LONDONS Mourning garment, or Funerall Teares: worne and shed for the death of her wealthy Cittizens, and other her inhabitants.
To which is added, a zealous and feruent Prayer, with a true relation how many haue dyed of all diseases, in euery particuler parish within London, the Liberties, and out parishes neere adioyning from the 14 of Iuly 1603. to the 17 of Nouember. following.
At London printed by Raph Blower. 1603.
To the Right Worshipfull, Sir Iohn Swinnerton Knight: one of the worshipfull Aldermen, of the honorable Citty of London: VV. M. wisheth Earths Happines, and Heauens Blessednes.
RIght Worshipful and graue Senator: if my knowledge and learning, were answerable to my good will and affection: this my poore labour now mourning in a sable Weede, should be as great and precious, as to the contrary it is weake, and slender. And knowing that the Vertuous minde, respecteth not so much the valewe of the guift, as the good will of the giuer, emboldeneth me to presēt this smal Pamphlet to your Worships view; most humbly crauing pardon for my rash attempt, which if to your wonted clemmencie I doe obtaine. I shall liken my selfe to a poore Debtor owing much, freely forgiuen of all his large reckonings and dangerous accounts, and bound in duty to pray for your Worships long life, with increase of honor.
Your Worships at Commaund, VVILLIAM MVGGINS
¶ Londons mourning garment, and Funerall Teares.
With heauy heart, and sighes of inward Cares,
With wringing hands [...] explayning sorrows wo,
With blubbered cheekes, bedewde with trickling teares
With minde opprest lamenting griefs that flowe,
London lament, and all thy losses showe:
What al? nay some, all were too much to tell,
The learned Homer could not penne it well.
Ay me poore London, which of late did florish,
With springing MARCH, the tidings of a King:
And APRILL showers, my blossomes so did nourishe,
That I in MAIE, was calde a famous thing,
Yea Townes and Cities did my glory ring:
Nay thorowe the worlde my golden fame so grewe,
That Princes high, crost Seas, my seate to viewe.
And like to AGAMEMNONS gallant trayne,
Throughout my streetes, with stately steps did goe,
Where them with welcomes, I did entertaine;
Pleasing their liking, with each seuerall showe,
Where they in me, much treasure did bestowe,
Honouring the Church with Prayers, the Change with golde,
Where Princes bought, and beauteous Virgins solde.
To adde more glory to my prosperous state,
My Soueraigne Lord, most high and mighty King,
Made oft repayre, both Moining, Eu'en and late,
To me both gainefull, and a pleasant thing:
My heart was glad, my voice SOL, FA, did sing,
My head did muse, not strucke with sorrowes sad,
But how to make, my crowned Soueraigne glad.
And as a Bryde, against her Nuptiall day,
Doth deck her selfe, with fayre and rich attyre,
Accompanide with Damsells fresh and gay,
To plight her faith, to him she did desire
Euen so did I with zeale as hot as fyer.
Prepare my selfe against this day of ioye,
To giue him welcome, with VIVE LE ROYE.
My Magistrates were all so ready prest
In skarlet rich, this potent Prince to greet:
My wealthy Free-men also wrought their best,
Preparing Pageants in each famous street [...]
My Marchant-strangers laboured hands and feete,
And scattered coyne, like IVPITERS showres of Golde,
Hoping with ioy this CESAR to behold.
And as those men the wealthiest in my Bower,
Was neuer sparing in this good intent,
So did my Artisauts with all their power,
For loue or gaine, to worke were ready bent.
PIGMALION foorth his skilfull Caruers sent?
Cunning APPELLES with his pencill drew
Prospectious strange, for King and Peeres to veiw.
But oh, a sudden qualme doth crosse my heart
twixt cup and lip are dangers oft we see,
Vnwelcome death approcheth with his dart,
Yelping, oh, LONDON, thou must yeeld to mee:
I must hau [...] rootes and branches for my fee.
The fruits full ripe and blossomes that might grow
Are mine, not thine, the Fates decree'd it so.
Drown'd in deepe seas (poore Lady) thus I lye,
Vnlesse some speedie helpe a comfort yeeld:
Is there no wife nor widdow that will hye,
And reach a hand that hath some sorrowes felt,
My griefes are more then I my selfe can welde,
Helpe some good woman with your soules-sigh deepe,
For you are tender hearted and can weepe.
VVhat none? nay, then I see the Prouerbe old is true,
The widdowes care is st [...]dious where to loue,
Sith women are so fickle, men to you,
LONDON laments, will ye her plaints remoue.
I heare no Eccho; men like women proue,
VVidowers for wiues, widdowes for husbands seeke,
Before the teares are dryed from their cheekes.
To children then I will my sorrowes shew,
VVhole Parent [...] lately in the graue were layde;
Their hearts with sighs will cause fresh teares to flow,
And reach a hand for sorrowing LONDONS ayde.
Come children mourne, I cry but am denayde,
Their Parents riches so inflames their brest,
That they long since did wish them at their rest.
VVhere, or to whom, may I my voyce set forth?
Men mourne for men, where friendship long hath bred:
Fye no (good Lady) there is found small troth,
The liuing Friend deceiues the friend that's dead,
Robbing his children with a subtill head:
By reason he executor, made the drowne
By wresting Law, the riches are his owne.
Oh (helplesse Lady) whither shall I [...]lye,
To find true mourners in this sad lament?
To aged people; no, their heads are dry,
They cannot weepe, long since their teares were spent:
To middle age? (alas) their wits are bent
To purchase lands and liuings for their heires,
Or by long life, [...]o gainé which other spares.
The louing seruant may yet helpe at neede,
That now hath lost his Master and his stay,
Sending foorth sithings till the heart doth bleed:
Oh, LONDON, thou in vaine to him doest pray,
His power and wits he bends another way:
His Masters custome, shoppe, and trade to get,
Is all the teares, the blithe yong man can let.
Is there none then, that will take Londons part?
And help to sing, a welcome vnto wo?
Is there none founde, that feeles a present smart?
Nor none a liue, that can c [...]use Teares to flow?
If any be? then freely them bestow.
Two mourne together, swage e [...]h others grief,
Weepe on a while, and I will be the chiefe.
I heare no answere yet in these estates,
Let me but study, where, and whom to seeke,
Oh, now I haue bethought me, come on mates,
For you and I, must mourne it by the weeke:
And neuer will, new teares, be long to seeke [...]
For Parents loue, vnto their Children deare,
In iudgment sounde, nothing can come more neare.
The loue of Pare [...]ts, are like Graftes that grow,
Euer encreasing, till it proue a tree:
The loue of Children, like the melting Snow,
Euer decreasing, till an ende there be,
Dayly experience, proues this true we see,
Loue to the Children, euermore dependes:
But to the Parents, seldome re-discendes.
And now I haue, with trauel, griefe and paine,
Founde foorth two mourners, that will Agents be:
Choose which of vs, shal settle to complaine,
Or if you will, leau [...] all the chardge to me:
Onely I with you, to abandon glee.
And to my voice, prepare your glowing Eares,
With sighes and groanes, and sometimes scalding Teares.
And if to high my warbling notes ascendes,
Iudge me not bolde but zealous in my loue:
If that too lowe, thinke that with sigh [...]s for friendes,
My voice is hoarse, yet I againe will proue,
The vtmost power, I can for to remoue,
Your too forgetfull, sorrowes which are drye,
And place them now, a fresh in memory,
Art thou a Father, or a Mother deare?
Hadst thou a Sonne, or Daughter of thy side:
Were not their voice, sweete musicke in thy Eare,
Or from their smiles, could'st thou thy countnance hide.
Nay, were they not, the glories of thy pride?
I doubt too much, thy loue on them were set,
That whilst thou liuest, thou canst not them forget.
Remember well, you Dames of London Cittie,
As for you men, ile leaue you for a while,
Because small paines, deserues the lesser pity,
And you are stronger, sorrowes to begyle:
A space we will, your company exile,
And bid you farewell, till another day,
When time and place, will giue you cause of stay.
And now my harts, olde Widdowes and yong wiues,
You that in silence, sit so sad and mute:
You that wring hands, as weary of your liues,
Heare London speake, she wil expresse your suite.
I know your sighes, is for your tender fruite.
Fruite in the budde, in blossome ripe and growne,
All deare to you, now death hath made his owne.
And as the greedy Wolfe, from harmeles Ewes,
Robbs them of Lambes, sucking their tender Tett:
And in his Rigour, no compassion shewes,
But gormondizing, kils them for his meate.
Euen so deaths fury, now is growne so great,
The tender Lambe, will not his fury stay.
Both Lambes and Ewes, he swalowes for his pray.
Witnes I ca [...], poore LONDON for my part,
What palefac't Death, within fiue Monthes hath wrought [...]
Seauen hundred Widdowes, wounded to the Hart,
With their sweet Babes, which they full dearely bought [...]
Some dead new borne, some neuer forth were brought,
You Mothers weepe, if euer you bore any,
To thinke how sore, Death did perplexe so many.
Not yet content, he Rageth vp and downe,
And secretly, his heauy visage shewes:
In euery streete, and corner of the Towne,
Emptyeing whole hou [...]es, soone whereas he goes,
Taking away, both olde and young G [...]d knowes,
The weeping Mother, and the Infant cleare,
The louing Brother, and the Sister deare.
Oh, mothers sigh, sit and shed teares a while,
Expell your idle pleasures, thinke on woes:
Make not so much as countenance of a smile
But with downe lookes, which inward sorrow showes,
And now a fresh, remember all your throwes,
Your g [...]ipes your panges, your bodies pincht with paine,
As if this instant, you did them sustaine
Let not so much, forgotten be of you,
As the least qualme, that then your harts opprest:
No nor the smallest, dolor did ensue,
As heauy wincks and too too little rest;
Remember al, the sorrowes of thy breast,
Which in the bre [...]ding, bearing and deliuery,
You did indure, with paine yet willing
Againe bethinke you, at that instant hower,
The little diff [...]r [...]nce, was twixt li [...]e and death:
When as the insant, with his naked power,
Laboured for life, to haue his right [...]ull birth,
And with the sickly, Mother gaspt for breath,
The one ne [...]e dead, as nigh to death the other,
Sore to the babe, worse Trauell for the Mother.
If any Mother, can forget this smart,
Her for a woman, I will neuer take:
And out of Londons, fauor may she part,
And all such brutish, strumpets for her sake:
For such light hus-wiues, I a wish will make,
That neuer any, may approch my Citty,
Euer to want, a [...]d no hart them to pittie.
And now [...]eturne I, to you honest wiues,
Who grieuing sits, and sighing send forth Teares,
Which to your Husbands, lyue chast and true liues,
And with your Children, passeth forth your yeares,
To you that Londons, Lamentations heares.
And are true parteners, in my pla [...]nts and mones,
Experience shewes it, by your inward gro [...]es.
The Child new borne, the Mother some de [...]le well
Are all the griefes, and sorrows at an end:
No cares and troubles, yet I haue to tell,
Though Child be swath'de, and sickly Mother mende,
The feeble Infant, many a fret doth send.
Which grieues the Mother, till she weepe againe,
To heare and see, the Infant in such paine.
And with her seeble, hand and weakely strength,
She playes and d [...]llyes, for the babyes good:
And to her milke-white, brestes doth lay at length
The prety foole, who learnes to take his foode.
His onely meanes, to nourish life and bloud,
He fed [...], she paynd, he drawes, poore Mother yeelds,
Whose louing brests both shutes and prickings feeles,
And when the Babe doth gather strength a maine,
Most strongly labouring at his mothers dugge.
She patiently endureth all the paine,
Su [...]fering his lipp [...]s her nipple still to lugge,
And with her armes most closely doth it hugge,
As she should say, draw childe and spare not mee,
My brests are thine, I feele no paine with thee.
Though that poore heart her brest doth ake full sore,
And inwardly sell prickings shee indures,
Till eyes gush teares, and lippes reach kisses store;
Which in true mothers gladsome ioyes procures,
And to more a [...]dent loue them still allures:
That toares and kisses greet the Babe together,
Like to sunne-shine when it is dropping weather,
Ymmagin heere, the pretty Lambe doth cry,
The Mother strong, and times of Custome past:
Will, she then leaue it, to the worldes broad Eye,
No, whilst her life, and vitall powers last,
The Mothers loue, to Child is fixte so fast.
She stills it straight, and layes it to her brest,
With kisses more, then VENVS could disgest
And with h [...]r Armes, she heaues it high and lowe,
As if a cradle, it sweete foole lay in:
Doubt you not to, she kisses did bestow,
And if it smile, a fresh she doth begin.
On prety looke, a hundred kisses winne
My more then sweete, vnto her Child she saith,
I would not for, a Kingdome wish thy Death.
Now is her minde, full straight with inward ioy [...]
As if all things, she thought should come to passe:
Vttering forth Sighes, vnto her prety boy,
Shall Death haue thee, and lay thee in the grasse,
Ile rather goe, to Earth from whence I was,
Fell Death goe seeke, for crooked age and olde,
My Child is fayre, vnfitting for the molde.
I hope to see, more comfort and more ioy,
Of this sweete Babe, which cost my life almost:
I pray thee grimme Death, doe not him annoy,
Goe get thee further, to some other Coast.
To kill an Infant giues small cause of boast.
Theres many liuing, that would gladly dye,
Take them away, but spare my Childe and I.
Chast LONDON wiues [...] me thinkes I see you all,
Each seuerall Mother, hau [...]ng greefes to shewe,
And with your greefes, I see the Teares doe fall,
The onely Phisicke, women can bestow,
Oh, that I could, but ease your hart sicke woe,
LONDON would spare, no labour cost not time,
To wipe the water, from your blubbered Eyen.
But I a skilfull Surgeons part will play,
First search the sore, then minister things meete:
Vnto yovr memories, I your plants will lay,
Causing a fresh your heauie eyes to greet.
Then gentler salues, I meane perswasions sweete;
This is the surgery wounded LONDON layes
To all her Patients, that her hests obayes.
One tender mother cryeth loude and shrill,
Wringing her hands, my children both are dead:
Sweet louing Henry, and my eldest gyrle,
Ah Besse, my wench thou hadst thy mother sped
With sorrowes, that will neuer from my head.
Thy forward wit to learning and to awe,
A sweeter daughter neuer woman sawe.
Thy flaxen haire, thy collour red and white,
Thy yeeres full ten, thy body straight and tall,
Thy countnance smilling, neither sad nor light,
Thy pleasant eyes, thy hands with fingers small,
Thy manners milde, thy reading best of all,
With needle pregnant, as thy Sampler shewes,
Patient in death like sucking Lambe she goes [...]
My hopes were that I might haue kept thy life
To see more yeeres, and be a beutious Mayde;
To see thee match't, and be a LONDON wife,
To see thy childe-bed, and be safely layde,
To see thy children in the streete haue playde:
To cheere my age, as should a louing daughter,
But thou art gone, and I must follow after.
My little HENRIE, oh, that prety foole;
That oft hath made my sorrowing heart full glad,
His words were Mamma: sit, here is a stoole,
Some bread and butter I haue nothing had;
Ile busse you well, (good Mamma) be not sad,
Vp on cock-high, I will sit in your lappe,
Where oft (poore sweeting) he hath caught a nappe.
And if sometimes, he hearde his Father chide,
As housholde wordes, may passe twixt man and wife:
Vnto my Husbande, presently he hyed
As he should say, I will appease the strife;
And with his Childish [...]hirth, and pleasvres rise.
Abates the heat, and makes vs both to ioy:
To see such nature, in the little Boy.
But Death, oh Death, that hater of my wealth
Hath slaine my D [...]ughter, and my little Sonne:
Both of them proppes, vnto my wished health
Both to haue kept. I woulde barefoote haue runne:
Fel ATROPOS, her fatall stroke hath done;
With the eternall. I beleue they rest,
Oh, happy Babes, for euer they are blest.
Step after Step, I see an other come,
Casting her handes, abroade, as shee were wood:
Seeming to tell a heauy tale to some,
But silly Dame, thou art not vnderstoode;
Speake mildely, lowly, not with chafing bloude:
For hastie speach, hath seldome reason showne,
When soft deliuerance, makes the matter knowne.
I am a Widdow poore, Christ shew me pittie,
Feeble and weake of yeeres, three score and ten:
I had two Daughters, married in the Cittie,
Both of them well, & vnto honest men;
They had my loues, and I had [...]heirs againe:
With them I hop't to spend my aged yeeres,
And to be buried, with their funerall teares.
To them I gaue, that little I possest,
With them to dwel, as long as life ensured:
Three Monthes with one, my Custome was to rest,
Then, with the other, I like space endured:
With vs the Diuel, no iarres nor brawles procured.
But liued and lou'de, as quiet as might be,
I bore with them, they dayly honouring me.
But now alas, a heauy Tale to tell,
As with my Chickins, I at pleasure slept:
Comes the great Puttocke, with his Tallantes fel,
And from me quite, my youngest Chicken swept;
Then to the other, he full nimbly leapt,
Seazing on her, as hee had done the other,
Oh greedy Death, could'st thou not take their Mother?
My age is fitter for the yawning Graue,
Their yeeres more tender in the worlde to stay:
My bones are dry, and would their porcions haue,
Their Lymmes were nimble, and a while might play;
My bloude is colde, theires hote, mine weares away.
They both were matched, & fruite might bring foorth store
I olde and withered, and can yeelde no more.
Thou cruel leane, and ill deformed Death,
Thou great intruder, and vn-welcomde guest:
Thou palefac't hog, thou shortner of long breath,
Thou mighty murdrer, of both man & beast:
VVhy doest thou not, inuite me to thy feast?
And on my body, shew thy fury great
That lackes house, lodging, sight, & what to eate.
VVith lamentations, and with Teares good store,
Ymmagin now, you heare a Mothers griefe:
Shee most of all, her sorrowes doth deplore,
Vttring foorth woordes, as helples of reliefe,
She is depriu'de, of all, both lesse and chiefe;
Aswell her Children, as her Husbande good,
VVith labouring seruantes that did earne their foode.
Ah my sweet Babes, what woulde not I haue done?
To yeelde you comfort, & maintaine you heer [...]:
Early and late, no labour woulde I shun,
To feede your mouthes, though hunger pincht me neere;
All three at once, I woulde your bodies cheere.
Twaine in my lappe, shoulde sucke their tender Mother,
And with my foot, I woulde haue rockt the other.
Me thinkes I see them still, and heare their cryes
Chiefly a nights when I on bed am layde,
Which make fresh teares goe from my watry eyes,
When I awake and finde I am deceiued;
Sweet pretie Babes, Christ hath your souls receiued;
Faire Babes to mee, you nere shall come againe,
But where you are, I trust aye to remaine.
Your louing father tooke a great delight,
O [...]ten in Armes to haue those children small,
And now he hath them euer in his sight,
Not one or two, the heauens possesse them all,
Father and Babes obayde when Christ did call.
They all are gone, I onely left with breath,
To byde more sorrowes in this wretched earth.
Poore and in want yong widddow left am I,
Kindles and friendlesse, lacking meanes to liue,
Had but my seruants stayde their worke to plye
Their labour, would some comfort to me giue,
My hopes are like to water powrde in syue.
Onely I trust God will increase my health,
That I may worke and hate dishonest wealth.
Many more sorrowes might I here repeate,
Of grieued Mothers for their children deare,
But times are precious and worke too great
For my hoarse voice to shew and vtter here,
Onely I pray you listen and giue eare
To LONDONS sorrowes, which so many are,
My clacking tongue cannot them hal [...]e declare.
And as with paine I did endure to tell
Your too too heauie and vnwelcom'd woés,
Wherein poore LONDON labour'd to do well,
But wanting giftes, the best she can she showes
The willing minde, that all she hath bestowes,
Must needes be reconed for a friendly part,
Deseruing thankes, with as cheerefull a heart,
Excuse me then, and heare me too, a while,
For many sorrowes compasse me throughout:
Neuer since BRVTE set footing in this Isle,
Nor nere since it was walled round about:
More blessed newes, nor happy spring cold sprout;
Then did to LONDON, in this present yeere,
When Englands CESAR came this Citie neere.
All went as [...]aunt, happy that Marchant was
Which had rich wares to please his Chapmans eyes
The finest shagges, wrought stuffes, and purest glasse,
Rare cloth of gold, and silkes of euery dye:
Who for his money could know where to buy,
Both went and sent to fetch in wares good store,
Not doubting sale for that and three times more.
And as they thought a while it did continue,
Doings waxt quicke, and wares a pace did sell,
Great men of honours with their retinue,
Approch't my Citie minding here to dwell,
Houses and Chambers were let deare and well,
There was no corner in me did remaine,
But the true Owner might imploy to gaine,
With ICARVS, I soring then aloft,
Bathing my limbes in heat of highest sonne,
Till waxen wings with melting heate were soft,
And had no power me from the waues to shunne,
Downe must I fall, my glorie quite vndone,
He sits aboue that looketh downe below,
Comm [...]nding powers his iustice here to show.
And with King DAVIDS chance doth me correct,
Spreading his Plague, where pleaseth him to strike;
Because in health his lawes I did reiect,
Trusting in menes, in man, in horse, and pike:
Boasting of riches, beautie and such like.
Neuer redeeming of swift passing times,
But still committing new and vgly crimes.
And to the ende, none dwelling in my Cittie
Should thinke themselues more safer then the rest,
Iudging their slights and not Gods lasting pittie,
To be the cause why they with health are blest;
Gods iudgement vpon all degrees are prest,
From poorest begger, to the wealthiest Squire,
From yongest infant, to the oldest Syre.
For if the aged people hee should spare,
They would attribute to themselues too much,
And say their bloudes are drye, their bones so bare,
The Pestilence [...]heir bodies cannot touch.
If middle age should scape, their wits are such,
That through their dyet [...] or by letting blood,
They wonne the victorie, and the Plague with-stood.
The frolicke youths would iudge the strengths the meane,
Boasting of ioyntes, armes, legges and sinewes strong,
The little infant being weake and leane,
Wants substance for the Plague to worke vpon.
These are excuses, but effects haue none;
Gods Messenger (the Plague) doth feare no States,
But strikes both lowest and the highest Mates.
Now for the rich which haue of golde such store,
Feeding their bodyes with dilicious fare,
Keeping great fires, stirre not out of doore,
Vsing perfumes, shunning infected ayre;
Shall they escape? No, the Plague will them not spare:
Because they shall not thinke their heaped treasure,
Can keepe them longer then it is Gods pl [...]asure.
If rich men dye, and poorer people stay,
They will exclame with hate and deadly ire,
Saying with surfects they cousume the day,
Wallowing in ease like dirtie Swyne in myre,
Iudging thei [...] scarcitie and their thinne atyre
The onely Phisicke, poysons to with stand,
But they like others haue giuen death their hand.
If any then should scape deathes heauie sight,
And claime a pardon for a longer day;
The zealous Preacher and the godly wight,
Which for themselues, and sor their hearers pray,
Might hau [...] some fauour in this world to stay:
But God saith no, they sh [...]ll yeeld to their kinde,
Lest they prooue haughti [...] which remaine behinde.
There are a people that doe leawdly liue,
Swaggering and swearing, prone to euery sinne,
Sh [...]ll those men scape? No, they account shall giue
Of all the vices they haue wallowed in.
Such wretched Caytiffes, made the Lord beginne,
To strike poore LONDON [...] with thy heauie rod,
For pleasing Sathan, and offending God.
What should I say my sorrowes are so many,
One for a thousand I cannot repeate,
Within my liberties scarce any,
Which haue no [...] felt Gods wrath and mightie threate,
Either by death, or sicknesse fell and great,
If Parents scap'de, the children had their part,
If both remaine, their seruants felt some smart.
The sicke bequeather of his wealth by Will,
Not onely dead, but his executors too,
And eke the Scriuener that did make the Bill,
All in one fort-night haue payde death their due,
The like vnto the Landlord doth ensue,
Both wealthy father, and succeeding heire,
With their poore tenants ended haue their care.
The ioyfull Brydegroome married as to day,
Sicke, weake, and feeble before table layde,
And the next morrow dead and wrap't in clay,
Leauing his Bride, a widdow, wife and mayde.
Which sudden change doth make her so dismayde,
That griefes and sorrowes doth perplexe her heart,
Within three dayes she takes her husbands part,
Much might I speake of other sad laments,
And fill your eares with new and seuerall woes,
Spending a weeke, repeating discontents,
Which needlesse is, where all both sees and knowes,
How many thousands death and graues inclose:
Making me (LONDON) which long time hath slowrish't
Scorned of those which I both fed and nourish't.
And thos [...] that haue my glory most set forth,
Boasting that I for beautie did excell;
Now to approch vnto me are so loath,
As if my presence were a swallowing hell:
Within their houses they refuse to dwell,
And to the Countrey flye like swarmes of Bees,
Where wealth and credite many of them leese.
But most of all my sorrowing heart doth grieue,
For such as worke and take exceeding care,
And by their labour knowe not how to liue,
Going poore soules in garments thinne and bare,
The bellie hungry, of flesh leane and spare.
Pawning and selling clothes, and what they [...]aue,
To seed their children which for foode doe craue.
And when poore hearts their hunger once is stayed,
The day insuing brings the like distresse:
The painefull Parents working all their trade
For new supply, fell famine to suppr [...]sse,
But all in vaine their woes are nere the lesse.
Their worke being made, abroade poore soules they trott,
From Morne to Noone, from Noone to Night, God wott.
Offering their wares, and what they haue to sell,
Vnto such Trades-men as haue small pittie,
But they like NABALS, will not with them mell,
Vnlesse for halfe the worth they may it buy:
The rich man laughs, the poore in heart doth cry,
Shedding foorth teares in sorrow to his wife,
This world doth make me wearie of my life.
The Wife doth weepe, the needy seruantes play,
The Children cry for foode where none is bought:
The Father saith, I cannot sell to day,
One iot of worke, that all of vs haue wrought;
In euery shoppe, I haue for mo [...]ey sought.
And can take none, your hunger to sustaine,
Teares part from him, the Children cry amaine.
VVhat shall we doe? a counsell straight they take,
Meate must be had, our people must not starue,
Wi [...]e, take such thinges, & goe without A LOATE,
In HOVVNDES DITCH, pawne them, our great neede to serue,
They wil make sure, if that a day we swa [...]ue;
All will be lost, our garments are their owne,
Though for a pound we giue a shilling lone.
Besides the Bill a powling groat will cost,
And euery Moneth our pawne must be renew'd,
So was my Lease to griping vsurie lost,
The first beginner of my sorrowes brew'd,
And euer since want vpon want insew'd.
My bedding forfeite for a thing of nought,
My brasse and Pewter, want of conscience bought.
If now our clothes which clad out naked skinne,
Should thus be lost, as was our other good,
Alas, (poore Wife) what case are we then in,
Such shamefast Beggers neuer asked food.
If honest labour could this griefe withstood,
We would haue reckoned day and night as one,
To worke for meate, rather then make such mone.
O you of LONDON, now heare LONDON speake,
Especially you Magistrates of might,
And wealthy Citizens, whose store is great,
I gently wooe you to haue good fore-sight,
And cast your eyes vpon the needy wight,
Though feare of sicknesse driue you hence as men,
Yet leaue your purse, and feeling heart with them.
Remember all, your riches are but lent,
Though in this world, you beare such power and sway:
Remember too, how soone your yeares are spent,
Remember eke, your bodies are but clay,
Remember death, that rangeth at this day.
Remember when, poore Lazers woes did end,
The full fed glutton, to hell, did discend.
Remember rulers, of each publycke charge,
The seuerall branches, of your priuate oath:
Remember them, that vse a conscience large,
And on themselues, the needyes stocke bestow'th,
He robbes his God, and his poore neighbours both.
He that graunts blessings, to the poore that lends,
Giues treble cursings, to those it miss-spends.
Remember likewise, God hath plac't you heere,
To be as nursing, fathers to the poore,
Let then your kindnes, now to them appeare,
Giue much and be, no niggards of your store:
G [...]d in his wisedome, gaue it you therefore.
Put foorth your tallents, and gaine ten for fiue,
so shall you in, the heauenly Cittie thriue.
One other boone, doth mournefull LONDON craue,
Of you on whom, her weale and woes depende
When in the senate, house with counsell graue,
You sit debating, causes how to end.
Make some decree, poore working trades to mend,
At least set downe, some order for their good,
That each man may, with labour earne his foode.
Restraine the number, of deuouring drones,
That sucks the hunny, from the laboring bees.
Catching by peece-meale, in their bribes and lones,
Mens whole estates, which are of poore degrees:
And brings them quickly, on their naked knees,
Fower groates a month, for twenty shillings lent,
Ys like windes tempest, till the house be rent.
The number, numb [...]rlesse of houses vaine,
Which beere and ale, forsooth make shewe to sell:
Vnder which couller, doth such vyces rayne
My cheeke doth glowe, my toongue refraines to tell,
Offending God, and pleasing Sathan well,
Like wicked SODOME, doth my Subburbs lye,
A mighty blemish, to faire LONDONS eye.
Reforme these things, you heads of LONDON Citie,
Punnish lewd vice, let vertue spring and grow:
Then Gods iust wrath, now hot will turne to pittie,
And for his children, you againe doe know:
Your former health, on you he will bestow,
The Plague and Pestilence, wherewith he visites still,
To end or send, are in his holy will.
You see the runner, in his race is tript,
Well when he went, dead ere his iourneyes done:
You see how soddaine, beauties blase is nipt,
Which sought all meanes, deaths danger for to shunne,
You heare what successe, followe them that runne:
Most true report, doth tell vs where and how,
The Countreys plauge, exceedes the Citties now.
Sith then it resteth, in Gods mighty power,
Who when he please, can bid his Angell stay:
Or if he will, destroy you in an hower
A thousand yeares, being with him as one day,
Why should you not, to him for mercy pray.
Desiring pardon, with a contryte heart,
And from your former, wickednes depart.
Yf this you will, incontinently doe,
The Lorde in pittie, will his iudgments cease,
And many blessings will he powre on you:
Health and long life, Honour & happie peace,
Your Foes shal quaile, your friendes shall still increase,
Your VViues shall flourish like a fruitfull Vine,
Your Children prosper, and your griefes decline [...]
Your Termes shall holde, your men of Worth shall stay,
Your Marchants trafficke, and great riches gaine,
Your Trades-mens sorrows shall bee done away,
True loyall seruants shall with them remaine:
Your Artisants shall neuer more complaine,
Their honest labour so shall thriue and speede,
That they shall giue to others that haue neede.
And I that long haue beene a loathed Dame,
shall frolicke then with myrth and inward glee,
Renowned Lady, now must be my name,
O famous LONDON, who is like to thee;
Thy God is serude by men of each degree,
Thy Churches filde, thy Preachers burne with zeale,
Thy glory shines, O blessed Common-weale.
My crowned CESAR and his Peerlesse Queene,
Comes now tryumphing with their princely sonne,
Deck [...]t with rich robes the like was neuer seene,
Nor neuer none more welcome to LONDON,
Me thinkes I see the people how they runne,
To get them roome this happy sight to see,
That this may come say all Amen, with mee.
FINIS.
A godly and zealous Prayer vnto God, for the surceasing of his irefull Plague, and grieuous Pestilence.
O LORD God Almightie, the Father of mercies and God of all consolation, we miserable distressed creatures, wounded with th [...] multitude of our grieuous sins, repayre vnto thee (the Phisition of our soules) for Balme to cure our Sores. O Lord, we acknowledge and confesse our owne vnworthinesse: great is thy goodnesse towards vs, and great is our ingratitude towardes thee. Thou hast opened the Windowes of Heauen, and powred out thy blessings vpon vs, as out of a store-house or treasurie: thou hast giuen vs of the fatte of the earth, and fed vs with the dewe of heauen: peace and plentie haue beene our portion, and inheritance these many yeeres: the sword hath not deuoured vs, hunger and famine haue not come neere vs: the knowledge of thy word hath florished amongst vs: And whereas other Nations sit in darkenesse, and grope at Noone day, being ouerwhelmed with the fogges & mystes of error and supersticion, wee still inioy the fruition of thy glorious Gospell, and the sunne of righteousnes still shineth cleerely in our climate: whose sweete influence might hau [...] caused vs (had we not bene barren trees) to haue brought foorth much fruite. But alas, in vaine hath the doctrine of thy sonne Christ Iesus, dropped as the deaw: in vaine haue the sweet distilling showres of thy mercies beene powred out vpon this Land. For we haue not yet brought forth the first fruites of the spirit: we haue had the first, and the latter raine; but we bring foorth ye fruit of righteousnes, neither [Page] first nor last: our Wine is bitter as the Wine of Sodom, and our grapes as the grapes of Gomorrah: wee are become as the seede of the wicked corrupt children, disobedient seruantes, a rebellious people, & now that we are rich, and are waxen fat, we spurne with the h [...]ele, like ye vnruly Heifar, we are sicke of long prosperity, & haue surfeited of peace and plentie: fulnes of bread hath caused vs to [...]n against thre, & we haue wearied thee wt our iniquities, they are too sore and heauy a burthen for vs to beare. Therfore is thy visitation come amongst vs, & thine hand i [...] sore against vs: therefore hast th [...]u armed thy selfe with displeasure, like a man of warre, thou hast prepared thy instruments of wrath, thou hast whet thy sword, thou hast bent thy bow, thou hast put thine hand to the quiuer, thou hast shot [...]ut thine arrowes of indignation against vs, like a Gyaunt refreshed with wine, hast smitten vs, and wee are wounded at the heart. Woe vnto vs, for the voyce of lamentation and mourning is heard in our Cities, as when thou slewest the first borne of Egypt. Our houses are left desolate, and men abhorre their owne inheritance. Wee are one afraid of another, men hardly trust themselues, yea, scarcely the clothes of their backes. Where are our solemne meetings, and frequent assemblies: men stand a farre off: the Streates and high wayes mourne: trafficke ceaseth: marchandize decayeth: the craftes-man and cunning artificer is ashamed of his pouertie. These things doe we iustly suffer for our sinnes, at thy hands; O God, and yet still we goe forwards in our sinnes, like the swift Dromedorie in his [...]ourse: Or like the Asse in the mountaines, which draweth in the ayre at her pleasure, we haue not comforted the weake and feeble knees, we haue not wept with them that weepe. We haue not had that sympathy, and fellow-s [...]lling of each others miserie, which ought to bee in the members of Christ, Nay, often times while one prayeth in the bitternesse and anguish of his spirit, another blasphemeth in the pride and presumption of his heart. Heare one groueleth on ye ground, [Page] gasping & gaping after life, there another walloweth in th [...] sincke of sin, and puddle of iniquitie, vomiting vp his own [...] shame. O God, how displeasing a spectacle is this to thin [...] eyes: how harsh musicke (and distempered harmony) is it to thine eares. Therefore thine hand is stretched out, to smit [...] off the withered brāches of those trees which are corrupt. O Lord, thou knowest that it is not in man to direct his owne wayes. Turne vs vnto thee, and we shall be turned. Draw thou vs, and we wil run after the smell of thine oyntments. Touch our [...]linty hearts, and our eyes shall gush out with water, as the stonie Rocke which Moses smote: Then wilt thou repent thee of this euill, when wee haue repented vs of our sinnes: then wilt thou turne from vs thy fierce wrath, when wee haue turned from our iniquities: Then will we offer vp wt the calues of our lips a sacrifice of prayse and thankesgiuing, when thou hast raised vs vp, out of the pit of our grieued desolatiō, then shalt thou put myrth and gladnesse into our heartes. Most mercifull Father, let it be ynough that we haue hitherto borne the stormes of thy displeasure, now let thy angry Angell hold his destroying hand: let vs not all dye in our sinnes for whom Christ dye [...], that wee might liue vnto thee, take away thy cup of indignation from vs, and let vs drinke no more of the dreg [...] of thy furie; saue the remnant that are left with thy preseruatiues of grace, Send thy good Angell vnto the [...]ings Court, and giue him charge ouer his Maiestie, that the arrowes yt flye by night touch not his sacred pers [...]n, nor come nere his princely Progeny. Let treacherie, and conspiracie blush and be ashamed and confounded at their presence: let prosperitie attend them on the right hand and on the left: Lord giue vnto the Nobles, & Senators of this Land, the spirit of wisedome, counsell and vnderstanding: the spirit of true fortitiude, courage [...] and magnanimitie. Inspire the Ministers of thy Gospel with knowledge of thy word, inflame their hearts with a feruent zeale for thy glory: giue vnto all Superiors, discretion & moderation: vnto all inferiors, loyalty and obdedience. More perticulerly, for our selues, Wee pray thee blesse our downe sitting and our vprising, [Page] blesse our going foorth, and our comming in: saue vs from the noysome Plague and pestilence, which i [...] the rod of thy furie, and the hammer of thine indignation, which breakest in peices like a Potters vessell irrepentant sinners, therefore suffer vs not, we beseech thee, to walke any longer in the stubburnesse of our owne hearts, least we hoard vp vengeanc [...] for our selues in the day of wrath. O Lord illuminate our vnderstanding [...], reforme oure irreguler disordered affections, mortifie our sinnes, let them dye in this nights rest, that to morrow whē we awake, we may shake off sinnes, and liue vnto righteousnesse, neuer fea [...]ing to goe foreward from grace to grace, from vertue to vertue, vntill we haue arriued at the hauen of rest: whither Christ bring vs, which bought vs for his mercies sake: To wh [...]m with the Father and the holy Ghost, be all honour, power, and dominion, for euermore. Amen.
FINIS.
A true Relation of al that haue bin buried of all diseases, in euery seuerall Parish; aswell within the Cittie of London, & liberties thereof, as also in the out parishes neere therevnto adioyning, from the 14 of Iuly last past, 1603, to the 17. of Nouember following.
- Albones in Woodstreet
- 174
- Alhallowes Lumbarstr.
- 107
- Alhallowes the great
- 278
- Alhallowes the lesse
- 220
- Alhallowes Bredstreet
- 27
- Alhallowes staynings
- 121
- Alhallowes the wall.
- [...]11
- Alhallowes Hony-lane
- 14
- Alhallowes Barking
- 411
- Alphage at Cripplegate
- 168
- Androwes by the Wardrope
- 282
- Androwes Eastcheape
- 104
- Androwes vndershaft
- 159
- Annes at Aldersgate
- 140
- Annes Black Fryers
- 240
- Auntlins parish
- 34
- Austines Parish
- 91
- Bartholmew at the Exch:
- 76
- Bennets at Pauls-wharf.
- 190
- Bennets Grace-Church
- 39
- Bennets Finck
- 93
- Bennets Sherhogg
- 26
- Buttols Billinsgate
- 18
- Christ Church parish
- 323
- Christophers parish
- 36
- Clements by East-cheape
- 46
- Dennis Back-church
- 105
- Dunstones in the East
- 222
- Edmunds in Lumbard-st
- 72
- Ethelborow within Bishopsg
- 156
- S. Faithes
- 101
- S. Fosters in Foster-lane
- 93
- Gabriel Fan-Church
- 66
- Georges Buttolph-lane
- 35
- Gregories by Paules
- 260
- Hellens within Bishopsg.
- 95
- Iames by Garlick-hith
- 136
- Iohn Euangelist
- 9
- Iohn Zacharies
- 131
- Iohns in the Walbrooke
- 133
- Katherines Cree-Church
- 391
- Katherines Colemans
- 180
- Laurence in the Iury
- 86
- Laurence Pountney
- 157
- Leonards Foster-lane
- 239
- Leonards Eastcheape
- 50
- [Page]Magnus parish by the Bridge
- 107
- Margrets New fishstreet
- 81
- Margrets Pa [...]tens
- 51
- Margrets Moyses
- 67
- Margrets Lothbery
- 99
- Martins in the Vintry
- 242
- Martins Orga [...]s
- 89
- Martins Iremonger lane
- 25
- Martins at Ludgate
- 19 [...]
- Martins Outwich
- 38
- Mary le Booe
- 26
- Mary Bothaw
- 39
- Mary at the hill
- 1 [...]9
- Mary Abchurch
- 120
- Mary Woolchurch
- 48
- Mary Colchurch
- 10
- Mary Woolnoth
- 85
- Mary Aldermary
- 75
- Mary Aldermanbery
- 78
- Mary Stayning [...]
- 49
- Mary Mountawe
- 47
- Mary Sommersets
- 193
- Mathew Friday-street
- 16
- Maudlins in Milke-street
- 32
- Maudlins by oldfishstreet
- 128
- Mighels Bassie shaw
- 135
- Mighels Cornehill
- 119
- Mighels in Woodstreet
- 151
- Mighel [...] in the Ryall
- 99
- Mighels in the Querne
- 59
- Mighels Queene-hith
- 128
- Mighel Crooked lane
- 139
- Mildreds Poultry
- 79
- Mildreds Bredstreet
- 39
- Nicholas Acons
- 32
- Nicholas Cole-Abbay
- 139
- Nicholas Olaue
- 80
- Olaues in the Iury
- 40
- Olaues in Hartstreet
- 186
- Olaues in Siluer-street
- 111
- Pancras by Soperlaue
- 18
- Pete [...]s in Cornehill
- 132
- Peters in Cheape
- 45
- Peters the poore in broadstr,
- 44
- Peters at Pauls-wharfe
- 95
- Steuens in Colman-street
- 339
- Steuens in the Walbrok
- 22
- Swithins at London-stone
- 116
- Thomas Apostles
- 83
- Trinitie Parish
- 116
VVithout the VVals of London.
- Androwes in Holborn
- 1178
- Barthelmew the lesse Smith [...]
- 84
- Barthelmew the great Smit [...]
- 200
- Brides Parish
- 907
- Buttols Algate
- 1465
- Buttols Bishopsgate
- 1202
- Buttols without Aldersg.
- 556
- Dunstones in the West
- 484
- Georges in Southwarke
- 895
- Giles without Creeplegate
- 2455
- Olaues in Southwarke
- 2459
- Sauiours in Southwarke
- 1858
- Sepulchers parish
- 2219
- Thomas in Southwark
- 245
- Trinitie in the Minories
- 39
- [Page]Clements without Templeb.
- 624
- Giles in the Fields
- 439
- Iames at Clarkenwell
- 716
- Katherines by the Tower
- 639
- Leonards Shoredich
- 856
- Martins in the Fields
- 458
- Mary Whitechappel
- 1534
- Magdalens in Barmondsey— streete.
- 578
- Bridewel precinct.
- 103
- At the Pest-house
- 134
The true Number of al that haue bin buried, aswel within ye Cittie of London: as also within the liberties and Subburbes thereof, of all diseases, since the first beginning of this Uisitation, is 37717.
FINIS.