Guilty Consciences.
There is no ramper [rampart?] to a good conscience, nor a crueler torment than an evil. Examples of the one and the other are infinite. As for the terrors of conscience caused by the remembrance of misdeeds, especially in regard of innocent blood, behold some histories.
A certain host being a man of good reckoning in a town of Germany had one only daughter, well qualified and of good means. The servant of the house, an honest and proper man, sued to have her in marriage but was denied, by reason he was a stranger and a poor servant. Nevertheless because he had always showed himself faithful, the goodman going to the bath with his wife and daughter, left him the charge of his house. During their absence, a merchant came to this inn, where the night following he had his throat cut by this servant, who buried him in the stable, and the next day sold his horse and apparel. This murderer remained unknown.
The Host returned from the bath, and thinking his servant had governed his house as he ought, began to love and esteem him more then ever he had done before. Not long after the murderer be-thought him of awhile. He counterfeited letters, in certain of his kinsfolk names, which advertised him of his fathers death, and therefore counselled him to come down into the country.
Re∣turning from market, he showed these letters, and 80 pieces of gold to his master adding that though his friends had willed him to buy a horse, he would not be at such charge, but was minded to go on foot and that he undertake this journey very unwillingly as desiring nothing more then to continue still with his said master To whom having given the most part of his gold to keep, with promise to return again, he went his way. Though it were somewhat discommodious at that time for the good-man to let him go, yet thinking those letters to be true, he gave him leave. Within a while after he came again, and committed a greater sum to his master, giving him to understand that his father had left him very much, and played his part so well that the host gave him his daughter to wife, and finally he be∣came heir to his father in-law and in time because he carried himself exceeding honestly, he was elected into the number of the Magistrates of the town wherein he so well discharged his duty, that there was no fault to be found in him. But his conscience so tormented him, that condemned by it, he chose rather to accuse himself and die, than to languish any longer. Being one day called by his fellow Magistrates to sit upon a certain murderer, he rose betimes in the morning, and going to hear mass, desired his wife, with whom he had always lived very quietly and lovingly, to make him ready some good bit or other, alleging he was not very well, and was to be that day at an arraignment. Being returned home from mass, he was told that there was a calf’s head provided for his breakfast, a meat which he loved marvellously well. Desirous to see it, he opened the cupboard where it was but seized with horror and fear, he asked who had locked up a mans head into the cupboard? his wife showed him that he was deceived whereupon coming to himself, he made a light breakfast, and going to the council chamber, sat down in his accustomed place.
When it came to him to deliver his opinion, having declared that by the laws the murderer upon whom they sat was to loose his head, he stood up, and said, that he had also deserved the like punishment. Where upon he declared in order the circumstances of the murder by him perpetrated in his late master’s house, and all that had ensued thereof earnestly desiring them, that he might be beheaded.
Some thinking that some melancholic humour made him talk so, counselled him to go home, and get physicians about him. Whereunto he answered saying, I know you have a good opinion of me: and indeed I am not culpable of any crime punishable by man’s law, but this same. Notwithstanding I instantly beseech you to take my head from my shoulders, and so deliver me from the horrible torment I have endured and that justly, ever since the time of my offence. Therewith the Judges caused the place to be dug up, which he had told of, where the bones of the murdered merchant according to his saying were found whereupon he was lead of his own accord to the place of execution, and beheaded with the other murderer.
IOHN IAMES GRYNEVS, a learned diuine, in his Commen∣tary on the Proghet IONAS, Chap. 1. pag. 123. &c.
I have heard that not many years since a certain man in the town of Leipzig went of his own accord to the Judge of the place, to whom he voluntarily confessed that he was one of them which had robbed the Elector’s wagons of Saxony, adding that he had rather die, then endure the torment of his conscience any longer. The same Author
Some forty six years ago or thereabout two brothers dwelling at Lausanne, and hewing wood in the mount Jura, the younger fell out upon some slight occasion with the elder, and gave him such a blow with his axe on the head, that he overthrew him to the ground, where he made an end of him, and then buried him.
Returning home, he told their mother that his said brother had willed him to excuse him to her, and was gone into Germany, for to see the country, hoping to be at home again by such a time.
Their mother being therewith satisfied, the murderer went up every day to the mountain, and kneeling down on his brothers grave, wept very bitterly and asked God forgiveness. Having continued thus certain months, and never suspected of any such matter, coming one day from the mountain, as he was almost at home, he looked behind him, and spied the Burgermeister, (which is the chiefest magistrate of that place under the protection of the Canton of Bern) followed by an officer in his livery, he ran away as fast as he could to the other end of the town. The Burgomaster marvelling at it, commanded his officer to run after him. The Officer followed him, and cried stop him, stop him. Whereupon diverse came running into the street and stayed him. The Burgomaster, a wise man, committed him to prison, where having examined him, he confessed the whole matter to him, and was executed as he deserved, going to his death with such constancy and penitent sorrow for his offense, that all that beheld him melted into tears. I received this discourse from an excellent personage, that was present at his arraignment, and saw his end.
One called N. Laine, borne at Toulouse, having attempted his father’s death, escaped away, and got to Geneva, where he continued a certain time unknown. Upon a day walking along by the town ditch, and spying some of the magistrates with their officers afar off, he ran as fast he could towards the bridge of Arua, which was hard by, for to save himself in an∣other Seigneurie. The Officers ran after him, and with the aide of those that met him on the way, apprehended him who presently in his own talk bewray∣ed himself. Being carried to prison and kept very close, at last he confessed his detestable attempt. The Magistrates of Geneva sent a herald to Toulouse, and by a copy of his indictment, which was sent them, understood the truth of Laine’s confessions, who was executed, and even to the very last gasp shewed a lively and notable repentance of his faults. Memorialls of the Historie of Geneua.
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