Liber Peregrinationis Primae: from Mortlake to Cracow, part 1 of 8 (21 Sept. 1583)

LIBER PEREGRINATIONIS PRIMAE: Videlicet A Mortlaco Angliae, Ad Craconiam Polomiae.

Saturday, Septemb. 21. 1583. Die Sancti Matthaei.

WE departed from Mortlack, about three of the Clock after noon: The Lord Albert Lasky, (Vaywode of Siradia, in Polonia) meeting me on the water, as we had appointed: And so brought night to London; and in the dead of the night, by Wherries, we went to Greenwich to my friend Goodman Fern the Potter his house: Where we refreshed our selves, and thither came a great Tyltboat from Graves end to take us in, (by appointment of me and Mr. Stanley) to go to our ships, which we had caused to ly seven, or eight mile beyond Graves end. To which ships we came on Sunday morning by Sun rise: In the greater of them (being a dubble Fly-boat of Denmark) my Lord Laskie, I, and E. K. with my Wife and Children, &c. went: And in another ship (by me also hired for this passage) went some of my Lord his men, two horse, &c. that ship was a Boyer, a pretty ship. With little winde we straight-way hoysed sayl, and began our voyage in the ship.

This 22. day we were in great danger of perishing (on the sands, called the Spits) about midnight: We had (by force of winde contrary) anchored by them, and the Anchor came home, no man perceiving it, till the ship was ready to strike on the sands. Then, upon great diligence and pollicy used by our Marriners in hoysing sayl, and cutting our Cable, (to leave our shote anker) and committing our selves to the hands of God, and most earnestly praying for a prosperous winde: It pleased the Almighty, and most mercifull God, suddenly to change the winds, which served us to bear from the sands, and to recover Quinborrough, back again.

The 23. day (being Munday) we came to the mouth and entrance of Quinburrough Creek, or Haven. And as we made to land in small Fisher-boats, the Lord Laskie, my Wife and Children in one boat, and I, with E. K. Marie, Elizabeth, and John Crokar, in another, it fell so out, that at the ships side, our Fisher-boat his sayl-yard and sayl was entangled on the Maynyard of the Fly-boat (being stroke down) so that, in our setting from the ships side, the top of our Boat being fast above, and the windes and stream carrying the Boat off below, it inclined so much on the one side, that the one half of the Fisher boat (well near) was in the water, and the water came so in (by the intangling before specified, not easily to be undone, or loosed) that my Lord, my Wife, and all that saw us thought that of necessity our Boat must sink, and so, we to have perisht. But God in his providence and mercy had greater...... of us, so that we became clear; the Boat half full of water, so that we sat wet to the knees, and the water with the billow of the Sea came still beating in more and more: And in this mean trouble; one of our two Boat-men, had lost his long Oare out of the Boat into the water; and so not onely we lacked the help of that Oare, but also by reason they would have followed the winde and ebb, for that Oar, (contrary to our course in hand, and not able to become by) with much adoe we constrained them with the sayl, our one Oare, and the Rudder to make such shift as they could to get to Quinborrough Town: And in the mean space E. K. with a great Gantlet did empty most part of the water out of the Boat, else it must needs have sunk by all mans reason. At length (to be brief) we came to the Town side, up the crooked Creek: where, when as the Master of our ship would have taken me out in his arms (standing in the water with his Boots) he fell with me in the water, where I was foul arrayed in the water and Oase. God be praised for ever, that all that great danger was ended with so small grief, or hurt.

The evident help of God at the very minute of danger deadly.

At Quinborrough.

Wednesday, Septemb. 25. Circa 3. à Meridie, jam pleno mari.

Δ. Oravimus ad Deum, ejus implorabamus auxilum, Cortina statim apparuit. Oravi denno solus, pro auxilio, tempore necessitatis: Sex pedum altitudine apparebat unus, in aere, quasi altera ex parte nubis, inter E. K. Et illum interpositae.

E. K. Ego illum cognosco.

..... Tu habes causam me cognoscendi, & illum qui me misit, vel jam non vixisses.

E. K. Videtur esse Michael.

Δ. Gratias agimus Creatori nostro, qui bonum, potentem & fidelem ministrum suum miserit ad nostram protectionem tempore necessitatis nostrae.

Mich...... Loquor de tribus rebus, de […] & illo qui me misit: De […], respectu illius quod estis, & de servitio Dei quod […] est. O vos potestates Coeli & terrae, colligite vos in simul, respicite Deum vestrum: Considerate beneficia ejus; an non vos colligavit simul? Et concatenavit vos in seipso? An non estis glorificati respectu officii vestri, ad quod praestandum potentèr assignati estis, in voluntate ejus, qui glorificat seipsum. Ecce […] vosmet dedidistis principi tenebrarum: vel quare vestri principes contendunt contra altissimum: & colligitis vosmet in simul ad […] contra ipsum, qui est potentissimus, vel illum velletis subjugare, cujus arma sunt super omnem fortitudinem: Quo modo audetis contendere cum ejus fortitudine? Vel quae est causa quod tam impii esse velitis? Sed ita oportet esse: quia vobis siigilavit gubernationem, & in vestras manus dedit violam destructionis. Sed date locum fini vostro: Quia in ejus fortitudine dispersi eritis: Et omnium rerum conclusioni ostia vestra debent esse aperta. Ne mirentur servi Dei, de fortitudine temptationis: Quia magna est potestas impii & hiantis Leonis, quando illi est cum sigillo tradita. Ne dedignemini, hac hora, scio vestram gubernationem per illum. Ecce clavis justitiae aperta mihi est. Nihilominus vestra adhuc erit major iniquitas, & vestrum regnum erit dispersum in ejus potenti superbia. Quam magnus est Sathan qui resistit fortitudini Dei? Quam magna, igitur, debet esse vestra humilitas, quae debet vel superare vel mori. Sed vobis sic […] Dominus. Aperiant venti ora sua, & rabientes aquae profunda & potentia guttura. In omnes partes navium vestrarum. Aperiat terra as suum, & dicat, quòd devorare vellet. Tamen non Praevalebunt Quia […] addam (inquit Dominus) qui es fortitudo mea, Potentiam meam praevalescentem: Et vos eritis duae flammae ignis, imò, ignis potentis suffocantis os totius Malitiae. Idcirco, vobis bene fit: Quia inimicus est fortissimus, ubi praeda est maxima. Mementote, quòd Homines sitis. Mementote, quòd terra sitis. Mementote, quòd […]. Mementote, quid eratis, & ne tradatis oblivioni quid estis. In illo enim vivitis qui omnia in sua habet subjectione. Sed ille, qui cum illo est, Crucifixus ad gloriam, debet in medio mortalitatis componere se ipsum ad Immortalem Potentiam. Servi Dei, semper praevaluerunt: Sed semper per Adversitates. Qui non est de […] mundo, vos praeparavit, Nihilo minus debetis ea implere, quae ipse providit. Quod mundus possit fieri novus, & ipse agnosci. Potens ipse est, Potens est ille, Aquila illa quae cooperit magnum montem alis suis. Sed potentior est ejus fortitudo qui numerat stellas, & montes colligit: Nam quicquid ipse loquitur, est veritatis ignis: Et est simul Potentia & Actus, in immediata proportione. Etiam ipse qui fecit Orbem, hominem in simul compegit, & omnia operatus est, Omnia ipse existens. Ipse est qui vobis praeceptum dedit: Et ego vobis dico, Respicite de puncto in punctum, ad medium Coeli, & per Circulum terrae: Considerate omnia in uno, & unum in omnibus. Ponderate, vel per rationem numerentur, vel mensurate quemadmodum Salomon fecit, vel quemadmodum Adamo erat concessum (quod nunc non potes sed facies) Tunc conclude, Observant omnia cursum suum: sed verbum Domini res est...... sempiternum. Amate Deum quia Justus est. Amate vos invicem quia...... justificati. Observate mandatum Dei quia est mensura Justitiae.

E. K. Jam venit alter ad illum, cum Corona in Capite, quasi.... & accipit gladium Michaelis.

Coronatus..... Ecce magna est fortitudo Dei, & Praevalebit.

Mich...... Idcirco est benedictus […], vos justificati & nos sanctificati.

E. K. Iam faciebant signum crucis flammeae tribus vicibus, & si nauta noster cum nova Anchora à Londino hodie redierit nonne est consilium, […] statim […] navigemus, si ita ille velit, &c.

E. K. Redeunt.

Coronatus...... Ego sum de Coelo: non respicio terram; Nihilominus terra per Coelos vivit. Sequimini vos cursum Terrenorum. Praeparate vos semen, Nos volumus, (O Domine) in te, esse parati, cum incremento. Vestra Cura non potest praevalere, quia vestri Inimici sunt fortes: sed quare dedecore afficior, cum sale terrestrium vanitatum? Destruat una vanitas, aliam: Ast Electi praevalebunt in fortitudine, contra illum Principem Vanitatis, & Regem stultorum omnium. Quia Deus noster est sapiens, Judicia ejus imperscrutabilia, Patientia immensurabilis. Laborate vos, & Nos gubernabimus.

E. K. Jam recedunt.

Vox...... Ne disputetis ulterius cum Deo: Victoria vestra erit.

Δ. Magnificetur nomen Dei nostri solius omnipotentis & optimi. Amen.

Thursday 26. Of September we went to ship, and lay in it all night at Anker.

Friday 27. Of September we sayled from Quinburrough, and so by the lands end into the main Sea, N. E.

Saturday 28. Of September we fell on Holland Coast, and none of our Marriners, Master, nor Pilot knew the Coast: and therefore to the Main Sea again, with great fear and danger, by reason we could scarcely get off from that dangerous Coast, the winde was so scarce for that purpose.

Sunday 29. Of September we came into the Briel-haven, and there were like to strike on ground: at length we came to an Ankor, and lay in ship all night.

Monday 30. Of September we landed, and went into the Briel.

Brielae, Octobris 2. Mane Hora 9. Die Mercurii.

E. K. Nihil apparet in Lapide, neque Cortina, neque aliud quid. Oremus constanter, &c. Apparet Domus magna cum multis pinnaculis, valde elegantibus. Et pavimentum videtur esse multis innatis lapidibus distinctum & videntur multi esse gradus per quos ascenditur: & videtur esse area viridis ex dextra parte, & exaltera parte esse vallis, & rivulus ex alia. Pars quae verius solem est, videtur quasi noviter reformata. Et circa introitum est rotundum quoddam aedificium: fenestrae non sunt similes nostris, sed quasi essent Templorum fenestrae.

A. L. Dixit […] videtur esse illa arx Regia, quae Cracoviae est.

E. K. Subito descendit ignis & per totum lapidem apparet. Jam venit Cortina solita ante domum istam.

Vox. Garil zed masch, ich na gel galaht gemp gal noch Cubanladan.

E. K. Jubanladaa. h jam apparet supra Chrystallum: & Chrystallus videtur esse permagnus.

Jub. Deus numeravit & dies tuos & posteritatem. [E. K. Respicit A. L.]

[…]. K. Jam recessit a Chrystallo versus caput ipsius A. L.

Jub. Et a pectine tuo non cadet Capillus non numeratus. Omnia bene se habent. [Hoc dixit de […] rerum A. L. apud Lask.] Ecce […] vim resistendi: Ast contra legionem pugno.

Δ. Perditio te novit, & […] annos tuos, & incipit esse fortis: Quia illi est Potestas data, Infernus aperit os suum contra vos, quia sciunt, quòd vos glorificati eritis in Deo. Ego vici quintum sigillum, & mihi jam resistitur in sexto. Quae Deus facit, non participant cum humano judicio. Ecce nunc Discipulos suos congregavit, & docet. O Coelum & terra quam magnae sunt miseriae, quae vexabunt unum & polluent alterum? Quia boni Angeli cadent cum illo & […] Christum metuent. Sed illi ad tempus cadent, non in perpetuum.

Δ. Salvo judicio Ecclesiae Catholicoe Orthodoxae, videtur mihi quòd Job de ejusmodi Angelorum timore, five casu, & restitutione, sive purgatione prophetaverit, Cap. 41. ubi etiam addit de miraculis ejusdem: Sub ipso erant […] solis, & sternet sibi aurum quasi lutum. Antea […]. Cum su latus fuerit timebunt Angeli, & territi purgabuntur, &c.

Δ. O Deus quam terribile futurum est tempus illud, &c.

Jub...... […] Dei mysteria, & Deo gratias agatis pro vestro salvo statu: Quia mare illis abundabat contra vos, & multi perierunt. Ejus potentia praevalebat, & commutavit vestrum cursum in locum illis incognitum: quia ab illis non erat expectatus. Sed fugite ab hac terra, quia Maledictio Dei est super illam. Cum illo est una veritas: Ille qui in duabus viis erat, non placet Deo. Qui ad finem usque perdurat, quiescit cum […]. Sed ille qui pedem non ponit inter Scorpiones non potest intrare super Gozlach.

Δ. Quid hoc?

Jub...... Gaudium in vera sapientia.

Jub...... Hoc nostrum est Manna, quo alimur. Sed ego sum sanctifica tus per Creationem, […] & ex Divina voluntate. […] vos sanctifico: non cum mea propria sanctificatione, sed illius Justitia, qui meam originem sanctificat. Estote Montes in Fide, sed quasi infantes patientia. Facite quod Justum est, & ne […] tradatis vestram Justitiam.

E. K. Infinitae quasi locustae vel Araneae cum faciebus humanis illum circum volitant, & quasi ignem in illum evomunt.

Jub...... Et levavit se contra vos. [Tollendo Crucem suam.]

Jub...... Fiat Justitia ejus.

E. K. Jam avolant praecipites, & quasi deorsum ruentes.

Jub...... Cavete a stramine: quia incensum, tota domum incendit.

Δ. Quem sensum hic perpendemus nos: Mysticum ne, an materialem?

Jub...... […] fragilissimarum. Diabolus cum illis fraudulenter operatur: magna est merces quietis, Sed qui apperit fores contentioni, intromittit Serpentem. Maledicti sunt invidi: Quia illi sunt […] qui se mutuo diligunt. Pax inter vos sit; quia est necessaria. Quia pacis inimici sunt potentes contra vos.

E. K. Jam loquendo, videtur minor & minor paulatim fieri.

Δ. De nostro decessu ex Anglia quid tandem jam Regina & sui […] statuerunt?

Jub...... Aperit os suum, sed liquor non est satis frigidus. Jam est intus calida, ne q; restingui potest. Corda sui populi do fall away. Her […] are weakened, her legs weaker, her shooes are full of sorrow.

E. K. The furious Monsters assaile him again.

Jub...... Quis est, qui potest vivere, si transgrediatur preceptum Dei? Vel quid de illis judicare […], whom God imputeth sin unto?

E. K. They […] him again, and he putteth his Crosse toward them.

Jub...... Their misery beginneth, and shall have no end, till he that sitteth here do end it.

E. K. The Monsters assaile him still.

Jub...... The wall must be broken down, and then shall It be said. Happy art thou which hast dwelt amongst us. But if thou live righteously, and ascend the slippery mountain, Then shall God be merciful to them for thy sake. Because thou mayest be beloved, where thou art now despised, and hast vanquished thy enemies, with the truth of vertue. He that entred into the lowest hell, and shed his blood for your sins, be merciful unto you, and give you peace; which is the spirit of Patience, that you may live, not like men, but as those that do separate themselves from the world, to the true contemplation of God his mercies.

E. K. Jam intrat in Caput, A. L. cum flamma ignis.

Δ. Omnis laus, honor, & gloria sit Deo nostro Omnipotenti vivo & vero. Amen.

Thursday, Octobris 3. We came from Briel to Roterodam in a Hoy of Amsterdam, to go within land, here we lay all night.

Friday, Octobris 4. We came to Tergowd hora 3 à meridie: where we lay within the Town in the Ship.

Saturday, Octobris 5. We came by Harlem to Amsterdam, and lay before the Town all night in the Ship.

Tuesday Octob. 8. We sailed from Amsterdam to Encusen, and Edmond Hilton went with my goods by Sea toward Dansk.

Wensday, Octob. 9. We set off from Encusen early: but by reason of a contrary wind, we came very late to Herlinghem.

Friday, […]. 11. We went within land in little Scutes from Herlinghem (by Frainker) to Lewarden.

Saturday, Octob. 12. From Lewarden, we came to Dockum (in small Boates) about 3 of the clock after noon.

[…] Octob. […]. Apud Dockum in Frisia Occidentali.

Δ. Diu Chrystallus tanquam lapis nigerrimus apparuit. Tandem in ipsa lapidis nigredine, apparuit homo nudus Crucifixus super crucem: sed tamen non mortuus; Crucis partes infra manus, omnes sanguinolentae videbantur. Fascia linea circumdabatur Corpus […], (a pectore deorsum) & fines ejusdem fasciae pendere videbantur circa genua: & sanguinolenta apparebat: & ex quinque vulneribus ([…] erat) videbatur sanguis guttatim cadere. Tandem disparuerunt haec omnia: & quasi deorsum subsidere videbantur; & lapis clarus factus est, & apparebat Cortina aurea: […] erat haec mutatio.

E. K. Jam videtur lapis esse valde magnus, & ante lapidem stare quidam magnus, (quasi Michael) cum gladio ancipite evomente ignem ex utraque acie […].

Mic...... Justus & mirabilis & per maximus es tu, O Altissime Deus. [[…] flexis hac dicit] qui tua judicia manifestas, ut possis super terram cognosci; & ut tua gloria amplificetur, ad […] eorum qui electi sunt, & ad dolorem, & dedecus talium qui crucifigunt lumen mundi (unigenitum Domini nostri, Salvatorem humani generis) quotidie. Ecce portae […] sunt iniquitati. Attollite oculos, & videte quo modo filii hominum stulti devenerunt esse; quia eorum habitatio est facta nigra, Terra sigillata est ad eorum destructionem: quia Deum dereliquerunt, & sibimet ipsis adhaeserunt; & adhuc in partes dissecant Servatorem mundi Jesum Christum [[…] ensis sui crucem] continuò cum blasphemis eorum sacrificiis. Ve illis, quia illos […] prosequimur, & ve illis qui inter illos habitant; quia iniquitate sunt polluti. Orate, dum inter illos estis, quia vestri inimici sunt multiplicati, quia vobis dico nuncium Domini exercituum, Regis fidelium. Relinquite infantiam, & vivite, & ambulate per vias prudentiae; & vivite cum Deo in domo sua. Quia […] Iniquorum, non est habitatio vel sedes prophanis, neque potest Nomen Domini efferri legitimè, in illegitima Natione, illegitima facta, quia dereliquerunt statuta Altissimi. Hoc dicit Dominus; Ego sum Deus Justitiae: & juravi & non est unus inter illos qui vivet, […] ne una anima. Quomodo […] esse devenerunt? de quibus scriptum est. Abs q; notitia Dei: Homo ille factus est peeus. Vita illorum, qui devorantur, & talium quos ignis consumpsit sedebit in judico contra istam Nationem.

Blessed and Sanctified, and for evermore praised art thou...... Judge, which hast said, and Raignest for ever.

Δ Si multiplicati sunt inimici nostri, &c.

E. K. He is gone.

Δ. Si multiplicati sunt inimici nostri propter peccata nostra, ut […] nobis incumbat lucta, Misericordiam Dei imploramus ut ipse nostram etiam multiplicet fortitudinem, &c.

Gab...... Pluck up your hearts, bow your knees, & audite quae dicit Dominus. Thus saith the Lord, If you will prevaile against the wicked, and rejoyce among the sanctified, you must observe and keep such commandments, as are ordained by the God of Truth, unto those that are partakers of his Covenant.

Ask Counsel of God; Remember it.

Be milde.

E. K. Gabriel also noted […] Commandments in a pair of Tables, after he had pronounced them.

Fast and pray.

Be Charitable.

Vse true Friendship in the service of God.

Persevere to the end.

Are not these Commandments necessary to be kept of all Christian men?.

Δ. They are undoubtedly.

Gab...... And must of necessity be kept of those that are faithful.

[E. K. He standeth as though he stood behind a Desk, and preached or taught.]

Gab...... Well thou sayest; Lo our enemies are multiplied, multiply thou therefore our strength O God. Nature is subject unto you for the name of the Lord, not as unto Kings, but as unto the Ministers of his eternal will, whereby your justification is settled above the works of Nature already; for, behold, […] participate the mercies of God through his Son Christ Jesus, in […]: in that we open unto you those things that have been sealed; even from the Just, for the which we are become slaves unto Corruption; shewing our selves in divers shapes, to the dishonour of our Creation: Yet are we quickned and revived, because we are become the finger of God: and you are sanctified, and withal justified, because you are touched with the finger of him that reviveth all things. Therefore, Rejoyce, Rejoyce, be Joyful and sing Praises unto God, and faint not: saying, Our enemies are risen up against us, yea, they are multiplied; for thus saith the Lord, and it is already spoken by the Holy Ghost.

[E. K. He maketh now great obedience or reverence.]

Foelices sunt, quibus […] spes est.

[E. K. He looketh now up unto a thing like a Throne.]

Et omne opus operatio Dei.

[E. K. Now there cometh a beam down into his head, and he is covered with a great thing like a white cloud.]

E. K. Now the Stone is all on fire. Now the fire ascendeth upward, the streaming beam stretcheth into his head still.

E. K. There appeareth a little woman a far off, and she is so clear and transparent, that there appeareth a man child in her; She hath a Coat as though it were Crimson, and hath a long little face, and hath a strange silk attire a bout her head..... as... Videtur esse uxor mea.

Gab...... Go woman, thy grief shall be lesse than it hath been.

E. K. Habet multos tanquam parvos nigros canes post se. Now goeth one and tyeth their mouths with packthred.

Gab...... So God useth to give a suaffle to the wicked.

E. K. A great wind bloweth on Gabriel.

Δ. De Angliae & meo privato statu cupio aliquid audire: tum ex […], tum propter famae meae rationem.

Gab...... […] paululum, & iterum venero. My Lord saith, Let my servants sit up, and take their rest, I will visit them forthwith in peace.

Δ. After a great quarter of an hour, he came again.

E. K. He appeareth now clothed, with all his garment hanging with bells of Gold, and flaming fire coming from them, with silverish flames. He hath hanging about his Crown as if they were seven Labells, the tops of which come from above, from an uncertain place and distance.

Gab...... Venite Morvorgran. E. K. He calleth with a loud voice.

E. K. Now cometh a big black man, with a white face, and after him hath 24. They stand in four rows, and in every row six.

Gab...... Let me see thy seale.

Mor...... Behold power is given to me: Neither is the liquor that thou ministrest of any taste with me; Neither shall I be overcome, for I have placed my seat here.

Gab...... But by whose permission? Gag lah nai.

E. K. Now Morvorgran falleth down on his knees, and the rest on their face. Medicina Dei, malis, Justicia vera.

E K. They tremble that lie flat on the ground.

E. K. Morvorgran sheweth to Gabriel on his own left breast a Character.

Gab...... For 19 moneths. Behold the will of God: Because thou hast conspired and risen against the Lord, in his chosen, and hast said; It is to weet those that are subject unto thee, Let us rise up against him, and persecute his soul: let us secretly entrap him, for, without doubt, he is rich. And because your conspiracies are not of theft onely, but [also] of murder: Therefore I seal thee with a weaker power; And be it unto thee according unto the word of God, that judgeth Righteously. From evil unto worse. From worse unto confusion. From confusion unto desperation. From desperation unto damnation. From damnation unto eternal death.

[E. K. Now Gabriel did put another prick to the Character on his left breast]