The fatall nuptiall: or Mournefull marriage Relating, the heavy and lamentable accident lately occurring, by the drowning of 47. persons, and some of those of especiall quality, in the water of Windermere, in the North. October 19: 1635.

THE FATALL NVPTIALL : OR , MOURNEFULL MARRIAGE .

Relating , The heavy and lamentable Accident lately occurring , by the drowning of 47. persons , and some of those of especiall quality , in the water of Windermere , in the NORTH . October 19 : 1635.

— Nova piscibus urna parata est .

LONDON , Imprinted by Felix Kyngston , and are to be sold by Robert Bostocke , at the Kings head in Pauls Churchyard . 1636.

a skull with wings SPES ADDIDIT ALAS . A PREAMBLE , OR INTRODUCTION to this Funerall POEME .

FOR the quality of griefe , none knowes it , but hee who hath experimentally and personally felt it . That Place , which hath hitherto beene secured from the least perill , you sh●ll now see personated a spectacle of Sorrow : where those , who vowed in a Sacred and Christian manner , their vowes to Hymen , the Soueraigne of Nuptialls , are now with Tethis to close in wat'ry Funeralls . The occasion of these sad Obits proceeded from a Marriage and a Market day , which begot to the Attendants a mournefull night ; yet from that Night ( such was their assured expectance , and our undoubted affiance ) a happy day . The place , where these drenched Soules were to take Boate , was that famous and renowned Mere of Windermere ; a Mere no lesse eminent and genero●sly knowne for her Sole-breeding , and peculiar kinde of fishes ( commonly called Chares ) as for those windy and labyrinthian mazes , with those curiously shaded , beauteo●sly tufted , naturally fortifide , and impregnably seated Ilands in every part of the Mere interveined . To relate the severall w●ndings of it , or more historically to describe it , were fruitles , being already explained by a genuine and learned Relater . Cambd . in Brit . To divert then from the Place , to the sad occasion of this Action , thus I proceed .

Windermere , or Winandermere , streaming , or rather staying in a continuate Tract or Channell , without any visible or apparent Current , and dividing the Counties of Westmerland and Lancashire , hath ever constantly kept a Boat for Passengers ; especially those Inhabitants as remaine or reside in the Barronry of Kendall , ( a place to her honour , antiently famous for Commerce and industrious Manufacture ) a● all others , who may have occasion to addresse their course by that passage , to the Market of Haukeside , The Charter of which Market was procured by that industrious Agen● for his Countrey , M● . All●n Ni●holso● . or o●her places adjoyning . To this Boat , upon a nuptiall but fatall occasion , sundry Passengers , and these all Inhabitants within the Barronry of Kendall , ( a Burroug● as I formerly observed , highly eminent , by having such neare relation and generall correspondence with most places of trade or trafficke in this kingdome ) repaired ; hoping with a safe and secure gale to arrive , where no perill had ever yet approach'd . The Boat they enter'd , securely confident , with 47. in number , besides other carriages and horses , which ( together with the roughnes of the water , & extremity of weather ) occasioned this inevitable dange● .

Lanch'd had these scarcely to the medth of the water , being scantly a mile broad , but the Boat , either through the pressure and weight which surcharg'd her , or some violent and impetuous windes and waves that surpriz'd her , with all her people , became drench'd in the depths . Undae sunt ossibus urnae . No succour , no reliefe afforded , for Gods definite Will had so decreed : So as , not one person of all the number was saved : Amongst which , the Brides Mother , and her Brother in this liquid regiment , equally perished .

To aggravate the quality of this Accident , I need not ; an imaginary representment of sorrow is sufficient to it selfe . Onely , let me reare before your eyes this Theatre ; on which you are not to expect ought from this Tyringhouse of heavines , but Scenes of passion and disconsolate anguish .

Many of these left Wives without Husbands , other● Husbands without Wives ; most of these , Children without Fathers or Mothers . Estates they had , but indisposed ; because in such a moment of time prevented , as wherein they stood most secured , soonest abridged .

What a fatall Nuptiall was this ? when those Nuptiall ribbons and sprigges of Rosemary , which were given as favours for a Nuptiall , became Rosemary sprigges to adorne their Funerall ?

What an Embleme of Mortality may man see in himselfe , in this image of himselfe ? A Navigator is not to be secure in three inches , nor man of his life , which is but a spanne . How secure were these in their temperate mirth ; and with what a calme Convoy they expected to arrive at their Port ? If we should consider those billowes , wherewith we are dayly and hourely encountred : those perillous passages , whereto we are exposed : with the difficulty of the Haven , at which we are to be landed , wee would constantly tremble , and stand in feare , least every wave , every worldly care , should endanger our shipwracke .

What loving associates were these to Hymen ? what Conjugall consorts to a festive Nuptiall ? yet see the cloze of their marriage melody , drowne it selfe in a wat'ry Lachrymae ! What then on Earth is heere constant ? or where in ought may wee be confident ? A merry Evening makes an heavy Morning : and a glad going out , a sad returning . Sad to their friends , but chearefull to their dearest soules ; which have call'd from the Depths , and are ●ssuredly heard .

●o ●s this might bee their proper impreze : " Mergimur immersi , rapida sub gurgite tui● : " Per mare , per terras , Semita recta bonis . It is a good Prayer , to deliver us from sudden Death ; yet there is no sudden Death to them that die well . Gods mercy is betwixt the bridge and the brinke ; Nor are wee to despaire of their helpe , who in God repose their sole hope . Abyssus abyssum invocat : These in the depth of their misery , call'd upon the depth of Gods mercy : and though they could not reach to land with the hand of their body ; they reach'd with their hand of faith to the Haven of Glory . As no man values the place of his Birth , so is hee not to disvalue the place of his Death . Wee have a sacred President ; to whom neither place of Birth nor Death became an Ornament .

Wee are heere to passe the waters of tribulation ; our Barkes are weake , our passage dangerous : Shelves wee have full of perill ; presumption to transport us , despaire to deject us . If wee surcharge our vessell , what may wee expect but drowning ? if wee ballase it not enough , what may wee looke for but floating ? Wee have an Anchor ; it is our Saviour : wee cannot faile , if through him wee suffer . Hee , who can command the Windes and the Sea● , will wast us o're these troublesome Seas , and conduct us to the Port of rest .

It is true , that while wee are heere imbarked , there is no security ; Marchant venturers wee are all , hazarding our state , stocke and store in crazy and leeking vessels . Wee hicker with waves , stormes and tempests : even our owne dissorting passions ; which like so many billowes , mutine in us , and threaten shipwracke . Hor. Neptunum procul à terra ; wee eye , and eying , sigh for our Haven .

Poore Sea-fairing Soules , what a doe wee make with our distempered Motions , ( which to use the w●rds of that Divine Father ) swarme like so many Bees about us ; Basil . and while they sting us , wee hold them deare unto us !

Invironed wee are with danger on the Maine ; and perillou● Sands and Shelv's oppose us in our landing . Though the Course of our Navigation be passing short ; the continued Current of our dangerous passage appeares long .

We account him foolishly merry , and insensible of perill , who , when the Windes rage , the Waves rise , & nothing but feare and horrour become Objects to the weakned Ship , carrouseth and drinkes healths to the Winde , as One secure of his approaching sate . And what lesse doe wee , when in these weake Barkes of our Bodies , wee expose our selves to all sensuall pleasures , as if wee were a shore and secure from danger , when wee are surrounded with perill , and for●e divided from our Harbour ?

The Philosophers question impli'd a Divine Morall : Quanta spissitudo navium ? Anach . 4. digitorum . And that Sacred Light of the Orientall Church might seeme to answere this , Aug. no lesse positively then pithily : Tres cubiti terrae te expectant .

Arist . That surviving glory of Stagyrus reports , that about the River Hypanis , which runneth through a part of Europe into the Sea Pontus , are bred certaine Beastes which live but one day ; and surely , if wee should compare this straite confined limit or period of our age with immortality , ( the Soules sole-harbour after her disbarking from this Sea of misery ) we shall be found in regard of our frailty every way as transi●o●y , as these day-dying Beasts .

Death is such a discursive Serjeant , and so serious in the discharge of his Errand , as there is no place of priviledge to exclude him , or rescue he party arrested by him . Hee ha's a Mace for the Sea , as well as Land . Which may bee instanced in no patterne more clearely , no Object more truely , than in this Tragicke Scene of Sorrow , which wee have now in action : Where , of 47●ut wee have formerly related , not one secured , not one from Death rescued : And this happened the 19. of October .

But as waves follow waves , so it oftimes falleth in the progresse of woes : for no l●sse remarkeable is it , that upon the 6. of November , a Graves end Barge was by report cast away , seconding thi● former very nearely , if not wholly , in number : but the apparancy of their danger begot this report ( as wee have since heard ) without any other actuall disaster .

The use of these should necessarily conduce to our selv's : on Water and Land to recommend ●s in our passage and conduct to his Sacred direction and protection , by whom wee breath and have our being . In aquis & terris ●e Deo meditari , Malum est mo●● in naufragio , & bonum est mori febre Aug. in Psal . c . 48. & coelesti ejus custodiae no●-ipsos commendare , est neque ab aquis nec à terris , motu vel metu discriminis imminentis , periclitari . And withall , to reteine a charitable opinion of such , as by thes● premature and adventitious ends , are translated from us . Pauli naufragium animae salus fuit : Let us apply this , though in another sense addressed , to these hopefull Soules now departed . Hee , who is the LORD of the Depths , can extend his unbounded mercy to the Depths ; and put an hooke in the nose-●hrills of that Leviathan , who raigneth , ruleth and rageth in the Depths .

This Preamble hath enlarged it selfe to so extensive a measure , as it may seeme to some , to resemble a Mindian Structure : but as arguments give light to Subjects ; so Preambles , by way of Introduction , have ever given life to refinedst Poems .

sunburst surrounded by cloud and containing a Hebrew word in the centre THE FATALL NVPTIALL ; OR , MOVRNEFVLL MARRIAGE .

Poeme . HYmen , put out thy lights ; thy selfe confound With griefe , to see thy teare-swolne consorts drownd , Thy late Attendants : See of forty seven None rescued from death , but wholly driven From hope , helpe , harbour ! recollect it thus , And joyne in mournefull Elegies with us . Husbands of Wives , Wives of their Husbands rest , Parents of Babes , Babes of their Parents left . Heere Widdow's tears , and there poor Orphans cryes , These fill the Cesterns of distilling eyes With confluence of teares . What a sad Night Hath damp't the beauty of a Nuptiall light With universall sorrow ? — Pray thee stay , And sayle along with me in this same way , This wat'ry Region , where the curled waves Afford us teares , and to their bodies graves : — See , see the leeking Vessell how it strives And combats with the waves , to save their lives ! It sighs and seekes for Land , but press'd with weather , And her surcharged burden both together , While surging billowes mount above the brinke , Shee 's forc'd to yeeld , and with her fraught to sinke . To sinke ! O silence that perplexing word , It will a Deluge of new griefe afford To the relenting Reader , who with teare● Will rinse each comme and period that he heares And wooe th'inraged waves , and chide them too , When he in milder tearmes shall cease to woo ; And in such home bred Dialect as this , Taxe them and tell them , that they did amisse . O should you now see how Child clings on Mother , ☜ Husband on Wife , Wife Husband , one on other , Grasping the yeelding Streames , who in remorce With wat'ry veils shroud their inchanneld coarse ; Should you conceit these Objects , you with me Would cloze in one-united Lachrymae . O WINDERMERE , who art renown'd afarre For thy sole breeding there unvalued Charre , And with thy spatious channell doest divide Two antient Counties seated on each side ; ☞ May thy fresh waters salt and brackish turne , And in their chang'd condition henceforth mourne ; May those distilling conduits of thine , Loosing their native sweetnesse flow with brine : Tuning each accent of this accident To Swanlike Odes of dying dreriment . What did incense thee thus ? what furious fate ? Tethis and Hymen were they at debate ? Did any impious one this shipwracke cause , Some high Delinquent to Heav'ns sacred Lawes , Whose deepe dyde sinne did so the State infest As it became a Scourge unto the rest That were his haplesse Consorts ? or some wretch , Some hideous Hagge , or late-reprived Witch Sprung from those desart Concaves , forlorne Cells , Raising these stormes with their infernall Spells ? No ; No ; nor this , nor that , nor any these Gave life to those expiring miseries . It was that fixt decree , to which 't is fit That wee who are his Creatures should submit . The sacred Scriptures they will plainly tell How those , on whom the Tower of Shilo fell , Were not the greatest sinners ; Nor ought we To judge , but by the rule of Charitie To measure all our Censures : for who ar't , That liv'st so free from act , so pure in hart , Who canst in judgement with th' Almighty stand , Or prove good weight when ballanc'd by his hand ? If he doe spare then , 't is his mercy to us , And if hee scourge , hee doth but justice doe us . But let me now divert my dolefull Scene , And pencyle these who now have drowned bene , In their owne native feature ! " These were such Who , to relieve their Meniey , labour'd much In their industrious Wool-worke ; justly fam'd , And for their Manuall labour Sheare-men nam'd . An usefull mystery ! which though it make Course cloaths , and such as ne're did Alnage take , Yet 't is commodious to the Common-weale , And fit for Sale , although unfit for Seale . For if th' poore work-man scarcely can supply With late and earely toile his Family Now when his Trading is exempt and freed , In paying Alnage how should hee succeede ? But Heav'ns be blest for our dread Soveraigne , Who cheeres with freedome such an honest gaine , Most then of these wract Passengers were such Whom never yet ambition did tutch , Grinding oppression , griping avarice , " Conscience their praise , and competence their prize , Much comfort ( sure ) crowns such wheres'ere they dye , Though drencht below , their thoughts are fixt on hye , But amongst these , both love and blood doe urge An higher straine of passion for my Mr. George Wilson , Atturney in the Common Law : ' one of pregnant conceit , and sincere in the course of his practise . GEORGE . Of pregnant ripe conceit , firme to his friends , And ne're soak't Clients purse with endlesse ends ; Young , yet well-read in houres ; fixing his love On Lawes Divine and on the Land above . Such dispositions make a good Atturney , And wing his passage for an heav'nly journey : Where hee this see may for his labour erne , Peacefull Eternity without a Terme . ☞ A just weeke after , and same houre o th' day , His Corpes were found , that hee was throwne away , Untouch't and undisfigur'd ; to imply Mans face i' th Depths reteines a Majesty . Next Him , those nursing fosters of my Three , Three litle ones , whom they so carefullie Tender'd , exact of me their funerall teares , With such a Monument as Vertue reares On her true-meaning followers : for to show How their industrious Master and these two Exprest their love and zeale to me and mine , Would aske a lasting-living-loving-line : And Gratitude keepes somewhat to requite ; " To Him my love , to Them my last good-night . Yet recollect those latest words She said , When shee that fatall vessell entered , While thrice she lanched forward to the Maine , Thrice she step'd in , and thrice retyr'd againe , As one divining what would after fall , With trickling teares thus on the Oares did call ; Oh stay thy Boat , secure me and my Mate ! " One may foresee , but not prevent their fate . Next these , His losse , who at my Table fed , And as one of mine owne , was sometimes bred , I mone ; One may their duty farre forgit , Yet God forbid , wee should not this remit , As wee hope for remission : Hee is dead , And with him my distasts are buried . To wast him o're ( no doubt ) it did Heav'ns please , From th' waters of Contention unto Peace . For th' rest , I knew them onely by report , Of honest fame , though of obscurer sort . And these with those I confidently trust Are now enrowl'd i th' number of the just . Now to our selves let something be applide , And then these papers shall be laid aside . " I'S t so , that wee in hourely danger stand Whether wee saile by Sea , or goe by Land ? " That wee to th' World but one entrance have , But thousand meanes of passage to our grave ? " That all our wayes are hedg'd about with feare , While wee are Pilgrims in this Desart heere ? " That none shall be exempted , but must goe Unto the place where they 'r confined to ? " And that the wise shall no more fruit receave Of all his Labours , then the foole shall have ? " And that their end 's alike , for both shall die To prove them Cöheirs of Mortality ? " For th' politick Hun must yeeld to swelling Humber , As well as th' least of his inferiour number ; " And Archie that rich foole , when hee least dreames , For purchast lands , must be possest of streames : " What can wee practice , project or devise , When ther 's no priviledge for Foole nor Wise ? Let 's like wise Marchants then , make it our care To looke unto our Faith , our Fraught , our Fare ; Like Prudent Pilots , on our guard let 's stand , That with safe Prize wee may returne to Land . For ev'n me thinkes , before they yeeld to Fate , Their case they seeme thus to expostulate . Spare me , insulting waves , the Father cryes , Take pitty of my poore parentall eyes , In me yee shall drowne many ; for my life Supports a Family , Children , and Wife . These perish if I fall ; then pitty take If not for me , yet for mine Infants sake . I have industrious beene , and given reliefe Out of my little store , to ease the griefe Of hungry Soules ; Nor doe I boast of this , For Heav'ns you know , I 've done too much amisse : Nor in those works of mercy that were wrought , Have I perform'd my duty as I ought . Give me some longer respite , that I may Redeeme the time wherein I went astray . Thou who command'st the winds and waves , and went Upon the waters , calme this Element ; Steere our weake Barke , for it is in thine hand , To still this Storme , and bring us safe a land : But let not our will but thy Will be done ; And as hee ends , another streight begun . I am a Mother , O deliver mee From these inclosing dangers which I see ; A tender Infant hangs upon my brest , And onely in my bosome takes sweet rest ; How will it cry , if it his mother lacke ! Then for the Babes sake shield me from this wracke . If shuddring horrour now surprize mine heart , Oh what an anguish will it be to part A Mother from the fruit of her owne wombe , And in the wat'ry depths , to have a Tombe ? Excuse my feare , deare Lord , it is not common For virile Spirits to be in a Woman . Where my Lord is , my thoughts are fixed there , Yet flesh and blood their dissolution feare . To thee then I direct my sole request , In whom I put my trust , in whom I rest : Incline thine eare to a poore Womans crye , And be thou mine , whether I live or dye . The feare-surprized Childe , who sighs for shore , And ne're knew well what danger ment before ; Sends forth a shreeke or two , yet knowes not why , For 'las hee knowes not what it is to dye . O save me , Mother ! when shall wee get home ? I have desire that wee to land may come . I 'l goe no more by Water , by your leave , Nor shall a Cock-boat e're your Boy receave . What meane these swelling bubbles that arise , And with their sprinklings wash mine head and eyes ? I cannot tell , but they affright me sore , Get I to land , I 'l trouble these no more . At Ducke and Drake I 'd rather safely play , On our owne Poole upon the Holy-day . — Ay me ! that last wave , Mother , washt my coat , An other such would throw me out o' th Boat . Faine would I sleepe , but yet I cannot heere , Take any rest , I 'm taken so with feare . — Oh save me , Mother ! thus her Lambkin cride ; And she with teare-swolne eyes againe replide . Feare nothing , Childe : Heaven shield us from mishap ; Sleepe prety Ape , I 'l shroud thee with my lap . 'Twixt feare and love such mutuall conflicts bee , The waves rocke her , she him upon her knee . Weigh these surprized soules w●o rightly can , And shares not in these miseries of man With joynt compassion ? wdo can eye this Shelfe Of danger , and reflect not on himselfe ? Of the whole substance of our Marchandize , {αβγδ} . One onely Pearle's of unvalued prize : Which got , wee gaine ; which lost , it is in vaine To have possest the Indies for our gaine . Let 's then contemplate Him , where wee may rest , For all things else are losse , hows'ere possest . If wee have wealth , perchance , wee have not health ; If wee have health , perhaps , wee have not wealth ; If health and wealth , yet friendship may be scant ; If health , wealth , friendship , wee may honour want ; If health , wealth , honour wee injoyers be , Yet what are these , if wee want libertie ? But God is all in one , for it is hee Who with a girdle bounds the surging Sea : Nought may oppose his Empire , whose command Reacheth from Sea to Sea , from Land to Land . Some Marchants for Silkes , Sables , golden Oare , Dive in the depths , before they vent a shore ; But wee runne no such hazard : for wee seaze On Him , who in Him seazeth wholy these . Draw in thy sailes , my Muse ; and muse on Him , Who free from staine , assoiles our soules from sin . Who , when the Waters compasse us halfe dead , Jonah . 2.5.6 . The Depths enclose us , weedes enwrappe our head ; When wee to th' bottome of the mountaines go , And th' Earth with barres immures our bodies too ; Yet from the Pit will Hee our Spirits raise , To whom bee still the sacrifice of Praise . FINIS .

SONNET . WHAT is this WORLD , but a Sea , Or Flood-gate of Calamitie ? What LIFE , but a continued Wave , That wafts Man o're unto his Grave ? What bee these Billowes swolne with winde , But Passions of a troubled minde ? What bee these Windes that beate our Barke , Sinnes that confin'd NOAH to his Arke . What be these Sands on which wee runne , These Shelves wee seeke , but seldome shunne ; But uncoth Paths , where Mortalls finde Gravell to satisfie their minde ? What bee these Straits by which wee passe , But thoughts of what Man is and was ? What be these Barkes wherein wee goe , But Bodies ballaced with woe ? What is this Port where wee arrive , But Death , which wee would faine reprive ? Since Life's Sea , Wave , Winde , Billow , Sand , Shelve , Straite , Let Earth be our Retraite , Heav'n our Reccite .

FINIS .