so harde but the drops of raine will hollowe so there is no heart so voide of grace or giuen ouer to wilfull follie but the mercifull fauour of God can mollifie An instance of the like chaunced to my selfe being a man wholy addicted to all gracelesse indeuors giuen from my youth to wantonnes brought vp in riot who as I grew in yeares so I waxed more ripe in vngodlines that I was the mirrour of mischiefe and the very patterne of all preiudiciall actions for I neither had care to take any good course of life nor yet to listen to the friendly perswasions of my parents I seemed as one of no religion but rather as a meere Atheist contemning the holy precepts vttered by any learned preather I would smile at such as would frequent the Church or such place of godly exercise would scoffe at any that would checke mee with any wholesome or good admonition so that herein I seemed a meere reprobate the child of Sathan one wipt out of the booke of life and as an outcast from the face and fauor of God I was giuen ouer to drunkennes so that I lightly accounted of that company that would not intertaine my inordinate quaffing And to this beastly sinne of gluttotonie I added that detestable vice of swearing taking a felicitie in blaspeming prophaning the name of God confirming nothing idlely but with such solemne oths that it amazed euen my companions to heare mee And that I might seeme to heape one sinne vpon another I was so rooted therein that whatsoeuer I got I stil consumed the same in drunkennes Liuing thus a long time God who suffereth sinners to heape coles of fire vpon their owne heads and to bee fed fat with sinne against the day of vengeance suffered me to go forward in my loose life many warninges I had to draw me from my detestable kind of life and diuers crosses to contrary my actions but all in vaine for though I were sundry times afflicted with many foule and greeuous diseases and thereby scourged with the rod of Gods wrath yet when by the great labor frendship of sundry honest persons they had though to their great charges sought procured my recouery I did with the Dog Redire in vomitum I went again with the Sow to wallow in the mire and fell to my former follies as frankly as if I had not tasted any iot of want or neuer been scourged for them Consuetudo peccandi tollit sensum peccati my daily custome in sinne had cleane taken away the feeling of my sinne for I was so giuen to these vices aforesaide that I counted them rather veniall scapes faults of nature than any great and greeuous offences neither did I care for death but held it onely as the end of life For comming one day into Aldersgate street to a welwillers house of mine hee with other of his friendes perswaded mee to leaue my bad course of life which at length would bring mee to vtter destruction whereupon I scoffingly made them this answer Tush what better is he that dies in his bed than he that endes his life at Tyburne all owe God a death if I may haue my desire while I liue I am satisfied let me shift after death as I may My friends hearing these words greatly greeued at my gracelesse resolution made this reply If you feare not death in this world nor the paines of the body in this life yet doubt the second death the losse of your soule which without hearty repentance must rest in hell fire for euer and euer Hell quoth I what talke you of hell to me I know if I once come there I shal haue the company of better men than my selfe I shal also meete with some madde knaues in that place so long as I shall not sit there alone my care is the lesse But you are mad folks quoth I for if I feared the Iudges of the bench no more than I dread the iudgements of God I would before I slept diue into one Carles bagges or other and make merrie with the shelles I found in them so long as they would last And though some in this company were Fryers of mine owne fraternitie to whom I spake the wordes yet were they so amazed at my prophane speeches that they wisht themselues foorth of my company Whereby appeareth that my continuall delight was in sinne and that I made my selfe drunke with the dregges of mischiefe But beeing departed thence vnto my lodging and now grown to the full I was checked by the mightie hand of God for Sicknes the messenger of death attached me and tolde me my time was but short and that I had not long to liue whereupon I was vexed in mind and grew very heauy As thus I sate solempuly thinking of my end and feeling my selfe waxe sicker and sicker I fell into a great passion and was wonderfully perplexed yet no way discouered my agony but sate still calling to mind the lewdnes of my former life at what time sodainly taking the booke of Resolution in my hand I light vpon a chapter therein which discouered vnto mee the miserable state of the reprobate what Hell was what the worme of Conscience was what tormentes there was appointed for the damned soules what vnspeakable miseries what vnquenchable flames what intollerable agonies what incomprehensible griefs that there was nothing but feare horrour veration of mind depriuation from the sight and fauour of God weeping and gnashing of teeth and that al those tortures were not termined or dated within any compasse of yeares but euerlasting world without end concluding all in this of the Psalmes Ab inferis nulla est redemptio After that I had with deepe consideration pondered vpon these points such a terrour stroke into my conscience that for very anguish of minde my teeth did beate in my head my lookes waxed pale and wan and fetching a great sigh I cried vnto God and said If all this be true oh what shall become of me If the rewarde of sinne be death and hell how many deaths and hels do I deserue that haue beene a most miserable sinner If damnation be the meed for wickednes then am I damned for in all the world there neuer liued a man of worser life Oh what shall I doe I cannot call to God for mercie for my faultes are beyond the compasse of his fauour the punishment of the body hath an ende by death but the paines of the soule by death are made euerlasting Then what a miserable case am I in if I die yet if my death might redeeme my offences wash away my sinnes oh might I suffer euery day twentie deathes while seuen yeares lasteth it were nothing but when I shall end a contempt to the world I shal enioy the disdaine of men the displeasure of God my soule that immortall creature shall euerlastingly bee damned Oh woe is mee why doe I liue nay rather why was I borne Cursed
The Repentance of Robert Greene Maister of Artes. Wherein by himselfe is laid open his loose life with the manner of his death AT LONDON Printed for Cutbert Burbie and are to be sold at the middle shop in the Poultry vnder Saint Mildreds Church 1592. The Printer to the Gentlemen Readers GEntlemen I know you ar not vnacquainted with the death of Robert Greene whose pen in his life time pleased you as well on the Stage as in the Stationers shops And to speake truth although his loose life was odious to God and offensiue to men yet forasmuch as at his last end he found it most grieuous to himselfe as appeareth by this his repentant discourse I doubt not but he shall for the same deserue fauour both of God and men And considering Gentlemen that Venus hath her charmes to inchaunt that Fancie is a Sorceresse bewitching the Senses and follie the onely enemie to all vertuous actions And forasmuch as the purest glasse is the most brickle the finest Lawne the soonest staind the highest Oake most subiect to the wind and the quickest wit the more easily woone to folly I doubt not but you will with regarde forget his follies and like to the Bee gather hony out of the good counsels of him who was wise learned and polliticke had not his lasciuious life withdrawen him from those studies which had been far more profitable to him For herein appeareth that he was a man giuen ouer to the lust of his owne heart forsaking all godlines one that daily delighted in all manner of wickednes Since other therefore haue forerun him in the like faults and haue been forgiuen both of God and men I trust hee shall bee the better accepted that by the working of Gods holy spirit returnes with such a resolued Repentance being a thing acceptable both to God and men To conclude forasmuch as I found this discourse very passionate and of woonderfull effect to withdraw the wicked from their vngodly waies I thoght good to publish the same and the rather for that by his repentance they may as in a glasse see their owne follie and thereby in time resolue that it is better to die repentant than to liue dishonest Yours C.B. To all the wanton youths of England Robert Greene wisheth reformation of wilfulnes WHen I consider kinde Cuntrimen that youth is like to the spring time of mans age readie in the bloome to be nipped with euerie misfortune and that a yong man is like to a tender plant apt to be wrested by nurture either to good or euill as his friendes like good Gardeners shall with care indeuour his education seeing in the prime of our yeares vice is most ready to creepe in and that want of experience committeth sundrie wanton desires I thoght good to lay before you a president of such preiudiciall inconueniences which at the first seeming sweete vnto youth at the last growe into fruits of bitter repentance For a yong man led on by selfe will hauing the raines of libertie in his owne hand foreseeth not the ruth of follie but aimeth at present pleasures for he giues himselfe vp to delight and thinketh euerie thing good honest lawfull and vertuous that fitteth for the content of his lasciuious humour hee foreseeth not that such as clime hastely fall sodainely that Bees haue stings as well as honie that vices haue ill endes as well as sweete beginnings and whereof growes this heedles life but of selfe conceit thinking the good counsell of age is dotage that the aduice of friends proceeds of enuie and not of loue that when their fathers correct them for their faults they hate them whereas when the blacke Oxe hath trod on their feete and the Crowes foote is seene in their eies then toucht with the feeling of their owne follie they sigh out had I wist when repentance commeth too late Or like as waxe is ready to receiue euerie newe fourme that is stamped into it so is youth apt to admit of euery vice that is obiected vnto it and in young yeares wanton desires is cheefely predominate especiallie the two Ringleaders of all other mischiefes namely pride and whoredome these are the Syrens that with their inchanting melodies drawe them on to vtter confusion for after a young man hath suckt in that sinne of pride hee groweth into contempt and as he increaseth prowde in his attyre so he is scornfull in his lookes and disdaines the wholsome admonition of his honest freends whose aduice he supposeth to be doone of malice and therefore esteemeth his owne waies best and had rather hazard his life than to loose an intch of his credit Pride is like to fier that will die and goe out if it bee not maintained with fewell and yet lay on neuer so bigge logges it consumes them all to ashes so pride craues maintenance or els it will fade and had a young man neuer so great reuenues pride at last will reduce it to begger you for it is such a sinne as once got into the boane it will step into the flesh he that once ietteth in his brauerie if he haue no meanes to maintaine it it will leaue no bad course of life vnattempted but hee will haue corners to vphold his follie Heereof growes coossenages thefts murthers and a thousand other pettie mischiefes and causes many proper persons to bee trust vp at the gallowes purchasing thereby infamy to themselues and hart breaking sorrow to their friends and parents for euer Companion to this vice is lust and lecherie which is the viper whose venome is incurable and the onely sinne that in this life leadeth vnto shame and after death vnto hell fire for he that giueth himselfe ouer to harlots selleth his soule to destruction and maketh his bodie subiect to all incurable diseases These two vices do not onlie waste a mans substance but also consumeth his bodie and soule and maketh him attempt to do any mischiefe for his maintenance therein If happely the young man hath any grace and is loth to take any vnlawfull wayes the ordinary course of his copesmates is straight to call him coward and cast him out of their fauour or els by svveete persvvasions and flattering vvordes make him forsake God and all good meanes of life vvhatsoeuer this is the manner life and course of such as vvill not listen to the graue aduice of their parents but seeke therby to bring their graie haires vvith greefe vnto theyr graues This ensuing discourse gentle Reader dooth lay open the graceles endeuours of my selfe vvho although I vvere for a long time giuen ouer to the lust of my ovvn hart yet in the end Gods grace did so fauourablie worke in me that I trust heerein thou shalt perceiue my true and vnfained repentance Accept it in good part and if it may profit anie I haue my desire Farewell R. G. The Repentance of Robert Greene Maister of Arts. AS there is no steele so stiffe but the stamp will pierce no flint
my youth who drew mee to trauell into Italy and Spaine in which places I sawe and practizde such villaime as is abhominable to declare Thus by their counsaile I sought to furnish my selfe with coine which I procured by cunning sleights from my Father and my friends and my Mother pampered me so long and secretly helped mee to the oyle of Angels that I grew thereby proue to all mischiefe so that beeing then conuersant with notable Braggarts boon companions and ordinary spend-thrifts that practized sundry superficiall studies I became as a Sien grafted into the same stocke whereby I did absolutely participate of their nature and qualities At my return into England I ruffeled out in my silks in the habit of Malcontent and seemed so discontent that no place would please me to abide in nor no vocation cause mee to stay my selfe in but after I had by degrees proceeded Maister of Arts I left the Uniuersitie and away to London where after I had continued some short time driuen my self out of credit with sundry of my frends I became an Author of Playes and a pennier of Loue Pamphlets so that I soone grew famous in that qualitie that who for that trade growne so ordinary about London as Robin Greene. Yong yet in yeares though olde in wickednes I began to resolue that there was nothing bad that was profitable whereupon I grew so rooted in all mischiefe that I had as great a delight in wickednesse as sundrie hath in godlinesse and as much felicitie I tooke in villainy as others had in honestie Thus was the libertie I got in my youth the cause of my licentious liuing in my age and beeing the first steppe to hell I find it now the first let from heauen But I would wish all my natiue Countrymen that reade this my repentaunce First to feare God in their whole life which I neuer did Secondly to obey their Parents and to listen vnto the wholesome counsaile of their Elders so shall their dayes be multiplied vppon them heere on earth and inherite the crowne of glorie in the kingdome of heauen I exhort them also to leaue the company of lewd and ill liuers for conuersing with such Copes-mates drawes them into sundry dangerous inconueniences nor lette them haunt the company of harlots whose throates are as smooth as oyle but their feet lead the steps vnto death and destruction for they like Syrens with their sweete inchaunting notes soothed me vp in all kind of vngodlines Oh take heede of Harlots I wish you the vnbridled youth of England for they are the Basiliskes that kill with their eyes they are the Syrens that allure with their sweete lookes and they leade their fauorers vnto their destruction as a sheepe is lead vnto the slaughter From whordome I grew to drunkennes from drunkennes to swearing and blasphemiug the name of God hereof grew quarrels frayes and continual controuersies which are now as wormes in my conscience gnawing incessantly And did I not through hearty repentance take hold of Gods mercies euen these detestable sinnes woulde drench me downe into the damnable pit of destruction for Stipendium peccati mors Oh knowe good Countrymen that the horrible sins and intollerable blasphemie I haue vsed against the Maiestie of God is a blocke in my conscience and that so heauy that there were no way with me but desperation if the hope of Christs death and passion did not helpe to ease mee of so intollerable and heauie a burthen I haue long with the deafe Adder stopt mine eares against the voice of Gods Ministers yea my heart was hardened with Pharao against all the motions that the spirit of God did at any time worke in my mind to turn me from my detestable kind of liuing Yet let me confesse a trueth that euen once and yet but once I felt a feare and horrour in my conscience then the terrour of Gods iudgementes did manifestly teach me that my life was had that by sinne I deserued damnation and that such was the greatnes of my sinne that I deserued no redemption And this inward motion I receiued in Saint Andrews Church in the Cittie of Norwich at a Lecture or Sermon then preached by a godly learned man whose doctrine and the maner of whose teaching I liked wonderfull well yea in my conscience such was his singlenes of hart and zeale in his doctrine that hee might haue conuerted the most monster of the world Well at that time whosoeuer was worst I knewe my selfe as bad as he for being new come from Italy where I learned all the villanies vnder the heauens I was drownd in pride whoredome was my daily exercise and gluttony with drunkennes was my onely delight At this Sermon the terrour of Gods iudgementes did manifestly teach me that my exercises were damnable and that I should bee wipte out of the booke of life if I did not speedily repent my loosenes of life and reforme my misdemeanors At this Sermon the said learned man who doubtles was the child of God did beate downe sinne in such pithie and perswasiue manner that I began to call vnto mind the daunger of my soule and the preiudice that at length would befall mee for those grosse sinnes which with greedines I daily committed in so much as sighing I said in my selfe Lord haue mercie vpon mee and send me grace to amend and become a new man But this good motion lasted not long in mee for no sooner had I met with my copesmates but seeing me in such a solemne humour they demaunded the cause of my sadnes to whom when I had discouered that I sorrowed for my wickednesse of life and that the Preachers wordes had taken a deepe impression in my conscience they fell vpon me in ieasting manner calling me Puritane and Presizian and wished I might haue a Pulpit with such other scoffing tearmes that by their foolish perswasion the good and wholesome lesson I had learned went quite out of my remembrance so that I fel againe with the Dog to my olde vomit and put my wicked life in practise and that so throughly as euer I did before Thus although God sent his holy spirit to call mee and though I heard him yet I regarded it no longer than the present time when sodainly forsaking it I went forward obstinately in my misse Neuerthelesse soone after I married a Gentlemans daughter of good account with whom I liued for a while but forasmuch as she would perswade me from my wilfull wickednes after I had a child by her I cast her off hauing spent vp the marriage money which I obtained by her Then left I her at six or seuen who went into Lincolneshire and I to London where in short space I fell into fauor with such as were of honorable and good calling But heere note that though I knew how to get a friend yet I had not the gift or reason how to keepe a friend for hee that was my dearest friend I would bee
sure so to behaue my selfe towards him that he shoulde euer after professe to bee my vtter enemie or else vowe neuer after to come in my company Thus my misdemeanors too many to bee recited caused the most part of those so much to despise me that in the end I became friendles except it were in a fewe Alehouses who commonly for my inordinate expences would make much of me vntil I were on the score far more than euer I meant to pay by twenty nobles thick After I had wholy betaken me to the penning of plaies which was my continuall exercise I was so far from calling vpon God that I sildome thought on God but tooke such delight in swearing and blaspheming the name of God that none could thinke otherwise of mee than that I was the child of perdition These vanities and other trifling Pamphlets I penned of Loue and vaine fantasies was my chiefest stay of liuing and for those my vaine discourses I was beloued of the more vainer sort of people who beeing my continuall companions came still to my lodging and there would continue quaffing carowsing and surfeting with me all the day long But I thanke God that hee put it in my head to lay open the most horrible coosenages of the common Conny-catchers Cooseners and Crosse-biters which I haue indifferently handled in those my seuerall discourses already imprinted And my trust is that those discourses will doe great good and bee very beneficiall to the Common-wealth of England But oh my deare Wife whose company and sight I haue refrained these sixe yeares I aske God and thee forgiuenesse for so greatly wronging thee of whome I seldome or neuer thought vntill now Pardon mee I pray thee where soeuer thou art and God forgiue mee all my offences And now to you all that liue and reuell in such wickednesse as I haue done to you I write and in Gods name wish you to looke to your selues and to reforme your selues for the safegard of your owne soules dissemble not with God but seeke grace at his handes hee hath promist it and he will performe it God doth sundry times deferre his puishment vnto those that runne a wicked race but Quod defertur non aufertur that which is deferde is not quittanst a day of reckoning will come when the Lord will say Come giue account of thy Stewardship What God determineth man cannot preuent he that binds two sinnes together cannot go vnpunisht in the one so long the Pot goeth to the Pit that at last it comes broken home Therefore all my good friends hope not in money nor in friends in fauors in kindred they are all vncertaine and they are furthest off when men thinke them most nigh Oh were I now to begin the flower of my youth were I now in the prime of my yeares how far would I bee from my former follyes what a reformed course of life would I take but it is too late onely now the comfortable mercies of the Lord is left me to hope in It is bootlesse for me to make any long discourse to such as are gracelesse as I haue beene all wholesome warninges are odious vnto them for they with the spider sucke poison out of the most pretious flowers to such as God hath in his secrete councell elected fewe words will suffize But howsoeuer my life hath beene let my repentant ende be a generall example to all the youth in England to obey their parentes to flie whoredome drunkennes swearing blaspheming contempt of the word and such greéuous and grosse sinnes least they bring their parents heads with sorrow to their graues and least with mee they be a blemish to their kindred and to their posteritie for euer Thus may you see how God hath secrete to himselfe the times of calling and when hee will haue them into his vineyard some hee calles in the morning some at noone and some in the euening and yet hath the last his wages aswell as the first For as his iudgementes are inscrutable so are his mercies incomprehensible And therefore let all men learne these two lessons not to despaire because God may worke in them through his spirit at the last houre nor to presume least God giue them ouer for their presumption and deny them repentance and so they die impenitent which finalis impenitentia is a manifest sinne against the holy Ghost To this doth that golden sentence of S. Augustine allude which hee speaketh of the theefe hanging on the Crosse. There was saith hee one theefe saued and no more therefore presume not and there was one saued and therefore despaire not And to conclude take these caueats hereafter following Certaine Cauiats sent by Robert Greene to a frend of his as a farewell written with his owne hande 1 THe feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisdome therfore serue God least he suffer thee to be lead into temptation 2 Despise neither his worde nor his Minister for her that heareth not can haue no faith without faith no man can be saued 3 Obey thy Prince for he that lifteth his hande against the Lords anointed shall be like vnto a withered plant 4 Despise not the counsaile of thy Father nor the wholesome admonition of thy mother for he that listeneth not to their lessons shall be cut off in his youth 5 Spend the prime of thy yeares in vertue so dost thou lay an earnest pennie of honorable age 6 Flie the sweetnes of the grape for a man that is giuen to much wine shall neuer be rich 7 Take not the name of God in vaine for then thou shalt not bee guiltlesse nor shall the curse of God come neare thy house 8 A man that delights in harlots shall heape sinne vpon his soule he shall be an open shame in the streets and his place shall not be knowne 9 He that robbeth from his neighbour purchaseth discredit to himselfe and his kindred and he shall not go to his graue with honor 10 Who medleth with pitch shall be defiled and he that eateth the bread of Robbers fatneth himselfe against the day of vengeance 11 Giue not thy youth ouer to the Deuill neyther vow the dregs of thy olde age vnto God for a repentant mind commeth from God 12 Remember thy end and thou shalt neuer doe amisse and let the law of the Lord be a lanthorne to thy feete so shall thy pathes bee aright and thou die with honour Robert Greene. The manner of the death and last end of Robert Greene Maister of Artes. AFter that he had pend the former discourse then lying sore sicke of a surfet which hee had taken with drinking hee continued most patient and penitent yea he did with teares forsake the world renounced swearing and desired forgiuenes of God and the worlde for all his offences so that during all the time of his sicknesse which was about a moneths space hee was neuer heard to sweare raue or blaspheme the name of God as he was accustomed
to do before that time which greatly comforted his welwillers to see how mightily the grace of God did worke in him He confessed himselfe that he was neuer heart sicke but said that al his paine was in his belly And although he continually scowred yet still his belly sweld and neuer left swelling vpward vntill it sweld him at the hart and in his face During the whole time of his sicknes he continually called vpon God and recited these sentences following O Lord forgiue me my manifold offences O Lord haue mercie vpon me O Lord forgiue me my secret sinnes and in thy mercie Lord pardon them all Thy mercie O Lord is aboue thy works And with such like godly sentences hee passed the time euen till he gaue vp the Ghost And this is to bee noted that his sicknesse did not so greatly weaken him but that he walked to his chaire backe againe the night before he departed and then being feeble laying him downe on his bed about nine of the clocke at night a friend of his tolde him that his Wife had sent him commendations and that shee was in good health whereat hee greatly reioiced confessed that he had mightily wronged her and wished that hee might see her before he departed Whereupon feeling his time was but short hee tooke pen and inke wrote her a Letter to this effect SWeet Wife as euer there was any good will or friendship betweene thee and mee see this bearer my Host satisfied of his debt I owe him tenne pound and but for him I had perished in the streetes Forget and forgiue my wronges done vnto thee and Almighty God haue mercie on my soule Farewell till we meet in heauen for on earth thou shalt neuer see me more This 2. of September 1592. VVritten by thy dying Husband Robert Greene. Greenes Prayer in the time of his sicknesse O Lord Iesus Christ my Sauiour and redeemer I humbly beseech thee to looke downe from heauen vpon mee thy seruant that am grieued with thy spirite that I may patiently endure to the end thy rod of chastisement And forasmuch as thou art Lorde of life and death as also of strength health age weakenes and sicknes I do therefore wholy submit my selfe vnto thee to bee dealt withall accor +ding to thy holy will and pleasure And seeing O mercifull Iesu that my sinnes are innumerable like vnto the sandes of the sea and that I haue so often offended thee that I haue worthely deserued death and vtter damnation I humbly pray thee to deale with me according to thy gratious mercie and not agreeable to my wicked deserts And graunt that I may O Lorde through thy spirite with patience suffer and beare this Crosse which thou hast worthily laid vppon mee notwithstanding how greeuous soeuer the burthen thereof be that my faith may be found laudable and glorious in thy sight to the increase of thy glory my euerlasting felicitie For euen thou O Lord most sweete Sauior didst first suffer paine before thou wert crucified Since therefore O meeke Lambe of God that my way to eternall ioy is to suffer with thee worldly greeuances graunt that I may be made like vnto thee by suffering paciently aduersitie trouble and sicknes And lastly forasmuch as the multitude of thy mercies doth put away the sinnes of those which truely repent so as thou remembrest them no more open the eye of thy mercie and behold me a most miserable and wretched sinner who for the same doth most earnestly desire pardon and forgiuenes Renew O Lorde in mee whatsoeuer hath beene decayed by the fraudulent mallice of Sathan or my owne carnall wilfulnes receiue me O Lord into thy fauour consider of my contrition and gather vp my teares into thy heauenly habitation and seeing O Lorde my whole trust and confidence is onely in thy mercie blot out my offences and tread them vnder feet so as they may not be a witnesse against me at the day of wrath Grant this O Lord I humbly beseech thee for thy mercies sake Amen FINIS