The dead mans song vvhose dwelling was neere unto Bassings Hall in London. to the tune of, Flying fame.

The Dead Mans Song , Whose dwelling was neere unto Bassings Hall in London . to the tune of , Flying Fame .

SOre sick deare friends , long time I was and weakely laid in bed ; And for five houres in all mens sight , at length I lay as dead : The bel rung out , my friends came in , and I key cold was found , Then was my carkasse brought from bed , and cast upon the ground : My loving wife did wéepe full sore , and children loud did cry , My friends did mourne , yet thus they said all flesh is borne to dye : My winding sheet prepared was , my grave was also made , And five long houres by iust report , in this same case I laid : During which time my soule did see such strange and fearefull sights , That for to heare the same disclos'd , would banish all delights . Yet sith the Lord restor'd my life , which from my body fled , I will declare what sights I saw , that time that I was dead . Me thought along a gallant greene , where pleasant flowers sprung , I tooke my way , whereas I thought , the Muses sweetely sung , The grasse was swéet the trées ful fair , and lovely to behold , And full of fruit was every twig , which shin'd like glistering gold , My cheerefull heart desired much to taste the fruit so faire : But as I reacht a faire young man , to me did fast repaire . Touch not ( qd . he ) that 's none of thine , but wend and walke with me , And see thou marke each severall thing which I shall show to thée : I wondred greatly at his words , yet went with him away : Till on a goodly pleasant banke , with him he had me stay . With branches then of Lillies white , mine eyes there wiped he . When this was done he bad me look , what I farre off could see . I looked up and loe at last , I did a City see , So faire a thing did never man behold with mortall eye ; Of Diamonds , pearles , and precious stones it seem'd the wals were made : The houses all with beaten gold , were til'd and overlaid . More brighter than the morning Sun , the light thereof did show , And every creature in the same , like crowned Kings did goe . The fields about this City faire , were all with Roses set : Gilly-flowers , and Carnation faire , which canker could not fret : And from these fields there did procéed the swéet'st and pleasant'st smell , That ever living creature felt , the scent did so excell : Besides such sweet triumphant mirth , did from the City sound , That I there with was ravished , my ioy did so abound . With musick , mirth , and melody , Princes did there embrace , And in my heart I long'd to be , within that ioyfull place . The more I gaz'd , the more I might , the sight pleas'd me so well . For what I saw in every thing , my tongue can no way tell : Then of the man I did demand , what place the same might be , Whereas so many Kings do dwell in ioy and melody ? Quoth he , that blessed place is heaven , where yet thou must not rest , And those that do like Princes walke , are men whom God hath blest . Then did he turne me round about , and on the other side , He bad me view and marke as much , what things are to be spide . With that I saw a cole-blacke den , all tand with soot and smoake Where stinking Brimstone burning was which made me like to choake , An ugly creature there I saw , whose face with knives was slash●… , And in a caldron of poyson'd filth . his ugly corps were washt . About his necke were fiery ruffes , that flam'd on every side , I askt , and lo the Young man said , that he was damn'd for pride , Another sort then did I see , whose bowels Vipers tore , And grievously with gaping mouth , they did both yell and rore .

The second part , to the same Tune .

A Spotted person by each one , stood gnawing on their hearts , And this was conscience I was told , that plagu'd their envious parts . These were no sooner out of sight , but straight came in their place , A sort still throwing burning fire , which fell against their face . And ladles full of melted gold , were poured downe their throats , And these were set ( it séem'd to me ) in midst of burning boats : The formost of this company , was Iudas I was told , Who had for filthy lucres sake , his Lord and Master sold , For covetousnesse these were condemn'd , so it was told to me , And then methought another rout , of Hel-hounds I did see : Their faces they séem'd sat in sight , yet all their bones were bare . And dishes full of crawling Toades , was made their finest fare : From armes , from hands , from thighs and féete , with red hot pincers then , The flesh was pluckt even from the bone , of those vile gluttonous men : On cole-black beds another sort , in grievous sort did lye , And nnderneath them burning brands , their flesh did burne and fry . With brimstone fierce their pillowes eke , whereon their heads were laid , And fiends with whips of glowing fire , their lecherous skins off flaid . Then did I see another come , stab'd in with daggers thicke , And filthy fiends with fiery darts , their hearts did wound and pricke , And mighty bowles of corrupt blood , was brought for them to drink , And these men were for murther plagu'd , from which they could not shrinke . I saw when these were gone away , the Swearer and the Lier , And these were hung up by the tongues , right over a flaming fire . From eyes , from eares , from Navell & nose and from the lower parts , The blood me thought did gushing runne , and clodded like mens hearts . I asked why that punishment , was upon swearers laid : Because , quoth one , wounds , blood & heart , was still the oath they made . And there withall from ugly Hell , such shriekes and cryes I heard , As though some greater griefe and plague had vext them afterward . So that my soule was sore afraid , such terrour on me fell : A way then went the young man quite , and bad me not farewell . Wherefore unto my body straight , my spirit return'd againe , And lively blood did after wards stretch forth in every veine . My closed eyes I opened , and raised from my swound , I wondred much to see my selfe laid so upon the ground : Which when my neighbours did behold , great feare upon them fell , To whom soone after I did tell , the newes from heaven and hell .