here For truth their crown they doe augment Their glory shall the more appeare Though death do close them in his tent God shewes his face here most to such That liv'd long wrought and did not grudge 41. It 's best for bad to die betime For living long their sins increase And sinfull acts grow to their prime Their sinnes live still though life do cease Though they are rotten in the dust Their sins are fresh they meet them must 42. They 'd best to tremble in such sort At thoughts of death that they may know And heare the dreadfull ill report Of sinne while here they live below Death puts an end to vaine delights Then doth begin hell horror frights 43. But to the just their sorrow ends They joy though 't was begun before With full increase which makes amends For trouble much their joyes are more Of this the blessed Saints can tell As damned can relate of hell 44. What though the soule and body parts Which loving friends have been so long The thoughts of this may glad their hearts That they shall meet both sweet and strong Refin'd and with each other joy In heaven still without annoy 45. Death is no death it doth but ope A doore the soule away may flie And so possesse that blessed hope It hath of true felicitie To leave fraile life who 'd thinke it strange To have eternall in exchange 46. Death 's but a blast that soone blowes ore And never more shall looke on thee The hurt is nothing feare is more Though dreadfull it do seeme to be God will it sweeten from above And thou shalt finde his constant love 47. I le feare it not for why should I For life and death together goes By every crosse I le learne to die They 'r both my friends but they are foes Life doth consent with Death each day To take part of my life away 48. Lord I will serve thee while I here Remaine what need I much to care For death when thou freest me from feare I will thy goodnesse still declare My life shall ever speake thy praise When death comes I shall live alwayes FINIS The Resolutions of the Muse in her Pilgrimage NOw I of Time and Vanity have sung Of Darknesse Light and Life sad sweet strong Of Sin of Death Instructions too among I le seeke my fortune now and goe about I shall be entertain'd I make no doubt Though I am naked love will finde me out I shall be cloth'd then in a sute of Leather And love and I both still shall dwell together And she 'l be glad that ever I came hither And if a Noble person do me grace To take me in in this distressed case I le do my service faithfull in my place If one that 's learned take me home to dwell I le pray him then that he will use me well Or to a better I my selfe will sell. If I should dwell with him that 's truly wise He 'l hide my faults what 's of worth he 'l prize And then my song to praise him shal devise If he that 's honest bids me welcome in I le doe my best to helpe to kill his sin I shall not lose yet he by me shall win If noble learned wise and honest too Doe shew respect to me who then durst doe Me wrong they cannot 't is no matter who If one ignoble seeing me doe grutch To shew me favour thinke it 's all too much That I receive I looke for none of such If one unskill'd in any learned art Against me proudly act a Tyrants part He 'l vexe in vaine he shall not greeve my heart For want of wit if any doe me blame Let them as fools keep in their spight with shame My song's the same and so are they by name If one that 's vile looke with disdainfull eye On me because I doe his faults espie I le leave him gall'd when I from him doe flie If any Senior looking big and grave Conceits he knowes yet he no knowledge have If me he slight I will his absence crave Or if I finde one with an emptie pate That nothing speakes though he doe ever prate I le shew his shame but not his person hate If one I finde that hath a barren soule And will not see 't yet doe my words controule Let him be put with stultus in his rowle If one that 's simple doe desire me To gaine experience constant I will be To doe my best to him that all shall see If any censure me is this the cause Their parboyl'd spirits cannot gaine applause They break both Gods Natures humane laws If one detract from good or turne to ill My honest meaning this may follow still That such like things his measure here may fill Such Imps to plead for sinne were very fit But seldome they have so much art or wit As pride or lust have for to manage it If one that reades and rudely breakes my feet Or spoyles my joynts my musicke is not sweet To him the Horne-book is for him most meet If one through envie proudly do disdaine To grant me favour others will obtaine The fruit but he hath labour for his paine If any mend my faults I will him praise And with my voice his honour I will raise His name in me preserv'd shall be alwsyes All that I crave is but a spotlesse name And not to mount upon the wings of fame Plain welcome likes me quit me all from blame You know my minde for what I speake is true Being modest I will not for favour sue Receive me else I le bid you now adieu FINIS
Thy friendship turnes unto disease 51. A stab disease or gust of winde Will turne thee out thou art inclin'd For small occasions to distafte Thou leav'st us still to pay the rent We for thy sake are often shent Thou leav'st the house ruin'd and wastes 52. When thou art parting then the eye Growes dimme the visage presently Doth looke so dreadfull and so pale The feet and hands doe grow so cold The bodie fashions to the moulde The tongue that faltets in the tale 53. If we could see thee there we 'd stay But thou dost slily glide away And leave the creature deafe and dumbe Me thinkes thou shouldst thy house repaire And make it wholsome sweet and faire What wilt thou to it no more come 54. But when thou art thus forc't to part And tak'st thy vale of the heart Then sad and dismall is thy voice That heavie parting wrings out teares With greese and anguish mixt with feares Our friends will grieve our foes re joyce 55. What horrour doe poore men conceive When thou dost take thy solemne leave Which leaves no hope to meet againe The shadow then of death in deed Makes way for hell he sowes such seed The fruit of which is endlesse paine 56. VVe are arrested for thy debt And in a prison we are set A yard at least within the ground Aud thou the principall art gone And we must beare the brunt alone Non est inventus gives a sound 57. Now life doe thou my counsell take 'Gainst sin and death a partie make And in defiance ever stand Take courage to thee shew thy power And let them not the world devoure Then live thou blessed in the land OF THE NEW LIFE OR THE LIFE OF Grace in the Soule 58. New Life and true when thou art made Within the soule thou dost not fade But dost thy freshnesse still retaine Thou art not subject then to die Above all ill thou dost espie Such things as brings in perfect gaine 59. Thou li'st so close unto the soule There is no power can controule Thy blessed state or yet remove Thy siege for thou hast made it strong And thou hast patience us among There thou art constant in thy love 60. Confusion deadnesse did beset Our hearts till vict'ry thou did'st get Ore us and brought us into frame And thou at all times dost thy best To settle living peace and rest Ore us to bring a blessed name 61. We cannot see nor apprehend Thee but thou dost thy power bend Which doth thy presence then discover That men unskild in art may read Thy booke of life being open spread Thou art an upright constant lover 62. Though thou art weakned there sometimes By treachery and hainous crimes That men doe thinke thy force is rais'd Yet cause thou canst with fresh supply Of new fetcht power from on high Quicken repentant soules thou' rt prais'd 63. And if thou dost receive a wound Or else through faintnesse in a swound Fall then thou hast a present cure The bloud of him that once was slaine By death he did thy freedome gaine This thou apply'st and dost endure 64. Thou art a shelter to all those To whom thou dost thy selfe disclose A faithfull friend thou art indeed What they doe lend thee thou dost pay And with increase much every day Thou dost returne their fruitfull seed 65. In troubles thou dost us defend If thou canst not our sorrowes end Thou dost support us in the same Thou dost our parts then ever take We are belov'd 't is for thy sake Who would not joy to heare thy name 66. Thou little wast at first bur thou Dost much increase we know not how Thou dost not alwayes grow by sence But afterwards we may perceive That thou dost with us vigor leave So fruitfull is thy recompence 67. Comely and sweet needs thou must be Thou cam'st from heaven so that we Doe entertaine the heavens guest And this is all thy drist I know For to instruct us here below And then to lead us to our rest 68. In heaven still remaines thy spring While we on earth thy praises sing So we can never draw thee dry The more we have the more we may Draw from thy fulnesse more I say We have it free we need not buy 69. Thy root 's above yet thou art here I nere knew any graffe to beare So distant as you seeme to be But when I finde thy root doe grow By faith in men as thou dost now My differing thoughts doe then agree 70. Thou art so comely to behold If I had art thee to unfold I 'd shew the beautie of thy face That men should thee so much admire And love should kindle such desire As for thy love to sue apace 71. But thou art shadow'd so with sin Men cannot know thee so within As otherwise thou would'st appeare And misconceits doe vale thee too We cannot finde with much adoe Thy glory out though ne're so cleare 72. And men that are but poore and base In outward things yet in this case Excell they seeme thy face to hide The world thinkes not that poorearay Can harbour thee that art so gay The truth of this is dayly tri'd 73. Men thinke there is no difference 'Twixt thee and thy sweet influence And naturall life that is so poore They prize that more for that they know Which lives by sense like beasts below Till they have spent their fading store 74. Thou dost preserve the chiefest part The soule and guardest so the heart And living comforts dost bring in All other sweetnesse dies apace And leaves their masters in disgrace They are like blanks which nothing winne 75. Men cannot have of thee too much Nor yet dost thou to any grutch Thy strength at need if they thee chuse And thou dost use thy mighty power Against all those that would devoure Them or their life seeke to abuse 76. All things that furthers thy increase The fruit of joy the word of peace Thou dost them use as excellent With all good meanes thou dost agree To helpe our growth's as we may see To make us lively is thy bent 77. Thy fruit is pleasant for to taste And faire plentifull and vaste They onely know it that doe finde Thee in their soules and they can tell How thou in goodnesse dost excell Thy praises please well such a minde 78. But they that to this life are strange And never know what 't is to change They see no favour in thy face Nay some will ever be at strife For such as stand for thee their life And would thy Image quite deface 79. Thou art not stain'd with hatesull pride Nor any other sin beside Thou keep'st thy selfe still free from all Though we sin here 't is so we must Till we are levell with the dust But thou dost bring our soules from thrall 80. Thou art so like a Turtle true When death doth claime us for his due Thou would'st not leave us till the last The soule then
againe let Sathans will be crost And then will I thy goodnesse still unfold And cause poore sinners mercy to behold Hee findes successe in his suit with God Alas poore man I pitie on thee take I doe intend thee my redeem'd to make Thou shalt from sinne and Sathan be set free Onely thou shalt be servant unto me I heard thy mone my bowels could not stay To grant thy suit no longer I le delay Thy dreadfull passion came before my sight Then my compassion sent down heavenly light I will thee make an instrument of praise To fight with sin and Sathan all thy dayes Seeing I have brought thy soule and body back From hell whether sin commanded thee to pack And after thou hast serv'd me herein love Then thou shalt dwell with me in heaven above And sin and death that sought to ruine thee Shall be arraign'd and both condemn'd by me The nature of Death with his unsatiable speech and lamentation VVhen death by sin had once possest the earth And found that man was mortall made by birth Still since that time he strikes at all mankinde As well the great as those that come behinde The first man living though a mighty King Death ventred on and struck him with his sting All good bad that liv'd in ancient time Though some liv'd long yet some died in their prime The best that ever on the earth had breith Though free from sin yet was not freed frō death So till this day experience proveth true He darts down some and claimes the rest for due His hungry jawes will ner'e be satisfied While one doth live and on the earth abide And if that once the man that lives he have Brought down to death he bars him in the grave And so triumphs and rules among the slaine For where his kingdome is there he doth raigne When he hath pill'd the world of all her store Though this is done yet still he wishes more O that there were an other world or two I would to worke and make no more adoe O that I mght but use my kingly power Then I would seek mans ruine every hower Graves yeeld no food that give me such content As living flesh to that my mind is bent Nothing there is so pleasant to my taste As lives of men when I doe lay them waste What am I made a King but for a time No power can I use amongst the flime Unlesse it be the silly wormes to slay That can I in the least part of the day I thought I should have been a King for ever Sin set me up I doing my indeavour Perform'd the worke that I was bid to doe I fear'd no man for I was hardy too Assure so quicke for in a little space All nations people were brought in deadly case And must I needs give ore this mighty trading Which cōstant was though all the world was fading This is not all I think I heard some say I must be bound ore to the judgement day If it be so I my defence will make As Kings of all their subjects place doetake Untill that time you 'l heare no more of me How stands the case then all the world shall see Sinnes probable destinie Sinne 's now accus'd with all his sinfull crimes Laid to his charge 't is corrupt are the times The righteous man which doth against sin stand Is very like to have the upper hand Unto the seate of Justice sin is brought An equall judge doth never stand for nought But tries the truth and gives to each his due When once of it he hath had a carefull view Sinne being apprehended is accused before an impartiall Judge Sinne hath me vext ere since I had a being And all men else that carefull are in seeing Shall finde him plotting mischiefe with his will VVith malice murther striving for to kill The seed of good that in mans heart are sowne And every plant that is not of his owne If one be good that hee would from him take If one be bad he tries him worse to make From bad to worse from worse to worst of all More could I say sin counts these things but smal Sinnes vile answer and Request Answer to this what is this true or no T is all but lyes he is my deadly foe He speakes for malice his words have no savor Hee 's but a foole and thinkes to curry favour Because forsooth I am not so precise Though I doe sweare he tells as many lies He hates my waies and I hate his as much I doe him scorne as also loath to touch What though in mirth I take my liquor well What though I brawle rail with them I dwel What though I play and sport both day night Though I blaspheme and court what I might I force no man if I can any draw With craft or fraud I hold it in good law This I will add I 'le open all my store Seeing he is vext I 'le vexe him ten times more Because indeed I doe not often pray And when I doe my heart shall be away He 'd have me read and heare a blacke reproach Poore foolish things yet farre above my reach Pray Sir consider this and free me quite Out of the hands of this malicious wight The Impartiall Iudge his answer he turnes over Sinne and Death to be tried by the Judge of the world Now well it is I heard you each oue single But thy vile words have made my eares to tingle What he did say thy words have now made worse What cāst expect but Gods eternal curse His words are true thine most unjust appeare Sin 's the Delinquent the Righteous man I cleare I le turne thee over to that righteous Judge To whom the world must yeeld though many grudge There thy confession shal be on record Besides the rest that will come word for word I have no baile must I in prison lye That matters not from God thou canst not flye And Death of whom I heate such ill report I understand to be thy great confort Call him to me it 's no matter let him stay Both are reserv'd unto a greater day The righteous man that did thee apprehend Will ruine thee thou canst it not defend And Death by Life will be und one also Your seeming friends each one will turne a foe The Righteous man hath leave granted to prosecute Sinne and Life to prosecute Death Who 's that below that faine would speak with mee A poore sinner Lord that lies in miserie What is that other which by thee doth stand Lord this is Life that doth preserve a land What would yee have speak both for both have breath Free me from sin Free me likewise from death What hath Sin done or Death seeing you desire Sin promis'd good but death comes for sins hire Here they are both give us both leave to speake If thou deny Lord both our hearts will breake Both speak your minds the Saints I made the
nothing but the bone Is left when I had any they did feed With me it was a charitable deed But now alas I hungry am and poore What 's done is done now I can doe no more Death come away why should'st thou not be free The wormes and I will ever honour thee Death and his friends are checkt Life is urged to speake to the purpose Death thou thy friends also have spoke their mind Thou think'st thy cause is good but thou shalt find Vaine thy defence with thy corrupted crue Living by sense they nothing speake that 's true They doe not care so they have private gaine Come in by thee though all the world be slaine They helpe thee not thy cause the worse made They parties are and with thee drive a trade As for thy selfe when life doth make reply Thy shew of truth best prove is but a lye Life to the life of death the dreadfull story Speak now declare the truth shew forth my glory The Reply of Life to all the particulars against deaths defence When God did make man blessed in his kinde And all things else according to his minde When man did breake the Law of God by sinne Thou as his curse did'st presently step in God bid thee 't is true but thou run'st fast For to destroy his worke thou didst make haste But to obey Gods will or his decree Was never yet intended so by thee For Truth or Justice thou car'st not a whit And yet thou sayest thou hast a right to it Dost thou divide the world is it thy due Or any part 't were so if lyes were true Thou willing art to ruine me and still Thou seek'st about my living bloud to spill Thou dost thy worst to keepe me still from rest The worst of workes thou callest still the best Thou shamelesse art and impudent to all Thou throw'st thy darts at rich faire great small Thou bidden art but yet without commission Thou would'st destroy me crying for permission Whether good or bad it 's all one still to thee Thou car'st for none for his integrity If in Gods hand thou art why dost thon now Thus vexe and fret and wilt not me allow A being but dost labour to destroy Me still my glory thou would'st take away A tyrant if a King thou art 't is so To all thy subjects first or last a foe Thou shew'st thy selfe most curst so vile thou art Some may in feare in love none takes thy part Thou dost usurp God made thee not a King A name that 's forg'd through feare thou hast the thing Put on thee God with wrath doth arme thee then 'T is for his foes but to all other men He mercy shewes but thou no pitty hast And friends or foes thou still dost lay them waste What good by thee doth come to any one 'T was by Gods hand for thou intendest none The Saints that did so much desire thee 'T was first because from sinne they would be free And for to see the Lord and with him dwell To speake his praises and his goodnesse tell Not for thy sake thy pale and dreadfull face Frights all by nature run from thee apace Can God dost thinke finde no way else to bring His Saints to blisse but thou must use thy sting To bring them down some are in heaven blest That nere knew thee and so might all the rest If God did please thou mak'st as if beholding God were to thee in thy defence unfolding For spoyling mee that life by thee they gaine Is not thy minde that life too thou would'st staine If thou hadst power but'tis above thy reach Thou didst on earth such fearfull lectures preach 'T is well thou hast but there a time to tarry 'T is true though once in this thy minde did varie No ill report I ever made on thee And this the Judge and all the world shall see Though I am guilty if the Lord forgive My sinne what 's that to thee I still shall live What ill I doe is done through sins temptation Thou bring'st the guilt which threatens condemnation Thou ruin'st time and ages to decay Thou also bring'st by takiag me away Is 't out of love to God that thou dost so Revenge the ils no no thou art a foe To all that live it is not for Gods sake It 's still in wrath that thou dost vengeance take Thou dost accuse me of the breach of right That so my darknesse may make thine seeme light Thy selfe thou praisest that thou dost Gods will And keep'st his lawes though thou dost break them still Thou lying serpent thou doe good to me When. where was it can good of evill be I will requite thee if thou good hast showne To me thy ill to all the world is knowne Can Life by Death a being here retaine When losse of life thou countest for thy gaine 'T is true I hate thee how can I doe lesse Thou dost on me thy malice still expresse An aggravation and disproportion betwixt death and the cruellest creatures and how he hath nothing that is praise-worthy belongs to him What shall I say thou cursed viper now Set out thee or thy hatred who knowes how A cockatrice thou art of poyson'd Aspe Thou step'st then in when men for me do gaspe The Lion's meeke when he 's compar'd to thee The Dragon 's tame how wilde so ere he be The Leopards doe shew some respect to men The greedy Wolves doe prey but now and then The hungry foxes doe sleepe all the day And in the night they onely seeke their prey But thou art worse than all that here are nam'd Thou spoil'st all men and never art asham'd Both day and night all times thou goest about And mak'st thy prey of all thou findest out The Panther when he doth destroy mans life Seemeth to grieve but thou art still at strife WIth me for murther thou dost not relent But if thou misse a blow thou dost repent Beasts may be seene and so may be prevented If not with one alone they 'l be contented Thou like a Thiefe dost come men not aware All thou must have for one thou dost not care Thy shape 's unseen I cannot paint thee out Not man nor beast nor fowle nor vermine rout Can thee discover in thy native hue Or by proportion give to thee thy due If thou be strong why doe men through disease Grow weake before thou dost upon them seaze If thou be bold why dost thou slily creepe And steal on men by night when they should sleep If thou art valiant why dost thou the brother Vse as thy meanes to make him kill the other When armies rise against each other fight Though there thou art thou play'st there least in sight If thou art noble why doe hangmen still Attend on thee to execute thy will Thou dost men starve is this a noble minde No favour shew'st thou art to all unkinde If thou art great why dost not shew the same To shelter men of
unshapen birth Thou scum of vermin thou art worst of any And if there were ten thousand times as many The Plagues of Egypt cannot equall thee Nor all that have been are or ere shall be The Serpent hath his place where he abides The lesser vermine on the earth so glides They seek not me they sting but once for all The body not the soule they cause to fall Thou in all places hast thy subtill snares To bring all men to everlasting cares The more thou sting'st the more thou dost delight Both soule and body thou seek'st to stroy quite Sinne didst not thou like fooles lull us asleep And darkensse bring when light did once but peepe All seedes of evill in us thou didst sowe All seeds of good thou still did'st overthrowe Our thoughts of God our souls our death our change Our sins heaven hell all these were very strange We had our fills of sin we made our boast And they that in their sins exceeded most Were most belov'd with us of all the rest The worst of men wee counted still the best Though knowledge we did want to purchase fame Wee 'd sweare and lie and thereby raise a name If good we knew we never did intend To do that good or if bad strive to mend Sinne promi'sst us to free us still from strife And give us good the daies of all our life And at the end we need not feare but we Should dwell in heaven to all eternitie Some n'ere were raised from the sleepe of sinne Till they in hell close prisoners were within But some on earth began their hell before The first of that of which they now have more This we can say and more if need require Now one alone relate sins fearfull hire And how we are and in what wofull place Our company and endlesse easelesse case Some of them in a dreadfull manner relate the torments of hell and cries out for vengeance upon sinne and departed O heavens heare and earth what sin hath brought Upon all us that sold our selves for nought We are through sin accursed from the Lord Of men and Angels we are all abhorr'd I want a tongue to shew this wrathfull rage And fury to remaine times after age The blacknesse and the darknesse is so great Light there is none but still abides the heate Of fire and brimstone burning in the flame The dregs of sinne is mingled with the fame We live yet die and dying still remaine Our soules with horrour bodies fill'd with paine How dreadfull 't is and in what grievous sort Laid on all parts and persons I le report We drinke our teares and sorrow is our food Curses our portions we see nor heare of good The fearfull cries and howlings that below We heard these all the damned soules do know The ghastly lookes and lamentable grones The great complaints with heavie griefe mones Sin there attends and acteth still his part Blows up the fire there worms still gnaw the heart The dungeon is exceeding large and deepe Where ugly vermine evermore doe creepe The devils doe attend us every houre And bring fresh torment by their cursed power No dram of comfort ever doth come neare it This heavie doome we hellish Imps must beare it We have no friendship none to shew us favour And all are fierce and of a rude behaviour No ease at all at any time we finde Our bodies burne and anguish burnes the minde Diseases all strangullion stone or gout The least part of our torment set not out But one thing more and that is worst of all Our paines to all Eternity stay shall When dayes and yeares and ages are all past Our plagues remaine our torments still do last No comfort friends no ease nor end will be Found now I sinke under my miserie Thou curse of curses thou the cause of it That I and all that in the infernall pit Must stay yet thou art never a whit asham'd Of all thy vilenesse that hath now been nam'd Let all that live for ever still disdaine Thy name and cursed let it so remaine O Damne him damne him to a horrid cell Not here with us but in another hell For if with us our sinnings wil not cease And him to see our torments will increase Ah worse yet is the friend if worse may be I must away the Divells come for mee The Charge to the Iury. The case is cleare ther 's none that can deny it That sins the canse of all our great disquiet The heavenly host with men on earth concluded The damned too all were by sinne deluded These things and more I do aberre be true And so the case doth now appeare to you Now as you finde so give your verdict in Accordingly I l'e sentence give on sin The Introduction to the verdict Against thy person sin was ever bent And all thy workes to spoyle was his intent Thy sonne from heaven downe to earth did goe But sinne to him did prove a deadly foe And did oppose the worke of his redemption Which sinfull men should give from sins exemptiō But when in this he could not have his will His bloud he shed the worth remaineth still He watcht with death to keepe him in the grave Of what was done men might not comfort have But all in vaine 't was sinfull labour lost Man was redeem'd and comfort had sinne crost Against the Spirits blessed worke in hand He sets himselfe and goodnesse doth withstand And from all men all comfort he would take And in mans heart an I doll God he 'd make 'T is time t is time to take with sinne a course With men 't is ill in time it would be worse The verdict of the Jurie against Sinne and his witnesses We have concluded in our consultation And finde sinne guilty by the information For his defence to be most rude and vaine His witnesses as bad appeareth plaine They guilty are as parties in the cause They broken have nay they condemne thy lawes The reply proves and their examination We finde them worthy of a deepe damnation The Preface to the sentence Now sinne thou art convicted all may see The Jury to thy judgement doth agree Thy wickednesse is open laid to view To all the world which say that hell 's thy due And those foure men which for thy cause did stand The cursed'st worke that ere they tooke in hand For love of thee themselves have now undone They plaid for sweet they have the sower wonne The Sentence against Sinne. I sentence Sinne for ever to be cast In lowest hell where furious flames doe last In dungeon darke where fire is divided The light from heate there thon shalt be derided All torment that the devils can invent With all their store of curses shall be spent On thee from thence thou never shalt returne In flaming wrath thou evermore shalt burne To all delights now thou shalt bid farewell Away begon into the pit of hell The sentence against Sinnes
incline Shall Sathans worke stand up thine overthrowne Stretch forth thy hād Lord make thy power known And from thy Justice let Death have his due The world is witnesse what I speake is true A sharpe reproofe of Death he hath leave to answer for himselfe What canst thou say seeing this is proved so To all my workes thou shew'st thy selfe a foe What canst expect but hell for thy reward Seeing thou to none hadst never yet regard If I did not thy malice now restraine The life of all that in the world remaine Thou quickly would'st lay levell with the dust Though they resist yet fall through thee they must And in the grave thou wouldest beare such sway And wish there were a thousand worlds to slay More thou would'st all them of their lives bereave Speake Death thy minde I freely give thee leave Deaths defence for himselfe When God at first did give to all things being And life a will he gave to man agreeing Who was appointed to keepe all in awe Nor lawlesse was he God gave him a law If he it brake I was his sentence for it If not he lived but he did abhorre it To be so ty'd he broke thy Law that day Then for reward I was from thee his pay I execute what Justice doth decree I doe thy worke for I am rul'd by thee For by thy word all life must vanish quite From all the world then should not I by right Take place what is there on the earth beside But life and death which doth the world divide Should I deny when thou dost bid me goe Should I resist when thou dost presse me so To doe thy worke I ever did my best Till it be done I never take my rest Should I be bashfull for to goe among The faire or fearfull to salute the strong Or passe the rich or take of great a fee Or favour honour where I doe it see O no nor any else that thou dost send Me For I bring them all unto their end I in thy hand am still as at this day By thy consent I doe still life destroy A King I 'm made by thee as doth appeare And by thy power all creatures do me feare I doe subdue thy foes and make them bow And dart them down to scape they know not how When I to men come armed with thy wrath They sinke downe quite not one the power hath Me to withstand then life bids them farewell But dying life meets them againe in hell But of thy Saints I have been much desir'd They 'd have me come though they with much were hir'd To stay below and not to see thy face Where thou dost dwell their soules being full of grace Thou also hast appointed them a rest What way is that which thou didst think the best To bring them home to live in heaven still But that I should their mortall life first kill And that by me a passage they must have They die but once then life they still doe save I can doe nothing but upon the earth Nor sway my scepter but with mortall birth Yet here I am but for a time to stay Though once I thought I should have raign'd for ay Why should then life torment me in this sort In raising on me such an ill report In calling me to answer at thy barre Life seeks my ruine he proceeds so farre Himselfe is worse being guilty of such crimes Corrupting man and poysoning still the times I doe revenge the evill 't is thy cause He still doth breake I ever keepe thy lawes I doe him good me ill he doth requite Men live by me yet he owes me a spite Now let these speake what they can say for me I make no doubt but then I shall be free Deaths assistants have leave to pleade for him Thou shalt have Justice here before my face Each one shall speake and then I le judge the case It is not shewes nor glosses that will stand Instead at all to free thee from my hand But 't is the truth by truth thou must be tri'd For that is best all cases to decide The Magistrates Plea for death Thou hast me in a place of Justice set I judge a case that life must pay a Debt How may this be if Death were not my friend To take my part and bring life to an end Death doth his office I will beare him out Lives ruine thus when ere he bring'st about Take him away alas what can I doe My servant take then take the Master too No peace nor quiet once would dwell with men Not best but worst would take all sweetnes then The Felons here by death receive their due Men live in feare and say that law is true The Heire craves deaths freedome What doth't availe that I am borne to lands And if that all should freed be from death's hand 's All hopes were vaine and for my expectation It were cut off no meanes of preservation Were left for me worse than my yonger brother I cannot worke and so can he and other Old men must die and young men take their places They must to dust death puts life to such cases Old men are children if they live but long They to themselves are burthens for the young Their spittings coffings froward dispositions So irksome are and so hard my conditions We would be freed for them the world is bad A better place we all doe wish they had Deathus'd to doe as great a thing as this O pre thee come and doe it doe not misse I am in trouble troubles greeve my heart Thou wilt be quit for many take thy part Thou at our neighbours wast the other day I lookt for thee thou went'st another way Pray free him now to doe one worke for me The old man take no more desir'd shall be The Parish Clarke sueth to have Death freed Death I am sorry here to see thee stand 'T was for thy sake I tooke this place in hand 'T is little worth if thou dost from us goe I tri'd my friends to get it and my foe Remaine still now because I got the place He did sue for 't and came off with disgrace Of burials we have hundreds in the yeare And for the rich great vailes come in so cleare It joyes my heart the rest some more some lesse In their degree their bounty doe expresse Besides my fee they did still some what more So many littles do increase my store If Death go downe Clarke I will be no longer Now I am old and weake yet like the stronger I must to worke and try my feeble hands Or perish must seeing I possesse no lands Death did me good that little that I have I got by him when life was brought to grave O quit him quit him that I may injoy My profit still my hopes doe not destroy The Sextons lamentation for Death When trading fail'd I brought unto a strait For want of meanes did for a place lay waite The
Sexton dyed the Parson stood my friend To helpe me in such good he did intend To me the Parish with a full consent To him agreed so to the place I went Death brought me in great part still of my gaines What else I had I ever did take paines For it what I for ringing of the Bell Had then for rich when 't was their dying knell Or any other I will not now relate it I scorne to brag I ever yet did hate it Or all the Bels being rung what ere I got 'T was so and so I ever had my lot With other things which now I will not name He did me helpe let no one then me blame To take his part alasse who can doe lesse Seeing he to me such friendship did expresse I cannot hold for to maintaine my charge If death be gone the Parish is not large Enough for vailes to keep me in such sort To pay my debts live free from ill report The trading's lost that little that I had Nor can I worke being old my sight is bad O free Death now or if thou him destroy For company take me with him away The Searchers complaine of their losses and beg that Death may be quit We are old women weake and very poore We trade with Death and so increase our store Death he is first we second in the place To search the corps of what and in what case They died we bring of them a true relation And groates a peece allow'd for preservation But some times more as cloathes or else some food That 's mony worth and is to us as good We past our labours are 't is knowne full well Allowance we have i th' Parish where we dwell If death should faile our place would faile us too We must goe beg and make no more adoe Vnloose him now for he hath been our friend Or let us goe with him to know our end Let Life decay and Death take up his place Our life else is but Death our wants deface Vs better we with death should lie in grave Than live on earth we little comfort have Th Coffin-maker makes mone for the absence of death and desires his libertie I ever have been brought up to a trade By death maintain'd for Coffins I have made Apprentiship most hard I did indure I thought to live so well and be so sure In constant trading shall my expectation Thus die in hand my meanes of preservation Faile me what then will now become of me I perish must or live in miserie No other way to live but boxes small I make sometimes to finde me worke withall I sell them cheape not worth the while to make For coffins still good rates I ever take Men will not stand in this case for a friend When they shallbuy the price and so an end We make and this will countervaile my paines And for this worke I have sufficient gaines What shall I doe if death be kept through strife Away 't will make me weary of my life Let all men speake of death as they doe finde I liv'd by him and 't is against my minde To see him troubled life did bring him hither Discharge him then that we may trade together The Bearers speech for death and laments their losse Our places are to beare the dead to grave With watchings that is all the meanes we have To live we tried our friends to helpe us in And ever since we constant in 't have beene We were so poore we could not well tell how For to subsist the case is alter'd now We got so much by death within a yeare The better still we are as doth appeare Now we have goods and money too at need We pay our rent and of the best we feed We still have wine and sometime other things We do rejoice though some their hands stil wrings When we from home doe beare the dead away To their long home they in their grave must stay Our constant gaines to all is knowne so well We need not speake therest we will not tell What ere it be we would not willingly Now lose our gaines nor change it till we die 'T is nothing worth if death should lie in hold Alas we might our sorrowes then unfolde We were undone and perish all we must Release him now thou wilt doe so we trust The Grave-makers lamentation missing Death I am a man I need not here be nam'd Though I can dig to begge I am asham'd I make the graves to bury dead folkes in I am imploy'd for idlenesse is sinne I have no meanes but what I labour for I' th sicknesse time though men doe me abhorre My trading's best when other trades decay I make of graves some five or sixe a day I labour hard and all men finde me willing Some give me sixe pence and some give a shilling If in the Church some two or three somemore Thus I 'm maintain'd and lay up mony store Thoughtimes more healthful were yet work I had I 'm crasie brain'd yet this wil make me mad If death be tooke away my trading then Will faile me quite and never come agen For other worke I am a stranger to it To watch at night alas that will not doe it To maintaine me my wife and children small It 's but a groate so want will starve us all Death holpe me still O free him else my grave I le dig then die I there no want shall have The Grave wants Death and begges him to come to bring meate to the wormes and him Death what 's the matter thou art now indighted The newes I heare hath me full sore affrighted My hungry belly thou wast wont to fill With flesh I sweetly did digest it still My mouth is wide my stomack hot like fire The more I care the more I doe desire My bowels large my sides and limbes are strong Give give me food I shall continue long I thought some evill had oretaken thee Thou brought'st not meat as thou wert wont to me Thou for me wast I for thee in like case Thou me releev dst I found thy dead a place We are all friends and if we now should part The thoughts of this would almost kill my heart But life that doth accuse thee in this sort He envies thee and rais'd an ill report On me likewise and pickes a quarrell too Again all such with whom he hath to doe Be not dismaid I hope thou shalt againe Come dwell with me and rule amongst the slaine The wormes my tenants they doe misse thee now They seek for meat to help them who knows how But thee O come and bring us flesh they cry Or else we 'l come and follow thee and die I give them houses if thou canst not give Meat to them then long here they cannot live They are so silly and so feeble they Now cannot goe nay scarce can creepe away They call to me for food and I have none My flesh is eat and
praise to get a name If thou art faire come now let 's see thy face Thy beauties markes may helpe thee in this case Especially if beauty be within But thou art foule and so hast ever beene If thou art wise why dost thou ever use To set thy selfe the wisest to abuse In this thy folly doth so much appeare To all the world 't is evident and cleare If thou art just why dost not rescve those That serve the Lord in striking downe their foes If thou hast mercy why dost slight the teares Of poore distrest thou dost increase their feares If thou art rich why dost not give a fee Both large and good for those that plead for thee But thou art poor thy halfe world 's nothing worth So well as I can I have set thee forth Deaths friends are reproved their al surdities are not to be answered but they are fitter for correction Comparisons and advice Thy friends that have stood up for thy defence Will from thee finde a deadly recompence They trade with thee but he that gets the gaines Comes off with losse his labour for his paines There 's none that doth the common good desire Of them like fooles they dote upon their hire On present things they dote but quickly they Will lose the sweet when death takes them away The Magistrate I le satisfie but for The rest like Atheists speake I doe abhorre To answer them absurdities their words Are them they use as mad men doc use swords Who ever speaks they will not take direction I le not dispute they 'r fitter for correction To side with death against the life of men That pretious is for gaines they wish death then Should men like beasts by sense live alwayes here Hath God no wayes but what to sence appeare To feed and cloath his creatures which he made He helpe him can though other helpes doe fade Must death of others life unto men give Or no meanes else is in the world to live Is there no gaines but must be others losses Or comfort have unlesse death bring his crosses Is this to do by others as to have The same repay'd to thee or would'st thou crave Death for thy selfe or shamefully to die Others to free that doe in bondage lie Anothers case in this make still thine owne Thou fain would'st live should others be o'rthrown Be not so brutish in thy curst desire Me thinks it smels of brimstone and hell fire Plead not for death he will not plead for you His friendship 's false his enmity is true The Magistrates speech is answered The Magistrate that pleads for death so witty That he should fall he thinkes it is great pitty There 's other wayes for Justice to take place Sharpe punishment and publikely disgrace Justice in rigor should not be exprest Injustice 't is to all but to the best Shew clemency and mercy to all such That are most rude let pitty ever touch The heart and then in love we shall agree When Death goes downe O then I shall be free Death none can quit when he once takes away The lives of men although they went astray Though death be gone stil thou maist use thy strēgth To chastise men and make them good at length A servant now he is but ere 't be long He 'l master be and prove for thee too strong Vnlesse he be condemn'd and silenc'd quite And by decree we take away his might Sinne s condemn'd if it get not repreeve Death may be spar'd men may in quiet live Although before some have deserv d to die I would not lose nor leave them willingly Though worst speed best best the worst receive Worst may be best if I doe not them leave Though theevs by death have here receiv'd reward Yet by thy stripes men will as much regard The law of life now if death be a friend Let others judge for I have made an end The charge of the Jurie You heare of death the case is open'd large Your verdict bring for this I give in charge You speake the truth and boldly as you finde Respect not parties freely shew your minde Death is a foe to all the case is cleare The best that live of him doe live in feare He is so grim that with his ghastly frowne He doth distract men then he sinkes them downe Life seekes but justice justice he shall have My subject he 's he shall not be deaths slave Life he is wrong'd the truth of this is tri'd Doe you consult the case I le soone decide The Preface to the verdict of the Jurie Lord this we finde to us is very cleare That Death to Life a foe is with his feare Doth men like slaves keepe under with his force Doth crush all things and never hath remorse He prides himselfe ore all he is so vile Next Sin the worst though you a King him stile The truth of this all ages that are past Have found for they by death were spoil'd at last O monstrous death when men use cursed art To torture men thou tak'st the tyrants part The information sets thy inside out But the reply brings it more cleare about Thy words thy friends doe no whit mend thy case But by contraries Justice now takes place The Verdict of the Jurie against Death For Death we finde him guilty of those crimes Of frighting men and killing them all times And all things else that little we can see Take other things that prov'd so strongly be 'Gainst him why he should not deserve to die Cut from the earth and times eternally Now doome him Lord and free us from his snare And let him lie in ever dying care The Introduction to the Sentence Death now thou seest thou art convicted truly Thy deadly plots I have observed duly Against my creatures for so 's the story That chiefly made were to set forth my glory When that my sonne tooke flesh and man became Thoudidstnot spare him thou join'st w th him shame And brought'st him downe but then he from the earth Was rais'd againe and had a second birth The sentence against Death I sentence thee to perish evermore With all thy malice set upon thy score A stronger death shall swallow all thy power And shall thy Kingdome utterly devoure Now helpe nor refuge none shall give to thee Eternall darknesse then thy part shall be Thou never shalt from thence returne againe To domineere or triumph ore the slaine Take wrath with thee be fill'd with curses store And so begon and see my face no more The Devill knowing that Sinne and Death are condemned his power and malice appeares but 't is restrained Sathan which once did dwell within the Court Of heaven thence was cast yet doth resort Thither againe to pry into Gods actions And what he doth against his cursed factions And what respect he shewes unto his owne That serve him still and make his power knowne The one he doth against the Lord uphold The other he to