Youths Warning-peice.
In a true Relation of the woefull Death of William Rogers of Cranbroke in Kent an Apothecary, who refusing all good counsell, and following lewd company, dyed miserably since Christmas last. 1635.
To the Tune of Doctor Faustus.
WHat mournefull ditty, or lamenting verse
Shall I compose this subiect to rehearse?
It being indeed most dolefull to declare,
Doth wish all youth in time for to beware.
If it was feigned, or not true indeed,
It should not in men so much dolour bréed:
Or had it beene some fable or old thing,
It might haue past without much sorrowing,
But it is true, and too too lately knowne
'Twas done, not farre from hence, and cleerely showne
By men, whose credits are wel knowne i'th' City,
Come then, and listen to my dolefull ditty.
Thus I begin, Will. Rogers was his name,
His Parents and his Kindred of good fame:
These gaue him education, and good Arts,
By which he was endued with able parts.
He an Apothecary was by Trade,
By which it doth appeare he Learning had:
For none can know the mysteries of that Art,
Without some knowledge, or some good desert.
Moreouer, he in Chyrurgery had skill,
And practis'd it with successe, & goodwill
Of many grieued Patients whom he cur'd
Of their corrupted soares which they endur'd.
His carriage was most milde and temperate,
By which he loue and estimation gat:
He did not take any excessiue gaines,
But often gaue the poore his time and paines.
His practice brought him into fauour great,
And caused him some meanes to gaine and get,
So that he did receiue two hundred pound
By each yéeres practice, as it cleere was found.
His ciuill Education did impart
The knowledge of Religion to his heart,
Whereby he able was account to giue,
How he in Christ by faith alone did liue.
All these were hopefull blossomes in a youth,
That in their seasō might good fruits haue prou'd,
And caus'd him to haue liued in good fame,
And dyed in the credit of his house and name.
But see of this mans life the fatall change,
When in the world he did begin to range:
For presently all gooddesse was forgot,
His latter course was to his first a blot.
What pitty 'tis that in so faire a face
Such spots and blemishes should possesse a place,
Or that such good beginnings should be left;
Or that men should be of such hopes bereft.
The second part
to the same tune.
WE cānot blame Dame Fortune as ye cause,
Nor yet religion which giues better laws,
Nor yet our Parents, or our Masters care,
Nor yet accuse a Planet, or a Starre.
All these are frée, and cléere from any blame,
'Tis wée our selues that doe procure our shame,
It is our negligence that will not vse
Our gifts aright, but often them abuse.
So did this young man by leud courses spend,
His time and means & stock, which God did send,
He vainely lavish'd out in toyish sport,
Mongst vaine companiens which to him resort.
He left the councell of his dearest friend,
The Pastor of the Parish who did send,
Directions graue and honest, iust, and good,
All which this young man mightily withstood.
Hee did forget his former promise made
To God, and others, that that sinfull trade
Should quite be left, and yt he would put on,
The practise of the pure Religion.
But wholy gaue himselfe to wine and drinke,
With company all times, which soone wil sinke
A mans estate, the bane and source of ill,
And doth all goodnesse and Religion spill.
Hence he grew carelesse of his Patients lame,
Still swilling his carouses downe amaine,
Kept company, neglected Church, each time
Slighted the use of the Sacraments Divine.
So he grew setled in his sinfull tracke,
No friendly councell could reduce him backe:
But obstinately still hee did persist,
And scornfully all councell did resist.
His Pastor told him he would be so bold,
To excommunicate him from Christs fold:
Which wrought upon his conscience, so that he
Promis'd to diuers, a new man to be.
But sicknes Deaths bold Serieant did arrest
Him, that he faild of what he did protest.
In which his visitation hee exclaim'd,
That Hel was his, and that he sure was dam'd.
Visits were made, and councel graue was giuen,
That yet he might possesse a place in Heaven:
But he stil did raue, and striue curse and crye,
That he should go to Hell immediately.
Somtimes he blames his sin with some remorse,
which had brought down Gods heauy rod & curse
Then he aduises others to beware
Of sinne, so euen seeming to despaire.
He cryes out fearefully that he must go,
To Hell, the place of misery and woe;
There to endure all torments, griefe and paine,
Milions of milions of ages to remayne.
And fearefull tis to thinke, that in such wise,
In raging fury, ends his life and dyes.
We cannot iudge of his Eternall state,
But leaue to him, who rules all liues and Fate.
So you haue heard his end, I wish you all
To take a warning by his fearefull fall,
Of all leud company, and drinking too,
Which alwayes are the Harbengers of woe.
Reiect not councell, nor Gods ordinance scorne,
Nor yet Church discipline, as men forlorne:
Follow your callings diligently still,
So God shall keep you in your wayes from ill.
God blesse our gracious Soveraign Queene and Prince
With all the royal Progeny, yt thence
Blessings may flow on all our Nobles, and
For euer prove a blessing to our land.
If any desire further information touching the manner of this mans Life, sicknesse, and death, let them read the Sermon Preached at his funerall, which is Printed by Authority.
London printed for A.K. 1636.
FINIS.