Christian ethics -- Fiction; Christian fiction; Conduct of life -- Fiction
[Picture: Take note symbol] Atten. You bring to my mind a sad story,
the which I will relate unto you. The thing is this; About a bow-shoot
from where I once dwelt, there was a blind Ale-house, and the man that
kept it had a Son whose name was Edward. This Edward was, as it were,
an half-fool, both in his words, and manner of behaviour. To this blind
Ale-house certain jovial companions would once or twice a week come,
and this Ned, (for so they called him) his Father would entertain his
guests withall; to wit, by calling for him to make them sport by his
foolish words and gestures. So when these boon blades came to this mans
house, the Father would call for Ned: Ned therefore would come forth;
and the villain was devilishly addicted to cursing, yea to cursing his
Father and Mother, and any one else that did cross him. And because
(though he was an half-fool) he saw that his practice was pleasing, he
would do it with the more audaciousness.
Well, when these brave fellows did come at their times to this
Tippling-house (as they call it) to fuddle and make merry, then must
Ned be called out; and because his Father was best acquainted with
Ned, and best knew how to provoke him, therefore He would usually ask
him such questions, or command him such business, as would be sure to
provoke him indeed. Then would he (after his foolish manner) Curse his
Father most bitterly; at which the old man would laugh, (and so would
the rest of the guests, as at that which pleased them best) still
continuing to ask, that Ned still might be provoked to curse, that they
might still be provoked to laugh. This was the mirth with which the old
man did use to entertain his guests.
The curses wherewith this Ned did use to curse his father, and at which
the old man would laugh, were these, and such like: The Devil take you;
The Devil fetch you: He would also wish him Plagues and Destructions
many. Well, so it came to pass, through the righteous Judgement of
God, that Neds Wishes and Curses were in a little time fuelled upon
his Father; for not many months passed between them after this manner,
but the Devil did indeed take him, possess him, and also in few days
carried him out of this world by death; I say, Satan did take him and
possess him: I mean, so it was judged by those that knew him, and had
to do with him in that his lamentable condition. He could feel him like
a live thing goe up and down in his body, but when tormenting time was
come (as he had often tormenting fits) then he would lye like an hard
bump in the soft place of his chest, (I mean, I saw it so,) and so
would rent and tare him, and make him roar till he died away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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