Lord be praised hath beene and will be carefully followed by the learned and worthy Magistrates of this Kingdome whom the Lord God prosper and protect in all their proceedings to which let all true hearts say Amen MistrÃs Turners Teares for the Murder of Sir Thomas Ouerbury who was poysoned in the Tower of London IF euer teares fell from a Wretches eies I am that Creature waues on waues doe rise So fast and swell so high they drowne my soule In her owne crimes as numberlesse as foule Oh had my cradle bin my sodaine Graue In peace my Soule had slept which is a slaue Now both to sinne and shame I had not then Been of God hated and so scorn'd of Men. Vnhappy was the Wombe that lent me breath Would it had bin the Charnell-house of Death Had I bin stisled there theÌ„ had my flight To heauen bin like a Doues with winges more white O would to God the Day when I was borne Had from the Calender of time beene torne Where now it stands accursed and does beare The marke of a most fatall Character Many a Widdow reading there my name Will curse it the leafe that holds the same Children as yet vnborne comming to spell Will take it for a Furies name in Hell And casting by the Booke no more will read But onely learne to heape vppon my head VVishes of mischeefe though in Graue I lye For to confound mee euerlastingly But leauing this let my sad Story tell Both from what height I fall how I fell That though time present does not mone my state Yet times to come may pitty my hard fate My birth was faire my bringing vp was good My dayes were golden in my widdow-hood And might haue been so still but climbers hye Beyond their reach must downe and so doe I. Plenty and I at board together sate I fed with Diues dranke in richest plate VVore ritch attires tasted all worldly pleasure But nere had care to hoord vp heau'nly treasure VVith Eue I might haue liu'd in Paradise But that a Serpent did my Soule intice To touch forbidden fruit which relish'd well In chewing but being downe it smelt of Hell T was not one onely Apple to deuoure For which I long'd my hunger gap'd at more At a whole tree I look'd it was a Tree Me thought the goodliest mortall eyes could see This Tree I climb'd and as I pluckt it grew Still fresh and fresh the boughs were euer new The branches euer greene bushy and faire It seem'd the Darling both of sunne and ayre But when my Soule lookt vp with open eyes I saw the top-bough brauing euen the skies VVhen the root stuck in Hell where looking in I knew it then to be the tree of sinne And though my Conscience told me I should fall If that I leand to nothing could appall My setled resolution I would on Though still before me stood damnation From this I pluckt the guilded fruit of pride Like Queen-apples they shew'd for euery side VVas ruddy and alluring but what trust Is in vaine earth being toucht they turne to dust FroÌ„ this I suckt EnchantmeÌ„ts which drunk well And luscious sweet yet prou'd the milke of hell Hence did I gather poysonous drugges to kill Such as withstood my friends or crost my wil. Lust often lay within my widdowed sheetes And taught me how to tast forbidden sweetes And that toward hell I might go one step furder The last and worst I went into was murder O crying sinne which smothered nere so deep In caues which silent night her selfe does keep Bound vp in darknes like the steeme of Hell which none can peirce yet the black deed to tell Euen graues of dead men rotten long agoe VVill open wide Vengeance walks often slow To our weak sight but when to Strike it stands On Heau'ns high Tower it hath a 1000. hands Th' Almighties Arrowes fly both sure strong And where they hit great Oakes fall all along No hidden mark but stands within his eie And that he cleaues when forth his wrath does flie Witnesse my selfe and others who defying The busiest searching Sun-beam from descrying Where Villany lay lurking wrapd in clouds so safe we thought as dead men in their shrouds When to Mans Sense t was as impossible Mountaines to moue as find a tongue durst tel Our buried plots See! they are rent and torne By Gods least finger and we left in Scorne Our maskes pluckd off our faces now appeare writ Such as they are indeed not as they were Plain on our browes are our close mischiefes Who most did hide now most discouer it The Wolues are caught in snares the shepherd now Knows that a Lamb was slain by whom how The blood of whom by cruell friend so spilt Flowes like a Sea yet washes off no guilt If any aske mee why I was so led And why so neere to hell I ventured I was bewitch'd for what I did behold Was a most bitter Pil but wrap'd in gold That liquorish baite intic'd me take it downe As wholesom Physick but with shaÌ„e t is known No poison can so soone destroy the Soule The out-side glorious but the inside foule O Gold thou glittering diuel that confoundest The Richest Fairest Strongest wisest Soundest Would God as He to Indians is vnknown That so their Drossy God were theirs Alone Soules would not tumble then so fast to Hell Nor of my Fall should I this Story tell Terror to Soule and Body had not Heauen To sinnes more high and horrid pardon giuen Pardon of thee sweet Iesus then I craue What thou hast Bought and Payd for deerely Saue Men let me beg forgiuenes from you too Because I did more then my Sex should doe And you of Modest dames that beare the note And my blacke Name quite from your tables blot As I am lost so let my fault I craue And write Obliuion on my wretched Graue You Fathers whome of Children I bereaue You Children whom of Parents I deceaue You Wiues whom Husbandles my Guilt does make Forgiue me All of All this Leaue I take Heauen frownes to looke vpon me and my Sin Earth trembles that by her I fed haue bin My very breath poysons the Aire about me Hell onely is within me and without me Yet in despite of Hell from Heauen comes down Mercy I see holding a glorious Crown Oâ— immortality ouer my faint head Iesus in that and thee I 'me Comforted Strengthen my weake heart Death is fearefull grim One finger of thy Hand can vanquish him Giue to my fleeting Soule a prosperous gaile That I to Blest Ierusalem may Saile FINIS Master VVestons Teares for the Murder of Sir Thomas Ouerbury who was poysoned in the Tower of London GOD of my Soule and Body haue mercy vpon mee the one I haue cast away by my folly the other is likely to perish in thy Fury vnlesse in thy great mercy thou Saue it My Sinnes are deepe Seas to drowne mee I am swallowed vp in the
if she heares the aduancement of vertue then growes she pensiue and if she want credit amongst the mighty then falls shee working with the meaner sort she smiles not vpon any man but to betray him nor giues him countenance but to vndoe him nor contriues any Stratagems without Murder nor dwels by any neighbour but to hutt him and if she be but crossed in her will she euer frets her selfe away in anger and after in hate and malice becomes infamous for her loue is a minute but her spight ouerlasting Her hand beeing once dipt in mischiefe she neuer walkes abroad but in suspition fearing to be accused by vertue and still liues in dread of her good Fortune yet by nature is she such that shee hath courage enough to aduenture on any sinne An ambitious woman shewes her selfe to be a troublesome disturber of the world powerfull to make small things great and great monstrous Enuy by nature is greeued at the Prosperity of others hee enuieth the Great in that he cannot Equall them he enuieth the weake dreading they should compare themselues with him he enuieth his Equalls because they should not become his Companions in Kingdomes Common-Wealths Princes Courts and Ambitious mens Houses he is still working no Man hunteth after Honor but he affronts him onely the miserable man hee enuies not because being kept in Prison hee feares not his risings yet hath hee a scorne ouer him Machiuell knowing the venome of this vice gaue his sonne this last and not least instruction that he should not be enuious but to doe saith hee such deeds that others may enuy thee for to be enuied is the token of good desert but to be enuious the signe of a foolish nature which verifies the saying of Marcus Tullius the Orator that the most florishing fortune is most enuied at But now to be more familiar in my discourse wher Ambition Adultery Pride Enuy Malice and such like Capitall Sins haue set in foote there cannot chuse but follow Murder and confusion and where the foundation is layd with bloud there can be a building but of small continuance but where Honors haue a true beginning a ground of vertue springing vp by noble deserts continued by Wisedome and maintayned with Care there cannot choose but follow a fruitfull haruest and a plentifull Winter contrariwise to obtaine sodaine Honors begets Pride and Vaineglory Pride and Vainglory are the cherishers of Enuy and Mallice Enuy and Mallice the Nurses of Bloudshed Murder in which whosoeuer dippeth but the tip of his finger giues to his Soule a scarlet staine which neuer can be cleare vntill the dissolution of the body and then well are they that can wash it away with the true teares of repentance Brittle is that greatnesse that fadeth in a moment and vaine the ioy that is vnwisely lost He that hath a sodaine rise and can wisely stand is a most happy worldling but he that forgets himselfe on the Pinacle of prosperity is besotted with arrogancy therefore let him that hunts for honors in Princes Courts wander in an euen passage for dangerous are the proceedings and busines of a Statesman Take this for an example suppose that a young man from the lowest ebbe of worldly chance haue the aduancement of Greatnesse laid vpon his shoulders will it not for a time seeme a heauy burthen and a great trouble to his new transformed fortunes Will not the pride of his heart swell to a full Sea euen ready to burst ouer the bankes of his Honour-giuer Then rightly may the Picture of ingratitude be imprinted in his fore-front playing the Viper to his high forunes first beginner Being thus intituled with State-Offices hath hee not many soothers in sin personages of base condition attending him hemming him round with perswasions of selfe conceit which for a need will venture their liues to gaine him the commands of his will what becomes of such follies but a sorrowfull repentance and no recouery All you that haue your harts pierced with sad considerations take this for a remembrance of greefe that is that when a Woman of noble Parentage placed on the mountaine of smiling chance hauing the dignity of Greatnesse shining on her fore-head should humble her selfe to base conditions giuing her whole mind to malicious hatred secret consents of iniquity selfewill and wicked proceedings neuer pacified till the end of damned performances Oh! was not this woman created for a deep sorrow to her Alliance a great greefe vnto her Country and a foule staine vnto her owne reputation Is it not also a lamentable example for a Gentleman of good birth and calling placed in dignity in high office and charge for his Country to giue way by consent to a bloudy stratagem and for feare of the displeasures of Groatnes intangle himselfe in the snares of reproch Will not this also be a continuall remembrance to his posterity and a barre of disgrace branding the coat-Armes of his house to haue the common course of Iustice passe vpon him in the eye of the multitude Is it not also great pitty that for want of grace some of a seruile yet an obseruing condition should from the golden meane of low estate wait at the elbow of Greatnes and bring fuel to their fire of iniquity wherein at the length they themselues are likewise consumed Oh! wherefore should simplicity thus blind vp their eyes of vnderstanding to be thus the instruments of such dangerous drifts that ayme at nothing but grudge and mallice If with Solons saying they had sealed vp their hearts Remember the end this had neuer been then how are they led away with amisse that hauing the guifts of art and experience the secrets of the simples of Physick ordained by God for mans good vse should by the Diuell them be conuerted thus to malignant purposes if the feare of God had shined in their hearts it would haue beene a light to haue led them froâ— all those darke practises which haue now spotted the foreheads of their reputations with the markes of blacke infamy Shame cannot choose but be the reward of such enterprisers that for the fauor of Greatnes will dip their hands in the blood of Innocents and euen as it were worke against nature Oh more then sauage minded Creatures in the very deepnesse of your blacke and bloody imaginations imboldened by whomsoeuer this might haue beene your Memento in which I conclude that strange and wonderfull are Gods iudgements that in these fore-passed stratagems haue shined in great glory say you then that bloud innocently shed is layd vp in Heauens Treasury not one drop of it can be lost but lent out to Vsury water poured forth sincks downe quietly into the earth but bloud spilt on the ground sprinkles vp to the Firmament Murder is wide-mouthed and will not let God rest till he grant reuenge not onely the bloud of the slaughtered but the soule of the innocent ascending to his throne crying out and exclaiming for Iustice which the
bottomles Gulph of my owne transgressions With Caine I haue beene a Murderer and with Iudas a Betrayer of the Innocent My body is a Slaue to Sathan and my wretched Soule is deuoured vp by Hell Black haue bin my thoughts and blacker are my deeds I haue beene the Diuells instrument and am now become the Scorne of Men a Serpent vpon earth and an Out-cast from Heauen What therefore can become of me miserable Caytiffe if I looke vp to my Redeemer to him I am an Arch Traitor if vpon Earth it is drowned with Blood of my shedding if into Hell there I see my Conscience burning in the Brimstone lake God of my Soule and Body haue mercy therefore vpon mee Saue me O saue me or else I perish for euer I die for euer in the world to come vnlesse sweet Lord thou catchest my repentant Soule in thine Armes O saue mee saue me saue me FINIS Iames Franklin A Kentishman of Maidstone his owne Arraignment Confession Condemnation and Iudgement of Himselfe whilst hee lay Prisoner â—n the Kings Bench for the Poysoning of Sir Thomas Ouerbury I Am Arraign'd at the black dreadfull Barre Where Sinnes so red as Scarlet Iudges are All my Inditements are my horrid Crimes Whose Story will affright succeeding Times As now they driue the present into wonder Making Men tremble as trees struck with Thunder If any askes what Euidence comes in O 't is my Conscience which hath euer bin A thousand witnesses and now it tells A Tale to cast me to ten thousand Hells The Iury are my Thoughts vpright in this They sentence me to death for doing amisse Examinations more there need not then â—han what 's confest heere both to God and Men. The Crier of the Court is my black Shame Which when it cals my Iury doth proclaime 〈◊〉 as they are summon'd they appeare To giue true Verdict of the Prisoner They shall haue heauy Fines vppon them set Such as may make them dye deep in Heauens debt About mee round sit Innocence and Truth As Clerkes to this high Court and little Ruth Because my facts are barbarous damn'd and base The Serieants that about mee thick are plac't To guard me to my death when I am cast Are the black stings my speckled soule now feeles Wich like to Furies dog me close at heeles The Hangman that attends me is Despaire And gnawing wormes my fellow-Prisoners are His first Inditement for Murder THe first who at this Sessions loud doth call me Is Murder whose grim visage doth appall me His eyes are fires his voyce rough windes out-rores And on my head the Diuine Vengeance scores So fast and fearfully I sinke to grownd And wish I were in twenty Oceans drownd He sayes I haue a bloudy villaine bin And to proue this ripe Euidence steps in Brow'd like my selfe Iustice so brings about That black sinnes still hunt one another out 'T is like a rotten frame ready to fall For one maine Post being shaken puls downe all To this Indictment holding vp my hand Fettered with Terrors more then Irons I stand And being ask'd what to the bill I say Guilty I cry O dreadfull Sessions-day His second Indictment for poysoning ANother forthwith bids me come to'th Barre Poyson that Hel-borne cunning Sorcerâ—r That windes himselfe into a thousand formes And when the day is brightest flings downe stormes This hath an Angels face a Mermaids tongue This is the Coward Sinne which like a Pill When 't is most guilded is most sure to kill Whether this Hel-hownd strike at Morne or Night So trecherous close and speedy is his fight That Armors all-of-proofe nor Towers of Stone Can barre his bloody Execution This Snake with the smooth skin hiss'd out my name Mongst others more and venom'd me with shame That rancles to the soule It sayes that I For a poore golden handfull did defie Heauen and Saluation when I gaue consent To teare the bowels of an Innocent With lingring poysons of themselues too strong But that their working God put off so long That darker deeds by this the light may try Which now perhaps in worser bosomes lye To this Inditement holding vp my hand Fettered with Terrors more then Irons I stand And being askd what to the Bill I say Guilty I cry O dreadfull Sessions-Day His third for raising of Spirits c. IN rushes then a heape of Accusations For all those Godlesse damn'd Abhominations Rais'd by the black Art and a Coniurers spelles As to call Spirits euen from the deepest Hells To fetch back theeues that with stoln goods are gone And calculate natiuities such a one Credulity of fooles and women made me And to that glorious infamy betraide me A Cunning man a Wise man were my stile Art knew I none nor did I euer reach A bough of learnings tree what I did teach To others or did practise it was all Cheating false apish diabollicall To this being likewise ask'd what I can say I guilty cry O dreadfull Sessions day This Diuells coate to my body made I fit Braue was the outside thrid-bare was the wit His Iudgment FOr these thick Stygian streams in which th' ast swoÌ„ Thy guilt hath on the laid this bitter doome Thy loath'd life on a tree of shame must take A leaue compeld by Law er'e old age make Her signed pass-port ready Thy offence No longer can for daies on earth dispense Time blot thy name out of this bloody roule And so the Lord haue mercy on thy soule His speech what he could say for himselfe O wreched Caitiffe what perswasiue breath Can call back this iust sentence of quick death I beg no boone but mercy at Gods hands The King of Kinges the Soueraigne that commands Both soule and body O let him forgiue My treason to his Throne and whilst I liue Iebbits and Racks shall torture limbe by limbe Through worlds of Deaths I le breake to fly to him My birth day gaue not to my mothers wombe More ease then this shall ioyes when e're it come My body mould to earth sinnes sinke to Hell My penitent soule win Heauen vaine world farewell A Funerall Elegie vppon the vntimely Death of the honorable Knight Sir Thmas Ouerburie who was poysoned in the Tower WHy in this world to liue should men desire Since death so many waies our liues expire What happines hath man vpon the earth But mountaine misery for Mole-hill mirth A moments Ioy mixt with an age of woes Each drop of comfort flouds of cares o're flowes For 't is decreed by ineuitable Fate The greatest men are not most fortunate The head that weares a Crowne weares many cares The which before old age makes hoary haires And humaine honors like a fading flower Which florisheth and fadeth in an hower The meane estate doth onely longest last Not being subiect to each wandring blast Of ticklish Fortunes euer-turning wheele Whose fickle turnings oft makes Greatnes reele If all the windes East West and North and South Should raging burst from blustring Eol's mouth The lowly shrub stands euer rooted fast When lofty Pines and Cedars downe are cast And though the mighty oft the weake opprest Of all estates the meane sleepes most in rest Thou worthy OVERBVRY to thy Hearse I consecrate this sad lamenting Verse Hadst thou beene some vnlearned rusticke hindâ— Hadst thou beene basely borne and base inclind Hadst thou had nothing in thee that was good So sooâ—e foule murther had not suck't thy blood But being in all parts a man compleate Great in regard in goodnes farre more greate Who like a Starre in Brittaines Court did shine Learn'd in the Lawes both Humaine and Diuine A Scholler full of Gentleman-like parts Whose noble carriage won a world of hearts That Arts like painefull Bees did daily striue To fill with sacred loue his learned hiue Which thou as did befit thy worthy worth With admiration often wouldst powre forth So courteous valiant sober and so wise And one that fawning could not temporise So well proportion'd of such comely feature So fully fraught with a true honest nature So hopefull and so louing and belou'd Whose life and actions euery tongue approu'd That expectation mark'd him out to be A man of absolute Integrity Of Zeale Capacity and Eminence To serue his God his Country and his Prince But Sathan that old enemie of man As he with Abels murther first began He still hath spew'd from out his damned den Inhumaine thoughts in bloody Caine-like men And as the blood of that first slaughtered Saint For vengeance to Iehouah made complaint So did the blood of OVERBVRY cry For Justice to the Throne of Maiesty Oh Physick great preseruer of mans breath Heau'ns Habeas Corpus against dismall death Most honorable treasury of health Renowned Piller of each Common-wealth Lifes louing Champion how art thou abus'd When poyson's with thy Antidots infus'd But this vnusuall damnable abuse No bleamish is to lawfull Physicks vse No more then Phoebus glorious beames are soyld With shining on a stinking dung-hill moyld Thus to thy praise whose praise doâ—h passe my skill My poore vnlearned most obsequious quill Doe offer these poore slender lines of mine Vnworthy for that worthy worth of thine Which though thy soule be in eternall rest Thy friends may thanke me for I did my best FINIS I. T. REaders you that are desirous to see the reward of the Adulterer and the Adultresse paid by Gods owne hand there is a little Table called the Spectacles where you may see it more at large