The just downfall Of Ambition, Adultery. Murder, At the end of which are added Westons, and Mistris Turners 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. Woodcut illustration of a bearded man and a woman praying on their knees. Printed at London for R. H. and are to be sold at his shop at the cardinals Hat without Newgate. The just Downfall of Ambition, Adultery, and Murder, presented in a black scene of Gods just judgements, in reuenge of the innocent blood lately shed in this KINODOME. 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 vpon mischief, for the seven capital sins are grown to such a custom, that our eyes want no allurements to bewitch, our ears no persuasions to seduce, nor our sences, no subtlety to affect: Which seizing on the hearts of men, haue brought fourth many pernicious children, to the hurt of Nature, some like centaurs, begotten of clouds: as Ambition, some like Serpents nurrished 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 haue 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 cipped up, that we may discern what hath long time been hidden cunningly. The first that presents 〈…〉 our stage; will wee call Ambition, catching at nothing but stars, climbing onely for greatness, this is he, that cunningly can invent strattagems to his own over throw, giuing Pens occasion to wright Tragedies, if he rise from obscurity,( as many haue done) he laboureth to bee 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 toumbe, faire and comely without, but within, nothing but rotten bones, and corrupt practices: his apparel increaseth with his Fortune, and as worldly affairs direct him, so suiteth he both fashions and affections, in his study he affecteth fingularity, and is proud in being Author of a new Stratagem: if he chance to come into the eye of the World, he then creeps into the favour of some great parsonage, in feeding whose humors( to relieve his wants makes intrusion into some heritage, and marcheth not according to his birth, but to the increase of his fortune, and by that means, by hook or crooke, he anayneth to some place in the Court: Then begins he with gifts to win hearts, by feigned humility to avoid hatred, by offices of friendship, to bind his equals, by cunning insinuations to work his superiors, by which means he is held to bee 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 raled up in embers) he never sheweth but to consume, both himself and others: if he perceive any that by ripe Iudgement conceiteth his courses, with him he joineth, as if he sought his onely 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 beegentle, he bringeth him in fear, either of his seruants in his household, or his familliars 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 souls 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 procedings, for a fearful, a strong tower to keep him in: to be excellent at poisons, to kill lingringly, like the Italian: But again to our purpose, to the Ambitius man there is commonly belonging a rustic troop, of flatterers, Bauds, Adulterers, Soothers, and such like, that hating al virtue makes sin seem pleasing, which works in the flexable heart such a sweet desire of forbidden pleasures, that it even surfeits and grows sick, with excess, Lust and Adultery I mean, which I describe in this maner, 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 mans free hold, and makes a common of his neighbours enclosure, Adulterers I say haue 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 spights him most that examines his proceedings, and plots his overthrow that doth but touch his infirmities, Oh! what an enemy is it to virtue, the onely wrake of wealth, and plain high way to poverty. The Adulterer is so blinded in heart, and so hardened withall, 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 s●uerely punished, as by the example o● Tudas, iustice on Thamas, Dauids ●●ultery with Vrias Wife, punished in his son absalon, thousands of men died in ●he fields of Moab for this fault, threescore thousand of the children of Israell were put to the sword for the ravishing onely a levites Wife, of all sins it is in nature the most odious, and brings with it the greatest shane 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 onely adulteries of the French that caused a massaker of fourscore thousand, by the ringing of one bell: Let not the Strumpits eye, says one of the sages of Greece, shine vpon the countenance of young men, least with the Basaliske, it pierce unto the death: for her malice is as lightning, and more raging then the she bear, vpon her attends malicious hatred, whose felicity is onely to rejoice at the harms of others, giuing 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 aduancement of virtue then grows she pensive,& if she want credit amongst the mighty then falls shee working with the meaner sort, shee smiles not upon any man but to betray 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 shee be but crossed in her will, shee ever frets herself away in anger, and after in Hate and Malice becomes infamous, for her love is a minet, but her spite everlasting, her hand being once dipped in mischief, shee never walks abroad but in suspicion, fearing to bee accused by virtue, and still lives in dread of her good Fortune, yet by nature is shee such, that shee hath courage enough to adventure on any sin, an Ambitious woman shows herself to bee a troublesone 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, Common-Wealths, Princes courts and Ambitious mens Houses he is still working, no Man hunteth after Honor but he affronts him, onely the miserable man he envies not, because( being kept in Prison) he fears not his risings, 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 bee envious, but to do( saith he) such deeds that others may envy thee, for to bee 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 bee more familiar in my Discourse, where Ambition, Adultery, Pride, envy, Malice, and such like capital sins haue set in foot, there cannot choose but follow Murder and confusion, and where the foundation is laid with blood, there can bee a building but of small continuance, but where Honors haue 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 Honors 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 finger, gives to his soul a scarlet stain, which never can bee 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 ioy 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 honors in Princes Courts, wander in an even passage, for dangerous are the proceedings and business of a Statesman, take this for an example: suppose that a young man from the lowest ebb of worldly chance haue the aduancement 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 Honourgiuer? Then rightly may the Picture of ingratitude bee imprinted in his forefront, playing the Viper to his high fortunes first beginner. being thus inituled with State Offices, hath he not many soothers in sin personages of bace 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 haue 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 fore-head, should humble herself to base conditions, giuing her whole mind to malicious hatred, secret consents of iniquity, self-will and wicked proceedings, never pacified 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 haue the common course of Iustice pass upon him in the eye of the multitude. Is it not also great pitty 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 understanding, to bee thus the instruments of such dangerous drifts, that aims at nothing but grudge and malice? if with Solons saying they had sealed up their hearts, Remember the end, this had never been: then how are they lead away with amiss, that having the gifts of art and experience, the secrets of the simples of physic, ordained by God for mans good use, should by the divell and them be converted thus to malignant purposes if the fear of God had shined in their hearts, it would haue been a light to haue lead them from all those dark practices, which hath now spotted the foreheads of their reputations with the marks of black infamy, shane cannot choose but bee the reward of such enterprisers, that for the favours of greatness, will dip their hands in the blood of Innocents, and even as it were work against nature: Oh more then savage minded Crreatures in the very deepness of your black and bloody imaginations,( emboldened by whomsoever) this might haue been your Memento, in which I conclude, that strange and wonderful are Gods judgements, that in these fore-passed stratagems haue shined in great glory, say you then, that blood innocently shed is laid up in Heauens Treasury, not one drop of it can bee 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 reuenge, not onely the blood of the slaughtered, but the soul of the innocent ascending to his throne, crying out and exclaining for Iustice, which( the Lord bee praised) hath been, and will bee carefully followed by the learned and worthy Magistrates of this kingdom, whom the Lord God prosper and protect in all their proceedings, to which let all true hearts say. Amen. FINIS. Mistris Turners tears, for the Murder of Sir Thomas Ouerbury who was poisoned in the Tower of London. 1 IF ever tears fell from a Wretches 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 shane: 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 stisted there, then had my flight To heaven been like a doves, with wings more white. 4 O would to God the Day when I was born, 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 onely learn to heap upon my head Wishes of mischief though in grave I lie, For to confounded 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 mone my state Yet times to come may pitty my hard fate. 8 My birth was faire, my bringing up was good, My dayes were golden in my widowhood, And might haue been so still, but climbers hye, Beyond their reach must down, and so do I. 9 Plenty and I at board together sate, I fed with dives drank in ritchest plate: Wore rich attires, tasted all worldly pleasure, But ne're had care to hoard up heavenly treasure 10 With eve I might haue 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 onely Apple to devour, For which I longed; my hunger gaped at more, At a whole three I looked: it was a three, Me thought the goodliest mortal eyes could see. 12 This three I climbed, and as I plucked it grew, Still fresh and fresh, the boughs were ever new; The branches ever green, bushy and faire, It seemed the Darling both of funne 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 three 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 shew'd, for every side dust. Was ruddy and alluring, but( what trust Is in vain earth) being touched they turn to well, 16 From this I sucked Enchantments which drunk And luscious sweet, yet proved the milk of hell, Hence did I gather poisonous drugs to kill Such as withstood my friends, or crost my will. 17 Lust often lay within my widdowed 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 sinothered nere so deep, In caues, which silent night herself does keep, Bound up in darkness, like the steeme of Hell which none can pierce, yet the black dead to tell. 19 even graues of dead men( rotten long ago Will open wide: Vengeance walks often slow To our weak sight, but when to Strike it stands, On Heau'ns high Tower, it hath a 1000. hands. 20 Th' Almighties arrows fly both sure& strong And where they hit great oaks fall all along, No hidden mark but stands within his eye, And that he cleaves, when forth his wrath does fly. 21 witness myself and others, who defying, The busiest searching Sunbeam from discrying: Where villainy lay lurking, wrapd in clouds, so safe we thought as dead men in their shrouds 22 When to Mans sense twas as impossible, Mountaines to move, as find a tongue-durst tel Our butted plots, See they are rent and torn, By Gods least finger; and we left in scorn. 23 Our masks pluckd off our faces now appear, Such as they are indeed, not as they were, plain on our brows are our close mischiefs writ now, Who most did hid, now most discover it. 24 The wolves are caught in snares; the shepherd 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 lead, 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 shame) tis known No poison can so soon destroy the soul, The out-side glorious, but the inside foul. 27 O Gold! thou glittering divell that confounddest The Richest, Fairest, Strongest, wisest, Soundest, Would God, as He to Indians is unknown, That so their Drossy 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 Iesus) then I crave, What thou hast Bought and paid for dearly save Men let me beg forgiveness from you too, Because I did more then my Sex should do. 30 And you of Modest dames that bear the note, And my black Name quiter from your tables blot, As I am lost, so let my fault I crave, And writ oblivion on my wretched grave. 31 You Fathers whom of Children I bereave, You Children whom of Parents I deceive, You wives whom Husband less my Guilt does make, forgive me All: of All this leave I take. 32 heaven frowns to look vpon me and my Sin, Earth trembles that by her I fed haue been: My very breath poisons the air about me, Hell onely 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, Iesus 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 Mistris Turner, the night before her Suffering Death. WIth Mary Magdalene, I kneel( O Iesus) 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) haue I sold that love of thine, and my own salvation? I am undone for ever, for fince 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 haue 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 daies offensive and odious to God and Man. Yet notwithstanding( heavenly Father) Since my Repentant soul comes crying to Thee for Mercy, as before my Sin●es cried to heaven for Vengeance: bow down I beseech thee thine ear: dry up my sorrows with thy beam●● of Grace. I haue 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 beast that k●●●●eth at thy gates of Pitty. Let not my name be blotted 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 onely 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, set an angel to guard me, Help me, Strengthen me, Hasten me to my home, and let that dwelling be with thee for ●uer and ever, I come deere 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, haue mercy vpon me: the one I haue 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 gain I haue been a Murderer, and with Iudas à Betrayer of t he Innocent. My body is a slave to satan, and my wretched soul is devoured up by Hell. Black haue been my thoughts, and blacker, are my deeds. I haue been the devils instrument, and am now become the Scome of Men, a Serpent vpon earth, and an Out-cast from heaven. What therefore can become of me( miserable Catiffe;) if I look up to my Redeemer, to him I am an Arch Traitor, if upon Earth, it is deowned with Blood of my shedding, if into Hell, there I se● my Conscience, burning in the Brimstone lake. God of my soul and Body haue mercy therefore vpon 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 ownchand: there is a little Table, called the Spectacles, where you may red them more at Large.