incline Shall Sathans worke stand up thine overthrowne Stretch forth thy hād Lord make thy power known And from thy Justice let Death have his due The world is witnesse what I speake is true A sharpe reproofe of Death he hath leave to answer for himselfe What canst thou say seeing this is proved so To all my workes thou shew'st thy selfe a foe What canst expect but hell for thy reward Seeing thou to none hadst never yet regard If I did not thy malice now restraine The life of all that in the world remaine Thou quickly would'st lay levell with the dust Though they resist yet fall through thee they must And in the grave thou wouldest beare such sway And wish there were a thousand worlds to slay More thou would'st all them of their lives bereave Speake Death thy minde I freely give thee leave Deaths defence for himselfe When God at first did give to all things being And life a will he gave to man agreeing Who was appointed to keepe all in awe Nor lawlesse was he God gave him a law If he it brake I was his sentence for it If not he lived but he did abhorre it To be so ty'd he broke thy Law that day Then for reward I was from thee his pay I execute what Justice doth decree I doe thy worke for I am rul'd by thee For by thy word all life must vanish quite From all the world then should not I by right Take place what is there on the earth beside But life and death which doth the world divide Should I deny when thou dost bid me goe Should I resist when thou dost presse me so To doe thy worke I ever did my best Till it be done I never take my rest Should I be bashfull for to goe among The faire or fearfull to salute the strong Or passe the rich or take of great a fee Or favour honour where I doe it see O no nor any else that thou dost send Me For I bring them all unto their end I in thy hand am still as at this day By thy consent I doe still life destroy A King I 'm made by thee as doth appeare And by thy power all creatures do me feare I doe subdue thy foes and make them bow And dart them down to scape they know not how When I to men come armed with thy wrath They sinke downe quite not one the power hath Me to withstand then life bids them farewell But dying life meets them againe in hell But of thy Saints I have been much desir'd They 'd have me come though they with much were hir'd To stay below and not to see thy face Where thou dost dwell their soules being full of grace Thou also hast appointed them a rest What way is that which thou didst think the best To bring them home to live in heaven still But that I should their mortall life first kill And that by me a passage they must have They die but once then life they still doe save I can doe nothing but upon the earth Nor sway my scepter but with mortall birth Yet here I am but for a time to stay Though once I thought I should have raign'd for ay Why should then life torment me in this sort In raising on me such an ill report In calling me to answer at thy barre Life seeks my ruine he proceeds so farre Himselfe is worse being guilty of such crimes Corrupting man and poysoning still the times I doe revenge the evill 't is thy cause He still doth breake I ever keepe thy lawes I doe him good me ill he doth requite Men live by me yet he owes me a spite Now let these speake what they can say for me I make no doubt but then I shall be free Deaths assistants have leave to pleade for him Thou shalt have Justice here before my face Each one shall speake and then I le judge the case It is not shewes nor glosses that will stand Instead at all to free thee from my hand But 't is the truth by truth thou must be tri'd For that is best all cases to decide The Magistrates Plea for death Thou hast me in a place of Justice set I judge a case that life must pay a Debt How may this be if Death were not my friend To take my part and bring life to an end Death doth his office I will beare him out Lives ruine thus when ere he bring'st about Take him away alas what can I doe My servant take then take the Master too No peace nor quiet once would dwell with men Not best but worst would take all sweetnes then The Felons here by death receive their due Men live in feare and say that law is true The Heire craves deaths freedome What doth't availe that I am borne to lands And if that all should freed be from death's hand 's All hopes were vaine and for my expectation It were cut off no meanes of preservation Were left for me worse than my yonger brother I cannot worke and so can he and other Old men must die and young men take their places They must to dust death puts life to such cases Old men are children if they live but long They to themselves are burthens for the young Their spittings coffings froward dispositions So irksome are and so hard my conditions We would be freed for them the world is bad A better place we all doe wish they had Deathus'd to doe as great a thing as this O pre thee come and doe it doe not misse I am in trouble troubles greeve my heart Thou wilt be quit for many take thy part Thou at our neighbours wast the other day I lookt for thee thou went'st another way Pray free him now to doe one worke for me The old man take no more desir'd shall be The Parish Clarke sueth to have Death freed Death I am sorry here to see thee stand 'T was for thy sake I tooke this place in hand 'T is little worth if thou dost from us goe I tri'd my friends to get it and my foe Remaine still now because I got the place He did sue for 't and came off with disgrace Of burials we have hundreds in the yeare And for the rich great vailes come in so cleare It joyes my heart the rest some more some lesse In their degree their bounty doe expresse Besides my fee they did still some what more So many littles do increase my store If Death go downe Clarke I will be no longer Now I am old and weake yet like the stronger I must to worke and try my feeble hands Or perish must seeing I possesse no lands Death did me good that little that I have I got by him when life was brought to grave O quit him quit him that I may injoy My profit still my hopes doe not destroy The Sextons lamentation for Death When trading fail'd I brought unto a strait For want of meanes did for a place lay waite The
againe let Sathans will be crost And then will I thy goodnesse still unfold And cause poore sinners mercy to behold Hee findes successe in his suit with God Alas poore man I pitie on thee take I doe intend thee my redeem'd to make Thou shalt from sinne and Sathan be set free Onely thou shalt be servant unto me I heard thy mone my bowels could not stay To grant thy suit no longer I le delay Thy dreadfull passion came before my sight Then my compassion sent down heavenly light I will thee make an instrument of praise To fight with sin and Sathan all thy dayes Seeing I have brought thy soule and body back From hell whether sin commanded thee to pack And after thou hast serv'd me herein love Then thou shalt dwell with me in heaven above And sin and death that sought to ruine thee Shall be arraign'd and both condemn'd by me The nature of Death with his unsatiable speech and lamentation VVhen death by sin had once possest the earth And found that man was mortall made by birth Still since that time he strikes at all mankinde As well the great as those that come behinde The first man living though a mighty King Death ventred on and struck him with his sting All good bad that liv'd in ancient time Though some liv'd long yet some died in their prime The best that ever on the earth had breith Though free from sin yet was not freed frō death So till this day experience proveth true He darts down some and claimes the rest for due His hungry jawes will ner'e be satisfied While one doth live and on the earth abide And if that once the man that lives he have Brought down to death he bars him in the grave And so triumphs and rules among the slaine For where his kingdome is there he doth raigne When he hath pill'd the world of all her store Though this is done yet still he wishes more O that there were an other world or two I would to worke and make no more adoe O that I mght but use my kingly power Then I would seek mans ruine every hower Graves yeeld no food that give me such content As living flesh to that my mind is bent Nothing there is so pleasant to my taste As lives of men when I doe lay them waste What am I made a King but for a time No power can I use amongst the flime Unlesse it be the silly wormes to slay That can I in the least part of the day I thought I should have been a King for ever Sin set me up I doing my indeavour Perform'd the worke that I was bid to doe I fear'd no man for I was hardy too Assure so quicke for in a little space All nations people were brought in deadly case And must I needs give ore this mighty trading Which cōstant was though all the world was fading This is not all I think I heard some say I must be bound ore to the judgement day If it be so I my defence will make As Kings of all their subjects place doetake Untill that time you 'l heare no more of me How stands the case then all the world shall see Sinnes probable destinie Sinne 's now accus'd with all his sinfull crimes Laid to his charge 't is corrupt are the times The righteous man which doth against sin stand Is very like to have the upper hand Unto the seate of Justice sin is brought An equall judge doth never stand for nought But tries the truth and gives to each his due When once of it he hath had a carefull view Sinne being apprehended is accused before an impartiall Judge Sinne hath me vext ere since I had a being And all men else that carefull are in seeing Shall finde him plotting mischiefe with his will VVith malice murther striving for to kill The seed of good that in mans heart are sowne And every plant that is not of his owne If one be good that hee would from him take If one be bad he tries him worse to make From bad to worse from worse to worst of all More could I say sin counts these things but smal Sinnes vile answer and Request Answer to this what is this true or no T is all but lyes he is my deadly foe He speakes for malice his words have no savor Hee 's but a foole and thinkes to curry favour Because forsooth I am not so precise Though I doe sweare he tells as many lies He hates my waies and I hate his as much I doe him scorne as also loath to touch What though in mirth I take my liquor well What though I brawle rail with them I dwel What though I play and sport both day night Though I blaspheme and court what I might I force no man if I can any draw With craft or fraud I hold it in good law This I will add I 'le open all my store Seeing he is vext I 'le vexe him ten times more Because indeed I doe not often pray And when I doe my heart shall be away He 'd have me read and heare a blacke reproach Poore foolish things yet farre above my reach Pray Sir consider this and free me quite Out of the hands of this malicious wight The Impartiall Iudge his answer he turnes over Sinne and Death to be tried by the Judge of the world Now well it is I heard you each oue single But thy vile words have made my eares to tingle What he did say thy words have now made worse What cāst expect but Gods eternal curse His words are true thine most unjust appeare Sin 's the Delinquent the Righteous man I cleare I le turne thee over to that righteous Judge To whom the world must yeeld though many grudge There thy confession shal be on record Besides the rest that will come word for word I have no baile must I in prison lye That matters not from God thou canst not flye And Death of whom I heate such ill report I understand to be thy great confort Call him to me it 's no matter let him stay Both are reserv'd unto a greater day The righteous man that did thee apprehend Will ruine thee thou canst it not defend And Death by Life will be und one also Your seeming friends each one will turne a foe The Righteous man hath leave granted to prosecute Sinne and Life to prosecute Death Who 's that below that faine would speak with mee A poore sinner Lord that lies in miserie What is that other which by thee doth stand Lord this is Life that doth preserve a land What would yee have speak both for both have breath Free me from sin Free me likewise from death What hath Sin done or Death seeing you desire Sin promis'd good but death comes for sins hire Here they are both give us both leave to speake If thou deny Lord both our hearts will breake Both speak your minds the Saints I made the
assistants And you that for sinne acted such a part And 'gainst my truth have tried all your art Receive your doome for this will be your hire Ye cursed goe into eternall fire Where divels dwell and monsters doe inherit The fruits of sinne there each one hath his merit There you shall stay for ever and from me No light of comfort you shall ever see In sorrow you eternitie shall spend Depart from me for now you know your end FINIS POEMS CONCERNING DEATH AN INDIGHTMENT AGAINST DEATH by LIFE being Plaintiffe With the Event and Issue thereof LONDON Printed by John Dawson 1639. OF DEATH 1 Cor. 15. 56. Death where is thy sting Hosea 13. 14. O Death I will be thy death 1 Cor. 15. 26. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is Death The Argument in charge to the Muse. ADdresse thy selfe my Muse to that sad tale Of Death though grim ghastly wan pale His looke feare not for I will see thee righted Speake bold for life thou need'st not be affrighted Accuse him answer with a sharp reply His vaine defence and sentenc'd let him dye A Plea against Death Lord now I have brought Death to be arraign'd A Traitor he already is proclaim'd To be against thy sonne the life of all The world that hath been are or ever shall Remaine on earth unlesse some course in hand Be taken now to cut him from the Land O let me never beare thy name in vaine To yeeld to Death my losse he counts his gaine Now let this tyrant be by thee destroy'd That hath so long so much my peace annoy'd An examination of the case a commana to speake their mindes What wouldst thou have done to him speak thy mind What he hath done that 's il that he shal find To him I shall returne againe like measure As he did mete I le open now my treasure Of wrath and vengeance and upon him poure And he shall know what 't is life to devoure I le heare you both now life speake what of Death Thou know'st death why he stroys living breath And testimony that about the cause You can produce according to my lawes For so I le Judge and give to each his right My truth appeare shall in all peoples sight The Indightment against Death in generall When thou at first didst breath me in the soule Of man alive he was who did controule His living state but death when he for ever Might then have liv'd with doing his indeavour But fearfull Death did stare him in the face And did his glory utterly disgrace His name was fearfull and men at it bend The thoughts of Death brought forth untimely end To some the rest that liv'd the course of nature The feare of him did weaken so their stature That when he came he had not much to doe Halfe dead before for they were sinfull too And captives like he chain'd them in the grave Close prisoners none out of his hands could save A man so cruell as it doth appeare Men durst not aske he kept them so in feare He scorn'd to take a courtesie from any Nor did regard their teares though nere so many The old mans plaint he never did regard The strong mans valour with death did reward The young mans person never did respect The infants smiling ever did neglect The virgins beauty he did still defie The fathers griefe he slighteth presently The mothers weeping he did still disable Although she mist her children at the table The childe though kneeling begs life for his father Then death in fury saith he 'l have him rather The loving daughter seekes life for her mother But death lookes in and cries give me another The masters cares considers not a whit The servants paines with death so payes he it The Bridegroomes joy he turneth into sorrow The Brides delight today he spoyles tomorrow Or any one that sueth for his friend If he grieves much death brings the sooner end On him but helpes him not a jot but brings On all men death and kils all other things Thy servants Lord that were by me maintain'd In all the world yet death hath all them gain'd And while they had a being here on earth They trouble had but seldome knew what mirth Did meane yea some of them that I am sure Through feare of death a bondage did endure At home abroad or ever where they went They still did thinke his bow was ever bent No comfort in the world then did they take Of any thing that God did for them make I was to them aburthen yet they call For joy but then the King of feare spoyl'd all And fresh discō for t brought into their harts Frighting their mindes death breeds such inward smarts The thoughts of death bring out the guilt of sin Annoye without distemper all within And to this day it is his practice still With darts of death the bloud of all to spill Where as he findes me he doth hate me so His venome spits and is a cruell foe The birds the beasts the fish all that have sense A suit of death against him doth commence And he by might doth ever get the day And as his right he takes them all away The plants that live a bare life and no more Scarce men can see life in them 't is so poore Death findes it out as plainly doth appeare And kils their fruit some once some twice a yeare At last the stock to death must give a place For fruit and stocke death doth at last disgrace Nay if there were of persons or of things A world of millions more he 'd use his stings Till all were gone if thou didst not restraine His power then still like a King he 'd raigne The more he slayes the more he doth desire The lower men are he is rais'd the higher He hath confest the ruine of mans life Is that he seekes he gaines they lose so strife Hath been betwixt us ever since the first I doe perceive he for mans bloud doth thirst Till he himselfe doe die he 'l never cease To kill his name 's enough to stroy mans peace Against Death in particular What have I done that death should envie me Was I not made to quicken men by thee Why then should death a greater power have I being free to make me like a slave If I doe ill correct me with thy hand But why should Death have me at his command Death had his being at the first by sinne And as a vassall to him still hath been Sinne goes before then Death he takes his place They both conspire against mans living race For they agree in all that suits with evill And with consent doe gratifie the Devill For his device and subtill slights that he Did still invent brought all to miserie Should Death that by thee never being had And workes for sinne O this is too too bad Rule over all that goodly worke of thine To spoile it too his malice doth
praise to get a name If thou art faire come now let 's see thy face Thy beauties markes may helpe thee in this case Especially if beauty be within But thou art foule and so hast ever beene If thou art wise why dost thou ever use To set thy selfe the wisest to abuse In this thy folly doth so much appeare To all the world 't is evident and cleare If thou art just why dost not rescve those That serve the Lord in striking downe their foes If thou hast mercy why dost slight the teares Of poore distrest thou dost increase their feares If thou art rich why dost not give a fee Both large and good for those that plead for thee But thou art poor thy halfe world 's nothing worth So well as I can I have set thee forth Deaths friends are reproved their al surdities are not to be answered but they are fitter for correction Comparisons and advice Thy friends that have stood up for thy defence Will from thee finde a deadly recompence They trade with thee but he that gets the gaines Comes off with losse his labour for his paines There 's none that doth the common good desire Of them like fooles they dote upon their hire On present things they dote but quickly they Will lose the sweet when death takes them away The Magistrate I le satisfie but for The rest like Atheists speake I doe abhorre To answer them absurdities their words Are them they use as mad men doc use swords Who ever speaks they will not take direction I le not dispute they 'r fitter for correction To side with death against the life of men That pretious is for gaines they wish death then Should men like beasts by sense live alwayes here Hath God no wayes but what to sence appeare To feed and cloath his creatures which he made He helpe him can though other helpes doe fade Must death of others life unto men give Or no meanes else is in the world to live Is there no gaines but must be others losses Or comfort have unlesse death bring his crosses Is this to do by others as to have The same repay'd to thee or would'st thou crave Death for thy selfe or shamefully to die Others to free that doe in bondage lie Anothers case in this make still thine owne Thou fain would'st live should others be o'rthrown Be not so brutish in thy curst desire Me thinks it smels of brimstone and hell fire Plead not for death he will not plead for you His friendship 's false his enmity is true The Magistrates speech is answered The Magistrate that pleads for death so witty That he should fall he thinkes it is great pitty There 's other wayes for Justice to take place Sharpe punishment and publikely disgrace Justice in rigor should not be exprest Injustice 't is to all but to the best Shew clemency and mercy to all such That are most rude let pitty ever touch The heart and then in love we shall agree When Death goes downe O then I shall be free Death none can quit when he once takes away The lives of men although they went astray Though death be gone stil thou maist use thy strēgth To chastise men and make them good at length A servant now he is but ere 't be long He 'l master be and prove for thee too strong Vnlesse he be condemn'd and silenc'd quite And by decree we take away his might Sinne s condemn'd if it get not repreeve Death may be spar'd men may in quiet live Although before some have deserv d to die I would not lose nor leave them willingly Though worst speed best best the worst receive Worst may be best if I doe not them leave Though theevs by death have here receiv'd reward Yet by thy stripes men will as much regard The law of life now if death be a friend Let others judge for I have made an end The charge of the Jurie You heare of death the case is open'd large Your verdict bring for this I give in charge You speake the truth and boldly as you finde Respect not parties freely shew your minde Death is a foe to all the case is cleare The best that live of him doe live in feare He is so grim that with his ghastly frowne He doth distract men then he sinkes them downe Life seekes but justice justice he shall have My subject he 's he shall not be deaths slave Life he is wrong'd the truth of this is tri'd Doe you consult the case I le soone decide The Preface to the verdict of the Jurie Lord this we finde to us is very cleare That Death to Life a foe is with his feare Doth men like slaves keepe under with his force Doth crush all things and never hath remorse He prides himselfe ore all he is so vile Next Sin the worst though you a King him stile The truth of this all ages that are past Have found for they by death were spoil'd at last O monstrous death when men use cursed art To torture men thou tak'st the tyrants part The information sets thy inside out But the reply brings it more cleare about Thy words thy friends doe no whit mend thy case But by contraries Justice now takes place The Verdict of the Jurie against Death For Death we finde him guilty of those crimes Of frighting men and killing them all times And all things else that little we can see Take other things that prov'd so strongly be 'Gainst him why he should not deserve to die Cut from the earth and times eternally Now doome him Lord and free us from his snare And let him lie in ever dying care The Introduction to the Sentence Death now thou seest thou art convicted truly Thy deadly plots I have observed duly Against my creatures for so 's the story That chiefly made were to set forth my glory When that my sonne tooke flesh and man became Thoudidstnot spare him thou join'st w th him shame And brought'st him downe but then he from the earth Was rais'd againe and had a second birth The sentence against Death I sentence thee to perish evermore With all thy malice set upon thy score A stronger death shall swallow all thy power And shall thy Kingdome utterly devoure Now helpe nor refuge none shall give to thee Eternall darknesse then thy part shall be Thou never shalt from thence returne againe To domineere or triumph ore the slaine Take wrath with thee be fill'd with curses store And so begon and see my face no more The Devill knowing that Sinne and Death are condemned his power and malice appeares but 't is restrained Sathan which once did dwell within the Court Of heaven thence was cast yet doth resort Thither againe to pry into Gods actions And what he doth against his cursed factions And what respect he shewes unto his owne That serve him still and make his power knowne The one he doth against the Lord uphold The other he to