●he Dedman's Song, whose dwelling was near unto Basin Hall in London.  
To the tune of Flying Fame.  
〈…〉 cke, dear friends, long time I was,  
〈…〉 and weakly laid in bed:  
〈…〉 we hours in all men's sight  
〈…〉 gth I lay as dead:  
〈…〉 t rung out, my friends came in,  
〈…〉 and I keycold was found:  
〈…〉 en was my carcase brought from bed,  
〈…〉 and cast upon the ground.  
〈…〉 loving wife did wape full sore,  
〈…〉 d children loud did cry:  
〈…〉 iends did mourn, yet thus they said,  
〈…〉 flesh is borne to die:  
〈…〉 winding shéet prepared was,  
〈…〉 y grave was also made:  
〈…〉 long hours by just report,  
this same case I laid.  
〈…〉ng which time, any soul did see  
〈…〉 h stra●●●e and fearful sights,  
〈…〉 for to hear the same disclosed,  
〈…〉 uld banish all delight.  
〈…〉 th' the Lord restored my life,  
〈…〉 ich from my body fled:  
〈…〉 ll declare what sights I saw,  
〈…〉 e time that I was dead.  
〈…〉 thought along a gallant green,  
where pleasant Flowers sprung,  
took my way whereas me thought,  
the Muses sweetly sung.  
The grass was sweet, the trees full fair,  
and lovely to behold,  
●nd full of fruits was every twig,  
which shined like glistering gold.  
●y cheerful heart desired much  
to taste the fruit so fair:  
●ut as I reached, a fair youngman  
to me did fast repair.  
●ouch not (qd. he) that's none of thine,  
but wend and walk with me:  
●nd mark full well each several thing,  
which I shall show to thee.  
〈…〉 wondered greatly at his words,  
〈…〉 et went with him away:  
〈…〉 ill on a goodly pleasant bank,  
with him he had me stay.  
〈…〉 i'th' branches then of Lilies white,  
〈…〉 mine eyes there wiped he:  
〈…〉 hen this was done, he made me look,  
what I far off could see.  
〈…〉 ooked up and lo, at last,  
I did a City see:  
〈…〉 fair a thing did never man  
behold with mortal eye:  
〈…〉 f Diamonds, Pearls and Precious stones  
it seemed the walls were made:  
〈…〉 he houses all with beaten gold,  
〈…〉 tiled and over-laid.  
〈…〉 e brighter than the morning Sun,  
〈…〉 e light thereof did show:  
〈…〉 every creature in the same  
〈…〉 crowned Kings did go.  
●l●s about the City fair,  
all with Roses set:  
Gillyflowers and Carnations fair,  
which canker could not fret:  
And from these fields there did proceed  
the swée●st and pleasant it smell,  
That ever living creature felt,  
the scent did so excel:  
Besides such sweet triumphant mirth  
did from the City sound,  
That I therewith was ravished,  
my joy did so abound.  
With music, mirth, and melody,  
Princes did there embrace:  
And in my heart I long to be  
within that joyful place.  
The more I gazed, the more I might,  
the sight pleased me so well:  
For what I saw in every thing,  
my tongue can no way tell:  
Then of the man I did demand,  
what place the same might be:  
Whereas so many Kings do dwell,  
in joy and melody?  
Quoth he, that blessed place is heaven,  
where yet thou must not rest,  
And those that do like Princes walk,  
are men whom God hath blest.  
Then did I turn me round about,  
and on the other side,  
He bade me view and mark as much,  
what things are to be spied.  
With that I saw a coal black den,  
all tanned with soot and smoke  
Where stinking brimstone burning was,  
which made me like to choke.  
An v●ly creature there I saw,  
whose face with knives was flashed,  
And in a Cauldron of poisoned filth,  
his ugly corpse was washed  
About his neck were fiery ruffs,  
that flamed on every side.  
I asked, and lo, the youngman said,  
that he was damned for pride.  
Another sort than did I see,  
whose bowel● Vipers tore:  
And grievously with gaping mouth,  
they did both yell and roar.  
A spotted person by each one  
stood gnawing on their hearts:  
And this was conscience I was told,  
that plagued their envious parts.  
These were no sooner out of sight,  
but strait came in their place,  
A sort still throwing burning fire,  
which fell against their face.  
And ladies full of melted gold,  
were poured down their throats:  
And these were set (as seemed to me)  
in midst of burning boats:  
The foremost of the company,  
was judas I was told,  
Who had for filthy lucre sake,  
his Lord and Master sold.  
For covetousness those were condemned  
so it was told to me,  
And then, me thought another ●ont  
of Hellhounds I did see:  
Their faces they seemed fat in sight,  
yet all their bones were bare,  
And dishes full of crawling toads,  
was made their finest fare.  
From arms, from hands, from thighs & feet,  
with red hot pincers then,  
The flesh was plucked even from the bone  
of these vile gluttonous men.  
On coal black beds, another sort,  
in grievous sort did lie,  
And underneath them burning brands;  
their flesh did burn and fry.  
With brimstone fierce their Pillows,  
whereon their heads were laid,  
And fiends with whips of glowing fire eke,  
their lecherous skins off flaid.  
Then did I see another come,  
stebbed in with daggers thick:  
And filthy fiends with fiery darts,  
their hearts did wound and prick:  
And mighty bowls of corrupt blood,  
were brought them for to drink,  
& these men were for murder plagued,  
from which they could not shrink.  
I saw when these were gone away,  
the Swearer and the Liar,  
& these were hung up by the tongues,  
right over a flaming fire.  
From eyes, from ears, from navel, & nose;  
and from the lower parts,  
The blood, me thought, did gushing run  
and clodded like men's hearts,  
I asked why that punishment,  
was upon Swearers laid:  
Because qd. one, wounds, blood & heart  
was still the oath they made.  
And therewithal from ugly Hell,  
such shrieks and cries I heard,  
As though some greater grief and plague  
had vexed them afterward.  
So that my soul was sore afraid,  
such terror on me fell:  
Away then went the youngman quite,  
and bade me not farewell.  
Wherefore unto my body strait,  
my fpirit returned again,  
And lively blood did afterward  
stretch forth in every vein.  
My closed eyes I opened,  
and raised from my sound:  
And wondered much to see myself  
laid so upon the ground.  
Which when my neighbours did behold,  
great fear upon them fell.  
To whom soon after I did show,  
the news from Heaven and Hell.  
FINIS.   

Printed at London for E. Wright.