your liberty It may be you so well could not supply Your hungry bellies with such food as now Provided is which none can disallow Your bodies likewise need endure no cold For you have fire enough for young and old Many besides you are here in this place That think they are not in so good a case Because they often times in great want are Of that God knowes which you sometimes can spare But if their chamber rent they cannot pay Then in your Hole they must be put to stay Consider also how m your soules are fed With Gods Word n which to you is daily read o God by his Word to you speakes very plaine p And you by prayer speake to him againe q This exercise you have now twice a day Having occasion just to sing and pray r If inward mirth you have sing heartily If outward crosses s pray continually t If you those godly Psalmes of David sing Without true knowledge or understanding Then you sing like the Bird that doth rejoyce The Nightingall that 's nothing but a voyce a If you to God doe pray and not regard How you speake to him b then you are not heard Much like the Papists you are when they pray Who utter words but know not what they say c If you Gods word doe heare with no delight d And live like Heathen people in our sight e You then like Heathen shall be cast away The Lord will not your punishment delay There are amongst you doubtlesse that have been In drinke and otherwise much overseen At Tavernes and Ale houses were your meetings Where you with others had your merry greetings And there and at worst places you have spent Your time away in beastly merriment In stead of Davids Psalmes you have sung out Your f drunken songs and so kept revell rout In stead of prayer pratling you have us'd g And Gods most holy name have much abus'd The Fidlers you have heard with more delight Then h Gods pure word which is so just and right Thus most of you have done when you were free But now i' th Hole such things you cannot see i From such lewd courses you are now restrain'd And to doe better things you are enjoyn'd Thus in your bondage k you exercise more Your selves in prayer then you did before A happy bondage 't is you can't deny If you your sinfull l lusts can mortifie m But if for all this you will not amend Your lives then you shall finde that in the end Although your bellies be with food suppli'de Your backs may want course raggs your skin to hide Your bones in time by lying hard will ake Your flesh the lice will not at all forsake Untill you die and then they 'll turne you over Unto the a wormes which then shall be your mother And then the b worme of Conscience which ne're dies Shall feed upon your soules with wofull cries And though your bodies in the c graves remaine And turne to dust d yet they shall rise againe To judgement at which time they must needs dwell e With your poore soules in the darke hole of hell How soone that day will be you doe not know But when death comes you to that place must goe Your state is wretched now 't will then be worse For you shall ever be under Gods curse Thus 't will be with you if your mindes are bent f To live and die in sinne and not repent Wherefore g bethinke your selves what you have done And be reclaim'd that you the h race may run Of Christians pure who never cease to i walke The way to heaven k of which they joy to talke That l race you may now run and get the gole Though you are stay'd and shut up in a hole m Gods word is your direction n heare and o pray p In faith and then the hole will be the way q Through troubles and afflictions you shall finde The readi'st way if you are not starke blinde Whil'st you therefore are here r feare God and (Å¿) feed Your bodies t and your soules that have such need Yet be not like the Fox or like his brood Which loves his hole if he there can have food But rather use good meanes to get out hence That you may have such food without offence Abroad in other places being free Which to good minds doth best of all agree Then doubtlesse God in his due time will send You libertie and u comfort in the end And if the Steward of your hole be just Your Reader chaste not given to his lust Your Cooke a cleanly fellow in his place Your Constable well order'd and not base And you that are inferiour to all these That are so full of Lice and biting Fleas That have no beds to lye on but must needs Lye in your cloathes where all your vermine breeds a If you together in good sort doe live b The Lord will change your lodging and soone give You such a place to dwell in as shall be c The place where you for ever shall be free CHAP. XIV To his youngest Daughter WHen thou into this wretched world a cam'st crying b Ten thousand round about thee lay a dying Many which in the morning had their breath c Before night were depriv'd thereof by death Death in those dayes with his sharp poyson'd Dart d Smote thousands weekly through the very heart And led them captives to their graves where they e Must needs remaine untill the Lords great Day f This domineering Death took rich and poore g And some that liv'd with me were at his doore He at that dolefull time was fierce and bold And made more havock of the young then old Great was his priviledge then in the City h For fooles and wisemen he tooke without pitie i He then spar'd none at all that were in 's reach But did amongst all callings make a breach The Belfrees he caus'd to be full of people Who made the Bells to ring in every Steeple A dolefull sound there was k then graves were plenty l Which made the streets of London to be empty a And then most trades did faile I knew but one That flourish'd which were wooden Cookes alone Their wooden crust Death furnish'd with great store Of flesh b which living people did abhor And therefore they convey'd were under ground For c wormes to feed on which did then abound The pye-crust which was fram'd and made of wood They did dislike yet d th' inside they found good Death was their friend he daily did provide Such food and yet they were not satisfi'd e Thou then Deaths hands escap'dst as well as I Yet when he comes we cannot from him flye My Country house in
wormes must needs have that to feed upon What is it then his f bones thou would'st faine have That cannot be g they must goe to the grave What would'st thou doe with them make dice to sell Or with them play away thy soule to hell As for his soule surely thou canst not have it For that must needs h returne to God that gave it i Dost thou by this course ever thinke to thrive k To bury thy poore debtor here alive l Ten thousand talents to the Lord thou ow'st And yet hee 's m mercifull to thee thou know'st n And hast thou no pittie on him in thrall That owes thee but o an hundred pence in all p If God should deale with thee as thou with him In what great q misery then wouldst thou be in What if in this case God should take away r Thy soule and call thee to accompt this day Å¿ Thy guilty conscience then would soone accuse thee t And for thy crueltie Christ would refuse thee u Then into hell that x gulfe of miserie y Thou should'st be cast to live eternally In wofull torments where z no rest is found And where all such as thou art are a fast bound Wherefore if thou those judgements would'st prevent Be b mercifull kinde loving and c repent d Discharge thy poore debtor out of this place e As thou would'st be discharg'd being in his case f Then God will mollifie thy stony heart g And likewise blesse thee wheresoe're thou art CHAP. III. To the Prisoner that lay sick upon his bed THe a Prison of it selfe is tedious to thee b But sicknesse therewithall may quite undoe thee Where art thou sick in body or in minde Or art thou griev'd c because friends are unkinde Art not thou sick and pained at the d heart Because thou e canst not from this place depart Thinke with thy selfe that thy f sins are the cause Of thy disease by the breach of Gods lawes g Now is thy soule wounded with mortall sinne h Oh then 't is high time for thee to begin i To looke into thy selfe and thy condition To see what need thou hast of the Physition I meane the great k Physition of thy soul Which is thy Saviour Christ who doth controll l All things in heaven above and earth below m Hee 'll cure thy body and thy soule also n Of all diseases if thou him intreat And likewise give thee o heavenly food to ear p Whereby thy soule shall live and be quite freed Of all diseases for 't is so decreed q Earthly Physitians will not undertake Physick to give but for thy moneyes sake Unlesse thou give them Angells of pure gold They 'll not come neere thee be thou young or old But when r Christ thy Physitian takes in hand To cure thy poore sick soule then understand Hee 'll not then only take away thy paine But cause his (Å¿) Angells with thee to remaine Though thou restrained art yet they are t free To come both day and night to visit thee Wherefore receive from God this chastisement With a thankfull heart and therewith be content b And then this prison shall not thee annoy But be a pallace to thee day by day c Out of which place the Lord will thee deliver And take thee up to live with him for ever CHAP. IV. To him that betrayed the Prisoner into his Adversaries hands WHat trade art thou oh Traitor canst thou tell Is it thy occupation now to sell Thy friend to one that meanes him to oppresse And lay him up to live in great distresse a Thou cam'st unto him and didst speake him faire Which made him often unto thee repaire b Because he did beleeve what thou didst say Not thinking then that thou would'st him betray c But when thou hadst fit opportunitie Thou him deliver'dst to his enemie Who keepes him fast in prison like a slave Which thou art to be blam'd for like a knave d But tell me Traitor how didst thou him sell For a French Crown a Noble or Angell Doubtlesse thy Chapman gave thee more for him Then ere hee 's like to get of him agin But why hast thou thy friend sold for a song Which to another justly doth belong The bargaine thou hast made must needs be voyd e For Christ bought him before and for him paid Wherefore thy Chapman cannot keep him long Although he hath him in a place so strong a He shall be free b for Christ doth him regard c And for thy treacherie hee 'll thee reward Take thou example by Iudas thy Brother d Who for treacherie did exceed all other e His Master he betray'd who was a f King And thou thy friend betray'dst for a small thing Iudas was punisht and so shalt thou be For thou a Traitor art as well as he g Yet he confess'd his fault and did restore The money back which he receiv'd before To doe the deed about the which he went Which having done he then seem'd to h repent Yet for all that he being voyd of grace i Dy'd in despaire in a most wofull case Let me advise thee be like him in this Confesse restore repent 't is not amisse But doe not k hang thy selfe as Iudas did l Because such things thou know'st God doth forbid But give over thy trade of treacherie m And call to God for grace before thou die n That thou may'st as an honest man here live Untill thy soule to God thou dost up give o Heaven is the place where faithfull men shall raigne p Which place no lying traitor shall obtaine CHAP. V. To the Sea-man a Prisoner THou Sea-man that art subject to the weather Tell me what winde it was that brought thee hither Who was thy Pilot that had so much skill To bring thee to this port against thy will The Serjeants are the Pilots for this Bay Without the Compasse they can finde the way Doubtlesse 't was some of them that did thee guide Unto this Haven where thou must abide Thy sailes are down and now thine Anchor's cast And hence thou canst not budge thou art so fast Though winde and tide doe serve yet hast thou lost Thy voyage for this time to thy great cost Now when thou shalt depart thou dost not know For till thy peace be made thou canst not goe Whilst thou art here I wish thee to consider a Who 't is that must thee from this place deliver It is the Lord whose b wonders thou hast seen In the c deep Sea where thou hast often been d Toss'd with the waves in stormes and tempests great Which e raging waves against the Ship
did beat f Insomuch that thou couldst not chuse but thinke The beaten ship would at that instant sinke And when thou didst approach g neere to the shore h The danger then thou know'st was more and more For then the i Rocks and Sands did thee affright Which could not be discern'd in the darke night k Then thou on God didst call and he thee heard And from those greater dangers thee preserv'd l Thus by the Lords great power and mighty hand In m safety thou wast brought unto the land Where thou no sooner wast but didst n neglect To give him thankes that did thee thus protect o But with rude company didst drinke and p sweare Living q most wickedly without all care r Wherefore 't was just with God to let thee fall Into these troubles therefore on him (Å¿) call To give thee grace that thou t never forget To u praise his name Then though thou art in debt x Thou shalt not in this prison long remaine For he will y send thee to the Sea againe CHAP. VI To the Stranger a Prisoner THou that a Stranger art in prison here a Farre from thy Country friends and parents deare b Be not quite out of heart for God above c Will new friends raise thee here d if thou him love e 'T is not the distance of the place that can f His providence keep back from any man God of the g stranger hath a speciall care As well in a strange Country as elsewhere h His goodnesse and his mercy doth appeare Throughout the world to those that doe him feare What need'st thou then take any thing to heart i Seeing the Lord doth love thee where thou art Now k though thou hast estranged been from him l Yet hee 'll not leave thee to thy selfe to sinne m When thou his mercies felt thou then wast glad n But now he thee correcteth thou art sad o Experience thou hast of his goodnesse By sea and land and yet neverthelesse Thou didst forget thy selfe p and went'st astray As travellers doe q that are out of the way r What cam'st thou in this Country for to see Strange (Å¿) fashions or some other vanitie In prison here strange things thou may'st behold t For here vaine people are both young and old u If in such company thou take delight x They 'll bring thee to a miserable plight Consider with thy selfe what thou hast done y T' offend or how in debt and want th' hast run z For which thou art here laid up to remaine Where thou may'st lose much more then thou canst gaine Wherefore 't is time for thee to looke about To see if some a good friend will helpe thee out Endeavour what thou canst b and crave Gods ayd Hee 'll stand thy friend therefore be not dismay'd And when he thee delivered hath from hence Doe what thou canst c to get experience And let me now advise thee as a stranger d Thou fall not once againe into such danger But being free e spend not thy time in vaine Then thou with credit may'st f go home againe CHAP. VII To the faint-hearted Prisoner BE not dejected thou a faint-hearted man What ayl'st thou b that thou look'st so pale and wan Thou think'st it strange in prison here to lie And art c afraid thou shalt be sick and die Even as a man at Sea thou seem'st to be Sick at the first distemper'd and queafie This maladie will not last very long d After a while thou wilt againe grow strong Take courage man and doe not him resemble e That at small things is apt to quake and tremble The Sergeants thou need'st not at all to feare For they are gone now they have lodg'd thee here The Docket man when he doth for thee call To goe along with him unto Guild hall Give him his groat and pay th' Attorneyes fee Or else they 'll not doe any thing for thee Thy Creditors if they doe not Declare Non-suit them for why should'st thou them forbeare And if they doe Declare be not afraid f Although this harsh course they take to be paid What if they have taken a resolution To charge thee quickly with an execution It 's very like that for a time thereby They may deprive thee of thy libertie Yet though thy bodie in prison they keepe a Doe not forbeare to eate drink rest and sleepe What need'st thou b feare what men can doe unto thee c Do'st thinke by this course they mean to undoe thee Beleeve it and doe not thy selfe deceive d They can no more doe then God gives them leave What if to malice they are so much bent e Call on the Lord their designes hee 'le prevent f The feare of danger which thou hadst be sure Is more then that which thou do'st now endure g Feare thou not those that may thy bodie spoile But cannot give unto thy soule the foile h Feare thou the mightie God of Israel That can both soule and bodie cast in hell i The feare of him which wise men doe enjoy Without all doubt k drives other feares away l Wherefore if thou art wise doe not give place To slavish feare t' will bring thee to disgrace m Faint not under the Crosse n cheere up thy heart o Get strength in Christ now thou in prison art p Then though thou hast not things here to content q Yet shalt thou have no just cause to repent For if with r boldnesse thou repayr'st to him In thy distresse then shalt thou want nothing Hee 'le give thee s courage and much t strength to beare Thy great afflictions both here and elsewhere And they that laid thee here u shall never have On thee their wills though they the same doe crave For let them doe to thee the worst they can Thou need'st not feare x looke thou up like a man y To him that rules the hearts of men hee 'le please To rule them so as thine shall have much ease a And when God sees it fit thou hence dost goe Make him thy friend b and thy time well bestow c That thou no more into this place dost come Which is a place all wise men faine would shun Whilst thou art here d be not at all dismay'd e Though for a little time thou art here stay'd f But trust in God g and let thy sins decrease h Then God out of this place will thee release CHAP. VIII To his Sonne VVHen I in prison was nine yeares agoe a Thou at that time in Prison wast also I ne're in prison was before that time No more wast thou for then thou wast not
good my friends can tell I' th Harvest time n I gather'd much and than I lost much yet God gave me my Girle Nan In those dayes o I much care had to uphold My credit which I valued more then gold The Winter season when p I had my fill Of troubles then God sent me my son Will In those dayes I was then as now I am In great distresse q and counted a lost man Great losses I sustain'd that stormy time r Which makes me now to suffer and repine s The losse of Nan thy sister was then more Grievous to me then all I lost before A tedious Winter 't is as I suppose t How long t' will last the Lord above best knowes Thus in this world have I beene u toss'd and tumbl'd Sometimes advanc'd aloft and sometimes humbl'd x The day-light of my former dayes are done The dark-night of my latter dayes are come Yet still I hope t' will not be so with thee y But that thy best dayes will hereafter be Although thy worst dayes be now for a season Yet doubtlesse thou hast so much wit and reason To thinke if thou a serve God b and thy friends please That thou hereafter may'st live more at ease c The more thou art in thy young dayes deprest The more one day will be thy joy and rest And if thou live to be a woman growne d Thou wilt rejoyce that thou so much hast knowne Thou now art with e thy friends who love thee well Give them content whilst thou with them dost dwell f Give not thy selfe at all to idlenesse g But be thou doing something more or lesse Be * modest loving and of good behaviour So shalt thou be esteem'd of and in favour h And if to goodnesse thou dost now incline Thou then art Gods deere childe as well as mine Thou then two Fathers hast be of good cheere i The one 's in heaven above k the other's here l Thy earthly father's poore and weak withall m Thy heavenly Father's rich and liberall If thou want that which I have not to give thee Goe to n thy heavenly Father hee 'le releeve thee Make thy case knowne to him the o truth declare And p tell no lyes but thereof have a care For God will never grant such their desires q The Devill is the father of all lyers Now if thou learn'st good manners every day r And carriest thy selfe well not being coy s If thou to godlinesse dost give thy minde t And wilt live vertuously then thou shalt finde u That though thou many things art now deny'd Yet shalt thou be hereafter satisfi'd In the meane while x consider well these things That I may from thee heare some good tidings y It will rejoyce my heart though I am here In prison where I want meanes to be cleere a Be thou my comfort now and thou shalt see I 'le be thy comforter when I am free CHAP. XII To the domineering Creditor over a poore Debtor of his in Prison THou domineering man a that art so b wise In thy conceit c why dost thou so despise d Thy Debtor which at thy suit here doth lye Where he for want of food in time may dye He hath good friends sayst thou that will not see Him lye in Prison long in misery But rather will some order take to pay His debts that he no longer here may stay Alas thou art deceiv'd t' will not appeare e That they 'le doe any thing whilst he is here f He rather fares the worse for them so that He 's like a Mouse that 's taken in a Trap g Yet thou dost boast and brag what thou hast done In laying up a poore man in prison What hast thou gotten now by doing so The h Devill for thy friend and i God thy foe k The Devill takes delight in cruelty l And God rejects him that shewes no mercy m Yet thou thy selfe having the world at will n Tak'st no pitty on him that is so ill o Thou tak'st thy pleasure p he grieves at the heart q Yet he 's Gods creature even as thou art r Yet thou beleev'st thou art better then he s Because thou hast him made subject to thee Yet when all comes to all one day thou must As well as he t be turned into dust Then who shall judge which of you is the better Whether the Creditor or the poore Debtor a Your bodies in the darke grave may be there Alike unto the wormes without compare Your soules may differ much b for they must flie Up to the c Judge of heaven and d earth on high e Where that great Judge pronounce shall to all men f Both g good and h bad their sentence just and then i The soule that hath done well heav'n shall enjoy k The soule that hath done ill God will destroy Consider this l thou that do'st domineere O're thy poore debtor whom thou hast lodg'd here For thou thy selfe m art mightily in debt Unto the Lord which thou should'st not forget n And if Christ will not for thee undertake Thy debts to pay o for his own mercie sake Then thy poore soule and body shall at last p Be into Hell that fearefull prison cast q If thou therefore wouldst mercy now obtaine r Be thou to others mercifull againe (Å¿) Come to thy poore debtor that 's in distresse t Give him his libertie and so expresse u Thy love to him that he hereafter may Be able with Gods helpe his debts to pay Thus thou may'st doe him good and thy selfe too x Wherefore delay no time this good to doe y Then doubtlesse thy great Creditor will forgive Thee all thy debts z and thou with him shalt live CHAP. XIII To the men which are Prisoners in the Hole a YOu that are Pris'ners in the Hole doe not b Despaire of helpe although it be your lot To be throng'd up together in a hole a Where you each others miserie may condole Experience you have had of b Gods goodnesse Which he to you hath shew'd c in your distresse d The Lord your helpe and comfort will be still e If you obedient are unto his will f 'T is God alone that moves mens hearts to pitty Poore pris'ners both in Country and in City g Your Benefactors he makes liberall And therefore you h should daily on him call i To blesse and sanctifie the meanes you have k To feed your bodies l and your soules to save 'T is like in former time that some of you Did not fare halfe so well as now you doe And if againe you had
that taught me the best Master that ever taught the booke I learned in t the best booke that ever was read the lesson I learned out of that book u the best lesson that ever I learned and the time I spent there x the best time that ever I spent An accompt of all which I have briefly and plainly set downe in the ensuing particular directions contained in this small Volume which I humbly present to all those that y desire the knowledge of z Gods word the onely a refuge for the distressed and afflicted and chiefest joy and b delight to those that are in prosperity who count themselves but c strangers in this world setting little by the things of greatest price they enjoy here in comparison of those d heavenly treasures above which are not seene Now although it bee but a little e candle which I thought not good to keepe secret any longer yet it giveth so much light as the Reader may thereby see and observe that this worke is none of mine the maine substance and matter is Gods owne word In the labour of disposing and ordering them I have used my best skill and if you please to accept of them I shall then thinke my time well spent for the good of others as well as my selfe Desiring the Lord to blesse and prosper all our good endeavours that we may f so live in his feare and g glorifie him in this life as we may hereafter h dye in his favour and be i glorified of him in the world to come Amen Yours in all true loving and Christian affection William Bagwell The Preface To all Christian people distressed and afflicted in what kinde soever ALL men naturally a desire to live peaceably contentedly and to be freed from all manner of b troubles afflictions and distresses c which are so grievous to the senses but this happeneth to none d for every one have their crosses in some kinde or other or at one time or other in e body or f mind or g both h either in the having of that which they desire not or in the i want of that which they desire k all which is common both to the l good and to the m bad for who can say that his body hath beene alwayes freed from n sicknesse his soule from o sorrow his person from p imprisonment or other inconveniences his state from q poverty or his name from r contempt c Or what man though he s enjoy the outward blessings of this life can say t his minde is satisfied and contented therewith or that he is free from u covetousnesse x ambition y vain-glory z selfe-conceit z or some other such like a inordinate affections of the minde with the which he b afflicteth himselfe c and is an evill disease The other happening by Gods providence to those that d are acquainted with his wayes e are evident signes of Gods love towards them which is the reason f they submit themselves so willingly to undergoe them knowing that g they are the seed the occasion the matter of well doing h and the discoverers of many excellent vertues which are not seene in them i whilest they live in prosperity And therefore although k adversity be the punishment of sin yet l God in punishing of men doth not alwayes m respect sinne wherefore n they judge rashly which either doe not wait for the o end or doe judge and p esteeme of men according to prosperity or adversity But when men q that have lived in good reputation and credit r are once fallen into trouble and misery s then their beloved friends and acquaintance fall away from them and t the more u heavie Gods hand is upon them the more x they neglect and y despise them but when they find by experience z the helplesnesse of earthly things they are then weaned a from the love of the world and kept from b living carelesly c they draw the nearer to God knowing that d they are tokens and pledges of their adoption And considering with themselves that their e afflictions come not unto them by chance f but from Gods decree and appointment and that the g continuance and h measure of them is appointed by him they then never i stand much upon the malice of men or k rage of Divels but l looke up principally to him with this m assurance that hee will deliver them n when his measure is full o in good time In the meane while their p faith q patience r humility s obedience and such like noble t vertues are set a worke and u God in them x glorified But few men have this great gift priviledge to y suffer afflictions patiently Every z hypocrite will serve God whilest he prospereth and blesseth him a but when he falls into troubles he is then led by the divel to impatiency b fretting c murmuring d grudging e frowardnesse f and most painfull pensivenesse g all which doe vexe him more by many degrees then the troubles themselves and when he h cries for helpe it is either paine or i feare that causeth him so to doe so that k he cannot rest upon Gods word with l peace The childe of God m may likewise be n very impatient in his afflictions utter o dangerous speeches by which means he may for a time have p no comfort in trouble but q God leaves him not so to himselfe always comfortlesse but hath a time to r recover himselfe againe and s then he praiseth the Lord who often times t inflicteth upon his children temporall afflictions u that hee may deliver them from eternall destruction And herein doth the wisedome and x goodnesse of God appeare for y by afflictions we come to the knowledge of our selves and repose z no confidence in any creature and likewise wise to the a knowledge of God reposing all b trust and confidence in him and thus c affliction begetteth understanding in those that are afflicted in so much that the d crosse is to the children of God mercy and e losse is gaine e afflictions are their schooling and f adversity their best Universitie by which they learne how to g avoid the dangerous h broad way of the wicked of this i world which is so k pleasing to flesh and bloud and are turned into the l right way to heaven which in regard of its m narrownesse and straitnesse so few desire to walke therein This being n
which With other rare conceits that some bewitch f Brave images and pictures of some Saints And Angels which they say heare their complaints Crosses guilded with gold beset with stones And Relicks whereof some are dead mens bones And some are teeth heads armes and other parts Of Saints dismembred which grieves not their hearts To see what monsters they of some Saints make At which the wiser sort their heads doe shake One Saint at severall places had three heads Sixe armes another and a third foure leggs There was a Saint in England we are told That had more teeth then two hogs-heads could hold g Such lying fopperies Papists maintaine h As meerly are devis'd by their owne braine A man would wonder in this age to see What strange disorder'd orders now there be Ordained in the Church of Rome whereby That Church is much enrich'd but the Country And Kingdomes that are subject thereunto Are much impoverish'd some they quite undoe So many Sects there are both high and low Of Clergie-men which they themselves scarce know i The lofty Cardinalls proud and ambitious The Jesuites k which are every where seditious l The domineering Bishops which have cures The lazie Monks m that are meere Epicures The drunken Priests n who eat their breaden Gods o The lecherous Friers who whip Nuns with rods The Capuchins who weare to shirts and goe By two and two a are hypocrites we know And divers other Orders from Rome sent With unchaste Nuns make up the b Rabblement These Popish Clergie are c forbid to marry d And yet from common whores cannot long tarry e Their reines must needs be purg'd by maids or wives Else they 'll be sick and endanger their lives It is more lawfull for a Priest to have Ten Concubines then one wife ne're so brave This f Devillish doctrine is taught unto those That are apt Schollers whom their Master knowes They likewise doe on certaine dayes g forbid Flesh to be eaten and yet they instead Of flesh may eat of other things their fill With dainty Cakes and sweet-meates if they will And sev'rall sorts of wine of pleasant taste This is the manner of the Popish Fast If thou such fasting dayes could'st here observe Though thou fast often yet thou need'st not starve But what a wicked custome have those got h That in a strange tongue pray which they know not Yet ignorant Papists pray as they are taught Although their prayers God knowes are starke naught For when they understand not what they say They doe but prate a Parrat may so pray i The forme and substance of their prayer 's such As doth the Lord dishonour very much k For to some Saints they pray and cannot tell Whether those Saints in heav'n be or in hell Whether true Saints or Popish Saints l they faile That to them pray 't will nothing them availe Yet when this Popish crew want helpe they then Pray to those Saints which were but mortall men The Virgin Mary m she 's more call'd upon Then Christ n her Saviour the o chiefe corner stone a Angels that are Gods servants as Saints be They worship for their Church doth so agree b Carv'd Images and pictures on the wall Crosses Relicks and other things withall c That have no life yet d they like beasts doe creepe And crawle to them sometimes i' th open street e And when they are thus prostrate then they cry Unto those Idols their wants to supply So soone as people dye their f soules doe goe To heaven or hell the word of God saith so Yet those ungodly Papists have invented A place besides hell where soules are tormented That place of Purgatory where they say The soules must needs be g purg'd before that day They are deliver'd thence therefore they make For those soules prayers which lye in that lake Thus those that are in thy religion bred In vaine doe pray for their friends which are dead Beleeve me if a Purgatory be On earth 't is here thou canst not chuse but see This place will thee so purge thou need'st not care To be purged againe thou know'st not where The Romish Church like Pharisies and Scribes h Preferre mens vaine Traditions like i blinde guides Before the written word of God which none But such blasphemers k doe despise alone For they l adde thereunto and m from it take That which shall make their soules in hell to quake Their great legend of n lyes is more set by Then o Gods pure word p that 's full of Majesty The q ten Commandements of God wherein r A masse of treasure 's lockt up to the brim Those Clergie have the second cleane left out And of the last made two there is no doubt s But God that gave those lawes will suddenly t Bring them to shame for their Idolatry Which sin 's against that great Commandement And that 's the reason the Counsell of Trent Would not have that once mention'd lest thereby a Their people should forbeare Idolatry Though in b Gods Law all sins are comprehended Yet have those out-law'd Clergy recommended Unto their people five Command'ments more Then e're the primitive Church heard of before Which lawes are so observ'd without excuse c As Gods Lawes now are almost out of use d That man that breakes but one Commandement Of theirs must penance doe though he repent But if he should at once breake all Gods Lawes No penance he should doe and why because e The sins against those Lawes are very small f And some such sins they count but veniall The Priest therefore no penance will enjoyne To such a sinner though he have no coine g The Lords day all true Christians sanctifie An holy rest to God our Lord on high h Which day 's appointed to read heare and pray i And no worke to be done upon that day But those prophane and wretched Papists hold k That wares on that day may be bought and sold After they have i' th morning beene at Masse l Some goe to worke and some their time doe passe m In wanton sports thus they may worke or play On that day more then any holy day Christ only hath n two Sacraments ordain'd Which in his Church shall ever be maintain'd The Church of Rome hath added thereunto Five Sacraments more which they ought not to doe The two which Christ ordain'd these men unwise Sophisticate with their ceremonies The other five they never could maintaine As Sacraments to be joyn'd with those twaine Now this corrupted Church with much envie a Adde what they list to Gods Word wrongfully The Canons of the Masse they hold equall Unto the b Gospel which is eternall This hellish doctrine they hold and so would c Have
all the world beleeve it if they could And to win credit thereunto we know d They did false miracles devise and so Amaz'd the people and made some to jarre e But now their juggling trickes discover'd are These are the blinde Scribes and Pharisees that f Swallow a Camell and straine at a Gnat And yet these merit-mongers though they be g Such wicked livers as the world may see h They thinke to merit heaven by their good workes Such wicked Christians are as bad as Turkes Nay i these sonnes of their Father that old Lyer Say men may doe more then Gods Lawes require k Such damnable and wicked errours these Base Antichristians teach even as they please l Thou art one of their Schollers here despis'd Forget their lessons m and be well advis'd It may be God to this Schoole hath thee brought n To learne a lesson which thou ne're wast taught If thou wilt therefore o Gods Book take in hand p And learne the same rightly to understand q Thou wilt abandon all that Popish crew r And be of Christs poore flocke though they be few s Reade then the holy Scriptures with delight t O that will make thee see darknesse from light u Though thou a great idolater hast beene Long time x yet now thy time seeke to redeeme y And if thou call'st thy grievous sins to minde z Seeking to God for mercy thou shalt finde a That he his gracious favour will extend Unto thee here b and free thee in the end a Manasseh was a great idolater As thou and others of thy Church now are b He would not hearken to the Lord untill c He was in great affliction very ill d He being led into captivity Humbled himselfe and to the Lord did cry e Who heard his voice that was in such distresse And did out of that bondage him release f Be thou like him now thou afflicted art g Confesse thy sins to God with all thy heart h In him alone put all thy confidence i Embrace the truth let it be thy defence k Thou being thus converted God will thy Body and soule l preserve continually Then as Manasseh was deliver'd so Shalt thou likewise then m thou the Lord wilt know Thou being then n endued with Gods grace o Wilt give him thankes that brought thee to this place Where thou shalt not stay long if thou him love p For hee 'le remove thee to a place above q To which place no Idolater shall goe r For their dwelling shall be in hell below But those that are s Christs members when they dye t Shall live with him their u head eternally CHAP. XXI To his Brother I Must confesse thou art a my elder brother But if in Barkshire there be such another I am deceiv'd yet can I not forbeare In my distresse b but this to thee declare Five months and upward in this place have I A pris'ner beene thou canst it not deny In all which time a although thou knew'st my griefe Would'st not at all send me the least reliefe Had it not beene for some here that me cherish'd At certaine times b I might have starv'd and perish'd c More love have I from these poore strangers found Then from thy selfe since this world on me frown'd But now in prison I am thou know'st where d Whether I sinke or swim thou tak'st no care Hadst thou a feeling of my misery e Thou could'st not have so little charity f Thus to neglect me now I am in thrall But that thou art g to me unnaturall Consider therefore h and doe not forget Thy brother that 's imprisoned for debt I was thy friend and am thy brother tho In Prison i where false friends will not me know Thou art my brother yet I must thee tell k A true friend's neerer to me I know well Let me therefore not onely thee advise l To be my brother but my friend likewise m Doe as thou would'st be done unto thou then Wilt please the Lord and be belov'd of men n Howsoe're thou deal'st with me I 'le strive to be o Contented and p pray to the Lord for thee Hoping though I in this extremity Have not thy helpe yet q God will sanctifie These great afflictions to me and me send Helpe and r deliv'rance out of them i' th end s Our father's dead be not so strange to me Whil'st we have breath t let us not disagree Then though we have no father hee 'le us blesse u Who is a father of the fatherlesse CHAP. XXII To the mercifull Creditour A Poore man thou hast in this Prison layd a Who heretofore was by thee well imploy'd b Credit thou gav'st him and did'st him well use Whil'st he dealt with thee yet did he refuse c To give thee such content as he was able And yet without just cause d did with thee brabble Wherefore when thou in him could'st finde no reason e Hither thou sent'st him which was in due season For since his being here f he 's mortifi'd g That heretofore was stout and full of pride h Now in his great distresse when he to thee Did make his mone thou quickly did'st agree i Not onely to release him but also To set him up againe that 's brought so low In all which thou thy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be k Compassionate loving courteous and free l Such men are blest that in 〈◊〉 delight For they shall at Gods hands receive the like Thy poore debtor when he 's out of this place May by thy meanes be in a happy 〈◊〉 m Leaving his former folly and betake Himselfe to that which may 〈◊〉 make n Him feare to run in debt having a 〈◊〉 To live within his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And by degree o make best use of his time As may appeare to that to be a signe p That he 'le a new man be and by Gods grace q Will learne in 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 a pace Then though thy debt he doe discharge yet still r He 's thy debtor but not against thy will For debts of such a high nature are not a To be by honest Christians e're forgot Which debtors though b they may be poore in spirit Will make thee rich that shalt one day inherit c A kingdome that 's for all good men prepar'd Which shall be their everlasting reward Such creditors God will preserve and keepe d Though they in troubles are plung'd ne're so deepe If other creditors were like to thee This prison which is full would empty be The Jayler and his underlings might then Goe shake their eares like poore condition'd men But in these dayes we
know it to be true e The number of such creditors are few f Thou being now thus to thy debtor kinde g Shalt favour from God thy creditor finde h Blesse thou the Lord i for besides him there 's none That moves men to doe good but him alone CHAP. XXIII To the Captaine a Prisoner WHen Captaines are surpris'd and lose the field a They then unto the enemy must yeeld By thy relation b thou hast beene upon Hot service which unto thy selfe's best knowne Howso'ere thou hast to danger beene expos'd c Thou now art here within this sort inclos'd Brought in by d those whose daily exercise Is to endeavour how they may surprise And get into their clutches such brave sparkes e As study how to run in debt like sharkes f But take no care their debts to satisfie Untill they are put to extremity a The Sergeants when they meet with such a one Although he be a valiant blade well knowne They 'le venture on him be it day or night And make him yeeld although he raile and fight And when they have him they 'le make him to know Unlesse he bribe them well he must needs goe To prison where hee 'le want his liberty To spend his youthfull dayes in vanity b The Prison therefore is the fittest place For such a Captaine that runs such a race In these dayes c that Captaine is counted brave And valiant that 's d unto his lust a slave Which lusts are cause of much e unquietnesse And unjust quarrels there upon increase Which cannot be appeas'd by friend nor brother f Untill they stab and 〈◊〉 one another Such Captaines doe more hurt at home then they Doe good abroad i' th wars as many say How many likewise are there at this time g That have no skill in marshall discipline h And yet they 'le brag as if they durst to fight With Sir Iohn Old â—â—stle that high flowne Knight Their combat i is with wenches when they please Who wound them sorely with the French disease Many such youngsters as we understand That never travell'd yet by Sea or Land Have by some meanes procur'd themselves k to be Made Captaines which can lead a company l Of swag'ring fellowes which doe not regard Their King nor Countrey's good and yet hazard Their soules and bodies m by spending their dayes In Tavernes Bawdy-houses and Stage-playes So that at last those Souldiers must needs fall n Into the Devils hands their Generall Who for their service will be sure to give Them their due wages when their soules shall live With him in his a darke kingdome to remaine Both b day and night in everlasting paine c Some Captaines are endu'd with excellent parts d Having couragious understanding hearts e These fight the battle of the Lord on high f Who gives them often times the victory Over the enemy though ne're so strong Wherefore g the glory thereof doth belong Unto h the Lord of Hosts the God of might i Who gives them strength k and teacheth them to fight Such Captaines as are thus guided by him l Shall credit to their King and Country win m And when they from the wars returne they 'le blesse And praise the Lord n that gave them such successe o What if in fight they chance to lose their lives Their losse is nothing p to that glorious prize Which they shall gaine in heaven and keepe for ever q Which prize their Captaine Christ will them deliver If thou art such a Captaine then I 'le say 'T is pitty thou should'st in this prison stay r But rather be in some imployment where Thou may'st have more contentment and lesse care Such as are out of service may well be Mislead and so come into misery How thou cam'st hither I need not enquire But here thou art attended like a Squire Where thou hast got a company that are A ragged Regiment most fit for war s Distressed men in debt and in despaire With discontented mindes to thee repayre Wishing thou wert their Captaine and that they May wait on thee when thou hence go'st away I cannot blame them for thou art so free To them that they could live and dye with thee But thou art not yet gone but here art stay'd And so shalt be untill thy ransome 's payd Thou now art under the command of those That keepe thee fast and yet are not thy foes The Turn-keyes and the Book-keepers are they That thou although a Captaine must obey Yet if thou feed them with good drinke and money They 'le love thee dearly as the Bees love honey But if thou dost neglect them in that kinde No favour thou at all shalt from them finde But what need'st thou care for their love at all Or for their hatred having wherewithall Not only to discharge thy chamber rent But other things that may yeeld thee content Yet let me tell thee if thou stay here long Thou to thy selfe and others may'st doe wrong But seeing thou art to this place confin'd Whil'st thou art here a have a couragious minde b For here thou art with enemies beset As well as in the open field and yet Thou canst not them discerne with mortall eyes c Because they are thy spirituall enemies d Thy soule they doe besiege which is within Thy earthly e tabernacle f full of sin g Which is so weake and brittle that unlesse h Gods holy Spirit doe the same possesse And eke defend thee i by his mighty power k Those wicked spirits will thy soule devoure l For they are powerfull and diligent Crafty malicious and wickedly bent Against weak worldlings which with them accord Because they are not m strong in Christ our Lord Such though they fight t' will nothing them availe n For those strong enemies must needs prevaile Their forces they doe muster up each houre o To signifie how they are arm'd with power p It is no worldly strength nor policy That can withstand their cruell tyranny Thou must therefore a take that two-edged sword b Which weapon is Gods pure and holy Word With that thou may'st be sure with good directions c In time to conquer thy corrupt affections d Which if thou dost thou then dost such a feat As never did Alexander the great e So shalt thou be after this life renown'd And with such like Captaines f in heav'n be crown'd Where thou shalt triumph g with a company Of heavenly Souldiers h with pompe and glory CHAP. XXIIII To the Master of the Prison THou art a Master of the masterlesse As also of poore men here in distresse They never such a Master serv'd before When their time 's out they will serve thee no more For thou them keep'st
g Christ hath thee redeem'd h What if thou want'st apparell now Thy body to keepe warme i Christ is thy garment put him on Hee 'le keepe thee from all harme k What if thou want'st good dyet now Thy belly to supply l Christ is thy food feed on him then m Thy soule hee 'le satisfie n What if thou want'st a dwelling place o Where thou would'st faine abide p Christ he thy dwelling hath prepar'd In heaven that 's q large and wide r What if thou want'st in thy distresse Some friends to s comfort thee t The holy Ghost the Comforter Thy Comforter will be What if u thy kindred be unkinde And doe now quite neglect thee a Thy kinsman Christ is worth them all Heare him and he 'le respect thee b What if thy name be scandaliz'd c Which makes thee sad to looke d Be merry still rejoyce because e 'T is written in Gods Booke f What if thou want'st all other things g Which worldlings doe enjoy h If thou hast Christ thou hast all things i He 's with thee night and day k What if I want my liberty And am here l shut up fast m My heart is free to run abroad And shall n finde rest at last o Gods dearest children are most crost In this life ev'ry way p Because through troubles they must goe To heav'n 't is their best way q The more they suffer in this world r The more God is their friend s The more their joy in heav'n shall be t The which shall never end u Such joyes as never mortall man E're in his heart conceiv'd x The Lord to his afflicted ones Hath certainly bequeath'd y Such as beleeve this to be true z Will not at all regard a The troubles of this wicked world a Considering their reward Nay b if hell were the way to heav'n Such as the Lord doth guide c Would passe through all those fiery flames d With him there to reside e Thus God for temporall crosses gives Eternall joyes to such f As cheerfull are under the crosse g Christs love to them is much h He knowes best what is best for us i Yet some so simple be k When God corrects them for their good l Away from him they flee m A token of Gods love it is To such as can n endure All manner of afflictions here o Such are in his eyes pure Now seeing p God so loveth us q And will so love us still r Why should we not in troubles be s Obedient to his will t Take all things therefore in good part Let not thy minde be griev'd u For nothing but thy sins alone x So shalt thou be reliev'd Now y godly sorrow bringeth joy Unto thy soule I know But z worldly sorrow worketh death 'T will be thy overthrow Wherefore take heed give over quite All a doubtings and distrust Of Gods assistance in due time Because b he 's sure and just c But put thy confidence in him d His holy Word beleeve e And thou e're long shalt finde that thou f Shalt have no cause to grieve g And if on him we doe depend h We shall not need to feare i Our sorrowes he 'le turne into joy k Which we shall see most cleare And though in this place now I am Where I can get no bayle l Yet Christ will soone deliver me Out of this noysome Jayle m Then shall we have just cause to praise n The Lord for his great care o Which he hath had and still will have Of us every where p And doubt not but we shall againe With comfort live together q For after the great stormes are past Then commeth the calme weather r Be thou i' th meane time well content Attend and s wait Gods leasure t So shalt thou have thy hearts desire u And live alwayes in pleasure CHAP. XXXV To his Maid-servant WHen thou cam'st first to dwel with me About twelve yeares agoe When I in Fanchurch street did live a My cup did overflow Since which time b many have thereof Dranke freely at their pleasure So that with that c which hath been spilt There 's nothing left to measure d Those that the greatest part thereof Should have had at that time Had the least share thereof although I was then in my prime e The Cup although it empty be Yet is it whole and sound f And may againe replenish'd be And not fall to the ground g Whatso'ere God now unto me sends My minde is truly bent It to receive with thanksgiving h And be therewith content The troubles which thou know'st I have In thy time long endur'd i A purge have beene to my sick soule Which is not yet quite cur'd a This purge doubtlesse will do much good b It hath not yet done working Upon some humours ill which yet In my poore soule lye lurking c The great Physitian of our soules d Doth temper with great skill The potions which he gives to those His patients that are ill e Those that he takes in hand to cure Although they feele much paine f Shall have much ease at length and be g Restor'd to health againe In this great Doctors hands have I Beene h long and am so still i Let him doe what he please to me I 'le submit to his will When God his scourge laid first on me k I tooke it so to heart l That then my senses all from me Did for a time depart m So irksome 't was unto the flesh n So tedious to my minde o So grievous to my soule that then p No comfort I could finde A fit of melancholy great Thou know'st I likewise had q And being then with griefe o'rewhelm'd r I thereupon grew mad a The Lord then left me for a time b And gave the Devill leave To tempt me in such grievous sort That I then did conceive c My selfe to be the wretched'st man That e're liv'd on the earth d And being thus in minde distress'd e Curst the day of my birth My sins then to my sight were brought By the f Prince of the ayre g Who did endeavour what he could To bring me to despaire I then perswaded was by him h My selfe to make away i And if God had not me preserv'd It had beene done that day Such was my k wofull misery l Which seem'd to me past cure I would not for a thousand worlds The like againe endure All troubles since and those which now
She hath it quite destroy'd e Thus will the Devill deale with you f That have the wantons playd And that like Owles g will be abroad When others are at rest And when 't is day like them you doe Repaire unto your nest The Owle and other Birds you know Doe live alwayes asunder And if i' th day she should be seene Those Birds would at her wonder a The Owle and other Birds doe not At all agree together And therefore they divided are Not being of one feather b So you that so much differ from Good wives that vertuous be c Your company they must needs shun With you they 'le not agree d For women that good huswives are That live in reputation e Will not be gadding when they should Be in their habitation Your houses are your prisons that This course of life have taken f A prison dark 's prepar'd for you That have the g Lord forsaken The Devill shall your Jaylor be Hee 'le keepe you fast no doubt h So fast that all the friends you haev Shall never get you out In which dark dungeon you then shall Live in great miserie Where i Satan with his cursed crew Shall keepe you company k Your pleasures then shall surely end l Your paines shall then begin And never end if you resolve m To live and dye in sin Consider this you shamelesse Imps a Who young fooles doe entice To wickednesse for which cause you Are hither brought for Mice b Be civill and learne modesty Keepe home c and quite forsake Your former evill wicked wayes Then d God will undertake e To keepe you from those fearfull plagues Which you justly deserve f And give you joyes in stead of thereof If you him duly serve g Wherefore delay no time at all Your mindes to goodnesse give That when your bodies here shall dye h Your soules in heaven may live CHAP. XXXVIII To his Mother I a have with griefe of heart beene here Five months and more 't is knowne And if I here should be a yeare I scarce know any one b That would of me take pitty and Releeve me in distresse Alas c no friends will understand How some doe me oppresse a I am forsaken of all those b That in me tooke delight When I liv'd well and wore good clothes c But now they doe me slight d As if a meere stranger I were They 'le not on me now call But doe with one consent forbeare e To visit me at all f Friends kindred and acquaintance now No kindnesse will me show I thinke they have made all a vow g To leave me here in woe But that 's not all that troubles me One thing there is moreover That h grieves my very heart to see Th' unkindnesse of a mother Oh that I had no cause to write Or think to my great griefe i How you have me neglected quite As if I were a theefe Yet when I call to minde k the love That God beares to all such l As looke for comfort from above My minde is eased much m Though mothers tender may forget Their children captives taken Yet God our Father will not let His children be forsaken Wherefore a my trust and confidence Shall be in him alone Hoping he will bring me out hence b Hee 'le heare my plaint and mone c When I nine months was shut up fast In your close wombe you know The Lord he brought me forth at last d And gave you joy also I then almost for e three yeares space Your tender breasts did suck f In those dayes you did me embrace And call'd me pretty Duck g I am your sonne deare mother still And shall be till I dye Although I am now call'd poore Will Being in misery It is no money that I crave Perhaps you have it not h It is your blessing I would have If it could now be got If you once would but send to me I know t' would me revive I then should thinke i your care would be To know how I did thrive But howsoever 't is with me k My hope is you are well And that one day we shall both be l In heav'n with Christ to dwell In the meane space whil'st I am here a Let me some comfort finde From you that are my mother deare 'T will ease my troubled minde Why should such b flatt'ring friends that are I' th Country now about you c Seeke to make you with me to jarre That here must live without you I am your sonne they are your friends Thinke of them as you please d They were my friends for their own ends When I liv'd more at ease I am perswaded in my heart If'twere not for that e crew That you would act a mothers part And your old love renew Your motherly affection then Would once againe appeare f To me that am a scorne to men Now I am shut up here If I have not with all respect g To you my duty done Then I 'le confesse a great neglect In me your youngest son And on my bended knees I 'le crave Pardon of God on high h Who will soone bring downe to the grave Such as the same deny a You now are old and much decay'd In strength and otherwise And I in prison being laid Know not how to devise Which way to helpe and succour you 'T is not now in my power The Lord knowes b I have much adoe Here to subsist an houre Three children I have of mine owne Which I cannot maintaine c But God who is to mercy prone d Hath eas'd me of that paine e For he considering my distresse f Hath rais'd them friends with whom They live and have I must confesse More then they had at home g My wife that 's vex'd and sorely griev'd With me she takes a share h For scarce one friend hath her releev'd Since we have had this care Judge now deere mother what a case At this time I am in If I should long be in this place i 'T would make my cheekes look thin k Think on me then and let me heare Some newes from you to morrow By some one of Buckinghamshire 'T will mitigate my sorrow And let me now good mother be Excus'd though you may finde In these few lines written by me Some things against your minde a For out of the abundance of My great complaint and griefe I write though some thereat may scoffe To have some poore reliefe Thus to conclude b I 'le leave all to My Father that 's on high For c hee 'le direct me what to doe In this extremity Beseeching him to d give us grace And favour so that we e In heav'n may