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Evils of Warre.
GReater than all these calamities, is that of Warre, which of the three Scourges of God, wherewith he uses to chastise Kingdomes, is the most terrible, as well because it is comonly followed by the other two, as for that it brings along with it greater punishments, and, which is worse, greater sins, whereof plagues
are free, in which all endeavour to be reconciled with God, and even those who are in health dispose them∣selves for death. The Pestilence is sent by God, who is all goodness and mercy, not passing through the hands of men, as warres doe. Wherefore David held it for a mercy that his people suffered pestilence and not warre, because he judged it better to fall into the hands of God then men. Famine also, although it brings with it some sins, yet it lessens others; though it be accom∣panied with many thefts, yet it sutes not so much with pride and vanitie; neither doeth it permit so many sorts of vices as are occasioned by Warre. To repre∣sent the calamities of Warre, it shall be sufficient to instance in some of those which have been inflicted upon Germany in our own times in these late Warres. A book whereof was set forth in another Countrey: whose Argument or Title I repeat not, (it is known) but it could not give an account of all. I shall onely pick out some few of them, setting apart those places, which were dispeopled and burnt, whereof there were 2000 Towns onely in the Dukedome of Bavaria. The cruelties, which the conquering Souldiers inflicted up∣on the poor people, onely to discover where their wealth lay, are such as were never heard of. One of their torments was, to tye a peece of match about their foreheads, and with a stick so to straighten and screw their temples, that the blood would often burst forth, and sometimes the very eyes and brains would start forth of their broken sculls. Others they left upon the floors of their houses, or stretcht out upon a table bound hand and foot, and so exposed them to be eat∣en by hungry Dogs and Cats; and it often happened that the starved Cats would tear their bellies, and feed upon their tripes and entrails. Others they hung up by the hands some distance from the ground, and kind∣led a fire under them: Unto others they chopt off their noses and ears with Chisels, and wore them in their hatbands, holding it for a great gallantry, and
him for the bravest man, who was the cruellest beast. Unto others they poured water into their mouthes by a Tunnel, until they had fill'd their bodies like a Tun, and then sat or stamped upon their bellies, until they made the water gush out at their mouthes and no∣strils: Others they tied unto a post, and flead them a∣live like a St. Bartholmew. From some they pluckt out gobbets of flesh with pincers; others they quartered and tore in pieces alive. They forced divers women, and after cut off their armes. Many were so barbarous as to eat Children; and one was known to take a small Infant, and holding it by one leg with his left hand to tear it in sunder with his right, and so to eat and suck the blood of it. The Prisoners which they took they bound not their hands, but made holes through their arms, and putting cords through them, dragged them after their horses. The bodies of men, after that they had drawn out their guts and entrails, served as Mangers wherein to feed their horses. They robbed all, killed and burned men in their houses; and some grave Magistrates, whose lives they spared, were made to serve and wait bare-headed at Table up∣on the meanest Souldiers. Many, that they might not see and suffer those miseries, poisoned themselves; and divers Maids, flying from the Souldiers lust, cast themselves headlong into rivers and were drowned. To these miseries of Warre were added Pestilence and Famine. Those who fled from the Enemy died of the Plague or hunger in the open fields: and there was none to bury them, but dogs and ravenous birds which eat them. Neither had those who died in houses a more honourable Sepulcher, but were likewise devour∣ed by rats and vermin, who were grown so bold, as sometime, if they were but one or two in a house, to eat them whilest they lived, their weakness being such as they were not able to defend themselves. But the men in many places, were revenged of this affront, and eat the rats, of which there were publick Sham∣bles,
where they were sold at high prices. Those Ci∣ties were esteemed happy which had such dainties to sell; in other places nothing was to be had, but what every one provided by his own diligence. They often went together by the ears about a Rat, and cut one another in pieces in the quarrel: and happy was he that got a quarter of such loathsome vermin. Horse-flesh was a great dainty, and they esteemed themselves very fortunate, who knew where to light on a dead Pack-horse. Certain women found a dead Wolf all pu∣trified and full of worms, and fed upon it as savourly, as if it had been a Kid. The bodies of Malefactors who hung upon Gibbets were not secure, nor did the dead escape that were buried in their Graves; both were stollen in the night to sustain the living. Neither were they free from this danger who were alive; for two women were known to kill a third and eat her. After such fresh examples it will not need to call to memory the calamities of former Warres. What is said is sufficient to express the miseries, which are in∣cident to humane life.