benumb'd my drooping mind My tongue my limbs did alteration find For when my speech and faculties I lost Upon deepe despaires tombe my heart was tost And now the heavens who life doth still presage bound up my wounds and bids me cherish age What cares what feares then harbour'd in my brest Is knowne to him who matrimony blest He made me goe unto my Mothers friend That faithfull widdow whom she did commend Our hearts we linkt in one we did agree When that our Nuptiall day should be Which now I note t was just foure dayes before The foure yeeres were expired and no more Upon which day she said for you I tarried My life God spar'd for you yet was I married A twelve moneth since unto an Artist kind Unto a blacke hair'd Painter but I find Dreames are but fantasies they 'r seldome true Then I replyd that dreame perhaps comes now For I a Painter am or would be so Though I of late no faculty could show And Doctor Laud the Lord Archbishops grace Of Canterbury being Bishop of this place Saint Davies calld his Lordship promise made That by Commission I should use that trade Throughout his Dioces to beautifie The House of God by his authoritie And though of late he be translated hence Your dreame my hopes revive without offence Then when the next Lord Bishop there did come For to succeed the Lord Arch-bishops roome That 's now in my behalfe my Master spake To him who nobly for my Masters sake The like Commission caused to be made For me I his assistance had and aid Then with my men Gods house I did adorne Although before I seem'd as one forlorne But riding on the Sabbath day againe My soule and conscience griev'd and did complaine Against my heart God now the umpire is Who will not suffer man to doe amisse Then as I rid I thus resolv'd the doubt It is Gods house which makes me ride about Therefore I know I doe not God offend With that my heart did faint because the end Was for my gaine and not to rectifie The house of God which I did beautifie Then my Commission close two yeeres I staid Because my greedy heart made me dismayd My wife being then with Child that night when she Did hope by her account her Child to see At midnight she fell in a shivering fit Whom I awakt and askt the cause of it This night saith she when I expected ease My spirit or guardian angell which you please To me did speake whereat I was affrighted Thinke not its said that you shall yet be lighted On All Saints day God hath decreed that you Shall then be brought to bed alas it s now Full six weekes hence saith she alas that I Must so long yet endure this misery Yet t is Gods will she said his name I le praise His will be done he hath prolong'd my dayes Then in the morne she heart of grace did take All griefe all feare distrust she did forsake On All Saints eve her labour then begun Sad gripes and throwes in every part did run But by the breake of day on that blest morne That followed next a man child she had borne Into the world wherefore she prais'd the Lord Blessing his name who hath perform'd his word With her and said I most unworthy am To know thy will or call upon thy name Then I another course of life did undertake And for a time all Painting did forsake Because a friend of mine was Sheriffe there And his Recorder made me for that yeare I by that place experience still did gaine There I with credit did my charge maintaine My son by promise by my wifes relation God blest with vertue beyond expectation He being a twelve moneth old or somewhat more His mother dream'd againe as heretofore When Mistresse Prise of Brecknocke Priory lay Most dangerous sicke expecting every day The time she would this wretched life depart Cause all Physitians fayld with skill and Art To cure her long disease yet if she playd With her young child a voice unto her said She should be eas'd of each sicke tedious fit But wisht my houshold not to speake of it Least she should there be made a laughing stocke For dreames are fancies which doe most men mocke Still Mistresse Prise lay sicke as heretofore After that time a moneth I know and more About which time my wife did ride to see Her mother friends and kindred Gods decree That morne she went from home one privatly Reveal'd her dreame but told it secretly To Mistresse Prise who for my child did send To see if after that her griefe would end The child being brought to her with him she playd And him Physition cald but thus she pray'd Lord if it be thy will that I shall live And hast ordain'd this meanes I praises give Unto thy sacred name for this thy love Blesse this sweet child with grace that he may prove Thy Servant here on earth and in the end Make his sweet soule unto thy Throne ascend After the child's being there she mended still And did recover her health Gods sacred will His mother scarce a weeke from home did stay After the child with Mistresse Prise did play But God was pleas'd before my wife came home To make my Mistresse walke about her roome Then God restor'd her to her health againe And ever since in health she doth remaine She can declare the truth which I have Writ To shew the gift of God I thought most fit I having now discharg'd in Brecknockshire The Shire-Clerks place which held but for a yeere It pleas'd the Judges there my will to grace And did confer on me another place They made me an Attorney at th'Assise Which office there my fortunes did not rise Because my Clyants they were Welsh-men bred And when they spake I knew not what they sed Then I a Prentise tooke and thought it fit To teach him all things that was requisite But when I found he Welsh and English spake I thought with him I should more profit make If he and I with my Commission went T' adorne the House of God then my intent And purpose I began yet still I prayd My God my Lord who made my soule affraid T' assist my good desire Lord send me skill Againe t' adorne thy house he knew my will He was my ayd though he chastised me He makes me cautious of his blest decree Though I did once prophane his day of rest Henceforth I hope t' observe his Sabbath blest For on that day within his sacred Booke My heart and soule for profit there shall looke His grace and favour I have found againe He with his blessings doth my life sustaine Still he is pleas'd t' assist me with his grace Which doth my mind content in every place Yet every day my sorrows did encrease Because my speciall friends did still decrease Death strikes them here too fast ah me I grieve To see strong Oakes cast
MERCY TRIUMPHING OVER â—UDGEMENT OR A WARNING FOR SABBATH-BREAKERS Published for Gods glory and the benefit of all true Christians BY me Thomas Jones Of the City of Hereford Who for prophaning the Lords Day was â—o t miraculously strucken by the hand of God and utâ—…ly depriv'd of all my senses for the space of 4 years â—…d now by his great mercy upon my hearty repenâ—â—nce being perfectly restored to my former health I as moved to set forth this ensuing Relation as a testiâ—ony of my thankfulnesse to God for his fatherly â—â—astisement and that all others by my example may â—e deterred from so hainous an offence as Sabbath-â—reaking 1 Cor. 10.11 Now all these things happened for examples Therefore remember that yee keepe holy the Sabbath day Exod. 20.8 London Printed by E. P. for Iohn Wright the Younger dwelling 〈…〉 Goe little Booke present thy selfe Cum Privilegio THE PROLOGUE BEloved Christians before I was punished for my sins I followed mine owne wayes but now I desire to keepe the commandements of my God therefore I will first relate unto â—u in Prose the manner of my chastisement and what I conâ—eive to be the cause wherefore I was afflicted Vpon the Lords â—ay or Sabbath called Whitsunday in the yeare 1624. I disobayed the Lord and violated that great day in Cursing Swearing Drinking and keeping of bad company making an Alehouse or a worse place my chiefest Sanctuary all that day from which time my memory was taking from me for seaven weekes that I could never since remember any thing I did â—eing eight dayes after that offence committed in perfect health and cannot conceive how I spent the next Lords day but on Trinity-monday riding to a wedding my horse slumbled in a plaine greene way and cast me from off his backe upon a stone where as I am enformed was scarce another stone to be seene for halfe a mile thence was I carried home to the Priory of Brecknock as dead and lay as one languishing for a weeke having a Physitian and a Chyrurgion with me but could not agree where the fracture was for outwardly there was no wound to be seene neverthelesse the Sirgeon conceiving where the fracture was and that I might dye within three dayes if the braine had not vent immediatly made an incision in the Temples on the right side of my head and cutting all the Veine in that place I bled by report six or seaven quarts of blood before the veines stopt bleeding yet at the seaven weekes end I was almost recovered of that desperate wound and my memory came to me againe but how when or where I was thus chastised I know not nor whether I felt any paine when I was so grievously wounded and cured I could not nor can I remember onely my violating or prophaning the Lords day before declared I did and doe as yet remember which made me demand of the Surgeon and others that were about me at the seaven weekes end how long it was since Whitsuntide And being commanded in a dreame to give an account of the Talent which was given me since I repented for violating the Lords day I have made bold to present these my endeavours to your charitable censures not doubting but if the rest of my Talent were manifest to the world it would be pleasing to God and man most beneficiall and usefull for this Kingdome and fit for all young Clearkes Schollers and Artificers who understand not the Latine Tongue which I wanted my selfe before my Lord and Master corrected me To the VVorshipfull and worthily honoured HERBRT PRISE Esquire one of the Queenes Majesties Gentlemen Sewers To his Vertuous Religious and Zealous Wife the Lady Goditha Prise heretofore one of the maids of her Majesties privy Chamber and to their onely Child Mistresse Henriete Maria Prise one of her Majesties GOD Daughters MOst blessed three one God Divinity Protect thy number sacred Trinity To whom I prostrate here thy gift my will Grant them O Lord the peace of Conscience still True honours grace thou knowst I as a Bird Escapt the Foulers snare when death was fear'd My braines being chrusht my Temples crackt I fled From thence and by a blessed Angell led The Spirit of grace my faith my hope reviv'd And for these seaventeene yeares hath me repriv'd From death to shew the world Gods gift this Story That Sabbath-Breakers might behold my glory And Gods elect may see the reason why I was so plung'd in dreadfull misery The truth it doth declare at large and how Upon repentance God doth mercy show This gift is his which humbly I present In hope you 'l please t' accept the good intent Of him who praise Your honoured dayes May Zealous be Eternallie His life is yours While heart endures THOMAS JONES Anagram Herbert Prise her ripe Brest An Acrostick on his name An Acrostick on his Anagram in the last words of these Lines invented by the Author H He made his mothers brest full ripe in Her Ever she hopes her ripe brest will not Erre Religious Zeale within her brest doth Raigne Brest ripe in him all vice he doth Refraine Enrich his heart most wise his Faith In crease Ripe is his Brest his Soule the Heav'ns would Please The she ripe brest her Piety Exceeds Parting her Zeale to him in him it Breeds Rule Lord his heart and make his fortunes Rise In all respects before great Monarchs Eyes Send him true health true wealth and let him See Each sev'rall good descendeth downe from Thee H E E R R B R E I R P T E P B R R I E S S E T The Capitalls beginning shewes his name Those in the ends declares his Anagram Goditha Prise Praise thy God An Acrostick on her name An Acrostick on her Anagram G Great Mountaines stoope let Cedars have the Praise O're Hills o're Dales Gods glory they doe Raise Deepe Seas and Flouds the Sunne doth oft Annoy In ev'ry place the Sun 's the Cedars Joy Then Praise thy God brave Cedar truly Send Him thy best sap his blessings hath no End All blessed pow'rs whose Patience man doth Try Powre down your grace on her Praise God on Hye Rare Cedar blest Gods Heav'nly shade Intreat Immortall Tree most blest most high most Great Spread forth and Praise thy God thou art his Owne Extoll his name who sends all blessings Downe P O R D A I J T S H E A T P H R I I G S O E D The Capitalls beginning shewes her name Those at the ends declares her Anagram Anagram Henriete Maria Prise I remaine the aspirer An Acrostick on her name H Here is that Cedars Branch whose name aspire Exalted by a Queene what Subject higher Now Praise thy God sweet branches Roote againe Rejoyce in him his love doth still remaine I saith the Lord will powre on them my grace Even I will shield this Branch in ev'ry place Th' immortall life that comes in ev'ry bud Encrease her strength and feed her with thy
desp'rate bloody wound There he the vaines did cut then as a flood Did issue thence abundance of my blood In streames it ran till I had lost my breath Then all men fear'd that I should bleed to death Yet after I six quarts or seaven did bleed My blood did stop and I from paine was freed Then did my worthy Master send againe To divers Shires a Surgeon to obtaine Who had more skill for I was growne most weake Languish I did they thought I could not speake Thus I remain'd a weeke they say and more In wofull case impatience made me rore With me the Surgeon and Physition staid Expecting still to have more skilfull aid Now when 't was thought that I was almost spent A skilfull Surgeon unto me God sent Out of Glamorganshire from thence he came By chance Iohn Nichols was the Surgeons name Who when he saw how ghastly I did lye He said I was past hopes to live but dye I should ere it were long and thought it best For to with-hold his skill and not molest My lingring life which made my Master grieve And thence returne and say he cannot live If he no skill will shew he needs must dye But if his best he doth what remedy Then when my Masters griefe and feare was past Unto the Surgeon he thus said at last Be pleas'd I pray to let him dye with skill That 's all I crave for God must have his will The Surgeon then unto my Chamber turn'd Where many fear'd and hop'd and wept and mourn'd Then did he raise me up small hopes I have Saith he death I doe smell his life I cannot save Yet in the name of God he did begin To view the wound which I had for my sin God out of ill drawes good and who doth know If unto him the Lord will mercy show While that he breathes saith he in hope I live That God in mercy will assistance give To what I undertake I must confesse Ten thousand in the world are kil'd with lesse A stroake upon the Temples of the head Without a wound or fracture strikes men dead Therefore my brother Surgeon shewd his skill Whose aid I crave I shall applaud him still If in the head the fracture were not found Before this time he had beene in the ground In Brecknockeshire he lives one of his name Did live in Hereford and dy'd with fame He was a noted Surgeon of account Who to the seat of justice there did mount When I a Schoole-boy was he then was Maior And ore the Citty swaid in justice chaire His name was Thomas Williams there approv'd For knowledge wit and skill of all belov'd My Surgeon here is of that name and nature Ordain'd of God to make me live Gods creature And here on earth his servant would I be To blaze his love and mercy unto me This dreadfull newes to Hereford did come Which struck my brother friends and mother dumbe Then she who never thought to visit Wales God did appoint to mount those hils and dales If any were within that sad short way She did not them respect with delay She and my brother came with speed to see What dire mischance had happened unto me Oh! for my sins is was on God blest day For which my Conscience makes me fast and pray His Sabbath I prophaned sundry times But specially I grieve for all those crimes I did on Whitsunday declar'd before Which caus'd the Lord to punish me so sore Wherefore with heart and soule I dayly pray That I may truely keepe his Sabbath day Lord make the world detest that great offence And let all Christians have that spirituall sence The Surgeon whom God sent began to try His hopefull skill my wound he did unty The sharpe incision made he open layd Which made my friends the lookers on affraid Saying with feare if more blood this man spill He needs must dye yet doth he dye with skill Then he replyd thinke you my skill so small VVhat ere I doe there shall not much blood fall From him my flesh he scar'd as he thought good And with his fingers still he stopt the blood My skin he flaid and did raspe out that bone Which in my temples cract upon a stone But by Gods providence and Surgeons skill A spoonfull more of blood he did not spill The bone wraspt up it smeld egregiously And ore the braine he said three skins did lye â—f each of them were putrify'd then he May linger yet but long he cannot be Alive two tainte where the third was not With putrifaction stain'd blemish or spot Whereat my friends and Surgion did rejoyce â—n hope the Lord my God did heare the voice Of some that prayd yet they an alteration Feard which fell beyond mans expectation For God himselfe which did my flesh torment Reviv'd my soule and made my heart repent Then in the morne before the breake of day The Surgeon sent to see how quiet I lay My loving friends who watcht with me that night With courteous words againe did him requite Surely said they the Surgeon hands are blest For since his fall he tooke not so much rest The former Surgeon his attendance gave And all things brought which he desir'd to have Their care their paines their love did still abound They griev'd they fear'd they hop'd I mercy found With God and when they hopes of life did see They prais'd the Lord and each one prayd for me Then did they view my dreadfull wound againe And order gave what meats I should refraine And when my grievous wound they view and drest The Surgeon God did send made this request Cause I have many patients here and there And my long absence might put them in feare I pray be pleas'd sith feare of death is past That unto them againe I now may hast His brother Williams he would leave with me For under God he sav'd your life said he Had not he found the fracture in the head And an incision made you had beene dead Before this time therefore you live to God All comes from him he smote you with his rod These words my Masters pleas'd my friends also Who said to him you know your time to goe Let us not hinder you goe when you please For God appointed you to give him ease After which time he two dayes more did stay But then with speed he seem'd to post away The former Surgeon then his skill did shew But how this wound I had I did not know For after I abus'd the Sabbath day I did remaine in health a weeke they say And more but all that time I cannot tell What ere I did being then both sound and well Nor six weekes after I was hurt alas Nothing I know nor how it came to passe But by relation I will make it knowne Wherefore Gods judgement was upon me showne It was for mine offence seven weekes before Which still I doe remember but no more Saving those things I did
on Whitsunday For then I know from God I went astray Within six weekes the Surgeon came againe To me but then they said I told him plaine I knew him not wherefore he did reply Your braines I felt when you were like to dye Witnesse this bone which then I tooke from you My friends did say alas it 's too too true He under God did save your life on earth And gave a being to your second birth Then as a child I did begin to goe And senselesse liv'd of griefe of paine of woe My mother and my friends newly did grieve And prayd that I so simple might not live They of a wedding speake where I had beene Wishing that I those parties nere had seene Whereat I mus'd for I had cleane forgot The same alas said I I know it not Hath not the Lord new moulded me agen And makes me now a spectacle for men To gaze upon but t is my makers pleasure Which I imbrace as worldlings doe their treasure His Sabbath I prophan'd not once nor twice But too too oft for which I Sacrifice These sighs of mine my wound it fairely heal'd Which pleas'd my Surgeon well yet he appeal'd To God he could not make me speake againe Yet I but halfe a yeare did so remaine Nay in a moneth or two my health I had Though weake and feeble melancholly sad But then my Mother she my double nurse Departed home whereat I griev'd far worse To thinke my faculties from me were gon Which made me sigh and pray to God alone For grace and that he would be pleas'd to see My dolefull case my feare infirmitie In mercy then my memory he sent Againe and gave me grace for to repent Then on the Sabbath day my thoughts did run I griev'd I mourn'd to thinke what I had done On Whitsunday before declar'd alas For which I feare the heav'ns brought this to passe On me and makes me to the world relate The cause that mortall man that sin may hate My heart condemnes me still for that offence Cause seven weeks after I had lost each sense My memory fayld in all things that I knew Before that time which I before did shew Then in my griefe I slept and in my sleepe The Angell spoke that did my body keepe Yet foure and thou shalt be as thou hast beene Which made me hope at foure weeks end t' have seene It come to passe but that night in a Dreame The Angell spake againe foure yeares I meane With that I wak't and prais'd the God of might Who in my sleepe resolv'd my doubt that night Which made my heart rejoyce then as I prayd The spirit spake againe and thus it said Gods sacred Booke take thou and understand His will read it and marke what he commands Doe not despaire he knowes thy judgement 's weake Thy heart he knows what thy tongue would speake Observe and note his mercies manifold To haynous sinners our fore-forefathers old Which Booke in time I read in hope in feare Yet speechlesse I remain'd for halfe a yeare After that dreadfull accident most strange But then my desperate thoughts to faith did change Now when the Idoll of vaine pleasure she Whom on the Lords day I did ride to see Was of her sicknesse late recovered quite Her lewd temptation made my soule affright But then I found God was displeas'd likewise With her the Load-stone to my miseries For on his blessed day his day of rest His word I loath'd when she my heart possest To her I rid who likewise did prophane Gods day for which offence she came to shame That yeare she from those parts disgracefull fled And in another shire was brought to bed The child being borne of it she was bereft By death ere since her native place she left Thefore I pray as God converted me Doe so O Lord to her where ere she be Then from my mother speedily I heard My father in law lay sicke his death she fear'd Which made me strive to write my mind againe To her and then I wisht her to refraine To grieve excessively if he should dye God would provide enough fot her and I After which time eight dayes he liv'd the most Then as they say he yeelded up the ghost Which when I heard I griev'd yet then I thought that God did looke on me agen And for my mothers good this chance befell That after ages may this Story tell When she was married to that second man I then being Prentice from my Master ran Because I griev'd at her unluckie fate I fear'd her choice would prove unfortunate Which soone did come to passe his gains did slip Still through his hands by too oft suretiship Which made my mother vex she wept she griev'd Yea small content she had while here he liv'd Wherefore this dire mischance the Lord did send To me that she in Wales might me attend But when to Hereford she was return'd Within eight dayes she for her husband mourn'd Whose unexpected death perplext her heart But then Mans chiefe protector tooke her part On her my thoughts did run I could not rest Untill she yeelded to my small request Which onely was that she would live with me The which the pow'rs divine did first decree With me my fathers name she had againe ' Cause I her son as husband did remaine Two yeares being past and gon in hope I liv'd At Bath to gaine my speech for which I griev'd Which made me often to be vext and crost For all my faculties and speech I lost At Bath I stayd nine dayes in expectation Not as brave gallants doe for recreation But I with Faith and hope my time did spend Then as from Bath I rid at the Townes end My horse did stumble at a heape of stones Whereon I fell there might I breake my bones My foot within the Srirrop hung to shew My life my soule my all to God I owe He made my horse afraid to stirre or move From thence untill my foot I did remove Out of the Stirrop then my friend came in And held my horse who saw that I had bin Deliv'red safe from harme but fearefull sad Which made me thinke upon a dreame I had Two yeares before my heart did then perceive God might my braines dash out and me bereave Of life because I did mistrust that he At foure yeares end would make me be As I had beene Lord pardon me for it And I shall wait untill thou thinkst it fit To make me sound yet I in Bristoll stayd At that new well till I was there afraid Of Gods all-seeing power then did I grieve Because my faith would not a dreame beleeve And I returned home againe with speed Where for my secret sins my heart did bleed Then did I call to mind what God had pend There I observ'd Gods mercies hath no end Made knowne by 's Prophets and Apostles grave Which did increase my faith and comfort gave To me yea there I
markt what fearefull sin Our fore-fathers did too too much runne in Gods mighty wrath they often did provoke Yet soone it vanisht as the Airy smoake But most severe he hath beene unto those Who did his Sabbath breake when they might choose Witnesse the man who for a small offence On Gods blest day death was his recompence He onely gathered sticks to serve his need But from neglect or sloth it did proceed God seaven dayes did make and did exempt But one for his owne use now in contempt If man abuse his Sabbath which he blest And from his worldly labours will not rest Or if we lewdly spend the Sabbath day Or carelessely his sacred will obey Or if that day our duties we neglect For that offence wee may the like expect But he that gathered sticks and I have bin Thus plagu'd that others may abhorre that sin Praysed be God for it though I have beene Ere since perplext in mind yet hath he seene Me dayly on my knees for mercy praving And with repentant teares alwayes am saying O Lord my God my faith my hope encrease My weake petitions grant when thou shalt please Yet all those faculties which I enjoy'd For seven yeares the Lord my God annoy'd But I with faith and hope did alwayes pray Unto him still whose mercy doth o'resway His justice great for in all ages past Gods dreadfull wrath did but a moment last And his chastisement which in mercy fall The greater blessings doe attend them all Witnesse the Thiefe that dyed with our Saviour His faith upon the Crosse his last behaviour Made him with Jesus Christ to live for ever And with the Saints he Lauds th' Almighty giver Of Heaven and Earth of joy of Peace of Rest The onely man that at his Death was blest Now seeing in mercy God chastised me With faith I hope my life was his decree He turn'd my teares to smiles and in my sleepe The Spirit that spake true promise then did keepe For long before the time was at an end A married wife from London God did send Unto her husband who in Brecknocke liv'd Where he with sicknesse was long vext and griev'd Now in this second Mâ—trymoniall knot Gods love and mercy shall not be forgot For when the Sick-mans meanes was almost gon It was encreast past hopes by God alone Who made his wife returne to ease his heart And from her gold most freely she did part She travail'd far and neere by day and night To gaine Physitions aid if that she might No cost she spar'd no physicke did he lacke But all in vaine for death at crusht his backe Yet God did make their love againe more strong Then ere it was which death did crosse ere long For Atropo's stole with his dierfull knife And suddainly did cut his thred of life Before his death she dream'd by her relation Unto their friends beyond mans expectation She being with child was often sicke with feare Then in a dreame her Unckle did appeare To her and to her comfort thus he said Thinke on Christ Jesus be not thou dismaid On wednesday thou shalt ease and comfort have But when she wak'd the man was in his grave In dust and ashes he was long before For he had then beene dead six yeares and more Her husband being in tomb'd within the earth Two children strove in her to have their birth Then two moneths after upon Friday night Strong throws and labour did her soule affright Yea day by day she was in mortall paine Untill that hopefull wednesday came againe The Mid-wife and her friends this counsell gave To cut her wombe that she her life might save But she replied nay God forbid that I Should rip my wombe no rather let me dye But on the wednesday morne that followed next Her griefe encreast and she was more perplext Then from her wombe a sweet girle there did spring Which did encrease her faith not feare deaths sting Yet then her throws encreas'd she had more paine Till from her wombe a dead child sprung againe Which was a boy the girle on earth did live Eleaven dayes Then Christ her soule did give To God and all her friends with one accord Did humbly praise th' eternall mighty Lord Who such a wonder on a stranger wrought The like was never seene in Wales t is thought God sav'd her life past hopes and made her know The day that his great mercy he would show To her her friends thus said she was belov'd Of God for God her faith and patience prov'd She was chastis'd to shew that she was blest God spar'd her life her faith the heavens increast Her love her care of him who caus'd her wo Doth shew her faith yet she they said must do The like no doubt Gods glory she must raise For which she lives to gaine eternall praise Cease doting Muse in vaine thou setst her forth God knowes her heart let heav'ns make knowne her worth She being restored to her health againe Among her husbands friends she did maintaine Her selfe according to her rancke and blood In modest sort during her widdow-hood She taught to sow to wash to starch to read Her love her fame in divers shires did spread From whence the Gentry did their children send To her her breeding they did still commend Her paines her care her love gave all content The heaven of heavens did know her true intent Then did she dreame againe as t was reported A Painter to her company resorted He gain'd her love to him she married was But thought that it would never come to passe When she awak't but in the morning she Did aske what Painters here in Wales might be Her friends reply'd truly we know not well But in this Towne there 's one we all can tell This night said she a Painter won my love A blacke haird man of him I did approve But now the Painter I have lost my love Is God who did my faith and patience prove Then when she was growne strong she did returne Unto that house where she began to mourne For her late husband dead but when againe She came my mother neere her did remaine Where they close neighbors for a twelve month liv'd And oft discours'd sometimes wherefore they griev'd My mother finding her most loving courteous kind Of good conditions and a zealous mind They both were intimate and liv'd together More deare then neighbours for I knew not whether Greater affection bore unto each other Then for her kind respects unto my Mother In commendations of her blessed name I these unpolisht lines did frame Mary a Virgin God and Man did beare Who conquer'd Death for those in thraldome were And you in name and nature blest also For health unto the Virgins Son did go Your love your faith your hope in God your joy Brought you to him who did death hell destroy Then when the Spirits promise did grow neere Fresh hopes reviv'd my heart as shall appeare My senses all
downe and brambles live Then when I left my Church-worke every night I still would take a Pen and thus did write Wee Painters erre to picture death still blind For I observe he sees the best to find But meagre death thy Dart hath done them good Thrice happie they wherein thy sting hath stood Thou art deceiv'd their soules to heaven flye Though in the earth their bodies rotting lye Thy ghastly pale grim face makes friends to weepe When thy sharpe dart makes friends in earth to sleepe Yet nought thou canst with all thy hate or love Save what 's decreed by that three-one above Then let me spare to rave and be content He is commanded by th'Omnipotent He doth command the world and him also Therefore let us prepare with death to go Let those alas who too too oft have stood More for the Church goods then the Churches good Repent and grieve for it with awfull feare Praysing his name who doth his rod forbeare And let those great ones next who seeme most strong Can hardly offer right or suffer wrong Let them with humble hearts and soules confesse That heretofore they weakely did transgresse Let every one make privie search within And with repentance root out damned sin Let 's firmely love yea with a tender heart All envie malice discord set apart Such sins as those and others not much lesse Is th' onely cause of griefe and heavinesse T was not their sins alone which bred our woe But ours with theirs and many sinners mo We are the cause alas as well as they For which our friends so soone doe rot in clay We oft speake faire and love is dayly faind Gold some doe make their God ungodly gaind When men grow rich they then grow insolent Scorning the poore and harmelesse innocent Gods wrath we doe provoke he oft doth threat With bitter teares let 's humbly him intreat To save the rest and turne his wrath away Oh! turne us Lord I 'm bold my selfe to pray For for our sins and for our wicked crimes Thou tak'st away the godly oftentimes God takes from us in my conceipt the best My faithfull friends with death he did arrest Thus I my heart did ease at idle times With making such unpleasant dolefull lines Six sheets of Paper closely did I write The more I griev'd bewail'd the more I might Of them I onely here have given a touch To Criticks eares I know it s too too much Therefore I le cease and hold on my discourse In praise of God which may perhaps seeme worse To them when I had gon through Brecknockshire And Painted most of all the Churches there My Prentise did desire his friends to see And with his father rid to Mountgom'ry That day from Herefordshire a message came To me and said that there God spread my fame I thither must make hast without delay And there resolve a moneth or two to stay To teach young Gentlemen to write with speed Whom Doctor Rogers in his house did breed To them I went where I did find such love As if the powers divine had from above Decreed that to my native place I must returne And for the good of others am I borne My Prentise then return'd to me no more Wherefore my Church Commission I gave ore Now was my first borne son on All Saints day â—ust five yeers old and as my friends did say About that time the day the houre of 's birth His blessed soule forsooke this mortall earth Then on the morrow when I heard that newes 〈◊〉 came unto my house where I did use 〈◊〉 Iob like patient mind and prays'd the Lord Not doubting but his mercy would afford Me grace to be content then did I write And make this Epitaph his fathers mite On All Saints day thou didst draw vitall breath On All Saints day God sent for thee by death On All Saints morne t was five yeeres since that time Thou first unto thy mothers papes did climbe God cald thee hence twice all the Saints did show Thou wast a jewell which God himselfe did owe God did decree that all the Saints should bring Thee to the earth and fetch thee to their King Who so is borne to day and dyes to morrow Looseth few dayes of mirth but moneths of sorrow Then when some mournfull dayes for him were past To Herefordshire againe I did make hast Unto my Schollers there but by the way I at a zealous house was forc't to stay Whose sons that Doctor did instruct and I Their want in th' Arte of writing did supply And as I backe returned home againe At that religious house I did remaine All night and on the Sabbath day I went From thence unknowne because I would prevent The time for riding to and fro so far My expectation it did seeme to bar But when I came to them againe I heard A mild discourse which made my soule affeard Cause I againe had trespast on Gods day For which offence I wept and thus did pray Be pleas'd O Lord to make me recompence My weake desire and wilfull ignorance With zeale devout Lord shield me every where From bold presumption griefe despaire and feare Then as through Hereford I often past The Free Schoole-Master and his friends at last With many a Townes-man there did speake to me That in their City I sometimes would be To teach to write For in your native Towne Said they where you once liv'd your fame is blowne Their kind perswasion soon impression tooke In me for Wales I instantly forsooke And all preferments there to Hereford I came whose Church and Colledge will afford A pensive man true comfort in distresse True food for soules and men in heavinesse Now in this City can I scarcely gaine Sufficient meanes yet doe I still maintaine My selfe my family taxations pay And all God sends to whom I fast and pray Grant me thy grace O God contentment still Lord my ambition is to doe thy will Thou know'st that 's all the wealth I wish on earth Which is thy gracious gift my second birth My heart my soule shall on my God relie His name I blesse I praise I magnifie Which is the cause that I this Mite have writ To shew my zeale but not to blaze my wit Which is but weake a Trades-man weake I am Whom Christ I hope hath cald t' adore his name THE PRAYER O Lord God everlasting Father Almighty maker of heaven and earth glorious holy and mercifull art thou in all thy works of thy goodnesse and mercy thou maa'st me of the dust of the earth breathing in me the breath of life to the intent I should continually serve thee but I a miserable and wretched sinner following the steps of my first parents transgressed thy commandements and have beene often inveigled by the world the flesh and the divell to breake thy Sabbath for which my conseience perswades me by many infallible reasons that thou in mercy hast afflicted me for the same yet upon my weake humiliation thou wast pleased after thy chastisement to comfort my heart with the remembrance of thy fatherly love declared in thy sacred word for thou causedst thine onely Son Christ Iesus to descend from thy throne of Majesty into this vale of woe and misery who became as it were a sinfull man and suffered the most shamefull death of the Crosse for my sins and for the sinnes of all Mankind he being spotlesse and righteous neverthelesse I still erred and procured thy wrath and indignation against me yet in mercy thou only afflicted sime for my sins offences piercing my conscience for prophaning thy Sabbath for which thou mightest justly have consumed me and rooted me out from the face of the earth but thy mercy overswayed thy justice for thou sparedst my life when all that saw me or heard of me said I was either dead or past hopes of recovery verifying in me the Apostles words This is the Lords doing and it is marvelous in our eyes and what thy Servant David said is true in me Lord thou hast chastised and corrected me but hast not given me over to death therefore my heart and soule and all my vitall spirits shall magnifie thy great name beseeching thee for Iesus Christs sake if it be thy blessed will and pleasure to restore me to my former stoength speech health memory and faculties that I may hereafter walke faithfully before thee all the dayes of this my earthly pilgrimage doing and performing diligently with faith hope and zeale those things which thou commandest me banishing from my heart presumption and despaire Lord forgive me my former sins and iniquities which I ungraciously and partly thorow ignorance have committed against thee Thou knowest O God my simplenesse and what I need better then I can aske or crave therefore in all humility I refer my will to thy blessed pleasure beseeching thee O most gracious Father to continue multiply and increase thy love and favour bestowed on me that I never offend thee in thought word deed or consent and when it shall please thee to call for this my wretched body out of this miserable world that my Saviour may present it spotlesse unto thee amongst thine elect notwithstanding the wickednes of my corrupt nature which blessing I humbly beg at thy mercifull hands for the merits of thy only Son Christ Iesus my Saviour redeemer and advocate O immortall eternall and everliving God from the bottome of my heart and soule I blesse magnifie and adore thy sacred name beseeching thee again and againe for Iesus sake to accept of these my humble petitione although my hand is not able to write nor heart conceive the praises due unto thee neither can any tongue declare thy love goodnes and mercy Wherfore I conclude this my humble desire praise and thanksgiving with that absolute prayer which thy Son my advocate Iesus Christ hath taught us saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. FINIS