THE SCENE: God works in mysterious ways. In this case, His ways include snuffing out the lives of outlawed noblemen through freak chance and bad luck.
THE TEXT: Two also of his most savage adherents, one the commander of the cavalry, and the other of the foot, are said to have perished by different accidents: the one died from a fall from his horse, by which his bead was dashed upon the ground, and his brains beat out; but the other, named Rainer, celebrated for destroying and burning churches, while in passing over the sea with his wife, by the weight of his iniquities, caused the ship, in which he had taken his passage, to become immovable in the midst of the sea. This causing the greatest astonishment to the seamen and the other passengers, they resorted to the ancient custom of casting lots, and the lot fell upon Rainer; and, lest this should seem to be the effect of chance, it was tried again, and even a third time, and being found invariable, the decision of God was manifest — wherefore, lest all should perish with him, or on account of him, he was put into a small boat with his wife and ill-acquired, wealth, and the ship immediately regained her power of moving, and proceeded as usual; but the skiff sunk with the weight of the sinner, and was buried in the deep.
– History of English Affairs, William of Newburgh, 12th Century AD
