A warning for the wise a feare to the fond, a bridle to the lewde, and a glasse 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 |
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 | A warning for the wise |  |
[Let London weep, whose wals of late]
Let London weep, whose wals of latedid shake with trembling feare,
Put sackcloth 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 streets did shake, the Churches reelde,
the ground it quiuered sore,
Men stoode amazde, and women shreekt,
the babes did crie and rore:
The Steeples 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 trees and floures did quake for feare,
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 treade,
Will smile to see 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 feele through Earthquake strange,
wherin Gods might is 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 spreet)
from heade to sole of foote.
Talke not of God, and follow world,
you know his name is great,
consumes you in his heate.
You fine dissemblers, shroude yourselues
within his mercie seate,
And you that for this worldly mucke,
your busie braynes do beate,
Amende and [illeg.] to better life:
But you that wantons are,
Repent, or Gods right hande wil marre
the sale of all your ware.
You greedie gracelesse Fulkers lewd,
that lets out gold for gaine,
Take heede, lest from the heauens hie,
hot fire and Brimstone rayne
Upon your heades, for shameful shifts:
and you that palter still,
With poore mēs wiues, come fear ye Lord,
for punishe sure he will.
You mightie men and wealthy Chubbes,
that hurde vp chinkes in Chestes,
Proclayme a fast, and hold vp hands,
and leaue your Bacchus feastes.
You wicked folke that vse deceyte,
in selling needeful things,
Tell trueth, and leaue that lying trade,
that Gods displeasure brings:
You Lordly maisteis, looke on God,
And holde in youth, that reuell makes,
and riot ronnes at large.
You gamesome seruaunts, that doe playe
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 yee ought to feede,
for God beholdeth all.
You Courtiers liue, as you are taught,
bid finenesse now adew,
Let Mammon go, runne after God,
who shapeth men a newe.
You Lawiers cut, off long delayes,
knitte sutes vp soone and short,
Helpe poore mens sutes, that people plaine,
may giue you good reporte.
And all that in the Citie dwell,
and euery other where,
Thinke on the Earthquake, that you sawe,
Whilst [illeg.]te and breath you beare.
For this was sent from fathers hand,
to make the childe to knowe,
The whisking rodde is neare their backes,
that out of order goe.
As yet he shewes a louing signe,
The retchlesse laddes, and froward sonnes,
shall feele 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.
Looke 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 threatening at his hande,
That rydes vpon the Starrie cloudes,
and hath a whysking wande,
Will make the worlde to yarke and fling,
when he sees 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 gree,
From him you do good warning take,
and weigh these wordes of mee.
quoth Churchyarde.
Finis.
[You that desire to heare of Forrain newes]
You
that desire to heare of Forrain newes,
or tales new coynd by rumors rash report:
Lay by such care good freends 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.
or tales new coynd by rumors rash report:
Lay by such care good freends 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 ye 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.
great signe it is ye 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 blasing starres, and bloody cloudes doo show
then time it is for men too serch a new:
And mark ye stock from whēce these graffes doo grow
the frute more straūge thē any gardner knew
the Aire is chockt wt vapour of our sin:
When such vnwoonted tokens call vs in.
then time it is for men too serch a new:
And mark ye stock from whēce these graffes doo grow
the frute more straūge thē any gardner knew
the Aire is chockt wt 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 abides,
such swelling floods, such great and monstrous snow
with other woonders to to straūge to tel:
A charme for flesh when nature would rebell.
tis not so straūge as true the Sailers know:
Few things or none in former state abides,
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 grace
that plainnes now is thrust vnto the wall:
And couetousnes 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 pin.
that plainnes now is thrust vnto the wall:
And couetousnes 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 pin.
The Childe desires his fathers death for welth
bothe moste & least make Idoles of their golde:
Forgetting death that creepeth 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.
bothe moste & least make Idoles of their golde:
Forgetting death that creepeth 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.
Ipocrisie dooth keep so great a coyle,
that Saints & Martirs they are slain a new:
And Usury breeds such a bloody broyle,
that Pouertie bids all his ioyes adiue.
Blindnes hyes him fast to cut the cardes:
too smother law with bribes & great rewardes
that Saints & Martirs they are slain a new:
And Usury breeds such a bloody broyle,
that Pouertie bids all his ioyes adiue.
Blindnes hyes him fast to cut the cardes:
too smother law with bribes & great rewardes
Then Gluttony dooth challenge for his share
his earthly ioy, which is his paunch too fill:
And wicked lust that bids a figge for care,
dooth think this wanton world wil tary still.
With seuerall scoffes they doo not blush to say:
Put of repentaunce til an other day.
his earthly ioy, which is his paunch too fill:
And wicked lust that bids a figge for care,
dooth think this wanton world wil tary still.
With seuerall scoffes 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 needs 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.
haue took no roote at all within your harts:
You needs 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 surmount.
Turst not in scuces nor a golden tale:
The law is hard, the Iudge wil take no bale.
prepare against your Captain call account:
See that your bookes, and reconings fall out iust
I feare your paiment wil your welth surmount.
Turst not in scuces 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 breed offence.
So shall you liue deuoide of all complaints:
With Psalmes of ioyto sing among ye Saints.
first honour God, and then obey your Prince
Use vpright dealing bothe to man and wife:
conquere eche cause that once may breed offence.
So shall you liue deuoide of all complaints:
With Psalmes of ioyto sing among ye Saints.
FINIS.
Richard Tarlton.
| A warning for the wise | |