THE COVNTRIE Mans Comfort OR Religious Recreations fitte for all well disposed persons Which was Printed in the yeere of our Lord 1588. And since corrected amended and enlarged by the same Author I. R. PSAL. 34. 11. Come ye Children in vnderstanding I will teach you the feare of the Lord. COL 3. 16. Let the words of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisedome teaching and admonishing your owne selues in Psalmes Hymnes and spirituall Songs singing with a grace in your hearts to the Lord. Printed at London by M. D. and are to be sold by Anne Boler at the signe of the Marigold in Pauls Church-yard 1637. To the Christian Reader grace and peace GOod Reader in the yeere of our Lord 1588. when the Divell Pope and Spaniard did rage against our late Q. Elizabeth never to be forgotten and this kingdome to haue both killed vs and to possesse the land and when God had so miraculously delivered vs from that invincible Navie as they termed it I wrote this Booke containing in it many good Songs Ditties Carrols for the comfort and solace of all those that are well disposed after so miraculous deliverance from our enemies the Pope and Spaniards If therfore it happen to light into hands that are wise and learned know this that I doe not count it so fit a booke for thee as for the Schollers of pettie Schooles the poore Coutrieman and his familie who wil aske these vain questions som times saying what shall we doe in the long winter nights how shall we passe away the time on Sundayes what wold you haue vs doe in the Christmas Hollydayes For such haue I made this booke wherein I shall no doubt please their merrie minds a little for that they are naturally given to sing if happily I may winne them to sing good things and forsake euill And when the gun-powder Treason was found out and bewrayed I began to looke over this little booke and finding as great cause to mooue vnto thankefulnesse now as then I did as my leasure serued me correct amend my former labors and added and augmented them more then was in the former booke and now haue finished the same I offer it to the view of all well minded persons and as for others that cannot take plaine labors in good part I leaue them to themselues and the rest vnto God The Lords poore and humble seruant I. R. The Countrymans comfort A song in stead of an Introduction to this worke worthy your reading and entituled A Table of good Counsell It will goe to the tune of in Create if you sing it FIrst learne to honour God aright Let loue and feare thereto provok Obey the King with all thy might Submit thy selfe to Parents yoke Imbrace the good and shunne the ill This is the summe of wisedomes skill To know thy selfe thou must apply And try thy friend before thou trust Content thy selfe clime not too hie Let word and deed be all waies iust Striue not to swim against the streame Account not of a drowsie dreame Wish not for wealth by parents death A friend farre passeth worldly good And while the body yeeldeth breath Seeke not for to exceede in foode For great excesse of meate and drinke Doth cause the soule in sinne to sinke Faint not though fortune fauour fooles Fret not at others good successe Delight to sit in learned schooles Thy former faults seeke to redresse Spurne not at him that tells thy crime Mend that against another time Spend sparingly yet not too nye And make accompt how wealth doth wast Hate Suretiship all debt bookes flie To giue thy word make thou no hast Let not apparrell sumptuous be But still remember thy degree Respect not only present time But marke also what may ensue For cracke of credit is a crime Change not an old friend for a new Take heed of brasen face past shame And loue to liue in honest fame Praise no man till thou dost him knowe Dispraise not rashly any wight Least shame thereby to thee may growe Speake but few words place them aright Into the world then maist thou goe And say thy friend hath taught thee so The summe of the Creed in Meeter IN Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Beleeue I stedfastly And that Christ Iesus Man became I hold as earnestlie He also suffered for our sinnes Himselfe still voyde of sinne Who did descend the manner how I say not much therein We find that Christ felt so much paine As satisfied Gods Ire And reconciled man to God That 's all we neede require And as for Christ in Pix in bread Or harrowing vp of Hell Of Purgatory Limbus twaine The Scripture doth not tell One true Church Catholike there is One earth still Millitant And I a member of the same Through Christ now Tryumphant This Church it hath Communion And God remitts their sinne To life and glory they shall rise And they shall neuer linne To sing out HALLELVIAH In euerlasting Blisse Wherefore beleeue and liue well here That so you may be his Amen The summe of the Tenne Commandements 1 None but Iehova haue for God 2 No Creature worship thou 3 Take not Gods holy Name in vaine 4 Keepe well the Sabboth now 5 Thy Parents honor and obey 6 No murder once commit 7 Be none adulterer at all 8 Steale not by hand or wit 9 False witnesse beare thou not I say 10 Ne couet not in heart Thy neighbors wife seruant or goods That God gaue for his part These Ten Commandements we deuide Still into Tables twaine And take them for our spirituall guide And our direction plaine First to the worship of our God And then to Christian loue That we may shunne the fiery rod And liue in heauen aboue Then doe not like to Papists adde Nor take from this his Law But downe with Images and all And euer liue in Awe And as the Lord did make vs all So let him teach vs too For he knowes what is best for vs And we blind what to doe FINIS A Briefe of the Lords Prayer O Father ours which art in heauen Still hallowed be thy Name Thy kingdome come thy will be done In earth without all blame As it performed is in heauen Ofsoules and Angels bright Where thou art serued without sin And praysed day and night Giue vs this day our daily bread Forgiue our sinnes likewise As we forgiue them that vs hurt When quarrells doe arise Into temptation lead us not So to be overcome As wicked persons euer are That lose thy sweet kingdome For thine is that celestiall place With power and glorie still Both now and euermore Amen Say we with right good will To pray to Saints or creatures then you see t is Po-pe-rie To haue a Picture in this worke Is idle certainely A Crucifix is nothing worth Ne Beades to count vpon For blind-men they must leaue those Paints And pray to God alone FINIS The Summe of the old Covenant or Testament with the
two Sacraments thereof giuen to the Iewes by Almightie God IEhova that great God of heaven gaue to the fathers old A covenant of doing all That in the Law is told Doe this and liue said God to them But no man could do so Wherefore the law sends all to Christ To keepe their soules from woe This covenant was sign'd and seald With two cleere Sacraments The first was Circumcision Withall rights and intents Th' other was the Passeouer Wherein Christ was set out The Lambe of God slaine for our sinnes Of this be out of doubt FINIS The Summe of the new Covenant or Testament with the two Sacraments confirming the same and given both to the Iewes and Gentills by Iesus Christ the sonne of God THe Couenant of Christ with man in the new Testament Is this that we beleeue in him and striue with whole intent To loue and liue as Christ hath done yea beare his crosse and pray That we may doe as we would haue men deale with vs alway This Covenant also is confirmed With holy Sacraments twaine Which like wise set out Christ to vs Who for our sinnes was slaine The first of these is Baptisme Which sets out our new Birth The other the Lords Supper is Which brings vs heavenly mirth And thus one Church is gathered Of Jewes and Gentiles eke Rome therefore is a Harlot found And our Church Catholicke For we stand firmly to Gods word And thereby wil be taught But Papists cheifely by the Pope Which thing great strife hath wrought These Sacraments which Christ set out They like not simple-ly But will have 7. S. to Christs twaine And giue no reason why Consider what absurdities Doe grow of this by them Five covenants more they would confirme Belike from mortall men Their Priests of all men should receiue The Sacraments each one Yet must he not be married For then his Priest-hoods gone Some of these fiue cal'd Sacraments The people may not haue As Orders yea and Marriage too Which some men will not craue Where as the Sacraments of Christ Must be received of all Even as his Law and Covenant Which serues for great and small But I will now contend no more I seeke to teach the Truth And to bewraye Absurdities To aged folke and youth FINIS An instruction of the whole year deuided in 12. Months foure seasons or quarters as also into weekes and daies of the Sabboth or Lords day and what is the true keeping of it Of a Yeare A yeare is that which holds from spring to spring From march to march the fiue twentith day Wherein we sow and reape of euery thing To serue for meat and clothing as we say Of the 12. Monthes in the yeare Twelue monthes there are belonging to each year Into foure quarters we divide the same Thirteen full moons in this space doe appeare And 4 weeks maks vp euery month we name Of the names of the Monthes Cold Ianuary Februarie March Mild Aprill May with Iune and Iuly these Hot August which the corn doth ripe parch September sweet which doth the Ploughman please October and November then takes place The last of all these Months is cald December And they that haue but even a sparke of grace Gods benefits in these they will remember Of the 4. Quarters in the yeare 1 The Quarters foure in all the year are these March twentie fiue is cald our Lady-day Or the Anun-tia-ti-on if you please Of blessed Marie by that man of ioy I meane the Angell Gabriell which did come With newes frō heauē that she shuld mother be Of Iesus Christ Gods deare only sonne Which story in the Scripture all may see 2 The second quarter hapneth still in Iune And Saint Iohn Baptists day we doe it call Or Midsommer in English speach or tune The yeare is then at best as it will fall 3 The third is in the Month we call Septēber And beares the name of glorious Mi-cha-ell Wherein let poore men euermore remember Their yeare or halfe yeares rent to pay downe well 4 The fourth and last falls in December still And Christmas quarter men doe cal the same God grant vs in them all to doe Gods will And so to thriue in body goods and name FINIS A religious Letter shewing how and whom to wooe in the way of Marriage though all men cannot doe or haue it so as is here set downe IN humble wise I doe commend and write these words to you Whom I esteeme as my deare friend neuer to change for new Vnto my words in patience now let your eares incline And that will be some recompence to quit these paynes of mine In younger yeares when strength did grow and nature sought her will I vsed all good meanes that are The same to quench and kill I prayd to God I fasted oft I kept from com-pa-ny I read good bookes to beat downe lust And harlots haunts did fly I labor'd in my calling much I watcht and studied harde Yet as I sat the tempter came With all his band and guard Evill motions he did raise in me With Ona-nizme Sinne But I likte not or gaue consent To ought that he brought in But I would walke abroad sometimes And take some re-cre-ation To put vaine thoughts out of my heart In good and christian fashion And even in this had I respect to every cir-cum-stance Time place and seasons every thing That goodnes might advance Then went I to my worke againe I never made a toyle Of sport or recreation Which should be but as File To get the Mellancholly ruste And filth of flesh away Least Sinne and Sathan should in me As Kings beare rule and sway When none of these things did prevaile But Sathan tempted still I thought vpon mans last refuge Gods lawes for to fulfill I meane the honest Marriage Bed Therein to liue most chast My body which Gods Temple is No way to file or wast My Parents which did bring me vp Gaue learning to mine Art And made me often read Gods word Which I laid vp in heart Thus getting Scripture readily As at my fingers ends I vanquisht world the flesh and Divell Not shaming selfe nor friends This was of God I wrought it not but here all sorts may see Christs yoke is easyer then we judge If good meanes vsed be But if like Cowardes we will yeelde To lust and to affection So oft as Sathan he will tempt In vaine is all direction Where fore such counsell as I reade Such counsell giue will I Resist the Deuill saith Saint Iames And he from thee will flie Or else how did good Iosephhe Susanna and the rest Withstand all filthines of sin and whoredome still detest To passe by this I will proceede and bend my speech more plaine To you whom I respect in heart in which I doe not faine Because I meane to knit my selfe In marriage as I said I did bethinke my selfe where I Might find some honest maid That I might wooe
Magies sage and wise To Easterne Aethiopians his starre did now arise This starre it brought them to our Starre in dawning of the day I meane to Christ whose gospell bright driues all darke clouds away They offer first to him fine gold to shew he is a King They gaue him Frankincense and Mirrh which notes some other thing That he was man and that he had a sacrifice to giue To God for all beleeuing soules so long as men shall liue Our spirituall King he is to rule our Priest and sacrifice Our Prophet for to teach vs all till we be heauenly wise O Lord giue grace to vs therefore to yeeld obedience To thee and to thy holy Word with all due reuerence So shall we reape the fruits thereof in heauen an other day When we with God and Christ shall raigne in euerlasting ioy Vnto which ioy he bring vs all that are of his elect And now accept of this our prayse with mercifull respect FINIS A song reprouing Papistes for the Gunne-powder treason and of our ioy and thankesgiving for our deliverance from that danger and all others REioyce England and ioy in him that ioyes each Christian heart With songs of prayses neuer linne to laud him for your part Oh set oh sing and sweetly play Gods workes in verse and prose Declare and shew from day to day how he hath flaine our foes Exalt Gods goodnes to this land and to our late deare Queene That worthy Ladie dead and gone in heauen still to be seene And now King Iames succeeds in place these kingdomes for to sway God graunt that his posteritie may doe the like for aye As troubles doe abide all men so much more godly Kings That doe the gospel still maintaine and all the fruit it brings King Iames hath oft in dangers beene in Scotland as we know In England at his comming in he wanted not his foe Yet God in wondrous wise did saue and well deliver him Yea made the Traytors to bewray their owne intended sinne The cheife of them had their reward at Winchester that Cittie When on some others of their crue the King shewed royall pittie But Sathan and his Impes sleepe not new plots they still devise As this which was of Gunpowder apparant to our eyes This hellish worke this strange deuise surpassing all the rest Hath left a forehead marke for them that such we should detest These wanted neither friends nor coyne on euery side the seas To bring this busines to passe the Papistes hearts to please And if some of their multitude did neuer know of it Which of them would refuse to haue what others wonne by wit All things with secrecie was kept and they were readie now To finish vp with stroke of strokes their foule and wicked vow But God bewrayed it or their houre yea they one letter sent Which op'ned all to King and state and voyd was their intent It was a woefull thing they sought the cutting off of all A bringing of this noble land to beggery and thrall I am astonisht many times to thinke on the invention And muse what men on earth there be that like of this intention Poore Protestants so cald in scorne by Papists day and night You neuer went with Massacres the Papists to despight For if you had then Papists throates like trumpets shrill would be To rayle and write in euery place till your heart bloods they see In blood at first they founded were by blood thy liue and thriue In blood they also grounded are devouring men aliue Yet once they must confounded be in Gods great haruest day Wherefore fly Romish Babylon with all the speed you may In the meane time let Christians striue to serue the Lord on hie Remembring each deliverance with thankes continually Lord looke on vs regard and heare our prayers and our praise And let our thankes appeare in life abhorring sinfull wayes Amen A Game at Chesse with the Papists or a Ditty made on that game against them and their evill practises YE Papists that can play at Chesse and guide your men in battell ray Your doings still doe well expresse that you doe hope to haue a day And yet as close as you can play to check the King and all his state It is foreseene to your decay that check without neck of force is mate Your pelting paune you thrust before to make the way to worke your feate Your knights and rookes you haue in store your Queene and Bishop keepe their seat Your king cat holly we may say in Brittanie he would rule the state No God nor man must say him nay yet check without neck of force is mate Your practise old to us well knowne doth vrge the wise and godly race Well to provide and saue their owne and eke your treasons to deface Although your paunes doe check his grace the knights with neck set them agate And did well waigh in time and place that check without necke of force is mate Your Iugling gins and sleights most sly are no more seene then nose on face And that in the'nd ye shall well try when you doe hope they shall take place You shall be forc't to runne apace for that we watch early and late Well to provide and haue in chase that check without neck of force is mate The check that you to vs haue sent to necke most easly are alwayes All though to checking you are bent and we by necking win the praise Now check saith Parsons and there staies now neck saith Sutlife to thy pate And gaue to them without delay a passing pure and plaine checke mate Although your learning will not serue to giue to vs a checke indeed From old practise you doe not swarue your bloody hearts to fat and feed Your powder plot makes all your seed to be abhor'd of Church and state For that there by all at one blow you meant to vs check and check mate O Lord for Iesus Christ his sake keepe cleane and pure thy church to th' end That we by faith may vndertake all truth in thee to comprehend Our King and realmes good Lord defend against all those that would vs check That we on thee may so depend to haue alwayes a speedy neck Amen An exhortation to praise God for that worthy science and skill of Musick and for the great masters of the Art and their worthy workes PRaise God in whom only is found the fulnes of all skill And from whose wisdome floes the streame of knowledge at his will Praise him therefore for Musickes art a science of the seaven Which cheares the mindes of men on earth and Ioyes the Saints in heauen Praise him for Iubal and the rest that first did find and frame The ground and principles whereby we teach and learne the same Praise him for silver trumpets twaine that he bad Moses frame For Israels rising vp to traine and resting by the same Praise him for Davids booke of Psalmes and for the songs of praise
That Solomon did make and write in his most royall daies Praise him for Azaph and the rest whom Dauid set to sing In presence of the holy Arke when Solomon was king Praise him for all the songs and play left vs by learned men Who by their studies night and day did much with inke and pen. Praise him for those that loue this Art and doe the same maintaine Rewarding it with willing hart among the godly traine Praise him and pray that all abuse there of may hated be And that the godly and right vse may rest in each degree Praise him and pray that those of skill may liue in Har-mo-ny And bring up youth with fauour still this art to dignifie Praise him and pray for our good King his Nobles and the rest Our Queene the Prince and the off-spring Lord let them all be blest Praise him yea euer sing him praise on earth most ioyfully That after death our soules may sing his praise eternally Amen Certaine graces before and after meat in english meeter very breife short for children to vse Grace before meat for poore and rich made vpon the 4. Petition of the Lords Prayer and made to the three persons in Trinitie 1 OVr Father through Christ giue vs this day our dayly bread 2 O Christ feed vs by faith in thee to liue when we are dead 3 Thou Spirit of truth teach vs to pray with inward sighes and grones That both the Father and the Sonne may heare our plaints and mones O holy and blessed Trinitie one God in persons three Peserue thy church our king realme and let vs come to thee Amen Grace after meat for the rich and wealthie of of the world AS thou hast fed our bodies Lord so feed our soules likewise And make vs mindfull of the poore as riches doe arise Increase thy flocke preserue our King thy grace and peace vs send That we may lead a faithfull life and make a godly end Amen Grace before meat O Lord our God celestiall blesse this our food materiall That we may rightly vse the same vnto the honor of thy name Thy Church Lord saue our King defend grant vs thy Gospell to the end Amen Grace after meate O Gracious God we magnifie thy glorious name and maiestie For all thy blessings given to vs through thy deare sonne our Lord Iesus Thy Church our King Queene Lord saue the Prince and all the friends we haue Amen Grace before meat THou Lord that didst create all things for mankind to enioy And didst ordaine man for thy selfe to serue thee night and day O blesse these meates and drinkes of ours that we thy name may please With earthly giue vs heauenly food both now and all our dayes Continue all thy goodnesse Lord and still preserue our King The Queene Prince and these our realmes aboue all earthly things Amen Grace after meate for poore people ON Father Sonne and holy Ghost depend we euermore God sanctifie our state to vs and still increase our store O teach vs Lord in time of need to trust in thee and pray That whether we abound or want thou Lord maist be our stay Thy whole and universall Church Lord Jesus still defend And to all troubles of the same Lord ever put an end Amen A Prayer for the King and State O Eternall God most mighty Lord and our heavenly Father in Iesus Christ King of Kings and Lord of all things 〈◊〉 whom kings of the earth doe raigne and 〈◊〉 men doe beare sway both in Church and common weale O Lord our God we beseech thee in the highest degree unto our dread Soveraigne Lord King Charles to his honorable counsell to his Clergie Nobilitie Gentry Magistrates commonaltie to the two universities to the professors of both lawes to every man in his honest just lawful calling that they and every one of them may doe their duty as carefully godly honestly conscionably and in thy feare O Lord as they will answer it to thee in the great day of account