* They are waxen fat and shining they doe ouerpasse the deedes of the wicked c. Iere 5 2â— * Strawberies Cherries c. when they first come in * Shillings Crownes or Pounds * Then will I turne mine haÌ„d vpoÌ„ thee and burne out thy drosse till it be pure and take away thy Tinne Isai 1.25 * And euery one will deceiue his friâ—d and wil not speake the truth for they haue taught their tongues to speake lies and take great paines to doe wickedly Ierem 9 5. * â—s a Cage is full of Birds so are their houses full of deceit thereby they are become great waxen â—ich Ierem. 5.27 * For all their Tables are full of filthy vomitings no place is cleane Isai 28.8 * Their Bill of Sale * And they lie downe vpon cloths laide to pledge by euery Altar and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their God Amos 2.8 * And death shall be desired rather theÌ„ life of all the residue that râ—maâ—n of this wicked family Iere 8 3. * Thy Sonnes haue fainted â—e at head of al the streets as a wild Bull in a net and are full of the wrath of the Lord and rebuke of thy God Isa 51.20 * I will dâ—sh them one against another euen the â—athers and the sons together saith the lord I wil not spare I will not pitty not haue compassion vpon them but destroy them â—erem 13.14 * â—herefore will I be vnto Ephraim as a moaâ—h and to the house of Iuda as a rottennes Hosea 5.12 * Neither their siluer nor their golde shall be able to deliuer them in the day of the lords wrath c Zepha 1.18 * Her filthinesse is in her skiâ—â—s she remembred not her last end therefore shee came downe wonderâ—ully she had no coÌ„forter c. Lament 1.9 * The mirâ—h of tabâ—ets ceaseth the noiâ—e of them that reiâ—â—ceendeth the ioy of the harpe ceaseth Isaâ— 24.8 * Libra September * A Beast neuer but feeding and when he hath eaten as much as his 〈…〉 hold goe to a forâ—ed tâ—ee and there straines out his fonde vndigested betweane the twist of the â—â—ee and so agâ—ine presently falles to seâ—ue and being full againe to the tree and so eftsoones to feede * Isai 57.15 * The world is diuided into twelue partes and ten partes of it are gone already and halfe of the tenth part there remaineth that which is after the halfe of the tenth part 2. Esd 14.10 11 * Neuertheles saith the lord at those dâ—ys I will not make a full end of you Ier 4.18 * For it is the day of the Lords vengeance and the veâ—eâ—â— reâ—â—rence for the iâ—dgement of 〈◊〉 Isai 34.8 * Dung-cribs * They shall die of deaths and diseases they shall not be lamented neither shall they be buried but they shall be as dung vpon the earth c. Ier. 16.4 * They haue compassed her about as the witchmen of the field because she hath prouoked me to wrath saith the Lord Iere. 4.17 * If the botch breake not the Patient liueth not * It killes others with breaking * They that feed delicately perish in the streetes they that were brought vp in scarlet embrace the dâ—â—g Lament 4.5 * And their corpes shall lie in the streetes of the great citie c. Reuel 11.8 * Because of their pride the Cities shall be troubled the houses shall be afraid men shall feare 2. Esd 15.18 * Destruction vpon destruction is cried for the whole Land is wasted c. Iere. 4.20 * Iob 41.20 Simil. * Plagues are sent vnto youâ— and who can driue them away 2. Esd 16.4 Simil. * Many dead Bodies shal be in euery place they shall cast them foorth with silence Amos 8.3 * This no fiction nor inserted by poeticall licence But this verily was performed in the borough of Leominster in the county of Hereford the one at the commandement of sir Herbert Crost knight one of the Councell of the Marches of Wales the other by the instigation of Sathan and prococation of the disease * Torments deuised by infinite wisedome are infiite in paine * Mortall life is no more at the most compared to Eternitie * So fares it with sensuall Epicures and Libertines * The conuersion of a sinner is most miraculous * Man is Microcosmos * As appeareth by the Plague bills euerie weeke Simil. * Micah 7.4 * Psal 14 2.4 * Ephes 5.12
Death and Fortune 1 THere was a Time as I haue heard it sed By those that did at least in Print it finde A certaine Marriage was solemnized Betweene a mortall Paire of noble kinde And for the loue of those whom Loue doth wed Immortall Gods the company refin'd â—ith their pure presence who the Feast to grace â—id reuell as did all the rest a space 2 Among the rest of that immortall Crue Danc'd Death and Fortune whose Masks were so like That none that danc'd the one from other knew So in their choice of them they were to seeke For some that soght for Fortune Deth out-drew And some that soght for Deth did Fortune strikeâ— Tâ—me was their Minstrell who did euer play Aswell when they did dance as they did stay 3 Fortune delighted most to dance with those That best could flatter and the time obserue But Death still lou'd to foote it with his foes Or else with such as he saw best deserue When Fortune danc'd she turnes she comes and goes And kept no time thogh Time hir turns did serue But wheÌ„ death danc'd he did those Mesures tread Whose times were loÌ„g short tunes were dead 4 So Fortune vs'd Lauoltaes still to dance That rise and fall as Time doth either play And Death the Measure of least dalliance That 's Passing-measure and so strait away Or else the shaking of the Sheets per chance Which he would dance vntired night and day Wherein he put them downe so that he did Driue them from dancing vnto Winck-all-hid 5 The daÌ„cing done while yet their bloods were hot Fortune and Death began on tearmes to stand Which for their dancing had most glorie got And who their actions did best command From which dispute with choller ouershot They fel to vrge their powres by Sea and Land The while the Gods stoode most attentiuely To heare their more contentious Colloqui 6 When loe Deth Lord of all that breathe this aire Thus gan t' inforce his powre beyond compare I know saith he their honors they impaire That striue with those that their inferiors are Yet Foulnesse is not made a whit more faire By being compar'd with Beauty much more rare But Foulenesse takes the greater foile thereby And Moles are foiles to set forth Beauties die 7 Wert thou not blind bold baiard thou woldst see A mighty diffrence twixt thy might and mine Sith among those that most almighty bee I do admit no power more diuine For Empire large who can compare with mee Sith Earth and Aire the same cannot confine Nay in Earth Water yea in Aire and Fire That 's all in all I rule as I desire 8 What breathes or hath a vegetatiue Soule But paies me tribute as vnto their King Nay doe I not the hoast of starres controule Then Heau'n and Earth I to obedience bring And Kings as Beggars are in my Checke-role Nay Kings more oft then Beggars do I sting As farre as any thing hath motion I Play Rex for all that liue do liue to die 9 And therefore testifie thie modestie For error to defend is impudence In graunting that which thou canst not deny And to be true thou know'st in conscience Thou sure woldst blush if thou hadst but one eie To stand on tearmes with mine omnipotence But sith thine Eies are blind and Iudgement too Thou canst not blush at that thou can'st not doo 10 Thy reasons seeme quoth Fortune strong to such As do but sleightly weigh them but to mee That seeth more then thou at least as much For thou wanst Eyes as well as I to see They are too base to brooke my Trialls Touch For Tyrranny is no true Sou'raigntie And Empire large consistes not of large Partes But in the free subiection of whole Harts 11 Can any King be happy or secure That drawing bodies cleane with-draw the harts Or is it like that Kingdome should endure That is by Hate diuided into Parts And Hate a cruell Prince must needes procure That seekes his weale by all his Subiects smarts The Will is free and will not be constrain'd How ere for it the body may be pain'd 12 As vniuersall as the Vniuerse Extends I graunt thy grand authoritie And that thy Takers more then most peruerse Sicknesse Mischance Disgrace and Destinie Thy tribute take from Man Beast tame or fierce To fill thy still-consuming Treasurie But their vntimely taking with high hand Makes thy rule odious on Sea and Land 13 Such Officers in each craz'd common-weale That vnder colour of their Offices Do with the Sou'raignes fauour badly deale Great Mischiefs cause Inconueniences Which though they touch the Subiects kings do feele Who often smart for suffring that disease When Princes tend their priuate and neglect The common good they cause this sore effect 14 But ballance on the other side my might In th' vpright Scholes of true Indiffrencie And thou shalt find I haue their heart and spright Freely obaying mine authoritie For thou compellest but I do inuite I Fauors giue whose vse thou dost deny I do promote all those that rise to mee But thou subuertest those that fall to thee 15 Then though that vniuersall be thy powre Thinke not therefore Loue must to thee be such For Wit and Courage may high place procure But Loue and Bountie ampler powre by much Then of my currant Cause I am so sure That I dare rubbe it hard on Trialls Touch And for my part to end this Ciuile Warre I le put it to iudicious Iupiter 16 Although I iustly may quoth Death deny To put a question without question Vnto the Iudgement of selfe-Equity For so I hold iust Iupiter alone Yet not affecting Singularitie I le make him Iudge in this Contention Now Fortune proue thy powre as I will mine And then let Iupiter iudge both in fine 17 So when they were to play this masters Prize Entred this round worlds spatious Theater Fortune adorn'd her selfe with Dignities With Gold Iems which made All follow her These did she fall to make her followers rise To gather which they did themselues bestirre Keisars and Kings that vsherd her the way Oft caught much more then they could beare away 18 Here might you see like Beggars at a dole Some throng'd to death in scaÌ„bling for her almes He oft sped best that was the veriest foole Some tooke vp Come some Crownes and others Palms For which they pull'd each other by the Pole While othersome for theÌ„ found precious Balms Some found odde ends to make their States intire And all found some thing that they did desire 19 But that which was most notable to see Was the poore Priest who still came lagging last As if God wot he car'd not rich to bee To whom kinde Fortune Liuings large did cast As t' were to guerdon his humilitie Which in the name of God he still held fast
Humours Heau'n on Earth With The Ciuile Warres of Death and Fortune As also The Triumph of Death Or The Picture of the Plague according to the Life as it was in Anno Domini 1603. By Iohn Dauies of Hereford O! t' is a sacred kinde of Excellence That hides a rich truth in a Tales pretence Printed at London by A. I. 1609. ¶ To the right Noble Algernon Lord Percy sonne and heire apparant to the right Honorable Henry Earle of Northumberland THrice Noble and more hopefull Pupill I Who learnes thy Hand to shew thy Hearts conceits Would make thy heart before it Vice doth trie To know her Lures to shunne her slie deceits But in the Prime but of thy Pupillage Before the ioynts of Iudgement can be knit Although for Wit thou mai'st be Wisedomes Page Vice throwes her Lures aboue thy reach of Wit But yet when Time shall throwly close thy Mould Wherein all rare Conceits still cast shall bee Then shalt thou with cleere eies darke lines behold That leade thee to all knowledge fit for thee And sith that Childhood more in Tales delights Then saddest Truths I le tell thee merry Tales Of Lords and Ladies with their merry Knights Their merry Blisses and their sory Bales The outside of these Tales are painted o're With colours rich to please thine eagre sence But lin'd with naked Truth yet richly poore More fit for thy more rich Intelligence When thou canst cracke this Nut within the Shell Thou shalt a Kernell finde will please thy Taste The Pallate of thy Wit will like it well When thou shalt swallow it for ioy in haste Then make this Nut a whirligigge the while To make thee merry if thou canst be so To see the turning of our Sports to toile Wherein obserue how pleasures come and go For as a whirligigge doth turne so fast That sharpest sights the fruit do scarse perceiue So can no Pallate fruits of Pleasure taste When they are come so soone they take their leaue Readâ— little Lord this Riddle learne to reede So first appose then tell it to thy Pecres So shall they hold thee both in Name and Deed A perfect Pierc-ey that in darkenesse cleeres A Pierc-ey or a piâ—rcing Eie doth shâ—w Both Wit and Courage and if thou wilt learne By morall Tales sinnes mortall to eschew Thou shalt be wise and endlesse glorie earne That so thou mai'st the meanest Tutors praise So Percies fame shall pierce the Eie of Daies Then by those Raies my Pen inflam'd shall runnâ— Beyond the Moone to make thy Moone a Sunne Meane while and euer I rest prest to honour thee with my poore vttermost Iohn Dauies To the good Knight and my much honored Scholler Sir Philip Carey SIth Death deere Sir hath lately beene so fell To reaue that life than deere life deerer farre This record of his greater rage may quell The lesse perhaps in your particular Faine would I if I could beguile your griefe With telling you of others heauie harmes But ah such guile giues Griefe too true reliefe In your true humane heart that Pitty warmes Life is a Plague for who doth liue must die Yet some that haue the Plague doe scape aliue So life's more mortall than Mortalitie Then sith that life like death doth life depriue You may reioyce sith your Adolphus liu'd True Vertues life which cannot be depriu'd Viuat post funera virtus As much grieu'd for your losse as glad any way to shew his loue Iohn Dauies To the right worshipfull my deere Scholler Sir Humfrey Baskeruile of Earsley Knight And the no lesse louely than vertuous Lady his Wife SIth I am Lecturing my noblest Schollers You being two this Lecture deigne to reade For thogh it treats of nought but death dollers Yet it with pleasure may your passion feede For plagues to see vnplagu'd doth Nature please Although good nature gladly grieues thereat As we are well-ill pleas'd to see at Seas The wofull'st wracke while we are safe from that In health to tell what sickenesse we haue past Makes vs more souÌ„d for Gladnes health defends O then your eies on this Plagues-Picture cast To glad and grieue you for glad-grieuous ends But my sole End by this poore Meane to yee Is but to tie your Eares and Hearts to mee Iohn Dauies To my deere meeke modest and intirely beloued Mistris Elizabeth Dutton Mistris Mary and Mistris Vere Egerton three Sisters of hopefull destenies be all Grace and good Fortune SIth on my worthiest Schollers I doe muse How should my Muse to minde you once neglect Sith you are such TheÌ„ such she shuld abuse Should she not vse you with all deere respect Thou virgin Widow eldest of the Three That hold'st thy widows state of Death in chief Death in thy youth being fast hath made thee free Free from thy Ioy fastned thee to Griefe But he that is the Lord of lordly Death Reserues thine honor'd Sires most honor'd Sire From Deaths dispite while he draweth breath Thou lowly Soule art likely to aspire Thy Sisters like in Nature as in Name And both in Name and Nature nought but good Beloued Pupills well may hope the same Sith of like grace there is like likelihoode Yet in the height of Earths felicitie A meeke regard vnto this Picture giue To minde you so of lifes mortalitie So shall you liue to die and die to liue Meane while I hope through your cleere Stars to spie A Trinitie of Ladies ere I die He which for the exercise of your hie humilitie you please to call Master Iohn Dauies To my worthy and worthily beloued Scholer Thomas Bodenham Esquier sonne and heire apparant of Sir Roger Bodenham of Rotherwas Knight of the Bathe ANd if among them that are deere to mee Remembred by my Pen my Muses Tongue I should forget to shew my loue to thee My selfe but much more thee I so should wrong Nay wrong the right which I to thee doe owe But neuer shall my loue so guilefull proue As not to pay thee so deseru'd a due For I confesse thou well deseru'st my loue Thou wert my Scholer and if I should teach So good a Pupill such a Lesson ill By mine example I might so impeach Mine honest fame and quite disgrace my skill But when I learne thee such detested Lore Then loathe my loue and learne of me no more Yours as what 's most yours Iohn Dauies The last Booke being a Picture according to the Life dedicated To the no lesse high in Birth then honorable in Disposition right noble in either the Ladie Dorothie and Ladie Lucy Percies GReat-little Ladies greatly might you blame My little care of doing as I ought Should I neglect to set your noble Name First of those Principalls whose hands I taught Yet the more high your Birth and Places are The more ye ought to mind the blast of Breath As Philips Page did shew his Masters care When most he flourisht most to thinke on death Then with most blisse when
wroght Was borne by Iudgement her chiefe Officer Then Contemplation held her as she ought By the right Arme so that she could not steere Frō those right waies whereon before she thoght And double-Diligence before did cleere The outward Senses her Purueiours were To whom the Common-sense was Treasorer 63 Thus were these two attended and araid Which I haue thus described by the way And now to prosecute what Logus said From thence where I before did make him stay Quoth hee what meane ye thus to be betraid By sinfull Sense which seekes but your decay You are to seeke to know her Fallacies But know them not by seeking in this wise 64 How neere to temporall and eternall death You are God wot ye wot not ne yet care Not weying how worlds weale wastes with your breath And that your breaths within your nostrills are Which to the Aire you must of force bequeath Perhaps forthwith at least ere ye beware If temp'rall death attach ye in this plight Your temp'rall daies will turne t'eternall night 65 To yong and old Death is indifferent The Court and Cottage he frequents alike Yet of the twaine he Courts doth more frequent And loues those that do mind him least to strike He wounds the lustfull vaine and insolent With their owne weapons quickly to the quicke For euer he doth enuy lifes delight And makes the same most subiect to his might 66 How can vaine pleasures please men hauing sense To feele the sweete and sowre of sinne and grace For if they feele the sting of Conscience All pleasures of the flesh will giue it place That grieues the Will that grieues th' Intelligence Which take no pleasure in their owne disgrace But still the lusts offraile flesh to fulfill Is to disgrace Intelligence and Will 67 The obiect of the Will is perfect Good Which the Intelligence to her presents That neuer yet was found in roiall food In dainty Dames or regall gouernments By Vnderstanding these are vnderstood To yeeld but short and counterfet Contents If so they do how madde are they the while That giue their pretious Soules for things so vile 68 The wisest yet that euer breath'd this Aire Of sinfull race who in his wisedomes might Made proofe of all that was sweet great or faire Yea of all pleasures which the sense delight Said of them all like Wisedoms truest Heire They were than skumme of Vanitie more light If such great Wisedome found them to be such They are much more thē fools that loue thē much 69 Aske eu'ry sense what pleasure they doe proue In all their obiects they must needes replie Sith consciēce knows it nought to gaine our loue For we loue nought but what we good do trie But Proofe these pleasures doe in fine reproue Sith they no sooner liue but sooner die For Triall knowing them to be but vaine Kills their delight ere we it entertaine 70 And Crownes are Hiues where stinging cares do swarme Pomp's but the White whereat fell Enuy shoots which are as trees whēce groes their owners harm Harms are the fruit crowns flours kīgdōs roots The Arme of flesh is but a feeble Arme And in such strong Extreames it little bootes He knowes not yet the nature of a Crowne That knows not none may call the same his owne 71 What bootes a purple Robe when purple blood Doth issue from the wofull wearers hart And of such issue there 's more likelihood Then issue of his loines to take his part For oft such issue doth him little good Who conquer Nature by the aide of Arte They learne by Arte weake Nature to command When Crowns betwixt the Sire Son doe stand 72 Sou'raignes are subiect to extreame despight For lo a Dog sometimes supplide their place A King of Norway conquering in fight The King of Swethland for the more disgrace Did make a Dog their King to shew his spight And made thē neere him that were neere as bace Then are they worse then dogges that damne their soules To catch a kingdom that a dog cōtroules 73 What ioy can be accompanied with feare Sith that companion doth all ioy confound But terrene ioyes about with them do beare An hell of feare wherein true Hell is found For where 's vnsuretie feare must needs be there And all 's vnsure that surgeth from the ground Of this vast Sea of extreame miserie True Antitype of true felicitie 74 Besides no pompe how euer glorious No ioy or pleasure if sublunarie But brings sacietie soone with their vse As they best know that haue best meanes to trie And none haue right ioy but the righteous For ne'r doth saciate their felicitie Which doth content Desire and Feare exclude Which is the summe of true Beatitude 75 Then if my power ore your Soueraigne If my words rules of Reason can perswade Vaine pleasures fly throgh which ye fly to paine Which still haue marr'd but neuer any made Containe your selues and you shall ioy containe If you be good then glorious is your trade For nought is great on Earth but that great hart That scornes all ioyes by Nature bred or Art 76 Rouze vp your selues shake off this sloth of sprite Put on the mind that men of mind becomes Away with all effeminate delight That none but worse then women ouercomes Shew your selues men of strength in Frailties spite For graceles ioyes possesse but graceles groomes O t is Dominion in the high'st degree When men to Reasons rules obedient bee 77 Hereat their Conscience touched to the quicke Beganne halfe fainting inwardly to bleede No pricke more mortal then the consciēce pricke It makes our faith to faint and kills our Creede Yet frozen in their dregges therein they sticke Without all feeling that which must succeede And with hard harts thogh said for their behoofs They Logus thus reprooue for his reproofes 78 What wight art thou presumptuous that thou art That com'st to Councell yer thou called bee By what pow'r dost thou this by what desart Think'st thou we all should be controld by thee We know no pow'r thou hast nor wit nor Art To take the guidance of our actions free Being a meere stranger to vs and our state Yet dost from either more then derogate 79 Thou would'st bee taught that thus presum'st to teach To know good maners persons time and place These circūstances they should know that preach Or else they may disgrace their Sermons grace And those that liue by preaching do beseech Not sharply checke which tendeth to disgrace Then think we o're our passions haue great powre That giue thee sweet aduice for cheeke so sowre 80 You may be gon we need no councellors That breathe out worse thē wormwood with their words We are twice seau'n and our owne gouernors Your proffred seruice no good sent affords We are the highest Powres Compettitors And fight for pleasure with our
And still look'd downe to find more if he might For well he found he found well by that sleight 20 Philosophers that gold did still neglect Lookt only but wise-fooles to find their Stone Which toy in truth was nothing in effect But to get all the world to them alone For with that Stone they would pure gold proiect Worth all the world by computation But whiles they sought a Stone so rich and faire They perfect gold but turn'd t'imperfect aire 21 Thus at the heeles of Fortune all attend Whom well shee feëd for attending so On th' other side Death to and fro did wend To seeke one that with him would gladly go But none he found which made him those to end He ouertooke in going to and fro For those which are vnwilling Death to meete He is most willing soonest them to greete 22 Nor could those Officers that him foreranne Sickenesse Mischance Disgrace and Destinie Affect with his affection any Man For none they found that willingly would die Sith all before with fauours Fortune wan And such desir'd to liue eternally For it is death to thinke on Death with such That Fortune makes too merry with too much 23 Throgh Campes Hosts he trauel'd with a trice For soldiers needs must meet deth by their trade At last he came where some were throwing dice Who first a Breach should enter newly made Lord how some chaf'd through Glories auarice For missing that which they wold not haue had And he that wan to lose his life did striue Yet so as faine he would haue scapt aliue 24 Among the rouing Crew at Sea he sought For one that willing was to go with him Who thogh they valu'd all their liues at nought And oft for trifles ventred life limme Yet when their woorthlesse bloods were to bee bought They sold them deerely and in blood did swim From bloody death as long as they could moue For thogh they fear'd not death they life did loue 25 Through the Turkes Gallies 'mong the Slaues he went To seek some desp'rat slaue that loÌ„g'd to die But loe not one to die would yeeld consent For all through hope still lookt for libertie Hope doth the hart enlarge that Griefe forespent And Faith keepes Hope and Life in charitie Dispaire can neuer seize that hopefull hart That can through Faith endure an hell of smart 26 At last he to a Monasterie came Where mortified life is most profess'd And sought for one to meete him in the same But all therein from sodaine death them blest And praâ—'d to Iesus so their liues to frame That sodainely Death might not them arrest A Pater noster Aue and a Creede They thought right wel bestow'd so wel to speed 27 Thence went he to an holie Ancrets Cell Who seem'd to be quite buried there aliue He Death embrac'd but yet the feare of Hell Made him with Death for life in loue to striue He knew himselfe old Fox perhappes too well Strait to presume that God would him forgiue So was most willing and vnwilling too To do as present Death would haue him doo 28 In fine Death doubting in his Cause to faile Intreated Sickenesse such an one to finde That wold not flinch thogh Deth did him assaile And scorn'd the fauors of that Godddesse blinde So Sickenes went throgh many a lothsome Iaile And found at last one mortified in minde Who though he were but poore yet held it vaine To follow Fortune that did him disdaine 29 On whom seiz'd Sickenesse with resistlesse force And pull'd him downe so low he could not stand To whom Death came to make his corps a Corse Yet as his friend first shak'd him by the hand And by perswasions would him faine enforce With willing minde to be at his command Which if he would Death promis'd faithfully He should die sleeping or most easily 30 This forlorne wrech thaÌ„kt death for his good wil But yet desird one happy howre to liue Which ended he would Deaths desire fulfill Who from him with a Purge did Sicknesse driue Which shortly did one of his Kinred kill From whome as heire he did some wealth receiue And being well in state of health and wealth He followed Fortune more theÌ„ Death by stealth 31 Now hee betooke him to a Furriers Trade And hauing Stock hee multiplide his Store Then Death did mind him of the match he made But him hee answer'd as hee did before Quoth he O marre me not ere I am made But let me get kind Death a little more ConteÌ„te quoth Death thou shalt haue thy desire So I may haue thereby what I require 32 Sables and Ermines Death for him did kill And made his wealth thereby by heapes increase Who hauing now death thoght the world at will He asked him if now he would decease Who yet desired life of Dearh to fill His coffers to the top theÌ„ would he cease Death yet seem'd pleas'd and brought all those to nought Th'reuersions of whose States he erst had bought 33 Then when he had a world of wealth obtain'd Death came againe for his consent to die But now he told Death his mind more was pain'd With thought and care then erst in pouertie Therefore he prai'd his death might be refrain'd Till he had gotten some Nobilitie And then he would go willingly with Death And nobly yeelde to him his deerest breath 34 Death yet agreed sith his good will he sought And gaue him leaue to compasse his intent Who of a noble-man decayed bought Both Land Lordship Honor House Rent Then Hee turn'd Courtier and with Courtiers wroght By Deaths assistance with mony lent That he in time became a mightie King And al his Proiects to effect did bring 35 Then Death not doubting of his will to die Vnto him came to know his will therein But he did Death intreate most earnestly That sith to him he had so gracious bin He yet might gaine imperiall Dignitie Before his Death which soone he hop'd to win And then he would most willingly resigne His life to Death although a life diuine 36 Death hoping that the greater he was made The greater glorie he by him should gaine Which might the vmpire Iupiter perswade That Death in powre was Fortunes Soueraigne Made neighbour Kings each other to inuade To whom this King a Neuter did remaine Who wheÌ„ they had by wars themselues consum'd He all their States as Emperour assum'd 37 Now being Caesar Death came strait to him As most assured of his company But to the Emperour he seem'd more grim Then erst he did which made him loath to die Come on quoth Deth therwith held a limme No oddes there must be now twixt you and I To Ioue I le bring you then with goodwill go To him with me and see you tell him so 38 Alas said hee I am but newly come To honors height and
would not haue that had the Hart inflates Yet would I haue my Lucke light on that Lot That mends the drouping Mind Bodies states In too much Nature oft is ouershot And oft too little Art disanimates Then in this life that seeke I for my part That Nature keepes in life and quickens Art 94 To bury Liuing thoughts among the dead Dead earthly things is ere Death comes to die For dead they are that lie in Gold or Lead As they are buried that in Earth still lie The thoughts are most relieu'd when they are fed With Angells foode or sweete Philosophie But some seeme on this Manna still to liue Whom Quailes and Woodcoks most of al relieue 95 Well let these some out-liue as many yeares As they haue haires they do but liuing die If so their Soules must needs be full of feares Whose Hopes in this dead life alone do lie For they weare euer double as Time weares In Soule and Body weare they double die O then how painefull is that pleasant life Wherein all ioy with such annoy is rife 96 Beare with me Readers that 's the recompence I aske for telling you this merry Tale For running out of my Circumference I le come in strait before a merry Gale But yet a word or two ere I goe hence And then haue with you ouer Hill and Dale Nothing shall let me to relate the rest For commonly behind remaines the best 97 This world me seemes is like I wot not what That 's hard for that is no comparison Why that 's the cause I it compare to that For who 's he like to that is like to none T is not like God for t is too full of hate Nor like the Diu'l for he feares God alone It is not like to Heau'n Earth nor Hell Nor aught therein for they in compasse dwell 98 Then what is 't like if like to any thing It s like itselfe and so it is indeede Or if you will like to the oldest Ling That limes their fingers that on it doe feede So that all things they touch to them do cling And let them so from doing purest deede If so it be how mad are men the while To cleaue to that which do them so defile 99 Now this most noghtie thing or thing of noght I cannot skill of though but bad I am Therefore by me it least of all is sought Though oft I seeke for pleasure in the same Which yet I hope shall not be ouer-bought For I will giue but good-will for my game And if good-will will me no pleasure bring I le buy therewith I hope a better thing 100 Now from my selfe I eft to Fortune flie And yet I flie from Her and She from me Who came thus followd with this Company That Iupiter did enuie it to see There did she muster them in policie That Ioue of all might well informed be For when an heape confus'd are call'd by Poll The many parts do make the number whole 101 Mongst whom Philosophers and Poets came Last of the Crowde and could not well appeare To whoÌ„ blind Fortune gaue noght else but fame Wherof they fed but lookt lean with their cheere So they in Heau'n deifi'd this Dame Sith they poore souls could not come at her here And euer since a Goddesse call'd she is Poets thanke her for That Shee you for This. 102 Who though they be perhaps but passing poore Yet can they deâ—fie whom ere they will Then Demy-gods should cherish them therefore That they may make theÌ„ whol gods by their skil Twixt whom there shuld be interchange of store And make of Wit and Wealth a mixture still That may each others woefull wants supply For men by one another liue or die 103 Vaine fooles what do ye meane to giue hir heau'n That giues you nothing but an earthly hell That 's only aire which she to you hath giu'n To make ye pine whilst ye on earth do dwell Ne'r speake of Wit for ye are Wit-bereau'n To lie for nought and make Nought so excell For now who for him self 's not wise alone Is vainely wise though wise as Salomon 104 By this time Death came with his Emperor Who followed Death far off which Ioue did see To whom Death said Loe vpright Iupiter This Kesar though a Caesar followes mee He doth indeed said Ioue though somewhat farre But kept in off to shew indiffrencie For though the Iudge do iudge aright sometime Before both Tales be heard it is a crime 105 How saist quoth he Lieutenant didst thou come With Death to vs of thy meere owne accord Whereat the Emprour was stroken dumbe For he fear'd death as slaues do feare their Lord Yet with desire of glorie ouercome At last he spake yet spake he but a word Which was saue I the shortest word of words For No a letter more then I affords 106 Which he with submisse voice scarse audible Vtterd as one that would not well be heard But Iupiter although most sensible Tooke on him not to heare and prest him hard To speake through feare not so insensible For my vice Ioues quoth he are ne'r afeard Therefore on thy allegeance vnto mee I charge thee speake as thou from death wert free 107 Then with a princely death-out-daring looke He said Dread Ioue I had bin worse then mad Sith your Lieutenancie to me you tooke If I so great a grace neglected had Which so I had if so I had forsooke Without your notice that which made me glad Nor would I haue with Death come now to you But that he threatned me to bring me low 108 Wherewith the Iudge iust Ioue did sentence giue On Fortunes side which made Death rage so sore That at the Emprour he amaine did driue Whilst Ioue lookt on and Fortune fled therefore Short tale to make he did him life depriue And euer since Death rageth more and more That now all men false Fortune doe preferre Before iust Death nay iuster Iupiter 109 And thus with Death that All in fine doth end We end our Tale and if a lie it be Yet naked Truth dares such a lie defend Because such lies doe lie in veritie But though loude lies do lie they will not bend So lowe as most profound Moralitie Then be it lie or be it what it will It lies too high and lowe for Death to kill Bene cogitata si excidunt non occidunt Mimi Publiani Finis The Triumph of DEATH OR The Picture of the Plague According to the Life as it was in Anno Domini 1603. SO so iust Heau'ns so and none otherwise Deale you with those that your forbearaunce wroÌ„g Dumb Sin not to be nam'd against vs cries Yea cries against vs with a tempting tong And it is heard for Patience oft prouokt Conuerts to Furies all-consuming flame And fowlest sinne thogh ne'r so cleanly cloakt Breaks out
But vsher'd Death where ere themselues did go For they the purest Aire did so defile That whoso breath'd it did his breath forgo At London sincke of Sinne as at the Fount This all-confounding Pestilence began According to that Plagues most wofull wont From whence it flowing all the realme o'reranne Which to preuent at first they pestered Pest-houses with their murraine-tainted Sicke But though from them thence the healthie fled They ere suspected mortified the Quicke Those so infected being ignorant That so they are conuerse with whom soere Whose open Shops and Houses all doe haunt And finde most danger where they least do feare And so not knowing sicke-folke from the sound For such ill Aire 's not subiect to the sense They One with Other do themselues confound And so confound all with a pestilence Out flies one from the Plague and beares with him An heauy Purse and Plague more ponderous Which in the hie-way parteth life from limbe So plagues the next of his coine couetous In this ditch lies one breathing out his last Making the same his Graue before his death On that Bancke lies another breathing fast And passers by he baneth with his breath Now runnes the Rot along each bancke ditch And with a murraine strikes Swine Sheep and all Or man or beast that chance the same to touch So all in fields as in the Cities fall The London Lanes themseluet thereby to saue Did vomit out their vndigested dead Who by cart loads are carried to the Graue For all those Lanes with folke were ouerfed There might ye see Death as with toile opprest Panting for breath all in a mortall sweat Vpon each bulke or bench himselfe to rest At point to faint his Haruest was so great The Bells had talkt so much as now they had Tir'd all their tongs and could not speake a word And Griefe so toild herselfe with being sad That now at Deaths faint threats shee would but bourd Yea Death was so familiar ah become With now resolued London Families That wheresoere he came he was welcome And entertain'd with ioyes and iolities Goods were neglected as things good for nought If good for aught good but to breed more ill The Sicke despis'd them if the Sound thē sought They sought their death which cleaued to thē stil So Sicke and Sound at last neglected them As if the Sound and Sicke were neere their last And all almost so fared through the Realme As if their Soules the Iudgement day were past This World was quite forgot the World to come Was still in minde which for it was forgot Brought on our World this little day of Dome That choakt the Graue with this contageous Rot No place was free for Free-men ne for those That were in Prisons wanting Libertie Yet Prisoners frëest were from Plagues and Woes That visite Free-men but too lib'rally For al their food came frō the helthy house Which then wold giue Gods plags from thence to keep The rest shut vp could not like bountie vse So woefull Pris'ners had least cause to weepe The king himselfe O wretched Times the while From place to place to saue himselfe did flie Which from himselfe himselfe did seeke t'exile Who as amaz'd not safe knew where to lie It s hard with Subiects when the Soueraigne Hath no place free from plagues his head to hide And hardly can we say the King doth raigne That no where for iust feare can well abide For no where comes He but Death follows him Hard at the Heeles and reacheth at his head So sincks al Sports that wold like triumphs swim For what life haue we when we all are dead Dead in our Spirits to see our Neighbours die To see our King so shift his life to saue And with his Councell all Conclusions trie To keepe themselues from th' insatiate Graue For hardly could one man another meete That in his bosome brought not odious Death It was confusion but a friend to greet For like a Fiend he baned with his breath The wildest wastes and places most remote From Mans repaire are now the most secure Happy is he that there doth finde a Cote To shrowd his Head from this Plagues smoaking showre A Beggars home though dwelling in a Ditch If farre from London it were scituate He might rent out if pleas'd him to the Rich That now as Hell their London homes doe hate Now had the Sunne the Ballance entered To giue his heate by weight or in a meane When yet this Plague more heate recouered And scowr'd the towns that erst were clēsed clean Now sad Dispaire clad in a sable weede Did All attend and All resolu'd to die For Heat cold they thought the Plague would feede Which like a Ierffe still sinn d in gluttony The heau'nly Coape was now ore-canopide Neere each ones Zenith as his sense suppos'd With ominous impressions strangely died And like a Canopie at toppe it clos'd As if it had presag'd the Iudge was nie To sit in Iudgement his last doome to giue And caus'd his cloth of State t' adorne the Skie That All his neare approach might so perceiue Now fall the people vnto publike Fast And all assemble in the Church to pray Earely and late their soules there take repast As if preparing for the later day Where fasting meeting with the sound and sicke The sicke the sound do plage while they do pray To haste before the Iudge the dead and quicke And pull each other so in post away Now Angells laugh to see how contrite hearts Incounter Death and scorne his Tiranny Their Iudge doth ioy to see them play their parts That erst so liu'd as if they ne'r should die Vp go their harts hands and downe their knees While Death wēt vp down to bring thē down That vp they might at once not by degrees Vnto the High'st that doth the humble crown◠O how the thresholds of each double dore Of Heau'n and Hell were worne with throngs of ghosts Ne'r since the Deluge did they so before Nor euer since so pollisht the side-posts The Angells good and bad are now all toil'd With intertaining of these ceaselesse throngs With howling some in heat and horror broild And othersome in blisse with ioyfull Songs Th' infernall Legions in Battallions Seeke to inlarge their kingdome lest it should Be cloid with Collonies of wicked ones For now it held more then it well could hold The Angells on the Cristall walls of Heau'n Holpe thousands ore the Gates so glutted were To whom authoritie by Grace was giu'n The prease was such to helpe them ouer there The Cherubin eie-blinding Maiestie Vpon his Throne that euer blest hath bin Is compast with vnwonted Company And smiles to see how Angells helpe them in The heau'nly streets do glitter like the Sunne With throngs of Sonnes but newly glorifide Who still to praise their Glorifier runne Along those streets full fraught on either side Now was
Hell is heauenly in shew * All the earth calleth for Truth and the Heauen blesseth it and al things are shaken treÌ„bâ—e neither is there any vniust thing in it 1. Eâ—dr 4.36 * In Heâ—l is no redemption * Truth and Reason neare of kinne * Truth is the strength and kingdome the power and maiesty of all ages 1. Esdr 4 40. * Nature is greatly grieued till her sonnes be reformed * Reason doth cheere the heuinesse of our nature in case of distresse * Patience a daughter of the Heauens the best companioÌ„ of a forlorne fortune * Contingent Accidents are hid from the eie of Reason * God * ReprehensioÌ„ vnwelcome to all resolute in euill * Truth is like herselfe in vnlike subiects * This guileful world is mortall enemy to Trueth * Made Truth to speak most for the maintenaunce of earthly matters c. * The wine is wicked the King is wicked women are wicked all the childreÌ„ of men are wicked and al their wicked workes are such there is no truth in them but they perish in their iniquitie But Truth doth abide and is stroÌ„g foreuer liueth and raigneth for euer and euer 1. Esdr 4.37.38 * Truth is in extreame perill of deprauation among the vncleane * The Soule that hath no feeling of sin is dead in sin * They that lacke least worldly things most lacke friends that will tell them the trueth * Veritie and Iustice supports the Thrones of Princes * Euer since Astrea forsooke th' earth whosoeuer offers Iustice a golden Scabberd she will sheathe her sword therein * That life is worse then death that depeÌ„ds on a miÌ„â—ers pleasure * Immortall lines in Poesie are worse then mortall lines that end our misery for the first make vs labour for our trauell the last make vs labor for heauen if wee die well * Iustice * Iustice sees with Truthâ— eies * The countenance bewrais how the heart is affected * Time and Death enimies to Nature * Body of clay * Day night are the wings of Time * When men die their yereâ— seeme but so many daies before they dy all their dayes so many yeres The time future seems loÌ„g but that past extream short * Time's euer in motion * Before mans fall * Time made by God the fountaine of Reason * Iniquitie shal shorten Times continuance * Reasons are yeelded by Reason * Still moouing * The office of Reason * Our Nature is apt to insult vpon the least incoragement * A forcible meane to reduce the euill to good * Euery moment seemes an Age to â—ne that longs to heare that which his soule desires to know * Foolishnesse is ioy to him which is destitute of vnderstanding c. Prou. 15.21 * Vanitie holdeth nothing too deere for things nere so worthlesse that may any way tend to her pleasure * Iob 7.6 * No warning will preuaile with the wilfull * The Sunne runnes an oblique course in the heauens which measures time and in time men learne to doe amisse * Men lewdly liuing make a spoâ—le of time till 〈◊〉 spoile them The vices familiar with our natures in the seuerall ages of our life * Ther is none that doth good no not one Psal 17. * In time by reason experience wee reforme our maners if we be not vtterly void of grace * Leauing her last â—ooâ—esteps among the men which nâ—w are least acquainted wâ—th her or her steps Husbandmen * Venter auribus caret * No gracelesse wretch so vnnaturall but knowes the voice and law of nature because it is written in all meÌ„s hearts * Sathan winnoweth vs like wheate Luke 21.31 * They liue ill that thinke to liue euer * It is an abhominâ—tion to fooles to depart from euil Proâ— 13.19 * To haue heauen in this life is to holde hell in the other * We measure our frinds well-doing altogether by the line of worldly prosperitie * A scorner loues not him that rebukes him neither will he goe to the wise Pro. 15.12 * Reason is euer impugned and impeached by carnall Libertines * This makes so many miseries by reason of flatterers in the world for euery one couets to please for feare of frownes * Vicious liuers are strangers or rather enemies to Trueth â—nd her doctrine * These are the last and there fore the worst times which rather seeke to reforme by windy then explanary doctrine which perswades coldly * All times apter to Vice then Vertue * They that liue without thinking of their end doe commonly die ere they think of Death * The first death to the wicked is the entrance into the second * Repentance may be too late but neuer too soone * Tyrants * If good â—hey raise if bad they ruine it * A great torment in the life to come is due to those that can and will take such an immortall reuenge for any mortall inâ—urie * Feare * None are forsaken of God that cleaue to him by humble hearty praiee * The Kay of Intelligence * The Sonne of Gods first miracle hee wroght at the marriage Ioh. 2. honouring the feast with his personall presence * The wisest men are oft thus mistâ—ken for not being able â—o foresee perfectly future euents * The best meÌ„ Death soonest â—akes away because this wicked world is vnworthie of them * Fortune is euer in that mâ—â—ion like a waue moâ—ued with the wind * A sport so called * The contentious take small occasion to contend * Yet mightie men of our present times thinke otherwise as appeareth by their actions Oppression * All elementall Bodies subiect 〈◊〉 death * Which shall haue an end * Al that hath motion is subiect to dissolution * The Eie is saide to cause our blushing c. * Iustice Fortune Death are eielesse sith they haue no respect of persons * A kingdomâ— diuided is at point to be dissolued * Vntimely as well as vnreasonable taxings withdraw the loues of the Subiects * Princes often become odious to their subiects thorow the fault of those whoÌ„ they put in trust to gouerne vnder them * The readiest way to winne hearts * Loue and Bounty the best Baites to catch men * Captare beneuolentiam * Men are honored and folowed in this world onely for their fortunes * They got Territories which they could not holde * Fortune fauors fooles * Chirurgions * The way to thriue in that function * Elixir * A little therof multiplies infinitely as Alchymists affirme * Life is sweet * O Death how bitter is thy remembrance to a maÌ„ that hath pleasure in his riches Ecclus. 41.1 * Fronâ—â—â—ullae â—ides * Hope of future good in this life maks men feare death as an intollerable eâ—ill * 1. Iohn 5.4 * None so mortified but feares death in point of dying * The feâ—re of finall or particular iudgement makes Death vnwelcome