and at your deaths bequeathing something thereunto Euen so be it and the Lord God Almighty be with you all herein Amen My suit is to euerie Keeper of a prison if they bee no kinne to Master Newman the Gaoler in this discourse that yet they would take acquaintance of him and become better knowne to him That their prisoners may by their vertues and religious care bee betier disposed My request to poore prisoners is to redeeme their time ill spent to call to God for mercie and pardon and to moue them hereunto let them in serious meditation put themselues in minde of these things 1. That their libertie abused God hath by the hand of authoritie taken from them as vnworthy to liue freely in a Common-Wealth 2. That as they neglected and despised spirituall meanes of saluation they are now depriued thereof 3. That as before they delighted onely with wicked companie now are they shut vp one with another together 4. That their ragges are ensignes to them of their ragged conditions 5. That their filth and ver mine telleth them of their filthie conuersation and their many sinnes and corruptions 6. That their want of food is a punishment for such of them as haue abused Gods blessings to gluttony drunkennesse and the fruits thereof wantonnesse and filthy vncleannesse 7. That their prison is as it were a picture of hell to minde them of their end whither they are going if they doe not amend 8. That their expecting of the Assises is an instruction to look for Iesus the Iudge of all the world 9. That their chaines fetters and bolts teach them to consider the nature of their sinnes which hold them bound to answer at the Barre of Gods Iustice 10. That their desire of life by a Psalme of mercie should moue them to desire eternall life through the mercies of God in Iesus Christ who will be gracious to euery true beleeuing penitent which graces poore prisoners God send you and feare onely to die eternally Before I end I haue a suit to all that professe the Law that if in this Allegorie fetched from such termes as be better knowne to them than to my selfe I doe mistake they would be pleased to passe ouer that and make vse with me of the spirituall sense which is the drift of my labour herein And so at the length I take leaue with my prayer to God for the peace of Ierusalem and for a prosperous successe to all that loue the Israel of God with our Countreyes glorie and safetie Amen THE ISLE of MAN OR The Legall proceedings in Man-shire LAMENT 3. 40. Let vs search try our waies THE lamenting Prophet IEREMIE in his daies full of lamentation and mourning seeing and also partaking with others of those miseries which befell the state of the Iewes iustly procured at Gods hands for their sins doth heere giue them aduice what was best to be done that in this their distresse GOD might shew them mercy and that was to repent and turne vnto the LORD to the effecting whereof hee counselleth them 2. things laid downe in my Text. 1. To search out sinne 2. and to put it to triall In the handling whereof I will proceed as heere wee doe against a lewd and wicked Malefactor legally according to the lawes of this Realme The first part of my Text is to Search wee know that when one hath offended the lawes hath committed any felonic murther treason or done any outrage for which hee is to be apprehended hee presently flying hiding himselfe is pursued and sought after diligēt search is made to attach him The Malefactor heere which doth so much harm on euery one euery where without ceasing is Sinne. This is a notable Theefe and Robber daring to set vpon any Hee robbeth God of his honour and man of Gods fauour This Theefe stole from Angels their excellency of glory from our first parents their innocencie This is hee that robbeth vs of our graces the spirituall money which we haue in the purses of our heart to helpe vs in our iourney to heauen This Villaine bereaueth vs of our goods driueth away our cattell spoileth vs of euery temporall blessing of our health our peace our liberty and plenty He it is that vtterly vndoeth vs and maketh our estate miserable that we cannot thriue in any thing Body or Soule This is a Murthering Theefe wheresoeuer hee breaketh in by day or by night there will hee either kill or be killed Man and sinne cannot both liue together Most bloudily cruell hee is for hee will spare none He slayeth the hoarie head and killeth the tender Mother with the new-borne Babe Hee regardeth no person no sex no age of so murtherous a disposition is he and so inhumanely barbarous He is a very strong theefe no human power can subdue him hee taketh man and bindeth him for Iniquitie taketh the wicked and holdeth him with the cords of his owne sinnes He will beare rule where hee commeth all must obey him He will command the Reason reigne ouer the Will and swagger ouer the Affections and leade captiue the whole man and make him seruiceable to his lusts yea and make him spend his whole estate to maintaine him in his lustfull humors whether it be in Pride or Drunkennesse or Gluttony or Idlenesse or Whoredome or whatsoeuer else it is he both must and will haue maintenance else will hee set all on fire for Wickednesse burneth as fire This is an vngratefull and mischieuous Theefe for let any entertaine him and fauour him he will worke their ouerthrow Yea so vile a Villain is he that the more any make of him the worse hee is to them for hee with-holds all good from them hee procureth mischiefes to light vpon them Hee keepeth out Grace from hauing any entertainment Hee smothereth Conscience for speaking hardeneth the Heart for feeling blindeth the Iudgment frō discerning stoppeth the Eare from hearing any good counsell lameth the feet from walking in Gods paths benummeth the Hands from doing duties of Charitie and maketh the Tongue to falter in speaking of holy things Neither yet doth he this onely but he worketh Enmitie betwixt his Fauourite his best friend euen betweene God and his own Conscience And to make vp the height of his Mischiefe the more to strengthen himselfe against his foolish and vnhappie friend hee at vnawares to him letteth in and that into the best room euen the Heart his great and most deadly enemy the Deuill Thus Couetousnes did let him into Iudas heart and set him on work to betray Christ Flatterie let him into the hearts of the false Prophets to deceiue Ahab Carelesnesse lets him in to hinder the fruit of the Word Losse of Gods graces lets him in seuen worse with him to ruine a man vtterly Hypocriticall vain-glory and Couetousnesse did let him into the hearts of Ananias and Saphira for
depart from the liuing God Thou hast beene and art also in confederacie with all and euery euill thought word and deed committed against God and Man Thou hast beene a receptacle of all the abominations of euery Sin whatsoeuer and hast had conference with Satan to lie vnto the holy Ghost and for greedy gaine at the deuils suggestion hast set some on worke to play the Traitors to the shedding of the innocent blood of our Soueraigne contrary to the Peace of the King his Crowne and Dignitie What sayest thou to this Inditement Guilty or not guilty She answers Not guilty and puts her selfe to the Triall Then the Cryer saith If any man can giue Euidence against the Prisoner at the Barre let him come for shee stands vpon her deliuerance then come in such as can say any thing against her and first is Moses Moses what can you say against this prisoner looke vpon her see if you know her My Lord I know her well enough she made me and my brother Aaron to speake so vnaduisedly with our lips by her passion that wee could neither of vs be admitted to goe into the land of Canaan This I can say of her that euery imagination of her thought is onely euill continually and that naught shee hath beene from her youth vp Moses hauing ended then saith the Iudge is there any more To whom answer is made yes my Lord there is Ieremie the Prophet Ieremy the Prophet look vpon the prisoner can you say any thing on the behalfe of his Maiestie My Lord this I can say that shee is deceitfull aboue all things and desperatly wicked so that no man without Gods speciall assistance can either finde out her deuices or escape her treacheries And this moreouer I know that she hath been sent vnto and forewarned to wash her selfe of her wickednesse and yet for all this she doth lodge still ill thoughts in her house Yea my Lord shee hath seduced many from God making them to walke after her euill counsels and imaginations to their vtter destructions And I am truly informed that there is euer the place where the enemies of their owne soules doe worke their wickednesse and mischiefes Is there any more Euidences Yes my Lord here is Ezekiel Ezekiel what can you say My Lord I can witnesse thus much Such is her lewdnesse that she followed after Idols and after Couetousnesse which is Idolatry both high Treason and Rebellion against God Yea so very shamelesly and lawlesly she carrieth her selfe that if such lewd companions come not in to her she will goe out and follow them These be witnesses enow saith the Iudge to condemne her but is there any other Yes my Lord please you here are more here 's Saint Matthew Saint Matthew what can you say against the Prisoner at the Barre My Lord I haue heard it from the mouth of my Lord Chiefe Iustice himselfe when I did attend vpon him hee hauing occasion publikely to speake of her that out of the heart doe come euill thoughts Adulterics Fornications Murthers Thefts Conetousnesse Wickednesse Deceit Lasciuiousnes an euill eie Blasphemie Pride and Foolishnesse All these euills hee witnesseth to come forth of her house so that it is euident against her by his honours vndoubted testimony that shee is an harbourer of a company of very bad and vnsufferable guests Saint Marke here next me can witnesse as much It is very true my Lord. Here is an Harlotrie indeed said the Iudge Iurie if you be agreed giue in your verdict what say you of this Prisoner Guilty or not Guilty Wee say guiltie my Lord. Woman what canst thou say for thy selfe that Sentence according to Law should not bee pronounced against thee Ah good my Lord take pittie on mee a poore weake old woman These men speake against me the worst that they can because I would not be ruled by them They speake of malice my Lord. If I haue misdemeaned my selfe any way it was by this Old man my Fathers misleading my Lord by whom I thought that being a woman I should bee wholly guided But heare me good my Lord I beseech you let not these mens testimonies cast mee away For I did dwell with as good men and better than they are or euer were my Lord as other can witnes to my great cōmendations Then saith the Iudge who are those I pray you I dwelt my Lord with King Dauid with King Salomon and was in their house held to be a perfect Heart so was I after accounted in King Asa's house Yea my Lord with Abraham the Father of the Faithfull was I found Faithfull and such hath beene my credit that I was well spoken of euen to God himselfe by good KING Hezekiah That all this is true that I say I beseech you to aske Isaiah the Prophet as also Nehemiah and others that haue recorded the same Besides all these be pleased to heare me good my Lord aske all the Country people and they will with one mouth speake well of me They haue say they a good Heart towards God and that euer since they were borne they neuer found mee so wicked as these witnesses are pleased to speake I hope therefore my Lord that you will be pleased to be good to mee good my Lord pitty a very old aged poore woman as euer you came of a womā Woman Woman for the witnesses against thee they are without exception and thy owne mouth doth condemne thy selfe in that first thou dost confesse that thou wouldest not bee ruled by them when these holy men were sent vnto thee and that with speciall command from his Maiestie to see thee reformed Againe that thou doest acknowledge thy selfe to haue beene wholly led by the Old-man one now most iustly condemned by the Law to be crucified As touching Dauids heart Salomon heart Asa his heart the faithfull heart of Abraham and the vpright heart of Hezekiah neuer an one of these was thy selfe thou dost lewdly seeke to deceiue by equiuocation and to beguile the standers by with thy tricks of Iesuiticall cousenage True it is that there is great commendations of an Heart and the same to be an honest and good Heart an vpright Heart a faithfull Heart But woman this is the heart sanctified and purged by faith in all those that are borne anew of water and the holy Ghost but this is not that which thou art the naturall and corrupt heart Thou art that commendable heart in name onely but not in quality therefore thy boasting is vaine thy pleading subtiltie verifying Ieremiahs euidence of thee that thou art very deceitfull As for the vulgar praising of thee it is through their owne selfe-loue and foolish selfe-conceit and their vtter ignorance of thee that maketh them to speake so well of thee Thou doest therefore but trifle away the time and trouble the Assembly As for
or the property of new Vpstarts neuer hauing had the right breeding of true Gentry nor the vnderstanding of the true qualities of a Gentleman indeed But seeing thou art humble and penitent and maist doe his Maiesty good seruice hereafter thy deserued sentence shall bee deferred off till his Maiesties pleasure be further known concerning thee yet in the meane space thou art to be bound to thy good behauiour and be carried back againe to remaine vnder the custody of Master Newman Gaoler take him to thee and see him forth comming whensoeuer he shall be called for Then said he I humbly thanke your Lordship and so bowing himselfe to the Bench he is carried away from the Barre to the place from whence hee came to remaine Prisoner vntill hee should bee released After hee was remoued the Gaoler was commanded to set Mistresse Hearts Maids to the Barre But vpon deliberation they were sent to Ward againe vnto another time The reason was for that two great Traitors and Rebels chiefe amongst the damned crue were presently to bee arraigned which would take vp the allotted time before the Court should breake vp and the Bench arise These two were Couetousnesse and Idolatry Capitall Theeues pestilently mischieuous against God his Worship and Seruice against the Church and against the Cōmon-weale Couetousnesse was ioyned with Idolatry because he is also called Idolatry Now all other Prisoners remoued and the Iudge with the Bench ready for these the Clerke willeth the Crier to command the Gaoler to set Couetousnesse to the Barre which the Gaoler doth forth with Then saith he vnto him Couetousnesse hold vp thy hand and heare thy Inditement Couetousnesse thou art here indited by the name of Couetousnesse in the Towne of Want in the County of Neuerfull that from the day of thy first being thou hast beene the root of all euill hauing made some to play the Theeues others to commit Treason against our Soueraigne Lord the King others to murther Innocents for their inheritance Thou art also here indited for bribery extortion oppression vsurie iniustice cousenage vnmercifulnesse and a multitude of outragious Villanies besides thy hindering men in holy duties and meanes of Saluation forcing them headlong to their destruction contrary to the Peace of our Soueraigne Lord the King his Crowne and Dignity What sayest thou to this Inditement guilty or not guilty He answereth not guilty my Lord and so hee puts himselfe vpon the triall After this the parties that can giue Euidence are called in and first Repentance is commanded to produce his Witnesses Repentance what can you say My Lord since the Prisoner was committed to prison and put into Ward some of my witnesses are dead as Achan Ahab and Iudas Then saith the Iudge looke the Records Clerke and reade them My Lord I reade here that Acan confessed that by Couetousnesse hee was moued to looke vpon a wedge of gold and so coueting stole it and with it a Babylonish garment to the death and destruction of him and all his Also I here finde how through Couetousnesse Ahab longed for poore Naboths Vineyard and so eagerly as hee fell sicke for it because hee could not haue his will But Iesabel procured by his leaue and liking the death of Naboth and his sons and so got possession of the Vineyard Moreouer I finde here that Iudas confessed how hee betrayed the innocent bloud of our Sauiour through couetousnesse and desire of money This is all the Confession my Lord in the Records Then the Iudge willeth the Constable and his Assistants which were at the apprehending of him to bee called who make their appearance Constable what can you say and those that were with you against this prisoner at the Barre My Lord when wee went to make search for him hee hid himselfe so close as wee had much adoe at first to finde him in Mistresse Hearts house who had almost perswaded vs that hee had not beene there vntill I learned it from Dauid the man of God whom I had found petitioning the Lord Chiefe Iustice for a Warrant of the good behauiour against the Couetousnesse of the Heart Then thought I certainly hee is here in this house for if Dauid feared to haue him in his Heart that gaue so many millions of gold and siluer 3300. Cart-load of Treasure for the building of the Temple can I thinke him not to bee here I sought therefore diligently my Lord and found him but before I could attach him hee was got into a darke corner and attempted to blow out my Candlelight and to haue escaped mee But I and my Company tooke such diligent heed to him as hee could not get from vs yet before we could binde him and bring him away hee endeuoured to mischiefe as many as came neere him would by no meanes obey my Warrant as the rest here my Lord can tell if you please to heare them Then began euery one of them to speak Care complained that hee had almost choaked him with the world and worldly businesses so as hee had no leasure to minde heauenly things Clearing accused him that he had so vndermined his vnderstanding at vnawares as almost hee had broken the necke of his good name and reputation of his profession and Religion Indignation complained that hee had well nigh lost his life by him for whereas before hee could not behold Sinne but with an holy anger now profit of Sinne through this cursed Couetousnesse made him looke cheerefully vpon it and heartily welcom it for profits sake Feare complained that he did bewitch him for said he whereas before I was tender hearted and trembled at Gods Word desire of gaine made mee loth to lose my commodity though I got it with Sin Vehement desire did greatly complaine of his violent setting vpon him to make him eager after earthly things so as he could hardly take any rest Zeale complained that hee strucke himselfe hard vpon the head as the blow made him in hope of gain almost without sense of Gods glory which before hee preferred aboue all things in the world Lastly Reuenge complained that the Prisoner had attempted to murther him and so wounded him as whereas before hee could master sinne now hee was growne so weake as any gainfull sinne was able to master him and to bring him vnder command When these had spoken what they could the rest were brought to giue euidence and these also were men of very good account and of great worth in their Country Master Church Master Common-Weale Master Houshold Master Neighbour-hood and Master Good-worke who hauing answered to their names they giue in Euidence one by one Master Church what can you say against the prisoner at the Barre My Lord I am not able to reckon the particular mischiefes hee hath done against me There falleth neuer a Benefice of any reasonable value but hee sets many
and is a Witch and hath by his or her owne wayes brought this euill vpon him or her without the practice of any other Witch 4. Whether they might proceed vpon meere presumptions against the suspected or rather stay till they had more certaine and grounded proâ—fet 5. Whether they could none of them being read in any learned Tractates touching the practices of Witches rightly examine the suspected to finde out a Witch and so to bring him or her deseruedly vnder the power of Authority There is now come forth by the leaue of Authority a Guide to Grand-Iury men in cases of Witch-craft my suit is that they would be pleased to accept of my well-meaning therein In which all these points before are fully handled as also That there are witches who are most subiect to be made Witches How they prepare themselues for the Deuill How Satan draweth theÌ„ to a league becommeth familiar with them That there are good Witches and the signes to know them That there are bad Witches and how then practise and what it is that they can doe and how many things must concurre in bewitching What are the signes to know one to be bewitched That Witches may be detected What are strong presuÌ„ptions of a Witch What are the certaine euidences against such an one How throughly to examine a Witch With many other particulars set forth in 28 distinct Chapters fully and yet with great breuity The death of fiue brethren and sisters lately condemned and executed for Witches one more yet remaining formerly brought before a Iudge and now in danger to bee questioned againe hath mooued mee to take this paine not to preuent Iustice nor to hinder legall proceedings but that I may not be mistaken nor wronged as I was once and more should haue beene had not the wisdome and goodnesse of so reuerend a Iudge accepted graciously of my vpright Apologie against vaine Accusers I made a Petition then to my Lord the Iudge to the worthy then M. Sheriffe and to all the Worshipfull of the Bench then present which I am bold to renew againe more publikely and that now this third time because it pleased that reuerend Iudge so well to like thereof to second it and is wished of many to finde some good effect at the length The state of poore prisoners is well knowne and how their soules safety is neglected and yet our Sauiour gaue such a testimony to a penitent theefe as hee neuer gaue to any mortall man else for he told him that he should be that day with him in Paradise How blessed a worke would it be to haue maintenance raised for a learned godly and graue Diuine that might attend to instruct theÌ„ daily Twelue pence a quarter of one parish with another in our Countie would encourage some compassionate holy man thereunto And what is this Not a mite out of euery mans purse to saue soules If with this instruction there should bee meanes to set them also on worke they might get somewhat for food for raiment They might so preuent the miserable fruits of sloth their mindes would bee imployed their bodies bee preserued in health and not pine away and be consumed with vermine Yea enforced labour there would terrifie loose vagrants lazie wanderers and the idle rout from turning the eues more then either imprisonment or death hitherto hath done And besides such as should escape would by this heauenly meanes of instruction and bodily labour become through Gods mercy more profitable members in the CommoÌ„-Weale afterwards whereas now they become twice more the children of Belial than they were before Oh let me be hold earnestly to beseech you and in all humility to craue your mercifull and tender bowels of compassion towards them And first of you right Honourable my Lords the Iudges who sit as Gods among men to giue iudgement vpon this so wretched and so miserable a generation of mankinde that if they die they may be more ready with all patience and submission of spirit to receiue their iust reward and your doome of death vpon them or if they be acquitted and so liue they may learne afterwards to liue the life of good Christians and so make a good vse of their deliuerance And would not this reioyce your hearts to forward such a worke when your Lordships doe know that the blessed Angels doe reioyce at the conuersion of Sinners Next of you Worthy Master Sheriffe vnder whose wisedome religious affection tender mercies and powerfull habilities the Prison and the Prisoners be for the time present Shall not this worke set forward by you be vnto you an euerlasting remembrance Then of all you Right Worshipfull the worthy Iustices of our Country by whose authority these offenders are sent vnto prison Oh that it might not displease you to heare me calling vpon you by name who I hope are well-minded to such a blessed and charitable a worke Yee deseruedly honoured Knights Sir George Speke Sir Iohn Stowel Sir Francis Popham Sir Henry Barkley Sir Iohn Windham Sir Iohn Horner Sir Edward Rodney and Sir Robert George And may I not here also name the worthily esteemed of their Country though not at this present in Commission with you Sir Ralph Hopton Sir Robert Philips Sir Charles Barkley and Sir Edward Barkley All to be graciously pleased to commiserate their lamentable case and to helpe forward this worke of pietie and pitie towards prisoners O yee other worthies of your Country no lesse generously affected Iohn Powlet Robert Hopton Edward Rogers George Lutterell Iohn May Fra. Baber Ro. Cuffe Tho. Breerton Io. Coles William Francis Rice Dauys Thomas Windham Iohn Harrington Io. Harbin William Capel and Anth. Stocker Esquires let the bowels of compassion compasse you about that you may affect this so good a deed and be honoured for euer in bringing to passe so rare a charitie The worke surely would blesse you all Alas the Prison now is a very picture of Hell and more is the pitie as the case now stands is no lesse than a preparatiue thereto for want of daily instruction It would be by a faithfull ministery and bodily imploiment of them a house of correction with instruction and so happily the way of life Then might charity quicken vp iustice to send offenders obstinately persisting in euill and abusing their liberty vnto prison in good hope of their reformation The losse of their corporall liberty might through Gods mercy then gaine them spirituall freedome Health by labour would be preserued and their soules by wholsome instruction saued The Father of our Lord Iesus Christ perswade your well-disposed hearts to such an vnbegun worke among so many good deeds very famous in this renowned Nation The spirit of the Lord God of Heauen and Earth rest vpon you to cause you to affect this and in time to effect the same by stirring vp the Country and by your owne mercies in your life times you giuing
he is no practitioner but onely aimeth at ciuill behauiour common honestie and careth to be held onely a Christian at large and to professe the Religion of the present State without any more curious endeuour to proceede farther to finde out the power of Religion Therefore where this kinde of vnderstanding dwelleth there care is had onely to see to disorders against ciuill honesty and common Morall duties and against courses apparantly dangerous to his outward estate and those things which may offend the most or the greatest sort amongst men This halfe-sighted Constable a superficiall fellow in diuine truth aimeth at no more The sinnes immediately against GOD and against his Gospell as vnbeleefe impatience pride disdaine enuy at other mens gifts presumption of Gods mercie abuse of his fauours and many such he taketh no notice of but permitteth them to liue where he hath to do without controule 4 The Head or chiefe Constable is a man of a right and good vnderstanding knowing his Office and the duties thereto belonging with care and conscience to discharge the same for he is studious in both laws and a good practitioner therein This Chiefe Constable is Illuminated vnderstanding this is one that hath both his eyes to see with of nature and of grace hee is well read both in the Common-Law the Law-Morall and the Statute-Law the law of liberty the Gospell of Christ he hath been a long Practitioner in both and is called the spirituall man who can discerne and iudge of all things The place of his common abode and dwelling is in Regeneration a very healthfull comfortable commodious habitation Hee is no straggler but loueth to keepe home and to looke to his office Hee hath an excellent Family his Wife is called Grace his two sonnes Will and Obedience his three daughters Faith Hope and Charitie his two seruants Humility and Selfe-deniall and his two maids Temperance for his Summer-house of Prosperity and Patience for his Winter-house of aduersitie This Chiefe Constable where hee dwels keepeth very good order hee suffereth not the Rebell Sin to rule and swagger in the Towne ship of his soule If Drunkennes as once in Noah or Adulterie as once in Dauid or Pride of heart as once in Hezekiah or Enuie as once in Mirriam or such like happen to bee found where hee hath to doe he speedily sendeth them packing For though they may at vnawares perhaps creepe in and bee found where hee dwelleth in some Street of his Towne yet they get there no abiding place Though hee cannot euer and at all times preuent their creeping in yet hee alwaies taketh care that they settle not themselues where hee hath to doe but will dislodge them whersoeuer he shall finde them for hee is very careful in his office to discharge it to the vtmost This Chiefe Constable is hee to whom Godly-Ielousie bringeth his Warrant to seeke out the Rebell Sinne and to attach him This Constable hauing receiued the warrant presently addresseth himselfe to make the search But for that sin is Master full especially euery capitall Sin which is attended on by many other and will not easily submit but dare make opposition against authority till hee be ouer-mastered therefore this man takes with him sufficient companie to watch sinne for escaping to goe very strongly to attach him and to hold him when they haue him so as neuer a friend may dare to side with him First he taketh his owne two seruants Humility and Selfe-deniall which euer in euery search necessarily attend him Then going together hee calleth vpon his next neighbour Godly-sorrow with his seuen sonnes ready to beare them company 2 Cor. 7. 11. The first of these is Care to finde out sinne that it may not be hid The second is Cleering which when hee espieth sinne will not winke thereat nor partake with it The third is Indignation a fierce fellow which can neuer looke vpon any sinne but with a godly anger The fourth is Feare not naturall or dastardly feare nor seruile feare all too base-minded to attach sin but such a feare as maketh him to stand in awe of God reiecting all fellowship with the wicked and partakers with sinne The fift is Vehement desire to apprehend sinne to be in Gods fauour in loue with the godly and free from his own corruptions This is a stirring fellow The sixth is Zeale who dare seaze vpon euen the most Capitall Rebell for hee is like to Phinees ready to thrust him thorow and to kill him wheresoeuer he findeth him The seuenth is Reuenge who answereth to his name for hee desireth to pay sinne home for the wrong hee hath done him and would haue him proceeded against to the vttermost This fellow Iustily layeth hold on sinne and bindeth him at the Chiefe Constables command to leade him away These are able to take prisoner the sturdiest Rogue the stoutest Rebell strongest Theefe What Sinne in the soule is it which this Chiefe Constable with his men his neighbour Godly sorrow and his seuen Sonnes cannot ouer-master and leade by Gods grace captiue and make it the Kings Prisoner As the Constable goeth with these his many neighbours and with his own seruants to the number of ten besides himselfe a couple of busie fellowes vncalled thrust in themselues to increase the number The one of these is Selfe-loue a pestilent fellow for he not onely can hinder the Constables diligence in taking paines to search but in searching to be too partiall and ouerrespectiue to himselfe if the sinnes sought after be either pleasurable or profitable but also withall hee can dull the spirit of Godly-sorrow and doe his seuen sonnes very great mischiefe as by their confessions afterward it doth appeare Therefore when the Constable Vnderstanding espieth him hee commandeth forth with his seruant Selfe-deniall to put him out of the company for hindering the search The other is Selfe-conceit the former lewd companion disordereth all the affections this blindeth iudgement by the ouerweening of a mans selfe and will picke the Warrant out of the Constables pocket and will blow out the candle-light which is in the Constables hand if hee bee not preuented This wretched fellow of all wise men is held a foole for The way of the foole is wise in his owne eyes and there is more hope of a foole than of him that is wise in his owne conceit and therefore are we dehorted from being wise in our owne eyes or leaning to our owne wisdome and a woe is pronounced against such yet is the foole a very dangerous foole and a knaue too hee will so deceiue by flattery Hee will make a man beleeue his waies to be cleere in his owne eyes when the end thereof is death Yea can beguile a generation of men and make them to thinke themselues pure in their owne eyes and sight and yet
are not washed from their filthinesse Such as conceited foole was the Laodicean Angell The Constable therefore commandeth his man Humilitie to thrust this foole and knaue out of their company before they make search for sinne for if these be suffered to goe along with the rest labour is but lost sinne will neuer bee found out and attached Now when the Constable hath rid away these two troublesome companions for they vsually go together then hee goeth on to the place where hee knoweth that sinne hath taken vp his lodging The place is a Common Inne an Harlots house called Mistris Heart a receptacle for all Villaines Whores and Theeues and for all dishonest persons whatsoeuer none denied house-roome or harbour there And that shee is such a dishonest woman is cleere and euident as in her arraignment shall be fully proued But to couer her naughtinesse as much as she may shee hath gotten into her house one called Old-man corrupted by her deceitfull lusts to become her husband when indeed she is his owne daughter and so liue they in incest together and keepe rout and ryot night and day If any honest Traueller a good and godly motion happen sometimes to fall in there vnawares hee is straightway denyed entertainment Her answer is by and by that her lodgings are taken vp for other manner of men there is no roome for any such troublesome guests as these be none can bee merry for them where they come hindering all good fellowship The house which this Harlotry dwelleth in hath many in lets Fiue doores open for their guests to come in at These fiue doores are the fiue senses The first is the doore of Hearing the first that euer was open to let in sin as wee may learne in the Serpents beginning to tempt Euah At this doore entreth in Lying slandering backbiting filthy Communication Flattery Swearing Error Heresie False-doctrine Tale-bearing Blasphemie and with these enter also ill Opinions of one another vnchari table iudging Ill-suspicion rash credulity and many other sinnes caused and committed by the tongue through want of wisdome and charity The second is the doore of Seeing at this enter in the lusts of the eye Fornication Adultery Couetousnesse Desire of Naboths Vineyard The marriage of the Sonnes of God with the Daughters of men Achans Theft who saw a wedge of gold and desired it and tooke it many are the sinnes which enter in by this doore through want of Chastity and Contentment The third is the doore of Tasting at this enter in Ryot Gluttony Drunkennesse Reuellings and the fruits thereof Chambering and Wantonnesse Prodigality Quarrelling and Fighting and many other cursed effects of seeking to satisfie the appetite which the godly man auoideth and also the very occasion thereof by Sobriety and Temperance The fourth is the doore of Smelling at this enter in foolish Niceties Perfumings and other allurements to daliance Effeminatenesse and such like The fift is the doore of Feeling at this doore entreth Wantonnesse Lasciuiousnesse and other fruits of the flesh These be the doores by which all sinne ordinarily entereth into the Heart except Originall sin bred within and brought from the wombe as also Sarans immediate suggestions suddenly cast into the Heart When sinnes enter in at any of these doores They first come into the Hall where attendeth Commonsense to welcome them Then they goe into a Parlour a more inner roome and there stayeth Fantasie to entertaine them After this they ascend into an vpper Chamber are there receiued of Intelligence who presently acquainteth Mistrisse Heart the Mistrisse of the house with it which is in her Dyning-room what are the company and number of her guests come in For this Hostesse is a stately Dame and is not to bee spoken with by and by Thus as you haue heard are her guests entertained and brought in vnto her With her are eleuen Daughters attending her as Maids lewd Strumpets and as impudent Harlots as her selfe These eleuen waiting-Maids are the eleuen passions of the Heart corrupt disorderly and immoderate wautons which bee these The first is Loue set all on pleasures profits honours and wholly vpon worldly and fleshly Vanities contrary to that in 1 Iohn 2. 15. Loue not the world nor the things that are in the world The second is Hatred which is contrary to Loue setting it selfe against Gods Word good men good things a mischieuous maid euer setting one another at oddes and disquieting often the whole house and the table of guests The third is Desire neuer content but would haue sometimes this and then that now here now there neuer resting neuer satisfied with either riches or honours or varietie of pleasures The fourth is Detestation contrarie to Desire which loatheth and cannot endure good counsell good companie godly conference much lesse reproofe or any opposition in her wayes The fift is Vaine-hope which possessing the heart maketh it foolishly presumptuous The sixe is Despaire contrary to Hope which causeth acts against reason against nature sometimes as it did in Achitophel in Saul in Zimri in Iudas who killed themselues It also maketh men runne into dissolute and rebellious courses euen to walke wilfully on in euill as being without hope The seuenth is Feare which passion doth so slauishly captiuate the mind as it will make a man forget his dutie to God so as he may escape danger with men as it did Peter and Pilate and is euer a false friend in aduersitie The eighth is Audacity contrary to Feare which maketh a man foole-hardy without deliberation to thrust himselfe into imminent dangers as it did the Israelites The ninth is Ioy which cheereth a man when hee hath that which he delighteth in be it neuer so ill as it did the inhabitants of the earth at the destruction of the two Prophets The tenth is Sorrow contrarie to Ioy which afflicteth the soule causing weeping and wailing lamentation and mourning often with an out-cry as in the land of Aegypt The eleuenth is Anger which commeth vpon a man not onely for apparent iniury as on Dauid against Nabal but vpon imagined wrongs as on Haman against Mordecai Naaman against Elisha and Ahab against Micaiah There is no passion contrarie to this for though quietnesse be contrarie to Anger yet it s no passion therefore they are but eleuen as Thomas Aquinas reckons them Besides these attending very diligently on Mistris Heart she hath a man-seruant called Will. This Will hath three at command vnder him the Feet the Hand the Tongue like the Hostler Tapster and Chamberlaine All these are at Mistris Hearts and her Maids commands If Loue in a Maid affect a young man though all her friends bee against it yet marke how shee sets Will on worke
little enough to vphold their outward state vaine pompe abroad And this my Lord is that which for the present I haue to say Then it was asked if all were come in that should giue Euidence Answer was made My Lord here is onely one man more poore Pouerty brought hither by authority to giue Euidence may it please you heare him Call in Pouerty Pouerty What canst thou say against this prisoner at the Barre Good my Lord I haue reason to curse the day that euer I knew him and hee onely it is that hath brought mee to this poore state I was a man of some credit my neighbours well know till I had to do with him who would lend mee nothing but vpon Vsurie and that vpon great bonds and morgage of lands and so greedy a Wolfe was he vpon his prey that if I missed but one day of payment hee would take the benefit of the Morgage or forfeiture or if he forbore longer I payed him by presents and gifts so much with the vse as made me to groane vnder the burthen feeling my selfe in an irrecouerable Consumption Sometimes to keepe day with him I was enforced either to buy for time or else to sell something out of hand to make readie monies either of which was as bad or worse than the biting of vsurie for when William Greedy a brother of his or also Gain his Cousin perceiued my need oh how did hee in selling for time extort from mee and in buying for readie money presse me So that to escape a whirle-poole I fell into deuouring gulfes and thus he vndid me And not being therewith content woe vnto him when I became Tenant my Lord who was before a good Free-holder he put into our Land-lords heart to depopulate our whole Parish of Wealth for so it was called and there in stead of many honest Inhabitants and good house-keepers hee set a Shepheard and his Curre to feed his flockes This also is hee my Lord that maketh men of faire lands which might liue well on their own Reuenewes and demaines to take Farmes into their hands and to driue out such as had been mercifull releeuers of their poore neighbours In our poore estate wee haue sought to him for releefe but in stead of comfort he hath railed on vs threatned to whip vs and to send vs to the House of Correction Nothing will he doe for vs but what by Law hee is inforced vnto though hee keepe his Church and can sometime also talke of Religion Hee beggers all of vs my Lord on worke hee will not set vs and yet will not suffer vs to seeke abroad for releefe He neuer seeth vs but his heart riseth against vs. He rather will aduenture his owne damnation than part with one penny except it be to goe gay to buy and purchase for him and his Yea my Lord that all may know his mercilesse cruelty when we haue wanted releefe begged of him hee hath counselled vs to shift for our selues and steale out of the stackes of Corne in gleaning time for bread to breake hedges to steale wood or coale in the night to make vs fires to plucke sheepe or sheere off their wooll for cloathing to rob Orchards for fruit to steale geese hennes ducks pigges and sheepe for flesh meat to cousen men that set vs on worke and to make vs poore people hatefull to God and man For hee careth not my Lord so as he may not be charged any way what we doe or what becommeth of vs. And yet to make vp the height of vnmercifulnesse hee will be the first if wee of meere extreme need doe amisse that will cry out against vs and pursue vs to death This hath euer been his course hitherto my Lord consider rightly of vs and pittie our case I beseech you good my Lord. Pouerty thy case indeed is to be pittied Iurie you haue heard the Euidence of all what say you of the prisoner at the Barre is hee guilty or not guiltie Iurie Guilty my Lord. Couetousnesse thou hast heard what al these witnesses haue laid to thy charge and spoken against thee what canst thou say for thy selfe why sentence vpon these honest mens verdict should not be pronounced against thee My Lord I stand for my life let it please you with patience to heare me and first touching this impatient ingratefull out-crying fellow Pouerty It was not I my Lord when hee was wealthy but his then daily and onely Companions Sloth Carelesnesse Prodigality Goodfellowship Goegay Good-cheere wantonnesse Improuidence Little-worke and Many-mouthes which my Lord cast him into a Consumption and like Canker wormes consumed him quickly I confesse he came to me often to borrow but when I saw his vaine courses of expence I was very loth to lend to him But that hee so earnestly intreated me euen with teares in his eyes oftentimes protesting that I should greatly pleasure him yea and saue him and his estate from ruine if I would doe him that kindnesse to lend him in his need Thus my Lord was I moued and drawne on to lend him according to the Statute onely I took good Security because I perceiued him to bee wastfull Aduantage I neuer tooke but onely when I saw that he was an idle fellow and carelesse and would neuer keepe day then I would onely threaten him to terrifie him my Lord and if hee then brought any kindnesse to my wife it is more than I know of and more than I desire of him Sometimes hee would offer to sell mee the land morgaged to mee when he could not pay and told me that of necessitie hee must sell it and if I would not another should buy it Then I thought my selfe as worthy to haue it as any other in all reason For my threatning of him and his Companie when they went a begging true it is because I say that as they had consumed themselues they thought to relie on mee and so in like sort to haue eaten me vp too for idely had they liued and worke they neither could nor would And whereas they accuse me that I compelled them to steale herein they very much wrong me my Lord for it was their Loue to liue idely and their Pinching necessitie which led and inforced them to fall to shifting and stealing and not I my Lord. Touching their Landlords depopulating of the Towne of Wealth they their owne selues were the very cause thereof for that worthy Knight and my kinsman Sir Worldly Wise when hee saw how some by suits of Law others by Drunkennesse and Ryot others by Pride and Idlenesse did waste their estates so as they were neither able to till their land nor to stock their grounds hee bought their estates one after another and so left them to buy or hire for themselues elsewhere And when thus they had remoued themselues hee sought the welfare of the Common-Weale which was to hold vp cloathing my Lord
brethren borne before him or in a younger Beniamin brought forth soone after him When I thus did apparell him I intended to send him forth to his brethren hoping hereby to procure him the more acceptance where hee happily should come and my expectation hath not failed deceiued altogether I am not as was Iacob in sending his Ioseph among his enuious brethren For not onely hundreds but some thousands haue welcomed him to their houses They say they like his countenance his habit and manner of speaking well enough though other too nice bee not so well pleased therewith But who can please all or how can any one so write or speake as to content euery man If any mistake me and abuse him in their too carnal apprehension without the truly intended spirituall vse let them blame themselues neither me nor him for the fault is their owne which I wish them to amend You that like him I pray you stil accept of him for whose sake to further your spiritual meditation I haue sent him out with these Contents and more marginall notes His habite is no whit altered which he is constrained by mee to weare not onely on working dayes but euen vpon holy daies and Sondayes too if he go abroad A fitter garment I haue not now for him and if I should send out the poore Lad naked I know it would not please you This his coate though not altered in the fashion yet is it made somewhat longer For though from his first birth into the world it bee scarce halfe a yeare yet he is growne a little bigger but I thinke him to become to his full stature so he wil be but as a litle pigmie to be carried abroad in any mans poket I pray you now this fourth time accept him vse him as I haue intended him for you and you shal reape the fruite though I forbid you not to be Christianly merry with him So fare you well in all friendly wellwishes R. B. May 28. 1627. FINIS Errata Good Reader I pray in page 137. for incircut reade nicer-cut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The scope of this booke for one to see and know himselfe Exod. 18. Oldman Madame Heart What to be considered of before men come in with a verdict against supposed witches See Doctor Cotta his tryall of Witches Request to Grand-Iury men touching my booke of Witches The summe of that booke Iudge Denham Sir Rob. Philips Request to the Iudges the Sheriffe and Iustices for spirituall food to poore prisoners The benefit of setting prisoners on worke Sir Ioh. Walter L. chiefe Baron Sir Io. Denham Mast Symmes If I mistake your places I pray you pardon mee Request to the Keepers of prisons Request to the poore prisoners Meditations for them while they lye in Gaole Request to professors of the Law A search to be made for sin Sinne is the great malefactor Sinne robbes vs. Sinne doth kill if it bee not killed Sin is strong Prou. 5. 22. Rom. 7. 23. Isa 9. 18. Sinne doth him the most hurt that most loueth it Ierem. 5. 25. Ierem. 4. 18. The euils which sinne doth Mat. 26. 14 15. 1 Kings 22. Matth. 13. Matth. 12. Act. 5. 10. Sinne is very subtill Heb. 3. 13. Rom. 7. 11. A watch set to espie out sin The watchman is one Assistants are two The Towne watched Trauellers Posts The Inne Towne large Streets are foure Charge giuen to the Watch-men Deut. 4. 9. Preu 4. 23. Heb. 3 12 13. A watch word Isa 30. 21. The Hue and Crie Eleuen waies how to know sinne Rom. 3. 20. 7. 7. 1 Iohn 3. 4. Isa 1. 11. 18. 3. 14. 5. 20. Act. 5. 5. 13. 11. Ier. 25. 6. Lam. 3. 33. Iosh 7. 20. Psal 15. 5 14. 1 Sam. 12. 19. Mat. 27. 4. 1 Tim. 1. 13. 1 Cor. 15. 9. 2 Chr. 19. 2. 1 Sam. 2. 19. Who carrieth the Hue and Crie Psal 51. 1 2. Vertues enemies 1. Outside and his description What he is an enemy to 2 Wicked worldly-wise described Lam. 3. 15. What he is an enemy to 3. Luke-warme his description What he is an enemy vnto 4. Plausible Ciuill his description What he is an enemy to 5. Machiauell his description What he is an enemy to 6. Libertine his description What he is an enemy to 7. Scrupulosity his description What he is an enemy to 8. Babylonian his description Whom he is an enemy to Shifts by which sinne escapes are principally two 1 By a shew of Vertue 2 Cor. 11. 15 14. 2 By the name of Vertue put vpon Vices What Vices get the name of Vertues Friends of sin and how they shew it 1. Ignorance how a friend to sinne 2. Error how a friend to sinne 3. Opinion how a friend to sin 4. Subtilty how a friend to sin 5. Custome how a friend to sinne Mat. 27. 18. 16. 21 26. Ioh. 18. 39 40. 6. Fore-fathers Ioh. 4. 10. 7. Power how a friend to sin 8. Sampler how a friend to sin Ier. 44. 17. 9. Most-doe how a friend to sinne 10. Silly how a friend to sinne 1 Sam. 15. 15. Gen. 20. 5. 11. Vaine-hope how a friend to sinne Gen. 3. 4. 12. Presumption how a friend to sinne Deut. 29. Isa 28. 15 16. 13. Wilfull how a friend to sin 14. St. like how a friend to sin Godly-iealousie will not be deceiued by these Lord chiefe Iustice Warrant and he forme hereof Secretaries to the Lord chiefe Iustice The Officer to attach sin is Vnderstanding Vnderstanding fourefold 1 Deputy-Constable Vnderstanding darkned Eph. 4. 18. 1 Ioh. 2. 11. Eph. 4. 18 19. The euils vnder it committed 2 Tithing-man Grosse-vnderstanding and the euill thereof 2 Pet. 1. 9. 3. Pettie Constable Vnderstanding somewhat cleered A meere ciuill honest man who and what a one What he onely lookes vnto What sinnes he regards not 4. Chiefe Constable Illuminated vnderstanding and the excellency thereof 1 Cor. 2. His habitation is Regeneration His Family The good he doth This is that which apprehendeth sinne * Which hath intecedent concomitant subsequent sinnes â—ydants Two Serâ—ants 2. Neighbour Godly-Sorrow and his seuen Sonnes 1. Care 2. Cleering 3. Indignation 4. Feare 5. Vehement desire 6. Zeale 7. Reuenge A couple of busie fellowes 1. Selfe-loue what euill he doth Selfe-deniall remoues him 2. Selfe-conceit and the mischiefes therof Pro. 12. 5. 3. 5 7. Isai 5. 21. Prou. 16. 2 25. Pro. 30. 12. Reuel 3. Humility puts him away The Inne Mistresse Hearts house Old man Ephâ— â— 22 Fiue doores 1. The doore of Hearing Genes 3. What euils enter by hearing 2. The doore of Seeing 1 Iohn 3. What sinnes enter by seeing Genes 6. Ios 7. Psal 119. 37. Iob 31. 1. 3. The doore of Tasting The sins which enter by this sense Prou. 23. 2 20 21. 1 Cor. 5. 11. 4. The doore of Smelling Prou. 7. 17. What entreth here 5. The doore of Feeling Rom. 13. 13. What entreth here Degrees to the heart Hall-attendant Commonsense Parlour attendant