Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
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A13448
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The fearefull summer, or, Londons calamity, the countries courtesy, and both their misery by Iohn Taylor.
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Taylor, John, 1580-1653.
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1625
(1625)
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STC 23754; ESTC S531
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12,976
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32
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THE FEAREFVLL SVMMER OR LONDONS CALAMITY the countries courtesy and both their misery By IOHN TAYLOR OXFORD Printed by Iohn Lichfield and William Turner Printers to the famous Vniversity Anno Dom. 1625. TO THE TRVLY GENEROVS AND NOBLE Knight Sir IOHN MILLISSENT one of the Gentlemen Pensioners to the Kings most Excellent Majesty TO whom should I these sorrowes recōmend But vnto you the Citties noble freind I know you are much grieued with their Griefe And would adventure life for their reliefe To you therefore these lines I dedicate Wherein their sorrowes partly I relate I humbly craue acceptance at your hand And rest Your seruant euer to command IOHN TAYLOR To the Printer MY conceite is that these are very lamētable verses will greiue many the reading they so expresse death to life make mortality immortal I wish that as many as can make vse of such pittifull lines had copies the rest may want them Here and there a verse may occasion a teare then the Author is a true water-Poet indeed but else where there wants not an hand-kercheife to dry that teare So is the whole worke a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and deserues an approbation at least from Io. TAYLOR OR COLL. THE PRAEFACE IN this lamentable Time of generall Calamity our hainous sinnes prouoking Gods just Indignation this heauy visitation and mortality I being atendant vpon the Queenes Ma rie at Hampton Court and from thence within 2 miles of Oxford with her Barge with much greife and remorse did see and heare the miserable cold entertainment of many Londoners which for their preseruation fled and retired themselues from the Cittie into the Country Whence I noted the peoples Charitie and great amendment for they had giuen ouer one of the 7 deadly sinnes which was Coueteusnesse and in many places were so farre out of loue with a Citizens money that they abhor'd and hated either to touch or receaue it entertaining them with bitter wormewood welcome which Hearbe was in more request amongst many of them then any of the heauenly Graces or Cardinall Vertues yet the hearbe of Grace was in much estimation although the name of it was a document that they had occasion to Rue the time I farther perceiued that they were so farre from beleiuing or crediting any man that they would or durst not trust their owne noses but were doubtfull that that sence would conspire with the Plague to murther them wherefore like cunning Mariners or mole-catchers they would craftily in their streetes and highwaies fetch the winde of any man although they were ouer shoes and bootes and sometimes tumbled into a ditch for their labours This was the time when a man with a nightcap at noone would haue frighted a whole Parish out of their wits when to call for Aquauitae though it had beene but to make a drench for a sicke horse was enough to haue his house shut up When Lord haue mercy vpon vs made many of them tremble more then God Refuse Renounce Confound or Damne When a man trauailing in the habit of a Cityzen was a meere bulbegger when for a man to say that he came from Hell would yeeld him better welcome without money then a man would giue to his owne father and mother that came from London In this time of mans great miserie and small mercy I tooke my pen in hand and wrote this ensueing discourse I haue as neere as I could suited it sadly according to the nature of the subject And truly because that the bare and naked trueth was so cleare and ample that I needed not to stuffe it out with friuolous fables or fantasticall fictions with my soule I thankfully acknowledge Gods great mercy extended towards me one of the most wretched and wicked in that so many thousands of better life and conuersation haue falne on my right hand and on my left and round about me yet hath his gratious protection beene my guard for the which in my gratitude to my God and to auoid the sinne of idlenes I haue written what those that can may reade THE FEAREFVLL SVMMER OR LONDONS CALAMITY THe Patience and long suffering of our God Keepes close his Quiuer and restraines his Rod And though our crying Crimes to Heau'n doe cry For vengeance on accurst Mortality Yea though we merit mischiefes manifold Blest Mercy doth the hand of Iustice hold But when that Eye that sees all things most cleare Expects our fruits of Faith from yeare to yeare Allowes vs painfull Pastors who bestow Great care and toyle to make vs fruitfull grow And daylie doth in those weake Vessels send The dewe of Heauen in hope we will amend Yet at the last he doth perceiue and see That we vnfruitfull and most barren be Which makes his dreadfull Indignation frowne And as accursed fig-trees cut vs downe Thus Mercy mock'd plucks Iustice on our heads And grieuous Plagues our Kingdome ouer spreads Then let vs to our God make quick returning With true contrition fasting and with mourning The Word is God and God hath spoke the Word If we repent he will put vp his sword Hee 's greiu'd in punishing Hee 's slow to Ire And HE a sinners death doth not desire If our Compunction our Amendment show Our purple sinnes Hee 'l make as white as snow If we lament our God is mercifull Our scarlet crimes hee 'l make as white as wooll Faire London that did late abound in blisse And wast our Kingdomes great Metropolis ` T is thou that art dejected low in state Disconsolate and almost desolate The hand of Heau'n that only did protect thee Thou hast prouok'd most justly to correct thee And for thy pride of Heart and deedes vnjust He layes thy Pompe and Glory in the dust Thou that wast late the Queene of Citties nam'd Throughout the world admir'd renown'd and fam'd Thou that hadst all things at command and will To whom all England was a Handmaide still For rayment fewell fish fowle beasts for food For fruits for all our Kingdome counted good Both neere and farre remote all did agree To bring their best of blessings vnto thee Thus in conceite thou seem'dst to rule the Fates Whilst peace and plenty flourish'd in thy Gates Could I relieue thy miseries as well As part I can thy woes and sorrowes tell Then should my Cares be eas'd with thy Reliefe And all my study how to end thy griefe Thou that wer't late rich both in friends and wealth Magnificent in state strong in thy health As chiefest Mistris of our country priz'd Now chiefly in the country are despis'd The name of London now both farre and neare Strikes all the Townes and Villages with feare And to be thought a Londoner is worse Then one that breakes a house or takes a Purse He that will filch and steale now is the Time No Iustice dares examine him his crime Let him but say that he from London came So full of Feare and Terrour is that name The Constable his charge