,
merry company, jovial entertainment, but a cruel reckoning in the end, as
bitter as wormwood, a fearful visitation commonly follows. And the devil
that then told thee that it was a light sin, or no sin at all, now
aggravates on the other side, and telleth thee, that it is a most
irremissible offence, as he did by Cain and Judas, to bring them to
despair; every small circumstance before neglected and contemned, will now
amplify itself, rise up in judgment, and accuse the dust of their shoes,
dumb creatures, as to Lucian's tyrant, _lectus et candela_, the bed and
candle did bear witness, to torment their souls for their sins past.
Tragical examples in this kind are too familiar and common: Adrian, Galba,
Nero, Otho, Vitellius, Caracalla, were in such horror of conscience for
their offences committed, murders, rapes, extortions, injuries, that they
were weary of their lives, and could get nobody to kill them.
[6727]Kennetus, King of Scotland, when he had murdered his nephew Malcom,
King Duffe's son, Prince of Cumberland, and with counterfeit tears and
protestations dissembled the matter a long time, [6728]"at last his
conscience accused him, his unquiet soul could not rest day or night, he
was terrified with fearful dreams, visions, and so miserably tormented all
his life." It is strange to read what [6729]Cominaeus hath written of Louis
XI. that French King; of Charles VIII.; of Alphonsus, King of Naples; in
the fury of his passion how he came into Sicily, and what pranks he played.
Guicciardini, a man most unapt to believe lies, relates how that Ferdinand
his father's ghost who before had died for grief, came and told him, that
he could not resist the French King, he thought every man cried France,
France; the reason of it (saith Cominseus) was because he was a vile
tyrant, a murderer, an oppressor of his subjects, he bought up all
commodities, and sold them at his own price, sold abbeys to Jews and
Falkoners; both Ferdinand his father, and he himself never made conscience
of any committed sin; and to conclude, saith he, it was impossible to do
worse than they did. Why was Pausanias the Spartan tyrant, Nero, Otho,
Galba, so persecuted with spirits in every house they came, but for their
murders which they had committed? [6730]Why doth the devil haunt many men's
houses after their deaths, appear to them living, and take possession of
their habitations, as it were, of their palaces, but because of their
several villainies?