THE DOLEFUL Evensong, OR A TRUE, PARTICULAR AND IMPARTIAL narration of that fearful and sudden calamity, which befell the Preacher Mr. DRURY a jesuit, and the greater part of his Auditory, by the downfall of the floor at an assembly in the Blackfriars on Sunday the 26. of Octob. last, in the after noon. TOGETHER WITH THE Rehearsal of Master DRURY his Text, and the division thereof, as also an exact Catalogue of the names of such as perished by this lamentable accident: And a brief application thereupon. MATTH. 7. 1. judge not, that ye be not judged. LONDON, Printed by john Haviland, for William Barret, and Richard Whitaker, and are to be sold at the sign of the King's head, 1623. To the Christian moderate Reader. Upon Judden accidents men commonly pass sudden censures, and for want of deliberate and steady aim, under or overshoot the mark: especially that kind of mark, which the most skilful hand, guided by the sharpest eye, can never certainly hit, scarce distinctly discern. Of God's judgements judiciously Saint Augustine, and modestly, judicia Dei nemo potest comprehendere, nemo certe reprehendere. No man can comprehend them, no man may reprehend them. Boldly therefore may a moderate spirit undertake to reprehend those encroachers upon God's prerogative, who take upon them to comprehend in the small vessel of their shallow understanding the boundless Ocean of God's secret judgements: having no other conduit thereunto, than the overt act of a corporal stroke, and outward chastisement. In the sounding the depth of this late dismal accident, it is not hard to discern what tongues and pens have, out of partial obliquity, or precipitate judgement, cast too short, or lost their plummet in the deep. To avoid which inconveniences, the chief care and endeavour, taken in this ensuing Tract, hath been partly by a more certain information to strengthen the line, and partly to lengthen the same by a more particular and fuller relation: that so the indifferent reader, taking the plummet into his own hand, may cast with the better aim, for the shunning all rocks and quicksands, either of stupid neglect, in not considering at all, or of overcurious prying, in the personal application, of God's extraordinary works in this kind. So judge well, and Farewell. Thine in Christ, T. Goad. BLACKFRIARS LONDON, 1623. Octob. 26. Novemb. 5. stilo veteri novo, being Sunday. ABout three of the clock in the afternoon of the aforesaid Sunday, in a large Garret, being the uppermost, and from the ground the third story of an high building of Stone and Brick, were assembled a multitude of people, Men and Women, of diverse ages and conditions, amounting to the number of two or three hundred persons, to hear a Sermon there to be preached by one Master Drury, a Romish Priest, and jesuit of name, and special note. To this Garret or Gallery, (being situated over the Gatehouse of the French Ambassadors house) there is a leading passage by a door close to the utter gate of the said house, but without it, open to that street: By which passage many men and women used to have daily recourse to the English Priests chambers there. There is also out of the said Lord Ambassadors withdrawing Chamber, another passage meeting with this, and both leading into the said Garret. Which Garret was within the side walls, about seventeen foot wide, and forty foot long: at the upper end whereof was a new partition of slit Deal, set up to make a private room for one of the Priests, which abated twelve foot of the length. About the midst of the Gallery, and near to the wall, was set, for the Preacher, a Chair, raised up somewhat higher than the rest of the floor, and a small table before it. In this place the Auditory being assembled, and some of the better sort having chairs and stools to sit on, the many standing in throng, and filling the room to the door and stairs, all expecting the Preacher, he came forth out of an inner room, clad in a Surplice, which was girt about his waste with a linen girdle, and a Stole of Scarlet colour hanging down before him from both his shoulders. Whom a man attended, carrying in one hand a Book, and in the other an Hourglass. An Emblem not unfit to suggest to him, his Auditory, and us all, that their, and our lives, not only pass away continually with the defluxion of that descending motion of the Sand; but also, even in such times and places, may possibly forerun the same, and be overturned before that short hourly Calendar should come to recourse. Master Drury the Priest, as soon as he came to the Chair, kneeled down at the foot of it, making by himself in private some ejaculation of a short prayer, as it seemed, about the length of an Aue Marie. Then standing up, and turning his face toward the people, he crossed himself formally: premising no vocal audible prayer at all, (neither before his Text, nor upon the division of it) wherein the people might join with him, for the blessing and sanctifying an action of that Nature. Which omission, whether it were a lapse of memory in him, or a privilege of custom belonging to those supereminent instructors, I dispute not; but leave it to the conscionable judgement of every Christian. Immediately he took the Book, being the Rhemists' Testament, and in it read his Text, which was the Gospel appointed for that Sunday, according to the institution of the Church of Rome; which day now fell upon the fifth of November by the Gregorian Calendar, current ten days before ours, and accounted by the Romanists the only true Computation. Whereupon some go so far as to make a numeral inference of a second reflecting Tragedy. But, for my part, I surrender all such judiciary calculation into the hands of the Highest, who according to his providence disposeth of times and seasons, and of all events befalling in them. The said Gospel in the Rhemists' translation, is as followeth in these words: Therefore is the Kingdom of Heaven likened to a man being a King, The Gospel upon the 21. Sunday after Pentecost. that would make an account with his servants. And when he began to make the account, there was one presented unto him that owed him ten thousand Talents. And having not whence to repay it, his Lord commanded that he should be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and it to be repaied. But that servant falling down, besought him, saying, Have patience toward me, and I will repay thee all. And the Lord of that servant moved with pity, dismissed him, and the debt he forgave him. And when that servant was gone forth, he found one of his fellow-servants that did owe him an hundred pence: and laying hands upon him throttled him, saying, Repay that thou owest. And his fellow-servant falling down, besought him, saying, Have patience toward me, and I will repay thee all. And he would not: but went his way and cast him into prison, till he repaid the debt. And his fellow-servants seeing what was done, were very sorry, and they came, and told their Lord all that was done. Then his Lord called him: and he said unto him, Thou ungracious servant, I forgave thee all the debt because thou besoughtest me: oughtest not thou therefore also to have mercy upon thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy upon thee? And his Lord being angry, delivered him to the torments, until he repaid all the debt. So also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts. Which when he had read, he sat down in the chair, and put upon his head a red quilt cap, having a linen white one under it turned up about the brims: and so undertook his Text; first showing in plain and familiar style the occasion of our Saviour's delivering this parable, then distributing the whole into parts, as they depended one on the other; out of which he chose three principal points of doctrine, which he propounded to insist upon in that Sermon, viz. 1 The debt which man oweth to God: and the account which he is to make unto him of that debt. 2 Gods mercy in remitting this great debt. 3 Man's hardness of heart, and frowardness, both towards God and towards his brethren: together with the remedies, which man may use for the procuring of God's mercy, and curing himself from this contagious disease of ingratitude. Man's debt he amplified in regard of our creation, and redemption, the spiritual and temporal benefits, which we enjoy in this world, and in God's Church, etc. Upon the following parts he discoursed with much vehemency, insisting especially upon those words, I forgave thee all thy debt, shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow, even as I had pity on thee? And thence extolling the infinite mercy and goodness of God, whereby he doth not only give us all that we have, but forgives us all our trespasses and offences, be they net for so deeply stained with the scarle▪ die and tincture of our guiltiness Which merciful bounty of our heavenly Father is here parabolized unto us by a certain man that was a king, etc. Two or three of that auditory avow with joint testimony, that, in the process of the latter part, which he handled, he earnestly laid open the terrors and burden of the heavy debt of punishment, which we are to pay at the last judgement, if the debt of sin be not acquitted before. Declaring withal the mercy of God in providing means to cancel this debt, by the Sacraments ordained in the Catholic Church, in special by the Sacrament of Penance; and therein by Contrition, Confession, and Satisfaction. And thence inferring in what miserable case Heretics are, who want all such means to come out of this debt, because they are not members of the Catholic Church. But whatsoever the matter, or manner of his last speech was, I do not curiously inquire, as making interpretation of God's judgement in stopping the currant of his speech at that instant. Lest in over forward censuring the same, we should be deemed as uncharitable, as our Adversaries, especially the jesuits, are against those Churches and persons that admit not the Papacy. Most certain it is, and over manifest by lamentable evidence, that, when the said jesuit had proceeded about half an hour in this his Sermon, there befell that Preacher and Auditory the most unexpected and sudden calamity, that this age hath heard of to come from the hand, not of Man, but God, in the midst of a sacred exercise, of what kind or religion soever. The floor, whereon that assembly stood or sat, not sinking by degrees, but at one instant failing and falling, by the breaking asunder of a main Sommier or Dormer of that floor; which beam, together with the Ioyces and Plancher thereto adjoined, with the people thereon, rushed down with such violence, that the weight and fall thereof, broke in sunder another far stronger and thicker Sommier of the Chamber situated directly underneath: and so both the ruined floares, with the people overlapped and crushed under, or between them, fell, (without any time of stay) upon a lower third floor, being the floor of the said Lord Ambassadors withdrawing Chamber; which was supported underneath with Arch-work of stone, (yet visible in the Gatehouse there) and so became the bundarie or term of that confused and doleful heap of ruins, which otherwise had sunk yet deeper by the own weight and height of the downfall: the distance from the highest floor, whence the people fell, to the lowest, where they lay, being about two and twenty foot in depth. Of the Gallery floor only so much fell, as was directly over a Chamber of 20. foot square, called Father Redyates Chamber, and being the usual Massing room for the English resorting thither. The rest of the Gallery floor, being not so full thronged, stood firm, and so was a refuge and safeguard to those of the Auditory that had planted themselves at that end. From whence they beheld that most Tragical Scene of their brethren's ruin; themselves also being not only surprised with the stupifying passions of affright, and apprehension of that danger, which as yet they could not think themselves to have escaped, but also, for the time, imprisoned in the place itself; from whence there was no passage by door, or otherwise, unless they should adventure to leap down into the gulf of their fellows woeful estate. In this perplexity, dismay itself not bereaving them of counsel, but rather administering strength to their trembling hands, they with their Knives opened the Loame-wall next unto them, and so making their passage thence into another Chamber, escaped that danger. As for the rest (being the far greater part of this Assembly) who in a moment all sunk down to the lowest floor, their case, as it can scarce be paralleled with a like example of calamity, so hardly be described with the due and true circumstances. Who can to the life express the face of Death, presenting itself in so rueful and different shapes? Quis talia fando Temperet à lachrymis? What ear, without tingling, can hear the doleful and confused cries of such a troop, men, women, children, all falling suddenly in the same pit, and apprehending with one horror the same ruin? What eye can behold, without inundation of tears, such a spectacle of men overwhelmed with breaches of weighty timber, buried in rubbish, and smothered in the dust? What heart, without evaporating into sighs, can ponder the burden of deepest sorrows and lamentations of parents, children, husbands, wives, kinsmen, friends, for their dearest pledges, and chiefest comforts in this world, all bereft and swept away with one blast of the same dismal tempest? Such was the noise of this dreadful and unexpected downfall, that the whole city of London presently rang of it, and forthwith the Officers of the city (to whom the care of good order chiefly appertaineth) and in special Sergeant Finch the Recorder, repaired thither the same evening, carefully providing for the safety of the said Ambassadors house and family, and, for preventing all disorders in such a confusion, that might arise by the confluence of the multitude, shut up the gates and set guards upon the passages. With all speed possible some were employed for the relieving and saving such as yet struggled for life under this heavy load: Which could not so soon be effected, as they in charity desired; for that the ruins, which oppressed the sufferers, did also stop up entrance to the helpers: who thereupon were fain to make a breach in through an upper window of stone. From hence they hasted down with pickaxes and other instruments, to force asunder, and take of, by piecemeal, the oppressing load of beams, ioyces, and boards. At the opening whereof, what a Chaos? what fearful objects? what lamentable representations? Here some bruised, some dismembered, some only parts of men: there some wounded, and weltering in their own and others blood, othersome putting forth their fainting hands and crying out for help. Here some gasping and panting for breath, others stifled for want of breath. To the most of them being thus covered with dust, this their death was a kind of burial. Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? job. 38. 17. or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? Verily if any man could look in at those gates, and return, he would report such a portrait as was this spectacle. In this doleful task of withdrawing those impediments, laying forth the dead bodies, and transporting the maimed, all that night, and part of the next day was spent, though charity and skill did whet their endeavours with all dexterity and expedition. The next morning, according to the Laws of our Land, which provide that the King's Majesty should have an account of his Subjects dying Per infortunium, the Coroners Inquest was there impanelled upon the dead corpses, that after their view of them, they might be buried with convenient speed. By the said Coroner, and jury, especial care was taken to survey the place, and materials of the ruins with all diligence, for the finding out the immediate cause and manner thereof: the rather for that it was given out by some presently upon the mischance, that some Protestants, knowing this to be a chief place of their meetings, had secretly drawn out the pins, or sawed half a sunder some of the supporting Timber of that building. Which was found to be a calumny no less ridiculous, then malicious. The most probable apparent cause of the sudden failing of that floor, charged with such a weight of people, was judged to be in the main Sommier thereof, which being not above ten inches square, had in the very place, where it broke, on each side a mortaise hole directly opposite the one against the other, into which were let the Tenants of two great pieces of Timber, called Girders: so that between those Mortaises, there was left not above three inches of Timber. This Sommier was also somewhat knotty about that place, which, in the opinion of Architects, might make it more brittle, and ready to knap in sunder. The main Sommier of the lower room, was about thirteen inches square, without any such Mortaise; and broke, not (as the former) in the midst, but within five foot of one end, and more obliquely and shivering then the other. No foundation, nor wall failed. The roof of the Gallery with the ceiling upon it remain yet entire; as also a small filling wall, fastened to the rafters, which yet hangeth where the floor is gone. This downfall was not to all deadly: to some only frightful, or in part hurtful: who being thus taken up out of the pit of horrible danger, nay plucked out of the very jaws of Death, as also those other of this Assembly, who (as before said) fell not at all, but yet stood in the very brink of this mortal jeopardy, have all great cause never to forget this day, but to enter it into their Calendar for a merciful and miraculous deliverance. Neither is it enough for them to lift up their hearts in thanksgiving to God (as I make no doubt they do) for this unexpected rescue from so great an unsuspected death, but they are also to lay it to their hearts, whether this sudden stroke and crack be not the hand, and voice of God, to call them home from wand'ring after foreign Teachers, that lead the ignorant people captive and carry them hood-winked into the snares of danger, corporal, civil, and spiritual: that hereupon they may seriously consider what ground they have to forbear, or forsake our Church-assemblies, and to refrain from hearing so much as our divine service, against which they have no other exception, but this, that in hearing it they may hear, and understand, whereas in the Romish Service, even in the Evensong then intended in this conventicle, audientes audirent, & non intelligerent, videntes viderent, & non cernerent. The women, and common people might understand as much as they do this sentence in Latin, taken out of the Prophet Isay, too truly prophesying of such. Of those that fell, and escaped without any notable hurt, I hear of by name some persons of note, as Mistress Lucy Penruddock of a worthy family, who fell between two that then perished, the Lady Webb and her own maid servant, yet was herself preserved alive by the happy situation of a chair, which falling with her, rested hollow over her, and so became to her a shelter, or penthouse to bear off other ruins: also the Lady Webs daughter, though falling near unto her mother, and Eleanor Saunders, who was covered with others that fell upon her, yet by God's mercy, recovered out of those bloody ruins. There was also a Scholar, (whom myself since saw and had speech withal) who was the easier drawn to that Assembly, because he formerly was inclining and warping to that side, as hath appeared by public evidence. He was also involved in this common downfall, whereout he escaped beyond expectation: being one of the undermost in that heap, and lying upon the very floor, and overwhelmed with the boards and timber, which lay upon him, yet not so flat, and sad, as upon others, but somewhat hollow and shelving, by the leaning of some of the timber against the wall. Out of this den of death he, with main strength & much difficulty, wrought himself, by tearing the laths of the ceiling, and creeping between two ioyces, from under the timber to an hole where he espied light: & then one of the Ambas. family opening a door relieved him being yet so astonished that he scarce was apprehensive of the courtesy done to him. Who thus refreshed, presently returned and used his best strength to draw others out of that snare, which he himself had newly broken, without any other detriment than of his clothes; of which fair escape I hope, he will make good use, & often call to mind our Saviour's caveat, (which since in my hearing hath been rung in his ears) Vade & ne pecca amplius, ne deterius conting at tibi. There was also (as he reporteth) a young girl of the age of ten years, or thereabout, who then crying said unto him, O my Mother, O my sister, which are down under the timber and rubbish. But he wishing her to be patient, and telling her that by God's grace they should get forth quickly, the child replied, that this would prove a great scandal to their Religion. A strange speech proceeding from a child of so tender years, who, even in that perplexity, seemed to have a deeper apprehension of public scandal, then of private loss. A lesson fit for far elder to learn, ex ore infantium, & lactentium, etc. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained strength. Moreover, one of the men that fell, then saying, O what advantage will our adversaries take at this; another of them replied thereto, If it be Gods will this should befall us, what can we say to it? A pious answer, and Christian resolution, borrowed, as it seems, from the patience of the Prophet David, Tacui, Domine, quia tu fecisti. I held my peace, because thou, Lord, hast done it. An hard task it were to undertake the giving a particular account of the number and quality of those that any ways suffered in this fall, the diversity of reports, according to men's private inclinations, enlarging or contracting the same. In general most evident it is that of the people that fell, those that escaped best for bodily hurt, were, at 〈◊〉 howsoever deeply stricken in their minds with affright and fear: others were bruised or wounded, but not mortally, receiving only a gentle stripe from the merciful hand of a chastizing father; others for the present came forth, or rather were carried out, with life, but enjoyed it for a short time, yielding up the same in their several homes within a few days, yea some not many hours, as by after-enformation to the Coroners jury, yet depending, may appear. But the greater number of those that fell never rose again, nor shall, till the Elements shall melt with heat, and the ruins of a far greater fabric than that house, (even of the whole earth with the works thereof) shall awake them, and us all, out of the bed of death, to give account of what we have done in the body. Of these, whom it pleased God thus to call out of this world, the number is most currently estimated to be between 90. and 100 If any man, out of affection to them, or curiosity, inquire more exactly, of the Ambassador's house, was digged a great pit, (eighteen foot long, and twelve foot broad) in which were laid four and forty corpses in order, piled one upon the other, partners in the same bed, as a little before they were in the same passage to it. Upon this common Grave, was set up in the earth, a black Cross of wood, about four foot high, which on Tuesday in the afternoon, was by one of the Ambassadors servants taken up and carried into the house, lest (as it seemeth) any scandal should be taken thereat by the people, that then, and after, came to that house to view the Stage of this mournful Tragedy. There was also another pit, (long twelve foot, broad eight foot) made in the said Ambassadors Garden near adjoining, wherein fifteen other were interred. Beside these dispersedly here above numbered, there are heard of upon diligent enquiry of the said jury and others, diverse more increasing the list of this funeral troop, whose names follow in the Catalogue. As for interpretation and application of this so remarkable and doleful an accident, our duty is first to entertain a Christian and charitable opinion of their persons whose lot it was to become an example unto others: and secondly to make a profitable use thereof unto ourselves. Too well known it is to the world, how hardly our adversaries conceive, speak, and write, not only of our Religion, but also of our persons, damning and tumbling down all of us without difference into the bottomless pit of destruction, and throwing upon our heads, not the ruins of one loft or house, but the whole mountains of God's wrath and heaviest judgements. Such curses and edicts of damnation against us their pulpits thunder out, their printing presses groan under, their pamphlets and libels proclaim; all we are given gone for Castawaies, Miscreants, damned Heretics; With us no Church, no Faith, no Religion, no God. If such a calamity had befallen any flock of ours in our Common prayer, or Sermons, all must have gone quick to hell: there would have been more invective several censures and books against us than were here persons suffering. What exclamation of the downfall of heresy, of the passing away of novelties with a crack, of receiving a terrible blow, of the very beams in the wall crying out against us, of the ruin of old wormeaten heresies, of the trash and rubbish of the new Gospel demolished. In such sort upon less occasions, are we and our profession traduced and slandered publicly beyond the seas, and privately in corners at home. Nor is it marvel that such flashes to scorch us in our good names, are cast forth out of that fiery Aetna of Romish zeal, which hath sent forth material flames to consume many of our living bodies, and some also of our dead. Hic livor nec post fata quiescit. And though this fire hath been covered with ashes in these parts, for many happy years, yet of late a spark thereof broke forth, even in the midst of the bonfires kindled in London at the happy return of our Prince; when as a certain Roman Zealot, This party was one of the assembly, yet living, and received a mark of remembrance there, by a piece of wood, who thus a little before took care for saving wood. repining at the excessive expense of fuel therein, said openly in the hearing of many that if such waste of wood were made, there would shortly be never a faggot left to burn heretics. But we have otherwise learned Christ, who being reviled, did not revile again, but committed his cause to him that judgeth righteously; Et preces effudit pro iis etiam, qui sanguinem eius effuderunt; and poured out prayers for those, that shed and poured forth his blood, (as saith an ancient Father.) From him we learn not to insult over our enemies, or to rejoice at their ruin, but to weep at their calamity: not to enter into God's secrets, but to tremble at his judgements. And therefore our duty, in regard of their persons, is first to be tender and careful how so much as in our inward thoughts we pass any particular judgement upon them. For though the event itself may seem to offer a topical inference from the fall of both the floors; namely, of the preaching and the Massing room, that both their Doctrine and Sacrifice are weakly and slenderly supported, and that God was displeased as well with their Pulpits, as Altars; yet for the particular estate of those who were combined in that action, and enueloped in the same passion, it were most uncharitable and groundless from their temporal destruction in this time and place, to collect their eternal confusion. And howsoever our Adversaries for the truth of their Church draw an Argument no less unnatural than uncharitable, from the supposed, sudden, and unhappy ends, of some of those whom they call Heretics, and to that end forge hideous fables of the death of Luther, Calvin, etc. and in particular, very lately some of them have passed an heavy censure upon Doctor Sutton, a learned and painful Preacher, and solid Refuter of their errors, whom to the great loss of our Church, Abstulit unda vorax & funere mersit acerbo, Over whom they triumph, as if the deep therefore swallowed him, because he was unworthy to tread upon the earth, or breathe in the air; Yet we ought to be, and are far from saying that the Plancher of that building would not bear these Romanists, because they were more loaden with the weight of sin, than others. We are taught by the Chapter appointed in the Calendar to be read in our Churches the very next morning after this doleful accident, to judge otherwise. Luke 13. There were present at that season, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And jesus answered, and said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were greater sinners than all the other Galileans, because they have suffered such things? I tell you nay. Secondly, we are to condole for them, and that in three respects. First, out of natural humanity, as they are men, of the same mould with us, subject all to the same passions, and liable to the same outward calamities, and dangers of this mortal life. In this consideration every of us is to say to himself, of himself and others. Homo sum, humani nihil à me alienum puto. Secondly, out of moral civility, as fellow-borne Countrymen, and natural Subjects unto the same most gracious King, in whose eyes the death of his meanest Subjects is precious. In this respect every of us, either presently viewing that Tragical spectacle of so many bruised and battered carcases, so many smothered corpses, which yesterday breathed the same English air with us: Or shortly after hearing of so woeful an History, is, with tears in the eye, and melting grief in the heart, to deplore at least with some such Epitaph, or funeral Elegy, as was used by a Lacedaemonian. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Thirdly and principally, out of Christian charity, as towards those who profess the name of Christ, and devotion in his worship, howsoever tainted with many errors and superstitions, of which their Leaders and Guides are more guilty than the simple obedient flock misled by them. In this duty we are every of us to grieve for those that are gone, and to commiserate with the holy Apostle, the present estate of such other as remain captivated in the same blindness of Ignorance, Rom. 9 & 10. I have great heaviness, and continual sorrow in my heart, for my Brethren, my Kinsmen according to the flesh. Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel, is that they might be saved. For I bear them record, that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. This for our construction hereof, as we look down upon others in their fall. Now for our instruction as this example reflecteth upward upon ourselves. Wherein first our ingratitude is checked, and thankfulness awaked which we owe unto God for our manifold preservations, as in other kinds perpetually, so not seldom in this. Surely if our heavenly Father should cease his care of preserving us, as we too oft give over our due care of serving him, nor field, nor house, nor Church itself should be safe unto us: carnal security and forgetfulness of God creeping into not only our chambers, halls, and receptacles of mirth and jollity, but too oft even into the house of God itself: the Temple of our spiritual sacrifices being not so reverently frequented as our duty and profession require. And yet, howsoever we may observe God's hand sometimes to have overtaken diverse of our brethren by downfalls upon the earth, or into the water, and of late by the fearful dint of fire darted from heaven with thunder, and other humane casualties, at home or abroad, yet have our sacred assemblies (for aught I can remember) been free from mortality by ruin. And whereas we have many examples of the decay and sudden lapse of diverse our material Temples made with hands, yet hath God so disposed of the time or manner of such ruins, that none of the living Temples of the Holy Ghost have been demolished thereby. Witness in London the Churches of Lothbury, of St. Butolves, of St. Giles in the fields, and the Church itself of the Blackfriars: in all which the stones forbore their downward motion, till the people's absence. And most lately in the Town of Netesherd in Norfolk, the beams of the Church roof being by the fall of the steeple beaten down among the people in time of Prayer, yet not one perished thereby. To these perhaps many reading and pondering this, can add other examples of the like preservations in other places of this land. The memory whereof must revive our hearty thanks to God, with prayer for our future protection, especially in the houses of prayer, wherein he is worshipped in spirit and truth by us, and his word preached sound and faithfully unto us. Secondly, forasmuch as some few of this Assembly were not in opinion Romanists, nor came thither out of affection to the Popish party, but rather out of curiosity, to observe their rites and manner of Preaching, especially upon the ●ame given out, and expectation of then and there hearing a rare man, an admirable jesuit, a Preacher Nonpareil, in comparison of whom the greatest Lights of the Protestant Ministry are but Glow-worms; this may be a special Caveat to such roving wanderers as only tasted of that Cup whereof others drank the Dregs: they were some of them justly stricken in body, though not mortally, but all in mind, with terror, amazement, and horrible consternation. And one, as is said, felt the utmost of that stroke, and for company took part with those in death, with whom he consented not in life and opinion. Pliny the elder (as his Nephew reports of him) paid dear for the satisfaction of his curiosity, when, not content with Contemplation, and Relation from others, he would needs in person approach near, to behold with his eyes the very flames of the burning hill Veswius in Italy, the sulphureous smoke and vapour whereof, presently stifled him. To come nearer to ourselves, those Christians escaped not much better, who (as both Tertullian and Cyprian observe) when they were present at the theatres and shows, instituted to the honour of the Heathen gods, were suddenly surprised and vexed by the Devil, who was nimble enough to maintain his claim to them, by pleading Inueni in meo, I took them as I found them, upon mine own ground. What though the Romanists presume far without warrant, and dare outface our Laws, which wholesomly provide against such conventicles, yet let every obedient subject and child of our Church, beware how he put his foot into such snares: resolving rather with the holy Patriarch, and saying in his heart, O my soul, enter not thou into their secret: Gen. 49. 6 unto their assembly mine honour be not thou yoked. In such cases the Prophets have used and enforced from exorbitant examples argument, not of imitation, but aversation, and opposition. Though Israel transgress, yet let not juda sin. Thirdly, for us all, these dead corpses ought to be a lively mirror, wherein we are to behold what we may expect in that kind, or some other, even far worse, if we do not prevent and avert God's judgements by judging ourselves, and unfeignedly repenting of our sinful courses. Out of such examples our Saviour readeth us a double Lecture, not only of charity, in not censuring others, but also of repentance, in censuring and condemning ourselves, that we be not condemned of the lord Unless ye repent, Luke 13. 4. ye shall all likewise perish. A vain plea it will be, That we have cast out of our Churches Romish superstitions, if we still retain in our souls and bodies our predominant corruptions; that our faith & doctrine is most pure, if our lives remain impure; that we have fair leaves & blossoms in our outward profession, if we bring forth no fruit in our practice and conversation. Reatus impij pium nomen, saith the most religious Bishop Saluian. An holy Title and profession, if the life be not suitable, is, not a plea, but a guilt, not a diminution of offence, but an improvement. Well said Tertullian of himself that, whereto every of us is to subscribe his own name, Ego omnium notatorum peccator, nulli rei, nisi poenitentiae, natus. A sinner I am, marked with spots of all kinds, & born to no other end, than to make my life a task of repentance. We are all by profession bound apprentices to this Christian trade, nay borne unto a kind of interest and propriety to it. Of all intelligent nature's only man is capable of that. God cannot repent, because he cannot sin, nor err: an Angel, though mutable in his own nature, (and so liable to sin) yet once falling by sin, can never rise by repentance. Only man, falling, both in the universal ruinous estate of all his kind, and daily in his actual lapses, hath by the hand of God's grace and mercy in Christ, the cords of love reached forth, and let down into the pit unto him, whereof by repentance and faith he taketh hold, thence to be raised to newness of life, and so forward to eternal life, through the merits and passion of our blessed Redeemer, who came, not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. LAMENT. 3. 22. It is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed: because his compassions fail not. A Catalogue of the Names of such persons as were slain by the fall of the room wherein they were in the Blackfriars, at Master drury's Sermon, the 26. of Octob. 1623. Taken by information of the Coroners jury. MAster Drury the Priest that preached. Mr. Redy are the Priest, whose lodging was under the Garret that fell: the floor of which lodging fell too. Lady Webbe in Southwark. Lady Blackstones daughter, in Scroops Court. Thomas Webbe her man. William Robinson Taylor, in Fetter lane. Robert Smith, Master 〈…〉 Anne Dauison, Mr. Davisons daughter, of the Middle-row in Holborn, Tayler. Anthony Hall his man. Anne Hobdin. Marry Hobdin. lodging in Mr. Davisons house. john Galloway Vintner, in Clarkenwell Close. Mr. Peirson, jane his wife, Thom. & james, his two sons. in Robbinhood Court in Shoe lane. Mistress Udall. Katherine Pindar, a Gentle woman in Mrs. Udal's house. in gunpowder alley. Abigal her maid. john Netlan a Tailor of Bassingborne in Cambridge shire. Nathaniel Coals, lying at one Shortoes in Barbican, Tayler. john Halifaxe, sometimes a Waterbearer. Marry Rygbie, wife to john Rygbie in Holborn, Confectioner. john Worralls son in Holborn. Thomas Brisket, his wife, and his son, and maid, in Montague close. Mistress Summer, wife to Captain Summer in the King's Bench. Marry her maid. Mistress Walsted in Milkestreet. john Raines, an Attorney in Westminster. Robert Sutton, son to Mr. Worral a Potter in Holborn. Edward Warren, lying at one adam's a Butcher, in Saint Clement Danes. A son of Mr. Flood in Holborn, Scrivener▪ Elizabeth White, Andrew Whites daughter in Holborn, Chandler. Mr. Stoker Tayler, in Salisbury Court. Elizabeth Summer in Graies-Inne lane. Mr. Westwood. judeth Bellowes, wife of Mr. William Bellowes in Fetter lane. A man of Sir Lues Pembertons. Elizabeth Moor widow. john james. Morris Beucresse Apothecary. Davie Vaughan, at jacob Coldriches, Tailor in Gray Inn lane. Francis Man, brother to William Man in Thieving lane in Westminster. Richard Fitzgarrat, of Gray Inn, Gent. Robert Heifime. Mr. Maufeild. Mr. Simons. Dorothy Simons. Thomas Simons a boy. In Fesant Court in Cow lane. Robert Parker, near Lond stone, Merchant. Mistress Morton, at Whitefriars. Mistress Norton, Marrian her maid. at Mr. babington's in Bloomesburie. Francis Downes, sometimes in Southampton house, Tailor. Edmond Shey, servant to Robert Euan of Gray Inn, Gent. josilin Percy, servant to Sr. Henry Caruile, lying at Mistress Ploidons' house in high Holborn. john tully, servant to Mr. Ashborn, lying at Mr. Barber's house in Fleetstreeet. john Sturges, the Lord Peter man. Thomas Elis, Sr. Lewis Treshams man. Michael Butler in Woodstreet, Grocer. john Button, Coachman to Mistress Garret in Bloomesberry. Mistress Ettonet, lying at Clearkenwellgreene. Edward Revel, servant to Master Nicholas Stone the King's Purveyor. Edmund Welsh, lying with Mr. Sherlock in high Holborn, Tailer. Bartholomew Bavin, in White Lion Court in Fleetstreet, Clarke, Davie an Irish man, in Angel Alley in Gray Inn Gent. Thomas Wood, at Mr. Woodfalls over against Gray Innegate. Christopher Hopper, Tailer lying there. George Cranston, in King's street in Westminster, Tailer. john Blitten. jane Turner, lying at one Geese in the old Bailie. Frithwith Anne. Mistress Elton. Mr. Walsteed. Marry Berrom. Henry Becket, lying at Mistress Clerks house in Northumberland Alley in Fetter lane. Sarah Watsonne, daughter to Master Watsonne a Chirurgeon. john Bevans, at the seven Stars in Drury lane. Master Harris. Mistress Tompson, at Saint martin's within Aldersgate, Haberdasher. Richard F●●guift. George Ceaustour. Master Grimes, near the Horseshoe tavern in Drury lane. Mr. Knuckle a Painter dwelling in Cambridge. Master fowel, a Warwickshire Gent. Master Gascoine. Francis Buckland and Robert Hutten, both servants to Master Saul Confectioner in Holborn. john Lochey, a Scrivener's son in Holborn. One William servant to Master Eirkum. john Brabant, a Painter in Little-Brittaine. William Knockell, A manservant of Mr. Buckets a Painter in Aldersgate street. One Barbaret, Walter Ward, Richard Garret, enquired after, but not found. The particulars concerning those that suffered in this lamentable accident, hath been so obscured that no exact account could be had of them, no marvel then that diligence of enquiry could not prevent some mistake in the catalogue formerly printed with this Relation; which catalogue is now renewed and rectified, by more certain intelligence than heretofore hath been related. FINIS.