A68840:110
Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity,…Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie,…
Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity, in the University of Tygure with a very profitable tract of the matter and places. Herein is also added [and] contained two most ample tables, aswell of the matter, as of the words: with an index of the places in the holy scripture. Set forth & allowed, according to the order appointed in the Queens majesties injunctions.Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie, in the Vniuersitye of Tygure with a very profitable tract of the matter and places. Herein is also added [and] contained two most ample tables, aswel of the matter, as of the wordes: wyth an index of the places in the holy scripture. Set forth & allowed, accordyng to thorder appointed in the Quenes maiesties iniunctions.
London: printed by John Day, 1564London: printed by Iohn Day, 1564
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And hereby we gather that to much cruelty doth greatly displease god: and thereof I think it came to pass that as well by gods laws as by mans (I speak but of those which are counted just & honest) certain punishments were prescribed for crimes according to the grievousness of them, whereby judges had the less liberty given them to exercise tyranny.1 Yea & the lawyers added this rule, that punishments should rather be diminished by judges than augmented: which is for all that to be understand, as much as the nature of the fault & commodity of the public wealth suffereth, which I therefore speak, because some times those conditions which commonly they call circumstances, make the crime so terrible and horrible, that the judges must needs there augment the punishments which have ben prescribed by the laws, & that to the intent to fear away others from so grievous mischievous deeds, & so David when Nathan the prophet declared unto him an execrable & horrible thing, he decreed a more grievous punishment against him that was guilty, than the law had ordained for common thieves & stealers of cattle.2 I have therefore made mention of these, because there were in the law three kinds of death appointed for evil doers, I mean, hanging, stoning, & burning, unto which some Hebrews add the fourth, namely the punishment of the sword: but because there is no mention made thereof in the law (as far as I know) I have therefore left it out. We read that Adonias, Joab & Agab king of Amalech & many other were thrust thorough with swords, But we find it not prescribed by any law or precept that the guilty should be put to death by the sword. Seeing I say the matter is so,3 we see that the children of Israel used now in their tents a certain extraordinary kind of punishment against the king Adonibezek. And I believe they did it not without the instinction of god. For god would punish the cruelty of this tyrant with an exquisite punishment, which was nevertheless of rendering like for like, which kind of wicked doing to the intent we may the caselyer avoid, it shall not be grievous unto us to speak somewhat of it.
And hereby we gather that to much cruelty doth greatly displease god: and therof I thincke it came to passe that as wel by gods lawes as by mās (I speake but of those whiche are counted iust & honest) certain punishmētes were prescribed for crimes according to the grieuousnesse of thē, whereby iudges had ye lesse libertie geuen them to exercise tyranny.