An example for all those that make no conscience of swearing and forswearing▪ 〈◊〉 Showing Gods heavy judgement upon a maidservant in London, who forswore herself, and now lies rotting in S. Bartholomewes' Hospital in Smithfield, where many resort daily to see her.  
To the tune of, Aim not too high.  
 

Lo wiicked swearers all example take,  
●● they of God a mocking stock do make,  
Although he sits in heaven and nothing says,  
yet he doth see and mark our wicked ways.   

He searches in the closet of our hearts,  
Where he surveys our good and evil parts:  
The soul he made to be the bodies guide,  
That it should rule us when we went aside.   

But when we let the Duill enter in,  
Who still doth tempt us unto wicked sin,  
Then grace is fled, and God on us doth frown,  
Who with a glory us in heaven would crown.   

Our soul must answer for our body's deed,  
As in thesacred Scriptures you may read,  
〈◊〉 every sinner must receive their hire,  
Without God's mercy in eternal fire,   

The Lord hath said, that he revenge will take,  
Upon such sinners as do him forsake:  
And 'tis most sure for God he will not lie,  
But vengeance take for our iniquity.   

〈◊〉 late in London and in other parts,  
Swearers and liars they have felt his smarts,  
One that committed had an evil crime,  
〈…〉 e forswear it at the very time,   

And wished that she might sink into the ground,  
Or that bright heaven might her soul 〈…〉 and,  
if she had done it, and did seem to cry,  
And then the ground did open presently.   

Two others that the like had done in sight,  
Wished that God's judgement might upon them light,  
And is it did, for strait they fell stark dead,  
The Lord above knows where their souls are fled   

But now a Story to you I will show,  
Of a poor wretch that is distressed in woe,  
That did the like, and did herself forswear,  
Which sore example let each Christian hear.   

She being in an honest service placed,  
Hath wrought her shame, & all her friends disgraced,  
Did steal and pilfer many things away,  
Which now hath wrought her to this deep decay,   

When things were missed, she did deny the same,  
And with great impudence, devoid of shame,  
Wished before God and men that she might rot,  
It that such things she ever saw or got.   

Yet she to prison strait way wa● conveyed,  
And presently before she long had laid:  
She did begin to rot, and stink so sore,  
That they were forced to turn her out of door.   

To Smithfield Hospital she then was led.  
Where hundreds flock to s●●● 〈◊〉 in her bed,  
Her toes and fingers do fal● 〈…〉 ●●d rot,  
With other joints, such is her heavy lot.   

The Surgeons strive to do their chiefest Art,  
And do apply their skill to every part,  
But still she rots, her joints do fall away,  
And God knows when, shall be her dying day.   
 

SHe is repentant for her wicked sin,  
Which in her former time she lived in,  
She calls to God for mercy every day,  
And to the Lord most earnestly do pray.   

She doth confess that she that fact did do,  
For which she now doth feel such grief and woe:  
Wishing each servant might example take,  
That she may be a warning for their sake.   

And all forsworn wretches in that kind.  
When then do, ill to bear her in their mind,  
For fear the Lord doth give to them their hire,  
As she did justly of our great God require.   

God's mercy's great when sinners do repent,  
When in their soul they truly do recent,  
Christ died to save those that the truth believe,  
And in his menrcy will them sure relieve.   

As I to hope that he will save her souls,  
Although her crime was very bad and foul,  
For she repentant is, and craves for grace,  
And hopes in heaven to have a resting place.   

Could we but think of God's all-seeing eyes,  
That near were blind to our iniquities:  
Our earthly minds of heaven will have a part,  
Our tongues would speak from trueness of our heart   

Though we may think to blind the eyes of men,  
Committing sins, forswearing them again:  
Yet them at last our conscience shall report,  
Before a wiser juba-and higher Court.   

Let no forswearer 〈…〉ke themselu●● 〈…〉re,  
Though with their only tongues t●●● 〈…〉 all 〈…〉  
Oh let them not presume, but let 〈◊〉 know,  
God's hand is heavy, though i● 〈…〉 t flow.   

Oh may this needless swearing be forborn,  
Oaths are the plagues for which a land doth mourn  
Oh let us mourn 〈◊〉 oaths, and mourn our fill,  
Oh may we do it now, not swear we will.   

Wish not for evil falsely on thy breast,  
Thinking that God will spare with thee the rest,  
God pardons sins that no man might despair,  
God scourges some, that all men may beware.   

Who knoweth whether himself the person be,  
That God will punish for iniquity:  
Oh with what face can men for mercy crave,  
That wish themselves ill, and their wishes have.   

Gehezi did of Naaman once require,  
Gold, and two shifts of raiment for a hire:  
They that will seek for profit by a lie,  
Shall lose their gains, and gain a leprosy.   

Yet is the Lord to those that do convert,  
More kind than our desire, or our desert:  
And in the midst of our iniquities,  
His judgement doth but go, his merce flies,   

Look down, O Lord, on his distressed one,  
That doth not look to thee but with a groan:  
And for her wished affliction, if you please,  
Comfort her soul and give her body ease.   

Or if the justice farther will proceed,  
To punish her for her periorious deed:  
Lord grant her sins, may thr 〈…〉 be forgiven,  
Give her affliction here, her 〈…〉 ●●auen.   

Let servants that are often pu● i● trust,  
Fly dealing false, and follow dealing inst:  
Although your ill got goods, may seem full fair,  
Your seeming substance proves infectious air.   
H. I.  
FINIS.   

Lon●●● 〈…〉ted at for I. W.