A memorandum to London occasioned by the pestilence there begun this present year MDCLXV, and humbly offered to the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and commonality of the said city / by George Wither ; thereto is by him added, a warning-piece to London, discharged out of a loophole in the tower, upon meditating the deplorable fier, which consumed the house of an eminent citizen, with all the persons and goods therein, at the beginning of most joyful festival in December 1662 ; also, a single sacrifice offered to almighty God, by the same author in his lonely confinement, for prevention of the dearth-feared, and probably portended, by immoderate raines in June and July, 1663, morever, in regard may have reported and believed this author to be dead, we have annexed his epitaph, made by himself upon that occasion.

The Epilogue.

THis, I perceive will take up too much Room, Within a Church, or, on a Chappel Tombe; And, peradventure, need a larger Stone Then my estate will buy to write it on: Ile therefore, let it wander on betwixt The two Poles, till it finds where to be fixt: For, though it seems brought forth before the time, It may, whilst it continues in this Clime, Some way advantage me, by bringing that Into my minde, which I might else forget, That, Whilst I live, I might conform thereto So far forth, as I am oblig'd to do. Moreover, I shall know, (when this is read) What will be said of me when I am dead; Which, that man cannot hear, who shall not have An Epitaph, till he is in his Grave.

Some part thereof, may likewise useful seem To others, who my words, now disesteem: For, through the spatious earth, I know not ought, That is, or may be said▪ or done, or thought, But, hath a tendance, if we heed it will, Either to what is good or what is ill: A Single haire, or fluttring of a Bird, May providentially, sometimes afford Hints, or precautions, to incline us, to What we ought to Observe, beleive, or do. This, also will be, as it were, to some A Messenger, who from the dead is come, To Preach what is agreeable to Reason, (Although it be a Preachment out of season) But, now, both dead and living Preachers too, Are sleighted, whatsoe're they say or do. And, if such Predicants found no regard, Where Moses and the Prophets were not heard, What, probably, from those can be expected Who Christ and his Apostles, have neglected? Yet, from dead Letters, and from men deceast There comes (from what in lifetime they exprest) A voice sometimes, to which men will incline, A willing ear; and so, there will from mine.