DEarely beloued Country-men , both you I meane , which loue and imbrace righteousnesse wyth your whole hartes and soules , and you also , which open your eares , and lift vp your eyes to vanities , and seeke after leasings , I beseeche you in Gods cause , and your owne behalf , to worship the holye one of Israell with a true , zealous , and syncere worshippe , and to repent you speedily and hartily of all your vyle and abhominable transgressions , committed before the face of that onely wise God , who most cleerely seeth al things : And then wil I say vnto you Londoners , as S. Paule wryteth to the Romaynes , the Corinthians , and other nations : Grace to you and peace , from God our father , & the Lord Iesus Christ . You know wel ynough , good Countrymen , wyth what notable and singular , and thrice happy blessings , the father of heauen hath blessed and endowed you , his adopted children , and inheritours : you knowe what great riches and treasures of bodye & soule he hath bestowed freely and bountifully vppon you : he it is , which graunteth and giueth you so ioyful , so prosperous & peaceable a realme : he it is which preserueth our moste vertuous and renowmed Prince Elizabeth : he it is , which continuneth his careful regard and kindnes daylie and hourely towardes you : and he it is which will not the destruction and death of a sinner , but wysheth him to become a new and regenerate man , and so consequently liue . Wherfore lift vp your heads and harts , O ye good Citizens of London , remember what good commandementes your godly and religious Prophetes and Preachers haue deliuered you : remember what they haue told you of the ouerthrow of proude Babylon , of wicked Niniue , of lasciuious Sodoma , and other famous Cities , of infamous Asia , and then too , learne this lesson , or rather prouiso of me your poore brother in Christ , that vnlesse you cast away your iniquities far from you , and bannish your cankred and corrupt imaginations , and circumcise the sensuall appetites and vnreasonable perturbations of your mortall bodies , you shal be , ( looke for it ) euen like one of them , & then without all doubt immortall confusion will ouerrunne and lay waste your most stately and goodly buyldings . What slug and dromedarie is there amongst you , that will not prepare himselfe lustily to the battaile , when he heareth the drum or trumpet sounde alarum , and proclaime open war ? and shall the Lord of Hostes thunder aloude from his euerlasting throne of Maiestie , and will you , or dare you yet lie fast asleepe in the filthy puddle of cursed Adam your forefather , and neyther awake , nor arise ? If the Lion roareth terribly in the wylde forrest , can the little beastes chuse but be afraide ? And shall the mighty and inuincible Lyon of the tribe of Iuda , roare ouer his chosen children and subiects , and shall not this same vile dust and ashes of ours fal in peeces with a sorrowfull contrition ? God is your good king , therefore trust in hym wyth a true , faythfull , and duetifull obedience : God is your graund captaine , & vnder his banner you shall easily vanquishe and captiuate the monstrous armies of Satan : God is your louing father , take heede and beware , least other neighbour Countries steale awaye your blessings from you , whilest you hunt after wandering flesh , in this worldly forrest : God is your wise schoolemaister , and one whyle hee teacheth you with gentle instructions and soft precepts , sweeter than honny , and the honny combe , another time he intreateth you sharply , and correcteth you for your manifold offences . He is both mercifull & seuere , he is both patient & angrye , nowe hee appeareth vnto you in white garments , and his saints reioyce about him with Oliue braunches in their handes , and anone he descendeth from aboue in a boisterous and fierce whirlewind , and in a tempest mingled with lightnings and coales of fyre . What shoulde I say more ? He selleth you all goods without siluer or golde , and yet you wil not harken vnto my voyce , saith the Lord of Hostes. How long will you flee , when I follow you , howe long will you stop your eares , when I call you ? saith the Lord of hostes . O London , London , London , heare what the Angell of God hath written in the iudgement seate of the Lambe , I haue made Thamesis like vnto the Riuers of Paradise , Euphrates , and Tigris are not to bee compared with it , her streames are of siluer , and her sandes of gold , her springs are water of life , and who so drinketh of them , shall not be adry : her bathings make the blinde to see , the lame to goe , the dumbe to speake , the deafe to heare , & I haue remoued all hinderaunces which woulde stay hir pipes & conduites , the venemous poyson of the great Dragon could not infect it , nor the hotteissuinges of any Serpentes could defyle it ▪ my Rulers delighted to rowe in her with Barges , & my Seers builded their houses neere vnto her , she hath beene Queene of all Riuers , because her vertues and effectes are incomparable . Wherefore my Ministers and seruauntes haue I sent in to her , to cast their nettes and catch of her fish , I longed to eate of that broode , and to be serued with her young fishes at my Table , but they laboured all night , and tooke nothing . For Thamesis is made a dwelling place for water Snakes , shee is full of infectious woormes , shee shall no more be called the Queene of waters , if I send once agayne , and receiue no fish of her , she shall bee made like the deadly waters of Gomorrha , sayeth the Lorde of hostes . Nowe my good Countrymen , can you heare thys Embassage and Reuelation , and not marke it ? Or can you marke it , and not remember it ? Then laye it closely vp in your breastes . Goe to , for Gods sake , and your owne sake , let vs laye our heades and ioyne handes together , let vs sende our humble supplication , and letters of submission vnto our mercifull God , and craue a pardon of his Grace , least he come sodaynly in his wrath , and vexe vs in his sore displeasure . Hee hath sent manye myracles among you , my beloued brethren , to chasten your vnchast misdemeanors . Do you not remember that horrible punishment , wherewith he punished a sister of yours in Woodstreet who very desperately forsweared her selfe in bargaynyng ? For as her periurye stincked in the nostrels of the Lord , so her periured tongue became as her fundament . A great example , and notable Admonition , for all buyers and sellers , not to lye , and forsweare , and face , and glose , to gaine the fraile and corruptible money , and loose the penny of eternall life . Yet for all this Gods anger ceaseth not , but his hande is stretched out still . Doe you not remember that Lea an olde man in London , dwelling in Byshopsgate streete , blasphemed the sacred name of God , and forsweared himselfe in the Guildhall ? Which haynous trespasse begat in him so forcible a compunction and remorse of conscience , that like to that mad Caine and furious fratricide hee cruellye shortned his owne dayes , and so wounded his bowels with a rustye knife , that presently without repentaunce hee gaue vp the Ghost . A worthy Caueat for all such , as doe prophanely , and vnreuerently take Gods holy name in their mouthes . Yet for all this Gods anger ceaseth not , but his hande is stretched out still . For when Mystres Saunders a Tenaunte of yours , had a long tyme acquainted her selfe wyth the conueyaunces and deuises , wherewith vnhonest Gossyps are familiarly accustomed , God woulde forbeare her payment no longer , but brought her and her wicked complices and adherentes to the gallows , that all other amorous strumpets , and whoorish bloudsuckers might see a fayre warnyng before theyr eyes . Yet for all this Gods heauye wrath ceaseth not , but his hande is stretched out styll . Doe you not remember , what Tokens haue been sent you within fewe yeeres ? By blazing tayles of Starres in the Firmament , by fierie exhalations and excursions in the Element , by extraordinary diseses & infirmities , by shaking your Theatre , by other and other sygnes of dislikyng and rebuking your inordinate kynde of liuing . Yet for all this Gods heauie wrath ceaseth not , but his hand is stretched out still . Do you not remember that most dreadfull and tragicall Earthquake , which caused the huge and solide foundation of the Earth , to shake and totter vp crepple ? Beware least the same and downe lyke a drunken man or Earthe gape suddainely and swallow you vp quicke , as Corah , Dathan & Abyram were deuoured for gainesaying the omnipotent worde of God , which descended from the holy hill of Sinai . Yet for al thys , gods anger ceaseth not , but his hand is stretched out still . Do you not remember the infortunate and horrible mischiefe , that so lately befell to them , which had more desire and delight to visite Paris garden , than Paules Crosse , & to heare the beastlye cryes of Beares & Dogs , rather than the comfortable voices of gods preachers , which pronounce the glad tydings of the gosple ? the people sat downe to eate and drinke , and rose vp to play , and many men & women were partly killed , & partly maimed in one hower . Learne therfore and take heede , for there is a plague gon out from god , & his hand is stretched out still . For marke , I praye , what a rare and lamentable Example he shewed vpon two adoulterous persons the thirde daye of February , being Sunday , in the yere of Christ 1583. Ther was a man aboue three score yeres old , named William Brustar , who had bin somtimes of a reasonable wealth , ( carying presently a great countenance of honestie ) hee was by occupation an Haberdasher , who either by licentious & prodigal spending or ydle labouring , or gods curse ( for he was by credible reporte lately become an vsurer ) fell into so low an estate , that the Parishioners where he dwelt , because he had born al offices amongst them , & had bin in good countenaunce and credite , allotted and assigned him a chamber ouer the porch on the southeast part of Sainct Brydes church by Fleetstreet , rather than he shoulde be destitute of a dwelling place . This Brustar had put away his owne wife vppon a disagreement whych happened betwixte them , at two sundrie times , for he woulde neuer agree with hir , and oftentimes , when the neighbors reprehended him for vsing hir so hardly , he made aunswere , that the ende of them both shoulde proue , whiche was moste faultie , hee or his wife , & as I am crediblye enformed , he retayned a woman whiche was one Breames wife , whome hee beefore hadde bayled oute of Bridewell , vnder a pretence to reforme hir vnnatural manners , and bring hir to goodnes , but it proued cleane contrarie , for they two oftentimes met vnlawfully and vngodly togither , and incurred therfore the danger of God and man . Yet neuerthelesse I am enforced of necessitie to except that holy , holy , holy , pope of Rome , who hath neither shewed himselfe like to God in goodnesse , nor to man in wisdome and gouernement , but rather a seducing and erronious spirite , in blasing his false and vnlearned Kalenders , as shal , God willing be hereafter proued more at large , & in sending his newfound pasportes , his Turkish and Mahomatical licences , his vnreasonable beastes the Buls , his fond writs ( for thus it is auouched by a constante reporte of many ) wherein he willeth and permitteth his deuoute shauelings , and Catholike children , and sanctifyed comminaltie , and royal generation , to keepe a wife or concubine for ech hand or leg : his holynesse might do wel to amend this first institution , & now bequeath a maide Marrian to euerie member , that so hee maye haue many sciences & goodly impes of his so godlye and blessed stockes . But let him alone , hee is hatching more cockatrices egs . If Brustar had beene an inhabitaunte of Rome , as hee was of London , he might haue receiued an Absoluote for all his villanies , and played the Bigamus at his pleasure by auctoritie & priuiledge . Upon sunday last in the afternoone a litle before euening prayer , the parish being assembled togither to the seruice of their Lorde and Maister Christ Iesus , espyed a smoke somewhat vnlike common smoake , to issue out of Brustars chamber : they by & by suspecting some harme , made no smal haste to his dore , which they found fast shut : then the neighbors caused a ladder to be set to his chamber window , where they found his key , neuerthelesse they burst open the dore : when they were entred in , beholde what a grieuous spectacle the Lord had laide before their eies , to make reporte thereof vnto theyr brethren & fellow citizens . Brustar that olde fornicatour lay starke deade on a settle by the beddes side , his right thigh and right arme , which oftentimes hadde imbraced this harlot , were burned with fire , and specially the outside of his arme , which verie straunge to see , was burnt vp to the elbowe , and yet his sleeues not perished . And the woman his companion had a semblable reward for hir wanton abuses , for she also lay deade by him bending ouer the smal panne of coales towards him , and hir heade on his right thigh , so that the skirts of hir garments were burnt , hir armes were burnte to the bones , the neather partes of hir bodie burnt to the breaste , and al hir hinder partes to the shoulders , very horrible to beholde : both hir legs were burnt , sauing hir lefte foote from the anckle downeward . A straunge euente that so small a fire shoulde consume so much flesh , the tenth part wherof had bene able to drench and quenche euerie coale in the panne . ( A wonder not much vnlike that which happened at the burning of one Gardiner in Spaine , a sparcle of whose fyre set on fire a goodly tall faire shippe of the kings , lying then in the hauen , as you may reade more plentifullye in Maister Foxes Ecclesiastical Hystorie . ) With the horror of whiche strange sight , was ioyned , so strong and stincking a sent of the consumed flesh , that those that entred the chamber were wel nigh stifled therewith . Concerning these persons , you heare howe lewdly and vngratiously they missused the holy Sabaoth , & what a requiem god gaue them for their labour . You see the guerdon of carnal concupiscence : you see how the lord of heuen and earth maketh the same element to succour the good , and consume the euil : you see , I beleue , as significant & cleere an instant against whorehunting , as any age , or time , or place can afourde you : yea thoughe you consider the fire of Sodome , of Nadab and Abiahu , who offered straunge incense before the Lorde , of Elias whiche consumed two chiefetaines with their fifties , of Ananias , Azarias , and Mizael , whiche consumed their tyrannous persecutors in the flame . And wyl you yet returne back to your beastlye and fylthie lusts , as the dog doth to his vomit , o yee sonnes & daughters of London ? will you not yet leaue to foster and entertaine those tripping dames , those pery wigged prickmidainties , those sodomitical libertines , those ruffian baudes , those curled masking roysters whyche runne like vntamed heifers thorough hedge and ditch , and ouerrun other mens groundes and gardens , which liue by the spoyle and hauock of sobrietie and continency , whiche care for nothing more than their bellies , & things belonging to the bellie , well seene in secreates and priuities of states , as youre thrice excellent English poet hath truly reported of you in his Speculum Tuscanismi , wherin is contained a perfect resemblance of harebrainde natures & omnisidian counterfaites , which runne eftsones into all regions , to buy extremities , to borrow new fangled qualities , & beare about them at once the head of a Numidian Tuscan or wilde Irish , the brest of a sauage Bear and Leopard , the armes and winge of those Manucodiata , whiche birdes as Cardane reporteth , do flie continually in the ayre , hoping at the last to make their nestes in the sunne , but they are faine to buylde them in their owne backes ▪ and fall downe to the earth without feete , when they haue doone . Let all suche loose from among you , Oh my people , saith the Lorde of hostes : awaye wyth them , eyther bend them to vertue , or breake them in theyr vices sayeth the Lorde of hostes . For what agreement hathe synne wyth righteousnesse , or God wyth Belial , or heauen with hell ? know you not that youre bodies are the temples of the holye Ghoste , and wyll you suffer them to bee made , naye but will you your selues make them the sanctuaries of harlottes ? vnderstande you not that commandement , whiche was sente from GOD , Thou shalt not commit adulterie ? And againe , Thou shalt not couet thy neighboures wyfe ? wyll you learne still , and be neuer the wiser ? wyll you needes bee like darnell , and wilde oates in the Wheate fielde of God , and bee throwen into that vnquenchable lake of brimstone , and endlesse misery ? for perswade youre selues , that neyther whoremaisters , nor fornicatours , nor incestuous persons shall be made partakers of the heauenly Hierusalem . You see that God would haue this harlots prankes knowne : for neither hir face , nor the attire of hir heade was so muche as once scortched , that it might the more certainlye be reported in London : see how suche a mans daughter , such a mans wife , suche a mans concubine came to hir ende , vnlesse we repent , wee shall likewise all perishe , euerie mothers childe of vs , euerie vnhonest liuer of vs , euerye dalying Dalila of vs shall come to noughte . Why mighte not GOD as iustlye haue executed hys rigorous sentence vppon vs miserable sinners that we are , as vpon this neybour of ours ? for wee are all gone out of the way , wee are all become vnprofitable , ther is none of vs that doth good , no not one .

Lette vs call to minde , howe the widow Barnes in Cornhil , intending to defeate an orphane of his right , in a rage by Gods secreate determination , threw hyr self headlong out of a window , & cruelly ended hyr diuelish life : let vs take heed , by prayer & fasting , leaste the diuell prouoke vs to madnesse , as hee didde one Berrie in the Counter of the Poultrie . It was that Sathan , that deuouring Lyon , which incited one R. Tod to slay Maystresse Skinner at saincte Katherines : and Maistresse Amye Middleton to martyre & kill hir maid with ouermuch beating and wyth heauie cudgelles .