sure death bids hee come away by some Tokens which he hath sent thee Be ruâ—de by me and take this receipt Trust to it for it cui'd a King of Israel Cry out with Dauid O Lord Chastâ—ze me not in thy wrath for thine Arrowes haue lighted vpon mee There is nothing sound in my flesh because of thine anger neither is there rest in my bones because of my sinnes My woundes are putrified my Reynes full of burning I am weakned and sore broken My heart panteth my strength fayleth me And the light of mine eyes euen they are not mine owne my Louers and my friends stand aside from my Plague and my Kinsemen stand afarre off Yet continue thou vvith the holy singer and conclude thus O Lord hast to helpe mee Hovv like you this Medicine Is it of such vertue that albeit thou art sicke to thy Death It vvill by degrees take away all thy Torments This second is a lulep to sweeten the mouth of thy Stomacke after the bitternesse of thy sickenesse â—or when by an Armipotent hand thou art lifted out of thy death-bed when the Bell hath ceast rolling for thee and thy Womer-sleâ—pers leaue gaping for thy Linnen thy goodes and thy money And are madde they are not likely to Rifle thy House vvhen thou hast an appetite to eate and that thy feete are able to walke vpon that Earth which was hungry to dâ—noure thy whole bdoy Then fall thou vpon that Earth and Magnifie God Then say though thy sinnes in thy sickenesse made thy conscience shev a face to thee as blacke as Hell yet seake thou to it and tell it that this Recouery vvith new repentance continued shâ—ll make it like the vvinges of a Doue couered with Siluer and vvhose Feathers are like the yellovv Gold Say to thy Soule it shal bee as white as the Snow in Zumon and coâ—sâ—sse that Gods Mercy is like the mountaine of Bashan Say to thy Health that the Chariots vvhich God sent to guard it vvere tvventy thousand Angels amongst whom the Lord was as in the Sanctuary of Sinay Nay albeit Death should lay his Mouth to thine Eare and bid thee put thy House in order For thou shall Dye Yet an Isaiah some good Mans prayerâ— or thine ovvne may bee heard and God may Adâ—e to thy dayes fifteene yeares more as he did to Hezekiah vpon his Repentance Repentance is a Siluer Bell and soundes sweetly in the Eare of Heauen It is a Dyamond shyning and sparkling in the darke to inlighten all our miseries It is a 〈◊〉 for euery vvound It is a golden ladder by whose stâ—ppâ—s wee climbe to immortality It is a Chayne of Orient Pearle tying vp Gods handes that hee shall not strike vs Repentance smelleth sweeter then the Oyntment vvhich the Woman Annoynted Christs feete when shee wipâ—d them vvith her Hayre Repentance winnes the King of Heauen to smile vpon vs as if wee were his â—auorites and to say thus If thou still art ascending and getting vp this hill of Repentance blessed shalt thou bee in the Citty and blessâ—d in the field Blessed bee the fruit of thy Body and the fruit of thy Ground and the fruit of thy Caâ—tle the increase of thy King and the 〈◊〉 of thy sheepe Blessed shall be the Basket and thy Dough Blessed shalt thou bee when thou comest in and blessed also when thou goest out Thy Land-soldiers O England Shall not stand in feare â—or thy Royall Nauy for thine enemies that rise against thee shall fall before thy face They shall come out against thee one way and fly before thee seauen wayes His word that speakes this may bee taken better then any Kings in the world And therefore hold out both thy hands vnder this Tree of Blessings and catch the golden apples when so freely they are taken downe into thy lappe But if thou trample these gifts vnder thy feete and spurâ—est at Gods fauour bestowed vpon thee in thy Health in the midst of a hot sicknesse If the Tolling of Bells cannot awaken you nor the opening of graues affright you If Bill-men standing at other mens dores cannot put you in minde that the same guard may locke vp yours and the same red Crosses bee stucke in your Banners If to bee shut vp close for a Moneth seeme but a short Saeue in a Tragedy and not car'd for when t is Acted Then heare O England and thou her eldest Daughter so admired amonst Nations for thy Beauty Heare what New Quiners of Punishments will bee opened For these are the Arrowes which God himselfe sayes hee will draw out at rebellious Kingdomes A Pestilence cleauing fast Consumptions feauers burning Agues The Sword Blasting new-Dewes Heauen shall bee turned to brasle and Earth to Iron Or Houses to haue others dwell in them our Vineyardes to haue others â—ast them our Oxâ—n to bee slaine yet wee not eate them our Sheepe to bee slaughtered and to feede our enemies These and hideons squâ—ldrons besides are threatened to bee sent out against disobedient people What Physitians Doctors Surgeons or Apothecaries haue wee to defend vs in so dreadfull a Warre None not any If therefore with Naaman thou wouldst bee cleansed from Leprosy thou must obey Elisha and wash thy selfe seauen times in Iordan Weeâ—e seauen times a day Nay seauen times an houre for thy sinnes Whosoeuer with Ahaziah the King of Samaria falleth sicke and sendeth for recouery of Baal-Zebub the god of Ekron and not to the true God indeede hee shall not come from his bed but dye the Death For wee sincke to the Bottome of the watters as the Carpenters Axe did But though neuer so Iron-hearted the voyce of an Elisha the feruency of prayer and praysing God can fetch vs from the bottome of Hell And by contrition make vs swimme on the toppe of the waters of Life Now albeit at the first crying to God nay the Second Third Fourth or twentith time hee will not heare thee But that thy sighes are neglected Thy teares vnpittyed Thy sores nor repented Thy hunger not satisfied Thy pouerty not relieued Yet giue thou not ouer stand at the gate of Gods mercy still Begge still Knock still and knock hard For 〈◊〉 was barren yet being an importunate suiter her petition was heard and signed Shee was fruitfull and had three Sonnes and two Daughters So albeit wee bee barren in Repentance in Thanksgiuing in Charity in Patience in Goodnes Yet if vnfeignedly wee pray to Heauen wee shall bee fruitfull And these fiue shall bee our Sonnes and Daughters By this meanes our Maâ—â— shall change her Name agen to Naomi and our bitternes bee turned into sweetnes Art thou sicke Thy best and onely Doctor dwells aboue Hast thou beene sicke Art thou amended Fill Heauen and Earth full of Songes to thy Eternall Physition who takes nothing of thee for any Eloctuâ—riâ—s hee giues thee His Pilles are bitter but wholâ—some and of wonderous operation And so much the better because what he giues comes gratis Art thou recouered Hast thou pluck't thy foot out of the graue when it was stepping in Then with the Sonne of Syrach acknowledge that a Beggar in health is better then a diseased Monarch Health and Strength are fairer then gold and a sound body is an infinite Treasure So that if thou doest not open thy Lippes to Magnifie him that hath snatched thee out of the lawes of destruction His blessings are to thee as messes of meate set vpon the graue I must yet once more wish thee O Troy nouans to cast thine eyes about thee Looke forward on thy sad Neighbour distressed Cambriage Sickenesse shakes her her glorious Buildings are emptied her Colledges shut vp her Lourned Sonnes forsake her her Tradesmen cry out for succour Want walkes vp and downe her streetes a few Rich a many Poore But the hands of the one cannot feede not fill the mouthes of the other To thee therefore O thou Nourishing mother of all the Citties in England to thee albeit thou art in some Sorrow thy selfe does this afflicted Nource of Schollers come What tree hath Branches broad enough to shelter her from stormes but thine Where is a Sunne to warme her frozen Limbes if it moues not in thy Zodiack Thou O Queene of Citties art Royall in thy gifts Charity sits in thy Gates and compassion waites vpon thee in thy Chamber So that with Dido thou often sayeth Non ignara mali Miseris succurrere disco My miseries to my selfe being knowne Makes me count others wants mine owne FINIS The yeare â—625 Fatall to our Kingdome To the Citty â— Kings 20 â— 1 Kings 20 5. Ioh. 6.20 London generall Misery The spotted Feauer A kin man to the Plague The Moon and her Waâ—ting-maâ—de The Death of K. I. The Death 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 graue The great Change Crosses 〈…〉 A 〈◊〉 â—para 〈…〉 Enemie The 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 Men alive in graue A graue Opened The World a fair Inne but il Lodging in it A Chamberline for all Trauelers A man iâ— his Graue â—ees strange sights A sickmans Sessions The best Iudge in England When men is weakest God is strongest A due deâ—t must be payd Iob. 3.3 Old sâ—râ—s ill cured breake out agen Many men deaâ— few amended The â—umâ—er that dyed in 1625. Luk. 7.30 Math. 25.4 A wicked â—câ—o le but the best Schollers To trewants Loue thy Physiâ—ian King Dauids Pâ—ysiâ—ke A Iulep Dauids Song set to our tune Read 67. 2 Kings 20.1 Good Men sicke Luke 7 38. Great 〈…〉 Deut. 25 Bad seruice bad wages 2 Kings 5.14 2 Kings 7. â— 2 Kings â— 5 God louâ—â— an earned Suiâ—eâ— 1 Sam. 1. â—â— Ruth â— 2â— Syrack 30â— 14
London LOOKE BACKE AT THAT YEARE OF YEARES 1625. AND LOOKE FORVVARD VPON THIS YEARE 1630. Written not to Terrifie But to Comfort LONDON Printed by A. M. and are to bee sold by Ed. Blackmoore at the Angell in Paules Church-yard 1630. London Looke Backe TO looke backe at Ills begets a Thankefulnâ—â—â—e tâ— haue escâ—pâ—d them So the Children of Israel hauing dâ—y foot passed through the red Sea looked backe with a double Ioy To see themselues on Shore their enemies Drovvn'd To Looke Backe at our sinnes begets a Repentance Râ—pentance is the Mother of Amendment and Amendment leades vs by the hand to Heauen So that if vvee looke not Backe ther 's no going forward in that Iourney to Ierusalem To looke Backe at an enemie from whom wee flye Calls vp Hope and Feare Hope to out-runne him Feare to be ouâ—r-taken Hope to fight with him agen Feare neuer to fight more To looke backe strengthens wisedome to looke forward armes Prouidence and lendes eyes to Prâ—uention What Marriner hauing gotten safely by a Rocke but with a liuâ—lâ— spirit lookes backe and praâ—sâ—th Heauen for Sâ—ylâ—ng by such a danger What Generall but at the end of a Battaile lookes backe on his slaughtered Souldiers with sorrow and on his liuing Regiments with Gladnes What a Glory is it to repeat the story of the fight How such a Captaine cut a braue way to Victory with his Sword How another brake through the Battalia's like the God of Warre Looke backe therefore ó LONDON at Time and bid him turne ore his Chronicles and shew thee that Yeare of Yeares 1625 For if euer there was in England a yeare great with Childe of wonder that very yeare was then deliuered of that Prodigious Birth It was a yeare Fatall to all our Kingdomes For the Courts of our Kings were forced to fly from place to place for safety and yet the pursuing enemie Dâ—ath tracde theÌ„ and ouertooke theÌ„ by the priâ—ts of thâ—ir feet It was â—atall O thou Empresse of Cittiees faâ—re Troynouant to tâ—ce For bloud shedde excepted thou with Ierusalem didst feele as gâ—ueâ— us a Desolation eating vp with Mariam thine owne chilâ—râ—n vvith Samaria thou wert beseiged 〈◊〉 go not like Samaria with Benhaâ—ad King of the Aramites and â—2 Kings more with him But with a farre more cruell enemy the Pestilence and an infinite Army of Sinnes which to this very day fight against thee A more terrible Tyrant then Benhadad and that is Death sayd then to thee as hâ—e diâ— to Samaria Thy Gold and thy Siluer are mine thy Women 〈◊〉 and thy faire Children are mine O how much of the one vvas then buried in Earth and what excellent Pieces of the other lay then defloured in Graves With Ierico the wades of thy Glory O London were broken down for thy Princes tooke from thâ—e the Honour of their Chariots tâ—e Diuinâ—â— the harmony of their Eloquence Thy Magiâ—tâ—ates the splendâ—r â—f their Authority Thy Merchants the Renowne of Commerce Thy Physiâ—ians gaue thee ouer Thy Soldiers 〈◊〉 Cowards left tâ—ee in the open field Thy olâ— Mâ—n went away and thy young-men fled before thee in the 〈◊〉 of their Marrow Reader to Feast thee with more vâ—riety cast 〈◊〉 eye on these following verses in which is set downe a 〈◊〉 full and more liuely Description of that Lamentable Time This was that yeere of wonder when this Land Was Ploughed vp into Graues and graues did stand From morne till next morne gaping still for more The Bells like our lowde sinnes ne're giuing ore Then life look't pale and sicklier then the Moone Whole Households well â—'th morne lying dead at Noone Then sicknesse was of her owne face affrayle And frighting all yet was her selfe dismayde LONDON was great with childe and with a fright Shee fell in labour But O pitious sight All in her Child-bed Roome did nought but mourne For thos who were deliuerâ—d were still-borne The Citty fled the 〈◊〉 for those Bells Which calld the Church man rung his neighbors knells The Citty fled the Citty aâ—d in feare That enemy shuâ—â—'d who meâ— her euery where The Citty so much of her Boâ—y lost Thâ—â— she apâ—eâ—r'd 〈…〉 Ghost Paules Orâ—ans thâ—n 〈…〉 to call This day a Qui 〈…〉 Who yesterday sate 〈…〉 me To morning 〈◊〉 yet â—re they got home Had Toâ—ens 〈◊〉 thâ—m 〈◊〉 they should no more Heare Aâ—thâ—â—s there They weâ—e to goe before Him to whose 〈…〉 Anthems were all sung To instruments which wereby Angels strung By this little Picture you may guesse if that yeare of 1625. was not one of the worlds Cliâ—aâ—tericall yeares If it bee not to this day more remarkeable than any otâ—er yeare in the memory of man looke backe but on such Calenders as your obseruations may set dovvne and then be your owne iudges Fiâ—st 〈◊〉 in your looking backe remember those faynt and puâ—gatiue Flâ—xes which then vvere the Vâ—nt-currers making vvay for other Diseases which immediately brake in vpon vs How many Families fâ—ll by that Consumption How many househol 〈…〉 carry avvay 〈◊〉 one 〈◊〉 in a Thousand 〈◊〉 it Or if happily they get out of his fingers did not a spotteâ—â— Feauer then presently print her Nayles vpon their flesh How many Boâ—yes were by this Purueyor of Death mark'd for Funeralls Our Doctors giue that young Sicknesse then as they doe this now Reigning a fine gentleman like name the spâ—tted Feauer as if it had beene Erâ—â—nd the sâ—oâ—tâ—d Feauer as if it hâ—d beene a Beautifull faire skiâ—d Sickenesse and those Spotes the frâ—ckels in the face of it But how many did this spotted Leopard set vpon and teare in peces The Physitians were modest and gaue it a pretty harmelesse Name the spotted Feauer but wofull experience made vs confesse it was the direct Plague or Couzâ—n-germane to it The spotted Feauer serued but as a By-name The spots were the signes that hung at the Doores but the Pestilence dwelt within Agen lâ—oke backe vpon that Moone and that officious Starre waiting so close vpon her and reade in both thâ—ir faces wâ—at followed after Agen looke bacâ—e at the sudden and vnexpâ—cted death of K Iames He lead the way and Millioâ—s of Subiects followed after him Hee dyed of a Burning Feauer but that burning went cold to a great â—any Hearts in Christendome and it â—â—uck cold to vs in England 〈◊〉 breâ—th of 〈…〉 glittering of Bonfireâ— and 〈…〉 People heaâ—ed vs agen with the happy Nâ—wâ—s of a Glorious Sunne risâ—n And that Sunne was the Great Charlemaâ—ne our now present Soueraigne Agen looke backe vpon 〈◊〉 â—aths of our Nâ—bility Dukes Earles and Lords beiâ—g at that time snatch't from vs. Agen looke backe on the heapes of English thâ—n swallowed in the sea eaten vp in the Low-Countries Rekcon our Losses of Men abroad and at that time the ruine of Men Women and children at home Al this Remembrances being thus added vp together poynt if you can through
all the Reignes of our Kings to any one yeare so full of wonderful mutatiâ—nâ— Such Shifting of the Windes from faire to foule and froÌ„ foule to faire weather Such Eclipses and such affrighting Changes and then my Penne shall be silenc'd But of al the changes happening that yeare the greatest is not yet mention'd When our Sinnes were in a full Sea God call'd in the waters of our punishment and on a sudden our miseries ebb'd WheÌ„ the Pâ—stilence struck 5000. and odde in a Weeke into the Graue an Angell came and held the Sword from striking So that the waues or Death fell in a short time as fast as before they swelld vp to our confusion Mercy stood at the Church doores and suffered but a few Coffins to come in And this was the most wonderfull change of all the rest This was a Change worthy to bee set ouer euery doore in Letters of Gold as before Red painted Crosses stood there turning Cittizens to runn-awayes But a white â—lagge was held out in signe of Truce A pardon was promis'd and it came to the great Comfort of all our Nation When more than threescore thousand were â—owen downe by the â—yeth of time Deaths haruest towards the end of that yeare was all most all in Looke backe O LONDON at these and on thy knees sing Hymnes to heauen to thy thâ—n dâ—liuerance T is strange to obserue that if a Bell be heard to Ring out and that t is voyc'd in such a Parish within the walls of LONDON a many is dead of the 〈◊〉 O what talke it breedes If the next 〈…〉 two then the Report stickes cold to the 〈…〉 Citâ—â— But if as now it rises to 〈…〉 the Head and thousands fearefully suspect they 〈◊〉 bee vndone And is there not great â—eaven for â—t is thinke you Yes there is For all other Infirmities and maladies of the Boâ—y goe simply in their owne Habit and liue wheresoeuer they are 〈…〉 vnder their proper and knowne Names 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 passâ—th onely by the name of the 〈…〉 an Ague the Pox Fistula c. 〈…〉 so 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 that they 〈◊〉 and King out sometimes night and dâ—y that sudden destroyer of Mankind that Nimble executioner of the Diuine Iustice The Plague or Pestilence hath for the singularity of the Terrors waiting vpon it 〈◊〉 title THE SICKNESSE It hath a Preheminence about all others And none being able to match it for Violence Strength Incertainty Suâ—tlety Catching Vniuersality and Desolation it is called the Sicknesse As if it were the onely Sicknesse or the Sicknesse of Sicknesses as it is indeede But for all this Tyrants Raging and Rauing vp and downe this Citty after punishment Mercy as you heard bâ—fore came downe when the deluge was pâ—st a Raine-bow was seene Martyrdome went before and Glory with a Crowne of Starres immediately followed To Dye is held fearefull and the Graue hath many formidable shapes A Prisoner being drag'd to a Iayle out of vvhich hee can neuer be deliuered may truely call his Chamber his Liuing Graue where his owne sorrowes and the cruelty of creditors bury him They who with fearefull labour maintaine life by digging vnder-ground goe daily to their Graue So doe all Traytors that lay traynes to Blow vp their K. and Countreâ— So doe all those whose blacke consciences prâ—ck them on to dige Pitts for others into which they fall then solues But to open a graue as it is indeede the graue is our last Inne and a poore wooden Coffin our fairest Lodging Roome No the Graue is not our Inne where we may lie to Night and be gon to Morrow but it is our standing House it is a perpetuity our Inheritance for euer A peece of ground with a litle garden in it fiue or sixe foot long full of flowres and herbes purchas'd for vâ— and our posterity at the deerest Income in the world the losse of Life The World is our common Inne in which wee haue no certaine abyding It stands in the Road-way for all passâ—ngers And wither we be vpon speed or goe slowly on foot sure we are that all our Iourneyes are to the land of death and that 's the Graue A sicke-mans bed is the gate or first yard to this Inne where death at our first arriuall stands like the Chamberlaine to bid you welcome and is so bold as to aske if you will alight and he will shew you a Lodging In this great yeare of contagion I meane 1625. wheÌ„ the Bell man of the Citty Sicknesse beate at euery dore there was one who whilst he lay in his graue his death-bed as he accounted it yet afterwards he Recouered reported to his friends he beheld strange apparitions He saw a purchas'd Sessions The Iudge was terrible In his hand Lightning in his voyce Thunder After thousands were cast and condemn'd to dye sayd this sicke man I saw my selfe a Prisoner and cal'd to the Barre The Iudge looking sternly vpon mee was angry my offences being read to me were heauy my accusers many what could I doe but pleade guilty And falling on my knees with hands held vp cry for mercy Teares sighes and Anguishes of soule speaking hard for me the Iudge melted in compassion signed a repriue sau'd me from death and set me free O in what a pittifull state had I beene else for my conscience araigned me my owne tongue accus'd mee my owne guilt condemn'd mee Yet the mercy of the Iudge sau'd mee In this graue I lay my memory being dead my Sences buried my Spirits couered with Earthly weaknesses and all the faculties of my soule cold as the clay into which I was to be turned Yet loe I was called out of this Graue I quickned and reuiued Seeing then that albeit death was about to thrust mee downe with one hand yet life gentley pluckt me vp by the other what did I but looke backâ— at the Horror which had beset me round I did not onely looke backe but I looked forward at the Happinesse comming toward mee which with spred armes I embraced neither did I onely looke forward but I looked vpward to heauen Had I not reason to pay my heauenly Phâ—sitian with an humble hearty Thankes-giuing I did so Haue I not reason to put al others that either tâ— is yeare or in any yeare to come shall be call'd to the same Iudgment-seat in minde of their deliuerance Wee being at least we ought to be Christs followers vse as he did to giue thankes before we breake our Bread and when we are satisfied he is not satisfied vnlesse wee pay him thankes agen thankes that 's all Poore is that good turne which is not worth godaâ—ercy That benefit withers which is not warm'd by the breath of the Receiuer Here leaue we our â—icke-man well recouered and singing holy Ditties for his restoring Let vs now agen looke backe and stedfâ—stly fix our Eyes vpon the â—errible face