A treatise of the difference bbtwixt [sic] the temporal and eternal composed in Spanish by Eusebius Nieremberg ... ; translated into English by Sir Vivian Mullineaux, Knight ; and since reviewed according to the tenth and last Spanish edition.

§ 2.

Unto all those pains shall be joyned that of Talion, which is, To pay with proportion so much for so much, which also shall not be wanting in Hell. And there∣fore it is said in the Ayocalyps, By how much she glori∣fied

her self, and lived in delights, Give her so much of torment. There shall the delicious person be afflicted, he, who contemned others, be despised, and the proud trampled under foot: it being most convenient for the Divine Justice, that the damned in hell should be punished in the same manner, wherein they have here offended; as may appear by this example rehearsed by Henry Gran. A young Damsel,* 1.1 as to outward ap∣pearance, given to Prayer, Fastings, Watchings and Penance, and for this reason esteemed by all for a Saint, She fell dangerously sick, and having made her confession died. Within a short time after she ap∣peared to her Confessarius in a black and fearful shape. The priest not knowing her, demanded Who she was. I am, quoth she, that one, that was held by all for a Saint. I am none, but a most miserable wretch, since I am condemned to hell fire, where I shall never cease to be tormented in company of the most abject and contemptible Fiends, and that for the content and sa∣tisfaction I took in my self, and for the pride I had, esteeming my self far above others, having a base and vile conceit of all. For this vice I shall live in eter∣nal torments. Though God should drie up the Sea, and fill up the empty places thereof with the smallest sand that can be imagined, and should permit that a little Bird should but take one grain every hundred years, God's wrath and Justice would not be satisfied with the torments my Soul shall suffer until such time as the said little Bird should take out every grain of the foresaid sand. For were this granted, I would most willingly suffer all the time required for the per∣formance thereof all the pains and torments of all the damned Souls in Hell, with this onely proviso, that at last my Soul might come to obtain salvation. But there is no remedy now; And therefore, Father, do not put your self to the trouble to pray tor me, being nothing can avail me.

In this History we have seen Pride chastised by hu∣miliation.

In tills that follows we shall see Pleasures and delightful entertainments chastised with propor∣tionable torments.* 1.2 Cantipratensis writes, That in the parts of Teutonia there was a Souldier very valiant, and much given to Tilting and Running at the Ring. And according as he lived, so he died miserably. His Wife, who was a devout person, and of exemplar life, after the death of her Husband had in an Extasie ma∣nifested unto her the miserable state of her Husbands Soul. It was represented unto her, as if it were still uni∣ted to the Body, encompassed with a multitude of De∣vils; Whereof the Principal in her hearing gave com∣mand, they should furnish their new Guest with a pair of Shoes fit for his feet, which piercing them might reach to his very head. Then he commanded they should put him on a Coat of Male made full of sharp points, which might pierce his whole body in all parts. After this a third command was, that they should put him on a Helmet with a sharp nail that might pierce his head , and come to be clenched below his feet. Finally by his command they hung a Target about his neck so heavy, that it might crush all the bones in his body. All this being punctually and speedily per∣formed, the Prince of darkness told his Officers: This worthy person, alter he had entertained himself in Tilting and the like menages of valour, was accustom∣ed to refresh his toyled limbs with sweet Baths, and then to retire to some soft Bed, sporting himself af∣terwards with other comfortable dalliances of sensua∣lity. Give him now somewhat of those refreshments which are usual here. They presently hurl'd him into a fire prepared: then to ease him, they placed him in a Bed red hot, where a Toad waited for him of an immense size, with eyes most dreadful, which clipped the Souldier very close, kissing and embracing him in such a rueful manner, that it was the most dreadful of all the torments he had suffered, and brought him even to pangs of death. That good woman, who by

Gods appointment had seen what past in her Husband, had this vision so fresh in memory all the dayes of her life, and with such continual oppressions of heart, that none, who had known her before, beholding her after∣wards, could otherwise imagine, but that she suffered some great and extraordinary affliction.

Many other pains and torments proportionable to the crimes committed may be seen in the works of Wermero. A Gentleman of noble Parentage,* 1.3 an Eng∣lish man by birth, by divine inspiration became a Ci∣stercian Monk. He entred upon this course of life, and continued with such great courage, that he stuck not to challenge the Devil, and bid him defiance. The E∣nemy made his Cell the field of battail. Here he as∣saulted him first with whips: then upon a certain occasion gave him such blows, that the blood burst out at his mouth and nose. At the noise the Monks came in, and finding him half dead, they carried him to his Bed, where he lay for the space of three dayes without giving any signes of life. In which time in the company of an Angel he descended into a very ob∣scure place, where he saw a Man seated in a Chair of fire, and certain Women very beautiful thrusting into his mouth burning torches, drawing them out at o∣ther parts of his body, which had been the instruments of his sins. The Monk being astonished at this spe∣ctacle, the Angel told him: This miserable wretch was a very powerful man in the world, and much given to Women, and for this reason the Devils in shape of Women do torment him as thou seest. Pas∣ing a little farther he beheld another, whom the infer∣nal spirits were fleaing alive, and having rubbed all his body over with salt, they put him to roast upon a Gridiron. This man, said the Angel, was a great Lord, so cruel to his Vassals, as the Devils are now to him. A little farther they met with other persons of divers states and conditions, which were tormented with several kinds of torments: Many Religious both

men and women, whose lives had been contrary to their profession: Talkers, Censurers of other mens lives, Slaves to their bellies, defiled with lust, and o∣ther such like vices. To these the Ministers of venge∣ance, in shape of most ugly fellows, gave many blows, in such sort, that they dashed out their brains, and made their eyes flye out of their heads, because in their works they were blind, and without judgement: a chastisement,* 1.4 which the Wise-man appoints for such like persons. Afterwards he lifted up his eyes, and beheld one fastned to a horrible Wheel, turning in such a dreadful manner, that the Monk here was al∣most besides himself. That, thou seest, is terrible, said the Angel; but far more terrible will be what thou shalt now see. At the instant the Wheel began to run from alost down to the most profound depths, with such horrid joggs, and with such noise, as if all the World, Earth, Heaven, and all were breaking in pie∣ces. At this so sudden and direful accident all the Prisoners and Goalers of Hell brake out into great cries, cursing and damning him, that came in the Wheel. This man, said the Angel, is Judas the A∣postle, who betrayed his Master: and as long as he shall raign in glory, which shall be world without end, so long shall this miserable wretch lye thus tor∣mented. With these Representations God hath given us to understand the proportion his Justice observes in his chastisements, to make us form some lively appre∣hension of the greatness of those pains: they being in∣deed far greater than what ever we can conceive by all the rigour imaginable exhibited to the senses. And in regard what enters by the senses prevails more with us, for this reason he represents unto us the torments of the soul sutably to those so horrible to our senses, as is to dash out the brains, and make the brains flye out of the head. For though it be true that this effect is not wrought indeed, yet the torments inflicted up∣on the damned Souls are without companion greater,

then it would be for a man in this life to be so beaten about the head, till his brains and eyes flew out. Let us therefore fear the Divine justice: and let us under∣stand, that in those parts of the body we offend God Almighty with greater delight, we shall be sure to be punished with greater torment.

And here may be given this further instruction, that as these and many such like stories, related for more variety of discourse in this Treatise, oblige us not to a full and absolute belief of them: so they de∣sire the favour of so much credit at least, as is allowed to Livy, Justine, or other Chronicle-writers; especially the Recorders of these being such, as are no less grave and wise, and acknowledge moreover a greater obli∣gation of conscience not to wrong the World with lies, or empty relations taken up upon the account of frivolous reports, especially in matters of such con∣cernment, And as we think it not amiss to make use, as occasion serves, of profane Examples and Authori∣ties in confirmation of what we usually either speak or write, so without all doubt the same use of Sacred and Ecclesiastical occurrences may be no less available in such matters as these.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Henric. Gran. d. 9. c. 200.
• * 1.2

  Cantip. l. 2. c. 49. p. 2. Jo∣an. Major. v. Infer∣nus. Ex∣emp. 6.
• * 1.3

  Wermer. Mon. Carthu. in fasci∣culo mo∣rum.
• * 1.4

  Prov. 19.