The strange judgements of God,1 for the abuse of the tongue especially in blasphemies and perjuries are many and fearful. Three men conspired together against Narcissus Bishop of Jerusalem, a man that led a godly and blameless life, and they charged him with a most heinous crime, all three confirm their accusation by oath: the first wisheth, if it were not so that he were burnt. The second, that he might die of the jaundice: the third, that he might loose his eyes. Afterward in process of time, the first had his house set on fire in the night, and he with all his family was burnt. The second had the jaundice from the head to the sole of the foot and died thereof. The third seeing what was befallen these twain, repented, and confessed the conspiracy against Narcissus, and yet for all that he lost his eyes. Again, In the days of Q. Mary as James Abbes was led by the sheriff to execution,2 ⟨p. 69⟩divers poor people stood in the way and asked their alms: he then having no money to give them, did pull off all his apparel save his shirt, and gave it unto them, to some one thing, to some another in the giving whereof he exhorted them to be strong in the Lord, and to stand steadfast to the trueth of the Gospel. While he was thus instructing the people, a servant of the sheriffs going by, cried out aloud and blasphemously said: Believe him not good people, he is an heretic, and a mad man out of his wit: believe him not, for it is heresy that he sayeth: And as the other continued in his godly admonitions, so did this wicked wretch blow forth his blasphemous exclamations, until they came unto the stake where he should suffer. But immediately after this martyr was bound to the stake and fire put to him, such was the fearful stroke of Gods justice upon this blasphemous railer, that he was there presently in the sight of all the people stricken with a frenzy, wherewith he had ⟨p. 70⟩before railingly charged that good martyr of God: who in this furious rage and madness, casting off his shoes and the rest of his clothes, cried out unto the people and said: thus did James Abbes the true servant of God, who is saved, but I am damned: And thus ran he round about the town of Bury, still crying, that James Abbes was a good man, and saved, but I am damned.
The straunge judgements of God,1 for the abuse of the tongue especially in blasphemies and perjuries are many and fearefull. Three men conspired together against Narcissus Bishoppe of Hierusalem, a man that ledde a godly and blamelesse life, and they charged him with a most heynous crime, all three confirme their accusation by othe: the first wisheth, if it were not so that he were burnt. The second, that hee might die of the jaundise: the third, that he might loose his eyes. Afterward in processe of time, the first had his house set on fire in the night, and hee with all his family was burnt. The second had the jaundise from the head to the sole of the foote and died thereof. The third seeing what was befallen these twaine, repented, and confessed the conspiracie against Narcissus, and yet for all that hee lost his eyes. Againe, In the dayes of Q. Mary as Iames Abbes was ledde by the sheriffe to execution,2 ⟨p. 69⟩diuers poore people stoode in the way and asked their almes: he then having no money to give them, did pull off all his apparell saue his shirte, and gave it unto them, to some one thing, to some another in the giving whereof hee exhorted them to be strong in the Lorde, and to stande steadfaste to the trueth of the Gospell. While he was thus instructing the people, a seruant of the sheriffes going by, cryed out alowde and blasphemously saide: Beleeue him not good people, he is an heretique, and a mad man out of his witte: beleeue him not, for it is heresie that hee saieth: And as the other continued in his godly admonitions, so did this wicked wretch blowe foorth his blasphemous exclamations, untill they came unto the stake where he shoulde suffer. But immediatly after this martyr was bounde to the stake and fire put to him, such was the fearefull stroke of Gods justice upon this blasphemous railer, that hee was there presently in the sight of all the people stricken with a frensie, wherewith hee had ⟨p. 70⟩before railingly charged that good martyr of God: who in this furious rage and madnesse, casting off his shoes and the rest of his clothes, cryed out unto the people and saide: thus did Iames Abbes the true servant of God, who is saved, but I am damned: And thus ranne hee rounde about the towne of Burie, still crying, that Iames Abbes was a good man, and saved, but I am damned.
- 1Gods Judgement for the abuse of the tongue▪ Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 8.Gods Judgement for the abuse of the tōgue▪ Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 8.
- 2Fox Act. Mon.Foxe Act. Mon.
