Cressus his Wealth nor Alexanders Pompe Nor Caesars rarely Imitated Honor Could winne on Earth Eternity nor Campe Nor Court nor City can prescribe a manner How to shunne this inevitable Doome All men must Dye and then to Iudgement come 6. As it is certaine that we all must Dye Sith divine Statutes are Irrevocable So that wee may 't expect continually To know the time we Mortals are vnable Therfore wee should from'th houre we first draw breath Looke for this certaine yet vncertaine Death 7. That certaine Doctrine of Gamaliels Scholler Statutum est hominibus semel mori Which is the Godly's joy the Wicked's dolour The Prouds confusion and the Humbles glory Is the elected theame of my Discourse In carelesse Christians to procure remorse 8. Yet least the onely certainty of Death Should not be weyed as Iustice doth require Post hoc autem Judicium After Death Some Iudg'd to Blisse some to Eternall Fire Mee thinkes the memory of these two points Should Palsie-like shake proud Belshazers joynts 9. Though it be true a Christian rather ought For th' only love of God live Vertuously If in our Hearts wee still retaine this thought O Blessed Ihesu thou for Sinne didst Dye And shall I wretch reitterate the same Which caus'd thy cruell scourging Death and shame 10. But yet alas vilde Man is so propence T'ingratitude and Epicurian sloath Doth so consopiate and dull his sence Him to awake Mercy and Iudgement both Being joyntly vs'd doe all too little seeme Of God and Goodnesse to winne his Esteeme 11. Indeede a tender hearted Man or Woman That curiously in Pious Contemplation Shall with Devotion dayly call and Summon Within the Breast to scan our Saviours Passion May finde most Charitable motives still As spurs to Good as Bridles to all Ill. 12. To such as these the memory of Death And after Iudgement Are both comfortable They knowing that this momentary Breath Doth but detaine them in a Life instable Which having once forsaken they are sure T' injoy a Life that ever shall endure 13. Yea to both Good and Bad Memento mori is a most profitable Document In all Discourse and Concourse 't is a story Fit to bee told and heard for most are bent Vnto forgetfulnesse Nay many strive The memory of Death away to drive 14. Tell a young Royster of his vicious wayes And bid him mend his life which is but short With a fastidious pish hee smiles and sayes Forty yeares hence is time sufficient for 't And yet too many of these Youngsters come By vnexpected Death to their long Home 15. Your Female Painters that will mend by Art Natures defects to compasse base desire Aske any one of them when shee 'le depart From folly and doe what our Lord require Shee 'le say that when shee 's Old all shall be left Some times next Day she is of Life bereft 16. Your Goatish-Leacher counsell him to leave Those sordid courses wherein hee delights Noe other answer you 'le from him receive But why should I rob Nature of her rights He 'le leave when hee 's vnable more to sinne Nor Death nor Iudgement hee regards a pinne 17. The Gormandizing-Glutton that destroyes More at one meale then 20. poore would serve If you demand why hee all this enjoyes While nak'd and hungry Christ i' th streets doth starve He puts off Charity till Death arrests him Till then he thinkes not on 't nor him that blest him 18. The bold Blasphemer who audaciously Belcheth out Oathes and Imprecations strange Devising new for Curiosity As men their fashions they their oaths do change Thinke you if they of Death or Iudgement thought Such damned words could from their mouths be brought 19. The Grinding Vsurers the hard Oppressors Did these each minute thinke vpon that Day That shall to Iudgement summon all transgressors Sure conscience in their soules would beare more sway But Sathan still to traine them in his path Makes them to put farre off the day of Wrath. 20. Those Luke-warme Christians that doe at this day For worldly Honors and promotions sake With Heretiques participate they 'le say Before they dye another course they 'le take But God in Iudgement oftentimes prevents And by Deaths warrant frustrates their intents 21. It is a dangerous thing with God to dally Whose eyes are open to discerne all Hearts Art thou well minded stand not shall I shall I Take hold of him whilst he his Grace imparts Experience lamentable proves too well That millions for this fault now burne in Hell 22. To punish our remisse and carelesse Lives Our Lord hath sent his Angell with commission To take from wives their men from men their wives In many Families is this Division It 'h Morne all sound at Night all Dead and gone O is not this a case fit to bemoane 23. If it be requisite at any season To thinke of Death and judgement certainly T'th time of Plague and Pestilence most reason Wee have to looke each day and houre to dye Woefull effects envite vs to this care Many are seized by Death ere the'yr aware 24. Let every CHRSTIAN thus Expostulate With his own conscience every houre and minute Is my state better then my Neighbours state My friends and Kindred who have suffered in t What priviledge can I vile wretch pretend That heaven more then they should mee defend 25. And if thou bee protected from the same Vaunt not thy selfe as though thy Merrits were Without Gods grace the cause No rather claime Continuance of his love with trembling feare Glorifie him and still in this confide That thousands better then thy selfe have dyed 26. This meeke acknowledgment of Heavenly ayde And thy vnworthinesse assure thy selfe Is the best Antidote that can be made Against the Plague these will not wast thy pelfe Not that I speak ' gainst Corporall provision For th' holy Ghost sayes honor the Physitian 27. Art thou infected be not heavy hearted But with alacrity thy selfe prepare To take from him who hath much Good imparted This little Ill now't fals vnto thy share In holy Iob a perfect mirror see God plagued him yet he loved him why not thee 28. And thou that with no Sicknesse art perplext Bee Charitable vnto all that need Thinke every houre thy turne may be the next Prepare for that while yet thy selfe art freed Doe good to all as holy Scripture sayth And chiefly to the Family of Fayth 29. Bee conversant in Prayer and vse the meanes As God by meanes of Holy Church affords That when this sad Contagion thee restraines Thou being in heart resolu'd to bee our Lords While all thy thoughts are in this order kept Our Lord the will will for the deed accept 30. Aboue all things have care to keepe thy Soule From the contagious malady of Sin While that best part 's preseru'd from being foule Then what estate so e're thy corpes bee in Sicknesse and health what 't is the sender please Thou shalt at all assayes finde Ghostly ease 31. Lastly in generall all you who bee Because of this pestiferous Infection Sequestred and shut vp from Company Bee pleased herein to follow my direction Let this seclusion make you thinke what 't is The glorious Company aboue to misle 32. And from this meditation may proceed An ardent fervor of their intercession Desire their prayers and merits in your need That CHRIST of blisse may give you full possession And let your memory evermore retaine The thought of Death and Iudgment joy and paine 33. Thus for their sakes who may want better meanes I spend this Humble talent with goodwill Desiring nothing of them for my paines But that in their Devotions they may still Remember mee as I for them are zealous Sweet IHESVS both in Soule and Body heale vs. AMEN A BRIEFE YET DEVOVT PRAYER TO THE GLORIOVS Citizens of the Coelestiall IERVSALEM very fit to bee vsed in time of Mortality O! all you Coelestiall Inhabitants of the new IERVSALEM Vnto whose names and memories our parish Churches were by our pious progenitors Erected Dedicated and Consecrated Wee devoutly begge of you by that vnbounded love wherewith our common Lord hath loved you that you will make Intercession vnto him in the behalfe of those parishes whose Churches yet reteyne your names That our mercifull Lord will be pleased to revoke the destroying Angell lately sent out with Commission to punish our sinnes with the Plague of Pestilence And although such is the prophanenesse of these times most of the Inhabitants being miserably consopated inebriated with heresie doe contemne your suffrages and seeke as farre as they are able vtterly to annihilate that Authority wherewith the King of all Kings hath ennobled you Yet O yee holy company be pleased for their sakes who devoutly craue your patronage protections merits and Intercessions to desire our Lord to be mercifull to all in generall and that he will not for the iniquitie of the Disobedient punish the Obedient But rather in mercy spare the chaffe for love of the wheate least plucking vp the one hee destroy the other before the harvest of separation is come Pray for vs O yee beloved of God heare vs O mercifull IESVS and divert thine anger from vs miserable wretches who meekely come vnto thee relying vpon thy wonted favours O bee pittifull spare vs O benigne IHESV To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost Bee all glory for ever and ever AMEN
dextram Dei patris Omnipotentis At th' end o' th World as verity doth report to us Inde ventarus judicare vivos et mortuous God as his Elect Children all hath ranckt 'em Who in their Hearts say Credo in Spirit um sanctum Yet woe is me alas I in meere Folly am Vnlesse I beleeve Sanctam Ecclesiam Catholicam Who takes the name of Catholique vpon him Also beleeves Sanctorum Communionem In this true Church I that a Sinner fore am May finde Remissionem peccatorum And all the faithfull shal have this grace shewen 'em As they beleeve carnis Resurrectionem Let Christians looke to 't this doth most concerne 'em Which is the Crowne of all Vitam eternam Beleeve one God beleeve his Church and then Thou maist enjoy Christ promises Amen A DIVINE DITTIE Made in Honor of the Crimson Crosse To bee Sung by them who please To the tune of From the faire Lavinian Shore c. YOu who take delight to know Things that were done long agoe By our Auncient Predecessors And their Catholicke Successors Lend your attention Let noe Fancies tosse Your mindes a stray But regard what I say For I meane to display The Honor of the Crimson Crosse He or she who hath not bin In the Font that cleanseth sinne Marked with this sacred signe Give me leave though noe Divine To make a question Though some a strange glosse Doe set on the text Whether they be well fixt In this world for the next Sith Christians are knowne by th' Crosse Our blest Lord to give vs breath And Redeeme our Soules from Death On a Crosse was Crucified At that time he Sanctified This Badge of Honor When with his lives losse After much pâ—ine While his bloud like to Raine From his wounds slowed amaine Hee made it a Crimson Crosse All the Christians Primative To advance the Crosse did strive Glorious Martyres Valiantly Death and Torments did defie Vnder this Ensigne Deeming but drosse All things beside When for CHRIST Crucified They couragiously Dyed To Honour the Crimson Crosse Bishops and Confessors Grave This Coelestiall Banner have Fixt in Countryes Salvage and Rude To CHRISTS Crosse they have subdued Barbarous Nations From their errours grosse To CHRISTIAN Faith As Antiquity saveth Both in Life and Death They Honor'd the Crimson Crosse Once 't was Englands primest Honor Chiefely cald Saint Georges Banner Still the tree wee all retaine Though the fruit on't most disdaine But Ancient Customes Preserved from losse Though just in sight Of Heraldryes Right Wee on Land and Sea sight To Honor the Crimson Crosse It the Divell doth affright He dares not abide in sight Where this holy signe is made Wherefore it may well be said That he and the Puritan With his false glosse Are neere of kinne Neither dares enter in If I once doe begin To arme my selfe with the Crosse Blest St. Patricke who ' at th' first As Apostle Ireland nurst In the Faith Apostolique Scoft by every Heretique He so Devoutly Did Vertue engrosse That in short time Hee converted that Clime To CHRISTS Faith then in Prime And Honor'd the Crimson Crosse Ireland then was sore opprest With foule things that did infest And the People sore annoy Which St. Patrick did destroy Snakes Toades and Adders O gainefull losse All by his Prayer Quite Bannished were Never more to come there This Honors the Crimson Crosse To his Honor and the Chutch Every seaventeenth day of March Irish men doe farre and neare Crimsen Crosses that day weare Then let true CHRITIANS Esteeme Wealth as drosse And in all wants Let vs move our Complaints Vnto CHRIST by his Saints And Honour the Crimson Crosse AMEN Finis COR CHARTE APPENSAM ROSAM VICE CERNE SIGILLI SPRETA MORE TVI SALVS ID EGIT AMOR IHS WHOLSOME PREPARATIVES FOR DEATH AND IVDGEMENT VERY FIT TO BEE APPLYED TO the necessitie of every true Catholique CHRISTIAN at all times But more especially in this present time of Mortality by the Plague of Pestilence occasioned Statutum est hominibus semel mori Post hoc autem Judicium Hebr. 9.27 Superiorum Permissu MDCXXXVI TO THE CHARITABLE READER GReat cause I had Christian Reader to invite thee by this Epistle Charitable for this poore Babe of my braine begotten in charity desires to have charitable nutrition charitable Censure and chiefely Charitable acceptation For the tender weakeling by reason of its Parents weaknesse should it bee rigidly dealt withall would even perish in the very blast of an over-curious or fastidious verdict Therefore let Charity cover what indiscretion hath left naked and let a loving heart excuse Defects of Art What I have heere published was done at the powerfull solicitation of a very good Friend of mine or else this rude worke had onely beene for the workmans owne vse And as it was written to anticipate worse employment so as a Whetstone to his devotion It might have and I trust will set a sharper edge vpon the same And consequently produce more keene and piercing effects of Charity Feare of GOD Obedience to his immaculate Spouse the Holy Catholique and Apostolique CHURCH Reverence to his Saints Zeale of his Honour Fervor in true Religion and in all pious and laudable Exercises that a CHRISTIAN ought to practice Among which nothing can bee more vsefull and necessary at all times And especially in this heauy time of Mortalitie Then the thought of DEATH and IVDGEMENT Although it bee a Subject that hath beene written vpon by divers Angelicall quils To whose Iudgements I humbly prostrate mine yet I know that a single Penny or a halfe-penny is as good silver and as Currant coyne as a Shilling To conclude if any Fruit spring from this simple Seed to him bee the honor who first inspired the motion AMEN Hee who composed what is heere in print His name in Anagram hear's Marke Prayer in 't WHOLSOME PREPARATIVES FOR DEATH AND IVDGMENT 1. T Is fit that every minute Night and Day Whilst we draw breath in this terrestiall frame We should reflect on the vncertaine stay Lent 's here till we returne from whence we came This being pondered as it is most fit Much Ghostly comfort wee may reape by it 2. That Hee or Shee Young Old or Middle-aged Whose minde continually hereon is fixt Shall finde Robustious stormes so farre asswaged While earthly joy 's with heavenly sorrows mixt That with a gentle gale the Soule doth glide Over all Passions borne by Vertues tide 3. No sooner Borne but subject vnto Death All Mortals are indeed borne to that end Noe Permanent Estate here vnderneath For all must pay this Tribute in the End Or Young or Old wee must nothing so sure All to the Grave no meanes can vs secure 4. Methusalu the Oldest Salomon The Wisest Sampson strongest man all these Though they had wisdome strength long life al'sone Death would not set them quit paying their fees What ever Holy-writ hath Testifi'd Of them in Life be sure youl 'e read they Dy'd 5.
COR CHARTE APPENSAM ROSAM VICE CERNE SIGILLI SPRETA MORE TVI SALVS ID EGIT AMOR IHS THE PATTERNE OF ALL PIOVS PRAYER AND The epitomie of all Christian Catholique Beliefe Being a Patheticall and Paraphrasticall meeter vpon the Pater Noster Ave Maria and Credo in Deum c. Together with a divine Dittie made vpon St. Patricks Day last past in honour of the Christian Crosse WITH Wholsome preparatives for Death and Judgment ALSO A short Panigyre on MARY Land in America AT DOVVAY Superiorum Permissu MDCXXXVI TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND TRVLY RELIGIOVS LADY THE LADY Vizcountesse BALTEMORI c. 1 VOuchsafe Religious Lady to make choyce ' Mongst All your Vertues of humilitie That your poore Suppliant justly may Reioyce In the fore-front of his Apologie To frustrate All objections by this shift An humble heart A'cepts the meanest guist 2 May you Accuse mee of Presumption no Spare that paine Madam 't is Already done J have accus'd my Selfe And you I know To pardon faults Confest are easily wonne Let Zoylus snarle let Momus looke asquint Your worth will guard the Booke And MARKE PRAYER IN'Y WITH THE COVRTEOVS Christian Reader thus I expostulate COurteous Reader should I suffer knowne faults to passe without craving pardon I might bee justly accused and condemned both of Ignorance and Presumption which I hope thy Charity will acquit me of when thou hast read this my reasonable Apologie The way to gaine Remission is Confession And in this I cannot rightly excuse but rather accuse my selfe in that assuming a taske fit for a more sublime Intelect I haue peradventure marr'd that which a better Workman might have made Admirable yet if good will may supply want of skill I hope wee shall agree well enough I found the Latine something difficult to Rime too especially the CREED And therefore having preocupated curious Censures in confessing my fault I hope thou wilt excuse and connive if thou finde it any thing Defective eyther in meeter or the length of the lines there beeing some Articles in the CREED over-long for my intended line And vpon necessity must passe without fraction where Rime may not exactly bee made without distruction of reason Any indifferent Reader I trust will favourably passe over such faults as cannot bee holpen To conclude gentle Christian permit mee a little after confession of immateriall Defects to say something in praise of the Work though not of the Workman The subject is olde therefore it is fit to bee reverenced The Paraphrase is new without Ostentation bee it spoken none having ever written in this way before And therefore to bee loved for its raritie VALE Hee who composed what is heere in print His name in Anagram hear's Marke Prayer in 't Ad Authorem TO make the English answer Latine phrase In Meeter meete shewes wit that 's worthy Praise But where the Subiects Godly Lines exceede All best Wits Apprehension there indeede More be thy Piety for such essayes Prays'd then thy Wit to frame such Heavenly layes I. P. A PARAPHRASTICALL MEETER VPON PATER NOSTER CHarity 's the guift of guifts if we have lost her Who can restore her to 's but Pater noster For hee in all distresse our onely weale is And none but thou alone Qui es in Coelis Our soules bedrencht in sinne with grace renew'em For which Sanctificetur nomen tuum Those who doe erre reduce and true light shew'em Make hast O Lord Ad veniat regnum tuum To whom the Heavenly Quier sings Alleluia 'T is fit wee say Fiat voluntas tua Wee wish the same either in Ioy or Sorrow 'T is due Sicut in Coelo in terra As thou mad'st all of nought thy power mainteyn'm With bounty Panem nostrum Quotidianum And every day to shew what due wee Owe thee Wee earnestly doe begge Da nobis hodic 'T is fit wee should when wee doe merit most pray Deare Lord Et dimitte nobis debita nostra On this Condition else our prayer all lost is Sicut nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris Though wee offend in wrath doe not rebuke vs O bee propitious Et ne nos in ducas When by my selfe in private I alone am Permit mee not Ihesu Jn tentaetionem In Sensuality let vs not wallow Nor fall from thee Sed libera nos a malo This in thy name Ihesu wee aske And when All 's done wee pray that thou mayst say Amen Ave Maria. VVHo ever hopes for helpe from our Messia Must to his mother say Ave Maria To thy Sonnes Court being sent for by Subpaena Wee vse thy Prayer for thou art Gratia plena Those Prayers none can misse that dayly seeke 'em How can wee fayle knowing that Dominus tecum The holy Angell Gabriels words were very thus To thee Benedicta tu in Mulieribus Wee are perswaded that thou canst protect vs For thou art high in power Et benedictus Wherefore by thee sweete Mediatrix sue I Vnto that blessed Fructus ventris tui Sicke soules Alas whom can w'expect to case vs But that Maide Mothers Sonne Emanuell-Ihesus To get admittance at this Gate the nigh way Is by thy powerfull ayde Sancta Maria Virgin of Virgins in this case to thee I Addresse my selfe as vnto Mater Dei All sinnefull Soules that for misdeeds are sorry thus Doe say Ora pro nobis Peccatoribus And let vs least our part in Heaven bee lost pray O helpe Nunc et in hora Mortis nostra Sweete Lady wee intreate thee now and then To pray thy Sonne our Lord to say Amen Credo in Deum c. IVdg'd at the high Tribunall what shall wee doe If each in Tongue and Heart cannot say Credo When storms arise he with his breath can scatter 'em Therefore I doe confide In deum Patrem What ere men plot ' gainst him he can prevent 'em Whose onely Epithet's Ommiptent em Wee nothing have but what from him wee borrow For hee is Creatorem Coeli et Terrae He made all things and to mans vse he blest 'em I beleeve in him Et in Ihesum Christum Sweeter to mee then Honey or th'honey Combe Is he whom God calls Filium ejus vnicum He to Redeeme vs when our Soules were lost came Therefore wee rightly call him Dominum-nostrum Wee cannot Retribute sufficient thankes to Him Qui conceptus est de spiritu Sancto The Prophets and the Sybels wrote at large when he Should come to be Natus ex Maria Virgine Our loving Lord tendred our wretched State so That hee Passus sub Pontio Pilato And meekely hee for Man that doth insult thus Was Crucifixus Mortuus et Sepultus And that he Victory over Hell might winne for vs Our blest Redeemer Decendit ad inferos To give possession of the Heauenly Court to vs Hee tertia die resurrexit a Mortuis All to confirme being of our wellfare Zealous Hee crown'd with tryumph Ascendit ad Caelos In splendant Glory that most Excellent is Sedet ad