¶ A warning for the wise, a feare to the fond, a [...]idle to the lewde, and a glass [...] to the good.

Written of the late Earthquake chanced in London and other places, the. 6. of April 1580. for the glorie of God, and benefite of men that warely can walke, and wisely can iudge.

Set forth in verse and prose, by Thomas Churchyard Gentleman.

Seen and allowed.

Imprinted at London, by Iohn Allde, and Nicholas Lyng: and are to be solde at the weast dore of Paules Church. Anno 1580. April. 8.

To the Right worshipfull his verie good friend, M. Alex­an [...] Nowel, Deane of Paules.

THe fatherlye and faithfull maner of your diuine Do­ctrine (M. Deane,) with the blotlesse life you lead (soū ­ded by the vniuersal report of good people) made mee often desirous to dedicate some labour of mine, to the protectiō of your sound iudge­ment. And now pricked forward by Gods mightie motion (and maruellous workes of late) to bestowe a fewe verses to a vertuous personage, in a vitious world & dangerous season, I haue chosen you among a multi­tude, to sounde out the trumpet of Gods glorie, and to giue passage to the playnesse of my pen, and willing paines I haue taken: Not as though my wordes or inuention (voide of depe profundity) might aduance any waye the high maiestie of God, or fur­ther the good Fame you haue gotten. But being in humility of minde, loking to the basenesse of this world, and meannes of my [Page] calling, (vnfurnished both of heauenly gifts & worldly good fortunes) I presumed tho­row my pen and studie, to purchase you a friend, and reclaime the enimies of God to come home to their consciences, and looke on the wonders of the Lorde, that dayly is working amōg his louing people. So ney­ther meaning to flatter (where tender eares can abyde no doublenesse) nor stretche out a bare Epistle, with a long discourse of bor­rowed wordes, I betake you to the almigh­tie, committing that followes (this simple short Scedule) to the great and good consideration of your Wisdome. From my lodging this eight of April. Your wel willer al­wayes at commaunde­ment.

Thomas Churchyard [...].

¶ Churchyardes admonition to the Reader.

I Trust (good Reader) that the fresh me­morie of this late woonder shall make thée to looke backe-warde vnto thy for­mer faultes, and make thée a new man, i [...] cleannesse of life. For the straunger the things are that our eyes behold, the more the impression of the minde is car­nestly occupied about the vnderstanding of a wonder. And ye oftener we sée mar­uelles, the more is Gods might made manifest, & we the more affrayed to of­fend. But perhaps, some fine headed fel­lowes will wrest (by naturall argumen­tes) Gods doing and works, to a world­ly or earthly operation▪ procéeding from a hidden cause in the body and bowels of ye earth. As in déede of many other earth­quakes before, hath bene written and throughly disputed: A reason that man [Page] maketh, and a matter to be spokē of, but not much to be cōmended. Let such fine wittes search out secretes, and sift what they can from the bottome of their sen­ses. Yet those that feare God, (and féele in their consciences a diuine motion frō the consideration of worldly wonders) will take the Earthquake to be of a no­ther kinde of Nature: And beholding y• myraculous manner of the same, with open armes, and humble heart, will em­brace Gods visitation, & worthily wel­come the messanger he sendeth. Which assuredly cannot come, without his pro­uidence, nor be séen without his heauen­ly will and pleasure. And this is much to be noted: If naturall causes onely compelled such Earthquaks (and procu­red such tremblings,) then aswell in the wilde fieldes, as in the ciuill Townes, these alterations were often to be foūd. In déede many graue Auctors write, how mightie mountaines haue bene re­moued, & whole Countreys haue bene drowned, by y• occasion of Earthquaks. But in those kingdomes, the Lorde of al Kinges (for some hidden iudgement to [Page] himselfe) bore a greater sway in those causes and places, than any other natu­ral properties. And though that in many territories & open fieldes (as good bookes make report) Earthquakes haue bene séene, and great hurt hath bene done: yet the harmes that come by Earthquakes in a ciuill towne (where God is honored and taketh care of his people) argues a maruellous mysterie, and perswades a further matter, than weake witted men may meddle withall. For sundry Cities haue soonk, & millions of Houses, Chur­ches, Towres, and walles, haue bene by Earthquake vtterly ouerthrowen. But commonly such wonders are séen, where all the world may be a witnesse of Gods great glory: and mans vnsuretie of life may be thorowly vnderstoode. Now if for all things that sodenly happen, a reason may be made, and naturall argumentes leade mans beléefe from the hope, feare, & confidence in God, then though thou­sandes of wonders happened in a day, not one among ten thousād would thinke that God doth any thing at al, but as na­tural causes do fal out, [...]h thing to haue [Page] both beginning and their end. God kéepe his chosen from such a conceit of chance, and beléefe of blindnesse. But now to be plaine, no threatning serueth a naughtie seruaunt, No whippe, nor rod, amendeth a loytering scholler, nor no example may reforme a filthie liuer. For whē ye plague is past, the people fall to pleasure. And e­uen as a horse forgets the spurre, & falles to a i [...]nbeling pace, immediatly after his gentle remembrance: so man thinkes no longer on a wonder than a dreame, and makes no more accompt of a meruaile, than if a trifle had bene tolde him. Yet my hope is (good Reader) that the wise will be warned, and the well disposed person will be the better, while he liueth, as oft as this late Earthquake shal come to his minde and memorie. For it was mar­uelous in the sight of man, & a great thing (no doubt) before the face of the Almightie: to whom be praise and glory for euer.

¶ The reporte of the saide Earthquake, howe it beganne.

ON Wednesdaye in the Easter wéeke, beyng the sixt day of April. 1580. be­twene the houres of fiue and sixe in the euening, hapned generally through all the City of London, & the Suburbes of the same (as it were in a moment and vppon the sodaine) a wonderful motion and trem­bling of the earth, in somuch, as Chur­ches, Pallaces, Houses, and other buil­dings did so quiuer and shake, that such as were then present in the same were tossed too and fro as they stoode, and o­thers, as they sate on seates, driuen off from their places: some leaning backe­wardes, were readye to fall: and manye besides so shaken standing, that it brou­ghte suche terror to those that were in the same houses, that the most part fea­red, their houses woulde come downe [Page] vpon them, and therevppon ranne oute of their doores in greate pe [...]plexitie, to sée whether their houses were stil stan­ding in their wonted place or no. And some houses did so crackle, that the ta­bles and stooles, with other furniture, as Bra [...]e and Pewter, so tottered, that it was thought they would haue fallen to the ground, and the houses reste in­sunder. And this chaunced not only in London (& ye suburbs of ye same) but al­so in diuers other parts through the ne­rest places of our knowlege in Englād. But specially about S. Katherins, the Limehouse, & Rad [...]liffe, where y• people were so maruellously amazed, y• it was pitifull to beholde how fearefully they ranne oute of their doores, and howe strangely one would beholde an other, thinking verilye, that the latter daye hadde bene come. And the houses on London bridge didde shake euen in the same sort as in other parts of y• Citie. Whereby it appeareth, that the sayd trembling and mouing of the earth, did not onely passe vnder the houses on the firme ground, but also vnder the riuers [Page] and waters. And to signifie better the generalitie of the same, you shal vnder­stād, that the Abbey Church at West­minster, was there with so shaken, that one of the Pinacles of the same, loste a­boue one foote of his toppe, the stones whereof fel to the ground. Also the stée­ple in the Pallace so shoke, that the bel of the great Clocke sounded therewith, as thoughe it hadde bene stricken with some hā [...]er. Also at White H [...]l where hir Maiestie lieth, the great Chamber & other parts of the Court so shooke, as séemed strange to such as were present. The new Hall of the middle Tēple did so shake also, as it caused a number of Gentlemē (being set to Supper) to roon forth with their kniues in their hands, fearing that it woulde fall. It chanced also, Tho. Cobhed being in y• pulpit in Christes church in Newgate market, preaching to y• people, sodenly ye church so shooke, ye out of the roofe of the same fell certayne greate stones, by the fall whereof, a boy named Thomas Gray, apprentice to Iohn Spurling Shooma­ker, was brayned, and Mabell Eueret [Page] his fellowe seruaunt, was stricken on the heade with a stone, being daunge­rously hurt, but is not dead: and a num­ber of the people (by hasting to flee and scape away) were sore brused and hurt, by falles and suche like a [...]cidentes. A number being at the Theatre and the Curtaine at Hollywell, beholding the playes, were so sh [...]ken, especially those that stoode in the hyghest roomthes and standings, that they were not a little dismayed, considering, that they coulde no waye shifte for themselues, vnlesse they woulde, by leaping, hazarde their liues or limmes, as some did in déede, leaping frō the lowest standings. Also in Shordiche, and other places, fell Chimneis, and amōg others, in Filpot Lane, at Maister Alderman Osbornes [...]el a péece of a Chimney: like wise from the toppe of Paules Church, and other places, fel small péeces of stone, & mor­ter from the toppes of houses. And other harme is not yet heard of (for the why [...]h God be thanked.)

LEt London wéep, whose wals of late did shake with trembling feare,
Put sack [...]loth on, & waile your sins, with many abytter teare:
For in your pompe, and chiefest pryde, when Plagues began to seace,
And peoples hardned stubborne heartes, forgot the God of peace:
An Earthquake came, with whirling noise as House and Towre should fall:
A louing rodde of threatning wrath, sent sure to warne vs all.
For such a terror did it bring, to euery honest minde,
As day of Iudgement had bene come, with storme and whirling winde.
The stréets did shake, the Churches réelde, the ground it quiuered sore,
Men stoode amazde, and women shreekt, the babes did crie and rore:
The Stéeples tottred too and fro, and locks of doores did clinke:
The tiles from house came tūbling downe, and ground began to shrinke.
The Bels did sounde without mans helpe, the water wawmde and boylde.
The trées and floures did quake for feare, [Page] as fruite should cleane be spoylde.
The Theatre, for (some great regarde) that open world shoulde note,
Was shakte so sore, that sundrye there, a feareful frighting goett.
Yea some were slaine, & crusht with stones from Christs Church roofe that fel:
And earth was brought, in such a state, as world shoulde sinke to Hel.
The wondring sort (of wicked mindes) that carelesse steppes do trea [...]e,
Will smile to sée the workes of God, as wanton liues they leade.
But those that grace hath toucht within, by outward signes will show,
That hart forethinks foule former faults, for feare of greater blowe,
Than now they féele through Earthquake strange, wherin Gods might in knowne,
And London (if Gods loue had lackt) had surely bin orethrowne.
Loke in your hartes what cankers growe, where rust hath gotten roote,
And search your ioynts (you sick in spréet) from heade to sole of foote.
Talke not of God, and follow world, you know his name is great,
[Page]So is his wrath, when that his hate, consumes you in his heate.
You fine dissemblers, shroude your selues within his mercie seate,
And you that for this worldly muche, your busie braynes do beate,
Amende and fa [...]l to better life: But you that wantons are,
Repent, or Gods right hande wil marr [...] the sale of all your ware.
You gréedie gracelesse Fulkers lewd, th [...]t lets out gold for gaine,
Take h [...]de, lest from the heau [...]ns hie, hot▪ fire and Brunst [...]ne rayne
Upon your heades, for shameful shifts: and you th [...]t p [...]lter still,
With poore n [...]es wiues, come fear y• Lord, for punishe sure he will.
You mightie men and wealthy Chubbes, that hurde vp [...]hinkes in Chestes,
Proclayme a fast, and bold vp hands, and leaue your Bacchus feastes.
You wicked folke that vse deceyte, in selling néedeful things,
Tell tru [...]th, and leaue that lying trade, that Gods disple [...]sure brings:
You Lordly maisters, looke on God, [Page] and gouerne wel your charge,
And ho [...]de in youth, that reuell makes, and riot ronnes at large.
You game some seruaunts, that doe play [...] your thrifte away at Dice,
Fling downe the bones, forsake the fleshe, in time reforme your vice.
You Pastors looke, your Lamps be light, least you in darknesse fall,
Fleece not the flocke yée ought to féede, for God beholdeth all.
You Courtiers liue, as you are taught, bid finenesse now adew,
Let Mammon go, runne after God, who sh [...]peth men a newe.
You Lawi [...]rs cut, off long delayes, knitte sutes v [...] soone and short,
Helpe poore mens sutes, that people pla [...]e, may giue you good reporte.
And all that in the Citie dwell, and euery other where,
Thinke on the Erthquake, that you sawe, [...] [...]ife and breath you beare.
For this was sent fr [...]m fathers hand, to make the childe to knowe,
The [...] rodde is neare their backes, that out of order goe.
As yet [...]e shewes a louing signe, [Page] but when he lysts to lowre,
The retchlesse laddes, and froward sonne [...], shall féele their fathers powre.
This Earthquake is but half a checke, to those that warning takes:
But when in furie Plagues do chaunce, when earth and heauen shakes,
Downe commes the pryde of Babylon, and all full flatte on floore:
As dust that nowe is vnderfoote, shal lye both rich and poore.
Look [...] for your fall, that long haue stode, in pompe and glorie great,
The seconde Earthquake when it commes, will stryke, before it threat.
This came to trie, how you can take a threatning at his hande,
That rydes vpon the Starrie cloudes, and hath a whysking wande,
Will make the worlde to yarke and fling, when he sées tyme therfore.
Well, for this season (gentle friends) I dare now speake no more.
The Iudgements of the Lord are great, God graunt, that well in grée,
From him you do good warning take, and weigh these wordes of mée.
FINIS.
ꝙ Churchyarde.

A true Reporte vpō the great Earthquake.

SInce forrain Reportes (right christian Reader) may not suffice to call in question our frailty, nor the hearing of Children monsterously borne pro­uoke vs to bridle our vntamed flesh, nor the warres and cruel bloodsheds of other Cuntries with their great pes [...]ilences, sorowes, and vnquiet state can make vs to be thankful for the Gospel which wée haue quietly maintaned by so gratious a Prince that the vniuersall world hath in admiratiō: yet must this present cause this fearful w [...]nder, this gentle token and swéet correction mortifie our cankred conceits and break in peeces our hardned [...]arts.

Dul sighted is that man that séeth no [...] through this perfect spectacle the heauy burden of his grée [...]ous offences, when Heauen and Earth, Fish and Fowle, Beasts and Woormes quake for our sin.

[Page]Now dooth the ancient Enemie séek af­ter starting holes, and with vain encou­ragements would perswade men to e­steeme these rare tokens as common tri­fles, therefore it behooues vs to put on the helmet of Saluation, the swoord of the Spirit, y• Armour of life, & kéep the Ca­stle of a cléer Conscience to with stand the gréeuous assaults of those thrée Rebels the world, the flesh and the deuil.

If wée haue with Péeter the Apostle broken promise with our Maister, and denyed him: let vs also with Péeter the Apostle s [...]ed sorowful teares, and with hartie repentaūce win him to be our good Father again.

If wée haue with cruel hands commit­ted murder, or bondes of holy mariage: let vs with Dauid be waile the death of Urias, & lament the raye of Bet [...]sabe, for hée is a gratioꝰ God, and hath no ple­sure to giue vnto his Enemy the olde ser pent the creature that hée hath made and fashioned for him self to make vp his nū ­ber of Saints. If thou hast béen a per­secuter with Saul: thy remedy is to be­come a Preacher with Paul, for hée hath [Page] no pleasure in the death of a Sinner, but rather that hée may liue and amend.

If thou hast with Mary Magdalen bro­ken the boundes of modestie, and folow­ed the vain whistle of wantonnes, for­getting from whence thou camst, whers thou art, and whither thou must: throwe from thée the goldē ball of pleasure which is secretly linde with poyson, & humbly with Mary Magdalenanoint the feet of thy Sauiour with the teares of thy hart and wipe them with y• heares of thy hed.

Doo not with the vnwise man fall in argument with thy maker why thou art made of this fashion or framed of ye met­tel, for it is no reason the pot should say to the Potter why haste thou made mée of this fashion? If thou finde in thy self any imperfections by Nature: thy reme­die is to make it perfect by Nurture.

Set not thy glory vpon sumptuous and stately buildings, which are subiect to the winde that is due vnto thy God, which bothe winde and wethers doo obey, for so dooing, thy wilful pleasure wil in the end return thy woful disproffit.

Striue not with Pharo to be a roring [Page] Lyon, but labour with the Apostles tob [...] a méek Lamb. Consider what a fami­liēr name the Lord was content to take vpon him hauing the choise of all names in his owne hands. Had hée called him self Emperour, to that name had belong­ed great maiestie. Had hée called him self King, great is the feare of a Subiect to­ward that name. Had hée called him self Iustice to decide controuersies, there had belongd a woorshipful reuerence to that degrée, but hée to showe the kindenes of a merciful God: took the name of our Fa­ther vpon him, and did not disoain to cal vs his Children. Then must wée by na­turall reason think, which by bodily Fa­thers, when wée sée our owne Children go astray, fall into themiseries of ye world run after the slesh, and become carelesse of their Elders counsel, if it make our [...]eds gray, our harts heauy, must it not néeds offend our heauenly Father to sée his swéet promises refused, his deuine ex cellencie so slightly credited, and his Mi­nisters so slowly followed? That woūded man deserues to haue his sore rancle, his flesh rot, & his bones putrifie, y• knowes [Page] a [...]alue and wil not be his owne Surgiō. Euen so since it hath pleased him to say Come vnto me all you that are heuy lo­den and I wil ease you, if wée come not, our sloth is the cause of our sorrow, and wée found guiltie of our owne blood.

If thou hast béen prodigall or vainly spēt thy life or liuing vpon surfeting dishes y• worldly pleasure had prouided for thée, or if thou hast doted vpon y• painted bea [...] tie of Harlots whose secret winks and priuy smiles are like drawing Adamāts.

If thou hast béen [...]ld in the Cradle of delight and [...]ng a [...]léep with the Sirens, labor ernestly in y• Uiniard of thy minde and with the prodigall Sonne return to to thy Father, and say Father I haue sin­ned against heauen and against thee, I am no more woorthy to be called thy sonne. Then he according to his fatherly mercy wil cause the fatted Calf to be kild, put a ring on thy hand and a faire garment on thy back. That wée may be all so accepted after our time of prodigalitie & vain ex­pence of life: let vs wt harty repentaunce humble harts & lowe knées pray vnto y• Lord to whōe be all honor & glory. Amē.

A true Reporte of the Earth quake in London.

Two or thrée honest men that walked for their pleasure into Moorféeld (sitting vpon a hil) were vpon a suddain tū ­bled down with such violence that when they recouered them selues: they were so amazed that for a good space they could not one speake to the other.

¶ Two honest Men more sitting on a Cannon vpon Tower hil were on a sud­den throwen of and the Cannons rolled and hop [...] vp and down very straunge.

The very waters and diches shooke and frothed wunderfully.

There were diuers Chimneies in ma­ny places about the Citie the vpper part throwen down. The Beasts in the féeld [...]orde meruelously.

In Christes Church with a stone that fel, there was one kild, and many hurt, in stri [...]ing to get foorth of the Church.

¶ They were so terrified in the Royall Exchaunge that many wept with feare, & with asmuch spéed as they might many shut vp their windowes béeing very fearfully [Page] amazed.

Through the whole Citie this suddain token was suddainly feard and I stand in do [...]t wil as suddainly be forgotten.

A number of other things which are so cōmonly knowen as I néed not to write them. This wunder came so vnlookd for, that they forsooke their houses in feare & with such things as they had in their hands, rūning into the stréets gasing one vpon an other. This beeing con­sidered to shew our thankful­nes for so merciful a token let vs desire the Lord our God to accept our humble prayer.

A prayer

O Heauenly father which of thy owne free wil and heauenly grace madest man like vnto thy self, and com­maundst all creaturs to obey him after that our forefather [...] had transgressed, by whose [...]al we became Children o [...] death, when thy maiestie was so mightily dis­pleased that thou repe [...]edst that thou madest man, [...]et vpon thy fatherly good wil remembring thy mercy: thou didst not disdaine to send thine owne Sōne to be born of the blessed Uirgin Mary.

And touching his manhood to take our [...]raile nature vpon him to liue heer in sorow, & anguish, to be despised of sinners, to be called be fore Rulers / to be bu [...]fetted, to be spet at, to be slaūdred, & cruelly misused, to be betraied of his owne seruant Iudas, to be folowed as [Page] a Murderer, to be deliuered into the hands of sinners, to be cruci­fied vpon the crosse, to be laughed at of his enimes, to [...] water and blood for out sakes, to dye a­mong [...]heeues, and after to be buried & then to rise again, to be come fellow heire with the in thy euerlasting [...]. For remē ­braun [...]e of these, and all thy other graces whē thy swoord o [...] wrath is lifted vp ready to confound vs which rebel in sin against thy glo ry, thē remember thy [...] sonnes death, cast a [...] thy pitieful eyes, beholde his gree [...]us wounds that bleed a fresh to pacifie thy an ger, for get (O Lord) the offen­ces of our youth, blot out of remē braūce y• sinnes of our forfathers, & as it hath pleased thee to sēd so gē [...]e a remēbrance as this earth­quake / when it was in thy hands to shake our bodyes to dust, and our soules to he [...]: so merciful Fa­ther [Page] giue vs thy spirit of grace to takethy warning so thākfully, & so mortifie all worldly desires in our harts, that we may iust for thy cō ming, and humbly pray thee to hasten thy kingdome, that wee may be pertakers of thy heuenly felicitie and felow sharers with thy Saints and martirs to glorify thy name. Graūt this for thy deere son­nes sake, to whōe be all honor / praise & glory world without end.

A­men.

YOu that desire to heare of Forrain newes,
or tales new [...]oynd by rumors rash report:
Lay by such care good fréends leaue of to muse,
the tale I tell shall sound in better sort.
No toy, no trifle, nor surmised iest:
But worthy wel to lodge in euery brest.
When Mountaines mooue as late they did in wales
great signe it is y• nature then is crost:
When Monsterous Infants tels such doctors tales
the tokē shews sōe fauour hath bin lost.
With him that hath in charge ye vse of all:
To spill or saue, to raise or let vs fall.
When bla [...]g starres, and bloody cloudes do [...] show
then time it is for men too serch a new:
And mark y• stock from whēce these graffes doo▪ grow
the frute more straūge thē any gardner knew
the Ai [...]e is chockt we vapour of our sin:
When such vnwoonted tokens call vs in.
The very seas of late haue chaung'd their tides
tis not so straūge as true the Sailers know:
Few things or none in former state a bides,
such swelling floods, such great and monstrous snow
with other woonders to to straūge to tel:
A charme for flesh when nature would rebell.
The braunch of pride beares such a gallāt gra [...]
that plainnes now is thrust vnto the wall:
And c [...]uetousnes hath conquerd such a place,
that charitie must let his action fall.
Such writs of error subtiltie brings in:
That Conscience verdit is not worth a pi [...].
The Childe desires his fathers death for welth
bothe moste & least make Idoles of their golde:
Forgetting death that cré [...]peth in by stelth,
to kil desire if baiard be too bolde.
The siluer key now opens euery gate:
Such is the blindenes of our present state.
[...] dooth kéep so great a coyle,
that Saints & Martirs they are slain a new:
And Usury bréeds such a bloody broyle,
that Pouertie bids all his ioyes adieu.
Blindnes hyes him [...]ast to cut the cardes:
too smother law with bribes & great rewardes
Then Gl [...]ttony dooth challenge for his share
his earthly ioy, which is his paunch too fill:
And wicked lust tha [...] bids a figge for care,
dooth think this wanton world wil tary still.
With seuerall sco [...]fes they doo not blush to say:
Put of repentaunce til an other day.
But if these tokens which be past and gon,
haue took no roote at all within your harts:
You néeds must graūt this earthquake to be one,
vnlesse you chalenge Heauen for desarts.
Our health of soules must hāg in great suspence
When earth and Sea doo quake for our offence.
But now you Stewards which are put in trust
prepare against your Captain call account:
See that your bookes, and reconings fall out iust
I feare your paiment wil your welth s [...]rmosit.
Turst not in s [...]uces nor a golden tale:
The law is hard, the Iudge wil take no bale.
Let faith and trueth giue suerties of your life,
first honour God, and then obey your Prince
Use vpright dealing bothe to man and wife:
conquere eche cause that once may bréed offence.
So shall you liue deuoide of all complaints:
With Psalmes of ioy to sing among y• Saints.
FINIS.
Richard Tarlton.

¶ Imprinted at Lōdon by Iohn Allde and are to be solde at the West doore of Paules Church by Nicolas Ling.

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