world, so that the sinner return to thee with a penitent heart,
as I do at this present. Wherefore have mercy upon me, O Lord, whose
property is always to have mercy; although my sins be great, yet is
thy mercy greater; wherefore have mercy upon me, O Lord, for thy great
mercy. I crave nothing, O Lord, for mine own merits, but for thy
Name's sake, and, therefore, O Father of heaven, hallowed be thy
Name."

Then rising, he went on with his address:--

"Every man desireth, good people, at the time of his death, to give
some good exhortation that others may remember after his death, and be
the better thereby; for one word spoken of a man at his last end[546]
will be more remembered than the sermons {p.256} made of them that
live and remain. So I beseech God grant me grace, that I may speak
something at my departing whereby God may be glorified and you
edified.

[Footnote 546: Shakspeare was perhaps thinking of
this speech of Cranmer when he wrote the
magnificent lines which he placed in the mouth of
the dying Gaunt:--

"O, but they say, the tongues of dying men
Enforce attention, like deep harmony:
Where words are scarce, they are seldom spent in vain:
For they breathe truth, that breathe their words in pain.
He, that no more must say, is listened more
Than they whom youth and ease have taught to gloze;
More are men's ends marked, than their lives before:
The setting sun, and music at the close,
As the last taste of sweets, is sweetest last;
Writ in remembrance more than things long past."

"But it is an heavy case to see that many folks be so doted upon the
love of this false world, and be so careful for it, that of the love
of God or the world to come, they seem to care very little or nothing;
therefore this shall be my first exhortation--that you set not
over-much by this glozing world, but upon God and the world to come;
and learn what this lesson meaneth which St. John teacheth, that the
love of the world is hatred against God.

"The second exhortation is, that next unto God, you obey your king and
queen willingly, without murmur or grudging, not for fear of them
only, but much more for the fear of God, knowing that they be God's
ministers, appointed of God to rule and govern you, and therefore
whosoever re