306 A leeVe1ation of theApocaly%. C AP 9. they than feeke for death in like Manner, as they do for a matter which they moll: ardently affect ; that is, Death (hall be judged a l;:flè evill , then this torment. Hence it was that the people Mardi in Afia did fly toLib, n es, and chofe there to live and die, that they might cfcape the Saracens, to whom many captive fervants, and fuch as were born in the countrey fled and flocked, being not able to en- dure any longer the intolerable tyrannie of the Saracens. Andvet that fafety which they hunted after,and thought to attaine by revol- ting, and flying away, fled from them ; for they were compelled with force and arms,to undergoe their former fervitude againe , as Sonar.faith in the life of Conflant. T000n.lues. Our peopleof Eng- land were fo cruelly plagued, and pilled by theWetern Locufs, that they did complain, though all invaine, that they were more mifera- bL thenBalaams 4ffe. Clubs and fpurs lay thumping and digging upon their backs andfides, and that without any the leafi intermif- fion, if they would not mend theirpace : on the contrary, to goe forward, and to obey their unjuft exaftions,which the Holy Pope ur- ged continually,by the means ofthefe Horfcicaches,was nothingelfe, but to plunge themfelves wilfully into certaindeltrution, that lay before their eyes. Certainly, in the time of the raign of Henry the third,rrren that were -by Gods juil judgement given over to the luíf of thefe Lactfflr, were tick of a difeafe worfe then death.Neither was this the mifery of our Kingdome alone,but our neighbour King- domes of Scotland, France, andGermany, didgroan under the fame Burden; whereupon Iehn Camotenfis,ashe is cited of Agrippa in his Book,e of the vanity offciencer , clothnotwithout caufe fay thus , the Let,ates of the Popes of Nome doe fo Madly behave themfelves in the Provinces, as if the Devil/ of Hell hadgatte forth from the prefence of the Lord to fcourge the Church of god. But men fought for death '- chiefly, and yet could not come by it, they were fo terrified by thefe -Locufts With the feare of Purgatory. Full faine would they have -died a commonbodily death , which all men of old have alwayes judged to be the haven , and end of all miferies ; but when the Lo- cults thundredout this terrible Tale,that the flames of Purgatory were not a whit lef e full oftorment,then the fire of Hell,they trem- bled when they were ready to die , and faw themfelves plainlybe- reaved of all that comfort that they looked for from death. Hence it was, that to redeeme themfelves from this vexationwith careand feare, they call away upon the loaufls whatfoever they would aske; yea, oftentimes that which they asked-not atall. And yet howmuff their
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