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Mortalitie's Memorandum. [ 832]
THe noble Lord Chancellor,* 1.1 Egerton, comming down the stairs at York-house, to go to Westminster-hall, in the Term-time, observed to be written upon the wall, (belike by some one or other, that feared oppression by some mignty ad∣versary) these three words, Tanquam non reversurus, as though he should never return again; hinting thereby unto his Lordship, to do justice. And it may serve for a good memorandum to all good Christians, to make them the more wary and watchfull of their actions, when they go abroad out of their houses, chambers,* 1.2 or lodgings, even for this reason, because they may happen, not to return again: there would be condiscension in the Plantiff's heart, reconciliation in the Defen∣dant, truth in the Lawyer, conscience in the Judge, plain dealing in the Trades∣man, in every man and womans heart, an avoiding of evill doing, Did they but think on these few words, Tanquam non reversurus, and consider, whether they would speak or do thus and thus, if they were presently to die; or whether thus and thus behave themselves abroad, if they were not to return again to their homes.