Wise. You may easily guess what he meant: he meant, he would turn Informer, and so either weary out those that she loved, from meeting together to Worship God; or make them pay dearly for their so doing; the which if he did, he knew it would vex every vein of her tender heart.
Atten. But do you think Mr. Badman would have been so base?
Wise. Truly he had malice, and enmity enough in his heart to do it, onely he was a Tradesman; also he knew that he must live by his neighbours, and so he had that little wit in his anger, that he refrained himself, and did it not. But, as I said, he had malice and envy enough in his heart {85c} to have made him to do it, only he thought it would worst him in his trade: yet these three things he would be doing.
1. He would be putting of others on to molest and abuse her friends.
2. He would be glad when he heard that any mischief befell them.
3. And would laugh at her, when he saw her troubled for them. And now I have told you Mr. Badmans 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 a hung 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. [Picture: Take note symbol] In {86} our Town there was one W. S. a man of a very wicked life; and he, when there seemed to be countenance 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 a nights, climb Trees, and range the Woods a 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 he 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 noyse, 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 ’twas a wonder it did not kill him: But after that he also walked about, till God had made him a sufficient spectacle of his Judgment for his sin, and then on a sudden he was stricken and dyed miserably: and so there was an end of him and his doings.