THE ARRAIGNMENT OF SLANDER PERIVRY Blasphemy , and other malicious Sinnes , shewing sundry examples of Gods Iudgements against the Ofenders .

Aswell by the Testimony of the Scriptures , and of the Fathers of the primatiue Church as likewise out of the reportes of Sir Edward Dier , Sir Edward Cooke , and other famous Lawiers of this King dome .

Published by Sir William Vaughan Knight .

LONDON . Printed for Francis Constable , and are to be sold in Pauls Church yeard at the signe of the Crane . 1630.

INImitation of that Burgundian Boo●c , that saluted the French King with a present of Radish rootes , and also of the Persians , who by reason of their countrey-custome durst not Ire salutatum Satrapes sine muner● magnos , Greet their great Lords without some gratefull gift :

Right prudent ●●dpr●●●dent Lords , I present a meane obiect to your indicious sights . A meane obiect indeed , if yee regard the worth of the person that presents it , or the person whom it concernes , being the spitefull Spirit of Detraction , yet tollerable perhaps , if yee receiue the presentours readie will with the reflection of your comfortable countenance : but most noble , and worthy to be ennobled with your patronage , if yee respect the meanes and Circles , ( as I know you doe ) whereby this Spirit is Coniured and Conuicted , euen by the sword of Angels , the mysticall sword , the word of God : and also by the sword of man , Alexanders sword , the decider of our Gordian doubts . With the former sword Michea confuted the false Prophets of Samaria , Michael confounded the detracting Dragon , and Michaels followers here on earth the false Prophet of our Christian Church , that d●ceiuer , that deprauer of the holy Ghost , and of his pretious properties . With the latter sword men punish men malicious men . With this sword a King plagued Midas for his doltish Detraction : & a Queene plagued Niobe for her courtizan comparison . Whether these obiects be noble , tollerable , meane , or as waste leaues good for nothing , saue for Apothecaries to wrap about their drugs , I submit them , and compromit them together with my selfe to your Honors graue arbitrement , in hope that yee will ascribe all imperfections to my want of perfections , to the breuitie of time , and to the sodainnesse of the accident .

For the worlds great Thunderer hauing lately taken vnto him my deare wife by a sulphureous dampe of lightning , and shaken some part of my house with a thunder-clap , hath likewise strooke me with such an amazement in mine vnderstanding , with beholding out of my tabernacle of flesh and bloud the glorious gleames of his power , that truly I must needs confesse my selfe to be somewhat backward in penning and painting out this handy-worke of his , almost as ominous to me , as his hand writing was to Balthasar in Babylon . To this I may adioyne multitudes of impediments as well of publike causes and suites abroad , as also of mine owne priuate affaires at home . All which concurring vpon me in confused heapes , some by importunitie of office , some of necessitie , and some by Sathans suggestion commmonly euery day since that fatall blast , caused such vnpolished points , as in the reading may occurre to your learned view .

And yet for all this , Right honourable , I had not so abruptly at this time hastened on mine abortiue worke to your presence , were it not , because I would stay betimes the forward steps of Sathan , and also because I would stop the vnpure mouthes of pratling Momes , and tatling Niobes , who inter Bacchanalia amidst their pots of drinke , their pipes of Tobacco , and idle fits of iollity establishing the shallow foundation of their reports vpon the flying and lying rumours of licentious libellers , doe blasphemously blaze abroad to the derogation and preiudice of the powerfull Lord of lightnings , that the Diuell our spirituall Tempter acted this terrible tragedie . Some other times they giue out , that the same Diuell coniured vp at mortall mens commaunds , tooke her away bodie and all , or at leastwise some principall part of her bodie . Which sacrilegious imputation as I know Gods elect do alreadie both loath and laugh to scorne : so I doubt not but all others shall by this present Treatise learne to leaue it off as a poisoned paradoxe .

Againe , there is not wanting a sort of suspicious Critickes , who arrogating to themselues the gift of Prophesie , or reuelation from aboue , doe make a taunting table-talke of this heauenly visitation in lieu of a grace or salt to season their meates withall , by attributing this vnexpected chance to some secret sinnes of hers . Which Scrthian censure all her acquaintance will contradict , and condemne of calumniation . All her familiar acquaintance wil consent with one voyce , with one mind in the scrutinie of her triall , that she liued as innocently , as industriously , as honestly , & as humbly towards God and man , as any whatsoeuer in all her country , without deceit , without Detraction . And if this be a Demonstration infallible , that out of sure premisses we inferre a sure conclusion , that none dieth ill , who hath liued well , ( for a good tree euer beares good fruit ) and that we must iudge men by their liues , and not by their deathes , then dare I assuredly assume , that she died as guiltlesse as those , on whom the Tower of Siloc fell . By the stayres of hell she swiftly climed aboue the starres of heauen . By lightning flames ( as Elias in fi●ry Chariots ) her soule soared vp aloft into the Region of eternall light .

Othersome in mine owne countrey more passionate , because I reforme disorders , and would redresse certaine misdemeanures whereof they claime prescription as an hereditarie or necessarie euill , doe euaporate these vncharitable speeches touching my proceedings , that God sent these prodigious euents , as prodromes and forerunners of his indignation conceiued against me for my seuerity of iustice . Summum ius , summa iniuria . Extreme iustice , extreme iniurie . Which Detraction of theirs I will only countermine with that graue authoritie , interpreting old Augustines honest minde ; Rash iudgement hurts not the person that is iudged , but rather him , that so rashly iudgeth , Quia cu●nvolumus aliena per iram coercere , grauiora committimus , by reason that when we would correct the faults of other men in passion , our selues commit more grieuous faults .

Another kind of Detractours measuring our actions by the ell of their owne guiltie consciences and vsurping the Popish partes of Ghostly Confessors , doe parley in priuate among themselues , that our iust Iehouah darted this lament●ole mishap , as a mysticall scourge for some silent sinnes of mine . At which accusation I will ●●t equiuocate , nor endeuour to acquite my selfe ●hereof with the presumptuous Pharisee , for I frankly acknowledge , as one of Adams progeny , that I am throughly tainted with the leprosie of sinne : whereof I expect no deliuerance at all by any earthly Aesculaptus , saue onely by the fiery Serpent which healed the Israelites . I am carnall as S. Paul said , and sold vnder sinne . Yet notwithstanding , if sinne present doe not please me , I know that sinnes past shall neuer harme me . But as there be differences and degrees in sinnes , wherein for the most part I shake hand with these Detractours , so dare I partly aduenture to cleere my soule from one particular sinne , ( like as Luther iustified himselfe from auarice ) that my nature euer abhorred iniustice or partialitie , though I might haue hazarded the loues of my neerest kinsfolkes . Let impious Ismael , and enuious Haman ( whose words are swords ) combine together , let them throw forth what Detractions they can , like stumbling blockes in my way : I passe not for them . On the contrarie I will glorie with that Gentile in Tacitus : Fulgorem bonorum à me nunquam praelatum , excubias ac labores vt vnum ex militibus pro incolumitate Imperatoris malle . That I neuer preferred bright shining goods , but chose rather watchings and labours , as one of the common souldiers for the Emperours safety , and for the wea●● of my Countrey .

Such disgracefull libelles spurging vp from the stemme of blasphemous Detraction were diuulged and dispersed abroad in all places farre and nigh . Which when I had throughly ruminated and reuo●ued in my mind , looking withal into the depth of their cankred corruptions , how that our heauenly King is highly iniured thereby , as also how that his Diuine titles are daily dishonoured , despised , and detracted with their wilfull , wanton , and vnwise speeches , whereby that member or outward sheath wherein our thoughts are folded , which should bee the faithfull Interpreter ●the soule , Oraculum animae , speculum mentis , miraculum naturae , is commonly peruerted from Christian puritie to wilfull blasphemie , so that Nazianzens saying is verified in our age , Linguādimidiam humanorum vitiorum partem sibi vend●cat , halfe the vices , which we commit , are committed by the tongue . Nay , our whole life is full of the tongues wickednesse : Tota vita nostra linguae delictis est referta , as Basil wrote . At this prodigious degeneration my spirit seem'd to sparkle , as a blazing starre within me , portending miseries to such mischieuous wretches , yea , it burned as a blast of fire in the furnace of my bodie , incensing the principall powers thereof , ( as kindes of greene fewell ordained for this purpose ) to consume some of those saplesse shrubbes , or at least ( as smoking firebrands ) to terrific children from playing too much with sacred mysteries , from laughing , like vnnaturall Cham at Noahs nakednesse , from mocking at Elishaes reuerend head , and ( to speake like a Poet ) from plucking ouerlong at Iupiters beard , from polluting their fathers ashes .

These , these motiues , Right noble Lords , enforced me to expose abroad mine vntimely Embrion , not altogether shapt aswell as I intended , nor yet growne to that maturitie , as the Satyrist answeredin defence of Virgils Aeneads .

Vt ramale vetus vaegrandi subere coctum :

Like an old bough full ripe with barke .

But what perfect essence nature denies vnto it , or what complete forme Art conceales from it , I humbly craue that all may be construed in good part by your Honorsboundlesse bounties , wherto , as to a diuine Oracle or discreet Rhadamanthes , I flie for verdict in the behalfe of this worthlesse worke , which once againe I dedicate Dijs tutelaribus to your heroicall vertues , eyther by them signed ominously with print of chalke , or with coale , or ( according to the Greeke custome ) with the blacke letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 destinating death , to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . censured worthy of immortalitie and of euerlasting Cedar , or else to be cancelled in perpetuall obliuion and Cymmerian darkenesse .

But I pray , what phantasie drawes your wits astry , ●ee sharpe tongued souldiers of the forlorne hope ? Yee that were wont to daunt your foes brauely in the field , to conquere Kingdomes , and beate downe the enemies of Christ in forraine soiles , why become ye now-adaies so effeminate , as to conuert your swords into words , your powerfull prowesse into pratling parlance ? Why degenerate ye from your famous Auncestours ? Too true it is , that ouer-much ease mars your generous spirits , welfare makes you wanton , and prou●nder prickes you forwards to turne deeds into Detractions , and in stead of Christian resolution , to wage warre with your tongues , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to incline to swinish companying , carousing , and Tobacconizing : where many foule faults flocke together , and ( as the nature of sinne is to multiply ) according to our Sauiour Christs words , where one wicked spirit is suffered to inhabite , there he brings in other in-mates , worse spirits then himselfe ; specially the spirit of Detraction first gets in his head like a cunning Foxe , and then by little and little enters in with his whole body , to the vtter ouer throw of mans little world ; So that Christians fall out to be Antichristians , Apostles Apostates , and manly souldiers scoldes and scoffers .

To come neerer vnto you , what is the reason that this renowned people , who claime themselues from Brutus , are become so brutish , as to be addicted to gossip-ales , Bride-ales , and to bacchanales , and consequently to Detractions and descanning of other mens destinies ; yea , and otherwhiles to discourse of Gods secret iudgments ? Omne vitium habet patrocinium : No vice without a cl●ake : no sinne without some apish Apologie . These iolly fellowes being driuen to this exigent , doe confesse , that corrupted custome brought them to such vitious habites . O cruell custome ! O hatefull habites ! which worke the fatall and finall ruine of soules and bodies ! Neuerthelesse , as there is no custome but may be altered , so for mine owne part I cannot beleeue , that custome alone causeth man ( a creature enriched with Diuine reason , and enf●offed with free-will and election in many things , specially in naturall and humane things ) to carouse , and then to reade stammering Lectures , both on the sacred power of God , and on their simple neighbours soules . For some carouse of custome , some of wantonnesse and company . Some againe delight therein , being sophistically perswaded , that the excessiue vse thereof auailes much for their healths sake , as a purger of superfluous rheumes . Others fauour Tobacconisme , because they would not seeme ouer-nice , melancholicke , or men by themselues in the singular number , and also because Tobacco might serue them in stead of salt or drie leaders to drinking , and consequently vnto Detracting : but for the most part our Caual●ers and Gentles of the first head sucke in the smoakie vapour of Tobacco , because they might counterfeit themselues gid●y or drunken ( for it is no shame to be drunke with Tobacco ) when they want copie of matter or store of discourse . Then they fame themselues so long rauished as it were in an e●tasi● ; vntil after a thorough per ambulation of their barren wits , and after long houghing , halking and hacking , they haue coined some strange accident worthy the rehersall among their boone companions . Then as though they started out of an heauenly traunce , and as the Satyrist writes :

Mobile colluerint liquido cùm plasmate guttur .

Hauing their throats wel washt with dreggish drugs : They recount tales of Robin-hood , of Rhodomonting rouers , of Donzel del Phoebo , of a new Anti-christ borne in Babylon , of lying wonders , blazing out most blasphemous newes , how that the Diuell appeared at such a time with lightning and thundring Maiestie , much about that horrible manner , as the Glorious God appeared on mount Horeb , raised tempests both on Sea and land , not inferiour to those stormy Heteroclites of the West Indies , called the Furicanoes , shooke the foundation of the earth , battered such Gentlemens houses , and if they had not suddenly blessed themselues better , he had carried away with him men , women , houses , and all right into hell . These or such like feeble fables doe they scatter abroad among their foolish Auditors , while in the meane time , the Diuell , the Schoole-master of all lewdnesse , appeares no where more forcibly , then in the very midst of these vncharitable Readers , yea , and perhaps his spirituall p●yson or poysonous spirit is exhaled and exhausted with their Tobacco and draughts of drinke into their mustie mindes .

O Tongue , how is thy perfection peruerted , thy sense depraued , thy sound degenerated ! How comes it to passe that the soules Embassadour is become a turne-coate Herald ! Expectaui legatum , inueni Heraldum , I expected an honourable Embassadour , but haue found a huffe-cap Herald , as our late Queene Elizabeth of famous memory sometime nickt a presumptuous Embassadour of Polonia . I expected to heare nothing but truth out of the mouth of Gods similitude , specially , to his neighbour in Christ , to Christ in his members . But ( alas ) I finde nothing but lies and libels . Omnis homo mendax . I expected for reformation , but haue met with ruinous relapses . O Tongue , tongue , how miserable are the effects of thy motions ! Being made for a watchfull clapper to the Bell of Gods Temple , to pray for Grace , to comfort the sicke , to confirme the penitent , to confute the absurd , to confound the Detractour , why ringest thou out such paltry peales ? Why ragest thou against thy Masters will , against thy selfe without iust cause or neede ? In thy youthfull time thou crakest and vauntest of thy vaine worth , bursting thy lungs welnigh with windy bragges . In thy more mellow or maturer age thou standest elated in thine owne conceit , as though thy hoarie colour hath added vncontrouled trust and truth vnto thy stale assertions . In all the progresse of thy wagging , in all thy proceedings , thou abusest thy proper function : for which the Lord will not hold thee guiltlesse at that vniuersall Synod , when the heauens shall be folded together , like a booke , when our consciences , the true table-bookes of our soules shall lie open without lies against vs , and we shall yeelde account for euery idle word .

These things expended and examined by me in the ballance of vnderstanding , and fearing least I might participate with them in their derogatory crimes , or encurre the penalty of trayterous Misprision towards our righteous Lord for my cowardly conccalements , if according to that measure of spirit , which he hath bestowed vpon me , I reproued them not : therefore haue I published this humble Treatise , that therein , as in a glasse or map , they may behold the reflexion of their filthy faults extinguished and extirped . What do I know , whether the great God hath deliuered me from diuers dangers for these or such like purposes ? To this end was I b●r●e , that I should doe my best to glorifie God , and edific my countrey . To this end I wish with all the veynes of my heart , that what ability of wel-saying and wel-doing is defectiue in mine owne person , the same by the Diuine bounty may be liberally supplied to all others in this present booke . And that the Readers hereof may learne in sparing speech to follow the examples of the holy Prophets and Apostles , who for their honest admonitions and humble exhortations were ouercast with a cloude of scorne among the reprobates of this world ; or at least wise , that they imitate some of the heathenish Philosophers , namely Pythagoras , who imposed Decennale silentium , ten yeares silence on his schollers , or Socrates who for many howers together would sit silently musing on the wonderfull workemanship of God , or Arcesilas , Solon , and other enemies of Detraction . To this end I heartily wish , that all they , which finde themselues subiect to this spirit of Detraction , may be terrified from that idle vse with such magicall motiues of Michaels mysteries , as I haue herein inserted , like as if the Vtopian Syphograunts , the Athenian Ostracisme , the Romane Censors , the Spanish Inquisition , or as if the statute de scandalis magnatum , being as it were naturalis feritatis mastix , the scourge of sauage nature , had straightly bridled their lauish tongues within the precincts of their teeth and lips .