CHAP. VI. Examples of most inhumane cruelties.

THe corrupt nature of man since the fall of A∣dam containeth in it the seed, and spawn of all manner of impieties, so that if the Lord do but let loose the reines of his restraining spirit, and leave man to himself, there is not the most abhorred vil∣lainy Page  69 that was ever perpetrated by any damned repro∣bate, but he is prone to fall into the same, yea to rush on into sinne as the horse into the battel: whence it is that Solomon long since told us, that The tender mercies of the wicked are cruelty: as will most manifestly ap∣pear by these ensuing Examples.

Bellisarius, a worthy, and famous Captaine under [ 1] the Emperour Justinian: having by Gods assistance with great successe fought many battels against the Persians, Goths, and Vandals, in his old age, by the malice, and cruelty of the Emperesse (who was a fa∣vourer of Eutyches the Heretick) had his eyes put out, and fell into such want that he was forced to begge by the high-wayes: Date obolum Bellisario▪ For Gods sake, give an halfe peny to Bellisarius. See Justinians Life in my second Part.

William Prince of Nassaw, a pious, and prudent [ 2] Prince, was most cruelly and traiterously murthered in his lodging at the end of dinner by Baltazar Gerrard, a papist, being hired thereunto by the Prince of Parmas Counsel: He was shot from the left side to the right, through the stomack, and the vital parts: saying onely: O my God, take pity on my soul, I am sore wounded, take pitty upon my soul, and of this poor people: and so he died. Hist. of the Netherl.

In a town of Italy called Montallo, many godly [ 3] Christians being secretly met together to hear the Word of God, were most inhumanely butchered by the appointment of Pope Pius the fourth, being one after another drawn out of the house, and their throats cut with a knife: yet not one of all that num∣ber for fear of death would forsake the true faith of Christ Act. & Mon.

In Deventer one Henry Achtrevelt a Papist, cruelly [ 4] murthered Master Schorickmans a godly Minister in Page  70 that Towne after his Sermon, thrusting him into the •eck with a two-edged knife cleane through the throat, whereof he immediately died: The murther∣er professed that he did it in zeal to the Catholique religion, which the said Minister used to preach against. Hist of the Netherl.

Abundance of French inhabiting in the Island of [ 5] Sicily, being hated by the natives, upon a signe given by the ringing of a bell, were all in one hour murthered; yea it •as performed with such cruelty, that they ript up their own Countrey-women, that were with childe by the French, to the end that no French blood should remaine amongst them. Simps. Hence grew the Proverb▪ Sicu•• vesperae.

The Duke de Alva was of that cruel, and bloody [ 6] disposition▪ that he counted it no paine for men to die, except they died in extreme paine: witnesse Anthony 〈◊〉 whom he caused to be tyed to a stake with a chaine 〈◊〉 •russels, compassing him about with a great fire, but not touching him, turning him round about like a poor beast, who was forced to live in that great torment, and extremity, roasting before the fire so long, untill the Halb•rdiers themselves, having compassion on him, thrust him through with their halberds contrary to the minde both of the Duke, and the Popish Priests: •rimst: Hist: Netherl, p. 4•1.

Also when the City of Harlem surrendred them∣selves [ 7] to him upon conditions to have their lives, he suffered some of the souldiers, and Burgers to be starved to death, saying, that though he promised to give them their lives, yet he did not promise to finde them meat. Eodem.

A Vice-admirall to the Arch▪Duke, having taken [ 8] 15. or 16. fishing ships of Holland, and Zealand, Page  71 nailed all the Mariners, and Fishermen under Hatches and then making holes in the keel of the Ships, drowned them all like Mice in a trap. Hist. of the Netherl.

In the warres against the Albingenses, the Popish [ 9] Army having taken the great, and populous Citie of Beziers, put to the sword above sixty thousand persons, amongst whom were many of their own Catholicks: Arnoldus the Popes Legate being pre∣sent who commanded the Captaines, & Souldiers, say∣ing, Caedite eos omnes: novit enim Deus, qui sunt ejus: Kill them all, (Catholicks, or Hereticks) for the Lord knoweth who are his. Act. and Mon.

Simon Earle of Montfort, having surprised a Castle [ 10] of the Albingenses, most inhumanely caused the eyes of above an hundred▪ of them to be put out, and their noses to be cut off: and left onely one man with one eye to conduct them all to another place. Act. and Mon.

The Duke de Alva being sent with a great Army [ 11] by the King of Spaine into the Netherlands, to root out the Prosessors of the Gospel there, exerci∣sed most unparallel'd cruelty against all sorts of per∣sons both of the Nobilitie, and Commons, permit∣ting his Souldiers to ravish honest Matrons, and Virgins, yea oftentimes compelling their husbands to stand by, and behold the same. This Duke on a time boasted at his owne table, that he had been diligent to root out heresie: for that, besides those which were slaine in war, and secret Massacres, he had put into the hand of the hangman eighteen thousand in the space of six yeares. Hist. of the Ne∣therl.

St. Jerome reports that when he was a very youth, [ 12] (while Julian, as it seems, was Emperour) he saw in Page  72 Gaul the Atticots (a Brittish Nation) feed on mans flesh, who when they found in the Forrests herds of Swine, flocks of neat, and other Cattell, were wont to cut off the buttocks of the herd-men, and keepers▪ the Duggs also, and paps of women, accounting the same the onely dainties in the world. Camb. Brit. p. 127.

Aelfrich to make way for her own son Etheldred to [ 13] the Crown of England: when Edward her son, in Law then King, came to visit her in Corf-Castle from his disport or hunting, set some villaines, and hack∣sters to murder him, and like a most wicked, and cruell step-dame fed her eyes with beholding his blood, Camb. Brit. p. 211.

Machanides a Tyrant of Lacedaemon, made an [ 14] Image 〈…〉 Engine rather, like unto his wife Apega, apparelled in such like attire also; His manner was to call unto him rich men, demanding great sums of money of them, which if by faire meanes he could not obtaine, he would take them by the hand, and tell them that perhaps his wife (which sate in a roome by) could perswade them more effectually, unto whom he would lead them: When they ap∣proached, the Image would rise up, open her armes, and imbrace them: which armes, and her breasts also were full of sharpe •ron nailes, wherewith she griped the poore wretch till she had killed him, and then the Tyrant seised on his goods.

Philip King of Spaine out of an unnaturall, and [ 15] bloody zeale, suffered his eldest son Charles to be murthered by the cruell Inquisition, because he fa∣voured the Protestants Religion: which when the Pope heard of, he abused that Scripture: He spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us. Act. and Mon.

Page  73Mahomet the great, a most cruell, and mercilesse [ 16] Tyrant, is said in his life-time to have been the cause of the death of eight hundred thousand men. Turk. Hist.

Fernesius as he was going out of Italy towards Ger∣many, [ 17] made this feral, and bloody boast, That he would make his horse swim in the blood of the German Lutherans.

A Frier Augustine of Antwerp openly in the Pulpit [ 18] whilst he was preaching to the people, wished that Lu∣ther was there, that he might bite out his throat with his teeth; and said, that so doing, he would no∣thing doubt to resort to the Altar with the same bloody teeth, and receive the body of Christ. Eras. Epist.

Tarquinius Superbius, entering the Senate-house in [ 19] Rome in royall Ornaments, laid claime to the King∣dome, but was opposed by his father-in-Law Ser∣vius; whereupon he wounded him, and forced him to depart: which Tullia, Tarquins wife hearing of, came to the Senate-house, and saluted her husband King, causing him to send some after her father Servius who killed him, leaving his body in so narrow a street, that when Tullia returned that way, the Charioter stayed, lest he should drive over the the corps: but she threw the seat of the Chariot at his head, and forced him to drive over her fathers body: since which time that street hath been cal∣led the wicked street: Dio•.

Solyman the great Turk, having obtained a victo∣ry [ 20] against the Germans, finding amongst the Cap∣tives a Bavarian Souldier of an exceeding high sta∣ture, delivered him to a little dwarfe to be slaine, whose head was scarce so high as the others knees: that goodly tall man was mangled about the legs a long time by the ap•sh dwarf, with his little Scime∣ter; Page  74 till falling down with many feeble blowes he was at length slaine, the Prince beholding it with great sport: Turk. Hist. p. •09.

The Spaniards when they had taken Heidelberg [ 21] in the Palatinate, took an ancient Minister, a man of God, called Monsieur Mileus, and having abused his daughter before his face, they tied a small cord about his head, which with their truncheons they twisted about till they had squeezed out his braines. Looking-glasse of the holy war.

In the reign of Saint Edward, King of England, [ 22] two Earles that were brethren, Harrould, and Tosto fell out in the Kings Court at Windsor, from words, falling to blowes, and Tosto having the worst, secretly hied him to the Marches of Wales to his brother Harroulds house, which was then in preparing to en∣tertaine the King, where he slew all his brothers ser∣vants, and cutting them peece meale into gobbets, salted some of their limbs, and cast the rest into ves∣sels of Meath, and wine, sending his brother word that he had furnished him with poudered meats against the Kings coming thither: but this barbarous act caused his name to be so odious amongst his Northumbrians (where he was Earle) that at last it was repayed with his own death. Speeds Chron. pag. 402.

A rich Merchant in Paris jesting at the Franciscan [ 23] Fiers, was by their meanes apprehended, accused, and condemned to be hanged: but he (thinking to save his life) made a publick, and solemne recantati∣on; which when the Friers were informed of, they commended him, saying, That if he so continued, he should undoubtedly be saved; and withall called upon the of∣ficers to haste him to the Gallows, to hang him whilest he was in so good a minde, which was accordingly done. Act. & Mon.

Page  75In the persecution of the Saints of God in Calabria, [ 24] Anno 1560. fourscore godly persons being all thrust up in one house together, like sheep for the slaughter: the executioner comes in, and taking forth one, blindefolds him with a mufler about his eyes and so leades him forth to a large place, where co•…ding him to kneele down, he cuts his threat, and so leaving him halfe dead, and taking his Butchers knife, and mufler all goare blood, comes back to the r••t, and so leading them forth one after another, he dispatched them all: All the elder went to the slaugh∣ter more cheerfully, the younger more timerously: I tremble and quake (saith a Romane Catholick, out of whose letter to his Lord this is transcribed) even to remember how the executioner held his bloody knife between his teeth, with the bloody mufler in his hand, and his armes all goare blood up to the elbowes going to the fold, and taking every one of them one after another by the hand, and so dispatching them all, no o∣therwise then a Butcher doth his Calves, or Sheep.

In the Spanish Inquisition, if any Protestant be se∣cretly [ 25] conveyed into it, they bring him not unto a legal trial, but make him away secretly: For as Hoffeus the Jesuite was wont to brag, they hold it a good peece of Piety instantly to condemne him to the fire, Ut anima ejus in curru igneo ad inferos trahatur: that his soul might forthwith be carried to hell in a fiery Chariot.

The poore Spaniards, are kept in such aw by the [ 26] Lords Inquisitors, that one of those Inquisitors desiring to eat some peares that grew in a poor mans Orchard not farre from him, sent for the man to come, and speak with him. This message put the poore man into such a fright, that he fell sick, and kept his bed: But being informed that his peares were the cause of Page  76 his sending for, he caused his tree to be cut down, and withall the peares on it to be sent to the Inquisitor: and being afterwards by him demanded the reason of that unhusbandly action, he protested that he would not keep that thing about him, which should give an occasion to a•…f their Lordships to send for him any more.

The Numantines being assaulted by the Romanes, [ 27] made solemne vowes amongst themselves, no day to break their fast but with the flesh of a Romane, nor to drink before they had tasted the blood of an enemy Guevara. Ep.

In the Massacre of Paris, which was the most abhor∣red [ 28] prodigious villainy that ever the Sunne saw (till the late Irish rebellion) there were murthered in di∣vers places of France threescore thousand Protestants, so that the streets ran with blood, and Rivers were died red with the same: Besides, there were three hundred faithful servants of Christ burnt to ashes in that Kingdom within lesse then five yeares space: and in their late civil Warres, about twelve hundred thou∣sand natural French are said to be slaine. Act. & Mon.

A man, or rather a monster in Italy, having on a [ 29] sudden surprized one, whom he hated deadly, present∣ly overthrew him, and setting his dagger to his breast, told him that he would stab him to the heart, ex∣cept he would renounce, abjure and blaspheme God, which when the wretched man had done (too sinful∣ly greedy of a miserable life) he notwithstanding im¦mediately dispatched him, as soone as those prodigi∣ous blaspemies were out of his mouth: and with a bloody triumph insulting over him, he said: Oh this is right noble, and heroical revenge, which doth not onely deprive the body of temporal life, but bring also the immortal soul to endlesse flames everlastingly Bolton.

Page  77Caligula, an Emperour of Rome, so excelled in cruel∣ty, [ 30] that he wished that all the people of Rome had but one neck that so he might at one blow cut them all off. Act. & Mon.

Saint Jerome in an Epistle to Cromatius writes, [ 31] that the number of Martyrs in his time was so great, that there was no day in the yeere, unto which the number of five thousand Martyrs could not be ascrib∣ed: except onely the first of January.

Theodora a beautiful Virgin refusing to sacrifice [ 32] to the Idols, was condemned to the Stews, and ma∣ny wanton young men pressed to the door to defiled her; but one Didymus a Christian, in a Souldiers ha∣bit, first entered in, counselled her to change apparel with him, and so to steal away, and he in her ap∣parel remained in the place: who afterwards being found a man, was accused to the judges, unto whom he uttered the whole truth, withal professing himself to be a Christian, whereupon he was condemned, and led to execution, which Theodora hearing of (thinking to excuse him) presented her selfe, desiring that he might be freed, and she executed, but the cru∣ell judge neither considering the virtuousnesse of the persons, nor the equity of the cause, caused them both to be tormented to death. Act. & Mon.

Laurence a Deacon of the Church, refusing to yield [ 33] to a Tyrant in delivering up to him the Churches trea∣sure, was commanded first to be scourged, then buf∣feted, pinched with fiery tongues, girded with burn∣ing plates, and lastly to be cast upon a grate of iron red hot, upon which when he had been long pressed down with fireforks, in the mighty spirit of God he spake thus to the Tyrant:

Many Christians being assembled together in a [ 34] Church, Maximianus a Tyrant, commanded it to be surrounded with armed men, and set on fire: but first proclaimed, that whosoever would have life should come forth, and worship to the Idols; where∣upon one stepping up into a widow, answered in the name of all the rest, we are all Christians, and will do service to none but the true God: upon which speech the fire was kindled, & there were burnt of men, women, and children any thousands. Act. & Mon.

In Thebaide so many Christians were slaine, that [ 35] the swords of their persecutors grew blunt, and they were so tired, that they were faine to sit down, and rest them, whilst others took their places, and yet the Martyrs were no whit discouraged; but unto the last gaspe, sang Psalmes of praise unto God. Act. & Mon.

Thomas Tomkins being imprisoned by Bonner for [ 36] the profession of the truth, the said Bonner calling for him into his Chamber, before divers Popish Do∣ctors, first cruelly beat him for his constancy, after∣wards took a wax Taper, and holding him by the fingers, held his hand directly over the flame, till the veines shrunk and the sinews burst, and the water out of them spurt into Doctor Harpsfields face as he stood by: whereupon he, moved with pity, desired the Bishop to stay, saying, he had tryed him enough. Thomas Tomkins afterwards affirmed to some of his friends, that during this cruell burning his spirit was so wrapt, that he felt no paine. Act. & Mon.

Mr. Samuel a Preacher, being convented before [ 37] Page  79 Bonner, was by him committed to prison, and there chained up to a Post, in such sort, that standing on tiptoes, he bore up all the weight of his body thereby, besides he allowed him but three morsels of bread, and three spoonfuls of water a day, whereby he was miserably tormented with hunger, and thirst, be sides his other paine, that he would have drunk his own water, but that his body was so miserably dri∣ed up, that he could not make one drop. When he was going to be burned, he told a friend, that after he had been in this misery three dayes, he fell a sleep, and one clad all in white, seemed to stand before him, telling him that after that day he should never hun∣ger, or thirst, which accordingly came to passe. Act. and Mon.

Three godly women in the Isle of Garnesey were [ 38] condemned to be burned, and though one of them was great with childe, yet had she no favour; As they were in the fire, the belly of the woman breaking with the vehemency of the flame, the Infant (being, a fair manchilde) fell into the fire, which being ta∣ken out, & carried to the Bayliffe, he commanded it to be carried back, and thrown into the fire, whereby it was both borne and died a Martyr. Act. & Mon.

Master Denly being condemned to be burned by [ 39] Bonner, as he was in the middest of the flames, sang a Psalme, whereupon Doctor Story a bloody perse∣cutor, commanded one of the tormentors to hurle a fagot at him, which hitting him on the face, made it run down with blood, which made him leave sing∣ing, and clap his hands on his face: Truly (quoth Doctor Story, to him that hurled the fagot) thou hast marred a good old song. Act. and Mon.

Edmund Tyrell with some other persecuting Papists [ 40] searching the house of father Munt, and finding him Page  80 in bed with his wife, bad them rise, for that they must go to prison: The old woman being very sick, de∣sired that her daughter might first fetch her some drink, which accordingly she did: Tyrell meeting her by the way, took the candle out of her hand, and held it crosse-wise under the back of her hand con∣tinuing it so long till her sinews crackt asunder: still saying, Why whore wilt thou not cry? After∣wards the said maid told a friend, that at first she felt some paine, but afterwards little or none at all. Act. and Mon.

Iohn Rabeck a godly man in France, being required [ 41] to pronounce Jesus Maria, and to joyne them together in one Prayer, answered, that if his tongue should but offer to utter those words at their bidding, himselfe would bite it asunder with his teeth; whereupon the mercilesse Papists cut out his tongue. Act. and Mon.

In the Massacre of Paris a godly woman being [ 42] great with childe, and having the Midwise with her, some of the bloody murthere•s came knocking at the door, requiring it to be opened in the Kings name, whereupon the great bellied woman, as ill as she was, adventured to goe down, and open it: These Tyrants presently stabbed her husband in his bed: The Mid∣wife seeing them bent to murther the woman also, earnestly intreated them to stay▪ at least, so long till the Infant (which would be the twentieth childe that God had given her) was borne; but they took this poor woman and thrust her with a dagger into the fundament to the very hilts: she finding her selfe mortally wounded, and yet desirous to bring forth her fruit, fled into a Corne-loft, whither they pursued her, giving her another stab into the bel∣ly, and then cast •er out of a window into the street, Page  81 in which fall the child came forth of her body gaping & yawning, a most woful & •ueful sight. Act. & Mon.

At the same time also one of the bloody Papists ha∣ving snatched up a little Child in his arms, the poor Babe began to play with his Beard, and to smile upon him, but this barbarous wretch was so far from compas∣sion, that he wounded it with his dagger, and so cast it all gore blood into the River. Act and Mon,

In the Massacre at •l•ise in France whilest the Pro∣testants [ 44] were cruelly handled, and murthered, in that disorder, even many of the Romane Catholiques drank with them of the same cup; whereupon both par∣ties made their complaints to the Duke of Guise in hope of redresse; whose answer was, that the King∣dom was but too full of people, and therefore his pur∣pose was to cut off as many as he could, that so all kinde of victuals might be better cheap. Act, and Mon.

At the Massacre of Paris, a Gentleman obtain∣ed [ 45] letters from the King, to murther the Protestants at Angiers also: who coming to the house of a reve∣rend, and learned Minister, one Master John Mason; and meeting his wife at the entrance, he saluted her, and kis't her: enquiring where her husband was? she said In his garden; and directed him to him, whom also he very lovingly embraced, asking him if he knew wherefore he was come to him? The King (saith he) hath commanded me to kill you presently, wherewithal he presented a Pistol to his breast: The Minister said, that he knew not wherein he had offended the King: but seeing he would have his life, he desi∣red him to give him leave to commend his soule into the hands of God: and having made a short prayer, he willingly presented his body to the murtherer, who shot him so that he presently died. Act. and Mon.

Anno Christi 1443▪ the Switzers having vanquished [ 46] Page  82 their enemies the Thuricenses in battell, banquetted in the place where they won the victory, using the dead bodies of their adversaries instead of stooles, & tables.

Cruelty complained of, Gen. 49. 7. Exod. 6. 9. Deut. 32. 33. Psal. 25. 19. & 71. 4. Prov. 12. 10. Jer. 6. 23. & 50. 42. Lam. 4. 3. Heb. 11. 36. Ps. 27. 12. & 74. 20. Ezek. 34. 4.

The evils of it, Prov. 11. 17. & 27. 4.

Scriptural examples. Adonibezek, Jud. 1. 7. Cain, Gen. 1. 8. Simeon and Levi, Gen. 342. 5. Pharaoh, Exod. 1. 16, 22. Saul, 1 Sam. 22. 18, 19. Athaliah, 1 Chron. 22. 10. Menahem, 2 King. 15. 16. Jehoram, 2 Chron. 21. 4. A∣bimelech, Jud 9. 5. Philistines, Jud. 15. 6. David, 2 Sam. 12. 31. 1 Chron. 20. 3. Hazael, 2 King. 8. 12. Manasseh, 2 King. 21. 16. Amaziah, 2 Chron. 25. 12. Nebuchadnez∣zar, 2 Chron. 36. 17. Ezek. 23. 25. Jer. 51. 34. Haman, Esther. 3. 5, 6. Medes, Is. 13. 18. Edom, Amos 1. 11. Ammon, Amos 1. 13. Moab, Amos 2. 1. Paul, Act. 9. 1. & 22. 4.

It's recorded of Julius Caesar that in his warres he [ 47] slew eleven hundred ninty and two thousand men, and at last was himself slaine by his seeming friends in the Senate-house. Plin.

Gains Caligula the fourth Emperour of Rome was [ 48] of a most bloody, and cruel disposition; he caused Tiberius, who was made coheire with him, to be mur∣thered. He caused Syllanus his wives father to mur∣ther himself: He caused divers of the Senators to be privily murthered, and then gave it out that they had murthered themselves: many other noble men he stig∣matized & then condemned them to the mettal-mines, or to mending the high-wayes, or to the wilde beasts: Some he sawed a sunder in the middest. He forced parents to be present at the torments of their children: and whereas one excused himself by reason of sick∣nesse, he sent his horse-litter for him: Another asking whether he might not wink? for that he caused him to Page  83 be slaine. Another whom he forced to be present at the torments of his children, he presently took him home with him to a feast, and forced him to be mer∣ry. When he wanted condemned persons to feed his beasts, he would cause some of the innocent spectators to have their tongues cut out, that they might not com∣plaine, and so to be throwne to the beasts. When he distasted any of the Senatours, he would suborne some to come into the Courts, and to declare them publick enemies to the State, and presently to murther them, yet was he not satisfied till he saw them torne peece∣meale, and their bowels dragged along the streets. He used to say that he commended nothing more in his na∣ture then his impudence. He would not have men pre∣sently to be killed, but used to say to his executioners, Ita percute, ut mori se sentiat: So strike, that he may feel himself to die. Being angry with the people for coming slowly to his sports, he wished, Vtinam Populus Romanus unam cervicem haberet! Would al the people of Rome had but one neck! He used to complaine of his times that they were not made famous by some great publick cala∣mity: and therefore he used to wish for the destruction of his Armies, famines, pestilence, burning, or some extraordinary gapings of the earth; & grieved for that he should be soon forgotten, because of the prosperity of all things. Having entertained the two Consuls at a great feast, suddenly he fell into a great laughter, & when they asked him mildly what he laughed at, he answered: To think that with one nod, I can presently cause you both to be murthered. When he used to kiss the necks of his wives, and concubines, he said: This fair neck assoon as I command, shall be cut off. Sueto.

Vitellius the Romane Emperour was exceeding cruel, [ 49] putting many to death contrary to all Law, & equity, seeking forgeries, and false accusations against them. Page  84 One of his friends coming to visit him, & finding him∣self not well called for some water to drink, the Empe∣rour with his own hands cast poison into it, & poisoned him. He commanded some young men to be slaine, only because they came to int•eate him to pardon their fa∣ther whom he had condemned to die. Imperial Hist.