Curtezan Did make Caraxus spend his whole estate And so through want of meanes turne Pirate than Whereby he aid incurre a mortall hate And on himselfe a lasting scandall brought So hath my luxury consum'd to nothing Rich heires and made them steale for meat and clothing 24. How many men have perisht by my fault And how am I made guiltie of their sinne Can I be ever sound that thus doe halt And by my winding plots and cunning ginne Intrap't the simple and ensnar'd them in Can I a ransome pay for this offence Or e'r be able to make recompence 25. Oh noe I cannot for beside my owne Other mens guilt lies heavie on my soule I have not beene content to sinne alone But caused others to make mine more foule And in their filihinesse did likewise rowle Their follies with mine owne I did conjoine And by commixtion made their vices mine 26. I was as common as the Proetides Receiving all that came with joy and mirth I thought on nothing but my owne delights Thinking there was no other heaven but earth Ah wicked wretch as e'r received birth My spotted life hath made me sathans denne Fuller of fiends then Mary Magdalene 27. Her sinnes I doe commit but want her sorrow Of all the ill she had I am possest I get the bad the good I cannot borrow I have her vices all but want the rest Her worst acts I embrace but leave the best My Saviours feete I wash not with my teares Nor with her doe I wipe them with my haires 28. I want the gifts of grace that she had given And her repentance my hard heart to move I cannot apprehend the joies of heaven Nor love my Saviour with her ardent love My hearts desire with hers flies not above I feele no spirituall comfort in my soule Nor can I thoroughly my state condole 29. All will be ready to report my shame And blaze my infamie in everie eare But none will pleade my cause to quit my blame Or for my sorrow that will shed a teare Or else excuse my fault when they it heare Indeed they cannot for my foule abuse Is farre beyond the reach of an excuse 30. How then shall I finde comfort in my griefe Or drive sad desperation from my heart My selfe unto my selfe yeelds no reliefe And other men no comfort will impart But rather adde more torment to my smart If thou shouldst leave me too in my distresse Then must I die in all my wickednesse 31. Oh teach me truely to lament my sinne And humble my proud heart by low submission Rowse me out of the sleepe that I am in That of my state I may have true cognition And make my peace with God by my contrition Instruct me in the perfect way of prayer Lest I fall headlong into deepe despaire 32. Helpe me to pray to God that he would showre Into my heart the graces of his Spirit That through his mercy and his saving power I may escape the guerdon of my merit And after life his heavenly blesse inherit Teach me to pray teach me sweete friend I say For I have almost quite forgot to pray 33. My heart is willing oh my heart is willing I feele my conscience terrified by sinne Oh by my teares by these my teares downe trilling Lift up thy heart with mine come come begin Lord ope my brest that grace may enter in Rowse my dead heart out of his drowsie den Pardon my faults sweete Iesus say Amen 34. Then from her eyes the teares did gush apace And downe she fell upon her bended knees Wringing her hands she did lament her case With sighes expressing her soules miseries In forcible and strong Hiperbolees My sinnes my sinnes she cries with heav'd-up-hands Are more in number then the Starres or Sands 35. Then beating of her brest in wofull wise With high swolne sobs and heavie heart-sicke grones Now woe is me now woe is me she cries My stinking sinnes lie boiling in my bones And kils my soule as Bees are starv'd by drones And whilst like furies round about they hem me As a just Iudge my conscience doth condemne me 36. Listen oh listen to my sad complaint I have no friend to moane to but to thee I need not with my follies thee acquaint Thou know'st my steps how retrograde they be And how my vices have overwhelmed me Pity my case and my sad state condole And adde some comfort to my sicke-growne soule 37. Be thou my Pharos to direct me home Vnto the harbour of my heavenly rest Without a helpe to guide me I shall roame And get a curse in seeking to be blest Good counsell to a soule that is distrest Comes in fit season and doth comfort bring To a sad heart that 's full of sorrowing 38. My Parents have forsooke me long agoe Detesting the vile course that I have led Brothers and sisters neither will me know My neere alliance wish that I were dead My friends that sometime were from me are fled My Parents Brothers Sisters Kindred Friends My very name their modest eares offends 39. All have forsaken me to let me perish And sinke my soule into the Stygian deepe Denying any comfort me to cherish But in sinnes cradle suffering me to sleepe That thence I have no heart at all to peepe But snorting in a dead security I want the sence of my impuritie 40. Nor have I hoarded treasure for my issue But brav'd it out in Iewels and in Gold In rich Embroider'd Silkes and cloth of Tissue And when t was bought it was not long unsold I thought not how to live when I was old But chang'd and pawn'd for to maintaine my pride And for the present onely did provide 41. For all the money that I have obtain'd And golden fees by playing of the Whore Vnto my selfe no riches have I gain'd But all is quite consum'd and I left poore Onely my wearing clothes and nothing more Sinnes golden gaines I see long will not last Suddenlie got as suddenlie doe wast 42. For as a Mill that 's set upon a river Purposelie ' built t' indure both winde and wether By force of a strong current for to drive her Receives all Corne to grinde that is brought thither And all the Countrey neere is served with her Some bringing to her others sent abroad And all of them deliver there their load 43. She shifts her worke and serves the turnes of all And everie one paies tribute for her paine Some giving single and some double toll Herselfe thereby not onely doth maintaine And keepe her in repare by such her gaine But to the Miller that doth keepe the Mill Supplies his wants and doth releeve him still 44. The like did I for by my commontrade From everie one that came I had a share And by that custome a rich living made And therewith kept my selfe in good repare And so maintain'd my clothing and my fare And what beside I did lay up in store My friends that kept
moves me to discover My will to thee then freely read it over 2. But looke not here for pleasant tales of love Nor sycophanticke speech to please thy sence No lines encomiasticke thee to move Nor oyly words of guilded eloquence My humble Muse avoyds such eminence I doe not strive to please thee yet well know I am a friend of thine and not a foe 3. My purpose is to call thee to account How thou hast wasted thy fore passed time Whether thy vertue doth thy vice surmount And how thou conquer'st passion in thy prime I must examine it in this my rime Nay start not backe nor throw it now away Thy word stands good against me thou must stay 4. Thou art arrayned and indicted here Of many impious and vile offences Vse thy best policy thy selfe to cleere They are not vaine surmises nor pretences But direct proofes apparant inferences What sayes thy conscience to it dar'st thou pleade Not guilty so thy doome to supersede 5. No no thou canst not it is too apparant The tincture that remaines upon thy name Is rooted in the marrow ther 's no warrant Can shroud thee from an ignominious shame Reproach and infamy doth blast thy fame And such a scandall hangs upon thy head As wall not be by time abolished 6. For know Amanda to thy griefe even I Have pri'd into thy secret passages And have observed with a watchfull eye Such as to thee come with Embassages And understood their private messages I know their suits and whereunto they tend And see destruction wait upon the end 7. I well perceive what thy companions are Rough roaring roysters young untamed fellowes Gallants from Court and Captaines from the warre These to thy fire of lust doe blow the bellowes Of such men I have reason to be jealous To thy bed chamber they have free accesse And revell there in beastly wantonnesse 8. Th' acquaintance that thou hast are whores bawds God dammees drunkards cheaters swearers thieves Young bold fac't Queanes and old fore-ridden Iades Such company as those thy want relieves These are thy mates thou hang'st upon their sleeves And then besides thou alwaies hast in store Thy Patronesse a Bawd thy Mayd a Whore 9. Thou think'st thou art not bad enough unlesse Thou dost invoke on God to sinke and damne thee Nor that thou canst sufficiently transgresse Because no wickednesse at all will shame thee It is thy praise thou think'st and none can blame thee To tip thy tongue with fearefull three-pil'd oathes And that they grace thee better than thy clothes 10. Familiarly thou swear'st by life and death By flesh bloud wounds heart foote and soule of God Three or foure severall times within a breath Carelesse and almost fearelesse of his rod. As if thy life would have no period It is thy grace and glory for to rore And use strange oathes unheard of heretofore 11. Hath God forbid to take his Name in vaine And thee commanded that thou shalt not sweare Dost thou despaire of mercy as did Cain That nothing will constraine thee to forbeare Hast thou within thee neyther love nor feare The reines that thou dost give unto thy will Makes thee runne headlong unto all that 's ill 12. Oh that one sinne should get another thus And thy foule lust to be the cause of all Thy oathes and actions are so odious They daily doe to Heaven for vengeance call Prevent it then in time before it fall Make peace with God before it be too late Prevent his wrath thy sinnes abominate 13. I have observ'd the wicked course thou lead'st And know the places thou doest use to haunt I see the path wherein thou dayly tread'st I heare thee proudly honest vertue taunt And of thy base and wicked actions vaunt I see the little feare of God thou hast At no time sorry for thy follies past 14. This doe I know and see it with mine eyes It is not blaz'd unto me by report I see thy Minion come in a disguise And his kinde welcome hugging of him for 't And whilst he staies debarring all resort You as neere match'd and undistinguish't twins Wallow in filthy pooles of stinking sinnes 15. I see thy wanton thy unseemely carriage And loose behaviour unto every commer More bold then wert thou links to them in marriage Spending thy youth and vigour of thy summer Sometimes with common Souldiers or a Drummer Nay if thy lust but once begin to burne A Dray man or a Porter serves thy turne 16. I see it and it makes me tell thee thus Thou art unchast alas a word too milde Thou art a strumpet and more odious Then Furies or Hobgoblins to a childe Thou art too tame by being too too wilde Thou art a Harlot or if it be more Thou art a shamelesse and a bold-fac'd Whore 17. Did not I tempt thee minding for to try And sound the depth of thy too loose condition Remember well didst thou not answer I When as that answer strooke in me contrition Sorry to see so ready a submission And no repulse at all but giving fire Vnto the fuell of a hot desire 18. I durst not thee condemne without a tryall Knowing the great uncertainety of fame I thought perchance I might have had deniall Although I greatly did not doubt the same But rather feared thou wert voide of shame And now thou hast confirmed my suspition By manifesting thy too base condition 19. This was the marke at which I level'd first And the chiefe cause to satisfie my minde Though knowing nought I did suspect the worst Conjecturing which way thou wert inclinde And now as I supposde I truely finde Here therefore I my chiefest force will bend And put in practise what I did intend 20. I thought within my selfe that if I could Worke into thy acquaintance for to know Thy secret disposition then I would Finding the same as I imagin'd tho And as I did conjecture to be so Vse the best art and policy I might To make thee a reformed convertite 21. For when I first beheld that face of thine I could not but commend the workes of nature A looke so pleasing as it were divine Of a well fashion'd and a comely feature I thought thou wert an admirable creature Adorn'd with such a presence that I saw It well deserved reverence and awe 22. O Lord thought I what pity is 't that thou And those sweete beauties should be put to sale Why should they unto every peasant bow Till they are worne out or waxed stale And their fresh colour turn'd into a pale I st not a misery that such a woman Should as a thing of nought be usde in common 23. In pity therefore of thy wretched state And meerely in compassion of that face I vow'd my best thy life to renovate And see if in thy brest there were a place That would give entertainement unto grace For doubtlesse in my heart I should condole The losse of such a body and a soule 34.
of straw 180. Where being full of aches sores and biles Thy beauty turned to a tawny hue And that consum'd which was so faire ere whiles Vnknowne of those that thee but lately knew As a just vengeance to thy merits due Breathest thy last beneath some open stall Or di'st diseased in an Hospitall 181. There lies thy pompe and glory in the dust Thy body cloth'd with rags and all too torne Thy flesh comsum'd and wasted by thy lust Loathed condemn'd disdain'd and held in scorne Not one of all thy friends for thee will mourne Nor hardly thinke thee worthy for to have To hide thy stinking corps a simple grave 182. Loe here Amanda view thy selfe at large Behold thy life and after that thy death Peruse each line and letter I thee charge Let it not be forgotten in a breath To thy best thoughts I doe the same bequeath Advisedly consider of the matter I tell thee what is true and scorne to flatter 183. And if it take effect as I desire And breede a sorrow for thy time mispent If it shall cause thee from thy course retire And be a meanes to make thy heart relent And be reform'd by my admonishment Assure thy selfe that thou hast gain'd a friend That shall not faile thee till his life doth end 184. For my sake therefore I adjure thee here To turne thy course and bend another way For thy friends sake to whom thou shouldst be deere Come home unto thy selfe and doe not stay For thine owne sake I charge thee to obey And in compassion of that soule of thine Live not in darknesse when the sunne doth shine 185. Pity thy yeeres that are but young and tender Pity thy fathers care thy mothers love For thy sad kindreds sorrow pity render Let thy acquaintance some compassion move Looke not still downe but raise thy thoughts above If no thing else prevaile let feare of God Worke thy conversion and his threatning rod. 186. Strive to regaine the honour thou hast lost And seeke thy ruin'd credit to repaire Thy conscience is benum'd with follies frost Let thy warme teares of sorrow thaw the ayre That chils thy heart with nipping cold despaire And so dissolve thy crusty yce of sinne That hot repentance may let mercy in 187. Redeeme the time that thou hast spent in vaine And persue honour as thou followd'st vice Although unwilling yet thy selfe constraine Against thy will to vertue be not nice Tire not in acting goodnesse twice or thrice But persevere from one unto another As happy daughter of a blessed mother 188. And when thou hast this little Pamphlet read And seene the scope whereto these lines doe tend Let them not passe an hower out of thy head Vntill thy sorrow make thy life amend And worke a reformation in the end Doe not oh doe not put them from thy heart But to thy sickly soule some helpe impart 189. Then shall my prayers flie aloft with thine And my desires seeke earnestly thy blisse Thy happinesse shall be to me as mine Thy godly sorrow for thy life amisse Shall breed such joy as none shall be like this The comfort that thy soule shall thereby taste Shall be a Crowne of glory at the last 190. In hope therefore of this my good successe And of a happy welcome to these lines Wishing thou mayst thy wicked lusts suppresse I leave thee unto him whose grace refines Praying his blessing unto these designes Heavens grant thee that which none on earth can give A life prepar'd to die a death to live When I had written these lines I made them up in a little booke and by a friend which I had sent them unto her lodging with a letter likewise to be delivered unto her both which my friend presented to her owne hands and she receiving of them thankfully read over the letter presently in his sight and told him that so soone as she had perused the booke which should not be long she would send her answer unto me and so my friend taking a courteous farewell left her and returned telling me of the kinde welcome both of the letter and the booke which I was glad to heare of and therefore hoped in a short time to receive her answer which I did wish might be according as I both expected and desired I wayted for her answer about ten daies and not hearing from her well knowing in that time she might at her leisure have read it over I began to wonder what the reason should be imagining that eyther she was loath to bestow so much paynes as to reade it or else having read it she was offended at it and being willing to be satisfied herein yet unwilling that she should take any notice of my desire I sent another friend not to her lodging but neere unto it to the end that I might be assured whether she still continued there or whether she were removed to any other place my friend taking occasion secretly to enquire of her understood by one of the neighbours that she kept her old lodging and that she had lately beene very sicke and was not then recovered Of which her sicknes when I understood I was in some hope that she had considered seriously on the contents of the booke and that it had wrought so farre with her that she had layd the same to her heart and was thereby drawne to a strict examination of her owne life which might be the meanes of troubling her conscience so farre as that it might breede a distemper in her body and so be the cause of impayring her health desirous therefore to understand how she digested it whether there were any other cause of her disease I sent my friend to her lodging to see how she did not taking any notice that I had knowne of her sicknesse and withall to excuse my not comming unto her all that time whither when he came he was willingly conducted into her chamber where she then lay in her bed and delivering his message unto her she told him that she had beene very ill and wonderfull desirous to see me and entreated him to signifie so much unto me and that she was minded to send a messenger unto me but that by reason of her sicknesse she knew not how conveniently to doe it not speaking one word unto him concerning the booke My friend not staying long with her and promisig to acquaint me with her desire departed and telling me what her request was and in vvhat case he found her I resolved vvithin fevv daies to visit her and accordingly within a day or two after I came unto her chamber where being entred I found her sitting in her chaire by the fire and weeping exceedingly I comming in so suddenly and she turning her head espying of me presently leapt out of her chaire and comming towards me tooke me by the hand and looking earnestly in my face she began to speake to me to this effect the substance whereof for memory sake I
have set downe in verse as followeth viz. The penitentiall answer of the reformed Amanda 1. OH thou that art the onely man alive Which with these eyes I did desire to see Thou thou for whom my heart shall alwaies strive To gratulate the kindnesse showne by thee Welcome a thousand thousand times to me With that the teares gusht from her eyes apace And silence staid her tongue a little space 2. Then breaking forth in words againe she said Come deerest friend and sit thee downe by me Thy presence makes me joy and well appaid I have great matters to reveale to thee Such as till now I thought would never be Then rising from her seate she lockt the dore And came and sat downe by me as before 3. And fixing earnestly her eye upon me In a still silent manner she lookt on me And saie as if she had beene in a trance At length her milke white hand she did advance And then the same within my hand she laide Whilest with a ruthfull voice these words she said 4. I have perus'd each letter in thy Booke And carefully considered every line I did advisedly the same overlooke Applying of it to this heart of mine Which is awakened by those words of thine And thereby doe I understand aright My much lamented state and wretched plight 5. I see the scope whereto thy thoughts doe tend And understand the marke at which thou aim'st I finde thou art unto my soule a friend And through thy love thereto such right thou claim'st That thou wouldst save it though my life thou blam'st Oh such a friend how can I truely prize With that the teares downe trickled from her eyes 6. But doe not thinke quoth she that thou hast wrought On a remorselesse stone or senselesse stocke Let it not enter once into thy thought That thou hast beate an Adamantine rocke But unto me hast beene as Peters Cocke Checking my sinfull life that I might know The path was ill which I had traced so 7. Thou hast depainted here unto the life The miserablest creature ever breath'd A female wretch unfit to make a wife Shame to the sex one of all good bereau'd That hath all mischiefe in her heart conceav'd That nought but ougly sinnes about her beares A foule offence unto all modest eares 8. Thou hast before me laid what e'r is ill Murther lust thiefdome drunkennesse and pride All these with free consent and willing will I have embrac'd and none of them deni'd With many other fearefull sinnes beside Thou plainly hast discover'd unto me And made me see what erst I could not see 9. How blinde was I that knew not this before And yet I know I knew it too too well But wanted that true knowledge evermore That should unto my seared conscience tell That I was running downe the hall to hell Thou hast wide open set my hood-winkt eyes And made me see the divels fallacies 10. Thou hast made knowne to me the short content And fleeting comfort of a fading pleasure The miseries that waite on merriment Though they looke Gold-like yet they are not treasure A sudden joy that brings forth griefe at leasure A gilded Pill where poison lieth under A lightning flash before a clap of thunder 11. Nor hast thou lost the labour that thou took'st But brought thy paines unto a perfect end Thou hast obtain'd the thing for which thou look'st And as thou hast exprest thy selfe a friend Beyond all friendship and thy love doth tend To so much good as for to save a soule Teach me at full my follies to condole 12. For loe my heart is like to breake with sorrow For my lost time and for my life misled Well could I wish to die before too morrow And happie should I be if I were dead Since all true comfort from my heart is fled But that my conscience tels me presently I am not yet prepared for to die 13. For my sad soule that is of sable hue Stain'd with the spots of millions of sinne Must with a floud of teares be washt anew My hardned heart to melt must first begin And let a true repentance enter in Before I can expect or hope to have Comfort from him that di'd my soule to save 14. Oh leave me not in this my great distresse For feare I yeeld to desperation My sinfull heart doth feele such heavinesse And in it selfe such perturbation That I am voide of consolation Ready to sinke into the deepe abisse Of hels blacke gulfe where nought but horror is 15. Put forth thy helping hand to save me then And keepe me from the hazard I am in Thou brought'st me downe now raise me up agen And heale the sore that festred is by sinne Cure a sicke soule by wholesome medicine Purge the malignant humours which doe feede The swelling vice that in my heart doth breede 16. I must confesse I swim'd in lawlesse pleasure And gave large reines unto my boundlesse lust I dranke all vices in an equall measure And let religion in my heart to rust And suffer'd on my conscience such a crust That no remorse or sorrow for my sinne Could have admittance or once enter in 17. A Taverne was the Temple I did use A Stage the market where I bought and sold The Cloyster that I liv'd in was a stewes My Chamber the Exchange my trade t' uphold There did I trafique and contract for gold My ghostly father was a Galenist My Clarke a Pimpe a Pander was my Priest 18. I offer'd Holocausts on Venus Altar And burned Incense to the god of Love My Praier booke Astianassa's Psalter My Mattins were to Aphrodite above My Vespers would not Amarusia move Nor actions for a chaste Zenocrite But sitter for a wanton Chione 19. T was I that dranke iniquity like water And with the sow did wallow in the mire I sported like Adultus wanton daughter And let my selfe for money out to hire I was a bargaine fit for any buyer For Silver to mechanickes I was sold But with the Nobler sort I dealt for gold 20. I caus'd the usurer to empt his bags And made those fooles that were esteemed wise I shifted gallants from their robes to rags And chang'd their plush into a Countrey frize And by my cunning crafty policies I did allure the modest and the chaste Of Cytheraean dainties for to taste 21. All sorts all ages all degrees of men I could apply my selfe to please their pallet To Lords to Gentry to the Citizen I could prepare my selfe a dainty sallet Or to the begger that doth beare the wallet And like unto Theramines his shoe That fitted each mans foote so could I doe 22. Let a new lover take what shape he would As Neptune to Bisaltis like a Ramme As Jove to Danae in a showre of Gold Or to Aegina in a fiery flame Or like a Swan as he to Leda came Or to Europa in a Bulls true shape He hardly could my wily snares escape 23. As Rhodope the Thracian
me had it evermore 45. For many came themselves and brought their fee Whereby I had great trafique and great gaine A nurse I had to fetch some home to me They likewise would well pay me for my paine If one suffiz'd not I could send forth twaine And what I got from many one by one I spent upon my secret friend alone 46. Him did I feede with money and with diet With all thing needfull that he wanted nothing My Luxurie maintain'd his beastly riot Pawning my owne to buy him change of clothing To cure his wants no filthy actions loathing What e'r by sinne I got to him I sent it And he no sooner had it but he spent it 47. Thus did I alwaies gaine to keepe me poore Still living bad to make another ill And to maintaine a knave I plaide the whore And suffer'd want that he might have his fill Killing my selfe another for to kill Sinne in my selfe sinne foster'd in another A wicked issue of a wicked mother 48. Since then my deerest friend I did expose My selfe to infamy and foule excesse Yet thereby nothing got but still did lose And heape up sinnes not feeling my distresse Till thou hast made me know my wretchednesse Loe I accuse mislike condole repent My selfe my fault my state my life mispent 49. Here take my clothes and sell them all away They are not for my wearing any more My Silkes and Sattins change for simple say Rich costly garments sute not with a Whore A proud-swolne heart becometh not the poore Those Iewels that I have and rings of gold Receive them here and let them all be sold. 50. What shall I doe with rich Tuftafaties Wrought Velvets Damaskes Grogerams and Plush Set forth with Lace and rare Embroyderies My Purples and my Scarlets make me blush My Musfes and Fannes I doe not wey a rush My fine Bonelaces and my dainty Purles My Needle-workes my Bracelets and my Curles 51. Take them sweete friend and set them all to sale My Earings Pendents and my chaines of Pearles My Rubies Saphires and my Diamonds all They are for Ladies and for wives of Earles Not sit for Strumpets and for light heel'd girles My dainty Linnen Cambrickes and my Lawnes Sell them away and put them off for Pawnes 52. Riste my Chests my Boxes and my Trunkes Seize all the goods within them thou shalt finde Such things as those are farre unmeete for Punkes They suite not any longer with my minde Let them to better uses be assign'd Rich Iewels gorgeous clothes and garments fine Pit not a body so defil'd as mine 73. Take them away remove them from my sight And put them off to any that will buy Then to the poore distribute every mite They doe deserve it better farre then I To them I doe bequeath it willingly Riches unjustly got from other men Distribute them to strangers backe agen 54. And laying all these costlie robes aside Procure for me some discontented blacke A plaine sad Gowne my nakednesse to hide That their appeare not lightnesse on my backe That gidly vanitie may goe to wracke Or as a fitter habit for my sinne A frocke of haire to clothe my carcase in 55. And let me henceforth take my leave of mirth As the unfittest subject of my minde Let not rejoycing in my heart have birth Vntill a spirituall gladnesse I doe finde And heavenly light of grace in me hath shin'd Let sollies hatred and sinnes discontent Adde to my soule a ghostly merrimem 56. Helpe me oh helpe me to some holy booke To stirre my heart up to devotion Get me a Bible I therein may looke That Gods good Spirit in me may have motion And of his holy Word I may have notion And by the apprehending of the Deity Be stirred to the practice of true piety 57. Bring me acquainted with some good divine That may direct me in the path to heaven And search this dull and unsound heart of mine Lest I let all things goe at sixe and seven And backeward fall sowr'd with dissembling Leaven One that will well informe me in the right And trie me lest I play the Hypocrite 58. Conduct me to the Temple of the Lord Where I some powerfull Minister may heare That may unfold to me his sacred Word And thunder out his threatnings to mine eare And make his judgments unto me appeare And bringing me to see my wicked error Gods mercy may embrace me after terror 59. Get me a lodging in some private place Where I may harbour with some modest wife That my acquaintance may not see my face Where I may lead a quiet civill life Voide of all anger infamy and strife That by contemning whatsoe'r is evill I may avoide the allurements of the divell 60. Or else direct me to some Countriie grange The City is too full of base temptation That I may both my heart and habit change And in a lonely private habitation Persue with constancy this alteration And weyning of my selfe from worldly pleasure By sudden leaving sinne grow good at leasure 61. Looke to my steppes and let thy watchfull eye Have a regard unto my future course I dare not trust my selfe lest presently The power of sinne doe conquer me by force And by backesliding make me worse and worse Let thy especiall care for my soules good Be still applying to me heavenly foode 62. For though I now resolve with constant heart Never to take that wicked course againe And that the sence of sinne doth breed a smart In my sad soule now thinking to refraine From the blacke die that will my conscience staine Yet still I feare and feare it most of all Lest I againe into those follies fall 63. I know the divell hath a thousand baites To catch me in the compasse of his Net I know he deales by counterfeits and sleights And for my soule faire seeming shewes doth set Till me intangled in his snares he get I know his art and cunning pollicies And that doth make me feare his fallacies 64. Thou hast begun to manifest thy love In striving to reclame me from my follie Let it not die but whilst I live and move Persue therein and let thy care be wholy To guide me in the path of vertue soly Helpe to confirme me in my weake desires That my small sparkes of zeale may grow to fires 65. Helpe me to pray to God to grant me grace To persevere in this my reformation That I may now repent whilst I have space Craving his spirit of regeneration And of my sinnes beginning retractation A willing heart I have to turne to heaven Pray for me then that grace to me be given 66. And I will pray uncessantly that God Would powre into my heart his holy Spirit That sinne in me may have a period And I his heavenly Kingdome may inherit And so receive his mercie not my merit Lord heare my praier cleanse me from my sinne Open my heart that grace may enter in 67. This said she held
shall injure thee 89. This said we both together left the roome And I conducted her along the street Vntill I brought her to my Mothers home Whereas at doore my Sister did her meete And then my Mother did her kindly greete And entertain'd her in most courteous wise As either of them could in heart devise 90. Then did Amanda live and spend her time In holy duties reading and in prayer With griefe lamenting her fore-passed crime Till she was even brought unto the staire Through horror of her sinn of blacke despaire But of Gods speciall grace he did impart The joy of his good Spirit to her heart 91. For many good Divines did flocke unto her Applying godly comforts to her soule And greatly striving their best good to doe her Taught her so well her follies to condole And mortifie her sinnes erewhile so foule That they at length by daily information Wrought in her a good hope of her salvation 92. Then with more comfort would she pray and talke Yet pensive still of sinne she would complaine Forth of the house she seldome times would walke Vnlesse it were to Church and backe againe If she were well she would not thence abstaine Sermons and Service she did oft frequent And to no place as Church so gladly went 93. There would she listen with her best attention And pray as earnestly as any prai'd Avoiding sinne by diligent prevention And workes with faith to couple she assai'd Desires of pleasure were in her decai'd The onely path in which she striv'd to trace Was to repent for sinne and pray for grace 94. Oh how she loath'd the very name of whore And all that led a wicked wanton life Their sinfull courses she did much deplore The unmarried wench the widow and the wife As she knew many in those actions rise So she endeavour'd moving them by letter For to reclaime them and to make them better 95. No roaring youngster came within her sight Nor lustfull Prodigall did see her face Her secret friend that was her sole delight Was now forsaken and quite out of grace Whereas she lay he must not know the place Nor he nor any now must looke upon her That had before attempted her dishonour 96. Thus did she leade her life unto her death Dying to sinne and living unto grace To goodnesse wholly she did her bequeath She tooke no pleasure in her comely face Nor any evill motion did embrace But spent her time in holy contemplation To beate downe sin shame the worlds temptation 97. Two yeeres she liv'd in sound and perfect health The most reformed creature on the earth She had not much and yet desir'd no wealth Humble she was as one of meanest birth And more inclin'd to sadnesse then to mirth Vaine pratling and much talking she despises Delighting most in pious exercises 98. She did no company at all admit But modest vertuous and of good report To talke of Plaies she would not heare of it She tooke no joy in any kinde of sport Meetings at Tavernes now she car'd not for t She did not seeke for to augment her store And what she had to give she gave the poore 99. She did abandon every earthly pleasure Delighting onely in religious bookes Her godly zeale did make the heavens her treasure From thence alone she for her comfort lookes Her studie was to shun the divels hookes And all her hopes on which she did depend Was on Christs merits at her latter end 100. After two yeeres that she had lived thus She fell through griefe into a heckticke feaver The which at length did grow so dangerous That of all hopes of health it did bereave her And never left her till her life did leave her Weaker and weaker still she pin'd away And saw how nature in her did decay 101. She knew her thred of life was almost spun And with great patience tooke her visitation She did rejoyce her life so neere was done Being acquainted long with tribulation And now her heart with heavenly consolation Was so replenisht and with such delight She would not longer live if that she might 102. Her griefe grew stronger still as she grew weake Hasting apace to bring her to her end At length she did desire with me to speake Where at her bed I straight way did attend Then reaching me her hand she said my friend My onely friend thy love through heavens grace Hath-sav'd the sinfull'st soule that ever was 103. The booke thou sent'st that little Paper booke Wherein thou did'st unmask my foule offence Behold and see what true effect it tooke That booke I say did worke in me the sence Of my owne follie and my impudence I blesse the time for this thy blessed favour And blesse the Lord that blest thy good endeavour 104. And here my latest thankes to thee I give And with these thankes of mine this little Ring My houre is come I can no longer live Wear 't for my sake although a worthlesse thing I cannot recompence thy meriting My tongue doth faile goe toule the passing bell A thousand times sweet friend farewell farewell 105. This said she drew her hand into the bed The time approaching of her latest 〈◊〉 Then turning up her eyes to heav'n she sed Lord to thy hands I doe my spirit commend Then to the wall her body did she bend And with a feeble voice againe she cri'd Iesus receive my soule so she did 106. And so she did so she di'd to live And living as she did she sweetely di'd Her death to her a lasting life did give Her life before her death was mortisi'd And at her death her life beatifi'd Death vanquisht life concluding of her paine Shee liv'd to die and di'd to live againe FINIS A Meditation upon Death NOthing more wisht then wealth yet that must leave us Nothing more sweete then love that lasts not ever Nothing more kinde then friends yet they l deceive us Nothing more fast then wedlocke yet they sever The world must end all things away must fly Nothing more sure then death for all must dy More honours may be got but they 'l away More beauty may be had but t will not last More wealth may be obtain'd but t will decay More joyes may follow but those soone are past For long continuance t is in vaine to try Nothing more sure then death for all must dy Sure love must dy though rooted in the heart Sure t is that all things earthly are unstable Sure friends are pure friends yet such friends must part Sure t is that all things here are variable Nor two nor one may scape nor thou nor I Nothing more sure then death for all must dy Then let the rich no longer covet wealth Then let the proud vaile his ambitious thought Then let the sound not glory in his health Then let all dy since all must come to nought The elder sish as well as younger fry Nothing more sure then death for all must dy Death tooke away King Herod in his pride Death spar'd not Hercules for all his strength Death strooke great Alexander that he did Death long spar'd Adam yet he di'd at length The begger and the King the low the high Nothing more sure then death for all must dy For Scepters Crownes Emperiall Diadems For all the beauties that on Earth doe live For pleasures treasures jewels costly jems For all the glories that the world can give She will not spare her dart but still replie Nothing more sure then death for all must dy All from the highest to the low'st degree All Nations People Kingdomes Countries Lands All in the Earth or Aire or Sea that be All all must yeeld to her all conquering hands She wounds them all with an impartiall eye Nothing more sure then death for all must dy Must all then dy then all expect their death Must ' all things vanish Sunne and Moone and Starres Must every living creature yeeld his breath Must all things end our joyes delights and cares Yes all with an united voice doe cry Nothing more sure then death for all must dy Dy let us then but let us dy in peace Dy to our sinnes that dying we may live Dy to the world that grace may more increase Dy here to live with him that life doth give Die we must needs let wealth and pleasure ly Nothing more sure then death for all must dy FINIS Nothing More Sure Then Death For All Must Dy.