The second part of the theatre of Gods ivdgments collected out of the writings of sundry ancient and moderne authors / by Thomas Taylor.

CHAP. II. Of Gods just Judgements inflicted upon envious persons.

ENvy is defined to be a grievance and sorrow for the thri∣ving and prosperity of others, who in his heart would kill the happinesse of his Neighbour, and before God is held no better than an Homicide, the Hebrews call it Kineah and Kanno, which is Emulation or Envy, in which we are said four wayes to offend; first, when we grieve at the good estate or fortune of another man, as fearing because of his ability, he may be also willing to endamage us or others. Secondly, when we repine at another mans felicity, because we have not what he hath, nor abound with the like abundance and riches, and this the Philosopher cales Zelus, and the first may be in some kinde held laudable, If we emulate a man for his vertues and goodnesse seeking by imitating to exceed them, but if it be for temporall goods it may be brought within the compasse of sin. The third is, when we maligne ano∣ther man, because he injoyes these temporall blessings which he doth not deserve, and such vexation, because it is concerning riches and honour, which happen both to the worthy and unworthy alike, by the Philosopher it is called Nemesis, which though Aristotle approves, yet our Christian Re∣ligion will not allow. The fourth is, when we are sad and troubled at our neighbours increase in wealth and substance, because he exceedeth us, and we are not so rich nor so well possessed as he; and this is plain Envy in her own naturall and absolute colours, and is alwayes evill, and is a mortiferous sin, because we grieve at that at which we ought to rejoyce; namely, the prosperity of our neighbour, and this the Schoolmen distinguish into three branches, mortall, veniall, capitall.

That is called mortall, when it is hatched and premeditated, nay prose∣cuted by the consent of reason, because it directly opposeth the Charity due from us to our neighbour. That which is called veniall, is an emulation bred meerly in sensuality or wantonnesse, when there was no preceding of the consent of reason: and as they are the first motions, so they are held to be idle and imperfect. The third is called capitall, because from it ari∣seth susurratio, that is, a muttering or murmuring behinde ones backe, stri∣ving to darken or ecclypse the reputation or good name of another in se∣cret. Next Detraction, when openly we scandall or revile any man to lessen his worth, or darken his glory. Then Exultation, when we triumph or re∣joyce in the disastre or distresse of our neighbour. Next Affliction, when we are grieved and discontented at his prosperity. And lastly, Od••um, or hate, by which we are not onely sadded and molested at his happinesse, but withall we insidiate his estate, or malevolently desire his ruine.

Frequent are the Texts in the holy Scripture, against this sin of Envy, and sundry examples to shew it hath been even from the beginning, and so continued through all succeeding Ages: it was betwixt the two first Brothers, for we reade Genesis 4. 5. Because God accepted Abels offering, and despised that of Cain, He was exceeding wroth, and his countenance fell down: (among

strangers) Because Isaac had flockes of sheep and heards of cattell, and a mighty houshold, Therefore the Philistims had envie at him, insomuch that they stopped and filled up with earth all the wells which his fathers servants dig∣ged in his father Abrahams time, &c. Betwixt Sisters, When Raechel saw that she bare Iaacob no children, she envyed her Sister, and said unto her husband, Give me children or I die. In Iosephs brethren, who when they saw that their father Iacob loved him more then them, they hated him, and could not speake peaceably unto him; and when he dreamed a dreame and told it his brethren, the Text saith, they hated him the more: Against which you shall reade, Levit. 19. 17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart, but thou shalt plainly rebuke thy neighbour, and suffer him not to sinne. Thou shalt not avenge, nor be mindfull of wrong against the children of thy people, but shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe: I am the Lord.

We finde in the twelfth of Numbers, that when Aaron and Miriam mur∣mured against Moses, because he had married a woman of Ethiopia, the Lord was therefore angry with them, and immediately Miriam was strook with a Leprosie white as snow. Saul envyed David, because the Virgines in their songs and dances, gave to him but the honour of killing thousands, and to David ten thousands. In Eliab the brother of David, who when he spake unto the men that stood with him, and said, What shall be done to him that killeth this Philistime, (meaning Goliah) and taketh away the shame from Israel, &c. Eliab this hearing was very angry with David, and said, Why camest thou downe hither? and with whom whom hast thou left those few sheepe in the Wildernesse? I know the pride and the malice of thine heart, that thou art come downe to see the battaile: in Sanballat and Tobias, who envyed and hindered the building of the Temple, as you may reade in Nehemiah. In the Princes and Officers of Darius, Dan. 6. 4. who sought an occasion against him concerning the Kingdome, but they could finde no fault; for he was so faithfull, that no blame could bee found in him.

Come to the New Testament, or Gospell: In the Pharisees, Mat 9. 11. who said to the Disciples of Jesus, Why eateth your Master with Publicans and Sinners? Again, Luke 19. 39. Then some of the Pharisees said unto him, Ma∣ster, rebuke thy Disciples. In the Disciples of Iohn, Mat. 9. 14. Then came the Disciples of Iohn to him, saying, Why doe we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy Disciples fast not? In the chiefe Priests and Scribes, Matth. 21. 15. Who when they saw the marvels that hee did, and the children crying in the Temple, Hosanna to the sonne of David, they disdained. In the Jewes; who when they were gathered together, and Pilat said unto them, Whether will you that I let loose unto you, Barabbas, or Iesus which is called Christ? They said Barabbas. In the brother of the Prodigall, Luke 15. 25. Now the elder brother was in the field, and when hee came neare unto the house and heard musicke and dancing, he called to one of his servants and asked what these things meant? and hee said unto him, thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fat Calfe, because he hath received him safe and sound: then hee was angry and would not goe in; therefore came his father out and intreated him, &c. In the High Priests and Pharisees, Iohn 11. 47. who gathered a Counsell and said, What shall we doe, for this man doth many miracles? if we let him thus alone, all men will beleeve in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and the Nation. Then Caiphas the High Priest

stood up and said, Ye perceive nothing at all; nor doe you consider that it is expedient for us that one man die for the people, and the rest perish not. In the Rulers, Elders, and Scribes, Acts 5. 17. Then the chiefe Priest rose up, and all that were with him (which was the sect of the Sadduces) and were full of indignation, and laid hands on the Apostles, and put them in the common pri∣son, &c. And thus you see how envy hath beene in all ages: and most fit∣ting it is that I first shew you the nature and condition of the sinne, before I come to the judgements inflicted upon it.

This Envy shooteth at others, and woundeth her selfe: Lyons are knowne by their clawes, Ravens by their feathers, Cocks by their spu••res, and envious Men by their manners; who (like Syrian dogges) barke at the starres, and spurne at what they cannot reach; and is like lightning, which in the duskiest myst, or darkest fogge, will plainliest appeare. Envy is the daughter of pride, the mother of slaughter and strage, the innovator of se∣dition, and the perpetuall tormentor of vertue: She is moreover the slime and impostume of the soule, a daily corrasive to him in whom she abideth; a venome, a poyson, a Mercury or quicksilver, which consumeth the flesh, and dryes up the bones: and of vices it is said, Envy to be the most gene∣rall, Pride the greatest, and Lust the foulest. The envyed man doth many times forget, but the envious man doth never spare to prosecute; and as griefe or paine is a disease of the body, so malice is the malady of the soule. It is a meere slave to its owne affections, and is found alwayes to waite at Vertues elbow.

Alanus de Plancta naturae with great elegancy saith thus: To the envi∣ous man anothers prosperity is his adversity, their adversity his prosperi∣ty: At their mirth they are sad, and in their sorrow they rejoyce: They imagine their owne riches to subsist in other mens poverty, and their po∣verty to be in other mens riches. The serenity of their neighbours fame they endeavour either by detraction to eclipse, or by silence to conceale. Inglorious Envy striveth to deface the glory of wisedome; then which, no monster more monstrous, no dammage more dammageous, no torment more torturous, no sinne more contagious; of blindnesse it is the abysse, the spurre to contention, the sting of corruption, the motions whereof are adversaries to humane tranquillity, of mundane temptations the instiga∣tors and inciters; of a labouring minde the vigilant enemies, and of com∣mon peace and amity the combustuous disturbers.

We reade Proverb. 17. A seditious person seeketh onely evill, and a cruell messenger shall be sent against him. He that rewardeth evill for good, evill shall not depart from his house. The froward heart findeth no good, and he that hath a naughty tongue falleth into evill. And Prov. 28. A man with a wicked or envious eye hasteth to riches, and knoweth not that poverty shall come upon him Wisdom. 1. 9. Inquisition shall be made for the thoughts of the ungodly, and the sound of the words shall come unto God for the correction of his iniquities: There∣fore beware of murmuring which profiteth nothing, and refraine thy tongue from slander; for there is no word so secret that shall goe for nought, and the mouth that speaketh lyes slayeth the soule. It is the counsell of the Wise man: Eate not the bread of him that is envious, or hath an evill eye, neither desire his d〈…〉〈…〉 meates; for (as though he thought it in his heart) bee will say, Eate and drinke, but his heart is not with thee: thou sh〈…〉〈…〉t vomit the ••arsel•• that thou hast 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and thou shalt lose thy sweet words, &c. The booke of Wisdome 〈◊〉〈◊〉 us that

through Envy of the Devill came death into the world, and they that hold of his side prove it: therefore let us be advised by Saint Peter, who in the second chapter of his first Epistle saith, Wherefore laying aside all malitious∣nesse, and all guile, and dissimulation, and envy; and evill speaking as new borne babes, desire that sincere milke of the Word, that yee may grow thereby &c. But from the discovery of the foulenesse of the sinne, I come now to shew what severall judgements have beene inflicted upon it.

And first to search forraine Histories before we come to fearefull and tragicall Examples, moderne and domestick of our owne, (that the one may the better illustrate and set off the other. I begin with that incestu∣ous brood of Thebes, the two brothers Eteocles and Polynices, whose father Oedi∣pus, ignorant of his owne naturall parents, and having first most unfortu∣nately slaine his owne father, and after retyring himselfe to Thebes, by the solution of Sphinxes riddle, married with his owne mother Iocasta (neither of them knowing their proximity in bloud) and by that match swayed the Kingdome: together with those two before-named sonnes, and two daugh∣ters, Antigone and Ismene, which he had by her. But at length having know∣ledge of that incestuous match made with his mother, he in griefe thereof with his nayles pulled out his owne eyes, and she in despaire strangled her selfe: after which the Kingdome falling to the two brothers; They first agreed to raigne monethly, and then yearely by turnes; but soone after there grew such malitious envy betwixt them, that whatsoever the one did in his regency, the other when the power came into his hands, utterly abro∣gated and disanull'd, making new lawes, to the former quite contrary; which also lasted but a moneth: for then the succeeder paid the resigner in his owne coyne. Upon this grew faction, and divers partisans on either side; some favouring the one, and some affecting the other; in the end from threatnings and braves, it came to battaile and blowes; in which the two bro∣thers encountering hand to hand, in a single duell they interchangably slew one another; whose envy in life was so irreconcilable and invererate, that it appeared after their deaths: for their two bodies being brought to be burnt in one funerall pile, the very flame was seene to divide it selfe, and burne in two parts, suting to their opposite soules and contrary conditions.

Another Example of Gods Judgements against Envy, Greece affordeth us. Perseus the sonne of Philip, King of Macedon: (but not that Philip who was father to Alexander the Great) hee had an elder brother whose name was Demetrius, a man of most approved honesty, and imitable condition; whose knowne vertues his younger brother, of a malevolent and cumbred spirit much envying, framed a most scandalous and detracting inditement against him; pretending that he had privately insidiated his fathers life and Kingdom, and sold them both unto his enemies the Romans; of which by suborned witnesses, he had made such proofe, (and bribing to that purpose) prevailed so farre, that he was convented, convicted, and condemned, and most innocently suffered the rigout of the Law, by having his head strooke off: But the King having had notice of these barbarous and injust procee∣dings, surprised with excesse of griefe, died not long after; and this mali∣cious fratricide succeeded in the Kingdome: who now having all things answerable to his own desires, thinking Macedonia too narrow a limit for his unbounded ambition; he in great presumption not onely opposed, but invaded the Roman Empire, whose envy and detraction against his brother

God thus punished: He drew him with all his puissant Army neare unto the river of Danubius; where being encountred by the Roman Consul Aemi∣lius, he and his whole hoast were cut to pieces, and utterly ruined; inso∣much, that the power of the Macedonians being utterly confounded, it be∣came after subject and tributary to the Roman Empire: and thus his defa∣matory destruction conspired against another, fell upon his owne head; and is still registred to his perpetuall shame and inflamy.

It is reported of the Roman Emperour Caligula, who was a man of infi∣nite vices, that he never spared man in his rage, not woman in his lust, to whom sisters and strangers were alike; he was so infected with this vice of envy, that in contempt of the most noble families in Rome, from the Tor∣quati hee tooke the honour of wearing golden chains; from the Cin••innats, (so called for their crisped and curled looks) he tooke their haire, and cau∣sed them to be shorne to the skull; and so of others: besides, from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pom∣pe••••s he caused the denomination of Great to be taken away; and Aesius Pro∣culeus a very beautifull young man, because hee was for feature and favour preferred before him, he caused to be murdered: for which and other like vices hee was deposed from the Imperiall purple, and put to a most base, wretched, and ignoble death.

Antoninus and Geta were the two sonnes of the Emperour Severus, be∣twixt whom he divided the Empire after his death. To Antoninus was all Europe allotted, and whole Asia was the possession and patrimony of Geta. Bizantium kept a great Garrison of Souldiers for Antoninus, and Caloedon a Citie of Bythinia was the place of strength, to which Geta trusted; besides, the two great Cities of Antioch and Alexandria were the Royall and Kingly feats for Geta, and Mauritania and Numidia for Antoninus; who was of a dangerous and divelish nature; but Geta of a very curteous and affable temperature: for which he was the more envyed by the Elder, and his at∣trocities and inhumanities as much disaffected by the younger. By which mutuall enmity those glorious victories which Sever••s atchieved, and after by concord and peace enjoyed, to the great advancement of the Empire; were now almost wholly ruined.

The Empresse their mother fore-seeing some great and eminent disaster, gave them often very matron and pious admonitions, exhorting them to unity and concord; but her indulgent and wholesome counsell nothing prevailed with them, for daily their discord, hatred, and bloudy practises increased, and the one was so jealous of the other, that they durst not eate nor drinke together for feare of poyson. In this mutuall feare they conti∣nued, till at the length Antoninus grew so sicke of his brothers generall love and welfare, that his ambition is now to be the sole possessour of the whole Empire; and therefore in the dead of night, with other of his assasinates, he violently broke open his brothers chamber, and basely murdered him, even in the sight and presence of their mother; not thinking hee was throughly dead, till he had cut the head from the body: This done, he ex∣cused the fact to the Souldiers, and with large donatives so insinuated into their favours, that never was found who so much as repined at what was done; nor was he sooner well seated in the Throne Imperiall, but he caused all the friends, well-wishers, and acquaintance of Geta to be most cruelly put to death, sparing neither degree, age, nor sex, so that not one remained alive in the Common-weale of Rome: most of the rich Senatours he cau∣sed

to be slaine, and their forfeited wealth he distributed amongst his Soul∣diers, who supported him in all his villanies; he slew his owne wife the daughter of Plantianus, and the sonne of Pertinax: and such was his hatred to Geta being dead, that he destroyed all the Praefects, Proconsuls, Gover∣nours, and Officers throughout Asia, who had by him beene promoted to honour. But after all his rapes, incests, and ryots, murders and massacres, as possest with all the horrid and abhominable vices that have any name: As his life was detestable, so was his death remarkable; being in the midst of his sinnes, without any repertance was most wretchedly slaine by his Souldiers, at the instigation of Macrinus after Emperour.

Supplantation is one of the branches of Envy, concerning which I have read an History to this purpose. A Roman Emperour in those dayes, be∣fore any Christianity was professed amongst them, living in peace and tranquillity, and no sedition or insurrection being made in any of his domi∣nions, so that the practise of Armes was quite left off, and almost forgot: This Emperour had a noble Prince to his sonne, naturally inclined to prowesse and manhood, and wholly addicted to martiall exercises. But finding no imployment at home, he had a great desire to know what mil••ta∣ry exercises were abroad: wherefore making choyce of one Gentleman to be his friend and companion, whom hee valued as a second selfe, furnisht with gold and treasure sufficient, unknowne to any, betooke themselves to sea; and after much perillous navigation they landed in Persia, at such time as the Soldan had warres with the Caliph of Aegypt. The Prince with his companion (concealing his birth and Countrey) put himselfe under the Soldans service, in which he so bravely demeaned himselfe, that he grew re∣markable through the Army, and none in all the hoast was able to compare with him in daring or doing, he so farre transcended them all: insomuch, that by his valour the Soldan had many brave victories; and having but one onely daughter, a Lady of incomparable beauty, he had a secret purpose to take an advantage to bestow her upon him, with all the Royalties of Scep∣ter, Sword, Crowne, and Dominion after his decease. In processe it so happened, that in a dreadfull battaile fought betwixt the Persians and Ae∣gyptians, the Soldan was mortally wounded in the eye with an arrow; yet his body he yet living, was safely brought to his Tent by this Roman Prince, who before his death drew out a ring of great value, and gave it unto him, saying, my onely daughter upon my paternall benediction hath vowed and sworne, that whosoever shall deliver this ring from me to her, shee will without any scruple or evasion, accept him for her husband: and this I freely bestow on thee, and with these last words he expired. Whose fune∣rall being performed, and by his death the warres ended, the Prince with this ring retires himselfe with his companion towards Grand Kayre, and by the way revealed unto his friend all that had past betwixt him and the Sol∣dan, concerning the Princesse, and withall shewed him the ring; who most perfidiously watching his opportunity in the night, whilest the Prince was fast sleeping, he stole away the ring: and poasting to the Court, presented it to the Lady, who accepting both of it and him, the false Imposter had her to wife, and was crowned King of Persia. For which affront, not able to right himselfe, his great spirit was so afflicted, that he grew into a dange∣rous and deadly feaver; yet before his death he writ a Letter, and sent it to his Father and the Senate, in which he discovered the whole passage of the

businesse as is before related, and then died: who by Embassadours infor∣ming the Queene and the State of Persia, the truth of all which was confir∣med by the dying Princes Letter. The Impostor at length confessed all, but because he had been their King, the State would not put him to death or tor∣ture, but delivered him to the Roman Embassadors to dispose of him at their pleasure: who carrying him to Rome with the body of the dead Prince, he was doomed to be shut alive into the Princes Sepulchre, where the trayte∣rous wretch most miserably finished his dayes.

A second to the like purpose wee reade in the History of the Popes: which tells us that Pope Nicholas being dead, one Celestine, a man of a sin∣cere and innocuous life and conversation, was by a common suffrage ad∣vanced to the Papacie, who bore himselfe with all humility and piety; whose godly life one of the proud Cardinals envying, and ayming to sup∣plant him, hee preferred a young kinsman of his to waite in his chamber; who growing in favour with his Holinesse, the Cardinall gave him a long trunke of brasse, through which hee whispered in the Popes eare divers times when he was slumbering, that it was Gods will, and for his soules safety, to resigne the Father-hood over to some others, and himselfe to lead a private religious life; which being often done, took in him such impression, as in a publike Consistory he told them what revelation he had from Hea∣ven: humbly desiring, that with their good love and leave he might resigne his great charge, and betake himselfe to a private and monastick life; which motion this Cardinall seconded, and by bribery and gifts (having many friends) and partisans on his side, by his voluntary resignement was elected Pope in his steed by the name of Boniface.

Who now attaining to the height of his wishes, and being feised of the tripple Diadem, was not ashamed openly to boast how fraudulently hee came to that high Ecclesiasticall honour, growing therewith more proud, haughty, and insolent, insomuch, that he pick•• a quarrell with Lewis King of France; and would have forced his personall appearance to acknowledge him for his supreame Father and Master; which because the King denyed, he excommunicated his Clergy, and interdicted his Realme, curfing him and his Subjects with Bell, Booke, and Candle: But at length the King, troubled and tyred with his so many contumacies, sent a Knight called Sir Guillam de Langaret with a troope of Souldiers, who so well awaited their opportunity, that as the Pope was riding from Avignon to one of his Castles in Provence called Poursorge, he surprised him, and brought him prisoner into France, then put him into a strong Tower, where for want of food he was forced to eate the flesh from his armes, and so died•• of whom the story gives this Character, That he estred into the Papacie like a Fox, that he ruled like a Lyon, and in the end died like a Dogge.

Nero Caesar who had all the seaven deadly sinnes predominant in him, even in his minority and first comming to the Empire, was in a high mea∣sure worthily as••••••st and branded with this horrid and abhominable vice of Envy; who when Cesar Germanicus, a Prince of great hope and expecta∣tion, on whom all the eyes of Rome were fixt, was made competitor with him in the Empite, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ligning his greatnesse and goodnesse though his neare kinsman: he with his owne hands tempered a strong and mo••••••serous poyson, and most 〈…〉〈…〉ously inviting him to a feast, in the height of all their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, he caused that deadly draught to be minist••ed unto

him: which he had no sooner tasted, but immediately he sunke from his seat, and fell downe dead at the Table; at which all the guests being start∣led and amazed; Nero the master of the feast put it off with this sleight saying onely, remove the body into some withdrawing roome, and let it be buried according to the custome of Romans: but how God revenged this and other his inhumanities, you may reade in his wretched and unlamented death, in the former Tractate expressed.

Macrinus who had murdered Antoninus the brother of Geta, attaining to the Empire, when he had raigned one yeare, his head was cut off in Cal∣cedon a Citie of Bythinia, with his sonne Diadumenus, whom in his life-time he had made competitor with him in the Empire.

Bassianus, otherwise called Heliogabalus, the sonne of Semiamira, succee∣ded in the Empire; He was first a Priest of the sunne, and after by meanes of his grandmother Mesa (a rich and potent woman) was made Emperour; who though a young man of an extraordinary aspect and feature, able to at∣tract the loves and affections of all men, yet was he inwardly infected with the contagion of all the vices that could be named: Insomuch, that in all his actions he rather appeared a monster then a man, so that hee grew not onely despised, but hatefull to the people. Which the wise Lady Mesa see∣ing, and fearing his fall, and in his, her owne ruine; as farre as she could she excused his grossest crimes, laying the fault upon the tendernesse of his youth; and wrought so, that by his consent Alexianus who was the sonne of Mammea, her daughter was admitted companion with him in the Em∣pire, which Alexianus after called Alexander Severus, was a wise and pru∣dent Prince, whose vertue had gained him the generall love of the Senate and people; for which Heliogabalus so envied him (for vice and vertue are still in opposition) that he made many attempts to poyson him, which by the care of Mesa and Mammea, were prevented. But how was this envy pu∣nished? The people seised upon Heliogabalus, with his mother Semiamira, and dragging their bodies through the chiefe streets of Rome, having after torne them piece-meale; would not affoord them the honour of buriall, but cast their quarters into the common jakes, that stood upon the river Tiber.

Neither have women beene free from this rankorous sinne of Envy, as appeareth by the story following; and shall be made more apparant here∣after. This Prince Alexander Severus afore-named, all the time that his grandmother Mesa lived, who suffered none but grave and wise men to be about him; (insomuch that no Emperour before or after him could be said to exceed him in all these attributes that belong to an Imperiall Monarch) was both beloved and feared: But she being dead, his mother Mammea grew to that height of pride, covetousnesse, and envy, that his indulgent suf∣ferance of her ambition was a great, and the sole blemish of his government, who comming to maturity, and the Empire now setled in his owne hands, he tooke to wife a daughter of one of the most noblest Senators of Rome, which was also by his mothers consent: but when this Lady came to take upon her the state of an Empresse, Mammea, who challenged that title solely to her selfe, malitiously envying her estate; wrought so, that first the fa∣ther of the new Empresse was put to death: and so terrible was her com∣mandement, and her Majestie so much dreaded, that she banished both from the Court and the bed of the Emperour the innocent Empresse, unto the

uttermost coasts of Africa. Thus was Alexander out of a milde and gentle nature, swayed and over-ruled by his mother, which was the occasion of both their ruines: for Maximi••us a Thracian, borne of base parentage, his father being a shepheard, and preferred by Alexander to eminent place in the warres; taking the advantage of the murmuring of the people and soul∣diers, and the covetousnesse and envy of the mother, most treacherously conspired against his Lord and Master, the same barbarously and cruelly flew them both, and by their death aspired unto the Imperiall purple.

The French Chronicles speake of one Prince Cranne, the sonne of Clo∣tharius, who having raigned forty five yeares at Soissons, now called the Bel∣gick Gant, upon the decease of his elder brother Childebert, who died with∣out issue male, was proclaimed the seventh King of France. This Cranne (on whom that may be truly construed of the Poet,

Filius ante diem patrios inquirit in annos,)

was sicke of his fathers life, envying and grieving that he kept him so long from the Crowne: but wanting meanes to make him away privately by poyson, or the like, because his servants about him were faithfull, and not to be corrupted; he therefore opposed him by publike hostility, incensing his Unkle Childebert against him, who supported him in all his insolencies against his father. But Childebert being dead, and he now wanting his great support, was forc't to mediate his peace with his father, who upon his sub∣mission tooke him to grace, and gave him his free pardon: But his former heart burning envy still boyling in his breast, he fell into a second rebelli∣on; yet finding the successe of his bad attempts to grow still worse and worse, as his last refuge, hee fled to the Prince or Duke of the Brittons, (whom some call Conobee, others Canubo,) who undertooke to secure him from the pursute of his father: Whereupon Clotharius with his Army in∣vaded that Countrey, and joyned battaile with the Prince and his sonne, in which the Brittons lost the day; their Army was routed, the Prince slaine and Cranne taken prisoner, of whom his father having seised, hee caused him to be shut up in an house, and with his wife and children to be burnt to death; a just judgement from heaven, but a cruell sentence from a fa∣ther; who that very day twelve-moneth after died, being the one and fifty∣eth yeare of his raigne.

I come now to our Moderne Histories. Ferrex and Porrex joyntly suc∣ceeded their father Gorboduc in the governement of this Land of Brittaine, in the yeare of the World foure thousand seaven hundred and eleven; and continued in love and amity for a season: but in the end, Envy the mo∣ther of all misorder and mischiefe so farre prevailed with them, that the one began to maligne the others estate; insomuch, that they both studied and devised to supplant each other, thereby to gaine the entire supremacy, which first brake out in Porrex, who gathering an Army unknowne to his brother, thought suddenly to surprise and kill him: of which he having no∣tice, and yet not able for the present to provide for opposition, he was forced to fly into France; where craving ayde, he was supplyed with a sufficient Hoast of Galls: with which, landing in England, he gave his brother Porrex battaile, defeated his Army, and slew him in the field: Ferrex proud of his vi∣ctory retyred himself to his Tent, whither his mother Midan came by night, with some of her women; and being freely admitted to the place where he lay sleeping, she with the rest most cruelly murdered him, and after cut his

body into small pieces, causing them to be scattered in the field: and in these two brothers ended the line of Brute. Thus you see a most dreadfull judge∣ment against Envy, as well in the vanquisht as the victor; but the greatest in the last: to be so cruelly murdered, rather by a monster then a mother.

Morindus was the bastard sonne of Flavius King of Brittaine, by his Con∣cubine Fanguestela; and was inaugurated in the yeare of the World one thousand eight hundred fourescore and ten, and made Governour of the Land: The Chronicle reports him to have beene of a comely and beauti∣full personage, of liberall gifts, having an active body, and a most daring spirit, and strength withall above any Peere or Subject in the Land; but as a grievous staine and blemish to all these good parts and endowments, hee was of an envious condition, and cruell disposition, for he grew jealous of all such as either were great in wealth, or gracious in the Court for any no∣ble vertue: for the first, hee had a way to confiscate their estate; and the latter he so suppressed, that they never came into favour, or grew to prefer∣ment: being further so subject to wrath, that whosoever crost or vexed him, he would suddenly slay with his owne hands. Afterward his Land being invaded by a Prince of Mauritania, he met him in battaile, and chased him to the Sea, taking many prisoners: whom, to satisfie this cruelty and tyranny, he caused to be put to death in his presence and sight, with seve∣rall sorts of torments; by heading, killing, hanging, burning, drowning, and other kindes of execution: but at the length (as testifieth Guido de Co∣lumna and others) this Morindus whom our English Chronicles call Mor∣with, walking by the Sea side, and spying a dreadfull monster upon the shore, he out of his bold and Kingly prowesse, assaying to kill the beast, af∣ter a long fight was devoured and swallowed by the monster, when he had eight yeares governed the Land; which was a most strange and remarkable Judgement.

Envy and dissension was the first bondaging of this our free and noble Nation, in becomming tributary to the Romans: King Lud of famous me∣mory being dead, during the minority of his two sonnes, Androgeus and Tenantius; Cassibelan the brother to Lud was made King in the yeare of the World, five thousand one hundred forty two, who was a Prince, noble, bountifull, just, and valorous: when the young Princes came to yeares of discretion, hee gave to Androgeus the elder the Citie of London, with the Earledome of Kent; and to Tenantius the younger, the Dukedome of Corne∣wall. In this season Iulius Caesar being in the warres of France, and behol∣ding the white cliffes and rocks by Dover, demanded of the Gauls whether it were inhabited or no? or by whom? being satisfied of his demand, hee first exhorted the Brittaines by writing, to pay tribute to the Romans: to whom Cassibelan returned a short and sharpe answer; with which Caesar much incensed, makes ready his Navy and people: but when they should have landed, they found long and sharpe stakes pitcht by the Brittons, which put them to great trouble and danger; yet at length gaining the shore, Cassibelan with a strong Army of Brittans gave them battaile, and beat them to their shippes.

Notwithstanding, Caesar soone after made a second Invasion, with a grea∣ter power, and had the like brave repulse, to his great dishonour. For which double victory Cassibelan having first given great thankes to the gods, assembled his Lords and Peeres to feast them; and held sundry triumphs

and sports: amongst which, two young Knights, one Nephew to the King, called Herilda; and the other Euelinus, allyed to Androgeus; made a chal∣lenge for wrastling: in the performing of which exercise they grew to words, and from words to blowes, so that parties were made, and in this tumult Herilda was slaine; whose death the King tooke heinously, and sent to his Nephew Androgeus, that Euelinus might be delivered up, to know how he could acquit himselfe of the murder; which Androgeus denying, the King gave him to understand, that it was in his power to chastise his presumption; which the other fearing, sent to Iulius Caesar, not onely let∣ters, but thirty hostages, (to assure him of his fidelity) that if hee would make a third attempt for Brittaine, he would ayde him with a puissant Ar∣my: of which Caesar gladly accepting, with a strong hoast landed, and en∣camped himselfe neare unto Canterbury; of which when Cassibelan had no∣tice, he marched towards him, and betwixt them was fought a strong and bloudy battaile, where many were slaine on either side, and the day likely to incline to the Brittons, when on the sudden Androgeus came in with fresh forces, by which the wearied Souldiers were compelled to forsake the field, and gave place to the Romans, who slew them without mercy; so that Cassi∣belan, with those few that were left, retired himselfe to places of safety. Whose valour Caesar admiring, would not prosecute his victory any fur∣ther for the present, but offered him peace, conditionally that he should pay a yearely tribute of three thousand pounds to the Romans; which con∣ditions Cassibelan accepted, and still continued King; and Androgeus who had so basely betrayed his Countrey, not daring to trust his owne Nation, whom in so high a nature he had injured, abandoned the Realme, and went with Caesar. Now if any shall aske me where were Gods dreadfull Judge∣ments in all this? I answer, what greater, then for a free Nation to lose their immunities, and become tributary and vassals to strangers; from which they were not freed many hundred yeares after.

Long after this Constantine was made King, and left three sonnes behinde him: Constantine the eldest (because he was of a very milde and gentle tem∣per, and no way addicted to any martiall exercise) hee put into a religious house, called Saint Swithens Abbey, and made him a Monke: his two other sonnes were Aurelius Ambrosius, and Vter, sirnamed Pendragon. But Constantine the father being trayterously murdered, one Vortiger, who then was the most potent Peere in the Land; tooke Constantine the el∣dest sonne out of the Monastery, and made him King onely in name, for he himselfe swayed the government of the Kingdome, with all the pow∣er that belonged to a Crowne and Scepter. Yet not with that contented, he envied the state of the innocent King; and though he had all the power, yet he could not content himselfe without the title; and therefore placed a guard of an hundred Picts and Scots about the Kings person, and having in∣grossed into his hands the greatest part of the Kings Treasury, hee was so bountifull to those strangers, that they feared not to say openly that be bet∣ter deserved to be King then Constantine; and waiting their best advantage∣ous opportunity, murdered him: Whose head being presented to Vorti∣ger, then at London, he made much seeming sorrow for his death; and to ac∣quit himselfe of the act, caused all those hundred Knights to be beheaded: by which the people holding him innocent, crowned him King, when the other had raigned about five yeares: and this his coronation caused those that had the keeping of the two younger brothers, Aurelius and Vter, to flie

with them into little Brittain, where they remained long after: but as a just reward of this trayterous supplantation, hee was never after in any peace or quietnesse, his Land being alwayes in combustion and trouble; his Peeres sus∣pecting him of the death of the King, made insurrection against him; inso∣much that he was forced to sollicite aide of the Saxons: who though they hel∣ped him for the present; after, of his friends they grew to be his enemies, and were too mighty for him: so that when he had raigned in great molestation and trouble sixteen years, the Brittaines deprived him of all Kingly dignity, and crowned his eldest sonne Vor••imerus in his stead. Who when he had in many battailes overcome the Saxons, and had almost quite expulsed them the Land, he was poysoned by his stepmother R••waine, when he had glori∣ously and victoriously seaven yeares governed the Land, and his father Vor∣timer was againe made King, who was after twice taking prisoner by Hengest King of the Saxons, and his Peeres and Nobles cruelly butchered in his pre∣sence. At length the two younger brothers of Constantine invaded the Land, being aided by the distressed Brittains, and pursued him into Wales, where hee and divers of his complices fortified themselves in a strong Castle; which Castle the two brothers with their Army besieged, and after many vaine assaults, (it being valiantly defended) with wilde-fire they burned and consumed the Fort, together with Vortiger, and all his souldiers and ser∣vants.

Worthy it is to observe by how many severall kinde of Judgements this sinne of Envy hath beene punisht, as in the former examples is made ap∣parant: namely, by the single sword, by battaile, by poysoning, strangling, heading, torturing, by murdering and cutting to pieces, by being swallowed up of monsters; the living to be buried with the dead, by famishing in pri∣son, by being torne piece-meale, and the bleeding limbes cast into common privies: some burnt with ordinary fire, others with wilde-fire; the bro∣ther murdering the brother, and the mother the sonne; the bondage and vassalling of Nations, &c. which sinne, though for the commonnesse and familiarity it hath amongst us, is scarce minded, or thought upon; (because many who are envious may so hide it, that they may appeare honest with∣all;) yet is this hypocrisie no excuse, for you see how hatefull it is in the eyes of the Creator, by so many visible punishments thereof. But I proceed.

After many dreadfull battailes fought (and not without great effusion of bloud) betwixt Edmund, sirnamed for his strength and valour Iron-side, the sonne of Ethelstane, and Canutus the sonne of Swanus, during this warre be∣twixt those martiall Princes, to the great desolation of the Realme, and mor∣tality of the people; It was agreed betwixt the two Generals to conclude the difference in a single duell: The place where this should be performed was in an Ile called Olney, neare unto Glocester, incompast with the water of the Severne: In which place at the day appointed both the Champions met, without any company or assistance; and both the hoasts stood as spe∣ctators without the Isle, there awaiting the fortune of the battaile: where the Princes first proved one another with sharpe speares, and they being broken, with keene cutting swords; where after a long fierce combate, both being almost tyred, by giving and receiving of hard and ponderous blowes, at length (the first motion comming from Canutus) they began to parle; and lastly to accord, friendly kissing and embracing each other: and soone after, by the advise of both their Counsels, they made an equall partition of

the Land betwixt them; and during their naturall lives lived together, and loved as brothers. But there was one E••ri••us Duke of Mercia, of whom my Author gives this character: A man of base and low birth, but raised by favour to wealth and honour; subtile of wi••, but false of turning; eloquent of speech, but perfidious both in thought and promise; who in all his acti∣ons complyed with the Danes, to the dammage of his owne Countrey men; and yet with smooth language, protestations, and false oathes, could fashi∣on his excuse at his pleasure. This false Traytor, in whose heart the serpent of envy and base conspiracy ever burned, ••t length breaking out into flame against his owne Prince Iron-side, (for what cause is not knowne) and think∣ing to get the grace and favour of Canutus, he so awaited his opportunity, that hee most treacherously slew his King and Master Iron-side. Which done, thinking thereby to be greatly exalted, he poasted in all haste to Ca∣nutus, shewing him what he had done for his love; and saluted him by the stile of sole King of England: which, when the Prince of Danes had well understood, and pondering what from his owne mouth he had confest, like a just and wise Prince, he answered him after this manner; Since Ed••••c••s thou hast (for the love thou sayest thou bearest unto me) slaine thy naturall Lord and King, whom I most loved, I shall in requitall exalt thy head above all the Lords (thy fellow Peeres) of England, and forthwith commanded him to be taken, and his head to be strook off and pitcht upon a speares head, and set upon the highest gate of London: a just judgement inflicted upon Envy, which hath alwayes beene the hatcher of most ab••ominable treason.

Unparalleld was that piece of Envy in Fostius, one of the sonnes of Earle Goodwin, and brother to Harold, after King; hee in the two and twentieth yeare of the raigne of Edward the Confessor, upon some discontent betwixt him and his brother Harold, came with a company of Ruffins and rude Pel∣lowes, and rid downe to Hereford in the marches of Wales, where at that time his brothers servants were very busie to make provision for the enter∣tainment of the King, invited thither by Harold: who, when he was thither come, most cruelly and inhumanely he fell upon the innocent servants, and ••lew them all; and after, cut them into pieces and gobbets, which he put into sowce and salt, pickling and powdering their limbes; and afterward sent messengers to the King and his brother, to give them to understand, that if they brought fresh meate along with them, hee had provided them of powdered meate, as much as they could desire. Which barbarous act being bruited abroad, it made him so hatefull to all men, that his owne tenants and people, (men of Northumberland) the Province of which he was then Lord, rose up in Armes against him, seising all the Lands and Goods of which he was possest; and chased him into Flanders, with no more then one or two servants to attend him; where he remained with his wife and children, du∣ring the Kings life. But when his brother Harold (after the decease of K. Ed∣ward) had usurped the Crowne, Fostius envying his brothers Soveraignty, having purchased to himselfe a Navy of threescore small ships, sailed about the Isle of Wight, and the coast of Kent, where hee robbed and tooke preyes, and from thence went into Lindsee, where hee did much harme by fire and sword; but was chased thence by Edwin and Malearus, the Earles of Mercia and Northumberland: Then he sayled into Scotland, where he stayed till the Summer after. And when Harold Harfager the sonne of

Canutus, King of Denmarke and Norway, invaded the Realme, Fostius took part with him against his brother Harold, and in a dreadfull battaile fought neare Stemisford Bridge; he with all his complices and adherents were mi∣serably cut to pieces: A just Judgement suting with his former envy, butchery, and tyranny.

But leaving many Histories and Examples with strange inflictions im∣posed upon this sinne. I come to the later times, as low as to the raigne of Edward the sixt: over whom, by his fathers last Will, for the time of his minority, his two Unkles the brothers Seymors being made chiefe Guardi∣ans; it happened that the two great Dukes of Northumberland and Suf∣folke, Dudley and Gray, much murmured and maligned that they should beare such sway in the Kingdome: The one being Lord Protector, the o∣ther Lord high Admirall; one having great power by Land, the other by Sea, by which their glories seemed to be much ecclipsed: and finding no way how to supplant them by their servants, they took a newer course, and practised it by their wives, to draw their ruines out of their owne bosomes; and thus it happened.

Sir Thomas Seymor the younger brother being Admirall, and having married King Henries Queene Dowager, (whose good fortune it was of all the rest to survive her husband) she was suggested to contest with her sister in law, for priority in place, to which the other (for both were privately incouraged by the two Dukes) would no way assent: the one claiming pre∣cedence as she had beene Queene, the other challenging it as she was now the Protectors wife. The wives set their husbands at oddes by taking their parts; insomuch, that there grew envy and heart-burning betwixt them, so that in the third yeare of the young King, the Admirall was questioned a∣bout his Office; and by the consent of his brother, condemned in Parlia∣ment to have his head strooke off, the Protector with his owne hand signing the Warrant for his death.

The one brother being thus removed, there was now the lesse difficulty to supplant the other: for in the same moneth of February in which his brother lost his head, was the Protector by the Lords of the Counsell com∣mitted to the Tower; but about a yeare after, by intercession of the King, and his submission to the Lords of the Counsell, upon the sixt of February he was released and set at liberty: yet this proved but a lightning before a clap of thunder. For the two Dukes, his great and potent adversaries, still prosecuted their malice; insomuch, that not long after, calling him to a se∣cond account, when he had nobly acquitted himselfe of all Treasons what∣soever, that could be alleadged against him; He was in a tryall at Guild-Hall (not having a Jewry of his Peeres) convicted of Felony; and in the first yeare of the King, upon the two and twentieth day of Ianuary the great Duke of Sommerset (the Kings Unkle and Lord Protector) was beheaded upon the Tower Hill. But this envy in the two Dukes escaped not without Gods heavy Judgements; for after the Kings death Northumberland having a large commission from the Lords, signed with the great Seale of England, to raise an Army to suppresse the Lady Mary: afterward repenting there∣of, sent a countermand after him, and when he thought himselfe in most security, the Nobility forsaking him, and the Commons abandoning him, hee with his sonnes and some few servants in Cambridge were left alone; where notwithstanding in the open Market-place he proclaimed the Lady

Mary Queene; yet in Kings Colledge he was arrested of high Treason, and thence brought to the Tower of London, and on a scaffold upon the Hill, the twelfth day of August next following, lost his head.

The Duke of Suffolke being likewise proclaimed Traytor, had a servant called Vnderwood, whom he had raised to a faire estate, and therefore to his trust he committed his person; who for some moneths concealed him in an hollow tree, and morning and evening brought him his food; with millions of oaths engaged for his truth and fidelity: but being corrupted with a small quantity of gold, and some large promises, he betrayed him, and delivered him up to the noble Earle of Huntington, under whose conduct the Duke with a strong guard of speare-men, was conveyed through London to the Tower, and the seaventh day after his surprisall he was arraigned and con∣victed of Treason in the great Hall at Westminster; and upon the twenty fourth day on the Tower Hill beheaded.

In this relation it is worthy to be observed in those two great Dukes of Sommerset and Northumberland, that though the whole Kingdome could scarce satiate their ambitions, yet now a small piece of earth contents them: for they lie buried together before the Altar in Saint Peters Church in the Tower betwixt two Queenes, the wives of King Henry the eight, Queene Anne and Queene Katharine, they being also both beheaded.

Notes

• Examples in the Gospell.
• One brother murdereth the other.
• The History of a Roman Prince.
• The Soldans great love to the Prince.
• Envy in Wo∣men.
• Murder the fruits of Envy.
• A just Judge∣ment upon an envious Tray∣tour.
• Envy pursued by many dis∣asters.