Doce me Domine viam tuam ut ingrediar in veritate tuâ Teach me thy WAY O Lord I will walk in thy TRUTH Ps. 86.11 THE PILGRIMAGE OF MAN WANDERING IN A WILDERNESSE OF VVOE Wherein is shewed the Calamities belonging to man being borne in this World and how all the principall Estates thereof are crossed with Misery A gorgeous Iemme for Gentility That liue in golden Felicite LONDON Printed by I.B. 1635. The Contents of this Booke Chap. 1. Of the miseries of man in his birth and of his first calamities Chap. 2. Of the miserie of Man entring into his youth and yeeres of discretion Chap. 3. Of the Misery of Man being come to his full strength Chap. 4. Of the Miserie of wicked Kings Princes and Monarches Chap. 5. Of the Misery of vicious courtiers and of their wicked liues Chap. 6. Of the misery of Magistrates that administer not true Iustice with a Discourse against wicked Iudges Chap. 7. Of the praise of Marriage and likewise the miseries that ensue thereon Chap. 8. Of the worlds generall Misery and the vices of all sorts in the Communalty Chap. 9. Of the misery of Age and mans Death with his resurrection and the terrible iudgement of God at the latter day THE PILGRIMAGE OF MAN WANDERING in a wildernesse of Woe CHAP. 1. Of the miserable birth of Man and of his first calamities MAN being the Image of God and the chiefe worke of Nature of all other creatures is most miserable in his birth For both beasts and birds are brought into the world either couered with haire feathers or wooll not so much as the séeds and corne of the ground but Nature hath clothed them with eares and huske man onely excepted for he being once come from the prison of his mothers wombe séemeth no other thing but the similitude of a poore worme that commeth creeping out of the earth With what clothing is he couered making his entry into the Palace of this world but only with bloud where in he is bathed and couered the which signifieth no other thing but the image and figure of sin What is the first song that he singeth at his comming into the world but only wéepings waylings which are as messengers and foreshewers of his calamities to come the which because he cannot expresse in words he witnesseth by tears Likewise pittifull cryes in the beginning of Monarchs Emperours and Kings and others that cause so many Tragedies to happen in the world But now contrariwise the worme be he neuer so little as soone as Nature hath brought him out of the earth beginneth to craull and creepe and to séeke for food The little chicken so soone as he is out of the shell is found cleane and needeth not to be washed like vnto man but runneth after the Hen and knoweth when he is called he picketh and eateth hee feareth the Kite without proouing before her malice he flyeth danger only guided by Nature But behold Man so soone as he is come into the world is like vnto a little monster and a lumpe of flesh which will let himselfe to be eaten of other beasts if he be not séen vnto and die for hunger before he can find his mothers breast and will as soone eat poyson as good meat and handle hot fron before he can discerne the good from the euill yet for all this he nameth himselfe the Prince of all other creatures Thus man being brought into this miserable world and plunged in the gulfe of miseries he then requireth to haue norishment and clothing to comfort the infirmity of his nature The office of which is appointed to mothers in consideration whereof nature hath giuen them breasts which are like two little bottles very proper and necessary for their sustenance But now to speake of the misery of Man in his nurriture how many mothers are there at this day in the world nay rather we may truly call them cruell stepmothers who hauing according to Nature brought their Children forth into the world because they will not take a little paines to nourish them themselues they send them to sorry villages to be nursed of strange vnknowne nurses which oftentimes do change their children bring home others in their stead Yet for all this they wil not be ashamed to hold a litle dog in their armes rather than the fruit that was ingendred in their wombes This inhumane practise is not vsed amongst beasts be they neuer so brutish for their natures are such that they neuer put their yong ones in the kéeping of others though nature giue them neuer so many but they nourish them themselues and are such zealous protectors of their young ones that they kéepe them almost alwayes in their presence till such time as they can auoid danger And that which is more to be marueiled at there riseth a certaine strife betweene the male and the female which of them shall be the kéeper And for that intent they many times quarrell and fight one with another the which may be séene not only in Apes but also in Beares which in nature are fierce and cruell yet they haue so great affection to their young ones that they are not onely content to nourish them with their milke but as soone as they are brought forth hauing almost no forme or fashion they licke them and pollish them to make them more perfect Likewise the little Birds couering fiue or sixe vnder their wings hauing neither graine nor other seed for their sustenance notwithstanding they spare neither art nor diligence wherewith nature hath endued them for their nourishment It is therefore a true witnesse of humane Misery in that Children are forced against Nature to sucke the milke of a strange woman and many times of such a one as may bée found best cheape what corruption or deformity soeuer she haue the which many times is so contagious to their Children that it were better for them to be nourished by some bruit Beast in the wildernes than to be put into the custody of such a Nurse as for example The cruelty and infamous life of Caligula the fourth Emperour of Rome was not imputed to Father or Mother but to the Nurse that gaue him sucke which woman was so cruell and barbarous of her selfe that she rubbed the Nipples of her Breasts with blood causing the child to whom she gaue milke to sucke them the which thing was so well practised of him that he did not onely commit an infinite number of Murvers but many time licked his sword and dagger being bathed and stayned in blood and wished that all the world had but one head to the end that with one blow he might behead them and then reign alone vpon the earth Séeing then that the Child hath not felt or suffered sorrow enough in his Mothers wombe but as soone as he is borne there is prepared a new sorrow for him by the ingratitude of such mothers which are so delicate and tender of
themselues that they will not nourish them but cause them to sucke the milke of those that oftentimes doe change their fruit or else féed them with corrupted milke by the which meanes in processe of time there riseth a number of diseases to the great hurt of poore children continuall reproch of their mothers This is of a truth and often verified that if the Nurse bee froward the Child will be froward not by receiuing of their Milke but by often looking vpon it If she be a Drunkard she will cause the Child to be the like as it is read in the life of the Emperour Tiberius who was a great Drunkard for that the Nurse the gaue him sucke did not onely drinke vnmeasurably but also did féed the Child with Soppes tempered in Wine Here you may sée that the Nurses haue so much power as to forme the manners and body of the Child so that if shee be sickely she rendereth the child sickenesse If she be wicked she causeth the Child also to be wicked But heere I will leaue Children in their Nurses kéeping and speake of their following calamities In how many dangers be they wrapped whilst they be a nursing some will burst with crying some neuer rest in quiet all the night long so that their Nurses can take no sléepe Some when they can scant goe will fall and breake their faces and their lims so that many times there is séene about them many grieuous wounds besides the diseases which they take by Nature But who will not wonder to sée the fantasticall maners of little children who for the most part will dabble in the water and channels like a little Ducke making little houses of earth counterfeting the horsemen in riding on a little sticke running after Dogs and Cats and will be angry with some and pleased with others who would thinke that such a miserable creature by succession of time would become so proud and lofty therefore if we will consider it we haue iust cause to mourne at their births and reioyce at their burials If the Prophet Ieremy bewailed the captiuity of the Iewes in Babilon if Anchises lamented the destruction of proud Troy if the Consul Marcellus lamented the City of Syracusa when he saw it on fire and Salust the corruption of Rome we may well with so many men of fame bewaile the miserable entry that man maketh into this world his dangerous aduancement and sorrowfull departure All which being profoundly considered by the Prophet Ieremy in the 20. Chapter he bewaileth his birth and murmureth against the knées that held him vp also the breasts that gaue him sucke Likewise the same Prophet Ieremy in the aforesaid chapter considering that man is made of dust earth conceiued in sin borne in paine and at the last made a prey for wormes doth with that his mothers wombe had serued for his tombe Iob in his fourtéenth Chapter likewise setteth man out in his right colours when he saith Man that is borne of a Woman hath but a short time to liue and is full of misery Out of these words we may gather somewhat for amongst all the creatures whom God hath created there is none subiect to more miseries than a woman especially those that are fruitfull and beare children for they haue scant a monthes rest in a whole yeare but are continually ouercome with sorrow and feare Then he saith hauing a short time to liue Indéed what is more shorter than the life of man vnto whom in stopping his nose and his mouth the life is gone for his life is nothing but a blast of wind inclosed therein I haue read of many that haue murmured against Nature for giuing long life to Harts and Rauens whose liues bring no profit and vnto man King of all things vpon earth but a short life although hee knoweth how to imploy his time and yet the little time that he hath to liue is shortned by sléepes dreames sorrowes and cares therefore wee may iustly say that mans life is full of misery and sorrow CHAP. IJ. Of the misery of Man entring into his youth and yeeres of discretion YEe haue alreadie heard discoursed and shewed in order what perils and dangers Man hath at his first comming into the world now therefore let vs consider what he is when he is sprung vp and whether that there bée an end of his miseries or no Of which if we bee equall Iudges wee shall finde that hee doth rather increase than decrease the miseries for this is the time of mans life wherein Nature doth reare against him a more furious combate for his blood beginneth to rise the Flesh prouoketh him to his owne pleasure the wicked world espyeth him the Deuill tempteth him and his selfe-wild youthfulnesse leadeth him so that it is impossible but that he which is assayled with so many vices and succoured of none in the end is discomfited and ouercome for in the body of youth Riot Liberty and deliciousnesse aboundeth For all the Uices in the world saith Marcus Aurelius doe there plant their siege Therefore it behooueth when the trées are young to vphold them and to loppe the ouer-waighty branches if afterward yée intend to gather any fruit Likewise it is necessary to reforme and correct the Uices that reigne in youth least afterward it returne to the parents shame and reproach But there are at this day many Fathers and Mothers which for default not to haue well instructed their Children in their youth doe receiue much sorrow and griefe in their age Moreouer there are many Mothers which in stead of giuing them good and godly instructions nourish and bring them vp in voluptuousnesse and pride and although they be nourishers of their bodies so are they destroiers of their soules If Hely was grieeuously punished with his Children for that he did not so sharpely chastise them as their offences did require what shall become of these Fathers and Mothers which in stead of correctors are their Childrens corruptors Such Parents may well be compared to Apes which kill their young ones by too much strayning them betweene their armes and keeping them so déere and this is the cause that so many fall into the hands of the Hangman which are to them reformers and correctors Many there bee that in stead of giuing good exhortations to their Family doe shew them first themselues naughty and wicked examples for the first commandement that they giue them how to liue well is to blaspheme sweare exercise gluttony and drunkennesse to spoyle the substance of their youth to be fornicators and to kisse women and maydens in their presence There be also many Mothers héere in England that learne their Daughters to dance to vse rhetoricke termes to haunt companies to scoffe and flout to paint and colour their faces to decke their fingers with Ringes and their neckes with Iewels as though they were Iewell sellers pretending to keepe a shop but in the end it will happen to them
which we decke our bodies curiously and haue no regard of the sins that ouerload the soules But let vs beware that the same happen not to vs which the Prophets writ against the Women of Ierusalem who reprooued their pride their vnshamefull Lookes their rowlyng eyes their attires their chaines Iewels and bracelets and other their vaineglorious fashions It will happen to you saith the Lord of Hosts that in stead of perfumes you shall haue stinke in stead of curled haire baldnesse and the fairest yong men amongst you shall passe through the edge of the sword and the strongest shall be slaine and perish in the warres Many other vices could I largely discourse of as the sinne of Gluttony and drunkennes where with the whole earth is infected and I greatly marueile that many vnsatiable belly-gods doe not rot and burst in the middest of their riotous excesse that will sit bowsing in Tauerns spoiling that which might comfort many succourlesse people and in the meane time the poore Lazarus standeth at the gate cannot haue so much as the Crummes that fall from their table and to conclude these wicked vices of Gluttony Drunkennesse hath coÌ„tinued vpon the earth euer since the beginning of the world as for example The liquorous lusting of Adam and Eue was the cause that the gate of Paradice was shut vp against vs Esau sold his birth-right Saint Iohn Baptist was slaine after Herod had banquetted Nâ—ah being ouercome with wine slept with his priuy parts vncouered and was mocked of his Children Lot being drunke with wine deflowred his owne Daughters with many other examples that I could name touching these wicked vices which for this time I passe ouer And now I will discourse of other miseries and calamities belonging to mans woefull Pilgrimage CHAP. IX Of the misery of Age and of mans death with his resurrection and the terrible Iudgement of God at the latter day THus after man hath waded in a Sea of misery as it were therein ouerwhelmed euen from his birth at last Age comes créeping on and then when he ought to rest griefes and dolours are renued the heart afflicted the braine troubled the face withered the body crooked the sight dimmed the haires falling the téeth rotten and to be short the body is then as it were a similitude of death For in age man is wonderfully changed he is prompt to wrath hard to appease sad couetous and suspitious the which being well considered by the Emperour Augustus said That man till fifty yéeres liued in pleasure and felicity and he that liueth longer for the most part passeth his time in sorrow and grieuous sicknesse death of children losse of goods to bury his friends with an infinite number of other worldly troubles So that it were better to haue their eyes closed in youth than to liue to behold these things in their crooked age Thus after man hath sorrowed all his dayes vnder the heauy burthen of his sinnes he is forced at last to yeeld vnto Death yet by no meanes may he know after what manner he shall end his life Some there be that are forced to dye by hunger others by thirst others by fire others by water others by poyson others are smoothered others are torne in péeces by wilde Beasts others deuoured of the Fowles of the ayre others are made meate for Fishes and others for Wormes Yet for all this Man knoweth not his end and when he thinketh himselfe most at rest he sodainely perisheth What a dreadfull sight is it to sée him lying in bed that is oppressed with the paines of Death What shaking and changing of all the bands of nature will he make the Féete will become cold the Face pale the Eyes hollow the Lips and Mouth to retyre the Hands diminish the Tongue waxeth blacke the Téeth doth close the Breath faileth the cold Sweate appeareth by violence of Sicknes all which is a certaine token that Nature is ouercome But now when it commeth to the last gaspe or at the sorrowfull departure that the soule makes from his habitation all the bands of nature are broken beside when the diuell or wicked spirit is assured of our end what furious assaults wil he make against our soules to bring vs in despaire of Gods mercy it is the houre when as Sathan doth his power to striue against God for to hinder the saluation of mankind and he is more boysterous in these latter dayes for that hée knoweth that his time is but short and that the end of his Kingdome is at hand and therefore he is the more inflamed for he neuer more tormenteth those whom he doth possesse than when he knoweth that he must depart But now when man hath passed the bitter anguish of death where is then become his glories Where are his pompes and triumphes Where is his voluptuousnesse and wantonnesse Where is his maiestie excellence and holinesse they are vanished as the shaddow and it is chanced to them as to the Garment that the Wormes haue eaten or as the Wooll that the Moath hath deuoured Let vs behold man when he is in his graue who euer saw a monster more hidious than the dead Carkasse of man behold his excellence maiesty and dignity couered with a lumpe of earth here you may sée him that was chearished reuerenced and honoured euen to kisse his hands and féete by a sodaine mutation become a creature most abominable And to them it happneth as Salomon writeth in his booke of Wisedome What hath it profited saith he the pride and great abundance of riches All these things are passed as is the Arrow shot to the white or as the Smoake that is dispersed with the wind Let vs therefore now leaue the body of man resting in his graue as in a bed for a season and speake of his resurrection and the iudgement of God which was so much feared of the Prophet Dauid that he prayed God not to enter into iudgement with his seruant Being dead in this world hee must then appeare before the iudgement seate of God with such a terrour to those that consider it well that there is no member but trembleth It is the day that the Lord wil come like a tempest when euery ones heart shall faile them and all the world shall be astonied For euen as the Lightning that riseth in the East and extendeth to the West so shall the comming of the Son of man be Tribulation then shall be so extreme and great as the like hath not béen since the beginning of the world till now nor neuer shall be the like the Sun shall be darkned and the Moone shall giue no more light the Starres shall fall from heauen and the waues of the Sea shall rage and men shall be amazed with feare and the powers of heauen shall mooue Woe shall be in those dayes to them that are with Child and to them that giue sucke For as it was in the dayes before the Flood they did eate and drinke marry and were married euen vnto the day that Noah entred into the Arke and knew nothing till the Flood came and tooke them all away So shall the comming of the Lord bée and then shall all kindreds of the earth mourne and shall hide themselues in Dennes and Caues and in the Mountaines and shall say vnto them fall vpon vs and hide vs from the face of him that sitteth vpon the Throne Blow out the Trumpet saith the Prophet Ioel that all such as dwell in the world may tremble at it for the day of the Lord commeth and is hard at hand a darke day a gloomy day yea and a stormy day Before him shall be a consuming fire and behind him a burning flame Then the dead that are in their graues shall rise and come forth the bones and the other parts shall finde out their ioynts for to ioyne againe together with the body that the earth hath putrified and corrupted All those that the Beasts and Birds of the Ayre hath deuowred all those that the Sea hath swallowed vp all those that are inuapored in the Earth and all those that the Fire hath consumed shall be reduced and brought to their former state All the blood that Theeues Pyrates Murderers Tyrants and false Iudges haue vniustly shed shall then appeare before the Maiesty of God so that there shall not one drop of blood be lost from the time of Abel that was the first slaine of men vnto the last so that there shall not one haire perish If the Uaile of the Temple did breake the Earth quake the Sunne darken and change his brightnes for the wrong that was done to Iesus Christ being on the Crosse although in nothing he did offend What countenance may then poore sinners shew that haue offended him an innumerable times Who then shall abide the shining brightnesse of Gods Maiesty sitting vpon his Throne of Glory It is the dreadfull houre when wicked Monarchs Kings and Princes shall giue account of their vnlawfull exactions that they haue made vpon their subiects and of the blood that they haue wrongfully spilled It is the houre wherein Merchants and such as haue traded in the circle of the world that haue beguiled and sold by false waights and measures shall render iust account of the least fault that they haue committed It is the houre that couetous men and Usurers that haue beguiled some and vndone others shall pay themselues the cruell interests of that which they haue ill gotten It is the houre when Magistrates and wicked Iudges that haue corrupted violated and suspended iustice shall be countable for their corruption and iniquities It is the very houre wherin Widowes Orphants and other afflicted persons shal make their complaints before God of the wrong and oppression that hath béene shewed them It is the houre wherein the wicked shall say repenting in themselues troubled with horâ—ible feare behold these which in times past we had in derision infamy and reproach are now accounted amongst the children of God whose portion is amongst the Saints It is the houre wherein many foolish and dumbe persons shall bée more happier than the wise and eloquent Many shepheards and carters shall be preferred before Philosphers many Beggars before rich Princes and Monarches and many simple and ignorant before the witty and subtile FINIS