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The Definition of Sacrilege, with the seve∣ral Kinds thereof, manifested out of Scri∣pture; together with the Punishments fol∣lowing thereupon.
SAcrilege is an invading, stealing, or purloining from God, any Sacred thing, either belonging to the Ma∣jesty of his Person, or appropri∣ate to the Celebration of his Divine Service.
The Etymology of the Word impli∣eth the Description: for Sacrum is a holy thing; and legium à legendo, is to steal, or pull away.
The Definition divides it self apparently into two Parts; viz. Into Sacrilege com∣mitted immediately upon the Person of God, and Sacrilege done upon the Things appropriate to his Divine Service.
That of the Person is, when the very Deity is invaded, profaned, or robb'd of its Glory: Of this Kind was that Sacri∣lege of Lucifer, Esay 14. 14. that would, place his throne in the north, and ascend above the clouds, and be like the most High∣est; similis ero altissimo: Of this Kind is all Idolatry; and therefore when the Is∣raelites worshipped Baal-peor, that is, the God of the Madianites upon the Hill Pegor, al. Phagor, it is said in Jerome's Translation, Numb. 25. 18. to be Sacri∣legium Phagor, the Sacrilege committed upon Mount Phagor. So when the Style of God is bestow'd upon Stocks or Stones, or living Creatures; or when Man in Pride of Lucifer will be call'd God, as Alexander, Caius Caligula, Domi∣tian, Nero, and others. In this high Sin are Blasphemers, Sorcerers, Witches and Inchanters: And as it maketh the great∣est
Irruption into the glorious Majesty of Almighty God, so it maketh also the greatest Divorce betwixt God and Man.
In this Sin above all others, was Satan most desirous to plunge our first Parents Adam and Eve; that as himself by it had fallen from all Felicity, so he might draw them likewise into the same Perdition: You shall be, saith he, like God, knowing good and evil. That Divine Faculty of knowing good and evil, tickled the itching Humour of a weak Woman, and to be like God, fired her wholly with Ambiti∣on, and carried her and Adam into the highest Kind of Sacrilege, committing thereby Robbery upon the Deity it self: for so it is censur'd, Philip. 2. 6. where it is declared, that to be equal with God was no robbery in the Second Adam, imply∣ing by an Antithesis, that it was a Rob∣bery (and so a Sacrilege) in the First Adam; who is also guilty in the other Kind of Sacrilege, by taking the forbid∣den Fruit reserv'd from him, as the Priest's Portion; for Knowledge belong∣eth to the Priest.
Thus the first Man that was created fell into Sacrilege several ways, and so did also the first Man that was born of a Woman. Cain bringeth an Oblation
to God, but sacrilegiously either with∣holding the best of his Fruits, and offer∣ing the worst, as some conceiv'd, rectè offert, sed non rectè dividit, or doing it hypocritically, as the later expoundeth it; which soever it was (and like enough to be both ways) he robb'd God of his Honour and Divine Faculty of knowing all things: he granted him to be Omni∣potent but not Omniscient; he did not think him to be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to know the secret Thoughts of a Man's Heart: upon which reason St. Ambrose chargeth him also with another Sacrilege (de Para∣diso, cap. 24.) in answering God, that he could not tell what was become of his Brother, when himself had murthered him; crimine Sacrilegii (saith Ambrose) quod Deo credidit mentiendum, with the Crime of Sacrilege, in that he durst lye to God's own Face: A Pattern to the Sacrilege of Ananias and Sapphira in the Acts of the Apostles.
To my Understanding Cain is yet chargeable with another grievous Sacri∣lege, even the Murther of his Brother; for in it he destroy'd the Temple of God, and in that Temple the very Sacred Image of God: Do ye not know, saith St. Paul, 2 Cor. 3. 16. that you are the temple of God,
and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? and again positively, 2 Cor. 6. 16. Ye are the temple of the living God. This Temple did Cain sacrilegiously destroy, and the Spirit of God which dwelled in it, did he also sacrilegiously deface and expell; even that holy Spirit was the very Image of God, for in the image of God created he him, Gen. 1. 27.
Thus it appeareth, that Sacrilege was the first Sin, the Master-Sin, and the com∣mon Sin at the beginning of the World, committed in Earth by Man in Corrupti∣on, commited in Paradise by Man in Per∣fection, committed in Heaven it self by the Angels in Glory; against God the Fa∣ther by arrogating his Power, against God the Son by contemning his Word, against God the Holy Ghost by propha∣ning things Sanctified, and against all of them in general by invading and viola∣ting the Deity. Let us now see how God revenged himself upon Sinners, in this kind, and by way of Collation apply it to our selves: for his Wisdom and Power and Justice are the same perpetually.
The Punishment of Sacrilege in Lucifer and the Angels, upon Adam, Eve, and Cain, and upon the old World, by the Flood, and upon them that built the Tower of Babel, Nimrod, and others.
FIrst, He punished them by disinhe∣riting and casting them out of their Original Possession. Lucifer is cast out of Heaven; Adam and Eve out of Paradise; Cain (whose Name signifies a Possession) out of his Native Possession, to be a Runnagate upon Earth: All of them de∣priv'd of the Favour of God, and all of them subject to a perpetual Curse. Lucifer to perpetual Darkness, Adam to perpetual Labour, and Cain to perpetual Fear and Instability: By perpetual, I mean, during their Lives; for at their Death they all meet in Eternal Damna∣tion. The Life of Satan is till the Day of Judgment; so, though he liveth so long, he reigneth in Labour and Travel to work Wickedness: there is his End, and then is the time of his further and Eternal Punishment; then shall he and
all his Angels be cast into everlasting fire, Matt. 25. 41. 46. there I leave both him and them hopeless of Mercy, which not∣withstanding is graciously extended to Adam and his Posterity repenting, by the meritorious Passion of our Saviour, who to expiate the Sacrilege committed by Man, in aspiring to be like God, deba∣sed himself, being God, to become a Man: And as Man would have left the Earth, and have scaled the Heaven, so He left the Heaven, and came down into the Earth, living here in Subjection to Man, when Man himself would not be subject to God: Therefore (ut contraria contrariis curantur) as the Sacrilege was a Capital Sin, that contained in it many other specifical Sins, Pride, Ambition, Rebellion, Hypocrisie, Malice, Robbery, and many other hellish Impieties; so for a punctual Satisfaction he made himself a Capital Sacrifice, that contained innu∣merable Graces, Humility, Contempt of the World, and of himself, Obedience, Sincerity, Love, Bounty, and all other Celestial Virtues.
The Contemplation of this exorbitant Mercy, which I leave to be sounded forth by the Golden Trumpets of the Church, hath led me a little forth of my Course.
I return to Adam and his Posterity, and will go on with them safely, as I find them left in the hands of Justice, and the dint of the Curse. Adam in his Children, and they in him are all unhappy: His good Son Abel is cruelly murthered and by whom? but (to encrease his Grief) by his other Son Cain, who according to the Law of Nature ought to dy for it, as himself con∣fesseth, Gen. 4. 14. and then was Adam destitute of them both. Yet so is he not∣withstanding; for his Son Cain, the Mur∣therer, is a condemned Person, a banish∣ed Man, and a continual Fugitive to save his Life; which nevertheless was at length casually taken from him by the hand of Lamech; as St. Hierom (out of an Author (reporteth ad Damasum, p... Tom... Thus two of Adam's Sons died unnaturally, and all the rest, except Seth, living wickedly, are not therefore mentioned in Holy Scriptures. Touch∣ing their worldly Affairs, all was evil, and out of course; Labour, and Sweat, and Sorrow vex their Persons; the Beasts of the Earth, and the Fowls of the Air, that formerly were subject to Adam, will rebell and become his Enemies; the Earth, that formerly gave him Sustenance of her own accord, will now yield no∣thing,
but by compulsion; and is besides unto him both false and refractory: He commits his Corn unto it, and it renders him Thistles and Weeds; he planteth his Vineyard in it, and it bringeth him Thorns and Briars: All the Works of Man are now in the sorrow of his hands, Gen. 3. 17, 18, 19. The thoughts of his heart are only evil continually, Gen. 6. 5. and the earth is corrupt before God, and full of cruelty, ver. 11.
Thus the Soul, the Body, the Mind, and the Manners of Men, the Nature of Beasts and Fowls, and the Condition of the Earth it self being wholly altered from the Original Constitution, and cor∣rupted by the Contagion of Sacrilege, it pleas'd the Justice of God to bring the Flood upon the Earth, to sweep away all the Posterity of wicked Cain, in the se∣venth Generation; and not to spare any either of Adam's Line, or of Righteous Seth's Generation, and his Family, as a Type of the Sacred Portion appropriated to his Worship, which those Sinners of the old World had so much corrupted. Thus for Sacrilege was the whole World destroy'd; in that Universal Destruction was nothing saved, but the Tenth Gene∣ration; that out of it, as from a better
Root, the New World might be produ∣ced and replenished.
But the Coals of that old Ambition (which before the Flood, being once fir'd by Satan in the Hearts of our first Pa∣rents, pricked them on in a Desire to be like Gods) came by propagation of Ori∣ginal Sin, to be kindled again after the Flood, in the proud Builders of the Tower of Babel, who by their miraculous Work would also be like Gods; and by giving themselves a Name upon Earth, live (as it were) eternally; and withal, provide so against the Hand of God, as they would be no more in danger of drown∣ing. Go to, (say they) let us build us a city and a towre, whose top may reach up unto heaven, Gen. 11. 4. that we may get us a name, lest we be scattered upon the whole earth. These were the Giants spo∣ken of by the Ancients, that did bellare cum diis; they preferr'd their own Glory before the Honour of God, and that Cal∣vin termeth—Sacrilegam audaciam quae prorumpit contra Deum ipsum, & Gigantum more coelum oppugnat: A sacrilegious Inso∣lence that breaketh out against God him∣self, and like the Giants assaults him. See the Punishment; Their sacrilegious Inte∣rest is miraculously defeated by God's
own immediate Hand, their Language confounded, their Society broken; they are cast out of their ancient Habitation, and that which they most feared falleth upon them; to be scattered over all the face of the Earth, and to be bereaved of their Friends and Kindred. For it is said, they understood not labium proximi sui, the Language of their Friends and Neigh∣bours, and were thereby compelled to leave them, as if they had been dead, and their Familie extinct, and to associate with those whom they did understand.
Besides this, as there fell a grievous Curse upon the Posterity of Adam and Cain for their Sacrilege, so (the Divines observe) did there also upon the whole Posterity of their Children, that is, up∣on the whole World. Hodiè mundus hanc calamitatem sustinet, saith Calvin, The whole World at this day, feeleth the Evil of this Curse of the Confusion of Languages; for by it the strongest Bond of Humane Society and Concord is bro∣ken, the Hearts of Men alienated one from another, their Means of Commerce taken away, their Manners changed, and their Minds, Thoughts, Studies, and Di∣spositions contrary for the most part, and repugnant.
Sacrilege, being thus got up again, bringeth forth immediately the other Branches of Impiety: for Nimrod, the proud Hunter, and chief Builder of the Tower of Babel, is not satisfied with be∣ing like a God, but is adored of his Peo∣ple as a God indeed, and at length so ta∣ken of all the Gentiles under the Name of Saturn, or Saturnus Babylonicus. So, after him, is his Son, Jupiter Belus, whom the Scripture calleth Bel, Baal, and likewise many other of their Chil∣dren and Posterity, by whom the World in a short time becometh full of Gods: And though they daily saw these their Gods to grow old and feeble, and to die like Men, and to rot and putrifie like the basest Creatures; yet such was their Stupidity, that out of Wood and Metal they framed their Images, and styling those blockish Lumps by the Names of Gods, erected Altars and Temples to them; and honouring them with the Rites of Sacrifices and Divine Worship, belonging only to the True Living God, did thus bring the Abomination of Idola∣try over all the World.
How fearfully God punished this high Kind of Sacrilege, appears abundantly in the Book of Josuah and other Scriptures:
all the Kingdoms of Canaan, where it first began to spread it self, were so univer∣sally devour'd with Fire and Sword, as never any under the Sun were like unto them. Yea, when there were strange Gods in the House of Jacob, both against his Will, and perhaps without his Know∣ledge, yet the Hand of God was so up∣on his House, as that his Daughter Di∣nah is ravish'd, his Sons Simeon and Levi commit a cruel Murther on the Siche∣mites; Jacob thereby liveth in Grief and Fear of his Neighbours, his Wife Rachel dieth in Child-bed, and his Son Reuben committeth Incest with his Concubine Bilhah, Gen. 34. 2, 26. & 35. 19, 22.
What should I tell of the 30000 slain at once, about the Golden Calf, Exod. 32. 28. How for Solomon's Idola∣try his Issue lost the Kingdom of Israel, 1 Kings 12. 20. How Israel it self was carried Captive into Babylon, 2 King. 17. 4. How Manasses is taken Prisoner by the Assyrians, 2 Chron. 35. 11. his Son Amon slain by his Servants, 2 Kings 21. 23. his Grand-Child Josias, a good King, yet al∣so slain, 2 Kings 23. 3. and his Eldest Son, Jehoahaz, reigning after him, taken Prisoner by Pharaoh Nechoh, and dying in Egypt; his second Son, Jehoiakim, suc∣ceeding,
taken also Prisoner by Nebu∣chadnezzar; Jerusalem spoiled, and he, his Princes, People, Treasure, and Golden Vessels of the Temple all carried to Ba∣bylon, and all for Idolatry, 2 King. 24. 2. 25. 1. For Jehoram's Idolatry Jerusalem is taken, he with his Wives and Treasure; and all his Sons, save the Youngest, slain; and himself, after a long tormenting Dis∣ease, hath his Guts fall out, 2 Chron. 21. 17, 18, 19. So Amaziah seeth Jerusalem defaced, the Temple spoiled, his Treasure carried away, and himself a Prisoner; and being restored, driven out by Trea∣son, and slain at last, 2 Chr. 25. 14, &c.
I will wade no farther in this Kind of Sacrilege, which is never pass'd over in Scripture, but with some Remarkable Punishments: Our Country, I hope, doth not at this Day know it.
Of the other Sorts of Sacrilege, commonly so called, as of Time, Persons, Function, Place, and other things consecrated to the Worship of God. And first of Time, in profaning the Sabbath.
I Come now to the second Part, which indeed is that, which the Schoolmen and Canonists only call Sacrilege, as tho' the former were of too high a Nature to be express'd in this Appellation: so exorbitant a Sin, as that no Name can properly comprehend it. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a Warring against God, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a direful Violence upon Divine Majesty, a superlative Sacrilege.
The other and common Kind of Sa∣crilege, is (as was said) a violating, mis-using, or a putting away of things consecrated or appropriated to Divine Service, or Worship of God: It hath ma∣ny Branches, Time, Persons, Function, Place; and materially, Omne illud (saith Th. Aquinas) quod ad irreverentiam rerum sacrarum pertinet, ad injuriam Dei perti∣net, & habet Sacrilegii rationem, 2a2ae.
qu. 99. art. 1. This Description of Sacri∣lege may well enough be extended further than Aquinas did perhaps intend it, to the former or superlative Kind.
Sacrilege of Time is, when the Sabbath, or the Lord's Day, is abused or profaned: This God expresly punish'd in the Stick∣gatherer. Some Canonists seem not to rec∣kon this under the common Kind of Sacri∣lege, Soto, de justitia & jure, lib. II. qu. 4. fol. 50. 6. So that in all that followeth we shall run the broken Way of the Schoolmen and Canonists.
Sacrilege of Persons, that is, Priests and Ministers consecrated to the Service of God, and the Punishments thereof.
SAcrilege against the Person is, when Priests or Ministers of God's Divine Service, are either violated, or abused: Again; Fear the Lord, and honour his Priests, Ecclus 7. 29, 31. For he beareth the iniquity of the congregation, to make an atonement for them before the Lord, Deut. 8. 17. For the Levite is separate to the Lord, to minister unto him, to bless thee in his name, Deut. 10. 8. therefore when
Micah had got a Levite into his House, he rejoiced, and said, I know that the Lord will be good unto me, seeing I have a Levite to my priest, Judg. 17. 13. Touch not mine anointed, nor do my prophets no harm, Psal. 105. 15. Mine anointed, that is, not my Kings, nor my Priests; and Deut. 12. 19. Beware that thou forsake not the Levite, as long as thou livest upon the earth; Beware, saith God, as intimating Danger and Pu∣nishment to hang over their head, that offered otherwise; and what? not for wronging the Levite, (a thing too impi∣ous) but for not loving and cherishing him all the days of thy Life. I must here note, as it cometh in my way, the remarkable Justice and Piety of Pharaoh towards his Idol Priests; that when by reason of the Famine he had got and bought unto himself all the Money, Cat∣tle, Lands, Wealth, and Persons of the Egyptians, yet stretched he not forth his Thoughts to the Lands or Persons of his Priests; but, commiserating their Neces∣sity, allowed them a ... at his own Charge, that they might both live and keep their Lands, Gen. 47. 22. Muscu∣lus hereupon infers, Quantum sacrilegium est in nostris principibus, negligi legitimos probos{que} sacrorum ministros? How great
a Sacrilege is it in our Princes, that the good and lawful Ministers of Holy things are thus neglected? It is to be noted, That as Micah expected a Blessing from God, for entertaining an Idolatrous Levite into his House; so Pharaoh's Piety towards his Priests, wanted not a Blessing from God upon his House, though God hated both the Idolaters and Idolatry it self.
Let us see how Sacrilege in this Kind hath been punished. The Benjamites of Gibeah wronging a Levite villainously, in abusing his Wife, Judg. 19. 25. Gibeah is therefore destroyed with Fire and Sword, above 26000 valiant Men of the Benjamites slain, and the whole Tribe al∣most wholly rased out of Israel, with their Cities and Castles, Ch. 20.
Jeroboam making Golden Calves dri∣veth the Priests of the Lord out of Israel, and makes himself other Priests, not of the Tribe of Levi: for this he is over∣thrown by Abiah King of Judah, and 500000 of his Men slain, his Son taken from him, and his Posterity threatned to be swept away like Dung; and those of them that died in the city, to be eaten of dogs, those in the fields, by the fowls of the air, 2 Chron. 13. 9. 1 King. 14. 10. Jeroboam also stretched but out his hand
against the Prophet to have him appre∣hended, and it is presently withered, 1 Kings 13. 4.
Joash commanded Zacharias, Son of Je∣hoiada the Priest, to be slain in the court of the Lord's house: this done, he is over∣come the next Year following by the A∣ramites; all his Princes are slain, his Treasure and the Spoil is sent to Damascus, himself left afflicted with great Diseases, and at last murthered in his bed by his ser∣vants, 2 Chron. 24. 21, &c.
Zedekiah King of Judah casteth Jeremy the Prophet first into Prison, then for a season into the Dungeon, and useth him harshly, Jer. 32. 3. 37. 21. 38. 9. He and those that counselled him to it, are overthrown by Nebuchadonosor, Jerusalem taken, his Sons slain before his Eyes, and then his Eyes put out, and the People car∣ried captive to Babylon: but Jeremiah him∣self is set at liberty, and well intreated by his Enemies the Chaldaeans, Jer. 39. 1, &c.
Sacrilege of Function, by usurping the Priests Office; and the Punishment thereof.
SAcrilege of Function is, when those that are not called to the Office of Priesthood or Ministry, do usurp upon it. So Gideon made an Ephod, (that is a Pon∣tifical Ornament of the Tabernacle) not at Shilo, but in his own City Ophra, where∣by the Israelites fell to worship it: or, as others think, that he made all the things of the Tabernacle, whereby the People were drawn to worship there, and not to go to Shilo, where the Tabernacle was. This (saith the Text) was the Destructi∣on of Gideon and his House; for his Son Abimelech, rising against his Brethren, slew 70 of them upon a Stone, and then with a Stone cast upon him by a Woman, himself was first brained, and after by his own Commandment, thrust through by his Page, Judg. 8. 27. and 9. 6.
Saul takes upon him to offer a burnt Offering to God in the Absence of Samuel.
The Kingdom therefore is cut from his Family, 1 Sam. 8. 9. and nothing after prospers with him, but he runneth into other Sins, as that of sparing Agag and the Cattle. He is overthrown by the Philistines, himself and three of his Sons are slain by them, 1 Sam. 3. 6. Ishbosheth, a fourth Son, by Treachery, 2 Sam. 4. 6. and seven more are hang'd for appeasing of the Gibeonites.
Vzzah being no Levite, stretched forth his hand and stayeth the Ark from fal∣ling: It seemed a pious Act, yet God presently struck him dead for it, 2 Sam. 6. 6, 7.
Vzziah the King, in spight of the Priests, goeth into the Sanctuary, and would burn Incense, which belonged on∣ly to the Priest's Office. This (saith the Text) was his Destruction, for he trans∣gressed against the Lord, therefore whilst he was yet but about it, having the In∣cense in his hand to burn it, the leprosie presently rose in his forhead; so that he was not only constrained to haste himself pre∣sently out of the Temple, but to live all his Life after sequestred from the Compa∣ny of Men; and, being dead, was not buried in the Sepulchre of his Fathers,
but in the Field there a-part from them, 2 Chron. 26. 16, &c.
Let those that have Impropriations con∣sider, whether these Cases concern not them; for, like Vzzah, they stretch out their hands to Holy Things, (but would God it were to no worse intent) like Gideon, they bring them into their own Inheritance, and like Saul and Vzziah they take upon them the Priest's Office: For they are Parsons of the Pa∣rish, and ought to offer up Prayers for the Sins of the People.
Sacrilege of Holy Places, Churches, and Oratories consecrated to the Honour and Service of God: And the fearful Punish∣ments thereof shewed by many Examples.
SAcrilege of the Place, is, when the Temple or the House of God, or the Soil that is consecrated to his Honour is either violated or profaned. When God was in the fiery Bush at Horeb, the place about it was presently sanctified, so that Moses himself might neither come near the Bush, nor stand a-loof upon the
holy Ground with his Shooes on, but in Reverence of the Place must be bare∣footed, Exod. 3. 5. So when God de∣scended upon Mount Sinai, his Presence made the Place round about it Holy. He commanded therefore that Marks should be set upon the Border, to distinguish it from the other Ground; and that if Man or Beast did but touch it, they should be either stoned, or thrust through with a dart, Exod. 19. 21.
Thus afore the Law; when the Law was given, first the Tabernacle, and then the Temple were full of Sanctification, both by the Presence of God, and by the Decree of his Mouth, as appeareth abundantly in Scripture, Ex. 40. 34, 35. 1 King. 8. 10, 11. Therefore grievous Punishments were al∣ways inflicted upon such as did violate them in any thing. If any man (saith the Geneva Translation) destroy the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, 1 Cor. 3. 17. The Greek is much more copious, and doth not restrain it to them only that destroy the Temple, but extendeth it to all that either destroy or abuse it in any sort; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The vulgar Latin doth well express it; Si
quis templum Dei violaverit, disperdet eum Deus, &c. for the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is cor∣rumpo, vexo, calamitatem infero, perdo, de∣floro, violo, vitio; so that it contains as well the lesser Injuries done to the Tem∣ple, as that great and Capital Crime of destroying it: but because the Apostle useth one word in both Places, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, they likewise in the ... would have one word in both places ... Upon the word destroy, which to my understanding is too particular, and might have been better expressed by a word of more general Signification; as to say, If any Man spoil the Temple of God, God shall spoil him; that is to say, If he spoil the Temple, either by destroying it, or defacing it, or violating it in any Course, as by robbing, stealing, or taking from it any Ornaments, ... Goods, Rights, ... Means of Maintenance, or by abusing it in any manner whatsoever, God shall spoil him in one sort or other, as of his Patrimony, Lands, Goods, Liberty, Plea∣sures, Health, and Life it self; Children, Family, and Posterity; and not so only, but by casting also upon him divers fear∣ful Visitations and Misfortunes, more or less, as in his Wisdom shall soon... The word destroy is not properly said of
any Punishment that tendeth only to work Amendment: and God doubtless often spoileth a Man of the things he de∣lighteth in, not to his whole Destruction, but to awaken him to Amendment.
Let us see in what manner God hath punished this kind of Sacrilege among the Jews.
In the time of the Law, though fre∣quent Examples are not to be expected, for that there was but one Temple of God in both the Kingdoms of Judah and ... namely, that of Jerusalem, built by Solomon, and for the most part, p... preserved in after Ages. Another there was at Samaria which...builded upon Mount Gerizim, like to that of Jeru∣lem, by Licence of Alexander the Great, and being afterward destroy'd by Hyrca∣nus, King of Judah, gave occasion to the Samaritan Woman to say unto Christ, John 4. 20. Our Fathers worshiped in this Mountain—. A third also for the dis∣persed Jews in Aegypt built by Onias Son of Onias the High-Priest, in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, Joseph. Antiq. l. 12. c. 14. & de Bello Judaico, c. 7. But these two being against the Command∣ment of God (who would have no Tem∣ple but at Jerusalem) I meddle not with,
nor with the Synagogues of the Jews be∣ing many in every City, 480. in Jerusa∣lem instituted for Strangers, as the Tem∣ple was for the Citizens, and erected of later time without any mention of them in the Old Testament or Books Apocry∣phal: Let us see, I say, Examples of this kind.
Nadab and Abihu, Sons of Aaron, pol∣luted the Tabernacle, by neglecting the sanctified Fire of the Altar, and offering Incense by strange and common Fire; they were therefore devoured by strange Fire sent upon them by the Lord him∣self.
Hophni and Phinehas, the Sons of Eli, made a Sacrilegious Rapine upon the Of∣fering of the Lord, upon the Fat, and upon the Flesh, and upon the Holy Por∣tion: polluting also the Sanctified Place, with sacrilegious Adultery, 1 Sam. 2. 12. God termeth this a dishonouring himself, and saith (ver. 30.) Them that honour me, I will honour; and they that despise me, shall be despised. Hereupon, he threatneth, First, To cut off the arm of Eli's Father's house, (i. e. the Authority and Honour of the Priesthood;) which was perform∣ed when Solomon cast out Abiathar ... of Eli, out of the Priest's Office,
and bestowed it on Zadock, being of ano∣ther Family, 1 King. 2. 26. Secondly, That all of his Family should die before they came to be old; which himself did partly see in his own Sons. Thirdly, That his sons Hophni and Phinehas should die both in one day. Fourthly, That he should see his enemy possess his office, and that the remnant of his family should crouch, and be sui∣tors to him for relief and favour. All which undoubtedly came to pass: And yet with all this was not the Wrath of God appeased; but spreading it self into a further Agony of Indignation, fell not only upon the whole People of Israel, but also upon the holiest Monuments of the Glory of God. The Word of the Lord became rare and precious: There was no manifest Vision: The Army of Israel is beaten by the Philistines, and about 4000 of them slain in one Battle, and 30000 in another: The Ark of God taken Prisoner, and carried Captive into the House of Dagon, the Philistines Idol: Hophni and Phinehas died: Eli falleth backward and breaketh his Neck: The Wife of Phinehas falleth untimely into Travail, and dieth with Grief, (1 Sam. chap. 2. 3, 4.) Fourscore and five Priests of Eli's House are, at Saul's Command∣ment
tyrannously slain all in one Day. Nob the City of the Priests, with the Men, Women, Children, Sucklings, Oxen, Sheep, and Asses all destroyed (22. 18.) And finally, to cut the Priesthood for ever from the House of Eli, Solomon cast Abiathar out of it (being the fourth in Succession after Eli), and brought in Za∣dock of another Family, (1 Chron. 6. 8.) Oh the dreadful Justice of Almighty God! But such of old was the Fruit of Sacrilege; and such Effects it still produ∣ceth.
Joash stoned Zachariah in the Court of the Temple. This double Sacrilege of Person and Place, was punished by the Slaughter of his People, Loss of his Trea∣sure, Diseases of his Body, and Murther of his Person, as we have already clear∣ed in Sacrilege of the Person.
So Vzziah entering the Sanctuary by force, and attempting the Priest's Office in burning Incense, committed Sacrilege of Place and Person, was punished as we have cleared.
Ahaz committeth Idolatry, and spoileth the Temple of the Treasure, and some o∣ther Ornaments. He is first given into the hands of the Azarites or Assyrians; then Pekah King of Israel slayeth 120000 of his
Soldiers, all in one day, and taking 200000 Women and Children Prisoners, took away also much Spoil, which they brought to Samaria. The Edomites also beat him, and captivated his People; and the Philistines took and inhabited many of his Cities. In this Affliction he far∣ther spoileth the Temple of the Vessels, and shutteth it up; and, dying an Idola∣ter and Sacrilegious, is not buried in the Sepulchre of his Father, but a-part in Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 28.
Nebuchadonosor, otherwise called Nebu∣chadnezzar, spoileth the Temple, carri∣eth thence all the Treasure and Holy Vessels, 2 King. 24. 13. slayeth those that were fled thither for Safety; after by his Servants burnt it, 2 Chron. 36. 17. He is stricken with Madness, cast out of his Kingdom, liveth among Beasts, and like a Beast, feedeth upon Grass till his Hairs were grown like Eagles Feathers, and his Nails like Birds Claws, Dan. 4. 3. And in the Days of his Grand-Child was his Family clean extinguished, and his great Empire taken from him by Force, and given to the Persians, Dan. 5.
Antiochus Epiphanes, Son of Antiochus the Great, King of Syria, entereth into the Sanctuary, and taketh away the Gol∣den
Altar, and the Treasure of the Tem∣ple, even 1800 Talents. Presently his Posterity and Glory altereth, his Cap∣tains are slain, his Armies beaten, and all his Affairs were so unfortunate, that calling his Friends unto him, con∣fesseth, that he was fallen into that Adversity and Flood of Misery, for that Evil he had done at Jerusalem, For I took, saith he, all the Vessels of Gold and Silver that were in it, ... and I know that these Troubles are come upon me for the same Cause; and behold I must die with great Sorrow, in a strange Land. Thus in Passions of Grief he ended his Days, cap. 6. 11. Yet did not this end his Tragedy,* 1.1 for his Son Antiochus Eupater was depriv'd of his Kingdom by his Uncle Demetrius, and put to Death: and altho' Alex∣ander Epiphanes, his other Son, a Brother of Antiochus Eupater, recover'd the King∣dom, and slew Demetrius, and fortified himself by the Marriage of Cleopatra, Daughter of Ptolemy King of Aegypt, to his great Happiness, as he thought, yet God turned it to his own Destruction; for Ptolemy took both her and the King∣dom from him, and gave them to his
Enemy Demetrius Nicanor; and whilst he fled to save his Life, to his Friend Zab∣diel the Arabian, he struck off his Head, and sent it to Ptolemy, 1 Maccab. 11. 9. notwithstanding this, his Son Antiochus Theos, being but a Child, by the Help of Tryphon, was restored to his Father's Kingdom, and overthrew Demetrius Ni∣canor, Cap. 11. 54. who flying, is impri∣soned by Arsaces King of Persia, Cap. 14. 2. and after slain: so that Antiochus seemeth not secure, but the Hand of God is still upon the Posterity of Antiochus Epipha∣nes the Sacrilegist; for even now doth Tryphon himself murther his Grand-child Antiochus Theos,* 1.2 and, ending that Line, usurpeth the Kingdom, 1 Maccab. 33. 31. Read 2 Maccab. 9. 7.
Touching the Sacrilegious Attempt made by Antiochus and some of his Sol∣diers, upon the Temple of ... (or Diana, as Lyra taketh it) in Persia, and the terrible Destruction that fell imme∣diately upon them, mentioned, 2 Macc. 1. 16. I pass it over, as not belonging to this place.
Heliodoras the Treasurer of King Se∣leucus, is sent by his Master to fetch the innumerable Money that was in the Tem∣ple of Jerusalem, not belonging to the
Provision of the Sacrifices, but deposited there in safety, for Widows and Orphans. The high Priest Onias declareth to him, that there was not above 400 Talents of Silver, and 200 of Gold: and both he and the rest of the Priests, and the rest of the City, prayed instantly to God to preserve the Treasury; notwithstanding Heliodorus and his Souldiers approach unto it, and presently there appeared a terrible Man on Horse-back, richly barb∣ed, between two young Men of notable strength, and the Horse running fiercely upon him, struck him on the Breast with his Fore-foot, and the young Men scourged him continually with many sore stripes: so that Heliodorus falling to the Ground, and covered with great Darkness, was carri∣ed away in a Horse-Litter, desperate of Life, till by Entreaty Onias prayed for him, and thereupon the young Men ap∣pearing again to Heliodorus, willed him to give Onias thanks, because God for his sake had spared his Life. Seleucus, after this, would have sent another, but Heli∣odorus advising him to send his Enemy he gave it over, 2 Macc. 3. 38, 39. If thou hast an enemy or traytor send him thither, and thou shalt receive him well scourged: for in that place, no doubt, there is an especial
power of God: for he that dwelleth in hea∣ven hath his eye on that place, and defend∣eth it, and he beateth and destroyeth them that come to hurt it.
Lysimachus, a Man of great Power in Jerusalem, Brother and Deputy to Menelaus the High Priest, purloineth much of the Golden Vessels, and in the Geneva Tran∣slation is termed a Church Robber. He falleth into hatred of his Country-Men, the Jews, and having about Three thou∣sand for his Guard, is notwithstanding in a Tumult of the People oppressed with Clubs, Dust, and Stones, and in that Manner slain near unto the Treasury with some of his Company, many others of them being wounded, 2 Macc. 4. 39.
Callisthenes who had set fire upon the holy Gates flying after into a Cottage, the same was also set on fire and he burned in it, 2 Macca. 6. 33.
Menelaus having obtained by Money the High-Priesthood stealeth certain of the Golden Vessels out of the Temple, giving part away, and selling part unto the Tyrians and others, 2 Maccab. 4. 32. he is afterwards accused to Antiocbus Eu∣pater to have been the Author of the e∣vils in Judaea, and for the Sacrilege com∣mitted by him about the Holy Fire and
Ashes of the Altar, he is put to death at Beraea, by an Engine upon the Top of an high Tower, ordained for the Punish∣ment of Sacrilege, and other great Offen∣ces, by overwhelming the Offenders with Ashes; and, being dead, he must not be buried, for that he was a Sacrilegist, 2 Maccab. 13. 4. Let those Clergy-Men that defraud their Churches of their Lands or Goods consider this Example.
Nicanor, Governour of Judaea under Eupater, (stretching forth his Hand to∣ward the Temple) sweareth, That if Judas Maccabaeus were not delivered unto him Prisoner, he would make it a plain Field, and break down the Altar, and erect an ... Temple to Bacchus. At the next Encounter Judas with a small Power slayeth 35000 of Nicanor's Army, and among them, unwittingly, Nicanor himself, whose Head, and the Hand with the Shoulder, that he had stretched forth against the Temple, he caused to be cut off, and carried to Jerusalem, and shewed there to the Priests and others; and cut out the Tongue, and minced it, and cast it to the Birds, and set the Head on the Castle, 2 Macc. 14. 33. and 15. 27.
Thus touching Local Sacrilege, I have gone through the Canonical and Apochry∣phal Books of the Old Testament; be∣fore I enter into the New, (which will be very short) I desire to remember one that happen'd in the mean time.
Pompey the Great (whose Glory and Conquest some in Plutarch compare with Alexander the Great) by help of Hyrcanus taketh Jerusalem, and battering down a wall of the Temple, maketh there a great slaughter, not only of the Jews, but of the Priests themselves, that even then were at the Sacrifices; and chused rather to die, than to intermit the same; and then en∣tring with his Soldiers into the Sanctua∣ry, did behold those Sacred things, which a profane eye never saw before, the gol∣den Table, the Candlestick, the Sacri∣ficing Instruments, and what might tempt a wastful General, 2000 Talents of holy Treasure, which Pompey not∣withstanding, to the Glory of his Hea∣then-piety would never touch, but com∣manded that the Ministers should cleanse the Temple presently, and continue their daily Sacrifices, making Hyrcanus now High-Priest. Josep. Antiqu. lib. 14. §. 8. Hitherto all Glory and Fortune attended
Pompey his Servants, three times he tri∣umpheth, and is as well Conqueror of the Hearts of his Nation, as of their Persons whom he subdued. Some in Plutarch, where his Conquests are recited, compare them with Alexander the Great; but af∣ter this Sacrilege (to my knowledge ob∣serve it) nothing doth prosper with him, but as conducing to his hurt: Oh, (said Plutarch, p. 70.) would God he had dyed while his fortune was yet like Alexander's: for in the rest of his Life his prosperities were hateful, and his miseries bitter. He hasteth home into Italy to enjoy the plea∣sures of his family and country, where he findeth that his wise Mutia had played the harlot, and therefore divorceth her; that the Senate one while slight and de∣ride him, another while magnify him and use him for necessity, but always suspect him, in great opposition with the Princi∣pal Men; and when he had Married Ju∣lia, the Daughter of Caesar to be reconcil∣ed with him, she became abortive of her first Child, and dyed of her second, and the Child also, all in a short space. Then runneth the dissension between Caesar and him, which groweth to Arms on both sides, and when Caesar at first had the advantage, yet he offereth Pompey
Conclusions of Peace; which Pompey (ordained to destruction) refuseth, and having at last by the confluence of Sena∣tors and active Men unto him more than double the Army of Caesar, besides an in∣vincible Navy to secure him, he joyneth Battle with great hope and probability of Victory near Pharsalia in Thessaly, but is overthrown, and flying to his great Friend Ptolemy in Aegypt, is there Barba∣rously murthered at his landing, in the sight of his Wife and Son his Head struck off, and his Body cast upon the shore. Plutarch in his Life admiring whence this change of fortune should come, supposes it to be for mis-governing the Common-wealth; I by the precedent Examples impute to his Sacrilege, which after that manner wrought still upon his posterity to the extirpation of his Family. For his Son Cneus Pompeius overcome in Spain by Caesar, is slain also in fight, App. lib. 2. And his other Son Sextus Pompeius driven out of Aegypt into Asia, is there slain by the commandment of Antonius. App. lib. 4.
Thus when Pompey the Great entred into the Temple, and saw the great Riches thereof, he did forbear to spoil or pillage any part thereof, which makes for the
commendation of his heathenish piety. Joseph. Antiq. lib. 14. cap. 8.
But when Crassus the Roman General entered Jerusalem and the Temple, he did not forbear, but took away Eight Thousand Talents: Which prosper'd ill with him; for marching forward with his Army into Parthia, there his Sacri∣legious Money and he perished together. Joseph. lib. 16. Cap. 12.
* 1.3 Marcus Crassus being the second time Consul with Pompey the Great, had now by lot the charge of Syria; and marching with a mighty Army against the Parthi∣ans, he came to Jerusalem, and seeing the Treasure of the Temple (which Pompey forbare to meddle with) he took away Two Thousand Talents of Money, and all the Gold, amounting to Eight Thousand and besides this, the Golden Beam weighing 750 l. whereon the Veils did hang. To say truth, the Gol∣den Beam was deliver'd to him by Eleazar the Priest, as a ransom for all the rest, Crassus swearing to take nothing else. But having the one, he would not leave the other. The Beam he broke, and coin'd it into Money for payment of the Soldiers.
The success was this. Many grievous Tempests of Thunder and Lightning op∣pos'd
his Army; a violent Wind brake the Bridge he made for his passage; his Camp was twice stricken with Light∣ning; and divers other such Prodigious events are noted by Plutarch. Joining Battle with his Enemy, his dear Son was first slain in his own sight, with the Flower of his Cavalry, and then all the Roman Army slaughter'd or discomfited. Himself, though Surenas the General would have sav'd him, was also slain. Being dead, his Head and his Hand, (that committed the Sacrilege) like Ni∣canor's in the Maccabees, were stricken off, and with other Monuments of the Ro∣man Glory, most contemptuously abused and derided, in Triumphs, Plays, and Publick Meetings. It is noted to be one of the greatest Overthrows that ever the Romans had. Joseph. Antiq. lib. 14. cap. 13. Plutarch. in M. Crasso. Appian. de Bell. Parthic.
Some report, that the Parthians, in derision of his Avarice, poured molten Gold into his Mouth; and say also, that he slew himself, by thrusting his riding-Wand into his own Brains through his Eye. But, I take it, he that thus killed himself, was Pub. Crassus Nucianus, Brother to the Grand-Father of this
M. Crassus, overthrown also in the Par∣thian Wars by Aristonicus.
It is much to be admired, that none of the Heathen-Emperours of Rome, af∣ter Titus, (many of them being notori∣ously wicked and prodigal) nor Gense∣ricus and his Vandals, did not convert such goodly rich Vessels of Gold and Sil∣ver, as those of the Temple were, into Ready Money, for the Maintenance of their great Armies, and other publick Necessities of State; but that they should suffer them to be preserv'd without any Loss or Imbezelling, for the Space of 500 Years together. But the Providence of God is very remarkable in preser∣ving them, until they came to the great Christian Emperour Justinian, who di∣sposed them to Christian Churches, as is shewed.
The Learned Mr. Fuller in his Pis... lib. 3. pag. 438. thinks that it is unknown what became of these Vessels, after Titus carried them to Rome. But it appeareth he is mistaken in this; though not in his Opinion, That the Holy and Holy of Ho∣liest remain'd entire and untortur'd, till all was destroy'd at the Captivity of Ba∣bylon; though the outward Courts and Chambers had been often plunder'd.
And if this be true, as it is very proba∣ble, hence may we well consider, and admire the wonderful Providence of God, in defending the Temple in the principal Parts of it, for the Benefit of his own Worship and Glory, though he suffered the outward to be plunder'd oftentimes, for the Sins and Wickedness of the Peo∣ple. Though at last, when God resol∣ved to put an end to the Jews State and Religion, then he suffer'd the Temple to be burnt and destroyed utterly; never suffering it to be built again, though it were attempted divers times.
But yet the gold and silver Vessels of the Temple, (which were moveable things, that might be carried away to another Country, and at one time or other might serve for some good Use and Purpose) God preserv'd in all the Changes and Transmigrations that hapned, till he brought them at length to the Hands of a Religious and Pious Emperour, who bestow'd them upon Christian Churches, even at Jerusalem, from whence they came.
Shortly after this our Saviour Christ cometh into the World; and though re∣proving it of all Kinds of Sins, he pu∣nisheth
not one, save only Sacrilege. He refuseth to be Judge in parting the Inhe∣ritance between the two Brethren, and he would give no Sentence against the Woman taken in Adultery; but in case of Sacrilege, himself makes the Whip, himself punisheth the Offenders, himself overthrows the Money-Tables, and drives out the Prophaners of the Temple, with their Sheep, and their Oxen; not suffer∣ing the innocent Doves to remain, tho' all these were for Sacrifices, and put in the Court-Yard, John 2. 14. Such was his Zeal in this Kind of Sacrilege, that he refus'd not to be the Accuser, the Judge, and the Executioner, and this not only once, but twice; at the beginning of his Ministry, recited by St. John, and the last near the Conclusion thereof, menti∣oned Matth. 21. 11.
As for the Sacrilege of Judas and Pilate, the one in robbing the sacred Purse of our Saviour, the other of risling the holy Treasure of the Temple; they are such petty things in respect of their unexpres∣sible Crimes about the Death of our Sa∣viour, as I dare not apply their Punish∣ment hither. But Judas hanged himself, Matth. 27. and throwing himself down head-long, burst asunder in the midst,
all his Bowels gushed out, Act. 1. 18. Pilate in the displeasure of Caius the Em∣perour, about the Money of the Tem∣ple, is by him banished to Lions in France; and there, distracted with Grief and Misfortune, slayeth himself with his own Hands, Euseb. l. 2. c. 7.
So Herod is deposed by Caius from his Tetrarchy, and perpetually banished also to Lions, with his Wife Herodias, and dies miserably; their Goods confiscate by Caius, and given to Agrippa, Joseph. Ant. lib. 8. cap. 14. who also noteth, That within an hundred Years all his Proge∣ny, except a very few of the Multi∣tude, were consumed and extinct, lib. 18. cap. 11.
Sacrilege of Materials or Things; as of the Ark of God taken by the Philistines. Of the 200 Shekels of Silver, a Wedge of Gold, with the Babylonian Garment stol∣len by Achan, Jos. 6. 7. Of the Money concealed by Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5. 6. With the fearful Punishments that fell upon them all.
SAcrilege of the Things and Materials, I call that which is done upon things properly settled in holy Places, or belonging unto them: Of this sort seem∣eth the very Ark it self, whiles it travel∣led up and down, and remained not ei∣ther at the Tabernacle at Shilo, or the Temple at Jerusalem.
The Citizens and Borderers of Ashdod, overthrowing the Children of Israel, took in Battle the Ark of God; they use it with all Reverence, and place it in their Tem∣ple, by their God Dagon; but the next Morning their God Dagon was fallen down on his Face, (as adoring the Ark)
his Head and his Hands were stricken off, and such a Destruction and Death was upon the People, that the very Cry of the City went up to Heaven, and those that were not slain were smitten with Emrods, 1 Sam. 5. 4. besides a Plague of Mice that was upon them; consulting therefore with their Priests, they not on∣ly send back the Ark, with all Honour, but with a Sin-Offering also, of Golden Emrods, and Golden Mice, to be a per∣petual Monument of their Penance and Punishment, 1. Sam. 6. 1.
The Bethshemites (whilst the Ark was among the Philistines) presumed to look into it; God for this Attempt slayeth of the People 50070 Men. And the Peo∣ple lamented, because the Lord had smitten many of the People, with a great Slaughter. And the men of Beth∣shemesh said, Who is able to stand be∣fore this holy Lord God? and to whom shall he go up from us? 1 Sam. 6. 19. So for touching it with unsanctified hands (tho' to save it from falling) was Vzzah slain, as we said before, in the Sacrilege of Fun∣ction, 2 Sam. 6. 7.
Achan, in the Destruction of Jericho, stealeth 200 Shekels of Silver, and a
Wedge of Gold, from the rest of the Gold and Silver and Metal, that, by the Commandment of God, Jos. 6. 9. was to be consecrated and brought into the Treasury of the Tabernacle, and did put it even with his own stuff, saith the Text, vers. 11. This Offence of this one Man, brought a Punishment in ge∣neral upon the whole People: In the Assault at Ai, they are overthrown, and can no more stand before their Enemies (as God himself tells them), till this Sa∣crilege be punished and purged, Cap. 7. 12. Therefore not only Achan himself, but his Sons, and his Daughters, his Oxen, his Asses, his People, and his Tent, and all that he had, were both stoned and burnt together, Jos. 7.
Of this Sort is the Sacrilege of Spoil∣ing God of his Tithes and Offerings, Spo∣ken of, Malachi 3. 8. where likewise the Penalty is declared by God's own Mouth, Ye are cursed with a Curse, even the whole Nation.
Of this Sort also is the Sacrilege of Ananias and Sapphira, in the Acts of the Apostles, whereof we shall speak anon.
A Multitude of Examples there be of this Kind, but for the most part they fall as well under the Title of Local Sacrilege, as under this of Holy Things: I will therefore refer the Rea∣der to that which hath been already delivered, and will here close up the Books of the Holy Scripture, for Mat∣ters done before the Passion of our Sa∣viour.
Some Annotations touching the Omissions of the Presbyterians, in their late Annota∣tions upon the Bible; with some other Passages.
THE pious Author of this Discourse intended to have added something concerning the Sacrilege of Ananias and Sapphira, and other places of the New Testament; but since he did not finish his Purpose, here shall follow, to supply that Defect, some Annotations, that may,
in part, make some Recompence of that Omission.
And first the late Annotations upon the Bible published Ann. Dom. 1646. by some Divines called Presbyterians, deserve to be censured for their Omissions, and dangerous insinuations: for in their expli∣cation of some remarkable Texts and Ex∣amples concerning Sacrilege, they do ve∣ry unworthily discharge their parts; in that they never mention the principal offence and Sin of Sacrilege, which is ex∣presly charged in the Text, and by all Expositors both Ancient and Modern so approved. As touching the Sacrilege of Achan in the 6. and 7. Chapters of Josua, which is so fully and remarkably set forth by the Holy Ghost, and Achan so fear∣fully Punished and Condemned for it, as might well strike a Terrour, not only in∣to the People of that time, but of all Men in succeeding Ages: for as the Apostle saith, 1. Cor. 10. These things are writ∣ten for our Admonition, upon whom the ends of the World are come. Yet these Divines pass all over in general Terms, not mentioning Sacrilege to be the great Sin for which Achan and his family, and also the People were so severely Punish∣ed,
as is manifestly to be observ'd through∣out these two Chapters.
Next for the Sacrilegious offence of Bel∣shazzar in taking the Holy Vessels of the Temple to drink wine in them at his great feast, they so blanch it over in their Notes Dan. 5. 2. as if the principal Sin had been drinking excessively; not profa∣ning the holy Vessels, whereas the Text doth not charge him or his Nobles for ex∣cessive drinking (though at so great a feast some might perhaps offend therein) but for the abuse of the Vessels, which were not to be employed to any Com∣mon or Prophane use, as they were not all the time since Nebuchadnezzar his Grand-Father took them from the Tem∣ple at Jerusalem, and put them into the House of his Gods at Babylon—Cum antehac in Beli Templo aliquam adhuc sancti∣moniam retinuissent (ut not at Hieronymus in Dan. 5.) Quod tunc piaculum fuit Sacra profanare, nunc & principum & profanorum lusus est, & adhuc quaerimus, cur bellis tam atrocibus vastitas passim fiat? melius cavit sibi Justinianus qui vasa Templi secundi, à Vespasiano Romam portata, à Genserico Romae expilatore Carthaginem, cum per victoriam nactus esset, non in suos vertit usus, sed in sacram basilicam misit, quae erat
Hierosolymis, narrante Procopio. Thus the learned Grotius doth observe in his Annotations upon this Text; and so Calvin formerly, who saith expresly in his Commentary, Profectò ista profanatio indignissimum fuit Sacrilegium. So also Rolloc and Willet in their Commentaries upon Daniel, are very clear to this pur∣pose, all which might have directed them who collected the Notes.
It is not impertinent to note further what became of these Vessels afterwards, because some do think it is unknown; for in regard they were Consecrated to the Service of God, it appears that they were preserved wonderfully by the spe∣cial Providence of God, both in the first spoil of the Temple by Nebuchadnezzar, and also in the final destruction by Titus: For Nebuchadnezzar having taken them, did not put them into his Treasury, nor convert them to private Uses, but placed them in the House of his Gods at Baby∣lon; and at the return of the Jews from the Captivity, all the Vessels were re∣stored to the Temple, as appears in Ezra and Daniel. So Titus also did not con∣vert them to any private Use, but car∣ried them to Rome, where they conti∣nued many Years in the Capitol, until
Gensericus the Vandal Sacked Rome, and from thence among other Treasures car∣ried them to Carthage, and there also they were preserved till Bel, the great Ge∣neral under Justinian the Emperor, con∣quered Carthage; and among the Riches and Plunder that they won there, when Gelimer the Fourth King, a Successor after Gensericus, was taken, and other Riches and great Spoils, he took and recovered the Holy Vessels of the Temple, and brought them to Constantinople to the Emperor Justinian. When Justinian had them he was informed by a Jew and some others, that they were the conse∣crated Vessels of the Temple, and that they would not prosper in any Man's custody; and that for detaining of them formerly Rome was conquered by Gense∣ricus; and note again Carthage was over∣come for the same Offence, as Procopius relates lib. 2. de bello Vandalico. And Baronius [...] of him A. Ch. 534. Ju∣stiniani 8. ... also Paulus Diaconus, quem ex Codice Palatino edidit Janus Gru∣terus ...
quatuor decim interim dies secura & libera direptione omnibus opibus suis & miraculis Roma est evacuata, in quibus erant Ecclesiastica 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sola ex auro & lapidibus pretiosis ornata, & vasa
Hebraica, quae Titus Vespasianus post cap∣tivitatem Hierosolymitarum Romam de∣liberat, multa Millia captivorum cum regi∣na Hadoxia, quae Gensericum ad hoc fa∣cinus invitaverat, duabus{que} ejus filiabus Carthaginem abducta sunt.
When thus the Vessels were brought to Constantinople, and presented to Ju∣stinian the Emperor, he greatly feared, and was very unwilling to convert them to any private Use, or to his own Trea∣sury; but upon advice sent them to Chri∣stian Churches at Jerusalem, and so clear∣ed himself of them, and would not be guilty of any suspicion of Sacrilege. Thus we may see in those Days there was some Piety in the Hearts of Men more than ... They took Example by the Calamities of others, not to be too bold with things Consecrated to God: In a doubtful matter Justinian resolved rather to imploy to some pious Uses, than to enrich his own Coffers with them; but had they come into the Hands of Presbyterians in these times, and had any such Men been in those Days, they would have melted them into Money to pay Souldiers.
Likewise upon Acts 5. the Sacrilege of Ananias and Sapphira, in defrauding
God of a part of that which they had Consecrated to him, the Divines in their Annotations omit the main Sin, and dwell upon the Circumstances only, as Hypocrisie, Vain-glory, Lying, Cove∣tousness, and the like. But we must di∣stinguish between Ananias his Fact, and the Manner and Circumstance thereof. The Fact was Sacrilege in the manner of doing, other Crimes attended as Handmaids: It will be plain if we ask but these two Questions; First what Ananias did? The Text will make Answer, he purloined of the holy Money; this was his Fact. Ask Secondly, How and in what manner he purloined? The Story will tell us, dissembling and hypocriti∣cally, making an appearance to the con∣trary. This then was but the Manner and Circumstance of his Fact, and so the Species of the Fact was to be placed therein, as Mr. Mede doth fully shew in his Discourse upon this Text, and doth further instance the Particulars accurate∣ly, to whom therefore I refer the Rea∣der.
These two terrible Examples of God's Judgments and Severities against Sacri∣lege: The first of Achan, in the begin∣ning of the Church of Israel, at their
first entrance into the Land of Canaan: The other of Ananias, in the beginning of the Christian Church, are so remark∣able, and so punctually urged by the Holy Ghost, that they may well affright∣en all Men in succeeding Ages from ta∣king away, or seizing upon any part, or parcel of that which is given and conse∣crated unto God, and to his Service in any kind. The learned Grotius saith well in his Annotations upon Cassander (ad Artic. 16.)
Quod verò dicit Cassander, Imperatorum & Regum hoc quo{que} esse of∣ficium, ut leges divinas & canones conser∣vent, verissimum est: debent enim Chri∣sto servire etiam quà Reges. Sed cavere sibi debent, ne Schismati dent causam: sed ita se norint ecclesiarum sui regni esse tuto∣res, ut simul meminerint Ecclesiae univer∣sitatis se esse filios. Pessimè autem offici∣um hic implent principes, qui ea, quae olim Deo, id est, piis usibus, data sunt, ad suos & quidem profanissimos saepe usus vertunt, hoc sub praetextu, quod nimis multa possi∣deant Episcopi: si nimium multa habeant Epis. detur quod superest Presbyteris & Diaconis; detur Ecclesiis aedificandis aut instaurandis; detur pauperibus popularibus; & si ei desint externis, sicut olim ab A∣chaiâ & Macedoniâ missae sunt in Judae∣am
pecuniae; redimantur qui apud barbaros sunt captivi, quam ob causam multi Epis. vasa Ecclesiae etiam jam consecrata ven∣didêre, quidam semetipsos dedêre pignori: Miror non terreri eos, qui vetus testamen∣tum legunt Achanis, qui novum Ananiae exemplo: & haec res praecipua causa est cur tam diu bella durent, non tantum quia propter ista utrin{que} bellatur, verum etiam quia Deus contemptum sui sic ulcisci∣tur.
Leviticus 23. 33, 34. God commands that the Fields of the Suburbs of the Le∣vites Cities should not be sold, for it is their perpetual Possession. The Fields belonging to their Forty eight Cities, were the Glebe-lands belonging to them to keep their Cattle, therefore God com∣manded that these Fields should not be sold upon any terms; which Calvin doth truly expound in his Commentary, say∣ing,
Hoc non modo in eorum gratiam sta∣tuitur, sed quia totius populi interfuit, dispositos esse quasi in excubiis, ubi locum ipsis Deus assignaverat. Quod ad Subur∣bia spectat, vel agros pecoribus alendis de∣stinatos, vetat Deus alienari, quia hoc modo relictâ propriâ statione subinde aliò migrâssent, hanc verò disceptationem non accidere totius populi interfuit.The
same Reason is good at this Day; for the Ministers of the Gospel must have Houses to live in, and some Glebe-lands for the maintenance of their Cattle, o∣therwise they cannot subsist and attend their Duties. But our Presbyterian Di∣vines do say in their Notes, there was something in practice contrary to this; as if a bad practice, contrary to the express Commandment, were sufficient to excuse the Fault: The thing that they mean, and mention is the particular Example of Barnabas the Levite of the Countrey of Cyprus (Acts 4. 37.) Having Land sold it, and laid the Money at the Apostles feet. But it is easily answered, that Barnabas had that Land in the Countrey of Cyprus, as Tyrannus saith, of which Countrey he was: For many Jews that were dispers∣ed and dwelt in other Countries, and had Estates there, and yet came over at the solemn Feast at Jerusalem for to wor∣ship, as now Barnabas did: And if the Lands which he sold were in Judaea, yet then it might be sold, because the Jews Polity was at an end, and the old Law of Moses did not bind any longer; Lex quae Hebraeos certis finibus continebat, jam soluta erat, as Oecumenius and Chrysostom say upon x. 5.
In the Four last Chapters of Ezekiel,* 1.4 the Prophet doth there publish a remark∣able Prophecy concerning the Christian Church and State (it being never to be fulfilled in the State and Church of Is∣rael.) There is appointed by God a Division to be made of Land into three Parts, whereof the first is an Holy Portion of the Land as an Oblation to the Lord, which should be imployed for the build∣ing of the Temple, and for the habita∣tion of the Priests and Levites: The length whereof shall be 25000 Yards, and the breadth shall be 10000. This shall be Holy at the Borders thereof round about. A second Part for the City and People; and a third for the Prince. But for the Holy Portion for the Temple and Le∣vites, God commandeth expresly, That it should not be alienated, exchanged, or sold upon any pretence, Chap. 48. 14. These Four Chapters of great concernment to the Christian Church are passed over in silence, and the principal Scope of them altogether neglected: No marvel they pass over the Apocryphal Books, wherein are remarkable Examples a∣gainst Sacrilege, as is already set forth in this Discourse out of them. And tho' the Books themselves are not accounted
Canonical equal to the rest, yet for the Historical Truths, concerning the Perse∣cutions and Sufferings of the Jews, there is no question made of their Credit.
The Authors therefore of the Annota∣tions, though in their Preface they pro∣mise all Sincerity and Fidelity, yet have they failed in both very grosly;
They solemnly attest the Divine Omniscience, and profess with the blessed Apostle St. Paul, that they are not of those that corrupt the word of God, 2 Cor. 2. 17. or who handle it deceitfully, Chap. 4. 2. nor who wrest any part of it to the Patronage of any Error of what deno∣mination soever; nor have we added to it (say they) any of our own precon∣ceived Opinions to imprint a partiality in our Expositions, nor taken from it, or smothered the least tittle of sacred Truth contained in it, nor yet have we subtilly passed over any difficult place with silence, as if it had no need of an Annotation to clear it.
But let the Reader judge whether it appears not by these few Observations touching Sacrilege (which is the crying Sin of this Age) that they have dealt very slightly and subtilly in passing over
such remarkable Places with silence, and smothering the Truth, which might have been confirmed and inforced from these pregnant Texts. They have plain∣ly discovered their Double-dealing, Dis∣sembling and Forbearance to denounce the Judgments of God against such a no∣torious Sin, so raging and predominant at this time. They have done like the false Prophets of old that did sow Pil∣lows, and flatter the People in their evil Courses; whereas Sacrilege is account∣ed one of the most hainous Sins of these Days by the best Divines, and other learned Men that have written thereof.
The Apostle saith, Rom. 2. 22. Thou that abhorrest Idols, dost thou commit Sa∣crilege? The Presbyterians are very zea∣lous against all sorts of Idols, Images, Pictures, and Crosses; but for Sacrilege (unless it be for that of the Sabbath) they are very sparing and silent. But for the Apostles words; 'tis true (as one doth well infer upon them) these words are spoken as to the Person of an uncon∣verted Jew, and may be therefore thought to aim only at those Sins, which were described in the Law of Moses: But do but view St. Paul's way of Ar∣guing,
and you will quickly find they come home to us Christians. He there∣fore tells the Jew, that he taught others those things which he would not do him∣self, and he strives to make this good by three several Instances. First, Thou that preachest a Man should not steal, dost thou steal? Secondly, Thou that sayest a Man should not commit Adultery, dost thou commit A∣dultery? In both these it is plain, that the Jew he dealt with did the same things he reprehended: And streight∣way the third comes, Thou that abhorrest Idols, dost thou commit Sacrilege? So that hence it will follow (if St. Paul's words have any Logick in them) that these two Sins are of the self same Nature too; and that to commit a Sacrilege is a breach of the same Law, as to commit an Ido∣latry; so that the Crime will appear, without all doubt, a plain Robbery of God: For he that steals from Men, yea though a whole Community of Men, though bona universitatis, yet he sins but against his Neighbour, 'tis but an Of∣fence against the Second Table of the Law, in these words, Thou shalt not steal. But Sacrilege lays hold on those things which the Latins Laws call bona
nullius, it strikes downright immediate∣ly at God; and in that regard no Ido∣latry can out-do it: As this is, 'tis a breach of the First Table of the Law, and both these Crimes are equally built upon the self same contempt of God: The Offenders in both kinds, the Idola∣ter and the sacrilegious Person both think him a dull sluggish Thing. The first thinks he will patiently look on, whilst his Honour is shared to an Idol: The other imagines he will be as sottishly tame, though his Goods be stollen to his Face.
XERXES having Ten hundred thousand Men in his Land-Army, and as many, by Estimation, in his Na∣vy; intendeth to make an absolute Con∣quest of Greece, pag. 13. and spoiling all Phocis, leaveth a part of his Army a∣mong the Doreans, commanding them to invade Delphos, and to fire the Temple of Apollo, and to bring away the Sacred Riches of it. The Soldiers marching toward it, came to Pronoea, a place not far from Delphos, where a wonderful Tempest of Rain and Lightning sudden∣ly came upon them; and rending down part of the Mountains, overwhelmed many of the Army; and so amaz'd the rest, that they fled away immediately, in all the haste they could, fearing to be consumed by the God, who by this pro∣digeous Miracle thus preserv'd his Tem∣ple. In memory hereof a Pillar was erected in the Place, with an Inscription to relate it, pag. 12.
But this seemed not a sufficient Re∣venge for so horrible a Design, accom∣pany'd with other acted Sacrileges. No∣thing therefore prospereth with Xerxes: His invincible Navy is overthrown in a
Sea-Battle at Salamis, by Themistocles; his Land-Army at Plateos, by Pausani∣as; where Mardonius (Xerxes's General) that destroy'd the Houses sacred to the Gods, was also slain. Both these great Victories beyond human Expectation, sell against him in one day; and beaten thereby out of Europe, with the Loss of ... thousand of his Men, he forti∣fieth the rest of his Navy and Army at Mycale, a City of Ionia in Asia; where Leotychidas the Lacedaemonian General, ob∣taining as admirable a Victory of him as the other, slayeth above Forty thou∣sand of his Men, putting the rest to flight: Which struck such terror into the Heart of Xerxes, as upon report thereof he fled also to Ecbatan; and in this man∣ner ended his Wars with inestimable Loss, Derision and Shame. Vengeance not∣withstanding still pursued him; so that after many Years, Artabanes the Captain of his Guard (aspiring to the Kingdom, though he obtain'd it not) murthered both him and his eldest Son Darius. Dio∣dor. lib. 11. pa. 15, 23, 28, 53.
Imilco, a famous General of the Car∣thaginians, for their Wars of Sicily, in the time of Dionysius, the Tyrant, prevail∣ed very fortunately in all his Enterprizes,
till that taking the Suburbs of Archadina, he spoil'd in it the Temple of Ceres and Proserpina. This Sacrilege (saith Dio∣dorus) brought a just Punishment upon him; for in the next Encounter, the Sy∣racusans overthrew him. And being ar∣rived in his Camp, Fears and Tumults rise amongst his Soldiers in the Night time, and sudden Alarms as if the Ene∣my had been upon his Trenches. Be∣sides this, a grievous Plague at last ... in his Army, accompany'd with many fierce Diseases that drave his Men into Frenzies and Forgetfulness; so that run∣ning up and down the Army, they flew upon every Man they met with. And no Physick could help them; for they were taken so suddenly, and with such Violence, as they dy'd within five or six days, no Man daring come near them, for fear of the Infection. Hereupon en∣sued all other Calamities: their Enemies assail them both by Sea and Land; they invade their Forts and their Trenches, fire their Navy, and (to be short) make a general Confusion of the whole Army. An hundred and fifty thousand Carthagi∣nians lie dead on the Ground. Imilco himself, who lately possess'd all the Ci∣ties of Sicily, (except Syracuse, which he
also accounted as good as his own) flieth by Night back into Carthage, and fear∣eth now the losing of it. This great Commander (saith Diodorus) that in his Haughtiness plac'd his Tent on the Tem∣ple of Jupiter, and preverted the Sacred Oblations to his prophane Expences, is thus driven to an ignominious Flight, chusing rather to live basely, and con∣temn'd at home, than to expiate his wicked Sacrilege by a deserved Death. But he came to such Misery, that he went up and down the City in a most loathsome Habit, from Temple to Tem∣ple, confessing and detesting his Impi∣ety: and imploring at length some Ca∣pital Punishment for an Atonement with the Gods, ended his Life by the extremity of Famine. Diodor. Sicul. Hist. lib. 14. p. 285. & seqq. A. M. 3576.
Cambyses, the Son of Cyrus the Great, being at Thebes in Aegypt, sent an Army of 50000 Men, to spoil the Ammonians, and to burn the Temple and Oracle of Jupiter Hammon. Himself, with the rest of his Forces, march'd against the Aethiopians. But 'ere ever he had gone the fifth part of his Journey, his Victu∣als so fail'd him, that his Men were for∣ced to eat their Horses and Cattle. And
whilst like a Man without Reason, he still forc'd them to go on, and to make a shift with Herbs and Roots: Coming to a Desart of Sand, divers of them were constrained to tithe themselves, and eat the tenth Man; whereby his Voyage was overthrown, and he driven to re∣turn. His other Army, that went to spoil and fire the Oracle, after seven Days travel upon the Sands, a strong South Wind raised the Sands so violent∣ly upon them, as they were all over∣whelmed and drowned in them. Hero∣dotus in Thalia, lib. 4. pag. 167, and 168.
Cambyses, after this, in despight to the Egyptians, wounded the sacred Calf Apis (which they worshipt for their God) with his Sword upon the Thigh: (Her. pag. 169.) Derided the Image of the God Vulcan, and entring the Temple of the Cabitans, where none might come but the Priest, burnt the Images of their Gods, (pag. 147.) Pre∣sently, upon wounding Apis, he fell Mad, and committing divers horrible Facts; as he mounted upon his Horse his Sword fell out of the Scabbord, and wounded him in the same part of the Thigh wherein he had wounded Apis,
and thereon he died, having Reigned but seven Years, and leaving no Issue Male or Female to succeed him in the great Empire of his Father Cyrus, for securing of himself and his Posterity, wherein he had formerly murther'd his Brother Smerdis. Herod. Thalia, lib. 3. pag. 183. & seq.
A Rich Citizen of Egypt, longing to eat of a goodly Peacock that was con∣secrate to Jupiter, hired one of the Mi∣nisters to steal it; who going about to do it, was at the first interrupted by a Serpent; and the second time the Pea∣cock (that had lived by report an Hun∣dred Years) flew towards the Temple, and resting a while in the mid way, was after seen no more. The practice being discover'd by a brable between the Parties about the Hiring Money, the Minister was justly punished by the Ma∣gistrate for his Treachery; but the Citi∣zen that long'd to eat of the sacred Fowl, swallowed the Bone of another Fowl, was choaked therewith, and died a very painful Death. Aelian. de Animal. l. 11. c. 33.
Dionysius, the elder, rose by his own Prowess from a private Man to be King
of Sicily; and in performing many brave Exploits both in Italy and Greece, com∣mitted divers Sacrileges upon the Hea∣then Gods, and defended them with Jests. Having conquer'd Locris, he spoil∣ed the Temple of Proserpina, and sailing thence with a prosperous wind, Lo! (quoth he) what a fortunate Passage the Gods give to sacrilegious Persons.
Taking the Golden-Mantle from Ju∣piter Olympius, he said it was too heavy for Summer, and too cold for Winter, and gave him therefore one of Cloath.
So from Aesculapius he took his Beard of Gold, saying it was not seemly that the Son should have a Beard, when his Fa∣ther Apollo himself had none at all.
With such Conceits he robbed the Temples of the Golden Tables, Vessels, Ornaments, and things of price Dedica∣ted to the Gods. Whereupon ensued a change of his Fortunes; for afterwards he was ordinarily overcome in all his Battles, and growing into contempt of his Subjects, was murthered by them at last. (Jus. lib. 20. in fine, pa. 184.) His Son, named as himself, succeeds in the Kingdom, and ordain'd as it were to extirpate the Family of his Father, put
his Brethren and their Children to death. He groweth Odious also to his Subjects, and falling into Civil War with them, is thrice overcome by them; and after va∣rious Events, is at last driven out of his Kingdom irrecoverably. He seeth the Death of his Sons, his Daughter violent∣ly ravish'd, his Wife (who was his Si∣ster) most villanously abus'd, and in fine, murther'd with his Children. His Days he consum'd in Exile among his Enemies; where he lived not only Despised, but O∣dious to all, consorted with the basest Peo∣ple, and in the vilest Manner; and so end∣ing his Tragedy, gave Plutarch occasion to say, That neither Nature nor Art did bring forth any thing in that Age so wonderful as his Fortune. Just. lib. 21. pa. 187. Plut. in Timoleon, p. 240.
Antiochus, the Great King of Syria, being overcome by the Romans, and put to a great Tribute, not knowing how to pay it, thought that necessity might ex∣cuse his Sacrilege; and therefore in the Night spoils the Temple of Didymaean Jupiter. But the Countrey People rising upon the Alarm of it, slew both him and his whole Army. Just. lib. 32. pa.
Q. Fulvius Flaccus Pontifex, spoiled the Temple of Juno ... One of his Sons
dies in the War of Illyricum; and the o∣ther lying desperately Sick, himself be∣tween Grief and Fear falleth Mad, and hangeth himself. Liv. Dec. 5. lib. 2. pa. 47. a.
Divers that had spoil'd the Temple of Proserpina, at Locris, were by Q. Minu∣tius sent fetter'd to Rome. The Romans sent them back again to the Locrians to be punish'd at their pleasure; and caused the things taken out of the Temple to be restor'd, with Oblations besides for an Atonement. Liv. Dec. 4. lib. 2. p. 44. b.
Agathocles, surprizing the Lipareans, imposeth a Ransom of Sixty Talents of Silver upon them: They made as much toward payment of it as they could, and desired Day for the rest, saying, That they had never upon any necessity med∣led with that which was consecrated to the Gods. Agathocles would none of that Answer, but enforced them to bring him that Money, it being Dedicated part to Aeolus, and part to Vulcan. Having it, he departed; but in his return Aeolus raised such a Tempest, that many thought him sufficiently reveng'd; and Vulcan after burnt him alive. Diodor. Sicul. lib. 20. p. 828. A. M. 3608. circ. pa. 817.
But that which we shall now deliver
is most remarkable, both for the exces∣sive Sacrilege and Punishment. And be∣cause the Relation perhaps shall not be un∣pleasing, I will presume to be a little the longer in it. The General Senate (of the chiefest part of Greece) called the Amphictyon, imposed a grievous Fine up∣on the Phoceans; for that they had taken a piece of the Ground Cirrhaea, being con∣secrate to Apollo, and had profaned it to works of Husbandry; adding further, that if the Fine were not paid to the use of Apollo, their Territories should be consecrate unto him. The Phoceans nettled with this Decree, as not able to pay the Fine, and chusing rather to die than to have their Countrey proscribed; by the Counsel of Philomelus, they protest against the Decree of the Amphictyones, as most Unjust, that for so small a piece of Ground so excessive a Fine should be im∣posed; and pretend that the Patronage of the Temple of Delphos it self (where the famous Oracle of Apollo was) did of Antiquity and Right belong unto them; and Philomelus undertaketh to recover it. Hereupon the Phoceans make him their General; he presently draweth into his Confederation the Lacedaemonians (whom the Amphictyones had bitten with the like
Decree) and with an Army on the sud∣den invadeth and possesseth the Temple of Delphos, slaying such of the City as re∣sisted him. The same hereof flew far and wide; and upon it divers Cities of Greece undertake in their Devotion a sa∣cred way against the Phoceans and Philo∣melus.
First, They of Locris give them Bat∣tle, and are overcome. Then the Boeo∣tians prepare an Army for their Aid; but in the mean time Philomelus, the bet∣ter to defend his Possession of the Temple, encloseth it with a Wall: And though he had formerly publish'd through Greece, that he sought nothing but the Patronage; yet seeing many Cities to joyn in force against him, he now falleth apparently upon spoiling of the Temple for sup∣porting of his War, taking from it an infinite Wealth in precious Vessels and Oblations. Nor did the progress of his Fortune suddenly teach him to repent it; for he prevail'd still against the Lo∣crians, Boeotians, Thessalians, and other their Confederates, till the Boeotians, at last, overthrew his sacriligeous Army, and slaying a great part thereof, drove himself to that necessity, that to avoid the Tortures incident to his Impiety, he
threw himself headlong down a Rock, and so miserably ended his wicked Pa∣geant.
Onomarchus (his Partner in the Sacrilege) succeedeth in his room of Command and Impiety; and after variety of Fortune, his sacrilegious Army is overthrown by King Philip of Macedon; and by his Com∣mand the Soldiers, that were taken Pri∣soners, were drown'd, and Onomarchus himself, as a Sacrifice to his Sacrilege, hang'd.
Then Phayllus, the Brother of Ono∣marchus, is chosen General; who rotting by little and little whilst he lived, died at length in most grievous Torture for his Sacrilege, pag. 437.
After him succeeded Phaloecus, Son of Onomarchus, who beyond all the former Sacrilege (wherein some accounted that as much was taken, as the whole Treasure was worth that Alexander the Great brought out of Persia) added this, That hearing there was an infinite Mass of Gold and Silver buried under the Pavement of the Temple, he with Philon, and other of his Captains began to break up the Pavement near the Tri∣pos; but frighted suddenly with an Earthquake, durst proceed no further,
pag. 453. Shortly after, Philo is accused for purloining much of the Sacred Mo∣ney committed to his Dispensation; and being Tortur'd nameth many of his Con∣sorts, who with him are by the Phoceans themselves all put to terrible Death, (pag. 452.) And the Boeotians, by the aid of king Philip, put to flight divers Troops of the Phoceans, whereof 500 fled for Sanctuary into a Chapel of Apol∣lo's, seeking Protection under him, whose Temple they had so violated. But the Fire they left in their own Tents fired their Cabbins; and then taking hold of Straw that lay near the Chapel, burnt it also, and in it them that were fled into it. For the God (saith Diodorus) would give them no Protection, though they begged it upon their Knees, p. 45, 3.
Now after ten Years this sacred War came to an end. Phaloecus, not able to subsist against Philip and the Boeotians, compoundeth with him for Licence to depart, and to carry the Soldiers he had about him with him.
The Phoceans, without all means to resist, are by a New Decree of the Am∣phictyons, or Grand Council, adjudged to have the Walls of three of their Cities
beaten to the Ground; to be excluded from the Temple of Apollo, and the Court of the Amphictyons (that is, to be Excommunicate and Out-lawed;) to keep no Horses nor Armour, till they had satisfied the Money, sacrilegiously taken, back to the God; that all the Phoceans that were fled, and all others that had their Hands in the Sacrilege, should be duly punish'd, and that every Man might therefore pull them out of any place; that the Graecians might de∣stroy all the Cities of the Phoceans to the Ground, leaving them only as Villages of fifty Houses a-piece, distant a Fur∣long the one from the other to inhabit; that the Phoceans should retain their Ground, but should pay a yearly Tri∣bute of Sixty thousand Talents to the God, till the Sum mentioned in the Re∣gisters of the Temple, at the beginning of the Sacrilege were fully satisfied, pag. 455.
The Lacedaemonians also and Athenians, who aided the Phoceans, had their part (and justly) in the Punishment. For all the Lacedaemonian Soldiers that were at the spoil of the Oracle, were after∣wards slain by the Lucans, (pag. 458.)
and all others universally (saith Diodo∣rus) not only the principal Agents in the Sacrilege, but even they that had no more than their Finger in it, were pro∣secuted by the God with inexpiable Pu∣nishment, pag. 456.
Nor did Phaloecus escape it, though he compounded with Philip, and lived long after. For his long Life was no Happiness unto him, but an extension of his Tor∣ture, living perpetually in Wandring up and down, perplexed with restless Fears, and variety of Dangers; till at last, be∣sieging Cydonia, and applying Engines to batter it, Lightning falling upon them consum'd both them and him, and a great part of his Army: Yet others say, that he was slain by one of his Soldiers, pag. 485. Diodor. lib. 16.
The residue of his Army, that esca∣ped the Fire, were by the exil'd Eleans hired to serve against their Countrey∣men of Elis; but the Arcadians joyning with the Eleans overthrew their Exiles, and this their Army of sacrilegious Sol∣diers; and having slain many of them, divided the rest (being about 4000) between them. Which done, the Arca∣dians sold their part to be Bond-men;
but the Eleans, to expiate the spoil of Delphos, put all their part to the Sword. Many also of the noblest Cities of Greece (that had aided the Phoceans) being afterwards overcome by Antipater, lost both their Authority and Liberty. And besides all this, the Wives of the prime Men of Phocis, that had made them∣selves Jewels of the Gold of Delphos, were also punished by an immortal Hand: For she that had got the Chain, offer'd by Helenes, became a common Strumpet; and she that adorn'd her self with the Attire of Eriphyle (taken thence) was burnt in her House by her eldest Son, stricken Mad, and firing the same.
These fearful Punishments fell on them that were guilty of misusing sa∣cred Things: Whereas on the other part, Philip the King (that at this time had nothing but Macedon) by de∣fending the Cause of the Temple and Oracle, came after to be King of all Greece, and the greatest King of Eu∣rope, as Diodorus Siculus noteth, lib. 16. pa. 458. A. M. 2626.
In the next Age after this, Brennus the Gaul (or, as our Chroniclers say, the Britain; for the Eastern Nations did of old account the Britains under the Name of the Gauls, as they do at this day un∣der the French,) raising a mighty Army of Gauls, invaded Greece, and prosper∣ing there victoriously, came at length to Delphos, with an Hundred and fifty thousand Foot, and Fifty thousand Horse; where his Army endeavouring to spoil the Temple standing upon the Hill Par∣nassus, was in scaling of it valiantly re∣sisted by Four thousand Citizens. But suddenly an Earthquake tearing off a great part of the Hill, threw it vio∣lently upon the Gauls, who being so di∣spersed, a Tempest of Hail and Light∣ning followed, that consumed them. Brennus, astonished at the Miracle, and tormented at the Wounds he had re∣ceiv'd, slew himself with his Dagger, Just. l. 24. p. 233.
Another of the Captains, with Ten thousand of the Soldiers that remain∣ed, made all the haste they could out of Greece: but their Flight was little Benefit unto them. For in the Night they durst come in no Houses, and in
the Day they wanted neither Labour, nor Dangers. Abundance of Rain, and Frost, and Snow, and Hunger, and Weariness, and the extreme Want of Sleep, consumed daily this miserable Remnant: and the Nations they pass'd through, pursu'd them as Vagabonds to prey upon them. So that of that numerous Army, which of late in the Pride of their Strength despised and spoiled the Gods, none was left to re∣port their Destruction.
Thus Justin affirmeth: but Strabo saith, That divers of them returned in∣to their Country (being Tolouse in Pro∣vence) and that the Plague there falling amongst them, the Sooth-sayers told them, they could not be deliver'd from it, till they cast the Gold and Silver they had gotten by their Sacrilege, into the Lake of Tolouse.
About Two hundred and forty Years after, Q. Servilius Cepio, the Roman Con∣sul, taking the City of Tolouse, took also this Treasure, (then being in the Tem∣ple, as seemeth by Aul. Gellius, lib. 3. cap. 9.) and much encreas'd by the Ci∣tizens, out of their private Wealth, to make the Gods more propitious unto
them. The Gold (saith Strabo) amoun∣ted to a Hundred and ten Minas, and the Silver to One thousand Pound in Weight. In truth (saith Strabo) this Sacrilege was the Destruction both of Cepio himself and of his Army; and Gellius addeth, That whosoever touch'd any of that Gold, perished by a mise∣rable and torturing Death. Hereupon came the Proverb, which this Day is so usual among Scholars, Aurum habet To∣losanum; spoken (saith Erasmus) of him that is afflicted with great and fa∣tal Calamities, and endeth his Life by some new and lamentable Accident. See more in Strabo.
A Soldier of Antoninus Verus, the Em∣peror, cutting by chance a Golden-Cabi∣net (Arculam) in the Temple of Apollo at Babylon, there issued such a pestilent Breath out of it, as infected both the Parthians, and all other parts of the World wheresoever they came, even to Rome. Jul. Capitolin. in Aug. Hist. To. 2. pa. 120.
It were endless to sail in this Stream, the Heathen Authors are so Copious in it. But for a Corollary to that hath
been spoken, I desire to add a Fable of Ovid's (Lib. 8. Metam. pag. 331.) wherein he sheweth what Opinion the World then had of Sacrilege, and what Fatalities it brought upon the Offenders in it. Erisicthones profaning the Grove of Ceres, cutteth down her sacred Oak, and contemning his Superstition that of∣fer'd to hinder it, cleaveth his Head with an Hatchet. Ceres striketh him with an unsatiable and perpetual Hun∣ger; nothing doth satisfie him, nothing fills him, nothing thrives with him; all his Wealth is consumed on his Bel∣ly: And when all is gone, then he is driven to dishonest Shifts, and forbear∣eth no Wickedness.* 1.5 He prostitutes his own Daughter to one for an Horse, to another for a Bird, to a third for an Ox, to a fourth for a Deer. And when this is also devoured, his Hunger, at last, compelleth him to tear his own Flesh with his Teeth, and by consuming himself in this horrible manner to finish his Days most miserably.
DIoclefian and Maximianus having di∣vided the Empire between them,* 1.6 this enjoying the West, and the other the East, they united themselves again in raising the greatest Persecution that ever was against the Christians, putting Priest and People to death, Seventeen thousand Persons by sundry Torments,* 1.7 in thirty Days,* 1.8 confiscating their Goods, burning the Books of Holy Scripture, rasing and utterly subverting their Churches, Al∣tars, and Places of Prayer, and Divine Worship. Having continued in this Fu∣ry about* 1.9 Twelve Years, they grew at last to be troubled in Mind; and in one day Maximianus at Millan, in the West, and Dioclesian at Nicomedia, in the East, of their own accord renounc'd the Em∣pire, and betook themselves to a private Life; Dioclesian chusing Galerius for his Successor, and Maximianus,† 1.10 Constan∣tine for his.* 1.11 But Maximian afterward repenting,‖ 1.12 endeavour'd to have brought his Son Maxentius into the Government, and was therefore by the Commandment of Constantine, put to death; and Dio∣clesian, after long Discontentment, slew
himself. Yet for a further Revenge of the horrible Persecution and Sacrilege, God sent a grievous Plague and Fa∣mine,* 1.13 as Eusebius reporteth, over all the World.
Certain Arians,* 1.14 by an Edict of Con∣stantius the Emperour, attempt to expell Athanasius from the Bishoprick of Alex∣andria; and in rifling the Church, a young Man laboureth to pull down the Bi∣shop's Seat there, when suddenly a Piece thereof falling upon him, rent out his Guts, that he died the next Day save one. Another bereav'd of his sight and Sence for the present, was carried forth, and recovering about a Day after, re∣member'd nothing of what he had done or suffer'd. But these Accidents stay'd the rest from proceeding farther. Epist. Constantii Imp. ad Alexand. apud Athanas. Apol. 1. Bar. in An. 356. 35.
Julianus,* 1.15 President of the East Part of the Empire, and Uncle to Julian the Emperour, (both Apostates) with Felix the Treasurer, and Elpidius, Keeper of the Privy Purse, all Persons of high Dig∣nity, come to Antioch, by Commission from the Emperour, to carry from thence the Sacred Vessels to the Empe∣rour's
Treasury. They enter that good∣ly Church, and Julian going to the Ho∣ly Communion-Table, maketh water against it; and because Euzoius offer'd to hinder him, he gives him a Box o'th' Ear; saying,
That God regarded not the Things of Christians.Felix also beholding the Magnificence of the Sa∣cred Vessels, (for Constantine and Constan∣tius had caused them to be sumptuously made)
Lo, (quoth he) in what State the Sun of Mary is serv'd!Present∣ly the Guts of Julian rotted in his Body, and the Dung which formerly went downwards, now passeth upwards thro' his blasphemous Mouth, and so ending his Life. Felix is stricken suddenly with a Whip from Heaven, casteth his Blood day and night, from all parts of his Body out at his Mouth, and for want of Blood so dieth presently. Theod. Eccl. Hist. lib. 3. cap. 11, 12.
Chrysostom saith that Julian burst a∣sunder in the midst ... and Ammia∣nus, lib, 33. ... that Felix died suddenly (profluvio sanguinis) of a gush∣ing out of Blood.
What became of Elpidius, Theodoret doth not mention, but Nicephorus, lib. 10.
cap. 29. reporteth, that though the third Blasphemer was not so suddenly punish∣ed, yet being at length apprehended amongst them that aspir'd to the Go∣vernment, (tyrannidem) he was stripp'd of all he had, and suffering much Mi∣sery in Prison, dy'd loathsomly, account∣ed as a cursed and detested Person. Bar. Ann. 362. 110.
Divers Bond-men of a great Person,* 1.16 not enduring the Severity of their Ma∣ster, fly into the Church at Canstantino∣ple, and with their Swords do keep the Altar, refusing to depart from it, and do thereby hinder the Divine Service di∣vers Days together; but having kill'd one of the Clerks, and wounded ano∣ther, they at last kill'd themselves. Socr. lib. 7. cap. 33. v. Niceph. lib. 14. cap. 34, 35. Evag. lib. 1. cap. 3, 45. This hap∣ned a little before the Council of Ephe∣sus, Ann. 433. where Nestorius was condemn'd, and was a Praeludium to those Evils, as it is said in Socrates, ibid, that then followed in the Church.
Nam saepè signa talia dari solent, Cùm sacra foedum templa polluit scelus.In the time of Childebertus, King of Paris, and Son of Clodover the First, his Brother Theodoricus besiegeth Montclere, the chief City of Avernia, which Chil∣debertus, his Brother, had taken from him. A Knight then hearing that divers Ci∣tizens had carried their Goods into the Church of St. Julian, leaveth the Siege, and with his Followers, breaking open the Doors, taketh all away. But God, the just Revenger of Sacrilege, struck them all incontinently with Madness. Gaguin. in Childeberto, fol. 13. where he admonisheth Soldiers, by this Example, to take heed of Sacrilege; and there∣upon addeth another Example.—
Siginaldus (saith he) Governour of the Avernians, found this to be true; for puffed up with a desire of enlarging his Patrimony and Dominion; after he had wrung many things from the In∣habitants, he took also from the Church of St. Julian, the Town of Bulgrate, which Tetradius had given unto it; and being presently strucken Mad, reco∣vered not his Senses till he had left the Town again unto them, and made a re∣compence for that he had taken. Idem, tit. ibid. Chilbert began to reign An. 515. and died about 560.
Some of the Burgundians,* 1.17 with a great Power, besiege Brivatensem Vicum, the Town of Brivat, killing many, and taking many Prisoners, doe also carry away Ministerium Sacrosanctum, the Im∣plements of the Church. Passing over the River, as they were dividing the Captives, one Hellidius coming from Vel∣lavum, suddenly upon them with his Com∣pany, slew them all save four, and rescued the Captives. The four that escaped car∣ried with them into their Country a Dish, and a Pitcher, or Water-pot (urceum) cal∣led Anax. The Dish they divided amongst themselves into four parts, but the Pitcher they presented Gundebard, their King, for his Favour. The Queen finding the Silver they had brought, sent it back to the Place from whence it was taken, with other Presents added unto it. Gre. Turon. Glor. Mar. lib. 2. cap. 78. Short∣ly after this Gundebard, and the Burgun∣dians are overthrown by the Franks and Goths, and their Countrey divided amongst their Enemies. Bar. An. 508. 33, 34.
Whilst King Chramnus was at Averne,* 1.18 five of his People brake by Night into the Oratory of the House of Juacen, and stole from thence the Ornaments of
the Ministery, and flying into the Ter∣ritory of Orleans, there divided them: Shortly after four of them were slain in Tumults; and the fifth, having all the Goods in his House, as Survivor, was stricken Blind with an Humor of Blood that fell upon his Eyes; which touching him with Repentance, it plea∣sed God to have Mercy on him; so that recovering his Sight, he carried back the Ornaments, and restored them. Greg. Turon. de Gloriâ Martyr. 166. Bar. 556. 42.
Chilperic,* 1.19 King of Suessons in France, who flourished Anno 570. sent his Son Theodebertus with an Army to waste Normandy, and the other Territories of his Brother Sigebert. Theodebert, in do∣ing it, forbare not the Christians, but spoil'd them also. At last part of his Army come to Lota, a Monastery of St. Martins; and twenty of them (the rest refusing) entered into a Bark, and passing over the River, sack'd the Mo∣nastery, slew some of the Monks, and carried the Prey into their Bark. Ha∣ving lost their Oars, they were constrain∣ed to use their Spears in rowing them∣selves back, and coming into the midst
of the River the Bark sunk, and they falling down upon their Spears, were both slain and drown'd, one excepted. The Monks recovering their Goods from the Water, buried the Bodies of them that were drown'd. Theodebert himself, and all his Army, falling after into an Ambush laid for them by Sige∣bert, were also slain. Aimone de Gest. Franc. lib. 3. c. 12.
The Leaders of King Guntheranus's Army hearing that Gundebaldus,* 1.20 dislodg∣ing with his Forces from the side of the River Garonna, was gone to the Ci∣ty Convenica; they in pursuit having swam over the River, and drown'd some of their Horse, came with the rest to the Church of St. Vincent, which is near the Borders of the City Argen; ... and finding that the Inhabitants of that part had carried all their Wealth into the same Church, as supposing the Sanctity of that place should preserve it, they set the Doors on fire, being fast lock'd, and so consuming them, enter∣ed the Church, and carried away all the Substance of the Inhabitants, and what else belong'd to the Divine Ser∣vice, which by the work of God was
presently punish'd: For the Hands of most of them were* 1.21 strangely burn'd, and made a smoak as things use to do that are set on fire; some were carried away by the Devil. Many after they were† 1.22 departed wound themselves with their own Weapons, and some of the rest stragling abroad are slain by the Inhabitants about Conven. Greg. Turo. Hist. lib. 7. c. 35.
This Author (as Sigebertus saith) was made Bishop of Tours, in the Year 571. is much Honour'd generally for his Life, Gravity and Fidelity; yet must I note, that he hath deliver'd this Sto∣ry somewhat differingly in his Book, De Gloriâ Mart. lib. 1. c. 105. though to the same effect (Memory in all Men being sometime stronger, sometime wea∣ker.) There he saith, that the Soldi∣ers could not of long time, and with much labour make the Church Doors take fire; and that at last they were fain to use the help of Hatchets, and to chop them in pieces; that being enter∣ed, they took both the things that were there, and slew all the People that were fled thither for safety: That this was not long unpunished, for some were
* 1.23 rapt away by the Devil, some drown∣ed in the River Garumna, many lying in the cold got divers Diseases, in divers parts, that vexed them grievously: For, my self, saith he, did see in the Terri∣tory of Tours many of them, that were Partners in his Wickedness, grievously tormented, even to the loss of this pre∣sent Life, with intolerable Pains. Bar. 476. 4.
Chilperic, the greatest Man with Si∣gebert King of Mees, or Austrasia, claim∣eth wrongfully a Town from Franco Bishop of Aquis pretending that it be∣long'd to the publick Revenue, and ju∣dicially, before the King and other Judges, doth recover it with Three hundred Crowns (aureos) Damages. The Bishop, in great anguish of Mind, goeth to the Church, and falling down at the Tomb of St. Metrias, Patron of the Church, prayeth for Vengeance, and threatneth the Saint, that there should be neither Lights nor Singing in that Church, until he were revenged of his Enemy, and the Things restored that were taken away from it so wrongful∣ly. And laying Thorns upon the Tomb, he shut the Church Door, laying others
there also (for that was a Type that the place was forsaken.) Presently here∣upon Chilperic, that had done this wrong to the Church, falleth sick of a Fever, and continueth so for a whole Year, eating little and drinking little, save Water in the heat of his Fit; but per∣plexed in his Mind, and Sighing much, yet Relented not in that he had done. In the mean time all the Hair, both of his Beard and Head, came wholly off, and all his Head became bare and na∣ked: Then he bethinks him of the wrong he had done to the Church, and restoreth the Town with Six hundred Crowns, for the Three hundred he had received; hoping so to recover his Health, by the means of the Saint, but dy'd notwithstanding. Greg. Turon. De Glor. confes. ca. 71. Bar. An. 579. 15. This happened in the time of King Si∣gebert, who was this Year murdered by the practice of his Brothers Wife Frede∣gundis.
Ruecolenus,* 1.24 with a Power of the Ce∣nomanians, wasteth all about the City Tours, so that the Houses and Hospital of the Church were without hope of Sustenance. He demandeth also of the
Church-men there, that they should de∣liver unto him some that had taken Sanctuary in the Church, and threat∣neth to fire all if they refused. St. Gre∣gory of Tours, being then Bishop there, and that writ this Relation with his own Hand, goeth to the Church; and pray∣ing for aid (Beati auxilia flagitamus) a Woman that had twelve Years been contracted with the Palsie, was made streight: But Ruecolenus himself being now come to the other side of the Ri∣ver, was presently strucken with the King's Evil, and with the Disease of King Herod; and the fiftieth Day after dy'd, all swollen of the Dropsie. This Greg. Turon. himself (as I find) re∣porteth, De Mirac. S. Mart. lib.—c. 17. Baron. 579. 18.
Certain Servants,* 1.25 or Officers of Eg∣bright the third King of Kent after Ethelbert, had done great Injury to a Noble Woman, called Domneva (the Mother of St. Mildred); in Recompence whereof the King promised, upon his Honour, to give her whatsoever she would ask of him. She begged upon this so much Ground of him to build an Abbey on, as a tame Deer (that she
had nourished) would run over at a Breath. The King had presently granted it, but that one of his Council, named Timor, standing by blamed his incon∣sideration, that would upon the uncer∣tain Course of a Deer depart with any part of so good a Soil. But presently (saith the Author, William Thorne, a Monk of St. Augustin's) the Earth o∣pen'd and swallowed him up alive; in Memory whereof the place till this time was call'd Timor's Lease. It may be the Monk hath aggravated the matter, and that Mr. Lambard justly doth count it Fabulous; but it seems some notable Misfortune followed upon Timor, hin∣dring, in this manner, the propagation of Religion in the beginning of our Church. Yet no learned Man, I think, doubteth but that in the first Conversi∣on of Heathen People, God was plea∣sed to shew some Miracles upon sacri∣legious Impediments. The Story goes on, that the King moved with the E∣vent, granted Domneva's Petition; and that the Hind being put forth, run the space of Forty eight Plough-lands be∣fore it ceas'd. In which Precinct this Lady, by the King's help, builded the
Monastery for Nuns, called Minister-Abbey, in Tenet. Lambard Itin. in Tenet. pag. 99.
Egfrid,* 1.26 King of Northumberland, send∣eth an Army into Ireland, under the Conduct of Bert; and wasting misera∣bly that harmless Nation, which then was Friend to the English, spared nei∣ther Churches nor Monasteries. The Inhabitants resisted as they could, but rested not to call upon God with con∣tinual Curses for Revenge. And tho' those that be accursed cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, yet it is to be thought that those that are justly cur∣sed for their Iniquity, that the Venge∣ance of God doth therefore fall the sooner upon them: For this same King, this next Year after, in a Voyage a∣gainst the Picts, was drawn into streights, and both himself and most of his Army slain.
And in the eleventh Year of King Ino (saith Huntington) the Earl Berutus felt the Curses of the Irish People,* 1.27 whose Church he had destroyed, as his Master had done before: For as King Egfrid entring into the Land of the Picts, was there slain; so he entring it also to re∣venge
his Masters Death, was likewise slain by them.
Osred,* 1.28 King of Northumberland, be∣ing but eight Years old when he began to reign, and Reigning but eleven Years; even thus young broke the Monasteries, and deflower'd the Nuns, with much o∣ther Wickedness; for which the just Hand of God being upon him, as Boni∣facius, Archbishop of Mentz, and other Bishops assembled after in a German Council, do testifie by their Epistle to Aethelbald, he was murder'd by his Kins∣men, Kenred and Osrick, and his King∣dom Usurped by Osrick, contrary to Os∣red's meaning, who had Decreed it to Ceolwulfe, Brother of his Father, as Beda reporteth, lib. 5. ca. 24. who saith far∣ther, that his whole Reign abounded with so many Crosses of Fortune, that no Man knew either what to write of them, or what end they would have. Vid. Epis. apud Malmes. de gest. Reg. lib. 1. p. 28. Sed fusiùs apud Baron. in An. 745. nu. 5.
Ceolred,* 1.29 King of the Mercians, or Mid∣land England, was guilty also of spoiling Monasteries, and defiling of Nuns; and was the first, with Osred, before na∣med, that since the entrance of Austin,
brake the Privileges granted by the Saxon Kings unto Monasteries, and for these sins, saith Boniface, and the other Bishops in the said Epistle, Justo judicio Dei damnati de culmine regali hujus vitae abjecti, & imma∣turâ & terribili morte praeventi, &c. For Ceolred (as those that were present did testifie,) being at a great Feast among his Earls, that Evil Spirit which before had mov'd him to do such wickedness, struck him there with Madness, and in that case he dy'd Impenitently, the same Year, that Osred, his fellow in Sacrilege, was murder'd, viz. An. 716. Epist. praedict. & Beda in Epit. It seemeth his Line was also extinct.
Ethelbald the next Successor of Ceolred in the Kingdom of Mercia,* 1.30 succeeded him also in his wicked Courses. He forbear∣eth lawfull Marriage, but liveth Adul∣terously with the Nuns, and breaking the Privileges of Churches and Monasteries, taketh away also their Substance, which gave the occasion that Boniface Arch-bi∣shop of Mentz, and other German Bishops wrote the foremention'd Epistle unto him, desiring him to mend his course, and the wrongs he had done, which like a good King he willingly did; and at a Council holden at Clovesho, now call'd Cliff, in
Kent, acknowledging his Sin, did also by his Charter restore what he had taken or broken, with an Overplus, and foun∣ded the Monastery of Crowland; yet so was the hand of God upon him, that in a War unwisely begun, he was treache∣rously Slain by Bartred, alias Beornred, and the Kingdom by him usurp'd Epist. praedict. & Stow, pag. 88. & Bar. 742, nu. 16.
THat many rare and excellent Men, and all Nations attributed the for∣tunate Success of the Turks against the Venetians, as the loss of their Island Cu∣baea, the lamentable success of their Ex∣pedition of Achaia, his last Victory which made his way broader, and his en∣terance easier, the Death and Calamity of their Euripus; many think, and affirm, that God of his righteous and just Judg∣ment, hath brought upon you for your insolent Taxing and Polling of Holy Things belonging to the Church, and your injurious troubling of the Estate of Reli∣gion. pag. 212. Compilation and Pil∣ling of Holy Things. pag. 214. New
and unusual Taxing and Tolling of the Church. pag. 215.
How many Victories, Conquests, Sports, happy Events, have you had in these so long Wars, since you invented this strange and pestilent Counsel to lay vio∣lent Hands on Church Goods, and Holy Things dedicated to God? which Impie∣ty, (believe me) will not help you one whit in these your great Dangers, and extream Necessity. pag. 219.
That the Captivity of Constantinople, was from the discord and departing from the Church of Rome. pag. 215.
The Pisans Kingdom prosper'd by Sea and Land, till they laid wicked and vio∣lent Hands on the Church, and the Mini∣sters of the high God. Ibid. Caesar would not suffer his Sword hung up as a Spoil gotten from him in the Church of Aver∣nia to be pull'd down. Vita ejus, pag. 219.
Mithridates, in the Life of Lucullus, notably afflicted by Diana, pag. 226. Hi∣storius Banish'd, taken Captive by the barbarous, the City burnt over his Head, his Life always in danger, fell into a most deadly Contagion, his Tongue eaten out of his Head with Worms, and misera∣bly died. Evagr. Hist. lib. 1. pag. 169.
Lastly, Propound unto your selves the late Example of Philip Maria, when he had good Success in all his Affairs, and all things fell out with him as well as he could wish. At length, he gave over him∣self to such a madness, that all fear set a∣part, he challeng'd Church Goods to himself. But mark how duly he suffer'd worthy Punishment; being wearied with continual Wars, he not only lost a great part of his own Dominions, his Enemies besieging him even hard unto his Walls; but also he suffer'd dangerous and grie∣vous Diseases, so that he being blind, led a most sorrowful life a long time after. But what became of his Empire, and by what means his Noble Family is now clear extinguish'd, and no Succession left at all, it may easily appear to every Man, the thing being so fresh in Memory. Cels. Veron. pag. 241.
Frederick II. made Emperor by Inno∣cent III. having taken the Cross against the Christian Enemies, even then feared not wickedly to take away the Goods of the Church to employ them profanely, but made a Sacrilegious pact with the mighty King of Egypt, the Soldan, con∣cerning the suppressing of Religion and Religious Houses; but he did not long
escape the just Vengeance of God; for after he had spoil'd many Cities, after many Dissensions had with the Church of Rome, after he had devour'd many Temples, after many most cruel and bar∣barous Sacrileges, having his own Son in a jealousie, that he affected the Empire, he shut him up in most filthy Dungeons till he dy'd. And he feeling the great and grievous censure of the Church, (as the righteous God had appointed) was Strangled by his own Son Manfredus most cursedly. Celsus of Verona. pag. 289. The Princes of Carraria in like Impiety when they began once wickedly to chal∣lenge to themselves the ordering of those things which belong only to the Holy Fun∣ction, by reason of the Pestilent Counsel they had taken, very soon after lost the famous City Patavium, most strong by Situation and free, which was thought almost to be invincible. Cels. of Ver. pag. 239, 240.
Eudo, alias Oda, Duke of Aquitane not able to resist Charles Martel,* 1.31 draweth an excessive Army of Saracens out of Spain unto his aid. They being come into France, waste all places, and burn down the Churches as far as to Poictiers. Charles Martel assisted by the Hand of God, en∣countreth
them, and slayeth three Hun∣dred seventy five Thousand (others say three Hundred eighty Thousand) of them, together with their King Abdyra∣ma, losing not above an Hundred and Fifty of his own Men. Then Eudo him∣self reconcil'd to Charles, spoileth the Camp of the Saracens, and destroyeth the rest. But fighting again with Charles in Gascony, loseth both his Dukedom of Aquitane and his Life; his Sons also, Gai∣fer and Haimald, are overcome, and the Saracens wholly beaten out of France. Sigeb. An. 730, 732. Guil. de Nanges. Blond. 10. Decad. 1. & Platin.
The Normans under Ragenarius their Captain,* 1.32 besides other Sacrileges, spoil the Church of St. Germans by Paris, and attempting to cut down some of the Firr Beams, to repair their Ships, three of them attempting it, are dasht in pieces. Another hewing a Marble Pillar with his Sword to overthrow some part of the Church, had his Hand (like Jeroboam's) dried up, and the haft of his Sword stuck so to it, as it parted not without the Skin. Many were stricken with Blindness, and as it was commonly reported, some of their Army dy'd daily so thick of the Bloody Flux, as they feared that none of
them should escape; whereas all the Christians that were amongst them, were free from it. They hasted therefore in∣to the Countrey, but dy'd there as fast, and infected others so grievously, as Ho∣rich their Prince fearing, that both him∣self, and the Nobility and People should be consum'd, commanded the rest of them to be Beheaded, and tho some fled upon it, yet it was thought they dy'd of the Disease.
Ragenarius their General and Author of all the Evil, at his return, bragg'd before Horich, in the presence of Kobbe, the Em∣bassador of King Lodwick, and many o∣thers, what great things he had done at Paris; and said, That the Dead there, had more power than the Living, and that an old Man, whom, they call'd Ger∣man, most resisted him. Speaking thus, he began to tremble, and falling down, cry'd out, That German was there, and did beat him with his Staff. Being pre∣sently taken up and carry'd out, he con∣tinu'd three Days in grievous pains; whereupon, Repenting of what he had done, he commanded that his Statue should be made of Gold; and that Kobbe should carry it to the old Man German,
promising, that if he recover'd, he would become a Christian; but his Guts passing from him as if he were burst in the midst, he so dy'd. And because he was not a Christian, his Statue would not be recei∣ved, tho it were of Gold.
Kobbe, the Embassador for Lodwick, King of Bavaria, to the Normans, being yet Pagans, was an Eye-witness of these things, and related them to Aimoinus, who living at the same time, and seeing much of it himself, did, by the command∣ment of King Charles, write a History of strange things then happening, which he entitul'd, De Translatione & Miraculis S. Germani Episcopi, whence this above men∣tion'd is taken. Bar. An. 845. nu. 22. & Seq.
The Danes with a great Army destroy the Monks and Monastery of Bradney,* 1.33 kill the Abbot and Monks of Croyland, and burn their Church, make the like havock at Peterborough, and murder the Nuns at Ely. Shortly after, their whole Army is overthrown in Battle at Chippen∣ham, by Aelfred, Brother of King Aethelred, and Hubba their King, with five Earls, and many Thousands of their Pagan Na∣tion slain. Stow, p. 101. Flor. Wigor. An. 871. Hunting. lib. 5. p. 349. saith there were nine Earls slain this Year.
Aboila, alias Agdila,* 1.34 a Saracen Prince, coming with a great Army out of Africa, besieg'd Salerne, and made the Church of St. Fortunatus, Caius, and Anches, his Lodging, placing his Bed upon the Altar, and abus••••g it with all Filthiness; but it happen'd, that having gotten a Maid, and going about to Ravish her there, as she resisted and strugl'd with him, a piece of Timber falling down from the top of the Church, slew him in his Wickedness, and hurt not the Maid, which seem'd appa∣rently to be the very work of God; for that the Timber fell not perpendicularly, but aslope. He being thus extinct, the Saracens chose Abimelech, an Eunuch, King, in his stead. Baron. An. 874. nu. 2. out of Herempertus de Gestis Longobardorum Principum Beneventanorum, Codice MS.
In the Reign of Carolus Crassus,* 1.35 (who began 886, and dy'd 891.) there hap∣pen'd a strange Accident memorable in France, as well by common Fame, as by writing to the later times, that the Monks of Clunis going forth in their Habit to meet the Earl of Matiscon, he not only slew them, but with torture and cruelty, and in that manner rag'd continually a∣gainst the Church. It fortun'd therefore, that he being one day at a Feast with
many of the Nobility, an unknown Per∣son coming to the Door required to speak with him; and the Earl going out was never seen after. Some write that he was carried away, fearfully crying through the Air, with a Black Horse (pullo equo). Paradinus de antiquo Statu Burgundiae, pa. 62.
Leofstane, a noble Saxon,* 1.36 and of great Authority, in the heat of his Youth en∣ter'd the Place, where St. Edmund the King and glorious Martyr of our East-Angles, was entomb'd; and causing the Tomb or Coffin to be opened, made the Body to be shewed forth to the Behold∣ers, many labouring to hinder it. But in that instant, whilst he stood looking on it, he was struck with Madness; which his Father, a Religious Man, hear∣ing, gave Thanks unto the Martyr for it, and casting off his Son, suffered him to live in great Penury, wherein after∣ward by the Hand of God, he was con∣sumed with Worms, and so ended his Life. Jornalensis in S. Edm. vitâ, fol. 29. a. 6.
The same Author in the same place telleth also, That divers lewd Persons robbing in the Night-time the Church where his Tomb was, were all taken,
and by the Judgment of Theodoret, the Archbishop of Canterbury in those days, hanged together. But addeth, That the Archbishop repented the Deed all the days of his Life afterward, remembring the Speech of the Prophet saying, Eos qui ducuntur ad mortem eruere non cesses. And that hereupon he put himself to great Penance, and calling the People of the Diocess together, perswaded them to fast and pray for him three whole Days, that it might please God to turn the Wrath of his Divine Indignation from him for doing this deed.
Nicephorus,* 1.37 Emperor of Constantinople, had marvellous Success in all his Affairs, and in a short time obtain'd so many, and so famous Victories against the Sara∣cens, as are scarcely to be believed; he falleth then to spoiling of Churches, and sacred Houses, taking from them that which usually was given unto them, and pretended that the Bishops con∣sumed the Money that was given to the use of the Poor, whilst the Soldiers lived in Want and Poverty. After he had thus laid his Hands upon the Goods of the Church, he not only wasted all his own Goods, but overwhelm'd with E∣vils, found the Hand of God to be a∣gainst
him, and to pursue him with Re∣venge, as the Greek Historians are of Opinion: For by and by his Army is beaten in Calabria, an innumerable Mul∣titude of his People slain, many with their Noses cut off are sent back to Con∣stantinople; the Citizens there Murmur, Mutiny and Rebel, his own Wife con∣spireth with them, and by the Hands of John Zomisces, one of his Army, do murder him, and make the same John Emperor in his room. Curopalates, &c. Bar. Ann. 964. nu. 34. & 968. nu. 3, 4, 5.
Upon the Rebellion of the Welshmen,* 1.38 King Edgar entring with an Army into the Countrey of Glamorgan, some of his Soldiers, among other Spoil, took away the Bell of St. Ellutus, and hang'd it a∣bout an Horses Neck. It then chanc'd, as the report was, that King Edgar sleeping, in the Afternoon, there appeared one un∣to him, and smote him on the Breast with a Spear. By reason of which Vision he caused all things that had been taken away to be restored again. But were there any such Vision or no, it is said, he died within nine Days; and the truth is that he died indeed at his Age of thirty seven Years, when he had Reign∣ed
sixteen Years and two Months. Rog. Higd. Chr. p. 161. col. 1. lib. 60.
King Edgar,* 1.39 understanding that the Welshmen were in Rebellion, invaded the Countrey of Glamorgan with an Army, and in spoiling of it the Bell of St. Ellu∣tus was taken away, and hang'd about an Horse's Neck.* 1.40 Therefore in Vndertyde, while King Edgar lay on his Bed to rest him (saith the Chronicle) one appear∣ed to him, and smote him on the Breast with a Spear. Then when the King was waken, he bad restore again all that was taken. But the King died after nine Days, or as Fabian saith, within ten Days. Ranulph. Cestrens. out of the Bri∣tish History.
This King Edgar was buried at Glasten∣bury; and when Ayleward, the Abbot there, had unworthily digged open his Grave, he (the Abbot) fell Mad, and going out of Church brake his Neck and died. Ibidem immediatè supra.
Griffith, the Valiant and Victorious King of North-Wales,* 1.41 in aid of Algar, Earl of Chester, whom King Edward the Confessor had expelled and banished, in∣vadeth Herefordshire, putteth to flight Radulf Earl thereof, and Son of Goda the Confessors Sister, with his whole Army,
and taking the City of Hereford, fired the Cathedral Church, slew Leogar the Bishop, and seven of the Canons that de∣fended it, burnt also the Monastery built by Bishop Aethelstane, carried away the Spoil thereof, and of the City, with slaughter of the Citizens, and fully re∣stored Algar, the Earl, both now and a second time. Upon this King Edward sent Harald against him, who upon his second Voyage into North-Wales burnt his Palace and Ships. After this, Grif∣fith raising an Army for Revenge, and going to meet Harald, was by his own People traiterously Murdered, and his Head brought to Harald.
Alfgarus,* 1.42 Stalhere (that is Constable of the Army) to Edward the Confessor, invaded the Town of Estre, otherwise called Plassie, and pulling it from the Monastery of Ely, converted it to his own use.* 1.43 The Abbot and Monks there besought him by all fair means to restore it, but prevailing not they proceeded to denounce daily Curses, and Imprecations against him, and at last (altho' he were so great a Person in the Kingdom) to excommunicate him. Hereupon the King reproving him sharply, and the People shunning his Company, he at last
sought to be reconciled to the Church, and for obtaining thereof granted by his Deed, and ratified it by his Oath, that the Town after his decease should again return to the Monastery: Yet (after the Death of Edward the Confessor, and Ha∣rald the Usurper) he was by the Con∣queror cast into Prison, and there, among others in Fetters of Iron, ended his Life.
Jordan, Prince of Capua,* 1.44 hearing that the Bishop of Rosella had brought, and laid up a good Sum of Money in the Monastery of Cassin in Italy, sent his Soldiers, and by force took it out of the Treasury of the Church; but was short∣ly after strucken Blind. Leo. Marsic. lib. 3. cap. 45. Upon this Gregory the Se∣venth calleth a Council, and maketh a Canon against Sacrilege; and writing to Jordan reproveth him for this and other Offences, admonishing him to amend them. Baron. An. 1078. 24. The Prince, touch'd with Remorse, granteth in Re∣compence, the next Year after, to the Monastery of Cassin divers great Terri∣tories and Privileges, with a Penalty of 5000 l. of Gold upon the Violaters there∣of. Leo. Marsic. in Chron. Cassin. lib. 3. cap. 46.
RIchard, Robert and Anesgot, Sons of William Sorenge, in the time of William, Duke of Normandy, wasting the Countrey about Say, invaded the Church of St. Gervase, lodging their Soldiers there, and making it a Stable for their Horses. God deferred not the Revenge; for Richard escaping, on a Night, out of a Cottage where he was beset with his Enemies; a Boor, whom he had fettered a little before, light upon him, and with an Hatchet clave his Head asunder. Ro∣bert, having taken a Prey about Soucer, was pursued by the Peasants and slain. Anesgot entring and sacking of Cambray, was struck in the Head with a Dart, thrown downward on him, and so died. Lo, (saith Gemeticensis) we have here seen that truly perform'd which we have heard! If any man shall violate the Tem∣ple of God, God shall destroy him, 1 Cor. 3. 17. And admonishing such as spoil Churches to look about them, and not to sooth themselves in their Sin, for that God often deferreth the Punishment, he concludeth with these Verses of another Mans, Lib. 6. cap. 13, 14.
Vos male gaudetis quia tandem suscipietis Nequitiae fructum, tenebras, incendia, luctum, Nam pius indultor, justus{que} tamen Deus ultor Quae sua sunt munit, quae sunt hostilia punit. Dear bought, for thou must one Day undergo The price of this, Hell, Darkness, Fire and Woe; God's Threats are sure, tho' Mercy be among them, He guards his Rights, and pays them home that wrong them.
William the Conqueror, in making the Forest of Ytene, commonly called the New-Forest, is reported to have destroy'd twenty six Towns, with as many Parish-Churches, and to have banished both Men and Religion for thirty Miles in length, to make room for his Deer. He had ruined also some other Churches in France upon occasion of War; and in Lent-time, in the fourth Year of his Reign, he rifled all the Monasteries of England of the Gold and Silver, which was laid up there by the richer of the
People to be protected by the Sanctity of the Places, from Spoil and Rapine; and of that also which belonged to the Monasteries themselves, not sparing ei∣ther the Chalices or Shrines. But he, that in the like Attempt met with Heliodorus, in the second of Machab. 3. met with him also grievously, both in his Person and Posterity.
Touching his Person, as God raised Absalom against David, so raised he Ro∣bert, Duke of Normandy, against his Fa∣ther the Conqueror, and fought a Battle with him by the Castle of Gerborie in France, where the Conqueror himself was unhorst, his Son William wounded, and many of their Family slain. Hereupon the Conqueror (as casting Oyl into the Fire of God's Wrath that was kindled to consume his own Family) cursed his Son Robert, which to his dying Day wrought fearfully upon him, as shall by and by appear. But to proceed with the Conqueror himself, it is very Remarka∣ble, that being so great and renowned a King, he was no sooner Dead, but his Corps was forsaken of his Children, Bre∣thren, Friends, Servants and Followers, and wickedly left (saith Jo. Stow) as a barbarous Person, not one of his Knights
being found to take care of his Exequies: So that a Countrey Knight, out of Cha∣rity, was moved to take care thereof, and conveying the Corps to Caen in Nor∣mandy, the Abbots and Monks of St. Ste∣phens, there with the rest of the Clergy and Laity of the Town, met it reverent∣ly; but in conducting it to the Church, a terrible Fire broke out of an House, and spreading suddenly over a great part of the Town, the whole Company was disperst, and only the Monks left to end the Office begun. The Funeral notwith∣standing proceeded afterwards in great Solemnity; the Bishops and Abbots of Normandy attending it: But when the Mass was done, and that the Bishop of Ebroscen, at the end of his Sermon, had desired all that were present to pray for the dead Prince, and charitably to for∣give him, if he had offended any of them; one Anselm Fitz-Arthur, rising up, said aloud, The Ground whereon ye stand was the floor of my Father's House, and the Man for whom ye make Intercession took it violently from him while he was Duke of Normandy, and founded this House upon it: I now therefore claim my own, and for∣bid him that took it away by violence to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 covered with my Earth, or to be buried 〈◊〉〈◊〉
my Inheritance. The Bishops and Nobi∣lity hearing this, and understanding it to be true by the Testimony of others, presently compounded with the Party in fair manner, giving him 60 s. in Hand for the place of Burial, and promising a just Satisfaction for the rest; for which he received afterwards a 100 l. in Silver by consent of Henry the Conqueror's Son. This Blur being thus wiped away, they proceeded to put the Corps into the Tomb or Coffin, prepared by the Ma∣son, whereupon another followed very loathsome; for it being too short and strait, as they strove violently to thrust the Corps into it, the fat Belly, not be∣ing Boweled, burst in pieces, and va∣poured forth so horrible a savour, as the smoak of Frankincense, and other Aro∣maticks, ascending plentifully from the Censers, prevail'd not to suppress it, but both Priest and Company were driven tumultuously to dispatch the Business, and get them gone. Thus much of the Disasters touching the Person of the Conqueror. To which may be added, that his very Death proceeded from a vi∣olent Accident happening unto him in the Sacking of Medant, where the heat and heaviness of his Armour, and the ex∣tream
clamor upon his Soldiers, wrought, as was reported, a Dissolution of his En∣trails (à ruina intestinorum ejus liquefacta, saith Gemeticensis) for tho' he liv'd a while after, yet he languish'd till his Death. But note, by the way, that he who had in his Life-time destroy'd so many Chur∣ches and Burying-places, being dead, al∣though he were so great a King, yet he wanted the Office of his Children, Friends and Servants, to carry him to Church, or to take care of his Burial; that being carried thither by others, the very Fire wherewith he had devoured certain Churches, interrupted his Passage; that being come to the Church, he that had put so many by their places of Burial, was now put by his own: And lastly, that when the place of his Burial was obtain'd for Money, it happened (fa∣tally) that it was too strait to receive him, as tho' the Earth of the Church (which he had so grievously injured) were unwilling to open her Mouth to entertain him. But after all difficulties, Did he not rest quiet at last? Reason would he should; for the Grave is Asi∣lum Requiei, the Sanctuary of Rest, and he did enjoy it for many Ages: Yet the Bishop of Bajeux, in the Year 1542. o∣pened
his Tomb, and brought to light his Epitaph hidden in it, Graven upon a Gilded-plate of Brass. But in the Year 1562. certain French Soldiers, with some English, that under the Conduct of the Chastillon took the City of Caen, and fell to spoiling of Churches there, did barbarously break down, and deface the Monument of this great King, and (as tho' the Malus Genius of the Churches, which himself had destroy'd, still pur∣sued him with Revenge) did take out his Bones and cast them away. Verst. p. 184. What befel these Soldiers that thus rifled Churches, appeareth not, ob∣scurity and oblivion do conceal them. But the lamentable end of the Chastillon himself, that suffered this Outrage, is ve∣ry notorious in the Massacre of Paris.
To come to his Posterity; his Sons were four, all of them, at times, in War amongst themselves. Robert, the eldest, deprived of his Birth-right, the Crown of England; first by his Brother William, then by his Brother Henry, who also took from him his Dutchy of Normandy, put out his Eyes, and kept him cruelly in Prison till the Day of his Death. His only Son Richard, hunting in the New-Forest, was slain in the Life of his Fa∣ther,
by an Arrow shot casually, as Flo∣rentius Wigorneinsis reporteth. Others name him Henry, and say he was hanged there, like Absalom, by the Hair of the Head. Be it one or both, the Death was violent, and in the New-Forest. But thus Robert died without Issue, nothing pro∣spering with him (as Stow noteth) af∣ter his Father Cursed him.
Richard, second Son of the Conqueror, Duke of Beorne (as Stow saith) died also in the same Forest, in the fifteenth Year of his Father, upon a pernicious Blast that happened on him; but Gemeticen∣sis, lib. 11. c. 9. saith, with a blow of a Tree.
William Rufus, the third Son, was contaminate as well with his own, as his Fathers Sacrilege; for he would part with no Bishoprick that came into his Hands without Money for it, by reason whereof he had lying upon his Hand (for want of Chapmen) thirteen Bishop∣ricks at the time of his Death. He was also slain in the same Forest, An.— with an Arrow (out of the Quiver of God) shot casually by Sir Walter Tyrell; and as Florentius reporteth, in the very self∣same place, where a Church did stand till the Conqueror destroy'd it. He also
died without Issue. Gemeticens. lib. 7. cap. 9.
Henry, the fourth Son, being King Hen. I. abstain'd (as I imagine) Hunting in the New-Forest, but God met with him in another Corner; for having but two Sons, William legitimate, and Richard na∣tural; they were in the fifteenth Year of his Reign both drowned, with other of the Nobility, coming out of France; and himself dying afterward without Issue Male, in the Year 1135. gave a period to this Norman Family. Here I must observe (as elsewhere I have done) that about the very same point of time; viz. 68 Years wherein God cut off the Issue of Nebuchadnezzar, and gave his King∣dom to another Nation after he had in∣vaded the holy Things of the Temple: About the very same point of time, I say, after the Conqueror had made this Spoil of Churches, did God cut off his Issue Male, and gave his Kingdom to another Nation, not of Normandy but Bloys.
Vrsus, Abbot, was made Sheriff of Wor∣cester by William the Conqueror; and building a Castle in Worcester, near the
Monastery, cut a part of the Church-yard into the Dike of his Castle, which Aldred the Arch-Bishop of York, seeing, said to him,* 1.45 Hatest thou Urse have thou God's curse, unless thou takest down this Ca∣stle, and know assuredly, that thy Posterity shall not long inherit this Ground of St. Ma∣ry's. He foretold (saith Malmsbury) that which I saw perform'd; for not long af∣ter, his Son Roger Possessing his Father's Inheritance, was Banish'd by King Hen∣ry I. for putting an Officer of the King's to Death in an head-long fury. Malms. de Gest. Pont. p. 271. And his Sheriff∣wick went to Beaumont, who Married his Sister. Camb. 578.
Hugh,* 1.46 Earl of Shrewsbury, with Hugh, Earl of Chester, was sent by William Ru∣fus to assail the Welch-men in Anglesey, which they perform'd with great cruelty, not sparing the Churches. For the Earl of Shrewsbury made a Dog-kennel of the Church of St. Fridank, laying his Hounds in it for the Night time, but in the morn∣ing he found them mad. But it chanced, that Magnus, King of Norway came in the mean time to take also the same Island, and encountering the Earl of Shrewsbury at Sea, shot him in the Eye, where, only he was unarm'd, and the Earl thereupon
falling out of the Ship into the Sea, was both Slain and Drown'd, and dy'd with∣out Issue. Girald. Camb. Hov. in Ann. 1098. & Holl. ib. Cat. EE. Shrewsb.
Geoffrey,* 1.47 the 16th Abbot of St. Albans, living whilst he was young a Secular Man, and teaching at Dunstable, did there, about the beginning of King Henry I. make a Play of St. Catharine, call'd, Mira∣cula; and for Acting of it, did borrow of the Sexton of St. Albans, divers Copes that belong'd to the Quire of St. Albans, for the Service of God, and having used them prophanely in his Play, both the House wherein they were, and the Copes themselves, were the next Night casual∣ly Burnt. Geoffery for great Grief, here∣upon, gave over the World, and by way of a Propitiatory Sacrifice, offer'd up him∣self a Monk in St. Albans, where after∣ward in the Year 1119. viz. 19, or 20. of Henry I. he was made Abbot. Lib. MS. de Abbatibus Sti. Albani.
Madoc ap Meredith,* 1.48 Prince of Powis, spoiling two Churches in Anglesey, and part of the Isle, was with all his Men, Slain in the return. Stow, p. 217.
Sherbourne in Dorsetshire was made an Episcopal See in the Year, 704, or 705. And as the use of the time was, with ma∣ny
Curses (no doubt) against him, or them that should violate it, or should get or procure it to be alien'd from that Bishop∣rick. St. Oswald (who flourish'd 270 Years after,) fortifi'd those Curses, as is reported, with divers other bitter impre∣cations. It continu'd peaceably in the Possession of the Bishops till the time of King Stephen, then Roger, Bishop of that See (translated by his Predecessor to Salisbury) building three sumptuous Ca∣stles, one at Sherbourn, another at De∣vizes, and the third at Malmsbury; the King supposing they might turn to his prejudice, sent for the Bishop, and took and imprison'd him, with some others of his Coat; and calling a Council of the Peers and Baronage, obtain'd a Statute to this effect;* 1.49 That all Towns of Defence, Castles, and Munitions through England wherein Secular business was went to be exercised, should be the King's and his Barons: And that the Church-men, and namely, the Bishops, as Divine Dogs, should not cease to bark for the desence and safety of their Sheep, and to take dili∣gent heed that the invisible Wolf, that malignant Enemy wory not, or scatter the Lord's Flock. Thus the King ob∣tain'd these Castles that he thirsted after,
with the Bishop's Person and Treasure beside. And being summon'd hereupon to a Synod at Winchester, by his Brother Henry Bishop there, and Legate of the Pope; he sent Albery de Vere, Earl of Guisne, and Chamberlain of England, a Man of excellent Speech, and singularly well learned in the Law, (whom, some report, to be made Chief Justice of Eng∣land after the said Roger,) him I say, did the King send to the Synod as his Attor∣ney, or Sergeant at Law, to defend his Cause, which he did with so great Art and Dexterity, that nothing was therein deter∣min'd. But mark the issue, e'er a twelve Month came to an end, the Earl Albery de Vere was Slain in London. Florileg. in Ann. 1140. The King himself within another twelve month taken Prisoner, and being deliver'd upon an exchange for the Earl of Glocester, spoileth divers Churches by his Flemish Soldiers, and buildeth the Nun∣nery of Wilton into a Castle; where the Town is fired about his Ears, his Men slain, his Sewer, Plate, and other things taken, and himself driven to escape by a shameful Flight. He continueth his Wars with unprofitable Success; falleth at dis∣cord with his Barons, and is driven to make Peace with Duke Henry, his Adver∣sary.
His Son Eustace displeased there∣with, applieth himself to spoil Cambridge-Shire, and those parts, falleth upon the Lands of the Abby of Bury, and carrieth the Corn to his Castles; and sitting down to Dinner, as he put the first Morsel in his Mouth, he fell Mad, and dy'd miserably. Mat. Par. Ann. 1152. Stow, Ann. 1153.
In the end, he stated the Crown up∣on the Duke Henry, being compell'd thereto; and dying, had no lawful Issue Male to propagate his Family, his Sons of that sort being taken away in his Life time.
Having spoken of those Curses set of old like Bulwarks about the Castle of Sherbourn, to defend it against Sacrilegi∣ous Assailants, and of the Operation they had in those Ancient Days, it falleth ve∣ry fitly in my way to shew also in what manner they have uttered their venome, since that time of old; for, tho Poison temper'd by an Apothecary, with over long keeping, will lose its strength; yet the Poison that lurketh in the Veins of Curses lawfully imposed, is neither wasted nor weakened by Antiquity, but oftentimes breaketh forth as violently after many Ages, as if they were but of late denoun∣ced. Like the implicite Curse that de∣vour'd the seven Sons of Saul, for break∣ing
the Covenant with the Gibeonites, made above Five Hundred Years before their time.
See therefore a farther Collection touching this matter, delivered unto me above three Years since, by a Person of great Place and Honour.
The Castle of Sherbourne, was granted to the See of Salisbury by St. Oswel, with several bitter Imprecations and Cursings on him, or them, that should get, or pro∣cure Sherbourne to be aliened from that See. St. Oswel praying, that he or they might die Issueless or Unfortunately, that should so take it.
King Stephen was the first that got it from that See, after the first Donation, Ann. 1139. His Death, and his Son's Dying Mad, make it observable.
Will. Martel, King Stephen's Sewer had it, who being taken Prisoner, gave it for his Ransome. Ann. 1142. Reg. 7. Ho∣ved. ibid. p. 488.
In Edward III. time, the Earl of Salis∣bury had it, who dy'd Issueless, and not Fortunate.
Then the Duke of Northumberland had it, who was Attainted.
After the Duke of Somerset had it, who was Attainted.
After the Lord Paget had a Lease from the Bishop, who was Attainted.
After him, Sir Walter Rawleigh had it, who was Attainted.
After him, the Earl of Somerset had it, who was Attainted for Felony.
The Crown had it, Prince Henry had it; but King James would not suffer Prince Charles to have it, for the success.
The Earl of Bristol hath it.
Received from my Lord Keeper, 9th of May, 1626.
Lodwick Grevil, owner of Micletin, a Mannor belonging to Ensham Abby in Ox∣fordshire, had two Sons, whereof Edward, the younger, shooting a piece, by chance slew his elder Brother, and thereby suc∣ceeded in the Inheritance. Lodwick him∣self in the ... Year of Eliz. standing mute upon his Arraignment, for Poison∣ing of ... whose Will he had Counterfeited, was Press'd to Death. Edward afterward Knighted, Mortgag'd the Abby to ... Fisher, a Skinner of London, for a small Sum, and growing farther in with him by borrowing, and Use upon Use, it came at length by For∣feiture and Entanglement, to be Fishers absolutely; and Sir Edward Grevil having wasted his whole Patrimony, and sold
some part thereof in Warwickshire, to the Lord Treasurer Cranfeild, became Bai∣liff to the Lord Treasurer of the same Land. Old Fisher put over the Abby to his Son Sir Edward Fisher, who with ex∣treme Suites, Bribery, &c. so consum'd his Estate, that he was judged to be Ele∣ven Thousand or Twelve Thousand Pound in Debt, and driven to sell his great Lease of Wrongey, Blackbury, and Grandcourts in Norfolk, and yet liveth in fear of Bailiffs, &c. 12th of Octob. 1644. Ex relat. John Wrenham. partim Rob. Mor∣dant. Mil.
Sir Edward Grevil had a Son, that breaking his Leg over a Style, dy'd; his Daughters are one Married to Sir Arthur Ingram, to whom, he sold the Reversion of his chief Seat Milcote, &c. and hath a Hundred Pound per Ann. during his Life, and the House.
Circa Ann. Dom. 1142. Stephen, and Geffrey Mandevil, Earl of Essex, being call'd among other of the Nobility, to a Council at St. Albans, he was there, by the King, in revenge of a former Injury, unduly taken at St. Albans, prisoned, and could have no liberty till he had deliver∣ed the Tower of London, and the Castles of Walden, and Plessy; being thus spoil'd
of his Holds, he turned his fury upon the Abby of Ramsey, it being a place of Se∣curity, and invading it by force, drove out the Monks, and placed his Soldiers in their room, and Fortified the Church instead of his Castle. The Abbot and Monks betook them to their Arms, and with all the force they could, shot their Curses and Imprecations against him and his Complices; thus prepared to his de∣struction, he besieg'd the Castle of Bur∣wel, where a Peasant shooting him light∣ly in the Head with an Arrow, contemn∣ing the Wound, he dy'd of it, in Ex∣communication, leaving three Sons In∣heriters of that Malediction, but of no * 1.50 Lands of their Father, the King having seized them. Nub. lib. 1. c. 11. Stow. An. 9 Steph. Matth. Westm. Ann. 1143. Hen. Hunting. Hist. lib. 8. pag. 393.
Arnulph, his eldest Son, who still main∣tain'd the Church of Ramsey as a Castle, was taken Prisoner by King Stephen, strip∣ed of all his Inheritance, banish'd, and dy'd without Issue. Hov. in Ann. 1144. Catal. Com. Essex. pag. 177. Mat. Par. Ann. 1143. pag. 77. lib. 6.
Geffrey Mandevil, second Son, was re∣stored by King Henry the II. and Marri∣ed Eustachia the Kings Kinswoman, but had no Issue by her.
William Mandevil, the third Son, suc∣ceeded his Brother, and was twice Mar∣ried, but dy'd without Issue. Thus the Name and Issue of this Sacrilegious Earl were all extinct, and the Inheritance car∣ried to Geffrey Fitz-Peter, another Fami∣ly by the Marriage of Beatrix Say, his Sisters Grandchild.
Now we have related the Fortune of the Earl Mandevil and his Children, we must not omit what Nubrigensis reporteth, touching two of his Captains, the one of his Horse-men, the other of his Foot-men, both of them cruel Executioners of his Impiety. The first had his Brains dash'd out by a fall from his Horse; and the o∣ther, (whose Name was Rayner,) the chief burner and breaker into Churches, being passing over Sea with his Wife, they were both of them turned out of the Ship into a Boat, and so left to Fortune, were there Drown'd. More of the Sto∣ry you may see in Nubrigensis. lib. 1. c. 11. and Mat. Par. Ann. 1143.
About the same time, Rob. Marmion, a Man of great power, in like manner in∣vaded the Church of Coventry, and turning out the Monks, placed his Soldiers in their room; then going to Battle against the E. of Chester, he shewed himself in a brave∣ry
before both the Armies; and having forgotten privy Trenches, which him∣self had made to entrap his Enemies, or hinder their approach, he fell (as he pran∣ced up and down before the Monastery) into one of them, and breaking his Thigh-Bone, could not get out; which a Pea∣sant of his Enemies perceiving, ran to him and cut of his Head. Nub. lib. 1. c. 12. Mat. West. Ann. 1143. Hunting. lib. 8. p. 393. Mat. Par. 1143.
William Albermarl (whom I certainly take to be William le Gros,* 1.51 Earl of Al∣bermarl, that dy'd 25th of Henry II.) by the former examples, thrust the Regu∣lar Priests out of the Church of Belingcon, and Fortified it with his Soldiers. But by example also of their grievous Punish∣ment, it pleased God to touch him with Re∣pentance, so that to expiate his Sin, he did many Noble Works of Charity, both in relieving the Poor abundantly, and in Erecting of two (if no more) worthy Monasteries, that of Melsa, in the Year 1150. and the other of Torneton, where he was Buried in Peace. Yet God de∣lighted rather in Obedience, than Sacri∣fice, cut off the Line of his Family, and transposed his Inheritance by his only Daughter Hawis (who was thrice Mar∣ried)
to three several Families: But in the two first it stuck not at all, and but two Descents in the last of them. Nub. l. 1. c. 12. Hov. An. 1179. Cat. E. Albermarl.
King Henry II. in the Year 1192. and the 16th of his Reign, being in Norman∣dy, and hearing that Thomas of Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, after a Peace lately made between them, carried things so imperiously in England, as there was no living under him; growing into an extream Passion, used (as they say) these words: In what a miserable State am I, that I cannot be quiet in my own King∣dom for one only Priest? Is there no Man that will rid me of this Trouble? Hereupon (or upon what other Motives, God knoweth) four barbarous Knights, Sir Hugh Murvill, Sir Will. Tracy, Sir Rich. Brittain, and Sir Reynold Fitz-Vrs, ha∣sting into England, slew the Archbishop, at Even Song, in his Cathedral Church, at the very Altar, embruing it with his Blood and Brains, committing at once this horrible Murder and tripple Sacrilege: First, in respect of the Person; secondly, of the Place; and thirdly, of the Time and Business then in hand. Yet Vengeance seized not presently on their Bodies, but tormented their Souls upon the rack of
Desperation; so that neither trusting themselves one with another, nor the so∣litary Woods, nor the mantle of Night, they fled into several Countries, where they all within four Years after (as 'tis reported) died miserable Fugitives, saith the Story, pa. 79, 80. Dom.
Touching their Issue; I find that Fitz-Vrs fled into Ireland, and I heard there that the Wild-Irish, and Rebellious Fami∣ly of Mac-Mahunde, in the North Parts, is of that Lineage. The Family of ano∣ther of them is, at this Day, prosecuted with a Fable (if it be so) that continu∣eth the Memory of this Impiety; for in Gloucestershire, it is yet reported that wheresoever any of them Travelleth the Wind is commonly in their Faces.
The Quadripartite History call'd Qua∣drilogus, printed at Paris An. 1495. saith, The Murderers, after this Horrible Fact, rode that Night to a Manour of the Archbishops, named there (corruptly) Sumantingues forty Miles (Leucas) di∣stant from Canterbury, lib. 3. c. 20. and that being Men of great Possessions, active Soldiers, and in the strength of their Age, yet now they became like Men beside themselves, stupid, amaz'd and distract∣ed, repenting entirely of what they had
done, and for Penance took their way to the Holy-Land. But Sir Will. Tracy being come to the City of Cossantia, in Sicily, and lingring there, fell into an horrible Disease; so that the parts of his Body rot∣ted whilst he lived, and his Flesh being dissolved by the Putrefaction, himself did, by piece-meal, pull it off, and cast it a∣way, leaving the Sinews and Bones ap∣parent. In this misery this wretched Murderer (as it was testified by the Bi∣shop of that City, who was then his Confessor) ended his Days, but very pe∣nitently. His other Complices lived not long after, for all the four Murderers were taken away within three Years after the Fact committed. Dicti. Libri. lib. 4. c. 71.
IT appeareth by a MS. Copy of Mat. Paris,* 1.52 which I have, (wanting much of that which is Published, and having much which the Published wanteth) that King Richard I. had spoiled some Church of the Chalice and Treasure; and that it was thereupon conceived, that the re∣vengeful Hand of God pursued him to his Death. First, by tickling his cove∣tous Mind with the report of hidden Treasure found by one Vidomer, a Vi∣scount
of Britain, in France, which he (the King) claim'd to belong to him by his Prerogative: And then in stirring him to raise War against the Viscount for it, and to besiege him in the Castle and Town of Chalus, in the Countrey of Li∣mosin, whither the Viscount was fled and had carried the Treasure, as it were, to train the King to that fatal place, im∣porting the name of a Chalice. But here it so fell out, that the King being repel∣led in his Assault, and surveying the Ground for undermining the Town-Walls, one Peter Basil struck him in the left Arm, or about the Shoulder, with a Quarrel from a Cross-Bow, out of the Castle. The King little regarding his Wound, pursued the Siege, so as within twelve Days he took the Town, and found little Treasure in it. But his Wound, in the mean time, ••estering de∣prived him of his Life (April 9.) in the tenth Year of his Reign, being about 44 Years old. Hereupon a Satyrist of that time wrote this tart Dystichon, related in the MS. Mat. Par.
Christe, tui Chalicis praedo fit praeda Chalucis Aere brevi rejicis qui tulit aera Crucis.
i. e.
He that did prey upon thy Chalices, Is now a prey unto the Chaluces;
And thou, O Christ, rejectest him as Dross, That robb'd thee of the Treasure of thy Cross.
King Edward I. Anno Regni 23. took all the Priories—Aliens and their Goods into his Hands; allowing every Monk 18 d. a Week, reserving the overplus to his Treasury and Wars. And in Anno 1295. Regni ejusdem, caused all the Mona∣steries in England to be search'd, and the Money in them to be brought up to Lon∣don. He also seiz'd, into his Hands, all the Lay-Fees, because they refused to pay to him such a Tax as he demanded. Stow in dicto An. p. 317. Mat. Westm. in An. 1296. saith, it was a fifth part of their Reve∣nues: And for that being prohibited by the Council of Lions upon pain of ... they refused, he seiz'd all their Lands and Goods, as well of the Arch-Bishop of Can∣terbury, Robert Winchelsea, as other, and put them out of his Protection, &c. God∣win, p. 148. Presently after this the King's Forces were overthrown in Gascony. Mat. Westm. p. 408. And tho' he prosper'd in his Wars against Scotland, and wholly subdued it; yet shortly after Rob. le Bruce recovered it from him, and overthrew his Son Edward II. with a mighty Army at
Burnocksbourne; from whence escaping, by flight, he after suffer'd great Afflicti∣ons and Calamities, by means of his own Wife and Barons, and was at last Depo∣sed, Imprisoned and Murther'd.
Giraldus Cambrensis, a good Author, reporteth that one Hur, Chaplain to Wil∣liam de Bruce (a great Lord in Wales in the time of King John) of his Chapel of St. Nicholas, in the Castle of Aberhodni, did Dream in a Night that one bid him tell his Lord (that had taken away the Land given in Alms to that Chapel, and presumed to detain it) that Hoc aufert fiscus quod non accipit Christus: Dabis impio Militi quod non vis dare Sacerdoti. The King's Exchequer shall take that from thee, that thou wilt not suffer Christ to enjoy; and the impious Soldier, that which thou wilt not permit unto the Priest. The Words are St. Austin's, in Serm. de Temp. spoken against them that invade Tithes and Church Rights; and that which is there threatned against them, saith Giral∣dus, hapned most certainly in a very short time to this With-holder: Vidimus quippe nostris diebus, &c. For we have seen (saith he) in our own Days, and found certain∣ly, by undoubted verity, that Princes (and great Men) Usurpers of Ecclesiastical Pos∣sessions,
and chiefly by name King H. II. Reigning in our time, and tainted above others with this Vice; a little Leven cor∣rupting the whole Lump, and new Evils falling thereby daily upon them to have consum'd all their whole Treasure, gi∣ving that unto the hired Soldiers which they ought to have given unto the Priest.
He mentioneth not what it was parti∣cularly that hapned to Bruce, but commi∣serating him as a singular good Man, run∣neth out into a long Commendation both of him and his Wife. The rest therefore of this Tragedy I must supply out of Mat. Par. who in An. 1209. reporteth thus, That King John, doubting the Fidelity of his Nobles, sent a Troop of Soldiers to re∣quire of them their Sons, or Nephews, or near Kinsmen for Hostages. Coming to Will. Bruce's and demanding his Sons, the Lady Maud his Wife, in the humor of a Woman, preventing her Husband, said, I will deliver no Sons of mine to your King John, for that he beastly Murdered his Ne∣phew, Arthur, whom he ought to have pre∣served Honourably. Her Husband repro∣ved her, and offer'd to submit himself to the Tryal of his Peers if he had offended the King; but that would not serve. The King understanding it, sent his Soldiers in
all haste a privily as he could to appre∣hend Will. de Bruce, and his whole Fami∣ly; but he having Intelligence of it fled with his Wife, Children, and Kinsmen into Ireland; whither the King coming afterward, besieged his Wife, and his Son William with his Wife in a Munition in Methe, and having taken them, they pri∣vily escaped to the Island of May, where being again recovered and brought unto him; he now bound them surely, and sent them to Windsor-Castl••, and there by his Commandment they all died misera∣bly famished. William himself, the Fa∣ther, escaping into France, died also short∣ly after, and was buried at Paris; leaving all, according to St. Austin's Words, to the King's Extortioners, pag. 218, 221. What Reax King John kept among Chur∣ches,* 1.53 is generally well known: Yet I find not, that either he destroyed or profaned any of them, otherwise than by rifling of their Wealth, and persecuting the Clergy as his Enemies. To say truth, they were not his Friends. But the last Riot that he committed among them, was in Suf∣folk and Norfolk as he brought his Army that way to waste the Lands of the Ba∣rons his Enemies, and to pass by the Town of Lyn (which stood faithful to
him when the most of England had for∣saken him) into the North parts. Ha∣ving lodg'd there to his great Content; and taking his Journey, Spoliis onustus o∣pimis, over the Washes, when he came up∣on the Sands of Wellstream a great part of his Sacrilegious Army, with the Spoils he had taken, and his Treasure, Plate, Jew∣els, Horses, and Carriages were all drown∣ed: So that it was judg'd (saith the Histo∣ry) to be a punishment by God, that the Spoil which had been gotten, and taken out of Chur∣ches, should perish and be lost by such means, together with the Spoilers. Stow reporteth, That the Earth opened in the midst of the Waves, on the Marsties, and the Whirlpit of the deep, so swallowed up both Men and Horses, that none escaped to bring King John Tidings: For he with his Army, going before, escap'd (more happily than Pha∣raoh) but very narrowly with his Life, especially if it were any Happiness to live in that miserable Condition he was now brought to, having lost his Treasure and Fortunes at the very time, wherein, above all other, he had most need of them, as flying from his Enemy, Lewis the Dau∣phin of France, call'd in by his Subjects to take the Crown; and possessing peace∣ably the City and Tower of London, the
Cities of Canterbury and Winchester, with all the Castles of Kent, except Dover, which could not hold out; and all the Barons, in a manner, with the Citizens of London and Winchester having sworn him Fealty, and done him Homage; as also the King of Scots for the Lands he held of the King of England, who like∣wise had subdued all Northumberland, ex∣cept Barnard-Castle to him. If after all this, I say, it were any Happiness to live, yet enjoy'd he that miserable Happiness but a very short time; for whether by Poyson given him at Swinsted-Abbey, as the common report is, or by a Surfeit taken with eating Peaches, accompany'd with an intolerable Grief for his Losses, as o∣thers deliver it; he died about five or six Days after at Newark-Castle, and wanting all civil Lamentation; was presently so spoil'd by his Servants, who fled every Man his way, as they left nothing worth the Carriage to cover his dead Carcass.
Discite, O Reges sacratae parcere turbae.
Robert Fitz-Walter (so great a Baron in the time of King John, that Mat. Paris saith of him, Cui vix aliquis Comes in An∣glia tum temporis potuit comparari) was a grievous Enemy to the Monastery of St. Alban; and prosecuting it with many In∣juries,
did among others besiege the Priory of Binham in Norfolk, (a Cell of St. Albans) as if it were a Castle, and constrain'd the Monks there to extream Famine; for that John, the Abbot of St. Albans, had remo∣ved Thomas the Prior of Binham, and put another in his room, without the assent of the said Robert, who was Patron of the Priory, and a singular Friend of Thomas. The Complaint hereof being brought to the King, he presently sent Forces to re∣move and apprehend the Besiegers; but they having notice thereof,* 1.54 departed. Mat. Paris wondreth at the Revengeful wrath of, which thereupon fell on Robert Fitz-Walter: From that time (saith he) he never wanted manifest pursuit of Enemies, or the afflictions of Infirmities. All that he had is Confiscate; and during the Life of King John he liv'd in Exile and Vagrant, suffer∣ing great Adversities and Misfortunes. And tho'King Hen. III. granted Peace to all; yet did he never recover fully his Favour, but died Dishonourable and Infamous. Thus Mat. Paris in Vita Joh. Abbat. S. Albani xxi. MS.
Falcasius de Brent,* 1.55 a Valiant and Pow∣erful Baron, that on the part of King John grievously afflicted the Barons his Adversaries, and all England beside, pul∣led down the Church of St. Paul at Bed∣ford,
to have the Stones and Materials thereof for the Building and Fortifying his Castle of Bedford. He fell afterward in the ... Year of Hen. III. to be Fined before the Justices Itinerant at Dun∣stable a 100 l. a-piece for thirty forcible Entries and Disseissins made by him upon divers Men; in all at 3000 l. Upon this, he attempted, by his Brethren and Fol∣lowers, to have taken the Justices sitting in Court, and to imprison them in his Castle at Bedford. But they all, save Henry de Braybrock, escaped; him they Imprison'd; and his Wife complaining thereon to the King and Parliament then sitting at Northampton, they all set all o∣ther Business a-part, and with all the Power they could make, went and be∣sieged the Castle; which was to the ut∣most admirably defended against them, and to the extream loss of the Assailants. Yet by raising a Wooden-Tower close by it, which they call Malvicine, it was at length taken, the Justice delivered, 24 hang'd, and his Brethren: Himself being escap'd, lost all his Possessions, and what∣soever else he had. But for the great Ser∣vice he had done King John, his Life, upon his submission, was pardon'd, and he bani∣shed; yet Vengeance still pursued him, for he died by Poyson.
I must not forget a memorable Relati∣on, which Matthew Paris further maketh touching this matter. The Abbess of Helnestene hearing that Falcasius had pull'd down St. Paul's Church to build his Castle, caus'd the Sword which was in the Hand of the Image of St. Paul to be taken out of it, and would not suffer it to be re∣stor'd, till now that he had so worthily re∣veng'd himself. Whereupon one writ thus:
Perdidit in mense Falco tam fervidus ense Omne sub saevo quicquid quaesivit ab aevo.* 1.56
The fierce Sir Falco ere one Month was run Lost all the Wealth that in his Life he won.
William Earl of Pembroke,* 1.57 sirnam'd The great Earl Marshal, Tutor of King Hen∣ry 3. took by force of War two Mannors belonging to the Church and Bishoprick of Fernes in Ireland. The Bishop, a God∣ly Man, requir'd Restitution; and failing of it, excommunicated the Earl, who lit∣tle regarded it. The Earl so dieth; the Bishop cometh into England, and renew∣eth his Suit to Earl William his Son and Heir, obtaining to have the King his Me∣diator; but prevail'd not; for Earl Wil∣liam and his Brethren answer'd, That their
Father did the Bishop no wrong, having gotten the Mannors by right of War. The Bishop in the agony of his Spirit, renew∣eth the Curse against their Father and them, and said, That the Lord had cast it grievously upon Earl William, as is written in the Psalm; In a Generation his Name shall be put out, and his Sons shall be Vagabonds, as touching the Blessing pro∣mis'd by the Lord of Encrease and multiply.
Earl William the Father, at the time of his Death and Burial (which was in the New Temple at London, 17. Kal. Apr. 1219. and 4 Hen. 3.) left 5 Sons and as many Daughters.
Earl William the eldest Son, first mar∣ried Alice the Daughter and Heir of Bald∣win Earl of Albermarle, &c. After, Elea∣nor Daughter of King John, and died with∣out Issue, 6. Apr. 1231. 15 Hen. 3.
Earl Richard the second Brother succeed∣ed; he married the Lady Gervasia, and was slain in Ireland, 18 Hen. 3. leaving no Issue.
Earl Gilbert the 3d Brother succeeded. He married Margaret Daughter of Willi∣am King of Scots, and was kill'd by his own Horse at a Tornement at Hartford, 21 Hen. 3. 1241. leaving no Issue.
Earl Walter the fourth Brother succeed∣ed.
He married Margaret Daughter and Co-heir of Robert Lord Quiney, and died at London 6. Dec. 1245. 30 Hen. 3. (or as others report, the 24. Nov.) and was bu∣ried at Tinterne, leaving no Issue.
Earl Anselm the youngest, was, at the death of his Brother Walter, Dean of Sa∣lisbury; but admitted to be Earl of Pem∣broke and Marshal, and in haste married Maud the Daughter of Humphrey de Bo∣hun Earl of Hereford, that he yet at last might propagate the most noble Family. But Non est consilium contra Dominum; for he died within 18 or 24 days after his Bro∣ther, before he was actually possess'd of his County.
Thus, according to the Malediction of the Bishop, the Name of those great Earls Marshal was utterly extinct; all the five Brethren being married and dying Child∣less within 15 Years. Matt. Par. An. 1219, & 1245. p. 292 & 665, & alibi.
King Edw. 1. in the zeal of his Religion* 1.58 (his Father yet living) took the Cross up∣on him and went to assist the Christians in the Wars of Jerusalem. The Pope, in re∣compence of his Charges, granted unto him in the second Year of his Reign (he being return'd) the tenth part of all Ec∣clesiastical
Benefices of the Kingdom for one Year, and the like to his Brother Ed∣mond for another. But afterwards the King forgetting his old Devotion, in the 11th Year of his Reign, seiz'd all the Trea∣sure of the Tenths collected for that pur∣pose, and laid up in divers places of the Kingdom, and breaking open the Locks, caus'd it to be brought unto him, and em∣ploy'd it to his own use. Stow.
This taste of things separate to God, drew him on to a further Appetite. In the 23d Year of his Reign, he took into his hands all the Priories Aliens through∣out the Kingdom;* 1.59 committing them (as Charles Martel of old had done in France) to Officers under him; and allowing eve∣ry Monk 18d. a Week, retain'd the rest for the charge of his War, as he did also the Pensions going out of those Houses to the greater Monasteries beyond the Seas. Yet obtain'd he further, in the same Par∣liament, of the Clergy and Religious Per∣sons a Subsidy of half their Goods, to the value of 100000l. whereof the Abby of Bury paid 655 l. 11d. q. Stow, ib. p. 316.
King Ed. l. being in great want, by his subduing Scotland, about the end of the 23th Year of his Reign, caused all the Monasteries of England to be search'd, and
the Money found in them to be brought to London. Wals. pa. 65. Cax. l. 7. c. 39. Shortly after, in the 24th Year of his Reign, at a Parliament at St. Edmundsbury, he required a Subsidy, which the Laity granted. But the Clergy (pretending, that Pope Boniface at the same time, had forbidden upon pain of Excommunication, that either Secular Princes should impose Tallages upon the Church-men, or that Church-men should pay any) they refus'd to supply the King's Necessity; and ha∣ving day to advise better on the matter till the next Parliament at London shortly after, they persisted in the same mind. Whereupon the King put them out of his Protection; so that being robb'd and spoil'd by lewd persons without remedy, to redeem the King's Favour, the Arch∣bishop of York and many of the Bishops laid down a fifth part of all their Goods in their Churches; and some by other courses satisfy'd the King's desire, and so recover'd his Protection. But all the Mo∣nasteries within the Province of Canter∣bury were seiz'd into the King's hands, and Wardens appointed in them to mini∣ster to the Monks and Religious Persons therein only what must be had of neces∣sity; taking all other Monies and Sur∣plusage
to the King's use. So that the Ab∣bots and Priors were glad to follow the Court and to repair their Error with the fourth part of their Goods. The Arch∣bishop of Canterbury after all this, fearing the Pope's Excommunication, continu'd in his refusal, lost all he had, was forsa∣ken of his Servants, forbidden to be re∣ceiv'd either in any Monastery or without, and rested in the House of a poor Man, only with one Priest and one Clerk. How these Courses were censur'd in foro coeli, is not in me to judge; nor will I pry into the Ark of God's Secrets. But see what followeth in the Story.
King Edward having with great Tri∣umph subdu'd Scotland, and taken the King Prisoner, did at this present peace∣ably enjoy that Kingdom, and govern'd it by his own Officers. But e're three Months came to an end, Wil. Wallis began such a Rebellion there as put all in hazard; and in fine, it was so reviv'd by Robert le Bruce the King's natural Subject, that at length he overthrew the King's Armies, slew and beat out his Officers, and with∣out all recovery gain'd the Kingdom to himself and his Posterity. King Edward attempting the recovery, died at the en∣trance of Scotland. His Son Edward II.
pursuing his Father's intent with one of the greatest Armies that ever was raised by the English, was miserably beaten and put to flight, hardly escaping in his own person. All his Life after full of Tumult; not only his Nobles but his very Wife, his Enemy; abandoned of his Subjects, turn'd out of his Kingdom, imprison'd, and traiterously murther'd. In all which, the Curse which his Father upon his Death∣bed laid upon him if he should break the Precepts he gave him had no doubt a co∣operation; for he observ'd none of them.
Touching the pulling of Lands from the Church, all have not always been of one mind. For tho' the makers of the Statute of Mortmaine did truly think that the Clergy had so disproportionable a share by way of excess in the Lands of the Kingdom; yet when in 17 Edw. II. it came to the point, that the Order of the Templars for their wickedness was over∣thrown; the Parliament then (wherein many of those, no doubt, that made the Statute of Mortmain were present) would not give the Lands and Possessions of the Templars to the King or the Lords of whom they were holden; but ordain'd that they should go to the Order of the Hospital of St. John's of Jerusalem, then
lately erected for the defence of Christen∣dom and the Christian Religion.
Edward le Bruce,* 1.60 brother to Robert le Bruce King of Scots, invadeth the North parts of Ireland with 6000 Men; and ac∣companied with many great persons of the Nobility, conquer'd the Earldom of Ul∣ster, gave the English many overthrows, and prevail'd so victoriously, that he caus'd himself to be crown'd King of Ireland. His Soldiers, in the mean time, burn Churches and Abbies with the People whom they found in the same, sparing neither Man, Woman, nor Child. And most wickedly entring into other Churches, spoil'd and defac'd the same of all such Tombs, Monuments, Plate, Copies, and other Ornaments, as they found there. He thus prevailing, and the Irish much revolting to him, the Archbishop of Ar∣magh blesseth and encourageth the English Army against him. Whereupon they joyn'd battle, overthrew the whole Pow∣er of the Scots, slew 2000 of their Men; and amongst them, this their King Ed∣ward le Bruce himself.
King Edw. III. to begin his Wars with France,* 1.61 in An. 1337. taketh all the Trea∣sure
that was laid up in the Churches throughout England for the defence of the Holy Land. (Speed, p. 190.) And where∣as there were anciently in England many Cells and Houses of Religion (110 they were counted, and more) belonging to greater Monasteries beyond the Seas, fraught with Aliens and Strangers, espe∣cially French-men, and those of the Orders of Clunis and Cistertien: King Edward III. at his entry into his French Wars, An. 1337, Regni 12. (partly fearing that they might hold intelligence with his Enemies, but seeking chiefly to have their Wealth toward the payment of his Soldiers) con∣fiscated their Goods and Possessions, letting their Priories and Lands to farm for Rent, and selling some of them right out to o∣thers of his Subjects. Yet like a Noble and Religious Prince, touch'd with re∣morse when the Wars were ended, viz. An. 1361, regni 35. he granted them all (save those few that he had put away) back again unto them by his Letters Pa∣tents, as freely as they had formerly en∣joy'd them. And divers of those that were purchas'd by his Subjects, were by them new-founded and given back to Re∣ligious Uses. This act of the King's was a precedent of singular Piety; yet was it
but a lame Offering, not an Holocaust. He gave back the Possessions, but he re∣tain'd the Profits, which he had taken for 23 Years. Speed, p. 211.
King John (whom they so much con∣demn) did more than this, if he had done it as willingly. He restor'd the Lands with the Damages. But let not this good King want the charitable Com∣mendation due unto his Piety; though having dipt his Hands in this—We be driven by the course of our Argument, to observe what after befell to him and his Off-spring. There be some things, saith ... are sweet in the Mouth, but bit∣ter in the Belly; pleasant at the beginning, but woful in the end. If these Priories and their Churches were of that nature, the sequel verifies the Proverb. The mid∣dle part of the King's Life was most for∣tunate and victorious; yea, all the while that these things were in his Hands, even as if God had bless'd him, as he did Obed-Edom (1 Sam. 6. 10.) whilst the Ark was in his House; and had the King then dy'd, he had been a most glorious pattern of earthly Felicity. But the Wheel turn'd, and his Oriental Fortunes became Occi∣dental. The Peace he had concluded with France for the solace of his Age, brake
out again into an unfortunate War. Ma∣ny of his Subjects there rebell: Gascony in effect is lost. Afflictions at home fall up∣on him in sequence; his Son Lionel Duke of Clarence dieth without Issue-male, and when he had greatest need of his renown∣ed Son the Prince of Wales (miracle of Chivalry, and the Anchor of his Kingdom) him even then did God take from him; his Court and Nobles discontented and in Faction; himself and all things much misgovern'd by his Son the Duke of Lan∣caster and others of that part; who by the Parliament are therefore remov'd from him, and by him recall'd notwithstand∣ing, to the grief of all the Kingdom. Thus he dieth, leaving his unweildy Scepters to the feeble Arms of a Child of Eleven Years old, King Richard II. whose lamen∣table History, for the honour of Kings is best unspoken of. But so unfortunate he was among his other Calamities, that he was not only deposed by his unnatural Subjects, but imprison'd and murther'd, dying without Issue, and leaving an Usur∣per possessor of his Kingdoms; which kindled such Fuel of Dissention, as con∣sum'd almost all the Royal Line and An∣cient Nobility of the Kingdom, by the Ci∣vil War between the Houses of York and Lancaster.
To return to the Restitution made by King Edw. III. of the Priories-Alien. An Historian termeth it, A rare Example of a just King; it being seldom seen that Princes let go any thing whereon they have once fasten'd. But this King having made a Door in this manner into the free∣dom and possession of the Church, all the Power he had, either ordinarily or by Prerogative, could not now so shut it up, but that this Precedent would for ever af∣ter be a Key to open it at the pleasure of Posterity; which was well seen not long after. For in the Parliament, An. 9. of King Richard II. The Knights and Burgesses with some of the Nobility, being in a great rage (as John Stow saith) against the Clergy, for that William Courtney the Archbishop would not suffer them to be charged in Subsidy by the Laity; exhibited a Petition to the King, that the Tempora∣lities might be taken from them; saying, That they were grown to such Pride, that it was Charity and Alms to take them from them, to compell them thereby to be more meek and humble. And so near the Par∣liament-men thought themselves the point of their desire, that one promised himself thus much of this Monastery, another so much of another Monastery. And I
heard (saith Tho. Walsingham) one of the Knights deeply swear, that of the Abbey of St. Albans, he would have a thousand Marks by the Year of the Temporalities. But the King, hearing the inordinate cry∣ing out on the one side, and the just de∣fence on the other, deny'd his consent and commanded the Bill to be cancell'd. Stow, p. 479.
Two valiant Esquires,* 1.62 John Shakel and Robert Hauley, having taken the Earl of Dene Prisoner at the Battel of Nazers in Spain, and receiv'd his Son Hostage for performing Conditions between them, the Duke of Lancaster in the King's Name, and the King himself by the Duke's pro∣curement, demanded their Hostage; and for that they would not deliver him, they were committed to the Tower, from whence they escap'd and took Sanctuary at Westminster. This highly offended the Duke of Lancaster, who thought that the having the Earl's Son might be some help to his Enterprize for the Kingdom of Ca∣stile. Whereupon Sir Ralph Ferreis and Sir Alan Boxhull Constable of the Tower, consulting with the Lord Latimer the Duke's Friend, resolv'd to fetch them back into the Tower, and on the 11 of Aug. 1378.
with certain of the King's Servants and other arm'd men (about 50 in all) en∣ter'd St. Peter's Church, and the Parties being then hearing of Mass, they laid Hands upon Shakel, drew him forth of it, and sent him to the Tower: But Hauley standing upon his defence, they murther'd him in the Quire before the Stall of the Abbot, together with a Monk that be∣sought them to forbear him in that place.
The Archbishop of Canterbury with 5 of his Suffragans, openly pronounced Sir Ralph Ferreis and Sir Alan Boxhull, and all that were present with them at this Murther, accursed, and all them likewise that were aiding or counselling to it; the King, the Queen, and the Duke of Lan∣caster nominately excepted. This Excom∣munication for long after was denounc'd every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday in Paul's Church by the Bishop of London. And though the Duke was excepted in it, yet did it trouble him very fore for his Friends; it being commonly said, that they had done what was done, by his Commandment. He causeth therefore the Bishop, to be requir'd by Letters from the King, to come to a Council holden at Windsor, but the Bishop would neither come nor stay the Curse. Whereupon the
Duke said, that the Bishop's froward deal∣ings were not to be born with; and that if the King would command him, he would gladly go to London and fetch the disobedient Prelate in despite of those Ri∣baulds (so he term'd them) the Londiners. Hol. 421. col. 2.
My method ties me to relate what fol∣low'd. Yet I dare not suggest this wicked Sacrilege to be any cause thereof. For God's Judgments are secret; and no Au∣thor doth so apply them.
The King himself seems excusable by reason of his tender Age, if the omission of Justice upon the Offenders in his riper Years lay not against him. His other Er∣rors were many, as those also of his Grandfather which perhaps were visited upon him. God left him to follow evil Counsels, he lost the Hearts of his Sub∣jects, was bereaved of his Kingdom, thrown into Prison, and there miserably murdered, leaving no Issue to prosecute his Murtherers.
The Duke of Lancaster's Issue-male, as well those born in lawfull Wedlock as Le∣gitimate by Act of Parliament, in the 3d or 4th Generation were all extinct. And tho' the eldest Line obtain'd the Crown, yet was it pull'd again from them by the
Sword: King Henry VI. being also de∣priv'd of it, cast into Prison, and himself and Son murther'd most unmercifully, as in lege talionis for that of Richard II.
An. 1379, Rich. II. 3o. Sir John Arundel Brother to the Earl of Arundel, with ma∣ny noble Knights and Esquires and other Soldiers, were sent to aid the Duke of Britain. Lying at Portsmouth for a Wind, he went to a Nunnery thereby, and en∣treated the Governess that he might lodge his Soldiers in her Monastery. She fore∣seeing the danger, besought him on her Knees not to desire it. Her Prayers a∣vailed not; he turn'd in his Soldiers. They quickly fell to Rapine; brake into the Chambers of the Nuns, and by report deflour'd many of them and many other Virgins that were among them for Edu∣cation, spoiling also the Country about. Upon the day they went to Ship, they took a Bride as she came from Church, and many Widows, Wives, and Maids out of the Monastery, to do them Villainy on Ship-board; and a Chalice off of the Altar from the Priest, having ended his Mass. Sir John Arundel having heard much com∣plaint, regarded it not; but Sir Thomas Piercy, Sir Hugh Calverley and others (be∣fore they departed) made Proclamation,
that those to whom their Soldiers had done wrong, should come and have Re∣compence; which they perform'd. The People therefore pray'd for them and their Company, but cursed bitterly Sir John A∣rundel and his Soldiers; which was much aggravated by the Priest that lost the Cha∣lice: For he drawing other Priests unto him, pursu'd them to the Sea-side; and there af∣ter the manner of their Devotion curs'd them with Bell, Book and Candle; and throwing a light Taper into the Sea, wish'd that they might be so extinguish'd.
Not many hours after, there arose a storm, which the Master of Sir John's Ship (one Robert Rust of Blackeney) mi∣strusted by some sore tokens, and per∣swaded him to have staid till it were past; but Sir John would not. This grew so violent, as all presently despair'd of Life. First, they threw out what they might to lighten the Ship. When that serv'd not, the Soldiers with the same Arms where∣with before they had amorously embrac'd the Women, with the same now they ty∣rannously threw them over-board (60 in number, as was reported) and yet conti∣nu'd in the Jaws of Death for divers days together. Toss'd thus with fears, they at last espy'd an Island on the Coast of Ire∣land.
Sir John being glad thereof, furi∣ously compell'd the Mariners to make for it; tho' they importunately (for fear of Rocks) desir'd to have kept the Deep. Thrusting therefore between it and the Main, and finding nothing but horrible Rocks, their fear was multiply'd, and their ship now began to take Water also. Yet at last they perceiv'd where with dif∣ficulty they might climb up into the I∣sland; and therefore running the ship on Ground (that being broken they might escape by the pieces of it) they got so near the Island, that Robert Rust the Ma∣ster leap'd to the sands, and many others following him. Then Sir John Arundel leap'd also; and being on the sands he stood as out of danger, shaking the Wa∣ter off him that he had taken in the ship, when as the place being a Quick-sand, began suddenly to swallow him up; which the Master, Robert Rust, perceiving, stepp'd to him, and striving to help him out, a Billow coming upon them, wash'd them both into the Sea, where thus they ended their Lives, N. Musard a most valiant Esquire of Sir John's being also leap'd on the sands and having hold of a piece of the Ship, was wash'd back and dash'd in pieces against the Rocks: so al∣so
was one Derrick another Esquire, Sir Tho. Banaster, Sir N. Trompington, Sir Thomas de Dale, being leap'd on the sands, and hinder'd by striving to out-run one another, the Billows fetch'd them also back into the Deep. Some escaping to the Island all wet, and finding no Houses there, it being the 16th of December, died for Cold. The rest with running and wrastling sav'd their Lives, but in great penury, from Thursday till Sunday at Noon. Then the storm being ended, the Irish by Boats fetch'd them to their Houses and reliev'd them. It is said, That Sir John Arundel lost in this storm (be∣sides his Life) 52 Suits of very rich Ap∣parel, much princely stuff, with his great Horse and other Horses and things of price, to the value of Ten thousand Marks; and twenty five other ships which followed him with Men, Horses and other Provisi∣on, all perishing with him.
Touching the residue not guilty of this Out-rage and Sacrilege, Sir Thomas Pier∣cy, Sir Hugh Calverley, Sir William Elm∣ham, and the rest of the Army, they were far and near dispers'd on the Seas with the same dangers; but it pleased God to preserve them. Yet as soon as the storm was ended, a new Misfortune fell upon
Sir Tho. Piercy; for being weak and wea∣ther-beaten with all his Company, a Spa∣nish Man of War now setteth upon him singled from the rest of the Navy, and drives him to bestir himself as he could; which he did so happily, as at last he took the Spaniard, and bringing him home, brought also the occasion of double Joy, one for his safety, the other for his victory. And then pawning that ship for 100 l. he presently furnish'd himself forth again, and with as great Joy arriv'd safely at Brest (whereof he was one of the Cap∣tains with Sir Hugh Calverly) and thus supply'd that charge also very fortunate∣ly.
Sir Hugh Calverley also and Sir William Elmham with the rest of those Ships, re∣turn'd safely into other parts, and by the great Mercy of God lost not either Man, Horse, or any other thing, in all this so fu∣rious a Tempest. All this is much largerly related by Tho. Walsingham in An. 1379, p. 231. & seq.
Though the Attempts of Rebels and Traitors be usually suppress'd by the* 1.63 Power of the Prince; yet that notorious Rebel Wat Tyler and his Confederates pre∣vail'd so against King Richard II. that nei∣ther his (the King's) Authority, nor the
Power of the Kingdom could resist them; insomuch as they became Lords of the City and Tower of London, and had the King himself so far in their disposition, as they got him to come and go, to do and forbear when and what they requir'd: But after they had spoil'd and burnt the Mo∣nastery of St. John's of Jerusalem, behead∣ed the Archbishop of Canterbury, and done some other acts of Sacrilege, their Fortune quickly chang'd; and their Captain Wat Tyler being in the greatest height of his Glory (with his Army behind him to do what he commanded; and the King fear∣fully before him, not able to resist) was upon the sudden wounded and surpriz'd by the Mayor of London, his prosperous Success over-turn'd, and both he and they (whom an Army could not earst subdue) are now by the Act of a single Man ut∣terly broken and discomfited, and justly brought to their deserved Execution. Ho∣linshed and Stow in 4 Rich. II.
He had a violent Fall out of his Chariot, and he was termented with an horrible Disease; Worms came out of his Body, and his flesh fell off for pain, and no Man could endure his Stink, 2 Maccab. 9. 7, 8, &c.
Within 30 Years after the Sacri∣lege.
This lar∣ger Account of Crassus's Sacrilege, was found in a loose Paper, writ∣ten with Sir Hen. Spel∣man's own Hard.
Ezek. 45. 1.
Her trans∣mutation into these Shapes is thus ex∣pounded.
Euseb. l. 8. cap. 1. & seqq.
Oros. l. 7. c. 25.
Carion. in Ann. 288▪
Constan∣tius.
Carion. in Ann. 288.
Resumed the Purple.
lib. 9. c. 8.
Ann. 356.
Am. 362.
Ann. 433.
An. 508.
An. 556.
Circ. 570.
An. 576.
Divini∣tus.
Semoti.
Alii à Daemone correpti.
An. 579.
An. 596.
An. Dom. 684. Bed. l. 4. c. 26.
Lib. 4. p. 337. l. 14.
An. 710. circ.
An. 712. circ.
Circ. Ann. 742.
Ann. 730.
An. 845.
An. 865.
An. 874.
Circ. An. 888.
Circ. Ann. 880.
Circ. Ann. 964.
Ann. Dom. 974.
Ann. 975. Ranulph. Cestr. lib. c. 11.
Verba Au∣thoris.
An. 1054. Hoved. in An. 1055. p. 443. Hist. of Cambria. p. 99.
Hist. Eli∣ens. l. 2. Hollinsh. p. 866.
Circ. Ann. 1068.
Ann. Dom. 1078.
Alias Hightest, i. e. Thou art nam'd or call'd.
Ann. 1098.
Circa. Ann. 1100.
Ann. 1157.
Contin. Flo∣rent in An. 1161. pag. 28.
Cat. Com. Essex.
Hov. Ann. 1179.
Ann. Dom. 1199.
K. John.
O mira & formidabi∣lis Dei & S. Marty∣ris ultrice Sententia.
Ann. Dom. 1224. 8 Hen. 3.
Matt. Par. p. 308.
An. Dom. 1245.
Edw. 1.
There were at that time, about 110.
An. 1315. 9 Edw. II. Chron. Irel. in eod. An. p. 66. & seq.
Edw. III.
Richard II.
Richard. II. An. 4.