ANTHONY PAINT●● THE Blaspheming Caryar.  
Who sunk into the ground up to the neck, and there stood two day●● two nights, and not to be drawn out by the strength of Hor●● or digged out by the help of man: and there died the 3. of November. 1613.  
Also the punishment of Nicholas Mesle a most wicked blasphemer.  
Read and tremble.  
Published by Authority.  
At London printed for john Trundle: and are to be sold at Christ Church Gate. 1614   

THE STRANGE PUNISHMENT AND JUDGEMENT OF GOD, UPON A CURSED blasphemer: ANTHONY PANETER Caryer.  
TRemble all ye people, stoop now and fall down under the dreadful and most just judgement of that great jehovah, which holds in his hand, Heaven, Earth, and every thing that therein is, weighing them in scales as though it were dust: Be now amazed at the might of so mighty an arm, which in the twinkling of an eye crusheth and beateth down sinners in his wrath, scattereth them as the wind doth the Grasshoppers, and maketh them the subject and argument of his glory, in the sight of all Nations. O fearful judgements of the most High, which suffers not his glory to be trodden under foot, but when he thinks fit brings the just and horrible plagues of his avengement upon the despiser of his holy Name. How terrible and full of horror, quoth the Psalmist, it is to fall into the Lords hands, when he puts on the armour and weapons of his wrath; as the holy Apostle Paul, showeth in the tenth Chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, he may when he pleases punish with divers punishments and temporal plagues, besides the eternal damnation those that rebel against him and offend his sacred Majesty. Tremble and shake again (O Sinners) (for the Prophet Moses, in the 14. of Exodus pronounceth unto you the decree from heaven so dire and frightful, saying, that this great God without using the ministery or means of any man sendeth his Angels (the executioners of his vengeance) against the proud profane which sets light by his holy Name; That high minded Nabuchodonosor King of Babylon shall be, though to his great shame, the first we will produce for an ensample to all posterity. Pharaoh King of Egypt, and the ten notable plagues, which, the same God, avenging his honour, did send upon that swaggering spirit, are evident proofs of the same; waters turned into blood, filthy Frogs, Lice, annoyance of Flies, the mortality of men by pestilence, murrain and death of cattle, boils and Scabs, Hail, and frighting Thunders, Grasshoppers, obscurity and palpable darkness, briefly the very Angel of the same God whom he blasphemed made war against him, yea ' by things that seemed very contemptible and of no force; by the only wind of his mouth and by his destroying Angel he overthrows and quite undoes the proud and insolent blasphemer Senacherib King of the Assyrians, for attempting with blasphemous words to spite this Sovereign God, but the same most mighty God made him well know and all men after him, that it is he that punisheth and showeth mercy, which killeth and keepeth alive, which makes wonders in heaven and earth, and he throweth even down to the ground that lofty man, by the hands of Sarazar and Adramalec his own Children, within the temple of his own false God Nezrok in Niniveh: And as the same our great God hath divers and sundry ways at hand, so doth he diversly inflict and layeth pains upon sinners: sometimes by the Elements, as Moses witnesseth in the 26 of Leuit. and 11. of Deuteronomie. Sometimes by sicknesses of sundry sorts. Exod. 15. Deut. 28. Sometimes by the Sword and by War. Ezech. 5. Sometimes by Famine, by Fire, by Captivity, briefly in a thousand manners when it pleaseth him to take revenge for his honour offended: night cannot hide the sinners from him: their strength and nimbleness of their body cannot save them: monarch, Emperors, Princes and Kings do tremble and shake under his mighty hand: the strongest, and best fortresses tumble boon at his only look: It is that terrible and potent God, of whom spoke that Captain of the Hebrues, judas Macchabeus, who is like in force and greatness to the mighty God of the Hebrues? and the same posy he used in his ensigns of war. Do you think then you wretched and accursed blasphemers of the Name of the most High (at whose terrible looks the earth doth tremble, the elements do 〈◊〉, the heaven fadeth away, and the sea flieth out) do you think (say I to you) do ye think to shun the fury of his face, and escape the heaviness of his arm that can not be avoided; O accursed blasphemers, the first and chiefest, more wicked and more abominable than all other sinners, do you not see, that as many times as you open your stinking mouths to blaspheme the Name of the Almighty, as many times the Devils and frightful fiends do enter within yourselves through every blasphemy? Dost thou believe wretched blasphemer, that God which seeth and understandeth thee is deaf or a sleep, or else distracted and busy about some other business, like the Idols of the Paynims, as the holy Prophet Elias did in old time, reproach unto the Idolaters of those days? Dost thou think thou must never be called to account, for thy foul and stinking blasphemies, be it never so late, that letting lose the reins of thy desolate tongue, which polluteth both heaven and earth, thou shalt thus still live without God, without Faith, and Religion in this world? Thou art, O blasphemer! far worse and more wicked than a Thief, a Niggard, a Murderer, a Liar, a whoremonger, a Wanton, an Adulterer, a Drunkard, a Glutton, an Idolater, a Ruffian and Pander, or a Conceaier of st althes: for thou art traitorous and rebellious unto God, spitting in his face as many times as thou blasphemest against his holy Name, with no less indignity and ignominy, than the jews which did buffet and spit upon the blessed Saviour of the world. And if Saint Paul said in the sixth to the Hebrues, that sinners do crucify once again the Son of God, that being said in general how much more in particular may it be applied to the Swearers and Blasphemers of the Name of God.  
For, those (as saith Saint Augustine) do not sin less, which blaspheme our Saviour Christ, reigning in heaven, than those which have crucified him walking upon the earth: Yea it may be said, that it is less sin to blaspheme jesus Christ hanging and dying on the Cross, than now he is sitting and reigning in heaven, living, and triumphing. The jews, not knowing that he was the Son of God, did blaspheme and filthily bespit him; but now blasphemers, that know him to be the very Son of God, do yet worse than ever the jews did, and are yet more wicked than the damned which blaspheme God, in that by blasphemies they make this world their very Hell, by anticipation; It is most certainly held amongst the Divines, that God is nothing so angry for the blasphemies of all the damned altogether, as for the blasphemy of one blasphemer alive, for blasphemy is not forbidden to the damned: on the contrary as the glory of the Saints in heaven is to praise and bless GOD, so is it a punishment and torment to the damned to blaspheme him: but unto the living it is most expressly forbidden to speak blasphemy, upon pain of eternal damnation: whence it followeth as it is abovesaid that the blasphemers, what pretence and colour soever they will cover their accursed swearing withal, are worse and more wicked than the damned, and are like to this Monster feigned by Homer, expounded by Lucretius in this verse, Prima Leo, postrema draco, media ipsa chimera.  
A true Hyerogliphick or poesy of the wretched blasphemers, swaggering like Lions, venomous like Dragons, and no less abominable diverse and counterfeit in the framing their blasphemies, than these Chimeras hideous and invented Monsters; But that we may not stay overlong in the choice and picking out of the just judgements and plagues inflicted and used by the great GOD from time to time upon blasphemers, we will insist upon one only example among many, being an accident of fresh memory and above all other most exemplary, worthy to be considered and remembered, in all ages; Set before your eyes this notable and dreadful example of the judgement lately executed by the Divine vengeance upon one named Anthony Paneter, an ordinary Carrier in the territory named La Condamina, three leagues distant from the City of, Genoa in Italy: This man returning from the City with two horses loaden with divers wares, and his horses for the heaviness of their burden scarcely able to go fast enough to be at home afore night, fell unto such chafing and rage, that cursing, banning, blaspheming despitefully, and with a desperate madness the holy and fearful Name of Almighty God, calling the Devil to come to help him, or else that he should carry him away and his horses withal (as, alas! it is to ordinary an use of some Carmen, and Carriers both by Sea and by Land every foot to blaspheme and curse the holy Name of GOD) this vile wretch not ceasing his fury on a sudden was stricken with the revenging hand of him against whom he did so outrageously vomit his blasphemies; for being about two leagues forward on his way, still continuing his outrageous cursing, swearing, and blaspheming, The earth moved and shaken at the very horror of his oaths and blasphemies would not, nor yet could any further bear and sustain so vile a Monster, but at the will and judgement of the Creator opened itself, and gaped under the feet of that vile wretch, and swallowed him up to the neck, so that he could by no means deliver himself from thence. Stay now and behold ye bloody blasphemers, and detestable swearers; worship here in fear and trembling, the Majesty and power of him against whom your voice speaks, and your tongue utters such vile oaths and fearful curses; Let this wretch be an example unto you of amendment, leaving that filthy and damnable custom, whilst you have time, & whilst yet God stays his hand to call you unto repentance & amendment. This wretch thus stricken with the hand of God, his two horses still followed their way until they came home; his wife seeing the horses thus come without their unfortunate master was instantly taken with great fear and amazement, lest that her husband should be slain or rob upon the way by some thieves or others, so she stayed a little still looking for him, but hearing no news of his coming, she gets out of the house and goes all lamenting and doleful along the highway towards the City of Genoa, accompanied with some friends or neighbours of hers, because it was already late & about three hours in the night. She went not far but that she found on the way one of her neighbours named Ambrose Vidoze, of whom (all amazed and distracted as she was) she asked whence he came, he said he came from Genoa; she further asked him whether he had met with her husband whereat yet all affrighted trembling and astonished at the horrible and frightull cries of this miserable Caitiff which he had heard, he told her that lately without seeing him or any body he did hear a voice and dreadful cry upon the way which said in these words. I am damned, I am damned to all the devils of hell, because I have so often and in so many fashions sworn and blasphemed the holy name of God: Thus the poor Vidoze stricken with the terror of this fright could speak no more, but went home; where casting himself on his bed he died suddenly not able to speak a word: a thing verily at the which our hairs may stand upright on our heads able to shake and amaze all our senses.  
The woman with her company pitifully crying and tearing herself, follows on her way and never leaves till they had found the said Anthony Panetier whose frightful voice they heard a far off still crying that he was damned with all the devils in hell, because he had so often and wickedly blasphemed the holy Name of GOD; besides that (a thing most wonderful) he was environed and assaulted by a troup of hungry and ravenous Wolves ready to devour him, had not some men with swords, staves, pieces and shot ran thither, and yet could scarce master them, so raging were these beasts against the man, as though they had been sent thither like so many Sergeants to execute the vengeance of the Almighty. That wicked wretch made no long stay there but he was summoned and cited before him whom he had thus blasphemed, for the next day he was found dead, and yet could not be drawn from thence. Such was the judgement of the Divine Majesty, against this wretch: Such was the end of the said Painter, which shall remain for an ensample unto all cursing, swearing, banning, and blaspheming persons, which make but a jest and mockery at every word to bring an oath and tear and take at their pleasure that great holy and dreadful Name of Almighty GOD without any reverence, or discretion; nay without any subject, occasion, anger, choler, or cross in the world; but through a most vile accursed and detestable use and custom they have enured themselves unto, So that now a days (so depraved is this our age) a man thinketh to be esteemed more brave and more dreaded, which at every word can swear and trim his speech with oaths, taking and tearing GOD from the head to the foot, and if any hearer having horror be offended, or goes about to rebuke them, his return shall be vile words, and oftentimes blows.  
The holy Doctors of the Church agree all upon this point and hold for certain that all wickedness, parricides, incests, poison, murders, and other crimes are nothing so great, neither deserve such punishment as do blasphemy, inasmuch as all wickednesses (as the Prophet Samuel said) are at their first committed against men, but blasphemies are first and directly against the honour of God, and even as it were to spite him.  
If Dathan, Corah, and Abiran for having murmured against Moses and Aaron, in the wilderness, have been gulped up and swallowed alive with all their families into the deepest bowels of the earth, what must blasphemers look for and expect but the very same and worse?  
If any backbiteth or speaketh ill never so little of his King and Prince, he is by and by chastened and put to an exemplary death; Why should not the blasphemer be used so, sith that by his blasphemy he doth no less than spit upon the very face of God, which is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and the Sovereign Monarch of all the world.  
If the Law of worldly Kings and Princes is unviolably observed and executed against such men, Why shall not God's Law be likewise put in execution, which expressly and upon great threatenings doth command Kings and Magistrates to put the blasphemer to death, and to cut and root him out from amongst his people to appease his anger?  
The ancient Romans did so abhor and detest a Blasphemer, that finding no torments fit enough for his punishment they did give him up to the fury of their gods, after he had been publicly whipped, causing this to be proclaimed before him.  

Do not swear by the name of the Gods rashly.  
HEsiodus in the first book of his days and works affirmeth, that in all ages the Blasphemer hath been bitterly punished by the Gods (for he was a Pagan and knew not the true God) and that the first Blasphemers were laid out and set for a prey unto Vultures, add ravenous birds to feed upon, which did eat their eyes, tongue and Liver; Alas! if these poor Heathen have believed that their false Gods thus would, and did avenge their honour, how can we make any doubt being Christians, but that the true God, which we worship, will punish the blasphemers, sith that he commands it to the judges and Magistrates of the earth without any restriction.  
The wise man in his Ecclesiasticus chap. 13. saith that the man which useth to swear shall be filled with iniquity and the plague and affliction shall not go far from his house.  
In the 12. chap. of Saint Matthew the blasphemy of the Spirit shall not be pardoned, neither in this world, nor in the other. Saint john in in his Revelation, chap. 16. gives a reason for it, saying, that the damned shall chew their tongues for very smart and despair, and for their plagues they shall blaspheme the God of heaven, because they did not amend themselves.  
The Thief hideth himself to steal: The Lecher seeks darkness out to commit his wickedness in, the proud counterfeiteth himself to be humble, the envious, the covetous, the glutton, and the idle, cover and draw out of men's sight their vices; as being ashamed of them, but the blasphemer alone is a shameless, saucy, wicked one, uttering publicly and without shame and fear his blasphemies against the holy Name of God, nay thinks it a mean to be esteemed a brave and valiant fellow, and so he is; but in the devils School and in the academy of the damned and Reprobate, O how happy was the age of that great Doctor Saint Chrysostome, In whose time blasphemers were presently punished, and with great rigour, as it appeareth in his first Homily to the people of Antiochia, grounded upon the places of Scripture there cited in these words: whosoever shall hear the voice of the blasphemer if he accuseth him not, he shall bear his iniquity. Leu. 5. chap.  
God said unto Moses cast out the blasphemer out of the Camp, and let all the people stone him. Leu. 14.  
In the same place God saith, The blasphemer shall die the death; The same sentence was executed upon a blasphemer, whose mother was an Israelite, and his father an Egyptian which was stoned to death in the wilderness.  
judas Machabeus for the same crime caused the tongue of Nicanor to be cut and minced for food to the birds of the air, Mac. 2. book, last Chap.  
The blasphemer of Corinth was delivered to the Devil S. Paul. 1 Cor. chap. 3.  
Nabuchodonosor by a solemn Decree commanded that whosoever should blaspheme the God of Daniel should die the death? Dan. chap. 3.  
The laws of the Church Extr. de maledict. C. Statuimus, thus condemn them, that whosoever shall be found to have blasphemed the holy name of God, the Virgin Mary, or the Saints, must stand by seven Sundays at the Church door and not go in, and the last Sunday of them must be there barefoot, & a halter about his neck; he refusing to do so, he must be thrust out and separated from the Church and deprived of Christian burial.  
The civil and Imperial law punisheth them severely, decreeing that it is a greater sin to blaspheme the eternal Majesty than the temporal or worldly Majesty.  
Philip the fair alias le Bel, King of France decreed that blasphemers should be thrown into a river or pool.  
Robert King of France judged them to death without pardon.  
S. Lewis King of France would have them marked in the forehead with a hot Iron and their tongue pierced through  
King Hnery the 3 likewise made an excellent statute against them.  
The matter then being so weighty and of so high a consequence as directly touching the honour of Almighty God: Let all good and faithful Christians be upon their knees holding up their hands, and pouring out tears at the feet of our gracious Sovereign Lord and King) whom God bless with long and happy years) of his most wise counsel, and of the Lords of his justice with most humble and devout petition that by this notable example they would be pleased better and better to put in execution the decree of God against blasphemers confirmed and observed from time to time through all laws, commonwealths, and kingdoms, that thereby God being appeased for the sins of this World, we may see under our King Lewis 13. and his most wise mother Regent a golden age, vice exiled, chastened, and extinguished, virtue and Christian faith exalted, that so our France may be a mirror of virtue, piety and justice unto other nations. So be it.    

Briefs drawn out of the Registers of the Court of Parliament.  
Upon the motion and complaint made unto the Court by the King's Attorney general, that as well in Paris as in other places, from whence notice was given to him by many of his Substitutes or deputies in sundry Shires, and jurisdictions or resorts of Seneschaldoms and other Territories, amongst the huge wickednesses, and horrible impieties brought in through the unbridled licentiousness of the civil wars, the Blasphemies against the holy Name of God, of the blessed Virgin his mother, and the execrable oaths, detestable renouncings, abominable cursings and defying or spighting of their names and power, are grown so common and familiar amongst all persons, of what condition so ever, that to appease the ire and wrath of God, it is very necessary to renew and bring in again the severity as well of the ancient Statutes of the Kings S. Lewis: of Philip; Charles the 8. Lewes' 12. Henry the second, and Charles the ninth: as also the Decrees and ordinances of the said Court in the years 1544 1572. and 1575. Requesting that an order may therein be taken by the Court, and that which hereupon shall be ordered by the same, shall be read and proclaimed with a loud voice, in the high places and markets through the town and Suburbs, likewise in all the justice-seates or Courts, as well general as particular of all the shires, Seneschaldomes, and Provostships of this resort and power.  
The said Court according to the former Orders and Decrees, did make, and makes inhibition, did forbid and forbids all persons in general of what state quality or condition they be, to swear and blaspheme the holy Name of God, of the blessed Virgin his Mother, or his Saints, upon the penalties in the said Orders and Decrees enjoined, and danger of life and death, if the case requireth it: hath enjoined and enioines or commands all Ushers, Sergeants and Officers of the justices, to take, arrest, and carry unto prison instantly, all those whom they shall find blaspheming, that the Law may go speedily upon them, and they be made an ensample; and commands all persons which shall hear them swear to denounce and accuse them to the Magistrates, adjudging therefore to the Denonciators or promoters the third part of the fines fined upon them.  
And this present decree shall be read and proclaimed, which the sound of the Trumpet, and public cry by the markets and high places of this Town and Suburbs, and places used and ordinary for cries and proclamations: Also through all the Cities, Towns, Boroughs, Villages, Shires, Senescaldomes and Provostships of this resort and power; Enjoined and charged to all judges of Provinces to keep a strait hand, and employ their power for the execution of this Decree, and to the Substitutes of the said Attorney general to take all the courses and orders thereunto necessary, upon penalty of forfeiting their Office. Done in Parliament the 26. januarie 1613. And read and proclaimed with trumpets sounding and public cry through the high places and Markets of this Town and Suburbs of Paris the 27. of the said month;  
Signed Voysin.   

A Decree and judgement of the said Court against Nicholas le Mesle Blasphemer.  
THe Court having seen and viewed the process criminal or evidence made by the Seneschal of Maine, or his 
a A judge to to sit upon life and death.  Lieutenant criminal in the territory of Man's, at the suit of the Substitute of the King's Attorney general Complainant and accuser, against Nicholas le Mesle Prisoner in the prisons of the 
b As the prison of the Gatehouse.  conciergery (or Ward) of the Palace having appealed (or complained) of the sentence given against him by the said Seneschal or his Lieutenant the 14. of May 1598. by the which sentence for public amends and reparation of the cases in the said process mentioned and proved, the said Mesle was condemned to make the amends (called) honourable bare head, and bare foot, holding in his hand a burning Torch of two pounds' weight before the great portal and chief gate of the Collegiall Church of Saint Peter; of the said Town of Man's, and there shall say publicly, and with a loud voice, that rashly and maliciously he had blasphemed against the Name of GOD, of whom he craved pardon of the King and his justice, this being done, be banished from the Country and County of Maine for five years, and in that while forbidden to be found there, upon the penalty in the King's Statutes; and beside condemned in two crowns fine to the King, and two crowns for the poor.  
The prisoner having been heard and examined upon the causes of his appeal and upon the cases laid on his charge having heard also the King's Attorney general which as for case newly coming to his knowledge had himself declared to appeal a minimums of the said sentence, requesting to be admitted to his appeal (as well provided) and thereupon and upon his conclusions (or demands) to have right and Law; All being considered, It is said or decreed that concerning the appeal declared by the said Mesle, that he did appeal ill and without grievance, and shall be fined for: The Court hath received and doth receive the Attorney general to his appeal, a minimums from the said sentence, admitted, and admits it (as well provided) and doing right upon the same, hath annihilated and annihilats both appeal and sentence from the which he appealed, without fine; And for the cases contained in the process (or evidences) hath condemned and condemns the said le Mesle, to do the amend (called) honourable before the chief gate of our Lady's church of Paris, barefoot, and bare head, in his Shirt, a halter about his neck, holding in his hands a burning Torch of Wax of two pounds' weight, and there on his knees to say and declare that wickedly and maliciously he hath spoken and uttered the execrable blasphemies against the holy Name of God, and of the Virgin Mary, whereof he repenteth and craved pardon of GOD, of the King and his justice; That being done, shall his tongue be pierced through with a hot iron, and his two lips slit or cloven, and afterwards hath banished and does banish him from the Kingdom of France for evermore; hath enjoined him to keep and observe his banishment upon penalty where he shall be found to be hanged to death without any other process: hath declared and declares all his goods done and confiscated to the King, taking first upon them the sum of a hundredth crowns to be applied for the bread of the Prisoners of the Conciergie of the Palace. Ordaineth that the process and evidence (on the which followed this decree) shall be burned.  
The Court also makes inhibitions and forbids all persons of what quality or condition soever they be to swear & blaspheme the Name of God upon the penalty contained in the Statutes and decrees formerly made, And this present Decree shall be read in the judgement seat of Man's in the Assizes time, and when they are sitting, at the suit and solicitation of the substitute of the Attorney general in that place.  
Pronounced to the said le Mesle, and executed the 27. of januarie 1613. Signed. Voysin.   

Translated out of French: and printed at Paris.