Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A09586
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The Examination and confession of certaine wytches at Chensforde in the countie of Essex : before the Quenes Maiesties judges, the xxvi daye of July, anno 1566, at the assise holden there as then, and one of them put to death for the same offence, as their examination declareth more at large.
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Phillips, John.
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1566
(1566)
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STC 19869.5; ESTC S2279
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9,633
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43
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The Examination and Confession of certaine Wytches at Chensforde in the Countie of Essex before the Quenes maiesties Iudges the xxvi daye of Iuly⸫ ANNO. 1566 at the Assise holden there as then and one of them put to death for the same offence as their examination declareth more at large The Epistle to the Reader GOD whych of hys singuler goodnesse as the sage philosopher Hermes hath plainly discribed to each of his creatures hath added a reasonable soule which is the chiefe and most excellent treasure that any man can be indued withall Let vs then consider gods inerplycable benefits alwaies of his owne free wyll and not of our desertes geuen and bestowed vpon vs and sith that the soule of man is of great estimation in his fatherly presence let vs endeuour our selues to walke that by continuall exercise of vertuous and holesome documeÌ„ts I meane not onely by hearing of the sincere veritie neither yet by much talkyng of the same to heare and not to bear awaye is altogether friuolous To babble and prate much of Christ and hys gospell as though we would be counted ghostly gospellers to wante the chefest thing I meane the frutes oâ— well gouerned conuersacion and to be cleane voyde of integritie and cleanesse of lyfe in my iudgement and as the lacred scripture verifieth is nothynge but folly example A tree that is altogether barren and at the reâ—â—â—â—â—d time destyâ—â—te of fruyte hauing a trim shewe of leaues deserueth to be hewed downe and made â—â—ete for the fier so we wantinge fruiteâ— required but hauing plenty of leaues be of lyke effect and for all the outwarde shâ—we that we haue we shall in like â—ase be cut downe throwen into the fyer prepared for the deuill and his aungelles from which gentell reader God defende vs all and geue vs suche grace that we maye benceforthe walke in our vocation that god in al our workes may be vnfeynedly glorified and by thadmonitioÌ„ of this littel boke learne in such sorte to keepe our soules by fixed and assured faith in Christ â—rom the stinking puddle of filthy pâ—llution then shal we escape that horâ—â—ble place prepared for the vngodly and wyâ—ked liuers as profitable seruants be counted apt members to dwell wyth our Sauiour Christ aboue the cloudes in his heuenly kingdome to the which god for hys meâ—cies sake bring vs all Amen The Preface My tremblinge hande for feare doth â—y dolour doth excede quake My ioyes decrese to teÌ„der teares my sportes are turnd in dede The gredy guâ—fs of gryâ—ly griefe so gripe my restles harte yâ— my pore pen can scantly shewe the passions of my sinarte Drawe nere you patrones with your babes come viewe this haples happe In flushing fluddes of â—ominge teares your tender bewtyes lappe Ye matrones milde drawe nere in haste this yrksome acte beholde Then Nature shall ber rufull playnts by you her Nimphes vnfolde Eche wight in whom the skilfull skyll of natures arte is shown Surrender may them selues to me this cruell acte to mone The heapes of griefe so hugie are that sobbâ—es must nedes abounde Yea shrilly shrickes to passe the skies your vâ—â—ceâ— shall redounde The dolour nowe so doutfull is that skante my wâ—rbling penne Can forth expresse the sence thereof vnto the sonnes of men Agayne the blubâ—â—â—e teares whych glide from my â—oore pincked eyes Besmerde my face that scarce I can my inwarde grâ—efes supâ—rise One while I â—luâ—he for shame to showe these pageantes worthy blame Some other time my thoughâ—es me let these bluddy factâ—â—â— tâ— name Thus as I stay in doubt alas my dompes are passinge great Mâ— clogged ioyntes benomâ— with feare haue got Dame â—orowes seat Her massy mace with direful stroke hath stroke my members all But these Periphrases I leaue and will discourse my thrall Which to conceaue each reader wyll well way I do not doubt Ofiate in Chenceforde towne deare friendes before the noble route Of Iudges iust plast in that seate by our moste famous Queene Iudgement to giue as iustice leades â–ª as daily well is scene The Sessâ—oâ—s there by order kepte offenders to correct Thrâ— feminine dames attached were whom Sathan had infect With â—elials sprite whose â—orcery did the simple so moiest That when they woulde with present death they were full sore oppâ—est Here aâ—â—er shall succede the actes that they them selues haue wrought 〈◊〉 they them selues confessed haue to iudgement being brought Which thing when thou haste viewed well good Reader do 〈◊〉 praye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lorde that he from vs 〈◊〉 witches take away 〈…〉 â—apinge thou wilte 〈…〉 weâ—â— accept 〈…〉 when thou haste hearde 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Prolog An exbortacion to all faithfull men wyllinge them to set Gods feare before their eyes and Sathans practises vtterly to despise annexed to the same profitable for euery Christian man to reade and to imbrace BEhold these acts scan theÌ„ well behold their peruers way these left yâ— lord these did his truth which shold haue ben their stay â–ª In them such power sathan had that Christ they did refuse his precious blud â—hed theÌ„ to saue to much they did abuse Sin death and hell did spreade their flagge in them they bare the sway His worde was yrkesome to their hartes they walked â—arre astray What tender harte woulde god renounce who woulde his gospell leaue What godly one woulde hate his lorde and vnto Sathan cleaue What wight woulde gods good benefites so lightly nowe esteme Which sent his Christ into the worlde from hell vs to redeme Wâ—o by his might did vanquishe sinne and layed Sathan waâ—â—e By whose dere death eternall lyfe his flocke shall surely taste His loue to vs his creatures did in aâ—pâ—e wise excede When by the paynes of paynefull death to saue vs he decrede What durat harte or selly brest coulde finde Christe to repaye With such contâ—mpte as did these ymphes which here beholde ye may What matrones â—arte woulde hyde the skyll of Nature that meke dame And toyle by such vngodly artes to extmquishe cleane the same I meane if God shoulde sende encrease and multiply her sede Woulde she frequent it to destroy by wicked meanes in dede I thinke no tender harte coulde finde an infantes bloude to spill Nor yet no spoused wife I thinke her husbande dere woulde kyll Sith that by witchcraft witches vse all euilles to sequest Let such as feare the liuynge God their practises detest Sith whoredome in the same I saye her force doth plainly showe Let euery wight â—he same abhorre and scape infernall wo. Sith this arte doth such yâ—l conteyne as swearinges manifolde Let faithfull hartes forsake the same and fixe on Christ their holde Sith by that practise vile â—ere frendes man slaughter put in â—re Let vâ— contemne those godles actes and leade a life most pure Sith Christ the rocke of lastinge life must cleane renounsed be And Sathan as the gouernour must haue the dignitie What cursed state shall they abyde â–ª Which Christ their guide refuse