The fearefull summer, or, Londons calamity, the countries courtesy, and both their misery by Iohn Taylor.

THE FEAREFVLL SVMMER : OR LONDONS CALAMITY , the countries courtesy , and both their misery .

By IOHN TAYLOR .

OXFORD , Printed by Iohn Lichfield and William Turner , Printers to the famous Vniversity . Anno Dom. 1625.

TO THE TRVLY GENEROVS AND NOBLE Knight , Sir IOHN MILLISSENT , one of the Gentlemen Pensioners to the Kings most Excellent Majesty . TO whom should I these sorrowes recommend , But vnto you , the Citties noble freind : I know , you are much grieued with their Griefe , And would adventure life for their reliefe , To you therefore these lines I dedicate , Wherein their sorrowes partly I relate , I humbly craue acceptance at your hand , And rest Your seruant euer to command , IOHN TAYLOR

To the Printer .

MY conceite is , that these are very lamentable verses , & will greiue many the reading , they so expresse death to life & make mortality immortal ; I wish that as many as can make vse of such pittifull lines had copies , the rest may want them : Here and there a verse may occasion a teare , then the Author is a true water-Poet indeed , but else where , there wants not an hand-kercheife to dry that teare : So is the whole worke a 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 and deserues an approbation at least from

Io. TAYLOR . OR . COLL.

THE PRAEFACE .

IN this lamentable Time of generall Calamity , our hainous sinnes prouoking Gods just Indignation , this heauy visitation and mortality ; I being atendant vpon the Queenes Ma rie at Hampton Court and from thence within 2 miles of Oxford with her Barge ( with much greife and remorse ) did see and heare the miserable & cold entertainment of many Londoners , which , for their preseruation fled and retired themselues from the Cittie into the Country . Whence I noted the peoples Charitie , and great amendment , for they had giuen ouer one of the 7 deadly sinnes , which was Coueteusnesse , and in many places were so farre out of loue with a Citizens money , that they abhor'd and hated either to touch or receaue it ; entertaining them with bitter wormewood welcome , ( which Hearbe was in more request amongst many of them , then any of the heauenly Graces or Cardinall Vertues ) yet the hearbe of Grace was in much estimation , although the name of it was a document that they had occasion to Rue the time ; I farther perceiued that they were so farre from beleiuing or crediting any man , that they would or durst not trust their owne noses , but were doubtfull that that sence would conspire with the Plague to murther them , wherefore ( like cunning Mariners , or mole-catchers , ) they would craftily in their streetes and highwaies fetch the winde of any man , although they were ouer shoes and bootes , and sometimes tumbled into a ditch for their labours . This was the time when a man with a nightcap at noone , would haue frighted a whole Parish out of their wits , when to call for Aquauitae ( though it had beene but to make a drench for a sicke horse was enough to haue his house shut up . When Lord haue mercy vpon vs , made many of them tremble more then God Refuse , Renounce , Confound , or Damne . When a man trauailing in the habit of a Cityzen , was a meere bulbegger ; when for a man to say , that he came from Hell would yeeld him better welcome , without money , then a man would giue to his owne father and mother that came from London . In this time of mans great miserie and small mercy , I tooke my pen in hand and wrote this ensueing discourse , I haue ( as neere as I could ) suited it , sadly according to the nature of the subject . And truly , because that the bare and naked trueth was so cleare and ample , that I needed not to stuffe it out with friuolous fables or fantasticall fictions ; with my soule , I thankfully acknowledge Gods great mercy extended towards me ( one of the most wretched and wicked ) in that so many thousands of better life and conuersation haue falne on my right hand and on my left , and round about me ; yet hath his gratious protection beene my guard , for the which in my gratitude to my God , and to auoid the sinne of idlenes , I haue written what those that can may reade .

THE FEAREFVLL SVMMER : OR LONDONS CALAMITY . THe Patience and long - suffering of our God , Keepes close his Quiuer , and restraines his Rod , And though our crying Crimes to Heau'n doe cry For vengeance , on accurst Mortality ; Yea though we merit mischiefes manifold , Blest Mercy doth the hand of Iustice hold . But when that Eye that sees all things most cleare , Expects our fruits of Faith , from yeare to yeare , Allowes vs painfull Pastors , who bestow Great care and toyle , to make vs fruitfull grow , And daylie doth in those weake Vessels send The dewe of Heauen , in hope we will amend ; Yet ( at the last ) he doth perceiue and see That we vnfruitfull and most barren be , Which makes his dreadfull Indignation frowne , And ( as accursed fig-trees ) cut vs downe . Thus Mercy ( mock'd ) plucks Iustice on our heads , And grieuous Plagues our Kingdome ouer spreads : Then let vs to our God make quick returning , With true contrition , fasting , and with mourning ; The Word is God , and God hath spoke the Word , If we repent , he will put vp his sword . Hee 's greiu'd in punishing , Hee 's slow to Ire , And HE a sinners death doth not desire . If our Compunction our Amendment show , Our purple sinnes Hee 'l make as white as snow , If we lament , our God is mercifull , Our scarlet crimes hee 'l make as white as wooll , Faire London that did late abound in blisse , And wast our Kingdomes great Metropolis . ` T is thou that art dejected low in state , Disconsolate , and almost desolate , The hand of Heau'n that only did protect thee ) Thou hast prouok'd most justly to correct thee , And for thy pride of Heart and deedes vnjust , He layes thy Pompe and Glory in the dust . Thou that wast late the Queene of Citties nam'd , Throughout the world admir'd , renown'd , and fam'd ; Thou that hadst all things at command and will , To whom all England was a Handmaide still : For rayment , fewell , fish , fowle , beasts , for food , For fruits , for all our Kingdome counted good , Both neere and farre remote , all did agree To bring their best of blessings vnto thee . Thus in conceite , thou seem'dst to rule the Fates , Whilst peace and plenty flourish'd in thy Gates , Could I relieue thy miseries as well As part I can thy woes and sorrowes tell , Then should my Cares be eas'd with thy Reliefe , And all my study , how to end thy griefe . Thou that wer't late rich , both in friends and wealth , Magnificent in state , strong in thy health , As chiefest Mistris of our country priz'd , Now chiefly in the country are despis'd . The name of London now both farre and neare , Strikes all the Townes and Villages with feare , And to be thought a Londoner is worse Then one that breakes a house , or takes a Purse . He that will filch and steale , now is the Time No Iustice dares examine him , his crime Let him but say that he from London came , So full of Feare and Terrour is that name , The Constable his charge will soone forsake , And no man dares his mittimus to make . Thus Citizens , plagu'd for the Citty sins , Poore entertainment in the Country winnes . Some feare the Citty , and flye thence amaine , And those are of the Countrey fear'd againe , Who'gainst them barre their windowes & their doores , More than they wold 'gainst Turks , or Iewes , or Moores . I thinke if very Spaniards had come there , Their welcome had beene better , and their cheare . Whilst Hay-cock lodging , with hard slender fare , Welcome like dogs vnto a Church they are . Feare makes them with the Anabaptists joyne , For if an Hostesse doe receiue their coyne , She in a dish of water , or a paile , Will new baptize it , least it something aile . Thus many a Citizen well stor'd with Gold , Is glad to lye vpon his mother molde , His bed the map of his mortality , His curtaines clouds , and Heau'n his Canopie The russet plow-swaine , and the Leathren Hinde , Through feare is growne vnmannerly , vnkinde : And in his house ( to harbour ) hee 'll prefer An Infidell before a Londoner : Milke-maides and Farmers wiues are growne so nice , They thinke 2 Cittizen 2 Cockatrice , And country Dances , are wax'd so coy and briske , They shun him as they 'll shun a Basiliske , For euery one the sight of him would fly All feareing he would kill them with his eye . Ah woefull London I thy greife bewaile , And if my sighs and prayers may but prevaile ; I humbly beg of God that hee 'le be pleas'd In Iesus Christ , his wrath may be appeas'd , With holding his dread Iudgements from aboue And once more , graspe thee in his armes of loue . In Mercy all our wickednes remit For who can give thee thankes within the pit . Strange was the change in lesse then 3 monthes space In joye , in woe , in grace , and in disgrace : A healthfull Aprill , a diseased Iune And dangerous Iulie , brings all out of tune . That citty whose rare obiects pleas'd the eyes With much content and more varieties , She that was late delightfull to the eares With melodye Harmonious , like the Spheares : She that had all things that might please her tast That was by Skies , or Earth , or Seas embrac'd , All odoures , and perfumes to please the sent , And all she felt did giue her touch content , Her Cinque porte sences , richly fed and cloy'd With blessings bountifull , which she enjoy'd . Now 3 monthes change hath fill'd it full with feare As if no Solace euer had beene there . What doe the eyes see there but greiued sights Of sicke , oppressed , and distressed wights : Houses shut vp , some dying , and some dead , Some ( all amazed ) flying and some fled . Streetes thinly man'd with wretches euery day Which haue no power to flee , or meanes to stay , Dead Coarses carried , and recarried still , Whil'st fifty Corpses scarce one graue doth fill . With LORD HAVE MERCIE VPON VS , on the dore Which ( though the words be good ) doth greiue men sore . And o're the dore-postes fix'd a crosse of red Be tokening , that there Death some bloud hath shed . Some with Gods marks or tokens , doe espie Those Marks or Tokens , shew them they must die , Some with their Carbuncles , and sores new burst Are fed with hope they haue escap'd the worst , Thus passeth all the weeke , till Thursdaies Bill , Shewes vs what thousands Death that weeke did kill . That fatall Bill , doth like a razor cut The dead , the liuing in a maze doth put , And he that hath a Christian heart : I know , Is greiu'd , and wounded with the deadly blowe , These are the obiects of the Eye , now heare And marke the mournefull musick of the Eare. There doe the brazen Iron toung'd loud bells ( Deaths clamorous rauisick ) Ring continuall knells , Some lofty in their notes , some sadly towling . Whil'st fatall doggs , make a most dismall howling , Some frantick raueing , some with anguish crying , Some singing , praying , groneing , and some dying , The healthfull grieuing , and the sickly groaning , All in a mournefull diapason moaning . Here , Parents for their Childrens losse Lament There , Childrens greife for parents life that spent . Here , Sister mournes for sister , Kin for Kin As one greife ends , another doth begin , There one lies languishing , with slender fare Small comfort , lesse attendance , and least care , With none but Death and he to tugge together Vntill his corps and soule part each from either , In one house one , or two , or three doth fall , And in another Death plaies sweep-stake all . Thus vniuersall sorrowfull complaining Is all the musicke now in London raigning , Thus is her comfort sad Calamity , And all her Melody is Maladie . These are the obiects of the eyes and eares Most wofull sights , and sounds of greiues and feares . Tasteing . The curious tast that whilome did delight With cost and care to please the Apetite What she was wont to hate , she doth adore And what 's high priz'd , she held despis'd before . The drugs , the drenches , and vnto othsome drinks , Feare giues a sweetnes to all seuerall stinks , And for supposed Antidotes , each Palate Of most contagious weedes will make a Sallate . And any of the simplest Mountebankes May cheat them ( as they will ) of Coine and thankes , With scraped powder of a shoeing horne Which they 'le beleeue is of an Vnicorne . Angelicoes , distastfull roote is gnaw'd And hearbe of Grace most Ruefully is chaw'd . Garlick offendeth neither tast , nor smell , Feare and opinion makes it rellish well Whilst Beazar stone , and mighty Methridate , To all degrees are great in estimate , And Triacles power is wounderously exprest , And Dragon Water in most high request . These 'gainst the Plague are good preseruatiues But the best cordiall is t' amend our liues , Sinn 's the maine cause , and we must first begin To cease our greifes , by ceasing of our sinne . I doe beleeue that God hath giuen in store Good medicines to cure , or ease each sore , But first remoue the cause of the disease , And then ( no doubt but ) the effect will cease . Our sinnes the Cause , remoue our sinnes from hence , And God will soone remoue the Pestilence . Then euery med'cine ( to our consolation ) Shall haue his power , his force , his operation : And till that time , Experiments are not But Paper walls , against a Canon shott . On many a post I see Quack saluers Bills Like Fencers Challenges , to shew their skills : As if they were such masters of defence That they dare combate with the Pestilence ; Meete with the plague in any deadly fray , And bragge to beare the victorie away . But if their patients patiently beleeue them , They 'le cure them ( without faile ) of what they giue them ; What though ten thousand by their drenches perish They made them purposely themselues to cherish , Their Art is a meere Artlesse kind of lying To pick their lyueing out of others dying . This sharp inuectiue no way seemes to touch The learn'd Phisitian , whom I honour much , The Paracelsians and Galennists The Philosophicall graue Herbalists , These I admire and reuerence , for in those God doth dame Natures secrets fast inclose , Which they distribute , as occasions serue Health to reserue , and health decai'd conserue . 'T is 'gainst such Rat-catchers I bend my pen Which doe mechanically murther men , Whose promises of cure , ( like lying knaues ) Doth begger men or send them to their graues . Smelling . Now London for the sence of feeling next , Thou in thy feeling cheifely art perplext : Thy heart feeles sorrow , and thy body anguish Thou in thy feeling feel'st thy force to languish , Thou feel'st much woe , and much calamitie And many millions feele thy misery : Thou feel'st the fearefull Plague , the Flix and Feuer Which many a soule doth from the body feuer . And I beseech God for our Sauiours merit To let thee feele , the Comfort of his Spirit . Feeling . Last for the solace of the smell , or sent ; Some in contagious roomes are closely pen't , Whereas corrupted Aire they take , and giue Till time ends , or lends liberty to liue . One with a peice of tasseld well tarr'd Rope Doth with that no segay keep himselfe in hope ; Another doth a wispe of wormewood pull And with great Iudgement crams his nostrils full : A third takes of his socks from 's sweating feete , And makes them his perfume alongst the streete . Whilst Billets Bonefire like , and faggots dry Are burnt it 'h streetes , the Aire to purifie . Thou great Almighty , giue them time and space , And purifie them with thy heauenly Grace , Make their repentance Incence , whose sweete sauour May mount vnto thy throne , and gaine thy fauour . Thus euery sence , that should the heart delight Are ministers , and organs to affright , The Citizens doe from the City runne , The countries feares , the citizens doe shun : Both feare the Plague , but neither feares one iot Their euill wayes which hath the plague be got , This is the way this sicknes to preuent Feare to offend , more then the punishment . All trades are dead , or almost our of breath But such as liue by sicknes , or by death , The Mercers , Grocers , Silk-men , Goldsmiths , Drapers , Are out of season , like noone burning Tapers , All functions faile almost , through want of buyers And euery art and misterie turne Dyers , The very Watermen giue ouer plying Their rowing trade doth faile , they fall to dying . Some men there are , that rise by others falls Prophetick Augurists in vrinal is , Those are right watermen , and rowe so well They either land their fares in Heau'n or Hell . But this much ( Reader ) you must vnderstand They commonly are paid before they land . Next vnto him th' Apothecarie thriues By Physick bills , and his preseruatiues ; Worme eaten Sextons , mighty gaines doe winne , And nasty Grauemakers , great commings in And Coffin makers , are well paid their rent For many a woefull wooden tenement . The Searchers of each corps good gainers be , The Bearers haue a profitable fee , And last , the Dog-killers great gaine aboundes For Brayning bawling currs , and foysting hounds . These are the graue trades , that doe get and saue Whose grauity brings many to their graue . Thus greiued London , fill'd with mones and grones Is like a Golgotha , of dead mens bones : The field where death his bloudy fray doth fight And kills eight hundred in a day and night . Faire houses , that were late exceeding deere , At fifty or an hundred pounds a yeare , The Landlords are so pittifull of late They 'le let them , at a quarter of the rate . So he that is a mightie moneyed man Let him but thither make what hast he can , Let him disburse his gold and siluer heape And purchase London 't is exceeding cheape . But if he tary but one halfe yeare more I hope 't will be as deere as 't was before . A Country cottage , that but lately went At 4 markes , or at three pounds yearely rent A Citizen , whose meere necessity Doth force him now into the country fly , Is glad to hire 2 Chambers of a Carter And pray and pay with thanks fiue pounds 2 quarter . Then here 's the alteration of this yeare The Cities cheapnes makes the Country deere . Besides another mischeife is , I see A man dares not be sicke although he be : Let him complaine but of the stone or gout The plague hath strooke him , presently they doubt , My selfe hath bin perplexed now and then With the wind Collick , yeares aboue thrice ten , Within the countrey I durst not repeate Although my pangs , & gripes , and paines were great . For to be sick of any kinde of greife Would make a man worse welcome then a theefe , To be drunke sick , which er'st did credit winne Was fear'd infectious , and held worse then sinne . This made me , and many more beside , Their greifes to smother , and their paines to hide , To tell a merry tale with visage glad , When as the Collick almost made me mad . Thus meere dissembling , many practis'd then , And mid'st of paine , seem'd pleasant amongst men , For why , the smallest sigh or grone , or shreike Would make a man his meat and lodging seeke . This was the wretched Londoners hard case Most hardly welcome into any place , Whil'st Countrey people , where soe're they went Would stop their noses to avoid their sent , When as the case did oft most plaine appeare 'T was onely they themselues , that stunke with feare . Nature was dead , ( or from the countrey runne ) A Father durst not entertaine his sonne , The Mother sees her daughter , and doth feare her Commaunds her , on her blessing , not come neere her , Affinity , nor any kind of kinne , Or ancient freindship could true welcome winne , The Children scarcely would their Parents know Or ( if they did ) but slender duty shew : Thus feare made nature , most vnnaturall , Duty vndutifull , or very small , No freindship , or else cold and miserable And generally all vncharitable . Nor London letters litle better sped They would not be receiued ( much lesse be read ) But cast into the fire and burnt with speed As if they had bin Hereticks indeed . And late I saw , vpon a Sabaoth day Some Citizens at Church , prepar'd to pray : But ( as they had bin excommunicate ) The good Church wardens thrust them out the gate . Another countrey vertue I 'le repeat The peoples charity was growne so great That whatsoeuer Londoner did die , In Church or Churchyard should not buried lie , Thus were they scorn'd , despised , banished , Excluded from the Church , aliue , and dead , Aliue , their bodies could no harbour haue , And dead , not be allow'd a Christian Graue : Thus was the countryes kindnesse cold , and small , No house , no Church , no Christian buriall . Oh thou that on the winged windes dost fit And seest our miserie , remedy it , Although we haue deseru'd thy vengeance hott Yet in thy fury ( Lord ) consume vs not . But in thy mercies sheath thy slaying sword Deliuer vs , according to thy word , Shut vp thy Quiuer , stay tay angry tod That all the world may know thou art our God , Oh open wide the gate of thy compassion Assure our soules that thou art our Saluation . Then all our thoughts , and words and workes , wee 'le frame To magnifie thy great and glorious name . The waies of God are intricate , no doubt Vnsearchable , and passe mans finding out , He at his pleasure worketh wonderous things And in his hand doth hold the hearts of kings , And for the loue , which to our King he beares , By sicknes he our sinfull country cleares , That he may be a patrone , and a guide Vnto a people purg'd and purifi'd . This by a president is manifest When famous late Elizabeth deceast , Before our gratious Iames put on the crowne Gods hand did cut superfluous branches downe . Not that they then that were of life bereft Were greater sinners then the number lest , But that the Plague should then the kingdome cleare The good to comfort , and the bad to feare . That as a good king , God did vs assure , So he should haue a Nation purg'd and pure . And now that Royall Iames intombed lyes And that our gratious Charles his roome supplies , As He did for his Father formerly A sinfull nation cleanse and purifie . So God , for him these things to passe doth bring , And mends the subiects for so good a King Vpon whose Throne may peace and plenty rest , And he and his Eternally be blest . AMEN .

Against Swearing .

THere is no sin that euer the Diuell invented for the abuse of God , and the perdition of man , but the Authors and Actors of it may frame some frivolous or impertinent excuse ; for examples , our first parents in Paradise did disobediently offend , in hope thereby to gaine further knowledge , and to be like God . Cain slew his brother , and had some poore excuse for the fratricide and murther , because he saw that Abell and his offering was in better acceptation . Samson was ouercome by Dalilah , but he had lewd lust , or lustfull loue to entice him ; Dauid had not committed the two crying sins of Adultery and murther , had not the beauty of Bethsheba bin his insuaring object ; Achitophel had not bin a Traitour to the Lord 's Anointed , and a wicked counsellour to Absolom , but the expectation of raising his estate was his motiue . Ahab had not put Nabaoth to death vnjustly , but that hee knew it the neerest way to be possessour of his Vineyard . Achan's theft , Gehazies lie , Manasses cruelty and Idolatry , Peter's denying , & Iudas his betraying of our Sauiour had all some colour of Excuse , but a swearer is worse then all these , for he hath no starring hole , or by way that can make him appeare guiltlesse either before God or men ; Remember this all you that make swearing the glory of your speech , the damnable grounds of your earthly society , the accursed Garbe of your ( misnamed ) Gentleman like carriage ; Remember that God doth heare and see , and can , and will reuenge , and for this inexcusable crime ( especially ) the wrath of the Almighty is showred and powred vpon vs .

THou that these lines dost either heare or reade , Consider with thy selfe , and take good heed . Reade them , and let them neuer be forgot , They doe concerne thy soule , then sleight them not . The a a Iames. Friends of hell beleeue there is a God , And feare and tremble at his angry Rod : They doe confesse his glorious Excellence , And his Almighty powers Omnipotence . But Man his choicest and his chiefest Creature , Is so rebellious against God and Nature , That he gainst Heau'n dare both blaspheme and sweare , And ( worse then Fiends ) they not belieue or feare : So that the Earth doth breed , feed , and retaine Worse Monsters then there doth in Hell remaine . If men beleeu'd the word that God hath spoke , They would beleue that word should nere be broke . In His enacted Law b b Exod. 20. is one Decree , That all who take his Name in vaine , shall be Accounted guilty , and his fearefull wrath Will hold them worthy of eternall death . Againe 't is said ; Let the c c Leviticus 24. Blasphemor dye , Let him be stoned for his Blasphemy : And euill tongues , who dare to curse adventer , Shall into Heauens d d 1 Cor. 6. 10. blessednes not enter . And Christ ( when on the Earth he liued heere ) Forbade vs that at e e Matth. 5. all we should not sweare . And in th' eleventh of Deuteronomy againe , We are commanded not to sweare in vaine . The f f God himselfe complaineth that men blaspheme him , Esay 52. 5. The names of blasphemy is writ vpon the 10 heads of Antichrist , Apre . 13.1 . Cursing is forbidden by the Apostle , when he saith Blesse , Isoy , and curse net , Rom. 12. 14. Our Sauiour commandeth vs to blesse them that curle vs , Matth. 5. 44. Blesse them that curse you , and pray for them which hurt you , Luke 6. 28. Accustome not thy mouth to woaring , for in it are many falls , neither take vp for a custome the naming of the holy One , for thou shalt not be vnpunished for such things , Esclesiasticus 23. 9. The Plague shall neuer go forth from the house of the swearer Idem . Heathen to blaspheme their gods abhorr'd , Yet Christians wilfully blaspheme the Lord . Who euer to reuile the Gods were knowne , In Rome , were from the Rock Tarpetus throwne . Th' Egyptians Law was , he should lose his head . 'Mongst Seythians life and goods were forfeited . These grieuous punishments did Pagans vse Against all them that did their Gods abuse . King Donald's Law in Scotland's not forgot , Who burne them through the lips with irons hot . And when King Edmund here had Regall State , All Swearers he did excommunicate . And Philip King of France ( a Prince renown'd ) Ordain'd that all Blasphemers should be drown'd , The Emperour Max milian did decree , That all vaine Sweaters 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 flip ; Were likewise boared through the vnder-lip . For the fourth time most grieuous 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 sorry shillings pay For euery Oath he swore , without delay . Each Baron twenty , Knights or 'Squires offence Paid ●enn●● and euery Yeoman twenty pence . The Boyes and Pages all were whipt most fine , That durst abuse the Majesty diuine . Thus Pagan Princes with sharp lawes withstood Profauing of their Gods , Whose sweares falsly , calls the God of Truth to witnes a lie . Who so sweares as he thinks may be deceiued . Who so sweares vnreuerently , dishonoureth God . Who so sweares deceitfully , abuseth Christian fidelity . Who so sweares idlely , abuseth the credit of a faithfull oath . Who so sweares accustomably , God will plague him . 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 joyes 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 vncertain 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 sactifi'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 voide 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 & breed him , And stroake 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 , ●Elfred an english Earle , conspiring to put our K. Adolstanes eyes at Winchester , forsware the treason in Saint Peters Church at Rome and fell downe dead presently . Earle Godwin murthered Prince Alfred brother to king Edward Confessor , and being at dinner , the King charged him with the murther , then Godwin swore by bread , and prayed it might choake him if he were guilty , and immediately it choaked him in the place his lands also sunk into the sea , and are called Godwin-sands . K. Stephen forsware himselfe to King Henry I , and liued in continuall trouble , & dyed in perplexity , of minde Edward brake his oath made at York , that he came not with intent to cease the Kingdome , and b●eaking that oath was punisht with a troublesome raigne , his brethren and children all ( except one murthered and not any of his issue reigned after him Roger Mortimer , a great Peere of th●s land , for breaking his oath to King Edward the 2. was most ignominio●sly hanged bowelld & quartered M. Fox in his Booke of Martyrs declares of one Richard Long of Calice that forsware himselfe to accuse one Smith for eating flesh in Lent , after which oath Long went presently & drowned himselfe . One Grimwood at Hiteham in Suffolks , forsware himselfe and his bowels burst out . One widdow Barnes for the like sin cost herselfe out of her window in Cornhill and brake her necke . Anns Anetis forsware herselfe in Woodstrees for sixe pound of Towe , desiring God she might links down , which fearfully hapned . One Lea in Sunne-alloy without Bishopsgate forswere himselfe , and after ript out his guts . Sure euery man that liues vpon the ground Would say a hanging's fit for such a hound . And worser then so many dogges are they , That 'gainst their God with oathes doe barke and 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 blasphem'd the God of Heauen . Examples on the earth haue many beene , As late in sundry places hath beene seene . At Mautna two braue Russians in their game , Swore and blasphem'd our blessed Sauiours name , Where God iust iudgment ( full of feare & dread ) Causd both their eyes to drop from out their head . In Rome , a child but 5 yeares old that swore , Was snatch 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 Think 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 Eare and Eye , and heares and sees The swearers execrable oathes and lyes . The God head of the Father they contemne : Against the Sonnes Redemption the blaspheme : The Holy Spirit grieuously they grieue , And head-long into Hell themselues they driue I● is in vaine for mortall men to think , Gods Iustice is a sleepe , 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 Deuills 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 aothes their grace , and speeches ornament , Their sweet 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 d●d 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 heere , ( No doubt ) in heauen shall haue true glory there , Which that we may haue , humbly I implore Of Him that rules and raignes for ouermore , The Eternall Lord of Lords , and King of Kings , Before whose Throne blest Saints & Angels sings , All power , praise , glory , maiesty , thanksgiuing , Ascribed be to him that 's euer liuing . FINIS .

My farewell to the famous Vniuersity of Oxford .

I Thanke God , that Ingratitude being the worst of euils , it doth not raigne in me , although it may knock at the doore of my estate , yet ( I trust ) I neuer shall harbour it ; This renowned Seminary and City , allowed me free and generous entertainment for some certaine weekes in these dangerous and contagious times : and although the hand of the Almighty did in some sprinkling and mercifull measure , awaken the security of some in that Citty , yet was , and is his Grace so abundantly extended towards it , that there did not dye in the City and Suburbs being 13 Parishes , aboue 7 of the Pestilence in one weeke all this dangerous yeare ; in which is much to be commended the care and diligence of the Graue and right Worship Mr Vicechancellour , with Mr Maior , and the rest of his worthy brethren , who neglected or omitted no meanes , that prouidence and Charity could vse for the preseruation of the healthy , and the comfort of the sick ; this I being a witnesse of , in the way of thankfulnesse thought fit to expresse : assuring them in generall , that they shall neuer want the prayers and best wishes of him that wil be euer at their seruice

IOHN TAYLOR

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