GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND EXECRA∣ble Sinne of Murther.

HISTORIE XXV.

TO religious hearts, there can nothing be so distastfull as Sinne, nor any Sinne so odious and execrable as Murther; for it be∣ing contrary to Nature and Grace, the very thought, much more the act thereof, strikes horrour to their hearts and con∣sciences. Wherefore, if this foule and bloudy Sinne bee so displeasing to godly men, how infinitely more detestable is it then to God himselfe, who made all living creatures to serve Man, and onely created Man purposely to serve Himselfe? But as Choller and Malice proceede from the passions of men, so doth Murther from the Deuill; for else wee should not so often and frequently see it perpetra∣ted in most Countryes and Cities of the World as we doe: A mournefull Exam∣ple whereof I here produce to your view and serious consideration.

THe place of this History, is Fribourg (an antient city of Switzerland) which gives name to one of the Divisions (or Cantons) of that famous and warlike country; Wherein (of fresh memory) dwelt a rich Burger named Peter Vasti, who had to his wife a modest, discreet, and vertuous woman named Hester, by whom he had one only child, a Sonne called George Vasti, whom God sent them the latter end of the first yeare of their marriage; and for the tearme of some ten yeares follow∣ing, this marryed couple lived in most kinde, and loving sort each with other, yea their hearts and inclinations so sympathized in mutuall and interchangeable affe∣ction, as they held and reputed none of their Neighbours so rich in content as themselves; for she was carefull of her Family, and he very diligent and industri∣ous to maintaine it; both of them being chaste and continent in themselves, very religious towards God, and exceeding charitable, affable, and courteous to all their Neighbours and Acquaintance, onely they are so temperate in their drinking, as •…ee would not, and shee could not bee tainted with that beastly Vice of Drunken∣•…esse, whereunto that Countrey, and the greatest part of that People, are but too excessively addicted and subject: So that had Vasti still imbraced and followed Page  514 those Vertues in the course and conduction of his life, hee had not then defiled this History with the profusion of so many sinnes, nor besprinckled it with the effusion of so much innocent bloud, nor consequently have administred so much sorrow to the Reader, in perusing and knowing it: but as contrary Causes pro∣duce contrary Effects, so he (by this time) polluting himselfe with filthy and per∣nicious Company, it is no marvell if he leave his temperancie to follow drunken∣nesse, his chastity to commit fornication and adultery; yea, it is no marvell I say, if these foule sins (as Bawds to rage and revenge) exact such power in his heart, and predominancie in his soul, as in the end to draw him to murther: for goodmen can∣not receive a greater plague, nor the Devill afford or give them a worse pestilence, then bad company. It is the fatall Shelves, and dismall Rocks, whereon a world of people have, and doe daily suffer shipwracke; yea, it is the griefe of a Kingdome and Countrey, the bane of our Age, and the corruption and poyson of our Times; for it turnes those who professe and pursue it, out of their estates and homes, which they are then inforced either to sell, or rather to give away to Vsurers and Cormo∣rants, and consequently which makes themselves, and their poore wives and chil∣dren ready to starve and dye in our streets. So this is now the cause of our Vasti, and therefore it will be his happinesse, if it prove not his misery hereafter; for af∣ter twelve yeares time of a most peaceable cohabitation, and Godly conversation betweene him and his vertuous wife Hester, it is a thousand griefes and pitties that she must now be inforced to see so brutish and beastly a Metamorphosis in her husband; for hee is no more the man which hee was, nor the husband which shee formerly found him to bee. Hee loves neither his house nor his wife, but stayes abroad every day with his whores, and then at night returnes home to her starke drunke, and in lamentable sort reviles and beats her, whereas heretofore he would rather have lost his life then have strucken her, and whereas heretofore he affected and loved her so dearely, as he thought he could not be kinde enough to her, now (in the extravagancie of these his deboshed humours) he hates her so deadly as he deemes and supposeth hee cannot be sufficiently cruell to her, although her affecti∣on be still so fervent to him, and her care so vigilent and respectfull of him, as shee gives him nothing but either sweet words, teares, sighs, silence, or prayers; yea, shee proves her selfe so good a woman to so bad a man, and so courteous and ver∣tuous a wife to so unkinde and vitious a husband, as to the eyes and judgements of all their kinsfolkes and neighbours, they know it is now her praise and glory, and feare it will hereafter prove his shame and misery. She leaves no meanes unassay∣ed, or invention unsought and unattempted, to divert and turne this foule inunda∣tion of his Vice into the sweet streames of Vertue, and the pure rivers of God∣linesse: But Ahlas good woman, her care proves vaine, and her affection and zeale impossible herein, although her pale cheekes, mournefull eyes, brinish teares, far∣fetcht sighs, religious prayers, and sweet perswasions, doe still second and accom∣pany her indeavours in this her desired hope of his reformation; for she is infor∣ced to know that hee keepes a young strumpet, named Salyna, at the Towne of Cleraux, some sixe Leaugues from Fribourg, whither most mornings hee goes to her, and to make himselfe the more treacherous a dissembler to his wife, and the more execrable a traytor to his soule, he fortifyeth and coloureth out this his ac∣customed journey to his strumpet with this false Apologie, that he goes to Cleraux to heare the Sermons of M^r Abraham Tifflin, a very famous and religious Preacher there, when God and his ulcerated soule and conscience know the contrary, and that this pretended excuse of his is but only a false cloak to overvail his true Adultery, and prophane Impiety: for he needed not to have formerly added Whordom to his Page  515 Drunkennesse, and now Ingratitude, Cruelty, and Impiety to his Whordome, in regard the least of these enormous crimes and sinnes assuredly have the power, and will infallibly finde the meanes to make him futurely as miserable, as now he foo∣lishly thinkes himselfe happy; for these his journeyes to Cleraux are onely the Pilgrimage of his wanton Lust. Salyna is the Saint of his voluptuous devotion, her House the Temple of his obscene wishes, and Adultery the Oblation and Sacrifice of his lascivious desires.

Wee can difficultly make our selves guilty of a fouler sinne on earth, then to seeme sanctifyed in our devotions towards God, when we are prophane, or to in∣deavour to appeare sound without, when we are rotten within in our Faith and Re∣ligion: For as Man is the best and noblest of all Gods creatures, so an Hypocrite towards God is the worst of men, yea or rather a Devill and no man; for our hearts and actions, and our most retired thoughts, and secret darling sinnes, are as conspi∣cuous and transparant to Gods eyes, as his decrees and resolutions are invisible to ours, sith he sees all things, and we see nothing when we doe not see him. A mi∣serable hight of impiety, in making of our selves foolishly sinners, and wilfully Hypocrites, and yet it is a more fatall and fearefull degree thereof, when we so de∣light in sinne and glory in hypocrisie, as to make Apologies for the same.

But Vasti not thinking either of Religion or God, frolicks it out with Salyna his strumpet in Cleraux, whiles his owne vertuous wife Hester weepes at home at Fri∣bourg, and when he returnes thence, hee is still so hard hearted and cruell to her, as he continually beates her. Now by this time George their Sonne is sixteene yeares of age, of a mans courage and stature, and of a very pregnant wit; so that as young as he is, hee hath beene long enough a sorrowfull eye-witnesse of his Fa∣thers cruelty, in beating of his Mother; Hee hath formerly seene the lamentable effects, and now he falls on his knees to her, and (with teares and prayers) beseech∣eth her to acquaint him with the true cause thereof, and from whence it proceeds; when his Mother (adding more confidence to his wisedome then to his youth) from point to point fully relates it to him, accordingly as we have formerly under∣stood, George bursts forth into sorrowfull passions at her repetition, and his know∣ledge hereof, as not able to refraine from sighing to see her sigh, nor from wee∣ping to see her weepe; Hee as much grieves to be the Sonne of so vicious a Fa∣ther, as he rejoyceth and gloryeth to be that of so vertuous a Mother, so he makes her sorrowes his, and here weds himselfe to her quarrell (with promise and oath) either to right it with his Father, or to revenge it on Salyna, whom he knowes to be the originall cause of all these stormes and tempests, of all these afflictions and miseries which befall his Mother, and in her himselfe. He will no longer bee a child, because God and nature hath now made him a man, so the very next time hee sees his Father beate his Mother hee steps to her assistance, and defends her from the tyrannie of his blowes, and then advanceth so farre, as hee performes it with an unwilling willing resistance of him, the which his Father takes extremely ill and chollerickly from him, gives him sharpe words, and menaceth him with bitter blowes. George his Sonne, first returnes him a briefe rehearsall of the wrongs and indignities he still offereth to his Mother, when protesting of his obedience to him, he yet tels him, that he is willing to entertaine his words, but no longer ca∣pable to digest and receive his blowes, adding withall (as a passionate Corolary) that ere long he will visit his Strumpet Salyna in Cleraux, and make her feele a part of her base carriage, and ill deservings, both towards his Mother and himselfe: •…asti is much astonished at this audacity and boldnesse of his Sonne, but farre •…re to heare him name and threaten Salyna, the very thought of which his Page  516 speeches grates him to his heart, and grieves him to his soule, so he puts water in his wine, holds it for that time a vertue, to be no longer stormy but calme, and then (chollerickly threatning him with his finger) he departs to his Chamber, lea∣ving his Wife and his Sonne consulting in the Parlour, how (with most assurance, and least scandall) they may provide for their affaires.

The next morning, Vasti his Father keepes his bed, and gives order, that neither his Wife or Sonne have admittance to him, the which discourtesie of his, gives his Sonne a fresh and strong motive, to revive his last nights discontent against his Father, and his choller against Salyna, when bidding his Mother the good mor∣row, and craving her blessing, he (purposely) frames an excuse to leave her till she be ready, and so very privately takes horse, and that morning acts a busines, every way worthy of himselfe, and indeed farre more worthy of laughture, then of our pitty. For it is not so much his malice to Salyna, as his affection to his Mother Hester, which carries him and his resolution to Cleraux; where entring Salyna's house; he (with fire in his lookes and thunder in his speeches) cals her whore and strumpet, chargeth her for abusing his Father, and in him his Mother and himselfe. His choller cannot retaine his patience, to heare her false answers and apologies to the contrary, but disdaining as much to use his sword on a woman, as to foule it on a strumpet, hee takes his mans short cudgell, and gives her at least a dosen blowes on her backe, armes and shoulders therewith, seriously vowing and swear∣ing to her; That if she forsake not his Fathers company, and use the meanes that henceforth he doe utterly abandon hers, hee will shortly give her so bitter a pay∣ment and requitall, as hee will hardly leave her either the will or power to thanke him for his courtesie, and so remounts his horse, and presently gallops home to his Mother, whom hee acquaints therewith, but yet conceales it from his Father, whereat she seemes not to be a little joyfull, and yet heartily prayeth to God; that this breed no bad blood in her husband, or prove either an incitation to his chol∣ler against her selfe, or a propension of revenge against their Sonne.

But this joy of Hester and her Son George, proves the sighes and teares of Salyna, who not accustomed to receive such sharpe payment, and usage from any mans hands whosoever, it makes her extreme chollericke and vindictive, so that her sto∣macke is so great, and her heart so highly and imperiously lodged, that she will not suffer this cruell affront offered her by George Vasti, to goe unrequited; but yet she will be as advised and secret in her revenge towards him, as hee was rash and pub∣licke in his towards her. To which end and purpose, seeing that Vasti his Father came not to her that day (whereby she judged hee was wholly ignorant what had befallen her from his Sonne) she that night writes him a short Letter, and the next morning sends it home to Fribourg to him, by a confident messenger of hers, who arriving there and finding him pensively walking in his Garden, hee respectfully delivered it to him, who breaking up the seales thereof, found it spake thus.

This letter of hers doth so nettle Vasti with apprehension and feare, that his Son George hath offered her some violence and out-rage, as he is almost as soone in Cle∣raux as he is out of Fribourg, where his Mistris Salyna very passionatly and chol∣lerickly informes him of his Sonnes cruelty towards her, and (to adde the more efficacie to her speeches, the more power to her complaints, and the more oyle to the fire of his anger and revenge) she forgets not to paint out to him (in all their colours) the number of his Sonnes blowes, and the nature and quality of his threats given her, when watering her words with her teares, she sweares, that if he speedily doe not right and revenge these her wrongs upon his said Sonne, she will never kisse, or see him more. Vasti takes these speeches from Salynas tongue, and placeth them in his owne heart; yea he hereat is so chollerickly intended towards his Sonne, and so sottishly affected to her, as consulting with rage, but not with reason, and with Sathan, not with God, hee (to exhale her teares, and so to give consolation to her sorrowes) tels her; That hee loves her so tenderly and con∣stantly, as he will not faile to kill his Sonne for this incivill and inhumane fact of his towards her. Salyna is amazed and astonished at this his unnaturall resolution to his Sonne, the which (as vicious as she is) shee abhors and condemnes in him as soone as understands. So she •…s him plainely, that albeit she have given him her heart and body, yet that she is not so exempt of grace, or so wretchedly instructed in Piety, as to take away her soule from God, and therefore that although she bee guilty of Adultery, yet shee will never bee of Murther; so in religious termes (worthy of an honester woman then her selfe) shee powerfully seekes to disswade him from this bloody and unnaturall attempt, as well to prevent their future wrongs and feares, as to secure their dangers and reputations, and so prayes him to seeke out some other remedy and requitall towards his Sonne, the which hee pro∣miseth her, and seales it with some oathes and many kisses, stayes and dines with her, and immediatly takes horse and rides homewards. His Sonne George finding his Father ridden forth, and being ascertained that hee was gone to Cleraux, to his strumpet Salyna, where she would acquaint him at full with his beating of her, he fearing his choller, holds it more discretion then disobedience in him, to take his sword with him for his defence; when choosing a good horse out of the stable, •…d deemes it more secure and lesse dangerous to meet his Father •…alfe way, be∣twixt Cleraux and Fribourg, and there in the open field to expect and attend what he had to say to him. Vasti seeing his Sonne George a farre off come riding to∣wards him, with his sword by his side, hee much marvelleth thereat, when well knowing his courage and valour, and that (as young as hee was) he had lately at •…fouse acquitted himselfe of a Duell to his honour and reputation, hee therefore resolves to make it a tongue and not a sword quarrell with him, and so they meet; George doing his duty to his Father with his hat off, and his Father speaking not angerly but mildly to him; Their meddow conference which they then and there had betwixt them was thus.

Fa. What reason hadst thou so cruelly to beat poore Salyna?

So. A thousand times more then you have to beat my Mother Hester.

Fa. Tell me why.

So. The reason is just and pertinent, because that is your lascivious whore, and this your chaste and vertuous wife.

Page  518Fa. What hast thou gotten by this thy rash choller in beating her?

So. Not by farre so much as you have lost by your sottish lust in kissing her.

Fa. It is thy Mothers jealousie which hath sowne and scattered these untruths in thy beliefe.

So. I pray excuse me, for they are palpable and apparant truths, and such as it is wholly impossible either for your hypocrisie or policie to root thence.

Fa. Since when becamest thou so sawcie and peremptory?

So. From that very time I first understood you were become so vicious.

Fa. I have a mad Sonne in thee.

So. It were a great happinesse both for my Mother and my selfe, if you proved a tamer Husband to her, and an honester Father to me.

Fa. If thou follow those courses, to love thy Mother better then my selfe, I vow I will wholly disinherit thee.

So. If you follow these courses, to love Strumpets better then my Mother, I sweare you will shortly consume all your estate, and disinherit your selfe first.

Fa. This word Strumpet is very rife in thy mouth.

So. I wish to God that the thing were not so frequent in your heart.

Fa. Wilt thou be friends with Salyna, and reconcile thy selfe to her?

So. Yes, when I see you become an enemy to her, and a friend to my Mother, and your selfe, but not before.

Fa. Why, Charity is the true marke of a Christian.

So. But I assure you, so is not Adultery and Cruelty.

Fa. Shall I make peace betwixt thee and Salyna?

So. No, but I would make it the joy of my heart, and the glory of my life, if I might be so happy to knit & confirm a good peace betwixt your self & my Mother.

Fa. Wilt thou attempt it, if I request thee?

So. I will, if you please to command me.

Fa. I pray thee George doe.

So. My best indeavours shall herein wayt on your desires, and dutifully follow your commands.

Fa. But be carefull to make my reconciliation with thy Mother eternall.

So. It can never subsist, nor prosper, if you henceforth resolve to make it tem∣porary, because affection and amity which once receives end, had never beginning.

Fa. Here I vow constantly a reformation of my life from all other women, and a perpetuall renovation of my affection to my Wife thy Mother.

So. God and his Angels blesse this your conversion, and confirme this resolu∣tion in you.

Fa. And God blesse thee my Sonne, for wishing and desiring it.

So. I thanke you Sir, but I humbly pray you likewise to forgive and forget this my boldnesse to you in my Mothers behalfe.

Fa. George, here in presence of God I cheerfully & freely doe it from my heart

So. Amen, Amen, Sir.

This meddow conference thus ended betweene them, they ride home towards Fribourg, and by the way Vasti willeth and prayeth his Sonne, to finish this peace betweene him and his mother that very night, and to dispose her so effectually thereunto, as that they may make a merry supper of it, and all former differences betweene them, to be then and there ended; and for ever trampled under foot, the which George his Sonne to the best of his possible power cheerefully and joyfully promiseth him; So home they come; Vasti walkes in his Garden, and George finds out his Mother in her own Chamber, being newly risen from her prayers, wherin Page  519 she was so zealous and religious as shee spent the greatest part of her time. Here George informes his Mother Hester at full, what conference had now past in the open fields betwixt him and his Father: And (in a word) he here acts his part and duty so well and discreetly, as hee leaves no art nor perswasions unattempted to draw her to this attonement with his Father. When shee at first considering the nature and quality of her husbands unkind and cruell usage to her, shee found an opposi∣tion hereof in her mind, a resistance in her will, and a reluctancy in her nature and judgement; But at last giving now her former discontent to charity, her passions to peace, her sorrowes to silence, her resolutions to religion, her anger to affe∣ction, her malice to oblivion, and her griefe unto God, she (after a briefe consul∣tation, and a short expostulation hereof betweene them) with a cheerefull counte∣nance thankes her Sonne for his care of her, and his affection to her herein; and so informes him, That shee (having never justly offended her husband in thought word or deed) is as willing of peace and reconciliation with him, as he can possibly desire or wish, and here to testifie it to her Sonne as well in action as words, shee would then have gone downe with him to her husband, there privately to have concluded this Christian busines betwixt them, had her Sonne not diverred her from it; For being exceeding carefull to preserve his Mothers right and reputa∣tion, he prayes her to stay, alleadging that he would presently fetch and conduct his Father to her Chamber to her, as holding it more requisite and just, that the delinquent should first see and seeke the party wronged, before the party seeke the delinquent, whereat she cannot refraine from smiling, and then bids him goe: So George descends to the Garden, and acquaints his Father with his Mothers free disposition, and cheerefull resolution to a perpetuall peace with him, whereat he seemes infinitly glad and joyfull, and so ascends her Chamber, and having saluted her, tells her, that hee is very sorrowfull and repentant for his former ill carriage and unkindnesse towards her, whereof he prayes her pardon, and constantly vowes reformation; so this his vertuous and kinde wife Hester freely forgets and forgives Vasti her husband; and then hee gives her many kisses in requitall, and bids his sonne George to provide good cheere for Supper; and the better to seale and solem∣nize this their reconciliation and atonement, hee bids him to invite some of their Kinsfolkes and Neighbours to bee present thereat, who were formerly acquain∣•…d with their debates and differences; where no good cheere and choice wine is wanting; So they are wonderfull frolicke, pleasant, and merry, all rejoyce at this good newes, and highly applaud their Sonne George, for his discreet carriage and care in the managing of this busines. Thus all things seeme to be fully reconci∣led, and here Vasti drinkes many times to his wife Hester, and shee againe to her husband with much affection and joy: When supper being ended, their guests departed, and their Sonne George having received both of their blessings, they be∣take themselves to their Chamber and Bed.

Now (in all humane sense and reason) who would once conceive or thinke, that after this Meadow conference of Vasti to his Son George, but that this his now Table reconciliation with his wife Hester were true, and pronounced with much i•…egrity from himselfe, with deep affection to her, and infinite zeale and devoti∣on to God; but Ahlas nothing lesse, for here I am inforced to relate, that Vasti the same night had not laien in bed by his wife five or six houres, but she (good woman) sleeping in her innocencie, he (as a devill incarnate) was waking in his malice and revenge, and laughing in his sleeve to see how cunningly and subtilly he hath lulld •…eep the courage of his Sonne with a Meadow conference, and the iealousi•… of 〈◊〉 Wife with a Supper, and a few sweet words and kisses: When here againe the Page  520 the Devill blowing the coles to his lust, and marshalling up his former obscene desires and resolutions, onely his body is in bed with his wife Hester, here in Fri∣bourg, but his affection and heart is still in the bosome of his strumpet Salyna in Cleraux; yea the Devill I say, is now both so busie and so strong with him, that (as a hellish councellour, and prodigious pen-man) he writes downe this definitive sen∣tence in his thoughts, and fatall resolution in his heart, That Salyna he will love, and his wife Hester he cannot, and that shortly he will give so sharpe a revenge to his son George, for his disobedience towards him, and for beating of his Salyna, as she shall have no further cause to feare his cruelty, nor himselfe his courage; and because he prefers her love to his owne life (as being dangerously intangled and captivated in the snares of her youth and beauty) hee likewise resolves to write and send her a Letter the very next morning.

Now judge Christian Reader, is not this like to prove a sweet reformation and reconciliatlon of Vasti to his wife and sonne, sith these are the sparkes which diffuse and flie out from the fire of his lust, and the fatall lines which issue forth from the Centre of his bloudy heart, and sinfull soule; for in the morning before his wife is out of her bed, hee is stirring, and writes this Letter to Salyna, which hee sends her by a trusty messenger.

Salyna receives this letter of Vasti with equall feare and joy; for as she was glad to hear of him and his news, so she was sorowfull, as fearing that for her sake he should imbarke himselfe in some bloudy businesse, which might proove ruinous to them both: And although her apprehension doe farre exceed her knowledge herein, yet her suspicion will give her no truce, neither can her jealousie administer any peace either to her heart or minde, before she be resolved by Vasti of the doubtfull and different truth hereof. Shee is so prophane and lascivious, as she can content her selfe to make him guilty of Fornication; but yet Religion hath left some sparkes and impressions of Piety in her, that she would still have him innocent of Revenge and Murther: to which effect, by his own messenger she returnes him this answer.

Vasti having thus settled his affection and affaires with Salyna, he sees with griefe that it is now almost impossible for him to see her in Cleraux, because of the vi∣gilant and watchfull eye of his Sonne George, over himselfe and his actions here in Fribourg; wherefore notwithstanding her wholsome and religious advice to him to beware of bloud, yet his lustfull affection to her doth so outbrave and con∣quer his naturall love to him, that to satisfie his inordinat concupisence, and to give content to his obscene and beastly desires, he vowes he will shortly send him to heaven in a bloudy Coffin. Now the sooner and better for him to compasse and finish this his deplorable stratagem, and unnaturall resolution against his sonne, his counsellour the Devill adviseth him that hee must for a short time make wonder∣full faire weather with him, and gild over all his speeches and actions to his wife Hester, with much respect and courtesie; the which Vasti doth speedily put in pra∣ctice: So for a moneth or sixe weekes time, hee sees not Salyna, but all things (to the eye of the world) goe in great peace, affection, and tranquillity betwixt Fa∣ther, Mother, and Sonne. But this false sunshine will be too soone o'retaken with a dismall storme and tempest; for what religious or Christian shew soever Vasti ex∣ternally makes unto them, yet although he have God in his tongue, he neverthelesse internally carries the Devill about him in his heart; so againe and againe he defini∣tively vowes & swears to himself, that his son George shal not live but die. Thus be∣ing resolute in his bloody purpose, he likewise resolves to adde policie to his ma∣lice against him, as thinking and hoping thereby, with more facility to draw him to the lure and snare which (in his diabolicall invention) he hath ordained for his de∣struction, hee fills his head with the fumes and honour of military actions, inflames his courage with the generosity and dignity of a souldier, whereunto as also to travell into other Countries, he knew that this his Sonne of himselfe was already ambitiously inclined and affected. At other times hee representeth to him, to how many dammages and dangers Idlenesse is exposed and subject, and what a noble part and ornament it is in young men to learne Vertues abroad, thereby to bee the more capable to know how to practise them at home, and with what renowne and glory their Auncestors have heretofore beaten and ruined the Dukes of Burgundie, their professed enemies, and now made themselves and their country famous to the greatest Princes and Potentates of Europe, especially to the Kings of France & Spain, who these many yeares, and now likewise at present (qd. he) doe equally court our affections & service, though not with the same or like integrity. And these, and such treacherous Lectures, doth Vasti still reade unto his sonne George, as often as he calls him into his company and presence, untill at last the fame and name of a souldier, and the honour of travell, have so surprised his youthfull affection, and seizd on his Page  522 ambitious resolutions, that at last hee beseecheth his Father to send him abroad, in some martiall service, or generous imployment. But the Father being as cunning as his sonne is rash and inconsiderate, suffereth himselfe of purpose to bee earnestly and frequently importuned by him to that effect; the which hee doth: When at last his Father promiseth to send him to Rome, to his Vncle Andrew Vasti, who (he saith) is a chiefe Captaine of one of the Companies of this present Pope Vrban VIII. his Guard, who was an old man, very rich, and without wife, child, or kinsman with him. George thankes his Father for this his courtesie and honour, and importuneth him againe and againe to hasten this his departure and journey to Rome to his Vncle; the which hee then firmely promiseth him: but yet the greatest difficulty hereof is, how hee may obtaine his Wifes consent to this jour∣ney of her Sonne; who at first opposeth it very strongly and passionately, as know∣ing her Sonne to bee her onely childe, her right arme, a great part of her selfe, the delight and joy of her life, and the prop and stay of her age. But the Father leaves his Sonne to draw and obtaine his Mothers consent, as politickely knowing and foreseeing, that the lesse himselfe, and the more his Sonne importun'd her, the soo∣ner she would graunt it; the which indeed fell out as he expected. Onely where∣as the Sonne requested to stay foure yeares abroad, his Father gave him but three, and his Mother would graunt him but two, whereunto at last both Father and Sonne were inforced to condescend; and now this cruell hearted Father provides his courteous-natur'd sonne George a new Sute of apparell, a Horse, and Money, and resolves to accompany and bring him as farre as Turin in his journey; which courtesie of his, his Wife and Sonne take most lovingly and thankefully. The morne of George his departure comes, and because his Mother the precedent night dreamt that her Sonne should dye in this journey, she was now exceeding sorrow∣full to let him goe and depart from her; but being againe fortifyed and rectifyed by the advice of her husband, and likewise vanquished by the importunate requests and praiers of her son, she bedews his cheeks with her teares, gives him much good counsell, some gold, and her blessing; and so they take leave each of other, God put∣ting apprehension into her heart, and the Devill assurance into her husbands reso∣lutions that shee should never see her sonne againe: And indeed I write with grief, that we shall progresse very little farther in this History, before we see her dreame verifyed, and her apprehension confirmed. The manner thus:

For Vasti (being privately as resolute in his malice and revenge to his sonne, as this his sonne is innocent in not deserving it of his Father) is so farre from bringing him to Turin, as hee will not bring him as farre as Geneva, but a mile before hee comes to Losanna (where he tels his son he would lye that night) the night approa∣ching, and in a long narrow Lane, where he saw that no earthly eye could see him (being wholly deprived of the grace and feare of God, and absolutely abandoned to Satan and Hell) as his sonne rides close before him, hee shoots him thorow the backe with his Pistoll, charged with a brace of bullets, who immediately falling dead to the ground, hee there descends his horse, and (without any remorse or pit∣ty, as no Father, but rather as a Devill incarnate) cuts off his nose, most lamentably scarres and mangles his face, that he might not be knowne, and so takes him on his shoulders, and there throwes him into a deepe ditch or precipice, as also the saddle and bridle of his horse, and turning the horse to seek his fortune in the wide fields, hee (to provide for his safety) rides swiftly to Morges, and there very secret∣ly husheth himselfe up, pretending to bee sicke, and eight dayes being expired (which was the prefixed time and day hee gave his wife for his returne) hee by a contrary Rode way of Rolle, and Saint Claude, arrives home to Fribourg to her, brings her word of the health of her sonne, and of the remembrance of his duty Page  523 to her, and that he left him well in Turin, expecting the benefit of good company to travell up to Rome; whereat, harmlesse loving Mother, she weepes for joy, and yet rejoyceth in weeping.

And now for some ten dayes after his returne from acting this wofull and de∣plorable tragedy on his sonne, hee keepes a good correspondencie and decorum with his wife Hester; but at the end thereof (soly forgetting his heart and soule, his God and his conscience, his promises and oaths, and his attonement and re∣conciliation) hee againe falls into the dangerous relapse of his former old Vice; Whordome and Drunkennesse; and yet counselled by a better Angell then his owne, hee forbeares to beate her, as well seeing, and now knowing, that thereby nothing redounded to him, but scandall and scorne from all his Neighbours, Friends, and Kinsfolkes. But now his lust is againe so great, and his desires so fervently lascivious towards Salyna, that in staying lesse then eight weekes, hee thinkes hee hath stayed more then seven yeares from her; when pretending ano∣ther journey to his Wife, hee rides over to Cleraux to her. Salyna gives him many kisses for his welcome, and as many more for relating her that hee hath sent away his sonne George to Rome, to reside and live there: for shee being his Fathers Strumpet, her guilty and sinfull conscience made her stand in ex∣treame feare of him; but yet amidst her kisses and pleasures with him (remem∣bring the tenour and contents of his last Letter to her, and her answer thereof to him) her thoughts are something touched with doubt, and her minde assaulted and perplexed with feare, that the Father had played no faire play with his Sonne, but that in regard of his inveterate malice to him for beating her, hee might have sent him to heaven, and not to Rome. To which purpose, shee feeles and sounds him every way, but he is as constant to denye it, as shee curious to inquire after it. So shee believing that hee had assumed no bloudy thoughts against his Sonne, she is not yet so devoyd of grace, or exempt of goodnesse, but shee gives him this re∣ligious caveat for a Memento, which she delivers to him accentively and passionatly, That if shee knew hee had made away his Sonne by any untimely end, or unnatu∣rall accident, or that hee were any way accessary to any prodigious disaster which had befalne him, shee vowd to God, and swore unto him, that shee would spit in his face, disdaine his company, and reject his affection and himselfe for ever; for that shee was most assured and confident that God (in his due time) would po•…re down vengeance and confusion on those whom the Devill had seduced and drawn to imbrue their hearts and hands in innocent bloud. But Vasti is past grace, and therefore slightly passeth over these vertuous speeches of his vicious Salyna, with a denyall and a kisse; and then againe they fall to their mirth and familiarity, and hee stayes there all that day, and lyes with her the whole night foll•…wing; but still Salyna (resembling her selfe and her profession) is very fingrative of his gold, and he as sottishly prodigall in giving it to her, as shee is covetous to crave and de∣sire it of him: so (after hee had glutted himselfe with his beastly pleasures of Sa∣lyna) hee the next day rides home to his wife, who knowing where, and with whom hee had beene, and considering it to be the first time of his new errour, and his first relapse into his old one, since their reconciliation, shee sayes nothing to him to discontent him; but yet thinkes and feares the more: When retiring her selfe into her Garden (after many bitter sighes and teares for these her immerited crosses and calamities) shee there grieves and repents her selfe for permitting her sonne George to goe to Rome, and a thousand thousand times wisheth his returne to assist and comfort her: but her teares herein prove as vaine, as her wishes are im∣possible to be effected, although at present very needfull and necessary for her.

Page  524 For now Vasti her husband (to make her sorrowes the more infinite, her hopes the more desperate, and her afflictions the more remedilesse) fals againe to his old practice of beating her, notwithstanding all his late oathes and new promises to the contrary; but he the more especially playes the Tyrant with her in this kind, when he comes home to her from his cups and whores, for she knowes with griefe, that he retaines and entertaines more then Salyna, onely she is too sure that Salyna hath his purse, his company, his affection, and his heart at her command, farre more then her selfe; she sends her sighes to heaven, and her prayers to God, that (out of the profunditie of his mercie and goodnesse) hee would bee pleased, either to amend her Husband or to end her selfe; for griefes, sorrowes, and affli∣ctions are so heaped on her, and (like the waves of the Sea) fall so fast one upon the necke of the other to her, that she is weary of her life, and of her selfe. When on a time after hee had cruelly beaten her, torne off her head attire, given her a blacke eye and swollen face, and desheveled and disparpled her haire about her eares and shoulders (making God her Protector, and her Chamber her Sanctuary, exempting her servants who came to assist and comfort her, and fast bolting her doore) she to her selfe very pensively and mournfully breathes forth these speeches.

O poore Hester, what sensible griefe is it to thy heart, to thinke, and matchlesse torments to thy mind, to see and remember, that whiles thou art true to thy hus∣band Vasti, hee proves both ingratefull and false to thee, and that hee continually makes it his delight and glory to hate thee who art his deare wife, purposely to bestow his time and his affection, yea to cast away his estate and himselfe, on his lewd young strumpet Salyna: O were hee more happy and lesse guilty in that las∣civious and beastly crime, I should then be lesse miserable, and more patient and joyfull in the remembrance thereof. O how wretched is his estate and condition, and therefore how miserable is thine, in that hee wilfully forsakes God and his Church to follow adultery and drunkennesse, and abandoneth all piety and prayer, to shipwracke himselfe, and (which is worse) his soule, upon all carnall pleasures and voluptuous s•…sualities; The which grieving to see, and almost drowning my selfe night and day in my teares to understand, I have none but God to assist mee in these my bitter afflictions and miseries, and under God, none, but my hopefull Sonne George, lest to comfort mee in these my unparalelled calamities and discon∣solations. Therefore, O God, if ever thou heardest the prayers, or beheldest the teares of a po•…re miserable distressed woman, because I can neither now see, nor futurely hope 〈◊〉 any reformation, in the life and actions of my debauched and vicious Husband, be (I beseech thee) so indulgent and gracious to me, thy most unworthy Hand-maid, that either shortly thou returne me my said Sonne from 〈◊〉, or spe•…oily take •…ee to thy selfe in heaven; But yet O my blessed Saviour and Redeemer, not my, but thy will be done in all things.

She having thus (privately to her selfe) vented her sorrowes, but not as yet found the meanes, either how to remedy or appease them, because her husband is no Changeling, but is still resolute in this ingratefull unkindnesseand cruelty towards her, she is now resolved (though with infinit griefe and reluctation) to acquaint the Preacher of the parish, and some two of her husbands deerest and neerest kins∣folkes to speake with him againe, and to acquaint them with his pernitious relapse into all his old vices of drunkennesse, whoredome, and fighting, and to desire them to use all their possible power to divert him from it, wherein her resolution hat•… this just •…cuse, that if they cannot worke it, none but God can; But all their c•…e, a•… and •…eale cannot prevaile with him; For he with the filthy dog retur•… to 〈◊◊〉, and with the brutish swine againe to wallow in the durt, and 〈◊〉Page  525 in the mire of his former vices and voluptuousnesse. For now her husband Vasti is oftner at Cleraux with his Salyna, then at home at Fribourg with his wife, who (as formerly we have understood) still makes him pay deare for his pleasures, and as a subtle rooking strumpet, emptieth his purse of his gold, as fast as he foolishly fil∣leth it, he being not contented to waste his body, to shipwracke his reputation; to cast away his time, but also to cast away his estate, and himselfe on her; the which his vertuous wife cannot but observe with sorrow, and remember with griefe and vexation, but she sees it impossible for her how to redresse it: For she is not capable to dissemble her discontent to him so privately, as he publickely makes knowen his cruelty to her, wherefore her thoughts suggest her, and her judgement prompts her, to proove another experiment and triall on him. To which end she tels him, that if hee will not henceforth abandon beating of her, forsake his old vices, and become a new man, and a reformed husband, that then all delayes set apart, she will speedily (by some one of her neerest kins folkes) send poast to Rome to his brother Captaine Andrew Vasti, that her Sonne George returne home to her to Fribourg, the which shee is more then confident, upon the receipt of her first Letter, he will speedily and joyfully performe.

Her husband Vasti is extremely galled with this speech, and netled with this re∣solution of his wife Hester, because (wretched villaine as he is) he (but too well) knowes hee hath already sent his Sonne to heaven in a bloody winding sheet, and therefore both feares and knowes, that by this his wifes sending poast to Rome, his deplorable and damned fact will infallibly burst forth and come to light, the which therefore to prevent, hee (as bad, and cruell hearted as the Devill himselfe) is execrably resolved to heape Ossa upon •…elion, to adde blood to blood, and mur∣ther to murther; and so now to poyson the Mother his wife, as hee had lately pi∣stolled his and her onely Sonne to death. O Hester, it had beene a singular happi∣nesse for thee, that thou hadst not thus threatned thy husband Vasti, to send to Rome forthy son George, but that thou hadst either bin dumbe when thou spakest it, or he deaf when he heard it: for hereby thinking to preserve, thou hast extremely indan∣gered thy selfe, and hoping to make thy Son thy refuge and champion, I feare with griefe, and grieve with feare, that thou hast made thy selfe the ruine of thy selfe.

For Vasti is so strong with the Devill, and so weak with God, in this his bloody designe, to murther his wife Hester, as neither Grace or Nature, Religion or God, the feare of his bodies tortures in this life, or of his soules torments in that to come are able to divert him from it, he having no other reason for this his damna∣ble rage, nor no other cause for this his infernall and hellish cruelty, but this triviall and yet pittifull poore one, that his wife Hester is an eye-sore to him, because his Salyna is so to her. A wretched excuse, and execrable Apologie, and no lesse ex∣ecrable and wretched is he that makes it. So he (turning his backe to God, and his face and heart to the Devill) provides himselfe of strong poyson, and cunningly infusing it into a muske Mellon, which he knew she loved well, and resolved to eate that day at dinner, shee greedily eating a great part of it, before night dies thereof. When very subtlely he gives out to his servants and neighbours, that she died of a surfet, in then and there eating too much of the muske Mellon; and so all of them confidently beleeve and report.

Thus we have seene with sorrow, and understood with griefe, that this execrable wretch Vasti hath •…layed the part of a Devill, in poysoning his vertuous and harmelesse wife Hester; and now we shall likewise see him play the part of an Hy∣•…rite to conceale it, as if it lay in his power to blind-fold the eyes of God, as •…ll, or as easily, as to hood wincke those of men from the sight and knowledge Page  526 thereof. He seemes wonderfull sorrowfull for his wifes death, dights himselfe and his servants all in blacke, provides a great dinner, and performes her funerall with extraordinary solemnity. But notwithstanding God lookes on him with his eye of Iustice, for both these his cruell and inhuman barbarous murthers of his son and wife, and therfore now (in his Providence) resolves to punish him sharply and se∣verely for the same; As marke the sequell, and it will instantly informe us how.

Our debauched and bloody Vasti, immediatly upon his wifes death and buriall, doth without intermission haunt the house and company of his lascivious strum∣pet Salyna at Cleraux, as if the enjoying of her sight, presence, and selfe, were his chiefest delight, and most soveraigne earthly felicity. Hee spends a great part of his estate on her, and to satisfie her covetous and his lustfull desires, hee is at last enforced to morgage and sell away all his Lands. For as long as hee had money, she was his, but when that failed him, then she (as a right strumpet, acted a true part of her selfe) failed in her accustomed kindnesse and familiarity towards him, and casts him off.

The judgements of God, and the decrees of Heaven, are as secret as sacred, and as miraculous as just, which we shall see will now by degrees be apparantly made good and verified in this Monster of men, and Devill of Fathers and Husbands, Vasti. For his mansion house, and all his utensills and moveables in Fribourg, are consumed with a sudden fire, proceeding from a flash of lightning from heaven; as also all his granges of corne, and stacks of hay, and yet those of all his neigh∣bours round about him are untouched and safe. His corne also which growes in the field brings forth little or no encrease, his vines wither and die away, all his horses are stolen from him, and most of his cattle, sheepe and goats, dye of a new and a strange disease; For being (as it were mad) they wilfully and outragiously run themselves to death one against the other; hee is amazed at all these his (un∣expected) wonderfull losses and crosses, and yet this vild Miscreant and inhumane Murtherer, hath his conscience still so seared up, and his heart and soule so stupi∣fied and obdurated by the Devill, that he hath neither the will, power, or grace to looke up to Heaven and God, and so to see and acknowledge, from whom and for what all these afflictions and calamities befall him: He growes into great poverty, and againe to raise him and his fortunes, hee now knowes no other art or meanes left him then to marry his strumpet Salyna, to whom hee hath given great store of gold, and on whom (as wee have formerly heard) he hath spent the greatest part of his lands and estate. Hee seekes her in marriage, but (hearing of his great losses, and seeing of his extreme poverty) shee will not derogate from her selfe, but very ingratefully denies and disdaines him, and will not henceforth permit him to en∣ter into her house, much lesse to see or speake with him: hee is wonderfull bitten and galled with this her unkind repulse, and then is driven to such extreme wants and necessity, as he is enforced to sell and pawne away, all those small trifles and things which are left him, thereby to give himselfe a very poore maintenance. So (as a wretched Vagabond whom God had justly abandoned for the enormity of his delicts and crimes) he now roames and straggleth up and downe the streets of Fribourg, and the countrey parishes and houses thereabouts, without meate, money, or friends, and which is infinitly worse then all, without God. But all these his calamities and disasters, are but the Harbingers and Fore-runners of grea∣ter miseries and punishments, which are now suddenly and condignly prepared to surprize and befall him; whereof the Christian Reader is religiously prayed to take deep notice, and full observation; because the glory of God, and the Triumphs of his Revenge, in these his Iudgements, doe most divinely appeare, and shine forth to the whole world therein.

Page  527Vasti on a time returning from Cleraux towards Fribourg (where hee had beene to begge some money or meate of Salyna, either whereof she was so hard hearted to deny him) the Providence and pleasure of God so ordained it, That in the very same Meadow and place, and neere the same time and ho•…e, which formerly he, and his Sonne George had their conference there (being very faint and weary) he lay himselfe downe to sleepe there at the foote of a wild Chesnut-tree; yea, he there slept so soundly, the Sunne being very hot, that he could not heare the great noyse, and out cry which many people there a farre off made in the Meadow, for the taking of a furious mad Bull; This Bull I say, no doubt but being sent from God, ran directly to our sleeping and snoring Vasti, tost him twice up in the ayre on his hornes, tore his nose, and so wonderfully mangled his face, that al who came to his assistance held him dead; but at last they knowing him to bee Vasti of Fri∣bourg, and finding him faintly to pant and breath for life against death, they take off his clothes and apparell, and then apparantly discover and see, that this mad Bul with his hornes hath made too little holes in his belly, whereof at one of them a smal peece of his gut hangs out, they carry him to the next cottage, and laying him downe speechlesse, they and himselfe beleeve, hee cannot live halfe an houre to an end, and as yet he still remaines speechlesse; but at last breathing a little more, and well remembring himselfe, and seeing this his disasterous accident, it pleased the Lord (in the infinitnesse of his goodnesse) to open the eyes of his faith, to mollifie the fl•…ntinesse of his heart, to reforme the deformity of his conscience, & to purge and cleanse the pollution of his soule; for now he laies hold of Christ Iesus and his promises, forsakes the Devill and his treacheries, and God now so ordaineth and disposeth of him, that for want of other witnesses (seeing himselfe on the brink and in the jawes of death) he now becommeth a witnesse against himselfe, and confes∣seth before all the whole company, That he it was, neere Losanna, who murthered his owne Sonne George with a Pistoll, and who since poysoned his owne wife Hes•… with a muske Mellon, for which two foule and inhumane facts of his, he said, he from his heart and soule begged pardon and remission of God.

He•… upon this his confession, some of the company ride away to Fribourg, and acquaint the Criminall Officers of justice thereof; who speedily send two Chi∣rurgions to dresse his wounds, and foure Sergeants to bring Vasti thither alive, if possibly they can. They search his wounds, and although they find them mortall, yet they believe hee may live three or foure dayes longer. So they bring him to Fribourg in a Cart, and there hee likewise confesseth to the Magistrates his two a∣foresayd bloudy and cruell Murthers, drawne thereunto as he saith, by the treache∣rous alluremements and temptations of the Devill: So the same day, they, for sa∣tisfaction of these his unnaturall crimes, doe condemne him to be hanged, and then his body to be burnt to ashes; which is accordingly executed in Fribourg, in pre∣sence of a great concourse of people, who came to see him take his last farewell of the world, but they thinking and expecting that he would have made some religious speech at his death, he therein deceived their hopes and desires: for he only pray∣ed to himselfe privatly, and then repeating the Lords prayer, and the Creed, and re∣commending his soule to God, and his body to Christian buriall, without once mentioning or naming his son George, his wife Hester, or his strumpet Salyna, he (lif∣ting up his eies to heaven) was turned over; and although (being a tall and corpulent man) he there brake the rope and fell, yet he was found starke dead on the ground.

And thus was the wretched life, and deserved death of this bloudy Monster of Nature Vasti. May we therefore reade this his History to Gods glory, and to our owne reformation.