The theatre of Gods judgements wherein is represented the admirable justice of God against all notorious sinners ... / collected out of sacred, ecclesiasticall, and pagan histories by two most reverend doctors in divinity, Thomas Beard ... and Tho. Taylor ...

CHAP. XIIII. Of Subject Murtherers.

SEeing then they that take away their neighbours lives doe not escape unpunished, (as by the former examples it appeareth) it must needs follow, that if they to whom the sword of Justice is committed of God, to represse wrongs, and chastise vices, do give over themselves to cruelties, and to kill and slay those whom they ought in duty to protect and defend, must receive a greater measure of punishment, according to the measure and quality of their offence. Such an one was Saul the first king of Israel; who albeit he ought to have beene sufficiently instructed out of the law of God in his duty in this behalfe: yet was hee so cruell and bloody-minded, as contrary to all Justice, to put to death Abi∣melech the high Priest, with fourescore and five other Priests, of the family of his father, onely for receiving David into his house: a small, or rather no offence. And yet not satisfied therewith, he vomited out his rage also against the whole city of the Priests, and put to the mercilesse sword both man, wo∣man, and child, without sparing any. He slew many of the Gibeonites, who though they were reliques of the Amorites that first inhabited that land, yet because they were received into league of amity by a solemne oath, and permitted of long continuance to dwell amongst them, should not have beene awarded as enemies, nor handled after so cruell a fashion. Thus therefore hee tyrannizing and playing the Butcher amongst his own subjects (for which cause his house was called the house of slaughter) and practi∣sing many other foule enormities, he was at the last overcome of the Phili∣stims, and sore wounded: which when he saw, fearing to fall alive into his enemies hands, and not finding any of his owne men that would lay their hands upon him, desperately slew himselfe. The same day three of his sons, and they that followed him of his owne houshould, were all slaine. The Philistims the next day finding his dead body dispoyled among the carkas∣ses, beheaded it, and carried the head in triumph to the temple of their god, and hung up the trunke in disgrace in one of their Cities, to be seene, lookt upon, and pointed at. And yet for all this was not the fire of Gods wrath quenched: for in King Davids time there arose a famine that lasted three yeeres, the cause thereof was declared by God to be the murder which Saul committed upon the Gibeonites: wherefore David delivered Sauls seven sons into the Gibeonites hands that were left, who put them to the most shamefull death, that is, even to hanging. Amongst all the sins of King A∣chab and Iezabel, which were many and great, the murder of Naboth standeth in the fore front; for though hee had committed no such crime as might any way deserve death, yet by the subtill and wicked devise of Iezabel, foolish and credulous consent of Achab, and false accusation of the two sub∣orned witnesses, he was cruelly stoned to death: but his innocent blood was punished first in Achab, who not long after the Warre which he made with the King of Syria, received so deadly a wound, that he dyed there∣of, the dogs licking up his blood in the same place where Naboths blood was licked, according to the foretelling of Elias the Prophet. And secondly of Iezabel, whom her own servants at the commandement of Iehu (whom God had made executor of his wrath) threw headlong out of an highwindow unto the ground, so that the wals were dyed with her blood, and the horses trampled her under their feet, and dogs devoured her flesh, till of all her

dainty body there remained nothing saving onely her skull, feet, and palme of her hands.

Ioram sonne of Iehosaphat King of Judah, being after his fathers death possessed of the Crowne and Scepter of Judah, by and by exalted himselfe in tyranny, and put to death sixe of his owne brethren, all younger than him∣selfe, with many Princes of the Realme: for which cause God stirred up the Edomites to rebell, the Philistines and Arabians to make warre a∣gainst him, who forraged his countrey, sacked and spoiled his cities, and tooke prisoners his wives and children, the youngest onely excepted, who afterwards also was murdered, when he had raigned King but a small space. And lastly, as in doing to death his own brethren, he committed cruelty a∣gainst his owne bowels, so the Lord stroke him with such an incurable dis∣ease in his bowels, and so perpetuall (for it continued two yeares) that his very entrails issued out with torment, and so he dyed in horrible misery.

Albeit that in the former booke we have already touched the pride and arrogancy of King Alexander the Great; yet we cannot pretermit to speake of him in this place, his example serving to fit for the present subject; for although as touching the rest of his life he was very well governed in his private actions, as a Monarch of his reputation might be, yet in his de∣clining age (I meane not in yeares, but to deathward) he grew exceeding cruell, not onely towards strangers, as the Cosseis, whom he destroyed to the sucking babe, but also to his houshold and familiar friends: Insomuch that being become odious to most, fewest loved him, and divers wrought all meanes possible to make him away, but one especially, whose sonne in law and other neere friends he had put to death, never ceased untill he both mi∣nistred a deadly draught unto himselfe, whereby he deprived him of his wicked life, and a fatall stroke to his wives and children after his death, to the accomplishment of his full revenge.

Phalaris, the Tyran of Agrigentum, made himselfe famous to posterity by no other meanes than horrible cruelties, exercised upon his subjects, in∣venting every day new kinds of tortures to scourge and afflict the poore soules withall. In his dominion there was one Perillus artificer of his craft, one expert in his occupation, who to flatter and curry favour with him, de∣vised a new torment, a brasen bull of such a strange workmanship, that the voyce of those that were roasted therein, resembled rather the roaring of a Bull, then the cry of men. The Tyran was well pleased with the Invention, but he would needs have the Inventor make first triall of his owne worke, as he well deserved, before any other should take taste thereof. But what was the end of this Tyran? The people not able any longer to endure his monstrous and unnaturall cruelties, ran upon him with one consent, with such violence, that they soone brought him to destruction: and as some say, put him into the brasen Bull (which hee provided to roast others) to bee roasted therein himselfe: deserving it as well for approoving the devise, as Perillus did for devising it.

Edward the second of that name, King of England, at the request and de∣sire of Hugh Spencer his darling, made warre upon his subjects, and put to death divers of the Peeres and Lords of the Realme, without either right or form of the law, insomuch that queen Isabel his wife fled to France with her yong son, for fear of his unbrideled fury, & after a while finding opportunity and means to return again, garded with certain small forces which she had

in those countreyes gathered together, she found the whole people discon∣tented with the Kings demeanours, and ready to assist her against him: so she besieged him with their succour, and tooke him prisoner, and put him into the Tower of London to be kept, till order might be taken for his de∣position; so that shortly after by the Estates (being assembled together) he was generally and joyntly reputed and pronounced unworthy to be King, for his exceeding cruelties sake which he had committed upon many of his worthy Subjects; and so deposing him, they crowned his young sonne Ed∣ward (the third of his name) King in his roome, he yet living and beholding the same.

Iohn Maria Duke of Millan may be put into this ranke of Murtherers: for his custome was divers times when any Citizen offended thim, yea, and somtimes without offence too, to throw them amongst cruell Mastives to be torne in pieces and devoured. But as he continued and delighted in this un∣naturall kinde of murther, the people one day incensed and stirred up against him, ranne upon him with such rage and violence, that they quickly depri∣ved him of life. And he was so well beloved, that no man ever would or durst bestow a Sepulchre upon his dead bones, but suffered his body to lie in the open streets uncovered, save that a certaine harlot threw a few Roses upon his wounds, and so covered him.

Alphonsus the second, King of Naples, Ferdinands sonne, was in tyranny towards his subjects nothing inferiour to his father: for whether of them imprisoned and put to death more of the Nobility and Barons of the Realme it is hard to say; but sure it is, that both were too outragious in all manner of cruelty: for which, so soone as Charles the eight, King of France departing from Rome, made towards Naples, the hatred which the people bore him secretly, with the odious remembrance of his fathers cruelty, be∣gan openly to shew it selfe by the fruits; for they did not nor could not dissemble the great desire that every one had of the approach of the French∣men: which when Alphonsus perceived, and seeing his affaires and estate brought unto so narrow a pinch, he also cowardly cast away all courage to resist, and hope to recover so huge a tempest: and he that for a long time had made warre his trade and profession, and had yet all his forces and armies complete and in readinesse, making himselfe banquerupt of all that honour and reputation, which by long experience and deeds of armes he had gotten, resolved to abandon his kingdome, and to resigne the title and authority thereof to his sonne Ferdinand, thinking by that meanes to asswage the heat of their hatred, and that so young and innocent a King, who in his owne per∣son had never offended them, might be accepted and beloved of them, and so their affection toward the French rebated and cooled. But this devise see∣med to no more purpose than a salve applyed to a sore out of season, when it was growne incureable, or a prop set to a house that is already falne. Therefore he tormented with the sting of his owne conscience, and finding in his minde no repose by day, nor rest by night, but a continuall summons and advertisement by fearefull dreames, that the Noblemen which hee had put to death, cryed to the people for revenge against him, was surprised with so terrible terrour, that forthwith, without making acquainted with his departure either his brother or his owne sonne, he fled to Sicilie, suppo∣sing in his journey, that the Frenchmen were still at his backe, and starting at every little noyse, as if he feared all the Elements had conspired his de∣struction.

Philip Comineus, that was an eye-witnesse of this journey, repor∣teth, That every night he would cry, that he heard the Frenchmen, and that the very trees and stones echoed France into his eares: And on this manner was his flight to Sicilie. King Charles in the meane while having by force and bloodshed to terrifie the rest, taken two passages that were before him, the whole Realme without any great resistance yeelded it selfe unto his mer∣cy, albeit that the young King had done what he could to withstand him. But at length seeing the Neapolitanes ready to rebell, and himselfe in dan∣ger to be taken prisoner, he fled from the Castle of Naples, and with a small company got certaine Brigandines, wherein he sayled to the Island Ischia, thirty miles from Naples: saying at his departure this verse out of the Psalmes, How vaine are the watchmen and gards of that City which is not gar∣ded and watched by the Lord? which he often repeated, and so long as Naples was in his view. And thus was cruelty punished both in Ferdinand the fa∣ther, and Alphonso the sonne.

Artaxerxes Ochus the eight King of the Persians began his raigne with thus many murders: he slew two of his owne brethren first: secondly, Euagoras King of Cyprus, his partner and associate in the kingdome; third∣ly, he tooke Gidon traiterously, and was the cause of forty thousand mens deaths that were slaine and burned therein; beside many other private mur∣ders and outrages which he committed: for which cause the Lord in his justice rained downe vengeance upon his head: for Bagoas one of his Prin∣ces ministred such a fatall cup to his stomacke, that it mortified his senses, and deprived him of his unmercifull soule and life, and not onely upon his head, but upon his Kingdome and his sonne Arsame also, for he was also poysoned by the same Bagoas, and his Kingdome was translated to Darius Prince of Armenia; whom when the same Bagoas went about to make taste of the same cup, which his predecessors did, he was taken in his owne snare; for Darius understanding his pretence, made him drinke up his owne poy∣son which he provided for him: and thus murder was revenged with mur∣der, and poyson with poyson, according to the Decree of the Almighty, who saith, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, &c.

In the yeare of the World 3659. Morindus a most cruell and bloody minded Prince raigned here in England, who for his cruelties sake came to an unhappy and bloody end: for out of the Irish seas came forth a Mon∣ster which destroyed much people: whereof he hearing, would of his vali∣ant courage needs fight with it, and was devoured of it: so that it may tru∣ly here be said, that one Monster devoured another.

There was (as Aelianus reporteth) a cruell and pernicious Tyran, who to the end to prevent all practises of conspiracy and treason (as Tyrans are ever naturally and upon desert timerous) that might be devised against him, enacted this Law among his subjects, That no man should conferre with another, either privately or publikely, upon paine of death: and so indeed he abrogated all civill society: (For speech, as it was the beginning and birth of fellowship, so it is the very joynt and glue thereof) but what cared he for society, that respected nothing but his owne safety? hee was so farre from regarding the common good, that when his subjects, not daring to speake, signified their mindes by signes, he prohibited that also: and that which is yet more, when not daring to speake, or yet make signes, they fell to weeping and lamenting their misery, he came with a band of men even

to restraine their teares too: but the multitudes rage being justly incensed, they gave him such a desperat welcome, that neither he nor his followers re∣turned one of them alive. And thus his abominable cruelty came to an end, together with his life; and that by those meanes (which is to be observed) by which he thought to preserve and maintaine them both.

Childericus, who in the yeare 697, succeeded in the Kingdome of France Theodoricke (that for his negligence and sluggish government was deposed, and made of a King, a Frier) exercised barbarous and inhumane cruelty up∣on his subjects: for he spared neither noble or ignoble, but mixtly sent them to their graves, without respect of cause or justice. One of the noble sort he caused to be fastened to a stake, and beaten with clubbes, not to death, but to chastisement: which monstrous cruelty so incensed the peoples mind against him, that there wanted no hands to take part with this club-beaten man against the Tyran his enemie. Wherefore they layed wait for him as he came one day from hunting, and murdered him, together with his wife great with childe, no man either willing or daring to defend him.

Tymocrates the King, or rather Tyran of the Cyrenians, will give place to none in this commendation of cruelty: For he afflicted his subjects with many and monstrous calamities, insomuch that he spared not the priests of his gods, which commonly were in reverent regard among the Heathen; As the bloody death of Menalippus (Apollo's priest) did witnesse, whom to the end to marry his faire and beautifull wife Aretaphila, he cruelly put to death: how beit, it prospered not with him as he desired: for the good woman not contented with this sacrilegious contract, sought rather meanes to revenge her first husbands death, than to please this new letchers hu∣mour: Wherefore she assayed by poyson to effect her wish; and when that prevailed not, she gave a yong daughter she had to Leander, the Tyrans brother, to wife, who loved her exceedingly; but with this condition, that he should by some practise or other worke the death and destruction of his brother: which indeed he performed; for he so bribed one of the groomes of the Tyrans chamber, that by his helpe he soone rid wicked Tymocrates out of the way by a speedy and deserved death. But to abridge these long discourses, let us looke into all times and ages, and to the histories of all Countries and Nations, and we shall finde, that Tyrans have ever come to one destruction or other.

Diomedes the Thracian King fed his horses with mans flesh as with pro∣vender, but was made at last provender for his owne horses himselfe by Hercules.

Calippus the Athenian, that slew Dion his familiar friend, and deposed Dionisius the Tyran, and committed many other murders amongst the peo∣ple, was first banished Rheginum, and then living in extreame necessity, slaine by Leptines and Polysperchon.

Clephes the second King of the Lumbards, for his savage cruelty towards his subjects was slaughtered by one of his friends.

Damasippus that massacred so many Citizens of Rome, was cut off by Scylla.

Ecelinus that played the Tyran at Taurisium, guelding Boyes, deflowring Maydes, mayming Matrons of their Dugs, cutting children out of their mo∣thers bellies, and killing 1200 Patavians at once that were his friends, was cut short in a battell. In a Word, if we read and consult Histories of all

Countries and times, we shall find seldome or never any notorious Tyran and oppressor of his subjects that came to any good end, but ever some no∣table judgement or other fell upon them.

Notes

• 1 Sam. 22.
• 2 Sam. 21.
• 1 Kings 21.
• 2 Kings 9.
• 2 Chron. 21.
• Iustin••.
• Orose.
• Cic, Off. 2.
• Enguerran de Monstr. Vol. 1.
• Paul. Iovius.
• Sabell. Guicciar. li. 1. Philip. de Com. Bemb. Histor. Vent. lib. 2.
• Herodot.
• Exod. 22. 24.
• Stow.
• Aelianus.
• Michael. Ric. lib. 1. de regi∣bus Franc. l. 2. c. 46.
• Plut. in Dion.
• Phil. Melanct. lib. 2.

  Valemar.
• Sabel. l. 8. c. 3.