THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND DEATH OF MISTRIS KATHERIN BRETTERGH late wife of Master VVilliam Brettergh of Bretterghoult in the Countie of Lancaster Gentleman who departed this world the last of May. With the manner of a bitter conflict she had with Satan and blessed conquest by Christ before her death 〈…〉 glorie of God and comfort of all beholders MICHA 7.8 Reioyce not against me O mine enemie though I fall I shall rise againe And when I sit in darkenesse the Lord shall be a light vnto me PSALM 37.37 〈◊〉 the vpright man and behold the iust for the end of that 〈…〉 â—â—ace AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston and are to be sold by Thomas Pauier 1612. The holy life and Christian death of Mistris Katherin Brettergh THis Gentlewoman was borne in Cheshire the daughter of Iohn Bruen of Bruenstapleford Esquire well descended and of an ancient house Her education before her mariage was such as became the profession of the Gospell in godlines and puritie of life and religion and wel beséemed the house where she was brought vp The Scriptures shee knew from a child Stapleford and by reading thereof gained such knowledge that shée was able readilie to apply them when occasion was offered as we may see at 〈…〉 that so fitly and effectually that shée 〈…〉 dailie meditation For the things 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—erate and sober and by her Christian 〈…〉 â—ath she â—â—ght teach many Gentlewomen how vaine the pleasures and fashions of this world are and how farre vnable to bring that peace to a distressed heart that the embracing of true Religion can She vsed not to gad abroad with wandring Dinah Genes 34.1 1. Sam. 1.9.12 to dancing gréenes markets or publike assemblies but rather with Hannah did chuse to tread vpon the dust of the Sanctuarie and walke in the waâ—â—â— of Sion yea with Dauid Psalm 84.10 rather to bee a doore-keeper in the house of God then to haue societie with the wicked or to dwell in the tents and tabernaâ—â—â—s of the vngodly The Sabbath day was alwaies deere and â—â—â—come to her what time shee would not be without the word preached though many times she went farre for it Her delight was still to consecrate it glorious to the Lord. And as it is said of Iosiah 2. King 22.19 his heart melted when he heard the law so may it be said of her her heart was so tender and full of compassion that oftentimes shee was seene to heare Sermons reade pray and meditate with teares She made conscience of all sinne yea of the least sin such as worldlings count no sinne she neuer vsed to swearedath great nor small nor yet to abuse her tongue with vaine or vnseemely speeches no not so much as a iest-lie or immodest word neither durst she name the name of God or take his titles in her mouth without great reuerence In priuate speech where shee might speake with profit shée did it so well that her speeches might haue been deliuered by a stronger vessell then her selfe her words being so well seasoned and proceeding from such a sanctified heart did alwaies minister grace to the hearers To reade Psalm 16.3 to pray to sing to meditate was her daily exercise and her chiefest delight was in the holy society of the Saints vpon earth which I say not for any cause but onely to shew the fountaine from whence her godlie end flowed and that the world may sée some there bée which chuse rather to bée ioyned with the people of God Heb. 11.25 then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season and these I doubt not haue chosen the better part Finally the precepts of the Lord were pretious vnto her for from her childhood shée feared God and 〈…〉 knowledge and sanctification did ioyne in 〈…〉 â—â—fects whereof did appeare in her life and was séene at he◠〈…〉 to the glorie of God and comfort of all beholders She was not like the simple Popish women of our daies which are euer learning 2. Tim. 3.6.7 and neuer able to come to the knowledge of the truth but rather like the noble men and women of Berea which receiued the word of God with readinesse Act. 17.11.12 and were able to discerne of Pauls and Silas preaching But why doe I speake of Popish women whose vnderstandings are darker then the darknes of Egypt Let vs come and examine many other which séeme to detest Poperie and aske them a reason of their faith they can tell you a tale of their ruffes 〈◊〉 their pride and their vanities but for Religion it is the least thing they regard or séeke to know which I speake not so much to solace my selte in the sins and simplicitie of others as earnestly desiring al Gentlewomen that either knew this holy Saint of God or hereafter shall heare of her in stead of your glasses at home wherein you pricke and prune and pin your selues to looke into this glasse before your eyes that so her life and death may bée an example for you to fol ow. When shée was about twentie yéeres old by the consent of herselfe and her friends she was married to a young Lancashire Gentleman Master William Brettergh of Bretterghoult néere Liuerpole one that likewise embraced Religion sincerelie and for the same indured many grieuances at the hands of Papists Two yéeres and more she liued after shée was married and had issue onelie one Daughter during which time Anna Brettergh this couple liued together in such mutuall ioy and comfort as well beséemed the children of God which make profession of his truth And although this Gentlewoman came from the habitations of Abraham to dwell in Sodome amidst the tents of Kedar Psal 120.5 that is to say among inhumane bands of brutish Papists induring many temporall grieuances from them yet her knowledge patience mild inclination and constancie for the truth was such as that her husband was further builded vp in Religion by her meanes and his face daily more and more hardened against the diuell and all 〈◊〉 plaguie agents the Popish Recusants Church-papists 〈…〉 all Protestants which swarmed together 〈…〉 parts It 〈◊〉 vnknowne to Lancashire what horses and cattell of her husbands were killed vpon his grounds in the night most barbarouslie at two seuerall times by Seminarie Priests no question and Recusants that lurked thereabouts And what a losse and hindrance it was vnto him being all the stocke hée had on his grounds to any purpose This fell out not long after shée was married to him yet this was so farre from dismaying her or working such passions in her as are common to her sex that she rather reioyced then sorrowed turning it into matter of praising God and submitting her selfe to his good prouidence n = * Iohn Wrightinton Esquire Richard Orme Raph Heaton c. and many moe Oft she would haue said It is good that such things be but woe be to them that doe them It is good in
and tongue of this blessed Gentle woman at her death with such heauenly comforts is the doctrine of Christ reuealed from heauen that wee might liue and die in it From Tuesday Pl till Whitian-eeuen her comfort still incereased and tentations vanished away She would then very chearefully ioyne with the company in prayer and singing Psalmes as occasion offered Iohn Bruen Esquire William Brettergh William Fox Iohn Brettergh William Woodward Iohn Holland Maud Brettergh Scholastica Fox 1. Pet. 4.17.18 Iohn Holland William Brettergh William Woodward and performed all such duties as were méet for her in that estate One day her brother M. Iohn Bruen of Bruenstapleford came from his house in Cheshire to visit her and 〈…〉 some kind salutation passed betwéene them he said vnto her Sister be not dismaied at your troubles but remember what the Apostle saith that iudgement must begin at the house of God To whom she answered as one that was also very ready in the Scriptures with the very next words following True it is and if it begin at vs and the righteous shall scarce be saued where shal the sinners and vngodly appeare After that she prayed with him and sung a Psalme with him as one that receiued great comfort by him and acknowledged in him a hart set to séek the things belonging to the kingdam of Christ During this time in the night with such as waked with her she would pray and rehearse for her comfort many texts of Scripture and namely the 8. to the Romanes many times concluding and closing vp that shée read or repeated with prayer and most comfortable vses and applications thereof to her selfe with shew of such ioy and comfort that the hearers reioyced at it When n = * Richar Orme Iohn Holland William Brettergh William Woodward William Fox Reuel 21.6 William Brettergh William Fox Psal 119.71.72 William Brettergh shée receiued any meat shee prayed God not onely to sanctifie those creatures for her bodilie sustenance but also to fill her soule with the waters of life often repeating that of the Reuelation To him that thirsteth will I giue of the waters of life freelie One time she tooke her Bible in her hand and ioyfully kissing it and looking vp toward heauen she said that of the Psalme O Lord it is good for me that I haue bin afflicted that I may learne thy statutes The law of thy mouth is better to me then thousands of gold and siluer Another time she called her husband to her and said O husband beware of Papistrie keepe your selfe holy before the Lord Yeeld not to the abominations of the wicked lest they reioyce and so you dishonour God and destroy your owne soule Againe she said Let my little child be brought vp among the children of God Maud Brettergh and in the true feare and knowledge of his Maiestie so shall I meet her in heauen whom now I must leaue behind me on earth Again William Brettergh Rom. 8.15 William Fox sometime shée would pray with a low voice to her selfe and that saying of Paul We haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare any more but the spirit of adoption whereby we crie Abba father was much in her mouth and the last words Abba father she would double oftentimes ouer She would sing to her selfe the last verse of the 13. Psalme I will giue thankes vnto the Lord and praises to him sing Because he hath heard my request and granted my wishing Finally in these and such like exercises and meditations did shée spend the whole time of her sickenes after the Lord had once enlarged her heart from the tentations of Satan But vpon Saturday about eleuen of the clocke in the morning May 30. the Lord disclosed himselfe in mercy to her more plentifully then euer before and as I may say he dealt famlliarly with his handmaid for from that time to her very death which ensued the next day the féeling of Satans tentations séemed quite to be banished from her so that she made no shew of them her thoughts were not occupied with the world husband child or any thing else to our thinking neither was her sickenes trouble some to her as before it had been but as one raised from death to life or rauished in spirit so séemed shée to vs that stood by her countenance ioyfull her tongue flowing with the praises of God and her voice as most heauenly musicke and melodie of peace sounding praise and honour and glorie to God in a wonderfull manuer as followeth About eleuen of the clocke shée began to tremble and quake a little William Brettergh Maud Brettergh Elizabeth Challoner and withall shée asked her husband it hée would helpe her with prayer to God against the tempter saying Will ye neither pray with mée nor bring some godlie man that may put holy things into my mind whereby I may bée able to resist Satan Hauing thus said shee vttered these words O Lord God of my saluation helpe my weaknesse pleade thou my cause O God of truth for in thee do I trust After this they prayed together and she answered Amen to euery petition Then after this she required him to reade some part of the Scripture whereupon hee read vnto her the 8. to the Romanes the 91. Psalme and the 17. of Iohn the which as he read and came to the 4. verse I haue finished the worke which thou gauest me to do and now glorifie me she desired him to pause a while then said Blessed be thy name O blessed Sauiour perfect the worke I humblie beseech thee which thou hast begun in me Then as he read the 9. verse I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast giuen me for they are thine she interrupted him againe saying O Lord Iesu doest thou pray for me O blessed and sweet Sauiour how wonderfull how wonderfull how wonderfull are thy mercies Read on said she the blessedst reading that euer I heard the comfort whereof doth sweeten my soule Then reading verse the 22. And the glorie which thou gauest mee I haue giuen them that they may bee one as we are one with maruellous ioy she vttered the words of Dauid many times ouer Psal 107.8.9 I confesse before the Lord his louing kindnes and his wonderful works before the sonnes of men for he hath satisfied my soule and filled my hungry soule with goodnes When he came to the 24. verse Father I will that they which thou hast giuen me be with me euen where I am that they may behold my glorie which thou hast giuen me Stay said she and let me meditate on the goodnes of the Lord for this is the swéetest saying that euer came to my soule for now I perceiue and feele the countenance of Christ my redeemer is turned towards me and the bright shining beames of his mercie is spread ouer me Oh happie am I that euer I was borne to see this blessed day Praise praise
God thereby to chasten his children and preuent some sinne which he saw vs like to fall into It is good in respect of Gods Church that the weake may be confirmed in the truth and that Papistrie may bée disgraced when the world shall sée such wickednesse flow from it It is good in God that so the wicked may be without excuse at the day of iudgement when their conscience shall tell them that howsoeuer God suffers them to doe such villanie for some iust cause knowne to himselfe yet they commit it onely of malice and reuenge Oftentimes also in these vexations she would haue said the mercies of God are infinite who doth not onely by his word but also by his iustice make vs fit for his kingdome Little doe our enemies know what good by these things they doe vnto vs and what wracke they bring to their owne kingdome while they set foorth the wickednesse thereof Many times shee would pray that God would forgiue them which had done them this hurt and send them repentance and she would call vpon her husband that he would doe the like Matth. 5.44 and blesse them that cursed him And for feare lest her husband should faile in that point through infirmitie and weakenesse Iohn 1.5 as it is said of Iob who offered sacrifice for his sonnes lest peraduenture they should sinne and blaspheme God in their hearts so she neuer failed but daily prayed vnto the Lord to sanctifie her husbands thoughts and direct his hearts right onelie to seeke Gods glorie without either desire of reuenge or satisfying his owne affections So humble was her spirit so carefull to auoid and preuent 〈…〉 and others and so mild of nature that 〈…〉 â—â—â—nesse softened the malicious heart of Esau his brother Gen. 33.3.4 1. Sam. 24. 17.18 〈◊〉 Dauid by his kindnesse in the caue changed the fuâ—â—e of Saul into wéeping and confessing that Dauid was more righteous then he so she by her meekenesse humilitie and vnspotted carriage in the world forced some of the aduersaries to Religion to speake well of her For her life she was well reported of all that knew her Pitifull and bountifull was shee to the poore and slacked no opportunitie to doe good wherein shee could but constantly held her course and kept her times of praying reading and meditating wherein she had plentifull gifts and continuallie vsed the same at such times as were fitting for her state sex and calling At the exercises of Religion as prayer and instruction in her familie she would not be wanting besides priuate prayer and meditation which she omitted not but vsed daily both in her chamber Genes 24.63 as also abroad secretlie and solitarilie in the orchard garden or fields as Isaacks manner was In reading the Scriptures shée vsed euermore to taske her selfe eight chapters a day at the least and for the time which she saw euill or idlie spent without doing some good she vsed to call the time of tentation Many times also she would reade some godly writer or expositor of Scripture or in the booke of Martyrs and was seene to weepe most bitterly when either she had read of that which touched her affections neere or of the cruell martyrdome which the deare children of God were put vnto by the cruell and wicked tyrants of former daies For Poperie she saw it so grosse and foolish Exod. 23.13 Psalm 16.4 Ephes 5.3 Iudg. 6.31.32 Eccl. 4.25.28 that shee would not once name it except it were to argue against it but neuer for it so zealous was she of Gods glorie and loued the truth so intirely that she would not once open her mouth to plead for Baal Sin aboue all things was batefull vnto her for there at shée would haue grieued as well when she had seene it in others as in her selfe One or two examples I cannot omit wherein shée bewraied a worthie spirit sanctified by the spirit of God and prepared for all the assaults of Satan On a time as her husband and 〈◊〉 were riding toward the Church he was angry with his 〈…〉 husband â—â—â—â—th she I feare your heart is not right toward 〈◊〉 that can be thus angrie for a trifle And weeping she said further you must pray against this your affection and alwaies be sure your anger be of God for else how dare you appeare this day before his Minister and offer vp your prayers in the publike congregation of the Saints of God Another time a tenant of her husbands being behind with his rent shée desired him to beare yet with him a quarter of a yeere which hee did and when the man brought his money with teares shee said to her husband I feare you doe not well to take it of him though it bee your right for I doubt he is not well able to pay it and then you oppresse the poore So great a compassion had she of other mens wants that all things being duly considered and rightly weighed me thinks I may say of her as Paul said of Timothie I know none like minded Thus after she was married Phil. 2.20 she continued in the things shee had learned and held her profession with such sinceritie that the common enemies to our religion the very Papists had nothing to say against her but confessed her life was vnreproueable And as for the godly that knew her they alwaies acknowledged that modestie and vertuous carriage in her ioyned with knowledge and practise of all the duties of religion that they had iust cause to report of her as of a sound and faithfull professor of the Gospell Two yéeres and somewhat more she liued with her husband till about Whitsontide it pleased God to send her that sicknes whereof on Whitsonday she died Her sicknesse tooke her in the manner of a hot burning Ague which made her according to the nature of such diseases now and then to talke somewhat idlâ— and through the tempters subtiltie which abused the infirmitie of her body to that end as hée oftentimes vseth to doe in many from idle words to descend into a heauie conflict with the infirmitie of her owne spirit from the which yet the Lord presently and wonderfully deliuered her giuing so ioyfull an issue to the tentation that she might well vse the words of the Prophet as afterwards she did For a moment O Lord Esa 54.8 May 23. thou diddest hide thy face from me for a little season but with euerlasting mercie thou haddest compassion on me On Saturday seuen-night before Whitsunday what time she sickned she began to feele some little infirmitie and 〈…〉 then she had wont to shew but she so â—â—â—â—uer came 〈…〉 Monday night it increased vpon her May 25. and the assault of the enemie began to be sharpe and so continued till the next day at afternoone what time God deliuered her and sent her peace and comfort of conscience and so increased the same in her continually til she died The manner of her affliction
O praise the Lord for his mercies for hee hath brought me out of darkenes Esa 27.1 Psalm 103.1.2.3.4 and the shadow of death hee hath deliuered my soule from the snare of the hunter and hath taken me out of the den of Lions euen from the iawes of Leuiathan that piercing and crooked serpent and hath set me in a place of rest and sweete refreshing Oh praise the Lord O my soule all that is within me praise his holy name my soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits which forgiueth all thine iniquities and healeth all thine infirmities which hath redeemed thy life from the graue and crowneth thee with mercie and compassion This she often repeated And then againe remembring the 21. and 22. verses of the 17. of Iohn shee said O my sweete Sauiour shall I be one with thee as thou art one with thy Father And wilt thou glorifie mee with that glorie which thou haddest with the father before the world was And dost thou so loue mee which am but dust and ashes to make me partaker of glorie with Christ What am I poore wretch that thou art so mindfull of me Psal 144.3 Psal 8.4 Oh how wonderfull how wonderfull how wonderfull is thy loue Oh thy loue is vnspeakeable that hast dealt so gratiouslie with me Oh I feele thy mercies and oh that my tongue and heart were able to sound forth thy praises as I ought and as I willingly would doe Oh that you all would helpe me to praise the holie one of Israel the God of all consolations And thus for the space of fiue houres together at the least shée continued praising and lauding the Lord with such a gladsome and heauenly countenance testifying such inward ioy from a comfortable feeling of the mercies of God in her soule and vsing such swéete sentences and sugred phrases of perfect and holy eloquence as the truth thereof if it could haue been taken were admirable continuing so many houres together some part whereof was this Oh my Lord oh my God blessed bee thy name for euermore which hast shewed me the path of life Esa 54.8 Thou didst O Lord hide thy face from me for a little season but with euerlasting mercie thou hast had compassion on me And now blessed Lord thy comfortable presence is come yea Lord thou hast had respect vnto thy handmaid and art come with fulnes of ioy and abundance of consolations O blessed be thy name O Lord my God Then shée repeated part of the 16. Psalme saying The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance wherefore my heart is glad Psal 16.59.11 and my tongue reioyceth Thou wilt shew me the path of life In thy presence is fulnes of ioy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore Oh that I could therefore praise the Lord as hee is worthie to be praised I will sing to the Lord I will sing to the praise of the God of Israel come come saith she and helpe me Iudges 5.3 O helpe me to praise the Lord. And with that she began to sing the third Psalme and continued to the end of the Psalme as perfectly and with as sweete a voice as euer she had before in her health and concluded with the 49. verse of the 106. Psalme The Lord the God of Israel be blest for euermore Let all the people say Amen praise ye the Lord therefore And after this she said O praise the Lord for hee hath filled me with ioy and gladnes of heart and brought me from the gates of hell and of death repeating that of the 16. Psalme Psal 16.6 My line is fallen vnto me in a pleasant place yea I haue a faire heritage for the Lord is the portion of mine inheritance The place where I now am is sweete and pleasant Oh how pleasant is the sweete perfume of the place where I lie Exod. 30.23 It is sweeter then Aarons composed perfume of principall spices how comfortable is the sweetnes I feele Reuel 8.4 It is like that odour that proceeds from the golden censor that delights my soule The taste is precious doe you not feele it Oh so sweete it is yea sweeter then myrrhe the hony or the hony combe Let me therefore sing againe and againe vnto my Lord and my God Then she did sing the nineteenth Psalme beginning at the seuenth verse How perfect is the law of God c. and so on to the end of the same And after that spirituall reioycing in singing of Psalmes she then prayed vnto God faithfully and praised the Lord againe ioyfully And being still full of these and such like heauenly consolacions she did sing againe most hearthly vnto the praise of God the 136. Psalme Praise yee the Lord for hee is good for his mercie endureth for euer c. In which Psalme for his mercie endureth for euer is 26. times repeated A Christian friend comming in at the same time Master William Fox which was about sixe of the clocke in the euening maruelling to see her exceeding ioyes and heauenly harmonie wherein she continued with such words and phrases that were so spirituall prayed for the continuance of the same vnto the end William Brettâ—â—gh William Fox William Woodward whereupon shee then hurst out relating further of her ioyes saying Oh the ioyes the ioyes the ioyes that I feele in my soule oh they be wonderfull they bee wonderfull they bee wonderfull And after that shee prayed for increase of faith and that God would strengthen her against tentations with continuall crauing of cemission of sins euer meditating of heauenly matters as by her sudden and often breaking out into heauenly speeches and praises did appeare for the same euening she lying still and silent for a while William Fox one prayed her to remember the Lord Iesus and that shee would in her heart pray for constancie in her ioyfull course whereupon shee answered with a delightsome and cheerefull countenance and comfortable voyce Psal 27.1.3 Oh said she so I doe for the Lord is my light and my saluation whom then shall I feare Though an host pitch against me yet my heart shall not bee afraid for the Lord hath said Deut. 4.31 I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee Indeed I should vtterly haue fainted Psal 27.13 Psal 108.1 but that I beleeued to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the liuing And now my heart is readie my heart is readie and prepared yea it panteth after thee O God as the Hart brayeth after the riuers of water Psal 42.1.2 so panteth my soule after thee O God my soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God When Lord William Brettergh when shall I come and appeare before thy presence c. Saying then further Lord sith it hath pleased thee to prepare my heart whether to life or death thy will bee done dispose of me to thine owne glorie I am thine Lord work