THE FEARFUL SUMMER: OR LONDON'S CALAMITY, the country's courtesy, and both their misery. By JOHN TAYLOR. OXFORD, Printed by john Lichfield and William Turner, Printers to the famous University. Anno Dom. 1625. TO THE TRULY GENEROUS AND NOBLE Knight, Sir JOHN MILLISSENT, one of the Gentlemen Pensioners to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. TO whom should I these sorrows recommend, But unto you, the City's noble friend: I know, you are much grieved with their Grief, And would adventure life for their relief, To you therefore these lines I dedicate, Wherein their sorrows partly I relate, I humbly crave acceptance at your hand, And rest Your servant ever to command, JOHN TAYLOR To the Printer. MY conceit is, that these are very lamentable verses, & will grieve many the reading, they so express death to life & make mortality immortal; I wish that as many as can make use of such pitiful lines had copies, the rest may want them: Here and there a verse may occasion a tear, than the Author is a true water-Poet indeed, but else where, there wants not an handkerchief to dry that tear: So is the whole work a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and deserves an approbation at least from Io. TAYLOR. OR. COLL. THE PREFACE. IN this lamentable Time of general Calamity, our heinous sins provoking Gods just Indignation, this heavy visitation and mortality; I being attendant upon the Queens Ma rye at Hampton Court and from thence within 2 miles of Oxford with her Barge (with much grief and remorse) did see and hear the miserable & cold entertainment of many Londoners, which, for their preservation fled and retired themselves from the City into the Country. Whence I noted the people's Charity, and great amendment, for they had given over one of the 7 deadly sins, which was Coveteusnesse, and in many places were so far out of love with a Citizen's money, that they abhorred and hated either to touch or receive it; entertaining them with bitter wormwood welcome, (which Herb was in more request amongst many of them, than any of the heavenly Graces or Cardinal Virtues) yet the herb of Grace was in much estimation, although the name of it was a document that they had occasion to Rue the time; I farther perceived that they were so far from believing or crediting any man, that they would or durst not trust their own noses, but were doubtful that that sense would conspire with the Plague to murder them, wherefore (like cunning Mariners, or molecatchers,) they would craftily in their streets and highways fetch the wind of any man, although they were over shoes and boots, and sometimes tumbled into a ditch for their labours. This was the time when a man with a nightcap at noon, would have frighted a whole Parish out of their wits, when to call for Aquavitae (though it had been but to make a drench for a sick horse was enough to have his house shut up. When Lord have mercy upon us, made many of them tremble more than God Refuse, Renounce, Confound, or Damn. When a man travailing in the habit of a Citizen, was a mere bulbegger; when for a man to say, that he came from Hell would yield him better welcome, without money, than a man would give to his own father and mother that came from London. In this time of man's great misery and small mercy, I took my pen in hand and wrote this ensueing discourse, I have (as near as I could) suited it, sadly according to the nature of the subject. And truly, because that the bare and naked truth was so clear and ample, that I needed not to stuff it out with frivolous fables or fantastical fictions; with my soul, 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 conversation have fall'n on my right hand and on my left, and round about me; yet hath his gracious protection been my guard, for the which in my gratitude to my God, and to avoid the sin of idleness, I have written what those that can may read. THE FEARFUL SUMMER: OR LONDON'S CALAMITY. THe Patience and long- suffering of our God, Keeps close his Quiver, and restrains his Rod, And though our crying Crimes to Heaven do cry For vengeance, on accursed Mortality; Yea though we merit mischiefs manifold, Blessed Mercy doth the hand of justice hold. But when that Eye that sees all things most clear, Expects our fruits of Faith, from year to year, Allows us painful Pastors, who bestow Great care and toil, to make us fruitful grow, And daily doth in those weak Vessels send The dew of Heaven, in hope we will amend; Yet (at the last) he doth perceive and see That we unfruitful and most barren be, Which makes his dreadful Indignation frown, And (as accursed figtrees) cut us down. Thus Mercy (mocked) plucks justice on our heads, And grievous Plagues our Kingdom over spreads: Then let us 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 up his sword. he's grieved in punishing, he's slow to Ire, And HE a sinner's death doth not desire. If our Compunction our Amendment show, Our purple sins he'll make as white as snow, If we lament, our God is merciful, Our scarlet crimes he'll make as white as wool, Fair London that did late abound in bliss, And waste our Kingdom's great Metropolis. ` 'tis thou that art dejected low in state, Disconsolate, and almost desolate, The hand of Heaven that only did protect thee) Thou hast provoked most justly to correct thee, And for thy pride of Heart and deeds unjust, He lays thy Pomp and Glory in the dust. Thou that wast late the Queen of Cities named, Throughout the world admired, renowned, and famed; Thou that hadst all things at command and will, To whom all England was a Handmaid still: For raiment, fuel, fish, fowl, beasts, for food, For fruits, for all our Kingdom counted good, Both near and far remote, all did agree To bring their best of blessings unto thee. Thus in conceit, thou seemedst to rule the Fates, Whilst peace and plenty flourished in thy Gates, Could I relieve thy miseries as well As part I can thy woes and sorrows tell, Then should my Cares be eased with thy Relief, And all my study, how to end thy grief. Thou that were't late rich, both in friends and wealth, Magnificent in state, strong in thy health, As chiefest Mistress of our country prized, Now chiefly in the country are despised. The name of London now both far and near, Strikes all the Towns and Villages with fear, And to be thought a Londoner is worse Than one that breaks a house, or takes a Purse. He that will filch and steal, now is the Time No justice dares examine him, his crime Let him but say that he from London came, So full of Fear and Terror is that name, The Constable his charge will soon forsake, And no man dares his mittimus to make. Thus Citizens, plagued for the City sins, Poor entertainment in the Country wins. Some fear the City, and fly thence amain, And those are of the Country feared again, Who'gainst them bar their windows & their doors, More than they would against Turks, or jews, or Moors. I think if very Spaniards had come there, Their welcome had been better, and their cheer. Whilst Haycock lodging, with hard slender fare, Welcome like dogs unto a Church they are. Fear makes them with the Anabaptists join, For if an Hostess do receive their coin, She in a dish of water, or a pail, Will new baptise it, lest it something ail. Thus many a Citizen well stored with Gold, Is glad to lie upon his mother mould, His bed the map of his mortality, His curtains clouds, and Heaven his Canopy The russet plow-swaine, and the Leathrens Hind, Through fear is grown unmannerly, unkind: And in his house (to harbour) he'll prefer An Infidel before a Londoner: Milkmaid's and Farmer's wives are grown so nice, They think 2 Citizen 2 Cockatrice, And country Dances, are waxed so coy and brisk, They shun him as they'll shun a Basilisk, For every one the sight of him would fly All feareing he would kill them with his eye. Ah woeful London I thy grief bewail, And if my sighs and prayers may but prevail; I humbly beg of God that he'll be pleased In jesus Christ, his wrath may be appeased, With holding his dread judgements from above And once more, grasp thee in his arms of love. In Mercy all our wickedness remit For who can give thee thanks within the pit. Strange was the change in less than 3 months' space In joy, in woe, in grace, and in disgrace: A healthful April, a diseased june And dangerous julie, brings all out of tune. That city whose rare objects pleased the eyes With much content and more varieties, She that was late delightful to the ears With melody Harmonious, like the Spheres: She that had all things that might please her taste That was by Skies, or Earth, or Seas embraced, All odours, and perfumes to please the sent, And all she felt did give her touch content, Her Cinque porte senses, richly fed and cloyed With blessings bountiful, which she enjoyed. Now 3 months' change hath filled it full with fear As if no Solace ever had been there. What do the eyes see there but grieved sights Of sick, oppressed, and distressed wights: Houses shut up, some dying, and some dead, Some (all amazed) flying and some fled. Streets thinly man'd with wretches every day Which have no power to flee, or means to stay, Dead Courses carried, and recarried still, Whilst fifty Corpses scarce one grave doth fill. With LORD HAVE MERCY UPON US, on the door Which (though the words be good) doth grieve men sore. And o'er the dore-postes fixed a cross of red Be tokening, that there Death some blood hath shed. Some with God's marks or tokens, do espy Those Marks or Tokens, show them they must die, Some with their Carbuncles, and sores new burst Are fed with hope they have escaped the worst, Thus passeth all the week, till Thursdaies' Bill, Shows us what thousands Death that week did kill. That fatal Bill, doth like a razor cut The dead, the living in a maze doth put, And he that hath a Christian heart: I know, Is grieved, and wounded with the deadly blow, These are the objects of the Eye, now hear And mark the mournful music of the Eare. There do the brazen Iron tongued loud bells (Death's clamorous ravisick) Ring continual knells, Some lofty in their notes, some sadly tolling. Whilst fatal dogs, make a most dismal howling, Some frantic raving, some with anguish crying, Some singing, praying, groneing, and some dying, The healthful grieving, and the sickly groaning, All in a mournful diapason moaning. Here, Parents for their children's loss Lament There, children's grief for parent's life that spent. Here, Sister mourns for sister, Kin for Kin As one grief ends, another doth begin, There one lies languishing, with slender fare Small comfort, less attendance, and least care, With none but Death and he to tug together Until his corpse and soul part each from either, In one house one, or two, or three doth fall, And in another Death plays sweepstake all. Thus universal sorrowful complaining Is all the music now in London reigning, Thus is her comfort sad Calamity, And all her Melody is Malady. These are the objects of the eyes and ears Most woeful sights, and sounds of grieves and fears. Tasteing. The curious taste that whilom did delight With cost and care to please the Appetite What she was wont to hate, she doth adore And what's high prized, she held despised before. The drugs, the drenches, and unto othsome drinks, Fear gives a sweetness to all several stinks, And for supposed Antidotes, each Palate Of most contagious weeds will make a Sallate. And any of the simplest Mountebanks May cheat them (as they will) of Coin and thanks, With scraped powder of a shoeing horn Which they'll believe is of an Unicorn. Angelicoes, distasteful root is gnawed And herb of Grace most Ruefully is chawed. Garlic offendeth neither taste, nor smell, Fear and opinion makes it relish well Whilst Beazar stone, and mighty Mithridate, To all degrees are great in estimate, And Treacles power is wounderously expressed, And Dragon Water in most high request. These against the Plague are good preservatives But the best cordial is t'amend our lives, sin's the main cause, and we must first begin To cease our griefs, by ceasing of our sin. I do believe that God hath given in store Good medicines to cure, or ease each sore, But first remove the cause of the disease, And then (no doubt but) the effect will cease. Our sins the Cause, remove our sins from hence, And God will soon remove the Pestilence. Then every medicine (to our consolation) Shall have his power, his force, his operation: And till that time, Experiments are not But Paper walls, against a Canon shot. On many a post I see Quack saluers' Bills Like Fencers Challenges, to show their skills: As if they were such masters of defence That they dare combat with the Pestilence; Meet with the plague in any deadly fray, And brag to bear the victory away. But if their patients patiently believe them, They'll cure them (without fail) of what they give them; What though ten thousand by their drenches perish They made them purposely themselves to cherish, Their Art is a mere Artless kind of lying To pick their lyueing out of others dying. This sharp invective no way seems to touch The learned Physician, whom I honour much, The Paracelsians and Galennists The Philosophical grave Herbalists, These I admire and reverence, for in those God doth dame Natures secrets fast enclose, Which they distribute, as occasions serve Health to reserve, and health decayed conserve. 'Tis against such Rat-catcher's I bend my pen Which do mechanically murder men, Whose promises of cure, (like lying knaves) Doth beggar men or send them to their graves. Smelling. Now London for the sense of feeling next, Thou in thy feeling chiefly art perplexed: Thy heart feels sorrow, and thy body anguish Thou in thy feeling feelest thy force to languish, Thou feelest much woe, and much calamity And many millions feel thy misery: Thou feelest the fearful Plague, the flux and Fever Which many a soul doth from the body fever. And I beseech God for our Saviour's merit To let thee feel, the Comfort of his Spirit. Feeling. Last for the solace of the smell, or sent; Some in contagious rooms are closely penned, Whereas corrupted Air they take, and give Till time ends, or lends liberty to live. One with a piece of tasseled well tarred Rope Doth with that no segay keep himself in hope; Another doth a wisp of wormwood pull And with great judgement crams his nostrils full: A third takes of his socks from's sweeting feet, And makes them his perfume alongst the street. Whilst Billets Bonfire like, and faggots dry Are burnt it'h streets, the Air to purify. Thou great Almighty, give them time and space, And purify them with thy heavenly Grace, Make their repentance Incense, whose sweet savour May mount unto thy throne, and gain thy favour. Thus every sense, that should the heart delight Are ministers, and organs to affright, The Citizens do from the City run, The country's fears, the citizens do shun: Both fear the Plague, but neither fears one jot Their evil ways which hath the plague be got, This is the way this sickness to prevent Fear to offend, more than the punishment. All trades are dead, or almost our of breath But such as live by sickness, or by death, The Mercers, Grocers, Silk-men, Goldsmiths, Drapers, Are out of season, like noon burning Tapers, All functions fail almost, through want of buyers And every art and mystery turn Dyers, The very Watermen give over plying Their rowing trade doth fail, they fall to dying. Some men there are, that rise by others falls Prophetic Augurists in urinal is, Those are right watermen, and row so well They either land their fares in Heaven or Hell. But this much (Reader) you must understand They commonly are paid before they land. Next unto him th' Apothecary thrives By Physic bills, and his preservatives; Worm eaten Sextons, mighty gains do win, And nasty Gravemakers, great comings in And Coffin makers, are well paid their rent For many a woeful wooden tenement. The Searchers of each corpse good gainers be, The Bearers have a profitable fee, And last, the Dog-killers great gain abounds For Brayning bawling curs, and foisting hounds. These are the grave trades, that do get and save Whose gravity brings many to their grave. Thus grieved London, filled with moans and groans Is like a Golgotha, of dead men's bones: The field where death his bloody fray doth fight And kills eight hundred in a day and night. Fair houses, that were late exceeding dear, At fifty or an hundred pounds a year, The Landlords are so pitiful of late They'll let them, at a quarter of the rate. So he that is a mighty moneyed man Let him but thither make what hast he can, Let him disburse his gold and silver heap And purchase London 'tis exceeding cheap. But if he tarry but one half year more I hope 'twill be as dear as 'twas before. A Country cottage, that but lately went At 4 marks, or at three pounds yearly rend A Citizen, whose mere necessity Doth force him now into the country fly, Is glad to hire 2 Chambers of a Carter And pray and pay with thanks five pounds 2 quarter. Then here's the alteration of this year The City's cheapness makes the Country dear. Besides another mischief is, I see A man dares not be sick although he be: Let him complain but of the stone or gout The plague hath struck him, presently they doubt, Myself hath been perplexed now and then With the wind Colic, years above thrice ten, Within the country I durst not repeat Although my pangs, & gripes, and pains were great. For to be sick of any kind of grief Would make a man worse welcome than a thief, To be drunk sick, which erst did credit win Was feared infectious, and held worse than sin. This made me, and many more beside, Their griefs to smother, and their pains to hide, To tell a merry tale with visage glad, When as the Colic almost made me mad. Thus mere dissembling, many practised then, And midst of pain, seemed pleasant amongst men, For why, the smallest sigh or groan, or shriek Would make a man his meat and lodging seek. This was the wretched Londoners hard case Most hardly welcome into any place, Whilst Country people, where soe'er they went Would stop their noses to avoid their scent, When as the case did oft most plain appear 'Twas only they themselves, that stunk with fear. Nature was dead, (or from the country run) A Father durst not entertain his son, The Mother sees her daughter, and doth fear her Commands her, on her blessing, not come near her, Affinity, nor any kind of kin, Or ancient friendship could true welcome win, The Children scarcely would their Parents know Or (if they did) but slender duty show: Thus fear made nature, most unnatural, Duty undutiful, or very small, No friendship, or else cold and miserable And generally all uncharitable. Nor London letters little better sped They would not be received (much less be read) But cast into the fire and burnt with speed As if they had been Heretics indeed. And late I saw, upon a Sabaoth day Some Citizens at Church, prepared to pray: But (as they had been excommunicate) The good Church wardens thrust them out the gate. Another country virtue I'll repeat The people's charity was grown so great That whatsoever Londoner did die, In Church or Churchyard should not buried lie, Thus were they scorned, despised, banished, Excluded from the Church, alive, and dead, Alive, their bodies could no harbour have, And dead, not be allowed a Christian Grave: Thus was the country's kindness cold, and small, No house, no Church, no Christian burial. Oh thou that on the winged winds dost fit And seest our misery, remedy it, Although we have deserved thy vengeance hit Yet in thy fury (Lord) consume us not. But in thy mercy's sheath thy slaying sword Deliver us, according to thy word, Shut up thy Quiver, stay tay angry tod That all the world may know thou art our God, Oh open wide the gate of thy compassion Assure our souls that thou art our Salvation. Then all our thoughts, and words and works, we'll frame To magnify thy great and glorious name. The ways of God are intricate, no doubt Unsearchable, and pass man's finding out, He at his pleasure worketh wondrous things And in his hand doth hold the hearts of kings, And for the love, which to our King he bears, By sickness he our sinful country clears, That he may be a patron, and a guide Unto a people purged and purified. This by a precedent is manifest When famous late Elizabeth deceased, Before our gracious james put on the crown God's hand did cut superfluous branches down. Not that they then that were of life bereft Were greater sinners than the number lest, But that the Plague should then the kingdom clear The good to comfort, and the bad to fear. That as a good king, God did us assure, So he should have a Nation purged and pure. And now that Royal james entombed lies And that our gracious Charles his room supplies, As He did for his Father formerly A sinful nation cleanse and purify. So God, for him these things to pass doth bring, And mends the subjects for so good a King Upon whose Throne may peace and plenty rest, And he and his Eternally be blest. AMEN. Against Swearing. THere is no sin that ever the Devil 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 gain further knowledge, and to be like God. Cain slew his brother, and had some poor excuse for the fratricide and murder, because he saw that Abel and his offering was in better acceptation. Samson was overcome by Dalilah, but he had lewd lust, or lustful love to entice him; David had not committed the two crying sins of Adultery and murder, had not the beauty of Bethsheba been his insuaring object; Achitophel had not been a Traitor to the Lord's Anointed, and a wicked counsellor to Absolom, but the expectation of raising his estate was his motive. Ahab had not put Nabaoth to death unjustly, but that he knew it the nearest way to be possessor of his Vineyard. Achan's theft, Gehazies' lie, Manasses cruelty and Idolatry, Peter's denying, & judas his betraying of our Saviour had all some colour of Excuse, but a swearer is worse than all these, for he hath no starring hole, or by way that can make him appear guiltless 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 Garb of your (misnamed) Gentleman like carriage; Remember that God doth hear and see, and can, and will revenge, and for this inexcusable crime (especially) the wrath of the Almighty is showered and poured upon us. THou that these lines dost either hair or read, Consider with thyself, and take good heed. Read them, and let them never be forgot, They do concern thy soul, then slight them not. The a james. Friends of hell believe there is a God, And fear and tremble at his angry Rod: They do confess 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 Heaven dare both blaspheme and swear, And (worse than Fiends) they not believe or fear: So that the Earth doth breed, feed, and retain Worse Monsters than there doth in Hell remain. If men believed the word that God hath spoke, They would believe that word should ne'er be broke. In His enacted Law b Exod. 20. is one Decree, That all who take his Name in vain, shall be Accounted guilty, and his fearful wrath Will hold them worthy of eternal death. Again 'tis said; Let the c Leviticus 24. Blasphemor dye, Let him be stoned for his Blasphemy: And evil tongues, who dare to curse adventure, Shall into Heaven's d 1 Cor. 6. 10. blessedness not enter. And Christ (when on the Earth he lived here) Forbade us that at e Matth. 5. all we should not swear. And in th' eleventh of Deuteronomy again, We are commanded not to swear in vain. The f God himself complaineth that men blaspheme him, Esay 52. 5. The names of blasphemy is writ upon the 10 heads of Antichrist, Apre. 13.1. Cursing is forbidden by the Apostle, when he saith Bless, Isoy, and curse net, Rom. 12. 14. Our Saviour commandeth us to bless them that curl us, Matth. 5. 44. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which hurt you, Luke 6. 28. Accustom not thy mouth to woaring, for in it are many falls, neither take up for a custom the naming of the holy One, for thou shalt not be unpunished for such things, Esclesiasticus 23. 9 The Plague shall never go forth from the house of the swearer Idem. Heathen to blaspheme their gods abhorred, Yet Christians wilfully blaspheme the Lord. Who ever to revile the Gods were known, In Rome, were from the Rock Tarpetus thrown. Th' Egyptians Law was, he should lose his head. Amongst Seythians life and goods were forfeited. These grievous punishments did Pagans use Against all them that did their God's abuse. King Donald's Law in Scotland's not forgot, Who burn them through the lips with irons hot. And when King Edmund here had Regal State, All Swearers he did excommunicate. And Philip King of France (a Prince renowned) Ordained that all Blasphemers should be drowned, The Emperor Max milian did decree, That all vain Sweaters should beheaded be. The Earl of Flanders, Philip did ordain, Their loss of life and goods that swore in vain. Saint Lewis the King of France enacted there, That for the first time any one did swear, Into Imprisonment one month was cast, And stand within the Pillory at last. But if the second time again they swore, One with an iron hot their tongues did boar. And who the third time in that fault did slip; Were likewise boared through the under-lip. For the fourth time most grievous pains belongs, He caused to be cut off their lips and tongues. Henry the fifth of England, that good King, His Court to such conformity did bring. That every Duke should sorry shillings pay For every Oath he swore, without delay. Each Baron twenty, Knights or 'Squires offence Paid ●enn●● and every Yeoman twenty pence. The Boys and Pages all were whipped most fine, That durst abuse the Majesty divine. Thus Pagan Princes with sharp laws withstood Profaving of their Gods, Whose swears falsely, calls the God of Truth to witness a lie. Who so swears as he thinks may be deceived. Who so swears unreverently, dishonoureth God. Who so swears deceitfully, abuseth Christian fidelity. Who so swears idly, abuseth the credit of a faithful oath. Who so swears accustomably, God will plague him. of stone, or wood. And Christian Kings and Rulers formerly, Have most severely punished blasphemy. And shall a Heathen, or an Infidel, That knows no joys of Heaven, or pains of Hell, More reverence to his devilish Idols show, Then we do to the true God, whom we know? If we remembered well but what we were, And what we are, we would not dare to swear. Poor trunks of earth filled with uncertain breath, By nature heirs to everlasting death: Most miserable wretches, most ingrate Against God, that did elect us, and create, Redeemed, conserved, preserved, and sactified, And gives us hope we shall be glorified. H'hath given us being life, sense, reason, wit, Wealth, and all things his Providence thinks fit: And for requital, we (quite void of grace) Curse, swear, and do blaspheme him to his face. Oh the supernal patience of our God, That bears with Man (a sin polluted clod) When half such treasons against an earthly King Would many a Traitor to confusion bring! Suppose a man should take a Whelp & breed him, And stroke him, & make much of him & feed him, How will that cur love him beyond all other, Never forsaking him to serve another. But if he should most disobediently, Into his Master's face or throat to fly, ●Elfred an english Earl, conspiring to put our K. Adolstanes eyes at Winchester, forswear the treason in Saint Peter's Church at Rome and fell down dead presently. Earl Godwin murdered Prince Alfred brother to king Edward Confessor, and being at dinner, the King charged him with the murder, than Godwin swore by bread, and prayed it might choke him if he were guilty, and immediately it choked him in the place his lands also sunk into the sea, and are called Godwin-sands. K. Stephen forswear himself to King Henry I, and lived in continual trouble, & died in perplexity, of mind Edward broke his oath made at York, that he came not with intent to cease the Kingdom, and b●eaking that oath was punished with a troublesome reign, his brethren and children all (except one murdered and not any of his issue reigned after him Roger Mortimer, a great Peer of th●s land, for breaking his oath to King Edward the 2. was most ignominiously hanged bowelld & quartered M. Fox in his Book of Martyrs declares of one Richard Long of Calais that forswear himself to accuse one Smith for eating flesh in Lent, after which oath Long went presently & drowned himself. One Grimwood at Hiteham in Suffolk's, forswear himself and his bowels burst out. One widow Barnes for the like sin cost herself out of her window in Cornhill and broke her neck. Ann's Anetis forswear herself in Woodstrees for six pound of Tow, desiring God she might links down, which fearfully happened. One Lea in Sunne-alloy without Bishopsgate forswear himself, and after ripped out his guts. Sure every man that lives upon the ground Would say a hangings fit for such a hound. And worse than so many dogs are they, That against their God with oaths do bark and bray, And if repentance do not mercy win, They'll hang in Hell like Hellhounds for that sin. Of all black crimes from Belzebubs damned treasure, This swearing sin no profit yields, or pleasure: Nor gains the swearer here but earth's vexation, With change of his salvation for damnation. It is a sin that yields us no excuse (For what excuse can be for God's abuse?) And though our other faults by death do end, Yet Blasphemy doth after death extend, For to the damned in Hell this curse is given, They for their pains blasphemed the God of Heaven. Examples on the earth have many been, As late in sundry places hath been seen. At Mautna two brave Russians in their game, Swore and blasphemed our blessed Saviour's name, Where God just judgement (full of fear & dread) Caused both their eyes to drop from out their head. In Rome, a child but 5 years old that swore, Was snatch up by the Devil, and seen no more. And at Ragouse, a Mariner did swear As if he would God's name in sunder tear; When falling overboard, was drowned and tossed, And nothing but his tongue was only lost. Remember this you sinful sons of men Think how that Christ redeemed you from Hell's den: His mercy he hath given in magnitude, Requite him not with vile ingratitude. He made the Ear and Eye, and hears and sees The swearers execrable oaths and lies. The God head of the Father they contemn: Against the Son's Redemption the blaspheme: The Holy Spirit grievously they grieve, And headlong into Hell themselves they drive I● is in vain for mortal men to think, God's justice is a sleep, although it wink: Or that his arm is shortened in these times, That he cannot reach home to punish crimes. Oh think not so, 'tis but the Devil's illusion, To draw us desperately to our confusion. Some say that 'tis their anger makes them swear And oaths are out before they are aware, But being crossed with losses, and perplexed They think no harm, but swear as being vexed: And some there are that swear for compliment, Make aothes their grace, and speeches ornament, Their sweet Rhetorical fine eloquence, Their reputations only excellence. Their valour, whom the Devil doth inflame T'abuse their Makers and Redeemers name. Think but on this you that do God forget, Your poor excuses cannot pay this debt: Remember that our sinful souls 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 do execute the same. Those that are zealous for God's glory here, (No doubt) in heaven shall have true glory there, Which that we may have, humbly I implore Of Him that rules and reigns for overmore, The Eternal Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, Before whose Throne blessed Saints & Angels sings, All power, praise, glory, majesty, thanksgiving, Ascribed be to him that's ever living. FINIS. My farewell to the famous University of Oxford. I Thank God, that Ingratitude being the worst of evils, it doth not reign in me, although it may knock at the door of my estate, yet (I trust) I never shall harbour it; This renowned Seminary and City, allowed me free and generous entertainment for some certain weeks in these dangerous and contagious times: and although the hand of the Almighty did in some sprinkling and merciful measure, awaken the security of some in that City, yet was, and is his Grace so abundantly extended towards it, that there did not dye in the City and Suburbs being 13 Parishes, above 7 of the Pestilence in one week all this dangerous year; in which is much to be commended the care and diligence of the Grave and right Worship Mr Vicechancellor, with Mr Maior, and the rest of his worthy brethren, who neglected or omitted no means, that providence and Charity could use for the preservation of the healthy, and the comfort of the sick; this I being a witness of, in the way of thankfulness thought fit to express: assuring them in general, that they shall never want the prayers and best wishes of him that willbe ever at their service JOHN TAYLOR