portrait of Sir Thomas Overbury SIR THOMAS OVERBURY. The Bloody downfall Of Adultery. Murder, Ambition, At the end of which are added weston's, and Mistress Turner's last Tears, shed for the Murder of Sir Thomas Ouerbury poisoned in the Tower; who for the fact, suffered deserved execution at Tyburn the 14. of November last. 1615. Mercy Sweet Jesus. Printed at London for R. H. and are to be sold at his shop at the cardinals Hat without Newgate. The Bloody downfall of Adultery, Murder, and Ambition, presented in a black scene of God's just judgements in revenge of the Innocent blood lately shed in this KINGDOM. LOoking lately into the customs of this age, & conjecturing the inward affections of men, I gather that the world is the house of confusion, and the inhabitants thereof set upon mischief, for the seven Capital sins are grown to such a custom, that our eyes want no allurements to bewitch, our ears no perswaysions to seduce, nor our senses no subtlety to affect: Which seizing on the hearts of men, have brought fourth many pernicious children, to the hurt of Nature, some like centaurs, begotten of clouds: as Ambition, some like Serpents nourished in dunghills, as Sensuality, some like Vapours, raised up to be consumed as Flattery, and such like, generally all dangerous and full of trouble: therefore is it (in the sense of man) most fitting to have the painting taken off from these foul faces, the covers pulled off from these cups of Poison, and the covert of this bed of Serpents ripped up, that we may discern what hath long time been hidden cunningly. The first that presents himself upon our stage; will we call Ambition, catching at nothing but Stars, climbing only for Greatness, this is he, that cunningly can invent stratagems to his own over throw, giving Pens occasion to wright Tragedies, if he rise from obscurity, (as many have done) he laboureth to be skilful in those things, which are most pleasing to the greater Sort, and tolerable among the commons: His study is for praise, and not for virtue: His looks like mausolus' roumbe, fair and comely without, but within, nothing but rotten bones, and corrupt practisses, his apparel increaseth with his Fortune, and as worldly affairs direct him, so suiteth he both fashions and affections, in his study he affecteth singularity, and is proud in being author of a new stratagem: if he chance to come into the eye of the World, he than creeps into the favour of some great Peersonage, in feeding whose humours (to relieve his wants) makes intrusion into some heritage, and matcheth not according to his birth, but to the increase of his fortune, and by that means, by hook or crook, he atayneth to some place in the Court: Then gins he with gifts to win hearts, by feigned humility to a void hatred, by offices of friendship, to bind his equals, by cunning insinuations to work his superiors, by which means he is held to be worthily a Statesman: being grown to this step higher, the authority likes him not, without the style, wherein if any cross him, look for poison in his cup, or conspiracy in his walks, yea so pestilent is his nature, that (like fire raked up in embers) he never showeth but to consume, both himself and others: if he perceive any that by ripe judgement conceiteth his courses, with him he joineth, as if he sought his only protection under the wing of his Glory, but the very truth is, he hath no other intent but this, to clip the wings of his renown for fear, he fly beyond him, if the nature of the Nobleman whom he envieth be gentle, he bringeth him in fear, either of his servants in his household, or his familiars that love his honour, or else some mislike betwixt his Prince and him, sworn and confirmed by flatteries and intelligences, till the noble looseth either his land, authoitie, or place, and he attain both his style and promotion: yet play he never so cunningly, such uncertain honours beget daily dangers, and makes him careless of his soul's prosperity: For then there entereth into his mind a delightful sin called curiosity, by which to make him more able in other mischiefs, he gives entertainment to witches and charmers, and consorts himself with novel mongers, and strange inventors of banquets, to set lust on fire, and that can devise confections to besot youth with luxury, that for an ireful man can work strange revenges, for a fearful, a strong tower to keep him in: to be excellent at poisons, to kill lingeringly, like the Italian: But again to our purpose, to the Ambitius man there is commonly belonging a rustic troop, of Flatterers, Bawds, A dulterers, Soothers, and such like, that hating all virtue makes sin seem pleasing, which works in the flexible heart such a sweet desire of forbidden pleasures, that it even surfeits and grows sickes, with excess, Lust and Adultery I mean, which I describe in this manner, it is the most insolent of all things, it troubles the mind and taketh away the empire of liberty, it confounds memory, kills providence, and treads down good council. offends not he the law, that takes possession of another man's free hold, and makes a common of his neighbours enclosure, Adulterers I say have no spirits to goodness, nor will they be by any council moved to godliness, for their felicity is in the surfeits of the flesh, and the pleasures thereof bring nothing but too dear repentance, the Adulterer spites him most that examines his proceed, and plots his overthrow that doth but touch his infirmities, Oh! what an enemy is it to Virtue, the only wreck of wealth, and plain high way to poverty. The Adulterer is so blinded in heart, and so hardened withal, that he can hardly look up towards Heaven to behold Gods just judgements: yea so just and sure they are, that in all ages this vile sin hath been severely punished, as by the example of judas, justice on Thamat, David's Adultery with Urias' Wife, punished in his Son Absalon, thousands of men died in the fields of Moab for this fault, threescore thousand of the children of Israel were put to the sword for the ravishing only a levites Wife, of all sins it is in nature the most odious, and brings with it the greatest shame unto mankind: it is a sin that hath made the Earth drunk with blood, to the confusion of many Towns and Cities, Sodom and Gomorah were consumed with fire for Incest and Adultery: Troy a proud City made a plow-land for the same sin: It was the only adulteries of the French that caused a massacre of fourscore thousand, by the ringing of one bell: Let not the Strumpits eye, says one of the sages of Greece, shine upon the countenance of young men, lest with the Basaliske, it pierce unto the death: for her malice is as lightning, and more ragine then the she Bear, upon her attends malicious hatred, whose felicity is only to rejoice at the harms of others, giving more affliction to them that are most troubled with affliction, where if any offend her, she admits no reconciliation, but lives as a partial judge in her own cause, if she hears the advancement of virtue than grows she pensive, & if she want credit amongst the mighty than falls she working with the meaner sort, she smiles not upon any man but to be trey him, nor give him countenance but to undo him, nor contrive, any stratagems without Murder, nor dwells by any neighbour but to hurt him, and if she be but crossed in her will, she ever frets herself away in anger, and after in Hate and Malice becomes infamous, for her love is a minet, but her spite everlassing, her hand being once dipped in mischief, she never walks abroad but in suspicion, fearing to be accused by Virtue, and still lives in dread of her good Fortune, yet by nature is she such, that she hath courage enough to adventure on any sin, an Ambitious woman shows herself to be a troublesome disturber of the world, powerful to make small things great, and great, monstrous, envy by nature is grieved at the Prosperity of others, he envieth the Great in that he cannot Equal them, he envieth the weak, dreading they should compare themselves with him: he envieth his Equals because they should not become his Companions: in Kingdoms, Commonwealths, Princes Courts and Ambitious men's Houses he is still working, no Man hunteth after Honour but he affronts him, only the miserable man he envies not, because (being kept in Prison) he fears not his rise, yet hath he a scorn over him: Machiuell knowing the venom of this vice, gave his son this last and not least instruction: that he should not be envious, but to do (saith he) such deeds that others may envy thee, for to be envied is the token of good desert, but to be envious the sign of a foolish nature, which verefies the saying of Marcus Tullius the Orator, that the most flourishing fortune is most envied at: But now to be more familiar in my Discourse, where Ambition, Adultery, Pride, Envy, Malice, and such like Capital Sins have set in foot, there cannot choose but follow Mnrder and confusion, and where the foundation is laid with blood, there can be a building but of small continuance, but where Honours have a true beginning, a ground of virtue springing up by noble deserts, continued by Wisdom and maintained with Care, there cannot choose but follow a fruitful harvest, and a plentiful Winter: contrariwise to obtain sudden Honours begets Pride and Vainglory, Pride and Vainglory are the cherishers of Envy and Malice, Envy and Malice the Nurses of Bloodshed and Murder, in which whosoever dippeth but the tip of his singer, gives to his Soul a scarlet siaine, which never can be cleared until the dissolution of the Body, and then well are they that can wash it away with the true tears of repentance. Brittle is that greatness that fadeth in a moment, and vain the joy that is unwisely lost, he that hath a sudden rise and can wisely stand, is a most happy Worldling, but he that forgets himself on the Pinnacle of prosperity is besotted with arrogancy: therefore let him that hunts for honours in Princes Courts, wander in an even passage, for dangerous are the proceed and business of a Statesman, take this for an example: suppose that a young man from the lowest ebb of worldly chance have the advancement of greatness laid upon his shoulders, will it not for a time seem a heavy burden, and a great trouble to his new transformed fortunes? will not the pride of his heart swell to a full Sea; even ready to burst over the banks of his Honour-giver? Then rightly may the Picture of Ingratitude be imprinted in his forefront; playing the Viper to his high fortunes first beginner. Being thus entitled with State Offices, hath he not many soothers in sin, personages of base condition attending him, hemming him round with persuasions of self conceit, which for a need will venture their lives to gain him the commands of his will: what becomes of such follies, but a sorrowful repentance, and no recovery. All you that have your hearts pierced with sad considerations, take this for a remembrance of grief, that is: That when a Woman of noble Parentage, placed on the mountain of smiling chance, having the dignity of Greatness shining on her forehead, should humble herself to base conditions, giving her whole mind to malicious hatred, secret consents of iniquity, self-will and wicked proceed, never pacify till the end of damned performances. Oh was not this Woman created for a deep sorrow to her Alliance, a great grief unto her Country, and a foul stain unto her own reputation? Is it not also a lamentable example, for a Gentleman of good birth and calling, placed in dignity, in high office and charge for his Country, to give way by consent to a bloody stratagem, and for fear of the displeasures of Greatness entangles himself in the snares of reproach? will not this also be a continual remembrance to his posterity, and a bar of disgrace branding the coat Arms of his house, to have the common course of justice pass upon him in the eye of the multitude. Is it not also great pity that for want of grace some of a servile (yet an observing condition) should from the golden mean of low estate wait at the elbow of Greatness, and bring fuel to their fire of iniquity, wherein at the length they themselves are likewise consumed. Oh, wherefore should simplicity thus blind up their eyes of vunderstanding, to be thus the instruments of such dangerous drifts, that aims at nothing but grudge & malice? if with Solon's saying, they had sealed up their hearts, Remember the end, this had never been: then how are they led away with amiss, that having the gifts of art and experience, the secrets of the simples of Physic, ordained by God for man's good use, should by the Devil and them be converted thus to malignant purposes, if the fear of God had shined in their hearts, it would have been a light to have led them from all those dark practices, which hath now spotted the foreheads of their reputations with the marks of black infamy, shame cannot choose but be the reward of such enterprisers, that for the favours of Greatness, will dip their hands in the blood of Innocents', and enen as it were work against nature: Oh more than savage minded Creatures, in the very deepness of your black and bloody imaginations, (emboldened by whomsoever) this might have been your Memento, in which I conclude, that strange and wonderful are God's judgements, that in these forepassed stratagems have shined in great glory, say you then, that blood innocently shed, is laid up in heavens Treasury, not one drop of it can be lost, but lent out to Usury: water poured forth, sinks down quietly into the earth, but blood spilled on the ground, sprinkles up to the Firmament, Murder is wide mouthed, and will not let GOD rest till he grant revenge, not only the blood of the slaughtered, but the soul of the Innocent ascending to his throne, crying out and exclaiming for justice, which (the Lord be praised) hath been, and will be carefully followed by the learned and worthy Magistrates of this Kingdom, whom the Lord God prosper and protect in all their proceed, to which let all true hearts say. Amen. FINIS. Mistress Turner's Tears, for the Murder of Sir Thomas Ouerbury who was poisoned in the Tower of London. 1 IF ever Tears fell from a Wretch's eyes, I am that Creature: waves on waves do rise, So fast, and swell so high they drown my soul, In her own Crimes as numberless as foul. 2 Oh had my Cradle been my sudden Grave, In Peace my Soul had slept, which is a slave Now both to sin and shame: I had not then Been of God hated and so scorned of Men 3 Unhappy was the Womb that lent me breath, Would it had been the Charnell-house of Death, Had I been stifled there, then had my slight To Heaven been like a Doves, with wings more white. 4 O would to God the Day when I was borne, Had from the Calendar of time been torn, Where now it stands accursed, and does bear The mark of a most fatal Character. 5 Many a Widow reading there my name, Will curse it, and the leaf that holds the same, Children as yet unborn, coming to spell, Will take it for a Furies name in Hell. 6 And casting by the Book no more will read, But only learn to heap upon my head Wishes of mischief though in Grave I lie, For to confound me everlastingly. 7 But leaving this, let my sad Story tell, Both from what height I fall, & how I fell: That though time present does not moon my state Yet times to come may pity my hard fate. 8 My birth was fair, my bringing up was good, My days were golden in my widow hood, And might have been so still, but climbers high, Beyond their reach must down, and so do I. 9 Plenty and I at board together state, I fed with Dives drank in richest plate: Wore rich attires, tasted all worldly pleasure, But ne'er had care to hoard up head'nly treasure 10 With Eve I might have lived in Paradise, But that a Serpent did my Soul entice To touch forbidden fruit, which relished well In chewing, but being down it smelled of Hell. 11 'twas not one only Apple to devour, For which I longed: my hunger gaped at more, At a whole tree I looked: it was a Tree, methought the goodliest mortal eyes could see. 12 This Tree I climbed, and as I plucked it grew, Still fresh and fresh, the boughs were ever new; The branches ever green, bushy and fair, It seemed the Darling both of sun and air. 13 But when my Soul looked up with open eyes, I saw the top bough braving even the skies: When the root stuck in Hell, where looking in I knew it then to be the tree of sin. 14 And though my Conscience told me I should fall, If that I leaned to: nothing could appall My settled resolution, I would on, Though still before me stood damnation. 15 From this I plucked the guilded fruit of pride, Like Queen-apples they show'd, for every side Was ruddy and alluring, but (what trust Is in vain earth) being touched they turn to dust. 16 From this I sucked Enchantments which drink well, And luscious sweet, yet proved the milk of hell, Hence did I gather poisonous drugs to kill Such as withstood my friends, or crossed my wil 17 Lust often lay within my widowed sheets, And taught me how to taste unbidden sweets, And that toward hell I might go one step further The last and worst I went into was murder. 18 O crying sin, which smothered near so deep, In caves, which silent night herself does keep, Bound up in darkness, like the steam of Hell which none can pierce, yet the blaack deed to tell. 19 Even graves of dead men rotten long ago Will open wide: Vengeance walks often slow To our weak sight, but when to Strike it stands, On heavens high Tower, it hath 3 1000 hands. 20 Th' Almighty's Arrows fly both sure & strong And where they hit great Oaks fall all along, No hidden mark but stands within his eic, And that he cleaves, when forth his wrath does fly. 21 Witness myself and others, who defying, The busiest searching Sunbeam from descrying: Where Villainy lay lurking, wrapped in clouds, so safe we thought as dead men in their shrouds 22 When to Man's Sense 'twas as impossible, Mountains to move, as find a tongue durst tell Our buried plots, See they are rend and torn, By Gods lest finger; and we left in Scorn. 23 Our masks plucked off our faces now appear, Such as they are indeed, not as they were, Plain on our brows are our close mischiefs writ Who most did hide, now most discover it. 24 The Wolves are caught in snares; the shepherd now, Knows that a Lamb was slain, by whom & how, The blood of whom by cruel friend so spilled, Flows like a Sea, yet washes off no guilt. 25 If any ask me, why I was so led, And why so near to hell I ventured, I was bewitched, for what I did behold, Was a most bitter Pill, but wrapped in gold. 26 That liquorish bait enticed me take it down, As wholesome Physic, but (with shane) 'tis known No poison can so soon destroy the Soul, The outside glorious, but the inside foul. 27 O Gold! thou glittering devil that confouridest The Richest, Fairest, Strongest, wisest, Soundest, Would God, as He to Indians is unknown, That so their Droffy God were theirs Alone. 28 Souls would not tumble then so fast to Hell, Nor of my Fall should I this Story tell, Terror to Soul and Body, had not heaven, To Sins more high and horrid, pardon given. 29 Pardon of thee (sweet jesus) than I crave, What thou hast Bought and Paid for dearly Save Men let me beg forgiveness from you too, Because I did more than my Sex should do. 30 And you of Modest dames that be are the note, And my black Name quite from your table's blot, As I am lost, so let my fault I crave, And write Oblivion on my wretched Grave. 31 You Fathers whom of Children I bereave, You Children whom of Parents I deceive, You Wives whom Husband les my Gild does make, Forgive me All: of All this Leave I take. 32 Heaven frowns to look upon me and my Sin, Earth trembles that by her I fed have been: My very breath poisons the Air abont me, Hell only is within me, and without me. 33 Yet in despite of Hell, from Heaven comes down, Mercy I see holding a glorious Crown, Of immortality over my faint head, jesus in that and thee I'm Comforted. 34 Strengthen my weak heart, Death is fearful grim, One finger of thy Hand can vanquish him, Give to my fleeting Soul a prosperous gail; That I to Blessed jerusalem may Sail. FINIS. A Prayer made by Mistress Turner, the night before her Suffering Death. WIth Mary Magdalene, I kneel (O jesus) at thy feet, which I wash with the tears of a penitential bleeding heart, dry them up again with the Sighs of my afflicted Soul, O my sweet Saviour what precious blood didst thou pay in ransom to fetch my Soul out of everlasting Death and Hell? And how (for a golden bribe) have I sold that love of thine, and my own Salvation? I am undone for ever, for since I could speak the Name of God, or his blessed Son, I did never speak or do any thing that was worthy of Heaven. What have I not been, that in the world is Evil, and what is now in me, that I dare call Good? My youth was Licentious, my Age wicked, my Latter days offensive and odious to God and man.. Yet notwithstanding (Heavenly Father) Since my Repentant Soul comes crying to Thee for Mercy, as before my Sins cried to Heaven for Vengeance: bow down I beseech thee thine care: dry up my Sorrows with thy beams of Grace. I have not known thee, nor never regarded thy Sacred word, yet (O Lord) shut me not out of Heaven, because it is a broken, wounded, and oppressed heart that knocketh at thy gates of Pity. Let not my name be blooted out of thy book of Life, but set the Seal on my forehead, that I may be known to be one of Thine. I desire not to live in this World (of which I am weary, as that is of me) but only in thy Kingdom: to the intent I may change my bloody garments, for a robe of Immortality: Comfort me in my Combat of Death, take despair from mine eyes, see an Angel to guard me, Help me, Strengthen me, Hasten me to my home, and let that dwelling be with thee for ever and ever. I come dear Redeemer, I come, into thy blessed Hands I commend my Spirit. Master Westons' Tears, for the Murder of Sir Thomas Ouerbury who was poisoned in the Tower of London. GOD of my Soul and Body, have mercy upon me: the one I have cast way by my folly, & the other is likely to perish in thy Fury, unless in thy great mercy thou Save it. My Sins are deep Seas to drown me; I am swallowed up in the bottomless Gulf of my own transgressions. With Cain I have been a Murderer, and with judas a Betrayer of the Innocent. My body is a Slave to Satan, and my wretched Soul is devoured up by Hell. Black have been my thoughts, and blacker, are my deeds. I have been the devils instrument, and am now become the Scorn of Men, a Serpent upon earth, and an outcast from Heaven. What therefore can become of me (miserable Caitiff;) if I look up to my Redeemer, to him I am an Arch Traitor, if upon Earth, it is drowned with Blood of my shedding, if into Hell, there I see my Conscience, burning in the Brimstone lake. God of my Soul and Body have mercy therefore upon me, Save me, O save me, or else I perish for ever, I die for ever in the world to come, unless (sweet Lord) thou catchest my repentant Soul in thine Arms; O save me, save me, save me. FINIS. REaders you that are desirous to see the Reward of the Adulterer and the Adulteress, paid by Gods own hand: there is a little Table, called the Spectacles, where you may Read them more at Large.