The wonders of the little world, or, A general history of man in six books : wherein by many thousands of examples is shewed what man hath been from the first ages of the world to these times, in respect of his body, senses, passions, affections, his virtues and perfections, his vices and defects, his quality, vocation and profession, and many other particulars not reducible to any of the former heads : collected from the writings of the most approved historians, philosophers, physicians, philologists and others / by Nath. Wanley ...

CHAP. XII. Of the great and grievous Oppressions, and unmercifulness of some men, and their punishments.

IN Scotland, in a place called Kile, there is a Rock about twelve foot high and as much in breadth: It is called the Deaf Craig, for though a man call never so loud, or shoot off a Gun on the one side, yet his fellow on the other side cannot hear the noise. Oppressours may be resembled to this stone, their hearts are as hard, and their ears are as deaf to the cryes of the poor; they are so too to the denunciation of the just judgements of God against them, otherwise so many of them had not come to the like la∣mentable ends.

1. Iohn Cameron was Bishop of Glasgow, a man given to violence and oppression, who commit∣ting many deeds full of cruelty and covetousness, especially upon his own Tenants and Vassals, made as the fame goeth, a fearful and unhappy end: For in the year 1446. the night before Christmas-day as he lay asleep in his house of Lockwood some seven miles from the City of Glas∣gow, he seemed to hear a voice summoning him to appear before the Tribunal of Christ, and give an account of his doings; thereupon he awaked, and being greatly terrified, did call his servants to bring lights and sit by him; he him∣self took a book in his hand and began to read, but the voice being again heard, struck all the servants with amazement; the same voice calling the third time far lowder and more fearfully, the Bishop after a heavy groan was found dead in the bed, his tongue hanging out of his mouth: this reported by Buchanan almost in the same words, I thought good to remember, as a nota∣ble example of Gods judgement against the cry∣ing sin of Oppression.

2. The magnificent Mosque or Temple in Cairo of Egypt was thus built. Assan Bassa, a man of a crafty and covetous disposition, desiring to gain himself a name in the world, by some famous structure which yet should be of little expences to himself; took this course: He caused it to be

proclaimed all abroad that his purpose was to build a Glorious Temple to the Honour of God; and that he might have the more happy success in this enterprise of his, he was determined to bestow a liberal Almes upon all comers of what place or country soever; appointing at the same time both the day and place for the distribution of this his largess. The fame of this brought an innumerable company of people, not only from all the parts of Egypt, but also from other King∣doms to Cairo. Assan against their coming had provided a mighty number of Shirts and Coats; now as many as came to partake of his bounty, he caused to be received in a large and ample Court, which one by one (and no otherwise) were ordered to pass from thence by several lit∣tle doors into another Court of equal extent; in their passage every man was stript of his own Cloaths, and instead of them forced to receive a Shirt and Coat of his providing. The subtilty of the business was this, that whatsoever so ma∣ny thousands of persons had brought along with them to defray their expences, might be deposi∣ted in one certain place appointed by himself; for he well knew the manner of men in those Countrys, was to sow up in their Shirts or Caps, all the mony they carried with them. At last a doleful and lamentable cry arose amongst the spoiled people, imploring Assan to restore them their own cloaths: he deriding at once both their clamours and tears, caused all their garments to be cast into a mighty fire pre∣pared for the purpose; from whence after they were burnt, was taken up such a quantity of Silver and Gold, as sufficed to begin and finish that noble structure he had resolved upon. But observe after what manner the insolent oppressi∣on of this man was punished. The Turkish Em∣perour being informed of the wickedness of As∣san, sent Ibraim Bassa with his letters to him, wrapt up (as the manner is) in black silk: the tenour of which was this: Assoon as this our Messenger is come to thee, our will and pleasure is, that thou send us by him thy head unto Con∣stantinople. In vain was it to dispute the com∣mand of his Lord, and thus the miserble man pe∣rished.

3. William the Conquerour for his game, and the pleasure he took in hunting, enforested thir∣ty miles in Hamshire, pulled down thirty six Pa∣rish Churches, and dispeopled all the place, cha∣sing the inhabitants from the places of their inhe∣ritance. But the just hand of God was visible and remarkable upon his posterity, for this his grievous oppression: for in this very New Forest, his two Sons, Richard by a pestilent air, and King William Rufus by the shot of an Arrow, and his Grandson Henry, son of Duke Robert by hanging in a bough, as Absolom, came to their untimely ends.

4. Anno Dom. 1570. at Ry•• in Sussex, there was a strange example of Gods judgements upon a covetous oppressive Gentleman, and one that desired to grind the faces of the Poor. This Gentleman living near the Sea, had a Marsh, wherein upon poles Fishermen used to dry their Nets; for which he received of them yearly a sufficient sum of money: but at length not being content with it, he caused his servants to pluck up the poles, not suffering the Fishermen to come upon his ground any longer, except they would compound at a larger rate; but it came to pass the same night, that the Sea breaking in, over∣whelmed all his Marsh; which saith Hollinshead continueth in that manner to this very day.

5. Lucullus the Roman Consul visiting the Ci∣ties of Asia, found the poor country afflict∣ed, and oppressed with so many evils and mise∣ries, as no man living could believe, nor tongue express: for the extream and horrible covetous∣ness of the Farmers, Customers and Roman Usu∣rers did not only devour it, but kept the people also in such miserable bondage and thraldome; that Fathers were forced to sell their goodly Sons, and Daughters ready for marriage, to pay the interest and use money, of that which they had borrowed to pay their fines withall; yea they were forced to sell the Tables dedicated to the Temples, the statues of their gods, and other Ornaments and Jewels of their Temples; and yet in the end they themselves were adjudged for bondslaves to their cruel Creditors, to wear out their dayes in miserable servitude. And yet the worst of all was the pain and torment they put them to before they were so condemned; for some they imprisoned and cruelly racked, others they tormented upon a little brazen Horse, set them in the Stocks, made them stand naked in the greatest heat of Summer, and on the Ice in the deepest of Winter; so that bondage seemed to them a relief of their miseries, and a rest from their torments. Lucullus found the Cities of Asia full of such oppressions, whereof in a short time he exceedingly eased them.

6. King Iohn of England was a great oppres∣sour: on a time a Jew refusing to lend this King so much mony as he required, the King caused every day one of his great teeth to be pulled out by the space of seven dayes, and then the poor Jew was content to give the King ten thousand marks of silver, that the one tooth which he had left might not be pulled out. The same King assaulting the chastity of the Daughter of Robert Fitzwater called Mawd the fair, and by her repulsed, he is said to send a messenger to give her poyson in a poached Egg, whereof she died: not long after, he himself had but little better fate, being poysoned at Swinestead Abbey.

7. Luther reports that he being at Rome a great Cardinal died, and left behind him great store of mony. Before his death he had made his Will, and laid it in a Chest where his mony was. After his death the Chest was opened, and there∣in by the mony was found written in Parchment,

Dum potui rapui, rapiatis quando potestis.

I scrap'd together while I could, That you should do so too, I would.

8. Five Brethren of the Marshalls successively Earles of Pembrook dyed issueless. Which Ma∣thew Paris attributeth to the judgement of God upon them, for their Fathers iniquity, who de∣tained from the Bishop of Firning certain Ma∣nours which he had violently taken from him.

9. Lewis the eleventh, King of France, having been a great oppressour of his Subjects by ex∣cessive Taxes, and enforced Contributions; when he grew old resolved to redress that and other mischiefs, whereby they had been oppressed; but was in a short time after this purpose pre∣vented by death.

10. Anno Dom. 1234. in the reign of King Henry the third, there was a great dearth in

England, so that many people died for want of victuals. At which time Walter Grey Arch-bi∣shop of York, had great store of Corn, which he had hoarded up for five years together; yet in that time of scarcity refused to relieve the poor with it; but suspecting lest it might be destroyed with Vermine, he commanded it to be delivered to Husband-men, that dwelt in his Mannors, upon condition to return him as much New Corn after Harvest: but behold a terrible judgement of God upon him for his covetous∣ness and unmercifulness to the poor. When men came to one of his great Stacks of Corn near to the Town of Rippon, there appeared in the sheaves all over, the heads of Worms, Serpents and Toads; so that the Bayliffs were forced to build a high wall round about the Stack of Corn, and then to set it on fire, lest the venemous crea∣tures should have gone out, and poysoned the Corn in other places.

Notes

• Spots. hist. Char. of Scotl. l. 2. p. 114. Clarks mir. c. 33. p. 115.
• Drex. Eter. prod. c. 1. §. 27. p. 40.
• Speeds hist. p. 13.
• Clarks mir. c. 33. p. 114.
• Plut. in vi∣tâ Luculli. p. Clarks mir. c. 15. p. 583 59.
• Baker. chro. p. 101, •• 106.
• Luth. coll••. Mensal. p. 82.
• Speeds hist. p. 539.
• Trenchfeld hist. impro∣ved p. 64.
• Clarks mir. c. 33. p. 117. Stowes c••r.