Hell is heauenly in shew * All the earth calleth for Truth and the Heauen blesseth it and al things are shaken treÌ„bâ—e neither is there any vniust thing in it 1. Eâ—dr 4.36 * In Heâ—l is no redemption * Truth and Reason neare of kinne * Truth is the strength and kingdome the power and maiesty of all ages 1. Esdr 4 40. * Nature is greatly grieued till her sonnes be reformed * Reason doth cheere the heuinesse of our nature in case of distresse * Patience a daughter of the Heauens the best companioÌ„ of a forlorne fortune * Contingent Accidents are hid from the eie of Reason * God * ReprehensioÌ„ vnwelcome to all resolute in euill * Truth is like herselfe in vnlike subiects * This guileful world is mortall enemy to Trueth * Made Truth to speak most for the maintenaunce of earthly matters c. * The wine is wicked the King is wicked women are wicked all the childreÌ„ of men are wicked and al their wicked workes are such there is no truth in them but they perish in their iniquitie But Truth doth abide and is stroÌ„g foreuer liueth and raigneth for euer and euer 1. Esdr 4.37.38 * Truth is in extreame perill of deprauation among the vncleane * The Soule that hath no feeling of sin is dead in sin * They that lacke least worldly things most lacke friends that will tell them the trueth * Veritie and Iustice supports the Thrones of Princes * Euer since Astrea forsooke th' earth whosoeuer offers Iustice a golden Scabberd she will sheathe her sword therein * That life is worse then death that depeÌ„ds on a miÌ„â—ers pleasure * Immortall lines in Poesie are worse then mortall lines that end our misery for the first make vs labour for our trauell the last make vs labor for heauen if wee die well * Iustice * Iustice sees with Truthâ— eies * The countenance bewrais how the heart is affected * Time and Death enimies to Nature * Body of clay * Day night are the wings of Time * When men die their yereâ— seeme but so many daies before they dy all their dayes so many yeres The time future seems loÌ„g but that past extream short * Time's euer in motion * Before mans fall * Time made by God the fountaine of Reason * Iniquitie shal shorten Times continuance * Reasons are yeelded by Reason * Still moouing * The office of Reason * Our Nature is apt to insult vpon the least incoragement * A forcible meane to reduce the euill to good * Euery moment seemes an Age to â—ne that longs to heare that which his soule desires to know * Foolishnesse is ioy to him which is destitute of vnderstanding c. Prou. 15.21 * Vanitie holdeth nothing too deere for things nere so worthlesse that may any way tend to her pleasure * Iob 7.6 * No warning will preuaile with the wilfull * The Sunne runnes an oblique course in the heauens which measures time and in time men learne to doe amisse * Men lewdly liuing make a spoâ—le of time till 〈◊〉 spoile them The vices familiar with our natures in the seuerall ages of our life * Ther is none that doth good no not one Psal 17. * In time by reason experience wee reforme our maners if we be not vtterly void of grace * Leauing her last â—ooâ—esteps among the men which nâ—w are least acquainted wâ—th her or her steps Husbandmen * Venter auribus caret * No gracelesse wretch so vnnaturall but knowes the voice and law of nature because it is written in all meÌ„s hearts * Sathan winnoweth vs like wheate Luke 21.31 * They liue ill that thinke to liue euer * It is an abhominâ—tion to fooles to depart from euil Proâ— 13.19 * To haue heauen in this life is to holde hell in the other * We measure our frinds well-doing altogether by the line of worldly prosperitie * A scorner loues not him that rebukes him neither will he goe to the wise Pro. 15.12 * Reason is euer impugned and impeached by carnall Libertines * This makes so many miseries by reason of flatterers in the world for euery one couets to please for feare of frownes * Vicious liuers are strangers or rather enemies to Trueth â—nd her doctrine * These are the last and there fore the worst times which rather seeke to reforme by windy then explanary doctrine which perswades coldly * All times apter to Vice then Vertue * They that liue without thinking of their end doe commonly die ere they think of Death * The first death to the wicked is the entrance into the second * Repentance may be too late but neuer too soone * Tyrants * If good â—hey raise if bad they ruine it * A great torment in the life to come is due to those that can and will take such an immortall reuenge for any mortall inâ—urie * Feare * None are forsaken of God that cleaue to him by humble hearty praiee * The Kay of Intelligence * The Sonne of Gods first miracle hee wroght at the marriage Ioh. 2. honouring the feast with his personall presence * The wisest men are oft thus mistâ—ken for not being able â—o foresee perfectly future euents * The best meÌ„ Death soonest â—akes away because this wicked world is vnworthie of them * Fortune is euer in that mâ—â—ion like a waue moâ—ued with the wind * A sport so called * The contentious take small occasion to contend * Yet mightie men of our present times thinke otherwise as appeareth by their actions Oppression * All elementall Bodies subiect 〈◊〉 death * Which shall haue an end * Al that hath motion is subiect to dissolution * The Eie is saide to cause our blushing c. * Iustice Fortune Death are eielesse sith they haue no respect of persons * A kingdomâ— diuided is at point to be dissolued * Vntimely as well as vnreasonable taxings withdraw the loues of the Subiects * Princes often become odious to their subiects thorow the fault of those whoÌ„ they put in trust to gouerne vnder them * The readiest way to winne hearts * Loue and Bounty the best Baites to catch men * Captare beneuolentiam * Men are honored and folowed in this world onely for their fortunes * They got Territories which they could not holde * Fortune fauors fooles * Chirurgions * The way to thriue in that function * Elixir * A little therof multiplies infinitely as Alchymists affirme * Life is sweet * O Death how bitter is thy remembrance to a maÌ„ that hath pleasure in his riches Ecclus. 41.1 * Fronâ—â—â—ullae â—ides * Hope of future good in this life maks men feare death as an intollerable eâ—ill * 1. Iohn 5.4 * None so mortified but feares death in point of dying * The feâ—re of finall or particular iudgement makes Death vnwelcome
would not haue that had the Hart inflates Yet would I haue my Lucke light on that Lot That mends the drouping Mind Bodies states In too much Nature oft is ouershot And oft too little Art disanimates Then in this life that seeke I for my part That Nature keepes in life and quickens Art 94 To bury Liuing thoughts among the dead Dead earthly things is ere Death comes to die For dead they are that lie in Gold or Lead As they are buried that in Earth still lie The thoughts are most relieu'd when they are fed With Angells foode or sweete Philosophie But some seeme on this Manna still to liue Whom Quailes and Woodcoks most of al relieue 95 Well let these some out-liue as many yeares As they haue haires they do but liuing die If so their Soules must needs be full of feares Whose Hopes in this dead life alone do lie For they weare euer double as Time weares In Soule and Body weare they double die O then how painefull is that pleasant life Wherein all ioy with such annoy is rife 96 Beare with me Readers that 's the recompence I aske for telling you this merry Tale For running out of my Circumference I le come in strait before a merry Gale But yet a word or two ere I goe hence And then haue with you ouer Hill and Dale Nothing shall let me to relate the rest For commonly behind remaines the best 97 This world me seemes is like I wot not what That 's hard for that is no comparison Why that 's the cause I it compare to that For who 's he like to that is like to none T is not like God for t is too full of hate Nor like the Diu'l for he feares God alone It is not like to Heau'n Earth nor Hell Nor aught therein for they in compasse dwell 98 Then what is 't like if like to any thing It s like itselfe and so it is indeede Or if you will like to the oldest Ling That limes their fingers that on it doe feede So that all things they touch to them do cling And let them so from doing purest deede If so it be how mad are men the while To cleaue to that which do them so defile 99 Now this most noghtie thing or thing of noght I cannot skill of though but bad I am Therefore by me it least of all is sought Though oft I seeke for pleasure in the same Which yet I hope shall not be ouer-bought For I will giue but good-will for my game And if good-will will me no pleasure bring I le buy therewith I hope a better thing 100 Now from my selfe I eft to Fortune flie And yet I flie from Her and She from me Who came thus followd with this Company That Iupiter did enuie it to see There did she muster them in policie That Ioue of all might well informed be For when an heape confus'd are call'd by Poll The many parts do make the number whole 101 Mongst whom Philosophers and Poets came Last of the Crowde and could not well appeare To whoÌ„ blind Fortune gaue noght else but fame Wherof they fed but lookt lean with their cheere So they in Heau'n deifi'd this Dame Sith they poore souls could not come at her here And euer since a Goddesse call'd she is Poets thanke her for That Shee you for This. 102 Who though they be perhaps but passing poore Yet can they deâ—fie whom ere they will Then Demy-gods should cherish them therefore That they may make theÌ„ whol gods by their skil Twixt whom there shuld be interchange of store And make of Wit and Wealth a mixture still That may each others woefull wants supply For men by one another liue or die 103 Vaine fooles what do ye meane to giue hir heau'n That giues you nothing but an earthly hell That 's only aire which she to you hath giu'n To make ye pine whilst ye on earth do dwell Ne'r speake of Wit for ye are Wit-bereau'n To lie for nought and make Nought so excell For now who for him self 's not wise alone Is vainely wise though wise as Salomon 104 By this time Death came with his Emperor Who followed Death far off which Ioue did see To whom Death said Loe vpright Iupiter This Kesar though a Caesar followes mee He doth indeed said Ioue though somewhat farre But kept in off to shew indiffrencie For though the Iudge do iudge aright sometime Before both Tales be heard it is a crime 105 How saist quoth he Lieutenant didst thou come With Death to vs of thy meere owne accord Whereat the Emprour was stroken dumbe For he fear'd death as slaues do feare their Lord Yet with desire of glorie ouercome At last he spake yet spake he but a word Which was saue I the shortest word of words For No a letter more then I affords 106 Which he with submisse voice scarse audible Vtterd as one that would not well be heard But Iupiter although most sensible Tooke on him not to heare and prest him hard To speake through feare not so insensible For my vice Ioues quoth he are ne'r afeard Therefore on thy allegeance vnto mee I charge thee speake as thou from death wert free 107 Then with a princely death-out-daring looke He said Dread Ioue I had bin worse then mad Sith your Lieutenancie to me you tooke If I so great a grace neglected had Which so I had if so I had forsooke Without your notice that which made me glad Nor would I haue with Death come now to you But that he threatned me to bring me low 108 Wherewith the Iudge iust Ioue did sentence giue On Fortunes side which made Death rage so sore That at the Emprour he amaine did driue Whilst Ioue lookt on and Fortune fled therefore Short tale to make he did him life depriue And euer since Death rageth more and more That now all men false Fortune doe preferre Before iust Death nay iuster Iupiter 109 And thus with Death that All in fine doth end We end our Tale and if a lie it be Yet naked Truth dares such a lie defend Because such lies doe lie in veritie But though loude lies do lie they will not bend So lowe as most profound Moralitie Then be it lie or be it what it will It lies too high and lowe for Death to kill Bene cogitata si excidunt non occidunt Mimi Publiani Finis The Triumph of DEATH OR The Picture of the Plague According to the Life as it was in Anno Domini 1603. SO so iust Heau'ns so and none otherwise Deale you with those that your forbearaunce wroÌ„g Dumb Sin not to be nam'd against vs cries Yea cries against vs with a tempting tong And it is heard for Patience oft prouokt Conuerts to Furies all-consuming flame And fowlest sinne thogh ne'r so cleanly cloakt Breaks out
Death and Fortune 1 THere was a Time as I haue heard it sed By those that did at least in Print it finde A certaine Marriage was solemnized Betweene a mortall Paire of noble kinde And for the loue of those whom Loue doth wed Immortall Gods the company refin'd â—ith their pure presence who the Feast to grace â—id reuell as did all the rest a space 2 Among the rest of that immortall Crue Danc'd Death and Fortune whose Masks were so like That none that danc'd the one from other knew So in their choice of them they were to seeke For some that soght for Fortune Deth out-drew And some that soght for Deth did Fortune strikeâ— Tâ—me was their Minstrell who did euer play Aswell when they did dance as they did stay 3 Fortune delighted most to dance with those That best could flatter and the time obserue But Death still lou'd to foote it with his foes Or else with such as he saw best deserue When Fortune danc'd she turnes she comes and goes And kept no time thogh Time hir turns did serue But wheÌ„ death danc'd he did those Mesures tread Whose times were loÌ„g short tunes were dead 4 So Fortune vs'd Lauoltaes still to dance That rise and fall as Time doth either play And Death the Measure of least dalliance That 's Passing-measure and so strait away Or else the shaking of the Sheets per chance Which he would dance vntired night and day Wherein he put them downe so that he did Driue them from dancing vnto Winck-all-hid 5 The daÌ„cing done while yet their bloods were hot Fortune and Death began on tearmes to stand Which for their dancing had most glorie got And who their actions did best command From which dispute with choller ouershot They fel to vrge their powres by Sea and Land The while the Gods stoode most attentiuely To heare their more contentious Colloqui 6 When loe Deth Lord of all that breathe this aire Thus gan t' inforce his powre beyond compare I know saith he their honors they impaire That striue with those that their inferiors are Yet Foulnesse is not made a whit more faire By being compar'd with Beauty much more rare But Foulenesse takes the greater foile thereby And Moles are foiles to set forth Beauties die 7 Wert thou not blind bold baiard thou woldst see A mighty diffrence twixt thy might and mine Sith among those that most almighty bee I do admit no power more diuine For Empire large who can compare with mee Sith Earth and Aire the same cannot confine Nay in Earth Water yea in Aire and Fire That 's all in all I rule as I desire 8 What breathes or hath a vegetatiue Soule But paies me tribute as vnto their King Nay doe I not the hoast of starres controule Then Heau'n and Earth I to obedience bring And Kings as Beggars are in my Checke-role Nay Kings more oft then Beggars do I sting As farre as any thing hath motion I Play Rex for all that liue do liue to die 9 And therefore testifie thie modestie For error to defend is impudence In graunting that which thou canst not deny And to be true thou know'st in conscience Thou sure woldst blush if thou hadst but one eie To stand on tearmes with mine omnipotence But sith thine Eies are blind and Iudgement too Thou canst not blush at that thou can'st not doo 10 Thy reasons seeme quoth Fortune strong to such As do but sleightly weigh them but to mee That seeth more then thou at least as much For thou wanst Eyes as well as I to see They are too base to brooke my Trialls Touch For Tyrranny is no true Sou'raigntie And Empire large consistes not of large Partes But in the free subiection of whole Harts 11 Can any King be happy or secure That drawing bodies cleane with-draw the harts Or is it like that Kingdome should endure That is by Hate diuided into Parts And Hate a cruell Prince must needes procure That seekes his weale by all his Subiects smarts The Will is free and will not be constrain'd How ere for it the body may be pain'd 12 As vniuersall as the Vniuerse Extends I graunt thy grand authoritie And that thy Takers more then most peruerse Sicknesse Mischance Disgrace and Destinie Thy tribute take from Man Beast tame or fierce To fill thy still-consuming Treasurie But their vntimely taking with high hand Makes thy rule odious on Sea and Land 13 Such Officers in each craz'd common-weale That vnder colour of their Offices Do with the Sou'raignes fauour badly deale Great Mischiefs cause Inconueniences Which though they touch the Subiects kings do feele Who often smart for suffring that disease When Princes tend their priuate and neglect The common good they cause this sore effect 14 But ballance on the other side my might In th' vpright Scholes of true Indiffrencie And thou shalt find I haue their heart and spright Freely obaying mine authoritie For thou compellest but I do inuite I Fauors giue whose vse thou dost deny I do promote all those that rise to mee But thou subuertest those that fall to thee 15 Then though that vniuersall be thy powre Thinke not therefore Loue must to thee be such For Wit and Courage may high place procure But Loue and Bountie ampler powre by much Then of my currant Cause I am so sure That I dare rubbe it hard on Trialls Touch And for my part to end this Ciuile Warre I le put it to iudicious Iupiter 16 Although I iustly may quoth Death deny To put a question without question Vnto the Iudgement of selfe-Equity For so I hold iust Iupiter alone Yet not affecting Singularitie I le make him Iudge in this Contention Now Fortune proue thy powre as I will mine And then let Iupiter iudge both in fine 17 So when they were to play this masters Prize Entred this round worlds spatious Theater Fortune adorn'd her selfe with Dignities With Gold Iems which made All follow her These did she fall to make her followers rise To gather which they did themselues bestirre Keisars and Kings that vsherd her the way Oft caught much more then they could beare away 18 Here might you see like Beggars at a dole Some throng'd to death in scaÌ„bling for her almes He oft sped best that was the veriest foole Some tooke vp Come some Crownes and others Palms For which they pull'd each other by the Pole While othersome for theÌ„ found precious Balms Some found odde ends to make their States intire And all found some thing that they did desire 19 But that which was most notable to see Was the poore Priest who still came lagging last As if God wot he car'd not rich to bee To whom kinde Fortune Liuings large did cast As t' were to guerdon his humilitie Which in the name of God he still held fast
And still look'd downe to find more if he might For well he found he found well by that sleight 20 Philosophers that gold did still neglect Lookt only but wise-fooles to find their Stone Which toy in truth was nothing in effect But to get all the world to them alone For with that Stone they would pure gold proiect Worth all the world by computation But whiles they sought a Stone so rich and faire They perfect gold but turn'd t'imperfect aire 21 Thus at the heeles of Fortune all attend Whom well shee feëd for attending so On th' other side Death to and fro did wend To seeke one that with him would gladly go But none he found which made him those to end He ouertooke in going to and fro For those which are vnwilling Death to meete He is most willing soonest them to greete 22 Nor could those Officers that him foreranne Sickenesse Mischance Disgrace and Destinie Affect with his affection any Man For none they found that willingly would die Sith all before with fauours Fortune wan And such desir'd to liue eternally For it is death to thinke on Death with such That Fortune makes too merry with too much 23 Throgh Campes Hosts he trauel'd with a trice For soldiers needs must meet deth by their trade At last he came where some were throwing dice Who first a Breach should enter newly made Lord how some chaf'd through Glories auarice For missing that which they wold not haue had And he that wan to lose his life did striue Yet so as faine he would haue scapt aliue 24 Among the rouing Crew at Sea he sought For one that willing was to go with him Who thogh they valu'd all their liues at nought And oft for trifles ventred life limme Yet when their woorthlesse bloods were to bee bought They sold them deerely and in blood did swim From bloody death as long as they could moue For thogh they fear'd not death they life did loue 25 Through the Turkes Gallies 'mong the Slaues he went To seek some desp'rat slaue that loÌ„g'd to die But loe not one to die would yeeld consent For all through hope still lookt for libertie Hope doth the hart enlarge that Griefe forespent And Faith keepes Hope and Life in charitie Dispaire can neuer seize that hopefull hart That can through Faith endure an hell of smart 26 At last he to a Monasterie came Where mortified life is most profess'd And sought for one to meete him in the same But all therein from sodaine death them blest And praâ—'d to Iesus so their liues to frame That sodainely Death might not them arrest A Pater noster Aue and a Creede They thought right wel bestow'd so wel to speed 27 Thence went he to an holie Ancrets Cell Who seem'd to be quite buried there aliue He Death embrac'd but yet the feare of Hell Made him with Death for life in loue to striue He knew himselfe old Fox perhappes too well Strait to presume that God would him forgiue So was most willing and vnwilling too To do as present Death would haue him doo 28 In fine Death doubting in his Cause to faile Intreated Sickenesse such an one to finde That wold not flinch thogh Deth did him assaile And scorn'd the fauors of that Godddesse blinde So Sickenes went throgh many a lothsome Iaile And found at last one mortified in minde Who though he were but poore yet held it vaine To follow Fortune that did him disdaine 29 On whom seiz'd Sickenesse with resistlesse force And pull'd him downe so low he could not stand To whom Death came to make his corps a Corse Yet as his friend first shak'd him by the hand And by perswasions would him faine enforce With willing minde to be at his command Which if he would Death promis'd faithfully He should die sleeping or most easily 30 This forlorne wrech thaÌ„kt death for his good wil But yet desird one happy howre to liue Which ended he would Deaths desire fulfill Who from him with a Purge did Sicknesse driue Which shortly did one of his Kinred kill From whome as heire he did some wealth receiue And being well in state of health and wealth He followed Fortune more theÌ„ Death by stealth 31 Now hee betooke him to a Furriers Trade And hauing Stock hee multiplide his Store Then Death did mind him of the match he made But him hee answer'd as hee did before Quoth he O marre me not ere I am made But let me get kind Death a little more ConteÌ„te quoth Death thou shalt haue thy desire So I may haue thereby what I require 32 Sables and Ermines Death for him did kill And made his wealth thereby by heapes increase Who hauing now death thoght the world at will He asked him if now he would decease Who yet desired life of Dearh to fill His coffers to the top theÌ„ would he cease Death yet seem'd pleas'd and brought all those to nought Th'reuersions of whose States he erst had bought 33 Then when he had a world of wealth obtain'd Death came againe for his consent to die But now he told Death his mind more was pain'd With thought and care then erst in pouertie Therefore he prai'd his death might be refrain'd Till he had gotten some Nobilitie And then he would go willingly with Death And nobly yeelde to him his deerest breath 34 Death yet agreed sith his good will he sought And gaue him leaue to compasse his intent Who of a noble-man decayed bought Both Land Lordship Honor House Rent Then Hee turn'd Courtier and with Courtiers wroght By Deaths assistance with mony lent That he in time became a mightie King And al his Proiects to effect did bring 35 Then Death not doubting of his will to die Vnto him came to know his will therein But he did Death intreate most earnestly That sith to him he had so gracious bin He yet might gaine imperiall Dignitie Before his Death which soone he hop'd to win And then he would most willingly resigne His life to Death although a life diuine 36 Death hoping that the greater he was made The greater glorie he by him should gaine Which might the vmpire Iupiter perswade That Death in powre was Fortunes Soueraigne Made neighbour Kings each other to inuade To whom this King a Neuter did remaine Who wheÌ„ they had by wars themselues consum'd He all their States as Emperour assum'd 37 Now being Caesar Death came strait to him As most assured of his company But to the Emperour he seem'd more grim Then erst he did which made him loath to die Come on quoth Deth therwith held a limme No oddes there must be now twixt you and I To Ioue I le bring you then with goodwill go To him with me and see you tell him so 38 Alas said hee I am but newly come To honors height and