they form'd deform'd reform'd againe By God by Satan and our Sauiours paine 8 Mans Generation did from God proceed A mortall Body and a Soule Eternall Degeneration was the Deuils deed With false delusions and with lies infernall Regeneration was our Sauiours meede Whose death did satisfie the wrath supernall Thus was man found and lost and lost was found By Grace with Glory euer to be crownd 9 Man was Produc'de seduced and reduc'de By God by Satan and by God agen From good to ill from ill he was excusd'e By merit of th' Immortall Man of men The vnpolluted bloud from him was sluc'de To saue vs from damnations dreadfull den Thus man was made and marde and better made By Him who did sinne death and hell inuade 10 Let man consider then but what he is And contemplate on what erst he hath bin How first he was created heire of blisse And how he fell to be the Child of sinne How of himselfe he hourely doth amisse And how his best workes doe no merit winne Except acceptance make them be esteem'd Through his obedience that our Soules redeem'd 11 Before thou wast remember thou wast nought And out of nought or nothing thou wast fram'de And how thy Body being made and wrought By God was with a liuing Soule inflam'de And how th' Eternall Nomenclator taught Thee name all Creatures that were euer nam'de And made thee Stuard of the worlds whole treasure And plac'de thee in a Paradise of pleasure 12 Then wast thou Viceroy to the King of heau'n And great Lieutenant to the Lord of hosts The rule of all things vnto thee was giu'n At thy command all creatures seru'd like posts To come or goe and at thy becke were driu'n Both neere and farre vnto the farthest coasts God all things made as seruants vnto thee Because thou only shouldst his seruant be 13 He gaue life vnto hearbes to plants and trees For if they wanted life how could they grow A beast hath life and sence moues feeles and sees And in some sort doth good and euill know But man 's before all Creatures in degrees God life and sence and reason did bestow And left those blessings should be transitory He gaue him life sence reason grace and glory 14 Then let our meditations scope be most How at the first we were created good And how we wilfull grace and goodnes lost And of the sonnes of God were Satans brood Then thinke the price that our Redemption cost Th' eternall Sonne of Gods most precious blood Remember this whilst life and sence remaine Else life and sence and reason are in vaine 15 Thou to requite thy God that all thee gaue Ingratefully against him didst rebell Whereby from Regall state thou turnedst slaue And heau'nly lustice doom'd thee downe to hell As thy rebellion from thy God thee draue So ' gainst thee all things to rebellion fell For when to heau'n thy due obedience ceast Thy disobedience taught each brutish beast 16 Now see thy miserable wretched state Thou and the earth is â—kâ— with thee accurst All worldly things which thee obaide of late In stiffe commotion now against thee burst And thee for euer droue from Eden gate To liue an exilde wretch and which is worst Thy soule Gods darling fell from her prefermeÌ„t To be the Deuils thrall in endlesse torment 17 But Mercies sea hath quenched Iustice fire And Heau'ns high heire in pitty of mans caâ—â— In person came and satisfide Gods ire And gracelesse man new Reposseâ—t in Grace The Sonne of God came downe to raise vs higher To make vs Glorious he himselfe made baâ—â— To draw vs vp downe vnto earth he came And honor'd vs by putting on our shame 18 Who can conceiue the Glory he was in Aboue the heau'ns of heau'ns in threan'd in blisse Who can conceiue the losse that he did winne To rectiâ—ie and answer our amisse Who can conceiue the Mountaines of our sinne That must be hid with such a sea as this No heart no tongue no pen of mortall wight These things can once conceiâ—e or speake or write 19 Man may collect th' abundance of his vice And the deare loue his God to him did beare In thinking on th'inestimable price Was paid his unâ—e-pollated â—ouâ—e to cleare To giue him an immortall Paradise And to redeeme his foes to pay so dâ—are For if our sinnes had not beene more then much The ransome of them â—ure had not beene such 20 The blood of any mighty mortall King Was insufficient this great debt to pay Arch-angels power or Angels could not bring A Ransome worth forbcarance but a day The onely Sonne of God must doe this thing Elâ—e it must be vndone and we for aye God was the Creditor and man the debter Christ God man did pay none could pay better 21 Then since thy sinfull Some from Grace was lost And since by Grace it hath found Grace againe Since being lost so great a price is lost T'enfranchise it from euerlasting paine And since thy crimes are quit thy debts are crost Thy peace with God the way to heau'n made plain Let not all this in vaine for thee be done But thankfull be to God through Christ his Sonne 22 Forget not thou aâ—t ashes earth and dust And that from whence thou cam'st then shalt again And at the last Trumpe that appeare thou must When Procseys and Essoynes are all in vaine Where iust and â—â—iust shall haue iudgement iust For euer doomb'd to endlesse ioy or paine Where though that thou bee damn'd it is Gods glory Thy wife thy sonne thy â—ire will not be sorry 23 Me thinks it should make man this world to lotâ—e When that which will a thousand cloâ—â—â— and feede It should but onely one man â—eede and clothe In â—ares excesse and gorgewisnesse of weede Yet this braue canker this consuming moth Who in his life ne'r meanes to doe good deede Must be ad or'd for those good paâ—ts he waâ—â—â—s By fearefull Fooles and flattering Sicophanâ—â— 24 Hath he the title of an earthly grace Or hath he Honor Lordship Worship or Haâ—h he in Court some great comâ—anding place Or hath he weaâ—th to be regarded for If with these honors vertue he embrace Then loue him else his pâ—ck â—oiâ—t pompe abhoâ—e Sun-shine on dung-hâ—ls makes them â—â—â—â—â—â— the more And Honor shewes all that was had before 25 Shall men giue reu'rence to a painted trunke That 's nothing but all outside and within Their senses are with blacke damnation drunke Whose heart â—s Satans Tap-house or his Inneâ— Whose Reputation inwardly is â—unkâ— Though outwardly raisd vp and swolne with â—â—â— I thinke it worâ—e then to adore the Deuiâ—â— To worship his baâ—e instrumenrs of â—uill 26 No looke vpon the Man and not his Case See how he doth his Maker imiâ—ate If Grace supernall giue internall Grace That makes his minde on vertue contemplate That holds this world and all things in 't as base Knowes death makes happy or vnfortunate That doth no
serue the Sou'raigne of the Stygian Lake Say not to morrow thou wilt seeke the truth And when sin leaues thee thou wilt sinne forsake When thou no more through weaknes canst offend Then lame old rotten thou wilt God attend 47 When hoary haire and blood all frozen chill When eyes waxe dim and limbs are weake lame And that no more thy rash rebellious will Cannot performe vile deeds of sinne and shame When thou hast lost thy strength to doe more ill Then vnto Heau'n thy minde thou ' ginst to frame Thy youth in Satans seruice being spent In age thou think'st on God and dost repent 48 Supppose a man that 's much ingag'd to thee Hath a good Horse which thou dost much desire Thou offrest for him thrice his worth to be The Master of this Beast thou dost require But this ingrate full wretch will not agree To giue to sell him thee or let thee hire But lets him all his youth be rid by those Who are thy spightfull and thy mortall foes 49 And when hee 's leane and old and lame and blinde Gall'd foundred filtby wanting no disease Botts Glaunders Spauin broken in the winde Not a tooth left to mumpe on beanes and pease Then this Companion most vnkindly kinde Will let thee haue this Palfray if thou please If now past good thou scornest to receiue him Hee le slay his skin off the dogs shall haue him 50 Betwixt thy God and thee such is the case When thou art young strong sound of winde and lim Thy soule and body shuns his heau'nly Grace Thou wilt not serue thy God nor waite on him But heedlesse headlong run'st a hellish race Till age hath brought thee to the graues hard brim Then being clog'd with sin diseas'd and foule Thou offrest God thy body and thy soule 51 But dost thou thinke he is at thy command Or that his mercy must attend thy leasure Or dost thou thinke thou canst in iudgement stand And scape the iustice of his high displeasure Or dost thou thinke that his Almighty hand Is shortned or that his supernall pleasure Regards not how the Sonnes of Men doe liue Or that without Repentance hee 'le forgiue 52 Sly Satans Rage is almost at an end And well he knowes his domination's short He therefore now doth all his Engins bend To batter and confound our fleshly Fort He and his Ministers doe all attend To draw vs to his damn'd infernall Court. For if he lose our soules at latest cast T will be too late when all his power is past 53 And therefore now he plots his diuellish drifts To separate vs from our God so louing In making vs vnthankefull for his gifts And by our heynous sins his Anger mouing Whilst wings of Faith our prayers vpwards lifts To praise our Maker as is best behouing Then Satan kills our Zeale and vnawares We are intangled in vile worldly snares 54 God made enough all men to satisfie Yet not enough to giue one Man content For he that had the worlds whole foueraigntie Would couet for a further continent Ambitious thirst of fading Dignitie As though they were for euer permanent Doth banish Loue and euery heau'nly Motion Blinds all our Zeale and murders our Deuotion 55 'T is truely writ in many a thousand story And thousand thousand sheets of blotted paper Declares how terrene things are transitory Incertaine certaine wasting like a Taper How frothy painted Pompe and greedy Glory When least we thinke doth vanish like a vaper Experience teacheth this and truth bewraies it And various humane accidents displaies it 56 To day great Diues in a purple coate With Epicurian Appetite doth feed His cups with Wine doe ouerflow and floate His baggs with quoyne his heart from feare is freed And on the world and wealth doth only dote As if his death his life should not succeed He loues himselfe himselfe loues him agen And liu's a hated wretch of God and Men. 57 Nor stone or dropsie or the groaning Gowt Can make him with his wealth to liue in hate He maugre paine takes pleasure to finde out New Proiects to increase his too great state To marry much to much he casts about And neuer dreames of his expiring date Vntill he heare the fatall bell to towle And Hell stand gaping to deuoure his Soule 58 I'haue heard of an extortionizing Curr That hath beene numbd and sencelesse as a logg Who neither limbe or leg or ioynt could sturr But on his death-bed grunting like a Hogâ— And almost speechlesse with his rattling Murr Yet care of Coyne his conscience did so clogg That not a thought of Heau'n he could afford But ten â— the hundred was his latest word 59 Thus Gold that should be captiue vnto all Doth captiuate his Keeper as a slaue Who like an Idoll doth before it fall And neuer meanes another God to haue And when Heau'ns Pursiuant grâ—m-Death doth call To warne him to his vn-a-voyded Graue Vntill his Iawes be craw'd and ram'd with mold Hee 'le speake or speechles make a signe for gold 60 We ought no formed Creature to adore Or frame will-worship in our idle braine Nor of the Angells must we ought implore For Man and Angells helpe is all but vaine Yet pur-blind Auarice still gapes for more And makes his Mammonuish God his gaine He playes the Bawd his money is the Whore Whilst it breeds Bastards he doth hold the door 61 He thinks his life Angelicall because Amongst the Angells he doth spend his time And Royall he will be for in his pawes The Royalls are insnarde like birds in lime And with his Nobles he ordeineth Iawes That base extortion shall not be a crime He marks how Kingdomes Prouinces and Townes Are ouer-ruled by his cursed Crownes 62 But if he note his Angells what they be Not heau'nly nor yet those from Heau'n that fell But they are in a third and worse degree Dumb damned sencelesse ministers of Hell They cannot smell or feele taste heare or see And thousand times be'ng told yet cannot tell Th' ar lock'd and barr'd and bolted vp in thrall Which shewes their Nature not Angelicall 63 His Royalls doth not Royallize himselfe Or make him better then he is or was In spight of all his ill got canker'd Pelfe Hee 's but a miserable golden Asse The Deuills deare darling a most hatefull Else Which as Hells Factor on the Earth doth passe Were euery haire about him made a Royall He were a Wreath to God and Men disloyall 64 His Nobles no way doth enoble him Their Counsell cannot mend his Rascall minde His heart 's obdurate and his eyes are dim To thinke or see t'ward good to be inclinde Hee 'le venter soule and body life and â—â—â—â—â— To scrape and scratch what he must leaue behinde His Nobles thus ignobly make him liue And headlong to the Deuill their Master driue 65 Amongst his Marks he neuer marketh how He spends or lends or giues his ill got store He marks to make it multiply
Vertue blindes the eye And Vertue makes vice knowne apparantly When falsehood is examin'd and comparâ—d With Truth it makes truthhaue the more regard The Crow seemes blackest when the Swan stands neere And goodnes makes the ill most bad appeare So vertues that are contrary to vices Make them contemptible and base in prices a The praise of Humility Humility if it be well embrac'd It makes disdainfull Pride disdain'd disgrac'd Humility is a most heauenly gift The Stayre that doth to Glory men vp lift None but the meeke and lowly humbled spirit Shall true eternall happinesse inherit Those that are humble honour * Eecles 19. God alwayes And onely those will he to honour raise If thou be'st great in state giue thanks therefore And humble still thy selfe so much the more He that is humble loues his Christian brother And thinkes himselfe * Phil. 2. 3. inferiour to all other Those that are meeke the Lord shall euer guide And * Psal. 25. 9. Psal. 138. 6. teach them in his wayes still to abide For though the Lord be high he hath respect Vnto the * Prou. 22.4 lowly whom he will protect Humility and lowlinesse goes on Still before honour as saith Salomon He that is humble heere and free from strife Shall for * Mat. 23. 12. reward haue glory wealth and life He that himselfe doth humble certainly Our Sauiour saith shall be * Mat. 23. 12. exalted high He that with Christ will weare a glorious Crowne Must cast himselfe as Christ did humbly downe And like to the rebounding of a ball The way to rise must first be low to fall For God the Father will accept of none That put not on the meekenes of his Sonne If proudly thou doe lift thy selfe on high God and his blessings from thee still will fly But if thou humble meeke and lowly be God and his blessings will come downe to thee If thou wouldst trauell vnto heau'n then know Humility's the way that thou must goe If in presumptuous paths of Pride thou tread 'T is the right wrong way that to hell doth lead Know that thy birth attire strength beauty place Are giu'n vnto thee by Gods speciall grace Know that thy wisedome learning and thy wealth Thy life thy Princes fauour beauty health And whatsoeuer thou canst goodnes call Was by Gods bounty giu'n vnto thee all And know that of thine owne thou dost possesse Nothing but sinne and wofull wretchednes A Christians pride should onely be in this When he can say that God his Father is When grace and mercy vvell applide affoord To make him brother vnto Christ his Lord. When he vnto the holy Ghost can say Thou art my Schoolemaster whom I 'le obay When he can call the Saints his fellovves and Say to the Angels for my guard you stand This is a laudable and Christian pride To knovv Christ and to know him crucifi'd This is that meeke ambition lovv aspiring Which all men should be earnest in desiring Thus to be proudly humble is the thing Which vvill vs to the state of glory bring But yet bevvare pride hypocriticall Puts not humilities cloake on at all A lofty mind vvith lovvly cap and knee Is humble pride and meeke hypocrisie Ambitious mindes vvith adulating lookes Like courteous Crovvne-aspiring a King Henry the fourth Bullinbrookes As a great ship ill suited vvith small saile As Iudas meant all mischiefe cride All haile Like the humility of Absalon This shadovved pride much danger vvaites vpon These are the counterseite God saue yee Sirs That haue their flatteries in particulars That courteously can hide their proud intents Vnder varieties of complements These Vipers bend the knee and kisse the hand And sweare svveet Sir I am at your command And proudly make humility a screvv To vvring themselues into opinions vievv This pride is hatefull dangerous and vile And shall it selfe at last it selfe beguile Thus pride is deadly sin and sin brings shame Which here I leaue to hell from whence it came FINIS TO THE MOST HIGH AND ALMIGHTY God the Father Creator of the World and to the King of Kings Lord of Lords and onely Ruler of Princes Iesus Christ the Glorious Redeemer of the World And to the most holy Blessed Spirit the Comfort of all true Beleeuers and Sanctisier of the World Three Persons and one Eternall Omnipotent God MOst mighty gracious mercifull and glorious God that triest the heart and searchest the reines from whom no secret is hid in the assurance of thy neuer-failing clemency and hope of thy gracious acceptance I humbly offer to thy most dread Maiestie these my poore labours which out of thine owne Word and by and through thy blessed assistance I haue for the glory of thy great Name compiled I acknowledge my selfe the meanest of men and the most vnworthy of thy vnworthy seruants to present my polluted imperfect duty to thee that art the Fountaine of perfection purity and holinesse but thou that knowest mine intentions meeke and humble free from the expectation of worldly applause and onely ayming to reprehend and reforme the too much too frequent impieties of Cursing and Swearing so hatefull to thee and so abusiue to thy Law vpon the knees of my heart I prostrate my selfe before the feete of thy Mercy seate beseeching thee for thy Names sake too much prophaned for thy Glories sake too much abused for thy Sonnes sake who with thy selfe art neglected contemned and reuiled that thou wilt be pleased to arise O Lord and scatter thine enemies that though this worke of mine bee but weake and I the workeman far weaker yet through my frailty be thou pleased to shew thy power let my lines be like Shamgars Goad Iudges 3 31. Like Iaels Nayle Iudges 4.21 Or che Iawe-bone which Samson fought withall Iudges 15. Or Dauids Sling 1. Sam. 17. That through thy might these accursed Philistines with vncircumcised hearts may be either amended or confounded That all the reuiling Rabshakehs may be made to know that thou art icalous of thy glory so blesse I beseech thee these my labours that children reading them may be seasoned with a feare and reuerence of thy Maiestic that those who already doe hate Cursing and Swearing may hereby be the more confirmed in that godly hatred That the wretched carelesse blasphemers and accursed takers of thy Name in vaine may be ashamed reformed that thereby thou maist be glorified thy Church coÌ„forted and edified and our sinfull liues amended and finally our soules euerlastingly saued through thy meere and infinite mercy and our blessed Sauiours boundlesse merits To whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all praise power and glory now and for euer Thy Eternall Maiesties lowest and least of thy vngracious seruants IOHN TAYLOR TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY MONARCH AND MY DREAD Soueraigne CHARLES by the Grace and Prouidence of God King of Great Britaine France and Ireland Defender c. My Gracious Soueraigne I Your Maiesties
he would that might be sacrificed to God to satisfie his Iustice for sinne and to recouer that eternall happinesse which was most miserably lost If man had had this liberty to aske and chuse a Redeemer surely I am verily perswaded that he would neuer haue beene so bold as to haue requested God to giue his well-beloued onely begotten Sonne to be crucified for him as in these dayes a condemned malefactor would be vndiscreet and vnkind if he should intreat his innocent friend to dye for him but if hee should request the Iudge on the Bench or the King on his Throane that either of them would doe him the fauour as to suffer his sonne to be executed for him if an offender should make such an vnreasonable request I imagine he would either be accounted mad or impudently foolish Seeing the case was such that man was altogether in misery remedilesse then did the God of mercy and Father of all consolation shew himselfe to bee in mercy boundlesse then did he promise to send his Sonne to be a Sauiour and Redeemer for as many as before and after his comming should lay hold on the merits of his death and passion which hee suffered for the Redemption of all true beleeuers At last in the fulnesse of time the eternall God-head was pleased to be so far abased as to leaue the blessed heauens to visit personally the cursed earth to forsake the glorious Throne and Crowne of vnspeakeable glory and Maiestie and by taking our fraile nature vpon him in the wombe of the Virgin to vndergoe all shame and calamitie and after many trauels and suffering innumerable reproaches to take the sinnes and transgressions of the whole World vpon his shoulders and being free from sinne was made sinne for vs and to redeeme vs from the Curse of the Law and the eternall wrath of God his Father was pleased to offer himselfe for a sacrifice of propitiation and reconciliation and to purchase vs eternall glory by his ignominious cruell and shamefull death of the Crosse. This was a Loue transcending all Loue so farre that no heart of Man or Angell could euer conceiue the last part of it that the King of Kings Lords of Lords should willingly and freely dye for his mortall enemies Seeing that Gods loue was so infinite to vs so many wayes as in creating vs not Beasts or Vermine but Men in redeeming vs when we wer in captiuity to the Deuill for euer with no lesse price then the precious heart blood of his owne Sonne for these and the rest of the multitude of his mercies let vs all in generall and euery Swearer and Blasphemer in particular examine our consciences how we doe with thankefulnesse requite this our good and gracious God for his vnmeasurable loue and mercy towards vs. How many of vs with very little search may finde our bosomes cram'd full of rebellious treacheries ingratitude that in stead of giuing God glory praise and thankes for all his benefits doe most accursedly or maliciously sweare him ouer and ouer from the head to the foot not leauing any part or attribute of him vnabused or not sworne by his body his soule his sides his heart his wounds his blood his entrailes his bones his feet nay they will not forbeare him â—â— much as his nailes so that the Iewes were more kind and lesse cruell in crucifying of him for they meddled neither with his soule or his bones but these wicked miscreants who are falsly called Christians doe their best endauours with all deuillisâ— greedinesse to cruciâ—â—â— againe the Lord of life and to teare him in pieces with oathes betwixt their cursed teeth I haue read in the Turkish History that is the a battell betwixt Amurath third Emperour of the Turkes and Lazarus Despot of Serâ—â—â—â— that the Archers were so many in the Turkish Army that in the fight they did as it were raine in showres vpon the Christians and with the multitude of the Arrowes like a clouâ—â— they darkned the earth And it is to be feared that euery houre in the day more oathes and shot at the Maiesty of God by wicked Câ—tiffes then the Turks did shoot Arrowers â—â—â— the Christians in that battell so that if our Sauiour had come into the World with a purpose to worke our perpetuall destruction and that the Deuill had beene the best friend we had in our redemption if it had or could haue beene so could men striue either to require the loue of the one with more seruice or the malice of the other with more abuse for Swearing is now in such high request that some man doth hold it a disparagement to his reputation not to sweare but to goe to Church he thinkes it too ciuill a course or to giue God thankes either before or after meales he is altogether ashamed and like a Micher muffles his face in his hat saying sometimes either nothing or nothing that any man can hears or vnderstand but to sweare and abuse the Name of God he is neuer ashamed but with open mouth he roares out his oathes stamping with his feete and beating his brest with more feruency then he said his prayers I haue heard a swearer most earnestly pray now and then to God but it hath beene â—â—â— beseech God to damne him or forsake him and on the other side I haue heard the same Rescall to beg and entreat the Deuill to take his soule and body making such great account of Hell that rather then hee would goe without it hee will request his bread meat or drinke to be his damnation but to desire God to forgiue his sins or to be thankefull for all his benefits to entreat saluation by true repentance â— through the merits of Christ Iesus these are things which he esteemes not worth the asking for altogether against the garbe of his Gentleman-like humour Now iudge with thy selfe whosoeuer thou beest that reads this dost thou thinke thou dealest well with God and that hee deserues no better vsage at thy hands A good name as Salomon faith is as a precious Oyntment and men are so chary and wary that they will by all meanes auoyd any scandall or dishonour of their names and it is Capitall Treason for any subiect to abuse or vilifie his King or Princes name Yet is God who is Almighty AEternall Incomprehensible the God of all glory Empires Kingdomes Principalities and Powers whose name is Wonderfull â—â—y and Iust at whose Name euery knee should bow with feare and reuerence before whose Throne the blessed Armies of Cherubins Seraphins Archangel Angels Patriarkes Prophets Apostles Saints and Martyrs doe continually sing Hallelutsh This great God whom the very Deuils in Hell doe beleeue and feare and tremble at his dreadfull wrath Iames 1.19 yet doth the earth breed monsters worse then Deuils and retaines and seedes more accursed fiends then Hell doth who with their vngodly breath doe as often as they can belch their odious oathes and blasphemie against the maiestie of
seeth and hee that made the care heareth and he will also giue them their eternall wages in the world to come except true repentance and remission as is most seuerely threatned in many places of holy Scripture In briefe to conclude take Christs counsell Sweare not at all Mat. 5. 34. Except lawfully and trully before a Magistrate for the confirmation of a truth which kind of oath or swearing is for Gods glory and commanded by himselfe as it is written in Deut. â—6 13. Thou shalt feare the Lord thy God and serue him and shalt Sweare by his Name And Ler. 4. 2. Thou shalt sweare The Lord liueth and thou shalt sweare by his Name Deut. 10. 20. and againe Euery tongue shall sweare by me Esay 45. 23. and againe And he that sweareth in the earth shall sweare by the true God These sorts of oathes are so lawfull that Gods glory in them is manifested Iustice dignified Contentions pacified In this sort when thou swearest God onely must bee thy oath for it is for his glory that an oath taken lawfully in his Name is the decision of truth because he is the God of truth and he is a iealous God and will net giue his glory to another Esay 48.11 And let it be thy greatest care to hold esteeme the Name of God in such reuerence and feare that thou neuer dost name or mention him but with adoration and admiration ' let the faithlesse Iew be thy patterne who doth neuer Name God in any Curse oath or vnreuerend maner let the misbeleeuing Turke teach thee for he will not abuse his false deceiuing Prophet Mahomet let the Pagan reach thee who with such dutifull blindnesse doe adore base and contemptible Creatures let Gods mercies moue thee to loue him so that liuing here in his feare and departing hence in his fauour thou maist be for euer partaker of his euerlasting Loue which God graunt for the Name and sake of Iesus Christ the Righteous to whom with the Father holy Ghost be obediently aud duely rendred by men and Angels all honour glory might Maiesty dominion and thankesgiuing now and for euermore Christian admonitions against the two fearefull sinnes of Cursing Swearing that the grieuousnesse of those sinnes may be loth remembred and auoyded whereby the hatred of them may possesse the heart of euery Christian. Against Cursing FIrst if thou wilt liue in a holy feare and reuerence of the Name of God thou must consider what thou art and learne to know thy selfe for he that truely knoweth himselfe is aman of very happy acquaintance for by this thou shalt know thy selfe to be Earth Gen. 2. 7. conceiu'd in sinne Psal. 51. 5. Borne to paine Iob 5. 7. Euill Eccle. 9. 3. Wretched Rom. 7. Filthy Iob 15. Corrupt abominable doing nothing good Psal. 14. Mortall Rom. 6. Vaine Psal 62. Wicked Esay 9. Vnprofitable Rom. 3. Vanitie altogether more light then Vanitie Psal. 62. Sinfull 1 Kings 8. Miserable 1 Câ—rinth 15. Dust and Ashes Gen. 18. Gods enemy Rom. 8. A child of wrath Ephesians 2. 3. A worme Iob 25. Wormes meare Esay 51. Nothing yea lesse then nothing Esay 40. 17. Hauing thus by the Touch-stone of Gods Word tryed and examined thy miserable estate and condition and therewithall knowing thy selfe then on the other side consider as neere as thy frailty will permit the power of God in creating thee his mercy in Redeeming thee his loue in preseruing thee his bounty in keeping thee his promise to glorisie thee in Heauen if thou honour him on earth and his Iudgements to condemne thee if thou blaspheme and dishonour him Our Sauiour Christ being the Head of Blessednesse and of all that are or shall bee blessed how is it possible that any Accursed or Cursing person can bee a member of that Blessed Head who hath expressely forbidden vs to Curse but to blesse them that Curse vs Luke 6. Mat. 5. Rom. 12. And in the 1â— 9. Psalme It is said to him that accustomes himselfe to Curse Cursing was his delight therefore shall it happen vnto him he loued not blessing therefore it shall be farre from him And seeing no man can merit the least part of blessings remporall how or with what face can one that liues accursedly or vseth cursing here hope for a Kingdome of Eternall blessednesse hereafter It is fearefull to heare how and with what cold dulnesse many men doe pray for blessings either for themselues or for other and contrarily with what vehemency they will Curse as some haue willed and wished themselues Gods Plague the Pox and other mischiefes and some haue too often bid the Deuill take them God Sinke them Renounce Confound Consume Refuse and Damne them and yet these filly gracelesse earth-wormes haue an ambitious deceitfull ayme to be blessed partakers of the blessed Kingdome of Heauen Therefore if thou hast a desire of Eternall blessednesse know that the way thither is not by Cursing if thou hast a hope to escape the dreadfull sentence of Goe yee Cursed Mat. 25. Then giue thy mind to prayer and blessing and then shalt thou haue the ioyfull welcome of Come ye blessed inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world To the which God of his mercy bring vs all Amen Against Swearing HAuing with a Christian humilitie considered thy owne base and contemptible estate and condition then thinke with thy selfe what an Incomprehensible Glorious Infinite and Almighty Maiestie thou offendest and blasphemest with thy vngodly Swearing who hath said that he will not hold him guiltlesse that takes his Name in vaine And much better were it at the last day for that miserable wretch that he had beene created a Toade a Viper or the most loathsome creature then to appeare before that great dreadfull Tribunall and there to be accused by the Deuill and his owne conscience for Swearing and for Forswearing and Blaspheming the blessed Name of the Eternall God where no excuse can serue no Aduocate can plead no Proxey or Enoyne is to be granted but presently the guilty Caitif is commanded to vtter darkenesse and perpetuall torments There is some excuse for the ignorant Iewes that crucified our Sauiour because they knew not what they did but for a professed Christian who knowes God to be his Creator and that Iesus Christ paid no lesse then the peerelesse and most precious blood of his heart fore mans Redemption how can any one that knowes and beleeues these things hope for saluation by that blood wounds heart and body which he so often blasphemes and teares betwixt his accursed teeth So that there is no Traytor so bad or treason so great as is against the Maiestie of heauen nor hath the Deuill any that doth him more pleasing seruice then an odious and common Swearet doth and herein he goes beyond all the Deuils in hell in impiety and contempt of God for Saint Iames saith Cap. 2. 19. That the Deuils doe beleeue there is a God and that they
should beheaded be The Earle of Flanders Philip did ordaine Their losse of life and goods that swore in vaine Saint Lewis the King of France enacted there That for the first time any one did sweare Into imprisonment one month was cast And stand within the Pillory at last But if the second time againe they swore One with an iron hot their tongues did bore And who the third time in that fault did slip Were likewise boared through the vnder-lip For the fourth time most gricuous paines belongs He caus'd to be cut off their lips and tongues Henry the fift of England that good King His Court to such conformity did bring That euery Duke should forty shillings pay For euery Oath he swore without delay Each Baron twenty Knights or Squires offence Paid tenne and euery Yeoman twenty pence The Boyes and Pages all were whipt most fine That durst abuse the Maiestie diuine Thus Pagan Princes with sharp lawes withstood Profaning of their Gods of stone or wood And Christian Kings and Rulers formerly Haue most seuerely punisht blasphemy And shall a Heathen or an Infidell That knowes no ioyes of Heauen or paines of Hell More reuerence to his deuillish Idols show Then we doe to the true God whom we know If we remembred well but what we were And what we are we would not dare to sweare Poore trunks of earth fill'd with vncertaine breath By nature heires to euerlasting death Most miserable wretches most ingrate 'Gainst God that did elect vs and create Redeem'd conseru'd preseru'd and sanctifi'd And giues vs hope we shall be glorifi'd H' hath giuen vs being life sense reason wit Wealth and all things his Prouidence thinkes fit And for requitall we quite voyde of grace Curse sweare and doe blaspheme him to his face Oh the supernall patience of our God That beares with Man a sin polluted clod When halfe such treasons 'gainst an earthly King Would many a Traytor to confusion bring Suppose a man should take a Whelp and breed him And stroke him make much of him feed him How will that curre loue him beyond all other Neuer forsaking him to serue another But if he should most disobediently Into his Masters face or throat to fly Sure euery man that liues vpon the ground Would say a hanging's sit for such a hound And worser then so many dogges are they That 'gainst their God with oathes do barke bray And if repentance doe not mercy win They 'll hang in Hell like Hell-hounds for that sin Of all black crimes from Belzebubs damn'd treasure This swearing sin no profit yeelds or pleasure Nor gaines the swearer here but earths vexation With change of his saluation for damnation It is a sinne that yeelds vs no excuse For what excuse can be for Gods abuse And though our other faults by death doe end Yet Blasphemy doth after death extend For to the damn'd in Hell this curse is giuen They for their paines blaspheme the God of Heauen Examples on the earth haue many beene As late in sundry places haue beene seene At Mantua two braue Russians in their games Swore and blasphem'd our blessed Sauiours name Where Gods iust iudgement full of feare dread Caus'd both their eyes to drop from out their head In Rome a childe but fiue yeeres old that swore Was snatcht vp by the Deuill and seene no more And at Ragouse a Mariner did sweare As if he would Gods name in sunder teare When falling ouer-boord was drown'd and tost And nothing but his tongue was onely lost Remember this you sinfull sonnes of men Thinke how that Christ redeem'd you from Hells den His mercy he hath giu'n in magnitude Requite him not with vile ingratitude He made the Eares and Eye and heares and sees The swearers execrable oathes and lyes The Godhead of the Father they contemne Against the Sonnes Redemption they blaspheme The Holy Spirit grieuously they grieue And headlong into Hell themselues they driue It is in vaine for mortall men to thinke Gods Iustice is asleepe although it winke Or that his arme is shortned in these times That he cannot reach home to punish crimes Oh thinke not so 't is but the Deuils illusion To draw vs desperately to our confusion Some say that 't is their anger makes them sweare And oathes are out before they are aware But being crost with losses and perplex'd They thinke no harme but sweare as being vex'd And some there are that sweare for complement Make oathes their grace and speeches ornament Their sweete Rhetoricall fine eloquence Their reputations onely excellence Their valour whom the Deuill doth inflame T' abuse their Makers and Redeemers Name Thinke but on this you that doe God forget Your poore excuses cannot pay this debt Remember that our sinfull soules did cost A price too great to be by swearing lost And blessed was our last good Parliament Who made an Act for swearers punishment And blest shall be each Magistrates good name That carefully doe execute the same Those that are zealous for Gods glory here No doubt in Heauen shall haue true glory there Which that we may haue humbly I implore Of Him that rules and raignes for euermore Th' Eternall Lord of Lords and King of Kings Before whose Throne blest Saints and Angels sings All power praise glory Maiesty thankesgiuing Ascribed be to him that 's euer liuing FINIS TO THE TRVELY GENEROVS AND NOBLE KNIGHT SIR IOHN MILLISSENT SERIEANT PORTER TO the Kings most Excellent Maiestie RIght worthy Knight when first this Booke I writ To You I boldely Dedicated it And hauing now enlarg'd both Prose and Rime To you I offer it the second time To whom should I these sorrowes recommend But vnto You the Cities Noble Friend I know you are much grieued with their Griefe And would aduenture 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 at command IOHN TAYLOR TO THE PRINTER MY Conceit is that these are very lamentable Verses and will grieue many the reading they so expresse Death to Life and make mortalitie immortall I wish that as many as can make vse of such Lines had Copies the rest may want them Here and there a Verse may occasion a Teare then the Authour is a true VVater-Poet indeed but else-where there wants not a hand-kercheffe to dry that Teare So is the whole worke a * A Sweete-bitter or Bitter-sweet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and deserues an Approbation at least from IOHN TAYLOR of Oriell Colledge in Oxford THE PRAEFACE IN this lamentable time of generall Calamity our hainous sinnes prouoking Gods iust Indignation this heauy visitation and mortality I being attendant vpon the Queenes Maiestie at Hampton Court and from thence within two miles of Oxford with her Barge with much griefe remorse did see and heare miserable and cold entertainement of many Londoners which for their preseruation fled and
dead fruit I noted it In stead of paste it 's put into a pit And laid vp carefully in any place Yet worme-â—â—â— it growes in little space My vnderstanding canby no meanes frame To giue this Tyburne fruit a fitter name Than Medlers for I find that great and small To my capacity are Medlers all Some say they are Choak'd peares and some againe Doe call them Hâ—rtie Choakes but 't is most plaine It is a kinde of Medler it doth beare Or else I thinke it neuer would come there Moreouer where it growes I find it true It often turnes the Herbe of grace to Rue Amongst all Pot-herbes growing on the ground Time is the least respected I haue found And most abus'd and therefore one shall see No branch or bud of it grow neere this Tree For 't is occasion of mans greatest crime To turne the vse into abuse of Time When passions are let loose without a bridle Then precious Time is turnd to Loue and Idle And that 's the chiefest reason I can show Why fruit so often doth on Tyburne grow There are inferiour Gallowses which beare According to the season twice a yeare And there 's a kinde of watrish Tree at Wapping Whereas Sea-theeue or Pirats are catch'd napping But Tyburne doth deserue before them all The title and addition capitall â—â—â—â—â—â—â— or great Grand Gallowse of our Land â—â—â— all therest like ragged Laqueyes stand â—â—â— hath like Luna full and change and quarters â—â—â— like a Merchant monthly trucks and barters â—â—â— all the other Gallowses are fit â—â—â— Chapmen or poore Pedlers vnto it Thus Iayles and Iaylors being here explain'd How both are good and for good vse ordain'd All sorts of Hanging which I could surmise I likewise haue describ'd before your eyes And further hauing shew'd what Tyburne is With many more inferiour Gallowsis My pen from paper with this Prayer doth part God blesse all people from their sinnes desart FINIS The Vnnaturall Father OR The cruell Murther committed by one IOHN ROVVSE of the Towne of Ewell ten miles from London in the County of Surry vpon two of his owne Children AS a Chaine consists of diuers linkes and euery linke depends and is inyoak'd vpon one another Euen so our sinnes being the Chaine wherewith Satan doth binde and manacle vs are so knit twisted and sodeâ—â— together that without our firme faith ascending and Gods grace descending wee can neuer be freed from those infernall fetters for Sloth is linked with drunkennesse Drunkennesse with Fornication and Adultery and Adultery with Murder and so of all the rest of the temptations suggestions and actions wherewith miserable men and women are insnared and led captiue into perpetuall perdition except the mercy of our gracious God be our defence and safegard For a lamentable example of the Diuels malice and mans misery this party of whom I treat at this time was a wretch not to bee matched a fellow not to be fellowed and one that scarce hath an equall for matchlesse misery and vnnaturall Murther But to the â—â—â— This Iohn Rowse being a Fishmonger in London gaue ouer his trade and liued altogether in the Towne of Ewell neere Nonesuch in the County of Surry tenne miles from London where he had Land of his owne for himselfe and his heires for euer to the value of fifty pounds a yeere with which he liued in good and honest fashion being well reputed of all his neighbours and in good estimation with Gentlemen and others that dwelt in the adioyning Villages Vntill at the last hee married a very honest and comely woman with whom he liued quietly and in good fashion some six moneths til the Diuell sent an instrument of his to disturbe their Matrimoniall happinesse for they wanting a Maidseruant did entertaine into their house a Wench whose name was Iane Blundell who in short time was better acquainted with her Masters bed then honesty required which in time was found out and knowne by her Mistris and brake the peace in such sort betweene the said Rowse and his Wife that in the end after two yeeres continuance it brake the poore womans heart that shee dyed and left her husband a widdower where he and his whore were the more free to vse their cursed contentments and vngodly embracements Yet that estate of being vnmarried was displeasing to him so that hee tooke to wise another woman who for her outward feature and inward qualities was euery way fit for a very honest man although it were her hard fortune to match otherwise With this last Wife of his he liued much discontented by reason of his keeping his lewd Trull in his house so that by his daily Ryot excessiue drinking and vnproportionable spending his estate began to bee much impouerished much of his Land morgag'd and forfeited himselfe aboue two hundred pounds indebted and in processe of time to be as a lewd liuer of all his honest neighbours reiected and contemned His estate and credit being almost past recouerie wasted and impaired he forsooke his Wife came vp to London with his Wench where he fell in new league with a corrupted friend who as he said did most courteously coozen him of all that euer he had and whom at this time I forbeare to name because it was Iohn Rowse his request before his execution that he should not be named in any Booke or Ballad but yet vpon a Dye his name may hee picked out betwixt a Sinke and a Trey This false friend of his as he said did perswade him to leaue his Wife for altogether and did lodge and boord him and his paramore certaine weekes in his house and afterward caused him and her to bee lodged hauing chang'd his name as Man and Wife in an honest mans house neere Bishops-gare at Beuis Marks where they continued so long till his money was gone as indeed hee neuer had much but now and then small petty summes from his secret friend aforesaid and hee being fearefull to bee smoak'd out by his Creditors was counselled to leaue his Country and depart for Ireland and before his going ouer-Sea his friend wrought so that all his Land was made ouer in trust to him and Bonds Gouenants and Leases made as fully bought and sold for a summe of two hundred and threescore pounds of all which money the said Rowse did take the Sacrament and his death that he neuer did receiue one penny but he said that now and then he had fiue or ten shillings at a time from his said friend and neuer aboue twenty shillings and that all that euer he had of him being summ'd together was not aboue three and twenty pounds the which moneys his friend did pay himselfe out of his Rents But some more friend to him then he was to himselfe did doubt that he was cheated of his Land whereupon to make all sure he said that his false friend did so far preuaile with him that hee the said Rowse tooke an Oath in the open Court at Westminster
his Kingdome And let vs but marke and consider the plagues and punishments that God hath inflicted vpon Murderers Adulterers and incestuous persons First Cain although by his birth hee was the first man that euer was borne a Prince by his birth and heire apparant to all the world yet for the Murther by him committed on his brother he was the first Vagabond and Runnagate on the face of the earth almost fearefull of his owne shaddow and after he had liued a long time terrifide in Conscience was himselfe slaine as is supposed by Lamech Simeon and Leui the sonnes of Iacob were accurst of their Father for the slaughter of the Sichemites Ioab the Captaine of Dauids Host was slaine for the murthering of Abner Dauid himselfe for the death of Vrlas and the Adultery committed with Bethsheba was continually plagued and vexed with the Sword of Warre with the Rebellion of his owne sonnes and with the vntimely deaths of Aâ—non and Absolen Baanah and Rechab for the slaying of Ishbesheth the sonne of Saul they were both by Dauids commandement put to death who had both their hands and feete cut off and were afterward hanged ouer the Poole in Hebron Samuell 2. 4. The examples are infinite out of diuine and humane Histories that God did neuer suffer Murder to goe vnrewarded and this miserable man of whom I haue here related is a most mainfest spectacle of Gods reuenging vengeance for that crying and hainous sinne As concerning Lust and Incontinency it is a short pleasure bought with long paine a hunnied poyson a Gulfe of shame a Pick-purse a breeder of Diseases a gall to the Conscience a corrofide to the heart turning mans wit into foolish madnesse the bodies bane and the soules perdition to it is excessiue in youth and odious in age besides God himselfe doth denounce most fearefull threats against Fornicators and Adulterers as the Apostle saith that Whormongers and Adulterers shall not inherit the Kingdome of Heauen 1. Cer. 6. 9. And God himselfe saith that hee will bee a swift witnesse against Adulterers Mal. 3.5 And the Wise man saith that because of the whorish woman a man is brought to a â—â—â—â—â—â— of bread and a woman will hunt for the precious lifâ— of a man For faith he can a man take fire in â—â—â— bosome and his cloathes not bee burnt or can â—â—â— man goe vpon hot Coales and his feet not be burnt So hee that goesh in to his neighbours Wife â—â—â— not be innocent Prou. 6. 27 28 29. Abimelech one of the sonnes of Gedeon murdered three score and ten of his Brethren and in reward thereof by the iust Iudgement of God a woman with a piece of a Milstone beat out his braines after he had vsurped the Kingdome three yeeres Iudges the 9. Our English Chronicles make mention that Roger Mortimer Lord Baron of Wallingford merdered his Master King Edward the second and caused the Kings Vncle Edmund Earle of Kent causelesly to bee beheaded but Gods Iustice ouertooke him at last so that for the said Murders he was shamefully executed Humphâ—â—â— Duke of Glocester was murdered in the Abbey of Bary by William de la Poole Duke of Suffoâ—â—â— who afterward was beheaded himselfe on the Sea by a Pyrat Arden of Feuersham and Pâ—â—â— of Plimmouth both their Murders are fresh â—â—â— memory and the fearfull ends of their Wiue and their Ayders in those bloudy actions will neuer be forgotten It is too manifestly known what a number of Stepmothers and Strumpets haue most in humanely murdred their Children and so the same haue most deseruedly beene executed But in the memory of man nor scarcely in any History it is not to be found that a Father did euer take two Innocent Children â—â—â— of their beds and with weeping teares of pâ—â—ilesse pity and vnmercifull meroy to drown them shewing such compassionate cruelty and sorrowfull sighing remorcelesse remoâ—â—â— in that most vnfatherly and vnnaturall deed All which may be attributed to the malice of the Diuell whose will and endeauour that none should be saued who layes out his traps and snares intangling some with Luâ—â—â— some with Couetousnesse some with Ambition Drunkennesse Enuy Murder Sloth or any Vice whereto he sees a man or a woman moâ—â—â— inclined vnto as he did by this wretched maâ—â—â—lulling him as it were in the cradle of sensâ—â—â— and vngodly delight vntill such time as â—â—â— his meanes reputation and credit was â—â—â— and nothing left him but misery and â—â—â— Then hee leads him along through â—â—â— and feares to haue no hope in Gods â—â—â— perswading his Conscience that â—â—â— sinnes were vnpardonable and his estate â—â—â— credit vnrecouerable With these suggestions hee led him on to despaire and in desperation to kill his Children and make shipwracke of his owne soule in which the diligence of the Diuell â—â—â— that hee labours and trauels vnâ—â—â— and as Saint Bernard saith in the â—â—â— day shall rise in condemnation against vs because hee hath euer beene more diligent to destroy soules theÌ„ we haue been to saue them And for a Conclusion let vs beseech God of â—â—â— infinite mercy to defend vs from all the â—â—â— temptations of Satan IOHN ROVVSE his Prayer for pardon of his lewd life which bee vsed to pray in the time of his imprisonment GOD of my Soule and Body haue mercy vpon mee the one I haue cast away by my Folly and the other is likely to perish in thy Funy vnlesse in thy great mercie thou â—â—â— My Sinnes are deepe Seas to drowne me I am swallowed vp in â—â—â— bottomlesse gulfe of my owne â—â—â—gressions With Cain I haue beene Murtherer and with Iudas a Betrayer me Innocent My body is a slaue to â—â—â— and my wretched Soule is deúouâ—â—â— vp by Hell Blacke haue beene my â—â—â— and blacker are my deeds I haue beene the Diuels instrument and am now become the scorne of men a a Serpent vpon earth and an Outcast from Heauen What therefore can become of mee miserable Caitifle If I looke vp to my Redeemer to him I am an Arch Traytor if vpon Earth it is drowned with Blood of my shedding if into Hell there I see my Conscience burning in the Brimstone Lake God of my Soule and Body haue mercy therefore vpon mee Saue mee O saue mee or else I perish for euer I dye for euer in the world to come vnlesse sweet Lord thou catchest my repeÌ„tant Soule in thine Armes O saue me saue me saue me JOHN ROVVSE of Ewell his owne Arraignment Confession Condemnation and Iudgement of himselfe whilst hee lay Prisoner in the White Lyon for drowning of his two Children I Am arraign'd at the blacke dreadfull Barre Where Sinnes sored as Scarlet Iudges are All my Inditements are my horrid Crimes Whose Story will affright succeeding Times As now they driue the present into wonder Making Men treÌ„ble as trees strucke with Thunder If any askes what euidence comes in O 'T is my Conscience which hath euer bin A thousand witnesses and now it tels
were grau'd in Brasse His Fury like a wandring Starre soon gone His Clemency was like a fixed one So that as many lou'd him whilst he liu'd More then so many by his Death are grieu'd The hand of Heauen was onely his support And blest him in the Nobles of his Court To whom his Bounty was exprest so Royall That he these twenty yeeres found none disloyall But as bright Iewels of his Diadem They faithfully soru'd him he honour'd them And as in life they were on him relying So many of them vshered him in dying Richmonds and Linox Duke fiirst led the way Next Dorsets spirit forsooke her house of Clay Then Linox Duke againe Duke Lodwicks brother Was third and good Southampton fourth and her Lord wriothsly next Southamptons Noble sonne The race of his mortality did runne Next dy'd old Charles true honor'd Nottingham The Brooch and honor of his house and name Braue Belsast next his vitall threed was spun And last the Noble Marquesse Hambletoâ— These in the compasse of one yeere went hence And led the way to their beloued Prince And our deceased Soueraigne quickely went To change earths Pompe for glory permanent Like Phoebus in his Course h'arose and ran His reigne in March both ended and began And as if he had bin a Starre that 's fixt His Rise and Set were but two daies betwixt And once in two and twenty yeeres t is prou'd That the most fixed Stars are something mou'd But in his end his Constancy we finde He had no mutable or wauering minde For that Religion which his tongue and pen Did still defend with God maintaine with men That faith which in his Life he did expresse He in his Death did constantly prosesse His Treasure and his Iewels they were such As I thinke Englands Kings had ne'r so much And still to men of honour and desert His Coffers were as open as his heart Peace Patience Iustice Mercie Pittie These were his Iewels in variety His Treasure alwaies was his Subiects Loue Which they still gaue him as th' effects did proâ—â—â— Which like to Earths contributary streames Paid homage to their Soueraigne Ocean lâ—â—â—â— He knew that Princes Treasure to be best That 's layd vp in the loyall Subiects brest And onely 't was the riches of the minde To which he couerously was inclinde Thus was he blest in Person blest in State Blest in his first and his in latter date Blest in his education blest in 's learning Blest in his wisdome good and ill discerning Blest in his marriage and in his royall Race But blessed most of all in Gods high grace He did his God deuoutly serue and feare He lou'd him and he held his loue most deare He honour'd and obeyde him faithfully He is his fauour liu'd and so did dye His duty vnto God hee knew the way And meanes to make his Subiects him obey He knew that if he seru'd his God that then He should be seru'd and fear'd and lou'd of men And that if he Gods Statutes did respect That men would feare his Statutes to neglect That his Obedience vpward did bring downe Obedience to his Person and his Crowne He did aduance the good supprest the bad Relieu'd the poore and comforted the sad The Widdow and the orphant fatherlesse He often hath suppll'd in their distresse â—or why to rich and poore to great and small He was a common Father vnto all His affability and Princely parts Made him a mighty Conquerour of Hearts Offenders whom the law of life depriues His mercy pardon'd and preseru'd their liues To prisoners and poore captiues miserie Hee was a Magazine of charity For losses that by sea or fire did come He hath bestowed many a liberall summe Besides for Churches it most plaine appeares That more hath bin repair'd in twenty yeeres Is honour of our God and Sauiours name Then in an hundred yeeres before he came Our ancient famous Vniuersities Diuine and Humane learnings Nurseries Such dewes of orace as the Almighties will Was pleased through those Limbecks to distiil Which spight of Romish rage or Satans hate Hâ—â— caul'd the glorious Gospell propogate Our light of learning Iames did still protect them And as a nursirg Father did affect them Thus was Hee for our soutes and bodies health Defender of both Church and Common-wealth For Ireland he hath much reduc'd that nation Churches with land endow'd caus'd much plantation Whereby Ciuility is planted there The Kings obedience and th' Almighties feare These deeds this worthy godly Prince hath done For which he hath perpetuall praises wonne Ah! what a gracious Man of God was this Mercy and Iustice did each other kisse His Affabilitie whilst he did liue Did make all men themselues to him to giue Thus liu'd Great Iames and thus great Iames did dye And dying thus doth liâ—e Eternally With Honour he did liue and Life forsooke With Patience like a Lambe his death he tooke And leauing Kingly cares and Princely paine He now inherits an Immortall Reigne For royall grieu'd perplexed Maiesty He hath a Crowne of perpetuity For miserable Pompe that 's transitory Hee is aduanc'd to euerlasting glory And as he lou'd and liu'd and dy ' din Peace So he in Peace did quietly decease So let him rest in that most blest condition That 's subiect to no change or intermission Whilst we his seruants of him thus berest With grieued and perplexed hearts are lest But God in mercy looking on our grife Before he gaue the wound ordain'd reliefe Though duteous Sorrow bids vs not forget This cloud of death I wherein our Sunne did set His Sonnes resplendent Maiestie did rise Load stone and Load starre to our hearts and eyes He cleares our drooping spirits he frees our scares And like the Sunne dries vp our dewey teares All those his seruants that lamenting grieue King Charles his Grace and fauour doth releeue But as they seru'd his Father so he will Be their most louing Lord and Soueraigne still As they were first to their Master liuing being dead They are releeued and re-comforted Thus Charity doth in succession runne A Pious Father leaues a godly Sonne Which Sonne his Kingly Gouernment shall passe His Kingdomes Father as his Father was For though great Iames inter'd in earth doth lye Great Charles his brest intombes his memorie And heer 's our comforts midst our discontents Hee 's season'd with his Fathers Documents And as th' Almighty was his shield and speare Protecting him from danger euery where From most vnnaturall foule Conspiracie From Powder-plots and hellish Treachery Whilst he both liu'd and dy'd belou'd renound And Treason did it selfe it selfe confound So I inuoke th' Eternall Prouidence To be to Charles a buckler and defence Supported onely by the Power Diuine As long as Sunne or Moone or Starres shall shine To all that haue Read this Poeme I Boast not but his Maiesty that 's dead Was many times well pleas'd my lines to read And euery line word Syllable and letter
and be Tombd with him together Sonnets 3. FRom two strong Iailes thy corps â—onâ—â— acquitted The one compact of flesh and bloud and bone The other vnrelenting sencelesse stone By God to one by man to one committed I euer did expect a happy time When thou shouldst shake by bondage from thy backer I euer hop'd that thy vnwilling crime Would be forgot and thou secur'd from wracke For this I wish'd and prat'd both day and night I onely aym'd to haue thy body freed But heau'n beyond my reason had decreed Soule body both at once to free thee quite Thou in thy life hast past a world of trouble But death from double Iailes hath freed thee double Sonnet 4. COrruption Incorruption hath put on Immortall weake mortality is made Earths wo hath gain'd a happy heauenly throne By death life dyes by life deaths force doth fade Though death kill life yet life doth conquer death Death but puts off our Rags of shame and â—ine When for a moment's an eternall breath Life passing through the dore of death doth win This thou well knowst my much beloued friend And therefore thou didst dare death to his worst But he much busied could not thee attend Or durst not till thy cares thy heart had burst And then the slaue came stealing like a thiefe And 'gainst his will did giue thy woes reliefe Sonnet 5. THou fortunes foot-ball whom she vs'd to tosse From wrong to wrong from wo to wo againe From griefe rebounding backe to pinching paine As 't please the blind-fold Dame to blesse or crosse But thou vnmou'd with either gaine or losse Nor ioy nor care could vexe they constant braine Thou smil'dst at all her buffets with disdaine And all her fauours thou esteem'dst as drosse Her and her Fauorites thou still didst deeme Iust as they are not as they seeme to be Her Minions all as fooles thou didst esteeme And that 's the cause she would not fauour thee Then since such reck'ning she of fooles doth make Would thou hadst beene one for her fauours fake Sonnet 6. T Is written in the euer liuing Word The Rule and Square that men should liue thereby Afflictions are the tuch-stones of the Lord. By which he onely doth his seruants try Then Noble Moray thou hadst many a tuch And still the patience good and currant prou'd Thy manly carriage in thy griefs were such Which made thee more then much admir'd and lou'd What yeer what month week day or fading houre Wherein some mischiefe did thee not befall Yet had Affliction ouer thee no power To conquer thee but thou didst conquer all Vnnumbred times thou wast both toucht and tri'd And in thy Makers feare and fauour dy'd Sonnet 7. VVEep heart weepe eyes weep my vnable pen In teares of blood of water and lake With bread of sorrow and afflictions drinke I liue for I haue lost a man of men Yet heart eyes pen dry vp your teares agen He is not lost he 's rather newly found Enfranchis'd from a dolefull theeuish den And with a rich Immortall Crowne is crownd Then hart eies pen no more with teares be drownd Weepe not for him that doth reioyce for euer Yet this againe my comfort doth confound Hee 's lost to mee and I shall find him neuer Then weep Muse heart eies pen lament and weepâ— My ioyes are buried in eternall sleepe Sonnet 8. SLeepe gentle spirit in Eternall rest Free from all heart-tormenting sorrow sleepe Whilst I doe vent from my care-crazed brest Hart-wondring sighs that there their mansion keepâ—â— And let my grones from out that Cauerne deepe With lamentations and cloud-cracking thunder And let mine eyes an Inundation weepe Let sighs grones teares make all the world to wonder I meane my little Microcosmo world Sigh stormes grone thunder weep a floud of tearesâ— Through eu'ry part of me let griefe be hurld That whosoeuer my lamenting heares May mone with me the cause of this my Ditty Or if not mone with me vonchsafe to pitty Sonnet 9. SInce cursed fates haue fatally decreed To tosse and tumble harmelesse Innocence And all the crue of hels abortiue breed Haue glutted Enuies maw by lawes defence Yet God whose knowledge knows the least offence Who all things sees with his all-searching eye Doth with his glorious great omnipotence Right wronged wrongs heares his seruants cry His mercie 's not immur'd within the sky But freely he doth powre it downe on earth He with afflictions scourge his sonnes doth try And when he pleases turnes their mone to mirth And though man liues in care and dies in sorrow A heauy euening brings a ioyfull morrow Sonnet 10. WEll hast thou runne in this â—y weary race Well hast thou fought with Satan hand to haÌ„d Th' ast won the Goale and gain'd the blessed Land That 's neither limitted with time or place There thou attendest on the thâ—â—â—â—â—â—e of Grace There Angels and Archangels sweetly sing Eternall praises to th' eternall King And see the glorious brightnesse of his face All this I doubt not but thou wâ—ll hast done Not of thy selfe with shamefull sinne pollated But thy Redeemer hath the coâ—â—iest wonne And vnto thee the victorie's imputed He paid the score and cancell'd all thy bands And gaue thee to his blessed Fathers hands Sonnet 11. NOw may you theeuing Poets filch and steale Without controlement breaking Priscians pate For he that whilom could your theft reueale Your Criticke and your Hypercriticke late Now may you cog and lye and sweare and prate And make your idle verses lame and halt For by the pow'r of euiternall Fate Hee 's gone that could and would correct each fault But you haue greatest cause to moane his want You sacred heau'nly Sisters three times thrice He from your Gardens could all weeds supplant And replant fruites and flowres of pecrelesse price He kept vnbroke your Numbers Tipes Tropes But now hee 's dead dead are your onely hopes Sonnet 12. AS Solon to rich haplesse Croesus said No man is happy till his life doth end The proofe in thee so piainly is displaid As if he thy Natiuity had kend What mortall miseries could mischiefe send But thou therein hast had a treble share As if Calamities their powers should bend To make thy Corps a treasure-house of care Yet fell Aduersity thou didst out-dare And valiantly 'gainst stormes of woe resisted Loue of the world they minde could not insnare Thou knewst wherein the best of best consisted And as old Solon said so I agree Death makes men happy as it hath done thee Sonnet 13. NO 〈…〉 Trophee Vertue needes And good report a marble Tombe out-weares â—â—â—â—â— plaies the Herald proclaimes mens deeds Her Trumps Thrill sound the spacious world heares And such an vniuersall Tombe hast thou Borne on the tops of thousand thousand tongs Thy liuing merit doth thy name allow A Monument for euer which belongs To none but such as whilom was thy selfe Who vs'd the world as if they vs'd it not And did
my lines no â—ot the worse For Gold is gold though buried vnder mosse And drosse in golden vessels is but drosse Iohn Taylor TO TOM CORIAT VVHat matters for the place I first came from I am no Duncecomb Coxecomb Odcomb Tom Nor am I like a wool-pack câ—aÌ„m'd wâ—â— Greek Venus in Venice minded to goe seeke And at my backe returne to write a Volume In memory of my wits Garganina Colume The choysest wits would neuer so adore me Nor like so many Lackiesrun before me But honest Tom I enuy not thy state There 's nothing in thee worthy of my hate Yet I confesse thou hast an excellent wit But that an idle braine doth harbour it Foole thou it at the Court I on the Thames So farewell Obcomb Tom God blesse King Iames. The Author in his owne defence THere is a crew of euer carping spirits Who merit nothing good yet hate good merits One wrings his lawes awry and then cryes mew And that I stole my lines hee 'l plainely shew Thou addle-headed Asse thy braines are muddy Thy witlesle wit vncapable of study Deem'st each inuention barren like to thine And what thou canst not mend thou wilt repine Loe thus to wauering Censures torturing Racke With truth and confidence my Muse doth packe Let Zoylâ—â— and let Momus doe their worst Let Enuie and Detraction swell and burst In spight of spight and rankerous sdaâ—â—e In scorne of any carping Criticks braine Like to a Post I 'le runne through thicke and thin To scourge Iniquity and spurgall sinne You worthy fauourites of wisedomes lore Onely your fauours doth my Muse implore If your good stomackes these harsh lines disgest I carelesse bid a rush for all the rest My lines first parents be they good or ill Was my vnlearned braine and barten quill THE SCVLLER To the whole kennell of Anti-Christs hounds Priests Friers Monkes and Iesuites Mastiffes Mongrels Islands Spanniels Blood-hounds Bobtaile-tike or Foysting-hound The SCVLLER sends greeting Epigram 1. CVrse exorcise with Beads with Booke and Bell Polluted shauelings rage and doe your worst Vse coniurations till your bellics burst With many a Nigromaâ—ticke mumbling spell I feare you not nor all your friends that sell With Lucifer vee damned dogs that durst Deuise that thundring Treason most accurst Whose like before was neuer hatcht in Hell Halfe men halfe diuels who neuer dream'd of good To you from â—aire and sweetly sliding Thames A popomasticke Sculler warre proclaimes As to the suckers of Imperiall bloud An Anti-Iesuice Sculler with his pen Defies your Babell beast and all his Den. I.T. Epigram 2. ROme now approaches thy confusion Thy AntichristiaÌ„ Kingdome down must tumble The NIâ—srods proud cloud-piercing Babylon Like hell-hatch'd pride despight thy hart must humble In scorne of damn'd equiuocation My lines like thunder through thy Regions rumble Downe in the dust must lye thy painted glory For now I row and write thy tragicke story Epigram 3. WHeÌ„ God had all things out of nothing fram'd And man had named all things â—â— are nam'd God shewed to man the way he should behaue him What ill would dam him or what good would saue him All creatures that the world did then containe Were all made subiects to mans Lordly raigne Faire Paradise was Princely ADAMS walke Where God himselfe did often with him talke At which the Angels enuious and proud Striu'd to ascend aboue the highest cloud And with the mighty God to make compare And of his glory to haue greatest share Because they saw Gods loue to man so great They striu'd to throw their Maker from his seat But he whose power is All-sufficient Did headlong hurle them from Heauens battlement And for which enuious pride they so did swell They lost heauens glory for the paines of Hell In all this time man liuing at his ease His wife nor he not knowing to displease Their glorious maker till the Sonne of night Full fraught with rage and poyson bursting spight Finding alone our ancient grandam EVE With false perswasions makes her to beleeue â—â— would eate the fruit she was forbidden â—â—â— should God 's secrets know were from her hidden â—sing all was true the Serpent told â—â—â— both to ADAM straightway did vnfold â—â—â—â—â—â—cherous horrid vile soule killingtreason â—â—â— ambitions past the bounds of reason â—â—â— his posterities sole detriment â—â— to the Woman and the Fiend consent â—â—â—â— ADAM neuer had the diuell obeyed â—â—â— not had the woman for his ayde â—â—â— the sexe that God made man to cherish â—â—â— by the Diuell intic'd to cause him perish â—â—â— supposing he had woone the field â—â—â— taking man to his obedience yeeld â—â—â— ADAM now in corps and mind deiected â—â—â— head to foot with shamefull sinne infected â—â—â— a slaue to sinne the Diuell and Death â—ding the dinger of th' Almighties wrath â—â—â— banisht from Gods presence thrust â—â—â— the earth being for his crime accurst â—â—â— with griefe and selfe-consuming care â—â— at the brimme of bottomlesse dispaire â—â—â— God in mercy thinking of his â—railâ—ie â—â—â— sinfull man to him had broken â—ealcie â—â—â— promise he would send his onely Sonne â—â—â— for faults by man misdone â—â—â— he came in his appointed time â—â—â— on his faultlesse shoulders tooke our crime â—â—â— like a malefactor death he suffered â—â—â—â—â—â— once for all himselfe himselfe hath offered â—â—â— yet the Diuell will not be satisfi'd â—â—â— though the Sonne of God for sinners dy'd â—â—â— dayly hellish damned enterprises â—â—â— Ministers and he gainst man deuises â—â—â— the shelter of Religions cloake â—cusly he doth the world prouoke â—â—â— God in trayterous manner to rebell â—â—â— amplifie his euerlasting hell â—â—â— tempting mankind still by fraud or force â—â—â— soule from his Redeemer to diuorce â—â—â— yet not man alone must feele his sting â—â—â— he dares venter on our heauenly King â—hose power though Satan Knowes is euerlasting â—â—â— after fortie dayes and nights long fasting â—â—â—cking him weake attempts now to inuade him â—â—â— with illusions seeking to perswade him â—â—â—â—â—es our Sauiour vp vnto a Hill â—â—â— told him if he would obey his will â—â—â— oration to fall downâ— before him â—â—â— of the worlds great glory would so store him That he should Lord and Master be of all â—â—â— in reuerence would before him fall Christ knowing him to be the root of euill With God-like power commands auoid thou diuell 'T is writ Thou Shalt not tempt the Lord thy God â—â—â— seiue and feare the fury of his rod Sathan perceiuing all his labour lost Runnes through the world more switter then a post Proclaimes large Kingdomes and a tryple Crowne To him that in his Reuerence would fall downe Ambitious thirst of fickle fading fame Did quickly mindes of wordly man inflame Making them dreame on pleasures â—â—â—â—sitorie And to esteeme earths pompe aboue heauens glory This made the Pope with poysonous pride infus'd T' accept those honours Christ before refus'd Now hath he wonne great fame on this condition That fore the diuell he fall in base submission So hauing wonne this
Argos eyes of suruay and obserue and as many hands as Briareus to write yet for all their paines diligent search and collections my weake cpabitie can finde matter enough to make an honest Pamphlet out of what they haue ouerseene neglected or made slight account of Foure things I haue doe and euer will obserue in my Writings which are not to write prophane obsceane palpable and edious Lyes or scandalous Libels In keeping which Decorum I hope I shall keep my selfe within the limits or bounds of good men Respect And this Aduertisement more I giue the Reader that there are many things Imprinted vnder the name of two Letters I. T. for some of which I haue beene taxed to bee the Author I assure the world that I had neuer any thing imprinted of my writing that I was either afraid or ashamed to set my name as large to it and therefore if you see any Authors name I. T. I vtterly disclaime it for I am as I haue bin both I and T. which with addition of Letters is yours to bee commanded in any laudableendeauours IOHN TAYLOR TAYLORS PASTORALL BEING BOTH HISTORICALL AND SATYRICALL OR The noble Antiquitie of Shepheards with the profitable vse of Sheepe APOLLO Father of the Sisters nine I câ—aue thy ayde t' inspire this Muse or mine Thou that thy golden Glory didst lay by As Ouid doth relate most wittily And in a Shepheards shape didst deigne to keeps Thy Loues beloued Sire Admerus sheepe And rurall Pan thy helpe I doe intreat That to the life the praise I may repeat Of the contended life and mightie stockes Of happie Shepheards and their harmlesse sockes â—â— better thoughts my Errors doe controule â—â— an offence most negligent and foule â—us inuoking like a Heathen man â—â— helplesse from Apollo or from Pan When as the subiect which I haue in hand â—almost infinite as Scarres or sand â—â— With Antiquitie vpon Record â— the Eternall neuer-failing Word â—â—ere 't is ingrauen true and manifest â—â—That Shery and Shepheares were both best and blest â—â— Therefore inuocate the gracious aide Of Thee whose mightie Word hath all things made Israels great Shepheard numbly câ—aue That his assur'd assistance I may haue That my vnlearned Muse no verse compile When may bee impious prophane or vile â—â—â—ad though through Ignorance or negligence â—â— poore iuucation fall into offence â—â—implore that boundlesse Grace of his Nor stricaly to regard what is amisle â—at but vnto me belongeth all the blame And all the Glory bee vnto his Name Yet as this Bookers verse so men must know â—â—must some Fictions and Aliusions show Some shreds sow â—mnants reliques or some scraps The Muses may inspire me with perhaps Which taken laterally as line may sceme And so mil-vnderstanding may misdeeme Of Sheepe therefore before to worke I fall Isle shew the Shepheards first originall Those that the best Records will reade and marke Shall finde iust Abel was a Patriarke Our father Adams second sonne a Prince As great as any man begotten fince Yet in his function hee a Shepheard was And so his mottall Pilgrimage did passe And in the sacred Text it is compild That hee that 's father of the Faithfull stil'd Did as a Shepheard line vponth increase Of Sheepe vntill his dayes on earth did ceasel And in those times it was apparent tâ—en Abel * Abel a Princes Patriarke figure of the true Church a type of â—â—â—tt and a shepheard Abraham a Prince a Patriarke â—â—â—uled with the Glorious tytle of Father of the Faithfull a Shep heard and Abram both were Noble men The one obtain'd the tytle righteously For his vnfeigned seruing the most High Hee first did offer Sheepe which on Record Was Sacrifice accepted of the Lord. Hee was before the Infant world was ripe The Churches figure and his Saurours type A murdered Martyr who for seruing God Did first of all feele persecutions rod. And Abraham was in account so great Abramclech his friendship did intreat Faiths patterne and Obedience sample hee Like Starres or sand was in posteritis In him * Isack the Nations of the Earth were blest And now his bosome figures heau'nly REST His Sheepe almost past numbring multiply'd And when as he thought I saue should haue dy'd Then by th' Almighties Mercies Loue and Grace A Sheepe from out a Bush supply'd the place Lot was a Shepheard Abrams brothers sonne And such great fauour from his God he wonne That Sodom could not be consum'd with fire Till hee and his did out of it retire They felt no vengeance for their foule offence Till righteous Lot was quite departed thence And Iacob as the holy Ghost doth tell Who afterwards was called Israel Who wrastled with his God and to his fame Obtain'd a Name and Blessing for the same Hee vnder Laban was a Shepheard long And suffred from him much ingratefull wrong For Bachel and for Leah hee did beare The yoke of seruitude full twentie yeare Hee was a Patriarke a Prince of might Whose wealth in Sheepe was almost infinite His twice sixe sonnes as holy writ describes Who were the famous Fathers of twelue tribes Were for the most part Shepheards and such men Whose like the world shall ne're containe agen Young Ioseph 'mongst the rest especially A constant mirrour of true Chastitie Who was in his affliction of behauiour A morrall Tipe of his immortall sauiour And Truth his Mother Rachet doth expresse To be her father Labans Shepheardesse Meeke Moses whom the Lord of hosts did call To leade his people out of AEgypts thrall Whose power was such as no mans was before Nor since his time hath any mans beene more Yet in the Sacred text it plaine appeares That he was letbroes Shepheard fortie yeares Heroycke Dauid Ishaies youngest sonne Whose acts immortall memorie hath wonne Whose valiant vigour did in pieces teare A furious Lyon and a rauenous Beare Who arm'd with Faith and fortitude alone Slew great Gohah with a sling and stone Whose victories the people sung most plaine Saul hath a thousand Hee ten thousand slaine Hee from the Sheepfold came to be a king Whose same for euer through the world shall ring Hee was another Tipe of that blest HEE That was and is and euermore shall bee His vertuous Acts are writ for imitation His holy Hymnes and Psalmen for consolation For Reprehension and for Contemplation And finally to shew vs our saluation The Prophet Amos vnto whom the Lord Kearâ—l'd the sacred secrets of his Word God rais'd him from the Sheepfold to foretell What Plagues should fall on sinfull Israell True * Job Patience patterne Prince of his affections Most mightie tamer of his imperfections Whose guard was God whose guide the holy Ghost Blest in his wealth of which Sheepe was the most Iust Iobs loft riches doubled was agen Who liu'd belou'd of God admir'd of men Seth and Noab were Shepheards and feeders of Cattle The first of happie tydiageon the earth Of our all onely Sauiours blessed birth The glorious