3. And would laugh at her, when he saw her troubled for them. And now I have told you Mr Badman's way as to this.

Atten. But was he not afraid of the judgments of God that did fly about at that time? Wise. He regarded not the judgment nor mercy of God; for had he at all done that, he could not have done as he did. But what

judgments do you mean?

Atten. Such judgments, that if Mr Badman himself had taken but sober notice of, they might have made him hang down his

ears.

Wise. Why, have you heard of any such persons that the judgments of God have overtaken?

Atten. Yes, and so, I believe, have you too, though you make so strange about it. Wise. I have so indeed, to my astonishment and wonder.

Atten. Pray, therefore, if you please, tell me what it is, as to this, that you know, and then, perhaps, I may also say something to you of the same.

Wise. In our town there was one W. S. a man of a very wicked life; and he, when there seemed to be counte

nance given to it, would needs

turn informer. Well, so he

did, and was as diligent in his business as most of them could be; he would watch of nights, climb trees, and range the woods of days, if possible to find out the meeters, for

then they were forced to meet in the fields; yea, he would curse them bitterly, and swear most fearfully what he would do to them when he found them. Well, after he had gone on like a bedlam in his course a-while, and had done some mischiefs to the people, he was stricken by the hand of God, and that in this manner.

1. Although we had his tongue naturally at will, now he was taken with a faultering in his speech, and could not for weeks together speak otherwise than just like a man that was drunk.

2. Then he was taken with a drauling or slabbering at his mouth, which slabber sometimes would hang at his mouth, well nigh half way down to the ground.

3. Then he had such a weakness in the back sinews of his neck, that oft-times he could not look up before him, unless he clapped his hand hard upon his forehead, and held up his head that way, by strength of hand.

4. After this his speech went quite away, and he could speak no more than a swine or a bear. Therefore, like one of them, he would gruntle and make an ugly noise, according as he was offended, or pleased, or would have any thing done, &c.

In this posture he continued for the space of half a year or thereabouts, all the while otherwise well, and could go about his business, save once that he had a fall from the bell as it hangs in our steeple, which it was

a wonder it did not kill him: But after that he also walked about, until God had made a sufficient spectacle of his judgment for his sin, and then on a sudden he was stricken, and died miserably and so there was an end of him and his doings.

I'll tell you of another. About four miles from St Neots, there was a gentleman had a man, and he would needs be an informer, and a lusty young man he was. Well, an informer he was, and did much distress some people, and had perfected his informations so effectually against some, that there was nothing further to do, but for the constables to make distress on the people, that he might have the money or goods; and, as I heard, he hastened them much to do it. Now while he was in the heat of his work, as he stood one day by the fire-side, he had (it should seem) a mind to a sop in the pan, (for the spit was then at the fire) so he went to make one; but behold a dog (some say his own favourite dog) took distaste at something, and immediately bit his master by the leg; the which bite, notwithstanding all the means that was used to cure him, turned (as was said) to a gangrene; however, that wound was his death, and that a dreadful one too; for my relator said, that he lay in such a condition by this bite, (at the beginning) till his flesh rotted from off him before he went out of the world.

But what need I instance in particular persons, when the judgment of God against this kind of people was made manifest, I think I may say, if not in all, yet in most of the counties in England where such poor creatures were. But I would, if it had been the will of God, that neither I nor any body else, could tell you more of these stories: True stories, that are neither lie nor romance.

Atten. Well, I also heard of both these myself, and of more too, as remarkable in their kind as these, if I had any list to tell® them: But let us leave those that are behind to others, or to the coming of Christ, who then will justify or condemn them, as the merit of their work shall require; or if they repented, and found mercy, I shall be glad when I know it; for I wish not a curse to the soul of mine enemy.

Wise. There can be no pleasure in the telling of such stories, tho' to hear of them may do us a pleasure: They may put us in mind that there is a God that judgeth in the earth, and that doth not always forget nor defer to hear the cry of the destitute: they also carry along with them both caution and counsel to those that are the survivors of such. Let us tremble at the judgments of God, and be afraid of sinning against him, and it shall be our protection. It shall go well with him that fear God, that fear before him.

Atten. Well, Sir, as you have intimated,

H

so I think we have in this place spoken e nough about these kind of men; if you please let us return again to Mr Badman himself, if you have any more to say of him,

Wise. More we have yet scarce thoroughly begun with any thing that we have said. All the particulars are in themselves so full of badness, that we have rather only looked in them, than indeed said any thing to them: But we will pass them, and proceed. You have heard of the sins of his youth, of his apprenticeship, and how he set up, and mar ried, and what a life he hath led his wife; and now I will tell you some more of his pranks, He had the very knack of knavery. Had he, as I said before, been bound to serve an apprenticeship to all these things, he could not have been more cunning, he could not have been more artificial at it.

New discourse of Mr Badman,

Atten. Nor perhaps so artificially neither; for as none can teach goodness like to God himself, so concerning şin and knavery none can teach a man it like the devil, to whom, as I perceive, Mr Badman went to school from his childhood to the end of his life. But pray, Sir, make a beginning.

Wise. Well, so I will. You may remember that I told you what a condition he was in for money before he did marry, and how he got a rich wife, with whose money he paid his debts. Now when he had paid his debts. He