouble , lest god should lose the glory of the work he had wrought in him . ( this was observed by one that was usually with him , when others went from him . ) . he wept for joy at that time , when he could not find that god loved him , that he was not cursing , and swearing , and singing against god as others did , and he himself , formerly . . he found and tasted more sweetness in the ways of god , in praying and mourning for sin , than ever he found in the commission of sin . . he accounted sin to be worse than hell . . he had a spirit of prayer given to him so plentifully , that it was an astonishment to many that joyned sometimes with him , considering how ignorant he was a little before , according to act. . . for behold he prayeth . . he looked upon the loss of god , more than the torments of hell , and feared it more . . he prized heaven , because there he should sin no more . these were his own expressions , and what we observed that were frequently with him : and reader , do thou pray and watch , that thou mayst not be guilty of this young mans sins , but pray and labour that thou mightest obtain the like evidences for heaven . a relation of what passed in the imprisonment , and at the execution of hannah blay . h. b. belonged to a bawdy-house in ratcliff , where t. s. used to frequent , and was always welcome so long as his money lasted : his money being gone , h. b. presently puts him upon robbing of his master , which he could not easily accomplish by reason of the diligence of the servant-maid , and to murther the maid rather than fail of getting money , which he accordingly did , and goes again to h. b. and tells her what he had done , then flies : but the justice of god pursued him so fast that he was soon apprehended , and committed to newgate . after he had accused h. b. for putting him upon the murder , she was apprehended and committed also . at the sessions she was indicted and condemned for being accessary to the murder committed by t. s. in the time of her imprisonment , she was very rude , and debauched , being seldom sober , except at such times when she could not by no means procure drink to be drunk withal . she often endeavoured for to make t. s. drunk with her , which she once or twice effected , and endeavoured very much to draw him off from his repentance , by driving his old trade of sin and wickedness , if any advised her to repentance , and to take care for the future estate of her soul , she would laugh at them , and reply in some such language as she had learned in the devils school , with which she was well stored . she was from that sessions reprieved till the next , fully perswading her self she should escape that bout , and spending her time according to her former course of living , taking as little care what should become of her soul , as though she had never offended a gracious god , and as if there was no devil to torment her , nor hell to be tormented in : but now sessions being again come , and she again brought down to the sessions-house in the old-baley , had sentence to be executed at ratcliff , where the fact was committed . the night before her execution , the ordinary of newgate came to administer the sacrament to her , which she refused , saying , she could not dye in charity with some , whom she named , judging them the cause of her second judgment , and execution . the next day , being friday , feb. . she was conveyed in a cart from newgate to the place of execution , where she ended her wicked life by a shameful death , without the least sign of sorrow or repentance for her abominable whoredoms and wickedness . tim . . flee also youthful lusts . i am come this day to speak to you in the name of a dying man , and dyings mens words should leave living-affections , and lasting-impressions upon the hearts of the hearers : nay , that which is infinitely more , i am come to speak to you in the name of the living god ; and therefore , i beseech you , be serious : remember that we are not now about a laughing-business ; it is no less than for lives and souls ; and , for all that i know , as you demean your selves now , it may fare with you to all eternity : and if that will make you mind what i say the more , know this , that what i shall now speak , is but a comment upon what was yesterday delivered in brief , from one that was in perfect health , and in the grave the same day . and who knows whether there be not some here alive , and in health , that before to morrow morning shall be lumps of clay , and this the last sermon that ever they shall hear ? wherefore , i beseech you sirs , if you love the life of your souls , hearken as if you expected to dye as soon as my sermon were ended . the shortness of my time will give me leave to spend no time at all by way of reflection upon the context : but i shall immediately fall upon the words , as they lye before us : flee youthful lusts : in which you may observe . . an act , flee . . the object , lusts . . the quality of the object youthful lusts , the doctrine that i shall take notice of from these words , is this : doct. that it is the great duty of young people , to be exceeding careful to avoid the sins which usually attend their age . or if you please , that it highly concerns young men to flee youthful lusts . it 's no cowardise to flee from sin . in the prosecution of this doctrine , i shall shew , . what are the common sins of young people . . what it is to flee from youthful lusts . . why they should flee from youthful lusts . . i shall apply it . i shall name some of those sins which young ones are subject to . first , young people are very apt to be disobedient to their parents or masters . o how great a rarity is it , to see young people as ready to obey , as their parents are to command ! most children are children of belial , that is , without a yoak . let parents command , advise , nay , intreat , all 's to little purpose . how ready are they to break the bond which god and nature lay upon them to dutifulness ! though the command of god be plain enough ; though his threatnings are terrible ; and though this sin seldom goes unpunished in this life , yet children take little or no notice of them . one would think that one scripture should scare them , prov. . . the eye that mocketh at his father , and despiseth to obey his mother , the ravens of the valley shall pick it out , and the young eagles shall eat it . what is the english of that ? why , they shall come to an untimely end . have not the sad complaints of many at tiburn , sufficiently demonstrated this to be true ? have not many cryed out with a halter about their neck , children , if you value your lives and souls , take heed of disobeying your parents . that was the sin which brought me to this untimely and shameful end . . another youthful sin is , lying . poor children quickly learn this lesson of their father the devil . it is not without good reason that the psalmist , psal . . . gives such a character of wicked children which went astray from the womb , telling lyes ; and the older they grow , the more skil'd they be in this devilish art : it 's likely they are ignorant that it is a sin that cuts the bonds of all society : it may be they are told how dear ananias and sapphira paid for one lye , act. . . nay , though the word of truth tell them more than once , that lyars must dwell with their father the devil , in that black prison , hell ; though they hear of a lake of fire and brimstone that burns for ever , rev. . . and that such as they are , must be cast into it : yet for all this they 'l venture still . . sabbath-breaking is another youthful sin . o how little do most of the young people of this city mind the sanctifying of the sabbath ? doth not the multitude of apprentices and children that wander up and down moorefields on the lord's day , speak this to be too true ? they dare not make bold with their masters time on the week-days : but as for god's day , that they spend as if god had set apart one day in the week for young people to sleep , drink , and play in : they dare as well eat a piece of their fingers almost , as to do that on another day , which they do then ; and the truth of it is , they look upon the displeasure of a dying man as terrible ; but the anger of a holy god they make light of . o little do they think what precious time that is ! their souls are naked , and they then may have cloathing ; they are starving , and they may then have food , the market is then open , provisions for eternity may then be had . but , o prodigious madness ! the hearts of most young ones speak in this language : as for christ , heaven , and soul , let them go , we have better things to think on , more weighty matters to mind . and it is true indeed , o young man : what is the company of vain wretches , like thy self ; the wanton embraces of a whorish woman , the turning off thy cups , and damnation , more needful than the hearing of sermons , than praying , and reading , and salvation ? sure you should not alwaies be of that mind ! o little do you imagine how dear you shall pay for all the pleasures you have on the sabbath , out of gods house . this , this was the sin which lay like a load upon the soul of this poor young man , the profaning of the sabbath ; that was the bane of him . this carried him out of gods way into the devils quarters . o how bitterly did he bemoan himself for this sin , as the cause of all the rest ! of ( said he ) when i should have been begging the life of my soul i was plotting the death of my soul and body too . did none of you stand by the cart when he wept so bitterly , and cryed to the lord to forgive this great and dreadful sin ? did none of you hear how earnestly he begged of you to have a care of that sin , as you loved your lives and souls ? o wretch ( said he ) that i was ? i studied how i might spend the lords day in the devils wo●● ▪ i thought i could never dishonour god enough ; and that time that i should have served god most in , i did most for satan● in them then i play'd my mad pranks . i went into the church indeed sometimes , ( but i may speak it with shame and deep sorrow now ) i never heard one whole sermon all the while i was with my master ; and indeed i laugh'd at those that spent the sabbath in ●●aring of sermons , and praying ; and looked upon them as the ver●●●t fools in the world . i was glad when the sabbath came , that i might have time to run to my vile comrades . i rejoyced that i could then go to satisfie my cursed lusts with whorish women : o! tell young men from me , that the breaking of the sabbath is a costly & dangerous sin . sirs , the substance of this sermon i received from his mouth : and will you not believe a dying man ? do you think he did but jest ? 't was on the sabbath day he went to a whore , 't was on the sabbath he robbed his master , and 't was on the sabbath that he killed the maid . but because this sin is epidemical , i leave a short story with you , and desire you to think of it , and then if you like what follows , break the sabbath still . the story is this : a dear friend of mine was preaching about the sanctifying of the sabbath , and had occasion to make mention of that man , that by the special command of god was stoned to death for gathering sticks upon the sabbath-day . whereupon one of the congregation stood up and laughed , and made all the hast he could out of the church , and went to gathering of sticks , though he had no need of them , but when the people came from the sermon , they found this man stark dead , with the bundle of sticks in his arms , lying in the church-porch . and yet for all this , there stands a young man in that corner that makes nothing of idling away the sabbath : and there sits another that minds not the lord's day , except it be to get into wicked company , and take his pleasure in it . and how canst thou endure to hear of this , without trembling ? but i fear , thy heart is so hard , that thou art ready to rage against this reproof : well , if the case be so , i have done with thee ; but believe it , god hath not yet done with thee , and the devil hath not done with thee : and though thy conscience say nothing now , yet i tell thee , that hath not done with thee neither : let none think i am tedious upon this head : if young men will but reform this sin , i promise i will never tell them of it more . christians , ( i hope that there be some such here ) would it not be a blessed sight to see the fields , the taverns , the whore-houses empty , and the churches full ? would it not be a blessed reformation ? o when shall it once be ! which is the sweeter musick , to hear the air eccho with the confused hollowing and roaring of lewd young men , playing upon the lords day , or to hear the sound of singing of psalms , repeating of sermons , praying , reading of scriptures ? which is like to end best ? isa . . . amos. . isa . . . . ezek. . . . another youthfull sin is mis-spending of time , young ones think they have time enough before them , and therefore make nothing of trifling it away . how far are most from following the apostles counsel ▪ in redeeming of the time ? what do you think many hours discourse of filthy bawdy stories , is that redeeming of time ? is sitting up whole nights to play at cards and dice redeeming of time ? is robbing your selves of sleep , to lye in the bosom of dalilah , redeeming time ? if this be redeeming of time , then some of our young ones , and many of our gallants , redeem time bravely . 't was a notable one , that of seneca ; if ( saith he ) one ask me for my purse , i am not very willing to give it him ; if he beg my estate , i think it a mad request ; but if he ask me to pass away time with him , two or three days of time , i pass not much upon it , but it 's easily granted : and thus one of the most precious things in the world is vilified . o little do people think how glad they shall be one day of one of those hours that they spent in foolery oh call time again , will be the language of more then one , upon a death-bed . could you talk with some of the mad young ones that are in hell , that lived five or six years ago in as much pleasure as you do now , and spent their time like you , but it may be little dreamed of being in hell so soon , but might reckon of forty or fifty years to live ; could you i say , talk with them , and ask them what they think of time now : they would quickly say , oh a world for one praying hour . oh where are the people to be found that seriously consider that there is not a moment of time but we must be accountable for . 't was excellently spoke of that poor young man when he was in newgate amongst the common prisoners ; one sabbath-day they asked him to play at cards with them ? oh ( saith he ) you and i have something else to do with our time , than to play at cards : is it now a time for us to be sporting away the sabbath , when we have but one poor sand left to work for eternity ? . another youthful sin is , keeping bad company . are there not many of the devils emissaries , that make it their business to decoy poor young ones ? o what a happiness do they promise them ! a goodly happiness indeed , to carry them to the devil ! 't was not without cause that david ( in psal . . . ) did pronounce them blessed that had least to do in wicked company : whatever deluded creatures think of their mad jovial company ; one that is well in his wits , looks upon their society as an emblem of hell , psal . . the young man upon whose account we are here met this day , told me , that two or three wicked fellows first got him out to spend a penny ; but little did he think whither they were leading of him ; and after they had been at one place , they carried him to another , till at last they brought him to that house , out of which few go without their deaths-wound . this was the general complaint of them that went this last assizes to tiburn . and yet how are silly souls pleased with such company , whose greatest kindness is to make them go merrily to hell ? and are they still such sweet natur'd creatures , that you can't love too much , who do what they can possibly to deprive you of your truest happiness , and make you miserable for ever ? o how will your boon companions greet one another in hell , nay , it may be upon earth too ? i remember i was once with a drunkard that lay a dying , and after i had prayed with him , in comes one of his old companions in sin , and askt him how he did : at which he was ready to gnash his teeth , and made this dreadful reflection concerning him to me , o that , that was the wicked wretch that drew me away : if it had not been for him , i had not been in so lamentable a condition upon a death-bed , prov. . , . . the sixth youthful sin is , cursing and swearing . how ready are young ones to learn the language of their father ? it was not long since that i heard a little boy swear at every sentence he spoke . o what will such be when they come to be old , if they begin so soon ? scarce creep on their feet , and yet running post to hell ! oh how many are there of this daring generation , that bend their tongues like bowes , and shoot those arrows against heaven , which will fall down dipt in the poyson of divine fury . it would make one's heart ake , to hear how some belch out their hellish oaths , to hear how cruelly they rake in the wounds of christ , and crucifie him afresh ; not considering , that at the same time they are butchering of their own souls ; and if one tell them of their swearing , how ready are they to swear ? that they did not swear ? and turn and laugh , as if it were a creditable thing to be like the devil , and an honour to make hast to hell . o how many are there of this black crew , that brave it out with their damn-me , and sink-me , and oaths as if they would dare the almighty to his very face , and as if there were little of truth in gods threatnings , and his anger a very light matter ! o sinner ! what if god should take thee at thy word , when the next damn-me is in thy mouth ? and stop thy breath with an oath in thy mouth ? what if god should go to cursing too ? do you know what a dreadful word that is , go thou cursed ! o! what if god should swear too . that thou shalt never enter into his rest ? couldst thou but see the flaming tongues of those horrid sinners that know what the meaning of that word damn-me , is : couldst thou but see how they bite those tongues for madness , it may be it would make thee think , that an oath is no such light matter . you say , words are but wind : but believe it , this wind will rise to such a storm as will not be allay'd without deep repentance , till it hath blown thee into hell . did you never read the third of mal. ver . . i will come near to judgements and i will be a swift witness against the false swearers , and such as fear not me , saith the lord of hosts . but you 'l say , your tongues are your own ; who is lord over us ? psal . . . you shall hear one shortly that will answer that question , and let you know , that he is lord over that , and that your own tongue shall be made to condemn you . but what is it that i see ? how does that swearing wretch storm and rage there at me , for telling him of his sins ? come , come , sinner if you spare not god , i promise you i will not spare you , and i tell thee , what thou hearest , is nothing to what thou shalt feel . . the next youthful lust that i shall mention , is drunkenness . do not many ( i wish old ones were not here too guilty ) act as if their business in this world was to eat and drink , and take their pleasures ? the devil bids them read that text , eccles . . . rejoyce o young ; and they are easily perswaded to take his counsel : and so they drink , and roar , and consider not what a reckoning will be brought at last : neither do they stand till they have read the latter part of that verse ; but know , that for all these things god will bring thee to judgment . not considering the meaning of that whole scripture , which is but this : go , young man , lye at the taverns and ale-houses , do , drink ; and be drunk ; but remember this , you shall be damn'd for 't , and god will make you take off t' other cup , whether you will or no , and that is a cup spiced with wrath and fury . but you see not , neither do you yet feel it ; and therefore you do but laugh at all this : you say with those in matth. . , my master delays his coming ; and therefore you eat and drink with the drunkards , you say , let him talk till his heart akes , i will never leave my pleasure for you ; why man ! wilt thou then be desperate ? dare you say , i 'le drink , though there be death in the pot , though hell be at the bottom of the cup ? or do you think that god will be worse than his word ? and , that though he threaten high , yet he means no such matter ? o sinner : deceive not thy self ; and if thou forget the rest , carry home but that one text , deut. . , . if any one hear the word of this course , and yet bless himself in his heart , saying , i shall have peace , though i walk in the imagination of mine own heart , and add drunkenness to thirst , the lord will not spare him , &c. do you read on , and read it again , and think of that scripture the next time that you sit down to your cups . little do poor creatures think how dreadful a sin drunkenness is , and how many it bringeth with it . i 'le tell you of one story of my own knowledge , and then i shall leave this . a certain drunkard that i knew very well , when he was in drink , quarrelled with his fellow-servant , and after a few words , knocked him down with his flail , and killed him at one blow . afterwards , by friends he made shift to escape the halter , and comes home again , and swears , and curses , and drinks at as high a rate as ever : but at last , when he was in the same yard where he did this murder , he dropt down dead in a moment , and i was one of the first that saw him . . another youthful sin is , vncleanness . is not england too near a kin to france ? do not many of our young ones act as if they took pattern by sodom and had learned of gomorrah ? jeremiah made sad complaint , jer. . . and are we less guilty ? doth not the scripture speak plain enough against this sin ? though the pope count it a venial fault , yet those that are guilty of it , will find , that his pardon will give them little ease when they are cast into a bed of flames . sure our hot young men seldom read the book of proverbs , but act as if that simple young man ( prov. . . ) did run no great hazzard : what was it that brought thomas savage to theft and murder ? what brought him to that shameful death ? o how bitterly did he take on , that he should ever see the face of that vile woman ! o! had he but considered whether he was going , and that most of her guests go to hell : had he but thought seriously how bitter that sin would prove , i believe he would have lain in flames as soon as with that abominable woman . did none of you hear what he said when he was upon the cart ? did none of you see with what earnestness he spoke ? why , this was one great thing that he begged of you young ones , as his dying request , that you would have a care of this sin . . the next youthful sin that i shall mention , is theft , drunkenness and vncleanness , are two costly sins , especially the latter , and poor creatures are usually so bewitched with that , that credit , purse , body , soul , and all must go , rather than that beastly sin should not be gratified . how many servants are there that wrong their masters , imbezil their goods , and secretly wast them by the fore-mentioned sin ? and i believe i need not tell you what a tragical end theft hath . that prodigy of her sex , and disgrace of women , could not be satisfied with wine and good cheer ; her purse must be fed as well as her stinking carcase : what do you come hither ( said she ) for , without money ? why , where shall i have it , said he ? what , hath your master none ? replied that monster , yes , said he ; but i never wronged him , neither can i. nay , said she , if you be thereabouts , come no more here . but alas ! the poor creature is insnared , so that he cannot but go to ask councel of this daughter of the devil , how he should manage his matters , so as to get that money which his master had . she makes a ready reply , and adviseth to murther the maid , to bury the theft . o that unfaithful servants would think of these things , and now and then read that scripture , tit. . . and luke . . i should here speak something of the bloody sin of murder ; but the word of god , the laws of men , the power of conscience , and the signal judgments of god against such , puts me in some hope that i need not much insist upon that . i shall add but one sin more . . another youthful sin is , incorrigibleness . how resolutely do most young ones go on in their sins ? how hardly brought so much as to debate the business soberly with themselves or others ? how do they flye in the face of them which reprove them ? as if it were ten times a greater fault for to reprove sin , than to commit it . nay , some are come to that height , that they make but a mock of hell and judgment , as well as sin , isa . . . but these are so vile a generation , that i have little hopes of prevailing with them , psal . . , . jer. . . gen. . . ii. the next thing i proposed to speak to , was , to shew you what it is to flee sin . in this i shall be very brief . . not to commit it . take not up this serpent , for it hath a deadly sting in the tail of it . embrace not this dalilah , for she will betray thee , hast away , avoid it ; if you do not , it is as much as your life , the life of your soul , is worth , isa . . . . flee , that is , avoid the very occasions of sin . it 's ill jesting with edg-tools . they are safest , that are farthest from it . a hundred to one but thou art caught , if thou play with the bait. who , but a mad man would take strong poyson into his mouth , and say that he will then spit it out ? who would choose to sleep upon the top of a mast ? believe it , sin is one of the most dangerous things in the world , and he that tampers with it , plays with hell , and is sporting with the devil , thes . . . . flee ; that is , hate it with a perfect hatred . say , what have i to do with idols any more ? how shall i do this , and sin against god ? labour for a spiritual antipathy against sin , and to loath it , as david and paul , yea , as god himself , psal . . . . flee , and perswade others to flee : for the danger is not unconsiderable . tell others what sin will prove at last , and perswade them to consider what the wages of such work will be , psal . . . iii. why should we flee youthful lusts ? . because our captain bids us flee : we have his commission , nay , his absolute command : may i not say , his entreaty too ? what is the meaning of all those pathetical expostulations , turn , you , turn you ; why will you dye ? why doth he bid us to beseech you to look about you ? what is the design of all the scripture ? wherefore do we preach and pray ? methinks the ministers of christ should be like those angels that warned lot to flee out of sodom , and when he lingred , they pulled him , and bid him hast , and flee for his life . i might be infinite in scriptures for the proof of this , psal . . , . . because of the danger of not fleeing . if the wrath of god , if hell and damnation , if everlasting misery be to be avoided , then sin is : for as sure as god is true , sinners must be damned if they flee not sin . . because of the benefit that we shall have by fleeing sin . we shall be everlastingly secured . if heaven and glory be worth the getting , if happiness and salvation considerable , if a kingdom and crown be worth the having , this may be obtained by fleeing from sin . application . iv. vse . is it so , that it is our duty to flee youthful lusts ? then let all this congregation of young men and women , consider how well they have obyed the command . sirs , be faithful to your souls , and ask your selves speedily , what you have done ? young men , are you guilty , or not guilty ? it 's better you should be asked this question at the bar of conscience , than at the bar of god's judgement . children , how say you , are you as ready to obey , as your parents are to command ? doth not your conscience tell you , that you can tell a lye to cover a fault , and yet not be much troubled ? some of you are come here this day to hear news , more than to hear your sin reproved : but where are you on the sabbath-day ? may not i see you idling in the streets , and sitting at your doors ? nay , may i not see you in the companny of wicked creatures , in an ale-house ? well , sinner , well ; the reckoning will come up by and by . i pray tell me , how do you spend your time ? is it in your chamber upon your knees , and at your honest callings , and in civil and christian society ? who are the persons that you take most delight in ? are they those that discourse of god and their souls , and warn one another with words of grace ? vvhat think you of cursing and swearing ? do you fear an oath ? or do you think the deepest oaths the best rhetorick , and most graceful , if i may so speak , to your discourse ? vvhat language do you speak , the language of canaan , or the languague of ashdod ? can you stretch your selves upon beds of ivory , and drink vvine from morning to night , and look upon this as the only life ? is it not a pleasant thing to lye in the embraces of wanton vvoman ? and cannot you use unseemly dalliance , and say , am i not in sport ? did you never wrong your master in your life ? and dare you do so still ? and how would you take it , if i should come to you , and tell you roundly of all your sins ? could you bear it if i should come close to you and set hell and damnation before you ? young men i beseech you answer me ; i tell you again it 's better for you that i should ask you this question here , than god hereafter . vvell , have you put it to your conscience ? and are you guilty ? i must tell you plainly , i cannot but think that abundance of this congregation are in many of these sins deeply guilty ; and yet there stands a slye sinner , no more affected then the ground he treads on : thou think'st i do not know thee ; but that , if possible , i may stop thee before thou com'st to the gallows , and hell , i shall do what i can , for my soul to reach thee : wherefore give me leave , in the next place , to speak one word by way of conviction . young people , i am not come this day to tell you news ; my business is not to tickle your ears , but to do what i can possibly to keep you from that place of shame , the gibbet ; and that place of torment , hell. i believe here are many , that i shall never see nor speak to while the world stands ; and that our next meeting will be before the judgment-seat of christ : and therefore i must tell you i must not jest with you . i speak to those that are guilty : you know well enough who i mean. let me ask you soberly . do you believe that there is a god ? and that he is privy to all you do ? and dare you outface god with your wickedness ? or do you make account his eye is nothing , so man do not know : can you so ? believe it , sinner , you will shortly know that god , and your conscience are witnesses enough to cast you : and is this nothing : are not the threatnings of a god to be regarded : shall the lyon roar , and will not such a beast as you tremble ? know this , as stoutly as you brave it out now , you will shortly quake . but you are resolved , come on what will , venture you will. but hold , sinner , i prithee let 's reason the case a little ; do not act like a fool and a mad-man : were you ever in newgate ? do you know what a prison is ? are fetters such desireable things ? hath the devil done you so much kindness , as that you must venture your liberty for his sake ? come tell me , sinner , what good did the devil ever do for thee willingly ? is it worth thy while to do and fuffer so much for one that never intended any good to any in the world ? consider a little , young man , is it nothing to come gingling in your chains before an earthly judge ? is the sight of the bench nothing ? is it nothing to have your villany laid open before the world ? how do you think you shall look , when evidences comes in clear , and the jury shall cast you ? what , brave it out still ! but what will you say when the judge shall pass sentence upon you , to be carried from thence to the prison , and from that , to the place of execution ? is it nothing to have ten thousand spectators , of your shameful end ? but methinks i hear some of that hellish rout laughing , and saying , it is but a swing or two , and then all 's over , their misery 's at an end . but hold there , sinner , then thy misery will begin ; for thou shalt appear immediately before the bar of god , and there receive another sentence ten thousand times more dreadful than the former , vvhat , do you make nothing of that dreadful word , depart thou cursed ? and then immediately the devil takes your soul . he waits for his prey ; and thou must be reserved in chains of darkness , in unspeakable and unavoidable torments , to the judgment of the great day , and then thy cursed body and soul shall meet . o what a dreadful greeting will that be , when both body and soul shall be cast into everlasting flames ! vvell , young man , now what do you say ? is it best venturing still ? but it may be thou beginst to think , what a strange censorious man is this ? such preaching is enough to make one out of their wits ! what , is there no such thing as repentance ? a grace , a god one may be saved for all your railing . vvhat do you think of t. savage ? did not he repent : i hope you will not say that he is in hell. no indeed , for i verily believe that he is a saint in glory : but how do you know whether god will give you repentance ? i must tell you , he is a singular instance , such a one as we shall scarce hear of in an age : and i remember , that he that is oft reproved , and hardens his heart , shall suddenly be destroyed , and that without remedy . but though i speak thus , brethren , i hope better things of many here , and things that do accompany salvation . i am perswaded here are some young ones that had as lief venture their lives as indulge themselves in the fore-mentioned youthful lusts . i think i have ground to say what i do : brethren , i beseech you make not my boasting void , neither let me be ashamed of my confidence . i am perswaded , i say again , that some of you now hate what sometimes you did delight in , and though , it may be , in the days of your darkness you lived in your sins , yet now fear to fall into them , as much as you fear hell : courage my brethren , go on bravely , and the lord be with you ; you are the hopes and joy of old christians , they bless god from their heart to see such flowers in gods garden : hold but out , be strong , and quit you like men , and heaven shall be yours , as sure as if you were already there . . vse . i shall here speak something by way of advice to the masters of families and parents : it lies much in your power to set a stop to that mighty torrent of wickednesse that doth almost overflow this city . remember , sirs , what a dreadful sin the sin of murder is : what then do you think of those that murder souls , that starves souls ? how do you think god will take it at your hand , that you should be so careful that your work be done , and never mind his at all ? is it nothing to you , that one that dwells under your your roof , must dwell with everlasting burnings ? are you so barbarous , as to be indifferent whether your servants and children are damned or saved ? what can you answer , when those of your own house shall stand before the great god , and say , lord if it had not been for my master , i had never sinned against thee at that rate which i did : he never told me any thing of the danger of sin , he would be sure to call me up betimes to look after his business : if i neglected that , i should quickly hear of it : but as for the lords day , praying , or reading , or any thing that concerned god or my soul , i never was so much as reproved for the neglecting of them : o! if i had been but told of such a dreadful place as this , is , and what sin would end in , sure i should never have ventured as i did . sirs , i beseech you think how you shall answer such an accusation at the day of judgment , as sure as you live , you will then be speechless . parents me thinks you have something within you , to put you upon your duty : what ? have you no love at at all to the fruit of your bodies ? is it no great matter whether your children sink or swim ? would you be contented to see them in a house that is in a flame , and do nothing to get them out ? would you have your children fire-brands of hell for ever ? will you do nothing to rescue them from that devouring lion who would tear them in pieces ? can you bear to hear them cry out against you , and ready to fly in your faces ? doth it never trouble you to think what a greeting you shall have in another world when they shall curse the day that ever they saw you , when they shall say , i may thank you for this dreadful misery you never catechis'd me , nor told me one word of this place of torment ; you never corrected me for my sin : if you had , it may be i should not have lain under this intolerable anguish ? what do you say ; sirs , to these things ? methinks they call for your serious consideration : really , if these be not weighty matters , i know not what be , let me ask you in meekness , whether it be not a piece of the most barbarous cruelty in the world , to let your children and servants run to hell , without doing what in you lies to stop them ? but i hope , by this time , some of you are a little convinced of the dreadfulness of the loss of a soul , and are loth to have the guilt of the blood of souls to lie upon you for ever , and therefore begin to ask . what shall you do that you and yours may be saved , and your servants and children might escape the snares of satan , and flee youthful lusts ? are you in good earnest , friends ? and will you promise , as in the presence of god , that you will do what you can possibly , to discharge your duty , and to follow those directions that i shall give you ? in hopes that some are resolved , by the help of god , to do what in them lies for the keeping all under their charge from everlasting burnings : i shall advise you . . be good your selves , and labour to be paterns of holiness , and to shew your children and servants by your conversation that you your selves believe that there is a god , an immortal soul , heaven , hell , and eternity , let your language be savoury , and speak you to be one that hath been with jesus . let your actions be regulated by the word , and endeavour to let them know , that you are not in jest when you speak of god and their souls . psal . . , . . i charge you as in the presence of god , as you will answer the neglect of it at the bar of that great judge , take an exact account of your servants how they spend their time , what company they keep , what they do upon the sabbath , and if you would make any thing of religion , be as careful that the sabbath be spent in gods service , as the week-days in yours . i could tell you of a servant that was wont many a time and oft , to complain of his master , and say , if my master had ever examined me the text on the lords day , or called me to account where i had been , or what i had heard , i am perswaded i should never have come to so sad an end as i am now like to do . . instruct them oft in the matters that concern their eternal welfare . sirs , tell them , i beseech you , with all the earnestness that you can for your lives , of the danger of sin , give them wholesome advice ; tell them of the necessity of conversion : allow them a little time to pray and read , and let them know that you take notice of any thing that is good in them . . pray for them , cry to the lord mightily , and say , o that ishmael may live in thy sight : lord , hast thou not a blessing , o my father , for me and mine ? o pitty , dear lord my children and my servants , and let all under my roof , be of the houshould of faith , and of the family of the lord jesus . and now once more i beg you to be in earnest , 't will be the true●t evidence of the truth of your grace , to be faithful in this work . 't will be your joy upon a death-bed ; 't will be your crown in another world . vse . . one word by way of advice , to you young people : brethren , you saw yesterday what it was to fall into youthfull lusts ; and to day you have h●●rd something of the danger of these things . methinks by this time you should be in a rage 〈…〉 methinks you should all say , well , now i will never ●p●●● the sabbath day as i have done , i 'le never come near the company of vile women ; this i hope shall be a warning unto me as long as i live . are you ( in sober sadness ) of this mind ? oh that the lord would keep this always upon your hearts : o that you now may not get out into the cold world , and shake of the sense of these things . but do i not see some weeping eyes , and aking hearts ? and what dost thou say , poor soul ? o sir , i am the man you mean ! but is it possible for me to escape hell ? i have lived in almost all these sins for many a year ; what shall i do ? i shall answer this honest request , and the god of love and power set it home . . labour to be acquainted with the principles of religion : be much in reading of the scriptures ; search , and you will find never a word there to encourage sin , but all against it ; they will make you wise to salvation : consult the word , and you will escape the wrath to come , which shall surely fall upon all those that live and dye in their sins , psal . . . . labour to understand wherein your happiness lies : it lies not in riches , pleasures , and honours , but in the favour of god , psal . . . seek first the kingdom of heaven , and the righteousness thereof ; set your affections on things that are above , and not on things below . . to be sure , keep the sabbath strictly , and attend upon a powerful ministery . then is the time to buy provisions to live upon for ever . . keep good company . get out of wicked mens society . mark those that walk soberly , and that mind their souls , and make much of them ; and beg an interest in their prayers and take their advice . if you once grow weary of good company , i shall have but little hopes of you , and it 's a sign god means good to poor souls , when they are very desirous to be in with them that are dear to god. a warm christian-companion , o sirs , you cannot value him too highly , cor. . . pet. . heb. . . . take heed of sinning against conscience . let davids prayer be yours , psal . . . keep back thy servant from presumptious sins , let them not have dominion over me . . take heed of putting of repentance , remember now your creator , now is the acceptable time : o if you value your lives , make haste , and delay not an hour ; but go and fall upon on your knees , and beg of god to give you repentance unto life , give god no rest day nor night , till he have changed your heart , and made you to see your need of a christ , and to give up your self to christ : o cry out this night , a christ , dear lord , a christ for my poor soul , or i am lost for ever , eclesc . . . psal . . . . be much in consideration ; commune now and then with your heart , and think seriously whither you are going , and ask your soul what a condition it is in , and what it hath to bear up against the fear of death , and what provisions are made for eternity , look into your purse , what money hast thou that will go currant in another world ? spend much time in thinking . i askt this poor boy how he spent his time in prison ? he answered , in praying , reading , and consideration . . neglect not prayer ; ask and you shall have ; seek , and you shall find ; knock , and it shall be opened unto you : be frequent and serious in this duty ; forget not secret prayer ; and look after your prayers , and be not content , except you here of them again . . be diligent in your callings , be not slothful in your worldly business , idleness is the devil's shop , rom. . . . hold out to the end : remember what they shall have that conquer , resolve for christ and heaven upon any terms . well sirs now my work is done ; have i been beating the air ? what shall become of these two sermons ? yesterday you heard one out of the cart , and from the gibbet , and to day from the pulpit ; and what are you resolved to do ? what , shall the tears , prayers and entreaties of that dying young man , be so soon forgotten ? if they are , can the commands of the living god be so easily contemned ? is there nothing in all that i have been speaking ? what , are you still of the same mind that you were , or are you not ) i say again , i must leave you , and a thousand to one whether i shall ever see you , or speak to you more : once more i charge you , as you love your own soul , as as you fear the wrath of god , and the flames of hell. flee youthful lusts . finis . a full and true account of the proceedings of tho. harris, gent. high constable of the hundred of oswaldstone, in the county of middlesex. being the manner of finding the head of the late murder'd person, who was cut to pieces: it being found between twelve and one a clock at night, in the house of office, near the house of mr. fresnear, a fringe-maker, near exeter-exchange, on sunday-night, the th instant february, . harris, tho., high-constable, fl. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing f ba estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a full and true account of the proceedings of tho. harris, gent. high constable of the hundred of oswaldstone, in the county of middlesex. being the manner of finding the head of the late murder'd person, who was cut to pieces: it being found between twelve and one a clock at night, in the house of office, near the house of mr. fresnear, a fringe-maker, near exeter-exchange, on sunday-night, the th instant february, . harris, tho., high-constable, fl. . sheet ( p.). printed, and are to be sold by randal taylor., london : . caption title. signed: tho. harris, high-constable. print bleed-through. reproduction of original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng murder -- england -- middlesex. broadsides -- england -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a full and true account of the proceedings of tho. harris , gent. high constable of the hundred of oswaldstone , in the county of middlesex , being the manner of finding the head of the late murder'd person , who was cut to pieces : it being found between twelve and one a clock at night , in a house of office near the house of mr. fresnear , a fringe-maker , near exeter-exchange , on sunday-night , the th instant february , . having received a warrant from sir james butler , and sir robert clerk , two of his majesties justices of the peace for this county of middlesex ; that they were credibly informed that the head of the wounded person is slung into a house of office , belonging to mr. fresnean a fringe-maker near exeter-change in my hundred , or some other house-office near adjacent thereunto , did therefore in his majesties name , require me to cause diligent search to be made in the said houses of office , or in any other , of which i should have just cause to suspect for the head , and give an immediate account of what i should do herein to them , or some other of his majesties justices of peace for the said county . given under their hands and seals the fifth day of february , / . pursuant to this warrant i sent for my constables and officers , and procured some night-men , who went to the place and began to work about eleven at night , and so continued till about half an hour after twelve , at which time the night-men brought up the head , which was wrapt up in a cloth , with one ear hanging out of a hole in the cloth , and when it was taken out , i order'd it immediately to be wash'd very clean , and carryed to the watch-house : and the head and face is without any manner of defacement , wound , or scar ; but may be known by any man who formerly knew the person , the visage remaining very plain . about five a clock this morning , being the sixth of this instant february , i went to the right honourable the earl of craven , who ordered me to wait on him to white-hall , in order to attend and give his majesty an account thereof ; which being done , his majesty was pleased to order that the head should be conveyed forthwith to the body , which lies in st. giles bone-house , where it now is , and may be seen by any that have the curiosity to repair thither : and this is a true account , witness my hand , tho. harris , high-constable . london printed , and are to be sold by randal taylor . . the adultresses funerall day in flaming, scorching, and consuming fire, or, the burning downe to ashes of alice clarke, late of vxbridge in the county of middlesex, in west-smith-field on wensday the of may, for the unnaturall poisoning of fortune clarke her husband a breviary of whose confession taken from her owne mouth is here unto annexed, as also what she sayd at the place of her execution / by her daily visiter h.g. in life and death ; and now published by authority and commaund. goodcole, henry, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the adultresses funerall day in flaming, scorching, and consuming fire, or, the burning downe to ashes of alice clarke, late of vxbridge in the county of middlesex, in west-smith-field on wensday the of may, for the unnaturall poisoning of fortune clarke her husband a breviary of whose confession taken from her owne mouth is here unto annexed, as also what she sayd at the place of her execution / by her daily visiter h.g. in life and death ; and now published by authority and commaund. goodcole, henry, - . [ ] p. printed by n. and i. okes, dwelling in well-yard in little st. bartholmews, neare unto the lame hospitall gate, london : . signatures: a⁴(-a ) b⁴ c². t.p. contains illustration. reproduction of original in the harvard university. library.. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng clarke, alice, d. . clarke, fortune. murder -- england -- uxbridge. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the adultresses funerall day : in flaming , scorching , and consuming fire : or the burning downe to ashes of alice clarke late of vxbridge in the county of middlesex , in west-smithfield , on wensday the . of may , . for the unnaturall poisoning of fortune clarke her husband . a breviary of whose confession taken from her owne mouth , is here unto annexed : as also what she sayd at the place of her execution . by her daily visiter h. g. in life and death . and now published by authority and commaund . london printed by n. and i. okes , dwelling in well-yard in little st. bartholmews , neare unto the lame hospitall gate , . mvrder vpon mvrder : or , the old way of poysoning newly revived . in the remarkeable act of alice clarke , performed upon her husband fortune clarke , by her , poysoned on ascension day last past ▪ for which being arraigned , convicted , and condemned , shee suffer'd by fire in west-smithfield , upon wednesday in whitson-weeke , being the . day of may , . with the last words shee delivered at the time and place of her execution . great and stupendious are the workes and wonders of the god almighty , who onely searcheth the hearts and reines , and therefore perspicuously knoweth the very thoughts and strength of man : for bee his vaine apprehensions never so cunning to contrive , his policy to conceale , or his boldnesse to out-face any nefarious act committed , yet his unsounded and incomprehensible wisedome , which can be no way circumscribed , is able at all times , and upon all occasions , as well to publish , as punish it in the open eye of the world , of which , as well those times past , as these present , have , and doe afford us remarkeable examples : i will begin with the sinne , before i proceed to the fact. a murderer , the latines call homicida , from home and caedo , id est , hominem occidere , to kill a man : now who the father of murder is , you may read in the gospell of st. iohn chap. . vers. . where our blessed saviour speaking to the pharisees , saith , yee are of your father the devill , and the lusts of your father yee will doe : he hath beene a murderer from the beginning , &c. for the punishment thereof , read gen. . vers . . for surely i will require your blood wherein your lives are , at the hand of every beast will i require it ; and at the hand of man , even at the hand of a mans brother , will i require the the life of man : who so sheddeth mans blood , by man shall his blood be shed : for in the image of god hath hee made man , &c. and numb . . . moreover , you shall take no recompence for the life of the murderer , which is worthy to dye , for he shall be put to death . that , for the punishment . now for the execrablenesse of the sin : we find in gen. . . god speaking to caine , after the slaughter of his brother abel , after this manner , now therefore thou art cursed from the earth , which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brothers blood from thine hand : as also deutronomy . . cursed be hee that smiteth his neighbour secretly : and all the people shall say , so be it . if this monstrous sinne be so heynous in the sight of god , betwixt neighbour and neighbour , or if committed by one stranger upon another , how much more horrid appeareth it in his eyes ; when the husband and wife , who in the matrimoniall contract , are no more too , but one flesh , shall barbarously and treacherously insidiate one anothers life . according to that verse of the poet : vivitur ex rapto , non hospes ab hospite tutus , non socer a genero , fratrum quoque gratia rara est : immi●et exitio vir coniugis , illa mariti : lurida terribiles miscent aconita noverci , filius ante diem patrios inquirit in annos , &c. which i have late read thus paraphras'd , all live on spoile , the guest is not secure in his hosts house , nor is the father sure protected by the sonne : even brothers iarre , true love and friendship is amongst them rare . the husband doth insidiate the wife , and she againe seekes to subplant his life : the rough-brow'd step-dame her yong step-son hugs , tempering for him ( meane time ) mortiferous drugs : the sonne after the fathers yeares enquires , and long before the day , his death desires , &c. such were the passages of those times there amongst the heathens , when christianity was not knowne , but that they should be so familiar and conversant with us , is the more to be pittied and lamented . in the flourishing state of rome , there were many temperers of poyson , and these were call'd venificae , which word wee apply too , and conferre upon , effacination , sorcery , and witchcraft : concerning which the civill lawes of the empire thus speake , in institut . iur. in fine in lege cornelia , in the cornelian law , et venifeci capite damnantur , qui artibus odiosis tam veneno , quàm susurris magicis homines occiderint , vel mala mede camenta publice vendiderint , that is , let those be held guilty of capitall offence , who by odious and abhorrid arts , as well by poyson , as by magicke spells and wisperings , shall kill any man : in which state are likewise included all such , who shall publickly sell any evill confections : from which canon we may ground three severall sorts of delinquents in this kind , which passe under the name of venificium : the first poysoners , the second sorcerers , or witches , the third these apothecaries or empricks , who shall vend any mortiffarous drugs , knowing that by them any man or womans life , may bee infidiated , and in this case now in hand , though the seller ( as he hath apparently justified himselfe may be excused , yet the byer as the law hath openly convicted her , so we may presume that she is legally condemned . now what the reason may be conjectured in these our latest , but worst dayes : that so many nefarious acts , equalling , if not farre surpassing these perpretated in former ages , should be new committed : as catamatisme , sodometry , paracidy , many headed murders and the like : i can give no other reason then this , the contempt of the feare of god , and the neglect of his sabbath . but to leave off all forraigne prodigious acts of the like horrid nature . which as they are numerous , so they are manifest , in history and chronologie , and go no further then our owne nation , and these latter dayes . hath not one brother in the heat of wine slame another in the taverne ? a sonne transpersed the very wombe in which he was conceived , and suffered for the fault upon the gibbet ? a man in his drunkennesse casts his knife upon his wife , and missing her , pointed it into the brest of his innocent childe , and kild him dead in the instant : hath not the woman offered the like outtage , upon her husband in her fury , and left him dead in the place , and suffered lately for it , for remarkable example . within the compasse of foureteene moneths or there abouts , one enoch ap evans , upon a small difference betwixt his brother and him , tooke the advantage when he was asleepe cut his throat first , and after his head quite off with his knife , and when the mother hearing a busling above , came into the roome to heare the cause of such a noise , he prosecuted her downe the stayers , and afterwards cut of her head with an hatchet , for which he was apprehended , arraigned , convicted condemned at shrewsbury , and after , some distance from the place executed . since then , these grand malefactors , who went commonly by the name of country tom and canbery besse , their fearefull murders upon three severall gentlemen , at three sundry times , ( the discourse of whose actions , examinations , confession , and sufferings , because they are already published to the view of the world , i will no longer insist upon , or make any repetition of their hainous crimes to trouble the reader . but to come nearer to the matter of this fact now in agitation , i will onely remember you of mistresse arden , who caused her husband to bee murdered in her owne house at feversham in kent , the memorable cercumstances thereof deserving places in a most approoved chronicle , may be very well spared in this short discourse . as also of mistresse page of plimouth , who for poysoning her husband , suffered with her sweet-heart master george strangwich , who had beene before time betrothed unto her : her husband being old , she yong , by which may be apprehended the misery of inforced marriage . but not to tire your patience i will onely trouble you with the poore wretched creature , who last suffered in smithfield in this kinde , much commiserated , much lamented : give mee leave a little to to insist upon her cause , and compare it with this now in present . her injuries , and harsh and unmanly usage spurred on by the instigations of the divell , almost compeld her to what she did ; which , as they would be scarce modest for me to speake , so they were almost beyond the strength of nature for her to suffer : shee being young and tender , he old and peevish ; who notwithstanding his clownish behaviour , and churlish comportment towards her , as seldome or never affording her a smooth brow , or friendly countenance , used not onely to beat her with the next cudgell that came accidentally unto his hand , but often tying her to his bed-post to strip her and whippe her , &c. but enough , if not too much of that ; she then weary of so wretched a life , which she would have bin glad to be rid off , and loath in her modesty to ▪ acquaint any friend or neighbour with her desperate purpose , who perhaps , ( nay no doubt ) by their good counsell might haue diuerted her from so wicked a resolution , and the divell with all catching hold upon so fit an opportunity to worke upon her weaknesse , she pondered with her selfe how she might end both their lives by poyson , which having provided and prepared to that end , shee first gave him part , and after resolved with her selfe to drinke the rest : but better motions now comming into her thoughts , and she truely repentant of what she had done , finding the confection begunne to work with him , fell downe before him upon her knees : first acknowledging the fact , then humbly desiring from him forgivenesse , with all , beseeching him to take some present antidote to preserve his life , which was yet recoverable : on whom he sternly looking , as he lay in that agony gasping betwixt life and death , returned her answere in this manner ; nay thou strumpet and murderesse , i will receive no helpe at all but i am resolvd to dye and leave the world , be it for no other cause , but to have thee burnt at a stake for my death : which having said , and obstinate in that hethenish resolution , he soone after expired . and this resa●ion i received from those of credite , who were well acquainted with the conditions of them both . i know not how to parallell these two : her of whom i made this short discourse , or this miserable woman , who suffered by fire in smithfield upon wednesday in the whitson weeke last , being the twentieth of may , anno . the passages of whose life , conviction , and death thus followes . the free and voluntary confession of alice clarke , the . day of may , . concerning the death of fortune clarke her husband , at the time she was in prison . a iust cause , all persons may conjecture , was given on her part , of great dissensions likely to arise betweene her husband and her selfe , unto selfe-will shee to be so addicted , disobediently to frequent the company of one white , of whom oftentimes her husband hand had interdicted her his society and familiarity : which acquaintance of theirs was begun , before clarke her husband , entred into marriage with her , and therefore with no small difficulty could be forgotten , or shaken off , such former ancient entertainments . no admonitions or threats to either parties could prevaile , that proceeded from clarke unto his wife , or unto white , of continuall private meetings betweene them : which clarke perceiving , outragiously fell from words unto blowes with his wife , the smart whereof she feeling , incontinently begot in her heart dislike , and resolution of revenge on her husband clarke for the same , a fit humour for the devill to worke on , and to her old friend white , to give occasion , not of dislike , but content to put in practice what she intended , which he might easily perceive by many pensive declamatitions , in private utter'd betweene themselves of her husbands unkinde usage : the confirmation whereof appeares by the words that proceeded out of her owne mouth . first , she confessed , because she often companied with white , that stirred up her husbands iust anger against white and her selfe . secondly , that unawares unto them both , her husband finding her and white shut up together privately in a chamber in the house , on ascension-day last in the afternoone , was thereat so with fury enraged , that hee did beate white going out of the doores , and after that , freshly fell foule upon her , and so cruelly added blowe upon blow upon her body , that the markes thereof were very visible on her body at this present . her old love , white , instantly taketh this unto heart , and in a rage ( as she said ) uttered these words , that it were better for one to be hanged , then to endure so discontented a life , and presently putting his hand into his pocket , he tooke out tokens , and gave them unto alice clarke , saying unto her , if he had had more money , hee would have given it unto her : which tokens so given unto her , she went ▪ unto vxbridge forthwith , and that , afternoone bought a penny-worth of mercury of an apothecary in vxbridge , intending the same unto her husband , with a further reservation , that if her husband had not taken it , she would have administred the same unto herselfe , and so put an end unto all her sorrows , as she vainely supposed . thirdly , she said , that she was not the cause of her husbands death , because shee gave not unto him the poyson whereof he died , but he tooke it himselfe violently out of her pockets , which her husband had rifled , upon hope to finde some chinke or money there : but of such hopes he altogether was disappointed and deluded . whether this be not a lame excuse , or strange delusion , i referre it unto the censure of the judicious ; and no further discovery of the fact , could i get from her at that time . shee further said , that on ascension-day her husband violently attempted to drowne himselfe , which shee prevented by her language upon him : but in short space afterwards dyed that night of the mercury , taken by himselfe out of her pocket , as afore-said . fourthly , shee seemed to be very much afflicted in conscience , that shee was a yeare since gotten with child by her master , with whom shee last dwelt withall ▪ who perceiving the same , with a small summe of money , matched her unto fortune clarke her husband , about alhallontide last , whom she could not love , or have any matter of maintenance , but relied upon her masters former promises for the same : and hee fayling of giving her meanes , fell into folly and wickednesse . a great clog unto such a mans conscience , if it be true ; to seduce a woman unto his will , and so leave her . a short tract vpon the hainousnesse of poysoning . though there be sundry sorts of murther with their severall degrees , as open , or secret , acted upon a friend , a stranger , or ones selfe , yet in my opinion , i know not any of them which containes so much villany , neither including so many deepe circumstances in them , as that of poysoning : that i thinke is the reason that there are so few examples of it in holy writ , this way either being then not knowne ; followed , or practised ; therefore to descrbe the quality of it and to aggravate it , i must wish you to consider these foure things . first , the duplicem modum , secondly , the duplicem effectum : modus prior , the first manner , deliberando , meditando , is an act done by deliberation , or meditation , no waies carried , and hurried by the violence either of will or of passion , but done upon a cold blood , and not seldome upon fixed resolutions . modus posterior , celando , obtegendo , by a secret intent to hide it and conceale it from god if it were possible , so it is to the patient under the shadow of some physicke , or other medicine , coloured with an outward shew of an honest intent , and as far as they can from the publick magistrate ; or else to make a distance of time , either to excuse themselves , or flye away from the hands of justice : though , secondly , effectus prior , sensus 〈◊〉 by changing , stupifying , or absolutely taking away the senses , and depraving the operative organs of the soule , and sometimes infecting all the principles of life ; as the head , the heart , and the liver , howsoever altering and overthrowing the frame and constitution of mans body in generall , and making him unfit for a prepararation of himselfe for death , though it be upon him , so that without the speciall mercy of god , the party thus abused , dyes without either knowledge of his sinnes , or repentance for them . secondly , effectus posterior , creaturarum abusus , the abusing of the creatures , contrary to the end of their creation : they ▪ being brought forth for the use and health of mans body , by this meanes they are made deadly , nay this manner of killing any , makes not onely the prime agent guilty , but infects , and makes guilty others too ; or at least , causes them to be examined strictly by the magistrate : so that howsoever their good name for the present , is blotted and blemished , and what more is , they have but two wayes to comfort themselves , the first , is the witnesse of their owne consciences integrity , the second , is the judges knowledge of their innocence and ignorance , by a prudent examination , of the fact perpetrated by all circumstances , and suspicious arguments : and in this kinde the apothecary for selling , the messengers for buying , the composers of it , and the deliverers of it to the party , stand in an hazard either of their lives , or fortunes , or both . laying aside all these together , i hope it will easily appeare what a haynous sinne it is , when it is thus committed first , with deliberation : secondly ; with secresie : thirdly , with disabling the party to fit himselfe for mercy , and with the abusing the blessings of god and their owne knowledge : and lastly , for bringing others into danger as well as themselves , yet what is more , all this done under the gospell ; and often , as at this present , against one whose life , credit , goods , and good name , the offender ought to cherish and maintaine to the uttermost : so i may take up that saying of iacob to his two sonnes , my soule come not into their secrets , neither bee ioyned with their assemblies : nor have to doe with their practises , whose conclusions are so deepely dyed with the blood of innocents . the second confession of alice clarke this . day of may , . at the place of execution , concerning the poysoning of her husband , fortune clarke . physitians of the soule ought to immitate those learned physitians of the body , frequent visitations of those sicke patients , whose diseases are desperate and inveterate ; and sometimes it chanceth , that they must desire , necessity so requireth , the advice and sound opinions of others their colleagues . even thus it happened betweene this obdurate malefactor and my selfe , who in adultery was so rooted , and insensible of the heavy burthen , and most intollerable plagues insuing for it . that at the first and second times of my visiting of her , little or no repentance i found in her , or her heart to be touched for her most horrid clamorous crimes . this is apparant , if you compare her first confession unto this , how different in truth , how improbable the one are unto the other ; nay what she confessed on munday , shee was so far off to proceede in a further revealing of her selfe , that what touched her home , concerning her husbands death , she would have denied , though formerly confessed by her most confidently true . i was thereuppon inforced to hold her unto it , and to extract the truth , and trye her spirit , called two of the keepers of the goale , to her unknowne , whom i appoynted to obserue and remember the speeches that passed betweene us , to verifie them unto her face , which attestation both of my selfe , and of them , shee would out-face , but could not . vppon wensday morning , on which shee was executed , there assembled unto newgate multitudes of people to see her , and some conferred with her , but little good they did on her , for shee was of a stout angry disposition , suddainly inraged , if you began to touch her to the quicke of her husband poysoning . being that morning of her death accompanied and also assisted by divers of my worthy , grave , and learned brethren in the ministery , before and at the time of her execution , for which i doe most heartily thanke them , but that god whose worke it was , their reward for it with him is layd up in store . like my selfe , they stood as men amazed , to perceive that none of theirs , or any other serious perswasions could for a great while prevayle with her , ioyned in opinion with me , that she was no fitting guest for the table of the lord iesus thereupon , i made as though i would have excluded her thence , in denying the benefit of the holy communion , of the body and blood of jesus christ , inferring the benefit of the unspeakeable blesse , by the worthy receiving of it by repentance and faith , and the most woefull malediction to all impenitent and unworthy receivers . whereupon , it pleased god , so to mollifie her heart , that teares from her eyes , and truth from her tongue proceeded , as may appeare by this her ensuing confession at the very stake , where she was executed , unto mr. cordall , she riffe of london , relating the same with as loud and audible a voice , as possible she could , that many others besides , there present , were also witnesses of such her ensuing confession . first she confessed that henry white , who was arraigned as a party with her , consenting unto her husbands death , did give unto her one ascension day in the after noon , foure brasse tokens , advising her therewith to goe and buy one penyworth of mercury , and give it unto her husband , saying , if that her husband were dead , she should live more quietly and contentedly with him , & after such his death , that he the said white would marry with her ; whereupon she went unto vxbridge , and that afternoone bought the mercury . secondly , shee confessed that her master got her with childe a yeare since , which was her overthrow , and mediated for the marriage , betweene her and her husband , whom shee could not love , nor no way affect . by her masters perswasion , who sent her up to london to be married , and payed the costs thereof , and further promised her maintenance during her life , if she did condescend unto his desiers , which were most unlawfull , dishonest , and unchaste , before and after her marriage , with fortune clarke her husband . thirdly , shee confessed , that one of hillinden inticed her , to run away from her husband , with him beyond the seas , and that she did lodge in that mans house , and lay with him a whole fortnight , and speaking unto him of her husband , that shee would not forsake him , hee thereupon advised her to pop him up with white bread and milke , and to put some thing else into it , to choak or stuffe up his throat . fourthly she confessed , for the mercury which she bought , shee intended it unto her husband , but having no conuenient opportunity to dispose of it , she put it into her sleeve , which her husband as she said tooke it out of her hand , and then being over charged with drink he immediatly swallowed it down , which she perceiving , was thereat so perplexed , that she uttred these words unto her husband , that he had undone both him selfe and her . and heere give me leave to note unto the world , what a deale of comfort she found , after shee had disburdned her loaded conscience by confession , beeing demaunded at the same instant of her death , yea , or nay ; that after such her confession , shee was by it the better prepared unto death , with comfort , and willingnesse to suffer the same : shee thus replyed with harty thankefulnesse unto god , that shee had better resolutions unto death , then formerly she had , and by her countenance , which was very ruddy confirmed her inward new begotten chearfulnesse , and that with harty prayer , and sweet tone of voice , surrenderd her soule into the hands of the lord iesu , who will have mercy on whom he will have mercy , unto whom wee all stand and fall . heere is nothing contained in her confession , but that which true , and what she uttered with her owne mouth ; which i was a witnesse off . h. goodcole . finis . speedy repentance urged a sermon preached at boston, december , : in the hearing and at the request of one hugh stone, [a mis]erable man [under a just sen]tence of [death] for a [tragical and] hor[rible murder : together with some account concerning the character, carriage, and execution of that unhappy malefactor : to which are added certain memorable providences relating to some other murders, & some great instances of repentance which have been seen amonst us / by cotton mather.] mather, cotton, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing m estc w ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) speedy repentance urged a sermon preached at boston, december , : in the hearing and at the request of one hugh stone, [a mis]erable man [under a just sen]tence of [death] for a [tragical and] hor[rible murder : together with some account concerning the character, carriage, and execution of that unhappy malefactor : to which are added certain memorable providences relating to some other murders, & some great instances of repentance which have been seen amonst us / by cotton mather.] mather, cotton, - . [ ], , , [ ] p. printed by samuel green, and sold by joseph browning, boston : . imperfect: pages cropped, faded, stained, tightly bound and torn with loss of print, lower portion of t.p. missing; t.p. information from nuc pre- imprints. errata at end. reproduction of original in the harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng stone, hugh, d. . execution sermons. sermons, american -- th century. murder -- new england. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - rina kor sampled and proofread - rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion speedy repentance urged ▪ sermon preached at boston , decemb. . . in the hearing , and at the request of one hugh stone , 〈◊〉 ●●●erable man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●●●tence of 〈◊〉 for a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hor●●●●● 〈◊〉 〈…〉 conscientia mea meruit damnationem , & paenitentia mea non sufficit ad satisfactionem : sed 〈◊〉 est quod mis●ricordi● 〈◊〉 super at 〈…〉 the introduction . our blessed saviour , hath given that character of his ministers , that they be rulers over his houshold , and that commandment to them , that they should give every one their meat 〈◊〉 du● season . whether or no our good neighbours will acknowledge our government , which we esteem to be not at all de●potio● but wholly ministerial , and would rejoice 〈◊〉 we could therein , with more universal edi●●●cation enjoy the assistence of those that mig●● rule well , though they labour 〈◊〉 word and d●ctrine ; yet i am sure 〈◊〉 ought with a very sollicitous fidelity to 〈…〉 our stewardship , in that 〈…〉 which conc●rns the feeding of the houshold . it is food and not 〈◊〉 which we are to entertain the soul● 〈…〉 people with ; 〈◊〉 windy and empty 〈◊〉 , and notions which 〈◊〉 dant quia non habent , are 〈◊〉 from us ; but solemn and useful 〈◊〉 , about faith and repentance and holiness , which make up , the one thing needful , and about those things without ●word no man shall see the lord. and if not froth , much less is poison , to be found in our discourses : not a snake instead of a fish ; which alas , is now adayes no less frequently , than fatally met withal in sermons about iustification , more than about any one article of religion but in all this there is to be had a special regard unto the due season too ; in which every thing 〈◊〉 beautiful . for , tho' the efficacy of grace consist not in moral perswasions applyed ( as the arminians dogmatize ▪ ) tempore & modo congruis , in a suitable and seasonable manner ; yet a spiritual physician ought t● wa●ch his time , as well as weigh his dose ; and we should prudently take what advantage may be given by provi●ence to make this 〈◊〉 that particular truth awakening to the mind● of them with whom we have to do . the sense of these things , caused me to preach a sermon , which might excite and assist speedy repentance , in that congregation , which i would awfully remember my self , accountable to the lord iesus for . the due season , which this homely , but i hope , wholsome food , was adopted unto , was at the request and presence of a miserable murderer , then under a just sentence of death , to be speedily executed on him . the man was one hugh stone , of andover ; who npon a quarrel between him and his own wife , about selling a piece of land , having some words as they were walking together , on a certain evening , very barbarously reached a stroke at her throat with a sharp knife , and by that one stroke , fetched away the soul of her , who had made him a father of several children , and would have brought yet another to him , if she had liv'd a few weeks longer in the world. the wretched man , was too soon surprised by his neighbour 〈…〉 be capable of denying the fact ; and so he pleaded guilty , upon his trial. being under condemnation , and his end hastening upon him , he gave me his desires to hear a sermon from me , before he dy'd ▪ wherefore , i thought there was now before me a due season , to make a food of such things , as i now also per others ( and to permit them , is all i have done ) to print for the edification of such as the publishers propound thereby to benefit . i confess that i had not so much as one day allow'd me for my original preparations of the sermon ; and therefore , not being able exactly to keep what i did not , could not write , necessitates me to alter , and doubtless to amend some imperfections in it . yet it is very near , what it was at its first delivery ; and from the experience which formerly i have had , in publishing a discourse of this kind , i encourage my self , with hopes , that notwitstanding all the weaknesses in it , i may find in the day of the lord iesus , that i have not laboured in vain . the sermon is plain ; but besides my inclination at all times to make none but such , even an heathen seneca would have taught me , that on this occasion any other would have been improper . i excuse not the ●eanness of the composure ; but am waitin●●pon the eternal spirit , 〈…〉 and blows where , he ●lease , 〈…〉 the sermon . iob. vii . . and why doest thou not pardon my transgression , and take away mine iniquity ? for now shall i sleep in the dust , and thou shalt seek me in the morning , but i shall not be . vve have now before us , a very miserable , but we cannot excuse the hardness of our own hearts , if it be not also a very profitable , spectacle . you see a poor man in irons here , whose crying murders have now procured unto him that sentence , which will not permit him to live many hours longer in the world . his case do's truly preach to 〈…〉 ●ame that my text will preach 〈…〉 but while i have an eye to his particular circumstances , i shall not so overlook yours , as to leave any one person in this vast congregation without the food proper in the present season for them . this malefactor does know that he quickly must ; and all of you do not know but you sooner may come to sleep in the dust ; wherefore let every one of you now hear as those that are concerned to get their transgression pardoned , and their iniquity taken away . the book of iob , in a sweet poesy , gives us a true history , of strange calamities , and stranger deliverances befalling a famous person , who made arabia the happy , by his dwelling there . had it not been real and certain matter of fact , which is here 〈…〉 , we may not imagine that 〈◊〉 prophet ezekiel , or the apostle iames , would have made such references , as they did unto it ; it only remains that we do our parts to make it as useful as 't is real and certain . it has been conjectured by some , that moses was the writer of this elegant narrative ; and the arabian idioms here and there occurring in it ▪ consist very well with the abode of moses in his exile : but it is as evident that iob lived before moses , as 't is that he lived after abraham . very wonderful afflictions at once did surprize this renowned man ! and under his troubles , we find him pouring out of his complaints . un●o whom ? it was a sigh that once passed from him as for me is my complaint to man ? alas , he found man a physitian of no value to be complained unto ; and therefore 't is unto god , that he now makes the complaints , which our context is the conclusion of . in the verse before our text , we have both a confession , and a petition of a distressed man. for the confession , we have both the matter of it , and the object of it . the matter of it , is contained in those words , i have sinned , what shall i do unto thee ? q. d. tho' i am clear of many things which my friends do accuse me of , yet my sins before god are so manifest and so multiplied , that i can do nothing for the vindication or expiation of my miscarriages . the object of it is intimated in those words , o thou preserver of men , which are by some rendred , o thou observer of men , q. d. god has observed more amiss in me , than ever i found in my self . for the petition , it is with an expostulation . it is , why hast thou set me as a mark against thee ; so that i am a burden to my self ? the sorrows of men , are the arrows of god ; they that 〈◊〉 shot full thereof are sensible of 〈…〉 in every one of their 〈◊〉 why hast thou ? is here a deprec●tion of the evil mentioned . well , if we now pass on to 〈◊〉 text , we shall have there , both● 〈◊〉 , and an argument . for the petition , it is here with an expostulation too . t is , why dost thou not pardon my transgression , and take oway my iniquity ? as before , why dost thou ? was as much as to say , o do it not ; so here , why dost thou not ? is equivalent unto saying , o do it . and it seems to follow upon the title newly put upon the great god , o thou preserver of men ; q. d. lord , since thou art the preserver and the pardoner of so many sinners in the world , why should not i share in thy mercies among the rest ? for the argument : the force of the plea for a pardon here , seems to ly in this , it will else quickly be too late ! the terms of it are , for now shall i sleep in the dust and thou shalt seek me in the morning , but i shall not be ; which in short is , i shall quickly be dead and 〈◊〉 ! to not be , is a scripture-sacred-phrase for dying : denoting not a total 〈◊〉 but a vast alteration comeing upon us by mortality ▪ which is also here styled sleeping , with respect unto the condition of the body in the grave . and whereas we read of the morning , in this place , it may be an allusion to the morning sacrifices usual among the people of god ; and it may carry this import with it , q. d. lord , if a morning or two hence , thou shouldest look to find me on my knees as i am now before thee , it will be too late ; i shall be departed into that state , where in , i can make no prayer to thee , and have no pardon from thee , world without end. wherefore the doctrine unto which you are now to give a very great attention , is this . men should be very impor●●●●● in their prayers to the eternal god , that their transgression may be pardoned , and their iniquity taken away , before the sleep of death bring their great change upon them . for the clearing of this truth , we have now two enquiries that ly before us . our first enquiry is to be , what is implied in the pardoning of transgression and the taking away of iniquity ? for answer to this ; in general , the glorious benefit of justification is herein implied . if you ask for a description of iusti●ication then know , that it is an act of gods free grace , releasing a believer from the guilt of sin , and accepting him as righteous , thro' the obedience of the lord iesus christ. there are two things which a religion still pretends to make provision for ; to remove th● greatest of our troubles , & to obtain the greatest of our desires . the christian religion does both of these in a very admirable manner . the first is done in iustification . the distress of a guilty sinner lies in this point ▪ what shall i give for the sin of my soul ? behold , that matter in iustification very wonderfully provided for . the psalmist of old , called this a parable , and a dark saying ; even this , the precious redemption of a soul , by the messias alone . blessed be god , that we can with satisfaction penetrate a little way into the mystery . but i may not give you a full discourse upon this illustrious head of divinity , whic● indeed the standing or the falling of the whole church is concerned in the right stating of ; and as i may not ▪ so i need not insist upon it , because , you have the published writings of many learned men ▪ on this very point ; which i 〈…〉 ●ecommend unto your 〈…〉 suppose you are all of the disposition , which our famous wilson would often express , by saying , i love nothing so much as to see a preacher keep close to his text , and the scope of it ; and therefore i shall now keep close to my text , by offering to you a few conclusions relating to ivstification , all which the terms used in my text suggest unto us ; but in all , i must also keep close to the man whom i do here most particularly design the edification of . conclusion . [ my transgression ] the hebrew word for it notes , a transgression out of pride : and my conclusion from it is , 〈◊〉 . there is a wicked and a cursed pride in the sins of men . the first of our sins was founded in a cursed pride , & the most of our sins are tainted with it . the first sin of adam had pride for a main ingredient of it . it was propounded unto him , in gen. . . ye shall be as gods , honour and grandeur was the bait which he was taken with , and his pride affected a higher condition that that which his maker had plac'd him in . the first sin of satan too had pride for its original . hence we are advised in tim . he that is lifted up with pride , falls into the condemnation of the divel . it is thought that his dissatisfaction at some priviledges , which he foresaw mankind likely to be the subject of , was that which prompted him to the rebellion and apostasie , in which he is now king over the children of pride . t is thus in all the sins which those have been the parents of ; there lies pride at the bottom of them all . what s●l●mon sayes of one sin , only by pride comes contention ; the like may be said of all sin , mainly by pride comes transgression . upon the root of pride it is , that there grows all the disobedience to god , which is at any time com●mitted in the world. it was the s●ying of the prophet , in 〈…〉 . if ye will not hear , my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride . from our pride it is , that we do not hear the voice of god unto us in his ordinances o● in his providences ; t is pride that makes us thick o● hearing when ou● god councels us to do iustice and love me●cy , and walk humbly with him. every sin ( as one sayes of every man ) hath a pope in the belly of it ; something that exalts it self against all that is called god. the sinners whom solomon calls the fools , are those whom david calls the pro●d . if men were not proud fools they would never espouse a way of wickedness ; men sin with an high heart , and that makes them sin with an high hand against the god of heaven . through pride it is , that we must have our will , tho gods will be quite contrary thereunto . and when the most high 〈◊〉 his commands before us , we do , as if we were above ▪ him , say , we will not hearken therounto . through pride it is that we can't bear the order which the sovereign god has ●ixt us in , but we take indirect wayes to relieve and alter our circumstances . and here is the r●se of all our miscarriages . be sure you that are now in chains before us , must acknowledg this to be the rise of yours . your proud impatience of a little contradiction , and your proud resistance to the rules of good living , have brought you to the sin for which you are to dy . conclusion . [ my iniquity ] the hebrew word for it imports iniquity with crookedness and perverseness . and hence i form this conclusion . the sins of men have a world of ●●righteous crookedness & perversness in them . our sins are not right things , but there is a most uncomely obliquity in all of our iniquity . every sinner may say , as in iob. . . i have perverte● that which is right . the path which god in his word has directed 〈…〉 , is a right path , or as 't is called a path of righteousness ; but sin is a wandring from it ; the sinner goes astray in the greatness of his folly . sin is a deviation from a strait rule the psalmist could say in psnl : : . i esteem thy precepts concerning all things to be right . but now every false way has a figure not conformed unto the precepts of god. the sinner walks in crooked paths , when god has required , make strait pathes for your selves : and he has no constant course . one while 't is one lust , and than another , which he is madly slaving unto ; sin is that harlot , whereof t is said , her wayes are moveable ! and the sinner is herein a most unrighteous man : he defrauds both god and man of their dues , with an injnstice too black to be described . but if ever there were a perverse and an unjust man in the world , i am sure you that are in irons here ought to account your self such an one . your f●o●ardness has pusht you on to the most unreasonable thing that was ever done in the land , in which you have not now long to live . conclusion . [ pardon my transgression ] the word , pardon , signifies the removing of a load ; yea , a transferring of it unto him who takes it off . whence this conclusion doth arise ▪ in iustification , the burden of sin is translated from the sinner unto the lord iesus christ. sin is an heavy burden upon the soul which it lies upon ; and the sinner may justly roar under it , as in psal. . . my iniquities , as an heavy burden , are too heavy for me . hence , the bearing of iniquity , is a phrase that sometimes occurrs in the book of god. every sensible soul , feels it like a ponderous mountain of lead upon him ; the thousands of talents which he owes unto the revenge of god , are ● weight upon him , which he finds there is no enduring of . ask the undone murderer that is now before you , whether he feels not sin like a load upon him ? that malefactor will be prest to death for ever , by the dead weight of sin , who shall be so mute under his guilt ▪ as not to cr● out , lord , i am oppressed , undertake for me . but in iustification this intollerable . burden is t●anslated unto the blessed lord iesus christ , who was made a curse for us . and thus we are told in isa. . . god hath laid on him the iniquity of us all . the burden of sin ▪ 〈◊〉 the obligation to make satisfaction for it ; this is a burden enough to break the backs of all the angels in heaven , if it were laid upon them . on supposition of a law given by god , and on supposition of that law broken by man , there follows a necessity ▪ of a satisfaction to be made unto the justice of that holy one , who will be known to be of purer eyes than to behold iniquity . the rule according to which the almighty god acts as the iudge of the vvorld , is the re●titude and holiness of his nature ; and the law which he hath given us is ratify'd with such a sanction , that there is now no pardoning of a sinner without a satisfaction to him , against whom only we have sinned . now the obligation to pay the debt which our sin has run us into , is in iustification made to fall upon our lord jesus christ , who is our surety for good. as one speaks well , nostram causam sustinebat , qui nostram sibi carnem aduniverat ; and as i remember , prosper expressed it , we were crucify'd in him ; or according to the language of the ancient cyprian , he bore both us and all our sins . the lord jesus now becomes the antitype of the ancient scape-goat , upon whose head , is laid all the sin , which we have to answer for . there is an imputation in this affair ; and as 't is said 〈…〉 . . god made him to be sin for 〈◊〉 ▪ who knew no sin , that we might be made the righteousness of god in him ; 't is thus by a divine imputation and constitution . conclusion . [ take away mine iniquity ] the word , take away , signifies a causing to pass away , and indeed therein , a passing by . whence we have this conclusion . in iustification the great god causes the sin of men , to pass away , without notice of it . sin is passed by , and made to pass away , when it is forgiven to us . our god therein says unto us , as in sam. . . the lord hath put away thy sin. as we do by gods law , in sinning , so god does by our sin in forgiving . hence the same word , is used for both . in sinning we pass by his law , as a thing not worthy of our notice ; thus in forgiving , he passes by our sin , without any such notice of it , as to damn us , or to judge us , for the same . our sin becomes now , in some sort as tho' it had never been at all ; but as 't is said , in jer. . . iniquity shall be sought for , and there shall be none ; and sins , and they shall not be found . and methinks , a poor murderer , such an one as is within hearing of what we are now speaking , should have his very heart leap within him at the mention of such a thing . what ? for such an one , when he stands at the bar of the lord jesus , to have such a verdict brought in for him , as , not guilty , there ! but thus it is in iustification ; god therein causes our sin to pass away but 〈…〉 does it pass ? we have a repl● 〈◊〉 ●hat in , isa. . . thou hast cast my sins behind thy back . our sin therein passes as far from the avenging eye of god , as what we cast behind us , never to be regarded any more . whither did i say , it passes ? nay , to advance a little further , 't is said in mic. . thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. but shall they not rise and float again ? truly , a milstone thrown into the deepest ocean shall sooner be brought in sight , than the sin of one who has been a subject of iustification , shall ever be brought up for his condemnation any more . conclusion . it is observed , that the same words [ transgression , and iniquity ] are used both for sin it self , and for the punishment of sin. wherefore i shall here tender you this one conclusion more . in iustification the severe punishment of sin , is remitted , with the fault it self . there has been a vain distinction used about this matter , between [ reatus culpae ] guilt , as deserving of punishment ; and [ rectus paenae ] guilt , as obliging to punishment . but these are so inseparable , that when guilt is remitted , the punishment goes along with it . in iustification , our bonds are taken off , and nothing is demanded of us , as a price to a●one the righteous god. it was said in in isa. . . the inhabitant shall not say , i am sick ; the people shall be for given their iniquity . thus , when men are forgiven their iniquity , they shall not by vindictive justice be made to say , i am sick , or i am poor , or , i am pained , and the like . there are no proper paenalties remaining for a justify'd man. whatever troubles he may afterwards meet withal , there shall not be the wrath and the curse of god spicing of them ; and in regard of the second death , it is very peremptorily declar'd unto him , thou shalt not dy. it was the cry of the psalmist , in psal. . . enter not into iudgment with thy servant . the god of heaven , acts not so much like a iudg , as like a father , to a justify'd man ; and he not only secures him from the vengeance of eternal fire , but also , puts a new and a knd respect upon all the temporal afflictions , which do befal such a man. the afflictions which happen to him , are not so much punishments as chastisements ; and a reconciled god therein proceeds according to that rule in rev . . whom i love , i rebuke and chasten . yea , if a correction be at any time employ'd upon him , it is at the same time a benefit , in that very thing which called for it . as the dumbness of zachary was as much an argument for his faith , as a chastisement for his unbelief . and i am to tell the wretched malefactor here , that his prison , and his very gall●ws , will but be turned into his advantages , upon his true repentance . man , you shall find honey for your soul , in the bowels of those devourers , if your sins be once done away . but then , our next enquiry is to be : why should men be importunate in their prayers to the eternal god , for the pardon of their sins , before the sleep of death bring their great change upon them . for answer to this , let these three conclusions , all found in the text , be laid together . conclusion . none can forgive sins , but god. the scribes of old were so far well instructed , as to say , in marc. . . who can forgive sin , but god only ? the true answer is very short ; none . injuries done to men , may so far be forgiven by men , as men only are concerned in them . hence t is among the solemn charges of the lord jesus , to us all , in mat. . . forgive men their trespasses . but as it was of old said , if a man sin against the lord , who shall entreat for him ? even so if a man sin against the lord , who shall pardon him ? injuries done to god , are to be forgiven by him alone , whose great name is that in exod. . . the lord forgiving iniquity , and transgression , and sin. it is a maxim , nemo potest remittere de iure alieno ; no man can dispose of anothers right . who then can intrude , or dare invade upon the great god , so as to allow for a wrong which has been done unto his majesty ? to forgive sin , is a prerogative peculiar to the god of heaven ; and it is therefore mention'd among ▪ his regalia , in mic. . who is a god like unto thee , that pardoneth iniquity ? 't is one of his incomparable excellencies , and a flower in his glorious crown ; t is the glory which he will not give unto another . look upon sin as a debt ; still god is the creditor ; look upon sin as a fault ; still god is the governour , to whom alone belongs the remission of it . vve are advertised of this , rom . it is god that iustifies ministerially to declare a pardon , is one thing . this may be done by the churches of the lord jesus chirst ; as the priests were to pronounce upon the cleanness of the leper . 〈◊〉 which respect our lord said in iohn . . whose soever sins ye remit , they are remitted to them and in such a sense was the prophet ▪ ieremiah to pull down and pluck up nations ; that was , to declare what nations were so to be dealt withal . but authoritatively to dispense a pardon , is another thing , and it pertains to god alone . it was a passage of moses , in numb ▪ let the power of my lord be great [ the iews find a letter of a greater figure than usual there , to intimate , they say , something of an extraordinary greatness ; but what is it ? it follows ] pardon i beseech thee . none but one that has the great power of a god can pardon sin. the popish blasphemy and villany upon this point , was the scandal which first gave occasion to the protestant reformation ; and god forbid that any pr●testant should return to lick it up . wherefore you that here stand condemned both by god and man , are now to be put in mind , not only that we have no ▪ priest , to absolve you and deceive you , and that the rulers of this place may not pardon you , if they could : but also , if that your murdered wife had forgiven you before her expiration , this would not acquit you before the tribunal of the eternal god. to invert the words of elihu , when he gives quiet , who can make trouble ? i would say ▪ if he trouble you , who can quiet you ? i● he do not forgive , none can pardon you . conclusion ▪ the god of heaven requires our importunate prayers , that our sins may be forgiven to us . t is an article in that platform of prayer , which our lord has given us , o our heavenly father , forgive us our trespasses . when a certain man had sinned at a grievous rate , there was this direction given to him , in acts . . repent of thy wickedness , and pray to god. and o that this direction might penetrate into the very soul of the sad man that is now before us here ▪ a man ( if he be worthy to be called so ) of whom we may say , o this man hath sinned a great sin ! behold , the course to be taken by every sinner . that would have a pardon from the lord ; pray to god , if perhaps thy sin may be forgiven thee . we have a promise of a pardon , in ezek. . . i will sprinkle clean water upon you , and ye shall be clean . but what follows ? thus saith the lord god , i will yet for this be enquired of , to do it . we must enquire of god , and entreat of god , if we would not perish without a pardon forever ▪ there is no sign of a pardon in any man , till it can be said of him , as in in acts . . behold he prayes ! t is in prayer that we confess our sins , 't is in prayer that we renounce our sins , 't is by prayer that we cast all our sins , upon the lord jesus christ ; and with out this , the least sin in the world is utterly unpardonable . even those that have been already pardoned , are to continue praying for a pardon still . t is a thing which none among the disciples of our lord jesus christ , are to be excused from . they need the comfort of a pardon to be sensibly renewed unto them ; and tho' it have been once told unto a david , the lord has put away thy sin , yet he keeps praying still in the terms of the fifty first psalm , a prayer fitted for the lips of all that want a pardon . luther sometimes distinguished between a secret pardon , & an open pardon ; a secret pardon , every true believer has , but an open pardon implies an assurance and evidence of a pardon , which many a believer wants . well , if we want assurance , we are to pray that it may be vouchsafed ; if we have assurance , we are still to pray , that it be continned . a prayer for a pardon is never out of season . conclusion . the sleep of death , brings upon men so great a change , that they had need make sure of a pardon before they are overtaken with it . to set this conclusion home , there are three assertions , which methinks may sound like so many claps of the loudest thunder , in the ears of all this numerous auditory ; but especially of that poor man , that must never come within these walls again ▪ assertion . the death of men , is a kind of sleep unto them . this is a scheme of speaking used by the holy spirit of god. death is a sleep to the godly : therefore it was said in iohn : , . our friend laz●rus s●eepeth ; howbeit iesus spake of his death . death is a sleep to the wicked also . hence it is said in dan. . . many of them that sleep in the dust shall awake , to shame and everlasting contempt . our burying places , are therefore not unfitly termed , caeme●ries , or dormitories , or sleeping places . thus the psalmist feared , in psal . . lest i sleep , the sleep of death . death is a sleep , how ? t is not for the spirit so . a psychopannychia , a sleeping of the soul on death , is too gross and sad a thing to be imagined : it is it self , a dream . the active apostle would never have said , as in phil. ▪ . i desire to be dislodged and be with christ ; if he should have had nothing to do but sleep in the lodging which he was thus desirous to go unto . let no man imagine that his departed soul shall become stupid and senseless ▪ and with out all apprehensions after death . god forbid it should be so ! n●r do you that are here a dying prisoner , expect that within a few hours , you shall be fallen into a deep sleep of all your faculties . no , the souls of m●n at the hour of death , do rather begin to awake out of the slumbers and phan●a●ms , which they are here buried in , and they have a most exquisite feeling of the condition which they then pass into . how then is death a sleep ? t is thus for the body . the body then has a rest , in a bed ; a rest from a million weary travels : but as a sleep will have an end , so this rest will be not perpetual , not eternal ; the resurrection when the almighty god will call , awake yee that ly in the dust ! that is the morning which will put a period thereunto . assertion . the pardon of sin , is not after death , a thing to be obtained . as 't is said in isa. . , . they that go down into the pit , cannot hope for thy truth ; the living , the living , he shall praise thee . even so , the living , the living , he may get a pardon , but if once a man be gone down to the pit. he is past hope of such a thing . the dead must cry out , as the dying have sometimes done ▪ with a woful desperation , 't is all too late ! all too late ! when once a man is dead , what is the next thing ? 't is answered in heb. . . after death , the iudgment . a iudgment , and not a pardon , is the thing to be then attended unto . and what kind of iudgment will it be ? truly , 't will be a iudgment which no pardon will reverse , none can repeal . we read an amazing property of it , in heb. . ● . eternal iudgment ; even the iews in their confession of faith call it so . when once we are dead , we pass into a vvorld , where all is eternal ; there we are fixed like rocks in an astonishing ocean of eternity ; 't is an eternity of vveal , or an eternity of wo , nothing but eternity which remains before us . and o how awful should the mention of eternity , eternity ! be to you , forlorn and setter'd man , who , if you do not get a pardon of the great god , before this week be ou● , must unto all eternity be deprived of it . assertion . but infini●e and horrible woes must be the portion of those whom death find● vnpardoned . a● the prophet said , wo unto the wicked , even so i say , wo unto the vnpardoned , it shall be ill with him , if death find him so . it is testify'd unto us , in rom. . . the wages of sin is death . our sins are every day crying in the ears of the lord of hosts , pay us our wages , pay us our wages ! when death arrives unto an unpardoned man , then pay-day comes , and the wages of death and hell for ever , are pay'd unto the sinner , whom 't is due unto . that good man took it for granted , if i be wicked , wo unto me ! so may a man upon the brinks of death [ and one of you is very certainly so ] assure himself , wo unto me , if i now be found vnpardoned ! then he that made me will not have mercy on me , and he that formed me , will show me no favour . where sin is the needie , there destruction is the thred ; if a pardon have not cut it off , before the t●●ed of our lives be broken , wo to us ! nothing will then remain for an unpardoned sinner , but a fearful expectation of a fiery indignation to devour him ; nothing will remain , but everlasting fire with the divel and his angels ; nothing will remain , but , the worm which dyeth not and the fire which never shall be quenched . but no tongue ma● express or heart conceive , the dolo● , the torment , and anguish of that estate , which after death is reserved for the unpardoned . by the help of an exalted fancy , a man may represent unto himself , racks , and boots , and fires , and rivers of ardent brimstone and running bel-metal , to cruciate a malefactor in , but all of them are little things in comparison of , that which is the portion of the vnpardoned , and the heritage appointed unto him by god. as one in trouble of conscience for sin , hearing some discourse about burning to death , cryed out , this is but a metaphor to what i feel ! truly , the most hideous tortures in the world , are but metaphors unto the terrible blows and wounds , which with immediate impressions of divine indignation , will in the other world , be inflicted , upon the unpardoned world without end. indeed , as a painter being asked to draw unto the life , the horrors of the spanish , inquisition , only besmeared his table with blood , intimating that the thing was too bloody to be otherwise described . so , could i cover my pulpit with nothing but blood and fire , it would give some little expressive characters of what the vnpardoned at their death are doom'd unto . but all words are here swallowed up . what remains must be the application of the truths which have been thus cleared unto us . and . there is an use of these things which every one of us all are to be addressed with . 't is this ; let every man among you seek , and secure a pardon before the sleep of death shall overtake you . we all own our selves to be sinners before that god , whose eyes are like a flame of fire . it was begg'd , by one , and may be begg'd by us all , as in psal , . , . cleanse thou me from secret sins , keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins . besides , the corruption brought with us into the world , which concupiscence the apopostle to the romans , in two or three chapters together , calls by the name of sin more than twice seven times ; there have been actual sins of all sorts , which we have defiled our selves withal . and besides our presumptuous sins many thousands of times repeated in our lives , whereof i may say to every man , as once 't was said unto one , thou knowest the wickedness which thy own heart , is privy to ; there are also our secret faults which every day , without humble recollections , we fall into . some sin thro' ignorance ; and thus do many among us , with whom clip'd oathes are such frequent things . their common interjection is marry ; and they think not , that they swear by the virgin mary : ever now and then , a god so , passes from them , and they do not think that they swear , by gods soul , in speaking so . others do sin thro' carelesness , and heedlesness : and hence they let more spiritual sins wonderfully have dominson over them ; pride , passion , malice , and by-ends , do strangely carry them away . in short , it is impossible to reckon up , how many regards there are , wherein we have cause to acknowledge before the great god , father , we have sinned ! but why then do not we seek a pardon for our many and our mighty sins ? know we not , that we shall quickly sleep in the dust ? as we are sinners , we are also mortal ; and we are mortal sinners too . let me then urge a few counsils upon you all ; and let that man who is now just upon taking an eternal farewel of such counsils , give ● very particular attention thereunto . counsel . seek a pardon , and seek it earnestly . o be in good earnest , & ( to speak scripturally ) be in agonies about this grand concern . to awaken your zeal hereabout . consider , the vast blessings and comforts which a pardon is accompanied withal . t is an iterated exclamation about a pardoned man in psal. . ● , . o the blessednesses of such a man there are blessednesses in this life which a pardon will bring unto us . a pardon will be the sugar of all our mercies . this was that which made health , to be health indeed unto hezekiah ; he could not only say , i am alive and healthy ! but he could say therewithal , as in isai. . . thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back . a pardon will also be the sweetner of all our troubles . it will be a piece of wood from the cross of our lord jesus , to dulcifie the waters of marah , whi●h are usually so bitter to us . when a man lay sick of a sore disease , this word was enough to make his bed for ever easy to him , in ma● . . ▪ son , be of good cheer , thy sins be forgiven thee . but there are more marvellous blessednesses which a pardon brings in the life to come ▪ 〈◊〉 a link which the apostle finds , it ▪ ( that which the ancients call ) the golden chain of salvation , rom. . . whom he iustified , them he also glorified . there is no less than a kingdom to follow upon a pardon . tho' the sinner were here in the fetters of affliction , yet his very chains will be turned into crowns , when once a pardon has made him capable thereof . o 't is well worth your while , to be in earnest , about so desirable a thing as this ! what shall i say more ? a malefactor once receiving sentence of death , did with a most earnest noise cry to the iudge for mercy ; and being rebuked , for being so clamorous , replyed , why , it is for 〈◊〉 , it is for my life●l and shall not ● be in earnest for it . ? so , and more th●n that , may i say concerning a pardon from the hands of god ; seek it ; it 〈◊〉 for the life of a precious 〈◊〉 immortal 〈◊〉 which is worth your being in 〈…〉 . counsel . seek a pardon , and seek it presently . be able to say , concerning your seeking a pardon from , as the psalmist said about his keeping the precept of , the eternal god ; i made hast , and did not delay to do it . to awaken your hast here-about . consider the incredible dangers of all delays . your main business is to become well provided of a pardon for your sins . let me now say unto you , as in cor. . . behold , now is the accepted time , behold now is the day of salvation ! if you slip th●s n●w , you may never have another ; you may miss of acceptance and salvation for ever more . o do not say , as 〈◊〉 unhappy faelix did i 'll concern my self about these matters at a more convenient season ; for a more convenient season will never com● the great god says , to day ! and our to morrow , cannot be a more convenient season than that which the all-wise god hath pointed us unto . you have now about you , a thousand conveniencies for the getting of a pardon , which no season hereafter will have blowing in the sails thereof . nay t is possible , you may never have any other season at all . we are told , in eccl. . . man knoweth not his time . we are bid in prov. . . boast not thy self of tomorrow . we do not know that the ●ime which is future , will ever come to be present with us , and he was but a well-advised man , who could say , i have not had a to morrow , for these many years . it was a prudent admonition given by a rabbi to a scholar , among the jews , child , be sure to repent at least a day before you dy. that person is worse than mad who does not make sure of this . but you cannot make sure of 〈◊〉 , if you do not repent within the 〈◊〉 three or four hours that are now before you . if any man propound an hereafter unto himself , to make sure of a pardon in , i would say unto him , thou fool , this night thy soul may be required of thee . and let me add the words once used in a case of sudden and extream hazzard , save thy self to night , for to morrow thou mayest be slain . counsil . . seek a pardon , and seek it hopefully . despair not of it , but that your sins which have been like scarlet , may yet become as wool , and that your sins , which have been as crimson may become like snow . to quicken this hope in your souls . consider the boundless mercy of the infinite god. it may be that your sins have had most bloody aggravations ; as being against much light , and much love , and against very solemn vows unto the contrary . yet a pardon is attainable , if you slight it not . what is gods design , in our pardon ? it is to magnifie his grace , and ( as the apostle speaks ) that he may commend his love. well then , then greater our pardon is , the greater will gods glory be . hence it was the plea of the psalmist , in psal. . . o lord , pardon my iniquity , for it is great . what a for is that ? how strange an argument is this ? the despairing soul thinks , god will not pardon my iniquity for it is great . but if we really turn to god , the greatness of our sins will become no less than a plea for the pardon of them . for great sinners will give great praises , if they may tast of his pardoning mercy . be not then discouraged from industrious endeavours hereabout ; but remember , that when our lord jesus hath said , in ioh. . him that cometh to me , i will in no wise cast out ; none of our names are excepted there . remember also that there are some now triumphing with god in heaven that once were guilty of the very same sins which we are now terrified withal . where is abraham , that once was an idolater ? what became of menasseh , the conjurer ? and of magdal●n the strumpet ? is it not an epitaph written by the apostle upon the grave of rahab , rahab the harlot perished not ? yea , did not even some of those that murder'd the lord jesus christ himself , afterwards partake in the pardoning vertue of his blood , which with wicked hands they had been shedding of ? see also cor. . , , , and why may not yov come to be pardoned as well as the● , if you tread in their steps , by a serious and sedulous making after it ? perhaps you have been ready to sin. but it is an attribute of god , in neh. . . he is ready to pardon . have you gone on a great while in sin , and grown old and gray , and horribly ripe in your evil wayes ? yet hear that charm , in ier. . . thou hast played the harlot with many lovers , yet return unto me saith the lord. in the primitive times there was one victorius , a very old man , converted unto christianity : the church would not receive him for some time , for thought they , old sinners do not use thus to turn and live : but he evidenced the reality of his conversion , so that they sang hymns about it , in the christian assemblies , and it was every where proclaimed , victorius is become a christian ! victorius is become a christian ! even so may it come to be a shout over the oldest sinner among you all , that old wretch has got a pardon after all ! behold i have an order to make an offer of a pardon within these walls this day ; and in the name of the eternal king , i make it unto every soul among the many hundreds of people here . a preface once angrily made by moses , let me chearfully and ioyfully make th●● day ; hear ye rebels : but that which i thus preface is , the glorious king ●f heaven will receive every one of you to mercy , if you will now at last lay down your arms. i am to assure you there is hope in israel concerning this thing . do not say with them , in eze. : . our hope is lost . no , to all your other sins , i beseech you add not that of despair , which will be at least equal to the greatest of them , which you have already perpetrated . what a nefandous blasphemy was that of spira , one of whose roarings was , my sin is greater than the mercy of god! that is the cursed language of despair , which let no man indulge ! don't connt the day of yet over with you . saiest thou ? i am afraid the spirit of god has done striving with me ? nay , if thou art afraid of it , then it is not yet come to pass ; he may be striving in those very fears . saist thou , i fear i have committed the vnpardonable sin ? if thou fear it , then thou hast never done it . they that are conscienciously solicitous and suspicious about it , are yet clear from the great transgression . o then come to god at the door hope thus opened for you . counsel . seek a pardon , and seek it believingly . it is to be enjoy'd by none but a believing soul. to excite this faith. consider , the proper and only gospel-way , to a pardon . 't is by faith ; as we are minded in rom. . . we are iustify'd by faith. we must request , and expect our pardon to come swimming down unto us in the blood of the lord jesus christ alone ; and we must keep our eye upon him , under that notion , in john . . the lamb of god which takes away the sin of the world. we must look upon our pardon as purchased and procured for us , by the death of our lord jesus christ , who in the eternal covenant of redemption engag'd unto his father , that he would make his own soul an offering for the sins of all his chosen ones . we are to take the merits of the lord jesus christ , as they are profered unto us in the tenders of the gospel ; and lay the whole stress of our guilty souls thereupon for ever . it is said in john . . the blood of iesus christ cleanseth us from all sin. wherefore we must renounce all dependence upon any righteousness of our own for our pardon . let us not place any trust , in any good works , or in any good frames of our own , as tho' they could render the holy god propitious to us . it is said in job . , . how should man be iust with god ? if he will contend with him , he cannot answer him one of a thousand . the iews give this exposition of it ; the pleas which men fetch from any good thing in themselves , for the pardon of their sins , are so weak , and so trifling , and so foolish , that the great god would scorn to give an answer to one among a thousand of them . alas , we must not so much as ascribe the inclinations of god to impute the righteousness of jesus christ unto us , ●nto any humiliations and reformati●ns which we may be dispos'd unto . we are to ly before the lord , as loathsome , undone , wretched creatures , and shout grace ! grace ! concerning all the methods of our pardon . here , to speak as ierome of old , all hands are dissolved , because nothing done by our hands will be found to answer the righteousness of god. it was a thing prescribed in ancient directiores for the visitation of the sick , that the sick man should be taught to say , o my god , i now place the death of the lord iesus christ , between me and my sins . behold , words fitted for every sin-sick soul ! what else can we say , seeing we are told in acts . . men receive the forgiveness of sins , and are sanctify'd by faith in christ iesus . and hence even one of the greatest giants among the romish philistines , having argued a great while , for the interest of our own merits , in the pardon of our sins , at last he comes to that memorable issue of all [ tutissimum est ] by reason of the uncertainty of our own righteousness , and the danger of vain glory , 't is the safest course to repose our whole trust , in the mercy and grace of god alone . indeed ! i pray , why then did you , bellarmine , dispute with so long and strong a sophistry , against the safest course in the world ? i beseech you , let none of us take any other course for the pardon of our sins . counsel seek a pardon , and seek it penitently . and there are especially two expressions of repentance , which we are to be exercised in , they are conjoyned in prov. . . he that confesseth , and forsaketh his sins , shall find mercy . vvherefore , . confess all your sins , if you would have the pardon of them . it was said upon a devout purpose of confession , in psal. . . i said , i will confess my transgressions unto the lord , and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. how much more , will an exact performance of it , have such a consequence ? in some cases our sins must be confessed unto men. indeed , our secret sins must not be divulged , until god himself have in a manner brought them out ; but then we are by our own ingenuous confessions to perfect the discovery , so david , so ionah thought , tho' they could say unto god , against thee , thee only have i sinned ; scarce any but god being privy to their miscarriages . and thus achan , when others were made sufferers by his being a sinner , and god was pointing at him as the troubler of all the neighbourhood , his duty then was that , my son , confess and give glory to god. but be sure , sins committed before men , must be confessed unto men. vvhen ioseph● brethren had been brethren in iniquity , they heard one another with a bitter confession saying , we are verily guilty ! when the publicans and souldiers & such people , that had sinned publickly of old , came to a better sense , they confessed their sins , no doubt a● publickly as they could . we must give all men to see that we do not approve of sin , by our taking shame to our selves for what sin they have seen us overtaken with , and like the convicted leper crying out , vnclean , vnclean ! but in all cases , our sins must be confessed unto god ; who knows them all ; and whom they have all affronted and ●●used , it is said in john . . if we confess our sins , he is faithful and iust to forgive us our sins . we are to confess our sins before the god of heaven , both very particularly , and very sincerely . we may do well to take a catalogue of duties required , and sins forbidden , in all the commandments of god ; and examining by that glass , what spots we have had in our hearts and lives , we should bewayl them all before god. and bewayl them , without any excuses or defences to extenuate them , in our lamentations . an vpright man , lies in the dust ; let us lay our selves there , and so enlarge upon our own vileness , as becomes , a spirit without guile . such a confession as this , must be made if we would have any marks of a pardoned soul upon us . . forsake all your sins , if you would make genuine your confession of them . when you have once vomited up your sins by confessing of them , o do not return to them , as , a dog to his vomit . come to say , as in job . . i will not offend any more ; and study to do what you say . as , the burnt child will dread the fire , so let us dread all the sins which our souls have been scorched with ; and let us not espouse any way of wickedness . if any of us will go on still in our sins , let us not forget what will come of it ; no less truly than that in psal. . god shall wound the head of such an one , as goeth on still in his trespasses . but o what horrible wounds are those which the omnipotent hand of the great god shall be the inflicter of ! do not venture to go on in any course of sin ; but be able to say , i hate every false way ; and especially , be able to say , i kept my self from mine iniquitie . albeit any sin may have been as dear as a right-eye , or a right-hand unto you , nevertheless , away with it ! whatever bad course you have heretofore been us'd unto , abhor it now , with a very hearty and zealous detestation ; and say , what have i any more to do with idols ? 't is a new life that we are now to be studious of ; and we may not promise a pardon to our selves , while we continue in sin. tho' god at first iustify the vngodly , yet he will not let a iustified man remain ungodly any more ; no he teaches him to deny all ungodliness , and live godlily , soberly , and righteously in this present evil world. ii. but there is a very particular use of these things , to be regarded by one among us , who is never to see the light of another sabbath more . t is hugh stone , that i am now more immediately concerned with ; and therefore let him , as a man just come unto the very side of the black river of death , give earnest heed , unto what shall now be said before we part . unhappy man ; you must now dy before your time , for your being wicked ●vermuch , and because you have been a man of blood , you must not live out all your dayes . i am a little to invert the words of my text , in my speech ●nto you , and say , why don't you seek 〈◊〉 have your transgression pardoned , and your iniquity taken away ? for you shall sleep in the dust , before this week be out , and if we seek you next friday morning , you shall not be among us . t is a great favour of god unto you ▪ that you have liberty to hear a sermon or two ; before the execution which you are sentenced unto ; your monstrous hands hurried your poor wife out of the world with a greater and more cruel expedition . you may lament it with an inexpressible bitterness , that you have no better improved those hundreds of sermons which you have enjoyed heretofore . but i now beseech you , let not one more be lost . you are hearing for your last ; o let it be as for your life : look out for a pardon before it be too late , and let not the divels cheat you of a never-dying soul. every drop of that innocent blood in which you have imbrued your merciless hands has a tongue in it ; and it makes a fearful hideous clamour in the ears of the great god , saying , vengeance , o lord , vengeance on the cruel murderer ! methinks , you should be concerned for a saving interest in that blood , that speaks better things nothing but the blood of the lord jesus , will drown the voice of that horrible cry. this blood speaks for , a pardon , to them , whom it belongs unto 〈◊〉 o do you now speak for a title to that blood ; i say again , before it be too late ! what shall i say , that may stimulate the christward motions of you● fettered soul ! i am to tell you , first , that your slit is very great . the sin , for which you now stand condemned , is , a sin of a deep & bloody dye ▪ murder is the most barbarous and divelish , among all the crimes that are iniquities to be punished by the iudge . will a wolf kill a wolf ? no , and the very bears agree among themselves . but shall a man than be worse than a wolf unto a man ? if , he that loves another fulfils the law , 't is easy to tell what he does , that murders another . the most wretched pagans have observed of the murderer , that vengeance will not suffer him to live. but your murder is one hardly to be parallel'd in an age ! 't is said , no man ( if he have but the heart of a man in him ) ever hated his own flesh. what then are you , that have murdered yours ? find a name for yourself , if you think it possible ! you have murdered her whom you should have loved above all the world ; her whom you should have cherished with all the kindness and goodness of an holy conversation ; her whom you should have been willing even your self to have dy'd for the preservation of . and with her 't is said , you have murdered an infant , which never saw the light. this is your sin. and doubtless , they were not few or small sins , for which god left you unto this. you had long before , been guilty of those impious both omissions and commissions , which gave the divel at last a very entire possession of you . o consider of them all ; a●d especially trouble your own soul , for your unbelief in rejecting the saviour of it . you have sat long under the gospel ; but you have refused , yea you have crucify'd the blessed redeemer , who therein besought you to be reconciled unto god. how should the remembrance of this be to you , as the wormwood and the gall , and cause your soul to be humbled in you . i am to tell you , next , that your case is very sad . look round about , and say , is there any sorrow like your sorrow ? your house ; you have troubled it , and it is turned upside down by what you have done ; and , what anguish , what horrour , have you fill'd the hearts of your scattered children with ? your name ; you have blemish'd it , it must rot , without a grave-stone among civil people , & you must hereafter be known by this description , the man that murdered his wife . your body ; it has undergone the pains of chains and gaols , & there is a little more pain reserved for it , before it feed the worms . but above all , your soul , your soul , is brought into dangers too affrighting to be patiently thought upon . what is it that the word of god , pronounces upon the murderer ? no murderer has eternal life . it says , the murderer shall not inherit the kingdom of god. it says , the murderer shall have his portion in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone . surely , thy very heart must be moved out of its place , to hear of such an end as this , which indeed will never have an end what think you of changing your fetters , for the chains of darkness , in the dismal vault below ? what think you of changing your prison , your dungeon , for the outer darkness , in which there is gnashing of teeth for eevermore ! truly , it becomes you to lay your self in the dust , and cry out , wo is unto me , that i have sinned ! i may tell you thirdly , that your time is very short . you may not entertain the least thought of having your life now prolonged in the world ; the very world , will be defiled if you continue in it . were there a city of refuge among us , which you were fled into , yet we ought to fetch you thence , and see you made a sacrifice . the great god has required this co●cerning you ; let him hasten to the pit , let no man stay him ; and you must before this day s●'nnight be gone , thither , whence you cannot return . as it was said unto a better man than you , set thy house in order , for thou shalt dy and not live. thus , i would say to you , that cannot possibly set your desolate house in order any more , set thy soul in order , for thou shalt dy before this week expire , undone man , where shalt thou be within a few hours ? tho' this day se'nnight , you should roar , lord , lord , one sabbath more ! or , lord , lord , one sermon more , and one season more ! it will be in vain for ever and ever . and yet let me tell you , lastly , that there is a may be of mercy for you . tho' with cain , you have been a murderer ; yet let not the out-cry of cain be with you , my sin is greater than can be forgiven . you may be made a manasseh , for blessedness , as you have been such an one for wickedness . a pardon is to be had , if you slight it not ; and how should that mel● your very heart within you ? in an english plantation , that is not far from new-england , a while ago , there were two or three men● condemned to d● , as i have heard , for piracy . after their condemnation they broke prison , and fled into the woods ; from whence , after some weeks , they returned of their own accord , and surrendred themselves unto the authority , saying , we got away only that we might have time to make our peace with god , and get the pardon of our sins assur'd unto us , which thro' grace , we have done , and now we tender our lives , to satisfie the justice of the law. the iudges were so pleased with this ingenuity , that first they bestow'd a reprieve on them , and then procur'd a pardon for them ▪ for your part , you are utterly & for ever uncapable of a pardon , from the hands of men ; but were you in earnest about it , you might yet get a pardon from the hands of god without flying any whither , but unto the horns of the altar , the lord jesus for it . one which died of bleeding had that expression about the blood of the lord jesus , one blood kills me and another saves me . truly , as the blood of the person whom you have murdered calls for your death , so the blood of our dearest jesus will bespeak no less than eternal blessedness for you , if by impenitence you put it not away . our lord said once to one that was hanging on a tree , thou shalt be with me in paradise . you may go from the gallows to a kingdom , if after your abominable doings , you yet will but consent unto the terms of the new covenant . but i must acq●aint you , that the only remedy for you , is to carry a distressed soul unto the lord redeemer , who is exalted to be a prince & saviour ; o look unto him , whose call unto us is , look unto me ! look unto him , and sigh , and say , lord , grant unto me , both repentance and remission of sins . and while you are thus looking to him , study to do some remarkable thing for the honour and glory of god , and for the warning of such as are walking in those wayes , which have brought you to this , that men clap their hands at you , and hiss 〈…〉 of your place . this is the least you 〈◊〉 do by way of gratitude unto him 〈◊〉 has made you so capable of a pardon 〈◊〉 you are . i have done . but o that you ma● not be hard-hearted any more ! 〈◊〉 have the name of stone ; god forbid , that you should have the qualilities and properties of a stone , in your obduration . may these words 〈…〉 as deep into your●heart as your 〈◊〉 did into the throat of your 〈◊〉 wife ! may the god of 〈◊〉 therefore take away from you the 〈◊〉 of stone , and at the same time give you the white stone of absolution from 〈◊〉 many thousands of sins , with which you stand charged in the books of hi● remembrance . and may the good god sanctifie the condition of this man unto us all ; that all of us may learn to abhor and avoid sin , and be thankful for the grace without which , lord , what should th● very best of us all degenerate unto ! finis . the character and carriage and execution of hugh stone . the foregoing sermon having been preached unto the guilty murderer , i thought it my duty to observe what operation the truth and word of god might have upon him ; and to answer his own desires , that i would assist him in the last minutes of his life ; nor was i altogether ignorant that the labours that the famous perkins used with prisoners , were so successful , as to encourage those that should make an example of them . i have hardly met with so unintelligible a man , as this hugh stone . he could and would frequently speak very well , but with many very reasonabl● things which he uttered , he mingle as great impertinencies . i know no whether the use of his reaso● were not sometimes disturbe● by , the horrour of his mind ; fo● he thought himself sometimes haunte● with the ghost of his murdered wife . but his conversation in the prison before his condemnation , was in diverse things very scandalous ; and i could wish there had been more exactness in his repentance afterwards . his passions upon any provocation were so inordinate , as that we did not wonder to see what he was come unto . and as on the one side , i never saw a man express less fear of dying , so on the other , i never heard a man express more care about every trifle , which he counted himself concerned in . there was a minister that walk'd with him to his execution ; and i shall insert the principal passages of the discourse between them ; in which the reader may find or make something useful to himself , what ever it were to the poor man who was more immediately concerned in it . minister . i am come to give you what assistance i can , in your taking of the steps , which your eternal wea● or wo , now depends upon the well or ill taking of . hugh stone , sir , i thank you , and i beg you to do what you can for me . min. within a very few minutes your immortal soul must appear before god the iudge of all . i am heartily sorry ▪ you have lost so much time since your first imprisonment : you 〈◊〉 need use a wonderful husbandry of the little piece of an inch 〈…〉 remains . are you now prepared to stand before the tribunal of 〈◊〉 h. s. i hope i am . min. and what reaso●● 〈◊〉 that hope ? h. s. i find all my sins made so ●i●ter to me , that if i were to have 〈◊〉 given me this afternoon , to live such a life , as i have lived heretofore , i would not accept of it ; i had rather dy. min. that is well , if it be true. but suffer me a little to search into the condition of your soul. are you sensible , that you were born a sinner ? that the guilt of the first sin committed by adam , is justly charged upon you ? and that you have hereupon a wicked nature in you , full of enmity against all that is holy , and iust , and good ? for which you deserved to be destroyed , as soon as you first came into this world. h. s. i am sensible of this . min. are you further sensible , 〈◊〉 you have lived , a very ungodly life ? that you are guilty of thousands of actual sins , every one of which deserves the wrath and curse of god , both in this life , and that which is to come ? h. s. i am sensible of this also min. but are you sensible , that ●ou have broken all the laws of god ? you know the commandments . are you sensible , that you have broken every one of them. h. s. i cannot well answer to that . my answer may be liable to some ex●eptions . — this i own , i have broken every commandment on the account mentioned by the apostle james ; that he who breaks one is guilty of all , but not otherwise . min. alas , that you know your self no better than so ! i do affirm to you , that you have particularly broken every one of the commandments ▪ and you must be sensible of it . h. s. i cann't see it . min. but you must remember , that the commandment is exceeding broad ; it reaches to the heart as well as the life : it includes omissions as well as commissions , and it at once both requires and forbids . but i pray , make an experiment upon any one commandment , in which you count your self most innocent : and 〈◊〉 whether you do not presently conf●s your self guilty thereabout . i may not leave this point slightly passed ever with you . h. s. that commandment , thou shalt not make to thy self any graven image ; how have i broken it ? min. thus : you have had undue i●ages of god in your mind a thousand times . but more than so ; that commandment not only forbids our using the inventions of men in the worship of god , but it also requires our ●sing all the institutions of god. now have not you many and many a time turned your back upon some of those glorious institutions ? h. s. indeed , sir , i confess it ? i see my sinfulness greater than i thought it was . min. you ought to see it . god help you to see it ! there is a boundless ocean of it . and then for that sin , which has now brought a shameful death upon you , 't is impossible to declare the aggravations of it ; hardly an age will show the like . you have professed your sel● sorry for it ! h. s. i am heartily so . min. but your sorrows must be after a godly sort. not meerly because of the miseries which it has brought on your outward man , but chiefly for the wrongs and wounds therein given to your own soul ; and not only for the miseries you have brought on your self , but chiefly for the injuries which you have done to the blessed god. h. s. i hope my sorrow lies there . min. but do you mourn without hope ▪ h. s. i thank god , i do not . min. where do you see a door of hope ? h. s. in the lord iesus christ , who has died to save sinners . min. truly , there is no other name by which we may be saved ? the righteousness of the lord jesus christ , is that alone , in which you may safely anon appear before the judgment seat of god. and that righteousness is by the marvellous and infinite grace of god , offered unto you . but do you find , that as you have no rightetousness , so you have no strength ? that you cannot of your self move or stir , towards the lord jesus christ , though you justly perish if you do not run unto him ? that it is the grace of god alone which must enable you to accept of salvation from the great saviour ? h. s. sir , my case in short is this , i have laid my self at the feet of the lord iesus christ for my salvation ; and had it not been for his meer grace and help , i had never been able to do that . but there i have laid and left my self ; i have nothing to plead , why he should accept of me . if he will do it i am happy , but if he will not , i am undone for ever ; it had been good for me that i never had been born. min. and you must justifie him if he should reject you . you surprize me , with at once giving me so much of the discourse , which all this while i have been labouring for ▪ i can add but this ! the good lord make you sincere in what you say ! — your crime lay in blood ; & your help also , that lies in blood. i am to offer you the blood of the lord jesus christ , as that in which you may now have the pardon of all your sins . now you may try the sincerity of your faith in the blood of the lord jesus for a pardon , by this. have you an hope in that blood , for all the other saving effects of it ? shall i expl●in what i mean ? h. s. do sir. min. the blood of the lord jesu● , 〈◊〉 not only sin pardoning blood , but 〈◊〉 soul-purifying and heart-softening ●●ood . it embitters all sin unto the 〈◊〉 , that it is applied unto , and 〈◊〉 every lust in such a soul. are are you desirous of this ? h. s. with all my heart ? min. the lord make you so . the lord seal your pardon , in that blood , which is worth ten thousand worlds ! but what will you do for that god , who has given you these hopes of a pardon ? you must with a holy ingenuity now do something for the honour of that god , whom you have sinned so much against . h. s. what ' shall i do ? min. why , confess and bewail the sins that have undone you , and publickly advise , and exhort , and charge all that you can , to take heed of such evi● wages . h. s. i will endeavour to do it ●s god shall help me . min. i pray tell me plainly what special sin , do you think it was , t●a● laid the first foundation of your d●struction ? where did you begin to lea●● god ▪ and ruine your self ? h. s. it was contention in my f●mily . i had been used unto something of religion : and i was once careful about the worship of god , not only with my family , but in secret also . but upon contention between me and my wife , i left off the wayes of god , and you see what i am come to . min. i would pray you to vomit up all sin , with a very hearty detestation . you are going ( if i may so speak ) to disgorge your soul ; if you do not first cast up your sin , if your soul and your sin come away together you cannot but know something of the dismal condition which it must pass into . o what cause have you to fa●● out with sin forever ? it has been your only enemy . here is the only revenge which you may allow in your self . you must now bear any mu●●ce against any one man in the world , 〈◊〉 forgive even those that have done 〈◊〉 the greatest injuries . only upon 〈◊〉 , be as revengeful as you can : 〈◊〉 ●ould have you like samps●n so to 〈◊〉 taking of a just revenge , h s. i hope i shall . min. well , we are now but a very few paces from the place , where you must breath your last . you are just going to take a most awful step , which has this most remarkable in it , that it cannot be twice taken . if you go wrong now , it cannot be recalled throughout the dayes of a long eternity . i can but commit you into the arms of a merciful redeemer , that he may keep you from a miscarriage , which cannot be recal'd & redress'd throughout eternal ages . the lord show unto you the path of life ! attend unto these , as the last words that i may speak before the prayer , with which i am immediately to take a long farewel of you . you are now just going to be confirmed for ever . if the great god presently find you under the power of prejudice against any of his truths and wayes , or of enmity against what has his blessed name upon it , you shall be fixed , and settled , and confirmed in it , until the very heavens be no more . but they are very terrible plagues and pains , which you may be sure will accompany this everlasting disposition of your soul. on the other side , if god now find your soul , under the power of inclinations to love him , fear him , serve him ; and to esteem the lord jesus above a thousand worlds ; you shall then be confirmed in the perfection of such a temper , and of all the ioy , that must accompany it . which of these is the condition that i now leave you in . h. s. sir , i hope the latter of them . min. the good god make it so ; and grant that i may find you at the right hand of the lord jesus , in the day of his appearing . may this ladder prove as a iacobs ladder for you , and may you find the angels of the lord jesus ready here to convey your departing soul into the presence of the lord. after this discourse ; ascending the ladder , he made the following speech . the last speech of hugh stone . young men and maids ; observe the rule of obedience to your parents ; and servants to your masters , according to the will of god , & do the will of your masters : if you take up wicked ways , you set open a gate to your sins , to lead in bigger afterwards ; thou can'st not do any thing but god will see thee altho● thou thinkest thou shalt not be catched , thou thinkest to hide thy self in secret , when as god in heaven can see see th●e , though thou hast hid it from man. and when thou goest to thievery , thy wickedness is discovered , and thou ar● found guilty . o young woman that is married , and young man , look on 〈◊〉 here ; be sure in that solemn engagement , you are obliged one to another ; ma●●iage ●s an ordinance of god , have a care of ●reaking that bond of marriage-vnion ; if the husband provoke his wife , and cause a difference , he sins against god ; and so does she , in such carriage ; for sh● is bound to be an obedient wife . o you parents that give your children in marriage , remember what i have to say , you must take notice when you give them in marriage , you give them freely to the lord , and free them from that service & command you ought to have , yet you ought to have a tender regard to them . o thou that takest no care to lead thy life civilly and honestly , and then committest that abominable sin of murder , here is this murderer , look upon him ; and see how many are come with their eyes to behold this man , that abhors himself before god ; that is the sin that i abhor my self for , and defire you take example by me ; there are here a great many young people , and o lord , that they may be thy servants ! have a care , do not sin ; i will tell you , that i wish i never had had the opportunity to do such a murder ; if you say , when a person has provoked you , i will kill him : 't is a thous●nd to one , but the next time you will do it . now i commit my self into the hands of almighty god. his prayer . o lord our good god ; thou art a merciful god , and a gracious and loving father ; alas , that thou shouldest nourish up children that have 〈◊〉 against thee ! o lord , i must confess , thou gavest me opportunity to read thy written word ; thou art also my crea●or and preserver ; but , lord , i have not done according to the offers of thy grace ; thou hast not hid from me the opportunities of the good things and liberties of thy house and ordinances , but i have waxed wanton under the enjoyment of them . i have given thee just cause to provoke thee to anger , and thou hast left me to shame , not only on my self but on my relations . o lord god i do confess that i have sinned against thee , and done all these iniquities against thee , and before thine eyes . lord , i have sinned especially against thee ; pardon my sins of youth ; lord , pardon this bloody sin i stand here guilty of ▪ o lord , hide not thy face from me ; i humbly beg it of thee : for there is no man 〈◊〉 redeem his brothers soul , but only the blood of jesus christ must do it . let it be sufficient to satisfie for my poor soul. i h●●e not done any thing that thou shouldest be pleased to shew me thy love , or that i should have any thing from thee , but only everlasting misery . i am unworthy to come to thee ; yet lord , for thy mercies s●●e have pity on me . now i am coming 〈◊〉 iudgment , lord , let the arms of thy mercy receive my soul , and let my sin● be remitted ; good lord , let not my sin● which condemn me here in this world , rise up to condemn me in the world to come though they have condemned me in this world , shew mercy , lord , when i come be fore thy iudgment-seat . if my soul be not humbled , lord , humble it ; let my petition be acceptable in heaven thy holy mountain . i am unworthy to come into thy presence , yet o let me come into thy kingdom ; and deliver my soul from blood guil●iness , in the blood of jesus christ ▪ o let my wounded soul mourn for my sin that hath brought me here , sin brings ruine to the poor soul ; wo is unto me for mine iniquity . if i had gone to prayer in the morning when i committed this sin , lord god , thou wouldest have kept back my hands from shed●ing innocent blood : o gracious god , remember thou me in mercy ; let me be an object of thy pity and not of thy wrath ; the lord hear me and pardon my sins . take care of my poor children . i have scattered them like stragling sheep flying before the wolf ; pity the poor children that go like so many lambs that have l●st their keeter ; that they may not come to such a death as i do 〈◊〉 lord , for the sak● of jesus christ , and the righteousness o● thy son , accept my soul , and receive me into the arms of thy mercy ; that i may enjoy everlasting rest. pardon all my sins ; and let the prayers of all those that have put up their petitions for me , be accepted for the sake of jesus christ. now i am coming , now i am coming , thou mayst say , i called to thee , and thou wouldst not come ; i must say , my sin brought me here , o the world , and the corrupt nature of man , that has proved my ruine ! o lord , good lord , let me enjoy rest for my soul. the desire of my soul is to be with thee , in thy kingdom , let me have a share in that kingdom . now is the time , lord jesus ; the grave is opening its mouth ; i am now living , though dead in stn , let my prayers be heard in heaven thy holy place ; thy hands hath made me , & i know thou can'st save me ; hide not thy face from me ; and affect the hearts of thy people with this sad ob●●ct , that they may labour to serve thee betimes , and may not give themselves up to profaneness and wickedness , especially that sin of drunkenness , which is an in let of all ab●minations . [ when thou hast thy head full of drink , the remembrance of god is out of thy heart and thou art unprepared to commit thy self and family unto god ; thou art unfit to come into gods presence . i have cause to 〈◊〉 out an● be ashamed of it , that i am guilty of it , because . i gave may to that sin m●re than any other , and then god did leave me to practise wickedness , and to murder that dear woman , whom i should have taken a great deal of contentment in , which if i had done , i had not been here to suffer this death . ] thou art holy , just , and good , and therefore o lord have mercy on me , for the sake of thy son pity me , now lord , i am coming . o that i could do thee better service . [ many of you that behold me , i know , wish you never had seen me here . ] lord , receive my soul into a better place , if it be thy blessed will , 't is a day of great trouble with me ; my soul is greatly troubled ; give me one glimpse of com●ort in thy kingdom ; by & by let me have one dram of thy grace . accept of me now at this time , 't is the last time ; good ▪ lord , d●ny me not , give me , as the w●man , of sam●ri● , a taste of that living wa●er that my soul may thirst no more . i beg it for the sake of jesus christ. amen . after this , he was by the prayers of a minister then present , recommended unto the divine mercy . which being done ●he poor man poured out a few broken ejaculations , in the midst of which he was turned over , into that eternity which we must leave him in . the speech of hugh stone , in the prison , the morning before his execution . when young people are married they make use of prayer in their families , and when they pray , they do believe there is sincerity and affection in their prayer ; but when differance between a man and his wise doth arise , then that doth occasion hindrance of prayer in their family ; and when prayer is wholly omitted , it lets in all confusion ; and every evil work : he said . that he used to pray in his family , but when he did pray , it was in a formal manner , but now from the consideration of eternity that he was going into , he was made the more con●iderate in his prayers that he made , and did hope that now he had the spirit of prayer in his praying . finis . to contribute a little further unto the design of this book , i shall here annex two articles of observations , extracted from an hitherto-reserved collection of memorable providences . i have recorded them in such words ( and the rest in such wayes ) as these . article . i. act. xxviii . . a murtherer — vengeance suffereth not to live . among all the perpetrators of the more hideous and enormous impieties in the world , there is no person mor● abhorred by the lord , than the murtherer 〈◊〉 and there is none so much pursued by the lord as that bloody monster is . those children of cain , that rob their innocent neighbours of their lives , usually ●●dure first an hell in their own co●●●●nces , by which mark upon them , they are made more incapable of avoiding the halter which they are worthy of , and that halter is but a sling out of which their guilty souls are hurled into a further , a lasting , an endless hell. very trivial are the occasions and pretences for which often this peice of devilism is committed . no greater provocations truly , than what the two brothers at pad●a had , between whom there issued first quarrel and then a murder , only from this original , that on a certain evening together , one was wishing for oxen as many as the stars , the other was wishing for a pasture as large as the firmament . but the expectations of its concealment scarce ever escape a lamentable dissappointment in them who are so vain as to promise unto themselves a secrecy and impunity in this villanny ; for a ●●essus will find the very swallowes to chirr●p out his murder of his father . nor can a temporal recompence for this atrocious i●iquity ordinarily be avoided by the 〈◊〉 repentance it self ; besides the v●ngeance of eternal fire , which without 〈◊〉 ●nevitably followes thereupon . 〈…〉 his soul sw●● away to eternity in his blo●● to the innumerable exemples of these things , which all ages do admire , let these be added . exemple . i. the first murtherer of his neighbour in new-england ( as i take it ) was one billington at plimouth in the year . he shott a poor man that he was a mortal enemy unto , & expected that for want of power or of people in that infant plantation he should have evaded the execution due to him for his capital offence ▪ but justice inflicted has deserved death upon him . exemple , ii. one mary martin , her father going away from hence to england , had left her in the house of one mr. mitten , a married man , who became so enamoured of her as that he attempted her chastity ▪ such was her weakness and folly , that she● yeilded unto the vile temptations ; tho' with such reluctancies , that begging of god for deliverance from the wicked ●ollic●atio●● , she pleaded , if ever she were over●●●en again , she would leave her selfe unto his 〈◊〉 , to be made a publick exemple , howev●● 〈◊〉 governing her self , nor remem●●●ng her promise , with the ●●me sin a third time was she overtaken . afterwards going to service in boston , she found her self to have conceived ; but living with a favourable mistriss , who would not allow any suspicion or suggestion of her dishonesty , and thinking her self unable to bear the shame or grief of the discovery , she wholly concealed it until the time of her delivery . being then alone by her self in a dark room she used violence to destroy the child , once and again , before she effected the unnatural ba●barity . hereupon she wrapt up the infant in her chest for fifteen days until her master & mistress went aboard the ship which they were transporting themselves to england . on this occasion she was put to remove unto another house where some that before had apprehended , now perceived that shee had lately been delivered of a c●●ld . they charging it upon her , she at first denied the murther , & said , it was still-born , but upon search it was found in her chest , and she being made to touch the face of it , before the jury , the blood came fresh thereinto ; whereupon she confessed the whole tru●● 〈◊〉 her imprisonment and at her 〈◊〉 the carried her self so exceeding ●●●●●●penitently , that the observers had great hopes of her true repentance . but this was particularly remarkable , that as she acknowledged her twice essaying to kill her insant before she could make an end of it ; so , through the unskilfulness of the hang-man , they were ●ain to turn her off the ladder twice before she co●id expire . exemple . iii. an english ship sailing from some-where about the mouth of the streig●ts , was manned with some cruel miscreants , who quarrelling with the m●●ter & some of the officers , turn'd them all into the long-boat , with a small quantity of provisions , about an hundred leagues to the westward of the spanish coast. these fellowes in the mean while saile for new-england , where as providence would have it , the master and his afflicted company in the long-boat arrived too ; all except one who died of their barbarous usage . his countenance was now become terrible unto them , who though they had es●aped the sea , yet vengeance would not suffer them to live ashoar , 〈◊〉 his instance , and complaint they were ●pprehended , and the ring-leaders of this ●●●derous piracy had a sentence of death 〈◊〉 on them . the horrours which attended the cheef of these m●●●●actors in his d●ing hours were such as exceedingly astonisht the beholders . though he was a very stout man , yet now his tremblings and agonies were inexpressible . one speech let fall by him was , i have been amongst drawn sword , flying bullets , roaring canons , amidst all which i never knew what fear meant ; but now i have apprehensions of the dreadful wrath of god in the other world , which i am going into , my soul within me is amazed at it . loud cries the spilt blood of a brother ; he kills himself that slayes another . clamitat ad caelum vox sanguinis . article . ii. isa. lv. . let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts , and let him return unto the l●rd and he will have mercy , and to our god , for he will abundantly pardon . it was once the affectionate out-cry of a c●ndemned but a converted and a comforted malefactor , god is a great forgiver , god is a great forgiver ! it is indeed rarely seen that bad livers to , ever become sincere paenitents in old age. when the devils have had a possession of many years , they plead a sort of praescription against the holy spirit of god , and make their interest so strong , that very extraordinary must be the influences of the grace that shall destroy it . scripture seems to pronounce a sinner of an hundred years old to be cursed , and experience commonly discovers a sinner of fifty years old to be hardened beyond all recovery . the generality of them that are brought home to god under the constant dispensations of the gospel , will find that between fifteen and thirty is the age in which most of the elect become called ones . but as nothing is more soveraign than the free-grace of god , he calls both whom and when he will ; and he leaves many civil and moral - people in their , vnbelief , when he renewes the worst of men , and those that not only have done evil an hundred times , but likewise an hundred years been in the rebellious tents of the ungodly ; so nothing is more glorious than that free-grace which pardons without bounds , and forgives the sins which no conscience has vigour enough to describe all the aggravations of . let no man that begins to have sad thoughts about the state of his own soul , ●espair of mercy from god in christ ; it reaches even to , she chief of sinners . it is for a cain to roar , my sin is greater than can be forgiven ! but perphaps his despair was not inferiour to his murder , and , austin well replied upon him , mentiris , cain , cain , thou liest . the temp●er that once told thee ; t is too soon , may now tell thee , t is too la●e to repent ; and thou mayest have in thy thoughts the voice which once a flagitious man had in his ears , a little before he dyed , no mercy , no mercy ▪ but when he speaketh hard unto thee , beleeve him not . come , and confess and forsake all thy sins , and thou shalt have mercy . come , and cast the burdens of a guilty and wretched soul upon the lord jesus , and thou shalt have rest. unto the greatest and the oldest sinners , yet , return unto me , saith the lord. exemple , i. a while since , there dyed at lancaster , a man whose name was richard lenten , arrived in age to so many years above an hundred , that he had lived in wedlock with his wife for sixty three years , and yet she was thirty five years younger than himself ; and he was able to follow his toils at husbandry , very livelily but about a month before his end. this man had been all his dayes a poor ignorant carnal and sottish man , and unacquainted with the very principles of his ca●echism , after he had satt under so many hundreds of sermons as he had : nevertheless , when he was about an hundred years old , god blessed the ministry of his word unto this mans awakening ; and he became a diligent enquirer after the things of the life to come , and a constant serious attender on all that was religious . he arrived unto such measures of a well-informed devotion , that the church which was very strict in the terms of their communion , yet received him into their fellowship about two years before he dy'd ▪ wherein he continued under a good character , so long as he continued in the world. exemple . ii. there dwelt at a village in this countrey , one who dyed in december . this man had been remarkable for his bad life , till he had spent fifty years in the lewd and rude courses if notorious ungodliness . though he had the benefit of a christian and pious education , yet he had shaken off all the yokes which that had laid upon him . hee became a foul-mouth'd scoffer at all good men and good things ; and a great mocker of church-members in particular . the vices of drunkenness and swearing and lying made the characters of his conversation . sabbath-breaking and promise-breaking , made him infamous among honest people , and his disobedience to his parents was not unequal to the rest of his miscarriages . original sin , in the furthest efforts of it , fill'd his whole man , and his whole way , for half an hundred years ; at which age he left the world ; and he had sat under & sinn'd against the meanes of grace all this while . but yet , which you will admire to hear ! yet this enormous liver was iudg'd to be converted unto god some few weeks before he died , the great god so blessed & owned the ministry which he enjoyed , that the efficacy of it on him , became conspicuous to astonishment . he became a serious paenitent , and so devout , so pensive , that every one saw a new-creature in him . he mourned for all his former faults , and caused his complaints to reach unto the plague of his heart as the root of all . he reformed what was amiss in him , and applyed himself with an exceeding vigour to the saviour , for the salvation of his soul. while the grace of god was thus beginning its impressions on him , he fell mortally sick , and it was not long before he passed out of this world with a marvellous assurance of his interest in a better . it were endless to reckon up the extraordinary expressions that fell from him , & behaviours that he had in the sick and last dayes of his life ; but some of them were such as these . — o ( said he ) what a wonder of mercy is it to my soul , that god halh not cast me immediately into hell , and given me no time to repent , or to beg for an heart to repent ! but 〈◊〉 mercy hath spared a great sinner . — the stoutest man ( said he ) that ever lived , should he but seriously think on eternity , and have no christ to fly unto , it will so sink the the heart of him , that he could never bear it ; but the lord will show mercy to my distressed soul. he gave himself wholly to prayer , and would excuse watchers from sitting with him , that he might be at leisure for communion with god alone . sometimes he would give a start as he lay , and being asked the reason of it , he said , o i have a great work to do ! and but a little time to do it ! the conflicts which he endured in his spirit were unutterable , under which , he● day & night kept wrestling with god for his mercy . one morning his brother enquiring of him how he did , he replied , o i have had as doleful a night as ever man had , i have had three great enemies this night encountering with me ; the world , the flesh , & the devil . i have been this night , both in hell & in heaven ; and i can truly say with david , all this night long i have watered my couch with my ●●ars , but as the day broke , my saviour came & vanquished the devil , & told him that he had no right in me , for he had redeemed with his own blood. to his father once he said , i have felt a great work on my distressed soul ; this your son was lost and is found , was dead and is alive . doleful nights have i seen ; the thoughts of my sins did sorely oppress me , when i would be crying to my dear saviour for his mercy , he would seem not to pitty me , but to say , thou hast been a servant of the devil and of thy lust , and dost thou now come to me ? i have been calling to thee , and thou hast been hardening thy heart at my calls , and dost thou expect mercy after all ? and then the devil would put in , saying , thou hast been my vassal so long , thy cries for mercy are now all too late . i have also seen the face of an angry god , and that is the most terrible thing that was ever seen . i then found no s●ay for my distressed soul , but free-mercy ! free-mercy ! the lord now put under me his everlasting arms , and gave me an heart still to pray & say , lord iesus , mercy for thy own sake , mercy for thy name 's sake ! my redeemer would say , thou art a great sinner and an old sinner ! the answer of my soul was , truth , lord , but even such sinners have already found mercy at thy hands , i come to thee , for with thee the fatherless find mercy . — he would break forth into very high expressions ; his great comfort was fetch'd from that promise in ma● . . . come to me — and i will give you rest . he would now cry out , o the riches of free-grace ! there are thousands of thousands , & ten thousand times ten thousand , in the third heaven , rejoicing over a great and an 〈◊〉 sinner coming to glory ! o glorify free-grace for ever . — he would say , o blessed sickness , blessed sickness ! what a friend hast thou been to me ! and now welcome death ! or wecome life , what my dearest redeemer please . o that i could declare to my relations and my neighbours ! yea that i could declare to kings and worlds what the lord has done for my soul ! — he would reflect on the humiliation of the lord jesus christ , with an amazed & a transported soul ; he would break forth into a great adoration of it , and say , o this wonderful mercy to undone sinners ! he would also make that one of his admirations , o the glorious work of faith , which doth role it self on christ alone ! [ he bewailed it with a peculiar bitterness , that he had been for the change of government . but 〈◊〉 said , he believed that god would restore 〈◊〉 us , the judges as at the first , & the counsellours as at the beginning , & pastors according to his own heart . he was likewise much concerned about the interest of christ in the world ; & about the success of the prince of orange , whose glorious expedition we had then by the edges , a small notice of , he talk'd in strains that seem'd surprisingly prophetical . ] his counsil to every one was , to make their calling & election sure . and he would often say , o i am an old sinner ▪ & & but a young convert ! i am fifty yeers old , and have lived but seven weeks all this whi●● . to his brethren he said , you are care full about a garment for me under my weakness this winter , but brothers , i have a better garment than you can provide for me ; the long white robe of the● righteousness of jesus christ , will cover me all over . he kept praying & praising , & singing psalms till his end came ; and then being taken speechless & senseless , his friends apprehended they should hear him speak no more . thus he lay for divers hours drawing on ; but at length he just came to himself again , and sprang up in his bed , spreading his arms abroad , as tho' going to leap into the arms of a redeemer , and shouting , o my friends , heaven rings all over at this ! they wonder at this , a great and an old sinner coming to heaven ! behold , in my father's house are many mansions ; if it had not been so , my saviour would not have said it , but he is gone to prepare a place for one , o the riches of grace ! o glorifie free-grace for ever more ! and so he went away to the rest of god. despair not . that alone will mercy bar to faults that like the sands & mountains are . finis . erratum . page , . line , . r. day of grace the penitent sonnes teares for his murdered mother / by nathaniel tyndale, sicke both in soule and body, a prisoner now in newgate. the much-afflicted mothers teares for her drowned daughter / [by?] anne musket, the wofull mother for her lost daughter approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc . estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the penitent sonnes teares for his murdered mother / by nathaniel tyndale, sicke both in soule and body, a prisoner now in newgate. the much-afflicted mothers teares for her drowned daughter / [by?] anne musket, the wofull mother for her lost daughter tyndale, nathaniel. musket, anne. sheet ([ ] p.) : ill. for iohn trundle, printed at london : [ ] in verse. date of publication from stc ( nd ed.). printed in two columns, surrounded by black border containing mourning figures. attribution of composition to the condemned persons is questionable. reproduction of original in: society of antiquaries. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng tyndale, nathaniel. musket, anne. murder -- england. broadsides -- london (england) -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - elspeth healey sampled and proofread - elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion lord , be mercifull . o god , forgiue him . forsak● mee not , o lord. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 o lord 〈…〉 ▪ lord , be mercifull the penitent sonnes teares , for his murdered mother . he that has taught ten thousand tongues to speake that horrid sinne , that his sad heart doth breake , now scarce can speake himselfe ; for woe denyes a begging voyce , and giues me begging eyes . me thinkes the shaddow of this reall thing that wretched mee into this world did bring , stands poynting now , ( my guilty soule to shake ) to th' bloudy wound , this bloudy hand did make , that wound 's a mouth ; her dead dry bloud , a tongue , that sayes , ' mongst all , the most-forsaken throng , that haue their liues branded with bloud and shame , j stand the formost ; haue the foulest name . mee thinkes , i heare her tell mee , those pale hands haue gently lapt mee in my swathing bands ; haue dandled mee ; and , when i learn'd to goe , haue propt mee , weake , till i too-strong did grow . me thinkes i see her poynt vpon her brest , and tell me , there , i haue bin vs'd to feast ; thence oft haue fetcht my liuing ; from her bloud , by heau'n conuerted to my wholesome food . and last , me thinkes , shee poynts vpon that place , where all my parts had their due forme and grace , with these sad words ; behold th' vnhappy wombe , which i could wish , heauen once had made thy tombe . a heauy wish ; yet such a wish indeed , as i my selfe now , ( with a heart doth bleed ) could sadly breathe ; ' cause that vntimely birth brought not a man , but monster to the earth . from that deepe dungeon , where , in bands i lye , and from a depth , more deepe , i call and cry : the depth of anguish ; which thy sight most pure ; can onely looke on ; and thy mercies , cure . o cure my soule ; 't is that great worke , i know , for which ( so high ) thou didst descend so low : then , great phisician , helpe mee ; heale my wound ; great shepheard , seeke mee ; let my soule be found . that heauenly inuitation , made to those , whose many sinnes load them with many woes , is made to mee : for onely sinne doth griue mee , and not my death ; then ( blessed lord ) relieue mee . lord , let my teares be , to my leprous sinne as iordan was , to naamans leprous skinne ; and wash it cleane : but , ô ! so great a good ne'r came by water , 't is a worke of bloud . a worke of bloud : the bloud of that pure lambe , that to purge sinne , and saue poore sinners came ; that precious bloud : o lord , that bloud of thine , apply to mee , to purge this bloud of mine . so , as of god i begge , i begge of men , their zealous prayers t' assist mee : and agen , to quit that goodnesse , this reward i 'le giue , i 'le pray , my death may teach all them to liue. finis . by nathaniel tyndale , sicke both in soule and body : a prisoner now in new-gate . the much-afflicted mothers teares , for her drowned daughter . come , tender mothers , see a mothers feares ; sinnes palsie , shake mee ; and my floud of teares : come heare my sighs , and penitentiall prayers ; deaths shade's my mansion ; my companion , cares . o! how much worse than any sauage beare , she-wolfe , or tygresse , must i now appeare ? since they , their young , with such respect doe cherish ; and mine , by mee , doth thus vntimely perish . for , wretched j , ( when fruitlesse cares tooke place ; and cloudy passion , hid the light of gr ce ) more fell than these are , my poore childe forgot , and child-bed pangs , ( the mothers painefull lot ) forgot thou wert my flesh ; forgot how oft i kist thee ; blest thee ; and , to slumbers soft , within these armes haue lull'd thee : and againe , how oft my pitties haue bemon'd thy paine . forgot how oft vpon my tender brest thou hast bin fed ; how often taine thy rest ; forgot a mothers nine yeeres cares and cost ; all which , with thee , are in thy murder , lost . all these forgot . when wee our god forget , then satan comes , and in our eye doth set his poysoned baites ; which , ' cause i not withstood , mine eye drops water ; but , my heart drops blood. for death ( alas ) i care not : could i summe as many liues , as i haue houres to come ; i 'de spend them all ; and , with a smiling face , meet all those deaths , to giue thy sweet life , place . but wishes ( deare clementia ) are but vaine ; i drown'd thee ( little angell ; ) and againe should drowne thy body , ( wer 't before my feares , ) in this new riuer , of mine owne warme teares . these teares , that euer from mine eyes shall flow ; this lauish floud of penitentiall woe ; this wine of angels , so the fathers call those drops repentance lets so freely fall . with paul , with peter ▪ dauid ; and that sonne , the maze of ryot , and hot lust did runne ; and with the woman , washt her sauiours feet , let my poore soule that balme of mercy meet . thou ' cam'st not ( lord ) the iust and pure to call , but impure sinners ; nor do'st ioy their fall , but their conuersion : and , when grace doth bring one soule to thee , all the blest angels sing . i know , 't is late ( o lord ) yet know thy power ; know that's as much , in mans departing houre , as in a rathe beginning ; for my griefe has learnt the lesson of that penitent thiefe . like his , let mine , thy mercies-seat ascend , and purchase there , ' gainst this sad life shall end : that life , to death , shall neuer more giue way ; so , while i weepe , helpe my poore soule to pray . finis . anne musket , the wofull mother ▪ for her lost daughter . printed at london for iohn trundle . a proclamation anent the murtherers of the late archbishop of st. andrews, and appointing magistrates and councils of burghs royal to sign the declaration at michaelmas next proclamations. - - scotland. privy council. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing s estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a proclamation anent the murtherers of the late archbishop of st. andrews, and appointing magistrates and councils of burghs royal to sign the declaration at michaelmas next proclamations. - - scotland. privy council. charles ii, king of england, - . sheet ([ ] p.) printed by the heir andrew anderson, [edinburgh : ] dated at end: edinburgh the twentieth day of september, . and of our rign [sic] the thirty one year. this edition not in steele. imprint from wing cd-rom, . dfo copy on reel is cropped at foot affecting the imprint. reproduction of original in the folger shakespeare library, washington, d.c.. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng sharp, james, - -- early works to . criminal behavior -- early works to . murder -- scotland -- early works to . broadsides - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a proclamation anent the murtherers of the late archbishop of st. andrews , and appointing magistrates and councils of burghs royal to sign the declaration at michaelmas next . charles , by the grace of god king of great britain , france and ireland , defender of the faith ; to our lovits heraulds , macers , pursevants , or messengers at arms , our sheriffs in that part , conjunctly and severally , specially constitute , greeting : we taking to our consideration how much the protestant religion , and the honour of this our ancient kingdom are stained by that barbarous and horrid assassination and murther of the late archbishop of st. andrews ; whereof we have by several proclamations expressed our abhorrency , and prohibited the reset of these murtherers whom we have excepted from our late gracious pardon and indemnity : and albeit it was the duty ( not only of those in authority under vs ) but of all our subjects , to use their endeavours for discovering and bringing to justice these execrable persons , enemies to all humane society ; yet we understand , that these murtherers , and likewise divers heritors and ministers who were engaged in the late rebellion , and are excepted from our indemnity , have been harboured and reset in some places of this kingdom , to the great reproach of the nation , and contempt of our authority and laws : therefore , we with advice of our privy-council , do command and charge all sheriffs , stewarts , bayliffs of regalities , and baylieries , and their deputes , magistrates of burghs , and others in authority under vs , to search for , seek , take , and apprehend the persons afternamed , viz. john balfour of kinlock , david haxstoun of rathillet , george balfour in gilstoun , james russel in kettle , robert dingwal , a tenents son in caddam , andrew guillan webster in balmerinoch , alexander and andrew hendersons , sons to john henderson in kilbrachmont , and george fleming son to george fleming in balbuthy , who did perpetrate and commit the said horrid murther ; and also , any heritors and ministers who were in the late rebellion , and any persons who have reset and harboured these murtherers and rebells , wherever they can be found within the bounds of their respective jurisdictions , and put them in sure ward and firmance , until they be brought to justice : and in case these persons flee out of the shire , that they give notice thereof to the sheriff , or other magistrate of the next shire or jurisdiction , that they may in like manner search for , apprehend and secure them until they be brought to justice ; with power to the sheriffs , and other magistrates aforesaid , if they shall find cause , to call to their assistance our subjects within their jurisdiction , or such a number of them as they shall think fit , who are hereby required to concur with , and assist them , under all highest pain and charge . and we expect , that the sheriffs and other magistrates aforesaid , will use exact diligence in the premises , as they will be answerable on their highest peril . and seeing by the fifth act of the second session , and the second act of the third session of our first parliament . the magistrates and councils of burghs are ordained at and before their admissions to the exercise of their offices , to sign the declaration appointed to be signed by all persons in publick trust , under the certifications therein exprest . therefore , we with advice aforesaid , do command and require the magistrates and councils of the respective burghs of this kingdom , who shall be chosen at the next ensuing elections , to sign the foresaid declaration , as is prescribed in the said acts , and to return the declarations so signed by them to the clerks of our privy-council , betwixt and the third thursday of november next ; certifying such as shall not give obedience , that they shall be proceeded against , and censured conform to the said acts of parliament . our will is herefore , and we charge you strictly , and command , that incontinent , these our letters seen , ye pass to the market-cross of edinburgh , and remanent market-crosses of the head burghs of the several shires of this kingdom , and other places needful , and there by open proclamation , make publication of the premises , that none may pretend ignorance of the same . and we ordain these presents to be printed . given under our signet at edinburgh the twentieth day of september , . and of our rign the thirty one year . will. paterson , cl. sti. concilii . god save the k ng . epilogue to the french midwife's tragedy who was burnt in leicester-fields, march , / , for the barbarous murder of her husband denis hobry / this may be printed, r.p. settle, elkanah, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing s a estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) epilogue to the french midwife's tragedy who was burnt in leicester-fields, march , / , for the barbarous murder of her husband denis hobry / this may be printed, r.p. settle, elkanah, - . sheet ([ ] p.). printed for randal taylor ..., london : . in verse. attributed to elkanah settle by wing ( nd ed.). reproduction of original in: bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng hobry, marie, d. . hobry, denis, d. . murder -- england. broadsides -- london (england) -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - elspeth healey sampled and proofread - elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an epilogue to the french midwife's tragedy , who was burnt in leicester-fields , march . . for the barbarous murder of her husband denis hobry . if mighty verse like great omnipotence , can both rewards and punishments dispense , verse that strows sweets or cankers on the grave , that brands the impious , and embalms the brave ; horrour it self must write an elegy ; nor can such guilt ev'n with the guilty die. at common stakes the malefacter dies , his funeral rites in his spectators eyes . beyond the stroke we hear no more the name : as if his limited breath and bounded shame lull'd in one slumber to one grave should go , whilst justice strikes , and pity seals the blow . but , fatal hobry , thy unhappier hands , ( as if thou'hadst studied for eternal brands ) soard to that height , to that exalted crime ; our eyes ev'n dread to look where thou ne'r dread'st to climb . who to her fate a path like thee could choose ; a fate unmourn'd ? as if resolved to lose even that last stake the vvretched ne're forgo , pity the last inheritance of vvoe . nay , to be yet more miserable still , thy hideous tale that sullied page shall fill ; on harden'd brass thy fame shall written be , if possible more harden'd ev'n then thee . but sure thy death might wash thy stain away ! no! though the debts to blood in blood we pay , heap rocks on rocks , thy infamy unhusht , by all that pondrous weight too feebly crusht , like the old conquer'd gyants , still would rise , and heave beneath the mountains where it lies . nay , t' heighten the black dye thy story wears the perpetration acted at thy years ! t' increase the prodigy , so hot the rage , at so decrepit , and so cold an age ; by times long frozen hand , thy feeble arm — but oh ! what frost can chill where hell can warm ? methinks i saw the sleeping husband kill'd , her vigorous arm with youthfull sinews fill'd , and stoutly following the triumphant stroak , unbrancht , unlimb'd , she hew'd the falling oak ; vvhile peeping vengeance , that reserved the meed of treason , lookt all ghastly at the deed. had some young girl by covetous parents doom , in natures prime , in youth and beauties bloom , betray'd to some old jealous misers bed , to impotence , to age and aches vved ; her chamber-walls , her dungeon , and her tomb , lockt up from foraging , yet starv'd at home : had this mew'd slave , to meet some dearer charms , and run to a more darling lovers arms , a cawdle spiced , or cut a jugular vein , her jaylor laid asleep to break her chain ; the murdering blow her pitied hand should give , vvould scarcely to a nine days wonder live. but hobry , thy more execrated shame shall even survive the great medea's name . the mangled brothers limbs that sorceress tore , in dull oblivion lost , shall live no more . but 't was a deed thy arm alone durst do , and thy great exit's thy great merits due . behold the wanton flames sport round thy head , resolved to have thy funeral ashes spread vvide as thy husbands scatter'd limbs we 're laid . heaven's roof 's thy marble , and the vvorld thy tomb. yes , 't was but just thy dust should find that room , that large , that spacious sepulcher should have , the stench too noysome for a narro'er grave . finis . this may be printed , r. p. london , printed for randal taylor , near stationers-hall , . the glory of god's revenge against the bloody and detestable sins of murther and adultery express'd in thirty modern tragical histories : to which are annexed, the triumphs of friendship and chastity in some illustrious examples / by thomas wright ... wright, thomas, m.a., of st. peters colledge in cambridge. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing w estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the glory of god's revenge against the bloody and detestable sins of murther and adultery express'd in thirty modern tragical histories : to which are annexed, the triumphs of friendship and chastity in some illustrious examples / by thomas wright ... wright, thomas, m.a., of st. peters colledge in cambridge. [ ], , [ ] p. printed by tho. moore for benjamin crayle, london : . reproduction of original in huntington library. "the glory of god's revenge ... book ii" and "the triumphs of friendship and chastity" each have special t.p. advertisement: [ ] p. at end. later editions published under title: god's revenge against murther and adultery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng revenge. murder -- early works to . adultery -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - rina kor sampled and proofread - rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the glory of god's revenge against the bloody & detestable sins of murther and adultery exprest in trag : histories to which are a●ex'd the triumphs of friendship & chastity by tho : wright , m. a. printed for benja ▪ crayle in fleet street the glory of god's revenge against the bloody and detestable sins of murther and adultery , express'd in thirty modern tragical histories . to which are annexed , the triumphs of friendship and chastity , in some illustrious examples . by thomas wright , m. a. of st. peters colledge in cambridge . london : printed by tho. moore , for benjamin crayle at the lamb in fleet-street . mdclxxxvi . to the right honorable and noble lady , flower countess of clarendon . madam , it may seem an unpardonable rudeness , that to this collection of histories i should prefix so venerable a name : but tho' i may be judg'd guilty of a presumption in this dedication , yet the general character of your eminent virtues ( which gives as great a lustre to your name , as your honourable birth ) does somewhat excuse and apologize for me , and i question not but your transcendent goodness and clemency will prevail with you to patronize a piece ( tho' unpolish'd before your ladyships most discerning judgment ) which may prove instrumental towards the restraining those execrable crimes which are so frequently committed in this exorbitant age ; and likewise as it publisheth some other examples which may tend to the propagating those resplendant graces of friendship and chastity , which may without hyperbole or flattery be said to be most eminent in your self . the author's affairs having call'd him far distant , before the press had finish'd the book , frustrated his intention of dedicating it to your lad●ship himself : and therefore , as the presentation of it was design'd you from its birth , so i am sure i have infinitely oblig'd the author , by performing his desire , and i hope no ways contributed to your honours dissatisfaction . i am your honours most obliged and humble servant , benjamin crayle . to my ingenious friend , mr. thomas wright , on his excellent histories . after the first apostacy of man , the rich endowments of his mind began to be deprav'd , and lost its excellence by being conquer'd by the lusts of sense ; since which unhappy time ( of man's being frail ) examples more than precepts do prevail ; for exhortations we do seldom find to leave such strong impressions on the mind . then who can speak the debt the world does owe to thy ingenious pen , that does bestow an antidote to vice from others woe , and from th'examples of the chast and kind , fix brigh● imbellishments upon the mind ? thy histories , by chymistry divine , do the depraved faculties refine , and make them in their pristine lustre shine . this mirrour to the vitious does present their picture so deform'd , they will repent ; and to the good such charming graces show , as they till then could not so fully know : such — as will make them to improve , and be like patterns of heroick piety . thou ha●t disclosed here a golden mine , and hast with eloquence enrich'd each line . so sweet's thy style , so manly is thy sence , it justly may be call'd an excellence . thy wit and skill may former artists blame , and reynolds murthers now we must not name . as sable darkness , which attends the night , to the days sun-beams is the opposite , so vice from virtue , wrong from right 's the same ; then how canst thou write wrong , when wright's thy name ? london , m●y . . i. c. to the ingenious author , mr. thomas wright . since the too bold aspiring angel fell ( by his ambition and his pride ) to hell , and since rebellious man lost paradice , the world is fill'd with various sorts of vice ; murther & lust twin-tyrants long have reign'd , and a vast empire thro' the world maintain'd ; the sword of justice could not stop their rage , they 've boldly tyranniz'd in ev'ry age , nor could divines their furious heat asswage yet doubtless , friend , th'examples you have giv'n , may give them prospect of revenging heav'n ; your pen with eloquence divine inspir'd , will cool the soul with lust and murther fir'd , tame all the passions , regulate the will , and stop that rage that guiltless blood wou'd spill . thy pen doth here such oratory give , as teacheth us by others death to live ; and from a life of chastity and love , a great advantage to our selves improve . thy book so much my praises do outrun , i do but light a candle to the sun. i. whitehall . the introduction . plato , a heathen , thought virtue so amiable in it self , that could it appear clad in humane shape , the excellency of its features would attract the love and admiration of all its spectators : and shall we , who are christians , be less in love with the beauty of holiness ? shall we , who live under the meridian illustrations of divine wisdom , not see those glorious truths , which by the glimmering light of nature he so much rever'd ? o shame on that egyptian darkness which clouds our reason ! o shame on that infidelity that poysons our souls ! he liv'd a divine heathen , while we live and die professed christians , but in practice more wretched and inexcusable than pagans ; witness the avarice and rapine of some , the malice and ambition of others ; in a word , to name no more , the frequent murders of the street , and the more close adulteries of the chamber ; the bloody revenge of the enraged bravo , and the wanton embraces of the lustful paramour . of these two last , viz. of murder and adultery , i shall more particularly treat , which as they are sins of the first magnitude , so hath their punishment been the most dreadful , and their guilt always prosecuted with the most fatal consequence of divine vengeance , as the reader may plainly see in the several following histories ; of which some are extracted out of that excellent piece of mr. reynolds his murthers , and others altogether new , all re●uc'd into so small a bulk , that they may be neither cumbersom nor tedious to the reader . examples of these crimes , as most hainous in their own nature , ( the first destroying man , gods image , and the second defiling him ) i have the rather pitch'd upon , for that they are the spreading cancers of the age , which have not only infected the southern and warmer parts of the world , but spread their contagion under the arctick pole , in climates bound up in ice , and lands covered with snow . murther , 't is true , got the start of adultery , and was the first-born of its wretched parent cain ; but since , like kind companions , they have lovingly associated together , and rarely do we meet adultery in the van , but we find murther in the reer , which have now usurpt so large an empire , that the rigours of the frost do not chill their heats , nor stop their growth : the cold rus●es , finns , and tartars , are as well guilty , as the hot moors , blacks , and aethiopians ; the phlegmatick dutchman , or heavy german , as the lustful spaniard , or sodomitical italian . murther has been always look'd upon as a most detestable sin in the sight of god and man , and punished as a capital offence ; nor is adultery to be less abhorr'd . the commands of god , the laws of the jews , and other nations at this day , inflict death on the miserable criminal ; however it has obtained more favour amongst the debauch'd sparks of our age , who esteem it but a slight peccadillo , a piece of gallantry , and account it rather the glory than the shame of their youthful heat , and vigorous extravagance : but let such know , that god has promised by a severe threat , that he will judge the whoremonger and adulterer ; nor will they find the punishment so light as they imagine . this it was that brought a deluge upon the old world , and this it is which hath since overturn'd kingdoms , and laid wast the most flourishing states . and as there is no place , nor hath been any age , free from notorious examples of this crime , so also are there no degrees of persons exempted from the commission of it : princes of the highest dignity being as well guilty , as those of more inferiour rank and quality : but let such know , that they shall both tast the bitterness of punishment ; for god will as soon fling his thunderbolt on the one as the other ; the princes purple shall no more excuse him , than the poor mans rags can defend him . if our body is the temple of god , let us then keep it undefiled , and not make it a sanctuary for murthers and adulteries ; for that holy spirit will not endure the impurity of our thoughts , much less our polluted actions ; our hands must not only be free from the stain of blood , but our hearts from the guilt and the very desire of revenge . incontinency is one of the devil's light-horse , with which he at first skirmishes , till he can draw us into those ambuscades of more dangerous enemies he has laid to entrap us , and then charges us with his desperate train of adulteries and murthers , and the whole body of succeeding villainies . in adultery he baits his hook with the honey and sweets of the temptation , paints the hidden thorns , and sticks them with flowers ; guilds the chains , and studs them with diamonds ; makes every curling tress ( the witchcraft of the fair ) of the most soft and shining silk , which he ties up in true-love-knots for garniture : but when once we have swallowed the deceitful potion , we quickly lose the relish of those mistaken sweets , and find that bitterness and sorrow were the chief ingredients in the fatal composition , and a speedy repentance our best and only antidote . i could here inlarge upon the various punishments inflicted by different nations , according to the rigorous or more merciful inclination of their temper , on the horrid sin of adultery ; but then i should transgress the modest bounds i intended to this discourse . i shall therefore leave the reader to the following histories , in which i hope he will receive both delight and satisfaction ; and conclude with the remarque of a witty and observing traveller : the italian ( says he ) poysons the adulterous wife , the spaniard stabs her , the german beats her , the french - man puts her away , and the english - man won't believe it . the glory of gods revenge against the bloody and execrable sin of murther . hist. i. grand pre and mermanda . the proud hautefelia hires le fresnay an apothecary for crowns to poyson her sister in law mermanda , then sets her husband de mallery at variance with her brother grand pre , who kills de mallery in a duell ; she afterwards gives le fresnay crowns more to poyson grand pre which he does , and being condemned for a rape confesses the two murthers , and accuses hautefelia , who is apprehended , and both suffer the severity of the law. had the precepts of god or the laws of man been able to restrain the extravagance of our debauch'd natures within the limits of our duty , we shou'd have had not only no occasion , but no examples of such wicked wretches , whose lust , ambition , or revenge ▪ has made them the unhappy arguments of humane misery . their vicious courses have plung'd them into crimes which could not be expiated here , but by the severest punishments , both which the faithful historian has transmitted to us , that by the obliquity of their lives , we may be perswaded to amend our own , since we see that sin always proves fatall to the offender , and an ignominious death is the certain consequence of a corrupt and vicious life . if perfect innocence was the beauty of our creation and that happy dowry which god almighty gave , when at his command the soul and body first espoused each other , which the more wily serpent stole from us ; oh let us not be again cheated by the same deceiver , and sell our integrity for the guilded shows of sin and misery , exchange our glory for shame , and to satisfie one burning lust , endure the torment of everlasting flames . the following histories are all tragical , and the parts of the chifest actors writ in characters of blood ; which are not so much designed to divert the reader with the variety of surprising circumstances , as to afright him by the sad examples from the commission of that horrid sin of murther , of which sincerely to repent , is highly difficult , but to make satisfaction for impossible . when once the golden bowl is broke ( which the wise man speaks of , ecclesiastes the th . ) by the impious hand of some bold assassin , he fills full the cup of gods indignation against him , which will be a draught more bitter than all the glozing pleasures life or fortune can sweeten with their greatest advantages . humane laws have provided shackles and dungeons , racks and gibbets , not only to punish , but deter such sanguinary bravo's , who , if they chance ( which but rarely happens ) to escape the latest hand of justice , yet are they constantly haunted with the horror of the crime , and antedate the torments of a future , by the present hell of an evil conscience . but i proceed to the history which is thus . neer auxone , upon the frontiers of burgduny , dwelt an antient gentleman nobly descended , whose name was monsieur de grandmont , his vertuous lady was madamoyselle de carny , this happy pair were bless'd with a plentiful offspring and a fair estate to support the honour and grandeur of the family . they had three sons and two daughters , of which grand pre ( who was the first and chiefest pillar of the house ) applyd himself wholly to arms , and obtain'd leave to serve his apprenticeship in the wars under the command of that incomperable captain grave maurice , then earl of nassaw , and since prince of orange . vileneufe who altogether delighted in books was sent to pont au mousson , and masseron was for his beauty beg'd a page by that great marshal of france who unfortunately lost his head in the bastile of paris ▪ hautefelia the eldest of the two daughters liv'd at home with her parents , and de cressy the youngest had the honour to attend a great lady of burgundy , where she receiv'd all the advantages of a noble and vertuous education . but see here how soon the pleasure of heaven can overthrow our most establish'd fortunes , and sink all our present joys and ripening hopes into the botom of despair . within the compass of a year vileneufe was drown'd as he bath'd himself in the river at pont au mousson , masseron was kill'd in a duell at fontainbleau by rossat page to the duke of espernon , and hautefelia dyed at home of a feaver . grandmont and de carnye being thus made unfortunate by the death of three of their children , resolv'd to call home the other two , which were now the only comforts and props of their declining age. first from the baroness of lux came de cressy who succeeded her sister and we shall now term by the name and title of hautefelia ; after her very shortly came grand pre from holland , where he left many honourable marks of his courage and bravery . upon his arrival , the flower of all the nobility and gentry came to condole with him for the death of his brothers and sister , and congratulate his happy return , whom they all admire as a most compleat gentleman in whose mien shone all the graces and accomplishments of a brave and generous cavalier . grandmont observing the martial disposition of his son , and fearing least the thirst of honour would again transport him to the wars , and that his towring spirit would not long endure the lazy retirement of the country , resolves to try if the softer charms of love and beauty could not assail that breast which seemed wholly devoted to the god of war ; for which end he proffers grand pre the choice of several young ladyes and gentlewomen for his wife , of the richest and most ancient families near auxone ; but grand pre appeared wholly averse to all proposals of this nature , and thought it a high blemish and disparagement to his valour , to be made a slave and captive to any beauteous she , who knew no way to conquer but by smiles and the weak artillery of her eyes . grandmont perceiving this design would not take effect , resolves to leave the country and reside at dijon ( formerly the antient seat of the dukes of burgundy , and now famous for the present court of parliament ) where he hoped amongst the great confluence of ladyes and gentlewomen , grand pre might at last espye that paragon of nature whose excellencyes would subdue his stubborn heart , and captivate his affections , which accordingly answered his expectation . on a sunday morning in lent , grand pre went to the royal chappel to hear father iustinian preach , and over against him saw a most delicate and beautiful young lady , infinitely rich in apparel , but far more glorious in the perfections and excellencyes of her mind ; in a word being not used to encounter with such beautyes , he was ravish'd with the sweetness of her angelic form , and she alone the subject of his present devotion and future contemplation . nor was grand pre less observ'd by the lady , who seeing him a proper young gallant well attended , would sometimes feast her eyes with a stol'n glance , which presently her modesty and discretion would check her for , and paint her cheeks with those graceful blushes , that grand pre was forc'd to do homage to her beauty and ask pardon of that god of love against whose power and dignity he had so long offended . sermon being ended , grand pre took a turn or two in the church , and ordered his page to make private enquiry who the lady was ; he speedily inform'd him that she is madamoyselle mermanda , eldest daughter to monsieur de cressonville , one of the chiefest presidents of the court of parliament . grand pre was extremely pleased in knowing who she was , and the more , in that it was no disparagement to his quality or family to marry with her . wherefore , bidding farewell to all the bloody conflicts of the camp , he resolves his future engagements into amorous encounters , which often prove no less fatal and dangerous : and accordingly , the next day , with two intimate acquaintance , under pretence of other business , made a visit to monsieur de cressonville ; who being abroad , his two friends entertained the mother , whil'st he made his addresses to the young lady , whose conversation was so obliging and agreeable , that he now own'd no other happiness but what centred in the sole enjoyment of the beloved mermanda . grand pre having received so respectful entertainment in his first visit , resolv'd to acquaint the old president with his affection to his daughter , which he did , and having thus begun his sute , left his father grandmont to finish it , whil'st he pay'd his daily orisons to his beautiful mistress . monsieur de cressonville approv'd the match ; and knowing that grandmont had likewise one only daughter , and himself one only son , desired it might be double , thereby to contract a more firm and stricter league between their two houses ; which , after some debates and conferences , was resolv'd upon . i do here on purpose omit the several letters of courtship between grand pre and mermanda , and from de malleray ( cressonville's son ) to hautefelia , both because they would swell this brief history beyond its intended bounds , and expressed nothing more of moment , than the common raptures of endearing lovers in their first addresses . these marriages , to the joy of the parents , and the great content of their children , were pompously solemnized in dijon , and the interest and honour of both families ( in the eyes of all ) fix'd on the firm foundations of a lasting felicity . but , oh the strange and sudden revolutions of all worldly happiness ! our best fortune is chequer'd , & our greatest joys seem only given us to usher in more dreadful sorrows . some few months had passed , in which the lovers reap'd the full harvest of their short-liv'd pleasures , when hautefelia , whose temper was imperious and revengeful , began to envy the advancement of her sister-in-law mermanda , and contemn her own : her haughty humour could by no means submit to give place to her after marriage , who was her inferiour before . mermanda , who was of a most gracious and mild nature , liv'd happy in the affections of grand pre : their virtuous behaviour , and loving respects to each other , was highly prais'd and applauded by all , but the sullen and envious hautifelia . mischief and revenge had now wholly engaged her thoughts , when she resolved to change the scene ; and make mermanda as miserable in her husband's jealousie , as formerly she had been happy in his love ; and considering how to accomplish her black designs under the fairest pretences , she remembred that the baron of betanford frequently visited grand pre and mermanda , upon which she might with easie arguments lay the surest foundations of jealousie and revenge . in pursuit hereof , the next day she sent a private letter to grand pre by her page , intreating him to come immediately over to her , to consult upon a point in which his honour and future happiness were equally concern'd : he accordingly came , and supper being ended , de malleray ( after some discourse ) complemented him to his chamber , and took his leave ; when hautefelia coming up with tears in her eyes , acquainted him , that ( to her great sorrow ) she was assur'd that the baron of betanford , without respect to the sacred rules of honour , friendship , and hospitality , had too frequently abus'd him , in his familiarity with mermanda . grand pre , fir'd with this discourse , resolves a revenge upon both , without considering the truth of circumstances , ( so far does jealousie infatuate ! ) that the next day riding home in the evening , he desired mermanda to walk into the garden , where in express terms he charged her with disloyalty to him , and dishonesty with the baron : all which with floods of tears she utterly deny'd , and so far prevailed upon him , that he declared himself satisfied with those assurances of her fidelity , and was perfectly reconciled . mermanda fearing that if the baron should still continue his visits as formerly , they might awaken the sleeping jealousie of her husband , and to take off all grounds of a future suspicion , writ this following letter to him . mermanda , to the baron of betanford . my lord , it is not with blushes , but tears , that i presume to write unto you ; nor can any thing more deeply affect me , than that i am now forc'd to publish my husband's folly , to vindicate my own innocence . i must confess his ingratitude to you , and wrong to me , whil'st his jealous humour charges us with those clandestine crimes which both your honour and my virtue abhor to think of : and that we may both endeavour rather to quench than enflame this irregular passion , i beseech you to refrain our house , and neither to visit me , nor be familiar with him , and i hope time will conquer all those evil thoughts , which truth and reason must always condemn . your virtue and generosity assure me of this favour , which i will repay with thanks , and requite with prayers , that your days may be as infinite as your perfections , and your fame as glorious as your merits . mermanda . upon the receipt of this letter , the baron was highly incensed against grand pre , for entertaining such unjust and dishonourable thoughts of him : but to remove all jealousies , he immediately left his house , and took coach for paris . grand pre understanding the barons sudden departure , grew more suspicious , imagining it to be a plot between him and his wife ; which so enraged him , that he refused her bed , and resolved that a quick and severe revenge upon them both should only attone for those injuries he had received . accordingly the next day , under pretence of other business , with a page and two lacqueys , he went to briecount robert , and retiring to a private inn , writ this challenge , which he sent by his page , with directions to deliver it secretly to the baron , and bring him his speedy answer . grand pre , to the baron , &c. could i have dissembled my malice , as you have done your friendship ; you might have expected my revenge had been as private as the injury you did me . you need no other witness to inform you of my dishonour , than your own false self , who have wronged me ; which is a crime of so high a nature , that your blood can only expiate the offence . i expect this honourable satisfaction from you on thursday at carency , where i will meet you at five in the morning , with sword or rapier , on horse-back or afoot . the bearer hereof shall attend to conduct you to a fair meadow , where without seconds i expect you , when your life or mine shall end the difference . grand pre. the baron having received this letter , caused the page to dine with him , and after dinner sent him away with this answer ; tell thy master , that i will not fail to meet him on horse-back , without a second , at the hour and place appointed . on thursday morning they met accordingly , having only their surgeons with them , and after a sharp and resolute fight on horse-back , and the exchange of several wounds , grand pre receiv'd a desperate thrust in the belly , upon which he fell from his horse , and betanford remain'd victor , who like a noble cavalier assisted him to a neighbouring village , where his surgeons took care of his wounds . the next morning , having something recover'd his senses , the baron satisfied him of the odiousness of the scandal raised against his own honour , and mermanda's virtue . these solemn protestations prevail'd upon grand pre , who now repented his groundless jealousie , promis'd to renew his love to his wife , and live and die his honourable friend . some few days after they took leave of one another , and grand pre returning home , related to his wife the occasion and event of the combat , begg'd her pardon for his jealous and credulous humour , and promised for the future that nothing should ever divide his heart from his virtuous and faithful mermanda . thus were all discontents buried in oblivion , and their kind endearments sealed a perfect reconciliation . but now must i return to hautefelia , who seeing her wicked design thus disappointed , resolved rather to sell her soul to the devil , than not purchase her revenge on mermanda ; and accordingly struck a bargain with le fresnay an apothecary , for the reward of crowns to poyson her , which he promised , and effected in less than two months time . hautefelia , who had been thus succesful in her first villainy , instantly begins to teem with a second ; and as she hated mermanda the sister , so did she never love de mallery the brother , though her own husband , and therefore resolves by a safe and speedy death to dispatch him to another world . to this end she set de mallery at variance with grand pre , by telling him , that her brother had been jealous of mermanda , call'd her the baron of betanford's strumpet , upon which they fought ; and that since by her sudden death it was shrewdly suspected he had poyson'd her . de mallery , infinitely grieved at this news , acquaints his father de cressonville therewith , expecting that by order of law he would question him for it ; but de cressonville thought it more prudence to forgive those injuries , than publish his daughters infamy by an unseasonable and uncertain vindication . but de mallery's fiery temper could not admit those sober considerations , but hastily resolves a revenge for his sisters death , and understanding that grand pre was lately come to dijon , sent him by a confident of his own this following challenge . de mallery , to grand pre. i should think my self of baser blood than the honour of my family entitles me to , should i suffer those wrongs and injuries you have offered your wife and my sister to go unpunished . i know not whether her innocence deserves more pity , or your iealousie contempt and revenge : her unspotted virtue , which you have so unworthily question'd , and sudden death , you have not yet accounted for , command me to a juster challenge than that you sent the baron of betanford : the equity of my cause , and the unjustness of yours , makes me confident , that as you lost your blood at briecount robert , you shall leave your life in sight of dijon . to morrow at five in the evening , by the row of walnut-trees , near the foot of talon-fort , i shall wait your coming , with single rapier , or rapier and ponyard , without seconds . i long to try the courage of your heart , and the temper of your sword , which can only satisfie the injur'd de mallery . the next evening grand pre met him , and making choice of single rapier , they stript , and without further ceremony fell to it , commanding their surgeons to withdraw into the next field till the death of one of them proclaim'd the other victor . after the third breathing , de mallery receiv'd a mortal wound under the left pap , upon which he instantly dropt down dead , without speaking a word . grand pre mounted his horse , and fled to dole , a parliament free city , where he stay'd till he had obtain'd his pardon , which at last he gain'd , notwithstanding all the opposition de cressonville and his friends could make to prevent it . hautefelia hearing of her husband's death , ( which was welcom news to her ) presently pack'd up her jewels and other goods of value , and went home to her father at auxone , where with an imperious hand , and more wicked heart , she controll'd at pleasure , till the return of her brother , who in this time had discover'd her malice to mermanda and himself , and that she had been the only cause of his fighting with the baron of betanford , and killing de mallery ; all which created in him so great aversion and hatred to her , that he either wholly declin'd her company , or treated her with the most publick arguments of scorn and indignation . hautefelia was now as resolv'd in her revenge against him , as she was formerly against mermanda and de mallery , and accordingly made a new contract with le fresnay for crowns more to poyson him , which within a short time after he effected . she now domineer'd at will , without the least sense of her crimes , or dread of that vengeance which so closely pursu'd her . scarce was grand pre laid in his grave , and his funeral solemniz'd , but le fresnay revelling at a tavern in dijon , where every drop of wine he drank was the price of innocent blood , growing now wanton in his cups , commits a rape upon margaret pivot , a girl of twelve years old , and daughter to the master of the house , upon which he was apprehended ; but denying the fact , was put to the rack , and at the second torment confessed it , upon which he was condemn'd to be hang'd . two fryars who were sent to prepare him for his death , by their pious exhortations so wrought upon his conscience , that he confessed to them , that at the instigation of hautefelia he had poyson'd mermanda and her husband grand pre , and received crowns for a reward . upon this confession his first sentence was alter'd , and for these bloody villainies he was condemn'd to be broken alive on the wheel , and there to languish till he died ; which was executed accordingly . a provost was immediately dispatch'd to apprehend hautefelia , who found her at her fathers house , dancing in the garden with several gentlemen and ladies , who seiz'd her , and carried her before a president and two councellors appointed to examine her . at first she impudently deny'd all , and said that le fresnay had basely bely'd her innocence ; upon which being adjudg'd to the rack , at the first torment she confessed all , whereupon the criminal judges pronounc'd sentence upon her , that she should be carried to the place of execution , have her breasts sear'd and torn off with red-hot pincers , be afterwards hang'd , her body burnt , and the ashes thrown into the air , which was accordingly executed . thus we see by the sad example of hautefelia , that they who sow wickedness shall reap misery , and he that sheds his brothers blood , stains his own soul , which nothing can wash away , but that fountain of living waters which cleanseth from all unrighteousness . the iudgments of heaven may seem to follow the impenitent sinner with leaden feet , yet they strike at last with hands of iron . hist. ii. pisani and christineta . pisani robs gasparino of the affections of his mistress christineta . gasparino challenges him for the injury , and kills him in the field . he afterwards renews his sute to christineta , who dissembling her revenge , by the assistance of two bravo's , bianco and brindoli , murder him in a garden , and are all three taken and executed . in the city of pavia in the dukedom of milain liv'd seignior thomaso vituri , a noble gentleman , who had one only daughter call'd christineta , a lady no less eminent in all perfections of the mind , than glorious in the outward excellencies of an admired beauty . amongst other gentlemen who made their courtship to this lady , seignior emanuel gasparino of cremona was one ; who acquainting his intimate friend seignior pisani with his resolutions , he intreated his company to pavia , and his friendly assistance in this great affair . being arriv'd at pavia , they were respectfully entertain'd by vituri , to whom gasparino motion'd his sute to marry christineta , which he courteously receiv'd , and like a prudent father desired some time to advise upon it . during this interval gasparino found christineta very cool in her affections towards him , whil'st he doted on her beauty , and endeavour'd by all those courtly entertainments , which often please the fairer sex , to gain her love : but still finding her averse , and not knowing what further to offer , he resolves to make use of the intercession of his friend pisani to mediate for him , who readily accepted of it , and promis'd to discharge himself in this trust with all diligence and fidelity . pisani presently after finding an opportunity , addressed himself to christineta in behalf of his friend ; with all the charms of wit and eloquence that the most endearing lover could express his passion in . christineta seem'd strangely perplex'd at his discourse , which he carelesly observing , begg'd she would please to make him for once happy in a pleasing answer to his friend and her servant gasparino . after a serious pause , and deep sigh , she told him she must needs confess the character he had given his friend was both honourable and true , but she had already fix'd her affection upon another person , who at least in her own esteem was more deserving . pisani earnestly press'd her to nominate the gentleman so happy in her love , which she deny'd , but promis'd if he would meet her next day at eight in the morning in the nuns garden at st. clare , she would acquaint him both with his name and person ; which he readily agreed to , and took his leave . when finding out his friend gasparino , he related to him the truth of the former passages , but conceal'd the intended meeting ; whereupon gasparino despairing of success in this amour , civilly took his leave , and return'd to cremona . the appointed hour being come , christineta , with her prayer-book in her hand , went to the nunnery , and so to the garden , where having taken a turn , pisani entred , and having saluted her with the common complements of the day , told her he was now come to wait the performance of her promise : sir , ( says she , with blushes in her cheeks ) the person i love much resembles your self , ( pray interpret my words with honour ) and be 〈…〉 christineta to sollicit for her self the beloved pisani , but never henceforward let pisani mediate for the hated gasparino . pisani strangely surpriz'd at this answer , and considering that to reject the ladies love was discourteous , but to betray his friend base and dishonourable ; after a little stop thus replied , as i must needs own the greatness of my obligation to you , without any merit of mine ; so i must humbly beg your excuse , in that i cannot be your servant , but i must be a traytor to friendship , iustice and honour . upon which he abruptly took his leave , and the next day return'd to cremona . christineta not able to conquer her passion , within ten days sent this letter after him . christineta , to pisani . think it not strange , that i second my last speech with this my first letter ; for were not my affections to you as sincere as they are constant , i should never thus have trespass'd upon the modesty of our sex : but where the flames are so ardent , and the passion so generous as mine , i hope the truth of my love will attone for my confidence in the pursuit of it . i must confess it is impossible for christineta to love any but pisani , whom i no sooner saw , but i deeply admir'd , and dearly affected . now , since my zeal to you is begun in virtue , and shall be continued in honour , it makes me flatter my self with the hopes you will not force me to despair . thus can i fix bounds to my letter , though not to my affection . christineta . the receipt of this letter at first a little startl'd the noble resolutions of pisani ; but upon second thoughts , affection was forced to give place to honour , as appears by his answer . pisani , to christineta . i can't tell whether you discover more affection to me in your letter , or i should treachery to accept or requite it . but i will not fear to say , that pisani loves christineta because she deserves it , did not my friendship to gasparino forbid it ; for though your beauty commands the one , yet honesty denies the other . could time reconcile these difficulties , i could fly swift to the embraces of christineta , whose affection ▪ i profess to esteem next to my friendship with gasparino . pisani . though this letter seem'd to flatter , yet fear quickly blasted those blooming hopes ; wherefore once more she resolved to let him know the violence of her passion , which she did fifteen days after in these following words : christineta , to pisani . i may pass the bounds of discretion , but will not exceed those of honour , though i have learnt this maxim , that the affection which receives end , had never beginning . if then i live , i must breathe the air of your love , as well as this of my life , since it is the sole cause thereof . could you dive as deep into my heart , as i have into your merits , if nature does not , pity would inform you , that you ought to prefer the love of a lady before the respect of a gentleman , since he may carry his heart from you , and i desire to present mine to you . i write rather with tears than ink ; and if you will not live my saint , i must die your martyr . christineta . having receiv'd this letter , he was quite conquer'd , and now thought no more of gasparino , or the fidelity of his friendship towards him , but cast off all respects to him , and pay'd his sole homage to this sovereign lady of his affections , which he expressed in this letter , which he presently dispatch'd away by his page . pisani , to christineta . your virtue and beauty might alone prevail with me , but your affection makes me absolutely forget my respects to gasparino , to remember my love to christineta ; and that which gives life to my resolution is , that it 's impossible for him to hate me as much as you love me ; and in this hope i both rejoyce and triumph , that you shall not be my martyr , but my mistress , and i will be both your saint , and your servant : for as you desire to live in my favour , so my greatest ambition is to die in your affection . i will shortly follow and second this my letter ; till then you can never so much lament my absence as i desire your presence . pisani . so great are her transports of joy at the receipt hereof , that my best expressions would appear but faint shadows to those lively colours . in few days pisani having now quite forgot his old friend gasparino , wing'd with desires began his journey to his new mistress christineta . such were the mutual embraces and kind caresses of this welcom interview , as longing lovers would express their greatest endearments in ; when pisani being thus assured of the daughters love , honourably ( yet secretly ) endeavour'd to win the parents consent , which he found a task of greater difficulty ; for vituri , displeas'd therewith , forbid pisani his house , and christineta his company . this vex'd the lovers to the heart , and nipt their hopes in the bud : however , they continu'd their affections with constancy , and pisani for the present retir'd home , considering how to effect his desires ; and at last concluded , that if christineta could gain her mothers good will , she might in time procure her husbands approbation . to this purpose he wrote to her , which she put into execution , and in few days got the one , and in less than a month obtain'd the other , who had now fix'd the day of marriage , and reviv'd the dying hopes of the despairing lovers . come we now to speak of gasparino , who notwithstanding the secret management of this affair , had notice of it ; and considering the nature of pisani's treachery , was extremely incens'd at him , and vow'd a sudden and sharp revenge . his judgment being thus overwhelm'd with passion , he thought not only himself , but his whole family dishonour'd in this affront ; and understanding pisani was in pavia , taking a resolute gentleman along with him , and his lacquey , he rode over to him , and concealing himself in his inn till the next morning , he sent this challenge to him by his confident friend sebastiano , who deliver'd it accordingly . gasparino , to pisani . you who have made the first breach in our friendship , by treacherously robbing me of my mistress , must now both in honour and iustice take my life too , or give me yours in requital . if you think me severe , you may tax your own ingratitude , but cannot condemn my resolution . i shall expect you at the west-end of the park by four or five after dinner on foot with seconds : the weapons , if you please , two single rapiers , of which i will give you the choice , and be content with the refusal . if your courage answer your infidelity , you will dare to meet gasparino . pisani having read the letter , return'd this answer ; pray tell gasparino from me , that i will meet him with my second at the hour and place appointed . sebastiano being return'd , pisani found out a gentleman of his acquaintance call'd sfondrato , ( to whom he related the whole business ) who readily engag'd himself . the hour being now come , ( and the matter carried secretly , that christineta might not hear of it ) they post away to the park , where they found gasparino and sebastiano , when alighting from their horses , they threw off their doublets , and drew their swords . no less doubtful than bloody was the engagement between gasparino and pisani , when at the third encounter gasparino run pisani through the heart , at which he fell stark dead to the ground . sebastiano running to congratulate gasparino for his victory , sfondrato call'd to him to prepare himself , which he did , and so with various fortune they fought , till providence resolving to make both parties equal losers , after they had breath'd three several times , sfondrato run his enemy sebastiano through the small of the belly , and so nail'd him to the ground , bearing away his life on the point of his rapier ; which done , their wounds were dress'd ; gasparino fled to parma , and sfondrato to florence . christineta at the news hereof was infinitely griev'd , tore her hair in fury , and swore by all the powers above , the death of her beloved pisani should be reveng'd as deep as it was now lamented . some time after gasparino having obtain'd his pardon , returns home , from whence he began presently to renew his love to christineta , first by letters , then by his friends , and at last in person . she dissembling her malice , thought this a fit opportunity to be reveng'd on him for the death of pisani ; and finding him very earnest in his sute , appoints to meet him in the nuns garden at six next morning . no sooner was gasparino gone , but she agreed with two ruffians , bianco and brindoli , for duckats to murther him . gasparino and christineta are both early up , but with different intents , and so are bianco and brindoli : they all meet , she walks in publick , they hide themselves in private , when immediately in came gasparino , and approaching christineta with his hat in his hand to salute her , she utter'd these words , gasparino , this place i first had conference in with pisani , and here i purpose to have my last with you : at which words the ruffians issued out and killed him , but with some noise and resistance . christineta thinking him not dead enough , runs to him , thrusts her handkerchief in his mouth , and with a stilletto stabs him many times into the body , with this bloody speech ; this i sacrifice to the memory of my dear love pisani . then throwing the body into the well of the garden , the ruffians fled at a postern , and christineta went to the nuns church . the nuns in their cells having heard the clashing of swords , acquaint the abbess with it , who with other company coming into the garden , found the postern open , saw the alleys bloody , and suspected murther ; whereupon she order'd the garden to be search'd , but forgot the well . the magistrates being advertis'd of it , caused enquiry to be made among all the chyrurgeons , who ( having fresh-wounds ) came lately to be cur'd ? rhanutio , a principal chyrurgeon , informed them of bianco and brindoli , who being both sent for , and examin'd how they came by their wounds , they said they had a quarre● between themselves , for which they fought at six in the morning in the nuns garden at st. clare ; which agreeing with the relation of the nuns , all was ended . but gasparino having been now missing from his lodgings two whole nights , which his lacquey confirm'd upon examination , with some other circumstances of suspicion , the judges order'd bianco and brindoli to be imprison'd , examin'd , and tortur'd , which they stoutly bore , without confessing any thing . the garden was again search'd , and the well which was neglected before , when letting down their hooks , they brought up some pieces of wrought black taffata , which gasparino's lacquey did affirm his master wore when he last saw him ; and searching more narrowly , they brought up the dead body with thirteen several wounds , whereupon all concluded bianco and brindoli guilty . a little boy standing by , ask'd what cloth that was in his mouth ? which being pull'd out , was found to be a cambrick handkerchief with christineta's name upon it . upon this she was apprehended in the midst of her pleasures ; but upon examination deny'd she knew any thing of his death , until she was adjudg'd to the rack , when she confessed the fact , and that in revenge of pisani's death she had hired bianco and brindoli to murder him for crowns . the ruffians were condemn'd to have their right hands cut off , and then to be hang'd , and their bodies thrown into the river po. christineta was first hang'd , and then burnt , and her ashes thrown into the air , which executions were perform'd , to the great satisfaction of justice , and all the spectators . may all christians read this history with a holy dread , and remember it with horror and detestation . if thou wilt shun the punishment , be sure to avoid the crime ; for if the wages of sin is death , sure none but a madman will lay out his pains to be so rewarded . hist. iii. mortaign and josselina . mortaign deluding josselina with promise of marriage , gets her with child , and then causes his lacquey le verdure , and le palma her host , to murder her and her son. isabella , le palma's wife , by her jealousie of her husband discovers the murther , upon which they are all taken and executed . not far from the city of lyons in france , near darency a small countrey village , dwelt an honest farmer call'd andrew mollard , who being a widower had one only daughter named iosselina , whom he intended for his heir , a maid of that blooming beauty , that she was justly call'd iosselina the fair. within a league of mollard's house dwelt a rich gentleman who had several children , of which the eldest was mortaign , but young in years , though of great hopes , and nobly educated in the families of several persons of honour . mortaign having now liv'd some years in paris , was desirous to see his father de coucye , who was both aged and sickly , as also to be present at the nuptials of one of his sisters , who was to be married to a gentleman of avergne . the wedding being over , and mortaign weary of the diversions of the countrey , resolves upon his return to paris ; but the night before his departure de coucy fell dangerously sick of a burning feaver , which for the present put a stop to his journey . during his stay in the countrey , as he was walking one day in the fields he sprung a pheasant , which flying to the next woods , he sent for his hawk ; but having rang'd far and near for several hours in quest of his game , which he could not recover , he grew very thirsty , and ' spying mollard's house at a distance , made up to it . mortaign seeing a man in the vineyard , demanded if he might have any wine there ; mollard answer'd , yes ; and ( guessing by his face who he was ) courteously invited him into his house , where being set down , he sent his daughter iosselina for wine , and what other homely dainties his house afforded . mortaign admiring to see so fair a maid in so obscure a place , and curiously observing each grace and feature , to which was added a natural modesty , and simplicity of behaviour , was wholly ravish'd in the contemplation of her beauty , and vow'd to himself he would be master of her affections , how dear soever it cost him . no sooner had mortaign entertain'd these thoughts , but a lucky opportunity ( and most favourable to his designs ) offer'd it self ; for mollard told him , that he rented a small tenement of de coucy , who now su'd him for two heriots , and therefore intreated his good word to his father in his behalf , which he promis'd , and with thanks for his kind reception , departed . under pretence of discourse and business with mollard , mortaign made frequent visits to iosselina , whose chastity he attempted with variety of gifts and presents , which she modestly refus'd to accept upon so dishonourable terms ; and assur'd him , that as a chast and virtuous reputation was the greatest part of her fortune , so she would never exchange it for the infamous portion of shame and misery . mortaign was now out of all hopes of success ; but rather than miss his aim , was resolv'd to play his last stake , and promise marriage ; and accordingly told her , that notwithstanding the inequality of their birth and fortunes , he would condescend to marry her , provided she would first permit him to enjoy his desire . iosselina flattering her self with the hopes of advancement , consented to it ; and now finding her self with child , ( which her father likewise discover'd , to his great grief and sorrow ) advertis'd mortaign of it , who one night stole her away from her father's , and sent her ten leagues off from durency , to a poor kinswomans house of his , where she was deliver'd of a fair lusty boy . calintha , mortaign's mother , who knew nothing of these passages , advised him to marry , and proposes a match to monsieur de vassey , the seneschal of la palisse , between his only daughter madamoyselle la varina , and her eldest son mortaign : the parents readily concluded , and upon sight the young couple agreed , so that it was now generally reported the marriage would be suddenly solemniz'd . this news startl'd iosselina , who considering she must look to her self , being now dis-inherited by her father , and having no friend left to assist or advise her , she resolves to write mortaign a letter , to re-mind him of his promise , and desire some relief for her self and her son. josselina , to mortaign . you prevail'd upon my honour with the sacred promise of making me your wife : 't is true i credulously believ'd your oaths , and consented to my shame , but it was under the solemn pretence of marriage ; and though we wanted the ceremony , yet heaven is witness to the contract , which now you resolve to violate . what though the sweetness of my youth and the freshness of my beauty have now lost their charming powers over you ? yet methinks the innocent smiles of that lively image you have left to my care should raise some pity in your breast . — but if you will not advance my fortunes , yet make not shipwrack of my life , as you have of my chastity ; and since all my support must proceed from you , it will be high ingratitude in you to deny her maintenance , who hath given you a son , and extreme cruelty not to allow the poor babe wherewith to live , who receiv'd his life and being from you. i hope you will prove more natural to him , and more charitable to me , otherwise be assured that such unkindness will never be long unpitied of men , or unpunish'd of god. josselina . with this to mortaign , she sent another of the same effect to his mother calintha , which they receiv'd , when he , as an unworthy gentleman , triumphs in his sin , and mocks at her poverty , and will neither relieve her or the child , but burns the letter without any further concern at it . calintha's malice was so great , that she not only refus'd to assist them her self , but commands him that he should not supply them with any conveniencies , and heartily wishes them both in another world . at the hearing of this cruel news , iosselina fell into a swoon , and had not some accidental assistance came in , she had then ended her life and misery together . barbarous calintha understanding in this interim poor iosselina's residence , was so devilishly bent against her , that she persuaded her landlady in a dark and cold night to turn her and the child out of doors , and suffer her to have no other shelter but the ground for her bed , and the heavens for her covering . in this distressed condition ▪ with the unfortunate babe in her arms , she wander'd all night through the fields and places unknown , when by the morning light she discovered a village which she knew , where she sold her cloaths from her back to relieve her self and her child . here she continued some time in great extremity , when at last , forc'd by meer want and necessity , she acquainted some persons with her sad and deplorable condition , who advis'd to send mortaign his son home , and provide for her self . this was not so secretly discours'd , but it came to the ears of la varina , mortaign's mistress at la plaisse , who presently withdrew her affection from him , and her father his respect ; which mortaign perceiving , and imagining it was upon the account of iosselina , swore he would destroy both her and her son , and the better to dissemble his design , he gave orders that she should be lodg'd in a better inn , where she was furnish'd with all necessaries ; and further sent her word , that he had provided a nurse for his son , and would shortly send his lacquey for him , and take more particular care for her support and maintenance , if she would keep things private to her self . iosselina was much rejoyced hereat , and within three days mortaign sent his lacquey le verdure for the babe , which with many tears and kisses she delivered to him . le verdure following his masters command , and being now four leagues from villepont , strangles the pretty infant whil'st it smil'd in his face , and wrapping it in a linen cloth , threw it into the river lignon . mortaign being thus rid of the son , makes a bargain with le palma ( iosselina's host ) and his lacquey le verdure , for franks to stifle the mother in her bed , which they perform'd , and buried her body in the garden . as soon as these villains had perpetrated this cruel murther , they went over to durency to give mortaign an account , and receive their reward ; which having done , they continued several days together frolicking and drinking ; when at last le palma went home to villepont to his wife isabella ; who being an old woman , and he a young man , she was jealous of his stay , supposing he went out in company with iosselina , whereupon she entertain'd him with this salutation , le palma ( quoth she ) you are very unkind so soon to forsake your where josselina . for which he gave her the lye , call'd her whore , and exprest himself highly passionate and angry . she continued her railing , and provok'd him to that degree of impatience , that he struck her a box on the ear , which fell'd her dead to the ground , upon this noise the neighbours came in , and supposing his wife dead , apprehended le palma , and carried him before the procurer fiscal of la palisse , who committed him to prison . isabella being recover'd , complains to the fiscal of her husbands cruelty towards her , gives a true account of the occasion of the quarrel ; adding , that if josselina is not her husbands strumpet , she believes he is her murtherer , of which her maid can say more . iaquela the maid upon examination declar'd , that her master le palma and le verdure were together at midnight in josselina 's chamber , and since she was never heard of . le palma being charg'd with these points , deny'd every syllable , that he neither was in her chamber , nor knew what was become of her ; but being judg'd to the rack , confessed the murther in the several particulars . sergeants were presently sent to mortaign and le verdure ; they met the lacquey in the way , and seiz'd his master in bed . le verdure upon the torment confessed the murther of iosselina and her son , and mortaign being examin'd , with great penitence owned the guilt he was charg'd withal ; whereupon le palma was condemn'd to be hang'd and burnt , le verdure to be broken on the wheel , and his body thrown into the river lignon , and mortaign to be broken on the wheel , his body burnt , and his ashes to be thrown into the air ; which on a market-day was accordingly executed in la palisse . let all maidens learn to preserve their chastity by the example of josselina , and men by le verdure and le palma , not to shed innocent blood for the lucre of money ; and by the lamentable end of mortaign , to be less inhumane , bloody and lascivious . hist. iv. alsemero and beatrice-joanna . beatrice-joanna causeth de flores to murder alonso piracquo , who was a suter to her , that she might marry with alsemero ; who being wedded to her , and finding her in adultery with de flores , kills them both . alsemero afterwards treacherously kills thomaso piracquo in a duel , for which being beheaded , the murther of alonso is discovered and punish'd . not many years since , at the city of valentia in spain lived don pedro de alsemero , a young and noble cavalier , who wholly applying himself to the wars , added to his own plentiful estate as large a share of honour and reputation . this gentleman , whose temper altogether inclin'd to martial affairs , resolv'd to leave his own countrey , ( now in peace ) and enter himself into the society of the valiant knights of malta , and accordingly went to alicant , where he stay'd in expectation of a favourable wind . during his abode here , going one morning to church , he observ'd a young lady kneeling over-against him , with whose beauty he was so surpriz'd , that it was difficult to determine whether love or devotion more inflam'd his heart , and inspir'd his thoughts . mass being ended , he enquir'd of the priest who this lady was , her name and quality : the priest told him , she is daughter to don diego de vermandero , captain of the castle , and her name donna beatrice-ioanna . the next morning alsemero rose early , and went to the same church , in hopes fortune would bless him with a second sight of her whose charming graces had already so far prevail'd upon him : when entring the quire , he saw her upon her knees at prayers in the same place . alsemero , who thought himself extremely blest with so lucky an opportuity , resolved to improve it to the best advantage ; and kneeling down by her , ( not having the patience to wait till mass was ended ) whisper'd his affections in her ear , interrupting her devotions with his amorous complements , vowing to live and die her affectionate servant . the lady check'd his bold address with a modest reprehension , which ( prayers being ended ) alsemero renew'd with all the passionate expressions of a vigorous lover , and after several refusals , at last prevail'd to wait upon her to the castle , where the captain her father received him with all imaginable respect , and in return for his civilities to his daughter , shew'd him the rarities and strength of the fort. alsemero continued his addresses to the lady by frequent visits , which the captain her father seem'd to encourage by a generous and courtly reception . in alicant liv'd a young gentleman of noble extract and plentiful estate , whose name was alonso piracquo , a compleat courtier , and passionately in love with beatrice-ioanna . piracquo , who had a long time conceal'd his affection , resolves now to make a visit to vermandero , and acquaint him with his passion for his daughter , which he accordingly did : vermandero receiv'd him with all the demonstrations of respect and kindness , thank'd him for the favour he did him in his honourable proposals , which he highly approved of , and was of nothing more ambitious , than an alliance with a person of so great worth and merit . thus we see alsemero rivall'd in his pretensions to his mistress , by an unknown cavalier ; but however , though piracquo had gain'd the father , alsemero had already won the daughter , who carried her self with that prudence and respect to piracquo , that he liv'd in hopes , whil'st alsemero had the assurance of her love and affection . vermandero after some time understanding the inclinations of beatrice-ioanna , which more respected alsemero than piracquo , now declared himself in behalf of piracquo , and with an austere look commanded her to direct her affections accordingly ; which she not observing , he withdrew himself to his countrey-house at briamata , and took her privately along with him . piracquo had here the opportunity of courting his mistress , which was deny'd alsemero , who had already gain'd the fort , which piracquo in vain endeavoured to storm . piracquo made his constant visits , whil'st alsemero could only sollicite by letters , which were powerful enough to preserve the heart he had already obtained . several letters had passed between alsemero and beatrice-ioanna without the privity of vermandero , when the last told him , that as he was sole master of her affections , so she earnestly coveted his company , which she desired that evening at eleven , when she would acquaint him with a secret which concern'd them both . alsemero upon this advice took post , and arriv'd at the hour appointed ▪ when going privately into vermandero's house , he found diaphanta her waiting gentlewoman attending his coming , who directed him to beatrice-ioanna's chamber . and here , with the readers leave , i 'll draw the curtain before those amorous complements and more familiar dalliances with which the lovers entertained themselves . in discourse beatrice-ioanna cast out some doubtful expressions to this purpose , that before piracquo was in another world , there was no hopes for him to enjoy her for his wife in this . alsemero presently understood the sense of it , and offer'd to send him a challenge , and fight him , which she would by no means admit of , and desired him to leave alicant for a short time , and return to valentia , and for the rest ( says she ) repose your self upon my constancy and affection . the morning now growing upon them , alsemero took his leave , and promised a full observance of her commands , and accordingly within four days left alicant , and went back to valentia . this meeting ( though private ) was not so closely carried , but vermandero had notice of it , whereat he was very angry , but however assured piracquo , that in a short time she should accomplish his desires , and that if his paternal admonitions could not , his authority should prevail over his daughters perverseness . thus was piracquo encouraged by vermandero , though he had private intelligence sent him that beatrice-ioanna was already contracted to alsemero , and it would now more nearly concern him to consult his reputation by an honourable retreat , than to advance his sute with so much zeal and violence , which it was impossible he should ever obtain . but piracquo press'd on more eagerly , which gave beatrice-ioanna great trouble and disquiet . vermandero understanding that alsemero was gone back to valentia , return'd to alicant , where piracquo made his daily visits . there was a gallant young gentleman of the castle whose name was don antonio de flores , a person who dearly affected beatrice-ioanna , and one whom she thought might be a fit instrument to execute her barbarous and bloody design . she sent for de flores accordingly , ( who was now besotted with her beauty ) and acquainted him with her intentions , and by the powerful arguments of her more particular kindness and respect , won him to promise , that within few days he would answer her desires . de flores insinuates himself into piracquo's company , and waiting for an opportunity , he heard piracquo one day commend the strength of the castle , when de flores told him he had not yet seen that which consisted in the casemates , which were stored with good ordnance to scour the ditches : these piracquo desired to see , but de flores told him it was now noon , and if he pleased he would meet him after dinner , and wait upon him himself . after dinner they met accordingly , went to the ravelins , sconces and bulwarks , and from thence by a postern to the ditches and to the casemates : three of them they had view'd , and coming to the last , de flores laid off his rapier , telling piracquo that the descent was narrow and craggy , upon which piracquo put off his . being entred into the vault of the casemate , as piracquo was looking through a port-hole de flores ( who had hid a sword and ponyard behind the door , stabb'd him into the back , so swiftly redoubling his blows , that he killed him dead , and buried him under the ruines of an old wall . de flores having committed this murther , acquaints beatrice-ioanna with it , who was over-joy'd at it , and the better to blind the world caused it to be reported , that piracquo was seen to go forth the castle-gate , and take boat in the city , as was supposed for a little sea-air . piracquo being thus miss'd , after several days search in vain , was suppos'd to be drown'd at sea ; and three months being now past , alsemero was solemnly married to beatrice-ioanna at alicant in much state and bravery . alsemero had not been long married , but he grew jealous of his wife , and so far restrain'd her former liberty , that she complain'd to the captain her father of his discourteous usage , upon which alsemero provided a coach , and carried her away to valentia . vermandero willing to know how matters stood between his daughter and her husband , sent de flores to valentia with letters to them both . alsemero being abroad , she told him of her husbands unkindness , of which he taking the advantage , reviv'd his old sute : she willingly complies with his desires , and prays him to see her more often . alsemero coming home , understands by his wife that de flores had been there with letters from her father , and by diaphanta her waiting-woman ( who was one of his spies ) that there passed many amorous kisses between de flores and her mistress , and relates to him whatever she either heard or saw . alsemero in a great fury flies to his wife , charges her with too much familiarity with de flores , and as his passion rises into a greater rage , calls her whore , strumpet , &c. upon which , to palliate her own crimes , she was forced to discover piracquo's murther . know ( says she ) alsemero , since you will enforce me to shew the true cause of my chast familiarity with de flores , that he it was who at my request dispatch'd piracquo , without which i could never have enjoy'd you for my husband ; and so told him all the circumstances of that cruel murther , and conjur'd him to conceal the same ; vowing to die a thousand deaths rather than defile his bed. alsemero wondred at this discourse , and strictly charged his wife to admit de flores no more to her company ; but she continuing a correspondence with him , which diaphanta informed her master of , he pretended one day a journey into the countrey ; but with a case of pistols in his pocket , and his rapier and ponyard privately withdrew into his closet , which was within his bed-chamber . de flores had presently notice that alsemero was gone into the countrey , and immediately came over to visit beatrice-ioanna ; and as they were in the middle of their pleasures upon the bed , alsemero rushed in , and discharged his pistols on them , and afterwards stabb'd them with his sword and ponyard , of which wounds they instantly died . this being done , he went and acquainted the criminal judges with the death of his wife and de flores , whom he had killed in the very act of adultery . diaphanta appeared a witness for him , who declared upon oath , that she had several times seen her mistress and de flores commit adultery , and had acquainted her master with it . upon mature deliberation alsemero was acquitted of the fact , and the dead bodies ordered to be buried . but now let us speak of don thomaso piracquo , who had formerly advised his brother alonso piracquo to give over his sute to beatrice-ioanna : he hearing of all these occurrences afresh , remembers his dead brother , and confidently supposes that alsemero and beatrice-ioanna had a hand in the loss of him ; wherefore he now resolves to call alsemero to account for him , and accordingly sent him this challenge to allicant , where he now resided . thomaso piracquo , to alsemero . i fear beatrice-joanna's vanity and your rashness have bereaved me of a brother i ever esteeemed more dear than my life . as i am a gentleman i think i ought to seek satisfaction for his death with the hazard of my own life : wherefore , as your sword has chastised beatrice-joanna's error , i hope mine is reserv'd to correct yours . i pray meet me at the foot of glisseron-hill to morrow at five in the morning , and it shall be your choice either to use your sword on horseback , or your rapier on foot . thomaso piracquo . alsemero accepts the challenge , and they met at the hour and place appointed ; when alsemero throwing away his rapier , with his hat in his hand , told him he was ready to joyn with him in the revenge of his brothers murther : piracquo not suspecting any treachery , threw away his sword too , and with the same civility addressed himself to alsemero , who suddenly drew his pistols out of his pocket , and shot the one through his head , and the other through his breast , upon which piracquo cry'd out , o villain ! o traytor ! and fell down dead . the news of this murther , with the treachery and flight of alsemero , was presently known , and the criminal judges ordered a speedy pursuit after him ; in the midst of his hast his horse fell with him , and broke his fore-leg , and alsemero's right arm ; when endeavouring to escape on foot , he was presently overtaken , and surrounded by six horse-men , against whom he defended himself like a gentleman and a sould●●r ; when at last his rapier being broke , he was forced to yield himself their prisoner . thus was he brought a pitied spectacle to alicant , where he was condemned to lose his head ; and being upon the scaffold , and seeing no hopes of life , he discovered don alonso piracquo's murther by de flores in all its circumstances , protesting his own innocency , only in the concealment of it : of which the judges being advised , they caused his head to be taken off for thomaso , and his body to be thrown into the sea for concealing alonso's murther , and the bodies of de flores and beatrice-ioanna to be taken out of their graves , and burnt at the common place of execution , and their ashes thrown into the air. thus we see the iustice of heaven will at last overtake the bold offender , and though he seems at present to triumph in sin , and praise the success of his iniquity , yet let him consider the end of it will be bitter ; and that though god does forbear , yet he will not forgive , without a sincere repentance , hist. v. sypontus and victorina . victorina causeth sypontus to murder her first husband souranza , which is strangely discovered , and sypontus executed . afterwards she poysons her second husband fassino , for which her maid felicia being condemned , and upon the point of execution , her innocency is cleared by a miraculous discovery of the truth , and victorina hang'd and burnt . in the reign of leonardo donato duke of venice , there lived a worthy gentleman called seignior iacomo beraldi , who had one daughter named donna victorina , a young gentlewoman rich , noble , and fair , and courted by several persons of the first rank and quality in venice . amongst other sutors , seignior sypontus was most esteemed by the lady ; but having lately suffered great losses by the turks , her father recommended seignior souranza to her affections , who as he was of a far greater estate , so was he now in his declining age , and wanted those warmer charms which the youthful sypontus was blest withal , and the sprightly victorina most affected . however , her parents forc'd her affections to submit to their will , and within few days she was married to souranza ; but sypontus ( to use the venetian phrase ) was her enamorato and she his courtizana . victorina now grew so notoriously vitious , that she perfectly hated her husband , and wish'd him every day in another world , which she often hinted to sypontus , but he seem'd to take no notice of it , till one day hearing of two great losses which had befallen him in the levant seas , which amounted to at least checchines , and knowing souranza to be very rich , he resolv'd to make himself master of his estate , by murdering him , and marrying his wife . this was concluded on , and three days after souranza going to his house of pleasure near padua , upon the bank of the river brenta , sypontus hired two watermen to assasinate him , who being sworn to secrecy , as souranza return'd ( after three days stay ) in the close of the evening , sypontus in disguise entred his boat , and with his ponyard stabb'd him to the heart , cut off his nose and beard that he might not be known , and threw him into the sea , and the waterman after him , that he might tell no tales ; and making hast home , sent this letter to victorina . sypontus , to victorina . my dearest victorina . i have begun and ended a business which infinitely imports your good and my content . the party hath drunk his fill of white and claret , and is now gone to his eternal rest . i hope a little time will wipe off your tears , and confirm our ioys . iudge by this the sincerity of my love , who will rather endanger my life , and hazard my hopes of a future heaven , to enjoy the present paradice of your company . we must for a time refrain each others company , that we may the sooner meet and embrace with more content , and less danger . sypontus . victorina was extremely pleased at the news ; but the better to hide her malice began to complain of her husbands long stay , and sent a nephew of his own to see how he did , who brought word that he was come from thence four days before ; and that after all the enquiry he had made , he could hear nothing of him . victorina appear'd all in tears , and griev'd above measure , for fear any mischance had befallen him . what she did in appearance , his friends did in reality , when word was brought that a dead body was taken up by some fishermen , and landed at st. mark 's stairs . seignior souranza the nephew went presently to the place , and observing the body more curiously , at last espy'd a red spot in the neck , and a wart under the left eye-lid , by which marks he was too well assured it was the body of his uncle seignior baptista souranza . the body was decently interred , and victorina remained the most disconsolate widow in the world. souranza the nephew , who had formerly made some observations on the carriage and behaviour of victorina , vehemently suspected her of this murther ; and for the more effectual discovery , enquires of felicia , victorina's waiting gentlewoman , what persons most frequently visited her lady , when she nam'd sypontus , that he sent her many letters , and that there was much love and familiarity between them . souranza conjur'd her to intercept some of their letters , which she promised to do ; and in a short time after , being sent to fetch her lady a pair of romish gloves , she opened an ivory box , where she found the letter which sypontus sent to her . souranza having read the letter , accused sypontus and victorina of this murther before the criminal judges . they were examined , but deny'd the fact , and disown'd the letter , upon which they were separately committed to prison . sypontus suspecting the discovery of this letter was by the treachery of victorina , sent a letter privately to her , in which he charged her with it ; but she in her answer to him so well cleared her innocency to his great satisfaction , that he now resolved no torments should force him to accuse her . the next day he was put to the rack , where he endur'd the torments with admirable constancy ; but the next day the torments being redoubled upon him , he confessed the letter his , and himself guilty of the murther , and totally clear'd victorina . upon this he was condemn'd to lose his head between the two columns at st. mark 's place ; and being brought upon the scaffold , confessed the murther to all the spectators , but took it upon his death that victorina was absolutely innocent , and no ways privy to it . victorina was afterwards sent for into court , and threatned with the rack ; but she boldly denied all , and was in open court acquitted and discharged . six months were scarcely past , since these tragical revolutions happened , but victorina throwing off her mourning , adorned her self with her richest jewels , and resolves to have a second husband ; and amongst the crowd of suters which her great wealth and beauty brought her , she fix'd on seignior ludovico fassino , a handsom young gentleman , rich and nobly born , but extremely vitious and debauch'd . a month was hardly past since the nuptials , but he left her , to follow his old course of whoring , so that now she is become a married widow ; and understanding that the lady calenare was the loadstone that attracted him from her , she first endeavoured by all the endearments of love and respect to recover his stragling heart ; but this not affecting him at all , she storms , and in most sharp and severe terms reproaches him for his unkindness and disrespect to her , who must now be slighted for the company of an impudent and common courtizana . seignior fassino took no heed to her words , but pursued the same lewd courses , upon which victorina vows a revenge , and that his life shall pay dearly for abusing her , and so concludes secretly to poyson him , and to that purpose sent for augustino an apothecary , to whom she offer'd checchines to perform it ; but he very honestly refused it , and persuaded her to better thoughts ; but she persisting in her bloody design , was resolv'd to do it her self , and to that purpose procur'd poyson from a strange emperick , and now only waited an opportunity to administer it . not long after fassino complain'd he was very sick , which was occasion'd by his dissolute life , and desired his wife to make him some comfortable broth ; which she glad of , commands her maid felicia to make it , and going up to her closet , fetch'd down the poyson , and ( having sent felicia from the fire ) put two parts of it into the broth , and kept the third by her . victorina ( who no less intended a revenge on felicia too , for discovering sypontus's letter ) orders her to carry the broth up to fassino , which he supt off , wh●●'●● she went and laid the other part of the poyson in felicia's trunk , and came down undiscovered . about an hour after the poyson began to operate with fassino , who call'd for his wife , and told her that he fear'd felicia had poyson'd him in the broth she gave him , and desir'd she would send for his friends and relations , who found him ready to expire , and cry'd out with one consent , he was poyson'd . victorina accuses her maid felicia , which dying fassino confirms , that she had that morning poyson'd him in the broth , upon which she was apprehended , and carried before the criminal judges , where with tears and cries she justified her innocence : but fassino being now dead , and there appearing all probabilities of felicia's guilt , she was hurried away to prison . three days after being brought upon her tryal , she confessed she gave him the broth , but knew nothing of any poyson it ; when being asked if any body else meddled with the broth , she answer'd , no , not to her knowledge , but she was afraid it was a device of her ladies to be reveng'd upon her for a former grudge . upon this they went to fassino's house , and secur'd victorina , and search'd all the boxes , trunks , and caskets , but found nothing ; when going into felicia's chamber , they in search of her trunk found the remaining part of the poyson , upon which she was condemn'd to be hang'd next morning at st. mark 's place , and victorina discharg'd . being now brought to the place , she ascended the ladder , and protested to the world she knew nothing of the matter , but imagin'd her lady victorina was not innocent , and so prepared her self to die ; when augustino the apothecary landed at st. mark 's stairs , and seeing a young gentlewoman ready to be executed , demanded who she was , and her crime , and being told the whole circumstance , remembred that victorina had formerly tempted him to the same murther , and did believe the maid was innocent , and the mistress guilty : wherefore hasting to the officer , he requested him to stay execution , for he had something material to discover in relation to fassino's murther . augustino then in discreet manner informs the judges of the manner , time , and place where victorina seduced him to poyson fassino . felicia was presently remanded to prison , and victorina apprehended , and confronted with augustino , who now made good his former allegation . at first she deny'd every thing ; but being adjudg'd to the rack , she acquitted felicia , and acknowledged her self guilty both of her first and second husbands murther . upon this confession innocent felicia was freed , and victorina condemn'd the next morning to be hang'd and burnt at st. mark 's place , which was perform'd accordingly . she died very penitent , and desired that her example might be a caveat to forewarn others from commission of the like crimes , which would certainly bring them to the same punishments . could the power of sin defend us from the punishment , or the fading pleasures of it comfort us in our sufferings for it , we had some encouragement to be wicked : but when our utmost reward is to be compleatly miserable , he that is guilty of it sins against the light of his own reason , and to be sure not to be happy , purchases his own damnation at the price of his immortal soul. let us therefore praise the providence and iustice of god ; the first by protecting the innocent after an extraordinary manner from the brink of destruction , in the example of felicia : and the latter by punishing the detestable sins of murther and adultery , in the sad example of victorina . hist. vi. de salez and la hay . de salez kills vaumartin in a duel , murders his own father , that he may marry la hay a strumpet , who afterwards cuts his throat . she hires michael to poyson la frange , for which crimes la hay hath her right hand cut off , and is burnt . michael is broken on a wheel , and de salez his dead body is hang'd and burnt . at tholouse in france liv'd a counsellor whose name was monsieur de argentier a widower , who had one only son called de salez , of two and twenty years old , whose martial temper , ( which wholly inclin'd him to the wars ) being unpleasing to his fathers quiet disposition , he endeavour'd to divert him , by offering to his choice several noble , rich and virtuous ladies , out of whom he desir'd him to choose a wife , and more particularly recommended to him la frange , the only daughter of monsieur de clugny , very young , and of most compleat perfections of mind , though of a mishapen body . the fathers had already agreed upon the match , and appointed a solemn meeting for their children , which produced different effects : la frange highly approved , and passionately lov'd de salez , whil'st he on the contrary could entertain no thoughts but what show'd his slight and disesteem of her . at the same time there was a nobleman called the baron of vaumartin , who to repair the debaucheries of his youth , courted la frange in marriage , but more out of respect to her fortune , than affection to her person ; and being put off with only verbal complements by de clugny the father and la frange the daughter , was at last acquainted that his sute would be but vain and fruitless , for de salez was that happy person she lov'd and admir'd . de salez was in this interim grown acquainted with monsieur de soulange , a gentleman of ' small estate , but blest with three daughters fam'd for their beauties thro' the whole city , of which the phaenix was la hay , the youngest . de salez , who had contracted a friendship with monsieur de soulange , that he might have the better colour to visit his daughters as other young sparks of the town did , grew passionately in love with la hay , who as she was exceeding beautiful , so did she in her mien and behaviour appear with all the graces of modesty and goodness : but though in publick she seem'd an unspotted virgin , yet was she in private a professed courtezan ; nor was she so secret in her lascivious delights , however she obliged her gallants to conceal her favours , but she was suspected of dishonesty by all chast and virtuous persons . amongst others of her enamorato's , de salez was one , who doting on her delicate complexion , and counterfeit modesty , spent all his hours in visits to la hay , and with his best art and policy laid siege to her chastity : but such was her subtilty , that knowing he lov'd her , and was the only son of a rich councellor , she resolved to decoy him in for her husband , and would not by all his costly treats and constant sollicitations be won to his embraces and consent to his lustful desires . this folly of de salez , and subtilty of la hay , was not manag'd with that privacy , but argentier his father took notice of it , and considering de soulange's mean extraction and poverty , and his own nobility and wealth , was high incensed with de salez for his courtship to la hay , told him she was a strumpet , and swore if he did not leave her , and marry la frange , he would disinherit him , and never repute him for his son. but de salez is resolute in his folly , and contemning his fathers advice , privately contracts himself to la hay , and promises as soon as providence shall be so kind to him to call his father into another world , he would consummate the espousals . in the mean time the baron of vaumartin seeing all his addresses to la frange was unsuccesful , and his debts and creditors growing clamorous upon him , resolves with himself that so long as de salez lives , to whom la frange had entirely devoted her self , he must never expect to be happy in her arms ; and therefore , to remove this obstacle , concludes to send him a challenge , since it would appear more noble and generous to kill him in the field , than privately murder him by poyson or ponyard . the next day by his page he sent him this letter . vaumartin , to de salez . if you seek the cause of my malice , you may find it in the lady la frange's affection to you , and hatred to my self ; wherefore think it not strange that i command my pen to invite you and your sword to meet me at five in the morning to morrow , on horse-back , without seconds , behind the jacobins garden . could that sweet lady have affected me more , or you less , we might have proved as true friends , as now our reputations conjure us to live or die honourable enemies . vaumartin . de salez having received and read this challenge , wondred at it , considering he neither regarded la frange , nor valued her affection : but lest vaumartin should think by his declining the combate , it was for want of courage to meet him , he called the page , and bid him tell his master he would not fail to breakfast with him at the time and place appointed . the morning being come , our champions met bravely mounted , with each his chyrurgeon at the place assigned , where they no sooner saw each other , but setting spurs to their horses , they closed furiously , and at the third encounter de salez ran vaumartin through the body , when dropping his sword , his body fell from his horse stark dead to the ground . de salez galloped to the next village to dress his wounds , and then provided for his safety by flight , all persons rejoyced at the good success of de salez , whose father and friends with much difficulty at last obtain'd his pardon . but no sooner was de salez return'd , but he renewed his visits to la hay , to the great grief of his father , and dissatisfaction of all his relations . sometime after argentier being oblig'd upon some considerable business to go to paris , both advis'd and charg'd de salez during his absence to forbear his visits to la hay , and for fear he should forget his commands , as he was on the way to paris he writ this letter , and sent it to him . argentier , to de salez . it is out of a religious and fatherly tenderness that i now send thee these lines , for thy youth cannot see what my age knows , how many miseries attend vice , and how many blessings wait on virtue . if la frange be not fair , yet she is not contemptible : if therefore thou wilt leave a saint to marry a strumpet , then take la hay , and forsake la frange ; but if thou wilt forsake a strumpet to marry a saint , then take la frange , and leave la hay : in the first thou shalt find content and honour , but in the second shame and repentance . this letter shall be a witness betwixt god , my self , and thee , that if thou perform not my commands i will deny thee my blessing , and deprive thee of my lands . argentier . de salez was infinitely troubled at this letter , to see his mistress disgrac'd , and himself oblig'd to so difficult a task , that he was not able to hide his discontent from the observance of la hay ; who desirous to know the reason of it , as he was one day asleep on the couch , she div'd into his pockets , where she found his fathers letter , and having perused the contents with choler , awak'd de salez , and with the letter in her hand called heaven and earth to witness her innocence , and the wrong his father had done her , and that whatever he might out of malice or prejudice say or think , she hop'd the world entertain'd a more honourable opinion of her , whose virtue was as chast , and reputation as unspotted , as the envious and deformed la frange . de salez at last with the most powerful expressions of the sincerity of his affections to her , appeas'd her raging passion , and solemnly swore that he would never be prevail'd upon to forsake his admired la hay for the hated la frange . but she being doubtful of the worst , and fearing that at some time the commands of the father might take place upon the duty and obedience of the son , like an impious wretch resolves to send her into another world , and for that purpose hires bernardo michael , an italian emperick , for crowns to poyson her , which he promised to perform . michael being now to consider what methods he was to take , concludes to insinuate himself into de clugny's acquaintance under the notion of a chyrurgeon , who by his great skill was able to reform the crooked body of the young lady his daughter , and accordingly furnished himself with several plausible reasons to induce him to believe it . this succeeded , and de clugny having had consultation with divers other physicians and chyrurgeons , resolves to employ him , and gave him double pistols in hand to attempt it , with the promise of as much more when he had perform'd it . michael being thus employ'd , betakes himself to his business , applies plaisters and searcloths outwardly , and inwardly pills and potions , into which he infused the poyson , which he assuredly knew would in ten days send her into another world ; whereupon he secretly went to la hay , and bid her provide the rest of the money , which she willingly gave him , and again swearing him to secrecy they parted ; and just on the tenth day la frange ( to the unspeakable grief of her parents ) died , not without suspicion of poyson , upon which michael was apprehended , when la hay ( to prevent his discovery ) privately sent him crowns more , and promised him a rich diamond ring , which so wrought upon him , that when he was upon the rack to extort a confession from him , he out-brav'd his torments , deny'd the fact , and so was acquitted . lae frange being thus dead , de salez resolves to go to paris to obtain his fathers leave to marry la hay ▪ but the old gentleman to prevent the same had bought a captains commission for him , and contracted with monsieur de brianson to marry de salez to his daughter ; whereupon he sent to his son to make hast to him at paris , and upon his arrival discours'd his intentions to him . de salez obstinately refused both his commission and his new mistress , and would neither accept the one , nor see the other ; whereat his father in a rage swore he would disinherit him if he would not comply with his commands in three days . de salez mad on the other side , resolv'd rather to dispatch his father , than leave la hay , when two nights after he found an opportunity to perpetrate his villainous design . supper being ended , his father complain'd he was not well , and ordered his clerk next morning early to carry his water to dr. salop , an eminent physician who liv'd at the other part of the city . no sooner in the morning was the clerk gone , but de salez stole privately into his fathers chamber , and finding him in a sound sleep , stifl'd him betwixt two pillows , went out undiscover'd , and speedily hasted to st. honories gate , and so to st. clow. the clerk returning from the physician , entred his masters chamber , found him dead , and almost cold in his bed ; at which sight crying out , the master of the house came up , who vow'd he saw no person enter his chamber , and that his son departed as soon as himself . the body was search'd , but no wounds appearing , it was concluded he died a natural death , upon which the corps was nobly interr'd by de salez with all the outward expressions of grief and sorrow . de salez having with all pomp and decency perform'd the obsequies of his father , within eight days returned to tholouse , where the old gentleman was much lamented by all but the wicked la hay , who rejoyc'd at it , and de salez himself was so senseless and forgetful of his fathers memory and his own reputation , that in six weeks he threw aside his mourning , and in the most gaudy apparel solemnly married la hay , at which the whole city wonder'd . three months were hardly past after their marriage , before de salez discovered the lascivious intrigues of his wife , whose adulteries had now made him a knight of the forked order ; to prevent which , or at least conceal ●t , he persuades her to reform her life , complains to her father , but neither prevail'd , for she was now grown so impudent , she scorn'd her husband , and plaid the whore before his face with open doors : whereupon he resolves to divorce himself from her , and took advice upon it ; which coming to her knowledge , she vow'd not to lose her share in his estate , which was very great , but to prevent him , and satisfie her own malice by a present and bloody revenge . to this end , watching an opportunity when most of the servants were abroad at the vintage , she stole into her husbands chamber , and finding him soundly sleeping , she drew out a razor from her sleeve , stept to him , and cut his throat ; when throwing the razor and her taffata-gown ( which was all bloody ) into the house of office , she secretly got out to church . de salez , whose throat was not cut so fully through , but he could cry and groan , was over-heard by two of his servants , who hastily coming up , heard him utter these fearful speeches ; that strumpet my wife hath kill'd me ! o that she-devil my wife hath murder'd me ! the servants cried out at the window , and call'd in the neighbours , who sent for his confessor , and the lieutenant criminal , to both which he said the same words , confest the stifling of his father , and instantly died . search was presently made for la hay , who was found in the dominican fryars church at sermon , from whence she was dragg'd to prison , and charg'd with her husbands murther , which she confessed upon the rack ; upon which she was condemned to be hang'd and then burnt . being remanded to prison , some divines who were sent to her so wrought upon her conscience , that she confessed fu●ther how she hired m●cha●l for three hundred crowns to poyson la fr●nge ▪ of which the judges having notice , altered her sentence , and judg'd her to have her right hand cut off , and then be burnt alive . de salez his dead body was order'd to be hang'd at the common gallows by the heels , and then burnt . michael as soon as he heard of la hay's imprisonment , fled disguised in a fryars habit ; but being discover'd , was brought back to tholouse , where for poysoning la frange he was adjudg'd to be broken on the wheel , and there to remain till he was dead , and his body to be thrown into the river garrow , which the same day was executed accordingly . as he lived an atheist , so he died impenitently ; saying only this , because the world had had so much to say to him , he would have nothing to say to the world , but bad the executioner dispatch him quickly . thus do we see the iustice of heaven punishing the disobedience of de salez by the dishonesty of la hay , and the murther he had committed on his father reveng'd on him by his adulterous and bloody wife , who is her self at last rewarded with the justice and severity of the law , whil'st the wicked emperick michael , who had lived in sin , dy'd in shame ; he liv'd the devils servant , and dy'd his martyr . hist. vii . mertillus and doranta . geronto murders floria in the street by night . doranta and her maid salvia poyson'd her husband mertillus . salvia afterwards strangles her new-born child , for which being apprehended , upon the ladder she confesses that her mistress doranta and her self poyson'd mertillus , for which doranta is taken and hang'd . in the fam'd city of barcelona dwelt an ancient lady named donna felicia maracalla , who by her late husband had two children , a son called don floria , and a daughter nam'd donna doranta : maracalla ( though not rich ) educated her children very genteely , and maintain'd them exceeding rich in apparel . the beauty and courteous behaviour of doranta invited an old rich gentleman term'd don francisco geronto to make his courtship to her : the mother approved of geronto's riches , but doranta despis'd his age , ( being near threescore and ten ) at whose request don floria soon prevailed with his mother to change her good opinion of geronto , upon which they all three gave him the repulse and denial ; but such was his obstinacy , that he would receive no answer , though by frequent disobligations they endeavour'd to tire his patience , and often either refused his visits , or left him to converse with the bare walls . but doranta was so urgent with her mother for a husband , that she was asham'd of her unchast desires , and to prevent future mischief promis'd her at large to get her one ; but she impatient of delay , urges her brother floria both to remind her mother of her promise , and that he would recommend some gentleman of his acquaintance to her love . it chanced not long after , going with her mother to the benedictine monks church , she saw a proper young gentleman not far from her , and ordering her lacquey privately to enquire who the young cavalier was , he brought her word his name was don mertillus , son and heir of don richardo de mantez : doranta at first sight was so enamour'd with the comliness of his person , that she vow'd neither her mother or brother should have any truce before they had made a motion of marriage for her to don mertillus , and so prevail'd with her importunity , that some few days after don floria invited him home to his lady-mother maracalla's house , where after a noble entertainment , maracalla with the greatest complements and commendations of him she presents her daughters motion to him . he saw doranta , and very respectfully told her he thought himself extremely happy that a lady of her perfections was pleas'd to have an esteem for him , and that he would advise with his father , whose consent he was oblig'd to receive , and hop'd to obtain . mertillus at his return acquaints his father with this proposal , who by all means endeavours to divert him from it , alledging as the most considerable argument , that the poverty of the mother could never raise a fortune for the daughter answerable to his estate and quality , and therefore charged him to think no more of it . geronto , who upon all occasions still prest on his sute , understanding that mertillus had gain'd doranta's affection , and ( as the report went ) would shortly marry her , ( which he thought made him slighted ) he vow'd his death ; and hearing that the following evening mertillus supt at maracalla's house , ( which he yet secretly visited , notwithstanding his fathers commands to the contrary ) charg'd his pistol with a brace of bullets , and waited his coming forth ; but don floria accidentally coming out upon some particular business , geronto lets fly at him , ( supposing he had been mertillus ) and shot him through the head , at which he fell down to the ground . the report of the pistol was heard , and don floria found reeking in his blood ; upon this noise in the street the house was alarm'd , and mertillus coming hastily out , saw his friend don floria murder'd at his gate . mertillus , who was diligent in the search and pursuit of the murtherers , found geronto limping in the street with his dark-lanthorn in his hand ; and laying hold of him , caused him to be committed to prison . next day maracalla went to the criminal judges of the city , and accus'd geronto of the murther of her son , for that he was found near the house with a pistol in his pocket which had been lately discharged . geronto boldly deny'd the fact , and justified his own innocency ; but being order'd to the rack , upon sight thereof he confessed the murther , and the reasons which prompted him to it ; upon which he was condemn'd to be hang'd , which the next day he suffered at the common place of execution ; where by a foolish speech he endeavoured to excuse himself , and that it was by the darkness of the night he mistook floria for mertillus , against whom only his pistol and revenge was levell'd , whil'st floria suffer'd by mistake . don richardo knowing his son mertillus yet continu'd his visits to doranta , as this accident publish'd to the whole city , was infinitely troubl'd at it , and to prevent his marriage sent him to marina , ( a mannour-house of his some ten leagues off in the countrey ) with charge to continue there till he receiv'd his positive order to return . mertillus was extremely troubl'd at the rigorous commands of his father , and doranta in appearance griev'd no less ; but being of a wanton disposition , and thinking mertillus stay'd too long as she conceiv'd , began to entertain lascivious thoughts , and could neither live chast nor constant ; but utterly forgetful of her respects and profess'd affection to mertillus , received new impressions from other gallants , whose courtship found a welcom reception , and easie conquest , to whom doranta prodigally dispens'd her favours , which at last grew so publick , that her mother both sharply reprehended her , and by strict confinement endeavoured to reform her looser conversation . at this she pines , grows sick , and keeps her bed , at which her mother was very much troubled , and sent a messenger to mertillus , to inform him of doranta's indisposition , which he credulously supposed was occasion'd by his absence , and very kindly sent word he would certainly wait upon her the next day , which he performed accordingly ; when doranta dissembling her affection to him , told him , it was for him alone she thus languished , and must certainly die , if she could not be for ever so happy both in his company and affection . mertillus , whose love was sincere as his expressions , with much difficulty obtain'd his fathers consent , and married in state and bravery . never did husband love a wife more dearly , who deserv'd so ill ; for three months after marriage she not only slighted his conversation , but refused his bed , which unkindness of hers brought him into a deep consumption ; whereof being ready to die , she was so far from sorrowing for him , that in her heart she wish'd him dead ; and for fear his skilful physicians should recover him , resolved to poyson him , and with her own wicked hands administer the fatal boll . to this end she acquainted her chamber-maid salvia with her design , who for the reward of duckats consented to it , and promised her assistance . after her mistress had sworn her to secrecy , she sent her to procure a strong poyson , and advising mertillus to drink some comfortable broth she had made him , infused the poyson in it , of which before night he died , and by his wife was privately and suddenly buried , his long illness taking off all suspicion of a violent death . this tragedy being thus acted , doranta ( tho'a widow ) was very jovial , and merry , and now breaks pale , ranging beyond all bounds of chastity and honour , insomuch that her mother and all her relations were asham'd of her infamous behaviour . two months were scarce expir'd since mertillus was laid in his untimely grave , when ( contrary to the minds of all her friends ) she married with don renardo de polez , one of her former paramours , altogether as vitious as her self , who though he well knew her to be dishonest , yet for the advantage of her present fortune was induced to be her husband ; but that not answering his expectation , he thought it high time to be wise , and ( contrary to mertillus his humour ) was very strict to her , and after a little time confin'd her prisoner to her chamber , where ( like a scholar ) she conversed only with her book and needle ; and to make an absolute conquest over her haughty temper , he despoiled her of her best apparel , her rings , chains and jewels , allowing her little or no money . doranta , tho' grievously perplex'd at this change of her fortune , yet still continued in her unchast pleasures as often as opportunity gave her leave ; and no sooner was her husband abroad , but she had a ruffian at home . and her maid salvia following the example of her mistress , with the duckats given her for the poysoning of mertillus bought her new cloaths , which procured her a sweet-heart named blanco , with whom she wantonis'd so often , that at last she had a great belly , which she conceal'd from all persons but blanco , who advis'd thereof , fled into france . salvia now considering her former folly , and present misery , and seeing her self deserted by blanco , and no friend she could rely upon , in the midst of these distressed thoughts fell into labour , and was delivered of a fair son , which she strangl'd as soon as born , to hide her own shame , and the same evening wrapt it up in a linen cloth , and with a pack-threed ty'd a stone to it , and carried it to a pond without the city , and threw it in without being observ'd by a●y body . this done , she did not think it proper for her to go home to her masters house that night , but lodg'd at an inn whose sign was the st. iohns head , where ( pretending lameness which she had got by a fall ) she was kindly entertained . but within an hour after a groom watering his horse there , so sported and plung'd the water with his feet , still pawing and snuffling and thrusting his head therein , that at last the pack-threed broke , and the linen cloth appear'd floating , in which was found the infant lately murder'd . this brought a great concourse of spectators , who all concluded it to be the bastard of some strumpet , and murder'd by her ; upon which a search was made in the adjacent parts , and salvia apprehended by the officers of justice , who upon search appeared to be the mother of the infant . upon this she was imprison'd , and threatned with the rack , and for fear of the torments confessed she had strangl'd and thrown it into the pond , for which she was condemn'd to be hang'd . being brought to the place of execution , and now upon the ladder , she confessed there was one sin which she had not discover'd , or repented of ; which was , that she with her lady doranta had poyson'd mertillus ; whereupon doranta was immediately apprehended , and confessing the fact which salvia accus'd her of , was condemn'd to be hang'd , which was executed accordingly ; and to salvia's sentence was added , that after she was hang'd her body should be burnt to ashes . hence may every lascivious dame learn the practice of virtue and chastity by the sad examples of doranta and salvia , and take warning by geronto not to stain their gray hairs with the scarlet dye of murther , which will bring them with sorrow and shame to the grave . hist. viii . ursina and her son bernardo . bernardo poysoneth his own mother ursina , and afterwards kills romeo in his garden with a carbine from a window . for these two murthers he is beheaded , his body burnt , and his ashes thrown into the river . in the noble city of orleance in france there lately dwelt a rich canon of a cathedral named cortesius romeo , who had a young gentlewoman to his niece of excellent beauty and disposition , whose deceased mother left her very rich : her uncle romeo being nearest in blood , took her into his protection , giving her all manner of breeding and education requisite for a person of her rank and quality ; and the better to accomplish her in all virtuous perfections , carefully sent her in his coach to morlieu , to the lady margareta ursina , a widow-gentlewoman , eminent both in virtue and piety . donna carolla ( for so was she called ) with her waiting maid and one man-servant , arrives there , where she is kindly receiv'd by ursina , highly applauding romeo's honourable care of his niece , who she hopes in few years will be a most compleat gentlewoman . romeo did well to place his young niece with the lady ursina , but ill forgot that she had a young man to her son named monsieur bernardo , a most debauch'd person , and one whose vitious life made him the scorn and pity of all morlieu . this young spark seeing so sweet a beauty , and so great an heiress ( as carolla was ) fallen into his mothers hands , secretly courts her , but she received him with contempt and indignation , upon which he grew more importunate , and she no less averse ; when bernardo hoping no success from these violent courses , acquaints his mother with his passion for carolla , who forbids him to proceed any further , unless he would svvear to reform himself , which he vow'd on his knees to do , and perform'd accordingly . romeo came three several times over to morlieu to see his niece , whom ursina entertained with all imaginable respect , charging her son during his stay not to mention one word to romeo of his affection to his niece . but ursina now secretly understanding by letter from orleance , that the following autumn romeo design'd to send for his niece home , thought it convenient to motion it to him , which she did in a fair and honourable manner . but romeo displeas'd with her ambition in desiring his niece for a wife for her son , well knowing the small estate of the mother , and corrupt conversation of the son ; yet taking no notice thereof , he excus'd himself that he had already disposed his niece , and could not with honour or justice recede from his promise . three weeks after this answer , not thinking his niece to be safe at morlieu , he sent over his coach and servants to bring her home , writing a gratulatory letter to the lady ursina , for her great care , honourable education , and entertainment . romeo , to ursina . having formerly contracted my niece carolla to a husband , his request and my promise now oblige me to take her from you in morlieu , and give her to him at orleance . to this purpose i here send my coach and servants to you for her , and desire you to return her to me , with your best prayers that she who by your sober instructions and indulgent care has begun the morning of her life in piety and virtue , may continue in those happy paths , and die in peace , to live in everlasting glory . romeo . this letter vex'd both ursina and her son , as seeing thereby no hopes of attaining their ends ; wherefore ursina ( at her sons intreaty ) uses all her interest to persuade carolla , but she was deaf to her motion , and so far from hearkening thereto , that she now refused to see bernardo , much less admit him to any grace or favour . breakfast being now ended , and the coach ready , carolla departs to orleance to her uncle romeo ; but ursina would not be thus repulsed , but writes a second letter to romeo to the same purpose ; who very angry that she should so disrespect him as not to credit what he had said , and believe him that she was prae-contracted , very sharply returned her the same answer as before , protesting withal for the future either not to receive her letters , or to answer them with silence . bernardo was so incens'd to see all his great expectations utterly defeated , that he returns to his former vices , and lives more dissolute than ever , upon which ursina vow'd she would never speak in his behalf any more . this resolution of the mother breeds bad blood in the son , so that he now determines with himself to work his revenge on his mother , and his own advantage by the same villainous act ; for was she but dispatch'd , he should then be sole lord of all her wealth and fortune , which might induce romea and carolla to accept of his affection : to which purpose he provides himself with poyson , which he still carries about him , waiting an opportunity to administer it . bernardo's return to his former lewd courses so distempers his mother , that she falls sick of a burning feaver , to allay the heat whereof she caused some almond-milk to be made her , in which were infus'd several cooling herbs , and drinks thereof three times a day . on the fourth day of her sickness , walking in the afternoon in her garden , she was suddenly surprized with the symptome of her feaver ; when sitting down , she caused her maid to hold her head , and pray'd her son to fetch her a bottle of almond-milk , which de did , and in the way pour'd the poyson into it , which he gave her , who drank plentifully of it ; but on a sudden a cold sweat over-spread her face , she look'd pale , and ready to faint away call'd for a chair , in which they carried her to her chamber , and laid her on the bed , where few hours after she died in great torture , and is by her son and servants coffin'd up , and ( with all the counterfeit signs of immoderate grief ) buried by her ungracious son. the news of ursina's death was soon known at orleance , where romeo and carolla hearing of it , exceedingly lamented and sorrowed for her . carolla being now grown marriageable , in regard of her excellent perfections and great estate , ( for she was now declared sole heir to her uncle romeo ) was courted by many noble gentlemen ; but her uncle at last privately married her to monsieur le berdu , a rich young gentleman who was nephew and heir to the bishop of orleance· let us now return to bernardo , who desperately gave himself over to all vices , consuming all his time in licentious riots , in the midst of which follies he remembers carolla : wherefore putting himself and servants into very rich equipage , he rode over to orleance , where he became an importunate suter to romeo and carolla , but all in vain ; yet he obstinately persists , which made romeo tell him in plain terms , that his niece was married , and that in consideration thereof he forbid him his house and h●r company . this unkindness bernardo took so ill , that in his rage he swore he would murder romeo ; and then considering the safest way , determin'd to shoot him with his carbine as he walk'd in his garden , which he constantly did every morning and evening alone . thus resolv'd , he went in disguise at six in the evening to a small tavern , where the chamber-windows look'd into romeo's garden , and pretending to stay for a friend , call'd for some wine : then bolting the chamber-door , he opens the casement , and sees romeo walking in his garden ; he le ts flie at him , and shot him into the breast with a brace of bullets , and romeo after ●hree shrieks fell down dead . as soon as this was done , he endeavoured to make his escape , but by the immediate judgment of heaven he was presently struck in a stupified swoon , and fell to the ground . the noise of that and his gun caused the people below to come up , who finding the chamber-door bolted , imagined he had shot himself ; when forcing open the door , they found him grovling on the ground , upon which they took him and pull'd off his cloaths to search for his wounds , but found none . after an hour he opened his eyes , and with a distracted look and amazed countenance , rather raving than speaking , in the heat of his madness he cried out , i have murder'd romeo ! i have murder'd romeo ! which he often repeated . by this time the dead body of romeo was found in the garden ; and search being made for the murtherer , and seeing his horse at the door of the tavern , they went up stairs , where they found bernardo in bed . the people of the house being examined , they reported what they knew , as also his confession that he had murder'd romeo ; whereupon he was apprehended , and the next morning arraigned , when he forswore his former confession : but the judges , to extort the truth , condemn him to the rack , where at the first torments he again confesses all , for which he was sentenced the next day to be beheaded ; and being brought to the scaffold , there confessed the murther of his mother ursina by poyson : his first sentence was executed upon him , and ( as an addition of punishment for his mothers death ) his body was burnt , and the ashes thrown into the river arno. thus we see by miserable bernardo , that he who ripens in wickedness as he grows in years , shall at last reap the bitter fruits of his own debaucheries ; for he that slights the grace of god here , shall never tast his mercy hereafter . hist. ix . de bushie and la valere . st. quintin is kill'd in a duel by moreni . pharamond hires prochier the apothecary for crowns to poyson his brother de bushie . prochier falls down the stairs , and breaks his neck . pharamond first debauches lucia , and then hires mariot a miller to strangle her , which he does , and throws her body into the mill-pond , for which he is broke on the wheel , and pharamond beheaded and burnt . at roan in normandy of late years there dwelt a rich and noble gentleman called monsieur de bertue , who had two sons ; his eldest was monsieur pharamond , and the younger monsieur de bushie , both hopeful gentlemen . de bushie being at christmas-time at a friends house at curant , ( leagues from roan ) saw a young gentlewoman infinitely fair and beautiful , called madamoyselle la valere , whom he lik'd and lov'd so dearly , that he resolv'd to make all his courtship to her , which he so handsomly and discreetly manag'd , that at last she consented to love him ; but withal intreated him to conceal her affection , till he had made his application to her father , and gain'd his good will. de bushie in few days after made a visit to monsieur de moulin her father , who liv'd at curant , acquaints him with his sute , and begs his consent . but he not relishing the motion , re●urned de bushie a very cold answer , upon which he civilly took his leave , and the next week went home to roan , and acquainted his father and mother with his affection to la valere , which they approving of , he pray'd his father to ride over to curant , to confer with monsieur de moulin about this affair : but de bertue being seiz'd with a sudden fit of the gout , order'd his elder brother pharamond to bear him company , and in his name to treat with de moulin . pharamond and de bushie nobly attended , with a letter from their father to de moulin , took horse and rid to curant , where being arriv'd , pharamond delivered his fathers letter ; and after a short conference with de moulin , in which he discovered his brothers affection to valere : he addressed himself to her , whil'st de moulin and de bushie took a walk in the garden . having this opportunity of a private discourse , after he had oblig'd her to secrecy , told her , that tho' he came over to curant his brothers advocate , yet her powerful charms had already captivated his heart , and his passion for her now obliged him to make use of all his oratory in his own behalf ; and tho' his brother had the honour to see her first , yet his love ( he hoped ) deserved not least regard , or the last place in her affections . la valere incens'd with this unexpected discourse , with a frown told him , that this was not only an ignoble ingratitude , but a base treachery ▪ and therefore know ( says she ) that i undervalue you , as much as i highly prize your brother : and so with a countenance which shew'd both anger and disdain , left him alone , who presently went to her father , and in fair terms informed him of his love to his daughter , a●●uring him of the sincerity of his affection to her , and that he covered nothing in the world more than to be happy in the enjoyment of her . old de moulin approves pharamond's motion , but was unwilling to displease de bushie , yet over-sway'd with ambition , calls his daughter into his closet , and bids her leave de bushie to love pharamond ; but she positively refus'd it , telling him that she had already made her choice , which she would not alter for any worldly advantage . pharamond contriving how to deceive his brother , told him , that tho' he found la valere inclinable , de moulin was altogether averse , nor could he ever hope to gain his consent ; and therefore ( says he ) let us go home to morrow , which was agreed to . but la valere ( who had well considered the base treachery of pharamond ) resolves to give her de bushie a private meeting , and at night sent for him to her chamber , bid him be chearful , and that in life and death she will be his , and only his , and that she would send him a letter to roan , which should acquaint him with a business her tongue was obliged to conceal . so after all the promises of constancy and fidelity , they parted , and as a pledge of their mutual kindness , he presented her with a diamond-ring , and she gave him a pair of pearl bracelets . the next morning de moulin took de bushie aside , and in short terms pray'd him to forbear his house , and refrain his daughters company , for he had provided another husband for her . after a solemn leave , the brothers took horse , and return'd home . la valere remembring her promise to de bushie , two days after his departure sent him this letter . la valere , to de bushie . my promise owes you this letter , wherein i must acquaint you , that i know not whether you have greater cause to love me , or hate your brother , in regard he vows he loves me dearer than your self , and hath attempted to rob you of your wife , which ( if i mistake not ) is base treachery in him . i have heard his courtship , but for your sake hate both it and himself . he hath won my father , but be assured that he neither can nor shall prevail with me ; and tho' my father hath banished you his house , yet his daughter is resolved to retain you in her heart , and you alone . la valere . de bushie having received this letter , was passionately incens'd against his brother pharamond ; but discretion at last took place , and he resolv'd to hide his resentments , and dissemble his anger , and immediately returned her many thanks for her courtesie and constancy . pharamond three days after privately went over to curant , where he renews his sute to her with all the earnestness and vigour of a passionate lover : but la valere seemed absolutely averse , and without hopes to prevail , return'd sorrowfully to roan . but tho' pharamond endeavoured de bushie should know nothing of his journey to curant , la valere next day gave him word thereof by a second letter . la valere , to de bushie . i hold my self oblig'd in duty and affection to acquaint you , that these two days i have been importunately solicited by your unkind brother for marriage : but he hath found my first to be my last answer . i hope i have blasted all his endeavours , by giving him and my father this infallible resolution , either to wed you , or my grave ; and i believe they will be satisfied without giving me further trouble : but if your brother shall still pursue his fruitless addresses , i will beg on my knees to my father to hasten our marriage . and this is my positive resolution . la valere . de bushie kiss'd this last testimony of his dear ladies most tender affection , but frets inwardly at his brothers malice , whereof he is resolv'd to tax him , but first returns her ten thousand thanks for her inviolable affection , and went to find out his brother , whom he finds feignedly sick , when pharamond ( as it were rejoycing at his presence ) told him , that his tender love to la valere had reduc'd him to that extremity , and therefore conjur'd him for the saving of his life to quit his pretensions to her , and resign up all his interest to him : at which impudent request de bushie was so inrag'd , that in indignation and disdain he call'd him base and treacherous , and vow'd to die before he would consent to such a thought ; and ( without any other farewell ) hastily flew out of hi● chamber . pharamond swore he would make his brother repe●● his sawcy carriage ; whereupon three days after , understanding his brother to be at charron , he sent monsieur st. quintin , his particular friend , ( whom he had engaged to be his second ) to him with this challenge . pharamond , to de bushie . in regard we cannot both enjoy the fair la valere to wife ▪ it is fit that one of us should die , that the survivor may be enrich'd with so precious a treasure ; which considering , as i have done your late uncivil carriage towards me , i find it not strange to see affection to give a law to nature ▪ wherefore i invite thee with thy second to meet me and min● with single rapiers on foot to morrow at three after dinner , in the meadow next to st. vallery . i shall as impatiently expect your coming , as i do my revenge . pharamond . de bushie smil'd hereat , and bid st. quintin tell his brother he would not fail to meet him ; when turning to monsieur moreni his friend , who sate by him , pray ( says he ) read this , and give me your company to morrow ; which he readily promised . the time being come , the brothers and seconds met in the field : the principals first drew , and after three or four breathings , and several wounds , de bushie ran pharamond into the sword-hand , and forc'd him to surrender his sword , and beg his life , which he did , and the other as generously gave him . the principals having thus ended the dispute , the seconds drew near ; but moreni thought it no dishonour to refuse to fight , since his principal had soil'd his enemy : but on the contrary st. quintin was resolute , and would not by any arguments be persuaded , upon which they both drew , and at the third pass moreni kill'd him dead in the field ; a fit reward for his boasting temerity . the news of this duel was presently known to their father and mother , nor was it long before it arrived at curant , where de moulin grieves , but la valere rejoyces at pharamond's foil , and taking advantage thereof , with tears and prayers gain'd her fathers consent , so that in a short time she was solemnly married to de bushie in great state and splendor . pharamond , tho' he had receiv'd his life from his brothers hand , still continues his ingratitude to him , and reviving his lustful desires to la valere , ( whom he could not possibly enjoy so long as his brother liv'd ) he therefore resolves to get him poyson'd , and to that end offers prochier his brothers apothecary crowns to do it , which he undertook , and perform'd in this manner . de bushie six weeks after his marriage found himself inclinable to a feaver , for prevention whereof he sent for prochier ( his apothecary ) to open a vein , which he did , and towards night gave him a clyster , wherein he infused strong poyson , which so operated , that the next morning he died in his bed . la valere passionately laments , and is wholly dissolv'd in tears at the sudden death of her husband ; and amongst other relations who came to comfort her , pharamond was one , whom she both slighted , and shrewdly suspected to have a hand in his murther , but in what manner she was not able to discover . her year of mourning being out , she had many suters , amongst whom she made choice of monsieur moreni for her second husband , and was publickly married to him . pharamond seeing himself thus slighted , turns his love into hatred , and gives himself over to the company of whores and strumpets , and leaves no sin unpractis'd that his wicked heart desires , or his lustful eyes can see . amongst others , hearing of a farmers daughter miles from r●an that was fair and young ▪ he resolved to tempt her to his obscene desires , and riding over saw and lik'd her , and laid close siege to her chastity ; which her mother observing in his frequent visits , fearing the worst , forbids him her house , saying , that if he persisted , she would acquaint his father with it ; at which he was much troubl'd , but remembring an old fryar nam'd simplician , he thought him a fit instrument to gain lucia ( for so was she call'd ; ) to consent to his lewd embraces , which for a reward he undertook , and accomplished . it was agreed between them , that pharamond should fetch her away in the night to his old nurses house , where he secretly kept her till he had surfeited his lustful desires with repeated pleasures . lucia's father and mother very much griev'd for the loss of their only child ; and suspecting pharamond to have stole her , complain'd to his father and mother , who sent for , and very strictly examin'd him ; but he deny'd all , and call'd the old woman hag , to charge him with stealing of her daughter : thus without any redress did they return home , and pharamond to lucia's arms , where we shall leave him to speak of prochier . pharamond ( as was formerly said ) hating la valere , hir'd prochier likewise for crowns more to poyson her , which he speedily promised to perform . about two months after her second marriage , she fell sick of a pestilential feaver : moreni her husband sent for prochier the apothecary , who having drawn six ounces of blood from her , intended next morning to give her physick , wherein should be infused the poyson ; but as he was taking his leave on the top of the stairs , and complementing with moreni , his foot tript , and he fell down headlong , and broke his neck . pharamond hearing thereof , was neither glad nor sorry , but spent all his time in revelling with lucia , so that it was now publickly known he kept her , whereof her father and mother being inform'd , they went again to pharamond's father , beseeching him to restore them their daughter ; he promis'd his assistance , and gave them leave to search all his tenants houses ; which pharamond hearing of about midnight he order'd mercot his fathers miller to fetch lucia from her nurses to the mill-house , where at length she proved with child , when seeing her sad condition , she repented of her folly ; especially since she saw her lover pharamond made not those frequent visits he was accustomed , and in his respects to her seemed more strange and reserv'd than usual . but alas ! poor wretch , she knew no way to remedy it , but by the common cure of patience . pharamond now deals with the miller to marry lucia , but he down-right refus'd it , and poor lucia besought him either to provide her a husband , or permit her to go home . pharamond ( who now loath'd her more than ever he lov'd her ) first absented himself from her company , and afterwards plainly refus'd to see her . she exclaims at his ingratitude , prays mercot to speak to his young master in her behalf . mercot finds him out , but instead of comfort , they conclude to murther her , which mercot undertakes for the fee-simple of his mill , and within three days with a small cord steals into her chamber , and strangles her ; when carrying her to the mill-boat in the pond , he fastned a piece of a mill-stone with a strong new rope to her middle , and sunk the body in the deepest part of the pond . the next morning away goes the miller to tell his young master what he had done , who were both over-joy'd at the success of their villainy . a month was scarce past , when moreni ( la valere's second husband ) with some other gentlemen his friends had a mind to hunt a duck , and made choice of this very mill-pond for their sport ; where the duck and two dogs are no sooner in , but coming to the place where lucia was sunk and tied , they le●t the duck , and howl'd and bark'd at each other , without stirring thence ; which the gentlemen observing , they presently imagined that some body was drown'd there ; but before they proceed to search , they intend to make a second tryal after dinner , and for that time call'd off their spaniels . at their return the dogs do as they did in the morning , which confirms their jealousie , so they desired to draw up the sluce , and let the water out of the pond , which the guilty miller refused to do , upon which the gentlemen seem'd to desist , and went into the mill to play at cards for wine , which the miller offer'd to fetch from the town , ( there being none nearer ) and when he was gone , they drew up the sluce , and by that time the water was half out , they saw the dead body float , but the face was so mangl'd and disfigur'd by the fish , it was impossible to know the person . they all concluded the miller guilty , whom they apprehended at his return , and shut him up in his mill till the body was own'd , which not long after happened by her father and mother , who knew her cloaths , and affirm'd it to be their daughter lucia . m●reni rid to roan , and acquainted the judges with this deplorable fact , who sent for the miller , and examin'd him of the same murther , which he deny'd and forswore , whereupon he was order'd to the rack , at sight whereof he confessed himself to be the sole author and acter in this murther , and spoke not a word of pharamond ; whereupon he was adjudg'd to the scorpions , to know if any person was accessary with him : but he not able to endure the cruelty of that torment , confessed that his young master monsieur pharamond hired him to strangle lucia , for which he gave him the fee-simple of his mill. upon this mercot was condemned to be broken alive on the wheel ; but execution was deferr'd till pharamond was taken , who was then gon to morleaux : at his return he was suddenly apprehended and imprisoned , and upon hearing his indictment read , and mercot's confession , presently acknowledged the fact , for which he was condemned the next day to be beheaded ; when mounting the scaffold , he first publickly own'd the murther of lucia , and then confessed he hir'd prochier to poyson his brother de bushie , and had contracted with him for three hundred crowns more to poyson la valere which he had effected , had not providence preserved her by punishing him with so sudden a death . for which he heartily craved pardon of god , and then his head was chopt off , and his body for his brothers death burnt to ashes . mercot was broken on the wheel , and prochier's dead body digg'd out of the grave , and in the coffin burnt by the common hangman ▪ and his ashes thrown into the air. so strong is the deadly poyson of revenge , that it breaks through all ties of friendship , bonds of relation , and rules of religion . the desperate pharamond , to satisfie his malice , murders his brother , and to please his unchast desires , first r●bs lucia of her virtue , and then of her life ; for which his body suffers the punishment of the law , and his name perpetual infamy . hist. x. formoso and almira . almira twice attempts to poyson her own sister corinna , by the means of her waiting woman doria : but being both times disappointed , she hires nicon an emperick to poyson doria. almira is kill'd with a thunder-bolt , and nicon hang'd . corinna , to revenge her lover formoso's death , murders her brother puteoli , for which she dies immur'd . at lisbon ( the chief city in portugal ) liv'd don sebastian florenzo a nobleman , great both by blood and revenues ; he married the virtuous donna andrada , ( a lady of eminent quality and perfections ) by whom he had one son called don puteoli , and two daughters , donna almira , and donna corinna . don puteoli ( whose education was abroad ) in his travels acquaints himself with don formoso de castello , a gentleman of refin'd conversation and courtly behaviour . puteoli , that he might perpetuate the friendship which was thus happily begun with formoso , invites him to lisbon to his fathers house , proposing a marriage with his eldest sister almira . formoso very courteously embraced his offer , and went with him , where he was generously receiv'd by don sebastian his father , and saw his two daughters , the stately almira , and matchless corinna , but with different sentiments , for corinna the youngest had already taken possession of his heart , where the other had not made the least impression ; whereupon formoso made his court to corinna , and desires her in marriage of her father ; which he refuses , but offers him the eldest , alledging that he would give her the same preference that nature had done , who as she was his eldest , should be first disposed of . however formoso persists in his love to corinna , and continues his sute to her father , which puteoli earnestly ( but in vain ) sollicits for him ; so obstinately resolved was don sebastian in behalf of almira , that he was forced to take leave of his beloved corinna ; when the faithful lovers mutually express'd their kind endearments to each other , and vow'd eternal constancy . formoso civilly took his leave of sebastian and puteoli , and return'd to his castle ten leagues from lisbon at villamont , and in this recess made it his only comfort to converse with corinna by letters , which were secretly convey'd to her , and hers to him , by his faithful page honorio , who making love to doria , almira's woman , passd unsuspected . the frequent visits of honorio at last raised jealousie and mistrust in almira , who suspected they were only pretended to doria , whil'st in reality they were design'd to corinna , whereupon she order'd doria to sound him , but honorio would not make any discovery ; but at last an unhappy accident did that for her which all her artifice and cunning could not attain : for one sunday-morning , when corinna was walking in the garden , almira went into her chamber to see for a little book , which not finding where she expected , she put her hand into her sisters pocket of the gown she wore the day before , and instead of that pulls out formoso's last letter to corinna , which she shews to her father , who was very much concern'd at it , and severely checkt corinna for entertaining a private correspondence with formoso ▪ and to prevent it for the future , strictly confin'd her to her chamber . but this was not satisfaction enough to almira , who ( rather than lose formoso ) resolves to poyson her sister ; to which end she hires doria with duckats , and the promise of as many more , to undertake it : doria agreed to it , and accordingly sent an unknown messenger for it , who presently return'd with it in a small gally-pot , doria intending to make use of it that very night , but honorio's visit prevented her , who finding her in the garden , they sate down in the arbor , and in the midst of their discourse honorio's nose fell a bleeding , and not readily pulling out his handkerchief , she hastily pulls out hers , and with it the gally-pot of poyson , which falling upon a stone , immediately broke , and the baneful dose was lickt up by honorio's spaniel , who presently swell'd and dy'd before them . at this they were both amazed , but especially doria , who knew not what excuse to make , or how to palliate her wicked design ; for honorio press'd to know for whom this poyson was prepar'd , she gave him uncertain answers , which made him the more inquisitive , so that at last he prevail'd with her to discover the naked truth , that her mistress almira had hired her therewith to poyson corinna . honorio no sooner saw this , but he informed corinna privately of it , praying her to be careful of her self , for fear they might be more succesful in a second attempt , which no doubt the malice and wickedness of almira would prompt her to . honorio pretending his father had suddenly sent for him , ( who lay dangerously ill ) took his leave of doria , promising in a short time to see her again , who confidently trusting to the counterfeit love of honorio , believ'd her design was no ways discover'd to corinna . honorio having privately receiv'd a letter from corinna , ( which in part acquainted formoso with the villainous mischief of almira to her , recommending him for the rest to his page , who would give a fuller account ) went hastily back , and gave his master the letter , and a large relation of the whole matter . formoso reading the letter over again , and pondering upon it , ( especially that part where she told him she could be no longer safe in her fathers house , and therefore desired him to protect her life and honour , which she hop'd to secure by his favourable assistance ) assur'd her of it in another by honorio , and that he would be ready at the garden door the next night at twelve , and the signal to be a lighted candle in her window to him , and the discharge of his pistol to her . in the mean time almira urg'd doria to the performance of her promise , which she assur'd her of in three days , and to that end a second potion of poyson is prepared : in the mean while honorio return'd , and delivered his masters letter to corinna , who is now busie in packing up her jewels and richest apparel ; when almira pretending to go to bed ill , sent doria with a sweet posset to corinna , desiring her to eat the rest , of which she had already taken her share . corinna very kindly received it , and intreating doria to fetch her prayer-book and gloves out of her sisters chamber , pour'd out the posset into a bason in her closet , and washing the cup put almond-milk into it , which at doria's return she drank up , and dismiss'd her . not long after honorio came privately to corinna's chamber , where she related to him this second attempt , which they concluded to experiment upon almira's parrot , which was then in corinna's chamber , the bird immediately swell'd and dy'd . they laid the dead parrot upon the table , and upon the report of formoso's pistol , ( which they soon after heard ) honorio took up her trunk , and they went softly down the stairs to the garden-door , where ( to her great joy ) she found formoso with a coach and six ready to attend her to his castle at villam●nt . next morning almira hopes to entertain her self with the pitiful out-cries for her sisters death : but being deceiv'd , about ten a clock ( according to her custom ) she went up with doria to her sisters chamber , where instead of her sister , she found her parrot dead on the table . they lookt fearfully on one another ; but hearing that honorio was also gone , they concluded c●rinna was fled with formoso , upon which almira immediately allarms her father and mother with the news , who dispatch'd away a messenger to villamont to enquire the truth , who brought word she was there . don sebastian being then ill of the gout , sent his son don puteoli , with six other resolute gentlemen , to remand her , and take satisfaction of formoso for and indignity he had offer'd him . puteoli arriving at villamont , made his demands of her , and assured him that his father and himself would have her at what rate soever . formoso gave him a positive denial , and urg'd for reasons the two attempts almira had made against her life , which his castle should protect . almira now suspecting that her designs against her sister were discovered , by her fathers examination of her to that purpose , and fearing that doria might confirm their suspicions by an open and plain discovery , hired nicon an emperick for duckats to poyson her , which in few days he perform'd . whil'st this was acting at lisbon by almira , her brother is endeavouring a more honourable satisfaction at villamont from formoso , who had now received express orders from his father , either by point of law or dint of sword to bring back corinna ; whereupon he sent his cousin don morellos to formoso for his last resolution , who gave him the same answer as before : upon this , puteoli reflecting upon the honour of his family , and his own reputation , which lay both at stake , resolves to regain her by arms ; and making choice of morellos for his second , the next morning sent him to don formoso's castle with this challenge . puteoli , to formoso . i must either return my sister to lisbon , or lose my life here at villamont , for i had rather die than see her dishonour , which so nearly reflects upon my self . it is not i who have first violated the bonds of friendship , but your self , who is both the author and sole cause thereof : wherefore of two things resolve on one , either to morrow at six in the morning to render me my sister corinna , or at that hour meet me on foot with your second in the square green meadow under your own castle , where the choice of two rapiers shall attend you . if thou art honourable , thou wilt grant my first , and if generous , thou canst not deny my second request . puteoli . don formoso received and accepted the challenge , and choosing a near relation of his named don leforto for his second , they met and fought at the place appointed . at the third close formoso was run through the heart , at which first staggering he soon after dropt down dead , and immediately after don le forto had the same fate . the criminal judges had presently notice of this combate , whereupon puteoli and morellos were apprehended , but by the great interest of their friends procured their pardon . puteoli being now at liberty , went again to the castle and demanded his sister , which was utterly denied him , upon which he apply'd himself to the judges , who granted him an armed power , wherewith he forced the castle , and took his sister away ( all in tears and mourning for her dear formoso ) and returned her to his father , for which and the death of formoso , she vow'd a severe revenge upon him . at her return her sister almira earnestly desired to be reconciled to her , and privately confest her former malice , for which she was now heartily sorry , and begg'd her pardon . doria had a sister nam'd maretta , who having been particularly acquainted with the two ladies almira and corinna , invites them to her wedding : corinna excus'd her self , but almira promis'd her company . the day being come , almira went in her fathers coach very splendid and rich in jewels : but whil'st they were on their way a sudden tempest arose , with loud peals of thunder , when after a terrible crack the fatal bolt pierced through her breast , and almost kill'd her in her coach : at the fright whereof her waiting maids and coach-man return'd home with her , who was put to bed , and finding she could not live , confess'd that she had twice attempted to poyson her sister corinna by her woman doria , and had afterwards hired nicon for duckats to poyson doria , which he perform'd , whereof she heartily repented , and so dy'd . the criminal judges being acquainted with this , they sent their officers to apprehend nicon , whom they found very merry at the wedding-house , and ( notwithstanding all his endeavours to escape ) took him coming out , and committed him close prisoner . in the afternoon being put to the rack , he confessed all the circumstances of the murther , for which next morning he was hang'd over-against don sebastian's house , on a gibbet erected on purpose . in the mean while corinna's desire of revenge had armed her with a large sharp knife , which hiding under her sleeve , with her lute in her hand ( about ten days after her sisters death ) early in the morning she went into her brothers chamber , and finding him fast asleep , with her knife cut his throat so suddenly , that he could neither cry nor speak , and stabbing him seven times in the body , retir'd to her chamber . as she went out , she was met by her brothers page , who went directly into his masters chamber , where he found him murder'd in his bed , at which , with his loud out-cries he raised the house , who seeing this bloody spectacle , went in search of the murtherer ; but finding none to suspect , the page said he met corinna coming out , as he entred his masters chamber , who was easily apprehended , but peremptorily deny'd it . the next morning she was brought to the rack , but seem'd not at all daunted . in this interim the servants having search'd every corner of the room , and corinna's chamber ; in the close-stool they found the murdering knife wrapt in her bloody gown , which being brought before the judges , at the ●ight of it she confessed the fact , and begg'd for mercy , but notwithstanding was condemn'd to be hang'd in the publick market-place ; but by the mediation of her friends her sentence was alter'd , and she was sentenced to be shut up between two walls , and there with a slender diet to end the remainder of her days . this judgment was executed upon her , but in few days a violent feaver put a period to her miserable life . thus did disgrace and misery eclipse the lustre of this noble family , through the fathers obstinacy and perverseness : hente let all parents be warned to bear an indulgent tenderness towards their children , whil'st they are to pay a dutiful regard to all their lawful commands . hist. xi . briant and lauretta . monsieur ferio a rich merchant is poysoned in his inn by father constantine a priest , and briant the inn-keeper , and his body buried in the garden , where a month after a wolf digs it up , and devours part of it ; upon which the murtherers are discovered by their ●light , apprehended and hang'd . a rich merchant of tours in france named monsieur ferio , being of sixty years of age or upwards , having been at venice , where he received checchines , and not meeting with a speedy and convenient return for his money , he carried it in a cloak-bag behind him , and some jewels of great value which he had bought for the dutchess of orleance , in a private leathern girdle next his skin . as he travell'd on his way , he chanced to fall ill , and having for two or three days contended with his sickness , it now overcame him , and finding himself weak , and unable to travel further , he got into a poor countrey-tavern on the high-way , where he took up his lodgings for that night : the next morning ( not liking his lodging , and doubting his safety there , in a loansom place ) he took his horse , and about of the clock after dinner came to dieren , and went into the very first inn he came to at the towns-end , where his host's name was briant , and his wife lauretta . briant was a debauch'd fellow , and addicted to all manner of lewdness , poor , and of mean parentage , but his wi●e well descended , with whom he had crowns in marriage , all which he had spent in luxury and riot . into this house , and to this vitious host briant , entred poor sick de ferio for the recovery of his health : he lik'd his hostess very well , but not his host ; however , he prays him to procure him a physician , which he did , monsieur morat , who seeing his water , and feeling his pulse , let him blood , to prevent a burning feaver , and still gave him new hopes of recovery , tho' the patient complain'd he was rather worse than better . lauretta tended him diligently , and perform'd both the duty of a good hostess and a good woman : but her husband imagining de ferio to be rich , hop'd and pray'd that he might speedily die in his house , and if he does not , resolves to kill him by one means or other . de ferio's sickness increasing upon him to the despair of his life , he intreated briant to bring him a priest to give him the sacrament , which he did , named father constantine , a person as notorious in all vitious courses as himself , and one whose prodigality had made very poor . to this wicked wretch , briant ( having first endeavoured to draw his wife lauretta to be concern'd in it , who peremptorily and constantly refus'd it ) on a monday-morning reveals his bloody purpose , which he readily consented to , provided what gold , silver , or jewels they should find about him might be equally divided between them , which was consented to ; so , solemnly swearing to one another not to discover their design , they parted . at night they met again to consider of the manner and time when they should perpetrate this murther : the safest way was agreed to be by poyson , which briant should buy , and constantine administer in a wafer which he used sometimes to give him in his sickness : and as it were the better to favour their devilish design , word is unexpectedly brought that lauretta's father ( who liv'd four leagues off ) was dangerously sick and like to die , whereupon briant with all hast dispatch'd away his wife to him and her maid ioanna . de ferio was much troubled at his hostesses departure , in whom he reposed all his trust and confidence ; and finding himself every day worse than other , began to suspect his safety as well as recovery : for he often observed his landlord and the priest whispering together , and saw some fatal apparitions in their faces which told him all was not well : this afflicted him day and night with new cause of despair . however , he still conceal'd his gold and jewels from his host and the priest , but fear'd their jealousie and hopes of it would hasten his end : but so cunning was constantine , that he would not murder him till he knew what would be the reward of his villainy , and what wealth he had about him ; wherefore he advised him to send for his son to tours , and proffer'd himself in person to carry a letter , and deliver it with his own hand . de ferio thank'd him , and told him he had rather trouble his host with it , if he would bear him company in the mean time , which was agreed . the next morning de ferio gave briant this letter , and four double pistols to def●ay his charges to his son du m●nt at tours , praying him to bring his son back with him , with all possible speed . de ferio , to du mont. seven weeks since coming from venice , i fell sick at dieren , where i lie very weak in the house of my host briant , the bearer hereof , whom i purposely send to command you to come over to me with all hast . i have here with me checchines , and some iewels of value for the dutchess of orleance , and i fear that neither it nor my life is safe here . come away with intent to find me either dead or dying ▪ conceal this letter from all the world . love this messenger , but trust him not . god prosper my health , and ever bless you with prosperity . de ferio . briant having this letter , pretends to take leave , and father constantine in civility goes to see him take horse ; but instead thereof they went into the parlor , and bolting the door open'd the letter , and satisfied with the discovery by the contents , resolved to make that ensuing night his last , so they burnt the letter , and briant privately hush'd himself up in his own house from the sight of all the world . father constantine went back to de ferio , who was infinitely troubl'd in mind , fearing that his death was already plotted , and blaming his indiscretion in mentioning in the letter what sum he had , which if they should come to the knowledge of , might tempt them to commit some violence upon him . and now was the fatal hour come , for about midnight de ferio waking out of a troubled slumber , pray'd constantine to give him a little warm wine in a small earthen pot he used to drink in : constantine glad of this opportunity , mix'd the poyson with it , and gave it him to drink , which he innocently did , and dy'd therewith two hours after : but for fear he should make any noise in the last agonies of death , these two devils with bedstaves ramm'd a great holland towel down his throat . this was no sooner done , but they cut open his cloak-bag , where they found a great quantity of gold and silver , and searching further , they discovered the leathern girdle about his wast , in which were quilted the jewels and several pieces of gold , which they presently divided , and in a great fire burnt his cloaths , and every thing that belong'd to him , and turn'd his horse loose into the fields to seek a new master : so cautious they were in their villainy ! by this time the corps was grown cold , which ( digging a grave in briant's garden ) they buried , and covered the place with green turfs so artificially , that no mortal eye could discover it . three weeks after , briant sent for his wife home , who wondering to see her husband so gallant in new cloaths , enquired after de ferio , he told her that about ten days before he went from thence safe and well , and gave him crowns for his lodging and entertainment , and ( as a token of his love for his care and kindness to him ) pieces of gold more to himself , and as much to father constantine : but lauretta fearing the worst , would not touch any part thereof . and now with wonder and admiration may we see the justice of heaven in the discovery of this cruel murther : for the same day month de ferio was buried , a huge wolf seeking for his prey came into briant's orchard , and smelling dead carrion , with his paws fiercely tore up the earth , and dragg'd up the dead body , and there continued till an hour after day-light , eating the flesh of his arms , thighs and buttocks , but never touched any part of his face . some gentlemen being hunting in the field , their dogs took the scent of the wolf. and followed it into briant's orchard . but the wolf terrified with the shouts of the hunters , and crie of the dogs , left his prey and fled : when the hunters coming in to see what the wolf prey'd upon , with great horror and amazement they saw the body of a man miserably mangl'd , which the wolf had digg'd up from his untimely grave . they presently suspected him to have been murder'd by briant , his wife and servants , and setting a guard upon the house , they sent and acquainted the criminal judges with it . in the mean time lauretta hearing so early and unusual a noise in the yard , ( her husband lying abroad that night with his strumpets ) began to doubt the worst . by this time the criminal judges were come , and with them a multitude of people , amongst whom was the physician monsieur morel , who knowing the dead body by the face , cry'd out it was de ferio the merchant who lay long sick in briant's house , and he verily believed was murder'd by him , and buried there . the judges believing the report of this honest physician , broke open the house , and seiz'd lauretta and her maid ioanna and the ostler , who were brought to the body , and flatly charg'd with the murther , which they as resolutely deny'd . lauretta and her maid both declar'd they believ'd it was the body of de ferio , but called heaven and earth to witness they were innocent , and knew not who were the bloody authors of it : however they were all kept close prisoners , while search was made after briant , who lying that night at father constantine's house with two courtezans , hearing the news of it , they fled together , upon which they were both adjudg'd guilty , and close pursuit made after them . the three prisoners were all threatned with the rack , the tortures of which the ostler and ioanna endured with wonderful constancy and patience ( so great a comfort is it to be innocent ! ) but lauretta , upon the good report of her neighbours , was dispenced withal for that time , and all of them remanded to strict confinement . the judges sent away post to tours to advertise du mont of this disaster , who with all speed came to dieren , where upon view he own'd his fathers dead body , and with showers of tears decently interr'd him in the next church . the judges acquainted him with the manner of the discovery , the certain suspicion they had of briant and father constantine , who were fled upon it , and that they had lauretta his wife , and her maid and ostler in prison , that the two last had been put to the rack , but would not confess any thing , but strongly justified their innocence , and that lauretta had so good a repute amongst all her neighbors , that they exempted her from the torment . eight days were now past since these wretches first fled , in all which time they had not gone above seven leagues from dieren , when on the tenth night being extremely tired , at the entrance of a wood they spy'd a stray horse grazing , and coming nearer to him , briant knew him to be de ferio's horse : at this they were very jovial , and making a halter of their girdles and garters , they both mounted , hoping to recover st iuan three miles off before night . but not being acquainted with the way , they wander'd all night , and were now farther off than before : they feared every bush was an officer , and to add to their trouble their horse began to tire , when alighting by turns to ease him , they took the nearest way , and hoped to get thither before people were up , it being yet early in the morning . providence directing du mont the same way , within a mile of st. iuan he overtook them , and eying the horse well , knew him to be his fathers , or very like him , and what more confirmed his suspicion was , that one of the two persons was a priest , and the other much resembl'd the description that was given of briant . he now and then made a halt , by pretending to mend his bridle , or better girt his saddle , that they might keep before him . coming now to st. iuan , they went in at the sign of the white lion. where he followed them , without seeming to take notice of hem , but as soon as they were gone into a room , he sent to the criminal officers and apprehended these two persons , upon suspicion that they were the same who fled , and by all circumstances were guilty of his fathers murther . they confidently deny'd it , but in searching their pockets they found store of gold about them , and several pieces more , with some jewels , quilted in their doublets , which confirmed them in their belief that they were the persons , and were really guilty . the prisoners the next day with a strong guard were sent over to dieren , where they were again examined , and still as impudently deny'd it , upon which they were both adjudg'd to the rack , and at the first wrench father constantine confess'd the murther in all its circumstances , and affirm'd that briant and himself were the sole acters , and lauretta , ioanna and the ostler absolutely innocent and ignorant of it . the like did briant after some time , upon which the others were acquitted and discharged , and constantine and briant condemn'd to be hang'd next morning and their bodies burnt to ashes , which was executed accordingly . the remainder of de ferio's gold was restored to du mont , to the general satisfaction of all parties . the devil first tempts us with the delight of some forbidden pleasures , that he may draw us into more dangerous crimes . thus constantine and briant in their luxury , drunkenness and whoredoms , only gave him earnest for some greater sin they were ready to commit upon as fair an invitation , which he offer'd in poor de ferio , and they accepted , to their own ruine and destruction . hist. xii . leonardo and cordelia . leonardo basely murders durel in the street . cordelia , durel's mistress , betrays leonardo to her chamber , where she shoots , and by the assistance of her maid sabrina , kills him with a ponyard . sabrina flies for the fact , and is drown'd . cordelia is apprehended , hang'd and burnt . at montpelier in france dwelt cordelia , a young lady of greater beauty than wealth , adorn'd with many excellent qualities and perfections , but all were sullied by one vice of unchastity , which she was too frequently addicted to . she was now mistress of her person and fortunes , ( her parents being dead ) which was attended with the interment of her own honour and reputation . amongst other gallants who were her enamorato's , she was particularly delighted with the company of monsieur leonardo , nephew to the duke of turenne , a gentleman of more wealth and discretion , who was absolutely bewitch'd to her , than spent whole days and nights in her courtship and entertainment . leonardo not content to enjoy her favours in private , used often to make his boast how kind and obliging cordelia had been to him ; which she understanding , at their next meeting severely taxed him with it , and check'd him for it ; and as an argument of her high displeasure , forbid him her company , and vow'd never to see him more . leonardo was extremely grieved at this , but however continued his visits , and by all the sacred protestations imaginable endeavoured to purge himself of so malicious a scandal cordelia , who did in part believe him , judging his innocency by his constancy , re-admitted him to her favour , with most dreadful threats of a sharp revenge if he ever relapsed into the same error . much about this time monsieur durel , a brave young gentleman , came to montpelier , where he no sooner saw cordelia , but he lov'd , admir'd , and was totally enamour'd of her ; but his courtship was only a piece of gallantry , not in the honourable way of marriage . cordelia , whose pretensions to honour were as great as any bodies , was wholly averse and deaf to his requests . her denial made him the more eager to contrive some means to attain his desires ; which after he had in vain endeavoured , an unexpected accident presented him with , by madamoyselle de sinclere , a rich young lady , who seeing him dance , fell in love with him , of which she gave many shrewd signs , that he could not but be sensible of it , though his heart was pre-possessed with the charms of cordelia . madam de sinclere knowing that cordelia was the cause of his indifferency to her , acquaints him that cordelia was already engaged and mistress to monsieur leonardo . this stings him to the heart , when confirmed by sabrina , cordelia's waiting woman , ( whom he had gain'd by gold to confess ) that leonardo was the only happy man there , but that he had like to have been discarded lately for a word he let fall to her dishonour . durel hearing this , and being told that leonardo was but a coward , insinuates himself into his acquaintance , and becomes his most familiar and intimate companion . durel making use of this opportunity , contrives a match at tennis with leonardo for a collation , and beats him ; so taking monsieur le roch and monsieur le mot , they went to the tavern , where they were very pleasant . monsieur durel in return of his civility invites the company to sup with him at le hare's , who was fam'd to have the best wine in montpelier : after supper they drank plentifully , and now durel laid his bait ; o ( says he ) how happy are the gentlemen of italy , to us in france ! they each of them after dinner go to their courtezans without controul . i believe ( says le mot ) montpelier has as good-natur'd girls as italy . ay ( cry'd leonardo ) i am sure for jews and whores it may vie with any city in all italy ; for ' y gad they are all right , from the lady to the kitchen-maid , they are all tractable . nay ( said le roch ) except still our holy sisters the nuns . not i ( quoth loonardo ) nor my mistress neither , and so names cordelia . durel had enough now , so their mirth ended , and the company parted . next morning durel in a letter by his page informs cordelia what leonardo had said , which she received with grief , anger , and astonishment ; and having returned her thanks to durel , sent for leonardo , whom she charges with what he had said the last night in the presence of durel and other gentlemen against her honour and chastity : at which she fell into such a rage , that she had certainly stabb'd her self with a pen-knife which lay upon the table , had not sabrina luckily diverted the blow . leonardo ( surpriz'd at the violence of her passion ) vows and swears he is innocent : she produces durel's letter against him , but he still denies and forswears it , which yet gave her no satisfaction , nor should all his protestations gain any credit with her , till he had vindicated her honour and his reputation against durel in a duel , who had so positively averred the truth . leonardo , forc'd by necessity , more than urg'd by courage , three days after sent him this letter by his page . leonardo , to durel . thy malice and treachery to me is as odious as apparent ; for whil'st i sought to cherish thy friendship , it hath been thy study to betray mine , in sowing discord between me and cordelia in a point of honour ; a lady to whom i owe not only my service , but my life . wherefore to morrow at five in the morning meet me with thy single rapier , without seconds , at the foot of the bridge , where thy dearest blood shall wash out the stains of my injur'd reputation . leonardo . durel receiv'd the challenge , and was amazed at his resolution ; however he bid his page tell his master he would not fail to meet him at the time and place appointed . the morning is now come , which brings leonardo by unwilling steps to the bridge , and soon after came durel : they both draw , and pass very furiously at each other ; but leonardo having received two wounds , throws down his sword , and begs his life . durel satisfied with this , goes to his chamber , and leonardo to his chyrurgeons . the news of this duel was spread abroad by two souldiers who saw them fighting . cordelia sends presently to leonardo to know the truth , but he would not be spoken withal ; wherefore just as she was sending to durel , he prevented her by a visit in person , and after several complements told her , that he had given leonardo two wounds for her sake , and his life for his own . at this she seem'd much pleased , and here began the first intrigue of their amours . whil'st durel thus triumphs over his conquer'd adversary , and sleeps secure in the arms of cordelia , madamoyselle de sinclere grieves for his loss , and leonardo vows his revenge ; which de sinclere understanding , out of pure love to durel discovers it in a letter , in which she both gives him a caution of leonardo , and prays him to have a care of himself . but this was rather pastime than advice to durel ; yet his civility return'd her thanks , tho' he continued as regardless of himself as ever . but leonardo , whose revenge made him more watchful , hearing that he came often late from cordelia's lodgings , pretends to go to his countrey-house ten leagues off , but returns within six days with none but his lacquey , and passes the gates in disguise at the close of the evening , and goes to cordelia's door , where he stands with his sword ready , ( having notice that durel was there ) and just as he came out into the street ran him through the body , and with a second pass kill'd him dead ; and then returning to his horse , upon the pretence of urgent business , and by giving the watch some money , made his escape . by this time the murder'd body was found , which being view'd by the criminal judges , they knew it to be monsieur durel's , and order'd a strict search to be made , but could not discover the murtherer . but cordelia was satisfied in her thoughts , and deeply swears that nothing shall attone for durel's death but leonardo's blood , who conscious of his own guilt flies to paris , where amongst the multitude of people that daily throng thither , he hop'd to conceal himself . leonardo lives here in all profuseness and prodigality , and wholly devotes himself to his beloved sins of whoring and drinking , which in a short time so drein'd his pockets , that he was forc'd to leave paris , and return home : to which he was the rather induc'd , by a fresh remembrance of cordelia , whom he preferr'd to all the beauties of paris . wherefore , the better to get re-admittance to her , he sent his page with a letter first , in which he gave a hint as if he had done her some considerable piece of service , extremely lamented the unhappy fate of durel , and passionately desir'd to be reconcl'd to her good opinion . cordelia receiv'd this letter , and was very much pleased with it , to think how he was now plotting his own ruine , and to keep him in the same mind , sends him a present and a letter back by his own page , wherein she tells him she longs to know what he had done for her , which she promises to reward with her most sincere love and tender affection . the receipt of this letter gives wings to his desires , and early the next morning he sets forward for montpelier , and the very first night he arriv'd there , made a visit to cordelia , who desires they may be frequent , and outwardly expresses an extraordinary passion for him , and satisfaction in his company . the next day he comes again , when she desires to know what it was he had done for her , that she might make him a sutable acknowledgment . leonardo swearing her to secrecy , tells her it was he who kill'd durel , and the manner how . cordelia dissembling her revenge , observing he had a pistol in his pocket , ask'd him the reason he went so arm'd , who told her it was for his own defence . the next day he came again , upon promise of a further favour : in the mean time she had concluded upon his death , and had accordingly won sabrina for a purse of gold to her assistance . after some discourse , cordelia desir'd him to send away his lacqueys , for she resolv'd not to part with his company that night , which he accordingly did . at his return into the chamber , he sate down upon the couch , and laid his pistol upon the table ; cordelia took it up , and ask'd him if it was charg'd ? yes madam ( says he ) with a brace of bullets . do you think sir ( says cordelia ) i have courage enough to shoot it off ? pray let me try , and look out at that window for a mark . whil'st he stoop'd to see for one , she shot him into the reins of the back , at which he stagger'd , and sabrina with a ponyard gave him six wounds upon the back and breast , which she with that hast and fury redoubled upon him , that he immediately fell down dead at her feet ; which done , they dragg'd him down into a cellar , where they buried him in his cloaths , and laid a pile of billets over him . the next day his lacqueys came to enquire for him , but were answer'd that he parted from them within an hour after , and said he would take a walk in the fields , and that he had not been there since . three days after , ( there being yet no account of him ) several gentlemen his friends and relations came to demand him of cordelia , who return'd the same answer as before ; but they being for some reasons suspicious of her , acquaint the criminal judges with it , who after examination of several parties commit her to prison , where about ten days after the virtuous madamoyselle de sinclere came to visit her , to whom in discourse cordeliae said , she was as innocent of leonardo 's death , as he was of durel's murther ; which being over-heard , was told to the judges : this gave them more cause of suspicion , but she still justified her innocence , and positively deny'd that she ever knew any thing of either of the murthers ; and tho' she was guilty of such a simple expression , it was purely through ignorance and inadvertency . upon this she was adjudg'd to the rack , which she endur'd with admirable patience , insomuch as the judges now began to favour her , and conclude her innocence from the constancy and courage of her resolution . about this time news was brought that sabrina ( who was fled ) was taken up on the banks of the river diren dead : this news revives cordelia , who now began to think her self secure , since there was no person to accuse her , and that she was safe beyond the reach of punishment from heaven or earth . but here mark the wonderful providence and judgment of god! cordelia was indebted to her landlord a whole years rent , and livres in money ; which now giving for lost , he lett out her part of the house to monsieur chatillon , ( who came thither for his healths sake ) and sold all her goods , even to the billets in the cellar , to make himself satisfaction ; when upon the removal of the last , they found the earth had been lately opened to the proportion of a grave . the landlord hearing this , suspects the truth , and acquaints the judges with it , who presently order'd it to be search'd , where they found the body of leonardo in his cloaths , which they carried to the prison , and exposed to her sight , roughly charging her with the murther of it , which she undauntedly deny'd . the judges then commanded her paps to be torn off with hot burning pincers , to make her discover the truth : whereat amaz'd , and seeing the torment ready to be inflicted , she fell on her knees and confessed that she and sabrina murder'd leonardo , the manner how , and the reasons why , for which she was condemn'd to be hang'd in the same street , over-against her lodging , and her body burnt ; and sabrina's dead body to be burnt with her . and for that leonardo had been guilty of the murther of durel so basely and cowardly as cordelia reported , his body was hung up by the heels upon the common gibbet for three days , and then thrown into the lake ricon ; all which was executed according to the sentence . thus we see that one sin is the parent of another ; nor is vice less fruitful in its off-spring than the most glorious virtue : whoredom propagates murther , and uncleanness is often the daughter of intemperance . hist : xiii . orlindo and paulina . orlindo ( upon promise of marriage ) gets paulina with child , and leaves her , and marries lucretia . paulina sensible of her disgrace and his treachery , in the habit of a fryar pistols him in the fields , for which she is hang'd . in the famous city of florence liv'd of late years two rich and beautiful young gentlewomen , the one named donna paulina , daughter of seignior miranto , and the other donna lucretia , the only child of seignior sterlin . both these young ladies had several suters , yet none of them so dearly and passionately lov'd paulina , as the baron of orlindo , a rich young nobleman of venice , and lucretia as passionately lov'd him , but not he her . lucretia had in vain attempted by her friends to prevail with him to forsake paulina , to love her ; for so great was orlindo's affection to paulina , that by the strictest promise , and most sacred protestations he was privately contracted to her , though he had not yet gain'd her fathers consent ; which after many intreaties he obtain'd , though for some reasons he thought convenient to defer the solemnity of the espousals . orlindo continuing thus in florence at a vast expence , grew in want of money , which he knew not how to relieve at present , but to make sure work of his lady paulina , with many sighs and prayers , oaths and promises of fidelity and constancy , he drew her to his lustful desires , in which unlawful familiarity they continued several weeks : but then , like a base nobleman , ( having surfeited himself with those amorous pleasures ) visited her but seldom ; and when she desired him to marry her , he was either deaf , or so doubtful in his answers , that she had now great reason to suspect his treachery : but three months after he utterly forsook her sight and company ; which tormented her to the heart , nor did she know how to remedy it . orlindo now made all his court to lucretia , at which she was extremely pleased , and being of a great wit , and inform'd some great distast was fallen out between him and the lady paulina , and that being far from home , he wanted moneys to bear out his port in florence , imagin'd that might be the cause of it . to oblige him therefore to her self , and knowing her father had a great respect for him , she one day told him , that of late she observed orlindo was was grown melancholly , and that she fancied his great expences at florence , and his long absence from venice , might have exhausted his moneys , and that probably the reason of it . her father meeting orlindo the next day , invites him home , and taking him aside into his study , after several complements told him , venice was a great distance from florence , and the return of money uncertain ; but if at any time he should have occasion , desired him to make use of his friendship , and that he should freely command whatever he could call his own ; and there laid him down double pistols : adding withal , that if he needed more at present , he should have what he pleas'd , and repay it when he pleas'd ; and if he thought good to marry his daughter , he would settle his whole estate upon him . this kindness of seignior sterlin so prevail'd with orlindo , that he presently found out his new mistress lucretia , and relates to her what had passed between her father and himself ; which so pleas'd her , that she now assures her self she alone shall be happy in the affection of orlindo . paulina , who in this time had heard what frequent visits orlindo made to lucretia , and consider'd her own distressed condition , resolves to try if she can reclaim him , and to that end , knowing the fidelity of curanto her fathers coach-man , she gives him a rich diamond-ring from her finger , and bids him find out the baron of orlindo , and deliver it to him , and tell him that she desires to see him in the afternoon . curanto finds him out , and delivers his message ; to whom orlindo returned this answer ; commend me to thy lady , and tell her i will wait on her immediately after dinner . orlindo came according to his promise , and was conducted to paulina's chamber , where taking him aside , she complain'd of the coldness of his affection , his long absence , the violation of his oaths , and her own great belly : which he angrily reply'd , that he ceuld not get his friends consent , and without it he would not marry her ; that lucretia , though she was not so fair , was more virtuous ; and therefore ( says he ) provide for your fortunes , and so will i for mine ; and throwing back her ring in a passion , hastily departed from her . the consideration of this barbarous cruelty to her , pierc'd her heart with sorrow ; but seeing no help , she resolves to provide for her reputation , and the disposal of her great belly : to this end she thinks none so fit to be entrusted with a secret of that nature , as her aunt camilla , a wise and rich widow who lived at pontarlin ten miles from florence , by whose advice and prudent conduct she hop'd to prevent a publick disgrace . paulina , who wanted not an excuse , obtains her fathers leave to go to pontarlin for change of air , and there acquaints her aunt with the secret of her great belly , and prays her love and assistance , which she faithfully promis'd , highly extolling her prudence in concealing her folly . here she often remembred orlindo's monstrous ingratitude , the thoughts whereof impair'd her health , and made her miscarry of a lovely boy , which she kiss'd and bath'd in tears , and at night her aunt buried it decently in the garden . paulina , though she continued very sick and weak , yet her heart was still towards the ungrateful baron ; and not daring to trust any person but her faithful coach-man curanto , she ordered him to post to florence , and acquaint orlindo with her deplorable condition , and pray him to come and see her before she dies . curanto made hast to florence , and meeting orlindo as he was going into his coach , delivers his ladies message to him ; who first smiling , and then in passion , returns curanto this answer in his ear ; tell thy mistress paulina from me , that i wish she was buried with her bastard , and both at the devil ; and so ( without any more words ) took coach , and drove away to lucretia . curanto returns this answer to his lady , who bitterly grieves at it , and tells her aunt , who blames her for her fondness and folly , and bids her rather scorn and detest him . in the midst of this discourse , comes a servant from her father miranto with this letter to her . miranto , to paulina . hoping that by this time the sweet air of pontarlin has recovered thy health , i now desire thee with speed to return to florence , and i have sent this bearer on purpose to conduct thee thither . i believe thy countrey-absence hath lost thee a good fortune here in the city , for yesterday morning the baron of orlindo was married to donna lucretia in great state , who i well hoped should have been thy husband . i send my best love and respects to my sister , and my prayers to god for thy health and prosperity . miranto . paulina at the receipt hereof was all on fire , to be reveng'd on the faithless orlindo , and swore he should pay dear for his ingratitude , and vows either to murder him her self , or procure those who should do it for her sake : in this fury she returns to florence , and first tempts marcian her apothecary to poyson him , and then curanto her coach-man to stab him , but both these absolutely refuse to engage in so wicked a design . being thus disappointed by these two , she resolves to act that tragical part her self ; and understanding that mornings and evenings he frequently walked a mile out of the city to a pleasant walk planted on both sides with olive and orange-trees , concludes to make that the scene of her bloody revenge . to this purpose she secretly provides her self with a fryars compleat weed , a sad-colour'd russet gown and coat , with a girdle of a knotty rope , wooden sandals , a false , negligent old beard , and hair to the head suitable to the same ; in one pocket of his gown she puts a begging box and a new breviary bound in blew turkey-leather , richly guilt , and in the other a couple of short pistols , each charg'd with a brace of bullets . all these she ties up close in the gown , waiting an opportunity to effect her execrable contrivance . the thursday following she had an account that orlindo was gone to his usual walk , upon which she ordered curanto to bring the coach to the door ; and giving him the little bundle , told him , she was now resolved to give orlindo such a merry meeting in the fields , as should make him laugh , and so bid him drive on . being now come near the walks she descends from the coach , and taking the little bundle in her hand , orders curanto to wait her return , and under the covert of some bushes puts on the fryars habit . at a distance she saw orlindo walking very contemplative , whom with a bow or two she approached , holding up her begging box for an alms , which he was ready to give ; but seeing so fair a breviary in the fryars hand , he took and opened it ; when paulina stepping behind him , softly drew out one of the pistols , and shot him into the back , and as he fell discharg'd the other into his breast , of which he presently died . paulina having thus wrought her revenge , withdraws hastily to the same covert , puts off her disguise , which she hides and returns to the coach : well curanto ( says she with a smile ) my heart is now at ease , my injur'd honour has now receiv'd a satisfaction , and his ingratitude a just reward . drive speedily back , and keep your own counsel . curanto , who knew nothing of her design , yet now guess'd her meaning by the report of the pistols which he heard go off , was astonished at it , suspecting the worst ; when driving on with more hast than good speed , passing by the side of a hill , the coach over-turn'd , and broke his left leg , and paulina's right arm ; the furious horses ran away with the coach , which was torn all a pieces . at this instant came by orlindo's coach with his page varini in in it , going to his master ; who seeing the lady paulina ( whom he knew ) in so distressed a condition , alighted , and took her up into his lords coach , and curanto with her , and so speedily returned to fetch his lord , whom he found in the same grove dead . varini strangely amazed at this ruful spectacle , cries out , and tares his hair for grief , not knowing what to say or do : at last he resolves to stay by the body , and send the coach for his lady and her father seignior sterlin . paulina and curanto went back to florence in orlindo's coach , where she had leisure to consider the mischiefs she had drawn upon her self by her violent passion and insatiable malice . seignior sterlin and the lady lucretia are now arrived , where they see and bewail the one his son , the other her beloved lord , with sorrows inexpressible . the criminal judges being acquainted with the murther of orlindo , send out their officers into the fields to apprehend all persons they found there , and bring them before them : but they found no more but one poor ragged boy , who was keeping of cows on the other side of the hedge , and gave them this account : that he saw the gentleman walk alone at least an hour , and then an old fryar came to him who shot two pistols at him , and kill'd him , and then the fryar went away , and he saw him no more ; but there was a fine coach which stood a little distance from the grove , where a fine lady came out , and went into the grove ; and after the fryar had kill'd the gentleman , the lady went back to the coach , and drove away . they asked him what colour the horses were , and what livery the coach-man had on ? the boy said , the horses were white , and the coach-man had a red cloak with white lace . varini observing this , affirmed it was the lady paulina , her coach and coach-man , and so related in what a condition he had found them two hours before . upon this they were suspected of the murther , and the officers at their return to florence commanded to apprehend them , which they did , as they were going out in a fresh hackney-coach , and brought them prisoners to the common goal of the city . two days after orlindo had been solemnly interred , paulina and curanto were brought before the judges , and charged with the murther of orlindo , which they both stoutly deny'd . the boy is called to give in evidence against them , who stands to his former ●epositions , but cannot think the lady was the fryar , nor can he truly say that this was the coach-man . the next morning curanto was rack'd , but the torments could not make him confess any thing : presently after paulina was put to the same torture ; which not being able to endure , she confessed her self to be the sole author and acter in the murther of orlindo in all the circumstances as before represented , and strongly affirmed her coach-man curanto was innocent : for which she received sentence to be hang'd next morning , and accordingly about ten the sorrowful paulina was brought between two nuns to the place of execution , where ( after a very penitent and religious speech ) she was turned over . honest curanto , though he was thus cleared by paulina , yet by the sollicitations of lucretia was adjudg'd to the double torments of the rack , which he patiently endured without confessing any thing : the judges therefore moved in conscience to make him some satisfaction for enfeebling his body , and impairing his health , decree the lady lucretia to give him three hundred duckatoons , which was paid him accordingly , and he discharged . may the reading of this tragical history learn us all to hate from our hearts the inconstancy and ingratitude of orlindo , and from our souls abhor the cruelty of paulina , who though at first she seems to triumph in sin , and praise the success of her revenge and bloody enterprize , yet the iudgment of god immediately overtakes the bold offender , and brings her to open and condign punishment . hist. xiv . castlenovo and perina . jacomo de castlenovo lusts after perina his own sons wife , hires jerantha to poyson his own lady fidelia , and then his son francisco , for which perina murders him in his bed . jerantha ( ready to die ) confesses the two murthers , is hang'd and burnt . perina's right hand is cut off , and she condemn'd to suffer perpetual imprisonment , where she dies of a consumption . beyond the alps not long since lived seignior antonio de arconeto , a rich and noble gentleman , who by his lady lately deceased had a son named seignior alexandro , and a daughter called perina : the son the darling , the daughter a cast-away , who bears her fathers frowns with admirable patience ; but the son building too much on his fathers fondness , grows debauch'd , and gets a surfeit at a banquet , which cast him into a pestilential feaver , and that in three days into his grave . perina is now sole heiress to her fathers lands and favour , whom he yet looks upon with disdain ; which brought her into a melancholly , and that into extreme sickness ; which was so ill resented by the lady dominica her aunt , that she prevailed with her brother to let perina be with her , at which the aunt was very glad , but the niece overjoy'd . perina being thus settled there , her aunt hath a daughter who was suddenly to be married to a gentleman of nice , where she was chosen bride-maid , and don francisco de castlenovo , ( a native of nice , knight of malta , and sole heir to iacomo de castlenovo , a rich and ancient baron of savoy ) bride-man , who is enamour'd of perina , and understanding that her birth and quality answer'd his , during his stay there made his court to her , and in fifteen days obtain'd her consent to be his wife , with which he acquaints the lady dominica , desiring her assistance to obtain her fathers , which in a short time she effects . castlenovo posts away home to his own father , and speedily returns with his approbation , whereupon they were married in great pomp and solemnity , and perina brought home to nice , where she was honourably receiv'd by his father with great feasting and mirth , at which the young couple thought themselves in heaven . but old castlenovo being threescore and eight years old , forgetting both his duty to god and himself , lusts after his young daughter-in-law perina , which makes him wonderful complaisant to her ; but not daring to express his beastly desires whil'st her husband is at home , he tells him , that his honour and the service of his prince and countrey invite him to the expulsion of the spaniards out of piedmont : his son ( nothing suspecting his fathers treachery ) notwithstanding all his wifes tears and intreaties , takes his leave of her for three or four months , and fitting his equipage , goes to the camp. now old castlenovo plays the part of a young lover , is still with perina , and ever and anon kissing her ; which though she thinks too much , yet a fathers name makes it currant . but the lady fidelia seeing her husbands humour , is jealous of the truth , and exceedingly troubl'd at it , but manages her grief with discretion , till one day with tears in her eyes she privately reproves him for his lustful desires ; which wrought so bad an effect on him , that he resolves to remove that obstacle , in order to which he hires ierantha , fidelia's waiting-woman , for duckats to poyson her , which she did by infusing poyson into some white broth she had made her , and so in eight days dispatch'd her into a better place . the old leacher inwardly rejoyces , but in outward shew is exceedingly afflicted and dejected , and in very honourable manner causes her to be interred . while this is acting at nice , peace is concluded between spain and savoy , and young castlenovo comes home , where he is entertained with mourning for his mother . the old man knowing it was impossible for him to obtain his ends whil'st his son was at home , seeks a pretence to send him away , and in a short time two several occasions offer themselves , either to go to france with the prince major , who was to marry the kings second sister , or to go to malta to get a pension during his life . the young couple like that of france best for several reasons ; but in obedience to his father he must to malta . this filthy old leacher now resolves either by fair or foul means to compass his end , in order to which he gives her the sole government of his house : but e'er fifteen days were past , finding her in her bed-chamber playing on her lute , after some pauses , coughs and kisses , he vomits forth his foul affection ; at which enrag'd , she throws away her lute , and in great passion leaves him ; but he in every walk , garden and room haunts her like a ghost , thinking to gain by importunity what he could not by persuasion . but modest perina is inflexible , and grieves at his perseverance , but how to quench the fire of his lust she knows not ; she has no friend to retire or make her moan to , wherefore she resolves to write a letter to hasten her husbands return , which she does , and sends by the hands of his intimate friend seignior sabia , wherein she tells him , that her honour is in danger by his absence , ( but names not from whom ) and earnestly presses his speedy return . at the receipt hereof he was troubl'd , but fancy'd it was only a trick of his wifes to make him speed home ; and so being loth to quit his hopes of the preferment the grand master had promised him , returns sabia to nice with a rich emrald-ring , and a letter to this purpose , that he was assured of her love , and the care she took of her honour , and that he only believed it was an artifice of hers to call him sooner home , which he could not yet comply with , since he daily expected preferment from the grand master ; which being obtain'd , he would flie to her embraces . this letter was both a comfort and affliction to her ; for as she was confirm'd in his health , so she was too well assured of his stay , and now begins to fear her father-in-laws wicked purpose ; nor were her fears groundless , for he seeing i●treaties prevail not , threatens to force what she will not freely give . at which being terribly affrighted , she resolves to provide for her safety , which by the help of sabia she effects , who conveys her from nice to her father arconeto's house , where reflecting on former passages , she grew sickly , which made her once more send sabia to malta with another letter ; that she is gone from nice to her own fathers at st. john de maurien ; that if neither her affection nor her honour will draw him , yet she begs the care of her life may invite him ; and withal says , that she has a secret to impart to him before she dies , which she will entrust with no person but himself . whil'st sabia is going to malta with this , old castlenovo finding his villainy would be discovered by the flight of his daughter-in-law , and being sure that his son will be enrag'd at it , is in great perplexity , not knowing what to do . mean time sabia delivers the letter to young castlenovo , who wonders who it should be in his fathers house that durst attempt his wife , which makes him dispatch sabia away to carry news of his coming , and three days after arrives there himself . the joys of both parties were unspeakable , but when he knew it was his own father that sought incestuously to enjoy his daughter , he was struck with horror at the thought , and resolv'd to continue at st. iohn maurien with arconeto . but old castlenovo thinking what a scandal the divulging his crime , and his sons absence would prove to him , wrote a letter to him , wherein he acknowledg'd his lascivious and graceless attempt upon the honour of so chast a lady , which he could not remember but with detestation : but now religion had vanquished lust , and he did heartily sorrow and repent of so foul a miscarriage . that if he , who was the sole prop of his age , ( whose absence he daily lamented ) would return with his lady to nice , he call'd heaven and earth to witness , that for the future he would as much honour her for her chastity , as he had formerly lasciviously sought to betray it . and further adds , that his tongue should make good what his pen had writ . this letter prevail'd with his son and daughter , who about eight days after the receipt thereof return to nice , where the old man with tears in his eyes confesses his error , and so they were perfectly reconcil'd . but ( alas ! ) this sunshine will quickly be clouded , for the old dotard daily beholding perina's beauty , soon relapsed ; and knowing he cannot obtain his desires so long as his son lives , makes use of the same hellish agent ierantha , with the promise to marry her , and give her down duckats more , to poyson him ; which she , for lucre of the money , and ambition of be●ng a lady , in less than six days effected . the sudden death of castlenovo had like to have occasion'd perina's too , who tares her hair , and betrays all the deplorable demonstrations of sorrow that can be imagin'd , and so does the old hypocrite castlenovo , which she takes for counterfeit , and suspects that he and ierantha are guilty of her husbands death , and concludes that if he renews his sute , they were really his ●urtherers . a little more than a month after his son was laid in his untimely grave , the old beastly wretch began afresh his sollicitations , to which she seem'd not so averse as before , and at last ( to palliate her design ) she yields , and the time and place is appointed ; which being come , and castlenovo in his bed , impatiently expecting perina , she softly enters his chamber in her day-attire , with a pisa-dagger in her sleeve , and bolting the door after her , comes to his bed-side , where seeing his breast open , she stabs him to the heart , and with repeated blows kills him stark dead , not suffering him to speak one word , only he shriek'd once or twice , which his servants over-hearing , ran up to his chamber , where they met perina coming out with the bloody ponyard in her hand , for which she was presently taken and imprison'd , and two days after arraign'd , where she freely confest it , alledging for her reason ▪ that he and jer●ntha had murder'd both her husband and her mother-in-law fidelia , as she had good reason to suspect . but this not ●xcusing her fact , she is condemn●d to be hang'd , from which sentence ●he appeals to the senate at chambray , whither she is convey'd , who moderate the former sentence , and adjudge her to have her right hand cut off , and to suffer perpetual imprisonment at nice , where in a short time she dy'd very penitent of a consumption . ierantha being with child by old castlenovo , apprehensive of the danger she was in , fled secretly to a friends house , where she fell in labour , and her pains were so violent , that the women about her concluded she would die , whereupon she began to repent , and confessed the two former murthers , after which she was safely delivered of a son. the judges being acquainted with her confession , on the second day she was apprehended , committed to prison , and the third hang'd and burnt at nice , and her ashes thrown into the air. thus we see the ruine of two noble families wrought by the wickedness of the old and leacherous castlenovo , who murdered his wife and son , renounced all the hopes of heaven , despised the dreadful flames of hell , to gratifie one burning lust on earth . hist. xv. muletto and servia . muletto murdereth his wife servia , and twenty years after ( unknown ) robbeth his and her son augustino , who likewise ( not knowing muletto to be his father ) accuses him of the robbery , for which he is hang'd . in the kingdom of naples near the arsenal dwelt a proper young fellow named muletto , by trade a baker , who having both an oven and a shop of his own , by his indefatigable pains and industry grew exceeding rich , and became one of the prime bakers of the city . this muletto going one day to cassan , twenty miles distant from naples , he there saw and fell in love with a rich vintners daughter , her fathers name was pedro spondy and hers servia , a lovely and beautiful maid , exceeding virtuous and religious ; who tho' she had several suiters , yet fancied muletto above 'em all . whereupon he sought her in marriage , and easily got her good will , provided he could obtain her fathers consent . muletto having thus won the daughter , applies himself to the father , but so averse is old spondy , that he will not by any means hear of it ; yet still muletto continues his sute , and jointly with servia intreat his consent , but he proudly and disdainfully refuses , swearing he will die before he will permit him to marry his daughter . at which answer muletto went very discontentedly back to naples , and servia remains at cassan with her father , who now thinks to provide her another husband , and gives her choice of two ( to prevent her marrying muletto ) but she utterly refuses both ; whereat old spondy is mad , and threatens to dis-inherit her . three years are now past since the young couple first saw one another , and since muletto first ask'd spondy's consent ; and still seeing it in vain , he thinks it now high time to lay close siege to servia , that she would agree to marry him , ( notwithstanding her fathers refusal , telling her , that though he had not a duckatoon in portion with her , he valued it not , that he married her for love , and had estate enough to maintain her in a prosperous condition . by which sweet words she was prevail'd upon to leave her father , and go along with muletto . thus agreed , muletto hires a boat , whereof having notice , she goes out at the garden-door . that night they went down the river , and early the next morning he hires horses , and brings her to naples , where they were privately married . spondy missing his daughter , rages extremely , as doubting that muletto had stole her : whereof making secret enquiry at naples , and being assur'd of it , he passionately swears , that they shall never enjoy one penny of his estate , nor will he ever after see them . ten days after their marriage , muletto rode over to cassan to spondy , to labour with his best respects and duty for a reconciliation . coming to spondy's house with intent to see and discourse him , he bolts himself into his chamber , and charges his servants to deny him , for that he is resolv'd neither to see nor speak with him . muletto went back to his inn , and two hours after came again , but spondy was still deny'd ; when the next morning rising early , he went to spondy's house , but received the same answer : whereat very angry , he took his horse and rode home to naples , where he truly relates to his wife the entertainment he had at her fathers ; whereat she was exceedingly grieved , but muletto comforted her up with good words , and was indeed very kind and loving to her . thus they lived very providently , and managed their trade to the best advantage , both of them being very diligent and saving . six months after , having not heard one word from spondy , muletto prays his wife to go over to her father her self . servia accepted of the journey , and comes to cassan , where she received the same entertainment her husband had found before in all respects ; nay he caused his doors to be shut against her : at which unkindness of her father she wept bitterly , and got her aunt and her fathers own ghostly father to intercede for her ; but finding all fruitless , and to no effect , she returned to naples to her husband . muletto asking what success , she relates to him the unnatural discourtesie of her father towards her , which vexed him to the heart , but he dissembleth his discontent , which is aggravated by being known to his neighbours , who flout and jeer him in all companies . this makes him now to look untowardly on his wife , and slight her , and turn ill husband , neglect himself and his profession , and follow lewd and evil company , spending and consuming his estate with whores and strumpets , which at length reduces him to great poverty and want ; for the relieving whereof she sends to spondy her father , and acquaints him with her necessities , praying his assistance to relieve her present distress : but he is so hard-hearted , that he will neither help her wants , nor pity her affliction , whereby her condition is grown so miserable , that she is ready to despair . in the midst of these her sorrows , she was brought to bed of a fine boy , who was christned in a poor manner , and named augustino . the charity of her neighbours to her in this condition preserved her from starving , for her wicked husband took no care of her , but was so wholly devoted to drunkenness and debauchery , that he never thought of being better , nor had she any reasonable grounds to expect his amendment . after she was up again she work'd very hard with her needle to maintain her poor babe and her self ; and if she got a little money to keep them from starving , he presently tore it from her ; so that not knowing what to do in so great want and misery , she sent a letter to her father in these words : servia , to spondy . my husbands vices do so increase my wants and miseries , that i have not cloaths nor food left to preserve my self and my poor son augustino ; and considering that i am your daughter , methinks in nature and christianity you should relieve me in these bitter distresses , especially since my sighs beg it of you with humility for charities sake , and my tears with sorrow for gods sake . if your heart will not relent in compassion to me , at least let it towards the pretty young child , whom i beseech you with tears to take from me and maintain . god will requite your charity to him , and i shall the sooner forget your cruelty to my self : and so may you live in as much prosperity as i fear i shall shortly die in want and misery , servia . spondy received this letter and read it without any compassion or concern for his daughter ; but his rugged and stubborn humour had some pity for poor augustino , and to let her know so much sent her this answer : spondy , to servia . i see thou art obstinate , in disobeying my commands with thy letters , wherein i believe thou takest more glory , than i conceive grief at the relation of thy wants , which i am so far from pitying , that i am only sorry that i am thy father . but since thy young son is as innocent as thou art guilty of my displeasure , i have sent this bearer for him , and i will see if it be the pleasure of heaven that i shall be as happy in him , as i am vnfortunate in thee . spondy . servia having read this letter , though she grieved at her fathers obdurate heart to her self , yet was joyful at his kindness to her son , whom she delivered to the messengers hands , and next to gods protection religiously recommends him to the affection and education of her father : but muletto would not so much as kiss him at parting , whose unkindness he will live to return . servia having thus sent away her son , the same night dreams she shall never see him more ; whereat awaking , she wept bitterly , while her husband laugh'd at her fondness , who now grows worse and worse , so that her life was a meer burthen to her . five years hath she now lived in this misery , having no consolation but in her prayers and patience . instead of mending , muletto ( if possible ) is more dissolute than ever , grows weary of his poor virtuous wife , and thinks if she were dead he might get another which should enrich him , for which reason he resolves to murder her ; and accordingly , on a great holy-day took her out with him to walk to a vineyard out of the city , pretending to recreate themselves , which poor servia took for a great kindness , and gladly went along . muletto lies down upon the ground , & feigns himself asleep , when she lying down by him slept soundly ; which he observing , softly rises up , and cuts her throat , not suffering her to cry or speak one word : so leaving her , went back to naples a contrary way , to take off all suspicion . the very same night her murther'd body was found by some who chanc'd to walk that way , and brought to naples , where it is known to be servia , muletto's wife , who was sent for , and seems passionately affected at her untimely death , requests the criminal officers to search for the murtherers , which he is very diligent and industrious in himself , and with that cunning and hypocrisie conceals his own guilt , that he of all men is least suspected . muletto ( his wife being buried ) now sells her cloaths to buy himself some , and seeks many maids and widows in marriage , but he is refused and scorned by all ; so that utterly despairing to raise himself at home , he enrolleth himself a banditti , and for many years practiseth that theivish and villainous profession . old spondy trains up his grandchild virtuously and industriously , so that he becomes excellent in painting , graving , and imagery , and then chooses to be a goldsmith , and proves a singular workman in his trade . his grandfather is very kind to him , and intends to make him his heir ; but augustino desires to travel and see other countreys , particularly rome : to which purpose finding a ship in savona-road going to civita vecchia , he privately packs up his baggage , and imbarques therein . being arrived at rome , he becomes a singular ingenious goldsmith , and expert workman , thriving so well , that he resolves to set up his abode there . four and twenty years are now past since muletto left naples and turn'd banditti , of which growing weary at last , he went to florence , and set up his trade of a baker , intending there to settle and marry ; but it happened otherwise , for the cardinal de medices going to rome to receive his hat , and intending to enter and continue there in great state and magnificence , he took into his house double officers , to whom he gave rich and costly liveries , and amongst others muletto was chosen baker in that journey , and at rome flaunts it out gallantly , and is more debauch'd and prodigal than any other of the cardinals servants : so that at last growing bare both of money and credit , he resolves to recruit himself by stealing some pieces of plate out of a young goldsmiths shop in rome . with whom he had some little acquaintance . from him he stole two fair rich gilded chalices , a curious small gold crucifix set with saphyrs and emralds , all amounting to the value of duckatoons . the young goldsmith amazed at his loss , knows not whom to suspect or accuse for this robbery , but muletto the cardinal of florence his baker , who much frequented his shop . upon which , knowing that he lay not in the cardinals palace , but in a taylers house adjoyning , he got an officer and search'd his chamber and trunk , where he found one of his chalices , but nothing else , and as he was going out meets muletto , who is committed to prison , and by the evidence of part of the goods found in his possession , and his confession in hopes of mercy , is condemn'd to be hang'd next day . in the morning he was brought to the common place of execution , at the bridge-foot near the castle of st. angelo , where upon the ladder he confesses the robbery , and that his name is muletto , and that years ago he lived at naples , where he murder'd his wife servia spondy in a vineyard a mile out of naples , for which , and other his sins , he sincerely repented : augustino hearing the names of muletto , servia and spondy , burst into tears , and cry'd out that man upon the ladder was his own father , and that servia spondy was his mother , and therefore desired the executioner to forbear a while , when at his descent from the ladder augustino threw himself at his feet , and freely offer'd all his estate to save his fathers life , but it would not be accepted , so the next day he was hang'd , having first freely forgiven his son , and ask'd forgiveness of him for his mothers murder . as for augustino , after this infamous death of his father , he remov'd from rome , and return'd to his grandfather spondy , who received him with many demonstrations of joy and affection , and at his death made him sole heir of all his goods and estate . tho' the vengeance of heaven may seem to sleep for a time , it still keeps a watchful eye over the impenitent offender . — the perverseness of spondy causes disobedience in servia , which is punish'd by the bloody cruelty of her husband , whose barbarous murther heaven at last revenges by the hand of his unknown son augustino . hist. xvi . morosino and imperia . imperia in love with morosino , causes him and his companions astonicus and donato , to stifle her husband palmerius in his bed. the murther is discovered by morosino's gloves , for which they are all apprehended and executed . in the famous city of venice , lived a young gentleman , called seignior angelo morosino ; who in company of seignior astonicus and seignior donato , embarqu'd for the islands of corfu and zant , and after a short stay there , were bound for constantinople ; but by the way forc'd by a storm , they put into the harbour of ancona , which belongs to the pope . in which place being oblig'd to stay by contrary winds , the three merchants out of devotion went up to loretto , where having spent two dayes in visiting the holy chappel , on the third early in the morning , morosino leaving his ●riends in bed , went to mass ; where ( at her devotion ) he saw a young lady incomparably fair , at whose sight he was so enflam'd with affection to her , that he could willingly resign all the powers and faculties of soul and body to her service . mass being ended , he followed her out of the chappel , and seeing her only attended with a waiting woman and a lacquey , with great respect and civility offer'd his service to wait upon her home , and after several complements , which passed between them , obtain'd the favour to take her by the hand , and gracefully conducted her to her fathers house , whose name was seignior hi●r●nimo bondino , and she his only daughter dona imperia ▪ morosino at the door took his leave ( though she cour●●ously invited him in ) and beg'd the honour to wait upon her in the afternoon , whispering in her ear , that so great was the present violence of his passion to her , that he fear'd he should not be able to acquit himself with that decency , as became a cavalier , to a person of her merits and quality . in the afternoon he made his visit to her , acquainted her with his name and quality , his intended voyage to constantinople , but chiefly with his constant resolution to seek her in marriage both of her self and her father : and so expert was he in the art of love , that in three weeks time ( the winds continuing contrary ) he made her many visits and amorous courtships , and at last obtain'd her consent to be his wife at his return from constantinople . he then address'd himself to her father bondino , who was so averse to it , that neither his intreaties and perswasions , or her tears and prayers could melt his heart into a better temper . morosino now acquaints his two friends , astonicus and donato with his affection to imperia , and brings them next morning to see her ; they highly commend his choice , and use all their endeavours to gain bondino's consent ; but he is so resolutely obstinate , that no arguments can in the least affect him . this grieves the two lovers to the heart , to see they must now be parted , for the master of the ship had sent word , that the wind now blowing fair , he should with all expedition weigh anchor and set sail for corfu . morosino seeing the necessity of his departure , again moves bondino for his consent , but he proves inexorable , when going to bid imperia adieu , he sacredly vows to live unmarried till his return , which shall be within a year , and then to marry her ; and as a pledge of his fidelity and constancy , presents her with a rich diamond ring from his finger , and she him with a fair bracelet of orient pearl , as a sign of their mutual contract : to which astonicus and donato are both witnesses . this done , they took horse for ancona , and presently embarqu'd for corfu and constantinople . bondino three months after , provides her another husband , old seignior palmerius ; a rich merchant of ancona , at least sixty years of age , and withal of a deform'd personage , and morose and sullen temper ; but this old dotard , is so taken with imperia's youth and beauty , and the encouragement he received from bondino , that he comes to his house and makes down-right love to her . in the interim , her father had charg'd her to receive him with all respect , and accept his affections ; which with tears in her eyes , she flatly told him , she could not obey ; she was fixt already , and would marry no person but morosino : bondino with fury in his face , told her he expected no other answer but her dutiful complyance with his commands , and in a passion left her to the company of old palmerius , who enter'd at the same time , and with all the kind expressions he was master of , offer'd her the intire command of himself and his fortunes , in exchange for her love and affection : she told him , if this was all his errand , she did assure him , she neither would nor could dispose of that which was already in the possession of another , and so left him to his own meditations . palmerius returned to ancona ; but two months after , to the great joy of bondino , made a second visit ▪ and now both day and night , they importune imperia to consummate the marriage ; and to that purpose her father gives her good words , and palmerius rich gifts and presents : but she will neither hear the one , nor accept the other ; however palmerius grows obstinate in his suit , and her father resolute in his commands ; to avoid which she locks her self up in her chamber , and concludes that her only preservation , can be in the company of morosino , whose return she earnestly desires ; and accordingly furnishes seignior mercario , her faithful friend , with gold for his journey , and this letter to her beloved morosino . imperia to morosino . could you measure my affections by my sorrow for your absence , you could hardly tell whether i love or grieve more ; for i am assur'd that all the seas between ancona and constantinople , are not able to wash away your memory from my heart and soul : nor can the sands of the shore compare in number , with those sighs and tears i daily offer to you . if then i am as dear to you , i heartily beg you will leave constantinople and come to loretto , for my father bondino is ready to force me to leave my young morosino , for old and wither'd palmerius . iudge now how unkind you will be to send an excuse , and not bring your self . farewell my dear , may the angels preserve thee , and fill thy sails with fair and prosperous winds , till they land thee safe in the embraces of thy imperia . mercario in three weeks arrived at constantinople , found out morosino , and delivered the letter which he perus'd , and after a solemn entertainment , return'd him with this answer . morosino to imperia . thy health and constancy , makes me as joyful in the receipt of thy letter , as thy fathers disrespect to me and love to palmerius makes me sorrowful . our hearts are now sacredly united , only live in two different bodies , which love and breath the same desires ; and i would now at thy c●mmand return thee immediately that part of thy self , i am f●rc'd to divide from thee , would the necessity of my affairs give me leave to 〈◊〉 constantinople for loretto . the seigniory of venice have by their ambassadour landy here resident , made me consul of aleppo , but what this year cannot the next shall perform . o thou my dear and sweet imperia , repute 〈◊〉 not ingratitude in me to send thee this letter , for i do d●cl●re in the presence of men and angels , my excuse is as sincerely true and unf●igned as my affection to imperia , which can never dye bu● with morosino . imperia receiv'd this letter both with anger and joy , with anger because he came not in person , and with joy that i● came from him , whose victim and martyr she resolv'd to dye , rather than live palmerius his wife . but her father one way and palmerius another , still haunt her at all times and places without intermission ; who finding after six months more elaps'd his labour lost , he resolves at once to strike at all ; and to that end , proffers bondino , that if imperia will become his wife , he will endow her with the one half of his lands , and give up all his personal estate into his hands to purchase her more . this offer so wholly won bondino , that in hast he told his daughter the generous pro●fer of palmerius , and bid her dispose her self to marry him speedily , or else he would utterly renounce and for ever disown her to be his daughter . imperia hears her fathers cruel commands , which she only answers with sighs and tears ; but at last told him : sir , you know i both saw and engag'd my love to morosino , before i ever knew palmerius , nor can his riches compare with morosino 's vertues ; heaven that is witness to those vows i made morosino , will certainly punish my perfidiousness ; nor is it out of disobedience to your commands , that i reject palmerius , but in respect to those sacred oaths i made morosino . bondino after several threats in a chafe left her , who presently resolv'd to send mercario with a gold watch set with diamonds , and a second letter to morosino , in these words . imperia to morosino . i had little thought that profit or ●r●ferment had been dearer to thee than imperia , or that the seigniory of venice or their embassador landy , had more power to have s●aid thee at aleppo , than i to have requested thy return to loretto ; judge now what a poor half i am of thee , wh●n by thy vol●ntary absence , thou wilt wholly resign me to another , and that palmerius must be my husband , when i desire nothing more than to live and dye thy wife . come away therefore , my dear morosino , and blame not me but thy self , if thy absence and my fathers obstinacy bereave me of my sweet morosino , and thee of thy dear imperia . morosino receives this letter and presently blushes , to see himself thus outstrip'd by her in kindness ; when advising with his two friends astonicus and donato , after ten days feasting of mercario , and a generous reward for his pains , he sent him back to imperia with a fair chain of gold , and a rich diamond ring fastn'd thereto , a pair of turkish imbroydered bracelets , and this letter . morosino to imperia . thy beauty and affection , shall both command my resolution and my self ; i will therefore shorten the time of my stay , and convert a whole year into a few months ; for to right the life of my heart , i value the affection and company of my sweet imperia above a con●ulary dignity , the treasures of turky , or the richer indies . o then , my fair and sweet imperia , live my dear wife , and i will assuredly dye thy loving and constant husband morosino . this letter imperia receives with no small joy , which is suddenly blasted by bondino's cruelty ; who to bring her to his will debarrs her of all liberty , and takes away from her , her jewels and best apparel , and makes her more his prisoner than his daughter ; whereat she is so cast down , that despairing of morosino's return , and vanquish'd by her fathers tyranny , and palmerius his importunity , grants his suit , and three days after was solemnly contracted and married to him . palmerius after his marriage , prov'd so amorous and kind , that he left no cost unbestow'd on her ; but this was not the con●ent she desir'd , his age was too frozen and cold for her warm vigorous youth . while affairs went thus at loretto , ten months after his promise , morosino with his two friends astonicus and donato land at ancona , where mercario meeting with him , salutes him with the news of imperia's marriage with palmerius ; at which they both grieve and wonder . by this time imperia heard of their arrival , and mercario is employ'd to beg a private visit of her , which is immediately granted , and the next night in her own house they met . at morosino's first entrance into her chamber , she fell at his feet and beg'd his pardon ; he took her up with all the passion and tenderness imaginable , and then with mutual embraces they reviv'd those affections , which their long absence might have buried in oblivion ; and as he promises her that she shall be his sole and only love , so she willingly protests to him , that he shall be more her husband than palmerius . thus for that night they part . next morning morosino and his two companions give a publick visit , and are courteously receiv'd by palmerius , and in the afternoon morosino and imperia meet in the garden remote from her house , where she was not able to deny whatever he had courage to ask ; these unlawful pleasures make her beg into slight her old husband , and in a short time , so bold and impudent was she grown in the practice of her adulterous embraces , that they were now become customary ; of which her own family and servants , ( especially richardo nephew to palmerius , a youth of eighteen , ) could not but take notice of it , and make their remarques upon it . morosino was not content only thus to enjoy imperia , but knowing that his expences far exceeded his estate , and considering that palmerius his wealth would bear up his port , and imperia so much his own , that she was fit for any impression , and capable of any design , that would advance his fortunes and confirm their contents , resolves to murder palmerius . to this end , at their next meeting they consult on it , and after divers wayes propos'd , it was at last agreed to be most safe , to stifle him in bed between two pillows , which would leave no cause of suspition behind it . morosino after dinner invites astonicus and donato to a walk in the fields , and there acquaints them with the design ; and that it was his own and imperia's request , that they would assist them in it . which astonicus and donato cheerfully promis'd , and having sworn secrecy to each other , they return'd to their lodging , where they drank a health to the success of their great business . the next day morosino relates all to his imperia , who over●oy'd thereat , and impatient of all delays , concludes to have the business finisht the next night after . the dismal night is now come , and the clock strikes twelve when morosino , astonicus , and donato go to palmerius his house , where at the street door they find imperia ready to receive them , where leaving donato to secure the door , morosino and astonicus leading imperia without their shoes , in woollen pumps up the stairs to her own chamber , she gave each of them a pillow and dir●●ted them to palmerius his chamber , where entring in , whilst she guarded the door , they stifled him and ●hru●t a small orange into his mouth ; they gently s●ut the door , and with silence went back to their lodging , and imperia to her bed. the next morning , imperia went to mass at st. francis church ; in the interim , came a messenger with a letter from bondino to palmerius , which his nephew richardo receiving carried up to his uncles chamber , where on the 〈◊〉 he found a rich pair of gloves , which he knew belong'd to morosino and put in his pocket ; when going to his bed-side , he drew the curtains and found him dead in his bed with a small orange in his mouth . at this he made so loud an outcry , that several of the servants came up , who seeing their master dead , believ'd he had stopp'd his own breath , by putting the orange in his mouth : but richardo remembring morosino's gloves which he found , and the familiar dalliances he had often seen between his aunt and him ; went presently and acquainted the podestate with the murther of his uncle , and strongly charg'd it upon his aunt and morosino , on whom he crav'd justice . the podestate being satisfied in the circumstances , sends his two son● with his co●ch to st. francis to allure imperia thither , who was no sooner come but he charg'd her and her enamorato morosino , with the murther of her husband , for which he confin'd her that day to his own house , and sent his officers to seize morosino , who so strongly beset his lodging , that though he and his two friends were well arm'd , they thought their best resistance would be in vain , and therefore delivered up their persons , pistols and swords , and were committed to the common prison of the city . bondino hearing the sad news of these passages at loretto , suddenly fell sick and dyed . the third day after , morosino , astonicus and donato were separately examin'd , but neither of them would confess any thing , whereupon astonicus was put to the rack , which torments he endur'd , still affirming his innocence ; an hour after donato was adjudg'd to the scorpions , who being but of a weak constitution , his right foot no sooner felt the fire , but with tears he confess'd the whole truth in all it's circumstances . in the afternoon the judges sent for morosino , imperia and astonicus , when they charg'd them with donato's confession , who was brought in a chair to confront them ; whereupon they immediately own'd the fact , and confirm'd donato's account of it . upon which they were all four sentenc'd to be hang'd next morning , at the common place of execution . imperia next day had notice that her uncle seignior bondino had obtain'd her pardon , at which she askt the messenger if morosino was pardon'd too , who answer'd , no ; then said she i will dye with him ; and though the judges came and advis'd her to live , and all her relations intreated her to accept the pardon , she would not be perswaded , but her answer to the last was , i hate life if he must dye . the next day first donato and then astonicus were executed , then came morosino who taking leave of imperia earnestly desir'd her to accept her life , which now was the only favour she could gratifie him in , and so was turned off . imperia was now afresh sollicited by the judges , fryers and nuns , but she refus'd with disdain , and voluntarily went up the ladder , where making a short speech to the numerous spectators , bid the executioner do his office , who immediately turn'd her over . thus lived and thus dyed three young gentlemen , and the constant imperia , than whom never any dyed more pitied and lamented . if we would consider the pain of sin before we commit it , the grace of god would either prevent us in it , or the punishment deter us from it . hist. xvii . don araneo and orminta . de cortez causeth his son don araneo to marry orminta , and then commits adultery and incest with her ; and by her means and for her sake poysoneth his old wife aspatia , and makes her brother delrio , kill her chamber-maid dian. don araneo afterwards kills delrio in a duel , orminta's brains are dash't out by a horse , and de cortez beheaded and his body burnt . in the city of santarem in portugal , dwelt an ancient gentleman named don alonzo de cortez , whose wife was dona aspatia ; they had now liv'd happily in the sacred bonds of marriage near fourty years , and had two sons and four daughters , all which dyed young except don araneo , who for his excellent parts , compleat breeding and courtship , was esteem'd a most accomplish'd gallant , and one of the prime cavaliers in all portugal . six leagues from santarem , dwelt a young gentlewoman very handsom , and a widdow , named dona orminta ; to this lady , old cortez ( having now left the vertues of his youth to grow vicious in his age ) makes his address by frequent visits , and discovers the violent flames of his raging lust , which she severely checks him for , and with peremptory refusals , scorns and denies his lascivious suit. but he is as constant in his sollicitations as she in her disdain , when at last orminta perceiving , he passionately affected her ; told him plainly , that if he ever thought to gratifie his desires in her love and kindness , he must first cause her to be married to his son don araneo , which once effected , she swore to deny him nothing . de cortez wondred at this strange proposal , and knew not what readily to answer to it , but going home seriously consults with himself about it , very willing he was to preserve his sons honour and bed undefil'd , that point he found very tender , but alas ! orminta's beauty had so great a power and command over him , that it easily conquer'd his most serious and vertuous considerations . the next day he made her another visit , but she was fixt to her first resolve , and would not recede a tittle from it ; when like an old lecher , rather than lose the pleasure of his obscene lust , he promised to use all means possible to prevail with his son to marry her , and at his return home motion'd the match to him ; don araneo after a short time of consideration , told him he very well approv'd of it , especially since he was pleas'd to direct his affections in it , and some time after , rode over to st. estianne to make his court to her , who seem'd wondrous coy on purpose to draw him on with more vigour and earnestness . while thus the father under-hand , and the son openly , courted orminta , dona aspatia , don araneo's mother , by many strong reasons , sought to divert him from her , and peremptorily on her blessing , forbid him to marry her , adding that if he did , more misery would attend those unhappy nuptials , than was yet possible for him either to know or conceive . don araneo ponder'd on these speeches , and for a month forbore to visit orminta , which made her frown on de cortez who inquires of him what made him so strange and cold in his affections to orminta ; araneo made a very modest excuse , wholly concealing his mothers advice to him in it . orminta was mad to see her hopes of don araneo almost frustrate , and asks de cortez the cause of his sons aversness , who told her he suppos'd it was his mother who had diverted him ; whereat in a rage she told him , the old beldam his wife must first be sent to heav'n before he can hope to enjoy her , or she his son on earth ; and withal voluntarily offer'd to make a visit to her and poyson her , which de cortez would by no means admit of , but promised speedily to perform it himself . upon this she took care to provide him the poyson , which he administred to her in preserved barberies , which he observ'd she lov'd very well and often eat of , so that in three days after aspatia dyed , whereat don araneo wept bitterly , not in the least suspecting she was poyson'd . orminta understanding aspatia was dead , is marvellously pleas'd , and in three months after de cortez and she dealt so politickly with araneo , that he married her and brought her home to his lewd fathers house , who as often as he pleas'd commits adultery and incest with her , but so clandestinely that for two years araneo had not the least inkling of it . but dian her waiting woman , took notice of this unlawful familiarity of hers with de cortez , which her mistress understanding , beat her severely for it , and twice whip'd her naked in her chamber , and dragg'd her about by the hair ; which dian resolving to be reveng'd for , acquaints her young master araneo with this foul business , between his wife and his father , at which he was so amaz'd and griev'd , that he scorning to be an eye-witness of his own shame , and their grievous crimes , which had now made them as unworthy of his sight and company , as they were of his love and respect ; took horse and r●de away to lisbon , and from thence went directly to spain , resolving to make his residence with the court at madrid . de cortez and orminta seeing this his sudden departure , which they were conscious would make apparent to the world those horrid crimes they had so privately indulg'd themselves in , and knowing that none but dian could have made this discovery to her husband ; she provides her self with rods , intending the next morning to glut her anger and indignation with a sharp revenge : but dian having notice of this the night before , takes horse , and rides home to her fathers house , and there from point to point relates all the former passages , and publishes , the adulteries of her mistress . orminta being advertiz'd hereof sends for her brother delrio , and acquaints him with the base treachery of her maid against her honour ; protesting both her own and de cortez his innocency , which he too credulously believing , bids her be of good cheer , and he will soon take such order , that her maids tongue shall no longer spit her envenom'd malice against her in●ur'd reputation . thus to make good his promise to his sister , delrio rode over to st. saviours , and there by night waiting at the door , as dian came out in a dark night , ran her through the body in two several places , upon which she fell down dead without speaking one word , and he posted away to santarem being neither seen nor discovered . as soon as he came thither he inform'd his sister what he had done , who infinitely glad thereof gave him many thanks , and now bent her whole malice against her husband , don araneo , cunningly provoking her brother to accomplish it , which he ( thus exasperated by her policy ) vows to effect , & that he would immediately fight him if he did but know in what part of the world to find him in . when behold ( as it were to bind him to his promise ) news of his residence at madrid is accidentally brought him by a servant purposely sent to santarem with these ensuing letters ; the one to his father the other to his wife . araneo to de cortez . was there no woman in the world for you to abuse but my wife ? if nature would not inform you that i am your son , yet you are my father ; and it should have taught you to have been more natural to me , more honourable to the world , more respectful to your self , and more religious to god ; than to have made your self guilty of the foul crimes of adultery , and incest ; the least of which is so odious to god and detestable to men , that i want terms to express it . the shame and infamy whereof , has made me leave portugal for spain , and forsake santarem to live and dye at madrid . i wonder that you in the winter of your age , which makes you fitter for your grave than my bed , should be guilty of so unnatural a crime , which if you do not redeem with tears and repentance , i fear you will be as miserable as you have made me unfortunate . araneo . araneo to orminta . if the consideration that i was thy husband could not in grace deter thee from the commission of that foul sin of adultery , yet the remembring that he was my father should in nature have made thee both abhor and detest the incest . what devil possest thy heart with lust , and thy soul with impiety i cannot tell ; but since thy inordinate lusts have brought misery to me , and shame to thy self ; i no longer esteem thee my wife , but look on thee with an eye of indignation as the world does of contempt . araneo . de cortez and orminta at the reading of these letters , were stung in their consciences , and curse dian and her memory , yet they resolve to bear up their reputations in the world , and by the justification of their innocency , sollicite his return , and to that purpose write to him in the most plausible terms that devilish hypocrites could invent ; gilding over their impious adulteries with pious pretensions . don araneo having receiv'd these letters , was too prudent to be impos'd upon with their flatteries , or credit their fair words ; and that they might know his resolution , neglecting his father , sends orminta this letter . araneo to orminta . thy letter has rather confirm'd than diminish'd my confidence of the truth of those bestial crimes thou art guilty of ; and i prize the apology of thy innocency at so low a rate , that i disdain it for thy sake , and thy self for thy own . i grieve at thy maid dians death , fearing that you both have been concern'd in it , and if you are so , be assur'd that god will revenge it to his glory , and punish it to your confusion . araneo . this letter inflames orminta with envy and malice , who now again repairs to her brother delrio as to her champion , shews him araneo's letters , and requests his advice to regain her honour , either by bringing home her husband , or removing him out of the world , that her wrongs may dye with him , and be buried together in the grave of oblivion . delrio prays her to refer it to his care , and gives her good night ; the next morning taking an intimate and valiant friend , call'd seignior gramont , along with him , they went to madrid , where being arriv'd , he wrote a challenge to araneo , and sent it by gramont who deliver'd it to him . araneo having read it with a cheerful countenance return'd this answer , pray tell delrio that my friend , my sword , and my self , will be at his service to morrow at the hour and place appointed . the morning no sooner appear'd , but delrio with his friend gramont came to the prado on horse-back , and the like did don araneo , with a gentleman nam'd don francio thurino in his coach. as soon as they saw each other , they threw off their doublets , and without complements drew , and pass'd furiously , after several breathings , at the first bout don araneo ran delrio clean through the body , wherewith falling , he redoubles his thrust , and nails him stark dead to the ground , so binding up his wounds , by a private way he went home to his lodging , and the next day causes delrio's body to be decently buried : after which gramont returns home , and from point to point relates the issue of the combate to de cortez and orminta , adding withal , that he was so reserved and strange , that he refused to write to either of them , which , though they seemed to be troubled at , they still continued their beastly sins , as if they either not feared , or not believed a judgment to come . about ten days after , as orminta was riding to coimbra , to visit a sick kinswoman , as she came within a small league of the town , a hare suddenly starts up between her horses legs , which so frighted him , that he stumbled , and then threw her to the ground , and kicking her with his hind foot , struck her in the forehead , and dashed out her brains . at this instant , as the foot-boy was lamenting the death of his mistress , there fortuned to pass by two corrigidors ( or officers of justice ) of coimbra , in their coach , who seeing the mournful spectacle , allighted out of the coach , and enquired who she was , whereof being informed by the foot-boy , they took up the body , and carried it to coimbra , from whence they sent to de cortez , desiring him to come thither , and take order for her funeral . in the mean time they secured her ●ings , jewels , and other apparel , and searched her pockets likewise for gold , in one whereof they found the l●st letter which her husband , don araneo , had sent her from madrid , and for the reading thereof withdrew themselves to a private chamber , whereby understanding the obscene pleasures , adultery and incest of de cortez with his daughter in law , they much wondred , but when they read the clause wherein he taxeth them for dian's death , they say little , but agree to seize and 〈◊〉 de cortez , assoon as he shall come thither . in the in●●rim th●y a●k the foot-boy if his lady had not a maid named 〈◊〉 , he said yes , and that she was lately murthered , but by whom unknown ; that her father l●v●d at st. 〈◊〉 , and was called seigniour paulo castrucchio : they secured the boy and sent presently for castrucchio ; this done , de cortez the same night arrived and was seized , when he least thought of it , and committed close prisoner . the next morning came castrucchio , who hearing all the former passages and don araneo's letter , believes them guilty and craves justice on de cortez for the same . after dinner they sent for him to appear , and castrucchio accused him , but de cortez stoutly denyed it , and being put to the rack , bore the torments of it with a fortitude beyond his ag● or strength . castrucchio then prayed eight days time , to make good his accusation , which is freely granted , and in two days time , brings in a new indictment against him for poysoning his lady aspatia . upon this he is sent for to appear a second time , but as before , so now he resolutely denies all , and is adjudg'd again to the rack , but before his torments , the judges sent some divines to him to work upon his conscience , which they did with so good effect , that he confessed himself guilty of poysoning his own lady , but altogether innocent of dian's death . then being ask'd if orminta was guilty , he said , true it was that she bought the poyson and he administred it ; for which her dead body was that afternoon burnt at the common place of execution , and de cortez was condemned to loose his head , from which sentence he appealed to santarem , where the first sentence is confirm'd , and an addition thereto , that his body should be burnt and his ashes thrown into the air. the next morning a scaffold was erected at his own door , whereon he lost his head , the rest of the sentence being executed to the satisfaction of justice and content of all the spectators . thus the wicked lust of old de cortez , meeting with the insatiable ambition of young orminta , they agreed in a hellish contract , which the devil witnessed , and the vengeance of heaven severely punished . hist. xviii . benevente and his two bloudy daughters . fidelia and celestina cause carpi and monteleon , with their two lacquies , lorenzo and anselmo , to murther their father , captain benevente . monteleon and his lacquey are drowned . fidelia hangs her self . lorenzo condemned for a robbery , on the gallows confesses the murther . carpi is beheaded , and celestina beheaded and burnt . in otranto , a city of apulia in italy , dwelt an ancient , rich and valiant gentleman , termed capt. benevente , who , by his deceased lady , had a son , named seignior alcasero , and two daughters , called fidelia and celestina , who continued at home with their father , whilst alcasero lived altogether at naples , with the spanish viceroy . capt. benevente was a gentleman beloved and honoured by all the nobility of apulia , so that his house was like an academy for all martial exercises ; and as the beauty of his two daughters , amongst so great resort , could not be long unseen , or uncourted ; so were they addressed to by many persons , of great worth and quality , who sought them in marriage ; but such was the averseness of their father's temper , that he constantly crossed all motions of that nature , to the great trouble and discontent of his daughters . alcasero is now returned from naples to otranto , and his two sisters acquaint him with the severity of their father's humour towards them , and desire him to intercede for them , who dealt so effectually with his father , that he told him , he had provided the baron of carpi for fidelia , and the knight mont●leon for celestina , and that in fifteen days they would come over to see them , at which the young ladies were extreamly pleased . within the time appointed these two noblemen come , and are assoon misliked , carpi being crookbackt , and monteleon lame of a leg : benevente receives and entertains them nobly , whilst his daughters treat them with frowns and disdain ; he tells them plainly they shall marry these , and no other ; the father presses them , and the noblemen importune them to confirm the contracts , but they plainly answer , they neither can nor will force their affections to comply with all his unreasonable commands . the young ladies are very much dissatisfied with their father's perverseness , who , they think , usurps too much upon the freedom of their choice , by his positive and rigorous orders . this , at length , bred ill bloud , and they begin to hate him , which fidelia first discovers to her sister in her complaints , that , for her part , since her father is so resolute , she had rather see him laid in his grave , than be forced by him to marry that man she cannot affect : celestina declared her self of the same opinion , adding withal , that the sooner he was dispatched , the better : thus they conclude his death , and as to the manner of it , after many consultations , they think it most safe to engage carpi and monteleon to effect it . to this end they now change the scene , and pretend to love those they mortally hated , which so pleases the two noblemen , that with much urgency they importune them to marriage ; but they told them it was impossible , so long as their father lived ; for though he seemed to countenance and encourage them in their suit , yet he had given them express commands not to love them , which was the true reason of that slight and disrespect they had all along received them with . the noblemen were taken in the trap , and never considered the treachery of those deceitful and bloudy minded ladies , but joyntly engage themselves , in a short time to remove him who was the mistaken subject of their hate , and his daughters disobedience . capt. benevente used often , after dinner , to ride to his vineyard , and now and then to a neighbouring village : carpi and monteleon took their ●acquies , lorenzo and anselmo , and disguising themselves , set upon him at the corner of a wood , with their swords and pistols , attended only with his servant fiamenti , whom after they had murdered , they carried their bodies to the top of an adjacent hill , and threw them down into a deep quarry , full of thick bushes and brambles . then they consulted of their flight , carpi took post to naples , and monteleon with his lacquey rode to brundusium , but on the way monteleon's horse fell down dead under him , and he was forced to dismount his lacquey and ride his horse , leaving him to follow after a-foot . at length near the village blanquettelle he met with a swift ford passable only with horses , which constrained him to take up his lacquey anselmo behind him ; but in the midst of the water his horse stumbled , and so violent was the torrent of the river that before they could recover themselves , they were both drowned . by this time benevente and his man , were both missing and not to be heard of , alcasero who was now at naples , was acquainted with it by his sisters and grievously laments , for fear any mischief should have befallen him , promising great rewards to any person who could give intelligence of him . after five dayes search and no news of him , his daughters with all the counterfeit passions of sorrow , begin to suspect he is murthered by his servant fiamenti , who alone went out with him , and had not since been heard of . alcasero's grief was as real as theirs was feigned , and left nothing unattempted that might lead to a discovery , but all had hitherto been in vain ; when it happened one day , that some gentlemen who were hunting the stag near alpiata , he being now tyred with a long pursuit ran for shelter in to the quarry among the bushes , whither the hunters following him , they discovered two dead bodies , which the crows had pitifully mangled , and approaching nearer , they knew them by their cloaths to be benevente and his man fiamenti , which they gave alcasero and his sisters notice of , the bodies were brought to otranto that night in a coach , where they were the same evening interred , with as much decency as the short time would allow , but with floods of tears from alcasero , whilst his two sisters wept like crocodiles . next day news came , that monteleon and his lacquey were both drowned , which added yet more to the satisfaction of these bloody sisters , who heartily wished that carpi and his lacquey , might meet with the same fate . six weeks were now past , since the funeral of benevente when alcasero began to think it strange that carpi came not to condole with him for his fathers death and renew his suit to his sister , which made him entertain some jealous thoughts , though at the same time , he had no probable ground of suspicion . but about a month after , carpi having heard nothing of the premises , sends a lacquey over to fidelia at otranto with this letter . carpi to fidelia . there are some reasons , for which i have not lately seen otranto , what they are none can better imagine than your self ; when thy sorrows are overblown i will come to thee having now given thee so true and real a proof of my affection , that thou canst not in iustice ever doubt thereof . i pray signifie to me how thy brother stands affected towards me ; thy answer shall have many kisses , and i will ever both honour and bless the hand that writ it . carpi . the lacquey comes to otranto , delivers the letter to fidelia and requests her answer ; but she was now wholly altered from her former resolutions , a deep melancholly seiz'd her even to despair , she hated all company , was afraid of her own shadow , and thinks every house will fall upon her head ; this makes her forsake her devotion , look pale and gastly , in which condition ( at the importunity of carpi's lacquey ) she returned this answer . fidelia to carpi . my fathers death hath altered my disposition , for i am wholly addicted to mourning and not to marriage . i pray trouble not your self to come to otranto , for the best comfort i can receive , is , that it is impossible for me to receive any . i never doubted thy affection , nor will give thee cause to fear mine , for i am resolved either to marry thee or my grave . how my brother stands affected i cannot tell , but i think he neither loves thee for my sake , nor my self for thine . live thou as happy as i fear i shall dye miserable . fidelia . having sent away this letter , she is now again distracted in her thoughts , which her brother and friends endeavour to remove by good counsel ; but all in vain , since they are ignorant of the true cause thereof . in a word , she grows weary both of the world , and her life , and would kiss that hand would kill her , having her father's murther always in her mind , which was so terrible to her , that she resolved to lay violent hands on her self , rather than endure the tormenting pains of an evil conscience . to this end she took poyson , but that would not work ; she sought her knife and penknife , but finding neither , she bolted fast her chamber door , and tying one of her silk garters to the tester of the bed , there hanged her self . dinner being served in , alcasero and celestina call for their sister fidelia , when one of the servants going to her chamber , brought word , that the key was on the outside , and the door bolted within , yet she answered not . whereupon alcasero ordered the door to be broke open , where entring , he saw his sister fidelia hanging to the bed●tead dead , and her body coal black , and horribly stinking , at which sight they were all affrighted : the officers of justice being first acquainted with his dreadfull accident , gave leave that the body should be taken down , and privately buried in the garden . return we now to carpi , who having received fidelia's letter , wonders at the contents , but resolves to second his first with this ensuing letter . carpi to fidelia . had not thy last forbid me to pay those respects due to thy merit and my affection , i had seen otranto on purpose to comfort my fidelia , though , were matters rightly weighed , i have more reason to sorrow than thy self , yet i hope i am far from despairing . endeavour to love thy self , and not hate me , so shalt thou draw felicity out of affliction , and i security out of danger . let thy second letter give me half so much ioy as thy first did grief , and then shall i rejoyce more than i now lament . carpi . this letter was brought by fiesco , one of carpi's lacquies , who coming to otranto , as he walked in the court before the house , was spyed by alcasero , who sent to know whose servant he was , but he refused to give any account . alcasero ordered him to be carried down into the cellar , where he was plentifully entertained with wine , and invited to dinner , but would neither by intreaties nor threats be prevailed upon to discover himself . alcasero told him he saw him there fifteen days ago , but fiesco is silent ; alcasero then offered him twenty ducats to disclose himself and his business . this took , and the lacquey told him he belonged to carpi , and had a letter from him to fidelia , which he delivers to alcasero , and thereby his suspicion of carpi for his father's death revives , but knowing silence is one main point to make out such a discovery , he bid the lacquey stay that night , and he would give him his answer next morning , which was this : tell the baron of carpi , thy master , that my sister fidelia is in another world , and that i shortly resolve to see him at naples , and in the interim will keep his letter . fiesco knowing his fault , never returns to his master , and alcasero minding his promise , speeds to naples , to the criminal judges , there accuses carpi for benevente's murther , for which he is apprehended , and adjudged to the rack , which torments he endured , and still denied all , so that the court by publick sentence clear him : but alcasero will not ; for after six months time , when carpi was sound in his limbs again , by plantinus he sent him this challenge . alcasero to carpi . although the law hath cleared thee for my father's murther , yet my conscience cannot ; and i should be a monster of nature not to seek revenge for his death who gave me life and being : wherefore i request thee to meet me at eight to morrow , after supper , at the west end of the common vineyard , where i will attend thee with a couple of rapiers , the choice whereof shall be thine . if thou wilt make use of a second , he shall not depart without meeting one to exchange a thrust or two with him . alcasero . upon receipt hereof carpi was in doubt with himself what to do , but at last bid plantinus tell him , that though he had not deserved his malice yet he accepted his challenge , but would fight single , being unprovided of a second . the morning is now come , and both carpi and alcasero met in the field , where it was carpi's fortune to have the day , by leaving alcasero speechless , ( and as he supposed dead , ) in the field , but by the great care and skill of his chirurgion he was at last cured of his wounds , and lived to see his father's murther discovered , and the assassins punished . assoon as alcasero was recovered of his wounds , he returned to otranto , where celestina did now more triumph for carpi's freedom than before she trembled at his imprisonment . so that now being out of fear , she marries a noble young gentleman , with whom she had lived above six weeks ; but lorenzo , carpi's page , who had his masters pocket at pleasure , to keep secret benevente's murther , grows debauched , lewd and dissolute , and being one day sent on an errand by his master , he observed a gentlewoman to pull out a purse of gold , wherein were five and twenty ducatoons in gold , which he stole from her , and being taken in the fact , was the next day convicted , and adjudged to be hang'd . carpi was strangely surprized to hear this news , went to prison to him , and promised , if he would not reveal the business he was concerned in , he would be a faithful and constant friend to his mother and brothers . lorenzo promised secrecy , but being brought to the gallows , upon the ladder , confesses that he and the baron of carpi his master , together with monteleon and anselmo , had murthered benevente and his man fiamenti , and threw them into the quarry , the which he took upon his death was true , and so was turn'd off . lorenzo being thus hanged , carpi is apprehended , who being put to the rack , discovers the murther in every particular as lorenzo had done , adding withal , that celestina and her dead sister fidelia drew them into it , protesting they had never done it but at their requests . upon which he was condemned to have his right hand cut off first , and then his head. which done celestina was seized at a wedding , making merry with her friends , and committed to prison , who understanding the former confessions and executions , confessed the whole , and so was judged to have her head cut off , her body burnt , and her ashes thrown into the air , which the next day was performed accordingly . oh wicked and bloody daughters of unhapy benevente ! if murther is a scarlet sin , parricide is a crime so much of a deeper die , as the indispensable duty to our parents is above our common respect to our neighbours . hist. xix . dario and cleandra . coligni seeks cleandra in marriage , but she loves dario , varini courts her for coligni but in vain , whereupon coligni rails against both , for which varini challenges him but is killed . dario desires to marry her , but his father is against it , and sends him away , whereupon cleandra dyes for grief ; dario fights coligni , and gives him his life , for which he basely murders him and is beheadded . in rome were two noble young gentlemen , the one named seignior francisco coligni , the other seignior andre o varini , the latter of which had a sister fair and young named cleandra , and her coligni had chosen for his mistress ; and as his wealth made him confident , so he in amorous and honourable terms , courts her by himself and friends , but he is not so full of hope , as she is of disdain , and in few words tells him his suit will be in vain , for her affections are pre-engaged . but he unwilling to give over his suit , for the first denyals , acquaints her brother varini with his passion for her , and desires his assistance , which he promises , and like a true friend , earnestly sollicits for coligni , but with no success , for she tells him her heart is already disposed of ; he desires to know to whom ; she told him ( after she had sworn him to secrecy ) to seignior pedro dario ; at which he left her , and gave his friend coligni , her definitive answer . coligni hearing this grows enraged , and abruptly walks from him , and the next day , in cardinal farnesi's gallery , being asked by four or five gentlemen , for his friend and companion varini , very passionately answers , he was a base beggarly gentleman , and his sister cleandra ▪ a lascivious dissembling strumpet ; which words were carried the same night to varini by some of the company , which he highly resents , but chiefly for his sisters sake , and will not bear them . therefore next day he goes to coligni's fathers house , and asks for his son ; his father directed him into the garden , where he enters and meets coligni with his hat in his hand , and desires him to dismiss his servants for he had a secret to impart to him . coligni sends them away , and then varini charges him with the former words , whereat coligni in a great heat , swore they were his , and what his tongue had affirmed , his sword should justifie , on which they cover and abruptly part . cleandra having understood that her brother was gone to find out coligni , waited his return to know the issue , which he told her in general terms , should shortly prove to her honour and his content , and praying her not to be troubled , went to his chamber , and wrote this challenge . varini to coligni . thy scandalous reports like thy self , are so base , and i and my sister so honourably descended and educated , that i doubt not but the disgrace , which thou hast so unjustly reflected on us , will e're long return upon thy self to thy eternal shame and dishonour . wherefore as thou art a gentleman and a roman meet me at to morrow morning , behind cardinal barronvo's palace , where i mean to take thy life in satisfaction to my injured honour , which is all thou canst give . varini . this being delivered to coligni , he returned this answer , tell seignior varini , that i will not fail to meet him according to his appointment . the next morning they met , attended only by their surgeons , where at the third encounter varini's foot slipping , col●gni took the advantage , running him thorough the body , killed him dead upon the spot . coligni with his surgeon return to the city , where he lyes private at a friends house near his fathers . the news of this duel and the event thereof , is quickly spread abroad , whereat cleandra and her father grieve inordinately . to allay and mitigate their grief , seignior pedro dario proffers his service , to right his mistresses honour and revenge varini's death , which both cleandra and her father disswade him from . coligni is now grown so foolishly sottish , as notwithstanding the former and present disadvantages he was under , he again by letters sollicits his suit to cleandra ; but the report of a strict search , which was ordered to be made for him forced him to retire , ( disguised in a capuchins habit ) where he stole out of the city , and took post to palermo . dario begins now to make his private affection publick , and as he had gained cleandra's heart , endeavours to obtain her friends consent to the match , of which his father having private notice , sent him from rome to naples , and thence shipped him to the island of caprea to the guard and keeping of alphonsus drisca captain of the island , with charge not to permit him to return in a whole year without express order . these afflictions ( to lose her brother and her lover , and suffer in honour ) coming upon cleandra , so immediately after one another , over-charge her with grief , whereupon she falls desperately sick , at which receiving a letter from dario , she returns him an answer , and twenty dayes after dyes a love-martyr . old dario glad of this , sends a servant to caprea to recal his son , who at the sad news of cleandra's death , grieves beyond measure , and so immoderate was his sorrow that had not the hopes of being revenged on coligni , revived his fainting spirits , he had then followed his beloved cleandra into another world. in order to which , he got privately on board a neopolitan galley , bound for sicily , and lands at palermo , where the first night lying private in his inn , he enquires out coligni , and understanding he was in the city , sent his lacquey the next morning to him with this challenge . dario to coligni having wounded my dear cleandra in the scandal of her honour , and killed her brother varini in the field , for which she has now sorrowed away her life ; my trouble to survive her makes me contemn my own , and seek thine ; to which end i have left caprea to find sicily , and in it thy self ; wherefore as thou art coligni , fail not to meet me this evening , between five and six , in the next meadow behind the carthusians monastery . thy generosity invites thee , and my affection and honour oblige me , to be the onely guests at this bloudy banquet . dario. coligni receives this challenge , but not very willingly , yet bids the lacquey tell his master , he would not fail to give him his welcome to palermo . the hour is now come , and both champions meet in the field , attended onely by their chirurgions , who withdrawing into the next field , they engage with fury and resolution : at the three first passes dario gives coligni three deep wounds , without receiving the least injury from him , whereat coligni's heart failing , he threw away his rapier , confessed his scandal on cleandra , and beg'd his pardon . dario's revenge though not satisfied herewith , yet his noble spirit disdaining a base act , gives coligni his life , whereupon they put up their swords , and went together into the city . the● news of this duel is got to rome before them , ( though dario makes hast thither ) and coligni having obtained his pardon for killing varini , came not long after . all here generally applaud dario's affection and humanity , but scorn coligni , for begging and receiving his life , which , though he cannot well digest , he knows not how to redress ; for he dares not fight him again , and to kill him in his bed he cannot , for he has no admittance to him ; and to pistol him in the street is dangerous , because of his many followers : so that at last he resolves to shoot him from a window , with a pe●ronel , as he passes along the street , and understanding that dario used to go to his morning mass , at the english college , he provides himself accordingly . on a monday morning early , he puts himself into an unknown house , between the said college , and the pallace of farresi , and having charged his piece with a brace of bullets , prim'd and cock'd , he saw dario in the street , upon his prancing barbary horse and foot cloth , and as he passed over against him he let fly , and lodged both the bullets in his breast , with which he tumbles from his horse dead to the ground , onely giving two or three lamentable groans . the report of the gun , and smoke at the window , discover the house , where his servants running in , they search the house , and in the chamber found the petronel , the people of the house affirming , that the gentleman who had done the murther , fled upon a swift spanish gennet by the back gate , and that they neither knew him , nor durst stop him . thus he escaped with full hopes to get clear away , but as he galloped through campo del f●ogo , at the farther end thereof , two bricklayers building of a house upon a scaffold two stories high , both the scaffold and bricklayers fall down , and beat him and his horse to the ground . the news of the murther was not yet come so far , but his fear hastening him , he soon recovered his horse , and mounting , set spurs to him , but had not rode far before his gennet fell , and put his shoulder out of joint , so that he could not rise with his master , who finding no other way , betook himself to his heels , and fled to nero's tower , and there in the ruines of divers stupendious buildings hid himself , but within two hours was discovered , and instantly imprisoned . the second morning after he was brought before the judges , to whom he freely confessed the fact , and implored their mercy ; but they , for expiation of his crime , first adjudge his two hands to be cut off , before the house where he shot dario , and afterwards to be beheaded at the common place of execution , his head to be set upon a pole , over st. iohn de lateran's gate , and his body to be thrown into tyber , which the next day was accordingly executed in the presence of many thousand spectators . he that is encouraged to the commission of sin , ( as in the example of coligni ) in hopes to conceal it , or the authour , loves the crime , though he hates the punishment ; but where the first is his delight , the second shall be his reward . hist. xx. de mansey and almanda . de mansey being in love with almanda , hires lycon and cruento , two bravo 's , to murder her husband perron , and then marries her . almanda slights old mansey , who ( as he was forewarned ) is stabbed in his chamber by rosino , his wife 's gallant , who was in bed with her . lycon and cruento coming to rob the house , are apprehended for de mansey's murther , which they deny , but confess perron's , for which they are broke on the wheel . rosino is discovered , and hanged , almanda beheaded , and de mansey's dead body hanged first , and then thrown into the river ormo . in vannes , a city of britain in france , lived monsieur boren , a gentleman of ancient family , and fair estate , who having several children , his eldest named monsieur de mansey , whilest he was yet very young , was sent over to his uncle , mr. verdue , who lived at turenne , in the court of the duke of savoy , where he was both in his favour and service considerably preferred . de mansey being arrived to the age of five and twenty , his uncle dyed , and left him sole heir to a plentiful estate , which was very much advanced by the addition he received by the death of his father , at vannes , and afterwards of several other relations , who all , as it were , conspired to make him rich and great . de mansey continued his residence at turenne , it being the place of his education , and most familiar acquaintance , but generally once a year , made a journey to vannes , to receive his rents , and see in what condition his tenants were , and how well they improved his lands . this being his custom , for several years he kept constant stages in his journey , and every night lay at such towns , and such inns as his long travelling that rode had best acquainted him with . it happened that coming into his inn one night at st. claney , ( a town in the mid way between turenne and vannes , ) alighting from his horse , he called for his host , who was familiarly called by his friends , honest adrian ; his hostess with a low courtesie , wellcom'd him to her house , and with seeming trouble and perplexity , told him that her husband was dead , and had been so for near six months . de mansey condoled with her , for the loss of so good an host and so kind a husband , when being conducted to his chamber , a ground room where he constantly lay , he gave order for supper , and designing to rise soon in the morning , went early to bed. it was now about midnight , as he judged by the moon which shone full in at the window , when he heard a noise as if his door opened , ( for his wandring thoughts disturbed his repose , ) and drawing the curtain in a fright , to see who it was entered at that unseasonable hour , he saw the fair image and representation of his host standing at his bed side , in the same proportion as alive , with a pale look , and his throat cut from ear to ear . this spectacle did very much surprize him at first , but after a little time recovering himself , he thus spoke to it , if thou art what thou appearest to be , the ghost of my deceased host , i conjure thee by all that 's sacred , to tell me what disturbs thy quiet in the grave , and what thy business is with me . i come , said the apparition , to acquaint thee , that i am basely and barbarously murthered by my wife , her sister , and the ostler , and request thee ( whose friendship i have always been obligd to ) to acquaint the officers of iustice with it , and under this bed they shall find my body privately buried , with a stake thrust through my heart : at these words the apparition vanished , and de mansey endeavoured to compose himself to rest , but in vain ; for his thoughts were so intent on what he had seen , and the discovery his host had made him , that he began to consider his own life might be in danger , if all this was not delusion , which he did not in the least suspect . about an hour after he heard a second noise at his door of some persons tampering with the lock , when having his pistols at his bed's head , ready charged , he prepared himself to receive them : de mansey got out of his bed , and stood behind the curtains , his door with a sudden shock was violently forced open , at which some persons entred , but who , or how many he could not tell , ( for the light of the moon was now shaded by a cloud ) however he discharged his pistols amongst them at which he heard a great shriek , and two or three lamentable groans ; the report of the pistol alarm'd all the lodgers , and some of the neighbours , who presently came to know the meaning of it . at the entrance into his chamber they found the ostler upon the floor , shot into the breast , and almost dead . by this time the officers of the town were come with the watch , to know the reason of so unusual a disturbance . the ostler and the whole family were secured that night , and the next morning they were all examined , and the ostler having no hopes of recovery , confessed , that himself , his mistress , and her sister , had designed to rob and murder de mansey , for which he was now heartily sorry and repentant . de mansey seeing how miraculously he had been preserved by the appearance of his host , relates the whole story to the judges in all its circumstances , and accuses the ostler , his hostess and her sister , of the murther , and to confirm the truth of what he said , desired they would search under the bed in his chamber , which they did , and there found his body with a stake through his breast : these circumstances made their guilt so apparent , that neither of them had confidence enough to deny it , for which the next day his wife was burnt , and the ostler and his sister hang'd . de mansey was so much concerned at his own preservation , and the discovery he had so strangely made of his landlords murther , that he stayes to see the execution of the criminals , and removes his lodging to another house : when being in bed the night after they had suffered , his landlord appeared to him again all in white , and thanked him for the trouble he had given him and the justice he had done him ; adding , that if any thing lay in his power , whereby he might oblige him and express his gratitude he would willingly do it . de mansey told him he expected neither thanks nor reward , but if departed souls know what 's hid from mortal eyes , if he could tell him when he should dye three hours before , as it was his greatest concernment it would be his greatest satisfaction . the ghost promised if ( it should ever be in his power ) , to perform it . de mansey returned to turenne , where amongst his friends he would sometimes discourse this story , asking them if they thought it was in the power of his deceased host to make good his promise to him , in that nature he desired it . it was now upwards of twenty years , since this had happened to de mansey ; and he now grown into years being almost sixty , when he , whom all the charms of love had never affected , was now orecome by those of lust ; the beautiful almanda who was both young and fair , was the object he so much admired and doted on . almanda was the daughter of monsieur chartres , a lady highly vertuous had not ambition poysoned her excellent qualities , and was two years before , married to a young gentleman more extravagant than rich , whose name was monsieur perron ; this lady ▪ de mansey courted with assiduous visits and costly presents , both which she willingly received , but would by no means yield up her honour to his lustfull embraces . having thus been at great expence of time and moneys , without any hopes of success , one day resolving to urge his amours with the most prevailing arguments , he offered her a vast treasure to consent to his desires , which she absolutely refused , telling him , if she was at liberty she could love him as a husband , but never as a gallant , which was a crime so odious to her , that all the riches of the world should never tempt her to the violation of her marriage vows . de mansey either misunderstanding her meaning , or out of despair of attaining his ends , resolves to put her into such a condition , as she might with honour comply with him ; and to that purpose hires two bravo's , call'd lycon and cruento , to murder her husband perron , for the reward of five hundred duckats , which they agreed to , and about a week after , as he came late from the tavern , in a dark night , set upon him in the streets with their rapiers , and after several wounds left him dead upon the place , and acquainted de mansey what they had done , who immediately paid the money , and they made their escape to genoa . almanda grievously lamented the death of her husband , and gave the officers of justice , all possible encouragement to search after , and discover the murtherers , but all in vain ; three days after his body was decently interred by almanda , with greater show of grief than cost ; and about six months after she was solemnly married to de mansey , who , as an argument of his affection , discovered how instrumental he had been to discharge her of those bonds which were so uneasie to her . almanda had not been long married to de mansey , but as she was pleased with the present state and advancement of her fortune , so did she loath the cold embraces of her impotent husband , which would by no means suit with the warm and vigorous desires of her youth . to remedy this intolerable evil , she familiarly acquaints her self with a young gentleman , called seignior rosino , an italian by birth , who for a murther committed at venice had fled to turenne . no sooner was old de mansey gone abroad , but rosino supplied his place at home , and all those hours passed away in sighs , when de mansey's company prevented her of her beloved rosino's . this the servants could not but take some notice of , but her imperious sway , and absolute command , aw'd them into silence . lycon and cruento having riotously spent their moneys , came privately back to turenne , and told de mansey their great wants , that the hazard and danger which they ran in accomplishing his desires , deserved more than so poor a reward ; that he was rich enough , and ought to supply their necessities , which were the effect of their faithful service to him . de mansey was very much surprised at this discourse , and promised largely , but at present he was unfurnished of moneys , and could not answer their occasions till he had received his rents , which would be within a month , or little more ; with this answer they went away seemingly satisfied . four days after de mansey went to his country house at st. agneaw , five miles from turenne , with a design to stay a week , for the advantage of the air. this was a blessed opportunity for rosino and almanda , who improve each minute , and day and night revel in the close enjoyment of forbidden pleasures . de mansey had now been but three days at st. agneaw , and finding the air not agreeable to his present indisposition , resolves that afternoon to return to turenne , but setting out late , night grew upon him , which proving dark , and being without his servant , he was forced to ride more easily , so that the clock struck twelve , just as he arrived at the gates of turenne . but that which most troubled him , was , that when he was yet two miles off , at the upper end of a lane , his horse snorted and started , and would by no means go forward ; at which looking to see what the matter was , he saw the shape of his host , honest adrian , who appeared to him clothed all in white , and bid him fear not , for he came only to make good his promise to him , and to tell him that within three hours he should be as he was ; and at those words vanished and left de mansey in great horror and consternation , who remembring it was his own request did now firmly believe it would be accordingly , and as he rid on , dispos'd his thoughts into meditations of another world. at the gates of the city he was well known and presently admitted , but when he came to his own house ( which was walled about ) seeing no light he concluded his family all in bed , and it would be to little purpose , to endeavour to awaken them at that distance . considering what to do in that great perplexity he was in , he remembred his gardiner lived hard by , and if he could raise him he might get in by the garden door . when coming to his house he knocked and called , the gardiner knowing his masters voice he presently rose ; de mansey told him he was very ill , and for that reason had returned late from st. agneaw , that his servants were all in bed , and he had no way to get into his house , but by his key thorough the garden . the gardiner put his horse into the stable and went with him . de mansey appeared very melancholly , and complained of his present illness , and as they walkt together , told him he was sure he should dye that night , for as he came along within two miles of turenne he had seen the ghost of his host , who had told him so ; by this time they were got into the garden , and the gardiner call'd up the groom , who opened the door and let him in . de mansey ordered him to go back with the gardiner and take care of his horse , and with the candle in his hand went up stairs into his study , which was the next room to his bed-chamber . almanda hearing some body go into the study , askt who was there . 't is i my dear , answered de mansey ; at which she was at her wits end , and so affrighted she did not know what to do , to conceal her gallant rosino , who was in bed with her ; de mansey having finished his devotions , came into his chamber to go to bed , and as he entred rosino stepping out from behind the door , stabbed him to the heart with his stilletto , at which de mansey dropt down dead , giving onely one lamentable groan . never were two persons in greater confusion than rosino and almanda now are , they know not what course to take to prevent the discovery , or to discharge themselves of the guilt of this murther , which would certainly be known in the morning . as they were consulting what measures to take , almanda told rosino , that his shirt was all bloudy , and advised him to change it for a clean one of her husbands , which she fetched him , and wrapt up his and the stilletto in a black scarf of her own , which she put into a green silk bag , and locked them up in her trunk . at last it was agreed that rosino should make his escape immediately , and after he was gone , almanda having laid a stilletto of de mansey's all bloudy by him , should in a great fright call up her servants , and say that he had murdered himself . this was resolved upon as the best expedient they could at present find out , but fortune seemed to be more kind to them than they could expect or design . rosino was no sooner gone down the back stairs , but almanda heard a noise of some persons coming up the other way , which her fear and guilt assured her were the officers of justice , come to apprehend her for this barbarous murther . they first opened de mansey's study , where they found the key in it , and ransacked all there ; then came into the chamber , where they found him dead upon the floor , at which they were strangely surprised , but pity , or the curiosity to know how he came so , was no part of their business ; when coming to the bed , they seized almanda , and gagged her , and then rifled her trunks of her plate , jewels , and what they liked best . rosino heard the noise , and had the same apprehensions of danger as almanda , believing them to have been the officers of justice , or some of the servants of the house who were risen to apprehend him , for which reason he made all possible hast , and having a key in his pocket of a private door where he used to come in , went off undiscovered . the noise these thieves had made , awak'ned the servants , who coming up into de mansey's chamber , found him dead upon the floor , almanda bound and gagg'd in bed , and the chamber and his study robb'd , but those who had been the actors of this bloody tragedy were fled , of whom they hoped almanda could give some account , who was presently unbound , and with showers of tears told them that thieves had been there and murdered her husband , because he would not discover his money , which they supposed was a greater summ than they could find , and that they had most cruelly used her , and had they not come in at that instant , had certainly murdered her too . the servants presently called the watch and made what search and pursuit after them they could , and almanda being now recovered from her fright , smil'd to her self to see how favourable fortune was to her , and that this lucky robbery of the thieves would for ever secure her and rosino from being either charged or suspected of de mansey's murther . but see when the prosperous sinner thinks himself most secure , then often is the vengeance of heaven at the door , ready to punish those very crimes , which he thinks himself most successful in . the next day two of the robbers , by the industrious search of the servants , were apprehended in their lodging in st. leonard's street , and some of the plate , jewels and other things taken with them ; who were presently brought before the judge-advocate of turenne , and charged with the robbery and murther , and several of the goods produced in evidence against them , and amongst other things the green silk bag , which was tyed up fast , and had not yet been opened . the judge asked what that bag was , and what in 't , which being opened , they found a bloody shirt and a stilletto wrapt up together in a black scarf . the thieves confessed the robbery , but utterly denied the murther , for which they were put to the rack , when one of them confessed , their names were lycon and cruento , that de mansey had hired them for ducats to murder monsieur perron , which they had effected some years ago , and having spent all their money , they sollicited him for more , and not receiving a speedy supply , and understanding he was at his country house , they resolved to rob him here ; and that assoon as they came into his chamber they saw him dead , and a stilletto all bloody lying by him , and no person in the room , but his wife in bed , and that he took that green bag out of her trunk , and till now knew not what was in it . cruento confirmed what lycon had confessed in every particular , and one of de mansey's servants said , the stilletto was the same or very like that he had often seen seignior rosino wear , who had been frequently at his masters house ; this gave the judge some suspition he might be privy to the murther , considering the discourse of the town , which spoke loudly of the endear'd familiarity between rosino and almanda , upon which he sent a relation of his own to acquaint almanda that the robbers were taken , and that he desired to hear what evidence she could give against them ; she immediately came suspecting nothing , and in the interim the captain of the watch brought rosino before the judge , complaining that because he had refused to let him through the gates at an unseasonable hour he endeavoured to force his way , and had wounded him in several places : upon this he was asked what urgent business he had to go abroad so early , and whether that was not his stilletto ; for the first question he had a plausible excuse , and utterly denyed the second . by this time the judge had notice that almanda was come who was brought in , and demanded if she knew that silk bag and the scarf , and who owned that bloody shirt and stilletto ; at this she was so confounded she had not one word to answer ; the judge observing the great disorder she was in , told her , if she hoped for mercy , the only means to purchase it , must be by a free and open confession ; whereupon she accused rosino of the murther , and said , that was his bloody shirt and that his stilletto , and that she was no farther guilty than as so great a surprize forc't her consent , and her own safety , the concealment which she had endeavoured by hiding them in her trunk . rosino being confronted by her confessed the fact , and was adjudged to be hanged and his body burnt ; lycon and cruento were condemned to be broke on the wheel alive , and their bodies left as a prey to the beasts of the field , and almanda to be beheaded , and the dead body of de mansey for the murther of perron , to be hanged at the common gallows for three days , and then thrown into the river ormo , all which was the next day executed accordingly . in this last history we have a complication of murthers , that of adrian , perron and de mansey , perpetrated for different ends , and all the bloody criminals brought to condign and open punishment by strange and various methods : for be assured that as happiness here and glory hereafter , are the encouragements and rewards of virtue and honesty , so present shame and future punishment will be the dreadful portion of all those whose sanguinary crimes and horrid villanies , have made them the wretched subjects of divine vengeance and everlasting wroth. finis . sold by benj : crayle in fleet street the glory of god's revenge against the licentious and detestable sin of adultery . exemplified in several late examples of the judgment of god upon notorious offenders . book ii. london , printed for beniamin crayle in fleetstreet . the glory of gods revenge against the licentious and detestable sin of adultery . hist. i. castrucchio and gloriana . the count of varini marries with gloriana a young gentlewoman of incomparable beauty , contracted to castrucchio ; varini apprehends castrucchio in bed with gloriana and kills him , cuts off his head and makes her drink out of his scull , and afterwards eat up his heart , who the next morning was found dead in her bed. in the former book thou hast seen ( courteous reader ) the dreadful judgments of god , upon those wretched sinners , who have been guilty of that crying sin of murther , and in this i will present thee with the miserable examples of adultery ; a crime so odious to god and man , that whatever gentle names we may gloss it over with , hath been always attended with sad and lamentable consequences . it has been the opinion of some , that the forbidden fruit in the midst of the garden , which god almighty by his especial command so strictly prohibited , and the devil tempted eve withal , was no other than carnality ; what exceptions this may admit of , i shall not now dispute ; but the great mercy of god , hath since taken pity of our frailties , and not only permitted that pleasure but sanctified it in paradise by the solemn union of matrimony , taken from it all filthiness , and made our very lust , pure and immaculate . chastity and lust , are so profess'd enemies to one another , that they can never live together in the same subject , no more than day and night , light and darkness ; the first is a bright and resplendent vertue , the other a raging and devouring vice : chastity makes us glorious as the angels , lust deform'd as devils ; it is like the black foyl to the sparkling diamond , or the dark shade to a beautiful image . love is the intelligence that gently moves the soul from innocent desires to chast embraces , but incontinence is the devils incendiary , which first fires us with unlawful flames , and then violently hurries us over all the sacred boundaries of modesty , justice and religion , to satisfie the impious cravings of one burning lust. i could here inlarge on the sacred institution of marriage in paradise , he noble royalties it is endowed with , and how adam , no sooner beheld the light and glory of the sun , but he saw the brightness and illustrious beauty of a wife ; how chastity is as unlimited as lust , and that we have as many glorious examples of the one , as prodigies of the other ; that the name of iudith is yet fam'd by her continence , whilst the memory of lais is preserved by her ignominy ; that the insatiate messalina , was not more the scandal , than the chast lucretia the honour of her sex , who fl●w from the hot embraces of the lustful tarquin , to the cold arms of death for refuge , her purer soul now loath'd that body which had suffered the pollutions of the ravisher , and with an undaunted courage opened the door to death , and lodg'd the fatal steel , in her yet unspotted breast . but i should expatiate too far , thou shalt here find variety of examples in the following histories , a chast imbrigis and a lascivious helda , as loose , as her sister continent ; where i hope the beautiful character of the one , will attract thy imitation of her vertue , and the deformity of vice in the other deter thee from the commission of that sin , which often imprints it's own punishment on the offender , ( viz. the venereal disease ) but if he is so happy to escape the brand of his own iniquity here , the terrors of an evil conscience , will be his constant executioner , as the devil his tormentor hereafter . but i proceed to the history . at venice , the beauty of italy , which is the garden of europe , in the reign of leonardo donato that noble duke of venice , famous for banishing the jesuits , and opposing the intrusions of the popish see , and fulminations of paulus quintus in the just defence and maintenance of the priviledges and prerogatives of the seigniory , lived pedro giovanno count of varini . he was a gentleman no less eminent for the many services he had done the state , than admir'd for his virtues ; he was honoured with the title of count , but much more illustrious in the rich endowments of a noble mind ; to all which was added a large estate and plentiful revenues , which gave lustre and support to the royalty of his house and grandeur of his family . varini was now arrived to the sixtieth year of his age , and being desirous to retire from the troubles and cares , that constantly attend publick employments , left the crowded streets of venice for the quiet and recess of a country life , and presently taking leave of his friends , went to his castle at st. brien about italian miles distant from venice , where he passed his time in the pleasant diversion of those rural sports he was ever delighted in . it happened one day , as he was abroad in the field with several other gentlemen who were his daily companions in his country recreations , his falkner discovered a large heron upon the wing whereupon varini immediately ordered him to try the courage of his hawk if he durst fasten on so bold an enemy . after several bickerings in the air , to the great satisfaction of the spectators , the conflict remain'd doubtful , till at last the hawk impatient in the conquest of his stubborn adversary , redoubled his force and struck him to the ground , who fell into the garden of seignior berinto , whither they all hasted to the assistance of the hawk and seizure of their game . berinto understanding that the count of varini , with several other gentlemen of quality were gon into his garden , followed after , where he found them taking up the heron yet alive though disabled ; all the company highly commended the courage and strength of his hawk , which varini seemed very much pleased at , and being invited into the house by berinto was nobly treated , where he first saw the matchless gloriana , to whom with all the expressions of respect and kindness , he presented the heron , which she with equal grace and courtesie received . berinto was a gentleman of honourable extract , whose great grandfather had been duke of venice , and he himself a considerable merchant there , but having suffered great losses at sea and particularly in one ship , whose cargo was valued at near l. which was taken by the corsairs of argiers , in the wars between the turks and venetians , he left off merchandizing and betook himself to the happy and peaceful solitude , of his country-house at vernon a league from st. brien , where he spent his days free from the dangerous blasts of inconstant fortune ; he had one daughter named gloriana the paragon of her sex , in whom virtue and beauty were equally eminent , and being now of the age of by the consent and approbation of her father , was contracted to seignior castrucchio , a young gentleman of a neighbouring village , who being lately returned from his travells in france and england , desired no other repose of his future happiness , but what he should find in the soft embraces of the beautiful gloriana . but alass in vain do we seek for a perfect and establish'd happiness amongst the fading joys of this uncertain world , in the midst of our greatest security we are on the brink of danger ; and those blessings we catch at are but the shadows of what we mistake them for , and either delude us in our vain pursuit , or ruine us in the fatal enjoyment of them . varini having pay'd his thanks to berinto for his generous reception and splendid entertainment , took his leave of him , inviting him over to st. brien , and telling him , that as such a fortunate accident had made him happy in his acquaintance , he would study all opportunities to improve it , and he hoped they who were so near neighbours , should be no longer strangers to one another in their friendship and conversation . berinto promised in few days to wait upon him at his castle in return of the great honour he had now done him , and that though the sense of his obligations to him , was beyond the power of his present gratitude , yet he would never be wanting in the acknowledgment of that debt he was not able to discharge . night coming on the company parted , and varini retired to st. brien , where being alone his thoughts began to reflect on the beauty of gloriana , the elegant composure of her body and the excellent perfections of her mind , which had now made so violent an assault and deep impression on his heart , that his blood which had been chill'd by the cares and sollicitudes of sixty winters , now grew warm and wanton , his pulse beat vigorously , and all parts grew active and sprightly , so powerful is the strong impulse of love. ten days after berinto came over to make his complement to the count , who received him with all the demonstrations of friendship and respect , and after he had entertain'd him with a sight of his castle , the rarities of his closet , and the fragrant curiosities of his garden , he retir'd into a shady arbour covered with iessamines , where after a pleasant discourse on the great advantages of a true and sincere friendship , he began an excellent harangue , in commendation of love and the happiness of marriage , above the care and solitude of a single life , which berinto assented to , saying , he much wondred that a person of his honour and quality , who wanted nothing to render him compleatly happy , had never yet tasted the ioys of wedlock , which he had so passionately extoll'd . the count told him , amongst all the beauties of italy , he but once saw that incomparable creature worthy of his affections ; and pray my lord , said berinto , what then could obstruct the noble designs of your love ? that question saies varini , my dear berinto , you best can answer . it is gloriana , the matchless gloriana i love , she alone is the lady of my affections , at whose feet i would prostrate my self and all the titles of honour or fortune i am master of , to receive the name of husband from her , more glorious and valuable to me than the purple robes of aspiring senators , or the sparkling diadems of eastern monarchs . berinto was not a little surpriz'd to hear varini with so much ardency of affection , commend his daughter gloriana , nor did he presently know what answer to return ; the ambition of seeing his daughter so great a lady , and that breach of faith which would necessarily attend it , rais'd two different passions in his breast , and so far distracted his thoughts , that varini might easily read the labours and troubles of his mind in his discomposed countenance and profound silence . at last having something recovered himself , he thus replyed , my lord , the transcendency of your goodness , and the noble offer you please to make my daughter , is so great an honour to my family , that i , who am highly sensible of my own demerits , can receive it with no less transports of joy and satisfaction than the captive does his freedom , or the condemned criminal a gracious reprieve . the next day , varini returned berinto's visit and made his first address to gloriana , who being acquainted by her father , with the great professions of kindness , the count had made to him , and his m●re particular respect to her , gave him a reception which rather showed her deference and regard to his quality , than any delight she received from the courtship of a lover . however the count so vigorously pursued his amours , that in a short time he absolutely gained the father , and had been no less successful over the affections of the daughter , had not her pre-engagement to castrucchio , obstructed the conquest of his flames , who was fully resolved , that no power should be able to rescind that sacred tye , by which they were so firmly linkt together : nor should all those empty titles of honour , now laid at her feet , tempt her heart to treachery , and prevail upon her to forsake him to whom she had once vow'd eternal constancy and fidelity . castrucchio was soon acquainted by gloriana with the unwelcome news , that the lord varini was now his rival in his pretensions to her , which he received with a courage undaunted , telling her , that as no person of what quality soever , durst make an attempt upon her vertue , so he was well assured he would find as cold entertainment in her affections ; and that she who knew the honor and justice of his cause , was the most fit person to determine his right , which the lord varini with more treachery than gallantry endeavoured to supplant . gloriana with repeated promises gave fresh assurance of a constant and loyal heart , which all the charms of ambition , should never be able to affect with levity , nor the gilded promises of a plentiful joynture corrupt with infidelity . but alass ! what heart is so steel'd from all impressions of vice , that covetousness and ambition can make no dint upon it ? love too often softens the most rigid and austere vertue , which once made pliable receives the easie signatures of those crimes , we at first so boldly scorn'd and detested . this was the case of fair but inconstant gloriana , the present temptation of riches and honour , were so often presented to her with all the glorious train of future blessings , that at last the gawdy show stagger'd her weaker resolution , and she rather chose the age and impotency of a gouty lord , than the youth and vigour of her faithful castrucchio . in short , the sedulous addresses of varini , joyn'd with the powerful commands of berinto , at last took place , and gloriana consented to the marriage , which was solemnized in the castle of st. brien a forthnight after , with all the magnificence and splendor a generous bounty was able to express . castrucchio was not long before he received intelligence of the fatal news , and a positive confirmation of his own unhappy state by the treacherous gloriana , which so nearly reach'd his heart , that he immediately fell into a deep melancholy , which continued for several months upon him , and had now brought him into a consumption , which his friends apprehending the danger of advised him to remove to padua , the chief university of italy , not far from venice , for change of air ; where we shall leave him to the care of the most able and learned physicians , and return to gloriana , who has now attained the utmost perfection of that happiness she had aspired to . the count and his lady lived at st. brien , were visited and complemented by all the nobility and gentry of the country , and to all appearance no persons could be more happy than varini in the embraces of gloriana , and gloriana in the love and endearments of varini : but alas ! the fairest picture hath its shade , and the brightest day is closed by the dark and dismal night . gloriana had not been married above nine months , before she grew pale and wan , the roses of her cheeks were faded , and the little cupids which formerly danc'd in her eyes were fled and gone , a cloud of melancholy sate hovering on her forehead , and all her actions and discourse spoke the resentments of a troubled and discontented mind . her conversation had now lost that air and briskness she was once so admired for , and all her time was spent in a melancholy retirement to her closet , or in the most shady recesses of her garden , where she sigh'd away her bitter hours in complaints to the more happy birds , who free from the tyranny of humane laws , did once a year choose their own mates , and in fresh enjoyments could bill without controul . varini was passionately concerned to see his beloved gloriana so strangely alter'd , and with all the tender expressions of love and kindness endeavoured to expel those troubles which had seiz'd her mind ; but all in vain , age had now made him an impotent physician , and nature denyed him that elixir of life which could only cure the longings of a youthful and vigorous lady . gloriana declined so fast in her health , that he resolved to remove to venice , in hopes the pleasantness of the place , and variety of company , would divert her melancholy , and restore her to her former health and beauty , and accordingly did so . varini had not been above three months there , but castrucchio , who was now perfectly recovered at padua , heard of his return to venice , whither he immediately removed , and courted all opportunities to get a sight of the countess , which soon after he effected . understanding she used to go to st. mark 's chappel to mass , he constantly paid his devotions there , where at last he spied her upon her knees before the high altar , and not observing the count her husband , or any of her servants near , went and kneel'd down by her . it is not difficult to guess what saint he made his prayers to , nor what was the subject of his petitions ▪ the countess was strangely surpriz'd to see castrucchio so near her , and in the midst of his discourse bid him forbear , and meet her there the next afternoon at four precisely . castrucchio in the interim suffered all the torments that variety of thoughts could rack him with , sometimes blaming her disloyalty to him , he expected nothing but scorn and contempt , and presently when he considered her first infidelity , it gave him hopes she might prove as faithless to the count , whose cold and impotent embraces could never oblige the craving desires of a youthful beauty . the hour was now come , and castrucchio impatiently expected the countess , who presently came and kneeled down in the same place he had seen her before ; castrucchio placed himself next to her , who immediately gave him a note into his hands , wherein he found these contents following : gloriana to castrucchio . to morrow the count varini goes to his castle at st. brien , and at ten in the morning i will be at the franciscan church , till then farewell my dear , my dear castrucchio . castrucchio was overjoyed at this assignation , and punctually observed it , where , notwithstanding his diligence , the countess prevented him , from whence they immediately went to the water-side , and took a gondola , and so directly to a private garden of pleasure , where the recluseness of the place presented them with the opportunity of a more secret converse . castrucchio could not so prudently stifle his resentments of gloriana's inconstancy , but she presently observ'd discontent in his looks , and by the breaks of his discourse , that a more fix'd and compos'd trouble was settled in his heart . whereupon , my dear castrucchio , sayes she , you blame me i know , and presume the iustice of your cause , will warrant your reflections on my guilty breast ; i confess i am not so innocent as i ought to be , yet let not the severity of your prosecution , exceed the quality of my offence ; if i have wronged your goodness by my breach of faith , let that goodness now forgive me , and my too late repentance be my punishment . gloriana's penitence and castrucchio's mercy , soon wrought a perfect reconciliation , and the rest of the time was spent in more pleasant and amorous entertainments . at evening they parted , when gloriana told castrucchio , the visit he promised she 'd receive at her own house the next evening , for she did not expect the count's return till ten days after . thus they had frequent enterviews , in the absence of the count by the assistance of fortia , gloriana's waiting-woman , who being privy to the intrigues of love between the countess and castrucchio , was very serviceable to their amours , by admitting him in the dusk of the evening , at a back door into her lodgings where they revelled all night in forbidden pleasures , little dreaming of those heavy judgments , which so closely pursued their adulterous crimes . the count was now returned , who observ'd great alterations in the temper and behaviour of gloriana , her humour had now recovered its former sprightliness , and nothing seemed so dear and obliging to her , as the embraces of her husband , which he was extreamly pleased withal , mistaking that for love and kindness in her , which was only a feigned passion and crafty disguise , to conceal a more notorious offence . varini had now continued two months at venice , whose presence prevented that familiarity and those frequent visits the lady and her paramour so earnestly coveted , which gloriana much lamented , and by the advice of fortia , resolv'd to remedy . it was agreed that gloriana should counterfeit her self sick , which she did , and prayed varini that father paulo raquinto her confessor might be sent for , whose prayers and ghostly counsel she hoped would turn to her great advantage . varini was much grieved at the sickness of his lady , and readily granted any request she made ; accordingly the holy father came daily to visit the countess , of which fortia gave castrucchio notice , and that it was her ladies pleasure that he should put himself into the same religious habit , under which covert he might with safety see her when ever varini was abroad . this design was of great service to them , for no sooner was varini gone to the rialto , but fortia gave castrucchio intelligence , who presently came and was admitted without the least mistrust of the servants . this politick contrivance for a long time skreen'd the adulterous countess , from the suspitions of her servants and the jealousies of varini ; who ( she appearing now to be with child , ) doted on her more than ever ; praised his own happiness in a mistaken blessing , deeming that the strength of his impotent age and the glory of his gray-hairs , which was the effect of youthful lust in his shameless and adulterous wife . but not long after varini by accident took up a letter in his ladies chamber , and found the directions of it to seignior castrucchio ; the name startled him extreamly , wondring how it should come there ; the contents of it , were business writ from some gentleman in the country ; after he had a long time pondered upon the matter , with all the jealous disquisitions of an italian brain , he resolved the point , that this gentleman was most certainly his ladies gallant , and probably the same person since the name was so , to whom he too lately understood she had been pre-contracted . the letter however he concealed , and presuming if there was any such intrigue that fortia was acquainted with it , the countess being gone to mass , he strictly examined her , whom he endeavoured to threaten into a confession which she couragiously withstood ; but at last being tempted with a purse of checquins , she made that faith a slave to gold , which could not be forc'd by the terrors of punishment , and discovered the dangerous secret with all it's circumstances . varini received the dismal story , with horror and amazement , curs'd his own unhappy fortune , and much more the treachery of his disloyal countess ; after a little pause he gratified fortia according to his promise , and commanding her to silence , retired to his closet where he meditated a revenge proportionable to his own injury and gloriana ●s infidelity . three days after , he told gloriana with a smiling countenance ▪ he must leave her to lye alone that night and go over to st. brien for some writings he wanted , but would be back the next evening ; and to give a fairer gloss to the business , and make her more secure , ordered her if seignior boraccio the procurator came , to give him those parchments in his closet , of which that was the key . varini immediately parted for st. brien , who was no sooner gone , but the countess sent castrucchio word of it , and desired his company that night ; castrucchio who had never yet failed her amorous invitations was punctual at the hour . varini pretending to his servants he had forgot something , returned by at night , and went directly up to her chamber attended by sturio a gentleman that waited upon him , whom he ordered to knock at the door , ( which was locked ) and say , he had a letter to the countess of urgent business from his lord varini . the lovers having wearied themselves with the repetition of their unlawful pleasures lay fast asleep enchased in each others arms , till fortia awaked gloriana , telling her some body knockt at the chamber door , who startled at it , bid her ask who was so rude , and what their business ; sturio ( whose voice was very well known ) answered , he had brought a letter from his lord varini to the countess of important business , upon which , not in the least suspecting what was design'd against her , she commanded fortia to open the door , and receive the letter , and bid sturio to wait her answer below . fortia no sooner opened the door , but varini rushed in with his sword drawn , and sturio after him with a brace of pistols in his hands ; castrucchio was asleep , and the countess so surprised , that she onely gave one loud shriek , at which castrucchio awaking , at the same instant felt varini's sword in his breast , who with repeated wounds gave his fleeting soul an easie passage into another world. the countess lay trembling by , happy in this onely , that she had nothing now to fear , but each minute hop'd and begg'd his revenging s●eel would carve the same justice on her guilty breast ; but in vain , varini intended her no such favour . castrucchio being seemingly dead , varini commanded sturio to strike off his head , and with his own hands ript open his breast , and took out his heart , which leaping in his hand , this madam , says he , ( turning to the countess ) is the heart of your beloved paramour , see yet how sprightly it is ; it was unreasonable , lady , you should have him wholly to your self , this is my share now , and that yours , scornfully kicking the head to her . it is impossible to describe that horrour of mind and anguish of soul gloriana laboured under , which nothing but the blessing of a sudden death was able to relieve her from . castrucchio's body thus mangled was thrown out at the window snto the street , and gloriana confined to her chamber , where she was left alone , with the head of her lover placed on her cabinet , to furnish her with constant meditations of death , and the sad remembrance of her former pleasures , which , with the present torment of a guilty conscience , was a punishment more grievous than ten thousand deaths . the next morning discovered castrucchio's body , which was found under gloriana's window , with the head off , the breast cut open , and the heart pull'd out , to the great wonder and astonishment of every gazing passenger . varini went early in the morning to the council and acquainted them with the circumstances of the fact , before the officers of justice had notice of it , acknowledged himself the authour , proved by sturio and fortia , that he found castrucchio in bed with his lady , and upon that provocation had taken this severe but just revenge , which appearing to he true by the aforesaid evidence , he was acquitted . seven days after gloriana was delivered of a dead son , whose immature birth was occasioned by the violence of her grief and sorrow , which yet was not powerful enough to end her unhappy days , and put a period to those miseries under which she languished . varini seeing the present illness of gloriana , ordered the head of castrucchio to be removed from her sight , the smell of it now growing very offensive , and sometimes used to visit her , and in some measure , seemed to remit the severity of his revenge , and give place to pitty and compassion . gloriana after a month , was so well recovered , that she walked about her chamber and had liberty to take the air of the garden , and dine if she pleased publickly with varini or privately in her own chamber , but constantly obliged to drink out of castrucchio's skull , which by the command of the count , had the flesh boyled off , the brains taken out , and fashioned into the form of a cup. not long after varini meeting gloriana one evening , walking solitary in the gallery , my dear , says he , i observe you yet continue very pensive and melancholly , at which i am much concerned ; i have consulted your physitians in relation to your health , who have prescribed an electuary which you must take this evening , an hour before you go to bed , it will comfort your spirits and cheer your heart : which she willingly assented to . at night he brought it to her chamber himself , and having recommended it to her for the richness of the ingredients , she eat chearfully of it , and asking if she must take it all at once , that , said he , as you please madam , and as you like it , it is the heart of your beloved castrucchio , prepared for you with my own hands according to art : at which words she looked earnestly upon him , saying , it has all the qualities of the richest balsom and most pretious cordial , 't is pitty any part of it should be lost ; and as soon as she had eaten it all up , went to rest , and was found next morning dead in her bed. but i shall not determine whether her death was the effect of passion , in some extraordinary transport of joy at the remembrance of her dear castrucchio ; or that varini had mixt poyson in the composition of his medicine ; and that he might equally temper his justice and revenge together , by giving her castrucchio's lustful heart , the sweet of her life mixt with the bitter ingredients of death , to varini ●s shame , and gloriana's punishment . thus dyed the inconstant gloriana , and two years after , the count , having first quitted the troublesome stage of this world , retired into the monastery of s● . francis , where he assumed a religious habit , and spent the short remainder of his life , in constant prayers , and pious meditations . had humble vertue , been more the subject of gloriana's meditations , than covetousness or ambition ; her lustful heart , had never made a forfeiture of castrucchio's head : nor his miserable death , been the shame and punishment of her vitious life . hist. ii. dribellus and petronella . dribellus courts petronella , and deflowers her , she is afterwards married to polissus ; by the means of morella her waiting-woman dribellus commits adultery with her which is discovered by paretta , polissus cuts off dribellus his members , scourges morella , and petronella is condemned to the punishment of the radish , of which she dyes . thessaly in greece , ( which so oft has heen the happy subject of the poet's song ) is no less celebrated for its lofty mountains , whose aspiring heads surmount the clouds , than for its fruitful plains , the riches and delight of the industrious shepherd ; in which fam'd oeta shares equal honour with towring olympus and the well spread taurus ; not far from the foot of oeta , are yet some remains of that glorious city , once called hypata , where patricius castriot , a gentleman of antient family and large demesus lived in honour and reputation , from whom the noble scanderbeg , that scourge and terrour of the turks , derived his pedigree . this gentleman had one only child , a daughter called petronella , a young lady of admirable beauty , in which she not more excell'd all others of her sex , than in the perfections of her mind , which bounty of heaven , her careful father still endeavoured to improve by the most learned masters of all sciences that age afforded . amongst others , dribellus a young gentleman who had been educated under miletus bishop of thessalonica , was entertained by him , with the promise of a generous reward , to instruct his daughter in rhetorick , in which he particularly excelled ; the good father resolving she should want no accomplishment that art could furnish her with , to render her the most compleat pattern of vertue and learning , and the only phaenix of her age and sex. the care and industry of dribellus was soon discovered by the great improvement of his pupil , which patricius was no less sensible of , and constantly encouraged with his bountiful hand . twelve months were now passed , in which dribellus by his obliging behaviour , had equally charm'd the tender affections of petronella , and won the good opinion of her father and mother , both highly commended his modest carriage and sweetness of temper , from whose indefatigable pains , they hoped to reap those great advantages , his studious labours so fairly promised . the constant society of dribellus with petronella , had now endear'd them to each other , and the unhappy flames of love warm'd their breasts with mutual kindness and respect , which dribellus no sooner discovered by the languishing looks of petronella , but he resolved if possible , to raise a future fortune there , where at first , he only expected a present support and maintainance . to this end he courted all opportunities to enjoy her company , and frequently exchanged his lectures of rhetorick , for the more pleasing discourses of love , which he soon found were no less acceptable to his mistress than the other had been grateful to his pupill . thus they continued for some time , courting each other with amorous glances and melancholly sighs , the dumb but powerful rhetorick of bashful lovers ; till at last dribellus in express terms , discovered his passion to her , at which she seemed very much surprized , but having recovered her self , told him , she had been always very sensible of his great respects to her in those diligent instructions she received from him , which though she was in no capacity to retaliate , she would never forget ; and hoped the bounty and generosity of her parents , would in some measure answer his merits , whilst she could only reward him with a thankful acknowledgement . dribellus who well knew the great wit of petronella could not mistake the true sence and meaning of his discourse , though her prudence and modesty diverted it to another subject , presently reply'd , dribellus has no such haughty thoughts of his past service , to think he ever could oblige the fair petronella , or in the least deserve a return of that sincere affection he professes to her . i love my fairest petronella ; i leve ; and no reward is valuable with me but what gives me your heart , or robs me of my life ; if your kindness bids me live , i live your servant , or your frown at the same minute , commands me to dye your martyr . petronella blush'd , and what modesty would not suffer her to utter in words , she spoke in her languishing eyes and abrupt sighs , live dribellus , live , and let that cruel maid , be for ever forsaken who bids her lover dye . at this dribellus took heart and pursued his amours with so vigorous an attaque , that the lady made a willing surrender , and promised that the heart he had so bravely conquered , should ever be the trophy , of his victory . dribellus having thus gain'd an assurance of petronella's affections , endeavoured by all means , to fix it beyond the power or cause of ill fortune , and accordingly some few days after , finding petronella in the garden , began an assault upon her vertue , with all the specious pretensions of affection that love could inspire him with ▪ petronella , who had already yielded up her heart to dribellus , thought the sacred trust of her honours might be reposed in the same breast , with equal security . thus with kind caresses , and wanton dalliances , did this subtil thief rob her of the flower of her virginity , and with the sighs and denials of a languishing maid , she at last exchanged the native innocence of her soul , and vertue of her mind , for shame , folly and dishonour : this was the first step they made in those crooked paths of wickedness , which they afterwards so much delighted in , who by the frequent repetition of their unlawful pleasures , were now grown so careless and secure , as if they gloried in their sins , and were neither sensible of their shame , nor apprehensive of the punishment , which with a silent pace constantly pursues the lustful criminal . before this was discovered by any of her relations , a young gentleman , who lived at larissa , ( the birth-place of achilles , not far from oeta ) whose name is polissus , the eldest son of abridatus , a gentleman of very considerable estate and family , was recommended to her father , as a person who would be a very suitable match for his daughter , who with a very handsome equipage , was now come over to hypata to court her . fame had spoke loud of the perfections of petronella , both in body and mind , and after some days converse found himself absolutely conquered by the charms of her witand conversation , which were more irresistible than those of her face and beauty , in both which she appeared so illustrious , that polissus was straight made a prisoner by her , and fast fettered in the golden chains of love. this gave the lovers an unexpected disturbance , who with sighs and tears express the present trouble and anguish of their minds , they curse the coming of polissus , and charge him as the sole author of their unhappiness and misery : dribellus looks on him with envy , and petronella with disdain ; she could not willingly afford him one amorous glance , all her smiles were counterfeit , and the best entertainment she could give him was upon force and constraint , whil'st he sighs and throws himself at her feet , without moving her to the least pity or compassion ; but polissus grew daily into the favour of her parents , though he found little progress in the heart of the daughter ; and although patricius himself interposed his paternal authority to recommend him to her affections , told her of his riches , and fair possessions , the nobility of his family , and his personal endowments , yet she slighted and contemned him , and one day told her mother , that though she did allow polissus to be a compleat gentleman , yet it was impossible for her to act so great a violence upon her self , as to force her affections to love that person she ever had an aversion to , and should think her self more happy in the cold arms of death , than the embraces of that husband that she could not affect . the mother moved with the tears of her daughter , took pity on her , but her father being of a more stern and austere nature , grew enraged at her denial , and was so far from admitting her impertinent reasonings , that he resolved to force her to compliance , and not suffer her longer to resist his will and pleasure , and to that end dispatched a messenger to abridatus , polissus his father , in order to se●tle all things for the intended marriage . patricius finding all his endeavours fruitless , and his daughter so perverse and obstinate , that neither his threats could force her , or his endearments win her , began to consider with himself what could be the true cause of her contumacy and dislike ; he saw nothing in the person or behaviour of polissus , but what might render him acceptable to a maid not prepossess'd with the love of another : he knew he had kept her strictly at 〈◊〉 under his own care and government , and that her youth had hitherto defended her from all insinuations of that nature ; nor could his thoughts fix upon any person thereabouts , that could give him the least umbrage of suspicion , much less did he imagine dribellus was that thief , who had robb'd his daughter of her heart , so great an opinion had he of his vertue and honesty . but his wife , who best knew the temper of her own sex , so narrowly watched all the actions and gestures of petronella , that she soon discovered the kindness and familiarity that was between the master and the scholar ; but ( like a prudent woman ) she did not immediately acquaint her husband with it , and publish to the world the folly of her daughter , but watched an opportunity , that she might take them together and reprove them of that folly which would certainly be attended with misery and repentance . it happened not long after , that dribellus and petronella being retired into a grove of olives , which by the privacy and recluseness of it , had been the frequent scene of their dishonest pleasures , the mother followed them at a distance , and in the midst of those ravishing delights they entertain'd each other with ; she cryed out and appeared to the two lovers in the very extasie and rapture of their lust. it is here impossible to describe the horror and amasement the two lovers were in , to see themselves surprized in this wanton posture ; the sight of her mother was more terrible to them , than that of a basilisk , the lightning of her eyes and the thunder of her voice , pierced their breasts and cleft their hearts asunder . in this posture they continued a while , without being able to say one word in excuse of themselves or the notoriousness of that fact which was too apparent to be denyed ; till at last dribellus began to speak in justification of himself and the afflicted petronella , cha●ging all the blame on the power and force of love , and the rigorous indiscretion of patricius , who would compel petronella to marry polissus , whom she could never love petronella , with shame and confusion in her face begs her mothers pardon and forgiveness with tears and sighs , who taking her by the hand , led her to her chamber , where after she had severely reprehended her with the guilt and ignominy of such dissolute pleasures , she lockt her up , and there left her to her own meditations ; and went directly to her father and told him that she had discovered an intrigue of love between dribellus and petronella , which was the cause of her aversion to polissus , without discovering that secret which would for ever have blasted the honour of her daughter , and branded their family , with an indelible mark of shame and infamy . patricius heard this relation with grief and astonishment , and at the desire of his wife , resolved to turn off dribellus with all speed , and that no particular notice should be taken , at the same time to discharge all her other masters , she being now to be married , and to go and live with her husband at larissa . dribellus wondered much that he was onely discharged , and no other punishment inflicted on him , which he could not attribute to the clemency of patricius , but his ignorance of that crime he was guilty of ; which he supposed the prudence of his wife had concealed from him , who otherwise would have been as severe in his revenge , as the heinousness of so great a fault did justly deserve . polissus receiving fresh encouragement from patricius of success in his amours , returns to hypata , where he finds petronella much altered in her temper and respects to him , and now fairly promises himself the happiness of consummating the espousals with his beautiful mistress he so earnestly coveted ; which to the great satisfaction of himself and all his friends , ( but the unhappy petronella ) were solemniz'd with all imaginable pomp and splendour . two months af●er , he took his leave of patricius , and returned to larissa with his bride , where his father received them with the expressions of a hearty welcome ; and petronella demean'd her self , with that duty and respect , that she was both belov'd and admir'd of all . who would not now think petronella is intirely happy , and might live the contentedst woman in the world ? but alas where grace and vertue do not strew the wedding with flowers and garlands , hymen is attended with furies , and his saffron robe dipt in gall ; the happiness of marriage , is the union of two hearts , not the conjunction of two bodies , and where the sincerity of affection is wanting , all vows and contracts , are frail and brittle tyes . the memory of dribellus and those unlawful pleasures she had so often repeated in his arms , now afresh attack'd her , and nothing could please her lascivious thoughts , but the hopes she might once again see her beloved paramour ; when unexpectedly she received a letter from him to this purpose . dribellus to petronella . my dearest petronella , the life and ioy of my soul , i die for you , and languish after you my life ; since i am banished from your presence , ( which is more intolerable to me then the severest death ) i cannot live without a sight of you ; for which reason i am privately come to larissa , and shall wait your directions how i may once more be happy in the enjoyment of your company , which if you forbid me , you strike a dagger to my heart , which now bleeds for you . your answer is my sentence of life or death , which i impatiently wait for , and if you ever loved i now beg your pity on the most unhappy and forlorn dribellus . petronella was overjoy'd at the receipt of this letter , and immediately returned an answer , desiring him to be at the garden door at five that evening , where she would expect his coming . but poor petronella thou wilt dearly ●rue this sight , and too late be sensible that the pleasures of sin , are compounded of the bitterest ingredients . the hour being come petronella ordered her waiting-woman marella , to attend at the garden door and conduct dribellus into an arbour , where the transports of joy betwixt the two lovers are inexpressible ; they met with equal ardour and affection , bewailed one anothers destiny , and cursed the tyrany of parents who often consult more their own interest , than the happiness and satisfaction of their children , in such forc'd marriages , which often prove most fatal in the consequence . at last ( marella being made one of their council ) it was agreed that dribellus who was scarce known to polissus , should put himself into the habit of a servant , and under the feigned name of cotys be admitted into the family to look after the wardrobe , which place was now vacant . dribellus was accordingly entertained , whilst polissus never suspects the snake he lodg'd in his bosom , nor the thief he harboured in his house ; and now cotys thinks himself happy , hugs his own ingenuity , and imagins himself blessed and fortunate . in this manner the two lovers live together , take hold of all opportunities to converse together and enjoy each other ; no clouds appeared to interrupt their joy , and all things ran with a smooth and even current . among the many servants they kept , there was a maid called paretta , who fell desperately in love with cotys , would never be out of his company , and at last grew so troublesome to him , that he was forced to slight and disrespect her that he might rid himself of her importunity . this she took in evil part , and supposing the reason of his unkindness to her , was the love he had for some other person , narrowly watched him ; and at last discovered the kindness and familiarity between him and petronella . paretta , who resolved to be revenged on her hated rival , watched all opportunities to take them together , believing she should find them unchast in their dalliances , which accordingly fell out not long after ; when seeing morella one evening go into the garden and cotys immediately follow , she made hast after them and found the door fast on the inside , which the more increased her suspition ; and remembring there lay a short ladder in the barn , by the help of it mounted the garden wall , and privately conveyed her self near the arbor where she saw cotys and marella ( who were talking together ) and presently after her lady descending on a ladder made of ropes , from a balcony into the garden , whom cotys presently led into a close arbor of iessamines at the further end of which they caress'd each other with amorous embraces , whilst morella waiting at a distance watch'd the doors and windows to prevent a discovery . the next day paretta pleased with the opportunity she now had of being revenged on the disdainful cotys , acquaints polissus with the infidelity of cotys and treachery of petronella , who had thus shamefully abused his honour and prostituted her self to his servant and slave . polissus struck with the horror of this relation , examins her o're and o're , finds no disagreement in her tale , but too much reason to believe the truth of it , and now fears this was some former lover of hers in disguise . to discover the certainty thereof , he acquainted an intimate and familiar friend with it , and by his advice pretending one evening , to walk abroad upon a visit , they secretly conveyed themselves into the garden where they lay close and undiscovered . two hours after , entered cotys and morella , and presently after petronella descended from the balcony by the same ladder of ropes . their ears were the first witnesses of their amorous parly , and it was not long before their eyes discovered their filthiness , when in the midst of their lustful pleasures , they surprized them with their glittering scymiters in their hands , which struck the lovers with a horror and consternation , beyond the power of words to express . petronella implor'd nothing but present death from his own hands , which he had not mercy enough to give , but reserv'd her for a more infamous and shameful end . turning his eyes from her , with all the passionate expressions of abhorence and detestation , he called in his servants , and order'd them to bind dribellus , who was immediately dismembred before her face , and thrust out of doors to seek his fortune . morella was stript and bound to a tree , and scourged with the twigs of hazle , till the skin was flead off from her back , and then banished the city ; petronella was carried to her chamber , where she continued prisoner till the next morning , when she was brought before the magistrates , and upon evident proof of the adultery , was condemned to undergo the raphination or punishment of the radish , which in those countrys grow to a great magnitude , which they force up their bodies . thus the wretehed petronella suffered , when she had in vain begged to be strangled , and dyed the most ignominious and shameful death the art of man could invent . petronella dyed very penitent , confessing the wickedness of her crime , and begging pardon of her husband was both pitied by him , and much lamented by all who knew the quality of her birth and vertuous education . thus we see the tragical end , of unlawful pleasures which like the apples of sodom appear fair and beautiful to the eye ; promise a thousand happinesses by their bewitching outside and false appearances , but within are either nothing but rotteness , or upon the first touch , crumble into dust , acd leave us to shame and misery here , and eternal damnation hereafter . hist. iii. don pedro and paulinta . don roderigo marries dona paulinta . don pedro de castello by the assistance of john de blinco , the astrologer , and laura her waiting-woman , commits adultery with her . paulinta upon her delivery of a monstruous birth , dyes . roderigo runs mad , don pedro is branded in the forehead , blinco whipt through the streets of corduba , and sent to the mines ; and laura torn in pieces by wild beasts . at corduba in spain , lived don andreo rametzi , who was a person very considerable in those parts , both for his estate and quality , and a peculiar excellency he had in dispatch of business of the greatest moment , in which he was indefatigable : for these reasons in the year he was made proveditor general under don iohn of austria , to whose care and provision , were committed the arms , ammunition , and all other naval preparations , for that huge armada ; which was compleatly furnish'd out in , and design'd for the invasion of england , and utter extirpation of the reformed religion . this gentleman died in the year before at cales of a malignant feaver , and left three sons of which , don roderigo was the eldest , who upon his fathers death , being master of a plentiful estate , left the command he had in the fleet , ( upon some disgust ) and returned to corduba ; where within a twelvemonth he was married to dona paulinta , the only daughter of don camillo , a rich and wealthy citizen . the young couple lived with great content and satisfaction in their mutual love and affection , during the first three years of their marriage ; but being not yet bless'd with any children , those desired fruits of their conjugal vows , the discouragements of their vigorous embraces bred discontent ; and each blam'd the other , for the want of that happiness neither could give . these differences between roderigo and paulinta increas'd to that height , that roderigo forsook her bed , and often with opprobious taunts , call'd her barren doe ; all his satyrical expressions , were still pointed with reflections on her sterility ; which she unable to bear , with her wonted patience and submission , complained to her relations , of the unkindness of her husband , and desired their intercession , often saying , she believed he would be a contented cuckold , upon condition , he was but a presumptive father . these discords were in some measure reconcil'd by the mediation of friends ; but the occasion of them was now grown the chat and entertainment of every feast , and at last reached the ears of don pedro de castello a young gentleman , whose extravagant pleasures had much impayr'd his estate , which oblig'd him to consider of some new methods of living , to maintain his port and quality . he was familiarly acquainted with roderigo , and the late discourses he had heard of the difference between him and his wife , rais'd new designs in his head of advancing his fortunes by a courtship to her , in which his own hopes , and her present discontent flattered him with success . to this end , he watch'd all opportunities to oblige him with some respectful service , and not long after meeting roderigo , who told him of the late misfortune he had in hunting , to gore his horse upon a stake as he leapt a hedge , with the danger of his own life ; they fell upon a discourse of the excellency of the spanish jennets , their beautiful shape and fleetness , in the close of all , roderigo told him he thought no gentleman in corduba was master of a better horse than himself ; don pedro presently replyed your commendations seignior will make me place a greater value and esteem upon him ; and the next day , by his servant presented him with his jennet , and a saddle and foot cloth richly embroydered . this generous kindness of don pedro so highly endear'd him to roderigo , that they vow'd eternal friendship to each other ; were constant companions in all their pleasures and diversions , and the same soul seem'd to animate both their bodies . this intimacy gave don pedro free access to roderigo's house , where he observed the disgusts between him and his wife , which , whenever he was absent , by his graceful behaviour and more particular respects to her , he endeavoured to improve to his own advantage . the assiduous address of don pedro to paulinta , and the continual slights of roderigo , promis'd him success in his amours ; which he pursued with so much artifice and industry , that roderigo was not in the least jealous of his design , nor paulinta insensible of his affections . don pedro had now made his applications , for four months , in amorous glances , and courtly smiles , which he flatter'd himself , had so far prevail'd upon her that nothing remain'd but an easie conquest , and that she would readily surrender the fort of honour , assoon as he had the opportunity to make one bold attacque . two days after roderigo told don pedro , seignior courtelet had desir'd his company to hunt the next morning , which he had promis'd him ; and hoped he would not be the last in the field , who loved the sport so well . don pedro excus'd himself , that he had business of great consequence fixt for that day , which roderigo believing , admitted of , and prest no further . roderigo being abroad a hunting , don pedro followed his game at home , and in express terms , discover'd his passion to paulinta , which she receiv'd with disdain , telling him , her husband little suspected that sincerity of friendship he pretended to him was false and counterfeit , and that the injury he had offer'd him , would warrant his sharpest revenge . don pedro was very much surpriz'd at so unkind an answer , and pray●d that the reality of his love to her person and zeal to her service , might atone for the rudeness of his language ; and though he believed her chast as the fam'd lucretia , yet when her too vigorous vertue , shall be the occasion of her husband 's discontent and her own unhappiness , common prudence would advise to remove both ; which since it was the true sense of his discourse , he hop'd rather to merit her esteem than deserve her reprimand . paulinta with a look as if she intended to smile , which was presently dash'd with a frown thus replyed ; the great concernment you express at my present troubles challenge my thanks , but did you as well consider the sacred name of vertue , which i must for ever disown , you would not so unworthily tempt me to prostitute my honour , to cure the unreasonable capricio's of a discontented husband : this first offence i 'le parden but beware you never provoke my anger by a second , which shall make you sensible of your fault , by the iustice of your punishment . don pedro seeing all his hopes of a projected happiness , thus blasted in a minute , resolv'd however not to quit his design for a single disappointment , bur try to effect that by stratagem , which he could not attain by the common methods of love and address . amongst the crowd of thoughts and various designs , his wandring fancy presented him with , he at last hit upon this one consideration which pleas'd above the rest . laura paulinta's woman was passionately in love , with his man philip , who either despising her poverty or contemning her beauty , slighted all offers of kindness with a sullen disrespect : whereupon meeting her one day alone in the street , he told her he understood she had a particular kindness for philip , which he very well approv'd of , and if she would come to his lodgings in the afternoon , he would propose a way to make her happy in the enjoyment of her lover . laura overjoy'd at this , came accordingly , and after several discourses on that subject to her great satisfaction , he promis'd her philip for a husband , and a hundred duccatoons reward , if she would prevail with paulinta to go to iohn de blinco the astrologer , who was famous for telling of fortunes , helping maids to their sweet-hearts , and curing barrenness in married women , which he was confident , paulinta would experience the truth of , in a short time , to the joy and content of her self and roderigo . laura told him this would be so great an obligation to them , that no person was more proper than himself to recommend it to her mistress , which he excus'd as not consistent with her modesty to hear , or his friendship to discourse the secrets of the sheets and sacred royalties of the marriage bed. at last laura agreed to undertake it and accordingly at the first opportunity , proposed it to her mistress , as a thought of her own without ever naming don pedro , which he had positively forbid , and she religiously swore to observe . paulinta , like some of her sex , who by being too strait lac'd , do often grow awry ; as she was strictly vertuous , was a litttle warp'd by superstition , and rather than be less than good , endeavour'd to be more ; this made her easily credit laura's discourse , who having according to don pedro's instructions , perswaded her , of the lawfulness and certainty of astrological judgments , she presently concluded her self obliged to make use of those methods which would infallibly render them both happy in a fruitful offspring . three days after laura acquainted don pedro that the next morning under pretence of going to mass , paulinta had determin'd to go to iohn de blinco's , to consult him what was the reason of her want of children , and what prolific remedies were best in her case . don pedro was well pleas'd at this news and the more that she did it without the privity and knowledge of roderigo ; no sooner was laura gone , but he went directly to iohn de blinco , foretold him of paulinta's coming next day , her business , and furnish'd him with answers of all sorts to satisfie the queries that she or laura should make ; gave him fifty duccatoons in hand , and promis'd fifty more three days after , if the design was discreetly manag'd . this de blinco accepted , and assur'd him of his utmost care and fidelity . next morning , paulinta attended by laura , went accordingly , and inquir'd if seignior de blinco the learn'd astrologer was within ; upon which they were conducted up stairs into his chamber ; de blinco presently came out of his study in a furr'd gown , and blew sattin cap , with two and thirty corners , blazon'd according to the points of the compass ; the gravity of his beard and solemn meen , furnish'd them with a respect and reverence suitable to his quality . paulinta began to discourse her business to him , which he prevented by telling her , you need not trouble your self lady , to acquaint me with one tittle you have to say , the starrs have already better inform'd me , and if you please to have a little patience till i have made a perfect iudgment of the scheme , i have but now erected , i hope the present face of the heavens will return you ( by me their mouth ) a serene and pleasing answer . de blinco went back to his study , and paulinta with impatience waited his return . about an hour after he came out again with a pair of compasses in one hand , and a large scheme in the other , and now lady ( said he ) i am prepar'd to resolve all your doubts ; but first let me tell you at your birth i calculated your nativity , of which this is the figure . you are the only daughter of don camillo , i see very plainly here , and the present conjunction was very unkind to you ; you have six enemies and but one friend in this whole house , under their malignant influence you have suffer'd these several years , but now they have spit their venom and the favourable aspect of your friend , shall make you glorious and triumphant . but as to your present business , you desire to know the reasons of your barrenness , and the cure ; the general reasons are three , which proceed , from the three elemental spirits ▪ tohu , bohu and vezi , and these i have already reconcil'd you to : now as to the cure , yours is the most desperate case that i ever met with , there is but one man in the world born under the same configuration with your self , and unless you are in conjunction with him , you will never be prolific . alas said paulinta i am the unhappiest creature in the world ! pray sir look again i have told you all the truth , reply'd de blinco , already , and can add no more ; but if you desire to know that single man , it is within the power of my art to discover him to you . paulinta intreated it , and de blinco thus went on ; in the sycamore walk of the carmelites garden ; at four in the evening after the next full moon ( which is your auspicious planet ) you will see him sitting alone upon a bench reading quevedo's visions ; and that 's the phaenix you look for . paulinta having nobly rewarded him , desir'd to have it in writing , which he gave her , and then taking leave , wish'd that blessed minute was now come which could only satisfie her labouring mind in the truth of these strange predictions . learned mythologists , who best expound the mysterys of poetic fictions , say , the antient heathens worship'd the moon , under the name of lucina the goddess of midwifry ; and the old women of those days , thought her in travel when she suffered an eclipse , and by the beating of kettles , and scraping of trenchers kindly endeavour'd to recover her from those fainting fits , by their hoarse prayers and dismal noises . but never did they pray more heartily than paulinta did , to see her in the full circle of her resplendant glory : nor did she more passionately caress endymion when she stoopt to kiss the fair youth ; than paulinta now did her , for the sake of her unknown gallant . the wish'd for day is come at last , but the sluggish hour mov'd on too slow to answer the earnest and longing expectations of thoughtful paulinta ; the clock had no sooner struck three , but she call'd laura , and made hast to the garden , and still as she pass'd along ( impatient of delay ) sent her eyes , the quick harbingers of her troubled mind to make the happy discovery . but oh the strange surprize ▪ just as she entred the sycamore walk , she saw don pedro upon the next bench leaning on his arm in a melancholy posture , and reading to himself . paulinta knew him at first sight , and suddenly stept back , as if her tender foot had prest the poysonous adder , or more loathsom toad : don pedro looking up spy'd paulinta in disorder , whom he approach'd with that civility and respect he constantly pay'd her ; whilst she prudently endeavour'd to hide her passions , and pleasantly ask'd him what book that was in his hand ; it is madam , said don pedro , quevedo's visions , he is a merry companion , with whom i have diverted many a tedious hour and melancholy thought ; if you are a stranger to him , pray accept him from my hands , and i am sure upon better acquaintance , you will give him the best reception he deserves . paulinta receiv'd it , and at that minute by one amorous glance discover'd the infirmity of that vertue which was thought to be impregnable , but now forc'd to retreat , and give place to a more powerful and succcessfull vice. frequent enterviews , at length made paulinta's obdurate heart malleable , and her innocence and chast resolutions , were by degrees undermin'd , and all her pretensions to honour , laid in the dust by the craft of don pedro , and the roguery of de blinco . as to the first act of commission , i could charitably think her almost innocent , because she was betrayed to it , but when once she came to relish those forbidden pleasures , and grow wanton in the enjoyment , messalina was less intemperate , she had both the impudence of a duegna , and the lasciviousness of a courtezan . these intrigues , were for some time so well managed by the cunning of laura , that roderigo either not knew of them , or contrary to the common temper of his country , pretended ignorance ; and rather chose to conceal her infamy , and his own abuse , than publish it to the world , by a notorious and bloody revenge . but at last her lewdness grew so extravagant that he was now become the common cornuto for every slavish finger to point at ; thisso enrag'd him that he threatned her with the severest tortures , if she did not confess her guilt , or justifie her innocence . paulinta upon her knees , with tears in her eyes , pray'd his patience and common justice , assur'd him of her fidelity , and with a thousand horrid imprecations desir'd her dying fame might be for ever attended with all those marks of ignominy , with which the malice and detraction of her enemies had stayn'd her living reputation , if she had been ever guilty of the least of those crimes , they had so unjustly charg'd upon her . roderigo credulously believ'd her , and was perfectly reconcil'd . three months after , paulinta appear'd big with child to the great satisfaction of her husband , and in that time had behav'd her self with that prudence and caution , that no man was more ready to accuse her than he to vindicate her honour , from the calumnies and aspersions of such malevolent tongues . at her time of travel , no husband was more tenderly concern'd for a wife than roderigo for paulinta ; and being told they had small hopes of preserving the child , but less of saving her , he wept bitterly . at last it was resolv'd her case was desperate , and their best endeavours to be employ'd in care of the child , for whom like a second caesar they made his way by incision . the father impatiently desired a sight of his son and heir , which he had so heartily prayed for : but oh the horror and confusion ! it had the exact resemblance of a goat in the face , with a long grizly beard , but in all other parts of excellent shape and feature . at this dreadful sight , roderigo immediately lost his wits ran raving about the house , crying out , o wicked and forsworn wretch ! and three days after , dyed stark staring mad. the monstruous birth expired within few minutes after it was born . don pedro followed his old course of revelling all night with his drunken companions ; and being at the tavern when this tragical news was brought , he smil'd at it , and told the company ( who were supriz'd to hear so sad a relation ) that he could spice it with a cup of mirth , and so began the account of his debaucheries with paulinta , and how by the confederacy of de blinco he had betray'd her to his wicked lust ; which being heard by the company with horror and detestation ; he was immediately apprehended by an alguezile and carried before the magistrates of corduba , and orders issued out for the taking de blinco , who was brought in the same furr'd gown and corner'd cap , and by the evidence and confession of don pedro , who also produc'd his note for the receipt of the last fifty duccatoons with his hand and seal ; he was condemned to be first whipt through the streets of corduba with scorpions , and then sent to the mines at peru. don pedro though a gentleman , receiv'd the punishment of the most infamous malefactor , by being branded in the forehead , and then sent to the galleys , where he continued two years , and was then taken by the turks and carried into argiers , where he lived and dyed in the misery of perpetual slavery . laura to avoid her proportion of punishment , made her escape from corduba , and her body was five days after found miserably torn and mangled in the wood of macardis . thus don pedro like the wily serpent in paradice , first tempts paulinta , to inquire those forbidden secrets of de blinco ( the devils emissary ) which have no record but in the claspt book of providence ; for which he is justly branded with an ignominious letter . adulterous paulinta suffers her punishment , where she first enjoy'd the pleasures of her sin ; and de blinco is whipt here with scorpions , and furies hereafter . hist. iv. parmel and cleandra . dr. parmel by an opiate powder debauches cleandra , gets her with child and marries her . cleandra in revenge commits adultery with seignior makenti , her former lover ; dr. parmel first gives her the foul disease , and then designing to poyson her , by mistake poysons himself . cleandra dyes miserably in the lazaretto , and makenti lives infamously having lost his nose and both his eyes . seignior conto , was ● gentleman of great worth and abilities , who upon the death of seignior bardi , was one of those many candidates for the procuratorship of st. mark at venice , which was now become vacant : but fortune not favouring his designs , and the potency of his adversaries , prevailing against his interest ( though no person had better deserv'd of that republick ) lost it ▪ upon this , ( seeing the merit of all his former services disesteem'd ) retir'd from venice in discontent , and fixt at marli his country house five miles distant . seignior conto was master of a very considerable estate , and blest with one only child a daughter , and nam'd cleandra , whose native beauty , vertuous education , and the honour of her family , made her highly valued by all ; but amongst the crowd of suitors who made their addresses to her , seignior makenti a person of great estate and a gentleman of venice , was that happy man , who had gain'd the affections of the daughter , and respect of her parents ; and in the opinion of the world , would carry the beautiful prize from the rest of the numerous pretenders . at this time , a young gentleman whose name was seignior parmel , having lately commenced dr. of physick at padua , ( whose father had been seignior conto's intimate and familiar acquaintance at venice ) came over to marli to make a visit to seignior conto and his lady , who at first sight was so enamour●d on the beauty of cleandra , that though his discretion forbid him making any publick application to her , who was a fortune beyond his reach ; yet he flatter'd himself with hopes of success , if he could by any means divert the intended marrige between her and makenti . in this design one lucky accident advantag'd him more than all his wit and invention could do ; for there happening a quarrel between seignior makenti and seignior lassuno , upon discourse of seignior conto's missing the procuratorship of st. mark , after several sharp expressions on both sides , seignior lassuno drew his dagger , and suddenly stab'd seignior makenti into the breast four inches deep , and immediately made his escape . chirurgions were sent for who drest makenti's wound , telling him they hop'd to make a good cure of it , for though it was very deep it had miss'd the vitals , which in six weeks time they effected . the great loss of blood makenti suffer'd , threw him into a consumption , upon which he was remov'd to padua , where he continued for three months with small hopes of recovery . in this time dr. parmel made frequent visits at seignior conto's , and by his insinuating carriage and behaviour had gain'd a more than ordinary friendship in the family ; but yet considering the vast dis-proportion between his quality and fortune , and seignior conto's ; never durst discover to the father or daughter , that love and affection which lay smothering in his breast . after several considerations how to effect his purpose , at last he resolv'd to try how far the misterious secrets of his own art and profession could assist his design , and accordingly one day prepar'd an opiate powder , which he had compounded of such ingredients as he thought most proper , and waited an opportunity to give it cleandra in such a vehicle , as would admit no discovery . three days after in the evening dr. parmel came down from his study , and found cleandra in the kitchin making a pot of chocolate , for the entertainment of some friends in the parlour ; cleandra offer'd him a dish , who thanked her , and said he would accept it upon terms that she would drink another , which being agreed too , he privately convey'd the opiate powder into her mess , without any suspition . about an hour after the powder began to operate so effectually , that though she endeavour'd to divert the drowsiness which had so strangely crept upon her , by walking in the garden , and other violent agitation , yet at last it prevail'd , and she was forc't to retire to her chamber , where she repos'd herself upon the bed , charm'd into a deep sleep by the powerful medicine . dr. parmel narrowly watch'd her , and seeing her go into the chamber followed after , and there found her upon the bed fast asleep ; whereupon observing the rest of the family were otherwise busied thought he might now securely , prosecute his wicked design and locking the chamber door , treacherously robb'd sleeping cleandra of her honour and virginity , which her waking vertue had constantly defended against all the temptations of lust and charms of love. the doctor having thus far accomplish'd his ends , opened the door and went out undiscover'd , leaving cleandra fast asleep , who continued so for several hours till the soporific vertue of the powder was extinguished , and then wak'd without being in the least sensible of the injury she had received from those villanious practices of the doctor , but as pleasing dreams or the sportive frolicks of fancy and imagination presented her with ▪ dr. parmel two days after took his leave and return'd to venice , expecting with impatience , the issue of this odd experiment . five months after , seignior makenti whose recovery had been retarded by frequent relapses , return'd to marli in perfect health , and earnestly desired that his espousals with the fair cleandra might now be no longer deferred , which his own misfortune had been the unhappy cause of ; but being acquainted that his mistress had for some time been very much indispos'd and now kept her chamber , desired to see her , whom he found so strangely alter'd , he scarce knew her to be the same , but by the faint remains of that flourishing beauty which had once reign'd in her face , and made a conquest of his heart . seignior makenti was equally surpriz'd and griev'd to see her in this condition , she was grown pale and lean , her eyes were livid and hollow , and all the expressions of her tongue , spoke an inward and setled discontent of mind . seignior conto and his lady were no less afflicted , and advised with several of the most eminent physitians , what should be the cause of her distemper , and what the most proper and speedy cure ; they all agreed she was with child , and her disease no other than the natural infirmities of women in such cases , which her parents heard with horrour and amazement . the doctors being gone , her father and mother with tears in their eyes conjur'd her to tell the truth , and discover who was that lustful paramour that had despoyl'd her of her honour , and brought that stain and infamy upon their family , which all their tears were not able to wash away . cleandra with no less trouble and astonishment , deny'd the guilt of such lewd debaucheries , and by all the sacred powers of heaven protested her innocence and unspotted chastity : the sighs , tears , and passionate imprecations of cleandra , perswaded her parents at last to think the doctors mistaken in their judgments , and that the swelling of her belly , which they considered as an argument of her pregnancy , was occasioned by a tympany or some other praeter-natural tumour , which was the real cause of her present distemper . some time after dr. parmel came over to marli and excus'd himself that the multitude of business had made him so great a stranger , and wanting in those respectful visits their great civilties obliged him to ; and missing cleandra at dinner , particularly inquir'd how she did , and if she was yet marrried ? her mother answer'd with a sigh , that she was very ill and had been so for two months past , in which time she had not stirr'd out of her chamber ; dr. parmel seem'd very much concern'd at the young ladies illness , and desired he might be admitted to see her , and that he should think himself extreamly happy if the best of his art and skill could contribute any thing to her recovery . her mother told him , she was afraid she already too well understood her distemper , which in due time nature would discharge of it self , and that indeed she was asham'd any friend should see her in that condition , which would end in shame to her self , and disgrace to all her relations . the dr. seem'd wholly ignorant of what she meant ( though extreamly pleas'd at the success of his design ) and still more earnestly prest to see her , which at last she consented to , and conducted him to cleandra's chamber , whom he found alone extreem pensive and melancholy . the doctor after he had exprest his respects and sorrow for her present illness , desired to feel her pulse , and after several other critical observations more for form than any thing else , told her mother her distemper now would not be of long continuance , that she was certainly with child , and all that he could direct was as a friend and not a physitian , that they would prevail with her to confess who was the father , and by a speedy marriage , prevent that disgrace , which otherwise was unavoidable ; whereupon the mother desired him to use his endeavours with her , to discover the person , and that she would withdraw , that cleandra might with more freedom discourse him , and accordingly did so . after the dr. had said what he thought convenient , in pursuit of that question which he himself was only able to answer , he took his leave and told her mother that was he not assur'd by all those infallible symptoms he had observ'd that she was with child , her solemn protestations to the contrary , would almost perswade him to credit what she had said in her own vindication : upon which her mother ask'd him if it was possible for a woman to conceive in her sleep , without being sensible of those pleasures of fruition , and the person she enjoy'd ; to which the dr. answered it was possible , and that we might observe it in several persons who walk in their sleep , and do those several acts of which they have no remembrance when they wake . this one argument prevail'd with seignior conto and his lady , to believe cleandra was with child , and at the same time innocent of the guilt and ignorant of the person ; for she had oftentimes walked about her chamber , and sometimes down into the dairy , and so to bed again , without remembring one tittle of it next morning . after several considerations what was to be done in a matter of so much difficulty , and that did they know the real father , he might possibly prove to be the groom or footman , where the discredit and reproach of such a match would be equal to the infamous name of courtezan ; the dr. told them that if they thought him a worthy husband for cleandra , he would marry her immediately , nor did he value her being with child , nor who was the father , since he was so well satisfied her soul was immaculate and pure , though her reputation was stain'd ; and that the preserving of her fame , and the honour of so illustrious a family , was more dear to him than any private interest or respect to himself . seignior conto was infinitely pleas'd to hear the dr. express himself in those terms , and after his most particular thanks , told him he would endeavour in few days to dispose cleandra to the match , which he did , and ten dayes after they were privately married , not long after , seignior conto and his lady both dyed and left their whole estate to dr. parmel , and his children by cleandra ; who now lived at marli in great esteem and reputation . it happened one day after dinner , the doctor being in a most pleasant humour , and the discourse of the company leading to it , he told them by what trick he had married a person of that quality and estate cleandra was ; at which they seem'd very much surpriz'd , but in compliment commended his design , which had now crown'd him with so bountiful a success . cleandra bit her lip , and by change of colour , discovered the inward perplexity of her thoughts , nor could she altogether refrain from some passionate expressions of her resentment , that she should lye under the great scandal of a whore , and lose her lover makenti whom she loved dearer than her life , and be so basely betray'd into a marriage with so mean and perfidious a wretch as the doctor was . some time after she writ a letter to makenti , and acquainted him with all the circumstances of this relation , who was extreamly troubled at it ; and upon the first discourse of her being with child , had utterly forsaken her and never since seen her . the discovery of this intrigue , created a more particular love and respect between makenti and cleandra , who readily agreed , to revenge the injury they had both receiv'd from the faithless doctor , by abusing his bed in their adulterous enjoyments , and charging his forehead with the shameful emblem of a cuckold , which they thought the heinousness of the provocation , would warrant them in . thus did they continue in their adulterous pleasures , till the doctor grew sensible of it , and by frequent observations of their private meetings , was sufficiently confirm'd in the truth of their lustful embraces ; whereupon he resolv'd to meet them with a proportionate revenge which he thus effected . having a young gentlewoman under cure , who was very much afflicted with the venerial distemper , he designedly infected himself with it , which he communicated to his wife , and she to makenti , who neither of them suspecting the present cause of their illness , were so surpriz'd by the venom of the disease , that makenti in a short time lost his nose and both his eyes , and hardly escap'd with life , spending the rest of his days in shame and repentance , cleandra languish'd a long time in great misery , which her husband saw with pleasure and satisfaction , and growing weary at last to see her distemper so tedious in the punishment he design'd , prepar'd a cordial for her in which he infus'd a large dose of poyson , and recommending it to her as a great restorative to take at three in the afternoon , went abroad expecting at his return to find her in the agonies of death . dr. parmel coming back very hot and faint ( it being the midst of august ) went directly to her chamber , and sitting down by the beds-side took a glass of cordial drink , which stood by amongst the rest , and hastily drank it 〈…〉 kindly askiing her how she did , and what good 〈◊〉 ●●und by that cordial he had order'd her ; i have 〈◊〉 taken it , said cleandra , and don't design it till to 〈…〉 for i find my self much better than i was ; at which 〈…〉 started and call'd for it , when the maid 〈…〉 that was i● you drank sir ; at which he cry'd 〈…〉 poyson'd ; i am poyson'd ; and sent for his confe●●or , to whom he related his intended design of poysoning his wife , which he was now heartily sorry for , and in two hours fell into violent convulsions , and dyed in great torment . cleandra continued in a most sad and deplorable condition , and was afterwards remov'd to the lazaretto , where she dyed in misery and ignominy . thus we see vitious lives end in infamous deaths , and the subtle dr. parmel at last deceiv'd himself ; and was overtaken by a punishment as just as unexpected the lustful makenti , and the fair but unchast cleandra receive their torment by the poysonous sting of those pleasures they so lasciviously and adulterously delighted in . hist. v. bertolin and aurella . monsieur bertolin commits adultery with aurella , monsieur chapee's wife , his intimate friend ; upon the discovery whereof she stabs her self . monsieur chapee in revenge cheats orinta , in the disguise of bertolin her husband , and lyes with her ; bertolin surprizes them in bed , mortally wounds orinta , and is then kill'd by chapee , who is apprehended and executed for the murther and adultery . in the reign of that august and noble prince , henry the th king of france , the marquess of conti was made governour of orleans , in whose family monsieur bertolin and monsieur chapee , two young gentlemen of noble birth , and related to the marquess and his lady , receiv'd their education and first instructions in arms and military discipline : the equality of their age and fortunes with their constant society , rendered them by degrees most intimate and familiar friends ; and if their outward shape and features could add any thing to the inward harmony of their affections ; never were two persons more alike , they appear'd the same , distinguish'd only by the different appellations of bertolin and chapee . but as the figure of their bodies so nearly resembled each other , so their temper of mind was as much unlike , bertolin was proud and ●aughty , of a courage that rather fear'd no evil than lov'd what 's good , chapee was modest and humble lov'd goodness for it's own native beauty , and thought nothing so base and degenerous in a gentleman as sin and wickedness at this time dyed monsieur le farin great unkle to the marquess , and left his estate to aurella a young lady and his neece , the care of whose person and fortune he committed to the marquess of conti and his lady , under whose prudent government , she receiv'd all the accomplishments of a religious and vertuous lady . the constant conversation of bertolin and chapee with aurella , and the consideration of her fortune , which was very great , soon fired their hearts with the flames of love and affection towards her . the modesty of aurella , her excellent beauty and sweetness of temper , were charms able to warm the most frozen breast , with zeal to her person and admiration of her vertue . these two rivals made their courtship to aurella in smiles and glances , and all those little services which might render them grateful to her , in which bertolin and chapee endeavoured to outdoe each other , but still with that respect and friendship , that no clouds of jealousie appear'd by any outward expressions of disrespect . they us'd often to hunt together , and one morning , chapee sent his servant to bertolin to acquaint him , he was going abroad a hunting and desir'd his company : bertolin return'd his thanks , and told him he was yet in bed , but would rise and follow after ; who did so , but when he came into the field , as he soon found the rest of the company so he mist chapee , and inquiring where he was , they answer'd , he came out with them , but the dogs making a default by yonder copse he rid in , and since they had nor seen him . bertolin after four hours stay , ( chapee not yet coming , and the sport growing cold ) return'd home where he expected to have met him , but the groom told him he went abroad in the morning , with the dogs and had not been at home since , whereupon he went to aurella's chamber , where her maid answered she was gone out in the coach alone upon a visit to pontaret . the weather being hot and bertolin weary with his mornings exercise , he went to his chamber , where after a turn or two , he lay down and drew the curtains : a quarter of an hour after chapee , and aurella coming by his chamber ( the same stairs leading to her apartment ) saw the door open and no body there ; and supposing bertolin was yet in the field walked in ; but no sooner had they begun to express the constancy and sincerity of their affection to each other , but they saw the marquess coming cross the court with intent as they suspected to visit aurella , upon which chapee , hastily asked if he should not that night be happy in her arms ? yes my dear , said aurella , come between eleven and twelve , when my maid is gone to her chamber , and give three scratches upon the door with your hand , let that be the signal and i will open it and let you in , the marquess was now coming up the stairs , and chapee and aurella being unwilling he should see them together immediately parted . bertolin overheard this discourse , and presently suspected chapee had dealt deceitfully with him by inviting him abroad to hunt , that he might alone enjoy the beautiful aurella , which he had reason to believe from the freedom of their late discourse , and that chapee so soon left the field , and when he came back found aurella was gone out , who had no doubt made an assignation to meet him , of which this was the result that chapee should that night be admitted to aurella's bed , to which promise his own ears were witnesses . bertolin who ever had a most passionate love for aurella , and always believed her of unspotted reputation and unquestionable vertue ; now began to exclaim against all her false and counterfeit pretensions to modesty ; call'd her all the names of a whore and strumpet which did not so much trouble him that she was dishonest , of which he now made no question , but that he himself was not her happy paramour , and to see chapee preferr'd to those pleasures to which his own merit and abilities gave him equal claim , was an affront he scorn'd to bear . however since he had a revenge so sweet in his own power , he resolv'd to prosecute it , and supplant chapee of those delights aurella had promis'd with more lust in her than desert in him : and having the signal which would gain him admittance at the hour appointed , he concluded to make use of it to his own advantage . night being come and supper ended , aurella retir'd to her chamber , and bertolin endeavour'd to engage chapee in company with some gentlemen of their acquaintance at cards , whilst he attended the lucky hour ; which he did with so much artifice , excusing himself that he was very ill of a pain in his head , and desir'd to withdraw to his chamber , that chapee was oblig'd in civility to his friends , to stay with them , though he intended not to forfeit aurella's promise by two strict an observance of the rules of friendship and good manners . bertolin went up to his chamber and undrest , diligently waiting till he heard aurella's maid go out of her chamber , and then in his gown and slippers went softly up , and scratched three times upon her door , she presently rose and opened it ; the candle was gone for fear the light might give any occasion of suspition , and aurella took bertolin by the hand and led him to her bed , gently whispering him not to speak for fear they should be over-heard by the lady in the next chamber . whilst bertolin was revelling in stoln delights , and rifling the richest jewel in the whole treasury of love , chapee came to the door and scratch'd three times , according to aurella's directions , which bertolin heard , but aurella's senses were all lost , and dissolv'd in raptures of bliss . chapee for fear of being discovered , went discontedly back to his chamber , accusing the innocent aurella of treachery and injustice , and cursing his unhappy stars which first inclin'd him to love and believe false and deceitful women . in the morning early bertolin stole from aurella's arms , leaving her fast asleep and went to his own chamber and so to bed ; his languishing spirits coveted a refreshment , and each weary member a quiet repose . aurella according to her custom hearing the bell toll to chappel , drest and went to prayers , where she saw chapee with a sad and dejected countenance like one who had been all night under the severities of pennance , which she little susspected had been true in the literal sense . prayers being done , aurella went up to her chamber and chapee followed , and upon the stairs with a stern look told her , he thought his present title to her affections had been of more value with her than to be so slighted , and her promise more sacred to him than so easily violated . aurella reply'd i am sorry my dear , you did not reap the satisfaction you expected , i had thought our endearments had been mutual and our happiness equal in our exalted ioys . the marquess at that word call'd chapee , which broke off the discourse . aurella went up to her chamber very much dissatisfied with chapee's behaviour and expressions , and he no less concern'd at her reply wondring with himself , what could be the sense and meaning of it . bertolin was now risen , and according to his custom went to walk in the garden , where he found aurella gathering flowers and her maid at a distance from her , upon which he addressed himself to her with this compliment ; these flowers madam are happy to be gather'd by your fair hands , but certainly much happier is that man who shall crop the blushing rose of your virginity ; aurella started at the expression , and told him those were flowers in discourse , which she did not understand nor know how to answer . bertolin proceeded , is the memory of last nights enjoyments so soon faded ? madam i assure you the relish of it is yet fresh in my fancy , and my unwearied imagination e'ry minute repeats those pleasures with fresh delights ; aurella was strangely surpriz'd at his discourse , and after a little pause told him , she had quite forgot all riddles , and he that made them was best able to explain them . whereupon monsieur bertolin , discovered the secret , telling her how happily he had over-heard their discourse , and the advantage he had made of it , and that if it was a crime , he hop'd that absolute royalty of love , which encouraged him to the trangression would pardon the fault . aurella heard him with wonder and astonishment , and with a deep sigh answered , alas monsieur ! your mistaken suspition of my dishonesty , will prove your unhappiness and my ruine ! our loves were not unchast as you imagin'd , i was yesterday privately married at pontaret to monsieur chapee , and the signal i gave him to enter my chamber , was to compleat our religious vows in innocent embraces , you have for ever undon me , your friend and your self — oh , oh , and with that swoon'd away , bertolin call'd her maid to assist him , by whose help they carried her to her chamber , where she continued all day extreamly ill . monsieur chapee was presently acquainted with it , who came to know the reason ; to whom aurella with showers of tears related all the passages of the last nights transactions adding in the close , since we are so unfortunate in our love , heaven pardon me , and comfort you ; i will rather choose to sacrifice my life to the memory of my lost honour , and dye a martyr to my vertue , than live with the shame and ignominy of a strumpet , and at that word struck a ponyard to her heart of which she immmediately dyed . monsieur bertolin , upon the first notice of aurella's tragical end , took horse for paris , where he continued some time , and then travell'd into spain and italy , and after three years return'd to paris , where he setled and married orinta , monsieur cardans eldest daughter , a lady who had ingross'd all the perfections of her sex in her single self . monsieur chapee was for some time , distracted with that torment of grief which now seem'd to over-whelm him , but after two years time recovered his senses , and vow'd a severe revenge , should only quit scores with so treacherous a friend and degenerous an enemy . monsieur chapee , after several inquiries , at last heard monsieur bertolin was return'd to france and married at paris , where he lived in great state and splendour ; this refresh'd his memory , with the heynousness of that injury he had formerly offer'd him , and the loss of so vertuous a wife who suffered upon his account , which now whetted his anger to a sharp revenge , and exacted from him the justice of as rigorous punishment . after several considerations in what proper method he should challenge a satisfaction , he resolv'd to pistoll him as cowardly , as he had treacherously abus'd him ; but this not so well consisting with the honour and gallantry of chapee , to take a base and ignoble revenge ; upon second thoughts , he resolv'd to pay him in his own coyn , and make his abuse to aurella , the square of his revenge on bertolin , to this purpose , he went privately to paris , where after he had learnt where bertolin liv'd , he lodg'd himself hard by , and narrowly watch'd his going abroad , and at last by some spyes he hir'd to that purpose understood that three days after he design'd to follow the court to st. germans where he intended to stay a week , and leave his lady orinta at home . no sooner was bertolin gone his journey , but in the evening late he came to his house , in the same travelling habit as bertolin wore , which rendred him so like , that his very servants receiv'd him as their master ; but for fear of any discovery , he had brib'd orinta's woman with a purse of gold , in which were a hundred pistolls , who was ready below to receive him , and conduct him to his ladys chamber , who was just gone to bed. orinta no sooner saw him , but believing him to be her husband cry'd out , o lord my dear , i hope you have met with no misfortune , i did not expect you so soon ; no said chapee with a low voice , i forgot a paper i must give to the secretary of state , which was the occasion of my return , i must go back to morrow early and therefore i 'le make hast to bed ; upon which he undrest and stept into bed , where no man had ever better opportunity or encouragement to the sweets of revenge than chapee now had . about twelve , the real monsieur bertolin return'd , having accidentally met with some friends miles out of town , who diverted his journey for two or three days , upon promise they would bear him company , if he would defer it till then , and spend the day with them at bowls , which he accepted of . bertolin came hastily into his chamber , without the least suspition of finding a gallant in bed with his wife , whom he no sooner saw , without distinguishing who he was , but he pass'd at his wife with his sword who lay next , and ran her deep into the left breast : chapee suddenly stept out of bed , and catching his sword which lay naked by , prevented bertolin's revenge upon himself , by running him through the heart of which wound he dropt down dead upon the place . the next morning orinta dyed with great pity and lamentation for her unnhappy end . monsieur chapee was presently apprehended , who voluntarily confess'd the murther which he was forc't to in his own defence ; and the reason of his adultery with orinta ( of which she was altogether innocent ) that he might satisfie the injuries he had receiv'd from monsieur bertolin in a proportionable revenge , for which he was condemn'd to lose his head before the bastile in paris , which two days after was executed accordingly . he that cherishes one sin because is it but one , entertains a legion of devils in the singular number , which like the seeming viper is big with a poysonous offspring of numerous enemies . thus monsieur bertolin , thought lust but a weak enemy which once admitted , soon ripen'd into three murthers , two adulteries , and his own shameful and fatal execution . hist. vi. st. quintin and cloissa . the count of st. quintin commits adultery with lovisia countess of st. denis , and kills her husband in a duell ; whereupon he flyes to antwerp , and there debauches cloissa , wife to the heer van zetken . the house being accidentally fir'd , cloissa is supposed burnt in it , but is preserv'd by the count. they live in adultery , till he falling from his horse , is drag'd dead to her door ; upon which she is discovered and dyes suddenly . the count of st. quintin , was a cavalier eminently known in the court of france , for his intrigue with madamoyselle lovisia , wife to the earl of st. denis ; the count her husband growing sensible of the injury and disgrace he received from st. quintin , sent him a challenge , upon which they met in an adjacent field to fountain-bleau , where st. denis was mortally wounded , of which in six weeks after he dyed ▪ st. quintin withdrew himself for some time , and when he heard of the death of st. denis , made his escape to antwerp , chief town in the marquisate of the empire , in the dukedom of brabant ; his lady and the rest of his family follow'd after , where he continued till the justice of heaven punish'd his present and former debaucheries by a tragical and deserved death . at this time the heer van zetken was governour of antwerp , to whom the count of st. quintin upon his first arrival made his compliment , and was receiv'd by him with all the expressions of respect and kindness , due to a gentleman of his quality and grandeur . the count seeing himself daily oblig'd by the civilites of the governour , pay'd his acknowledgments to him in constant visits , which by degrees rendred them most intimate and familiar acquaintance . the generous hospitality of the governour , often invited st. quintin to his house , and the courtly behaviour of the earl made him a welcome and acceptable guess . these frequent enterviews , gave him the opportunity of a free converse with his lady cloissa , whose beauty was alone able to subdue an empire , and her wit command it . but alas cloissa's beauty was not adorn'd with honesty , nor her wit inspir'd with grace . st. quintin ( whose inclinations were always amorous ) soon discovered the imperfections of cloissa , and how to attaque the fort where it was least capable of resistance . to this end , he courted all opportunities of address to her , in which he behav'd himself with that artifice and cunning , that his sutble charms soon won cloissa's heart , and made her a slave to his lust , whose honour and chastity had they equall'd her wit and beauty , would have made her an angel on earth , and a saint in heaven . the great observance and profound respects the earl of st. quintin constantly paid cloissa , were diligently remarqu'd by captain cassel , a young gentleman , and an officer in the town , who was deeply enamour'd with her beauty , and promis'd himself that happy conquest , which he now presum'd the gallantry and courtship of the count had rob'd him of ; this made him resolute in his revenge , which his interest and familiarity with the governour in some measure gave him an opportunity to effect , which he endeavoured in this manner . being one day alone , with the governour in his closet , he took occasion to commend the count for a most compleat gentleman , adding that if he was as great a soldier , as he was an accomplish'd courtier , he believ'd his valour and conduct would render him no less successful in war , than he was now prosperous in all his amorous encounters , with the fairer sex. say you so ? said the governour , is t●e count of st. quintin , so great an artist in the affairs of love ? yes my lord , said captain cassel , and has confidence enough to tempt a nun , if once his breast is warm'd with the heats of passion and desire . you would make me iealous said the governour , did i not believe you are mistaken in your character of him ; i have oftentimes observ'd his familiar freedom with my wife , but never yet question'd his honour or her honesty . heaven forbid , replyed the captain , no doubt but the fair cloissa , is vertuous too , chast and uncorrupt as the falling snow or virgin fountain ; but this once shed upon the earth , is trod by every common foot , and those waters which were pure in their original bed , do often lodge in dirty ditches , and by the dangerous neighbourhood of filth at last incorporate with it , and become polluted streams . i mean sir the devil tempted eve , and she yielded to it . but though i believe the count of st. quintin dare be a devil in his temptation ; yet i hope cloissa will never be an eve in her complyance . this discourse fir'd the governours breast with jealousie and suspition , and to add more fuel to the flame , looking accidentally out of the window , he saw the count and cloissa walking hand in hand in the garden ; but being at that instant acquainted that some of the principal officers of the town attended him in the hall , he broke off the discourse and went immediately down to them . two days after , the count receiv'd this letter from one of his footmen which was delivered to him in the streets by an unknown person with orders to carry it immediately to his lord , cloissa to the count of st. quintin . my lord , the iealousie of my husband ( notwithstanding our care and secrecy ) begins to suspect my friendship to you ex●ceeds the bounds of my faith to him , and honour to my self ; for which reason , he hath severely checkt me , and confin'd me to my chamber ; but all his cruelty shall never divide my heart from you , though at present he denys me the enjoyment of your company , and those ravishing pleasures i covet with equal ardour . i suppose captain cassel ( whose courtship i always entertain'd with a frown , and slighted his want of merit with my constant disrespect ) is the sole cause of it , whose insolence , your prudence and courage know best how to correct . farewell my dear lord , and be as constant in your love to me , as i am sincere in my affection to you , which shall never expire , but with the dying breath of your cloissa . the count upon the receipt of this letter , was very much concern'd for the distress of cloissa , but not knowing how to remedy it , at present conceal'd his resentments ; and least he should give further suspition of his guilt to the governour , by the discontinuance of his visits , made them as frequent as before , still expressing his respect to him , with the same serene countenance and easie freedom he us'd to do . he had now leisure to meditate a revenge on captain cassel , but considering him as a particular favourite of the governours , he thought it not discretion to give him any publick affront ; but understanding he had an intrigue with olivia ( the daughter of one caldus a shoemaker , who was dead ) and by fair promises had got her with child , and now deserted her ; he privately by bautrin his taylour , encourag'd her to complain to the governour , which she did , and expos'd the captain to the discourse of the town , in his name and reputation , but without any advantage to her self . this so incens'd olivia , who had the courage of an amazon and the malice of a woman , that she swore a revenge , and bautrin acquainted the count with her resolution , who order'd bautrin to animate her in it , and tell her , that cassel was a dastardly captain , and if she sent him a challenge in the name of some friend of hers he would never dare to fight , but sign what terms she offered . olivia who was of a bold undaunted spirit , approv'd his advice , saying , if she had but cloaths , horse and arms , she would immediately prosecute it ; which bautrin promised , and two days after furnished her with all necessaries , that she wanted nothing now but an opportunity to engage her enemy , and revenge herself on the faithless and treacherous captain . olivia being thus equipp'd by the directions of bautrin sent captain cassel this challenge by a private footman in an unknown livery . for captain cassel . the injury you have done poor olivia , whose innocence and vertue you have basely betrayed , obliges me to demand satisfaction of you ; as i am a gentleman and a soldier i am engaged by the honour of both , to relieve the distressed ; for which and no other reason , i expect you alone , at five to morrow morning on horseback with sword and pistol , in the field next the north-gate , without the wall , where the courage of my heart and iustice of my cause , shall make you as infamous in your death , as you have been vitious in your life polyntus . the captain receiv'd this challenge with wonder and surprize , inquir'd of the footman who his master was , but he being instructed to the contrary , told him he had no orders to resolve any questions , but return with his answer ; which the captain with some trouble and disorder told him he should have , and bid him acquaint his master , he would not fail to meet him upon the word of a gentleman and reputation of a soldier , at the time and place appointed . these champions met accordingly , and the female warriour without any compliment discharg'd a pistol , which wounded the captain in the left shoulder , upon which he immediately desir'd a parley , and promis'd the present payment of a hundred pistols , to compose the quarrel , which olivia accepted of , and an hour after received them at his quarters , and then discovered her self : for the bravery of this action , olivia was highly commended of all , and the captain so scorn'd and flouted that he immediately quitted his command and retir'd into the country to a private life . the count made very good advantage of captain cassels disgrace , and so well improv'd it , that the governour reflecting on the debauchery of the captain , which was so notoriously apparent , began to think the count innocent of his aspersions , and cloissa truly vertuous ; upon which he soon after took off her restraint , but still watch'd her behaviour with an observing eye . this the count was sensible of , which made them both so cautious to prevent new fears and jealousies in the husband , that they never durst exchange a smile or one amorous glance but by stealth , and all their present delights , were but the empty effects of exalted imagination . a month after , the governour appointed a mask and invited the count , his principal officers and several gentlemen of the town , who all came in masquerading habits ; the count had notice of it a week before , and withal from cloissa that her husband had strictly charg'd her to keep her chamber that night , for he did not think it proper she should appear , since he had only design'd the entertainment for gentlemen , nor was there any of her sex to be admitted : this was a great affliction to cloissa who had some hopes by the advantage , of her disguise , to have had a more private converse with the count , which she saw her self now wholly debarr'd from . the count having considered the circumstances of time and place , communicated his design to an intimate acquaintance , and desir'd him to be there drest in the same habit exactly with himself , but to stand in a corner where he might not be taken notice of , with a cloak on , and not to appear till he gave him his q. to enter . after two hours diversion , they were all conducted into the dining-room where they had a noble and splendid entertainment , and pulling off their masks , paid their mutual respects to one another . the collation being over they return'd to the hall , and the count withdrew to his friend , where he put on his cloak , and sent him into the hall to masquerade his person , who was so like him in the proportion of his body , stature and habit , that the most critical eye , could not distinguish him . the count was immediately conducted to cloissa's apartment by lydia her woman , where the lovers feasted their longing desires in the unbounded joys of their adulterous and lascivious passions . in the midst of their pleasures above , the footmen and servants were revelling in drunkenness below ; whereby their carelesness and neglect of their flambeaux , the room was fir'd , which burnt so furiously that in an instant , cloissa's chamber which was over-head , was in a bright flame before they were sensible of it . the gentlemen in the hall were strangely surprized with the lowd outcryes of fire , and as little able to assist in the extinguishing the flames , as their drunken servants ; but each made hast away to preserve him self . the count and cloissa by the care and diligence of lydia , had more early notice of the danger and almost choak'd with the smoak , with great difficulty got down the back stairs ; and thus they all three sav'd-themselves from the rage of the devouring flames . no sooner were they got safe into the court , but the roof fell down , and the count spreading his cloak over cloissa ( who was in her night gown ) carried her to his coach , and with her and lydia went to his friends lodgings , who had personated him in the hall , who presently came in , in great horror and affright , believing the count ( who he knew was in cloissa's chamber ) had been burnt with her , for the report at the house , was , that cloissa and her maid had both suffer'd in the flames . the next day , the count disposed cloissa and lydia , to a private lodging three miles off in the country where he made his constant visits to her , and without controul indulg'd himself in her lustful arms , and the dissolute pleasures of her adulterous bed. the governour her husband sadly lamented her loss and continued in close mourning for her a twelvemonth after ; which she often had the pleasure to see and smile at , as often as she met him in the streets , where she never appear'd in her coach , but with her mask on . thus they continued for two years , riotous in their pleasures , only then most happy , when in their close embraces they were most luxuriously wicked ; till at last the countess was privately acquainted with the amours of her husband ; which he had so secretly manag'd that the lady was yet undiscover'd . it happened one day that the count being ready to go abroad to make his customary visits to his mistress , the countess earnestly intreated him to stay within , adding she was not ignorant of his secret pleasures , which she with more passion than prudence charg'd him withal . the count highly inrag'd , told her he should not forget her insolence , nor should her prayers or tears prevail with him , though all the devils in hell oppos'd him in the way ; at which he clapt spurs , to his horse and rid on with full speed : but had not gone above two miles , before his horse threw him , and ( his foot hanging in the stirrup ) dragg'd him along the road , till he had beat out his brains ; and coming to cloissa's lodgings , stopt at the door , who soon saw the wretched and deplorable end of her unhappy and adulterous lover . the countess had presently notice of the miserable death of her husband , and in her coach went directly to cloissa's lodgings ( where his mangled body lay ) and here saw the most rueful sight that ever eyes beheld . after she had in some measure discharg'd her grief in showers of tears and lamentable exclamations , she sent for the officers , and desir'd , that the strumpet who had been the sole cause of this misfortune , might be apprehended and carried before the governour , whose justice she hop'd , would punish her according to the quality of the crime and her own dem●rits . cloissa and lydia , were presently seiz'd and carried before the governour where the countess spar'd no aggravations , her passion prompted her to , or the circumstances of the thing admitted of . the governour with an attentive ear , heard this dismal relation , and express'd his sorrow for the loss of so worthy a gentleman and intimate friend as the count was and then ordered the accurs'd lady to make her defence , and withal , bid her and her maid put up their hoods and discover their faces ; which they delaying to do , the officers pulled them off , when the governour at first sight , knew her to be his wife , and with surprize and wonder cryed out , it is my wife , it is my wife ; at which words she drop'd down in a swound from which she never recover'd . lydia to the great astonishment of the governour and the numerous crowd of spectators , gave a full relation of all these passages , which she had been privy to ; whereupon she was committed to prison , and a week after condemn'd to be publickly whipt in the market place of antwerp , and for ever banished the city . he that goes on in a constant course of sin , runs on the devils errand , and like st. quintin , rides post to his own execution : whilst the guilty cloissa , conscious of her shame , dyes suddenly under the horrour of her own crimes , to prevent a more ignominious punishment . hist. vii . rigidoro and his two sons . carollo , steals corinna his sister unknown , from the nunnery of st. bridget and lives in incest with her ; for which he is condemn'd to loose his head , and she burnt . erasto marries favonia a common strumpet , rigidoro disinherits him . he murders his father and flyes , is afterwards taken by the turks ; commits adultery with adulla his patron 's wife , whereupon she is strangled , and he flead alive . favonia dyes miserably in the burdellos of the foul disease . in the popedom of pius quintus , seignior rigidoro a-young extravagant gentleman lived at rome , who according to the modish gallantries of the age , was a very compleat and fashionable sinner , and familiarly acquainted with emilia a young lady , by whom he had one daughter nam'd corinna ; who ( to prevent the shame , and conceal the lewdness of her parents ) was privately educated ; and assoon as her age had qualified her for the vows of a religious life dispos'd to the nunnery of st. bridget . presently after the birth of corinna , rigidoro married mariana the only daughter of seignior placento a goldsmith ; whose plentiful fortune was above the quality of her family , and by her had two sons carollo and erasto , and one daughter . carollo the eldest was no sooner arriv'd to those years which ought to have intitled him as discreet as manly ; but he was eminently known through the whole city for the debaucheries of his life and conversation , which rendred him no less acceptable to the lewd and vitious , than he was abhorr'd and detested by all vertuous and sober men. as he went one day with some gentlemen to see the nunnery of st. bridget , where one of his friends had a sister lately entered , he had the fortune to see a young gentlewoman , whose beauty suddenly inflam'd his heart , with the wanton desires of love ; which he cherished , though but with slender hopes of accomplishing his design , and reaping that satisfaction he so earnestly coveted ; after he had inquired who she was he understood her name was corinna , but her parents unknown . corinna was no less enamour'd of carollo and growing weary of the smart and severe discipline she was confin'd to , resolv'd to embrace the first opportunity to discharge her self of those sacred fetters which rendred carollo's courtship more easie and successful . not to relate all the intrigues of their love which were many , dark and mysterious , to prevent the suspition of the lady-abbess and the holy-sisters her companions ; carollo in two months time gain'd her heart , upon the promise of marriage , and a dispensation from the pope , and at last by his assistance , she made her escape . corinna was lodged at monsieur torquato's house , his particular friend , where her name and all the circumstances of her quality , were so well disguis'd that nothing appear'd but what was just and honourable : and here he first gained the enjoyment of his unlawful pleasures under the umbrage and promise of future matrimony , which he religiously swore to , and she credulously believed . carollo having now satiated his lust , began to make his visits more seldom , and was soon cloy'd with the repetition of such unchast delights . in the interim , whilst they banqueted their senses in the fruition of sacrilegious pleasures , corinna was discovered by the search made after her , and apprehended one night in the embraces of her lascivious paramour , who was seiz'd by the same officers , and both imprison'd till the pope and the conclave of cardinals , were acquainted with the fact. rigidoro was not long a stranger to the misfortune of his son , but when he understood the ladies name was corinna , his daughter , and carollo's sister ; he was so incens'd , that nothing could reconcile him , but resolv'd he himself would rather be the prosecutor , than carollo should not be punish'd according to his demerits . this present fury of rigidoro , was soon allay'd by his natural affection to his son and daughter , but his passion and indiscretion , had so far transported him ; that in the extremities of his rage , he discovered the nearness of their relation ▪ which the pope and conclave being acquainted with , all intercession for his and corinna's life , was ineffectual though rigidoro offer'd a very considerable sum , and six days after carollo was condemn'd to lose his head for violating the nunnery in stealing corinna and then committing incest with her . corinna's crime was no less heinous and her punishment as just and severe ; she was first sentenced to be immur'd , and so starv'd to death between two walls , which judgment the court was afterwards pleased at the prayers of her father , to change into a speedier death , and ordered that days after in her nun's habit she should be burnt near trajan's pillar , which was accordingly executed upon her . rigidoro was very much afflicted , at the tragical and unfortunate end of carollo and corinna but time at last dried up his tears ; and the hopes he had of being happy in erasto and his sister , abated his sorrows and gave some refreshment to his distressed mind : but alas ? we too often flatter our selves , with the expectations of happiness here , from that very subject , which proves the only occasion of our trouble and misery . erasto was as vitious and debauch'd as carollo had been , and no less incontinent , though more private in his sins , which at last were punish'd by a cruel and ignominious death . amongst the variety of lewd women whose company and acquaintance were his only pleasure and delight . favonia was one , a common strumpet and as notoriously infamous as any of her profession , who considering the great estate erasto would be master of upon the death of his father , resolv'd to make the best advantage of him , and by counterfeiting a religious sorrow and penitence for 〈◊〉 miscarriages of her former life , to gain him for 〈◊〉 husband or else absolutely rerefuse him those e●●oyments he so passionately longed for . erasto attempted her with noble presents and richer 〈…〉 would consent to his desires ; which she sligh●●d with scorn and contempt , telling him that all the glories of rome laid at her feet should never prevail upon her fix'd resolution to honour and vertue ; and that as her more youthful days had been prodigally spent in the pleasures of sin and wickedness , so now her riper age and the whole remainder of her life , should be intirely dedicated to vertue and goodness . erasto pursued her with all the temptations his suit and fancy could invent , but still in vain ; whereupon he at last consented to marry her , which was privately solemnized by father iacomo the priest , to the great satisfaction of favonia , and the utter ruin of erasto . two months this marriage was conceal'd from rigidoro , but he at last was acquainted with it , and charged erasto with the truth of what he had heard ; that he had married favonia the most impudent courtezan in all rome : erasto acknowledged that he was married , and without his advice or consent , for which he humbly begg'd his pardon ; that the person he had married , was call'd favonia , but chast and vertuous as the most modest nun ; and however her reputation had been formely stain'd , she had washt out those spots with tears and repentance : and though possibly she had been loose and dissolute in her virgin state , she was now a most loving chast and vertuous wife . rigidoro was so highly provok'd to hear his son vindicate favonia's fame , and justifie his own errour , that he immediately turn'd him out of doors , and disinherited him , telling him with a deep oath he would rather give his whole estate to the lazaretto , than relieve his utmost distresses , with the least expression of common charity or kindness . erasto acquainted favonia with rigidoro's cruelty , saying if he continued his severity toward him he cancell'd all his obligations of duty and respect to him , by his barbarous and inhumane usage ; and that he would study a revenge which should make him as miserable as himself . and being now reduc'd to great poverty and want , and finding his father inexorable , notwithstanding he endeavour'd a reconciliation by a most profound submission to him , owning his fault and begging his pardon for his offence ; resolv'd , with his own hand to murder him in the street , rather than see him live in a plentiful and prosperous estate , whilst he starv'd for want of bread. thus the devil encourag'd him to the most villanous sin of parricide without any prospect of happiness to himself , but as he gratified present revenge by destroying that life , from whence he had receiv'd his own , and since to live miserably is the most grievous punishment of life ; he resolv'd a violent death should make his father as unhappy as he was wretched . to this end he watch'd frequently in the dark of the evening over against rigidoro's house , and seeing him come forth without any attendance , followed him , and suddenly ran his rapier in at his back quite through his body , upon which rigidoro fell to the ground dead , and erasto made his escape . presently after the body was found , and within three days decently buried , great search was made for the murtherers ; but no person discovered on whom they could fix the guilt . erasto , who was constantly haunted with the terrors of an evil conscience , and the dread of that punishment he had so justly deserv'd , fled aboard one of the popes galleys which was bound for sicily , and was afterwards taken by two turks men of war belonging to tunis , and all the seamen and passengers , who surviv'd the fight ( which was very bloody ) either made slaves aboard their own vessels , or dispos'd to land-servitude , amongst whom erasto was sold ashore , to barbarossa a person of principal note and command in tunis . erasto had now leisure to reflect on the vitious and wicked courses of his former life , and particularly on the bloody and inhumane murther of his father , which he now saw in some measure punish'd by the miseries of his present condition ; which wrought complaint & sorrow for the evils he now suffer'd under , rather than a true and sincere penitence for his notorious offences . but though barbarossa his patron was severe and cruel , adulla his wife was more kind to him , and often when her husband was abroad , brought him victuals into the garden where he work'd , above what was allow'd him , or the other slaves had , which erasto interpreted as a particular respect and love to his person , which made her so charitable and bountiful to him , and hop'd to improve , to a more considerable advantage . the other slaves grumbled at adulla's kindness to erasto , and acquainted barbarossa with it , who presently entertain'd jealous thoughts of his wife , and us'd erasto with the greater severity , which adulla being sensible of , redoubled her kindness , and upon the first opportunity exprest her more particular love to him , which erasto readily embrac'd , promising that no torments should ever extort a confession from him , of those obliging favours he receiv'd . their amorous entertainments had been many and frequent , which barbarossa was not altogether ignorant of ; but willing that their crime should be as apparent as he intended their punishment , dissembled his anger ; and one day pretending to go abroad , conceal'd himself in the house , till he had notice by one of the slaves ( who was a spye over all their actions ) that adulla was retir'd to her chamber , and had sent for erasto , who was gone in to her ; upon which he followed up , and surprized them in the very act. the next day erasto and adulla were carried in chains before the divan , and there accus'd by barbarossa of adultery , which was so undeniably prov'd against them that erasto was condemn'd to be flead alive , and adulla delivered to her husband to be punished as he thought convenient , who immediately ordered two of his slaves to strangle her . thus dyed erasto miserably at tunis whilst favonia return'd to her old profession at rome , and liv'd in all the lewdness and debauchery of a common strumpet , till at last she was infected with the foul disease , and died with shame and ignominy in the burdello's . fornication , incest , and adultery , are three furies with virgins faces , but their shining locks are plated serpents ; like syrens they sing melodiously , till they have charm'd us into misery ; and made us more ugly in our natures , than the companions of ulysses in their shapes , transformed into swine . hist. viii . the dutchess of vlme . anne of werdenberg is carried away by the lord of zeringen ; rescued by captain conrade , and afterwards married to the duke of ulme : she falls in love with philip ( conrade's brother ) by mistake , seeks to poyson him , and is discovered ; afterwards runs away with the lord of zeringen , and lives in adultery with him . he is slain and she taken prisoner and shut up in a dungeon . conrade by the means of his brother philip , her keeper , lyes with her , they are surprized by the duke , conrade kills the duke , and himself and the dutchess are slain by his guard. in that part of germany which is called suevia , liv'd once a prince whose name was rodolph , of the family of schwalen , intitled duke of ulme , an imperial city in those parts founded at first by charles the great ; this rodolph after the death of his father succeeded in his principality at thirty years of age , and being as yet unmarried resolv'd to make his own choice , & contrary to the mind of most princes , to have a greater respect to love than interest or reason of state : whereupon he declin●d all those offers made to him in his fathers life time that he might have the liberty of his own election , and please his fancy in one from whom he might assure himself of reciprocal love and affection . the curious rodolph had seen all the ladies of quality those countrys afforded without being charm'd by any of them , till at last , hearing of the celebrated wit and fam'd beauty of ann the daughter of the earl of werdenberg , a town in the province of suevia , he rode over to the earl's castle ▪ with a handsome equipage , where he soon found report had not been too lavish in her praise : the angelical form of this lady at first sight conquer'd rodolph's heart , but when he discover , d the acuteness of her wit , and ingenuity of mind , he soon concluded her the paragon of her sex. but alass ! he could not penetrate her soul , nor behold the vices which lay conceal'd under so fair an outside ; with all these accomplishments she was fickle and inconstant , sullen and revengeful , and what is yet worse , of an incontinent and lustful temper ; but the duke saw none of these deformities , the lustre of her eyes , and the bright glories of her beauteous form had dazled his , upon which he acquainted the earl with his pretensions to this young lady , who knowing the worth of the duke , readily embraced so fair an offer for the advancement of his daughter , and the alliance with so potent a prince , by who●e power and assistance he should be able to oppose himself to some enemies he had of the house of hadsburgh , who were now in arms against him . rodolph made his court to the lady anne , whom he found very reserv'd and shie , who entertained him civilly , but without any sign of love and affection , so that he soon perceiv'd it must be a long and formal siege could take her in , and accomplish his desires . at this time there was a great contest between the earl of wer●enberg ( the father of this lady ) and birthold lord of ( zeringen , of the family of hadsburg ) about certain lands ; which difference was grown so great , that they had both appear'd in arms , and the lord of zeringen , by the powerful aid of his friends , gotten much the better of it . this young lord was not above the age of five and twenty , and possest of a fair estate , who , tho' he was at difference with the father , was in friendship with the daughter , and having once upon the road surpriz'd her , and made her prisoner for some hours , was suddenly captivated with the excellence of her wit and beauty , and not only releas'd her , but discovered his passion to her , begging that she might be the only reward of his conquests , and all their hostile disputes amicably reconciled in the happy conjunction of their persons , by the sacred bonds of marriage . not long after , birthold , by his friends , made overtures of peace to the earl , and proposed a match between himself and the lady anne , and that the lands in question should be assigned over as part of her dowry . but the earl diverted this design by his unreasonable demands , which birthold in honour could not comply withall . however birthold made secret court to the lady , and at last obtained the favour of a private meeting with his mistress , and notwithstanding the obstinacy of the father , came to terms with the daughter , and unknown to the earl , they were contracted , making sure of each other , before the ceremonies of the church had confirm'd their vows . but the duke by renewing his suit , interrupted the secret converse of the lovers which tho' he knew not of , yet fearing the propositions of peace made by his rival birthold , should take effect , offered the earl a supply of five hundred men , which he accep●ed , and by this powerful assistance regained the greatest part of those lands birthold had made himself master of . this so far inraged birthold ( his affairs growing every day into a worse condition , and fearing the loss of his mistress , with whom he had frequent meetings in disguise ) that he earnestly solicited her to make her flight with him , which she as often refused with a complement , that she hoped the valour and good fortune of her lover would at last compel her father to consent ; which he seeing no probability of , resolv'd by stratagem to carry her off . to this end he engaged her maid mariana by rich presents , to tempt her abroad the next day to take the air , and then conduct her to a remote place ( at an appointed hour ) in the park adjoyning to the castle , where they no sooner arriv'd , but they were surprised by some horsemen in ambush , and notwithstanding their shrieks and outcries , were forcibly carried out of the park to his coach , where he in person attended . this violence extreamly troubled the lady , who ( tho' birthold threw himself at her feet , and begg'd pardon for so great a rudeness , yet ) being of an haughty temper , and proud spirit , resolved to chastise him severely for it . birthold endeavoured to pacifie her with all the most humble submissions he could make ; and with smooth and passionate language , allay the storm he had raised , but all his rhetorick was in vain ; when considering this was no place for a long parle , and the present posture of his affairs requiring his presence , he committed her to the care and fidelity of his kinsman , to carry her a private way to his castle , whilst he returned to his soldiers , who were now ready to mutiny in his absence . birthold having appeas'd his army , committed the conduct of it to braganti , his lieutenant general , and posted away cross the country to make a visit to his mistress ; but on the way he met his kinsman wounded , who presently recounted to him the sad disaster he had met with . that his mistress was forced from him by a troop of horse , they had met withal on the way , who upon the ladies shreeks and cries , rescued her from them , notwithstanding all the resistance they could make ; in which conflict himself was wounded and several of his men killed . this news afflcted him beyond measure ; but seeing no remedy , he return'd to his camp , full of grief and vexation . the rape of the lady anne being made known to the duke , and the earl her father , they were extreamly troubled at it , and immediately caused the ravishers to be pursued by some of his troops , who after three days search , understood she was brought back to the castle by one captain conrade ; upon which they made a speedy return . the earl was exceeding joyful at the recovery of his daughter , and understanding by her , that captain conrade ( whom they accidentally met , marching with his troop for the emperour's service in hungary ) had delivered her , and safely brought her home , was returned to his troop , without his thanks or reward ; according to his noble disposition , sent to invite him to his castle , that he might make some acknowledgments for the great service they had done him , and least they should not prevail with him , caused the lady anne to send him a fair diamond ring to wear for her sake , and he himself sent him the best horse in his stable , with furniture richly embroyder'd . but they needed not thus to have presented conrade , for this young lady had already given gim her heart , from whom she parted with much regret . the late affront of the lord of zeringen , and the generous gallantry of conrade , had now planted her fickle and wandring heart in the captain 's breast , whom she expected with impatience . but conrade excused himself by a gentleman , that he was upon duty , and in all hast going to the place of rend●zvous , return'd his thanks to the earl for the civility offer'd him , and the noble presents he had receiv'd , with his service and humble respects to the lady , assuring her he would wear the ring the longest day of his life , which should be devoted to her service . the young lady was very much discontented when she saw the captain did not return , as she had flatter'd her self he would , her troubled breast was wreck'd with hopes and fears , and great was the conflict between love and honour : the handsom proportion , sweet countenance , genteel behaviour , courtly speeches , and the noble courage of conrade , oblig'd her to think him the most compleat gentleman she had ever seen ; but the pride that attends on great persons , and often deters them from falling meanly under their passions , began to settle hers , and calm the ruffl●s of her mind into a serene and 〈◊〉 temper . but the contest was again renewed , and love gain'd the victory : whereupon she writ this following letter , which she return'd by his messenger , unknown to any but her confident mariana . to my deliverer , captain conrade . the service you have done me does challenge a far greater acknowledgment than lyes in my power to give you , and i hope will excuse me if i say something to you kind and extravagant . i have no other way to requite your civilities but to tell you what power they have over a soul so sensible as mine is , and it is your own fault that you have not more acceptable pro●fs of my love and affection to you . since you are going to the wars , perhaps i may never be put to the blush by seeing you again ; but pray remember as you bave set my body free , you have made my heart your captive , whilst i am anne of werdenberg . the captain having received this letter , admired the ladyes kindness and gratitude to him , the unexpected encouragement to obtain her love , advanc'd his hopes of success , and he resolv'd to leave his troop to court her ; but considering the great disparity between their fortunes and qualities , and the difficulty of gaining a lady not at her own disposal , he presently returned this letter by the same messenger . to my conquerour , the fair lady anne . i acknowledge madam that you are my conquerour , and i am your slave , but i h●pe never to be ransom'd or exchanged , but to wear out my life in so grateful a bondage . the sense of my own humble condition forbids me to lift up my eyes to my adored mistress , unless raised above my own pitch by the purchase of honour , which i will seek with the hazard of my life , that my head may be encompassed with lawrels to preserve me from being blasted by the angry lightning of your eyes , for my confidence and presumption . madam i humbly beg pardon for your affectionate slave ▪ conrade . the lady receiv'd this letter , and read it a thousand times , fancied new charms ▪ and fresh pleasures in every line ; sometimes she would call him cruel and ungrateful , and then excusing him , would blame her self , and resolve to be constant to his love. mariana seeing her extravagancy pityed her very much , and tryed all ways to divert her , and renew her old flame for birthold , but in vain . she was so incensed against him for his late rude behaviour , that the pride of her mind , but more the love of conrade , excluded all hopes of reconciliation . in the mean time the lord birthold was very much distressed by his enemies , and though he was much troubled for the loss of his land , he was more afflicted for that of his mistress , the first he had hopes to recover , but the other he feared was lost for ever . he wrote to her , sent messengers , but could obtain no answer , but from mariana , who gave him more reason to dispair than hope of success . in the interim the duke and the earl her father , were agreed in all points relating to the marriage , and she being now become indifferent , as to the duke , did not much oppose it : whereupon , soon after , it was pompously solemniz'd , and the young dutchess conducted to his palace at ulme , where she was received with feasts , balls , plays , and all the honourable expressions of publick mirth and joy. captain conrade , notwithstanding all this , still preserv'd his image in the breast of the dutchess , which had made so deep an impression , that in the midst of all those diversions , she still sigh'd and languished after him . it happen'd as she was si●ting one day to see some publick games , her eyes roving up and down , she thought she espied among the croud , her beloved captain , all the features of his face were so like and agreeable , that she resolv'd it must be the same , and could not possibly be any other : mariana being near her , she whisper'd her in the ear , and directed her eye to the same object , who immediately concluded with her , that gentleman she then saw , was the real captain conrade ; but they wondred much to see him in so mean a garb , and not in the habit of a soldier , which they supposed he made use of for a disguise ; and when they observ'd him so intent on the sports , that he seldome cast his eyes on the dutchess , or if he did , with such indifferency , that shew'd nothing of love or passion , they were more concern'd at his slight and neglect . this sight rais'd so violent a transport in the soul of the new-married dutchess , that she could not contain her self from charging mariana to set some body to watch him to his lodging , and that she should privately inquire of him his design of coming thither in that garb and disguise . mariana in obedience to the commands of the dutchess , set one of the servants belonging to her train to watch him to his lodging , and there acquaint him that she desir'd to speak with him at the palace , whither he was privately to conduct him . the man obeyed his orders punctually , and the young gentleman received the message with wonder and amazement , protesting that mariana was utterly unknown to him ; however at the entreaty of the messenger he went along ; and being introduced into a private lobby , mariana came to him , and looking full in his face , captain ( says she ) what makes you here thus disguised ? the dutchess owes too much to your generosity and valour , not to take notice of her deliverer . the gentleman look'd strange upon her , as one he had never seen before , which made mariana stop , and ark him if he was not captain conrade ? the gentleman answered no , but that he was his own brother , and a twin , and so like him , that not only strangers but their own parents could not distinguish them , but by a red mole under the right pap , which his brother had , that his name was philip , born at villengen , and elder by four minutes . mariana seeing his speech , carriage , proportion , face , hair , smiles , and actions so very like , would not believe one word he say'd , but taking all for fiction prest him to let her know his intentions of being there , and whither he had already forsaken his mistress honour , for whom he had lost a young and obliging lady , to her great grief and trouble . philip seeing the incredulity of mariana , smil'd at her error , but it not being the first time by many he had been mistaken for his brother , it was no great surprize to him ; mariana still urg'd he was the same person , whilst philip with many oaths and asseverations endeavoured to confirm the truth of what he had said , and that he came over only to see the publick sports , and the entrance of the duke and dutchess , and to morrow intended to return to villengen , unless she or the dutchess had any commands to the contrary . mariana went presently to inform the dutchess of what he had sayed , and desir'd him to wait in the lobby till her return . about an hour after mariana returns with the dutchess who was amazed to see the captain she lov'd , deny himself , for both her eyes and ears told her it was he and no other . captain ( said she ) the obligation i have to you , may excuse this strangeness , but after the letter i sent you , and that i received from you , i cannot but wonder you should call your self philip , and make so strange of a business i would have esteemed more serious ; and therefore pray tell me why you thus disguise your self , and what your pretentions are ? madam , replyed the gentleman , i desire not to deceive a person of your quality , and i do swear by all that 's sacred , i am not captain conrade , but his brother philip , that i came hither only out of curiosity , and shall return to morrow , unless for my brother's sake , who i perceive has done you some considerable service ▪ you will be pleased to entertain me amongst your followers . the dutchess looked somewhat amazedly , and her eyes told her she could not believe him , his desire of being retained about her made her conclude he was no other than conrade , whom her letter and his love had brought back to serve her . this thought pleas'd her , and she told him he should attend her the next day , and in the mean time she would speak to the duke to entertain him amongst his domesticks for his brother's sake , if he were not the same she took him for , which she still doubted . but it is too true , the dutchess is deceived , mariana is deceived , and all the world who had seen the one , would have been deceived by the other ; this was one of the fantasticks of nature , or one of her rarities which she seldom makes , in this she had imitated conrade so exactly , that he was not to be known from philip , nor philip from him , she had form'd them in the same molds in the dark cell of the womb , that it was not possible for the eye to distinguish them , and least she should mistake her self , had only differenced conrade by a private mark. but how like soever their bodies were , their souls were as different ; conrade had a noble generous soul , full of life and valour , philip ( though the eldest ) was covetous , sordid and cowardly : besides these internal marks of difference , time and accident had caused one notable distinction , which not being known to many , was kept a secret , and being in those parts of the body which common modesty obliges us to conceal , was not discoverable . philip in his younger years climbing up a high pear-tree , the bough broke , and he fell so unluckily that a stump of the tree stuck between his legs , which so bruised those parts , that they gangreend and were cut clean off , so that philip was a capon , and as true an eunuch as any the turk had in his whole seraglio . this was a secret which shame caused to be conceal'd , eunuchs being accounted monsters in that part of the world where they are not seen every day , or do not govern provinces , or command armies . the dutchess was not yet convincd , but this was her real conrade , however he was pleas'd to assume the name and person of philip , and accordingly so represented him to the duke , that the brother of that captain who had so bravely rescued her from the hands of her ravishers was now in the city , and had petition'd her in consideration of his brother's service , to be admitted one of her domesticks : the duke glad of an opportunity to be grateful , and please his new dutchess , whom he passionately lov'd , order'd him to be entertain'd in the place of one of the gentlemen of his chamber , to the great content of philip , and satisfaction of the dutchess . the dutchess for some time remain'd very reserv'd , expecting this phillp , or disguised conrade , should make his addresses to her , but observing in him so great indifference , she was not a little amaz'd and perplex'd at it . to be better inform'd she sent privately to villengen , and was there satisfied that this was not conrade but philip his brother , however as she had before been enamour'd on the comely shape , and graceful deportment of conrade , she could not be said to change the object of her love in philip , who was so like him in all outward appearance , as one drop of water to another , which occasion'd the same sentiments of mind , and lustful desires for philip , as she before had for conrade . she knew that conrade was gone to the wars , and his return uncertain , but here she beheld , and had in her power the same person with a different name only ; and thought it the greatest folly imaginable to sigh for one that was absent , and fore-go the same present ; to dye for the shadow , when she might freely enjoy the substance . the dutchess discovered the secret passion of her heart to mariana , brib'd her with gold , and did all that a flattering mistress is capable of , to subvert the honesty and integrity of a servant , and make her faithful to her ; mariana readily understood what the dutchess meant , and with pity to the poor forsaken birthold , unwillingly paid obedience to her unlawful commands . the dutchess took all opportunities of shewing kindness to philip , and with her eyes and actions spoke the hidden passions of her heart ; but all her favours and caresses were thrown away on this dull and frozen statue , his incapacity for love had chill'd his blood , and made him cold and reserv'd ; all her smiles were lost upon him , and for those many marks of her esteem , he only returned low cringes and diligent submissions . the dutchess was vext and angry at his dulness and stupidity , or fear and modesty , not being able to distinguish which was the true reason of so great reservedness . great persons love to be understood at first sight , with a word and a beck , and it is better to be too forward and mistake their intentions , than too backward , and not understand their desires . at this time the great success of birthold caused the duke to go into the field himself , with those new forces he had raised for the assistance of the earl of werdenberg , and with much regret he parted from the dutchess , laying a particular command on philip to be diligent in his attendance on her , and to certifie him continually of her health , of which honour he was not a little proud . the duke being thus departed with his army , the dutchess , with mariana , philip , and some few other servants , went to her castle of blaford , a league from vlme , where she designed to divert her self with hunting for two or three days , and then return to vlme . here she resolved to lay the scene of her amorous design , and contrive every thing so cunningly , that the most searching eye should not be able to find a flaw in her honour . the second night after her arrival , having before order'd philip to be lodg'd in a chamber remote from the rest of the servants , to which there was a private gallery , which led from her apartment , about midnight her unruly love having kept her waking , she arose out of her bed , and ( giving mariana strict charge not to stir ) flung over her a light silk mantle , richly embroyder'd , her head was curiously drest , as on her bridal night , then putting on a pair of velvet slippers , she took the white wax taper burning in her chamber in a silver candlestick , in one hand , and a dagger in the other , and in this posture left her chamber , and through the private gallery convey'd her self to philip's . this apparition in the middle of the night ( as sweet and tempting as this lovely and lustful dutchess seem'd to be ) struck the amazed philip with horrour and consternation , not knowing whether it was the bright vision of some angelical phantasm , or some sportive devil in the counterfeit shape of a glorious spirit , his little acquaintance with either , gave him sufficient argument for his present fears . philip lay trembling in his bed , which the dutchess approachd and holding the dagger towards his breast , thus exprest her self . the many favours i have shown , are the manifest tokens of my affection to you , and which have been received with too much slight and neglect ; you either disdain my love , or are so stupid not to understand my passion , either of which is alike dangerous to my repose , and your life . i have in this manner appear'd to you , as you see , to discover the violence of my love , and intrust my honour with you : you have no other way to choose , but to answer my desires , or dye by my hands , this poyson'd dagger shall sacrifice you to my fury , if you deny to be an offering to my love. this was a pretty way of courtship indeed , but this lady was none of those who desir'd to be ador'd and sigh'd for , to be worshipp'd as a saint , or respected as a vestal : hers was not fantastick or platonick love , placed only in shadows and respectful ceremonies , her flames were to be quench'd , and desires satisfied with secrecy and expedition . philip open'd his mouth , and fixing his eyes on the amiable yet terrible object , spake something so confusedly and abruptly , that the dutchess soon perceived the affright she had put her lover in , had in some measure debarr'd her of the satisfaction she expected , and to allay those fearful spirits she had raised , endeavoured to rectifie the error she had committed , by smoothing her brow , and putting on her sweetest and most charming looks : she arm'd her eyes with a softer fire , her countenance on a sudden became serene and amorous , inviting smiles dispell'd the frowns of her contracted brow. she laid aside the weapon in her hand , and made use of none but rays of light , which shot themselves into the soul of philip like so many daggers , for he trembled to see what would have rejoyced another man. she set down the taper , and disrobing her self into the glories of a naked goddess , lifted up the cloaths and laid her self down by him , saying ; thus will i charm your fears , thus will i court your love : i have laid by my thunder and lightning , and imagine me no longer the dutchess of vlme your mistress , but your lover , and one that expects to give and take a felicity , princes would not refuse . philip was getting out on the other side of the bed , when she laid her arm over him , warm enough to melt the most snowy chastity ; what ( said she ) do you flie me ? am i a person after all this to be refus'd ? then resetling her disturbed spirits , and gently drawing him towards her , she began to smother him with kisses , whilst he like a trembling partridge under the pounces of an hawk made some faint struglings to get from her embraces , and assoon as he could have liberty from the kisses she loaded him with , cryed out , ah madam ! i am not able to perform what you expect from me , i must confess i am no man , and that it is impossible for me to give you the satisfaction you desire . the dutchess was so confounded at these words , that she let go her arms from their embrace , and rising half way out of bed , thought he had been a woman , but discovering the contrary by his breasts , which were bare , she thought he only said so to deceive her , when presently the colour flushing into her cheeks , and a fierceness mounting into her eyes , she began to grow terrible to philip , who leaping out flung himself on his knees by the bed side , and with many oaths and asseverations related his misfortune to her . it is impossible to speak the confusion this disappointed lady was in , her eyes were fierce and sparkling with shame and anger , and transported with rage she flew to her dagger , which philip being aware of , ran to the table where his sword lay , and put himself into a posture of defence , whilst she seeing her self thus defeated of her pleasure , and prevented in her revenge , look'd like a distracted fury , all her lovely charms grew terrible and frightful . whether it be true or false ( said the inraged dutchess ) that you have told me , or whether thou art impotent or vertuous , 't is not much matter , for thou shalt dye for my mistake . but philip had no mind to be kill'd , and kept her off with the point of his sword , assuring her with a thousand oaths and imprecations of the truth of what he said ; told her more fully his misfortune , promised and vow'd eternal secrecy , that no person in the world should ever know one syllable of this action , that he himself would endeavour to forget it , and believe it only a dream or vision , provided she did no ways hereafter attempt his life ; but if he should happen to fall by her malice , as he easily might , he would leave this nights transactions , under his hand and seal , with an intimate friend , who after death would deliver it to the duke , and that if he might live secure , he would be secret , silent , and faithful , her shame should be hid , and her honour safe . the dutchess saw no other remedy , but without reply threw her mantle about her , slipp'd on her pantoffles , took up the candle , and left philip not a little glad that he was so easily rid of this amiable fury . mariana saw her lady return , but with such marks of disturbance in her looks , confusion in her eyes , and shame in her cheeks , that she wondred what could be the cause of so great a disturbance . the next day the dutchess feign'd her self sick , caus'd her coach to be made ready , and return'd to vlme , writing dispatches to the duke , wherein she told him ( with the greatest art of feminine cunning and collogueing ) how much she suffer'd by his absence , who like the flower of the sun must droop 'till his return , and wither like the female palm in the absence of the male. these let●ers were order'd to be sent by philip , who was pleas'd with the command , and so easie a removal from the sight of the incensed dutchess . all this mariana saw and wondred at , 'till the dutchess one evening in her closet acquainted her with the odd circumstances of her love , and her more strange disappointment . the duke receiv'd the kind letters of the dutchess , and was not a little satisfied with her love and care , and after he had put his affairs in a good posture , return'd post to vlme , to the embraces of his lady . philip came along with the duke , but kept himself as much out of her presence as he could , who never beheld him but with shame and confusion , and that very object , which before had been so pleasant in her eyes , was now as monstrous and hateful , malice and revenge succeeded her love in as great a degree , and considering her honour and life were intrusted to his keeping , she resolved neither could be safe as long as he liv'd , and having in vain endeavour'd by several artifices to remove him from the duke , she consulted with mariana what was to be done in so difficult a case , who agreed to send him into another world , which could only secure his silence . to this end , ieranto the cook was hi●ed by a purse of gold , to poyson him in a mess of broth , which he soon after effected ; but his german simplicity not being so well vers'd in that damnable art , as the spaniard or italian , the poyson wrought so violently it discover'd it self too soon , and by the great care and skill of the duke's physicians , the danger was prevented . he presently imagin'd it came from the implacable hatred of the dutchess , and resolv'd to be reveng'd of her before he dy'd : whereupon he sent for the duke , and having made all persons avoid the room , acquainted him with the visit the dutchess had given him , with all the particular circumstances of it , and fully inform'd him of the reason of her malice and his empoysoning . the duke was like one thunder-struck with this relation , and having consider'd the several parts of it , began to question whether philip was not distracted by his distemper , but having heard him confirm it with many oaths and imprecations , expecting every moment to dye ; trouble and grief succeeded his wonder and astonishment , and jealousie and rage follow'd after . he stayed some time to compose himself , and charg'd philip , to let no other know of his dishonour ; telling him , if he dy'd he would revenge his death , and if he liv'd , reward his fi●elity . philip being young and lusty , nature at last ( by the help of powerful medicines , ) or'ecame the poyson , and he recover'd with the loss only of his hair and nails . the duke in the mean time smother'd his trouble all he could , from the piercing eye of the dutchess , and when philip was recover'd carried him one day into her chamber , and making all others but mariana to quit the room , caused him to accuse her face to face . the dutchess seem'd not much mov'd , but took it as if the duke had been in jest with her , at which he grew so inraged , he flatly charg'd her with the crime , calling her impudent strumpet , she appearing as angry and high , peremptorily deny'd it , and told him , she would have satisfaction for so base an abuse put upon her : she vindicated her self from all that philip had said ▪ and with so many asseverations justify'd her innocency , that the duke stood amaz'd , not knowing which to credit . the subtle lady perceiving the duke's mind wavering , fell on her knees and crav'd justice against that perjur'd villain philip ; who now saw his own folly and danger , in accusing the dutchess without any other witness to corroborate his evidence . the duke was very much perplex'd with this matter , and knowing the dutchess had not actually defiled his bed , but intentionally only , if that was true she was accused of , and that probably philip's impotency rather than his vertue , or a due regard to his honour , had kept him chast ; by many good words endeavour'd to pacifie the dutchess , and reconcile her to phillip , whom he still continued in his service . however the duke seem'd to dissemble the trouble of his mind , philip still standing firm in his accusation , jealousie began to prevail upon his soul , and imbitter all his thoughts : he grew melancholy and churlish , and she so proud and disdainful , that an apparent breach was made between them ; she curs'd her marriage , and the time she forsook birthold , the kind and loving birthold . this mariana took notice of , and acquainted birthold with the discontents of the dutchess , who diligently by letters address'd himself to her , from whom he receiv'd this answer . to the lord of zeringen . birthold ; if i have yet any command over your soul , as you say i have , then you must not dye ; but preserve a life that is precious to me , and may yet be serviceable to redeem me from misery . time may alter both our fortunes , and your constancy may be rewarded by anne vlme . birthold being encouraged in his love by the amorous letter of the dutchess , came over privately in disguise to vlme , and by the assistance of mariana made frequent visits to the dutchess , these enterviews soon composed all former differences , and entred 'em into a st●icter league than ever . vvhat mutual kindnesses passed between them at that time , i never yet could learn , but it is very likely , as we may judge by the sequel of their actions , such unscrupulous lovers made use of opportunity . birthold at last propos'd to her to leave the duke her husband , and go along with him , which she consenting to , pack'd up all her jewels and other things of value , and one evening with mariana walk'd out to the side of the river danow which runs by the walls of vlme , where birthold waited her coming , and with a boat of six oars , carried them over the river , and in his coach conveyed them safe to his castle . the duke soon heard where the dutchess was , and acquainted the earl her father with the treachery and infidelity of his daughter , who were both so inraged at the injury and disgrace , that they immediately rais'd all the forces they were able to make , and mutually vow'd a revenge . so great success attended the justice of their cause , that birthold was totally routed in the field , and forc'd to take refuge in his castle , where the dutchess was , which two days after was surrounded by the dukes army ; birthold having done all that a valiant man could do in defence of the place , resolv'd not to be taken alive and b●come the scorn of the victors ▪ but thrust himself into the midst of his enemies , and dyed bravely with his sword in his hand . the dutchess had not the heart to fly to a voluntary death , though she resisted her fate all she could , and was taken with arms in her fair hands , encouraging the soldiers with her words and actions . being taken and brought before her husband and father , the earl would have run her thorough with his own hand , but was hindred by the duke , who desired her punishment might be left to him , against whom she had more grievously offended , who resolved not to chastise her by death , but to give her a life , tho' full of pain and misery , by which she might have time to repent of her crimes , and save her soul. the duke sent away the dutchess , and the dead body of birthold , with a strong guard to his castle at blaford , and having finish'd the campaign , and restor'd the country to peace , return'd to vlme with honour and victory . the duke being resolv'd now to punish his adulterous dutchess , order'd mariana to be taken from her , and being chastised as a confederate in her crimes , was banish'd his terrritories . the dutchess was then put into a room where no light of day or sunshine could ever enter , in which he 〈◊〉 a bed to be set up , and the room hung with black , with a lamp continually burning in the midst of it , a little table was placed by her bed-side , with a prayer-book , the picture of a beautiful lady embracing a knight on the one side , and the same knight and lady tormented by devils on the other side of the chamber , as objects to remember her of her crimes , and promote her repentance . this was the furniture of the room ; and to abate the heat of her lust , he gave strict charge that three times a week she should have nothing but bread and water , and at other times a spare dyet . he allowed her no other cup to drink in but the skull of birthold , which he had caused purposely to be made into a cup , and tipt it round with silver , nor no other carpet on her table but his skin , which was flead off and drest for that purpose , strictly commanding , that no person in the world should be permitted to see or speak to her , except a priest , who was order'd to confess her once a month : care was also taken , that she should have no knife , or any thing else whereby she might hurt her self , and that he might be sure to have all this punctually perform'd , and she not able to corrupt her keep●r , he gave the command of the castle to philip , and made him her keeper , strictly charging him , that no person should be suffer'd to see or speak with her , but himself , and the priest he should send with a warrant under his hand and seal . philip who had no good will to this lady , undertook the charge not unwillingly , resolving to observe his lord's directions very punctually , believing them to be as just as severe , 〈◊〉 good for the soul of the adulterous dutchess . in this manner liv'd the dutchess for the space of three years , never seeing the face of any but philip and the preist her confessor , whilst the duke liv'd loose and luxuriously , wantonis'd in all manner of unlawful pleasures and lustful desires , there was hardly a handsome virgin in vlme that he did not betra● , nor a beautiful woman that he did not corrupt ; his palace was now become a meer seraglio , and his court a more honourable stews . in the mean time captain conrade ( a truce being made between the christians and turks ) return'd to vienna , and from thence with the emperours leave to his own country , full of glory and renown , to visit his friends and relations , till the end of the truce should call him again to action . being come to villengen he soon understood his brothers preferment under the duke of vlme , the various fortune of the dutchess , her imprisonment in the castle of blaford , where his brother was constable , and all other circumstances that fame or common report could inform him of . conrade finding the powerful image of this lovely lady yet fresh in his mind , with all those charms she overcame him with , when he releas'd her from her ravishers , and remembring her kind letters and amorous expressions , found he had a great desire to see her , notwithstanding the change of her condition , which he might easily effect by the means of his brother who was her keeper . he therefore privately and without any attendance , went over to blaford , and staying at a house in a little village near the castle , sent a messenger with a note to his brother to acquaint him he desir'd to see him , but without any company for some reasons he should afterwards understand ; philip could not but wonder at the secrecy and caution that he us'd in his visit ; but however observ'd his directions and went immediately over to him . the ceremony of their mutual respects bring over , conrade conjur'd philip to hearken to his request and told him the passionate desire he had to see the dutchess , which he might easily accomplish by changing cloaths with him , they being so alike that nothing but the difference of their habits distinguish'd them . philip a long time endeavour'd to dissuade him from it , urging the danger and hazard of the attempt ; but love had blinded his eyes and stopt his ears to all considerations , and the importunity of conrade at last prevail'd with philip , who changing cloaths with him gave him full instructions of all the ways and customs he us'd , and delivering him the keys they embraced and parted . philip accoutred with his buff , sword and feathers , went back to villengen instead of conrade , and conrade went to the castle , where he was admitted by the soldiers for philip , wi●hout the least suspicion or mistrust . at the time accustom'd he carried the dutchess her allowance , whom he could not behold without grief and trouble , his eyes were fixt on her face , which he saw pale and wan , and much alter'd by that severity us'd to her , but yet that tyrany had not robb'd her of all her beautie , and sweetness , the pleasing air of her face was yet preserv'd , though her complexion was faded , and even in that languishment she carried charms and sorceries . the next day conrade discover'd himself to the dutchess in these words . behold madam here at your feet no longer your iaylor philip , but your adorer and lover conrade , who hath preserv'd your image intire in his heart , who bewails and pities your misfortunes , and who now comes to offer you a life which hath been pr●s●rv'd from so many dangers that it might redeem you from captivity . long it was before he could convince the dutchess that he was conrade and not phillip , and seeing his words and actions had yet scarce gain'd credit with her , he produc'd the letter he had formerly received from her saying : this madam i have kept as a precious relique of y●ur affection , it is pen'd by your own fair hands , and your eyes can witness the truth of what i say . the dutchess viewing the letter , was strangely surpriz'd , for now she was assur'd he was conrade and not phillip , and throwing her arms about his neck , in a transport of joy sunk down into his . before they parted a vow'd league of friendship 〈◊〉 between them , and articles of a polluted and adulterous love was s●aled ; they are now become one , and united in wickedness and the amorous and passionate conrade sufficiently satisfy'd the lustful dutchess that he was not the eunuch phillip , but her first beloved conrade . he often off●r'd to carry her from ulme , which she refus'd , saying ; she could be no where so secure , and that it added much to the sweetness of pleasure that she could in some measure revenge her self on her cruel husband , in the same place he had so grievously punish'd her . philip being now desirous to return to his command , left villengen in order to go to the castle of blaford , but the duke met philip upon the road as he was riding out to take the air , and stopt , and ask'd him where he had been , and how he came to leave the castle of blaford , and what was the reason he was thus metamorphosed into a man of war ? philip was very much surpriz'd , and looking strangely on the duke as if he had never seeen him before , i suppose sir ( says he ) you are some person of quality by your train , but i must tell you , you mistake me for my brother philip , who is governour of the castle of blaford , whom i am now going to visit , wh●se likeness to me often causes these mistakes . the duke knew philip durst not jest with him , and seeing him in the garb of a soldier , remembred he had heard the dutchess some time speak of the great resemblance and likeness of the two brothers , believed he was in an error , and then told him that he was the duke of vlme , and that he should go along with him that night , and the next day they would ride over to blaford , where he would give himself the satisfaction of so great a curiosity . the duke accordingly did so , and conrade appear'd to him in the habit of philip and he in conrade's , who were so much alike that the duke and the whole company were strangely amaz'd at it . the duke return'd to vlme , and philip and conrade stay'd at blaford , where phillip earnestly pr●st him to change his cloaths and deliver up the command of the castle to him , for fear any unhappy accident should make a discovery of their persons , which would prove fatal to them both ; conrade told philip it was impossible , but if he would go to villengen and return two months after , he would then comply with his desire , which he accordingly did . conrade and the dutchess enjoy'd themselves in the unbounded pleasures of their lust , and laugh'd at that vengeance which was now ready to punish all their lewdness and debauchery , by a miserable and tragical catastrophe . the duke began now to think afresh on the likeness of the two brothers , and how easily he might be deceived if they should agree together that conrade should be the keeper of his dutchess instead of the eunuch philip. he knew the service that conrade had done the dutchess formerly , and some had told him that his actions exprest more of love than civility : evil men have evil thoughts , and they measure other mens actions by their own . for this reason the next night he went privately over to the castle , attended only with four of his gentlemen , resolving to satisfie himself whether it was philip or conrade , who had now the command of the castle , and the keeping of the dutchess . the warders and soldiers of the gate knew the duke and admitted him , wondring at his coming , who went directly to philip's apartment , thinking to surprize him in bed , and there to satisfie himself but not finding him , his suspition encreas'd , and he we●● directly to the door of the dutchess her cell , which he found lock'd , and harkning at it , he heard the dutchesses voice and that of a man discoursing with her . conrade who usually visited the dutchess at nights , and spent the most part of it in her company , was now there and in the raptures of his lustful pleasures . the duke knock'd loud at the door , which very much surpriz'd conrade and the dutchess , who immedialy opening of it , saw the duke with anger and fury in his face , whereupon he flew ●o his sword that lay upon the table , and lay'd two of the foremost dead at his feet , whereupon the duke presently concluded by his bold and manly courage he was not philip but conrade , which so far inraged him , that he advanc'd himself against this lyon conrade , from whom he receiv'd so home a thrust that his sword passing through his ribbs , appear'd a handful behind his back , but at the same instant one of the guard struck conrade o're his head with a pole-ax , so deep that his brains came out , and he fell at the same time with the duke dead at his feet . the duke being yet not quite dead commanded them to search conrade , and finding him to be no eunuch , and consequently not philip , commanded him to dispatch the dutchess that he might have the satisfaction of seeing her punish'd before he died , upon which one of the guard sheathed his sword in her fair breast , as she sat on the side of the bed amazed and astonisht at the suddenness of this misfortune , the dutchess fell backwards upon the bed and dyed , and the duke presently after expir'd who liv'd only to see her punish'd thus their three souls fled away at one moment ; but whether they kept pace together , or how separated in the vast abysse of eternity , is not our business to enquire , but their dead bodies remain'd a sad spectacle of divine vengeance against the horrid sin of adultery . this was the sad and lamentable conclusion of the adulterous dutchess , who had she been as eminent in chastity , as she was infamously incontinent , might have liv'd the glorious pattern of vertue , as she dyed the shameful example of sin and misery . hist. ix . juderina , or the dutch-adultress . juderina commits fornication with walter , is got with child , and afterwards turns whore at amsterdam . is there kept by mine heer vandrecht , proves false to him , and commits adultery with captain grantzford , who is kill'd by vandrecht , and he drown'd in his escape . she afterwards marries titus a puritan , breaks her husband by her riotous expence , he in revenge gives her the foul disease , which she first communicates to a quaker , and then dyes miserably of the before-mention'd distemper . jvderina was born of poor and honest parents , in a little village near roterdam , and being now arrived to twelve years of age , was entertained by emantha an antient lady and a vvidow , who was reputed very rich , and for that reason was courted by several gentlemen , who more valued her for the reputation of her fortune , than they admired the ruins of her beauty . amongst others who made sute to the widow , a gentleman known by the name of captain grantzford , was one , who though he had no assurance of obtaining her , had yet more encouragement than the rest , being always civilly treated , and greatly respected . iuderina who was a person of a ready and subtle wit , soon learnt to sing and dance exactly , emantha having preferr'd her to wait on her daughter editha , by whose favour , and the opportunities of her attendance on her , she gain'd all the accomplishments befitting a person of greater quality : to all which , nature added a larger share of beauty than is commonly seen in maids of her mean rank and family . captain grantzford no sooner saw the fair iuderina but he fell desperately in love with her , and iuderina was no less pleas'd with the captain 's courtship , which emantha observing , he soon lost all hopes of obtaining the vviddow , however the satisfaction of enjoying his lustful pleasures with iuderina , made some amends , which every day advanc'd by the seeming compliance of the vvench . at this time young walter her son return'd from the university of leyden , to visit his mother , and sister editha , whose presence very much obstructed the amorous proceedings of the captain , who at first sight was deeply in love with iuderina ( whose charms were not to be resisted ) and quickly let her know the power of her eyes , and the conquest she had made . this proud beauty gloried in her new victory , and was not a little glad to see her young master at her feet , fetter'd with her charming graces , whom she preferr'd to his rival grantzford , and at last yielded to his embraces , who now enjoyed at pleasure what the captain 's evil fortune still deny'd him . the widow had been very civil and respectful to the captain , notwithstanding his folly , and as she had no passion for him , so she had forsaken him without mal●ce or regret ; however for fear he should debauch her maid ( which she very much suspected ) she kept a strict eye over iuderina , whenever captain grantzford came to the house ; little imagining that her son had robb'd that garden , and cropt the flower she had watch'd with so much care and vigilance . the captain soon grew sensible of the double defeat he had receiv'd , in obtaining the widow , and enjoying her maid , for which reason he determin'd to try his fortune with editha , by whose courteous and obliging respects , he might promise himself better success : but her person was not so amiable , either to enkindle love , or inflame his breast with lust , iuderina was the only amorous and tempting object , but her cruel disdain had now forced him to dispair . the young editha was full of passion and desire , and languish'd after the vnkind captain , which at length she discover'd to iuderina , who presently told her that he was not ignorant of her love , but heard her sighs without the least pity or compassion , and as she could not expect her mother would ever consent to the match if propos'd to her , so she could assure her the captain's affections would never be tyed by the sacred bonds of wedlock ; but all his passion was lust , and his love dishonourable , which she sufficiently understood by his offers to herself , who endeavoured nothing more than the lew'd satisfaction of his desires , which she had hitherto oppos'd with scorn and disdain . but yet she told her if she pleas'd to make an advantage of his folly , she might both please her fancy and obtain him for a husband if she would consent to put a cheat upon him , which she might easily effect by her contrivance . editha having heard the methods of her design , approv'd them well , and desir'd her to put them in practice upon the first opportunity . the plot being thus laid betwixt them , the cunning iuderina seem'd to hearken more willingly to the courtship of grantzford , she accepts his gold , seems to believe his oaths and promises , and at the last overcome with his flateries to grant his desires . there is nothing in the world so joyful as the captain really was at the consent of iuderina , the content of his mind might be easily read in his eyes , he kiss'd her a thousand times , and gave her as many thanks for what he is not like to obtain . the assignation is made between them , and the captain by agreement to prevent all suspition to take his present leave and return at night by a back door of which she gave him the key which led to iuderina's chamber , where he should find her in bed , but this was to be done with all silence and secrecy , for fear of being over heard by emantha who lodg ' in the next chamber . all this was agreed to , and the captain parted with his mistress , full of hopes and satisfaction . night came and young editha supply'd the place of iuderina , obtain'd her desires and spent the night in the arms of grantzford , who at the same time thought he had embrac'd his beautiful mistress . in the morning being about to depart , he was amaz'd to find his mistake , and hear the young editha speak to him , instead of iuderina , who held him fast in her a●ms , crying out , do not leave me now you have robb'd and deflour'd me ; but much more when he saw young walter enter the chamber with a drawn sword and a parson with him , who told him ( with an angry look , ) captain , either salve the honour of an house which you have now w●unded , by marrying my sister , or receive the iust reward of lust and treachery , either make editha your wife , or satisfie me by your death . the captain would have risen from the bed , and made his defence , but walter set the point of his sword to his breast , and swore he would run him through if he did not declare his immediate consent , which he was forc'd to , and the parson having done his office , they left him and his bride to their now lawful pleasures ; the widow was amaz'd next morning at the relation her son gave her , of editha's marriage with grantzford , which she could not well credit , till a little time after they came to beg her blessing ; she consider'd it could not now be help'd , and after some grave reprehensions accepted their duty , and caused their private marriage to be publickly celebrated . some time after iuderina found her self to be with child , and endeavour'd to prevent her shame and disgrace by taking such things as might cause abortion but in vain , her great belly now discover'd it self , and was known to the widow , who too late found what a viper she had entertain'd in her family , and what injury she had done her self by that wenches beauty ▪ who first caused her to lose grantzford , and now had drawn away the heart of her son , and inticed him to lewdness . but least these two foolish wantons should marry together , and so utterly ruin the fortune of her son , she resolv'd to separate them , and accordingly sent him back to leyden , and iuderina over to flanders to lay her great belly , where not long after she was brought to bed of a girle , and thus became a mother before she was a wife , and had a child before she had got a husband . iuderina being recover'd of her lying in , the child by order of the widow the grand-mother , was taken from her and put to nurse in those parts , and she turn'd out of doors to seek her fortune , wi●h some small pittance of silver , scarce enough to defray her charges to amsterdam , whither she extreamly long'd to go , hoping to get into some service , or by making an advantage of her beauty , to inveagle some tradesman to marry her . with this in●ent iuderina went to amsterdam , where she no sooner arrived , but she found her money all spent , and her self in a most miserable and forlorn condition . by great fortune she got a lodging , which happen'd to be at a most infamous and notorious bawdy house , where she behaved her self with so much sim●licity and seeming innocency , told so fair a story of her misfortunes , without one word of truth , that the bawd her landlady believ'd her , and under pretence of commiseration to her present want , but more in hopes of making a good market of her , kindly and comfortably reliev'd her . in a short time iuderina's beauty was fam'd , of which she knew how to make the best advantage , and so well improv'd her talent in those wicked courses , that she had now considerably inrich'd her-self by prostituting her long lost maiden-head , to seven or eight wealthy dutch cullies , who all swore , and really believ'd they had it , for which they roundly paid . having thus advanc'd her fortune , and being unwilling to expose her self longer in a place so infamous , she privately withdrew , and took lodgings between the stadt-house and exchange , where she chang'd her name to angelica , and pass'd for a vertuous young lady , whose brother was a merchant and suddenly expected from the indies . not long after it happen'd that a gentleman of good fortune , call'd mine heer vandretch , had some short repartees with angelica under her vizard at the play-house , who was so taken with her wit , that he would not leave her till he had seen her face , which appearing to him , beyond expectation , handsome , he grew passionately in love with her , and carried her home to her lodging in his own coach. angelica had cunning enough not to be surpriz'd with his first offers of kindness , nor alter'd with those rich and noble presents he made her , which he wondring at , believed her counterfeit vertue was real , proposed a cosiderable settlement , a stately house , gilded coach , and rich liveries , if she would consent to live with him and be his mistress , which she at last agreed to , rather out of passion and respect to his person , than that such generous offers had any power over her chaste and innocent mind . she now goes abroad in her charriot , sits in the boxes at plays , with all the bravery and impudence of a kept-mistress , or more notorious strumpet . being one day at the play-house , she was seen by captain grantzford ( whom some business had brought to town ) who presently knew her , and much wondred to see that beauty ( which ever appear'd to him with a more than ordinary lusture ) now so resplendent with jewells , and all the dazling embellishments art could invent . he could not but confess that she who before appear'd a twinkling star of beauty , was now become an illuminated sun , bright and glorious . the captain made his complement to her , which she receiv'd with more favourable expressions of respect to him , and in a short time they became so intimate that he often visited her , where he was blest with those ravishing delights he had so long coveted in vain . this amour of grantzford with angelica was at last suspected by vandretch , who surpriz'd him at the botom of the stairs , one night as he had newly parted with angelica , and with his sword ran him to the heart , of which he immediately dy'd . vandretch sent for a friend and acquainted him with his present misfortune , dispos'd the care of his house and goods into his hands , disrobed angelica of all her finery , turn'd her out of doors and then made his escape , but in his way to the brill was unhappily drown'd . angelica having sav'd a little money , put her self in a plain country dress , remov'd to a remote place in the town , where she took a convenient chamber and professed herself a saint , going to all the private meetings she could hear of , where she sigh'd , lifted up her eyes , made faces , was diligent at lectures and expoundings , so that in a little time she began to be taken notice of , and attracted the eyes of many a young zealot and amorous puritan . she changed her name to mabella , though iuderina and angelica the hypocrite were the same in heart and mind as mabella the saint . at length the piety and devotion of mabella was taken notice of , as well as her modesty and beauty , by titus a young brother , a linnen draper , who was resolv'd not to marry out of his own tribe , and only wanted a wife to make him happy . she observ'd his eyes to be often fixt upon her , and tho' he took notes , and wrote in characters none else could read , he look'd as if he had been drawing her picture , he was so intent upon her . his courtship was sentences of love and cant intermix'd , and cupid and knox were joyn'd together : his amorous discourse was larded with fragments of sermons , and doctrines and uses shuffled together , with notes taken out of the academy of complements . there was such a strange medly of love and religion , of wooing and praying , of pious nonsence and smutty courtship , that mabella could not but laugh in her sleeve , how gravely and demurely soever she look'd . titus at last won the good will of his dear mabella , and what she much desir●d , they were privately married , and she once again mistress of an house . mabella had not been long married before she began to patch and deck her self with ribons , and titus to his great grief saw his shop crowded with gallants instead of chap men , who came to cheapen his wife rather than buy his linnen ; he first reprov'd her immodesty himself , and then desir'd the pastor to reprehend the lewd carriage of his wife , but to no purpose : so that seeing himself undone , he resolv'd to shut up shop and leave her to her fortune . mabella had yet scap'd the pox , that ruin and confusion of so many of venus her votaries ; but as many have escaped being wounded in a battel who have been kill'd in a skirmish , so far'd it with mabella , titus plainly perceiving his horns grew as fast as his estate wasted , was resolv'd to be first reveng'd , and then leave her . to this end he designedly got a severe clap , which he communicated to mabbella and then deserted her , carrying away all his goods along with him to france . mabella lay long sick , and was twice fluxed for her foul distemper ; but wanting money to carry on her cure , was forced to consider of new methods to relieve her presett wants , before it was compleated . mabella was now again left to her shifts , her expensive clap , with the apothecaries , surgeons and doctors bills , had robb'd her of all that little she had left , whereupon she resolved to change her counterfeit profession of religion , from that of puritan to quaker , and accordingly took a private lodging at a quaker's house , who had known her husband , and believ'd him to be as she represented him , a sly and debauched fellow , pitty'd her very much , and by her discourse judg'd her to be very innocent , and a zealous professor . to this quaker's house resorted several of that sect , and amongst the rest , one simon an itinerant holder forth , who no sooner saw mabella , who was pretty well recover'd of her clap , her colour coming fresh into her cheeks , and her old wanton flame into her eyes , but the carnal and spiritual man in him began to have a desperate conflict . we are all flesh and blood , and the little god cupid is no respecter of sects ; he spares no mortal that is composed of those atoms . simon with the wonted boldness that attends that sort of people , made an acquaintance with mabella , who entertain'd him with a suitable freedome , and whilst he endeavour'd to delude her with his holy discourses , of the light within , and his holy inspiration , she cheated him as much with her modest looks . mabella hearken'd to all his canting very diligently , and in a short time began to reform her dress , ript off all her laces , thr●w away her ribbons , put on plain coyfs and pinners , and laid aside all her babylonish trinkets . simon overjoy'd at this conversion , carried mabella to their meetings , where she endured their bawling without laughter , and heard them rant and cant , and raile and speak nonsence , w●th much devotion and counterfeit z●al . few days mist she was not at their meetings , and mabella was become a very profest , rigid , and unmannerly quaker : simon was now more in love than ever , and having converted her from the world , he determin'd next to convert her to himself . mabella was pretty in all dresses , and no disguise could hinder the power of her beauty ; but to simon she seem'd much more handsome since she was in the habit of a sister , and it was now lawful for him to say that to her , he ought not to the prophane , and wicked of the world. he therefore inform'd her of the secrets of his heart , and by what spirit he was moved , and endeavour'd to persuade her , that all things are lawful to the pure , that the world ought not to iudge the actions of the righteous , that defilement was from within , and the impurity of the mind only could contaminate the body ; that as for her husband he was a carnal man , and it was no sin to rob an aegyptian , that if he was at this time under a temptation , she ought to give way to his frailty , for she had drawn his desires after her : with such like stuff , all to persuade her fairly and plainly to lye with him . mabella soon perceiv'd by the light within , that it was either the spirit of love or lust , that began to move the carnal man , however she answer'd him so cunninly and obligingly , in his own canting-way , still harping on her present necessities , that he found the ready way to gain her was to supply her wants , which he plentifully did out of their publick stock . with this gold he opened the heart of mabella , and simon and she had thee'd it any thou'd it so long , till they came to the closest conjunction , and mingled their spiritual embraces after a carnal way . simon obtain'd his end with advantage , for the clap now breaking out , she severely pox'd him , and not daring to stay longer , for fear of being discover'd , pillag'd the holy brother of all the charitable corban he was entrusted with , and stole away to roterdam , where the venom of her distemper returning with greater violence upon her , she dyed half eaten up with that foul and poysonous disease . such is the vgliness of sin , that the devil himself is asham'd of his own deformity , and often deceives us in the disguise of an angel of light : the wicked juderina counterfeits modesty to conceal her lewdness , and religion to hide her debaucheries : but heaven in good time punishes her cr●fty vice , by the fruitful off-spring of her own sins . hist. x. count waldbourg and bellanca . the lord moruffi is taken prisoner by the count of waldbourg , and promised to be released , if his lady bellanca would consent to his lust , which she by her husband's advice agrees to . the false count having enjoy'd her , cuts off moruffi's head and gives it her . she complains to the king , who obliges him first to marry her , and then causes him to be beheaded , and gives her his estate . bellanca is afterwards got with child by a black , she and clora murder the bastard . bellanca stabbs her self , and clora is hang'd . in gothland , the best and richest province of sweedland , which is the hinthermost part of scandia next to denmark , stands the famous and impregnable castle of colmar , of which count wald-bourge was governour , in the third year of the reign of that august and victorious prince , gustavus adolphus , king of sweden . at this time there were bloody wars between the two crowns of sweden and denmark , and the lord of moruffi lieutenant general of the danish army , by the command of the king , made a descent into gothland with an army of thirty thousand horse and foot , and having miserably ravag'd the country , at last sate down before the castle of colmar , which he straitly beseig'd . i shall say nothing of those many bold assaults made by the danes upon the place , nor the stout resistance and courage of the swedes , brave and daring actions were perform'd on both sides , the soldiers at last growing very much distress'd for want of provisions , the besieged made a desperate salley , in which they had the good fortune to take the lord of moruffi prisoner , whom they brought into the castle and presented to the governour . the count of polenzi general of the swedish forces , receiving an account of the ill condition the castle of colmar was in , made a speedy march with his army for the releif of it , which the danes having notice of , and considering they had lost their general the lord moruffi , on whose courage and conduct they very much depended , they immediately rais'd the seige and return'd . the virtuous and beautiful belanca upon the first report that her dear lord was a prisoner in the castle of colmar , was very much afflicted , but there being some overtures of a truce then made between the two crowns , shee hop'd upon the conclusion of it the lord moruffi would be discharg'd ; but the terms propos'd not being agreed to , the war was renew'd with greater violence . three months after a cessation of arms was consented to , for a short time , and belanca attended with some few of her servants , having obtain'd a pass-port from general polenzi , took a journey , full of hazard and danger , to the castle of colmar , to see her beloved lord and husband . the count of waldbourge the governour receiv'd her with all respect and kindness , who soon became an earnest suitor to him for the release of moruffi , offering all her jewels and a very considerable sum for his ransom , which the governour told her he could not comply withal without direct and positive orders from the king. belanca told him that would be a matter of great difficulty to effect , till a peace was concluded , which was very uncertain , but if he pleas'd he might suffer him to escape , for which she would make him the same generous present ; the governour answer'd that was so great a piece of treachery to his prince , that in honour he could never admit it . the fidelity of this noble count which was not to be corrupted by gold , was soon conquer'd by the more powerful charms of belanca's beauty , whose vertue after he had long and in vain sollicited , he promis'd to free the lord moruffi his prisoner , if she would consent to his unchaste desires , and upon no other terms whatever : belanca was very much surpriz'd at his discourse , and told him , i wonder my lord that you who have so great a regard to your honour ( as you but now exprest your self ) can have so little esteem for your own vertue , or my chastity . belanca would have proceeded but the count interrupted her , saying , madam i expect not your advice but consent , if my lord moruffi is so dear to you , you know upon what terms you may gain his freedom , which if you do not readily comply with , i will prevent all his designs of escape , by a closer confinement . belanca desir'd leave till the next day to consider of it , and then promis'd to return her answer , and having parted from the count , acquainted her husband with the discourse which had pass'd between them , that she found the count altogether inflexible , and unless she submitted to such dishonourable terms should never be able to obtain his liberty upon any other . moruffi was very unwilling to purchase his freedom with the loss of his honour ; but his restraint growing now more irksome and tedious to him , by the daily hopes of liberty , he at last advis'd his lady to consent to the count's demand , tho' they were rigid and severe , adding , that since she was now in his power , he might possibly force her vertue to a surender upon worser terms . belanca , who was wholly at the devotion of her lord , whom she lov'd intirely , was with some regret at last prevail'd upon by his argument , assuring him , that she could at the same instant , with greater satisfaction , sacrifice her life for his ransom , than prostitute her honour . the false count having now satiated himself with the full enjoyment of his lustful pleasures , left belanca in his chamber , telling her , he would now go and give present orders for the lord moruffi 's discharge , desireing her ●o stay and expect him there : whereupon he commanded four of his servants to go to the lord moruffi's chamber , and bring his head to him in that embroyder'd bag , which was accordingly done . the count took the bag in his own hands , and went to belanca's apartment , where she was with great impatience expecting moruffi , and told her , madam , take there your beloved husband , belanca not understanding his meaning , open'd the bag , and there saw moruffis head fresh bleeding , at which she swoond away , and had not the diligent attendance and care of the women , and the excellent vertues of the cordials they gave her , forc'd her soul unwillingly back to her hated body , she had immediately followed her beloved lord. three days after the count being acquainted that her passion was something abated , made a visit to her , and by all the tender expressions of love and affection , excusd the late bloody act he had been guilty of , that having once tasted those ravishing delights , he not only resolvd never to part with her , but could endure no rival , and that not his cruelty to moruffi , but his love to belanca was the occasion of it . the count at last won so much upon her , that she seemed wholly to forget moruffi , and with pleasure and delight wanton'd in his lustful arms , till three months after , that noble prince gustavus adolphus being encamp'd with his army ten miles off , rode over to his castle of colmar , to whom belanca on her knees related this horrible cruelty of the count to her husband the lord moruffi , and implor'd his justice against him the king having understood the whole intrigue of their amours , ask'd her the next day what would satisfie her for the loss she receiv'd in her husband , and propos'd a match with the count which should compensate the injury she receiv'd . belanca accepted of the kings proposal , and the count was well pleas'd his punishment was not more severe ; whereupon they were married in the kings presence , who told her , i have now in some measure answer'd your complaint , and now i will satisfie my own iustice , and immediately order'd the governour should be beheaded , and gave her all his estate . belanca not long after remov'd to stockholm , where her own native beauty , and the report of her great riches , gain'd her many suit●rs , and amongst those , adrastus second son to the duke of helsinga , with a more particular zeal , admir'd and courted her : six months were now past , since he had laid siege to the affections of belanca , yet had not the least private parley with her , which added more to the esteem and devotion he had for her . at last , upon the importunity of prayers and presents , one of her gentlewomen promis'd to bring him in the night time , to her ladies lodgings , and so to dispose of him , that he should see her pull off her cloaths before she went to bed , walking in her smock about the chamber for coolness , and singing and playing upon the lute , which she did admirably well . adrastus was overjoy'd with the thoughts of so great an happiness , belanca was very surprizing under the disadvantages of a widows habit , but would certainly be much more beautiful , when she appear'd like a naked venus ; her great pretensions to vertue and modesty , laid so severe a restraint upon her conversation , that she rarely or never admitted any gallant to a private discourse ; these considerations rais'd adrastus his expectations to the highest degree of pleasure and contentment . night being come , adrastus by the direction of clora , belanca's woman , convey'd himself into her house , and was so conveniently plac'd , that he saw her sitting on a couch , reading in a prayer-book whilst her women were undressing her . belanca was ready to go into bed , when clora entreated her mistress to sing , and put a lute into her hand , which she readily comply'd withal ( it being her usual custom , when she was not melancholy indispos'd ) and perform'd so well , that adrastus could hardly forbear casting himself at her feet , there to act the part of the ecstatick lover . she sung not long , but went to bed , her women withdrew to their chambers , and adrastus went out undiscover'd at a door clora had left open for him , but coming into the court , he found the gate shut fast and lock'd . not knowing what to do in this distress , he sate down upon the side of a well in a corner of the court , to consider with himself : while his thoughts were thus engag'd , he perceiv'd a door open that belong'd to some part of belanca's lodgings , and saw the fair widow , whom he thought fast asleep , with a wax-candle in one hand , and a plate cover'd with jellyes and conserves in the other ; she had a rich flowr'd gown wrapp'd loose about her ; and in this dress she was so full of charms and attraction , that he much wondred what this beautiful phantasm meant , sometimes flattering himself that he was the person she sought after . at length he perceived her to go towards the stable door , whither he at a distance follow'd her , and supposing she went to visit some servant that was sick , wondred at the excess of her pious charity . he hid himself behind one of the horses , and saw her go to the bed-side of a black a m●re , that was sick , who seem'd to be about thirty years of age , but with so ghostly a look , that he appear'd like the true image of death . adrastus admir'd the unparallel'd goodness of belanca , who took up the negro's coverlet , and having raised his head , sate down by him , and with tears in her eyes , wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with her handkercheif . adrastus knew not what to think of a charity so transcendent , when she with show'rs of tears , ask'd him how he did ? and with a voice interrupted by sobs ; my dear franck ( said she ) art thou resolv'd to dye , and with thy own , be my death too ? thou spakest not to me , my dearest , take heart my soul , if thou desirest i should live , and eat a little of this ielly , for my sake , who loves thee , who adores thee , kiss me my angel , kiss me and recover thy health or let me dye with thee . to this effect were her expostulations , joyning her angelical face , to the diabolical countenance of the moor , which she bedew'd with tears . when he with his scraggy hand removing her face from his own , with a hollow voice , said to her , what would you have of me madam ? why will you not let me dye in quiet ? is it not enough you have reduced me to this miserable condition i am in , but now you expect at the poynt of death , i should sacrifice the few minutes i have left , to the satisfaction of your insatiable inclinations ? take a husband , take a husband madam , and expect no more from me , who am more fit for the cold embraces of death , than the warm pleasures of your lustful arms. having so said , he slunk down into the bed , and so suddenly , that belanca could not get one word more from him , but return'd to her chamber with a countenance full of sadness and discontent , like a disconsolate widow at the funeral of a husband she dearly lov'd . adrastus lay close in the corner of the stable till the gate was open , and getting into the streets return'd to his lodgings with wonder and astonishment . next day as he pass'd by belanca's house , the moor was carried out to his burial , and a week after he receiv'd this letter from belanca , by one of her servants . belanca to adrastus . you would have me believe you think me not vnhandsome , and i cannot but acknowledge i am so taken with you , that i am willing to grant you immediately what i had not promised till a year was expir'd . my person and estate are at your disposal , and though i cannot be too circumspect in a business of this nature , yet your merit and my affection , shall be my security . belanca . adrastus was now alter'd in his resolutions of marriage , and having read her letter twice or thrice over , return'd this answer : adrastus to belanca . i am naturally a person of a very nice conscience , and therefore cannot without some remorse , answer your proposal of marriage , you being a widow but since last week . you are much more oblig'd to the memory of your negro , who lost his life in your service , and can bestow no less than a year in bewayling the miscarriage of a person , whose performances you thought so extraordinary . in the intrim we shall both of us have time to consider what we have to do . adrastus . adrastus having sent his mistress this letter , immediately left stockholm , and retir'd into the country , where five months after he received this sad account of her miserable end. belanca finding her self with child by her african gallant , conceal'd her great-belly from all the world but her confident clora , who assisting her at the time of her delivery , they murder'd the tawny off-spring to conceale the shame of her lustful dalliances , and clora commanded to bury it in the garden , but being discover'd , was apprehended and brought before the officers of justice , where in hopes of pardon , she confess'd how far she was guilty , charging the rest on belanca , who having notice by the officers who came to seize her , what clora had accus'd her of , what through the horrour of the guilt , and dread of the punis●ent , snatching up a ponyard which lay upon the table , she stabb'd her self to the heart , and dyed immediately . clora had confess'd her self guilty of the murder of the infant , which though it might look rather like an act of service and fidelity to her lady , than a malicious design in her self , was condemn'd to be hang'd , and three days after executed . nothing encourages sin more , than the false hopes of impunity ; for did we really believe the iustice of h●av'n wou'd most certainly punish our sins in proportion to our own demerits ; the murderer would temper his passion , and the adulterer cool his lust. but that thou may'st no more dare to sin , than thou art willing and able to bear the punishment heav'n shall infl●ct on thy guilty head ; i have here represented the sad consequence of those two horrid sins , murther and adultery , where in variety of tragical examples , thou may'st see the iustice of heav'n triumphant in the punishment of such notorious offenders . the triumphs of chastity sold by benj : crayle att y e signe of y e lambe in fleet street . the triumphs of friendship and chastity . exemplified in some eminent examples and delightful histories . london : printed for benj. crayle , in fleetstreet . the triumphs of friendship , &c. by way of introduction . in the two former treatises i have lively represented how nea●ly sin is ally'd to punishment , in several tragical examples of murder and adultery ; to deter us from the commission of those crimes which will render us as infamously miserable , as those poor wretches were . and in this second part i shall endeavour to encourage vertue by those glorious instances of successful goodness , which have perfum'd the memories of the authors , and given immortality to their names , whose bodies are long since crumbled into dust , and their ashes lost amongst the common ruines of mankind . i shall contract my discourse under these two heads , friendship and chastity , as they do more directly oppose the precedent crimes of murther and adultery . and here i mean not that friendship which receives its birth from any effeminate passion of love and desire ; but that exalted friendship , whose noble extract is only derived from vertue and honour , which is of so pure a temper , that none but good men are capable of it . 't is a misery indeed , that the knowledge of such a blessedness as a true friend is , can hardly be without some sad misfortune , for when we are happy in the spring-tide of abundance , and the rising flood of plenty , all men flock about us with bare heads , bended knees , and protesting tongues : but when these pleasing waters fall to an ebb , then they look upon us at a distance , and stiffen themselves as if they were in armour , lest ( if they should comply with us ) they get a wound in the close . this has deterr'd some from taking part with an inauspicious friendship , but by how much the more miserable , by so much are they the more certain examples of a generous fidelity . for a man to expose his life to the hazard of a duel in behalf of his friend , may appear an action of honour and gallantry ; but in cold blood to present himself to an undoubted death for a friend , is a thing rarely seen , and antiquity furnishes us with few examples thereof , they tell us indeed of damon and pythias , and the poets speak with admiration touching castor his sharing of immortality with his brother pollux . but i shall here present you with a late memorable example of a generous friendship ( out of the history of poland ) which preserv'd the lives of both the friends , who eagerly contended to dye for each other , as follows : hist. i. rabatski and farnel . rabatski and farnel , two intimate and faithful friends . rabatski falls in ●ove with hilaria , who is also courted by poto●●i , but slighted by her ; whereupon he endeavours to murder him in the street , but he is preserved by his friend farnel , who kills potosti and his man , and flies . rabatski is taken and condemn'd to l●●e his head. at the place of execution farnel appears , owning himself the murtherer . they are afterwards , in regard of their inviolable friendship , both sav'd , married and preferr'd . at vilna the metropolitan city and university of lithuania , one of the principal provinces in the kingdom of poland , liv'd two young gentlemen named al●xander rabatski , and peter farn●l , who had such an inclination and affection for each other in their tender youth , that if their friendship increased with their age , it was judg'd by all they would attain such a degree of perfection , as would dimme the lustre of all those , antient historians have so highly commended to us . they studied together in the university , and learn'd all the exercises in the academy befitting their birth and condition , wherein by a worthy emulation they surpassed their fellows , and as the passions which most agitate youth are quarrels and love , in both these storms they supported each other with so inviolable fidelity , that the interest of the one was the others , without suffering the least sprig of jealousie to cast its thorny roots of suspition into their hearts . at length it hapned rabatski placed his affection on a subject full of honour , the vertuous and beautiful hilaria , who was one of the compleatest gentlewomen in the city , of a good family , and considerable fortune : but that which made his address to this lady most difficult , was the courtship of potosti , son to one of the principal citizens of vilna , who had already gain'd her parents good-will , and rivall'd him in his affections to his mistress . hilaria , who was judicious above her age , soon discover'd the different temp●rs of her lovers , and knew how to make a choice most agreeable to her own humor ; she observ'd potosti was proud and haughty , arrogant in his behaviour and discourse , who instead of winning love by submission , made himself odious to her by his vanities and bravadoes . rabatski was mild and modest , indued with all those charming qualities which render conversation pleasing and grateful , this so much affected hilaria that the offer of his service was no sooner presented but received . and although he had no permission from her parents to become a suitor to her ▪ yet she apply'd her self to love him with that ardency of affection , that jealous potosti soon discover'd his rival had robb'd him of his mistress her heart , for which he vow'd a severe revenge . not long after they met accidentally , and potosti with more boldness than civility told him , if he dar'd to offer any farther resp●cts t● his mistress hilaria , he would punish his insolence , and make him dearly repent his great folly and r●shness . rabatski told him , he could not flatter himself into an opinion that he deserv'd so good a ●ady as hilaria was ; but he hoped his pretensi●●s might any where be equal to his in p●●nt of honour or quality , and that he had neither so little affection , or so great a share of cowardize , to fear his threats who was his superior in nothing that was generous and brave . these words seconded by sundry replies , would have urg'd them to a present quarrel , had no●●ome friends interpos'd . in the mean time potosti possessed the parents of hilaria , as much as rabatski did the heart of the maid , and caused them to forbid her his company , and by an acquaintance of potosti's sent rabatski word , that they desir'd he would forbear his courtship to their daughter , which was very displeasing to them , and for the future he would avoid their house to prevent any farther incivility that might be offer'd to him . this so incens'd hilaria against potosti , that as she shunn'd his company and all converse with him , so she diligently sought all opportunities to see or write to her belov'd rabatski . potosti daily saw by what secret practices his rival advanced himself in the affections of hilaria , and not being longer able to bear her rigorous contempts , resolv'd to rid himself of his competitor by a private and bloody revenge ; whereupon he caus'd him to be watch'd night and day , and at length understood his usual walk was by night up and down before hilaria's house ; potosti like to a jealous person who seeks nothing more eagerly than that which he is least willing to find , went in the evening and hid himself near the house with his friend leoline , and one of his men , a lusty tall fellow , whose courage and fidelity he much trusted . lo●g had they not lain in ambuscade before rabatski came , accompanied with his friend farnel , to walk their accustom'd round ; when at certain signs which he made , hilaria appear'd at her window , with whom he entred into discourse , whilst farnel being a little wide from them , gave 'em time and liberty to talk . what furies of jealousie did then invade the breast of impatient potosti ? then was the time , the appetite of vengeance seiz'd him , and that he intended to cut his rival in pieces , who to his disadvantage was thus favour'd by his mistress ; upon which he commanded his man to set upon farnel , whilst leoline and he wou'd chastise the insolence of rabatski . at this they all three started out at once , and parting , ran to assayl their adversaries . farnel soon laid the servant at his feet for dead and then ran to help rabatski , who having set his back to a wall , by the advantage of a shop , warded the blows and thrusts which his enemies made at him . farnel came furiously up , and the first he met with at his swords-point was potosti , whom surprizing behind as he was eagerly passing at rabatski , he ran his sword into his back up to the hilt , whereupon he fell dead to the ground : leoline receiv'd some slight wounds , but secur'd his life by a speedy flight . farnel scap'd without any hurt , but rabatski was in danger of his life by the great effusion of blood from his several wounds . the people came out at the noise of this combat , and found potosti stark dead on the stones , and his man some few steps from him , yielding up the ghost . rabatski was conducted to a neighbour's house , and a surgeon sent for to dress his wounds but he swounded in such a manner that for a while they thought him dead , but by the force of remedies they brought him to himself again , and after he was dress'd , laid him into bed. in the mean while leoline acquainted potosti's parents with the untimely death of their son , and related the matter to his own advantage , telling them they were both treacherously assaulted by rabatski and farnel , which took such impression , that they believ'd all he said , and immediately acquainted the officers of justice with the murther , who order'd that rabatski and farnel should be apprehended and cast into prison ▪ whereupon rabatski was seiz'd and dragg'd to prison , without any respect to his weak condition . farnel made his escape in hopes to prove his own innocency and his friends , by showing what they did was in their own defence : but the case went quite otherways than he expected , potosti's friends and relations had that power and authority in the city of vilna , that in few days rabatski was arraign'd and condemn'd to lose his head. the time of his execution being come ▪ he was brought to the scaffold , and though he publickly protested his innocence , that he was not the author of this murther , but assaulted by the treachery of potosti and leoline ; yet the executioner was ready to give the fatal stroke , when 〈◊〉 farnel came thrusting into the crowd , and with an admirable courage cry'd out , rabatski is innocent , and i only am guilty of the murther ●f potosti and his man , and then with a clear and distinct voice , and a countenance which ou●●ray'd 〈◊〉 , declar'd to the magistrat● ( who was present to see the execution ) how all had pass'd , concluding , that if ● man must dye for defending his own life , he was there ready to offer his own h●a● to iustice to preserve his friend . all the company were struck with admiration to see this generous act ! and the people began to mutiny , crying out pardon , pardon , resolving to kill all that oppos'd them , rather than suffer the execution to proceed any farther . this tumult grew very great , but with difficulty was appeas'd by the magistrate , who promis'd the cause should be heard over again , and judg'd according to equity , upon which they grew quiet and the two friends were led to prison . the palatine of vilna heating of this incomparable generosity of farnel , went himself in person to the prison to visit these two friends , who both contested before him who should dye for his fellow . he heard the history of the two lovers rabatski and hilaria , and a particular relation of all the circumstances of the late accident . leoli●e was then examin'd and confronted with them , who by the death of the man and the master , and by the force of truth was constrain'd to acknowledge the ambuscade , and that they were three against two , and that farnel alone kill'd potosti and his servant . upon this farnel pleaded the cause for his own death and the safety of rabatski , with all the powerful arguments a less generous friend could have us'd for the preservation of his life ; urging , that if to save his friend from violence was a crime so hainous , he alone deserv'd the punishment . nay , rather glory , honour and rec●mpence ( replyed the palatine ) and thereupon discharg'd them both from prison , and gave them their pardons . leoline like a base and treacherous man , was put into the same place , and had been a spectacle to the people on the same scaffold , had not his friends by their prayers and intreaties , obtain'd the favour to have his doom chang'd into a banishment for seven years . the palatine was not pleased only with saving the lives of these two friends , but caus'd rabatski to marry with hilaria , and procur'd a wife for farnel , a gentlewoman who was nearly allyed to himself ; intreating these two friends to receive him as a third into their incomparable friendship . this afterwards coming to the ears of the king , in favour of the palatine , they were both advanced to honourable employments . and liv'd together many years after , happy in the fruition of a reciprocal affection , and intire friendship , till time at length put a period to their days , and gave immortality to their names , which still bear record , as a glorious example to future ages . thus we see a sincere friendship is the strictest allyance , and most noble relation . orestes is better known by his friend pylades , than by agamemnon his father . hence do we conclude , that he that follows vertue and embraces her , shall be crown'd with glory and honour . hist. ii. aleran and incmar . aleran and incmar two faithful friends incmar falls in love with yoland , the marriage is ●b●tructed by her parents ; and the day appointed for her ●sp●●sals to h●golin . aleran and incmar steal her away in mans h●bit , ●nd fly to briemberg , where ( forc'd by want ) they 〈◊〉 thems●lves souldiers . the town is sack'd , incmar and yoland are k●l●'d in the breach . aleran lives to tell the sad tale , and dyes of his wounds . they are all three buried in one grave . in the time of alexander farnes● prince of parma the marquess de vara●hon receiv'd orders to block up briemberg , a very strong little town near rh●●●erg , under the states of holland this brave captain made his approaches with so much courage and policy , that at las● upon a general assault the town was taken by storm ; the inraged enemy gave no quarter , nor any respect to age or sex , honour or riches , all was now become desolate , and submitted to the absolute and intire conqu●st of the marquess . particular care was taken to bu●y the dead for fear any infection should corrupt the air : amongst whom two soldiers were found in the breach so closely embrac'd , that nothing but that unhappy state they were in , seem'd able to divide their bodies . the enemy seeing these two reasonably well cloath'd , str●pt them quite naked , when to their great amazement they found one of them white as snow , of wonderful beauty , excellent proportion , and a woman . the marquess who was a gentleman that made great account of love and valour , being acquainted with it , was curious to know the reason of this memorable adventure , which prov'd so unfortuate in the success . it seem'd strange to him that an armed venus should be found there enchac'd in the arms of mars ; he passionately desir'd to know who these two lovers were , that he might pay a suitable honour to the memory of their courage and fidelity . at length he was told , that a soldier who was extreamly wounded , and had yielded himself prisoner to a burgundian captain , had offer'd to satisfie him in the truth of this amorous and warlike history . the prisoner being in that desperate condition , the surgeons thought it very unsafe for him to stir , whereupon the marquess went to see him , accompanied with several of his principal officers , that he might learn from his own mouth the particulars of this strange event . the sick man resuming an extraordinary courage upon the appearance of the marquess , made this relation : my lord , i render thanks to heaven , which hath given me so much life as i wish for , to yield in so honourable company the glorious testimony which i owe to my love , and to my friendship , which done , i shall dye in peace ; for i can no more live without friendship , than move without a soul , that indeed is my soul , the intelligence which actuates this body , and gives life and vigour to all my faculties . my name is aleran , my birth noble , my country is the landgraviat of hessen , the place that saw my entrance into the world is melsignam , near unto cassel . i entred into so strict a friendship with incmar , a gentleman , native of rottinburgh , who had been bred up a page to the landgrave , that we were commonly call'd the inseperable : those impatiencies which lovers feel when they are from their mistresses , we felt whensoever we were asunder . we liv'd in the same house , lay in the same bed , had but one purse , one table , the same servants , the same liveries , the same retinue , and when any of our servants were ask'd unto whom they did belong , they answer'd to the two friends , if those that are but one , may be called two. it happen'd once when we were at melsignam , my friend saw a fair maid in company , nam'd yoland , whose graces so surpriz'd his heart , that all his thoughts and meditations were fix'd on this beautiful object . i presently judg'd he was stung with love , and he acknowledg'd as much to me at first asking , for he conceal'd nothing from me . truly said i , i am very glad you have address'd your affections to a gentlewoman with whom i have some interest and acquaintance , and who is at a distance ally'd to me , and by these advantages i hope to make your access more easie to her . my friend with tears of joy in his eyes , told me it was the most grateful piece of friendship i could offer to him , and earnestly begg'd of me that i would contrive some way that he might the next evening be happy in her company . this and all other good offices i perform'd with that success , that my friend was now assur'd , that all his respects to the beautiful yoland were answer'd with a reciprocal passion . thus incmar by frequent conversation at last won yolands heart , but how to come to the possession of her fair body , that ornament of nature , seem'd a task more difficult , there was some obstacles which appear'd invincible , if any thing can be so to the almighty power of love. raoul , yoland's father , was married to graciana her step-mother , upon condition that a son of hers nam'd hugolin , should marry this gentlewoman , assoon as their age made them capable of those nuptial ceremonies , which raoul in consideration of graciana's present fortune ( which was very great ) had sacredly obliged himself to , without any respect to the content of his daughter , who certainly could never take pleasure in the embraces of such a monstrous deformity : hugolin had a back higher than his head , able to ease atlas of his burthen as well as hercules , had the rest of his body bore any proportion to it : but he was so little one would have thought he had grown in no part but his ha●r , since the day of his birth . his shape was like a middle siz'd bowl , his complexion a little whiter than an ethiopian's , near the colour of a sick spaniard , his lips big , his cheeks flat , his eyes almost lost in his head , and this figure supported by two legs so small , that the ears of corn which totter in the field with the least breath of wind , have a fairer foundation ; these were the columns of this mighty hercules . with all these remedies to love , what could be bred in the heart of yoland but an utter abhorrence and detestation ? whilst my frie●d was adorn'd w●th all those graces which render a gentleman compleat and amiable . hugolin soon grew jealous of incmar , and challeng'd raoul's promise to his mother graciana , who seconded her son's request with that importunity to her husband , that he promised in six months the marriage should be solemniz'd , and in the interim that he would discard this brave courtier ( meaning incmar ) that thus put crickets into his head , and forbid his daughter to see him any more , which he accordingly did . my friend with great trouble and discontent withdrew from melsignam and went to the court at cass●l , and left me his resident to negotiate his amours with that diligence and fideilty he might justly expect from me . i inform'd him day by day of the constancy and affection of his mistress , but as it is hard to be long in the sun without being tann'd , or in a perfumer's shop without drawing from thence good odours ; it happen'd that my frequent converse with yoland rais'd i know not what inclinations in my soul , which became love before i perceiv'd it ; her attraction and charms struck so deep into my heart , that i was a long time in ballance tottering betwixt love and friendship , not knowing unto which party to yield . the combat was long and doubtful , but at length my honour conquer'd my sense , reason my passion , and my friendship to incmar triumphed over my love to yoland . hugolin and graciana narrowly inspected my proceedings , and soon discover'd the design i manag'd ; that in vain they had forbid incmar their house , and yoland his company , since i yet remain'd behind , who with my utmost diligence endeavour'd to promote his interest with their daughter . hugolin and his mother by their daily complaints to raoul , at last so incensed him , that he promised he would acquaint the landgrave ( by whom he was much esteem'd ) that incmar and i design'd a violence upon his daughter , and troubled her marriage , which he accordingly did . whereupon i was sent for by a messenger to cassel , and incmar and i receiv'd sharp reprehensions from the landgra●e , who ordain'd that she should marry hugolin , according to the promise raoul had made his mother . this decree from a soveraign mouth , was without appeal . incmar at the same time , by the suggestions of raoul , who prosecuted him with the utmost malice , was threatned to be banish'd the court , and lose all those honourable and advantagious employments he enjoy'd , if he ever after dar'd in the least to disturb the match . my friend continued at cassel , having promis'd the landgrave never more to intermeddle with that affair , and i by his directions went back to melsignam , to observe what measures they took . raoul went back to melsignam to consummate the marriage of his daughter with hugolin , and not long after the time was fixt , and i had notice of the day by letter from yoland , who was resolv'd to dye rather than marry with that shame of humane nature . i soon transmitted the letter to incmar , who that night came privately over to me ; i obtain'd a private meeting from yoland , when it was resolv'd that all our hopes of future happiness depended upon a sudden flight , which was agreed to the next n●ght . judge now the force of my friendship , it hood wink'd my eyes from all considerations ; i serv'd my friend against the honour of my own blood . i in an instant renounc'd all love to my country , all my estate , the favour of my prince , and all hopes of fortune , to follow the blind desires of these lovers , both which i lov'd with incredible passions . it was i that in the obscurity of night which favour'd our enterpize , drew yoland forth of her fathers house , through a window , and having cloath'd her in one of my suits , led her to incmar , who stay'd for us in the fields . with good ho●ses , wee rid till day , and made that speed that we got out of the land-grave's territories e're any justice could lay hold of us ; but because we knew the hands of princes are long , finding no safety in high germany , we came down disguis'd into these parts , where we had not continued long , e're that little was consum'd , which the sudden hast of our departure had permitted us to bring from our country . to tell you something of what passed in our country after our flight , we heard by some secret friends , that the land-grave was unmeasurably incens'd against us , ordain'd that the law should proceed against us as ravishers , we were condemn'd to loose our heads , which we suffer'd in effigie , our goods were confiscate , in brief we were us'd with all imaginable rigour and severity , so that having no hopes of succor from home , we setled all on our own valour , and committed our fortune to the hazard of arms. behold now to what degree of courage love doth elevate a soul inspired with it ! yoland who had taken mans apparel to follow her lover , found her self so well in that habit and took such delight in the exercise of arms , that she learn'd in short time to fence , to ride the manag'd ho●se , and did every thing with that dexterity that she was deservedly accounted the compleatest gentleman in the troop . the necessity we were under , and the fear that the land-grave's wrath should persecute us by his agent , constrain'd us to inroll our selves under the states colours . yoland assum'd the name of rolond , and was incmar's comrade and bedfellow being first privately married to him , of which i my self was witness , and since by her bravery and courage made her self famous in many encounters . when i saw them in possession of their desire , it was then that i discover'd with how much labour and pain i had overcome the violence of my passions , in consideration of my friendship to incmar . they admir'd this victory over my self ; incmar highly applauded my exalted friendship , and yoland protested to me , that saving her honour , after her love due to incmar , she lov'd no man better . incmar gave me leave to call her my mistress , and she call'd me her servant , and that was all the favour that ever i had from her , except sometimes kissing her no less valiant than fair hand . after many encounters we shut our selves up in briemberg resolving to shew in this seige , the highest proofs of valour in extream events , where there hath happen'd what you have seen : military command having separated me from them , they have been kill'd in the breach , and as it may be thought , incmar being first dead , and yoland unwilling to survive him , was kill'd on his body and expired in his arms. aleran thus ended his discourse , and had like at the same time to have ended his life , so extreamly did greif oppress his heart ; the marquess pitying his great courage , gave order to his doctors and surgeons to labour in this cure with all their industry , but notwithstanding their great care and pains he died two days after , and was by command of the marquess interr'd with honour by incmar and his wife , under a fair marble tomb with this inscription . to the memory of the three lovers , inseparable in life and death . sincere friendship is the most excellent endeavour of humane nature ; it contracts two souls into one , and according to the fable of aristophanes unites a man with the other half of himself . hist. iii. mellinto and valeria . mellinto courts valeria , and is betrothed to her . the lord beltimore falls in love with her . mellinto out of his great affection to valeria , and respect to her advancement , retracts the espousalls . they are afterwards married , she is taken by pyrates , he swims after to the galley , and f●r her sake m●kes himself a voluntary slave . the king of tunis und●rstanding their faithful love , releases both . vpon their re●urn they find b●ltimore dead , who by will bequeath'd his whole estate to valeria , in regard of her constancy and fidelfty to mellinto . not far from brundusium ( in the province of o●ranto in the kingdom of napl●s ) formerly well known for one of the best havens in the world ▪ liv'd seignior mordenni , a gentleman of considerable quality and estate , much about the same time that massinello made his insurrection at naples . this gentleman had five sons , and one daughter named valeria , who bore away the palm of beauty from all the maids of that country , and as she had many admirers , was more particularly ador'd by mellinto , a young gentleman of more esteem for his great vertue than eminent in his fortune ; between whom there was that sympathy of affection , and agreeableness of humour and disposition , that the match seem'd to be made in heaven , and they born for the mutual love and enjoyment of each other . the father of valeria was much oblig'd to the lord of b●ltimore , a nobleman who liv'd three miles off , from whom upon all occasions he had receiv'd generous testimonies of his friendship and kindness , for which reasons , amongst other gentlemen his neighbours , he invited his good lord and patron to the ceremony of betrothing his daughter to mellinto , who willing to do mordenni all the honour he could upon so great a so●emnity , promis'd his company . all things were perform'd with much pomp and solemnity , and mel●into and valeria mutually espous'd and engag'd to marry each other , on such a day as should be agreed upon between their friends and relations . nothing ●ow was wanting but to proceed to the consumma●ion of this marriage , the term of few days was pre●crib'd to prepare and end it . the content of the two ●overs had exceeded all common bounds of delight ●nd satisfaction , had not the adjourning of the day 〈◊〉 on which they should have been united ) put water ●nto their wine , and moderated their joy by ensuing troubles . whether valeria had added to her natural ●eauty any secret embellishments of art , or whether ●he earl's eyes were more discerning that day than ●hey were formerly , is uncertain ; but so it fell out ●hat valeria's conquering charms so far prevail'd upon him , that he lost both judgment and knowledge of himself ; and though he was very antient , and extreamly afflicted with the gout , yet would he needs inroll himself under the standard of cupid , where the old and impotent are never welcome ; so great was the folly and dotage of this decrepid lord. after he had made a weak resistance to the assault this innocent beauty made , he yields , resolving to cure himself of this importunate desire by marriage ; whereupon he went to mordenni , the father of this beautiful conqueress , and weeping like a child , represented his grief to him : mordenni took pity of him , and counted it a great honour that he should request to have his daughter in marriage ; but my lord ( said he ) you know she is espoused to another , and this promise cannot be broken but by the consent of both parties . i shall ( reply'd the lord beltimore ) deal so bountifully with mellinto , that in obliging me he shall be the better for it as long as he lives , and i will so well provide for your daughter , that both she and your whole family shall be sensible of the good effects of it . this news was carried by mordenni to mellinto , who ( poor gentleman ) receiv'd it as the sentence of his death , and indeed to rend so strong a love from his heart , was no less than to tear his soul from his body . he could not answer but with tears , like a stag that stands at bay ( mordenni pressing him to it ) he fell down in a swoon , shewing thereby that he could not grant so hard a request but by death . then went he to his daughter to try her mind , who had no other answer but sighs and sobs ; at last , amongst many interruptions , he learn'd that her will was in the hands of mellinto , and being espoused to him , she had now no more power to dispose of her self . he then went back to mellinto , who having with incredible convulsions of mind , digested the bitter thoughts of the ruin of his love , which he saw so apparent , took at last a couragious resolution and such a one as he might justly be blam'd for , if not rightly understood , philosophers distinguish between loves , and say the most perfect is that which tends most to the good of the person belov'd , and that which is less perfect and respects the advantage of the person loving , is not so properly call'd love , as self-interest and design . in this mellinto desir'd to show the perfection of his love to valeria , by considering more her happiness and advancement , than his own content . whereupon mellinto told him , he would , though unwillingly , resign his title to the lord beltimore ; mordenni overjoy'd at this answer , tenderly embrac'd him , and mixing their tears together , told him , he should be eternally oblig'd to him , and wou'd ever account him as much the raiser of his house and family as the lord beltimore was . this news was presently carried by mordenni to his daughter , who was so incredulous , that she told him she would never believe it , till she heard it from mellinto's own mouth . presently after mellinto came in , with a dejected countenance , and eyes overflowing with tears , who could not endure to look valeria in the face , who he thought wou'd upbraid him with disloyalty thus to forsake her , & give her up to the embraces of another . after they had in some measure overcome the violence of their passions , mellinto made it evidently appear to valeria , that she was much mistaken in accounting that for baseness of heart and disloyalty in him , which was the greatest act of magnanimity his heart cou'd show , to renounce his own proper interest and satisfaction in favour of the person he so dearly lov'd . valeria cou'd not at first conceive this subtlety , her soul being so closely united to mellinto's , that she believ'd nothing but death cou'd part them . oh mellinto ! ( said she ) dear mellinto ! what hath caus'd you so easily to forsake me ? call you that lovi●g , and perfectly loving to part with me ? i should not only have pefer'd you to a lord , but a king , to the most potent emperour on the earth ; for i esteem not men for their wealth or greatness , but for their own proper merits . dear valeria ( repli'd mellinto ) the affection i bear you , works in me the same effect as death wou'd do , since it separates me from you : my vehement desire of your greatness , makes me deprive my self of the greatest contentment i cou'd have wish'd , and without which my life henceforward will be but a death : live then great , honour'd , happy , rich , most dear valeria , and by marrying with beltimore , become the glory of thy kindred , whilst i go miserable poor , unhappy and forlorn mellinto , spinning out the remainder of my sad days in melancholly groves , and solitary retirements . much adoe had they to part these two lovers from each others armes : a heart as hard as adamant , could not but have relented at so tragical a scene of sorrow . the words of betrothing being rendred back , the very next morning the lord beltimore made his visit to valeria , vainly flattering himself , it was now no longer in the power of fate to blast , or cross his amours ; he promis'd to make her a lady , & settle his whole estate upon her ( having no children , ) and that the writings should be seal'd before the marriage was consummated , which was appointed two days after . beltimore generously sent mellinto a bag with . checquins , with all the expressions of gratitude , and an assurance of his perpetual love and friendship , which he as nobly return'd with this complimental letter . mellinto , to the lord beltimore . my lord , i am no stranger to your favours , neither am i ignorant of your being master of a liberal and grateful soul , but as i never was in a capacity to oblige you , so i cannot with iastice to my self receive your lordships present , which must make me a debtor to you , more then ever i shall be able to repay . if your lordship thinks my resigning valeria to you , had a respect to my own interest , or your satisfaction , you much mistake me , all my good wishes center in the fair valeria , whom i endeavour to render as compleatly happy , as i make my self wretched and miserable . upon no other terms would i have parted with her , whom i value above the treasure of both the indies , and was i that potent monarch , who sees the sun both rise and set in his own dominions , i would lay my crown at your feet to preserve valeria in my armes . mellinto . valeria was in presence when beltimore receiv'd this answer from mellinto , which made so deep impression on her , that the next morning , which was design'd for the wedding , she rose early , and attended only by her maid , went over to mellinto , and was privately married to him , of which , she immediately sent her father an account . modenni spar'd no words to express his rage and fury , nor did beltimore conceal his deep resentments of the affront done to his person , and the disappointment to his longing expectations . the father utterly disown'd his daughter , and would not admit of a reconciliation , though they offer'd the most powerful reasons for what was done by the intercession of friends . mellinto had but a very small estate , which the expences their quality oblig'd them to soon consum'd , nor would cruel mordenni relieve their distresses , though he daily heard of their complaints : but these wants made no breach between this loving pair , who were constant in their affections , happy in the midst of poverty , and contented in the extremity of misery . it unfortunately hapen'd , that mellinto and valeria walk'd out together one evening , more to divert their melancholy thoughts , than any pleasure they could take in viewing that single acre which was all the remainder of their land , on which fed their whole herd of cattle , two loving mulls , the living riches , and support of their family . mellinto upon some urgent occasion in their return staid behind , and valeria went on to take her usual walk upon the beach where she had the prospect of those galleys which row'd by ; a turkish galley belonging to algiers having just landed their boat , immediately seiz'd all they met with on the strand , and amongst others valerea , who in sight of her husband , was carried off to the galley which lay hard by with spanish colours , this dreadful sight he saw , heard her skreaks and outcries which peirced his heart , but he was too far distant to make any attempt , tho his best endeavours would have prov'd fruitless , and unsucessful in her rescue . he saw her gone beyond recovery , and tears and complaints were but in vain , when like a constant friend , and loving husband , he plung'd himself into the sea , and swam up to the galley where he was taken up and brought before the captain , who told him , he was come to follow his wife , and neither fear'd their cruelty nor beg'd their pitty , that freedom without her company was a more miserable slavery to him , then they endured who tug'd at the oar. the turks very much admir'd his transcendent love and courage , for they had seen some of his country men rather choose death than endure a life so severe and cruel . amongst some others that he knew a board , there was a young gentleman nam'd placento , about years of age , whose father was next neighbour to mellinto , placento lying chain'd to his oar as the rest were , was not able to endure the turkish cruelty , ●ut contriv'd an escape , and commuicated the methods of it to mellinto , intreating him to bear him company , who told him he had made himself a voluntary slave for the sake of his wife , and would scorn that ransom which did not first purchase her liberty before his own , much less would he run the hazard and danger of his project , and then leave her behind to their merciless fury and revenge . however placento proceeded , and was happy in the success , which he effected in this manner , he had observed that the utmost liberty they had , was no further then their chain gave 'em leave , which reach'd to the end of the bench , where there was a large hole for the necessity of nature . placento having prepared his chains to come off upon easie terms , goes to the hole one evening as they ●ay at anchor , and according to the custom of the turks , cry'd ala banda , which is the signal they are oblig'd to give , when they go to that convenience , otherwise they are bastinado'd . the slaves were all asleep , and only the sentinells awake upon the fore or hindeck , who mistrusted nothing . placento first pul'd off his coat , which he underprop'd with two sticks , and then got off his fetters , ( his legs being so fallen away since his being a slave , that they grew too small for his shackles ) and committing himself to the sea , landed safe upon an island not far off , but though his person was gone , his coat was severely threatned with bastinado 's before his real escape was discovered . at their return to tunis , the captain of the galley acquainted the king with the whole account of their surprizing valeria walking on the beach , and how her husband mellinto swam after in love to his wife , and made himself a voluntary slave , rather than be depriv'd of her company . the king was much mov'd with the relation of so faithful & constant a love , and within three days gave them both their freedom ▪ in the interim , the lord beltimore having receiv'd intelligence by some of the neighbours of this sad misfortune of mellinto and valeria , in respect of their great fidelity , ( like a noble gentleman , had taken care for their ransom , ) but dying before he could have any account of their arrival at tunis , bequeath'd his whole estate to valeria , and left it in trust with her father , who upon their return to brurdusium , enjoy'd it , and liv'd out the rest of their days in a pompous plenty , and happy tranquillity . such is the inestimable value of friendship , and conjugal affection that he that hath found a true friend in a loving wife , hath found a double treasure , more to be priz'd than all the gold of ophir . hist. iv. venon and teudas . teudas being in prison , is set at liberty by his friend venon , who purchaseth his freedom , and in regard of their great friendship , marrieth the daughter of teudas , by whom he had one only daughter , named rosana , who went in disguise with her husband , and prince sapor to the wars in hungary , where being slain with her husband after many signal proofs of their valour , are both afterwards honourably enter'd by the prince , in regard of the inviolable friendship contracted betwixt them and the prince . at breslaw , chief city in the dukedom of silesia a province of germany , lived two citizens of good quality , who lov'd each other entirely ; the one was teudas a goldsmith , and the other venon a merchant , venon being gone to vienna in austria , to buy some commodities , staid three months in his voyage : and at his return , found himself welcom'd with two disasters , viz : the loss of his wife whom he dearly loved , and the misfortune of his friend , who was cast into prison , and past hope of ever getting out ; it was not any disorder , but rather his goodness which had reduced him to this deplorable estate , for being bound in a great sum of mony for one of his friends , who prov'd insolvent , he was condemn'd to the payment of it himself , whereupon all that he was worth being sold , his body was attach'd and clapt up into prison for the remainder . in this place , which may very well be call'd the center of misery , and the tomb of the living , venon came to see him , who grievously complain'd of fortune , accus'd her of injustice , for reducing him to that miserable estate for well doing ; but that which most troubl'd him , was that he lost the means to marry his only daughter , ( her age now requiring it ) fearing necessity should bring her into some vain and lewd course of life . venon stood not to comfort him with many words , but came to promises which he soon confirm'd by effects . he told him that his misery was a mark of his vertue , against whom fortune had sworn a pro●essed enmity ; that he should possess his soul in patience , and seeing friendship had cast him into prison , friendship should fetch him out again , that he had means sufficient to relieve his extream necessity , and redeem him out of this misery , which by the sacred laws of friendship , he had an equal title to . and i am so far pleas'd with your misfortune ( said venon , ) as it gives me the opportunity of showing the sincerity of my affection to you in this necessity , and that i am truly your friend : as for your daughter , let not that trouble you , seeing i have lost my wife , i am contented to take her for my second , if you will ; but if her affections are otherwise disposed of , i have wherewithal to give her a good portion . what unexpected consolation was this to the heart of teudas , to hear these speeches from his friend , whose words he knew were as true as they were free . he would have used some complements to him , but the greatness of the benefit going beyond his thoughts , words and thanks vanished in his mouth . no says venon , ( who judg'd of his interiour thoughts , by the exteriour alteration of his countenance , ) we need not give thanks for that which is our own , if i am yours , much more are all my goods yours ; and either you had no need of them , or else it was your own fault , you did not dispose of them at your pleasure before , without any longer discourse , he went presently home , and fetch money , and paid the sum teudas was detain'd for , upon which he was presently discharg'd . not long after , venon married ermige the daughter of teudas , who notwithstanding the great desparity of their years , lov'd him affectionately , not only as a husband , but a second father , and esteem'd her self happy , to be a recompence to him who had with so much goodness and liberality , releas'd her father out of prison . of so amorous an union of these two hearts and bodies , rosana was the fair product , a creature destind to love honourably , and generously , and was but two months old , when her grandfather teudas overcome with sorrow and grief for the loss of his estate , left this life to enjoy a better . her father venon ( who had much weakened his fortunes in delivering his dear friend out of prison , ) daily felt necessity approaching , but heaven which guards the just , and will not suffer such noble acts of friendship to go unrewarded , provided for him beyond all hope and expectation : venons grief was much like that teudas felt in prison , seeing himself old , he much feard he should not leave his wife ▪ wherewithal honestly to maintain her self , and bring up , and match his daughter . but comfort thy self o venon with good tobias , and be assur'd , that though poverty overtake thee , yet thou shalt have means sufficient ; hope with iob and thou shalt have all things restor'd to the double . the dutchess of signits of a noble house in silesia reckon'd in the rank of princes being ready to cry out , a nurse was sought for to give suck to the child she expected ; and ermige was chosen to be one of the best that could be found in all breslaw ; this came in good time to preserve this poor family from necesity , which daily encreased upon them . the dutchess was delivered of a son , whose name was sapor , who was delivered to ermige to nurse , and rosana put to another , ermige and her husband were now both made part of the dukes household , and when time came , that rosana was weaned and of some stature , she was put to rock the prince , and find him sport , as the manner of children is , thus grew rosana gently like a vine by its elme tree . sapor was not above three or four years old when venon died , leaving both his wife and daughter to the dutchess , who look'd for no other fortune but what proceeded from her bounty . the little prince affected his nurse and rosana in such a manner , that although he was wean'd , yet they both tended him and waited on him . although it is a grand error to say that the parents beget the souls as well as the bodies ; yet since the disquesition of the temperature , and of the organs , through which the spirit exerciseth it functions hath great effect in regard of the firm union of soul and body ; it is no great wonder if that rosana sprung from parents , whose inclinations were wholly to friendship , was naturally her self addicted to the same passion ; which she discover'd in that love and affection her more early years constantly express'd to sapor . rosana lov'd sapor in her infancy , with such an extrraordinary fervour , that as soon as she lost the sight of him , she did nothing but weep and complain ; never was there seen in so tender years so strong a passion , all the world wondered at it , and the duke and dutchess took incomperable pleasure in it . it was a thing impossible but that sapor should love this little creature , which so much affected him , for to love is the most powerful charm whereby to make our selves belov'd of others : he cou'd not be without her , and if at any time she chanc'd to be away , there was nothing cou'd make him merry . the dutchess seeing the humour of this little girle , caus'd her ( for recreation only , ) to be cloath'd like a little page , a habit which pleas'd her so well , that she never put it off , but with tears . in their first infancy which unites the tongue , they without ceremony call'd brother and sister , every one wondered at the courage and boldness of this little girle , when she grew bigger , she call'd the prince her master , and he call'd her his page . all the exercises which the master learned , the page did learn , and what is more to be admir'd , with such a grace , that she seem'd for a mirrour or example to her little master , as physick is given to the nurse , that so through her milk the child may be cur'd , so was it with sapor , for when they were to give him any lesson either of study , dancing , or any thing else , they first taught it to his page , she learn'd the faster to please him , and he took the greater care that he might not be out-stript by a girle , an emulation of vertue without envy . they being now grown up from the innocency of their first age , they entred into the limits of civility , and the cerimonies of the world. she was always much affected with all bodily exercises , as leaping , vaulting , riding , fencing , and whatever was manly and the proper accomplishment of a cavaleer ; the prince still calling for her , not only when he was at any exercise , but at all other times when she was absent . at last her age permitting her no longer with decency and modesty so freely to frequent with sapor , the dutchess plac'd her among the other gentlewomen , where upon all occasions she still payed that diligent observance to the prince as sufficiently witnessed the ardour of her affection : and the prince on his part bore with no less impatience the privation of his pages company , it was his greatest contentment , when he could steal in amongst the gentlewomen , thereby to entertain her who wholy possessed his thoughts . lewd desires entring into his heart with knowledg poyson'd his love with sensuality , which he for some time dissembled , but not being able longer to bear the impetuosity of his desires , he offer'd these indecencies to her which could neither consist with his honour or her unspotted honesty , from whom he received this discreet answer . remember o prince that poor as i am , and destitute of fortunes favours , i am rich in honesty , which if you once offer to undermine , you ruin my vertue the most establish'd foundation of my life , but as i love my honour more then my life , so i love it also more than sapor . if you truly love me as you have given me many signal testimonies of it , love me honourably , otherwise i freely renounce your friendship , and all the happy advantages thereby . i love you without interest , and without any other desire than to see you great and glorious in the world , and in the arms of a princess worthy to be the spouse of so noble a prince , and she will i wait upon with all the humility and affection of a faithful slave , who will seek no other reward but the glory of serving you. if fortune should so frown that you dye in deeds of arms i will perish at your feet , that on my grave may be mixt the lilies of my chastity with the palms of your valour , and the mirtles of my incomparable love to so dear a master . whoever hath seen a strong north wind sweeping away on a suddain all the clouds which obscured the face of heaven , hath seen the effects these genorous words utter'd with so good a grace , immediatly wrought in sapor , the flame of his love was now pure , the heat moderate without blackness or smoke . the duke his father being dead , and he the next lineal successor of that house entred into the honours his birth called him to . amongst many gentlemen , his followers , he had a particular favour for numerian a younger brother and a gentleman well descended ; sapor desirous to advance this gentleman thought he could not more befriend him than in giving him for his wife her whom he affected as his sister , and her whom he could have wish'd himself , if the grandure of his birth had not obliged him , by reason of state , to seek a match more suitable to his quality . the prince first acquainted numerian with his design , who received it with all the humble and dutiful acknowledgments for so great an honour , and next rosana who answer'd him with her accustomed generosity , master ( said she ) will it not be a treason to give this body to a man who shall not possess the heart , being so fill'd with the honest love it bears you , that there is no place void for any other subject : permit me ( my dear prince ) to die a virgin , with the glory of a vestal , who hath not let her fire go out . the prince was infinitely pleas'd with her discourse which at that time lasted long , still closing every period with some expression of a love to him as sincere and innocent . the next day the prince ordered rosana to come to his chamber in the afternoon where she should meet numerian , whom she no sooner saw but with a manly and generous behaviour , which was both natural and usual with her , spoke to him in these words . sir , here is your master and mine , who hath a desire to joyn us together in the rites of hymen : but before i embrace this proffer , and be subject to your power , i must propound two conditions , without which i cannot , nor will not be perswaded to take you for my husband : my body shall be thine , and so entirely thine , that never any but thy self shall have part therein . i shall come a virgin to thy bed , and if it be so that i must loose the flower of that integrity ( which i did intend to preserve all my life time , ) yet it shall perish at last with honour in lawful wedlock . first , then thou shalt not need to watch over my fidelity , of which i shall be more vigilant than thou canst , and if it shall be my hard fortune to outlive thee , i will be just even to thine ashes and keep a body pure , and a troth inviolable . i will love thee as my husband withal my heart , but to prevent future jealousies , know this , that i will love sapor as my dear prince , and dear master , but imagine not him to have any part thereby , in any thing that shall appertain to thee , he hath no such thought , and if he had , he should find his expectations frustrate ; and if thou dost think this friendship which is so pure , honest , just and lawful , should be contrary to the loyalty i owe to thee ; i do now renounce to thy love and allyance , for i am resolv'd to carry to my grave this first & glorious flame . the other condition is , that thou permit me to exercise my self in arms , in hunting , and other like recreations , and if thy courage calls thee at any time to war , either of thy own accord , or with our master , that thou permit me to be partaker of thy labours and thy hazards as i desire to be of thy lawrels , and thy palms . on these conditions i am ready to obey , and follow thee in life or death . numerian no less ravish'd at the spirit and courage of this maid , than with her beauty , agreed to all she desir'd ; and the young duke honoured the marriage with such pomp and magnificence ▪ that he could not have expended more liberally at the marriage of his own sister . thus they passed some years rich in wealth and children , when the wars of hungary a kingdom bordering on silesia , came to disturb this calm . the prince being call'd by the emperour , had a great command in the army , unto which he went with a train befitting his greatness , and attended by numerian and rosana , who would not be perswaded by any arguments to stay behind , but dressing her self in mans apparel , accompanied her master and husband to the army . one day the prince was commanded to make an assault upon the enemy in one of his quarters , which he did , ( attended by numerian and rosana , who never left him in the most dangerous encounters ) with more bravery than success ; for on a suddain he was encompassed by the turks , and in great hazard of loosing his life , or being taken prisoner : then did the great love of rosana appear fir'd with fury , who like a raging tigress , ran her self upon the weapons of the handlers to rescue the beloved sapor , numerian wrought no less miracles with his devouring sword , for his rosana's preservation , than she had done for sapors . at last the prince recover'd his safety , and these two lovers found themselves surrounded with enemies , who summon'd them to lay down their arms , whereunto their great courages reply'd boldly , they were never us'd to such dishonourable terms , and pressing into the midst of them , either to break through , or dye in the attempt , were both kill'd , numerian fell first , and rosana after she had given sufficient marks of her undaunted courage , and fully reveng'd her husbands death , was run through the body by a ianizary , and her soul sent to be for ever happy with numerian's in a blest eternity . the skirmish being ended she was found among the dead , with her husband , and after they knew she was a woman , they that felt her s●roaks did more admire her valour . the sorrow and grief of sapor cannot be exprest , which he took in this loss ; he sent for the two bodies , that he might yeild to their ashes ( which he water'd with his tears ) some testimony of his friendship : he caused them to be carried into silesia where he spared no cost to make their funerals sumptuous , and caused a stately tomb to be erected over them , to preserve their memories to posterity as long as marble can last . in the precedent histories , we may behold the glorious rewards and triumphs of friendship , wherein the chief bonds of amity and humane society do consist , for without friendship mankind would be like ravenous wolves , destroyers of each other , as in the former histories of murthers , we have had too many fatal examples . friendship is the perfection of prosperity , and support of adversity ; which alexander having experienc'd as a mighty truth , nohen he was asked by some , where his treasures lay , pointed to his friends . the pythagorians prefer'd friendship , before all other good qualities , call'd it the combination of all vertues , and affirm'd it to be the uniting of souls here on earth , which is the preparative to the heavenly union , by this divine vertue , we may with lot unawares , give entertainment to angels upon earth , at least we may expect with the foregoing examples to stand in a fair and bright character in the book of fame , and comence stars of the greatest magnitude with them above . the triumphs of chastity . hist. i. christiana . christiana refuses the embraces , and rich proffers of the french king , and in her flight for england , was solicited to debauchery by de boi master of the french vessel , to avoid whose lust she cast her self into the sea , where she was taken up by codrinus vice admiral of the english navy , who in regard of her great chastity married her ; the lord sebastian attempting to polute her , was discover'd , and afterwards slain , she after her husbands decease , is married to the duke of guise . for the further encouragement of vertue , after those glorious instances of friendship , 't will not be improper to present the ( courteous reader ) with some examples of chastity , which have crown'd the memories of those fam'd persons with immortality and honour , in which thou may'st as in a mirrour behold the beauty and reward of the resplendent vertue of chastity , as in the former histories , thou seest the deformity and punishment of that raging sin of adultery , whereby thou may'st be perswaded to follow the dictates and precepts of the one , as thou would'st shun the evil consequence , which attend the other . as beauty without chastity is like unto mandrake apples comely to the eye but poysonous in tast , so chastity is the beauty of the soul , and purity of life , which despiseth the corrupt pleasures of the flesh , and is on-only po●ed of those who keep their bodies clean and undefiled , which consisteth either in sincere virginity , or faithful matrimony ; but chastity is most cospicious when surrounded with dangers , and then deservedly lays claim to the most chast and pure joys of a happy eternity . but i proceed to the story . at tours ( chief city of touraine , a province which is said to be the garden of france , seated on the loire , ) lived mounsieur de cadez , a private gentleman , who by his wife had one only daughter , by name christiana , whom heaven had blest with so vast a share of beauty , that she was the admiration and discourse not only of her native city , but likewise of the court , and often sollicited by the king ( with the promises and certainty of great wealth and dignities ) to be the pleasure of his bed , but the no less vertuous than beauteous christiana , esteeming the honour of her chastity , far above the dignities of an empire , renounc'd to purchase such shadows of glory with the pollution of her soul , whose vertue she knew would crown her , not only with honours here , but immortallity hereafter , with these vertuous meditations her purer soul peirc'd heaven , & there took prospect of those far greater dignities which would reward her chastity . long had this family of mounsieur de cadez lived at tours in the favour & respect of all men , blest with his vertuous , & chast christiana whose beauty & vertue , ( it being rumour'd , how she had refus'd the embraces of the king , ) drew after her many adorers who both by plain addres●es and subtility , vainly endeavour'd to win her , some to their lawful bed , some to their lewder arms. at length in the reign of king charles the th . anno d●m . . the persecution being sore in tours , de boi the master of a french ship induced more by his lust to christiana than his love to the unhappy family of de cadez , promist to set them safe on the english shore , with some others who fled from the rage of the persecutors . de cadez and his wife kindly accepting so vast a favour , which should protect them from the hand of the devouring tyrants , took with them some of their lighter possessions , their gold and silver plate , bequeathing the rest to the said mounsieur de boi , to whose mercy they ow'd both their estate and lives , and embarqued that evening . de boi ( whose lust admitted of no bounds ) when he had sail'd leagues from shore , was not able longer to contain , but thus addrest himself ; madam , to me you owe this great protection from the sword and fire , thus far my mercy hath secur'd your parents , all this i did not for the hope of gain , 't was you fair lady did induce me to it , your eyes with mighty charms did plead so strongly , i could not but be merciful . sir replies the modest christiana my parents & my self , still own these favours , a grateful spirit cannot soon forget such mighty obligations , and doubtless well pleas'd , heawill reward that charitable vertue . alas fair lady ! ( returns de boi , ) leave not so small a debt for heaven to pay , since you can fully make me satisfaction , let me embrace the body i protected , and bless your worshipper with happiness . christiana perceiving his passion , and that her refusing his lustful motions , might endanger the liberty of her parents , beg'd of him to grant her one hours consideration , and she would prepare her self for his embraces . he transported with this answer , believing it to be no other than real , admitted her the time . christiana whose ( chastity could not digest so base and dishonourable an action , yet tenderly affecting the safety of her parents , whom she must either expose to his mercy , or admit of his lewdness , ) knew not what to do in this her greatest extremity ; therefore consulting with her father , was advis'd according to her wish , rather to suffer death than defame her honour . christiana triumpht , now since her parents could without much reluctancy , choose to see her dye a martyr for her chastity , rather than live with infamy and dishonour to the name and family of de cadez ; therefore recommending her self to the diviner powers , committed her body to the mercy of the seas , without the hopes of life , but we see despair is some time the ground of hope : as when the darkness of the night is thickest , then the morning begins to dawn , thus the extremity of christiana's misery was at the height when she had the prospect of some relief , for codrinus a noble man of england , who then rode vice-admiral of the brittish seas , perceiving at some small distance , a woman strugling with the waves , compassionately received her into his ship , and upon her information of the villanous design , which forc't her to prefer death before life with defilement , he sail'd up to de boi's vessel , demanding mounsieur de cadez and his wife , and the others which fled from the persecution bound for england . de boi whose conscience accus'd him , knowing codrinus to be the brittish vice-admiral , a souldier of an undaunted spirit , and a singuler respecter of honourable actions , without disputing the case deliver'd them , whom codrinus first received , and then with two broadsides , sufficiently corrected the insolence of de boi , and so saild forward for england . this deed being of so generous a nature , obliged them all to admire codrinus , & especially christiana who with her all conquering charms , had wounded the vice ▪ admiral there , where the searching cannon ne're had found a passage . he gaz'd with admiration on her beauty , and though her misery had reduc'd her to a poverty , yet he knew not how to resist the powerful charms of love , in conclusion , he addrest himself to the beauteous virgin , who being equally affected wish his heroick actions , not byast by interest , and well pleas'd with his sweetness and fluency of language , the excellency of his courteous and affable demeanour , admitted an easie victory upon honourable terms . codrinus ( being now arriv'd at court , as happy , as so short a time could make him , ) made great preparation for his nuptial solemnities , the consummation of their bliss . the appointed day being come , and dinner ended , the wine flow'd merrily round : in the h●ight of their mirth , christiana's remarkable passages of her life , & the wonderful vindication of her honour , being the general discourse of the table , my lord sebastian after the retirement of christiana told codrinus , he would engage a . pound , that she would admit him into her bed that ev'ning , and that he would enjoy those pleasures which he had reserv'd for his own appetite . the vice-admiral who was willing rather to improve mi●th than disturb the company , merrily accepted of the terms propounded . no sooner had christiana enter'd her bridal bed , expecting codrinus the blessing of her arms , but sebastian without attendants , came into the chamber , and undressing himself , so surpriz'd christiana that she shriekt out , asking him the reason of his rudeness , he answer'd , what mean you madam , how am i rude , do you not know your lord , christiana who was certain it was not the vice-admiral , both by his shape and voice , cry'd out a rape , murther , a rape , at which codrinus and the company , which were at the door ready , burst in , seeming very much incens'd with sebastian , and threatning to chastise his insolence , dismist him , who pleaded a mistake , and that he thought his wife now repos'd in that chamber ( as formerly she had done , ) which codrinus acknowledg'd to be the truth . next day the vice-admiral went to demand the l. forfeited by my lord sebastian . sebastian readily confest it due , and wil'd his servant to pay it to codrinus , in the mean time his merry humour was turn'd into a real lust , and he took this opportunity of solliciting the lady , who was still in her honour , as invulnerable as ever , therefore finding his attempts in vain , returned to the vice-admiral , who after the receipt of the mony , not willing to carry it off , presented it to sebastians lady , sebastian thankful for the favour , loaded the vice-admiral , with too much wine , and that evening , in disguise , attempted once more to win the chast christiana but was by her steward ( who found him in a private room , next the ladies bed chamber ) suspected for some robber , & there slain . the excess of wine which codrinus drank , cast him into a feaver , of which he dy'd , & christiana whose honourable name , had travaild to the utmost coasts of fame , was afterwards married to the duke of guise , with whom she liv'd long and happily . 't is said of eve , that her greatest misery on earth , was that she had too lustfully affected the forbidden fruit , when only charm'd with an exteriour beauty , the vertuous christiana considering this mighty truth , would not admit of the serpents various temptations to tast the forbidden pleasures , though fairly guilded with the outward gaudiness of imperial dignities ; she consider'd that her lust might by chance make her seem great upon earth , but was certain that her chastity mould entitle her to honour amongst the angels in heaven . hist. ii. of samina . romindus ( after a close siege ) having taken the castle of n — , attempted a rape upon the lady samina , but she is rescued by the lord arminius , who is afterwards esp●used to her . romindus in another attempt fires the house where the lady samina lay , by which means conveying himself into her chamber , he would have defiled her : but she to preserve her chastity , stabs her self with his dagger : he finding himself defeated , murder'd himself by her side . in the time of the late rebellion , romindus ( for under that name i shall disguise him ) who was one of the chief agitators of the unhappy civil wars , laid close siege to the castle of n — , whose noble lord and governour ( earl lucius ) hath by his loyalty and valour left his name firm in the records of glory . romindus ( whose factious , base , and treacherous spirit render'd him odious to the family of lucius ) inspir'd with a particular malice , upon his daughter samina's slighting him , resolv'd ( if possible ) to make the castle their funeral pile , and samina's blood a sacrifice to his revenge , since he could not violate her honour , that guardian angel of her chastity . therefore with a strong power , after the effusion of much blood , ( lucius and his small army being toil'd in defence ) he enter'd the castle , took lucius and his lady prisoners , and searching for samina , found her at her devotions in her closet ; and now imagining that to save her parents from the sword , the castle from flames , and her self from certain death , she would prostitute her honour to his lust , with a smooth speech he a●taqu'd her in this manner : why are you so unkind , fair lady , cruel to me , your parents , and your self ? you that have charms enough to soften rocks , why ( madam ) are you so obdurate ? say not hereafter , that i am bloody ; it is for you this heap of dead have perished , for you such seas of blood do flow on every side ; 't was you that rais'd these storms within me , and your beauty drew the hot-brain'd souldier on ; your beauty set an edge to every sword. oh powerful woman ! o wonder-working charms ! yet see , fair lady , low as your feet the conquerour lies down . i sheath my satiated sword ; the anger'd god of war i banish hence ; i am all soft as love ; oh then be kind . samina ( whose devotion he interrupted ) started up from her knees on a sudden , and with an austere countenance said , hence thou curse of nature , thy lust is hotter than the flames of hell that wait thee . saist thou so , my scornful lady ? doth the aspect of grim death seem no more terrible than so ? madam , your fathers blood perhaps may soften you ; your mother too shall die ; the infants who are innocent shall not escape my sword ; and you , obdurate lady , who affect such a religious pride , shall first submit to my embraces , and then shall be a common strumpet to my souldiers . but still your beauty moves me to compassion : if you will save your life , your parents , and the infants , 't is in your power : speak quickly madam . yes ( replies she ) i will speak quickly , for c●nsiderati●n cannot move samina swerve from the rules of virtue . if they must perish , 't is not in my power to purchase their ransom : you ask too large a price : i cannot give my honour for their lives ; but yet be merciful . yes lady , since you waken my revenge , i 'll shew you mercy presently ; and drawing his sword in a great fury , went down , designing first to present her with her fathers ●ead , and by degrees of cruelty win her to his arms . but see the interposing providence of heaven which protected them in the extremity of danger ; for e're he could accomplish his design , the kings party , under the command of my lord arminius , ( whom the earl had sent for ) came in to their aid , and with such a violent onset assaulted the scattered army of romindus , that he overthrew them in an instant , destroying , and putting the rest to flight , among which romindus escaped . my lord arminius was with wonderful joy received by the earl , who informing him of the treachery and lust of romindus , ( from whose sword he had protected him ) added , that his estate and life were at his lordships service . arminius , who had long respected samina , found his desire now more eager than ever , and therefore took this opportunity of urging his love to her , which samina and her parents out of gratitude soon and thankfully accepted of . the earl , whose estate was larger than my lords , blest him with a considerable dowry with her , and the nuptials were solemniz'd out of hand . the charms of this chast and beautiful samina still drew after her many admirers , whose lust could not admit of limitation , though they knew her fix'd , like heaven , above the reach of the damn'd , the gulph of marriage being betwixt them ; but with the same constancy , the same loyalty to her honour , renounc'd them all with scorn and detestation . after the happy restauration of his majesty , romindus ( who had hid himself from the stroke of justice ) despairing of mercy from his too much injur'd monarch , and wanting a supply of moneys to maintain him in his concealment , knew not what course to take , his life and conscience being equally burthensom . long he waver'd , doubting what to do , till at length , by the suggestion of the devil , his malice to arminius who defeated him , and his equal lust and envy to samina , whose charms had tempted and deluded him , he resolv'd to enjoy her yet , to be reveng'd and die ; but fearing the courage of my lord arminius , in whose arms she liv'd secure , he employ'd a servant with a counterfeit letter to my lord , to acquaint him that his father was near the point of death , anh required him to attend him that evening , as he valued his blessing . the earl surprised at the news , little suspected the villanous design of romindus , neither did he believe the message to be other than real , therefore took horse with some few servants , and with all speed posted away to court. romindus ( then but one mile distant from the abbey where samina was left to the charge of some gentlemen ) soon receiv'd the news of my lords departure for court , and in the dusk of the evening set ●ire to the outer buildings and stables , which so surpriz'd the family , that all regardless of their lady , ran out to secure what they might , and defend the abbey from the flames ; but , alas ! the hottest fire was within , for his design working to his will , he watch'd this opportunity of taking possession of samina in the abbey , and securing the doors after him , he apply'd himself to the lady ; at the appearance of whom she swooned away , but in a small time recovered , and said oh bloody villain ! is there no limit to your lust and treachery ? — no talking ▪ madam , ( says romindus ) your charms which soften'd me before , made me delay , and ru●n'd me ; but now they shall not interrupt me . madam , i come o'r-gorg'd with fury and revenge ; be patient , for you shall submit : your beauty shall plead no more ; rapine and slaughter both attend . and thus saying , drew a dagger . the lady shrieking , was over-heard by some of her servants , who making up towards the door , found it shut , and thought that she might have shut it to secure her self . the fire being now extreme violent , gave them reason to fear the ruine of the abbey , which made them all very busie and laborious to extinguish it , which could not be done without much noise and clamour . this pleas'd romindus well ▪ for their tumult drown'd the cries of samina , whom he had wounded in several places , ( though not mortally ) imagining that the sence of torture might move her to admit of his embraces ; but all was without effect , for with how much the greater violence and severity he us'd her , with so much the greater constancy and chastity of spirit she renounced him . after a great reluctancy , recovering a dagger from his hand , she said , you base and ignominious wretch , dost think that heaven cannot free me from thy lewd embraces ? yes ; thus ▪ thus ( stabbing her self ) i set my self at liberty ▪ my honour far outweighs my life , and my blood shall cool the fire that burns within thee : and thus speaking dy'd . when romindus had seen the firmness and chastity of samina , he turn'd his revenge upon himself and with the same dagger stabb'd himself , where he was found after the extinction of the fire , with so much life remaining in him as to satisfie the spectators with a relation of this tragical history and then expir'd , breathing out his polluted soul by the side of the chast and beauteous samina , who is left upon record to future ages , as an eminent and virtuous defender of her honour . thus the virtue of samina was most conspicuous and resplendant in her greatest extremity , who rather chose the chast embraces of a cold grave , than the hot polluted arms of lustful romindus . in honour of whom an english poet thus writeth : when sinful man from paradice was driven , th' almighty sent his angel down from heaven , to guard the tree of life with sword of flame , 'gainst all who thither on presumption came . but fair samina ( whose forbidden tree could not by lustful man defiled be ) had no such flaming sword sent down from heaven to guard her , when into temptation driven ; her virtue and her honour were more great , which rather than foul lust should separate , in death courageously sh'outbrav'd her fate : for when the tempter fiercely did pursue , she stabb'd her tender breast , and upwards flew , to those unspotted virgin sp'rits above , who live in a most chast refined love. hist : iii : the virtuous imbrigis : the chast imbrigis is contracted to sueno , but by the compulsion of her father is married to helga , a rich old man. the baron of fobroch afterwards falls in love with her , and bribes her husband that he might make an attempt upon her chastity . imbrigis kills the baron who went about to ravish her , and stabs her self : she recovers , and marries sueno after the death of her husband . in the reign of christiern the fourth , king of denmark , liv'd in copenhagen , chief city of that kingdom , seated in the isle of zealand , and usual residence of its kings , a rich old burgher , who had two daughters , the elder named helda , the younger imbrigis , both very beautiful ladies , though of so different inclinations , that it seem'd a prodigy for one womb to produce such different fruits . helda was as lustful as she was fair , placing her greatest pleasure abroad and in company : imbrigis as chast as beautiful , and most delighted at home in the contemplation of virtue , and enjoyment of a solitary retirement . these two different beauties being ripe for marriage , were both severally courted ; but the excellent beauty and virtues of imbrigis had more attractions than the face and riches of helda ; however the father resolv'd to marry the elder first , and accordingly disposed of her to ericus , a gentleman of great estate , who had some little kindness for helda , but more for her dower ; and she more regard to his rich possessions and lordships , than his person : however the match was concluded , and the marriage consummated ; but true love appeared not at this hymen , neither would the blessing of heaven attend upon such marriages : they both liv'd together in adultery , spending the remainder of their days in discord and infamy . and now the old burgher having disposed of his eldest and most beloved daughter , he began to think of a match for the youngest , in which he resolv'd to consult more his own judgment and convenience , than his daughters affection and liking . he had bestowed so large a portion on his beloved helda , that he much streightned the fortune of imbrigis , and could not expect any great and rich husband for her , unless such a one should be extraordinarily smitten with love , or some great disparity in their years ; however the virtues and excellent graces of imbrigis had rendred her desirable to several persons of a sutable condition , but none were so agreeable to the humour of the old burgher as to obtain his approbation , till fortune and blind love brought one as unsuitable to the youth of the daughter , as he was acceptable to the covetous mind of the father . an ancient grave doctor named helga , a widower , and one of the heads of the colledge of sora in that island , being sent by the university to court , the wheel of his coach broke as he passed by the door of the old burgher , who ( being in his porch ) invited the doctor into his house whil'st the coach was making fit , which helga readily accepted , and there first saw the lovely and virtuous imbrigis , whose wit and beauty had such powerful charms over him , that notwithstanding the snow which covered his head , and the chilness of sixty winters that had benumm'd his flesh , he found the ice which the frost of age had congealed about his heart begin to melt , and all the fiery passions of a youthful lover play in his breast , which he strove to lay with stoical maxims and prudent morals ; but all proved weak and defenceless against the more powerful artillery of love ; he finds his youthful thoughts to spring up anew , and the image of the beautiful and modest imbrigis never from his sight , which makes him renew his visits , till by daily converse his f●ames increasing , he was forc'd to declare to her father his passion , and the desire he has of making her his wife , who readily embraced his motion , and commanded his daughter to entertain him as her lover . and now this grave doctor is become a child again , ridiculously acting over at three-score all the follies of a youthful lover : he makes court to this young virgin of nineteen , plays with her hands , looks old babies in her eyes , discourses to her of love , fire , and flame , and makes verses and sonnets in praise of her wit and beauty . but whil'st he thus plays the lover and gallant , she seems to act the stoick and philosopher , by representing to him the evil effects which such unequal marriages might produce , tells him his flame will soon vanish and decay , and that his love is but an ignis fatuus , a wandring and erroneous fire , that will lead him at last into a thousand inconveniences , and precipitate him into the pit of jealousie ; that though she should be never so vigilant and circumspect over her actions , his age and her youth would give grounds for the world to asperse her honour , though never so white and innocent ; that she could not have any passion for him , and that without love marriage would be a double yoke and intolerable burthen . but helga was deaf to these speeches , to the great grief of the modest and virtuous imbrigis , who had a god to wrestle with that made fools of wise men , and children of philosophers ; a god that had enkindled a more bright and coelestial flame in her breast , than in the heart of the grave doctor , which made his deformity apparent , and the commands of her father more terrible . amongst the many conquests which her beauty & virtue had obtain'd , and that seemed to stand first in her esteem and favour of the number of those who made their addresses and courtship to her , was sueno , a young gentleman of a comely personage , and nobly descended , though a younger brother , and of mean fortune , ( being at that time an ensign in the castle of cronnembergh ) yet in regard of the constant and sincere love he bore to the chast and virtuous imbrigis , had the happiness to be at last blest with a reciprocal and mutual affection from her , and so far prevailed upon her as to gain her consent to the uniting of their hearts in sacred matrimony so soon as her fathers approbation should be obtained . but they both sollicited the old burgher in vain , for he would by no means hear the suit of a needy souldier , but more eagerly prest forward the match with old helga his rival , whom fortune and blind love had now brought to interrupt his amours . all this the prudent imbrigis was sensible of , neither was she ignorant of the covetous inclinations of her father ; she therefore discreetly began to lessen the hopes of sueno , doubting her duty and obedience must take place of love , for she was inform'd by her father that he had concluded the match with helga , that her portion and jointure was settled , and the day prefix'd for the solemnization of their nuptials , who commanded her to prepare for the wedding . however she was resolved first to take her farewell and last meeting of her beloved sueno , which she performed the night before her marriage . what passed betwixt these two lovers was very moving and tender , and poor sueno receiv'd her last farewell with as great emotion of spirit as a condemned criminal his sentence of death ; however he was persuaded to preserve that life which was not unpleasing to her . after the celebration of their nuptials , helga returns to sora , and carries with him his beautiful and chast wife , who would have been priz'd as a greater treasure by any other person than the covetous miser , whose short-liv'd flame was too violent to continue : his age at length declares him impotent , yet the virtuous imbrigis was most delighted when she could contrive any thing to the content and pleasure of her husband , and declared she should enjoy more satisfaction with him ( since they were espoused ) at a slender entertainment , than to swim in the most luxurious plenty of a seraglio . and now i shall proceed to shew you the many tryals and temptations she resisted by her heroick actions , which made bright her virtues , and illuminated her glory . her former lover sueno ( by the death of his elder brother ) is become lord of a plentiful estate at helsemore , where he now resides , refusing many rich matches and beautiful ladies , whose charms could not deface the image he bore in his mind of the virtuous and chast imbrigis , whom he esteemed as a jewel of greater worth than all his lands and rich possessions . and now he rides over to sora , to enjoy a sight of this beautiful image which so frequently represented it self before him , and to inform her both of his good fortune , and firm resolution of living only for her , still hoping that the declining winter of age will at last give place to the spring of youth , and that he shall be made happy in the possession of his love : but his journey was in vain , for all his artifices and stratagems to speak with his beloved imbrigis were defeated ; she would neither be seen nor spoke to by him , as doubting that the former sparks of her affection might re-kindle at his sight . he returned therefore to helsemore , but before his departure made shift to get this following letter conveyed into her hands . sueno , to imbrigis . though i die by your cruelty , divine imbrigis , i cannot but admire your virtue : and whil'st i blame your severity , i praise your prudence and caution ; but methinks the constancy and purity of my affection might have pleaded in my behalf , and have induced you to have permitted a visit without believing it criminal ; however , since 't is your pleasure that i leave sora without seeing you , my presence shall no longer disturb your repose . remember me then no more , but let me be placed among the dead in oblivion . let the remembrance of this letter be raced out of your mind , if it be any trouble to you , though indited by the greatest passion , and most pure and constant affection ; for since your severity hath banish'd me your heart and memory , it shall also banish me the world and life , which is the firm resolution of your faithful sueno . this passionate letter mollified the heart of imbrigis , and tears melted in her eyes , when considering her severity had brought him into despair , and might endanger his life , if not timely remedied ; she resolv'd to send him an answer to his letter , which she thought she might do without any breach of conjugal faith , or transcurring the bounds limitted to wedlock , and accordingly return'd this following reply . imbrigis , to sueno . you ought not , sueno , so much to admire , as approve my severity , since 't is only the effect of virtue . did i not know the purity of your affection , i should not have returned you an answer ; but since the brightness of your flame has yielded a light whereby i have read the integrity of your heart ▪ i will believe favourably of the visit you intended me , and that you meant nothing but what was just and honourable . but i intreat you not to call my scrupulous virtue , cruelty , and my denial , tyranny ; for could i have been either cruel or tyrannous , i might have spoke to you , and seen you . no , sueno , 't is the too great compassion i feel in my soul , and the too great mistrust i have of my self , that makes me seem thus severe , and not any doubt of your virtue . return therefore with more favourable thoughts , and with all those hopes that have hitherto supported you , and believe that i wish you all the felicity the best of your friends can wish you ; and know also , that i will not forget you , but remember you as much as i can without rendring my self criminal ; and believe also , that your d●●●h would give as much trouble , as your life gives content and satisfaction to imbrigis . sueno having received this answer , which gave ease to his troubled spirits , returned to sora with some satisfaction , when contemplating and admiring the virtue of imbrigis , some good genius inspired him with hopes , and assured him he should one day be happy in the fruition of that chast and virtuous lady . imbrigis is well pleas'd with the departure of her beloved sueno , as hoping now to enjoy an undisturbed repose ; but , alas ! her hopes are vain , she must yet undergo a harder task , her chastity must yet shine brighter ▪ by resisting the assaults and batteries made upon her virtue ; she has hitherto only encounter'd with a virtuous and chast love in sueno , who is rather a son of urania , than venus : but now she will be expos'd to the fury of one sully'd with impurity . the baron of fobrock , who liv'd in a very stately palace not far distant from sora , ( a person very eminent at court , and in great favour with the king , ) having several times seen the virtuous imbrigis at church , was more attentive upon her beauty , than his devotions , the splendor and beams of which had heated his breast with a lustful and impure fire . greatness begets respect , and commands an entrance into almost all places ; the doors of helga , which were shut to almost all the world , were opened to fobroch , and helga thought himself honour'd by the visits of the baron , whom he entertains with freedom and joy , hoping by the favour and friendship of this nobleman and courtier to obtain great advancement . it was not long e're the lustful baron acquainted the cha●t and virtuous imrigis with his love , and made many rich presents to her , not doubting but she would surrender her heart upon the first summons ; he believed the beauty of imbrigis , and the age and covetousness of helga , would prove traytors within doors , and easily give him admittance into the fort and heart of his mistress ; that the guards of duty and honour were weak against such potent adversaries , and where love was not commander , he might have an easie victory . but he was much surpriz'd to meet with such stout resistance from the virtuous imbrigis , who receiv'd his courtships and addresses with disdain , refused his presents , and avoided his company as a pestilence , however he takes a review of this impregnable fort , but finds no other access than by the covetous and sordid humour of helga : he therefore feeds him with hopes of great preferment , and finding him a great lover of play , ( whil'st on the winning side ) he designedly , whenever he came to visit helga , lost ten or twenty crown-pieces of gold , which so much rejoyced the heart of the old man , that the sight of this lord was as desirable to him as an angel , and imbrigis sollicited him in vain not to entertain the baron so often , intreating him to let her retire to her fathers , or some other place in the countrey , whil'st the baron continued in those parts , lest his frequent visits might blemish her honour , and blast her reputation : but perceiving him instead of discouraging her new lover , give him fresh opportunities to court her under the colour of play , imbrigis was at last forc'd to discover to him the barons dishonourable intentions , and sedulous courtships , that he was in love with her , and had attempted her love and chastity . but the sweetness of winning the barons gold took away the bitterness of jealousie , and the virtuous imbrigis seeing that helga knew not how to guard her honour , was the more circumspect her self : she therefore ( whenever fobrock came to the house ) immediately lock'd her self up in her chamber , or went to a neighbours house , and neither the intreaties of the baron , or commands of her husband , could obtain her presence . but the baron finding the effects which gold had over old helga's heart , and that 't was rather his wifes chastity and prudence than his jealousie , put a stop to , and obstructed his sight of that beautiful object , he resolves to bribe the covetous old man , and so purchase the dishonour of his wife ; in order to which , he invites helga over to his own palace , and ( his lady being gone to the spaw in germany for the recovering of her health ) there they diverted themselves with tables as they us'd to do , when the baron having one day drawn aside this old dotard from all company , he carries him into a chamber , where on several tables he had laid one by one pieces of gold , most of them crown-pieces , and having fastned the door 〈◊〉 him sit down before this golden idol , 〈◊〉 he knew 〈◊〉 worshipp'd in his heart , and told him , that he might by an easie purchase , if he pleased , bec●me master of all that gold. helga was not backward to ●●quire which way ? to which question the baron 〈◊〉 , that he must confess he was passionately in l●ve with his wife , that he had courted and sollicited her 〈◊〉 times , though without that success some young and br●sk●r gal●ant might probably be blest with , and at an easier purchase than he could expect ; for he knew that a person who had seen the change and vicisitudes of sixty winters , could not always satisfie the craving desires of youth ; that he would exchange all that gold ( a real substance ) with him , for one nights lodging with his wife , which was no more than a transitory pleasure , and pay one moiety now down , ( if he consented ) and the other half when the business was effected . helga ( whose eyes were dazled at the sight of this golden idol ) after a short pause made answer , that he had taken a fair ( though unusual ) course to obtain his desires ; for since the wife , her honour , and chastity , is the husbands own and proper goods , it was the better and more lawful way to have them by the husbands consent , than to purloin them by corrupting the wife , which without the husbands knowledge was under-hand dealing , and not lawfully purchased ; that he was sensible he had bid him fairly , and like a chapman , and therefore he was willing to accept his proffer , conditionally that he would keep it as a secret not only from the world , but his wife also , which if he observ'd , he would give his cons●nt and assistance . the baron at the ending of his discourse embraced the old man , and promised to perform the condition required , and the bargain being concluded , helga returns with crowns , laughing at the folly of the prodigal baron ; he shews the gold to his wife imbrigis , as so much won at play , which she little thought to be the purchase of her honour and chastity . within a few days helga visits the baron , where all things being in readiness , as they before had contriv'd , late in the evening imbrigis receives her husbands ring with a message from him , that he was taken with a desperate fit of sickness , and that she should by that token know it was his desire to have her come to him immediately in the barons coach , which he had sent for her : imbrigis concluded her husband to be dying , and out of duty went with the messenger in the barons coach , though not without some reluctancy , as fearing it might be some trick of the barons , whose palace she arriv'd at in the evening , and was lighted up stairs by the servants , then conducted into a very stately chamber richly adorn'd and sweetly perfum'd , in which were several lights , and in the midst a rich embroider'd ●ed , &c. the servants withdraw , and whil'st she steps to the bed to seek her husband , supposing him sick and laid there , she spies the baron enter the room , and shut the door fast . then 't was that the brave and heroick imbrigis ( finding her self betray'd , and the baron approaching towards her with eager steps and open arms ) flew swiftly to the window , and ( to preserve her honour & chastity unblemish'd ) violently dash'd her head against the glass , and had already got half of her body through the breach , when the amazed baron caught hold of her garments , and pull'd her back , though not without her face being cut and batter'd by the glass , the affright putting her in a trance , that she remained senseless , and as one dead , in the arms of the vitious baron , who having laid her on the ●ed , went to bereave her of her honour and chastity ; but the violence he used in the attempt brought her to her self again , when beholding the rude approaches of the lustful baron , she shrieks out , and struggling with both her hands , one of those guardian angels that attend on weak innocency and a●●aulted chastity , guided her hand to a dagger that hung at the side of the ravi●her , with which she fir●● gave him a mortal wound and then lodg'd the fatal s●e●l in her own chast and virtuous breast , to let out that blood she mistook to be polluted by the baron . the ●oise they made in this bloody skirmish , and the fall of their wounded bodies from the bed , allarm'd the servants , who attending at the door , rush in , and behold this fatal sight with amazement . the chyrurgions having drest both their wounds , that of the barons prov'd mortal , and he dy'd within three days full of penitence and trouble for the evil he had caused to the chast and virtuous imbrigis : but heaven had a greater care of that brave woman , the dagger had not touch'd her intellects , and she recover'd after some days . the baron before he dy'd acquitted imbrigis of his death before his servants , and ask'd her pardon for the injury he had done her , his soul being now refin'd from that lust which before had engender'd about his heart . he confest likewise the business of helga , who considering the shame and ignominy his ill-made bargain had cast on his honour and reputation , took it so to heart , that before imbrigis could recover of her wounds he dy'd , and left her a rich widow . and now the hopes of the faithful sueno revive , who had heard of the heroick action of his adored imbrigis ; and at last heaven took pity of his constant sufferings , and rewarded his faithful love ; for after imbrigis had paid what was due to decency and the memory of her husband , and remained ●welve months a widow , she was married to sueno , both ●●ending their days in the fruition of their chast loves ▪ he blest in a chast and loyal wife , she happy in a faithful and loving husband . as the charming pleasures of innocence and serenity of mind , are visible inhabitants of th●se hearts consecrated to virgin chastity ; so in respect of its prevalency over the minds of its votaries , it makes ripe● age continue incontaminate , and the matrimonial liberty undefiled , as we have seen in the precedent example of the virtuous and constant imbrigis . hist. iv. van zwerts and marinda . jacob van zwerts , after many signal proofs of his chastity , takes shipping for spain , but in his voyage is taken prisoner by the turks , and sold to ali pigget , a turkish merchant , whose sister falling in love with jacob , sollicits him to debauchery , and upon his refusal of her lewd embraces , accuseth him of a rape : ali pigget being sensible of her treachery , first stabs her , then gives van zwerts his liberty , who soon after his arrival at spain is married to the virtuous and beautiful marinda , who by a notable stratagem preserved her chastity . not many years since at rotterdam , a port-town in holland , one of the united provinces belonging to the states , lived iacob van zwerts , second son to the heer van zwerts , a very wealthy and creditable merchant , of ancient and reputable extraction . iacob van zwerts ( whose virtue and chastity was as remarkable as any left upon the records of time ) being weary of the debaucheries of that city , to which he was often and frequently sollicited by some extravagant youths of his former acquaintance , did by the next opportunity resolve for spain , whither he might retire with an intimate acquaintance of his fathers , and reap the peaceable enjoyment of himself and his virtue . while his father was weighing the consequence of this design , the unpleasant news had reach'd the ears of the roaring debauchees his late companions , who having let loose the reins of sobriety and virtue , had plung'd themselves into the greatest exorbitancy , and therefore nothing could be more unwelcom than the desertion of one of their beloved associates , on whom ( as he was rich ) they had some flattering hopes of dependance , and therefore were resolved , if possible , to convert him to themselves ; to which end they sent for him in the names of some later friends , ( of whom he was less shie ) to drink with him at the sun-tavern not far distant from his fathers , not doubting thereby to prevent his voyage to spain . van zwerts ( according to their request ) went to them , where he found them caressing each one his strumpet , and using even the most immodest and lewdest actions . they observ'd van zwerts , that his eye was fix'd , and his countenance austere , as declaring the inward resentments of his mind ; yet however they presented him with one of the most beautiful of their company ; but he declar'd his aversion to such lewdness , saying , gentlemen , have ye neither sense of honour , virtue , nor conscience ? think ye that iustice sleeps for ever ? no , heaven will be speedily mov'd , lay all its mercy down , take up revenging bolts of thunder , and dash all such profligate offenders to inevitable ruine : why then — but as he would have proceeded , they interrupted him , and said , what , jacob , always preaching ! will you never give over canting ? let dull religious fools , who never knew the sweets of stolen pleasures , be ty'd to the strict rules of virtue ; but love 's a roving libertine , scales the weak battlements which virtue raises , and tramples upon honour , to obtain a place safe in the arms of beauty . alas ! thou art lost , thou huntest after shadows , and followest imaginary heavens , while we have ours in possession . 't is ill trusting to castles in the air , or , like astrologers , have twelve houses they know not where , yet never a one for themselves to live in . no , 't is we alone enjoy honour , beauty , happiness , and heaven on earth . to which iacob reply'd , o prophane wretches ! have you no remorse of conscience ? what means — but they interrupting him , said , go preach conscience to the spaniard ; 't might perhaps make him less proud , though no ways abate his amorous inclinations , for he 'd love his wench in spight of fate , or twenty consciences ; and so dismist him . van zwerts remain'd unshaken in his resolutions , and hastning his voyage , embarqu'd the night following , but e're he had reach'd the coasts of spain , he was taken by a turkish pirate , ( whose power they were not able to resist ) and straightway convey'd to turkey , and ( as providence had appointed ) sold slave to ali pigget , a turkish merchant , formerly a correspondent of his fathers , which ali pigget by questioning him concerning his countrey , education , and extraction , found out , but did not discover it to van zwerts , only pretending civility on the account of his learning , ( for he was a good linguist , and an excellent penman and accomptant ) he employ'd him as steward of his house . ali pigget's eye was always severe and strict over van zwerts and his own sister , ( whose modesty he had reason to suspect ) judging that she who had formerly so little respect to her honour as to admit of the lewd embraces of a common slave , would not be backward in promoting her lustful inclinations to such a qualified person as van zwerts ; neither was his suspition or jealousie in vain , for she omitted no opportunity of spreading her charms to catch the heart of van zwerts , neither was she asham'd to tell him many times , that he was a person of the most winning and obliging good nature , that he had fir'd her heart , and she should never know any greater happiness than to be blest in his embraces . thus she often assaulted him , but found her amorous passion still defeated by the chastity of the virtuous van zwerts ; yet she resolv'd with all the power and charms imaginable , and the strongest temptations of lust , once more to besiege his virtue , which she did in this manner . ali pigget being to ride out of town some miles distant , about his merchandise , she thought it her best and securest time to put in practice her unchast design . accordingly upon the departure of ali pigget she ordered van zwerts to wait on her at her chamber within the space of half an hour at farthest : van zwerts ( whose honour was his guard ) suspected not the lewd intentions of this lady , but went into her chamber , where finding her in bed , began to retire , when she call'd to him as to speak with him , and laying hold on his hand , said sighing , iacob , hast thou no sense nor compassion for a poor suffering lover ? must i for ever burn in the●e hot flames , and will you never yield to cool my passions ? fye ! leave these youthful blushes , and come into thy lovers arms . — not for ten thousand worlds , reply'd van zwerts ; and so striving to withdraw his hand , she turn'd her lust to revenge , crying out , a rape ! a rape ! ali pigget suspected her design , and therefore return'd immediately after his departure , and conceal'd himself in the next appartment to the chamber they were in , he heard her lustful courtship , and his chast answer , and upon her crying out went in , and with his sword stabb'd her in that bed which she design'd for the consummation of her lust ; and as a reward for van zwerts's fidelity and chas●ity , bad him ask any thing in his power , it should be granted him . iacob , who still longed to see spain , begg'd ( since his bounty did extend so far ) that he would give him his liberty , and fit him for that voyage . ali pigget ( to whom iacob's father had sent cobs for his ransom ) gave him his liberty with his ransom . van zwerts taking shipping , in a short time arriv'd at spain , where he had not long resided e're he found his breast heated with love , and his inclinations and affections tend towards the virtuous and fair marinda , whose unblemish'd chastity in spain was most conspicuous , and spread far on the wings of fame . she was indeed the mirrour of her age , and had as large a share of beauty as any in that countrey could boast of , which probably might occasion her more temptations to try her chastity , than others who were less beautiful ; for in the civil wars , when rapine was fierce and prevalent , and virgins knew not by what means to resist or reclaim the extravagances of enraged souldiers , she by a notable stratagem ( tho' very irksom to her self ) preserv'd her chastity , which she effected in this manner : under her arm-pits she plac'd raw bief , and retain'd it there till by the heat of her body it became so loathsom that none could endure to come within her sight , much less endure her embraces . the relation of this , and the like triumphs of her chastity , well pleased van zwerts , who after the formalities of courtship ( which he was well vers'd in ) obtain'd her consent , and was espoused to her , returning shortly after to his fathers house in rotterdam , who in a short time after his sons return dy'd , and left him master of a plentiful estate , upon which this chast couple liv'd many years happily . such are the rewards of heav●n here frequently to them who become strict votaries of chastity and virtue . thus we have seen in divers examples the eminent rewards of chastity , by the mercy and providence that attends upon conjugal faith , and matrimonial loyalty : for as chast●ty , friendship , and the other branches of a virtuous life , do carry some part of their reward in the pleasure of their performances , so constancy and perseverance in the same crowns our fidelity with the consummation of a perfect and glorious felicity . finis . advertisement of some books lately printed for and sold by benjamin crayle , at the lamb in fleet-street next white-fryers-gate . . the beauty of holiness , written by the author of the whole duty of man , &c. to which is added holy devotions on several occasions , fitted to the main uses of a christian life . the fourth impression , in octavo . . the christians companion , or a guide to the holy scriptures , discovering the hidden treasures contained in the new testament , and explaining the difficult and intricate texts throughout every chapter : together with family-devotions . by a reverend divine of the church of england , in octavo . . the queens closet opened , comprehending several hundreds of experienced receipts , and incomparable secrets in physick , chyrurgery , preserving , cookery , &c. which were presented to the q●een by the most eminent doctors in physick , chyrurgions , oculists , and divers persons of honour , whose names are fixed to their several receipts . the last edition corrected and enlarged with many new and late additions , . . the glory of god's revenge against the bloody and detestable sins of murther and adultery , express'd in thirty modern tragica● histories . to which are annex'd , the triumphs of friendship and chastity , in some illustrious examples . by tho. wright , m. a. . delightful and ingenious novels , being choice and excellent stories of amours tragica● and comical , lately related by the most refined wits , with interludes between each novel price bound s. . cocker's morals , or the muses spring-ga●●den , adorn'd with many sententious disticks an● poems , in alphabetical order , for the use o● writing-schools , &c. to . proclamation, for apprehending fergus tempeltoun a murderer. scotland. privy council. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). b wing s estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. b ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) proclamation, for apprehending fergus tempeltoun a murderer. scotland. privy council. scotland. sovereign ( - : william and mary) sheet ([ ] p.) printed by the successors of andrew anderson, printers to their most excellent majesties, edinburgh : anno dom. . caption title. initial letter. intentional blank spaces in text. dated: given under our signet at edinburgh, the first day of february, and of our reign the fifth year, . signed: gilb. eliot, cls. sti. concilii. reproduction of the original in the national library of scotland. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng templetoun, fergus, fl. . murderers -- scotland -- early works to . arrest -- scotland -- early works to . broadsides -- scotland -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - elspeth healey sampled and proofread - elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion proclamation for apprehending fergus templetoun a murderer . william and mary by the grace of god , king and queen of great britain , france and ireland , defenders of the faith ; to _____ macers of our privy council , messengers at arms , our sheriffs in that part , conjunctly and severally , specially constitute , greeting ; forasmuch as we are well informed of a cruel murder committed by fergus templetoun a little black curly-headed man , souldier in captain _____ home his company , in the lord strathnaver his regiment , upon james dunlop in kirkland , with in his own house or barn where he was living peaceably ; the murderer pretending that he was searching for deserters ; which fergus templetoun being apprehended , and committed prisoner to the guards in pasley , did make his escape . and we being desirous that the committers of so hainous a murder , should be brought to condign punishment . therefore we , with advice of the lords of our privy council , do hereby require and command all our magistrats , officers , souldiers , and others our liedges , to do their outmost endeavour and diligence to apprehend the said fergus templetoun , and deliver him prisoner to the magistrats of any of our burghs , to be by them kept in safe custody , untill he be brought to tryal , and suffer condign punishment for the said crime . and we out of our detestation to such a horrid crime , and to the effect the same may not go unpunished ▪ and for encouraging of persons to search for , and apprehend the murderer ; do hereby make offer of the sum of five hundred merks to any person or persons who shall apprehend the said fergus templetoun , and deliver him prisoner to the magistrats of of any of our burghs , which we hereby promise shall be faithfully payed as a reward to the said person or persons , lot their apprehending of the said murderer , indemnifying hereby all persons from all hazard of slaughter , mutilation , or any other acts of violence , which they may commit against the said fergus templetoun , or any persons with him , in apprehending the said murderer . and we with advice ●oresaid peremptorly inhibit and discharge , all and every our leidges whatsoever , to shelter harbour , conceal , or any ways assist or supply the said fergus templetoun , upon their highest peril . our will is herefore , and we charge you straitly , and command , that incontinent these our letters seen , ye pass to the mercat-cross of edinburgh , and mercat-crosses of the whole remanent burghs in this kingdom , and other places needful , and there in our name and authority , by open proclamation , make publication of the premisses , that none may pretend ignorance . and ordains these presents to be printed . given under our signet at edinburgh , the first day of february , and of our reign the fifth year , . per actum dominorum secreti concilii gilb . eliot , cls. sti concilii . god save king vvilliam and queen mary . edinburgh , printed by the successors of andrew anderson , printers to their most excellent majesties , anno dom. . a true narrative of the proceedings at the sessions-house in the old-bayly; from friday the th of this instant january, to munday the th; being a full and true account of the tryals, examinations, and condemnations of several malefactors, for several crimes. and also an account of the tryal of four several persons for committing four several murthers. a man for killing a bayliff, a boy for killing his fellow prentice, a man for killing his fellow-workman, and another for killing a man in black fryers. with an account how many are condemn'd, how many burn'd in the hand, to be transported, whipt at the carts tail, and to stand in the pillory. with permission, roger l'estrange approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing t a estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a true narrative of the proceedings at the sessions-house in the old-bayly; from friday the th of this instant january, to munday the th; being a full and true account of the tryals, examinations, and condemnations of several malefactors, for several crimes. and also an account of the tryal of four several persons for committing four several murthers. a man for killing a bayliff, a boy for killing his fellow prentice, a man for killing his fellow-workman, and another for killing a man in black fryers. with an account how many are condemn'd, how many burn'd in the hand, to be transported, whipt at the carts tail, and to stand in the pillory. with permission, roger l'estrange england and wales. court of quarter sessions of the peace (london) p. printed for d.m., london : in the year . copy has print show-through. reproduction of the original in the guildhall library, london. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng trials -- england -- early works to . crime -- england -- early works to . criminals -- england -- early works to . murder -- england -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - derek lee sampled and proofread - derek lee text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a true narrative of the proceedings at the sessions-house in the old-bayly ; from friday the th of this instant january , to munday the th ; being a full and true account of the tryals , examinations , and condemnations of several malefactors , for several crimes . and also an account of the tryal of four several persons for committing four several murthers . a man for killing a bayliff , a boy for killing his fellow-prentice , a man for killing his fellow-workman , and another for killing a man in black fryers . with an account how many are condemn'd , how many burn'd in the hand , to be transported , whipt at the carts tail , and to stand in the pillory . with permission , roger l'estrange . london : printed for d. m. in the year . a true narrative of the proceedings at the sessions-house in the old-bayly . i shall , with as much brevity and truth as may be , give you a candid account of the trials of the several prisoners at the old-bayly ; and begin first with an irish man servant to a person of quality , who was indicted for stealing two hundred pounds from his said master ; but though some circumstances seem'd to stick close to him , yet he was acquitted by the jury . the next were two youngsters that came to a pastery cook's house , and called for a chamber and a fire , and there continued till they had ordered their business , so as to take two silver tankards away with them : one went out of the door , and the other out of the window by a small rope . the first was taken and tried ; and found guilty ; the last escaped with the booty . after this a milliner was indicted for breaking open a shop in covent garden ; but the principal evidence was one who had encouraged the sufferers to prosecute the said millener ; but in regard several pieces of ribbin were found in the milleners shop , that were taken out of the said shop in covent garden : the judge gave orders for another bill to be drawn against the milliner , and that he should be indicted as an accessary , upon which he was found guilty . after this , one was indicted for stealing several sheep , four of which were found in his custody , and also the skins of many more ; so that he pleaded guilty to all felonies within the benefit of the clergy upon his first indictment . the next was one who was arraigned and tried for a burglary committed in the house of a person of quality in the parish of st. giles's in the fields ; he running from thence was stopped by a blackamore : but nothing being taken away , he was acquitted . after this a woman was indicted , for that she together with two men , not yet taken , went into a house in the city , and pretended themselves persons of quality , one of the men saying he was steward to a person of honour , and the other a gentleman newly come from ireland ; they desired lodgings , and their requests were answered , and at night , it being christmas time , they desired to play a game at cards , for their divertisement , with their landlord , and he to oblidge them readily compli'd ; but the landlady being gone a gossiping or visiting , and none left but her husband and these new-come-gentlefolks at home , they desired him to send out for some double beer for them ; he stept to the next door and bid the maid bring it in : after that they called for wine , and he sent the same maid to fetch it ; then a little after they desired that he would fetch them some more double beer himself , and as soon as he was gone they took a candle and run up stairs to his chamber and broke his closet open , and took stom thence a silver tankard and money , to the value of twenty pounds , and left him only a light upon the stairs to see his losses : away march'd they , but some days after this woman was met with and brought , to newgate , and from thence to the bar , where she pleaded that one of the men that took away the money and plate was her husband , and produced a certificate from the parson of pancross to affirm it ; but the jury supposing it to be counterfeit , found her guilty , and the chiefest comfort she is like to have is transportation . now follows a bloody murther committed by one in whitechappel ; as soon as a bayliff had told him that he arrested him , he with a strange weapon run the officer into the belly , and made a pass at another , but though he mift his body , he hit his clothes : this hector with new supplies , was quickly secur'd ; and when one told him that he had kill'd the bayliff , he repli'd , if i have not i wish i had , and being sent from the justice of peace to newgate , he told his guard , if he had not killed him he should have gone to prison on foot , but now in a coach ; but for all he made so slight on 't then , he was in a more serious and sensible humour at the bar , and labour'd to excuse it with all the rhetorick he had , and all was too little , for the jury brought him in guilty , and jack ketch will make him free . another unhappy murther haypened at westminster by the discord of two young lads , who quarrel'd about cutting their apron-strings , being shoomakers , the younger not knowing how to revenge him self , took a threepeny knife and stabb'd the other , who run out of the shop with his bowels in his hands , cri'd , lord have mercie upon my soul , daniel has kill'd me . the lord chief baron after he had heard the evidence , wish'd the jury to consider whether the boy understood what he had done or not , he being but thirteen years and a month old , the jury afterwards brought him in guilty of man's slaughter . then a woman was indicted for high-treason ; she came into a shop and desired the master thereof to give her two sixpences for a shilling , he took the shillling , and perceiving it to be clipt , told her that she deserved to be questioned how she came by it ; upon which she run out of the shop as fast as she could , then persuite was made after her , and she was overtaken and brought back and carried before a justice of peace , who upon ezamination , said , her husband gave it to her ; they asked where she lodged , and having found her lodgings out , they found pots and sheers , and other necessaries for that imployment ; but in regard they rather supposed her absent husband to be guilty than her ; the jury favourably brought her in not guilty . after this , anothtr was indicted for killing one at clarendon house with a saw ; he was making a tool , and the deceased told him he should make none there , the other said he would ; then the deceased struck at him two or three times , which occasioned the other to strike him upon the arm with a mallet , which he was then using , the deceased challeng'd the other to sight , but he desired quietness , and would not ; then the deceased went to lock him in , the other prevented him by being too quick ; then he giving some more blows , the other struck him with the back of a saw which he had in his hand , and his hat being off he split his skull almost to his brains , of which wound he died in a little time ; and in regard , it did not appear to be a premeditated quarrel , the offender was only found guilty of mansslaughter . another was tried for murther , who happened into a house in black fryers with a young man : after breakfast was ended , they had a few quarrelsome words ; he that was kill'd affronted the other both in words and blows , and not being satisfi'd with that , urged him to wrestle with him , who refus'd it and left the room ; then he followed him and continued his abuses so long till at last he threw him down two or three times ; they parted then , and he that occasion'd the quarrel was arrested the next day ; and continuing in a poor condition upon the boards , and induring other hardship he died ; so that one made affidavit that the deceased charged him that quarrelled with him , for the murthering of him , by throwing him down several times and falling upon him , but the chyrurgeon clear'd him of that guilt , who supposed it a natural death , therefore he was acquitted . readers , what can subdue , what can asswage the bloody hands of men this sinful age ? a fervent prayer from a religious heart . these and far greater judgments can divert . then labour hard for such a frame as this , by which you heav'n may gain , and hell may miss . a yong man and woman were tried for a fellony committed by them at wapping , the woman being entertained as a servant , did the next day run away with a silver tankard , a farrenden-gown , and many other things . the gentlewoman missing them , used all the endeavours she could to procure them , and employing a thief-catcher , by the description given of her , he directed her ro the servant-maid that stole them from her ; who being apprehended told them where they were pawn'd and sold , and how the young man bid her sell them , and if she was questioned , he would come to justifie that the goods belonged to her mistress , who employed her to sell them . there being proof enough to make him appear an accessary , they were both found guilty of fellony . a porter was tryed for burglary , but it appeared that the woman prosecuted him out of envy ; for she said , that he came and broke open her house one morning ; whereas others of more repute said , that he was very familiar with her , and that same night did continue with her from five at night till seven in the morning , and he pawn'd his silver ticket for five shillings , and sent for six penny worth of ale , and call'd in a black-pudding man to give her a treat . several persons spoke in his behalf , and said , that he was a very honest man : and there being no proof that he had taken any thing from her , he was acquitted . there was an irishman tryed for a cheat , which was as follows , he with a footman came to a watch-makers shop , and desired to see some watches for his master ; after he had seen several , he pitch'd upon two , and desired that he would carry them or send them to his master , he therefore sent his man with them , the one being a gold the other a silver watch , and when they came to the temple he desired to carry them up to his master , whom he pretended was in bed , but as soon as he had got them he run away with them ; the other persued him , and afterwards brought him to a justice of peace , and he committed him to prison , and upon his tryal was found guilty of the cheat. there were three men and three women condemned , four ordered to be transported , and sixteen burn'd in the hand , and five to be whipt at the carts tail , and the said cheat design'd for the pillory . finis . the last speech and confession of sarah elestone at the place of execution who was burned for killing her husband, april . . with her deportment in prison since her condemnation. with allowance. elestone, sarah, d. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing l f estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the last speech and confession of sarah elestone at the place of execution who was burned for killing her husband, april . . with her deportment in prison since her condemnation. with allowance. elestone, sarah, d. . [ ], , [ ] p. : ill. printed for t.d., [london] : . place of publication from wing. reproduction of the original in dr. williams's library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng elestone, sarah, d. -- early works to . last words -- early works to . executions and executioners -- early works to . murder -- england -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the last speech and confession of sarah elestone at the place of execution : who was burned for killing her husband , april . . with her deportment in prison since her condemnation . with allowance . printed for t. d. . the last speech and confession of sarah elstone , & , did we not make our selves miserable , god is so merciful to us , as he would make us happy ; but when we with high and presumptions hands , violate the laws of nature and grace , of earth and heaven , in murthering those whom through duty and affection we are bound to obey , honour , cherish and preserve : then we need not marvel because we first forsook god that he afterwards abandoneth us to our selves and sins , and to the fruits thereof , misery , infamy , and pardition : and that we may see humane cruelty to be justly met with and punished by gods upright and divine justice . a terrible instance we have here before us ; we see a wretched wife guilty of the death of her own husband . a sad and execrable fact , for the which we see her rewarded with condign punishment , and with a sharp and infamous death , but not so deplorable as deserved : it is so bitter , unhumane , and bloody a fact , that it must needs draw tears from our eyes if we have any room for pity or piety . in three-faulken-court , over against st. margarets-hill , in southwark , lately lived one sarah elestone , the late wife of thomas elestone , a felt-maker : a man very laborious in his calling , aged about forty years , and his wife forty-six years old : they lived many years very contentedly , she assisting him in his calling in what she was able : till such time as falling into the acquaintance of some lewd women , she was drawn to commit that filthy sin of drunkenness ▪ which after a little practising of it , she became harden'd in it , and learn'd to swear by her maker and to prophain the lords day , and hate good men ; such an alteration there was perceived in her , that several of her husbands acquaintance desired him to do all that he could to reclaim her , telling him also that it was his duty , to which he answered , that he hoped god would turn her from these evil courses , but he for his part could do no good with her , for she was so obstinate , that the more he said to her the worse she was : so that seeing he could not prevail by fair means , he sought some other way , as keeping her bare of money , but then she run him in debt , and took up money at the tally-shops , he having notice of it , told them if they trusted her any more he would not pay them : upon which she resolved of another way , which was to sell her goods , which she did by degrees , till they had scarce a chair to sit on , or a bed to lye on . this so perplexed her husband , that he resolved to beat her out of this wicked course , and to that end did sometimes chastize her with blows , which she was not wanting to repay : so much was their fury sometimes , that their neighbours hath been forced to part them at all hours in the night . in this like manner they lived for some years , which so troubled and disturbed the patience of the man ; that oft he hath been heard to wish himself dead , or that he had been buried alive that day he was married to her , and she wicked and graceless soul would many times in cold blood threaten him , that at one time or other she would kill him ; which proved to be too true , for she having been out with her gossips , and having got a cup too much as it was thought , comes and finds her husband at work ; she demands some money of him , and withall tells him , that if he will not give her some presently she would be the death of him ; he seeing her in that condition , took her and thrusts her down stairs , and shuts the door , and to work again ; within a little time after when he thought her heat was over , he goes down in his shift as he was at work , intending to drink ; she meets him at the stairs foot , and with one side of a pair of sheers gave him a mortal wound on the breast , of which he immediately dyed , upon which she presently fled : her husband being quickly found , hue and cry was made after her , and that night about twelve a clock she was taken by the old-street watch , to whom she confessed the fact , she had her tryal at the marshalses at the assizes , beginning on the day of march , last past , where she was condemned by law to be burn'd to ashes for this horrid and bloody crime : after sentence was past , she begged some time to sit and prepare her self , which was granted , as also to two other malefactors . dureing her imprisonment she hath had several ministers to visit her who laid open the haniousness of her sins , especially that of murther : she for the most part seemed but little concerned , many times talking of other things when they prayed for her , but a day or two before her execution it pleased god to awaken her and to discover her sins unto her , and the need she stood in of an interest in the lord jesus : often remembring that saying in gen. . chapter . . verse ▪ whoso sheddeth mans blood , by man shall his blood be shed : for in the image of god made he man : and numbers the . chapter , and verse . ye shall not pollute the land wherein you are , for blood it defileth the land : and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein , but by the blood of them that shed it . which made her the willinger to dye , finding that it was according both to the law of god and man : and hoping that the lord jesus would have mercy on her poor sinful soul : now she loved good men , good discourse , and often cryed out what should she do to be saved : when she came to the place of execution and beheld the fagots , she cryed , o lord for jesus sake let this be my last burning : o that god would give me an assurance of the pardon of my sins , and blot out the black lines of my sins with the red lines of christs blood . her last words were to exhort all good people to fear god , to keep the sabbath-day , to refrain idle company , to have a care how they take the name of the lord in vain . thus with a few ejaculatory prayers , she concluded with that saying in galatians the . chapter , and the verse . let us not be desirous of vain glory , provoking one another , envying one another . having thus said , the executioner doing his office , stopped the atropos of her speech , and her body was consumed to ashes in the flames . finis . the cry and reuenge of blood expressing the nature and haynousnesse of wilfull murther. exemplified in a most lamentable history thereof, committed at halsworth in high suffolk, and lately conuicted at bury assize, . cooper, thomas, fl. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the cry and reuenge of blood expressing the nature and haynousnesse of wilfull murther. exemplified in a most lamentable history thereof, committed at halsworth in high suffolk, and lately conuicted at bury assize, . cooper, thomas, fl. . [ ], , [ ] p. : ill. printed by nicholas okes, for iohn wright, dwelling in pie-corner, london : . dedications signed: tho. cooper. concerning the murder by one norton of three members of the leeson family. some running titles read: the cry and reuenge of bloud. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to 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logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the cry and reuenge of blood. expressing the nature and haynousnesse of wilfull murther . exemplified in a most lamentable history thereof , committed at halsworth in high suffolk , and lately conuicted at bury assize , . london , printed by nicholas okes , for iohn wright , dwelling in pie-corner . ●o the right honorable , sir henry mountague , lord chiefe iustice of england , and his thrice honoured lady , all encrease of honour and true happinesse . seeing it hath pleased your good honour to giue life to this poore infant , by that gratious breath of yours , whereby you prepared the guitlie deseruedly to their death : pardon ( i beseech you ) my boldnes in committing it to bee fostered vnder your honorable patronage , who already haue a vowed the better part thereof . long haue i bene desirous to approue my selfe vnto your honour , in what poore measure i haue bene able : not only in respect of many fauors vndeseruedly receiued from your honorable lady in my former afflictions : but especially in regard of your lordships gratious clemencie , in releasing a poore distressed neighbour , at my request : whose follie by how much the more it prouoked your honours iust displeasure , by so much the greater was your benignitie in remitting his offence . and therefore , obseruing your meekenes extended to so vndeseruing , i haue bene the rather emboldned to put my selfe , and these poore labours vnder the couert thereof , that so the church of god may more warrantablie entertaine , and make better vse of this discouerie , being commended vnto them vnder such iustifiable protection : and the countrie may more earnestlie pray for yours honours happie returne amongst them , for the full discouery and censure of what yet lies hidden , concerning this most hellish and execrable murther . among whom my selfe also vnfaynedly wait gods holy prouidence herein : and shal not cease to cōmend your honour in my best deuotions vnto the god of iustice , to continue your lordship in all health and happines , not only to the finishing of this worke , so worthily proceeded in hitherto , but also to the perfiting of your saluation , in his feare , in a full discharge of this great and honorable calling hee hath placed you in . and so i commend your honour with your gratious ladie to the grace of god. from my house in white-crosse streete this . of august . . resting in the lord at your honours , and the churches seruice . tho. cooper . to the right vvorshipfvll , sir henry north , high sheriffe of the county of suffolk , together withthe rest of his maiesties iustice of peace in that county . right worshipfull : it fell out by gods good prouidence , that at the last assize at berrie , i was an eare-witnesse of the discouery of the most strange and cruell murther that euer i read of : the detection whereof , together with the most fayre and honourable carriage of the businesse , did so affect me : that i could not think my time better spent , then in taking notes of such speciall passages as fell out therein . which howsoeuer i then onely entended for my priuate vse , yet considering , that such wonderful works of god , are to be declared to posterity : and being solicited by some worthies of the shire to that end : i thought it good to condiscend to their requests with the soonest , the rather to preuent such flying and suspitious pamphlets , wherewith the world in such cases , is too much abused : and so informe the world in the right vse of such strange occurrents . wherein if your worships shall find ought that may reuiue in your memory , ●o wonderfull a discouery , and shall stirre vp your affections to magnifie the prouidence of god herein : as i shall haue herein what i principally desire , so shall i not faile to take any other good occasion , to testifie my thankefulnesse vnto your worships , as god shall offer the same : to whose gracious protection i doe most hartily commend you all , resting in him , your worships poore remembrancer at the throne of grace . tho. cooper . the contents . chapter . the introduction to the history : where of the prouidence of god in permitting and ordering such horrible wickednesse . . for the confusion of the atheist : and secondly , awaking of the secure and prophane christians . chap. . wherein first an entrance is made by way of application vnto the particular sinne of murther , being the proper subiect of this treatise : where . the progeny and heynousnesse of this sinne is discouered and enlarged . . the causes and occasions thereof in generall are explained . . the dangerous effects , and consequences thereof are detected . and so . such seuerall vses are propounded as both tend to the preuenting of this sinne , as also for the wise suppressing and weeding out thereof . chapter . . of the particular murther at halsworth . and first of the occasions and causes thereof . of the actors and accessaries therein . of the parties that were murthered . of the manner and circumstances how they were made away . of the meanes to conceale the murther beeing committed . and diuerse obseruations considerable on either side . chap. . where first of the reason why , howsoeuer other sinnes come after iudgement , yet this sinne of murther is seldome left vndiscouered . . of the many wayes whereby the lord hath discouered murther from time to time , with diuers instances thereof . . that it was the finger of god , that detected this blood . . of the manner and instruments imployed herein . . and the seuerall vses to bee made thereof . chap. . declareth the conuiction of the murtherers : . where the euidences against them are published and opened by the iudge . their inditements found hereupon by the iury . their obstinacy vpon their finding declared and discussed , with the vse of all . chap. . of the condemnation and iudgement giuen vpon the malefactors , where after entrance made hereto : the religious and learned speech of the thrice reuerend iudge , is published , tending to iustifie the righteous hand of god herein , as also to prepare the delinquents to an holy vse thereof . the sentence it selfe followeth , with the great clemency and moderation thereof . with diuers passages and profitable vses of the same . chap. . containing the execution of the murtherers . and such accidents as fell out therein . together with such vses as may be made thereof . chap. . containing the conclusion of the whole . with promise of further light . the cry and reuenge of bloud . chapter . . the introduction to the history : whereof the prouidence of god in permitting and ordering such horrible wickednesse . . for the confusion of the atheist : and secondly , awakening of the secure and prophane christians . it may seeme very strange , and almost incredible to carnall apprehension , that such glorious light of the gospell , especially so long continued among vs , and that not without some gracious effect , should yet notwithstanding , abound with so many strange and monstrous sinnes , as doe dayly breake out and are strengthned with so high an hand of obstinacy and deeperate impenitency . for whereas the powerfull preaching of the word hath this gracious promise annexed with it , that ( as at the comming of the sauiour of the world , all the heathen oracles and diuellish delusions ceased and vanished ) so all vncleane spirits should bee banished , and satan fall downe like lightning , by the power thereof , and his works be dissolued , and thorowly abolished : may not the ouer-flowing of high handed sins , so raigning in these euill dayes , either seeme so challenge the truth of the gospell , as if it yet appeared not in it liuely beauty , or else at least , question the efficacy thereof , as not preuayling to the subduing of iniquitie : surely if we consider on the one side , what hath opened the mouth of papists to challenge the truth of our religion , and still doat vpon their owne dreames ? is it any other then what hath beene occasioned from such desperate sinnes as haue broken out , and continued there with ? do they not hereby impeach the truth and power thereof , because iniquity notwithstanding aboundeth in the midst of so glorious light ? doth not this harden their hearts in their grosse and palpable darkenesse , euen that , i say , which hardned the iewes in their idolatry and obstinacy against the truth ; that because when they worshipped the queene of heauen and all the host thereof , then all things went better with them , more charity then abounded , lesse sinne and misery brake out : but since the discouery of the light , sinne hath appeared more out of measure sinfull , the wrath of god hath beene more discouered against the same , therefore their conclusion is , that we are in the wrong , and they maintaine the right ? and hath not his on the other side , hardned the atheist , not onely in his blasphemy , that there is no god , that religion is but policy , but also in his obstinate impiety , and obdurate impenitency , euen this , i say , is the maine stumbling blocke hereunto , that the gospell , being not powerfull to weed out such grosse wickednes , but that it swarms and rangeth , securely vnder the scepter thereof : either it is because there is no truth therein , or else , wanting power , it is no more to be regarded then a scarre-crow or bugbeare , to fright fooles and children : either he thinkes that god is like vnto him , because hee prospers in his sinne , or that hee likes well thereof , because sentence doth not speedily passe to his discouery and confusion . doth not the close conuayance of sinne , and long concealing thereof prouoke him to challenge the omnipresence of god , as if he were hid in the clouds , and could not see it ? doth not his long forbearance of sinne , and great pacience in suffering the vessels of wrath , giue further occasion to the atheist to chalenge the diuine prouidence , as if the lord would neither do good nor euill , nahum . . . and is not the mouth of the prophane christian hereby opened against heauen ? doth not his talke goe thorow the earth that sinne is but a trick of youth , that the more senselesse we are thereof , the lesse care we take for the same : the more our consciences are secure therein , the more secure we are of the mercy of god , the more wee may sinne that grace may abound : because hereby the conscience becomes more obdurate , and so secure of gods fauour . behold heere the righteous iustice of god , in causing his word to bee a sauour of death vnto death : obserue , i pray you , and admire gods wonderfull wisedome , in taking the wise in their craftinesse , that seeing they will not obey the glorious gospell of our lord iesus , in receiuing the loue of the truth : therefore the lord hath giuen them vp iustly to strong delusions , euen to peruert this glorious light , to the hardning of their hearts , because they will not bee perswaded , and subdued thereunto , imputing those things as the effects of the gospell , which are , indeeds , the fruits of their obstinate despising , and peruerting of the same . for to speake the truth in iesus christ , and to iustifie the truth of god , to the conuincing of these liars , and peruerters of his glorious grace : consider , i pray you , in the feare of god , these three things : first , the intent of god , in sending his gospell vnto a nation . secondly , the manner of gods wisedome , in the dispensation thereof . thirdly , the grounds and causes of stumbling at , and peruerting the same . concerning the purpose of god in bestowing his gospell vpon a nation : that wee may the better discerne the same , we must looke vp into the reuealed counsell of god , concerning the saluation of the elect , and reiection of the reprobate : for the execution of which his eternall decree . as the lord in his eternall wisedome hath ordained his mighty word , so seeing the number of his chosen is a little flocke in comparison of the cast-awayes , therefore doth hee also in his singular wisedome , send and dispose thereof , that howsoeuer it shall accomplish what he sends it for , namely , to conuince all sorts , of either side , both elect and reprobate , yet it shall be effectuall onely in those few , to their sound conuersion , as for the rest , they shall onely be hardned , and bee made inexcusable thereby . and to these contrary ends hath the wise and glorious god fitted and composed his blessed word , both in respect of the nature thereof , as also in the diuers manner of the conuayance of the same . as touching y e nature of the word : is it not a great mystery supposing some-what in shew , to y e stubling of y e flesh , euen while it seemes most easily to conceiue the same , and including that in substance which while it is onely conceiueable by the spirit , doth thereby also abase the flesh , that so it may renounce it selfe in the apprehension thereof , and seeke vnto the spirit for the opening of this mistery . by which it comes to passe , that the naturall man being onely able to conceiue , though but peruersly , the letter and outside of the word , doth thereby also stumble at it owne conceit , either measuring the power of the word , by the letter of it , and so abasing it in it owne conceit , as beeing so obuious to it carnall reach , and thereby seeming becomes offended at the outward simplicity and foolishnesse thereof : or else resting in it owne outward apprehension , as suiting with , and seruing it carnall and present ends , doth therefore stumble at the power thereof , as thinking it needelesse or dangerous , either because it is beyond his compasse , or crosseth his carnall ends , and so instead of submitting himselfe thereunto , doth in the height of it wisedome , despise and reiect the same . behold here how the lord taketh the wise in their craftinesse . the foolish worldling beeing the wiser in his owne eyes , by how much the lesse hee diserneth his folly , doth therefore thinke himselfe able ynough , to diserne the mystery of his happinesse , in the glasse of his owne false and counterfeit wisedome , and so being neither willing , nor able to goe out of himselfe , howsoeuer hee may pore at the outside of this mystery , so farre as hee may conceiue his present fading happinesse , that so hee may flatter himselfe therein , and thereby attaine some such motion of the deity , as may puffe him vp therewith , yet is hereby made more inexcusable , and farther off , from the inward search of the power thereof . and yet the wayes of the lord herein most equall and righteous . as both tendering the meanes indifferently vnto all , so that the wicked cannot say , but he hath had his choyce thereof , and liberty therein with the best ; yea , the pacience of the lord , in leading him to repentance , accompanyed with such an answering to his desires , concerning present ends , as it must much more iustifie the lord. what could he haue done vnto him which he hath not done ? so it shall also make him much more inexcusable . and if so now the lord deny vnto him his grace , for the effectuating of the meanes . as he not bound thereunto , because he will haue mercy vpon whom he will haue mercy , and whom he will he heardneth : so seeing the wicked doe neither dreame of any such assistance of his grace , as beeing blinded by selfe-loue , they cannot see the want thereof : nay , being puffed vp with carnall wisedome , they doe vtterly despise and reiect the same . is it any meruaile if they want the supply of that grace , which they so abase and contemne . is it not iust with god that the scorner shall seeke wisedome and yet not finde it ? because he despiseth the substance , white hee hunts after the shaddow . and if now it please the righteous lord , to giue him his desire , and send leanenesse into his soule , that not onely that which he seemed to haue , shall be taken away from him , the light hee hath shall be quenched , and by degrees extinguished ; yea , the spirit of god instead of restrayning him formerly from some outward euils , and so happily affrighting his conscience with sense of inward rottennesse , shall now giue him vp to his owne lusts , euen to commit sinne with greedinesse : is not this the happinesse that hee specially dreames of , to be past feeling of sinne , that so hee may make vp his measure without controulement . are not the wayes of god most equall herein ? shall not the mouth of iniquity be vtterly stopped ? haue not the wicked herein more at the hands of god then they can desire ? doth not he giue them herein much more then he oweth them of all outward blessings ? doth he not affoord them more plenty of spirituall meanes then they doe desire ? doth hee not respite them in his great patience , many a time beyond their owne fond and counterfeit vowes , in the day of their distresse , sparing them further then themselues doe wish , and repealing that sentence , which in their suddaine flashes they haue pronounced against themselues , if they should hereafter turne to their vomit againe : yea , still drawing them to him with the cords of loue , when they haue cast off his cords , and fall desperately from him ? is not the iustice of god most righteous , euen his enemies being iudges . and surely as is the lord , so is his word heerein , most holy and righteous . if it crosse the wicked in their desires to discouer that inward corruption , whereof they are ignorant , and wherein they fauour themselues : is it any lesse then stands with the power of the word , euen as fire to search the hidden parts , yea , as the light , to lay open the darkest corners . and if now the wicked vpon their first entertainement of the word desirous happily to gaine credit , and applause thereby , be iustly confounded by the power thereof , enraging their consciences by it inward search , is not the wisedome of god admirable , thus taking them in their craftinesse . is not his goodnesse iustifiable , thus preparing them hereby to repentance ? if now the loue of sinne , will giue no way to sound repentance : is not yet the wisedome of god herein more admirable , that whereas the wicked desire some sleight euidence to conceit a false conception , their slauish humiliation shall further hereunto , and hereby flatter them in a new birth . and if thus conceiting a false conuersion for a true , because they cannot endure the trauell of a true birth , they shall now encroach vpon the priueledges of the new man , mis-applying and challenging those ioyes and comforts vnto their festered and ranckling soares , which belong onely to those that are healed , and so instéed of being further searched and launched by the law of god , shall vnseasonably apply vnto themselues the sweete promises of the gospell , and will endure nothing but leuitures and cordials ? is the word of god vnequall , because they vnfitly apply it , nay is it not most equall , in offering that indifferently vnto them , which if they could wisely apply , would proue soueraigne vnto them : yea , though they apply it amisse , yet herein is iustifiable , in that themselues are their owne caruers in the misapplying thereof ? if now vpon the misapplying of the plaister before the soare be soundly healed , it doth hereby more fester , and putrifie inwardly , and so breake out to a cancerous vlcer . as the word was not first to be blamed , in discouering the soare , that so it might bée prepared to it cure , because , if there had beene no pray the lyon would not haue roared : so now much lesse , may it be iustly challenged , to be the cause of it further ranckling , seeing the misapplying thereof hath effected the same . and therefore as it were extreame folly to charge the heat of the sunne , to be the cause of stench and putrifieation in these inferior bodies , which being well disposed are purified thereby , and are onely subiect to tainture by their owne indisposition , and aptnesse thereunto : so let it be the shame of popish glory , to hate the light , because their vvorkes are euill . yea let this be the confusion of their carnall wisedome to challenge the glorious light of the preaching of the word , as the cause of sinnes aboundance , that hereby they might colour their despising and persecuting thereof , not onely in that by opposing the light they make vp the measure of their owne sinnes , by denying to themselues , and others , the meanes of life and happinesse . but hereby also prouoking the righteous lord to auenge vpon them the contempt of his word in giuing them vp to such outrage and monstrous wickednesse of combustions and murthers , which the true wisedome of flesh , for it owne safety , can no way indure , that so her owne louers , euen out of loue to themselues , must néedes hate the whore , and make her desolate : and so the iustice of the lord may shine more gloriously , in rewarding her as she hath done to others , and sheathing her owne sword , in her owne bowels . and is not the word glorious in iudging the whore euen by her owne mouth , and taking her in the snare , that she hath layd for others , and so ouertaking her in hee moneth and ripenesse of iniquity . who so is wise he shall vnderstand these things , and to whom the arme of the lord shall reueale them ; for the wayes of the lord are right , and the iust shall walke therein , but the transgressor shall fall in them . let it therefore be the shame of popery thus to traduce the light , and let it be the glory of the gospell , thus to discouer their shame , for , if it were not powerfull , why doe they spurne against it ? if they being galled thereby , doe spurne against the same , let them thanke their owne rottennesse , and iustifie the powerfull word . but if being couered thus with shame , they will not seeke the face of god in iesus christ , the lord will further glorifie his word in hastening their confusion , and gathering in the first borne to his glorious appearance . and shall the blasphemous atheist escape any better ? surely , as it is extreme folly in him , to barke against the moone , because it giues him light , to his desperate wickednesse ( for what wisedome is there to condemne that , which is so fauourable vnto vs ) so doth this folly threaten his confusion , as both discouering his accursed spirit , imputing that obstinacy in sinne , to the word , which ariseth from his ignorance of the power thereof , and rebellion against the same , and thereby hardening his neck against all hope of reclaiming , as reiecting the word , which is onely auayleable hereunto . for what though as the heate of the sunne doth harden the clay , so the power of the word indirectly occasions the encrease of sinne in the froward heart : is the word in vaine while it doeth that vnto which it is appoynted ? is not the wisedome of god herein more glorious , who as he would neuer haue permitted euill , but that he can bring good out of it : so he turneth the rage of man to his glorious praise . not onely making way hereby to the iust confusion of the wicked , for the aduancement of the glory of his righteous iustice : but also discouering herein the riches of his free grace , in softning the hearts of his elect by the same meanes , whereby the wicked are hardened , and so by these contrary effects aduancing the power of his mighty word , which with the same breath , is thus able to kill and to quicken . and therefore as the atheist hath no iust cause to stumble at the power of the word , because iniquity is discouered and enraged thereby , so much lesse may hee iustly challeng the prouidence of god , in accompanying his word with such great patience and common fauours , seeing as the lord hereby giues him his desire , to inioy the pleasures of sinne , that so he may haue nothing iustly to except against his goodnesse : so by this his long suffering , hee doth also inuite him to repentance , and so makes him more inexcusable if he abuse the same . but howsoeuer , the filthy will be filthy still , yet let the seruants of god magnifie his wonderfull mercy , and free kindnesse towards them , in softning them by the same meanes whereby hee hardens the wicked : yea , turning about the hardening of the reprobate to bee the meanes of their more close walking with their god , and dependance on his free grace , in the sense of their fayling , when they doe their best ; yea , let them euermore blesse the name of the lord , that seeing the righteous shall hardly be saued , they may yet haue some hope of life , in so great conscience of their corruptions , that they can yet follow after righteousnesse ; notwithstanding , the streame runnes contrary , and their labour is so thanklesse , and dangerous in regard of present successe , seeing iniquity doth so swarme and preuaile : yea , let this bee their euidence , that christ raignes ouer them , euen in the midst of their enemies : that euen where satan hath his throne , there god shall haue his glory : antipas his faithfull seruant shall seale it vp with his bloud : or if this bee not yet the triall , yet ieremie shall be smitten with the tongue , and holy iob shall esteeme the booke that his aduersaries writ against him , to bee the most glorious crowne that may adorne his head : yea ; the more that the word of god is blasphemed by the wicked , the more watchfull shall his children be , that they giue no iust offence , that so , either they which speake of them as euill doers , shall glorifie god on their behalfe , and so by their holy conuersation be won to the obedience of the gospell , or bee made more inexcusable , when their mouthes shall bee iustly stopped , if yet they shall not cease to speake euill of the righteous wayes of god. and this may also stop the prophane mouth of the filthy libertine , that though hee turne the grace of god into wantonnesse , imagining his security and senselesnesse in sinne , to bee the assurance of his happinesse , yet the word is holy , yeelding no apperance , much lesse allowance hereunto , yea righteous herein is the mighty word , in giuing him vp to such a reprobate sense , through his peruerting of the chiefe errand thereof , ( the mercy of god in christ jesus to repentant sinners ) which if he could rightly apply , might make him capable thereof : yea , meruailous is the wisedome of god herein , that by the contrary apprehension of the promise , and preparation thereunto by his seruants , hee confounds the peruersenesse and prophanenesse of the libertine : if yet the filthy will be filthy still , let him know this for his further confusion , that as the lord will not faile eft-soones , to awaken his senselesse conscience with some inward quawmes , or outward crosses to confound him in his security , that so hee may bee forced to acknowledge and seeke to the power of the word , which hee hath so abased : so if for all this he will not be reclaimed , but by mistaking and mis-applying the mercy of god , shall thereby bee cast into a deeper sleepe , the lord shall glorifie his word in giuing him vp to a spirit of giddinesse , euen to heape vp teachers vnto himselfe according vnto his lusts , that may answer him according to the stumbling blocke of iniquity , which he hath set vp in his heart , that so he which could not commit sinne so securely , but that his heart did sometimes smite him for the same , might new continue in it more freely and desperately , as being warranted hereunto by such accursed deceiuers . behold here the wisedome of the wicked in sin ; and obserue withall the wisedome of god in taking them in their craftines , that they may securely reuell in wickednes , their first policy is to make their conscience senselesse , and that they may bring it to this passe , their desperate wisedome is to multiply sin with greedines , that so by this custome and outrage , they may grow to an habite ; and so by often putting the iron in the fire , may in the end harden and stupifie their harts : that as it falls out with those which often drinke strong payson , that in the end they can digest the same without any sense or danger , so the wicked by often drinking in of iniquitie with gréedines , become senselesse at length , both of the euill and of the danger thereof : wherby as they take occasion to commit any notorious outrage whatsoeuer , so they become hereby obuious to the scandall and danger of the world , which cannot but take notice of what themselues are senselesse of , & by it clamorus and iust scandall , either awaken them to repentance , or conuince them to punishment . behold how the lord takes the wise in their craftines : they desire to be senselesse of sin , that they may commit it more greedily , and the more greedily they commit the same , the more they prouoke the world through their scandall , and it one danger , to awaken them thereout : what remedie is now left in carnall wisedome to make vp the breach , and lull them a sléepe againe . behold againe the hight of this wisedome in sin , and obserue how the lord takes the wicked in their craftines . if elia will prophesy no good , but euill vnto vs while wee sleepe in sin , yet welfare zidkiah , that will warrant good successe therein , flattering vs that wee may go vp and prosper , because hitherto it hath gone well with vs , and though he lie falsely ; yet he will walke in the spirit , that hee may deceiue more effectually , yea hee wants not his rough garment of tything mint and comin , yea he will not spare herein to humble flesh by voluntary deuotions of pilgrimage penances , and such like trash to the satisfying of the flesh , euen in a great shew of wisedome to abase the same . and what now shall be spared for the sinne of the soule , though it be to the parting with our substance , yea our first borne , and all yea which is the hight of this delusion shall not a greater sinne be made a price for the lesse ? shall not the murther of princes become an expiation for all our personall sinnes . behold here the depth of the mistery of iniquity , and admire with me the justice of god in taking the whore and her accursed brood in their owne craftines , that while they estéeme their owne blood vile , that they may murther the lords annoynted , they haue iustly brought the kings of the earth vpon their heads to secure themselues in subuerting antichrist , whom otherwise they could haue bene contented still to haue made their band for the satisfying of their lusts . oh! the vnsearchable riches of the wisedome , and mercy of our god , who turnes about the carnall wisedome of man , tending only to it present bodily good , to be meanes of remouing that great stumbling blocke , whereby their soules were ensnared , that so they might ascribe vnto him alone the glorie of their true happines , so farre aboue , and contrary to their corrupt intent . well , thus we see how the lord takes the wise in their craftines . that the world may securely reuel in sin , the false prophet must bee a snare vpon mispah to cry ayme thereto , that so the blind leading the blind , both may fall into the ditch . and is not this prouidence of god very remarkeable , in these daungerous dayes of the contempt and peruerting of the word of god ? that though the lord feedeth the hungry with good and wholesome food , yet the daintie and full stomake , is either choaked with chaffe , or puffed vp with wind , that so seeming that which he is not , he may not see what truely he is , and thereby be both preuented of sound curing , and withall hardened to destruction . behold here then some further light to iustifie the prouidence of god in the ouer-flowing of sinne , amidst so glorious light of the gospell , not that the word is any true cause thereof , but onely a meanes to discouer and conuince the same : whereby as through our naturall rebellion the more sinne is conuinced , the more it is enraged and so encreased thereby : so through carnall wisedome , the light being peruerted , becomes a broker vnto sinne , and thereby proues a further meanes to encrease and ripen the same . and yet all this in great iustice , and exceeding equity . the lord herein giuing the wicked their desires , for the accomplishment of his righteous decree in their condemnation , in that themselues are their owne caruers in the meanes there vnto . and all this executed by his mighty word , becomming thus vnto the wicked , a sauour of death vnto death : whereby as he taketh the wise papist and atheist in their craftines , so doth he , also iustly confound the prophane libertine , who while he fathers that vpon the word which proceeds from his owne corrupt sense and application thereof , doth therefore iustifie the word in his hardening thereby , and so is iudged by the word , while he peruerteth the same , to such ends , as are contrary thereunto . and thus hitherto for the iustifying of gods prouidence in disposing of such greuious sinnes , as do accompany and preuaile euen in the most glorious light of the gospell of iesus christ. chap. . wherein first an entrance is made by way of application vnto the particular sinne of murther , being the proper subiect of this treatise : where . the progeny and heynousnesse of this sinne is discouered and enlarged . . the causes and occasions thereof in generall are explained . . the dangerous effects , and consequences thereof are detected . and so . such seuerall vses are propounded as both tend to the preuenting of this sinne , as also for the wise suppressing and weeding out thereof . from that which hitherto hath bene discoursed concerning the prouidence of god in disposing of such multiplicity and encrease of sinne , in this glorious light of the gospell , we may gather these conclusions . first , that the gospell is not properly the cause of these euils , but onely the ignorance thereof , peruerting the light , to the iustifying of sinne , or else our want of loue , and so obedience thereunto . that as ignorance breeding error , and so disobedience to the truth , is the mother of all that grosse wickednesse that is discouered thereby : so in that popery is the chiefe and onely patron of ignorance , so it becomes also the very chaos of all errors and delusions , and so proues the maine broker to all grosse and desperate wickednesse . that whereas the weapons of popish warfare are only carnall and diuellish vsing these as her last refuge , when her paper bolts , and enchantments will not preuaile , to roote out and destroy all her opposits : as being that scarlet-coloured whore , whom nothing will secure and satisfie but the bloud of saints , and all such as shall oppose her tyranny : therefore , howsoeuer all other sinnes are harbored in her bosome , as beeing ashamed to haue them knowne to the world : yet this sinne of murther is her cheife darling and glorious sinne , whereof she is so farre from being ashamed , as that she raignes only thereby , and triumphs therewith ; not onely vpon her pretended power of the secular sword , whereby she arrogates supreme authority ouer life & death : but especially vpon pretence of the power of her keyes , whereby presuming ouer the soules as well as the bodies of men , she thereby confirmes and iustifies this her vnsatiable thirst of bloud , as either seruing for the good of their soules , whose bodies she butchered , or else by cutting off such supposed leapers , thereby securing the estates of others . thus doth her progeny declare the same , who is of her father the diuell , that was a murtherer from the beginning . so her condition doth import no lesse , who being an harlot , hunts for the precious life of man : so her very name doth portend , and glorie therein , as being that apollyon , that child of perdition , ordained of god in his justice for the plaguing of vnbeléeuers , and thereby to ripen her owne destruction : yea her very habite proclaimes the same , as being died bloud-red with the slaughter of the saints , and her end also shall manifest the same , when she shall be made drunken with her owne bloud , and drowned therein , because she hath shed the bloud of the saints . behold here these the generation of this bloudy sinne . sathan , the arch enemy of mankind , enuying his happinesse , and that especially vnder the time of the gospell , that he might vtterly destroy him both roote and branches , head & taile , soule and body , to this end , abusing the security and pride of the times , begdt thereupon the whore of babylon , that great enchantresse and deceiuer of the world . and that he might by this bastard execute his malice more fully against the saints , when she came to age & began to reuell in pride and soueraignty , then he begat on her this monstrous and bloudy sinne : whereby as the viper eateth out the bowels of her mother , so the first aduentures of this cruel brat were atchieued against it damme , one pope cruelly making away each other : and being thus throughly fleshed and imbrued in her owne bloud . is it any maruaile if she spares not other ? is it not iust with god , that while she spares not her owne bloud , to take away the lines of the annointed of the lord , that the princes of the earth should secure themselues in letting out her life bloud , and consuming her vtterly with fire , that so her memoriall may perish from the earth . behold the righteous doome of iehoua against the whore : and obserue we wisely herein , the progeny of this bloudy sinne and issue thereof . shall we now further way this sinne in the ballance of the sanctuary , that thereby we may discerne the greatnesse thereof , & so be brought into greater detestation of y e same . first , then let vs measure it , by the obiect against which is committed : and heere consider wee these particulars . first the murtherer , doth what lies in him to take a way the life of god himselfe , in that hee destroyes his liuely image in man : not so much , that outward frame and substance of the body , as if god were like vnto man in his outward feature , as some carnal capernaites haue dreamed : as those acts of the diuine soule , which it exercised in the bodie , these the boudy hands , do wholy abolish , whereby man in regard of his better part was made after the image of god , yea hereby the life of god , his prouidence and other acts of his gouernment is in a manner extinguished in that creature who is thus by cruell hand cut off from that holie regiment . . the bloody minded man as he thirsts greedily after blood , so doth he lie in waite priuily for his pray , partlie fearing to attempt vpon equall termes , as being through his inward guilt a very dastard , and coward ; and partly hoping hereby to make surer worke , when all meanes of preuention shal be forestalled and frustrated . and doth he not hereby proue oftimes a murtherer of his brothers soule , taking him thus on the suddaine , and so preuenting repentance . may we not consider herein the malice of diasius the lawyer , who in a deadly hatred to his brothers soule , first enforced him to deny his faith in christ , and then instantly tooke away his life . the murther in destroying his brother , destroyes himselfe , not only in that his brother wasis owne flesh , but in that he necessarily exposeth himselfe either to be his owne butcher , though the horror of his conscience , as many haue done , or else iustly lies open to the sword of the magistrate , who aboue all other sinnes will not suffer this vnreuenged . yea , doth not the murtherer in sinning willingly , & plotting his cruelty with deliberation , and desperatenes , doth he not heerein commonly murther his owne soule , as excluding himselfe through this wilfulnes , the mercy of god. what should i speake of those fearefull euents that haue followed the same ? hath not the father murthered the sonne comming home as a stranger , for lucre of his mony , & when he came to the notice thereof , did he not first murther his wife , that procured him thereto , and afterward layd violent hands vpon himselfe ? and did not this accident bring his onely daughter to an vntimely end , and so the whole roote and branches were wholly cut off vtterly . and if here wee shall consider , that hereby many a wife hath beene depriued of her husband , many children made orphanes , and so exposed to all extremitie , doth not the murtherer make faire worke for the diuell . and is not the common parents hereby depriued of many a good member , doth not the common mother hereby lament the losse of many a nursing father , and so is exposed to combustions and desolations . behold heere the haynousnesse of this sinne by the consideration of the obiect , against which it was committed . and may wee not hereby also guesse at it greatnesse , in regard of the subiect that committeth the same ? is not the murtherer a traytor in the highest degree , both committing treason against god , whose image hee thus defaceth , and beeing guilty of treason , against his prince and countrey , whom he depriueth of their guard and glory : is not he a traytor to his brother , in surprizing him so cruelly ? is he not a traytor against himselfe , in betraying his owne life and soule hereby to the graue and destruction . surely , if of all other the hypocrite shall be beaten with many stripes , then must the murtherer looke for his ful payment , because hee crowcheth and boweth to onsnare his poore brother , he kisseth and betrayeth , fawneth and stabbeth , saluteth and smiteth , speakes peaceably with his tongue , when his hand is ready to shed bloud : and all this with a breath , to take away breath , and triumph more securely in his masked wickednesse . what should i say , the murtherer is an atheist ? if he thought the eye of god were vpon him , hee durst not thus wilfully deface the image of god. the murtherer is an idolater , in defacing the image of god , and setting vp the idoll of reuenge in his heart , which he adores aboue all that is called god , either gods presence , the magistrates sword , gods image in his brother , his life in himselfe . in a word , as there is not any sinne wherein the murtherer hath not a share , so herein is his case most fearefull , and desperate , that not sinning of infirmity but of malice , and digested hatred , as herein horesembles his father the diuell , so hereby he casts himselfe desperately vpon his malice , to indure vnquenchable torments , for the recompence of his vnsaciable malice . thus by the subiect of this grieuous sinne , wee may seeke some farther scantling of the haynousnesse thereof . shall we now proceede to examine this sinne by the causes thereof , that so we may take a further view of the odiousnesse of the same ? surely , if we looke vp to the first murtherer that euer was , may we not obserue , that enuy prouoked him therevnto , because his brothers was accepted , and his sacrifice was teiected , therefore did cain ( saith the apostle ) stay his brother abell , that was more righteous then he : and was not the pride of his heart the occasion of this enuy , because caine was not respected according to the conceit of his owne worth ; therefore he enuied his owne brother , that was better respected of god then himselfe , and so through enuy shed his innocent bloud . was not ioseph sold through enuy by his brethren : consider we the next murtherer , recorded in the booke of god : was not lamech an adulterer , and thereupon a murtherer : either inflamed thereto by iealousie , which is the rage of a man , and therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance , or enraged thereto by lust , which will admit no partner therein . did not dauids adultery end in murther ? . sam. . is not lust the firebrand to contentions and murthers , iam. . . . was not lust the cause of that treacherous murther of the shechemites ? did not lust bring a whole tribe in israel to this end ? and what caused absolon to seeke his fathers life , was it not ambition and desire of soueraignty ? what mooued ahab to take away naboths life ? was it not a couetous desire to enioy his vineyard , was not iudas blinded by couetousnesse , to betray his master to the death ? and may we not see all these causes concurring together in those cruell iewes , that murthered the lord of life ? to conclude . is not rage and furie vsually the spurre hereunto ? haue not bitter words sometimes ended in bloudy broyles , and barbarous murthers ? and is not drunkennesse an ordinary harnenger to this sinne , not onely murthering hereby it master suddenly , but also prouoking in his cuppes , to spill the blood of others ; so iust is the lord to meete with sinners in their kinde , that they which make no conscience to abuse and spill the good creatures of god , seruing for the encrease of bloud , and maintenance of life , but haue béene bretheren in such horrible sinnes , shall bee giuen vp to shed the bloud of each other , and so depriue themselues of that blessing which they haue abused . these are some causes and occasions of this grieuous sinne , vnto which , if we shall adde what may bee collected from the consideration of the subiect formerly deciphered , we may conclude , that as the want of gods feare , is a speciall cause of falling into this sinne , so obstinacy and hardnesse of heart , proceeding there-from , doth much enflame and harden therein : yea , an enraged and guilty soule , doth oft-times prouoke hereunto , out of hellish despaire . as touching the effects of this grieuous sinne , let that suffice which hath beene spoken concerning the haynousnesse thereof , onely giue mee leaue to adde some cautions herein . that though it be a grieuous sinne to shed bloud : yet this neither doth debarre the magistrate and his instruments , from executing of iustice against malefactors , because they are deputies vnto the lord herein , and haue authority hereunto from his word ; neither doth it priuiledge any priuate man vpon any instinct whatsoeuer , to presume hereunto , though some inferiour calling in the family hath beene wickedly thought by some to warrant the same , because the power of life & death , is in the hands of the supreame magistrate , and such as are immediately deputed from him thereunto . though aboue all other murthers , that of our selues is most vnnaturall and monstrous : therefore , as wee may not iustifie any such particular sinnes , by any example of sampson , or particular instinct . so wee must bee meruailous chary and tender in condemning absolutely their estates , that through violence of tentation , or such like distempers , haue made away themselues , because either they were not themselues in that distemper , and so it shall not be imputed vnto them , or it was done , not without some reluctation , and so the lord may haue mercy vpon them : onely let vs be carefull not to imitate them herein , and so leaue them to the lord , to whom they fall or stand . thus of the effects and iudgement of this sinne . proceed we now in the last place to consider such antidotes as may preuent the same . the principall whereof is to maintaine peace with our god : because , if our wayes do please him , he will not only make our enemies to be at peace with vs , that we may not feare to be prouoked , either by bridling their corruptions , as he did sometimes labans & esaus , or turning their hearts towards vs , as he hath done the hearts of many persecutors . but will also incline our hearts to be at peace with our enemies , either by giuing vs wisedome to ouercome their euill with good , or affording vs patience to beare with our enemies ; or sustaining vs with meeknesse , neither to prouoke , nor be prouoked by them . now we shall wisely maintaine peace with god. how , if we walke closely with him according to his will , with all power and diligence , not leaning to our owne wisedome , but relying on his reuealed word , and not presuming of ought either beyond , or short thereof . if , though we faile and slip daily ( as who can cleare himselfe therein ) yet we shall daily iudge our selues , and by repentance renue our couenant with the lord , warring daily with our corruptions , and maintaining the spirituall combat , hereby we may preserue our peace with god. if , séeing our best workes are mixed with such corruption , that if the lord should be seuere to marke what is done amisse , euen when we doe our best , we shall neuer be able to abide it , we shall therefore daily deny our best righteousnesse , and labour to be found in christ , renuing our right in him : hereby we shall renue and maintaine our peace with god. and yet seeing the grace of god shal be sufficient for vs , in what soeuer wants or extreamities may befall , if now we can in patience possesse our soules , not repining at the dispensation of our god , but being contented therewith in all occasions , we shall so hunger after what wee want , as that we can be thankfull for that which we haue , and so husband the same with all vprightnes and diligence to the glory of our god , and the generall good : this is an excellent meanes to maintaine peace with god , lastly , that we may maintaine peace with god , let vs still nourish enmity against the world : because the amity of the world is enmity against god : so vsing the good therein , that we hate the euill thereof , and so vsing the good that we trust not therein , so enioying the things thereof , as that we are still ready to part with them at the pleasure of the giuer : accounting all things as doing , that we may win christ , and yet by our wise husbandrie , laying vp a good foundation by them , against the day of christ. thus may we maintaine peace with god. a second preseruatiue against this bloody sinne is to maintaine peace with men , i say so farre , as possible we may to haue peace with all men . this we shall do , if we be carefull to giue vnto each his due , according to their callings and occasions , as comfort to whom comfort belongs , tribute to whom tribute . &c. if we can in all wrongs , looke vp to god , and so leaue vengeance vnto him , as considering wee haue deserued in his justice a thousand fold more . if we be quicke in prouoking to goodnesse , and recompensing the same , and slow to wrath or any such occasions as may breed discord , and such consequences , as follow thereupon . being wise , not to further them in sinne , or smother the same , vnlesse it be of infirmity , where there is some signe of repentance , as knowing that brethren in euill will proue whippes to each other . they haue not loued so dearely , till their turnes be serued , as when they haue their will , they wil hate most deadly . witnes ammon his dealing with thamar his sister . lastly , that wee may keepe peace with men , bee wee very wise in ruling our tongues , auoyding rash censuring , vpbraiding , taunting , &c , whereby anger is kindled , and reuenge prouoked . thus may we maintaine peace with men . a third preseruatiue against this monstrous sin , is wisedome to auoyd the occasions thereof . which are those before touched . as pride , enuie , lust , ielousie , ambition , couetousnes , rage , bitter speaking , drunkennes , and the like . unto which we may adde these that follow . . euill company as being a speciall firebrand as to all other sins , so this : how many murthers haue bene hatched and atchiued by the oportunity and benefit hereof . discontent whereby the mind being inwardly at war with it selfe , cannot be at peace with any other , but hath this onely desperate remedie to ease it owne feuer , euen to fall vpon any that stands in it way , friend nor foe , nothing comes amisse . superstition as bewitching the heart with such vnsatiable loue , that it thinkes no cost to deare , no losse to great for the satisfying of it will worshippe , no though it were to cause their children to passe through the fire , though it were to launch themselues with kniues , and offer vp their bodies for the sinne of their soules . math. . . . vnlawfull recreation or abuse and excesse in lawfull . thus may we preuent this bloody sinne . lastly , also take we some good directions how to weede it out . and here there are . some instructions for the magistrate , that seeing the sword is put in his hands , therefore he beware how hee suffer the murtherer to escape , least he heare that sentence , because thou hast suffered a man to escape that was appoynted to death , therefore thy life shall go for his life , thy people for his people . whereas there hath bene of antient time ( when trialls of titles depended rather vpon valour then truth ) an ordinary manner of disciding great differences , by single combate betweene two parties , this as it is vtterly vnlawfull , and so no better then murther , because they are not equall meanes to discide controuersies . and . it falleth out that he is conquerour before men , who is guilty before god : therefore the magistrate must in no wise giue way to these , lest he be guilty of the blood that is spilt hereby . much lesse may he tollerate those single combates , that rise vpon quarrels , and vaine pleas of reputation , valour , disgracefull speeches , &c. because they haue neither any sound warrant from the word ; no , not in any reason , or equity may be endured . as for sanctuaries and popish receptacles , for murtherers , neither may the magistrate allow of these , because the lord hath expresly commanded , that such an one shall be taked from his alter and die , exod. . . according as ioab was serued in the like case , . kings . . seeing populous assemblies , vnder pretence of recreations , are vsually occasions of quarrels , and so of murthers : therefore the magistrate must be meruailous wise , in giuing an inch , lest the people take an ell , rather studying to restrains the vnbridled corruption of the people , with such as may humble the flesh , then to yeeld them any occasion , to turne their liberty into wantonnesse , remembring that the pretence of such liberty , hath beene the colour to draw vnlawfull assemblies together , and so prouoke to rebellion , and great blood shed . consider the blood that was spilt in iest , when ioab and abner met together with their companies , and tell me whether that iest were not in earnest , that merriment , madnesse . thus for the magistrate . for priuate men , let them wisely obserue those rules , deliuered formerly for preuention of this sinne , and the same will also enable them to wéede it out . and thus hitherto of this bloody sinne , together with the nature , haynousnesse , causes and meanes to preuent the same . it followeth now that wee make some particular application hereof vnto the instance in hand , that so wee may discerne the truth of this description , confirmed in this example : and therein wonder at the wisedome and prouidence of god , in permitting so horrible a wickednesse , and after so long concealing thereof , in due season discouering the same . chapter . . of the particular murther at halsworth . and first of the occasions and causes thereof . of the actors and accessaries therein . of the parties that were murthered . of the manner and circumstances how they were made away . of the meanes to conceale the murther beeing committed . and diuerse obseruations considerable on either side . hauing thus discoursed of the nature of murther in generall , it now remaineth that we examine the particular instance that hath occasioned this discourse . namely , the murther that was lately discouered and conuicted at the last assize at berry . wherein first offers it selfe to our consideration such circumstances as occasioned and drew out this sinne . the maine roote , and ground whereof , was this . one m. norton dwelling in the towne of halsworth in high suffolke , being a man ( though of faire possessions ) yet of a very foule and euill fauour : both in regard of his profession , as being no better then a church-papist , the most dangerous subiect the land hath : as also in regard of his practise being sutable to his profession , and therefore of necessity debosht and desolate , hauing his neighbours vineyard lying by him , cast his eye vpon it ; and hauing got some hold in the land of his neighbour , widdow leeson , either beeing morgaged vnto him , or forfeited vpon the morgage , that he might cléere the land wholly to himselfe from the widow and her issue . first attempted by cunning sleights , and secret oppressions : yea , by feined kindnesses , as feeding them with money , and to draw the widow , and her children to his lure : or else to inwrap them so in his snares , that vpon any occasion he might either curbe them , or make pray of them . to this end when otherwise he could not bring them to his bent , vpon a pretended action , he cast the eldest of them into prison , that so his misery might terrifie the rest : where either by some secret stratagem , or else ( as the most credible report is ) being debarred of necessary sustenance , his friends not being suffered to minister vnto him , and his ( iaylor happily beeing feed to restraine him thereof ) he pined euen through want , and so perished in the goale . this was the first scoene of this bloudy tragedy . whereon , before we go further , let vs pause a little , and obserue somewhat thereout for our better instruction , both to iustifie the former discourse of murther , as also to preuent the like ends in our selues , laying to our hearts such things , as may be gathered hence . first obserue we the roote , and foundation of this misery , and that the rather , because it is not our owne conceit , but the sensure of the right honorable and thrice reuerend iudge , who vpon nortons appearing at the barre , did so diuinely challenge him , that he was the roote , of this practise , the other , that were his instruments therein , were but the branches springing vp there-from , he was the sword that cut those innocents liues asunder , his agents were but the hands to execute therewith . this roote thus branded and layd open in his colours . obserue we further therein these particulars , his inward condition , as being a papist in heart , and so , as making no bones of any sinne , so especially lesse sticking at the sinne of blood , as being the glory of his idol , and prop to maintaine the same : & therefore honoured with no lesse then the imputation of merit . and yet withall being a protestant in shew , that so hee might the better colour and shuffell vp his sinne , and with the harlot wipe his mouth , as if he had done no iniquitie , whereby wee may take the true scantling of a branded papist , that though hee be humble like the lambe , his pretence be saluation , yet he speakes like the dragon , nothing but blood and fire , when he cannot deceiue otherwise , he pretendeth like the harlot , offerings of peace and payment of vowes , yet her wayes go downe to hell , and her pathes to destruction . and so wee may be aduised to looke for no better at their hands , who eate of our bread and go vp into the house of god with vs , thē as dauid complained of such treacherous friends , euen to lift vp the heele against vs , and if they can doe it finely , euen to poyson vs with the host which they haue consecrated for our welfare . and therefore of all other to bee most iealous of such hollow friends . from the inward condition of this bitter roote , also proceed we further to his outward estate . and that first in regard of his meanes , being of faire reuenew , sufficient if hee could haue bene content to his bountefull mantenance , yet if we cōsider withal his abuse of this large portion , by royoting and prodigality , wee may easily discerne euen great feare of want in much aboundance , and thereby imagine what such feare of want may prouoke vnto , euen an vnlawfull desire of what is not our owne , as a iust punishment for the abuse of our owne , and so as opportunity and power is on our hand , such an effecting our desires , as by the close conuayance thereof , may be free from blame or shame . behold here then the causes and prouocations to this bloody sin , luxurie threatens want , and feare of want breeds couetousnesse , couetousnesse leads vs blindfold to make pray where we fasten first , and opposition begets murther to conceale , or iustifie the same . thus ahabs prodigality in maintayning baals priests , prouokes him through diuine iustice to couet his neighbours vineyard , y t so his violation of gods honor might be iustly auenged by the crie of y e innocent blood , which he so cruelly spilled , and that hee might cloake and iustifie his deuouring thereof , the blood of naboth must write the deed , and pretence of religion , and iustce must peale and confirme the same . and thus our ahabs prodigality in maintayning happily such croaking frogges as runne vp and downe the world to make combustions and massacres , prouokes him to couet his neighbour leesons vinyard , that lay pat for his tooth , and that he might more securely make pray thereof , the blood of her children must confirme the same , when otherwise by cunning & fairer meanes they will not be brought thereto , and pretence of law , & equity must colour the fact , that so it may passe currant with men , what is abhominable in the sight of god. whereby we may learne , as to walke frugally in that competency which god hath allowed vs , least otherwise a great deale , may proue too little , and that in smallest measure we may be content , remember we that our liues consists not in aboundance , but in the blessing of god , who makes a small thing sufficient , where he affords no more , labouring with all dilligence to husband that little we haue , that so in the hand of the diligent may be plenty , whereas the reuenues of the sluggard do soone fade and molter away . a thing of very fearefull experience , for the most part in our gentry , that as no reuenue will vsually serue their luxurie and excesse , so they are so fine fingred that they cannot labour , and so high minded they are , that they are ashamed to begge , and therefore their last refuge is either to turne cheators in gaming , or huntsmen on the high way , or pandors to baudy houses , or which is the fayrest , laysie abby-lubbers , i should say almes-men , to be fatted vp in the sty , and hardned to destruction . before i passe this first scoene , obserue wee yet one thing more in this bitter roote , namely , his manner of proceeding in this bloody tragedy . at the first very fayre , and charitable to the outward shew , féeding them with money , and feasting them with good cheere , sorting them with boone companions , to passe the time away mercily , but indeede , to cheat them of their money , and make them secure : at the next bout , more roughly yet conuayed with great cunning , and secrecy , vnder pretence of law , casting into prison , and if this will not doe the feat , then at the last , murther & confusion : iust so dealt pharaoh with the israelits , and so this bloudy pharaoh dealt with these widdowes children , and surely such are all the wayes of sinne , such and no better , is the successe of all sinners , though the wine bee pleasant in the cuppe , and sweete in the going downe , yet in the end it bites like a serpent , and kils like a coskatrice , though iael inuite sisera into her tent , and lull him asleepe , yet in the end shee fastens him with a naile to the ground . looke we therefore to the end of sinne , and so the sweete beginning shall not deceiue vs , and distrust wee then the wicked most , when they most fawne vpon vs , because though their lips drop hony , yet swords are in their hearts , and they may be sheathed in our bowels , before wee are aware of them . thus of the first scoene of this bloody tragedy . the second followes , more bloody and desperate . the next sonne , iohn leeson , laying claime to his inheritance , hath his mouth stopped with a good round summe of money , and withall , a guard is set vpon him , of bloudy and desperate villaines , yet masked vnder pretence of good fellowes and acquaintance , both to fléece him of his money , and make him sure enough from making hugh-and-cry after them . by these hee is encountred , and trayned to an ale-house vp at the mill-hill , a place remote from much cōpany , and so fit to doe mischiefe , here his head is filled with drinke , and his mind secured by sports and gaming , from feare of danger , here hee is detained by these meanes till the night , and then he is knockt on the head , and stript of his money , and his body is dragd to a great pond , not farre off , & is fastned in the deepest part thereof with a stake and block thereupon , that so it might not rise vp to discouer the wickednesse . behold here first the progresse and encrease of sinne , if secret oppression will not preuaile , if cunning will not carry it , then open violence shall : if there be no remedy , then blood must quench the thirst . thus dauid when hee had abused vriah , by taking away his wife , howsoeuer hee would faine haue spared his seruants life , by making him an instrument to conceale his adultery , calling him from the campe to that end , giuing him wine to make him forward to his liberty : yet when he saw these meanes would not preuaile , then his last refuge was to take away vriahs life , that so in his end , his sinne also might séeme to dye , which indéede , was the onely meanes to make it crye loud for vengeance . and let this aduise sinners to preuent the beginnings of sinne , lest when they would , they cannot stay the rage thereof . if yet through carnall wisedome , they will still goe forward , hoping by one sinne to hide another , let them know , that their wisedome will prooue their confusion , séeing while they thus ripen their sinnes , they in the end cry loud in the eares of the lord for vengeance , who will in due time recompence innocent bloud vpon the shedders thereof : so dauids children re-payd the price of the blood of his seruants , and nortons blood is like to answer for the bloud of his neighbours children , as lands hath done already . lastly , obserue we heere , the iustice of god in making partakers in sinne instruments to punish each other . for to speake a little of those , that were conuicted of this murther , what were land & worlish any other , then prophane and loose persons , hauing sold them to doe wickednesse , euen to any that would hire them thereunto : as for land , why , he was nortons instrument from time to time , to serue his writs , and bring any into his snares and cruel clutches : nay , he was the diuels factor , to draw fooles from drunkennesse to shame and spoyle , as himselfe confessed euen vpon the gallowes . to speake more sparingly of worlish , because the lord hath yet respited him to repentance , in hope that he will further discharge his conscience and satisfie the world , in the more full discouery of what yet lies in darkenesse : yet as there is sufficient to condemne him at least , as an accessary , euen out of his owne mouth , as shall héereafter appeare : so were he not guilty of this sinne : yet , as he confessed on the gallowes , his loose and prohane life were sufficient to bring him to that shamefull end . such were these parties that are hitherto conuicted of the murther , whereof the one is already executed , the other onely respited for his owne , and the publick good . and what were they that fell into their bloody hands ? surely fit companions for such copesmates , brethren in euill , companions in prophanenesse , drunkards , and what not ; and therefore iustly dying in their owne sinnes , howsoeuer vniustly , in regard of the instruments and manner thereof , yet iustly , i say , by the righteous doome of the lord , who makes brethren in euill , instruments of each other punishment , that as land and worlish were the meanes to bring them to their ends , so their deaths hath , and will be the ouerthrow of their murtherers . thus of the second scoene of this cruell tragedy . the third followes yet more fearefull and bloody . about two yeares after a third sonne renues the suite for the land , and hauing procured a suppena to bring the oppresser into the chancery , carries his sister a long with him to serue the same , where being discouered hanging the same at nortons doore , because he either could not , or durst not meete his person , as being through former guilt become more iealous and outragious , they were both seased on , ( i hope you may imagine by the former bloody hands ) and so ( as the pond hath now discouered ) being cruely made away , were cast thereunto and staked downe therein , as their brother was , that so the fact might bee buried with them for euer : so vnsatiable is the thirst of blood , when once the sweet thereof is tasted , that still the wicked must bee drinking deeper thereof : so desperate is the estate of sinners , that they must plunge themselues still more deepely in wickednes , so foolish is sinne to mend it selfe by the encrease thereof , yea herein most foolish , when it seemes to be most wise , that while it seekes to preuent most securely it discouery , that so it may ease the conscience of the guilt thereof , the more it encreaseth the guilt , by the secret conuayance of sin , euen as the fire the more it is suppressed the more it striueth to breake out , yea the more man in wisedome labours the hiding of sin , and flatters himselfe in the security thereof , the more he prouokes the lord to discouer his skirts , the more he hastens himselfe to righteous vengeance , that so the lord may haue the only glory of his discouery & confusion , who out of his secret conuayance spares not to chalenge y e prouidence of god , as if he saw them not or could not disappoint them . thus while the wicked say peace and safety we haue made all sure , then shall a suddaine destruction come vpon them as the trauaile vpon a woman with child , and they shall not be able to escape . thus when babilon saith , shee sits as a queene and shall see no euill , then her plagues shall come vpon her in one day , so righteous is the lord that iudgeth the whore . well thus these poore soules are now buried in the pond , yea a block is layd vpon them y t they shall not rise againe . the murtherers they sing care away , and reuell with their spoyle , the world is at rest , no notice taken of them , no missing them by their freinds , who were informed that ireland had receiued them , no seeking them by their enemies , who knew well enough where they were . if guilt of sinne troubled , yet feare of discouery bit it in , and policy sought to drown the conscience by surfeiting in sin : that so peace might be at home , as all was quiet abroad . and so foure yeares are passed ouer in great iollity and security . and by this time euen the memory of these murthered soules was buried with them . what now remained ? surely , where man vsually ends , there god beginneth : and while the wicked slept securely , the vengeance of god was bestirring it selfe . behold , saith the prophet , when the lord makes inquisition for blood , hee remembers it , and forgets not the complaint of the poore : the blood of these murthered soules cried loud in the eares of the lord. from the bottome of the pond for vengeance , euen while the bloud-suckers sang a requiem to their soules . and the lord awakened at length out of the sleepe of his patience , discouering the murthered by his owne immediate arme , and by their discouery , discouered also the murtherers , and so brought them in due season to their iust triall and confusion , as shall appeare most wonderfully in the next chapter . which before we enter into for conclusion of this present , and preparation to the discouery . a speciall case of conscience comes heere to bee discussed , and resolued . namely , that seeing murther is so crying a sinne , that it calls for speedy and continuall vengeance in the eares of the lord , how notwithstanding it comes to passe , that the lord differs the discouery and recompen●e thereof , many yeeres ; yea , ages after . that the lord doth thus deferre this discouery and execution , is not onely apparant by the cry of those soules vnder the alter , slaine for the word of god , how long lord , holy and true , doest thou not iudge and auenge our blood on them that dwell vpon the earth . but also by the reuenge vpon sauls posterity , for his slaughter of the gibeonites , which was not executed many yeeres after , and the histories of our age doe witnesse no lesse , that many murthers haue laine hid , some . some ten yeeres , some more , some shorter time : if wée desire to bée satisfied in the true reasons of this diuine prouidence , some may be giuen in respect of the murtherers : others in regard of the murthered : some concerne the information of the world : and some immediately concerne god himselfe . concerning the murtherers , the prouidence of god is wonderfull in deferring the discouery of their sinne , euen to a long time after , for these reasons : some tending to their good . others tending to their further condemnation . those that tend to their good , are first , that by the patience of god , in deferring their discouery and vengeance , they might be prepared meane while to repentance , and so be better fitted to what end the lord hath appoynted , rom. . . secondly , by the patience of the lord towards them , if they will not make vse of it for themselues , yet hereby they may bée further seruiceable for the common good , in those places and callings wherein god hath set them : as for education of their posterity , for the maintaining of peace and order abroad , yea happily for the sauing of others , howsoeuer themselues are reprooued . so was iudas a long time concealed from others , though long before knowne to his master , for the execution of his calling , and seruing his lord therein . reasons tending to the condemnation of these blood-suckers , are , that the lord forbeares the discouery of them , not onely to make them instruments of his further iustice , in peruerting and hardening others , but also , this forbearance is a meanes to harden them in their sinne , and drowne them in se●urity , that so their surprizall being more suddaine , may prooue more deadly and fatall to them . hereby they are also nourished in their atheisme and contempt of gods prouidence , and so prouoke the lord in due time to auenge himselfe in their confusion . as for the murthered , there may bee some reasons of gods silence and patience , euen in regard of them . that the crying of bloud from the earth so long deferred to vengeance , may be a simbole vnto them , of an answer from god at length , because no crie shall be in vaine , which he hath warranted in this word . that the cry of bloud , though a long time deferred , yet at length answered , may type vnto them , their resurrection from the dead . the case herein being much alike . that as the bloud though consumed , yet hath a loude cry for vengeance , and shall in due time be recompenced ; so the bodies , though rotten in the graue , yet because they rest in hope , doe therefore in their manner cry for their raising vp againe , and so in due time shall obtaine their desire . euen as the creature made subiect vnto vanity , not willingly , but by reason of him that hath subiected the same in hope , doth therefore earnestly waite for the reuelation of the sonnes of god , that it also may be deliuered from her bondage of corruption , into the glorious liberty of the children of god. touching the world. this patience of god respecteth it also . and that , to try it affection to gods iustice , and such as are taken away , whither they find any want of them , whither they thinke the world is not well rid of them , and that they may be heard of no more , and such like . but the maine ground of this prouidence is in regard of god himselfe : and that in these respects . as first to iustifie his great patience , to such horrible sinners : whom he is so farre from taking in their sinnes , that he respites them many times to commit greater euils , that so he may make them more inexcuseable in the day of vengeance . his wisedome is herein magnified , that by respiting the wicked in such horrible sinnes , the guilt of the conscience is hereby so encreased , and at length enraged , that though all other meanes fayle , yet their owne tongues shall be forced to bewray them , to ease the inward pangs , and so to iustifie the lord euen out of their owne mouthes . lastly , hereby the lord reserues vnto himselfe alone the glory of his iustice : that when all sides are husht , y e murtherers secure , the murthered forgotten , the world carelesse , all hope past : then doth the righteous lord make himselfe knowne by executing of vengeance , to the stopping of the mouth of atheisme , that saith , there is no god , because the wicked scape scot-frée , and to the opening of the mouthes of his children in that gratious acknowledgment , verily there is a reward for the righteous , doubtlesse there is a god that iudgeth the earth . and doth not the lord discouer herein his absolute power ? that seeing the times and seasons are onely in his hands : and therefore when he seeth a conuenient time he will execute vengeance : that it may appeare , his thoughts , are not our thoughts , therefore howsoeuer we may thinke euery moment too much , wherein vengeance is deferred : yet the lord , will deferre the time , that it may appeare to be at his dispose , and yet will do it in the most conuenient time , which may make most for his glory , and affecting of a secure and faithlesse generation . and this may serue for the resoluing of this case of conscience . and thus farre of this third scaene of this bloudy tragedy . concerning ( as the two former ) the parties that were murthered , together with the manner thereof , and meanes to conceale the same . wherein howsoeuer all was done , that carnall wisedome could deuise : and the patience of god for six whole yeares together , seemed to applaud , and subscribe thereunto . so that now it might seeme , the tragedy was finished , and all further expectation preuented : yet as this was the lords time to put to his owne hand for the discouery of this horrible crime : so when he began once , each creature in his place ministred gratiously vnto him , for the full manifestation and conuiction thereof . attend therefore in the feare of god , three other scaenes of this tragedy . wherein now the murtherers are to play their parts vpon the stage of iustice. and if euer thou desirest to be 〈…〉 tisfied in the wonderful prouidence of god , both in the discouery of murther , and challenging of the murtherers , by a strange and secret hand : if euer thou wouldst obserue a full and honorable tryall of so foule a crime : attend i say in the name of god , to that which followeth , and if thou beest not fully satisfied in all these , i must needes conclude , that either thou wantest vnderstanding to discerne the power and wisedome of the lord , or thou wantest an heart , to adore , and magnifie the same . onely my desire is , that thou woldst not stumble at my weake handling thereof , thereby , to challenge so excellent matter , but rather hereby to prize the worth thereof , as if it could not be sufficiently handled . and if thou discernest any sparke of true light amidst so great darknesse and corruption , any power of god in so great infirmity , my earnest desire is , that hereby thou wouldst ascribe vnto god the glory of his mercy , that so thou mayst begin , where i haue ended , and still informè and inflame thy heart with such wonderfull workes of god. chap. . where first of the reason why , howsoeuer other sinnes come after iudgement , yet this sinne of murther is seldome left vndiscouered . . of the many wayes whereby the lord hath discouered murther from time to time , with diuers instances thereof . . that it was the finger of god , that detected this blood . . of the manner and instruments imployed herein . . and the seuerall vses to bee made thereof . hjtherto of the first part of this tragedy , concerning the parties that were murthered , and that exibited in three seuerall scoenes , according to the seuerall degrees whereby this murther was committed . th● second part of this tragedy now followeth , concerning the discouery and iudgement of the murtherers . and this also is enlarged in foure seuerall scoenes . the first whereof containes the discouery of the murther , and murtherers . the second expresseth their iudgement and conuiction . the third , their iudgement and condemnation . the fourth , representeth their righteous execution . as in the little world , the soule of man , the vnderstanding leads the conscience ; and the conscience leads the affection . so is it in the soule of the greater world , i mean iustice , and the due execution thereof : there must bee first a discouery of the crime , before it be conuicted , and it must be conuicted , before it be censured . for as conscience without knowledge is blind , and erronious , so the will and affections without conscience , are peruerse and exorbitant : euen so conuiction of sinne , before it be discouered , produceth erronious iudgement , and sentencing of sinne before it be conuicted , is no better then to peruert iustice , and condemne the innocent : and yet as it cannot be denied , but as the thunder breakes out before the lightning , so where the party delinquent is of that exorbitant power , that it cannot stand with the safety of a diseased state , to question him iudicially , because his greatnesse may either outbraue or suppresse iustice : if in this extremity sentence and execution , anticipate legall triall , as this is to be ascribed to the necessity of the state , so it may well stand with the prerogatiue of the prince , who in such exigents , may performe martiall law : and this also answerable to the diuine iustice , who in such like cases , vpon it prerogatiue royall hath executed vpon exorbitant sinners , before their legall conuiction , & iustified his ministers in the like executions . but as these extraordinary cases , may not prescribe to such persons , and offences as are ordinary , so we may obserue , that the wise lord in al ordinary trials , hath kept this ordinary course : as first to discouer , though not so much for his owne information , ( vnto whom all things past are present , nothing so hid as is not knowne before it is done , much moreafter ) as for our satisfaction : so also in the second plate , to conuince sinne being discouered , and then to execute vpon the same . and euen the same course hath our wise and glorious god taken , in méeting with bloudy and crying sinnes . long hath the bloud of these slaughtered soules cryed for vengeance from the bottome of the pond : long had the lord deserted the answering of their crie : but when he saw a conuenient time , he rowsed vp himselfe , he put on righteousnesse as a brest-plate , and an helmet of saluation vpon his head , and he put on a garment of vengeance for a clothing , and was clad with zeale as a cloake : and so according to their deedes he repayed fury to the murtherers , recompenee to his enemies . if wee doubt that it was the lords doing , that his onely hand , discouered the murther , and detected the murtherers , harken i pray you to the discourse that followeth : and if we shal not herein acknowledge the immediate finger of god , it is because there is no true knowledge of god in vs. you haue hitherto heard the rase of the murthered , how they were brought to their end , how disposed in their end , the bottom of the pond was their graue , and obliuion was their motto , and there i hope was an end of their part of the tragedy . now harken , i beseech you , to the second part of the tragedy concerning the murtherers . and here first are presented vnto you , as in a dumbe shew , the carcases of the murthered raised out of the pond by a diuine instinct , and in a strange and wonderfull manner , discouering and fastning vpon the murtherers , and these be the actors in this first scoene . will you heare the truth thereof confirmed by the story , then hearken i say againe vnto that which followeth , and conclude with the worthy iudge , that it was digitus dei , the immediate finger of god. the pond wherein these bodies lay ( you must imagine had a maister ) that occupied the farme and ground wherein it was , vnto whose custody the lord hauing committed in trust these slaughtered soules , doth now require of him the discouery and restoring of them , for the satisfying of his justice . but would you know the manner how the lord required them of him ? marke i beséech you , and wonder at the wisedome and power of god herein . because the bloud of the slaine could not cease crying for vengeance , till they were recompenced : therefore the farmer can haue no peace in his mind , till he clense the pond , that so their blood may be discouered . wil you sée the hand of god more cléerly in reiecting the wisedome of the flesh , and subduing all oppositions , to serue his will ? consider then i pray you the sequell hereof . the farmer cannot rest till the pond be cleased . why ? his owne profit was against it , because it would be great charge and no benefit to him , that had but a short time to enioy it . and therefore his wife and friends are also against it , as consulting no further then with flesh and bloud . but god was for it , and therefore he must be for god , or else he shall not be for himselfe , nothing will go gowne well with him , till this be done . and therefore he is resolute , it shall be done . well at length , with much ado , he sets workemen about it , but god will not be serued by deputies in so glorious a worke : he that had the sowre , while it was not done , shall haue the sweete and comfort in doing it himselfe . and therefore when workemen giue ouer , as dispairing of the successe , or being happily discouraged by friends , himselfe , with his brother , sets vpon the clensing of the pond . surely we must imagine , not for any profit he expected thereby , for he could not finish it without great cost and losse too : but the maine ground was , his mind must be satisfied , nay to looke vp higher , gods iustice must be satisfied , that so the glory thereof may be reserued intirely to himselfe alone : and therefore when that is satisfied , his mind is at quiet , and his labour is at an end : and so the feare of his charge , and losse graciously preuented . shall we obserue how the lord brought all this about , and that with great speed , and wisdome for his glory . oh consider and wonder at the wisedome of god herein . the worke is begun in the likeliest place for labour and carriage , but the lord will spare the poore mans labour , he meanes not to put him to that cost , as to lade and clense the whole pond ; but onely to discouer the murthered therein . and yet he meanes to abase him , in this discouery , euen by the bruit beasts that hath no vnderstanding . will you see the proofe hereof in the sequell of the story , oh marke againe , and wonder at the wisedome of god herein . our workmen by this time had made worke for the teame : the horses they are brought to the place of their loading . but this is not the loade the lord will haue carried out : and therefore the horses will not stay here , howsoeuer they smart , but away they must , where god will haue them : man now must bee lead by them , because they are lead by god , that so the glory of the discouery may be taken from man , and ascribed wholly vnto the lord. and so after much triall and leading them about the pond , they stay at length against the place where the bodies lay , & so gaue ayme to the workmen to renue their labour . and did they find it lost labour , to attend the lord ? no surely , they had not labored many houers , vntill they light vpon the bodies that made amends for all . the carcases are found , time and corruption hauing lest nothing else , and so the murther being discouered , the mind is at quiet , and the labour is at an end , farther cost is spared , and god hath the glory , in the vse of foolish and brutish meanes . thus of the first part of this first scoene , namely , the discouery of the murther . proceed wee now vnto the second part hereof , namely , the discouery of the murcherers . and herein also obserue with me a wonderfull and immediate hand of god. had these parties bene newly slaine , their blood is vsually a meanes to peach their murther ; or had their flesh not bene wasted , and countenance remayned , this might haue giuen some light to discerne their qualitie and condition ; and so to haue made some way for the finding out of the murtherers , but that carkases onely of bare bones , and those haply disordered , should haue any remaindures left , whereby they might be knowne what they were from others , and so bee meanes to make knowne the murtherers , seeing this is contrary to all sense , and reason , it must needs be ascribed to to the finger of god , euen in such impossibility yeelding some light to the discouery both of the murthered , who they were , and also of the murtherers . will you see the proofe hereof in the sequele of the story , oh then stir vp your harts to wonder at the prouidence of god. the carcases being thus found , and so murther being discouered , yet the great matter still remained , that gods iustice must bee satisfied in finding out the offenders ; and that these may be discouered , it is very fit to know who the murthered were , that so from them and theirs , matter may be gathered to sent out the murtherers . the next thing therefore now to bee done , is to find out who the murthered were . and because this neither concernes , nor indeed is ●astly to be compassed of a priuate braine : therefore the magistrate next adioyning , is acquainted therewith , whose paines and wisedome in this bustnes may with honour be remembred . he taking notice of this discouery , causeth the carcases to be taken charily out the mud , and vsing the helpe of a chyrurgeon herein , caused each carcase to bee layd out seuerally by it selfe , in it proportion , to farre as the bones would afford it , and so making speciall fearch into each carcase , concerning fractures , or any such defect , that might giue any light for the particular knowledge of them , somewhat here appeared that by the helpe of further intelligence , gaue some inkling hereunto . to this end the inhabitants thereabout were called vnto this spectacle , and so inquiry made amongst them concerning such parties , as were missing within compasse of remembrance : amongst these the mother of these children calls to minde hers , that haue beene missing , and with all remembers , what hath bene formerly related to her concerning the same , both how they were gone for ireland , which was the generall voyce , but especially she remembers what worlich , one of the accessaries ( if not a principall ) had told her many months before , that he had seene her sonne in the low countries , and was the last man that had him by the hand aliue and dead . hereupon suspition , and so much the rather , because vpon the discouery of these in the pond , worlich playd least in sight , and flying to londō , was there apprehēded vpon this euidence : but yet the day was but dawning , more light shortly appeared , by the wisedome of the iustice , the carcases were searched , and measured : and hereupon question made to the mother what markes she could discouer to own them . see the wisedome of god herein : all outward tokens might seeme to fayle , yet one remayned ; her sonne iohn was high of stature , sixe foote long , this she calls to minde , and ownes him thereby , and so the measure of the carcase giues him her . and so one sparke begets another . now the remembers againe , that her sonne iohn had two teeth broken out of his vpper iaw by a former accident , and the scull being searched approues the same : and so both markes concurring vpon the same carcase , the length and iaw marke : hereby vndoubted conclusion was made , that , that carcase was her sonne iohns , and thus by the one discouered , the other were gessed also to be hers , the brother and sister that yeares after were cast into the pond , because they lay in one graue together , and therefore were like to lie in one belly : and so collected , that they that murthered the former , made also these latter away , as vsing one common graue to burie them in . now all the mistery was , who should be the murtherer of the first : suspition there might be in regard of norton , and his dealings with them formerly , as also of such instruments imployed by him to molest and oppresse them . emong whom the speciall was land the weauer , a man obserued not onely to bee imployed in busines to molest them , but also to insuiuate himselfe often in to their companies , and to draw them to much excesse of riot in gaming and drunkenes . these things were now called to minde by many , to nourish suspicion : but yet this was not sufficient directly to chalendge the partie . behold then the wisedome and power of god , in making the partie to chalenge himselfe : and that by that meanes , whereby he sought to hide his sin , and elude iustice . for hearing that such a scull wanted such teeth , and so was thereby owned by the mother , his guilty conscience drawes him to the pond , and yet in a shew of wisedome , to bewray him the more : he hopes if that marke bee defaced , the euidence wil be confounded : and therefore he takes away the scull with him , and foole as he was , that might haue knockt them out himselfe , yet first goes to a barbar to plucke out more teeth , that hee might bee a witnesse against him : and that out of the mouth of two or three witnesses the truth might be confirmed , loe the barbars toole shall not do the feat : and therefore vengeance sends this murther to the smith , and he at length serues his turne , to witnesse against him . and yet the sort must heape more coales one his head , and that in a shew of wisedome to bewray himselfe further : he comes to a woman thereby ( that knew him well enough & had obserued his comming & going from the pond and doings there ) yet i say he comes like a stranger , as hearing of such strange newes , and desirous to satisfie his curious eye therewith , enquires of her , where these carcases lay , she replies vnto him , that hee need make no such enquiry , he was better acquainted therewith , and charges him with what had formerly passed : his deniall hereof confirmes the suspition , and conuinceth him of the fact . and so hereupon being layd hold one by iustice ; diuers speeches and accidents formerly passed long before , are now reuiued , tending to his further chalenge and conuiction . now it is euidenced that dayes after the murther , land meting with one of his consorts , asked him when he saw iohn leeson : marke saith the worthy iudge , the murtherer askes the other , the other doth not first enquire of him : a manifest token of his guilty conscience , and apparant euidence accusing himselfe . now it is proued that he and worlich were in the company of iohn leeson at the mill-hill , after which iohn was neuer seene againe . now many other speeches are remembred , that had formerly passed betweene land and others in their cuppes , tending to the particular fact , of casting them into the pond , & condemning them by their own mouthes . one special among the rest i may not omit that in a dry summer they talking of casting of ponds , and ditches , bolted out such words , that if such a pond were cast ( mentioning that where y e murthered lay ) it would go hard with three or foure of them : to passe ouer others , materiall hereunto . their examinations are manifest , that no lesse then witnesses gaue in euidence concerning the fact , chalendging land by circumstance to bee the murtherer . but in so cleere a light , what need their many ? nay indeed any witnesses , when lands one actions and words are sufficient to conuince him : so iust is the lord , to cause the tongues of the wicked to fall vpon them , so wise hereby to satisfie the world , and gaine himselfe the glory of this discouery by taking the wicked in their owne craftines . well , thus we haue found out one of the murtherers , or rather he hath offered himselfe vnto vs vnsought for , or rather indeede , the lord hath brought him to the barre , euen by his owne wisedome . and so we may also conclued of worlich , faine would he haue béene gone , but the lord arrested him at yarmouth , with a fearefull sicknesse , and brought him backe againe , and his owne mouth must bewray him , to be priuy , at least , to the murther , when he told the mother , that hee was the last man that had iohn by the hand aliue and dead , in the low-countries : it being prooued that he was neuer there , and expounded wisely , by the reuerend lord chiefe justice , that he meant by the low-countries , the bottome of the pond . so now we haue two of the actors , or at least , accessaries , time will shortly ( god willing ) discouer others that are in hold . meane while , blesse we the lord , for this discouery hitherto , and iustifie we his prouidence in méeting with sinners in their kinde , euen by their owne mouthes . and aboue all , take we heede of wisedome in sinne , because it will prooue greatest foolishnesse in the end . blesse we the lord for good magistrates , that will sift and bolt out hidden wickednesse : and pray we heartily for their liues and welfare , by whose meanes we enioy our liues and liuelihoods : yea , that which is most precious aboue all , the hope of life to come , in the liberty of the gospell , being wise in our seuerall places , to shame and discouer sinne , that so wee may bee kept from participation and danger , there-from , and yet charitable in couering the infirmities of our brethren , least otherwise casting them off by our rigor and indiscretion , wee force them to breake out through despaire , into desperate wickednesse . thus of the first scoene of the second part of this tragedy , concerning the discouery of the murther and murtherers . chap. . declareth the conuiction of the murtherers : . where the euidences against them are published and opened by the iudge . their inditements found hereupon by the iury . their obstinacy vpon their finding declared and discussed , with the vse of all . by that which formerly hath beene related , concerning the discouery of the murtherers , and such euidences alleadged thereunto , howsoeuer it may séeme the matter to bee so cleere , as that it neede no further triall , yet this being but a preparatiue to ripen the businesse , that so it might haue it publicke and iudiciall triall at the barre : it shall be very necessary to adde somewhat concerning y e equity and solemnity , of that honorable trial , to the stopping of all gain-saying lippes , and to the aduancement of gods glory , in such righteous proceeding . and heere to say nothing of the manner of these trials by witnesses to proue the fact , and iurers to finde the same , ( a course so warrantable , both by the practice of god himselfe , and all nations , euen by the instinct of nature , that it shall bee in vaine to light a candle when the sunne shineth so cleerely : ) giue me leaue , i pray you , to poynt at some things especially remarkeable in this triall , for the more cléere iustifying , and benefit thereof . as , first , that whereas out of the mouth of two or three witnesses euery truth shall stand : we haue not onely heere apparant circumstances , euen from the mouth and actions of the delinquents , to conuince them sufficiently of the fact , but also no lesse then . euidences were taken by the worthy iustice , all of great moment , by way of circumstance and consequence to proue the same : whereof , though no more then . were produced at the barre , because time ( which there is precious ) would haue béene otherwise taken vp , and those that were produced in the iudgement of the honourable iudge , were sufficient , yea , more then enough : yet who could desire more then so many euidences , especially , seeing the rest all aymed at the same end ? so cléere was this triall , so fully iustified . secondly , whereas exception against witnesses , as it is vsually admitted in honourable trials so being denied , may seeme to challenge the equity of them , this is also obseruable for the iustifying of this triall , that howsoeuer the accused were obstinate in denying , or faint in acknowledging the fact : yet , as there was no iust reason , why they should except against the witnesses , so either they did not except against them at all , or onely made such cauils , as either were not consonant to reason , or did confound themselues by their contradiction , or were but triflings to differ or elude justice . thirdly , whereas in such infamous and strange cases , for the further conuiction of them . the voyce of the people is as the voyce of god , that what generally is currant and auouched , by the generallity , carries with it some warrant of truth : it may bee obserued also for the further iustifying of this triall , there hath not beene hard of a more generall consent of the people in any trialls , desiring the discouery of the truth , and approuing , yea , applauding the detection thereof , then was manifest at this triall . lastly , if contraries may be gathered by their contraries , seeing it is the policy and malice of satan , then to resist the light most , when it shiues most cléerely , may not the obstinacy of land , in opposing such cleere and manifest euidence , that was brought against him , as prouing hereby more effectuall to harden his heart , by making him desperate , the more cleerely he was conuinced thereby , may not this obstinacy , i say , of that accursed wretch , serue much more to iustifie the truth of this honorable triall . i touch this last poynt of speciall purpose , both to satisfie the wise in this particular , whereat the ignorant vsually stumble , and also to stop the mouth of all gaine-saying herein . for why should it seeme strange to any , that offenders should so differ in the issue of their conuiction , that the one should be penitent , and confesse the fact , as worlich in part hath done , by referring himselfe to the mercy of the judge , the other should still remaine obstinate , euen to the death , in the iustifying of himselfe . haue we not examples of the like in the booke of god , one thiefe beeing penitent on the crosse , and the other continuing obstinate to the death . and may not the eternall decree of god , of two in a bed , electing the one , and reiecting the other , iustifie the execution thereof , in the very last breath , the one iustifying his sinne on the gallowes , and so condemning himselfe , the other acknowledging his fault , and so interessing himselfe in the mercy of god. and is there not apparant reason of this desperate obstinacy ? may not common course preuaile in this case , which is to pleade not guilty to the fact ? may not hope of life induce thereunto , thereby to preuaile , if it may be , with a corrupt , or pittifull and ignorant iurie , and when once we haue denied the fact , may not credite or obstinacy continue in that note ? is it not too apparant , that many preferring their credit and good of their posterity , before their conscience and benefit of their soules , doe therefore stand obstinate in the deniall of that , which their owne conscience cōuinceth them of : what else meant y e answer of gardiner to bishop day , whē he exorted him on his death-bed , to trust onely in the mercy of christ , and renounce all popish trash and selfe-deseruing . did not the conscience of that bloud-sucker conuince him of the truth ? and yet did the glory and credit of his profession carry him contrary in that reply , that if that gap were opened all would be gone . nay , may not such consequences follow hereupon , that if they confesse the truth , others shal be drawne in danger , and so either by bribery or flattery , compassion , or such like , many are contented to sell away their owne soules to satan , for the preseruing of others . doe not these things vsually fall out , and might not land bee hardened in his sinne , by some or all these meanes ? howsoeuer let him die in his sinne , and let vs liue to glorifie god , in making a holy vse of these things : though not absolutely iudging of any by their ends : yet wisely iudging of the end , by the former life : that they which liue desperately , doe vsually die obstinately : and so let vs by the ends of such men , labour to reforme our liues , taking héede of custome in sinne , and hardening our hearts therein , lest when we would , we cannot leaue it , and when we cannot leaue it , we grow to iustifie it , and so not onely die therein , but dye eternally thereby . concerning further guidences , and acts of the iurie , because they are onely matters of forme , or needlesse in so great light , i willingly passe them ouer , resting myselfe on such collections , as i haue gathered for the iustifying of the proceedings . and thus farre of the second scoene of the second part of the tragedy , concerning the conuiction and casting of the murtherers . chap. . of the condemnation and iudgement giuen vpon the malefactors , where after entrance made hereto : the religious and learned speech of the thrice reuerand iudge , is published , tending to iustifie the righteous hand of god heroin , as also to prepare the delinquents to an holy vse thereof . the sentence it selfe followeth , with the great clemency and moderation thereof . . with diuers passages and profitable vses of the same . wee are now come vnto the dismall day , wherein the murtherers receiued their sentence of condemnation and iudgement thereupon . a day most comfortable to the godly , as wherein they obserue , the law of god executed , that the murtherer without any admittance of priuiledge , or psalme of mercy , must die the death , that so blood might be recompensed with blood , and the land may be clensed from the guilt thereof . and so according thereunto , justice administred without respect of persons , & yet with great wisedome , according to the different degrees and circumstances in the committing of the crime . heere is no admittance of sanctuarie , nor any such like protection to frustrate the course of justice , and nuzling of the wicked in their sinne ; so happy are we that god hath taken from our necks that cruell and bloody yoake of antichrist , who not onely maintained his owne tyranny by blood , but also protected others therein : and yet much more in this respect miserable , if we shall not bee more thankefull for the light of the gospell , and improoue the time of our visitation , with more profit and aduantage . but blessed bee the lord for the fruit of his word , that justice hath his due course , iniquity braues it not vncontrould , and righteousnesse may haue countenance enough , if it bee accompanied with sobriety and meekenesse of wisedome . if sincerity be made a cloake for contentions and priuate lucre : is it not wisedome to pluck off this vizard , that so the hypocrite may be ashamed , and the sober christian iustified . but whither am i going ? i must retire my selfe to my present station . we are now expecting the judgement giuen vpon these malefactors : and blessed be god , our expectation was more then satisfied . oh how true is it , that judges are in the place of god , that he honoureth them as his deputies , and furnisheth them extraordinarily with diuine gifts : what maiesty doth shine in their honourable persons , what wisedome and equity flowes from their lippes , what righteousnesse mixed with clemency , appeares in their sentences ? harken , i pray you , vnto that which followeth , & witnesse with me the truth of all these . the bench being set , the prisoners are called to the barre : doubtfull matters are referred to a further cleering , smaller offences are censured accordingly : the greater and capitall crimes of blood , and such like , come now to be sentenced : and that the sentence may be better layd to heart , and take déeper impression to worke repentance , and so thereby prepare the offenders to their deaths : harken , i pray you , vnto the diuine and graue speech , the reuerend judge , makes vnto them in such words as these . the speech at the giuing of iudgement . you prisoners at the barre , whose liues now stand wayting vpon death , as you looke vp to vs with feare , so wee looke downe vpon you with sorrow . your feare is to receiue punishment for your mis-doing , and our sorrow is that wee must pronounce it . yet not without hope to bring you to repentance , which may gaine you pardon for your sin . but as wee haue the commaundement of god , to warrant , and comfort vs herein , that the malefactor must die : so wee hartily desire of god , that your condemnation may not bee of death vnto death , but rather a meanes to a better life . now in these cases three things best befit a iudge , which are discretion , correction , and comfort . discretion , to make an offender know his fault . correction , to pronounce , and inflict the punishment . . comfort , that notwithstanding the denouncing , and inflicting of the punishment yet so to prepare the delinquent vnto death , that he may find life in death , and so see heauen vpon earth , before the world leaues him , and he the world . concerning the knowledge of your fault , that will best appeare by your acknowledgment thereof . for without this acknowledgment , there can be no sound repentance . thus did god himselfe deale with his seruant dauid in those his vncleane and bloody facts , first to bring him to the sight of those sinnes , he put the case by another , and so brought dauid to pronounce sentence vpon himselfe , so my desire is , that each of you would make dauids case your owne . and as in the like facts you would bee ready , in another mans case to pronounce sentence as he did , against the man that had dealt so cruelly ; so now to make his example your paterne , to make it your owne case . that as hee being conuinced by the prophet to bee the man , whom he had condemned in the like case of another , was thereby brought to an acknowledgement of his owne sin , and so receiue a gratious acquittance : so you also being now conuicted of your heauy and bloody facts , by such apparant euidence : may by dauids example , bee brought to an acknowledgement thereof , and so with dauid obtaine an answere of the pardon of your sin : howsoeuer for the satisfying of the world , and humbling of the flesh , you are like with dauid to answere bloud for bloud . the second thing i noted was correction . but the better to prepare you for it , tell mee you poore soules that haue had a great portion of sorrow by your imprisonment , if these three things do not now trouble you more then euer before , that is , sorrow , shame and feare . sorrow for your life past so wickedly missed . shame for your present facts . feare not so much of your present punishment , which ends in the punishment : as of the iudgement to come , bringing with it eternall torments , and yet beginning but where the other ends . to begin with this last : ( because if it had beene well remembred by you , it might haue preuented the former , and yet being well applyed may release you from the latter : ) that you may take a deeper impression of that great and generall assizes . be you aduised , not so much to looke vpon vs , who haue only power to kill the body , as to looke vp vnto the lord , who hath power to destroy both body and soule : and remember his last and dreadfull comming in the clouds , where each of you must appeare personally , without deputy , delay , or aduocate , to receiue according to your workes which you haue done in your bodies , be they good or euill . and that you may preuent the extremity of that iugdement ; my aduice vnto you is , that you would erectin a iudgement seate your owne soules , iudging your selues by the euidence of your owne consciences , that so you may not be iudged of the lord. so did dauid obtaine the pardon of his sinne , he had no sooner iudged himselfe for his sinnes : and confessed them vnto the lord , but the lord forgaue him the iniquity of them all : and no sooner shal you acknowledge your selues worthy to die , but the lord will answere you , you shall not die , but liue . for if you be now dead in sin , by hardening your harts in the deniall thereof : though you be liuing to the world , yet you are dead vnto god , and so shall neuer die out of the punishment of sin , how soeuer you be euer dying in the horror thereof . but if you shall now dievnto sin by vnfayned repentance : though you may die for your sin , by the hand of man , yet you shall liue for euer without sin , by the power of god. and therefore howsoeuer you must die temporally to satisfie the law , yet remember , this is but of the body , and that for a time : and consider with all that there is another death co come , both of body and soule , wherein you shall die eternally from-god , and yet liue eternall to intollerable torments . consider then i pray you the terrour of that great day : where the fire howsoeuer spirituall , yet shall thereby bee the more intollerable ; and yet the conscience shal be more stinging , then the fire tormenting : and the euerlasting exclusion from the presence of god , shall make vp the measure of those vnsufferable torments . if they were but for a hundred , or a thousand , nay a million of yeares : yet there were some hope at length of release : but remember , that the worme neuer dyeth , the fire neuer goet out , because the wrath of god like a riuer of brimstone , doth continually maintaine the same . thus you may meditate vpon those endles torments . and this by gods mercy , may worke in you that hartie and seasonable sorrow for your present sinnes , whereby you may prepare to your present ends , and so preuent those endles torments . but be not too suddaine in applying mercy , when your sinnes haue beene so many . for it is not euery one , that saith lord , lord , shall enter into the kingdome of heauen . consider , also that there can be no comfort in god , till there be true sorrow for sinne : the best sacrifices were sodden in the sowrest hearbs : and the sacrifice best pleasing vnto god , is that , of a broken and contrite heart . onely bee you wise to try your sorrow . there is a sorrow vnto death which is carnall and hypocritical , rather greiuing for the punishment , then the offence : if therefore you will bee sorry in hope of 〈…〉 y , you must in 〈…〉 god in your punishment , 〈◊〉 〈…〉 ere farre greater , and greiua for your sinnes , that haue deserued more . for your punishment is not great or then your faint , but your 〈…〉 t greater then your punishment . if you would farther trik the sinceritie of your sorrow : examine it then by the fruit thereof . godly sorrow breeds repentance , and true repentance expresseth it selfe in the hearty confession of sin : and true confession , is not forced , but voluntarie : not only of what apparant euidence wrings from vs , but what is secret , and only knowne to our selues , and vnto god. and thi●●e it not enough to satisfie the world , of what you are now conuicted of , vnlesse you also discharge your conscience ( so farre as possibly you may remember ) of all that hidden burthen of sin , which at the day of iudgement will be certainely layd open , and charged vpon you , euen to your vtter pressing downe , and ouerwhelming for euer : and withall lay it to your harts , that if you shall fayle to acknowledge , what you are now conuicted of : as you shall least of all satisfie god , who knoweth your harts , to shall you not satisfie the world in this your obstinacy , which must needs bee conuicted , with such apparant euidences , as haue bene deliuered : and so iustly condemne you , in that wherein you seeke to iustifie your selues let me heare speak vnto you euen from my very soule , and set you in a way for your soules eternall good . do not thinke that euery psalme of miserere is sufficient to expiate your fault , or to giue you an interest in the pardō of your sin : no , i tell you , you must confesse your faults to the world ; be-before you leaue the world . you haue offended god , and man ; as farre as confession may yeeld satisfaction , do it care you die . oh feare and remember that saying . as the tree falls , so it lies . if you bee dead while you liue , you cannot hope to liue when you are dead . if we forget our sinnes , god will remember them , and if we confesse them , god will forget them . remember the good successe of the prodigall child : hee no sooner came home to his father , and confessed his sin , but his father ran to meete him , and kissed him , killed the fatted calfe for him , and cloathed him with the be 〈…〉 〈…〉 yment . euen so our heauenly eather , hath offered his onely sonne , as the fatted calfe , for the redemption of all penitent sinners , he is ready to meete vs , if wee bee comming to him by repentance , nay to kisse and embrace vs , if we cast of our sinnes , and insteed of those theenish raggs , you weare to cloath you with that glorious robe of his perfect righteousnesse . this i hope and wish that you may be so happie as to finde . and therefore i desire you to embrace the mercy of god that is now offered vnto you . labour to breake your hard harts with the consideration of his tender compassions , and ease your distressed soules by the the acknowledgement of your sinnes . remember , that god will not endure a stubborne sinner but they which are heauie laden with the burthen of their sins , shal be welcome vnto him . and to this end , aboue all things , take heede of desparing . consider that the mercy of god is aboue all your mysery whatsoeuer , and that you shall more offend in disparing of gods mercy , then in shedding of the blood of so many innocents : euē as iudas more offended in despayring of the pardon of his sinne , then in betraying of that iust one , who was the ransome for his sinne : and let this last part be the best , which is to comfort you . now i commend you with my best affections , to the mercy and goodnesse of god , wishing you to glorifie god in the confession of your greinous faults remembring that no time can priueledge , no place conceale , nor persons beare downe , and smother the shedding of blood : but god in his due time will discouer the same , and make the places of concealement , the stages of discouery . yea , he will make the actors themselues to discouer their owne sinnes . the blood of abel shall crie for vengeance from the earth ; and the blood of these murthered soules hath cried for vengeance from the bottome of the pond . and therefore iustifie god in this wonderfull discouery . and so the lord giue you wisedome in time , to make your peace with him . this was the effect of the reuerend iudges exhortation , as himselfe pleased to anow the same . which beeing ended , their iudgement was pronounced , and so respited till manday , for their execution , that so , in the méan time , they might bee prepared by repentance to the comfortable issue thereof . and this of the third scoene of this second part of this tragedy . chap. . containing the execution of the murtherers , and such accidents as fell out therein . together with such vses as may be made thereof . vve are now come to the last scoene of this tragedy , concerning the execution of the murtherers . and herein we may first behold the singular wisedome of god in disposing thereof , according to the diuers condition of the murtherers . for , wheras there was two conuicted & condemned , for this haynous murther ; namely , land and worlich : though these both were brought to the gallowes , and knew no more but they should both dye , yet such was the prouidence of god , guiding the heart of the reuerend iudge , that the one being more tractable to confesse the truth , and giuing sou 〈…〉 hope of his repentance , both for his owne and the countries good ( who expect yet a further discouery of foure principall offenders , not yet knowne or conuicted : ) hee was therefore onely brought vpon the ladder , and so prepared to execution , that so he might conuince the other of the crime , being still obstinate therein , and satisfie the world concerning his owne guiltinesse of the fact : wherein , as he did not obscurely bewray himselfe , at least an accessary , though not so cleerely and particularly as was expected for his comfort , yet he spared not to challenge his fellow , standing obstinate on the dentall , and by many circumstances conuicted him to 〈…〉 es the chiefe murtherer : whereby , as it may seeme , hee was not an actor in the murther himselfe , but onely priuie thereto by relation or consequence , so was hee therefore repriued , for the further cleering of the truth , and freeing of his owne conscience from any secret burthen yet lay therevpon . as for the other , who the more hee was conuicted , remained still more obstinate : whether in policy , that hee might be also repriued , in hope of mollifying his heart , and bringing him to repentance , or vpon desperatenesse , and so seeing no way but one , must now prepare himselfe to the vengeance of god , and confound the worlds expectation , or harden the world in such like sinnes : therefore was he iustly cut off , that he might doe no more mischiefe , though to his owne greater confusion , thus dying in his sinne . and yet behold the power of gods iustice preuayling on his conscience , though he would not confesse his sinne in particular , yet he acknowledged to his shame , what the world tooke too much notice of , and himselfe did formerly much glory in , that he was much delighted in drunkennnsse himselfe ; yea , which was the hight of his sin , he was strong to be are his drinke , and so gloried to draw others into the same excesse , that so hee might pride himselfe in his great power , that could out drinke others , and thereby also more easily make prey of them . which , as it was the meanes whereby hee caught iohn leeson in his snare , so if consequents may be gathered by their antecedēts , it must needs follow hereupon that he made prey of him : especially , seeing he could not deny , but he accompanied him that day at the mill-hill , when he was made away , and his pretences that iohn was gone for ireland , as were disprooued and confounded by contradictions in his owne , and wiues speeches . but howsoeuer such apparent conuictions , both at the barre and gallowes , euen from his owne mouth , though he stil denied the : fact , as 〈◊〉 hath bin giuen heretofore the t 〈…〉 , so wee hope time will more 〈…〉 eetely discouer his madnesse herein . and so we leaue him to the fruite of his si 〈…〉 . but before we end this sc 〈…〉 , one scruple is to be cleered , that wheras justice so 〈…〉 ends the 〈…〉 ying thereof in the punishment of the body , as that it specially aymes at the good of the soule : it might seeme therefore to haue beene fitter , that worlich being more penitent , would haue dyed presently , and land being so obstinate , should haue beene respited for his better preparing to his end . for satisfaction where of , we must know , that as the iudgement against sinne is directed by a speciall in 〈…〉 ct scour god , and so therin doth vsually 〈…〉 ble his 〈…〉 teous 〈◊〉 , which is , th 〈…〉 to h 〈…〉 that hath shal be giuen , but to him th 〈…〉 nothing , shall be taken away 〈◊〉 that which he s 〈…〉 th 〈…〉 haue : therefore to worlich that hath some spacke of grace , and 〈…〉 rse , opportunity was further yeelded to encrease and perfect the worke , and from land that hath nothing , in truth if wee may c 〈…〉 e by the effect , therefore that was taken away which it seemed belonged vnto him , euen longer time and space of repentance , a notable image of gods righteous decras , in the hardening of y e one & softning of the other , and a wise item to obstinate sinners , that what they haue beene in their liues , they likely prooue in their deathes . and withall , a sweete word of comfort , to al broken and bleeding hearts , that the lord wil waite vpon them that he may haue mercy vpon them . and this we wish hartily , may be portion of that poore soule that now is respited in the hope thereof . and thus endeth the history of this bloudy tragedy . iustifying the righteous do 〈…〉 e of the lord , that he that sheddeth mans bloud by man shall his bloud be shed againe . chap. . containing the conclusion of the whole . with promise of further light . thus hast thou , christian reader , a briefe of the most lamentable history which euer i heard or read of concerning the cruell murther of this widowes children . together with the admirable discouery thereof by the finger of god , as also the procéedings against so many of the malefactors as are yet discouered . what now remaineth but that thou glorifie god with me for the execution of his righteous iudgements . assuring thee that as i was an eye witnesse of these particulars , so i haue deliuered thee therein the truth , according to the euidences confirmed by the consent of the best warrants to establish the same : onely i haue forborne to specifie the particular information of many witnesses , because as many of them were spared at the barre , séeing the rest were sufficient ; so of those that were giuen in , i haue also spared some , as specifying the same in effect with those that are wouen into the history : because i did not so much respect the order of their allegations at the barre , as the fitnesse of their application , to the vse and life of the story . if herein i haue giuen any light or spirit by this manner of handling , remember i wrote it not , for a nine dayes wonder to vanish like a dreame ; but that it might leaue such impression in thy heart , as might prouoke thée to know the lord by his executing of justice : and so hereby learne to make vse of his prouidence in all his workes : promising thee , that if thou shalt profitably vse this discouery to this end , thou shalt be fitted not onely with further light herein , as occasion shall be offered , but as thou maiest make profitable vse of many other labours published by me formerly for the common good : so thou shalt shortly be furnished with my long expected paines , concerning the delusions of the time , and cure of a wounded spirit , which i am reuising and polishing at my best leysure , s for thy good herein . and so desiring thy harty prayers vnto god for his furtherance hereunto , i commend thee to the grace of our glorious lord. in whom i rest , thine and the churches seruant tho. cooper . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e heb. . . ierem. . . rom. . . . psalm . . eccle. . iob . rom. . . . thes. , . hos. . . . ioh. . . the heynnusnesse and greatnesse of this sinne . by the obiect . psal. . causes of murther . enuy. pride . adultery . iealousie . lust. ambition . couetousnesse . rage : bitter speaking : two cautions . antidotes to preuent murther . to mainetain peace with god. reuel . . . pro. . psal. . math. . psal. . vse . pro. . vse . thomas leeson . . thes. . . psal. . . . reuel . . rom. . . psa. . . psal. . . plato in timeo . case of the guise iustified , and marquesse d'ancre . as in the case of nadab and abiu , cosbi and zimri . sir henry mountague , lord chiefe iustiée . the true narrative of the proceedings at the sessions-house in the old-bayly which began on wednesday the th of this instant april and ended on thursday the th following giving an account of most of the remarkable trials there, viz. for murder fellonies and burglaries, &c. with a particular relation of their names, and the places of their committing their facts, with the number of those condemned to die, burn'd in the hand, transported and to be whipt. but more especially of the trial and condemnation of that notorious highway-man randolph poulson, and john francis dickison for high-treason, who received sentence to be hang'd drawn and quartered, and ann price for murther approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing t estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the true narrative of the proceedings at the sessions-house in the old-bayly which began on wednesday the th of this instant april and ended on thursday the th following giving an account of most of the remarkable trials there, viz. for murder fellonies and burglaries, &c. with a particular relation of their names, and the places of their committing their facts, with the number of those condemned to die, burn'd in the hand, transported and to be whipt. but more especially of the trial and condemnation of that notorious highway-man randolph poulson, and john francis dickison for high-treason, who received sentence to be hang'd drawn and quartered, and ann price for murther england and wales. court of quarter sessions of the peace (london) p. printed by d. mallet, [london : ] caption title. imprint from colophon. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng poulson, randolph, d. -- early works to . dickison, john francis, d. -- early works to . price, ann, d. -- early works to . crime -- england -- early works to . criminals -- england -- early works to . trials -- england -- early works to . murder -- england -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the true narrative of the proceedings at the sessions-house in the old-bayly which began on wednesday the th of this instant april and ended on thursday the th following . giving an account of most of the remarkable trials there , viz. for murder fellonies and burglaries , &c. with a particular relation of their names , and the places of their committing their facts , with the number of those condemned to die , burn'd in the hand , transported and to be whipt . but more especially of the trial and condemnation of that notorious highway-man randolph poulson , and john francis dickison for high-treason , who received sentence to be hang'd drawn and quartered , and ann price for murther ann price was arraigned and tried for felloniously murthering her bastard male-infant in the parish of st. margaret's westminster ; the circumstances thus , she having lived in the nature of a servant with a gentlewoman ; as she confessed , was got with child by a man that was her fellow servant ; and carried it so cuningly , that no person in the house did in the least suspect her till after she was delivered , which was without help , when wraping the child in an apron . she locked it up in her box ; and rising betimes in the morning , made a fire and went to bed again ; so that her mistris finding her out of order , began to examine the cause ; whereupon supspecting what had happen'd , she got a midwife , who upon inquiry found she had been delivered ; the which she stoutly denied , but at last confessed she had , the child being still born , and that she had locked it in her box. where it was accordingly found , this being sworn by the witness ; her answer was , that she finding her pains come fast upon her : knckked with her shoo , as loud as possible , but could make none hear her , by reason she lay up three pair of stairs ; but the concealing of the child , being a material point of evidence against her ; upon the reciting the statute , she was found guilty of murther . sibel thomas was indicted for the murther of one mary hut , a maid of about eighteen years of age , living in white-chappel ; the manner thus , some angry words rising between the mother of the deceased , and the prisoner , the deceased , in taking her mothers part , gave the prisoner such bad language as provoked her to strike her , and after having thrown her in the kenel , to tread upon her ; who in a fortnights time after died ; but she being proved to be a sickly maid , and upon search no bruses being found about her , the prisoner was acquited . ann foster was tried for stealing of wearing apparel , lace , puter , silver spoons and other things to a very considerable value from a gentleman , living in the parish of st. clements deans , on the twenty-fourth of march last , several of the goods being found where she had disposed of them ; and the evidence being plain against her she was found guilty of the fellony . randol polson , who had formerly kept a lime-wharf near the horse-ferry , was indicted for stealing a mare , valued at six pounds , a saddle , bridle and whip , from one mr. mead ; the circumstances according to evidence thus , the prosecuter coming from dedford , met the prisoner and another near the halph-way-house , who bid him stand and deliver ; whereupon he turning his mare about , made up to the adjacent houses ; but they firing after him , caused him to dismount and stand to their mercy , who took about seven shillings in money , a pocket-book , and some ribon from him ; and after that his mare , the which was afterwards found in an inn in westminster , being brought thither by the prisoner and a boy , aud described to be kept private . so that upon this , and the prisoners own confession during his imprisonment in the gate-house , he was found guilty of stealing the mare , &c. joseph wood-all was indicted for murthering john crafts , of the parish of st. martins in the fields ; according to evidence thus , the prisoner being labourer to the deceased , who was a brick-layer , and not minding his work , the deceased told him , if he neglected it , he must employ another , upon which the prisoner told him if he would pay him his wages , he would be gon , but the deceased denying he owed him any ; having passed his word to secure the house where he lodged ; whereupon a quarrel arose , and the prisoner beat the deceased so unmercifully , that he died in three weeks afterward , and laid his death to the prisoner , who thereupon was found guilty of man-slaughter . edward richardson who had been formerly condemned for cliping and had got pardon for transportation , was indicted for several roberys on the high-way , to all which he pleaded guilty . john bully , who about three sessions's since was indicted upon the statute of the twenty-fifth of elizabeth , for that he having received orders from the see of rome , came over into england and acted as a priest , whose trial was put off once for his pretending want of evidence , and last sessions by reason of a special plea he brought , to which the kings attorny general made a demur , being now called up and his indictment read ; he pleaded guilty desiring the court to pardon him for the trouble he had put them to ; saying , that he had been ill advised in so doing , and that it was his full intent after his being cleared at lancaster to depart the kindom ▪ and that he had writtent a book touching the unlawfulness of murthering or deposing princes and had perswaded very many catholicks to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacie , after which he desired the court would have a favourable opinion of him , and threw himself wholly upon their mercy . martha du boardas , of the parish of st. martins in the fields being a french woman ▪ and not able to speak english , was indicted for robing stephen beamont a french marchant , with whom she lived as a servant or house-keeper , on the third of this instant , of a silver watch , a diamond ring valued at four pounds , three gold chains , thirty guinies , pounds worth of plate ▪ & in moneys l. the which upon the death of her master , she had conveyed away ; the plate and moneys upon the constables searching the house , being found in her custody , she aledged that her master gave them to her in his life time and brought witness to prove it , but notwithstanding she was found guilty of the fellony . richard eaton , a seaman was arraigned for breaking open a ship that lay in the river of thames over against waping , and taking thence sea-cloaths , beds , blankets , rugs , shifts , a pistol and several other things belonging to the captain , and other of the ships crue , the which he geting on shoar , called a porter to carry them away ; but being pursued a great part of the goods were found , where he had laid them ; being asked what he could plead for himself , his answer was , that he bought them of a sea-man ; but to producing the man , nor proving the buying of them , he was found guilty . sarah star was indicted for that she on the of this instant robed one john weller , with whom she was a servant ; of goods to the value of fourteen shillings ; being a servant in his house ; the things being sheets , table cloaths and napkins , which were found at an old womans house , where she hod carried them to have shifts made of them ; she pleaded a lodger gave them to her , but that excuse being groundless she was found guilty to the value of three shilling . john francis dickison , a notorious popish priest being taken in newgate , as he came to pervert on martha cook a convict , his indictment being grounded upon a statute made in the third year of king james , to prevent drawing away the king's subjects from their allegiance ; the manner thus , martha cook about three quarters of a year since being condemned for cliping and coyning , and remaining in newgate , two women that were her fellow prisoners , perswaded her to embrace the rom●sh religion , and after some yielding to their proposition ; the prisoner was sent by the priests into the press-yard to visit her , who upon promise to get her a pardon , made her renounce the protestant religion gave her the sacrament , confessed her , &c. and to encourage her to perservere in what she had embraced , oftentimes brought her money ; the which she disclosing to on partridg a presbyterian minister , he discovered it to the ordinary , who acquainted captain richardson with the same ▪ so that about the twenty-first of october last , the prisoner coming to visit his proselite , was seised in the hole , and after some time carried before sir william turner , where he owned himself to be a priest ; and that he was chaplain to the portugal embassadour ; whereupon he was commited , upon his trial he likewise owned himself a priest ; and but faintly denied the pervertion , mr. ordinary , mr. partridg , and martha cook giving evidence against him ▪ after the jury were satisfied of the statute , they brought him in guilty ; and he was sentenced to be drawn , hang'd and quartered as a traitor , &c. an indictment was preferred by one william roman against mary snell and sarah chapman , alias wood , for stealing a silver taster ' and a silver tankard vallued at seven pounds , which the former coming into his house to drink stole , and the other disposed of them , but the evidence not being positive against her , only mary snell was found guilty of this fellony . but a second indictment was preferred against sarah chapman , alias wood , for stealing corrals , vallued at pounds , from one mr. harding in the parish of st. mary woolnoth , the which she sold for about three pounds to a goldsmith in fleetstreet , which being plainly proved , she was found guilty . susanna hern and elizabeth rycroft , were found guilty , the former for stealing a silver tankard , the latter for robing her master of linnen cloth. there were men and women received sentence of death , viz. randolph poulson for stealing a mare and other things on the high-way , john francis dickason for high-treason . ann price for murdering her bastard ▪ child , martha beardos , ▪ susannah hern , sarah chapman , elizabeth rycroft and mary snell for fellonies and burglaries . burn'd in the hand , to be transported , and to be whipt . london , printed by d. mallet . . a murderer punished and pardoned, or, a true relation of the wicked life and shameful-happy death of thomas savage imprisoned, justly condemned, and twice executed at ratcliff for his bloody fact in killing his fellow-servant on wednesday, octob. , / by us who were often with him in the time of his imprisonment in newgate and at his execution, robert franklin ... [et al.]. to which is annexed a sermon preached at his funeral. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing a estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a murderer punished and pardoned, or, a true relation of the wicked life and shameful-happy death of thomas savage imprisoned, justly condemned, and twice executed at ratcliff for his bloody fact in killing his fellow-servant on wednesday, octob. , / by us who were often with him in the time of his imprisonment in newgate and at his execution, robert franklin ... [et al.]. to which is annexed a sermon preached at his funeral. r. a. (richard alleine), - . franklin, robert, - . p. [s.n.], london : . attributed to richard alleine--wing. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng savage, thomas, d. . blay, hannah. murder -- great britain. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - elspeth healey sampled and proofread - elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a murderer punished , and pardoned . or , a true relation of the wicked life , and shameful-happy death of thomas savage , imprisoned , justly condemned , and twice executed at ratcliff , for his bloody fact in killing his fellow-servant , on wednesday , octob. . . by us who were often with him in the time of his imprisonment in newgate , and at his execution ; robert franklin , thomas doolitel , thomas vincent , james janeway , hugh baker . to which is annexed a sermon preached at his funeral . the thirteenth edition : with the addition of the leud life , and shameful death of hannah blay , who was condemned and executed for being guilty of the bloody murther committed by tho. savage . with other new additions . london , printed in the year , . to the reader . in the following narrative you have a relation of the bloody murther committed by t. savage , with an account of the wonderful mercies of god to his poor soul after the commiting so bloody a sin . to which is added a short relation of the carriage and behaviour of that vile strumpet hannah blay , during the time of her being in newgate to her execution : which ( though it had nothing in it worthy to be related , yet ( she being an instrumental cause of that bloody resolution , was thought fit to be inserted , that she may remain as an example of shame to all lewd women , and a severe example of gods justice upon such cruel monsters , who are not content with endangering the souls of such ignorant young men ( that have not the fear of god before their eies ( with their abominable whoredoms and adulteries , but as it were to make sure of destroying both body and soul together , by adding to their former sins the guilt of shedding innocent blood . and as you have a wonderful instance of gods free-grace to the soul of t. s. so the foulness of his fact , the danger of damning his soul , and the twice shameful execution which he suffered , may be a means to preserve all young men and apprentices from being guilty of the like fact . and as a help to you herein , you are advised to be careful what company you keep . that you addict not your selves to drinking , or gaming , or company keeping , which is the ruin of many young men , who by getting a habit of keeping company , or other vices , are very often drawn to purloin from their masters to maintain them in their extravagancies : by which means , they do not only run the hazard of exposing their bodies to publick shame ( if they be discovered ) to the great grief , and even heart-breaking of their friends , ( when they hear of ill courses ) but the wrath of god , and eternal damnation of their poor souls , as you may see in the narrative of t. s. who first began with company keeping , from company keeping to whoring , from whoring to thieving and murther . and lastly , be careful to spend the lords day , and all other spare time in the service of god , as reading , praying , hearing the word preached , &c. which may be a means to preserve thee from the guilt of sins of this nature ; and other sins likewise , if thou apply thy self seriously to this work . but whiles i am advising of others , i my self commit an error in exceeding my bounds ( being confined to a page , ) i rest a real well-wisher to the eternal happiness of thy immortal soul. blood doth cry aloud ; the blood of man , when violently shed by cruel hands for private revenge or covetousness , or the satisfaction of some such base lust doth cry as far as from earth to heaven for vengeance : and however some horrible murders may be seeretly plotted , and as secretly effected , yet seldom are they long unpunished , even in this world ; for besides that , sometimes the guilty-accusing consciences of such persons who have committed this hainous crime , do so inwardly lash and torment them , that they can find no rest untill they have made discovery of the fact with their own mouth ; there is the all-seeing eye of a sin-revenging god which doth find them , and a strange hand of his providence which doth often follow them , and entangle them in their steps ( when they are flying , and seeking some hidden place ) which doth as it were bind them before they are in chains , and deliver them before they are aware into the hands of justice to be punished . but there is another blood which doth send forth a louder cry , namely , the blood of the lord jesus christ , which was shed for the sins of men , which speaketh better things than the blood of abel , crying for mercy and forgiveness : this blood hath such prevalency and virtue , that when it is applied by faith unto the most notorious malefactor guilty of blood as well as other wickedness , it doth out-cry and drown the voice of blood , and every other sin , and washeth the most impure soul died in sin , unto a scarlet and crimson hue . this blood we hope was sprinkled upon the conscience of this murderer , who had a little before , embrued his hands in the blood of his fellow-servant : for having given such evidences of his sincere repentance , and true faith unto several of its ministers and other christians that were with him before , and at his execution ; we hope , though he were justly punished with the first death by the hand of man for his crime , that through infinite free grace and christ's blood , he hath escaped the second death , and wrath of god in hell. the narrative may give the same satisfaction to others which we the publishers hereof have received ; which is as followeth . thomas savage born in the parish of giles's in the fields , was put out apprentice to mr. collins vintner , at the ship-tavern in ratcliff , where he lived about the space of one year and three quarters , in which time he manifested himself to all that knew him , to be a meer monster in sin ; in all that time he never once knew what it was to hear one whole sermon , but used to go in at one door , and out at the other , and accounted them fools that could spare so much time from sin , as two or three hours on a lords-day , to spend in the lords service : he spent the sabbath commonly at the ale-house , or rather at a base-house with that vile strumpet hannah blay , which was the cause of his ruine ; he was by a young man ( now gone to sea ) first enticed to go drink there , and after that he went alone , and now and then used to bring her a bottle or two of wine , which satisfied not her wicked desires , but she told him , if he would frequent her house , he must bring mony with him ; he told her often he could bring none but his masters , and he never wronged his master of two pence in his life ; still she enticed him to take it privately ; he replied , he could not do it , because the maid was alwaies at home with him ; hang her jade , saith this impudent slut , knock her brains out , and i will receive the money . this she many times said ; and that day that he committed the murder , he was with her in the morning , and she made him drunk with burnt brandy , and he wanted one groat to pay of his reckoning : she then again perswaded him to knock the maid on the head , and she would receive the mony ; he going home between twelve and one of the clock , his master standing at the street-door , did not dare to go in that way , but climeth over a back-door , and commeth into a room where his fellow-servants were at dinner : o , saith the maid to him , sirrah , you have been now at this bawdy house , you will never leave till you are undone by them : he was much vexed at her , and while he was at dinner , the devil entred so strong into him , that nothing would satisfie but he must kill her ; and no other way , but with the hammer : to which end , when his master was gone with all the rest of the family to church , leaving only the maid and this boy at home ; he goeth into the bar , fetcheth the hammer , and taketh the bellows in his hand , and sitteth down by the fire , and there knocketh the bellows with the hammer : the maid saith to him , sure the boy is mad ; sirrah , what do you make this noise for ? he said nothing , but went from the chair , and lay along in the kitchen window , and knocked with the hammer there ; and on a sudden threw the hammer with such force at the maid , that hitting her on the head , she fell down presently , screeching out ; then taking up the hammer three times , and did not dare to strike her any more : at last the devil was so great with him , that he taketh the hammer , and striketh her many blows with all the force he could , and even rejoyced that he had got the victory over her : which done , he immediately taketh the hammer , and with it strikes at the cupboard-door in his master chamber , which being but slit deal , presently flew upon , and thence he taketh out a bag of money , and putting it under his arm under his cloak , he went out at a back-dore strait-way to this base house again , when he came thither , the slut would fain have seen what he had under his cloak , and knowing what he had done , would very fain have had the money ; he gave her half a crown , and away he went without any remorse for what he had done ; going over a stile , he sat down to rest himself , and then began to think with himself , lord , what have i done ! and he would have given ten thousand worlds he could have recalled the blow ; after this he was in so much horror , that he went not one step but he thought every one he met came to take him ; he got that night to greenwich , and lay there , telling the people of the house that he was to go down to gravesend ; that night he rose and walked about , and knew not what to do , conscience so flew in his face . the mistress of the house perceiving the lad to have money , and not sealed up , said , i wish this lad came by this money honestly ; the next morning ▪ he going away towards woollidge , the mistress of the house could not be satisfied , but sent for him back , and told him , sweet heart , i fear you came not by this money honestly ; yes indeed mistress ( saith he ) i did , for i am carrying of it down to gravesend to my master a wine-cooper , we live upon london-bridge , and if you please to send any one to my mistress , i will leave the money with you ; so there were some people going to london , and he writ a note to send to his mistress , and he left the money with the woman of the house , and went his way , wandering towards woollidge , and there was in the ship-yard ; about which time news came to greenwich of the murther that was committed at ratcliff by a youth upon his fellow servant , and that a bag of money was taken away ; the mistress of the house forthwith concluded that sure it was the same youth that was at her house , and that that was the mony ; whereupon she sent men out presently to seek him , who found him in an alehouse , where he had called for one pot of beer , and was laid down with his head on the table , and faln asleep : one of the men calling him by his name , tom , saith he , did not you live at ratcliff ? he said yes ; and did not you murther your fellow-servant ? he confessed it ; and you took so much mony from your master ? he acknowledged all ; then said they , you must go along with us , he said , yes , with all my heart . so they went forthwith to greenwich to the house where he lay that night , where when he came , he met his master with some friends , and when his master spake to him of it , he was not much affected at first , but after a little while burst out into many tears ; thence he was conveyed to the justice at ratcliff , where he fully confessed the fact again ; and by him was committed close prisoner in the goal of newgate , where mr. h. b. ( who after some acquaintance with him , and this preceding narrative from his own mouth ) came to see and speak with him , and he seemed but little sensible of what he had done : are you ( said he ) the person that committed the murther upon the maid at ratcliff ? he said yes , o what think you of your condition ? what think you will become of your precious soul ? you have by this sin not only brought your body to the grave , but your soul to hell , without infinite mercy : were you not troubled for the fact when you did it ? not for the present sir , said he , but soon after i was , when i began to think with my self what i had done . the next time he asked him , whether he were sorry for the fact ? he said , wringing his hands , and striking his brest , with tears in his eyes , yes , sir , for it cuts me to the heart to think that i should take away the life of a poor innocent creature ; and that is not all , but for any thing i know , i have sent her soul to hell. o how can i think to appear before gods bar , when she shall stand before me , and say , lord this wretch took away my life , and gave me not the least space that i might return to thee : he gave me now no warning at all , lord. o then what will become of me ? soon after the imprisonment of this thomas savage , in newgate , upon the desire of one of his friends , mr. r. f. and t. v. went to him in the prison , and had liberty , with much readiness , from the keepers to discourse with him : they asked him , if he were the person that had murthered the maid ? he answered , that he was : they did then open to him the hainous nature of that sin , endeavouring to set it home upon his conscience ; telling him of the express law of god , thou shalt not kill , and the express threatning , that whosoever sheddeth mans blood , by man shall his blood be shed . they spake to him of the law of the land , and the punishment of death which would certainly be inflicted upon him ; that he had but a few weeks more to live , and then he would be tryed , and condemned , and executed : but they told him , that the punishment of temporal death was but small in comparison with the punishment of eternal death in hell , which he had deserved , and was exposed unto . they told him , that so soon as death should make a separation between his soul and body , that his soul must immediately appear before the dreadful tribunal of the sin-revenging god , and there receive its final doom , and be irreversibly sentenced to depart from the presence of the lord , in everlasting fire , if he were found under the guilt of this or any other sin . they asked him if he knew what hell was ? telling him what a fearful thing it would be for him to fall into the hands of the living god , how intollerable the immediate impressions of gods wrath would be upon his soul ! what horrour and anguish he would there be filled withal ! and how he would be bound up in chains of darkness until the judgement of the great day ! and then told him of the glorious appearance of the lord jesus christ to judgment , that soul and body should be then joyned together , and condemned together , and punished together , with such exquisite torments as never entered into the heart of man to conceive ! declaring the extremity and the eternity of the torments of hell , which were the just demerit of his sins . then they asked him , whether he had any hopes of escaping this dreadful punishment of hell ? he answered that he had . they enquired into the grounds of his hopes ; he told them that he repented of his fault , and hoped god would have mercy on his soul. they asked him , whether he thought his repentance would procure for him a pardon ? he knew no other way . they told him that god was just , and his justice must be satisfied , and there was no way for him to do it , but by undergoing the eternal torments of hell , and did he know no way of satisfying gods justice besides , and pacifying his anger that was kindled against him ? no , he knew not any ; and 〈◊〉 did he hope to be saved ? he answered , yes . they ●●quired whether ever he had experience of a gracious change wrought in him . herein he could give no account , and yet hoped to be saved . yes . they told him his hopes were unsound , having no good foundation , and he would find himself disappointed ; that it was not his repentance , his tears , and prayers ( though he ought to use them as means ) that would save him , if he fixed the anchor of his hope upon them . that if he hoped to be saved in the condition which for the present he was in , he would certainly be damned . that he must cast away all those groundless hopes he had conceived , and endeavour to despair in himself , that being pricked and pained at heart , through the apprehensions of the wrath of god ready to fall upon him , and seeing no possibility of flying and and escaping , if he looked only to himself , he might cry out , what shall i do to be saved ? and enquire after a saviour : and then they spake to him of the lord jesus christ , and the way of salvation by him , which before he was sottishly ignorant of , as if he been brought up in a countrey of infidels , and not of christians . the words spoken to him by these two ministers , seemed to take little impression upon him , whilst they were present ; yet after they were gone , the lord did begin to work , and he did acknowledg to mr. b. that two had been with him ( he knew not their names ) whose words were like arrows shot into his heart , and he did wish that he had those words in writing , especially one expression of t. v. that he would not be in his condition for ten thousand worlds , did affect and so affright him , that he said , it made his hair stand an end . an account of a discourse betwixt t. d. and t. s. about fourteen daies after he was prisoner in newgate . vvhen i came in and saw him in irons , i said , were these fetters for the sake of the gospel , they would be far more precious than chains of gold ; but see here the cursed fruits of sin , that thou shouldst all thy life-time have been a faithful servant of god , hast neglected no time to serve the devil . i asked him how old he was ? he said , years old ; i told him he was a young man , but an old sinner ; then i began to set my self to bring him to a sense of his sin , and of his miserable and lost estate ; and asked him whether he believed there was a god ? he answered , yes ; and dost thou believe that this god is true ? he said , yes , and taking up the bible , i asked him , dost thou believe that this is the word of god ? he answered , yes ; then i told him , according to this word , he was a damned wretch , and god had past a sentence of death upon him ; and told him plainly that he should not enter into the kingdom of god , but be a companion of devils in a lake of brimstone to all eternity , ( meaning without repentance , conversion , and faith in christ . ) then i turned him to several scriptures , and told him this was the word by which he must be judged at the 〈◊〉 of god , and be damned or saved , according 〈◊〉 then he should be found to be , converted , o●●●…converted ; the scriptures were these , cor. . . know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of god ? be not deceived : neither fornicaters , nor idolaters , nor adulterers , nor esseminate , nor abusers of themselves with mankind , ver . . nor thieves , nor covetous , nor drunkards , nor revilers , nor extortioners , shall inherit the kingdom of god. another scripture i read to him , was gal. . . now the works of the flesh are manifest , which are these , adultery , fornication , uncleanness , lasciviousness , ver . . idolatry , witchcraft , hatred , variance , emulations , wrath , strife , seditions , heresies , ver . . envyings , murders , drunkenness , revellings , and such like , of the which i tell you before , as i have also told you in time past , that they which do such things , shall not inherit the kingdom of god. the next scripture to the same purpose was rev. . . but the fearful , and unbelieving , and the abominable , and murderers , and whoremongers , and sorcerers , and idolaters , and all lyars , shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone , which is the second death . i told him these were the words of the holy , true , and infallible god ; this was the sentence which god had passed upon him , as the desert of those abominable sins which he was guilty of : for these scriptures pointed at several of the sins which he confessed he had lived in , and had committed , as drunkenness , lying , uncleanness , and murder . i cryed , you confess your self guilty of these sins , and that god threatneth you with eternal death , with everlasting torments , and exclusion from his presence and kingdom ; not only god's justice , but god's truth also , stood betwixt him and eternal happiness ; and told him , that i spake it with reverence , that the holy god must be a lyar , or else he dying in the guilt of these sins , must be certainly and eternally damned . i asked him , what do you think ? how will you escape the damnation of hell , and the great wrath that is to come ? you have heard what god saith , what do you say ? what course will you take , and what means will you use , that you may not according to gods threatning be cast among devils into eternal devouring flames ? to this , at present , he made no reply , but did often shake his head , and lifted up his eyes towards heaven . next i endeavoured to bring him to a sight and sense of the corruption of his nature , and of the sinfulness of his heart ; and told him all those sins were in his heart before they were actually committed ; and turned him to the saying of christ , matt. . . for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts , murders , adulteries , fornications , thefts , false-witnesses , blasphemies ; and told him that in his repentance for those sins , he must not only lay to heart , and be grieved for the outward acts , but lament and bewail the inward principle of corruption , whereby he was so strongly inclined to such horrid abominations , according to the example of david after his sins of adultery and murder , in his confession did follow them up to the rise and original from whence they did spring , psal . . . behold i was shapen in iniquity , and in sin did my mother conceive me . by this time i perceived some workings of heart within him , and that he was in some measure sensible of his lost estate , and by his deportment and carriage , to be cast down , not knowing what to do ; i was unwilling to leave him without some grounds of hope that it may be he might be saved ; that there was a possibility that he might obtain pardoning mercy , and be delivered from that great damnation that was due to him for his great transgressions . i began to open to him the readiness of christ , the fulness and sufficiency of christ to save the greatest sinners , and that god ( i hoped in mercy to his soul ) had sent me one of his embassadors to offer him a pardon , and eternal life , if he were but willing to accept of christ upon the terms of the gospel , for his lord and saviour , and did encourage and assure him , upon repentance and faith in christ , there was mercy yet for him , though a murderer , from these scriptures , isa . . . come now and let us reason together , saith the lord , though your sins be as scarlet , they shall be as white as snow ; and though they be red as crimson , they shall be as wooll . as i opened to him the great mercy of god in christ towards sinners , died in grain , that were sinners of a scarlet colour , that had committed hainous transgressions , he brake forth into tears , and wept plentifully at the tidings of mercy and possibility that such a one as he might be saved . besides , i turned him to some scripture promises , that god would certainly forgive his sins , and save his soul , if he could repent , and get faith in christ , such as , prov. . . he that confesseth and forsaketh his sin , shall find mercy ; and isa . . . let the wicked forsake his way , and the unrighteous man his thoughts : and let him return unto the lord , and he will have mercy upon him ; and to our god , for he will abundantly pardon . this scripture he diligently heeded , and turned it down in his bible ; and these two scriptures , ( the night before he suffered ) amongst others , he alledged as the grounds of his hope of mercy . i also gave him some scripture instances of great sinners that had obtained mercy , turned him to the example of manasseh , chron. . to that of mary magdalen , luke . , . to that of the jews , acts . , . that were guilty of the blood of christ , that had murdered the son of god ; a greater murther than which could not be committed ; and yet upon repentance and faith , many of them were pardoned and saved . to that of paul , tim. . , , , . shewed him how god had set up paul as a pattern of free-grace , towards great sinners , for the encouragement of such , that ( though guilty of great sins ) afterwards should believe . to all these he hearkened very carefully , and took notice of the places of scripture for his meditation after i left him . and last of all , i endeavoured to set before him jesus christ , as the only remedy and saviour for his soul , and shewed him the insufficiency of all his duties , prayers , and tears , to get off the guilt of the least sin ; that if he could shed a thousand tears of blood for any one vain thought , it would be no better than puddle water to justify , or to save him . much discourse i had with him at this time , besides what is here inserted , and several other times when i went to visit him in newgate , which i willingly omit , because this book should not swell to too great a bulk . after all , i went to prayer with him ; in which duty he was much dissolved into tears ; he seemed to me , and his faithful friend that was most with him above all others , to be very earnest in prayer , and with weeping eyes to beg for pardon and converting grace , and christ to be his saviour , which was much insisted on in the prayer that was made for him . after which , advising him to consider of what i said , for that time i took my leave of him . the next time , after this discourse , that mr. baker came to him , he enquired how it was with him : he said , what t. d. had said , did very much startle him , that he knew not what to reply , and cryed out very much of the hainousness of his sins , that he should commit that horrid sin of murder ; and knew not what to do , for that left a deep impression upon his heart , that god must be a lyar , or else he ( in that condition of impenitency ) must be damned : yet he laid hold upon that promise that was unfolded to him , that if a sinner turned from his wicked ways , god would abundantly pardon ; and afterwards read on the verse that followed , isa . . . for my thoughts are not your thoughts , neither are your ways my ways , saith the lord. upon which considering , said , men cry out for death and vengeance , no mercy to be had from men ; but gods thoughts to a repenting sinner were life , for he delighteth not in the death of a sinner . about four or five days after this , he was puzled about his performing of duties , and resting only upon christ for salvation ; for he was tempted , if he perform duties , to rest upon them ; or to let them alone , and leave them off , if he must rest only upon christ . at which time h. b. coming to him , enquired how it was with him now ? and how he hoped to be saved ? he answered , by repentance and faith ; and i could easily tell you , to satisfie you , that i do repent , and do believe ; but truly so to do as i ought , i find it the hardest thing in the world : i do believe , and i do not ; i cannot tell how to believe that christ died for sinners , so as to throw my self wholly and fully upon him , and to think my tears and prayers will do me no good . but here , reader , we must take notice of the unwearied diligence of the devil , in using all means , from time to time , to undo , ruine , and wound the soul of this poor malefactor , who would not forbear to sollicit him to sin , after he was cast into prison for former iniquities he had committed ; for we cannot but judg that the devil was loath to lose such a prey , as his immortal soul , when he had brought him to the very mouth and gates of hell , to have him snatched out of his hands by the free grace of god ; the devil did work the more ( because he knew his time to tempt him was but short ) to blemish and eclipse the gracious work of god upon his heart , and cloud the glory of god's mercy in saving such a sinner . he was by some former acquaintance visiting of him , ( who shewed their love to a death-deserving sinner , no other way than by calling for drink , and desiring him to drink with them , ) overcome therewith , and after some former convictions of sin , and his lost estate , did twice relapse into the sin of drunkenness , whereby he caused many to fear that all this while he had no more than some common workings of the spirit ; and put us to a stand , that we knew not what would be the issue of these things ; but yet not daring to omit endeavors ( if possible ) as instruments , under god , to save his soul : we did after this , visit him again , and again , and set forth unto him the greatness of his sin , that he should sin yet more against the lord ; and in his affliction and chains to provoke the lord to greater wrath against his soul ; with many words to that purpose . after which , his soul was wounded , his heart was pierced , he knew not what to do ; he asked , may mercy be had for a backsliding sinner ? to which were given him some scriptures , where god called to backsliding sinners to return , and invited them to repent , and promised mercy to them if they did , even after they had done as wickedly as they could : and this was much enlarged upon before him from jer. . , to . verse . but god that had begun to awaken and to rouse his conscience , that he might set him up as a pattern of free-grace , would not let the devil go thus away with his soul , but brought him to a deep sense of his falling into sin , that he much lamented , with many tears , the sadness of his state , the misery of his soul , saying , what will become of my soul ! my immortal soul ! i cannot think what will become of my soul ! i deserve hell ten thousand times over , and have i now but one grain of sand left in the glass to work for eternity ! shall i neglect god any longer ? o i have neglected god too long already ! striking his hand upon his brest , and wringing his hands , and shaking his head , and weeping abundantly , said , lord , what shall i do ? o god , what shall i do ? lord , what will become of me ? if god had dealt justly with me , i had now been in hell , i had been dashed into hell when i murthered that poor innocent creature ; i wonder that i am not now in hell ; that such a wretch as i , am not in hell ; god hath been pleased to manifest more mercy to me in sparing of me , and affording me so long time for repentante , but i have neglected time , and relapsed into drunkenness and vain talking , time after time . i thought this place ( meaning the hole in newgate ) a hell upon earth , and did account it a heaven to be among the other prisoners ; but now god hath tried me , whether sin will be bitter and displeasing to me or not , i have this day ( being lords day ) been among the prisoners , and they asked me to play at cards , but instead of complying with them , i reproved them , and told them for my part , i had profaned sabbaths enough already , i have but a little time to work for my soul , and i ought not to neglect time now ; that they likewise ( he told them ) if they rightly considered , had something else to do , and striking his hand upon his breast , with much earnestness he cried out with tears . now , now , i find that god hath been at work , that god hath been at work upon my soul ; he hath , i am sure , been at work , for now i see so much evil , and tast such bitterness in sin , that i am not so much troubled that i am to die , nor so much troubled that i am in danger of hell , as to think i should so dishonour god , that i should so offend so gracious and merciful a god , and spurn against all his mercies . oh my soul , my immortal soul , i know not what will become of it to all eternity , it is the grief of my very soul that i have neglected time as i have done , now i see so much need of christ , and so much preciousness and excellency in christ , that if the greatest king in the world should come and throw his crown at my foot , and tell me i should enjoy it , and all the glory of it for millions of years , and should have my liberty presently , and should say , but it must be without christ , i would sooner choose to die this moment , nay , to be racked to pieces by ten thousand deaths , or burn ten years together , so i may have a christ , i speak freely from my heart , so far as i know my heart ; and now i find it is not only the devils tempting me , hath brought me to this , but this cursed , wretched , devillish heart of mine within . it is within me , so that it was in me before it was committed by me . i deserved hell ten thousand times over before i committed this horrid sin ; well , now i am resolved i will pray as much as i can , and weep , and wrestle with god , as if i were to have heaven for it ; but when i have done all , i will deny all , for my prayers and tears cannot save me , and i will fully and wholly throw my self at the feet of christ , and if i am damned , i will be damned there ; and more he spake to this purpose in mr. bakers hearing . about three dayes after , mr. b. coming to him , asked him how it was with him ? he told him that the devil was very busie with him , and did sollicite him grievously with his temptations , perswading him to have thoughts of escaping ; these things ( said he ) hindred my minding of god one part of the day , the other part of the day the devil fills me with drowsiness , that i can neither pray nor read , nor perform any duty , nor mind any one that prays with me ; sometimes he tempts me to delay , telling me that it is time enough for me to think of repentance when i am condemned , and that god is a merciful god ; and sometimes he tempted ▪ me to despair , telling me that it was impossible that so monstrous a sinner as i had been should be saved ; but blessed be god , that he made me to think that these were but the devils temptations , although i have been sadly hurried with them for some days ; but that which did most fill me with terror , was the frequent fears of the devils appearing personally to me , which did so exceedingly trouble me in prayer , so that i could say nothing when i kneeled down , but was fain to set the candle down before me , and durst not look one way or other , for fear i should see him ; and my thoughts have been so vain many times when you have been reading to me , that i have scarce heard a word of what you said . a discourse betwixt h. b. and t. s. prisoner in newgate , after some friends went away dissatisfied , fearing he had not a sense of his sin , &c. h. b. asking him how it was with him ? he replied , it was the grief of my soul that i should be no more affected , i think i have the most rocky , stony heart in the world , if ever there was an heart of iron , i have one , it is not fit to be called an heart . to have others come and pray with me , and instruct me , and see how they are affected with my condition , and yet i not at all affected with my own condition ; oh it is the grief of my soul to see it so ! and yet as soon as ministers and good people are gone , and i walk about and consider , oh it melts me , and breaketh my heart in pieces , to think i can mourn for sin , and grieve for sin no more , when god's people are with me ! because it causeth them to think that i am not sensible of my sin , though , blessed be god , i am in some measure sensible of the evil of my sins , and it is the grief of my soul to think how i have dishonoured god , and abused his mercy , and spurned against his mercy and patience . after this they both spent some time in prayer , and h. b. asked him , how it was with him now ? he said , i find so much sweetness in prayer , although i cannot find god loveth me , that to think i am not cursing and swearing as others are , but be confessing my sin , my very tears trickle down my cheeks for joy ; sometimes i find my heart so dead and dull in duty , that i know not what to say in prayer ; at other times i find my heart so full , and so much affected in duty , that i could wish i might never rise from off my knees . the night before the sessions , h. b. coming to him , asked him if it was not terrible to him to think of appearing before the bar of men ? he answered , methinks when i consider seriously of it , what a light poor thing mans bar is in comparison of gods bar , yet mans bar is enough to daunt one , to hear them say ; take him jaylor , tie him up : but to appear before gods bar , who knoweth all the sins that ever i committed ; he saw all my secret sins , and for god to say , take him jaylor , take him devil , shut him up in the dungeon of hell : oh! that is enough , i believe , to make the stoutest heart in the world to tremble , for there is no recalling that sentence , and i believe there are many go out of this prison , as i saw formerly three that went to be hanged , and they were almost drunk , and did sing all the way they went , but oh their note was soon changed ; when they came to stand before gods bar. the morning before he went to the sessions , h. b. and the prisoner spent some time in prayer , the prisoner in his prayer did earnestly beg of god that he would keep him from those temptations he might be exposed unto by bad company ; after this he was taken down to the sessions-house , but was not called , because the jury of middlesex did not sit that day . at night h. b. came to him again , and asking how it was with him , he answered , he found it no easie thing to be a true christian ; i thought before i came to prison , that reading a chapter now and then , and saying the lords prayer and the creed at night when i went to bed , would have saved me , though many times i was a sleep before i had half done ; but now i find it no such easie thing to get to heaven , nay , i find it the hardest thing in the world , for my prayers , and tears , and duties , if i could fall upon my knees , and never rise off from them while i live , they would not save me , for all this is but duty , but now i know there is merit enough in the blood of christ to save me ; and he did earnestly beg of god in prayer , that god would wash his soul in the blood of christ and blot out all his sins out of the book of his remembrance , and turn them behind his back ; though i as earnestly beg they might be all spread before my face , that i might have a more humble and throughly broken heart for them ; lord , one drop of that blood is enough to wash away all my sins ; and so after some conference h. b. left him for that night , who heard from one that was with him that night , that he spent that time most in prayer and reading . the second morning in the time of the sessions , mr. baker , that was a careful friend for the good of his soul , went to the sessions-house , where he found him well , and in good frame , and continued with him for the space of two or three hours that morning , after which time mr. baker was from him to hear the trial of the person that was arraigned , and afterward executed for the fire upon the house burnt down in mincing-lane , for the space of half an hour , or thereabout ; in which time , in company of other prisoners , he was much distempered with something that he had drank amongst them , which did take from him his understanding , that he was not his own man , we judge ( that though this did cast a blemish upon the profession that he had made after he came to newgate ) it was not a voluntary act , but some surprizal or design of the other upon him ; partly because the quantity was far less than what at other times he could drink without any disturbance to his head . a friend also heard hannah , the strumpet , that enticed him to his former wickedness : say , others have made you drunk to day , but i will make you drunk to morrow : but afterwards he was afraid to drink in their company , but rather denied to take what was necessary for his refreshment . the prisoners were much against his accusing of that harlot , and did much perswade him to take something to cheer his spirits ; and when t. d. was with him on saturday before he died , he charged him with this sin , which had caused such a blot upon all the profession he had made , and what great cause he had to be humbled before god , and desired him to tell him as a dying man , whether it was his voluntary act and delight in excessive drinking , or no ? and he did profess that he knew it was not the quantity that he had drunk , which was not neer so much as at other times he did use , without distempering himself . however , god was pleased to make him tast the bitterness of that cup , in that he had given such occasion to sinners to speak evil of the ways of himself ) upon the stones cried out ; oh that i should offend god! and though he did much lament the scandal , yet he always said , that he looked not upon it as a sin of drunkenness , but a circumvention ; or to use his own words , that something was put into the drink to distemper his head . on saturday during the sessions , he was arraigned , and pleaded guilty , confessing , with many tears , and wringing his hands , that he did , through the instigation of the devil , and enticement of that wretched creature ( meaning his harlot ) th●● he had committed that bloody fact , which was suc● an horror to his conscience , that he would not do it again for ten thousand worlds ; his carriage and confession was such , that he much moved the honourable bench and jury , and most of the beholders . on munday next , he received his sentence of death , after which time he was with the other condemned prisoners , and did pray with them four times a day , and read to them , and sung psalms with them . after the execution of the rest , he had time given , or procured him by the honourable sheriff of london , for some daies ; which he improved to the great advantage of his soul. on friday night he uttered these expressions in company with h. b. being the day that the other prisoners were executed . i find , saith he , so much sweetness , and delight , and pleasure in gods ways , and so much folly in the ways of sin , that if there were no heaven to reward , nor any hell to punish , i could not but love the waies of god , and the people of god ; o it is so sweet to be in company with them , praying and conversing with them , over what is in hearing others swear and curse , that i account it as great a mercy as any almost , that i may be in their company ; o methinks it is a heaven to me to be with gods ministers and people ; and prayer now is so sweet , that i grudge the time alwaies when i am off from my knees , or go down to the grate : now there is nothing in the world i prize like christ , one christ above ten thousand worlds ; now i do repent , and i do believe through mercy , it is the lord's work , but i earnestly beg and pray for a more humble , and a more broken heart , and a more through sense of sin , and a greater sorrow for it , and beg that god would enable me to come to him , to believe in him ; lord , saith he , faith is thy work , repentance is thy work , do thou enable me to repent , nay , thou hast enabled me to repent , and i do from the very bottom of my heart , lord , as far as i know my own heart : i repent that i should offend so gracious , and so merciful a god as thou art ; lord , and faith is thy work ; lord , saith he , hast not thou said , no man can come to thee except the father draw him ; draw me o lord , and i shall run to thee , enable me to believe , lord , and i shall believe ; nay , i do believe , lord , that jesus christ his blood was not shed in vain ; did christ die for nothing , lord , did he not die to save all repenting and believing sinners , of whom i am chief ? on saturday at night , in company with mr. baker , he discoursed thus , o my dear friend , taking me by the hand , come hither , saith he , and opening the coffin , look , here is the ship , saith he , in which i must lanch out into the ocean of eternity : and is it not a terrible thing ( saith he ) to see ones own coffin and burying cloaths , when at the same time i am as well as you ; do you think it would not daunt you , and to go to the gallows to have the halter , and to die there ? were this for the sake of the gospel , i should not care , were it ten hundred times a worse death , but to suffer this cursed death for such horrid sins , o this is sad ! why , said i , you have a greater mercy , in some respect , than those that die in their beds , for they are full of sickness and pain , and cannot so well mind repentance as you who are well , and have nothing else to mind . ( ah sir , saith he , their sins are of a far less nature than mine , and so they do not need so much repentance as mine do ; my dying for such horrid sins makes my repentance to be so much the more hard . oh , saith he , i believe it , it is a hard work to die , i could carry it out as bravely as any , ( do you think i could not ? ) but to consider that as i die , and am sentenced from gods bar , so i must be for ever , immediately either be everlastingly happy , or everlastingly miserable : to consider this , would make a stout heart to tremble ; those poor creatures that were here the other night , ( meaning the other condemned prisoners ) they know not what it is to be in an eternal state , and if they are gone to hell , o lord , how miserably are they disappointed , who hoped for to have gone to heaven , and are sent from thy bar to endless burning : lord , what a mercy is it that i have a little time longer left , let it be improved to thy glory , and let my soul live , and i shall praise thee . the last lords-day he lived , he desired to be alone , and spent it in wrestling with god by prayer , and in other duties in order to his preparation for his great change by death , that then he expected the next day , in which duties he found so much of god , that he had some fore-tasts of the joys of heaven , and when we asked him what of god he had found that day , he replyed , that he had such pleasure and delight in mourning for sin , and praying unto god , that he was loath to come off from his knees ; at night there were some ministers that sate up with him , and spent that night in prayer with him , and for him , and in conference ; on munday morning came t. d. to him before day ( thinking it was his last day , for an order was sent on friday for his execution on munday ) and said to him , thomas , how is it with you now , your last day begins to dawn ? he said , blessed be god i am not affraid to die , because i hope i shall go to jesus christ ; after some time in prayer for him , we desired him to spend some time in that duty , which he performed with so much affection , and earnest pleading with god , that all the company were exceedingly melted , and their hearts beyond ordinary measure warmed , and raised , that the room did ring with sighs and groans ; and there was such a mighty presence of the spirit poured out upon him , and on those that joyned with him , that we do not remember the time when ever we had experience of the like ; in which prayer , after the confession of his sins , he begged earnestly for pardon , and for an interest in christ , saying , o lord , wilt thou let me die without a christ ? shall i leave this world before thou smilest upon my soul ? thou hast promised pardon , and mercy , and salvation to those that do repent , and to those that do believe ; lord , i do repent , i do believe , if i know my own heart , i do repent , i do believe ; lord , i roll my self upon thy son , i cast my self at his foot for mercy ; thou wouldst be just if thou dost damn me , but thou hast pardoned others , and it will be to the praise of thy free-grace to pardon me ; lord , shall those prayers that have been made , and all those tears that haue been shed for me , and all those instructions which have been given me , be all in vain ? with many other expressions in that prayer , which wonderfully affected the hearts of those that were with him ; that afterwards we looked upon one another , wondering at the grace of god towards him , that one so wicked all his days ; so young ( being . years old ) so lately acquainted with the wayes of god , should have such a spirit of prayer poured out upon him : after this he prayed with more life and fervency then before , and the nearer he came to his end , the more we perceived god was ripening him for his glory . after this , we took our leave of him , not knowing but that was the last day ; for the cart stood below , and the coffin fetched down , and some of the honourable sheriffs of london's men , came into the prison ; but the sheriff of middlesex having not notice to be ready , his execution was deferred till wednesday following . reader , here take notice , that the report that the reason why he was not executed on munday , was because he was drunk , is an abominable falshood , for to our knowledge , that were with him , he did not eat nor drink that morning . when we went up to him again , we told him that we perceived he was not to dye that day , giving him caution , not to think there was any pardon intended for him : and one came from the sheriff to acquaint him with the reason of the delay of his execution . when his coffin was carried up to him again , one asked what he thought , and what were the workings of his heart , when he saw his coffin brought back , he said , he was much troubled , and it daunted him to see it ; for he could willingly have dyed that day to go to christ . on munday in the afternoon he had an excessive pain in his teeth ( as we judged occasioned by his leaving off his cloaths , and putting on some thin apparel to die in ; ) and that evening he expressed great willingness to dye and leave this world , he said , i see and find so much excellency in christ , that he is so pure , pure in grace , pure in holiness , pure in all things ; lord , i count it an hell to be upon earth , i so long to be where i might enjoy thee : and he spent some time in prayer ( notwithstanding his pain ) with much affection , wherein he said , the pain of thee teeth was great , but the pain of hell was greater ! on tuesday , the day before he died , after some time spent in prayer both by him and h. b. being full of joy , he expressed himself thus ; o my dear friend , what a welcome shall i give you when you come to heaven ; and say to you , come , see , come , see , this is the glory that you told me of , but all that you ever told me , was nothing to what i have found , o what a place is this ! o how shall we love one another then ! sure it cannot be , but heaven must be a glorious place , where god , and christ , and angels be . the night before he died , a minister came to thomas savage , and after other serious discourse , for satisfaction of a christian friend that had seen him before , he demanded of him what were now the grounds of his hopes of salvation ? he made this reply ; god both in infinite mercy made me deeply sensible of great sins , and not only of them , but of the vileness of my heart and nature , and god hath made me to abhor my self for my sins , and i hope truly to repent of them , for that which hath been the delight of my soul , is now as bad as hell ; and god hath given me to see , that all my own prayers and tears , and all the prayers of all the good people that come to me , are not able to save : a christ alone ; i throw my self at the feet of christ for mercy , and if i perish , i will perish there . i feel longings and breathings after christ , and love him more than my life ; i long to be with him , and i would not be to live any longer ; this world is a little hell because of sin ; i fear not death , for i hope the sting of it is taken out for me . this last night before his death , he desired us to sit up with him , in order to his better preparation for the great work he had to do the next day , that we might wrestle with god on his behalf , that when death approached so near unto him , he might have some nearer accesses of god into his soul , that when pale death stared him in the face , he might see god's smiling countenance ; which opportunity we readily embraced , and spent the former part of the night in prayer , till two of the clock in the morning ; about which time he desired us to go down into the lodge , that he might have some part of the night for prayer and meditation alone , and to discourse a while with his friend mr. baker , to whom he most of all did open his very heart , and spake more freely to , than to any others ; ( whom for that reason we left with him ) and when we were gone down , his friend being with him , who told us afterwards , he fell into admiration , and said , what a prodigy am i ? what a wonder of mercy , that god should incline the hearts of his ministers to come and pray with me , and pour out their souls in prayer thus for me ? for me a murtherer ; for me a drunkard ; for me so vile and sinful ? well , i cannot but love god , and though i go to hell , yet i will love god for his goodness and graciousness to me already manifested in this world ; yea , though i should be damned for my sin , yet i could , and would love god. what , would they venture to come and pray with me a murtherer ? how did they know but i might have murthered some of them ? pray for me ! wrestle for me ! well , i know god loves me ; i am sure god loves me . when he was in prayer , some of us heard him say ; now lord i am coming to thee , thou art mine , and christ is mine , and what need i be afraid of death ? lord give me some sense , and some signe of thy love , that when my soul shall be separated from my body , it might be received into glory . afterwards when he looked upon his cloaths he had put on to dye in , said , what! have i got on my dying cloaths ? dying cloaths did i say ? they are my living cloaths , the cloaths out of which i shall go into eternal glory , they are the best cloaths that ever i put on . about four of the clock in the morning we went up to him again , full of expectations what he would say to us , and what we should hear from him , and t. d. stood behind him and took his expressions as he spoke them , from his own mouth ; and first he told us , i account it a great mercy that god hath shewed me the evil of sin , before he cast me into hell , sin hath not only brought my body to the grave , but my soul in danger of everlasting burnings . the lord will have mercy on me i hope ; i am filled with joy , i am no more afraid to dye , than to stand in this place , the lord make me thankful . the lord hath been working on my soul ; for it was not i that could pray , nor refrain from company , nor delight in any thing that is good ; i have cause to bless god that ever i was taken ( and this we have heard him often say ) for if i had escaped i had gone on in my sin , and might have lost my soul for ever . one asked him which he thought was worse , hell or sin ? using some gesture of body , said , hell is very dreadful , but sin is worse than hell , because sin brings mens souls to hell , and sin is that which offendeth god. one asked him what he thought of heaven ? with a smiling countenance said , heaven ! it cannot be , but heaven must be an excellent place , for it is an holy place . we spake to him concerning his coffin , that was by him , whether it did not trouble , and amaze him to have it in his sight ; he replyed , with all my soul i could go into my coffin ; oh it is a comfortable place . ( he spake it with joy ) i can comfortably die . i have found such a deal of joy and comfort , that i would not for a world have been without it . we enquired , whether death did not affright him , morning light will presently appear , he answered , death indeed did trouble me , but now not at all , i long for day , i am not daunted at death . die ! it is nothing : this life is nothing : but to die eternally , and to loose god , and christ , and heaven , that is death . hell torments is not so much , as to be shut from the presence of god. alas ! who would not die this death to go to jesus christ ? when my body is upon the gibbet , my soul shall be carried by angels into heaven . my heart is so drawn out after god , that i could leave this world to be with him . this world is nothing , those that have the pleasure of it , they have nothing . i desire to die , because i long to be with christ , there i shall never sin more ; there is no sin , but joy , where i shall sing hallelujahs & praise to god. we asked what he thought of the company of gods people , for he now had had experience of company , good and bad . he said , i had rather be here ( meaning the hole in newgate ) with bread and water with such company , than to have the company of wicked persons , with the greatest dainties . it was wicked company that drew me away . i account it the greatest mercy , to have the prayers of gods people for me , had i had my deserts , i had been now in hell , where i should have had no prayers , no instructions ; god doth love me , for he hath inclined the hearts of his people and ministers to pray for me , and their prayers have prevailed . being asked what promises he found to be his support against the guilt of sin , now he was to die , he alledged these , repeating the words himself , whosoever will , let him come and drink of the waters of life freely ; and he that confesseth and forsaketh his sin , shall find mercy ; & let the wicked forsake his way , & the unrighteous man his thoughts , and let him return unto the lord , and he will have mercy on him , and to our god , for he will abundantly pardon . this word ( abundantly pardon ) did often refresh his soul ; i have sinned abundantly , but god will pardon abundantly . after these , he mentioned another , viz. this is a faithful saying , and worthy of all acceptation , that jesus christ came to save sinners , of whom i am chief : & said , i do rely and throw my self upon jesus christ , i do believe there is merit enough in him , and all-sufficiency in him to save me ; it is nothing that i can do , will save me . he complained , that it was the grief of his soul , that he could love god no more , and love christ no more for his mercy towards him , in giving him so much time , & so many helps , in sending so many ministers to instruct him , but added , when several ministers had been with me , i threw off all , & returned to sin , & did as vainly as any . i could not have repented , and believed of my self , it is the work of god. he often said , i fear not death , it was nothing with him to die , & to go to christ . he often said , that he had rather die imediatly , having an interest in christ than to live a thousand years in this world , in the enjoyment of all the pleasures of it , without christ . and , that he had found more pleasures and delight in the ways of god , since he came into prison , than ever he found in all the ways of sin . he confessed his sins , saying , he first neglected and profaned the sabbath , and said this was the beginnig of all his wickedness , that on the sabbath morning , he studied what company to go into , in what place of sin he might spend the sabbath , then to wicked society , then to ale-houses , then to brothel-houses , then to murder , then to theft , then to newgate , and yet at last he hoped to heaven . he lamented , saying , i have striven to dishonour god , and to run into sin : oh that i should spend so much time in serving of the devil , and now have but a little moment of time to spend in the service of god , and to the glory of god. this discourse being ended , we desired him now on his last morning before he went into eternity , to pray with us , and he willingly consented , and his prayer was as followeth , being taken from his mouth by thomas doolittel , that also took in writing his preceding discourse ; verbatim . the prayer of thomas savage in newgate , with those that sate up with him the night before his execution . o most merciful and ever blessed lord god , i beseech thee , o lord , look down upon me with an eye of pity if it be thy blessed will , it is thy infinite mercy that i am on this side the grave , and out of hell : o lord i have deserved to be cast into torments to all eternity . how have i offended thee , and run on in sin , and thought i could never do enough to abuse thy mercy ! pardon the sins that i have committed , wash that bloud from off my soul , let not my soul perish to eternity . it was 〈◊〉 horrid crime to shed innocent bloud ; pardon that sin , o lord , let the blood of christ cry more for mercy , than the blood of that creature cry for vengeance . o lord , thou hast been merciful to me in giving me time to repent , for ought i know , her soul is undone for ever , lord forgive me , lord forgive me , i knew not what i did . forgive my sabbath-breaking , lying , cursing , forgive my drunkenness , blot them out of the book of remembrance , turn them away behind thee . lord i have repented of them from my soul , that ever i should offend god , so good , and so merciful and gracious , i do believe on thee , and do wholly throw my self upon thee . i acknowledge it would be just in thee to damn my soul , but it will be infinite mercy in thee to save me , and what free grace will it be in the to pardon me . it is dreadful to lose the body , but how dreadful will it be to lose the soul to all eternity ! lord let it not be in vain that i have had so many instructions , o let me not go down to hell , let my soul bless and praise thy name for ever , for what thou hast done for me , thou hast been at work upon my heart , and thou hast helped me to repent , the lord be praised . lord i desire to be more and more humbled under the sense of my sins , for they are dreadfull ; there are many souls that have not committed those sins that are now in hell. o what mercy is it that i am not in those flames , in those devouring flames ! lord as thou hast spared me here , spare me to eternity . let not my soul perish , lord reveal thy self unto me , make known thy love unto me , tell me my sins are pardoned , tell me , that i have an interest in christ before i go hence , and be seen no more , that i might leave some testimony behind me , that i might tell thy ministers , what thou hast done for me , and tell thy people what thou hast done for my soul ; lord this will not be only for my satisfaction , but for thy glory . blessed lord , pardon the sins that i am guilty of , and take away this cursed base heart of mine , break this rocky stony heart in pieces , these sins of murder and drunkenness , &c. were in my heart before , i thought no eye did see me commit those sins , but thou didst see me , lord turn my heart to thee , and take away this heart of stone , and take away this cursed nature ; for it was this cursed nature that brought me to these sins , and to this end , and i was in danger of losing my soul to all eternity ; but , lord , though i am a great sinner , christ is a great saviour , he is able to save me from my sins , though they be never so great ; i do believe , lord , i speak freely from my heart , so far as i know my heart , i do believe , it is my grief i can sorrow no more for my sins , which have been the cause of my offending thee so long , and so much . one drop of thy blood sprinkled upon my soul , will pardon all my sins ; lord , cross the black line of my sins with the red line of thy blood : i am not able to answer for one vain thought , much less for all my horrid crimes . lord , save my immortal soul , that i might sing praise to thee to all eternity . thou hast pardoned manasseh that was a great sinner , and mary magdalen , and paul , that were great sinners , and the thief upon the cross ; and thy mercies are as great , thy mercy and thy love to repenting sinners is not shortned ; though my sins be great , yet thy mercies are greater than my sins ; lord , be with me in my death , then let me have some comfortable assurance of thy love unto my soul , of the pardon of my sin ; do thou be my god and my guide now , and to all eternity . amen . this prayer he put up with much earnestness , with great brokenness of heart for sin , that all that joyned with him , were exceedingly affected ▪ and blessed god for the spirit of prayer they discerned god had so plentifully poured out upon him . after we had some other discourse with him , we took our leave of him , telling him we purpo●… 〈◊〉 see him again at the place of execution . after two or three hours , when the time of his going from newgate drew near , we were willing to return to see him once more there , and the rather , because one minister that had not yet been with him , was desirous to visit him : and then again after some few words with him , we asked him to go to prayer again , once more , saying now , this will be the last time that we shall pray with you in this place . and he did perform this duty with great liveliness , that now he excelled himself , and the nearer he came to his end , the more fervently we perceived he prayed ; but we took notice , that in this last duty in newgate he was much in praising god , and blessing god for his mercy to him , to our great astonishment . after a few words , when this duty was over , we took some of us our final farewel of him ; & he expressing his thanks to gods people for their prayers for him , and to the ministers for their love and pains with him , was commended by us to the grace of god , saying , thomas , the lord be with you , the lord of heaven be with you , o the lord of mercy help you , and have compassion on you . this morning he expressed himself to his friend h. b. thus , oh my friend , we cannot tell how glorious a place heaven is , but if once i get thither , & could drop down a letter to you , and tell you of the glorious things i there shall find , how would it rejoyce your heart ? and to this friend parting with him , said , i know god loveth me , and that i am going to the kingdom of heaven . the last speech of thomas savage at the place of his execution at ratcliff . gentlemen , here i am come to die a cursed & ignominious death , and i most justly deserve it , for i have murthered a poor innocent creature , and for ought i know , have not only murthered her body , but if god had no more mercy on her soul , than i had of her body , she is undone to all eternity ; so that i deserve not only death from men , but damnation from god. i would have you all that look upon me , take warning by me ; the first sin i began with , was sabbath-breaking , thereby i got acquainted with bad company , and so went to the ale-house , from the ale-house to the bawdy-house , there i was perswaded to rob my master , as also to murder this poor innocent creature , for which i am come to this shameful end . i was drawn aside , i say , by ill company , pray take heed of that , for it will not only bring your bodies to the grave , but your souls to hell ; have a care of neglecting the sabbaths , it is that which hath not only brought my body to the grave , but my soul in danger of eternal torments . and try the waies of god , for , the lord be praised , i have found so much of excellency and sweetness in gods waies , that i bless god that ever i came into a prison . and now , though i am leaving this world , i know i shall go to a better place ; for i have repented from my soul for all my sins , not because i am to die for them , but to see that ▪ i should do that whereby i should deserve hell ten thousand times over , and so dishonour god. now the lord have mercy on my soul. the prayer of thomas savage at the place of execution . o most merciful and for ever blessed lord god , i beseech thee look down upon my poor immortal soul , which now is taking its flight into another world , which now is ready to appear before thy bar , lord , i beseech thee prepare me for it , and receive my soul into the arms of thy mercy , and though my body die , and i come to die this shameful death , yet let my soul live with thee for ever ; lord , pardon all the horrid sins that i have committed , the sabbath-breaking , lying , swearing , cursing , vncleanness , and all the rest of my sins that ever i have committed ; lord , give me a n●w heart , and give me faith , that i may lay hold and throw my self fully and wholly upon thee ; enable me , o lord , give me saving repentance , that i may come to thy bar , and thence be received into glory , let me not be a prey to devils to all eternity : let not my soul perish ▪ though my body die , let my soul live ; lord , let me not be shut out from thy presence , and let not all the prayers , and tears , and counsels , and instructions that have been made and shed on my behalf , be in vain ; pitty my poor soul , lord , my immortal soul . lord , it would be just with thee to cast me into everlasting burning . i have been a great sinner , but christ is a great saviour . o lord , thou hast pardoned great sinners , and thou canst do it , lord , and lord , wilt thou not do it ? lord , let me not be a fire-brand of hell , and a prey to devils to all eternity , let me not then be shut up with devils and damned souls , when my soul takes its flight into another world ; lord , i haue repented for what i have done , from the bottom of my heart , i have repented ; and lord , if thou wouldst damn me , thou wouldst be just , but how infinitely more would it be for the glory of thy free grace to save such a sinner as i am ; good lord pour down thy spirit upon my soul , o tell me that i have interest in christ's blood , good father , good lord , before i go hence ; lord , i am willing , i am willing to leave this world , i ●an prize thee above all , there is nothing i can prize like to thee , wilt thou not receive my soul ? receive it into thy arms , and say , come thou blessed of my father , dear father , for jesus christ sake pitty my poor soul , for pitties sake . lord , it is not my prayers , or tears , will save my soul , but if ever i am saved , it must be through free grace , and the blood of christ , and if there be not enough in that blood , lord , i am willing to be damned . lord , look down upon my poor soul , and though i have been such a sinner , thou art able to pardon me , and wash me , apply one drop of thy blood to my soul , lord , my immortal soul , that is more worth than ten thousand worlds ; it is true , lord , i confess i have taken a great deal of pleasure in sin , i have run on in sin , and could not invent where to go on thy day , and was wont to study into what place , and into what company i might go upon the sabbath-day : forgive me , lord , wash me , receive me into thy arms , o lord ; oh for one glimps of mercy ; lord , if thou wilt please to reveal thy self to me , i shall tell it to all that behold me ; it is a mercy , lord , that i am not in hell , and that thou shewest me the bitterness of sin before i come into hell ; it is a mercy , lord , that i have had the prayers , converse and instructions of so many of thy ministers and people ; lord , receive my soul , one smile , lord , one word of comfort for jesus sake ; o let me not go out of this world , let not my soul perish , though i killed a poor innocent creature , lord deal not with me as i dealt with her , but pitty me , pitty me for jesus christ's sake , amen . one asked him in the cart , well , now thomas , how is it with your soul , what sense have you of god's love ? sir , i thank god , though infinite mercy , i find god loves me , and that now i can chearfully go . after his cap was over his eyes , he used these expressions , lord jesus receive my spirit . lord , one smile . good lord , one word of comfort for christ's sake , tho death make separation between my soul and body , let nothing separate between thee and my soul to all eternity . good lord hear me . good father hear me . o lord jesus receive my soul . whilst he did thus pathetically express himself to the people , especially to god in prayer , there was a great moving upon the affections of those who stood by , and many tears were drawn from their eyes by his melting speeches . all this was the more remarkable in this young man , being under sixteen years of age when he was first apprehended . after he was turned off the cart , he strugled for a while , heaving up his body , which a young man ( his friend ) seeing , to put him quickly out of his pain , struck him with all his might on the breast several times together , then no motion was perceived in him , and hanging some considerable time after that , and as to all outward appearance dead , insomuch as one said to another friend of his , namely mr. b. now he is in eternity , and the people beginning to move away , the sheriff commanded him to be cut down , and being received in the arms of some of his friends , he was conveyed by them into a house not far distant from the place of execution , where being laid upon a table , unto the astonishment of the beholders , he began to stir and breath , and rattle in his throat , and it was evident his life was whole in him ; from the table he was carried to a bed in the same house , where he breathed more strongly , and opened his eyes , and his mouth ( though his teeth were set before ) and offered to speak , but could not recover the use of his tongue ; but his reviving being known , within hours the officers came to the house where he was , and conveyed him to the place of execution again , and hung him up again , until he was quite dead , whence he was carried by his mourning friends to islington , where he now sleepeth in the bed of his grave , until the morning of the resurrection ; from whence , though buried in dishonour , he will then be raised in glory . thus you have had the relation of one that was but young in years , but old in wickedness : you have read of his sabbath-breaking , profaneness , swearing , lying , stealing , drunkenness , fornication , and the like sins , which he confessed himself frequently and deeply guilty of ; and to compleat and fill up the measure of his sins , he added to the rest the horrid sin of murder . i believe you have scarcely heard of sin grown up to such maturity in so short a time , as it did in him , who when he was imprisoned , was under sixteen years of age . and what could any expect should be the issue & product of sin arrived to such perfection , but death , and wrath , and the vengeance of eternal fire ? but behold here an instance of free grace ! his sins did abound , but gods grace did super-abound . sometimes god doth sow the seed of grace in the heart that is most unlikely to receive it , & reapeth great glory to his name by pardoning great sins . we read that when ephraim was bent upon wickedness , so that a man could hardly expect the restraining of gods anger any longer , but that it should kindle in his breast , & break forth in a flame to devour a people so rebellious , yet the lord expresseth himself in a way of wonderful mercy , and astonishing free grace , hos . . , . how shall i give thee up o ephraim ? how shall i make thee as admah ? how shall i set thee as zeboim ? my heart is turned within me ( not against ephraim , but towards him ) my repentings ( not mine anger ) are kindled together , i will not execute the fierceness of mine anger . and the reason is not drawn from any thing in ephraim to move him , but only from himself , for i am god , & not man. if one man had been so provoked by another , & it had lain in the power of his hand to have avenged himself upon his enemy , surely he would not have spared , or shewn any favour ; but because he is god & not man , whose thoughts are not like our thoughts , and whose mercies are not like our mercies , but further removed above them , than the heavens are removed above the earth ; in comparison with whose mercies , our most tender mercies are no less than cruelty : therefore , because he is god & not man , and herein would act like himself , he hath pity , & sheweth favour unto ephraim . take another instance in israel , who had made god to serve with his sins , and wearied him with his iniquities , having pressed god herewith as a cart is pressed with sheaves , and nothing but vengeance could rationally be expected , & that god should say as at another time ( for god doth not shew such favor to all , & at all times , that the freeness of it might be the more evident ; ) ah , i will ease me of my adversaries , and avenge me on my enemies ; and i , even i am he that will make such audacious sinners see and feel what an evil and fearful thing it is to affront and provoke me ; yet read how graciously god pardoneth israel , declaring the ground of it to be only for the glory of his own name , isa . . . i , even i am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake , and will not remember thy sins . surely no motive from this young mans person , or any good previus disposition ( he being so exceeding vitiated by such defiling sins ) could in the least incline god to have mercy upon him ; but the motive was taken from himself , & his own bowels . he had mercy on him only , because he would have mercy , & compassion on him , because he would have compassion . if some , yea many are passed by , who have escaped the more gross pollutions which are in the world through lust , & never committed such god-provoking sins , as you read in the narrative that he committed ; but for lesser faults are punished everlastingly , when god hath had mercy upon him , and thrown the skirt of his love over him , and wrought a gracious change in him ; we must say with our saviour , matth. . . even so father , because it so seemed good in thy sight ! it is through free grace that any are saved ; but in the salvation of such a one , god hath demonstrated the exceeding riches of his grace towards him through jesus christ , eph. . . let not any from this example of gods free grace presume to continue & indulge themselves in a sinful course , hoping to obtain mercy at the last as he hath done , and to turn gods glory into shame , & his grace into wantonness : for it is a rare example , hardly again to be parallel'd : will a man run himself through the body , because some have been healed of such wounds ? will a man drink down poyson , because some by an antidote have expelled the poyson and escaped with life ? is not presumption the bane and ruin of millions of souls ? may not god cut you off in the act of some of your sins , and not give you time for repentance ? and if life doth continue , may not he deny you the grace of repentance ? doth not custome and continuance in sin harden your heart , and fasten you in satans chains ? hath not god threatened that such who cry peace , peace to themselves , though they walk after the imagination of their hearts , to add drunkenness to thirst , that he will not spare them , but his anger and his jealousie shall smoke against them , and that he will blot out their name from under heaven , deut. . , . the great improvement which should be made of gods gracious dealings with this young man , is for all to admire gods free grace ; and especially for poor distressed souls , that are upon the brink of hell in their own apprehensions , and are ready to despair of gods mercy , because of the greatness of their sins ; to take encouragement from hence , and hopes , that there may be mercy in store for them ; they have not been murderers , whatever their sins have been , and if a murderer hath been received into favour , why may not they hope ? let such think with themselves that it is free grace hath saved him , and let them sue out at the throne of grace , for the same grace which is freely tendred unto them . a recollection out of this narrative of those passages , from which in charity we do conclude , that the work of grace was really wrought in his soul ; or the evidences of t. s. of his title to eternal happiness . . he bitterly lamented his sins , and loathed himself for them , especially as they were against a good and gracious god , according to ps . . . and luc. . . ( ) he was deeply sensible of , and grieved for , the corruption of his heart , from whence his actual sins did proceed , according to psal . . . ( ) he mourned over his back-slidings , because god was thereby dishonoured . ( ) he found it hard to believe , yet professed he would roll himself , and rely upon the merits of christ alone for salvation , and if he perished , he would perish there . ( ) he was much in a little time in duty , yet did protest he saw the insufficiency of them to justifie or save him , according to phil. . . ( ) he made choice of christ before all , before life it self , according to phil. . . ( . ) he longed for morning when he was to die , because he desired to be with christ , according to phil. . . ( ) he greatly loved god , because much was forgiven him , according to luke . . and said , though god should damn him , yet he could and would love god. ( ) he loved the company of gods people , and professed , he had rather be with gods people in prison , with bread and water , than with the ungodly with liberty and greatest dainties , according to joh. . . ( . ) he blessed god that ever he was taken and imprisoned ; thinking it better to be in chains , and brought to die , than to go on in sin . ( ) he was most broken and melted for his sins , when those that came to visit him were gone from him , and not in their presence ; when hypocrites mourn before others , and are less affected when alone ; yet this was sometimes his trouble , lest god should lose the glory of the work he had wrought in him . this was observed by one that was usually with him , when others went from him . ( ) he wept for joy at that time , when he could not find that god loved him ; that he was not cursing , and swearing , and sinning against god , as others did , and he himself formerly . ( ) he found and tasted more sweetness in the waies of god , in praying , and mourning for sin , than he ever found in the commission of sin . ( ) he accounted sin to be worse than hell . ( ) he had a spirit of prayer given to him so plentifully , that it was an astonishment to many that joyned sometimes with him , considering how ignorant he was a little before , according to acts . . for behold , he prayeth . ( ) he looked upon the loss of god , more than than the torments of hell , and feared it more . ( ) he prized heaven , because there he should sin no more . these were his own expressions , and what we observed that were frequently with him : and reader , do thou pray , and watch , that thou maist not be guilty of this young man's sins , but pray , and labour that thou mightest obtain the like evidences for heaven . a relation of what passed in the imprisonment , and at the execution of hannah blay . h. b. belonged to a bawdy-house in ratcliff , where t. s. used to frequent , and was always welcome so long as his mony lasted , but having spent his mony , and denied entertainment , except he brought more mony : to which he replied , he knew not where to have any , h. b. presently puts him upon robbing his master , ( which he could not easily accomplish , by reason of the diligence of the servant maid ) and to murther the maid rather than fail of getting the mony : which he accordingly did , & goes again to h. b. and tells her what he had done , then flies . but the justice of god pursued him so fast , that he was soon apprehended , and committed to newgate . after he had accused h. b. for putting him upon the murder , she was apprehended , and committed also . at the sessions she was endicted , and condemned for being accessary to the murther committed by t. s. in the time of her imprisonment , she was very rude and debauched , being seldom sober , except at such times when she could by no means procure drink to be drunk withal . she often endeavoured to make t. s. drunk with her , which she once or twice effected , & endeavoured very much to draw him off from his repentance , by driving his old trade of sin & wickedness . if any advised her to repentance , & to take care for the future estate of her soul , she would laugh at them , & reply in some such language as she had learned in the devils school , with which she was well stored . she was , from that sessions , reprieved till the next , fully perswading her self she should scape that bout , and spending her time according to her former course of living , taking as little care what should become of her soul , as if she had never offended a gracious god , & as of there was no devil to torment her , nor hell to be tormented in . but now sessions being again come , and she again brought down to the sessions-house in the old baily , had sentence to be executed at ratcliff where the fact was committed the night before her execution , the ordinary of newgate came to administer the sacrament to her , which she refused , saying , she could not die in charity with some ( whom she named ) judging them the cause of her second judgment & execution . the next day , being friday , feb. . she was conveyed in a cart from newgate to the place of execution , where she ended her wicked life by a shameful death , without the least sign of sorrow or repentance for her abominable whoredome and wickednesses : so that howsoever notoriously wicked she had been in her life , answerable thereunto was she in her shameful end , in impenitency and hardness of heart . tim . . . flee also youthful lusts . i am come this day to speak to you in the name of a dying man ; and dying mens words should leave living affections , and lasting affections upon hearts of the hearers . nay , that which is infinitely more , i am come to speak to you in the name of the living god : and therefore , i beseech you , be serious ; remember that we are not now about a laughing-business ; it is no less then for lives and souls : and for ought that i know , as you demean your selves now , it may fare with you to all eternity : and if that will make you mind what i say the more , know this , that what i shall now speak , is but a comment upon what was yesterday delivered in brief , from one that was in perfect health , and in the grave the same day . and who knows whether there be not some here alive , and in health , that before to morrow morning shall be lumps of clay , and this the last sermon that ever they shall hear ! wherefore i beseech you sirs , if you love the life of your souls , hearken as if you expected to die as soon as my sermon were ended . the shortness of my time , will give me leave to spend no time at all , by way of reflexion , upon the context ; but i shall immediately fall upon the words , as they lie before us : flee youthful lusts . in which you may observe , . an act , flee . . the object , lusts . . the quality of the object , youthful lusts . the doctrine that i shall take notice of from these words , is this . doct. that it is the great duty of young people , to be exceeding careful to avoid the sins which usually attend their age . or , if you please , that it highly concerns young men , to flee youthful lusts . it 's no cowardise to flee from sin . in the prosecution of this doctrine , i shall shew , . what are the common sins of young people . . what it is to flee from youthful lusts . . why they should flee from youthful lusts . . i shall apply it . i shall name some of those sins which young ones are subject to . first , young people are very apt to be disobedient to their parents , or masters . o how great a rarity is it , to see young people as ready to obey , as their parents are to command ! most children are children of belial ; that is , without a yoak . let parents command , advise , nay intreat , all 's to little purpose : how ready are they to break the bond which god and nature lay upon them to dutifulness ! though the command of god be plain enough , though his threatnings are terrible , and though this sin seldom goes unpunished in this life ; yet children take little or no notice of them : one would think that one scripture should scare them , prov. . . the eye that mocketh at his father , and desp●seth to obey his mother , the ravens of the valley shall pick it out , and the young eagles shall eat it . what is the english of that ? why , they shall come to an untimely end . have not the sad complaints of many , at tyburn , sufficiently demonstrated this to be true ? have not many cried out , with a halter about their neck , children , if you value your lives and souls , take heed of disobeying your parents . that was the sin which brought me to this untimely and shameful end . . another youthful sin is , lying : poor children quickly learn this lesson of their father the devil . it is not without good reason , that the psalmist , psal . . . gives such a character of wicked children which went astray from the womb , telling lies and the older they grow , the more skilled they be in this devilish art : it 's like they are not ignorant , that it is a sin that cuts the bonds of all society : it may be they are told how dear ananias and saphira paid for one lie , act. . . nay , though the word of truth tell them more than once , that liars must dwell with their father the devil , in that black prison , hell ; though they hear of a lake of fire and brimgone that burns for ever , [ rev. . . ] and that such as they are , must be cast into it : yet for all this they 'll venture still . . sabbath-breaking is another youthful sin . o how little do most of the young people of this city , 〈◊〉 the sanctifying of the sabbath ? doth not the multitude of apprentices and children that wander up and down monefields on the lord's-day , speak this to be too true ? they dare not make bold with their masters time on the week-daies ; but as for god's day , that they spend as if god had set apart one day in the week for young people to sleep , drink , and play in . they dare as well eat a piece of their fingers , almost , as to do that of another day , which they do then : and the truth of it is , they look upon the displeasure of a dying man as terrible ; but the anger of a holy god ▪ they make light of . o! little do they think what precious time that is ! their souls are naked , and they may then have cloathing ; they are starving , and they may then have food , the market is then open ; provisions for eternity may then be had . but , o prodigious madness ! the hearts of most young ones speak in this language , as for christi heaven , and soul , let them go ; we have better things to think on ; more weighty matters to mind . and is it true indeed , o young man ? what , is the company of vain wretches , like thy self , the wanton embraces of a whorish woman , the turning off thy cups , and damnation , more needful than the hearing of sermons , than praying , and reading , and salvation ? sure you shall not alwaies be of that mind ! o! little do you imagine how dear you shall pay for all the pleasures you have on the sabbath , out of god's house . this , this was the sin which lay like a load upon the soul of this poor young man , the profaning of the sabbath ; that was the bane of him . this carried him out of god's way , into the devils quarters . o how bitterly did he bemoan himself for this sin , as the cause of all the rest ! o! ( said he ) when i should have been begging the life of my soul , i was plotting the death of my soul and body too . did none of you stand by the cart , when he wept so bitterly , and cried to the lord to forgive this great and dreadful sin ? did none of you hear how earnestly he begged of you to have a care of that sin , as you loved your lives and souls . o wretch ( said he ) that i was ! i studied how i might spend the lords day in the devils work . i thought i could never dishonour god enough : and that time that i should have served god most in , i did most for satan : in them , then , i plaid my mad pranks ; i went into the church indeed , sometimes , but ( i may speak it with shame and deep sorrow now ) i never heard one whole sermon all the time i was with my master , and indeed , i laughed at those that spent the sabbath in hearing of sermons , and praying ; and looked upon them as the veriest fools in the world . i was glad when the sabbath came , that i might have time to run to my vile comrades : i rejoyced that i could then go to satisfie my cursed lusts with whorish women . o! tell young m●n from me , that the breaking of the sabbath is a costly and dangerous sin . sirs , the substance of this sermon i received from his mouth : and will you not believe a dying man ? do you think he did but jest ? 't was on the sabbath day he went to a whore ; 't was on the sabbath he robbed his master , and 't was on the sabbath that he killed the maid . but because this sin is epidemical , i leave a short story with you , and desire you to think of it ; and the if you like what follows , break the sabbath still . the story is this ; a dear friend of mine was preaching about the sanctifying of the sabbath , and had occasion to make mention of that man that by the special command of god was stoned to death for gathering sticks upon the sabbath-day . whereupon one of the congregation stood up , and laughed , and made all the hast he could out of the church , and went to gathering of sticks , though he had no need of them ; but when the people came from the sermon , they found this man stark dead , with the bundle of sticks in his arms , lying in the church-porch . and yet for all this , there stands a young man in that corner that makes nothing of idling away the sabbath ; and there sits another that minds not the lord's day , except it be to get into wicked company , and take his pleasure in it . and how canst thou endure to hear of this , without trembling ? but i fear thy heart is so hard , that thou art ready to rage against this reproof . well , if the case be so , i have done with thee : but , believe it , god hath not yet do●e with thee , and the devil hath not done with thee ; and though thy conscience say nothing now , yet i tell thee , that hath not done with thee neither . let none think i am tedious upon this head : if young men will but reform this sin , i promise i will never tell them of it more . christians ( i hope that there be some such here ) would it not be a blessed sight to see the fields , the tavern , the whore-houses empty , and the churches full ? would it not be a blessed reformation ? o when shall it once be ! which is the sweeter musick , to hear the air eccho with the confused hollowing and roaring of lewd young men playing upon the lord's day , or to hear the sound of singing of psalms , repeating of sermons , praying , reading of scriptures ? which is like to end best ? isa . . . amos . isa . . , . ezek. . . . another youthful sin is , mispending of time . young ones think they have time enough before them ; and therefore make nothing of trifling it away . how far are most from following the apostles counsel , in redeeming of the time ? what , do you think many hours discourse of filthy bawdy stories , is that redeeming of time ? is sitting up whole nights to play at cards and dice , redeeming of time ? is robbing your selves of sleep , to lie in the bosom of daliah , redeeming time ? if this be redeeming of time , then some of our young ones , and many of our gallants , redeem time bravely . 't was a notable one , that of seneca ; if ( saith he ) one ask me for my purse , i am not ve●y willing to give it him ; if he beg all my estate , i think it a mad request : but if he ask me to pass away time with him , two or three daies of time , i pass not much upon it , but it 's easily granted ; and thus one of the most precious things in the world is vilified . o little do people think how glad they shall be one day of one of those hours that they spent in foolery ! oh call time again , will be the language of more than one , upon a death-bed . could you talk with some of the mad young ones that are in hell , that lived five or six years ago in as much pleasure as you do now , and spent their time like you ; but it may be , little dreamed of being in hell so soon , but might reckon of forty or fifty years to live ; could you , i say , talk with them , and ask them what they think of time now ? they would quickly say , oh! a world for one praying hour . oh! where are the people to be found , that seriously consider , that there is not a moment of time but we must be accountable for . 't was excellently spoke of that poor young man , when he was in newgate amongst the ●●mmon prisoners ; one sabbath-day they asked 〈◊〉 to play at cards with them : oh ( saith he ) you and i have something else to do with our time , than to play at cards ! is it now a time for us to be sporting away the sabbath , when we have but one poor sand left to work for eternity ? . another youthful sin is , keeping bad company . are there not many of the devils emissaries , that make it their business to decoy poor young ones ? o what a happiness do they promise them ! a goodly happiness indeed to carry them to the devil ! 't was not without cause that david ( in psal . . . ) did pronounce them blessed that had least to do in wicked company . whatever deluded creatures think of their mad jovial company ; one that is well in his wits , looks upon their society as an emblem of hell , psal . . the young man , upon whose account we are here met this day , told me , that two or three wicked fellows first , got him out to spend a penny ; but little did he think whither they were leading of him ; and after they had been at one place , they carried him to another , till at last they brought him to that house , out of which few go without their deaths-wound . this was the general complaint of them that went this last assizes to tyburn . and yet how are silly souls pleased with such company ; whose greatest kindness is to make them go merrily to hell ? and are they still such sweet natur'd creatures , that you can't love too much , who do what they can possibly to deprive you of your truest happiness , and make you miserable for ever ? o how will your boon companions greet one another in hell , nay , it may be , upon earth too ? i remember i was once with a drunkard that lay a dying , and after i had prayed with him , in comes one of his old companions in sin , and asked him how he did : at which he was ready to gnash his teeth , and made this dreadful reflection concerning him , to me . o that , that was the wicked wretch that drew me away : if it had not been for him , i had not been in so lamentable a case upon a death-bed , prov. . , . . the sixth youthful sin is , cursing and swearing . how ready are young ones to learn the language of their father ? it was not long since that i heard a little boy swear at every sentence he spoke . o what will such be when they come to be old , if they begin so soon ? scarce creep on their feet , and yet running post to hell ! o how many are there of this daring generation , that bend their tongues like bows , and shoot those arrows against heaven , which will fall down dipt in the poison of divine fury . it would make ones heart ake , to hear how some belch out their hellish oaths ! to hear how cruelly they take in the wounds of christ , and crucifie him afresh ; not considering that at the same time they are butchering of their own souls : and if one tell them of their swearing , how ready are they to swear , that they did not swear ; and turn and laugh , as if it were a creditable thing to be like the devil , and an honour to make hast to hell ? o how many are there of his black crew , that brave it out with their damn-me and sink-me , and oaths , as if they would dare the almighty to his very face , and as if there were little of truth in god's threatnings , and his anger a very light matter ! o sinner ! what if god should take thee at thy word , when the next damn-me is in thy mouth , and stop thy breath , with an oath in thy mouth ? what if god should go to cursing too ? do you know what a dreadful word that is , go thou cursed ? o! what if god should swear too , that thou shalt never enter into his rest ? couldst thou but see the flaming tongues of those horrid sinners that know what the meaning of that word , damn-me is couldst thou but see how they bite those tongues for madness , it may be it would make thee think , that an oath is no such light matter . you say , words are but wind : but believe it , this wind will rise to such a storm , as will not be allaid , without deep repentance , till it hath blown thee into hell . did you never read the third of mal. v. . i will come near to judgment , and will be a swift witness against the false swearers , and such as fear not me , saith the lord of hosts . but you 'l say , your tongues are your own , who is lord over us , psal . . . you shall hear one shortly , that will answer that question , and let you know , that he is lord over that , and that your own tongues shall be made to condem you . but what is it that i see ? how does that swearing wretch storm and rage there at me , for telling him of his sins ? come , come , sinner , if you spare not god , i promise you i will not spare you : and i tell thee , what thou hearest , is nothing to what thou shalt feel . . the next youthful lust that i shall mention , is drunkenness . do not many ( i wish old ones were not here too guilty ) act as if their business in this world , was to eat , and drink , and take their pleasures ? the devil bids them read the text , eccles . . . rejoyce , o young men ; and they are easily perswaded to take his counsel : and so they drink , and roar , and consider not what a reckoning will be brought in at last ; neither do they stand till they have read the latter part of that verse ; but know that for all these things god will bring thee to judgment . not considering the meaning of that whole scripture , which is but this ; go , young man , lie at the taverns and alehouses , do ; drink , and be drunk ; but remember this , you shall be damn'd for it ; and god will make you take off t'other cup , whether you will or no , and that is a cup spiced with wrath and fury . but you see not , neither do you yet feel it ; and therefore you do but laugh at all this ; you say with those in matt. . . my master delaies his coming , and therefore you eat and drink with the drunkards : you say , let him talk till his heart akes , i will never leave my pleasure for you : why man ! wilt thou then be desperate ? dare you say , i 'll drink , though there be death in the pot , though hell be at the bottom of the cup ? or do you think that god will be worse than his word ? and , that though he threaten high , yet he means no such matter . o sinner , deceive not thy self , and if you forget the rest , carry home but that one text , deut. . , . if any one hear the words of this curse , and yet bless himself in his heart , saying , i shall have peace , though i walk in the imagination of mine own heart , and add drunkenness to thirst , the lord will not spare him , &c. do you read on , and read it again , and think of that scripture the next time that you sit down to your cups . little do poor creatures think how dreadful a sin drunkenness is , and how many it bringeth with it : i 'll tell you of one story of my own knowledg , and then i shall leave this : a certain drunkard that i knew very well , when he was in drink , quarrelled with his fellow-servant , and after a few words , knocked him down with his flail , and killed him at one blow . afterwards , by friends , he made a shift to escape the halter , and comes home again , and swears , and curses , and drinks at as high a rate as ever : but at last , when he was in the same yard where he did this murder , he dropt down dead in a moment ; and i was one of the first that saw him . . another youthful sin is , vncleanness . is not england too near a kin to france ? do not many of our young ones act as if they took pattern by sodom , and had learned of gomorrah ? jeremiah made sad complaint , jer. . . and are we less guilty ? doth not the scripture speak plain enough against this sin ? though the pope count it a vemal fault , yet those that are guilty of it , will find , that his pardon will give them little ease , when they are cast into a bed of flames . sure our hot young men seldom read the book of proverbs , but act as if that simple young man ( prov. . . ) did run no great hazzard . what was it that brought thomas savage to theft and murder ? what brought him to that shameful death ? o how bitterly did he take on , that he should ever see the face of that vile woman ! o! had he but considered whither he was going , and that most of her guests go to hell ? had be but thought seriously , how bitter that sin would prove , i believe he would have lain in flames , as soon as with that abominable woman . did none of you hear what he said when he was upon the cart ? did none of you see with what earnestness he spoke ? why , this was one great thing that he begg'd of you young ones , as his dying request , that you would have a care of this sin . . the next youthful sin that i should mention , is theft . drunkenness and vncleanness are two costly sins , especially the latter ; and poor creatures are usually so bewitched with that , that credit , purse , body , soul , and all , must go , rather than that beastly sin should not be gratified . how many servants are there that wrong their masters , imbezel their goods , and secretly wast them by the fore-mentioned sin : and i believe i need not tell you what a tragical end theft hath . that prodigy of her sex , and disgrace of women , could not be satisfied with wine and good chear ; her purse must be fed as well as her stinking carcase : what do you come hither ( said she ) for without mony ? why , where should i have it , said he ? what hath your master none ? replied that monster . yes , said he , but i never wronged him , neither can i. nay , said she , if you be thereabout , come no more here . but alas ! the poor creature is insnared , so that he cannot but go to ask counsel of this daughter of the devil , how he should manage his matters , so as to get that money which his master had . she makes a ready reply , and adviseth , to murder the maid , to bury the theft . o that unfaithful servants would think of these things , and now and then read that scripture , tit. . . and luk. . . i should here speak something of the bloody sin of murder ; but the word of god , the laws of men , the power of conscience , and the signal judgments of god against such , puts me in some hope , that i need not much insist upon that . i shall add but one sin more . . another youthful sin is , incorrigibleness . how resolutely do most young ones go on in their sins ? how hardly brought so much as to debate the business soberly with themselves or others ? how do they fly in the face of them which reprove them , as if it were ten times a greater fault for to reprove sin , than to commit it . nay , some are come to that heighth , that they make but a mock of hell and judgment , as well as sin , isa . . . but these are so vile a generation , that i have little hopes of prevailing with them , psal . . , . jer. . . gen. . . . the next thing i proposed to speak to , was , to sh●w you what it is to flee sin . in this i shall be very brief . . not to commit it . take not up this serpent , for it hath a deadly sting in the tail of it . embrace not this dalilah , for she will betray thee . hast away , avoid it ; if you do not , it is as much as your life , the life of your soul is worth , isa . . . . flee ; that is , avoid the very occasions of sin . it 's ill jesting with edge-tools . they are safest , that are farthest from it . a hundred to one but thou art caught , if thou play with the bait. who , but a mad-man , would take strong poison into his mouth , and say that he will then spit it out ? who would chuse to sleep upon the top of a mast ? believe it , sin is one of the most dangerous things in the world , and he that tampers with it , plays with hell , and is sporting with the devil , thes . . . . flee ; that is , hate it with a perfect hatred . say , what have i to do with idols any more ? how shall i do this , and sin against god ? labour for a spiritual antipathy against sin , and to loath it , as david and paul , yea , as god himself , psal . . . . flee , and perswade others to flee : for the danger is not inconsiderable . tell others what sin will prove at last , and perswade them to consider what the wages of such work will be , psal . . . iii. why should we flee youthful lusts ? . because our captain bids us flee : we have his commission , nay , his absolute command ; may i not say , his entreaty too ? what is the meaning of all those pathetical expostulations , turn you , turn you , why will you die ? why doth he bid us to beseech you to look about you ? what is the design of all the scripture ? wherefore do we preach , and pray ? methinks the ministers of christ should be like those angels that warned lot to flee out of sodom ; and when he lingred , they pulled him , and bid him haste , and flee for his life . i might be infinite in scriptures for the proof of this , psal . . , . . because of the danger of not fleeing . if the wrath of god , if hell and damnation , if everlasting misery be to be avoided , then sin is : for as sure as god is true , sinners must be damned if they flee not sin . . because of the benefit we shall have by fleeing sin . we shall be everlastingly secured , if heaven and glory be worth the getting , if happiness and salvation considerable , if a kingdom and crown be worth the having , this may be obtained by fleeing f●om sin . application . iv. vse . is it so , that it is our duty to flee youthful lusts : then let all this congregation of young men and women , consider how well they have obeyed the command . sirs , be faithful to your souls , and ask your selves speedily , what you have done ? young men , are you guilty , or not guilty ? it 's better you should be ask'd this question at the bar of conscience , than at the bar of god's judgment . children , how say you , are you as ready to obey , as your parents are to command ? doth not your conscience tell you , that you can tell a lie to cover a fault , and yet not be much troubled ? some of you are come here this day to hear news , more than to hear your sin reproved : but where are you on the sabbath-day ? may not i see you idling in the streets , and sitting at your doors ▪ nay , may i not see you in the company of wicked creatures , in an alehouse ? well , sinner , well , the reckoning will come up by and by . i pray tell me , how do you spend your time ? is it in your chamber upon your knees , and at your honest callings , and in civil and christian society ? who are the persons that you take most delight in ? are they those that discourse of god and their souls , and warn one another with words of grace ? what think you of cursing and swearing ? do you fear an oath ? or do you think the deepest oaths the best rhetorick , and most graceful , if i may so speak , to your discourse ? what language do you speak , the language of canaan , or the language of ashdod ? can you stretch your selves upon beds of ivory , and drink wine from morning to night , and look upon this as the only life ? is is not a pleasing thing to lie in the embraces of a wanton woman ? and cannot you use unseemly dalliance , and say , am i not in sport ? did you never wrong your master in your life ? and dare you do so still ? and how would you take it , if i should come to you , and tell you roundly of all your sins ? could you bear it if i should come close to you , and set hell and damnation before you ? young men , i beseech you answer me . i tell you again , it 's better for you that i should ask you this question here than god hereafter . well , have you put it to your conscience ? and are you guilty ? i must tell you plainly , i cannot but thing that abundance of this congregation are in many of these sins deeply guilty ; and yet there stands ▪ a sly sinner , no more affected than the ground he treads on : thou thinkst i do not know thee ; but that , if possible , i may stop thee before thou comest to the gallows and hell ▪ i shall do what i can for my soul to reach thee . wherefore give me leave , in the next place , to speak one word by way of conviction . young people , i am not come this day to tell you news ; my business is not to tickle your ears , but to do what i can possibly to keep you from that place of shame , the gibbet ; and that place of torment - hell. i believe that here are many here , that i shall never see nor speak to while the world stands ; and that our next meeting will be before the judgment-seat of christ : and therefore i must tell you , i must not iest with you . i speak to those that are guilty ; you know well enough who i mean. let me ask you soberly , do you believe that there is a god ? and that he is privy to all you do ? and dare you out-face god with your wickedness ? or do you make account his eye is nothing , so man doth not know ; say you so ? believe it , sinner , you will shortly know , that god and your conscience are witnesses enough to cast you : and is this nothing ? are not the threatnings of a god to be regarded ? shall the lion roar , and will not such a beast as you tremble ? know this , as stoutly as you brave it out now , you will shortly quake . but you are resolved , come on it what will , venture you will : but hold sinner , i prethee let 's reason the case a little ; do not act like a fool and a mad-man : were you ever in newgate ? do you know what a prison is ? are fetters such desirable things ? hath the devil done you so much kindness , as that you must venture your liberty for his sake ? come tell me , sinner , what good did the devil ever do for thee willingly ? is it worth the while to do and suffer so much for one that never intended any good to any in the world. consider a little , young man , is it nothing to come gingling in your chains before an earthly judge ? is the sight of the bench nothing ? is it nothing to have your villany laid open before the world ? how do you think you shall look , when evidence comes in clear , and the jury shall cast you ? what , brave it out still ! but what will you say , when the judg shall pass sentence upon you , to be carried from thence to the prison ; and from that , to the place of execution ? it is nothing to have ten thousand spectators of your shameful end ? but methinks i hear some of that hellish rout laughing , and saying , it is but a swing or two , and then all 's over , their misery 's at an end . but hold there sinner , then thy misery will begin , for thou shalt appear immediately before the bar of god , and there receive another sentence ten thousand times more dreadful than the former . what , do you make nothing of that dreadful word , depart thou cursed ? and then immediately the devil takes your soul . they wait for their prey ; and thou must be reserved in chains of darkness , in unspeakable and unavoidable torments , to the judgment of the great day , and then thy cursed body and soul shall meet ; o what a dreadful greeting will that be ! when body and soul shall be cast into everlasting flames . well , young man , now what do you say ? is it best venturing still ? but it may be , thou beginnest to think what a strange censorious man is this ? such preaching is enough to make one out of their wits : what , is there no such thing as repentance , a grace a god one may be saved for all your railing . what do you think of tho. savage ? did not he repent ? i hope you will not say that he is in hell. no indeed , for i verily believe that he is a saint in glory ; but how do you know whether god will give you repentance ? i must tell you , he is a singular instance , such a one as we shall scarce hear of in an age : and i remember , that he that is oft reproved , and hardens his heart , shall suddenly be destroyed , and that without remedy . but though i speak thus , brethren , i hope better things of many here , and things that do accompany salvation . i am perswaded here are some young ones that had as live venture their lives , as indulge themselves in the forementioned youthful lusts . i think i have some ground to say what i do . brethren , i beseech you make not my boasting void ; neither let me be ashamed of my confidence . i am perswaded , i say again , that some of you now hate what sometimes you did delight in ; and though it may be in the days of your darkness , you lived in your sins , yet now fear to fall into them , as much as you fear hell. courage my brethren , go on bravely , and the lord be with you ; you are the hopes and joy of old christians , they bless god from their hearts to see such flowers in gods garden ; hold but out , be strong , and quit you like men , and heaven shall be yours , as sure as if you were already there . vse . . i shall here speak something by way of advice to masters of families , and parents . it lies much in your power to set a stop to that mighty torrent of wickedness , that doth almost overflow this city . remember sirs , what a dreadful sin the sin of murder is . what then do you think of those that murder souls , that starve souls ? how do you think god will take it at your hands that you should be so careful that your work be done , and never mind his at all ? is it nothing to you , that one that dwells under your roof , must dwell in everlasting burnings ? are you so barbarous as to be indifferent whether your servants and children are damned or saved ? what can you answer , when those of your own house shall stand before the great god , and say , lord , if it had not been for my master , i had never sinned against thee at the rate that i did . he never told me any thing of the danger of sin , he would be sure to call me up betimes to look after his business ; and if i neglected that , i should quickly hear of it : but as for the lords day , praying or reading , or any thing that concerned god or my soul , i never was so much as reproved for the neglecting of them . o! if i had been but told of such a dreadful place as this is , and what sin would end in , sure i should never have ventured as i did . sirs , i beseech you think how you shall answer such an accusation at the day of judgment ; as sure as you live , you will then be speechless . parents , methinks you have something within you , to put you upon your duty . what , have you no love at all to the fruit of your bodies ? is it no great matter whether your children sink or swim ? would you be contented to see them in a house that is in a flame , & do nothing to get them out ? would you have your children fire-brands of hell for ever ? will you do nothing to rescue them from that devouring lion , who would tear them in pieces ? can you bear to hear them cry out against you , and ready to fly in your faces ? doth it never trouble you to think what a greeting you shall have in another world , when they shall curse the day that ever they saw you , when they shall say , i may thank you for this dreadful misery ; you never catechised me ; you never told me one word of this place of torment ; you never corrected me for my sin ; if you had , it may be i should not have lain under this intollerable anguish . what do you say , sirs , to these things ? methinks they call for your serious consideration . really , if these be not weighty matters , i know not what be . let me ask you in meekness , whether it be not a piece of the most barbarous cruelty in the world , to let your children and servants run to hell , without doing what in you lies to stop them ? but i hope , by this time , some of you are a little convinced of the dreadfulness of the loss of a soul , & are loth to have the guilt of the blood of souls to lie upon you for ever ; and therefore begin to ask , what shall you do , that you and yours may be saved , and your servants and children might escape the snares of satan , and flee youthful lusts ? and you in good earnest friends ? and will you promise , as in the presence of god , that you will do what you can possibly , to discharge your duty , and to follow those directions that i shall give you ? in hopes that some are resolved , by the help of god , to do what in them lies , for the keeping all under their charge from everlasting burnings , i shall advise you : . be good your selves , and labour to be patterns of holiness , and to shew your children and servants by your conversation , that you your selves believe that there is a god , an immortal soul , heaven , hell , and eternity : let your language be savoury , and speak you to be one that hath been with jesus . let your actions be regulated by the word , and endeavour to let them know , that you are not in jest when you speak of god and their souls , psal . . . . . i charge you , as in the presence of god , as you will answer the neglect of it at the bar of that great judg , take an exact account of your servants how they spend their time , what company they keep , what they do upon the sabbath ; & if you would make any thing of religion , be as careful that the sabbath be spent in god's service , as the week-daies in yours . i could tell you of a servant that was wont , many a time and oft , to complain of his master , and say , if my master had ever examined me the text on the lords-day , or called one to any account where i had been , or what i had heard , i am perswaded i should never have come to so sad an end as i am like to do . . instruct them oft in the matters that concern their eternal welfare . sirs , tell them i beseech you , with all the earnestness that you can for your lives , of the danger of sin ; give them wholsome advice ; tell them of the necessity of conversion ; allow them a little time to pray and read , and let them know that you take notice of any thing that is good in them . . pray for them ; cry to the lord mightily , and say , o that ishmael may live in thy sight : lord , hast thou not a blessing , o my father , for me and mine ? o pity dear lord , my children and my servants ; and let all under my roof be of the houshold of faith , and of the family of the lord jesus . and now once more i beg you to be in good earnest ; 't will be the truest evidence of the truth of your grace , to be faithful in this work . 't will be your joy upon a death-bed ; 't will be your crown in another world . vse . one word by way of advice to you young people . brethren , you saw yesterday what it was to fall into youthful lusts ; and to day you have heard something of the danger of these sins . methinks by this time you should be in a rage against sin : methinks you should all say , well , now i will never spend the sabbath day as i have done : i 'le never come near the company of vile women : this , i hope shall be a warning to me as long as i live . are you ( in sober sadness ) of this mind ? o that the lord would keep this always upon your hearts . o that you may not now get out into the cold world , and shake off the sense of these things . but do i not see some weeping eyes , aking hearts ? and what dost thou say , poor soul ? o sir , i am the man you mean ! but is it possible for me to escape hell ? i have lived in almost all those sins for many a year ; what shall i do ? i shall answer this honest request , and the god of love and power send it home . . labour to be acquainted with the principles of religion . be much in reading of the scriptures , search , & you will find never a word there to encourage sin , but all against it ; they will make you wise to salvation ; consult the word , and you will escape the wrath to come , which shall surely fall upon those that live and die in youthful sins , psal . . . . labour to understand wherein your happiness lies . it lies not in riches , pleasures , and honours , but in the favour of god , psal . . . seek first the kingdom of heaven , and the righteousness thereof ; set your affections on things that are above , and not on things below . . to be sure , keep the sabbath strictly , and attend upon a powerful ministry . then is the time to buy provisions to live upon for ever . . keep good company . get out of wicked mens society . mark those that walk soberly , and that mind their souls , and make much of them ; and beg an interest in their prayers , and take their advice . if you once grow weary of good company , i shall have little hopes of you ; and it 's a sign god means good to poor souls , when they are very desirous to be in with them that are dear to god ; a warm christian-companion , o sirs , you cannot value him too highly , cor. . . pet. . . heb. . . . take heed of sinning against conscience . let david's prayer be yours , ps . . . keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins , let them not have dominion over me . . take heed of putting off repentance ; remember now thy creator ; now is the acceptable time : o , if you value your lives , make hast , and delay not an hour , but go home , & fall upon your knees , & beg of god to give you repentance unto life ; give god no rest day nor night till he have charged your heart , and made you see your need of a christ , and made you to give your self to christ . o cry out this night , a christ , dear lord , a christ for my poor soul , or i am lost for ever . eccles . . . psal . . . . be much in consideration ; commune now and then with your heart , & think seriously whither you are going , and ask your soul what a condition it is in , & what it hath to bear it up against the fear of death , & what provisions are made for eternity ; look into your purse , what mony hast thou that will go currant in another world . spend much time in thinking . i askt this poor boy how he spent his time in prison : he answered , in prayer , reading , and consideration . . neglect not prayer ; ask and you shall have , seek and you shall find , knock and it shall be opened unto you ; be frequent and serious in this duty , forget not secret prayer , and look after your prayers , and be not content except you hear of them again . . be diligent in your calling ; be not slothful in your worldly business , idleness is the devils shop , rom. . . . hold out to the end : remember what they shall have that conquer , resolve for christ and heaven upon any terms well sirs , now my work is done ; have i been beating the air ? what will become of these two sermons ? yesterday you heard one out of the cart , and from the gibbet , and to day from the pulpit ; and what are you resolved to do ? what , shall the tears , prayers , and intreaties of that dying young man be so soon forgotten ? if they are , can the commands of the living god be so easily contemned ? is there nothing in all that i have been speaking ? what , are you still of the same mind that you were , or are you not ? i say again , i must leave you , and a thousand to one whether i shall ever see you or speak to you more ; once more i charge you , as you love your own soul , as you fear the wrath of god , and the flames of hell ; flee youthful lusts . finis . a true narrative of the proceedings at the sessions-house in the old-bayly at a sessions there held on wednesday the th of january / . giving a full account of the true tryal and sentence of lodowick muggleton for blasphemous words and books. as also the tryals and condemnation of a vvoman for killing her bastard-child; and of a man for personating another person in giving bayl before a judge. with an account how many are condenmed, burn'd in the hand, to be whipt, and transported. with allowance. roger l'estrange. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing t estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a true narrative of the proceedings at the sessions-house in the old-bayly at a sessions there held on wednesday the th of january / . giving a full account of the true tryal and sentence of lodowick muggleton for blasphemous words and books. as also the tryals and condemnation of a vvoman for killing her bastard-child; and of a man for personating another person in giving bayl before a judge. with an account how many are condenmed, burn'd in the hand, to be whipt, and transported. with allowance. roger l'estrange. england and wales. court of quarter sessions of the peace (london) p. printed for d.m., london : / . copy has print show-through. reproduction of the original in the guildhall library, london. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng muggleton, lodowick, - -- early works to . trials -- england -- early works to . crime -- england -- early works to . criminals -- england -- early works to . murder -- england -- early works to . blasphemy -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a true narrative of the proceedings at the sessions-house in the old-bayly , at a sessions there held on wednesday the th of january / . giving a full account of the true tryal and sentence of lodowick muggleton for blasphemous words and books . as also the tryals and condemnation of a vvoman for killing her bastard-child ; and of a man for personating another person in giving bayl before a judge . with an account how many are condemned , burn'd in the hand , to be whipt , and transported . with allowance . roger l'estrange . london : printed for d. m. / . the proceedings at the sessions in the old bayly , on wednesday the th of this instant january / . not to trouble the reader with a tedious relation of things trivial or impertinent , the most considederable or remarkable transactions of this sessions were as follows . first , the tryal of that grand and notorious impostor lodowick muggleton , of whom to give the world a brief account , we must acquaint you , that he was originally a journyman-taylor , and ( some say ) afterwards kept a botchers stall ; but having a strange enthusiastick head , began about the year , to enter into confederacy with one reeves ( another brother of the sheers ) who resolve to cut out a new scheme or fashion of religion ; and to that purpose declare themselves , the two last vvitnesses of god that ever should be upon the earth ; and that they had absolute and irrevocable power to save and damn whom they pleas'd ; to which end one call'd himself the blessing , the other the cursing prophet . and the said reeves dying some years since , muggleton pretends his spirit was left with him , and the whole power of witnessing , blessing , and cursing , devolved into his hands , which he as impiously practised upon the least affront or opposition ; pronouncing persons damn'd by their particular names , blasphemously adding , that god , angels , or men could not afterwards save them . and as all hereticks covet to be authors and ring-leaders to a sect , so by divers printed books and corner conferences , he easily seduced divers weak and instable people ( especially of the female-sex ) to become his proselytes , who from him call themselves muggletonians : so impossible it is for the wildest and most senseless , as well as most impious notions , when broached with impudence among the rabble , not to meet with some heads so irregular as to embrace them for serious truths , or divine revelations . this muggleton's house being searched about august last , a great quantity of his books were seized , some of which , it was now proved , he owned the writing of , and that he had caus'd them to be printed ; for which he was now indicted , many wicked passages out of them being recited in the indictment , but so horrid and blasphemous , that we think fit to spare the christian modesty of each pious ear , by not repeating the same here , where there is no necessity for it . the prisoner pleaded not guilty , but frustrated the general expectation , by saying nothing further either to excuse or justice himself , but had a counsel appear'd for him , who ingenuously declar'd himself asham'd to speak a word in favour of such a cause ; onely desired the court to take notice , that the books were dated before the last act of grace ; but it being usual to antedate or post-date titles of books , as best suits with the publisher's interest , and that he had since that act owned and published the same , that plea was over-rul'd ; and the said muggleton being found guilty by the jury , was afterwards sentenced by the court to stand three days in the pillory at three the most eminent places of the city , with papers shewing his crime ; and his books so seized , divided into three parts , to be burnt over his head upon the pillory : and besides , to be fined five hundred pound , and to continue in goal till the same be paid , and afterwards for his life , unless he procured good bail , such as the court should accept of , and not of his own gang , faction , or sect , for his being of the good behaviour . the next was a woman of about forty years of age , and one that had six children by a husband since dead , but was , it seems , still of too youthful a temper ; for being lately deliver'd , by her self , of a bastard-child on a wednesday-morning , she most barbarously murthered it by crushing the head , and wounding it both in the scull and eyes ( as is supposed ) with a pair of sizzars , and then fairly puts it into a platter and sets it upon a shelf , where it continued till saturday-morning , when a woman lodging above her in the same house , coming down to visit her , and examining her more strictly , by reason of some symptoms the observed , she now prisoner confess'd she had miscarried , and looking for the embryo they found a perfect child murthered , as you have heard . she pretended her self distracted when the fact was done ; but it appearing that she had sense enough to endeavour to conceal it , she was convicted and condemned a man was likewise condemned to die for a kind of unusual crime , but such as the law , by reason of its bad example and mischievous tendency , has thought fit to restrain with capital punishment ; which was , that there being a suit at law depending between two persons , the prisoner comes and personating another man , is bayl for one of the parties before a judge ; upon which afterwards the man whose name he had assumed knowing nothing of the business , was taken up , to his great damage , &c. he begg'd heartily for transportation , but it could not be granted . four bayliffs and followers were arraigned by one they went to arrest , who pretended to have lost some odde trifles ; but they were not found guilty . two persons were condemned to die , two burn'd in the hand , and two sentenced to be whip'd : and so the sessions ended with the day . finis . the last speech and confession of peter cæsar, a portugal, at the place of execution together with his confession at justice-hall in the old bailey ... likewise the tryal of the frenchmen for ravishing a gentlewoman near holborn ... as also a true relation concerning mary smith, who cut off her childs' head, with her examination and confession before justice swallow ... caesar, peter. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing c estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the last speech and confession of peter cæsar, a portugal, at the place of execution together with his confession at justice-hall in the old bailey ... likewise the tryal of the frenchmen for ravishing a gentlewoman near holborn ... as also a true relation concerning mary smith, who cut off her childs' head, with her examination and confession before justice swallow ... caesar, peter. [ ], p. printed for charles ----- gustavus, london : . reproduction of original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng caesar, peter. murder -- england. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the last speech and confession , of peter caesar , a portugal , at the place of execution : together with his confession at justice-hall in the old-bayley , who in a most barbarous and bloody manner , shot his own dear lord and master a portugese through the head , as he sate at dinner in his chamber . with the manner how he put him into a chest , and afterwards cast his body into the river of thames : as also , the miraculous discovery of this bloody murther ; and the sentence of death pronounced against him . likewise , the tryal of the french-men , for ravishing a gentlewoman near holborn , and afterwards most inhumanely to put a flaming torch up into her body : together with the sentence and execution . as also , a true relation , concerning mary smith who cut off her childs head ; with her examination and confession before justice swallow ; and the wonderful discovery of that cruel murder , by streams of blood running down the river of thames , betwixt dedford and blackwall . london , printed for charles — gustavus , . the tryal , examination , and confession of peter caesar , who most barbarously murtherd his lord and master , a portugese , as he sate at dinner eating of a dish of fish , &c. at justice-hall in the old-bayley , the last sessions , peter cesar a portugese was called to the bar , to answer an indictment exhibited against him for killing of his own dear lord and master , a most barbarous and cruell act ; but the miraculous effects , in discovery thereof , is worthy of remark , by the judicious reader : for no sooner had this bloudy villain contrived the dissolution of his masters life , but terrour possessed his guilty conscience , and the grand serjeant death appeared obvious for a high arrest ; but cesar thinking to make his escape , was prevented : notwithstanding his flying from hart-street near covent-garden , where his master lodged : who sending his servant from thence , after he had been abroad at his devotions , to provide him some fish for his dinner , and being dressed , and served up , this judas-like wretch , when his master was sate down at the table , and standing with a trencher and napkin to wait upon him , took that bloudy resolution , having a pistoll ready fixed and charged , to discharge it against his master , and so shot him through the head , as he was eating of his dinner : the report of which pistol was heard by the people of the house ; but he using to fire it in jest , in his masters absence , against some taylors that wrought opposite against them , they took no further notice thereof . and about an hour after , this bloudy executioner came down into the kitchin , and seated himself to dinner with the people of the house , where he staid the most part of the afternoon ; and then went abroad , and came in again ; and toward the evening he went forth again , and caused a porter to bring home a large chest to his lodging ; and causing the same to be carryed up stairs , the porter was discharged , and the bloody villain himself drew it into his masters chamber : but about two hours after , he called the porter again to help him down with the chest , which he did accordingly : and the mistress of the house meeting him upon the stairs , said , where are you going peter , what have you got in this chest ? he answered , goods for my master , landslady , me master is to have a boon collation in the strand , with many gentlemen of quality lately come from beyond the seas . but bringing the chest down , it proved too heavy for him and the porter , so that another came to their assistance , and away they carryed it to the water-side , designing for the faulcon , this bloudy peter pretending , that he was to meet a gentleman there , to receive money of him for the goods in the chest . but these specious pretences , soon took period in a deceitful errand , for crossing the water , he had no power to land there , but commanded the water-men to row him back again towards the temple stairs coming near the shoar , he cast the chest over-boat , which the water-men admiring , askt him his reason , to which he said , there was a trick put upon him , and that the chest was onely filled with trash , trumpery , and garbage , which he would not bestow the pains to carry any further . and landing , seemed to go away in a rage to his lodging ; but the next morning some blood being discovered upon the stairs , and diligent inspection made thereinto , he endeavoured to make his escape , but was immediately apprehended , and committed to newgate , where he continued till the last sessions ; right then taking place , and real justice streaming forth , even like unto streams descending from the mountains . for upon bringing of him to the bar , he confessed the fact , acquitting all persons whatsoever from having any hand therein ; but that it was his own contrivance , and that not suddainly , but deliberately , having many days before resolved to attempt it , but had no convenient opportunity , till that time his master was eating of a dish of fish , at which time he shot him through the head , being tempted for many days , and much perplexd in mind till he had effected it ; for which he was not onely sorry , but also confident , that nothing could expiate the guilt thereof , but to shed the bloud of him , who had in such a most barbarous and inhumane manner , shed the bloud of his dear lord and master . and all this , through want of grace , meerly for the gaining of his masters jewels and rings , together with the three hundred pounds in gold , which his master wore about him in a list to supply his occasions . for which horrid fact , he was arraigned and condemned , and merited that just sentence , to be drawn upon a hurdle from newgate to the place of execution , and there to be hangd till he was dead . the two french-men also , who committed that inhumane act against a citizens wife near holborn ; as first to ravish her , and then to run up a flaming torch into her body , were also arraigned and condemned : but mary smith , who cut off her childs head , was reprieved from publique justice , by the grand sergeant death , who catchd her from thence to another place , before the time of her tryal . but t is observable , that never came a more penitent soul within the walls of newgate , than his poor creature ; for when one of the officers told her , she must prepare her self for her tryal , for the time was near approaching she must give an account at the bar : to which she replyed , the invisible bar , to mortal eyes , was her desire to stand before , where she did not doubt to find eternal mercy ; and that she hoped the thread of her life was spun to the very end , so that her penitent soul should not long be captivated within that sinful body , the prison of so precious a jewel ; for , sayes she , i question not , but these _____ will prove blessings , and i have ass●rance therein . this much sympathiz'd with what she confessed before justice swallow , when she was first apprehended : for then she ingenuously confessed , that it was her sad fate and fortune to be overcome by one young man , whom she had a great affection for ; but he having obtained his will , and she conceiving with child , refused to marry her : wdereupon she resolved to forsake friends and relations , and to transport her self to some forreign plantations : in order whereunto , she made application to a master of a ship , and obtained leaue to be transported : but before the time came to begin their voyage , she had a secret delivery a ship-board , and very obscure under deck ; where , contrary to all humane reason , the infant became headless , for she quickly severed the head from the shoulders , throwing the body into the river , out at a port-hole , and the head behind the casks : which being quickly discovered , the bloody mother was soon apprehended , and carryed before the justice as aforesaid : from whence she was committed to newgate , where she departed this life , making a very penitent end. the like did the french-man and portugese , the one executed in holborn , and the other at tyburn , wednesday the . who confessed his fact , and very much bewailed the horroudness thereof , for that his dear master had bin instrumental , to save his life in portugal , where he had killed a man , and should have bin burnd , had not mercy transcended justice . finis . the parricide papist, or cut-throate catholicke a tragicall discourse of a murther lately committed at padstow in the countie of cornewall by a professed papist, killing his owne father, and afterwardes himselfe, in zeale of his popish religion. the of march last past. . written by g closse, preacher of the word of god at blacke torrington in deuon. closse, george. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the parricide papist, or cut-throate catholicke a tragicall discourse of a murther lately committed at padstow in the countie of cornewall by a professed papist, killing his owne father, and afterwardes himselfe, in zeale of his popish religion. the of march last past. . written by g closse, preacher of the word of god at blacke torrington in deuon. closse, george. [ ] p. [by james roberts] for christopher hunt, dwelling in louells inne in paternoster-row, printed at london : . printer's name from stc. signatures: a-c⁴. the first leaf is blank. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and 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quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng jeanes, inigo, d. . jeanes, james. catholic church -- controversial literature -- early works to . murder -- england -- cornwall -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the parricide papist , or , cut-throate catholicke . a tragicall discourse of a murther lately committed at padstow in the countie of cornewall by a professed papist , killing his owne father , and afterwardes himselfe , in zeale of his popish religion . the of march last past . . written by g closse , preacher of the word of god at blacke torrington in deuon . virescit ❀ vvlnere ❀ veritas printer's or publisher's device ¶ printed at london for christopher hunt , dwelling in louells inne in paternoster-row . . the parricide papist , or , cut-throate catholicke . perusing the plentifull and profitable labours of many learned & zealous writers of this time , and the christian forwardnes of all sorts bending their batteries against the bulwarks of superstition & popery , some with theyr pennes , others with their pikes , and all with theyr prudent policies pursuing the reculing miscreants : i thought it not impertinent to my place , profession , and occasion , to cut a few vacant houres out of my priuate businesses , ses , and to latch a blow ( amongst others , ) at the scull of the seauen-headed dragon , & whore of babylon , rather to testifie my consenting will to true religion , then my contenting skil as able , to adde any ornament vnto that which the lord hath so gloriously adorned with wisedome , and power to support it selfe against all malignitie of the world , and the gates of hell not able to preuaile against it . euery cleere eye , and iudicious care , hath sufficiently discerned the cause of rome to be deserted , and destitute of all defence by argument : enough ( if not too much ) hath beene answered to all theyr allegations in defence of theyr false sinagogue , and accusations in offence and derogation of our true reformed christian churches : and of these blinde wormes ; and deafe adders , may be verified the saying of salomon , that though you bray a foole in a morter , yet hee will be neuer the vviser . i shall therefore commend vnto your christian considerations , the tragicall act and euent , which lately hapned in the countie of cornwall , ( not farre from the place of my habitation : ) and seeing our popish pamphletors cuculate nothing more than surmised calumniations against the persons of our godly and most painfull ministers , not beeing otherwise able to discredite their doctrines , i wil expose to their owle-sight eyes examples of theyr owne sectaries to be looked vpon , and seriously considered . wherein to shunne the iust taxation of slaunder , ( which is most proper to their popish practises , ) i will propose matter in fact euident , by publique records , in qualitie execrable , in time newe , and freshly bleeding in our eyes . luther and beza , beeing surcharged with manifold fictions , and odious imputations , out-liued the enuy of theyr enemies , and in theyr life time confuted theyr forged imputations : but y e examples of these mens more then barbarous blood-thirstinesse , shall out-liue all ages liuing , and remaine inchronicled as prodigies , and stand enroled in publique acts , as memorialls to all posterities , so long as our lawes , or any ciuill gouernment shall be pracised in the land : and let them heare me to tell thē plainly , that which our blessed sauiour told their fore-fathers the pharisees roundly , that they are of their father the deuill , who was a murtherer from the beginning : they are the progeny of caine , sacrificing abell , because he sacrificeth to god a better smelling oblation then theyrs . if they will needes iudge the tree by the frutes , & the cause by the effects : then what pietie can bee imagined in that profession , which is so bloody , as theyrs is notified in all the world to be ? yea , theyr whore of babilon , in all her deliciousnes , is especially banquetted with the blood of the saints . if i should speake of vsuall murthers , which common cut-throates commit in theyr purse-takings , or that furious swaggerers shed in their hote bloods , and wrathfull reuenges , it were no more in cōparison of that which cōmeth in this argument , then a bloodie nose to a gasping wound . for though all killing is cruell , and an enemy to nature , yet the vnnaturall & detested parricides ( whereof this argument intreateth ) astonisheth all humaine reason to consider it , appalleth all the sences to apprehend it , and exceedeth all credulity to beleeue such a thing to bee doone , till they behold it actually performed . the wise law-giuer aunswered discreetly , excusing himselfe that hee made no lawe for him that murthered his father , because hee neuer imagined such an odious acte against nature would euer be imagined , much lesse attempted of any humaine creature . but see the blindnesse of heresie and false religion , which being a poyson of the soule , brought from the denne of darknes , and a drugge of the deuill , how it not onely opposeth the creature against the creator , man against god , and man against man , but transformeth theyr whole natures , ingendering in them vnnaturall thoughts and desires , and producing effects odious to god and nature . in these our latter dayes , men beeing departed from the faith , are become ( as the apostle saith ) vnnaturall : and god giuing them ouer into a reprobate sence , which would not receiue the loue of the truth , they haue changed the naturall vse of thinges , to that which is against nature ; as not onely theyr execrable sodomitries , but theyr thrise detested parricides , openly testifie , and cry out against them . doe i , or dare i enstile them parricide papists , or cut-throate catholicks , and be destitute of examples pathetically to mooue , and effectually to prooue it ? no , no , amongst many old , i will introduce one new exemplarie instance therof , lately acted in the midst of their smoaking broyles , irrefragably warranted by vnreprooueable witnesses . one inigo ieanes of padstow in the county of cornwall , being lately some-what reclaimed from his popish profession , & frequenting the church ( though as it appeareth with no great deuotion ) was in the haruest of their late politick platforme , assailed with y e perswasiue tongue of one william manfil , ( a professed romanist ) to returne to his old byas againe . who vpon better information of his friendes , replied , that it was in vaine now any longer to consect in that religion , seeing after the death of the late queene , the inauguration of a most religious king , forced the tide & streame against the romish church , so that both hap and hope , were drowned and perished together . yet the temptor , like sathan his master , desirous to cast downe the strong in faith from the pinacles of the temple , perswadeth incouragement , and confidence of better successe , assuring him , that platformes were thē in hand , not onely for redemption , but renowne of the catholicks , & that forces were in full preparation both at home and abroad to aduaunce the catholicke cause , as he termed it . onely it behoued them to apply their massings , and ceremoniall obseruances , to obtaine it by merit at gods hands . perhaps they imagined ( as the prophet speaketh ) that god was like vnto themselues , and would participate with them in any wickednes , if they could make him smell to theyr bloody vnbleeding sacrifice . but the poore credulous caytiffe , being led on by these faire pretences , and hopefull preparations , relapsed catholicke againe : and as busie as other waspes of that swarme , consorted with the crew of other corner-creepers , in obscure caues to doe seruice to the prince of darknesse . and although iames the father of thē said inigo ieanes often disswaded him from those dangerous courses , which the seuerity of the lawes would sharply correct , yet he desperately running on , and resolued to persist , not only refused to obey the admonitions of his father , but became an earnest perswader that hee would permit them a place of secrecie in his house , for the exercise of their idolatrous massings . the father , ( whether fearing god or the law more , i omit to censure ) still constantly contradicted his sonnes vnreasonable and vnseasonable request , alleaging , that at this time , lawes were making in y e parliament , to punish popery more seuerely then euer heretofore : and that vpon iust occasion of the late discouerie of so damnable a stratageme , as was neuer plotted against any christian or heathen state : and therfore in some round termes ( as it seemed ) checked & reiected his peeuish sonnes popish petition . but he , in the franticke spirit of a papist , hastily tooke vp a club or beetle ( where-with they vsed to cleaue wood ) and rudely , ( o let me studie a more apt word for such sauage inhumanitie ) barbarously assailed his owne naturall father , and strooke him violentlie on the head to the ground . and doubting that hee had not throughly dispatched him , tooke vp a barre of yron , & strooke him with maine force and brake his backe , so that hee presently died of those wounds . then this inigo ieanes , leauing his father groueling on the ground , and wallowing in his owne blood , immediatly fled to a chappell ( called saint sauiours ) neere padstowe , and hastily vnclothing himselfe , with a bad and blunt knife ( adding all his force thereto ) gastly in two or three places gashed his own belly athwart , that his bowels were to be seene . the mother of the saide inigo shortly after comming into her garden , and finding her husband thus cruelly murthered , and vtterly dismaid there-with , came into the house enquiring for her sonne inigo ieanes , and finding him fledde away , she caused another of her sonnes , and some other messenger to seek him : who comming vnto the foresaid chappell of saint sauiours , found him there leaning to one of his hands , & most greeuouslie wounded . vpon some speeches and conference , the said inigo confessed the murthering of his father , and wounding himselfe : and was very desirous to speake with maister nicholas prideaux ( then and nowe high sherieffe of cornwall , ) dwelling neere the said towne of padstow , to the intent he might reueale some speciall matters vnto him , where-with it seemed his conscience was surcharged . and being brought vnto his presence , hee instantlie made knowne vnto him , how he had been seduced by the foresaid manfill vnto his erronious religion : and that the same morning , himselfe , with seauen men , & eyght women more , had been at masse , at one richard hores house of s. eruin . heerevpon the said maister prideaux , sent for three other iustices of the peace next adioyning , namely maister arundell of trerise , maister michell , and maister cosworth esquires , to whom vpon further examination he confessed all that is before declared : and that he had beene there-vnto drawne & mooued by the instigation of the deuill , and seeming very sorrowfull for the fact , after some two or three daies languishing , departed this life . and so wee will leaue him to the tribunall seate of the most righteous , and all-seeing iudge to be censured . before i proceed further in examining the innumerable impieties in this one fact comprised , i may not omit to note vnto y e world , what a blinde & sencelesse guide they had for theyr priest , that from such a director , no hope of better fruites could bee conceiued . this paltry popeling , was well knowne a little before to be a badde and rude schoolemaister , and a fellow of such noted stupidity , that young gentlemen , seruingmen , and others , for an exercise and recreation , would practise to haue him stand still , whiles they with all theyr force , quoyted sbillings or testernes at his blockish browe , which for a small peece of mony he would as quietly endure , as if a stoicall stupidity had possessed his braines and body , euen till his face and fore-head was often-times most grieuouslie gashed , moouing many beholders to pittie him , which did not pitty himselfe . this dorus , was now lately become like one of ieroboams priests , taken as one out of the basest of the people , & consecrated with the popes vnguent , a priest of the deuill , or masse-monging catholick . this calfe of dan , beeing now become a bell-wether to the scabbed flocke , it is doubted whether the sheepe infected him more with the hope of hire , to become a micahs priest , or hee with his ramme-like forehead , had hardned the faces of his flock vnto this extreame impudencie and impiety : but sure the prouerbe was well shared amongst them , such a priest , such people . theyr mother was atheisme , theyr nurse ignorance , darknes theyr dwelling , and confusion theyr inheritance . let me returne to our seraphicall doctors of rome , which accuse all the world but thēselues of impurity : and let them answere me in earnest , shall wee know the tree by the fruites ? iudge of the soundnes of the profession by the workes of the professors ? will you try vs , not by rules of diuinitie , but examples of diuines ? looke vpon this patterne , peruse this picture of your parricide papist , whose offence is taxed , not as hee is a man falling through infirmitie , but as he is a papist , erring wilfully , no passion but his profession , no hope of gaine , but blind deuotion , no reason but his vnreasonable religion , plunged him into these execrable enormities . it is your religion that hath dubbed you man-quellers , king quellers , selfe-quellers . are you not parricides ? alas , your maisters are not like peter , that forsooke his maister , & repenting did counteruaile his triple deniall , with a three-fold confession of him : but as your legend noteth of iudas , that had murthered his father , and cōmitted incest with his mother , and became christes disciple for a cullour to shadowe his horrible impieties , and betraying his maister lastly hanged himselfe : such succession rightly correspondeth with your popedome , by bloodsheds they are hatched , grow great , and strengthen themselues . phocas murthered his maister the emperor mauritius , and was it not the first & surest step to the romish popedome ? but it may be you can allow this lay parricide to murther princes , for establishment of a popedome : your holy fathers , popes & bishops , haue by sundry poysonings , some lost their liues and places , & others gained them : how approue you this spirituall parricide ? christian kinges and princes , are designed to destruction by your holy popes ordinances : is it no parricide ? the prince of orenge , & the french-king deceassed , murthered by papists , and he that now raigneth , assailed to be slaughtered by your vnhallowed hands : will not all men abhor these portentuous parricides ? king iohn of england , long agoe poysoned by monks , & our late renowned maiden queene more often attempted with trecheries , then your popes crowne hath haires of an honest prelate , dooth it not proclaime to the world your damnable parricides ? let me make an end with you all , which would make an end with vs all , your late stratageme , to blow vp with gun-powder our potent king , queene , prince , prelate , nobilitie , & the whole state of parliament , was it not an vnheard of practise of parricide ? i heare some of your politikes vnder their visards to confesse , that it was an horrible proiect , which no religion can excuse , no reason defend , no authoritie maintaine : that god & heauen are against it , men and earth detest it , ( the sillie ( you should haue said , slilie ) delinquents ) themselues did lament it . goe to then , if to murther parents , ( which are in the highest degree of naturall loue ) if to murther princes , which are in most eminent dignitie of polyticall parentage , if to murther a whole common-wealth , your natiue country ( quae vna omnes omnium charitates complexa est ) compriseth the liues , and loues of vs all , be not an inexplicable parricide , then i must , and will confesse , i haue ouer-leaped my limits , & mistitled your professors of the popish religion , in terming them parricides . but a father of children , must needes be touched with a horrer in his hart , to conceiue how many fathers and mothers you would haue made childlesse , & children fatherlesse by your hellish proiects : a prince that is honoured as a father in his kingdome , and embraceth his subiects with an affectionate loue , abhorreth the remembrance of so vile an enterprise , to see a state so florishing , in a moment torne , and vtterly dissigured : all louers of god and religion , yea euery man that tasteth any sweetnes of ciuill societie , standeth amazed , and amated at the consideration of such barbarous immanitie , ouer-turning temples , palaces , citties , and families , without any remorse , or respect of religion , or order : and yet all these effects , cannot be denied to be the fruites of your romish religion . i will conclude , and hold it maintained with a world of witnesses , that though the terme be tart , yet it is true , papists are parricides . but why ( say they ) is this rude phrase of cut-throate catholicks ( so harshly sounding in vulgar eares ) applyed to our pope-holy professors ? let northumberland , aboue twentie yeres agoe murthering himselfe in y e tower , arden strangling himselfe in newgate , and this our cornish catholicke , ( so lately killing his father and himselfe ) stand forth as fresh-bleeding examples to verifie it . did not percy and catesby , which chose rather to die wilfully and desperately by the souldiers hand , then submit themselues , and liue to confesse their faults , satisfie the king and common-wealth , and permit themselues a breathing time to repent thē of their hideous attempts , beare witnes against them , & conuince them to be desperate selfe-murtherers ? i dare not charge all , nor any of their cōplices which died in prison , to be guilty of selfe-poysoning , but the manifest desperate attempt of nicholas oven , most bloodily mangling , and massacring him-selfe in the tower , and with his owne handes tearing out his fat and bowels , the second day of march last past , ( this our cornish cut-throate seconding him within nine dayes after ) cannot be denied , nor exempted frō the imputation of barbarous immanity in our popish professors . what is the whole practise of the romish church , wading through blood of princes and kingdoms to establish a popedome , continually complotting and practising massacres in the whole christian world , but a publique proclamation to beware of cut-throate catholicks . though they go in sheepes skinnes , wee know them to be wolues : howsoeuer disguised , the true prophet discerneth the dissembling of ieroboams wife , and will prophecie the renting of theyr kingdome . whatsoeuer theyr othes and protestations be , wee know theyr aequiuocations & dispensations ; not peace but warre , not loyaltie but rebellion , not the kings honor , but the popes aduauncement is theyr errand . and let the fauourers , and furtherers of your treasous vnderstand , that those which hate theyr naturall prince , will not long adhere to strangers . such as can consent to the confusion of theyr natiue country , will not be trusted for friends to any cōmon-wealth . such as murther their parents , wil not spare aliants . those that kill themselues , which is the fountaine of all loues , ( for sibi nequam cui bonus erit ) can neuer find any whō they will deeme worthy of preseruation , if they shall crosse theyr cursed courses . theyr pontificall bishop , ( that beast which sitteth vpō many waters , ) and hath brewed and broached these bloody broyles in the christian state , and glorieth in his title , to be called ecclesiae catholicae pontifex , a bridge-maker , to transport his passengers the catholicke creatures into his sea of rome , ouer the riuers and streames of blood , mixing his intoxicating potions of heresies , idolatries , and traditious , where-with the kings of the earth , ( quaffing & carousing the cuppes of his fornication ) are made drunken , as the euangelicall prophet speaketh . els let him be pontifaex , et terrae fax , the dregges of the sea , and firebrand of the earth , with his filth polluting the waters , and with his fierie faggots of persecution , scorching and consuming the inhabitants of the world . no doubt it shal be done vnto him , as hee hath done vnto others , and his measure shall be in seauen-folde manner , measured vnto him againe , when the beast shal be cast into the lake that burneth with fire & brimstone for euer-more . but for a monition to the simple seduced ones , ( for y e seducers seeme desperatly hardned in their pertinacie ) wee pray you to looke on the present state of things , with open and equall eyes , and consider the courses & carriages of the cause on both sides : and let them in plainenes confesse , whether they haue not discerned the hand of god against them and their attempts , turning theyr deepest deuises like achitophels policies , into foolishnesse , and bringing the wheele ouer their counsellors and conspirators , so that they both perish together , like achitophell and absalon , ioab and adoniah , corah and his complices . their hardened pharao , striuing to keepe gods people in bondage , & seruitude to his ordinances , and will not let them peaceably depart to serue their liuing god , according to his commaundement , shall no doubt in the end , receiue the condigne wages of his merit , and hardnes of hart : and our moses and aarons , ( our elected princes , priests & prophets ) shall prosper in the deliuerances , informations , and gouernment of gods people . the mighty god , who by little and little cast out the cananites , & planted israel in theyr land , hath his workings constant and consonant , alwaies like himselfe , ful of patience & iustice , with a slow and strong arme bringing mighty thinges to passe . the kingdom of antichrist is in short time by degrees cut short , and abated , and the israell of god , hath as mightily prospered , out of a few families enlarging his borders into many kingdomes , and what remaineth , but that he which letteth be taken out of the way , and that the man of sinne beeing reuealed , may be also remoued & rooted out , as a plant which is not of our heauenly fathers planting . we cōfesse the church of rome receiued , and for many yeeres retained the sinceritie of the gospell and true religion : and so there was a good pharao in egypt , which by holy iosephs direction ordered his kingdome , & gaue vnto the people of god a fruitful possession in the land of goshen , where they prospered , and multiplied exceedingly ; but there arose in processe of time another pharao , which knewe not ioseph , and became a tyrant vnto the people of god , and cruelly oppressed them . so rome is become babylon , her candlesticke is remoued , shee is fallen from her first faith , and the faithfull cittie is become an harlot , and her antiquitie without veritie , is but oldnes of errors , and wee must depart frō her , which is departed from god. if shee will returne vnto her spouse , & forsake her louers with whom shee committed all her fornications and abhominations , we will reioyce with her for such an holy reconciliation : else we will cry vnto the people of god to come out of her , & not to pertake with her sinnes , and idolatries , least they pertake of her grieuous plagues and punishments , when the cup of the lords wrath shall be powred vpon her . god of his vnspeakable goodnesse , make that your sinnes be not an hinderance vnto his rich mercies , but that he will speedily , for the elects sake , cut short the power of antichrist , and amplifie the borders of his kingdome , that our eyes may see it , and our posteritie may reioyce in his great saluation , and prayse him for all our corporall , and spirituall deliuerances . so be it . amen . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e apoc. . prou , , , , iohn ; , gene , , ▪ apoc , . , solon . , tim , , , tim , , , , rom , , math , , psal , , , reg. , , chro , iudges , , , , math , , , math , , iohn , , , au● . victor . answere to the discouery : praeface to the king. cicero . math , , , reg , , , . apo , , , , , sam , , , , , , , reg , , , , . numb , , , , , exod , , , sam , , . exod , , , , , thes . , , . math , , gene , . gene , , exod , , , apoc , , , , , cap , , , .