Complete Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker

by Thomas Dekker

  A Broker in Houndes-ditch hauing a Brother in Hamshire, whom hee had not seene in fiue yeeres, put good store of money in his Purse, and rode downe to visit his beloued Brother, beeing a Tanner; to whose House when hee came, the Tanner-clapped to his doores, and from an vpper woodden window (much like those in a Prison) comming to a Parlee, hee out-faced the Broker to be no Brother of his, hee knew not his face, his fauour, his voyce: such a Brother hee once had, and if this were hee, yet his Trade (in being a Broker) was enough to cut off the kindred, his Clothes smelt of infection, his red Beard (for he hath one) was poyson to him; and therefore, if hee would not depart to the place from whence hee came, hee would eyther set his Dogges vpon him, or cause his Seruants to throw him into a Tan-Fat; and if (quoth hee) thou art any Brother of mine, bring a Certificate from some honest Brokers dwelling by thee (when the Plague is ceast) that thou art the man, and, it may bee, mine eyes shall bee then opened to behold thee: So, farewell. — With a vengeance (replyed the Broker) and so came home, a little wiser then hee went.

  No further from London then Pancridge, two or three Londoners, on a Sunday (being the seuenteenth of this last past Iuly) walking to the Village there-by, called Kentish-Towne, and spying Pancridge-Church doores open (a Sermon being then preached) a company of Hobnayle-fellowes, with Staues, kept them out; and foure or fiue Hay-makers, (who out of their Countries came hither to get worke) offering likewise to goe in, to heare the Preacher, they were threatned by the worshipfull wisdome of the Parish, to bee set in the Stockes, if they put but a foot within the Church-doores.

  Hath not God therefore iust cause to be angry with this distrust, this infidelity of our Nation? How can wee expect mercy from him, when wee expresse such cruelty one towards another? When the Brother defies the Brother, what hope is there for a Londoner to to receiue comfort from Strangers?

  Who then would flye from his owne Nest, which hee may command, to be lodged amongst Crowes and Rauens, that are ready to picke out our Eyes, if we offer to come amongst them? The braue Parlors, stately dining-Roomes, and rich Chambers to lye in, which many of our Citizens had here in London, are now turned to Hay-lofts, Apple-lofts, Hen-roosts, and Back-houses, no better then to keepe Hogges in: I doe not say in all places, but a number that are gone downe, and were lodged daintily heere, wish themselues at home, (as complayning Letters testifie) but that the heat of Contagion frights them from returning, and it were a shame (they thinke) to come so soone backe to that City, from whence with such greedy desire, they were on the wings of feare hurryed hence.

  Flocke not therefore to those, who make more account of Dogges then of Christians. The smelling to your Iuory Boxes does not so much comfort your Nosthrils, as the Sent of your perfumed brauery, stinkes in the Noses (now) of Countrey-people. It may bee perceyued, by the comming backe of many Carts laden with goods, which in scorne are returned to London, and cannot for any Gold or Siluer be receyued. What talke I of Cart-loades of Stuffe? If some more tender-hearted amongst the rest, giue welcome to his brother, kinseman, or friend; a Beare is not so woorried by Mastiffes, as hee shall bee by vncharitable Neighbours, when the Stranger is departed. They loue your Money, but not your persons; yet loue not your money so well, but that if a Carrier brings it to them from London, they will not touch a penny of it, till it be twice or thrice washed in a Pale or two of water.

  But leauing these Creatures to be tormented by their owne folly and ignorance; yet praying that God would open their eyes, and inlighten their soules with a true vnderstanding of his diuine Iudgements; I will now shut vp my Discourse with that which is first promised in the Title-page of the Booke, and those are, Gods Tokens, &c.

  GODS TOKENS.

  AND now, O you Citizens of LONDON, abroad or at home, be you rich, bee you poore, tremble at the repetition of these horrors which here I set downe: and of which ten thousand are earewitnesses, great numbers of you that are in the City, hauing likewise beheld some of these, or their like, with your eyes. Neither are these warnings to you of London onely, but to you (who-euer you bee) dwelling in the farthest parts of the Kingdome.

  Shall I tell you how many thousands haue been borne on mens shoulders within the compasse of fiue or six weekes? Bills sent vp and downe both Towne and Countrie, haue giuen you already too fearefull informations.

  Shall I tell you, that the Bels call out night and day for more Burials, and haue them, yet are not satisfied? Euery street in London is too much frighted with these terrors.

  Shall I tell you, that Church-yards haue letten their ground to so many poore Tenants, that there is scarce roome left for any more to dwell there, they are so pestred? The Statute against Inmates cannot sue these, for hauing taken once possession; no Law can remoue them.

  Or shall I tell you, that in many Church-yards (for want of roome, they are compelled to dig Graues like little Cellers, piling vp forty or fifty in a Pit? And that in one place of buriall, the Mattocke and Shouell haue ventured so farre, that the very Common-shore breakes into these ghastly and gloomy Ware-houses, washing the bodies all ouer with foule water, because when they lay downe to rest, not one eye was so tender to wet the ground with a teare? No, I will not tell you of these things, but of These, which are true (as the other) and fuller of horror.

  A woman (with a Child in her armes) passing thorow Fleet-street, was strucke sicke vpon a sudden; the Childe leaning to her cheeke, immediatly departed: the Mother perceiuing no such matter, but finding her owne heart wounded to the death, she sate downe neere to a shop where hot Waters were sold; the charitable woman of that shop, perceiuing by the poore wretches countenance how ill she was, ranne in all haste to fetch her some comfort; but before she could come, the Woman was quite dead: and so her childe and she went louingly together to one Graue.

  A Gentleman (knowne to many in this Towne) hauing spent his time in the Warres, and comming but lately ouer in health, and lusty state of body, going along the streets, fell suddenly downe and dyed, neuer vttering more words then these, Lord, haue mercy vpon me. Another dropped downe dead by All gate, at the Bell-Tauerne doore.

  A Flax-man in Turnebull street, being about to send his Wife to market, on a sudden felt a pricking in his arme, neere the place where once he had a sore, and vpon this, plucking vp his sleeue, he called to his Wife to stay; there was no neede to fetch any thing for him from Market: for, see (quoth he) I am marked: and so shewing Gods Tokens, dyed in a few minutes after.

  A man was in his Coffin, to be put into a Graue, in Cripple-gate Church-yard, and the Bearers offring to take him out, he opened his eyes, and breathed; but they running to fetch Aqua vita for him, before it came, he was full dead.

  A lusty country fellow, that came to towne to get Haruest-worke, hauing sixteene or eighteene shillings in his Purse, fell sicke in some lodging he had, in Old-street; was in the night time thrust out of doores, and none else receiuing him, he lay vpon Straw, vnder Suttons Hospitall wall, neere the high way, and there miserably dyed.

  A woman going along Barbican, in the moneth of Iuly, on a Wednesday, the first of the Dog-daies, went not farre, but suddenly fell sicke, and sate downe; the gaping multitude perceiuing it, stood round about her, afarre off; she making signes for a little drinke, money was giuen by a stander by, to fetch her some: but the vncharitable Woman of the Ale-house denyed to lend her Pot to any infected companion; the poore soule dyed suddenly: and yet, albeit all fled from her when she liued, yet being dead, some (like Rauens) seized vpon her body (hauing good clothes about her) stripped her, and buried her, none knowing what she was, or from whence she came.

  Let vs remoue out of Barbican, into one of the Churches in Thames-street, where a Gentleman passing by, who on a sudden felt himselfe exceeding ill, and spying a Sexton digging a Graue, stept to him, asked many strange questions of the fellow, touching Burials, and what he would take to make a Graue for him: but the Sexton amazed at it, and seeing (by his face) hee was not well, perswaded him to get into some house, and to take something to doe him good. No (said he) helpe
me to a Minister, who comming to him, and conferring together about the state of his soule, hee deliuered a summe of Money to the Minister, to see him well buried, and gaue ten shillings to the Sexton to make his Graue, and departed not till he dyed.

  Now, suppose you are in Kent, where you shall see a young handsome Maid, in very good apparell, ready to goe into the Towne, to a Sister, which dwelt there: but then as you cast an eye on her (comming into the City) so behold a company of vnmercifull, heathenish, and churlish Townesmen, with Bils and Glaues, driuing her by force backe againe; enter there shee must not (it being feared she came from London) neither could her Sister be suffred to goe forth to her. Whereupon, all comfort being denyed her, all doores bard against her, no lodging being to be had for her; shee, full of teares in her eyes, full of sorrow in her heart, sighing, wailing, and wringing her hands, went into the open fields, there sickned, there languished, there cracked her heart-strings with griefe, and there dyed, none being by her: When she was dead, the Den of a Serpent was not more shunned then the place she lay in. It was death (in any Townesmans thinking) but to stand in the wind of it: there the body lay two or three daies, none daring to approach it; till at the last, an old woman of Kent, stealing out of the Towne, ventured vpon the danger, rifled her Purse and Pockets, found good store of Money, stript her out of her apparell, which was very good, digged a homely Graue (with the best shift she could make) and there in the field buried her.

  The Kentish Synagogue hearing of this, presently laid their heads together, and fearing lest the breath of an old woman might poison the whole Towne, pronounced the doome of euerlasting banishment vpon her. And so was she driuen from thence, with vpbraidings and hard language, and must neuer come to liue more amongst them.

  Into another part of this Kingdome (not full forty miles from London) did a Citizen send his man for thirty pound, to a country Customer, which was honestly payed to him; the young man departed merry, and in good health from him: and, albeit he had so much money about him, yet in his returne to London, hee could get no loging in any place; at which, being much afflcted in his minde, and offring an extraordinary rate to be entertained, neither Money, nor Charity, nor common Humanity, could get a doore opened to receiue him. Patient he was to endure this cruelty, and comforted himselfe, that carrying health about him, he should make shift to get to the City: but God had otherwaies bestowed him, his time was come, the Glasse of his life almost runne out, and his iourney must bee shortned. For taking vp his lodging (by compulsion) in the open field, there he fell sicke, and wanting all humane helpe and comfort, there dyed. It was soone knowne by those that walked out of the Towne, into their grounds, that there he lay dead, and as soone did they consult together what to doe with his body. None was so valiant as to come neere it: It was an eminent danger, to suffer the Carkasse lye aboue ground, and a greater danger for any one (as they thought) to remoue it from thence. In the end, one more couragious then the other, was hyred (for money) to rid the Towne of this mortall feare; who (whatsoeuer should become of them) purposing to saue himselfe, muffled his mouth, went into the same field where the dead body lay, a far off digged a Pit (a Graue hee knew not how to make) and then, with a long Pole, hauing a hooke to it, taking hold of the young mans clothes, he dragged him along, threw him in, and buried him.

  The Master of this seruant, musing at his long staying, and being loth to lose both man and money, rode downe to see how both of them were bestowed; and vnderstanding, that the Money was paid, and which way his man went for London, came to the same towne, where (by ghesse) he thought he must needs put in for lodging; and vpon strict inquiry, if such a young fellow had not beene seene amongst them; it was confest, Yes, with all the former Relations of his death, and where he lay buried. The much-perplexed Londoner hearing this, did, by faire meanes and money, get his Graue opened, had his body in the clothes taken vp, and found all his Money about him, and then in the Towne bestowed vpon him, a friendly, louing, and decent buriall.

  It fell out better with a company of merry Companions, who went not aboue ten miles from London; for they, getting with much adoe, into a country Victualing-house, were very iouiall, and full of sport, though not full of money. Beere and Ale they called for roundly, downe it went merrily, and the Cakes were as merrily broken. When the round O’s beganne to increase to foure or six shillings, quoth one mad fellow amongst the rest, What will you say, my Masters, if I fetch you off from the Reckoning, and neuer pay a penny? A braue Boy, cryed all the company, if thou canst doe this. Hereupon, the Oastesse being called vp for t’other Pot, and whilest it was drinking, some speech being made of purpose, about the dangerous time, and the sicknesse, it fortuned that the Tokens were named. Vpon which, the Woman wondring what kinde of things they were, and protesting she neuer saw any, nor knew what they were like; this daring companion (who vndertooke the shot) clapping his hand on his brest; How (quoth hee) neuer saw any? Why then I feare, I can now shew you some about me; and with that, hastily vnbuttoning his Doublet, opened his bosome, which was full of little blue Markes, receiued by Haile-shot out of a Birding-piece through a mischance. At sight of these, his Comrades seemed to bee strucke into a feare; but the innocent Oastesse was ready to drop downe dead. They offred to flye, and leaue him there. Shee fell on her knees, crying out, Shee was vndone. A reckoning then being call’d for, because they would be honest to the house; the poore woman cared for no reckoning, let them call for as much more (so they dranke it quickly) and there was not a penny to pay; prouided, that they would take the spotted man away with them. They did so, and being gotten some little distance from the house, the counterfeit si•…ke Companion danced and skipped vp and downe, to shew hee was well: Shee cursing them for cheating Raskalls, that so had gulled her. This was a tricke of merriment, but few men, I thinke, would fill their bellies with drink so gotten. It is not safe to kisse Lightning, mocke at Thunder, or dally with diuine Iudgements.

  The Bells, euen now toll, and ring out in mine eares, so that here againe and againe I could terrifie you with sad Relations. An ample Volume might be sent downe to you in the Country, of dismall and dreadfull Accidents; not onely here within London, but more in the Townes round about vs. Death walkes in euery street: How many step out of their Beds into their Coffins? And albeit, no man at any time is assured of life, yet no man (within the memory of man) was euer so neere death as now: because he that breakes his fast, is dead before dinner; and many that dine, neuer eat supper more. Let these then (as terrifying Scourges) serue to admonish the proudest of vs all, to haue a care to our footing, lest we fall suddenly.

  How many euery day drop downe staggering (being strucke with infection) in the open Streets? What numbers breathe their last vpon Stalles? How many creepe into Eatries, and Stables, and there dye? How many lye languishing in the common High-wayes, and in the open Fields, on Pads of Straw, end their miserable liues, vnpittyed, vnrelieued, vnknowne?

  The great God of mercy defend vs all from sudden death: and so defend you (the rich Run-awayes) at your comming backe to this desolate and forsaken City, that, as you fled hence to scape the Stroke of Contagion, you bring not, nor lay heauier strokes of mortality and misery vpon vs, when you returne to your Houses. It so fell out in the last great time of Pestilence, at the death of the Queene, and comming in of the King: The Weekes did rize in their numbers of dead, as the numbers of the liuing did increase, who then came flocking to Towne: As the fresh houses were filled with their old Owners, so new Graues were opened for the fresh commers.

  A heauy and sad welcome they had at home, after their peaceable being in the Countrey: and how could it happen otherwise? They went out in haste, in hope to preuent death; in iollity, to preserue life; But when they came backe, then began their terrours, then their torments: The first foot they sit out of their Countrey-Habitations, was to them a first step to their Graues: the neerer to London, the neerer to death. As condemned persons, going to execution, haue oftentimes good colour in their faces, cheerefull contenances, and manly
lookes all the way that they are going: but the neerer and neerer they approch the place where they are to leaue the World, the greater are their feares, the paler they looke, the more their hearts tremble; so did it fare with Londoners in those dayes; but we that are heere, pray that you may speed better: that you may returne full of health, full of wealth, full of prosperity; that your Houses may bee as Temples to you. your Chambers as Sanctuaries; that your Neighbours, Kindred, Friends, and acquaintance may giue you ioyfull and hearty welcomes; that the City may not mourne then for your thronging in vpon it, as shee lamented to behold you (in shoales) forsaking her in her tribulation; but that God would be pleased to nayle our sinnes vpon the Crosse of his Sonne Christ Iesus, restore vs to his mercy, render vs a Nation worthy of his infinite blessings, and plucking in his reuengefull Arme from striking vs downe continually into Graues, wee all (abroad and at home, in Countrey and City) may meete and imbrace one another, and sing an Allelniah to his Name.

  FINIS.

  BRITTANNIA’S HONOR: BRIGHTLY SHINING IN SEUERALL MAGNIFICENT SHEWES OR PAGEANTS

  TO CELEBRATE THE SOLEMNITY OF THE RIGHT HONORABLE RICHARD DEANE, AT HIS INAUGURATION INTO THE MAJORALTY OF THE HONOURABLE CITTY OF LONDON, ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER THE 29TH. 1628. AT THE PARTICULAR COST, AND CHARGES OF THE RIGHT WORSHIPFULL, WORTHY, AND ANCIENT SOCIETY OF SKINNERS.