ryghte Onely preferryng their Hannybail Yet haue we one passyng them all ¶ Whiche we ought of duety and reuerence Most humbly his grace to magnify Salute in heart worde and sentence Somwhat of hym to exemplify I meane our kyng most famous Henry Our naturall Lord our supreme hed Most renoumed and most to be dred ¶ Lyke as Lato the prudent counceler Wrote volumes large of famous report Prynces notable onely to preferre Among the Romaynes vertue to supporte Whose example is to our comforte Folowyng the same vice to confounde Thus of our dutie surely are we bounde ¶ Wherfore I wyll my pen aduaunce Mekely thereto my selfe incline With most dilygent attendaunce Directyng my style this present tyme In worde and sence straight as a lyne With Rome Carthage Thebes other mâ—… As farre as the best his fame to goo ¶ Lyke as Phebes in the midday spere His radiant beames moste pure and bryghte Illustreth out bothe freshe and cleare Persyng the dewes by force of might I illuminyng all maner of syght Comforting frutes flowers earbes grasse So doth our king al other kynges passe ¶ I wold to Chryst that my edicion Accordyng to my iudgement Myght take effecte like my intencion In thynges condyng worthy or equiuolent Unto his grace this tyme present Then wolde I the truthe declare Which am inforced with termes rude bare ¶ Yet neuerthelesse my inwarde desyre Without any more loquacitee Greatly I seke as reason doth requyre For to approue his noble maiestie Of all other kinges to haue the soueraintee As sonne and ayre to lusty dame nature Resemblyng her person shape and fygure ¶ I dare alledge as in this case That nature sought tyme oportune When she first formed his noble grace Onely by respecte of gentell Fortune All other causes for to contune Assured to gether by promise bounde That in his parson no faulte were founde ¶ Thus hathe nature by great aduisemente With circumspecte deliberacion Full lyke a Goddesse pure and excellent shewed her powre and mighty operacion Nothyng reseruyng at his creacion Whiche myght his nobilitee aduaunce Unto his byrthe she gaue suche attendaunce ¶ With strength beawtie and semelynesse She hath amplyfyed his courage Most renoumed for gentlenesse Therin he hathe so great aduauntage Passyng all other his parentage Thus by report preferred is his name Intitled in the boke of worthy fame ¶ Gentelst of Gentyles grace to recure Like Alcibyades that famous knyghte Of Athenes prince their party to assure So is his grace most gentelest in syghte Whose inwarde respecte iudgyng a ryghte A prynce of nature that gentle is Of faythfull subiectes can neuer mysse ¶ For like as gentlenes doth playne appere Onely by naturall inclinacion In countenaunce in speache and cheare So dothe the loue and hearty affection Exclude all maner of contencion Causeth subiectes them selfes to endeuer Where gentlenes is in loue to perceuâ—… ¶ By his gentlenes our wroÌ„ges ar redressed By his gentlenes our loue made pardurable By his gentlenes the truth out expressed Our heartes are made sure and veritable His gentlenes is so resemblable That al thinges to him he doth accumulate Whiche to gentlenes is appropriate ¶ So that his grace passeth all other An euident thyng for to declare There reigned neuer suche another His subiectes to kepe preserue and spare Wherfore we may in this compare All most one thyng as in degree His gentlenes to mercyfull pitie ¶ For that lande dominion or regiment That hathe a prince of gentell nature God hathe promised long stablishment In loue together they shall indure Wherfore in this let vs assure Sith gentlenes commeth of gyft deuine Let vs to gentlenes our heartes incline ¶ Thus are we bounde plainly to expresse His gentlenesse onely to discure conseruyng our wealth and whole redresse By his grace lately put in vre Of his lawes nowe are we made sure Among the mountaynes hilles and vales Now is it England somtime called Wales ¶ And further in this to reporte Accordyng to his mercifull yousage Our abusions onely to transporte Hath deuised with his counsayl sage Wales to conducte from all bondage Brefely to conclude this to vnderstand Priuileged we ar with the lawes of EnglaÌ„d ¶ Like as Minos that famous kyng Somtime raignyng in the land of Crete Full renoumed for science and connyng Founde out the lawes most holsome swete Grounded on reason with vertue replete Ministryng them as a iudge royall Among his subiectes by deedes equal ¶ Prouidyng before in his aduertence None shoulde declyne as in this case For lacke of knowledge and experience So ready he was their welthe to purchace Thus of his liuyng and bountifull grace Preparyng in tyme them to aduaunce Onely by lawe and Ciuil ordinaunce ¶ Though he wer a kyng with scepter and To execute right nothig disdained croune For all his fame his princely renoume In iudgement sate his domes vnfarned Loue nor hate his person constrayned But like the deserte as then did appere His sentence gaue with right princely there ¶ Methamorphosios there may ye se Of Mines the princely gouernaunce Also of Scille voyde of all pitie Her father slewe with cruell veugeaunce Onely of Minos to haue acquaintaunce And he agayne like a ryghtfull kyng Gaue sentence plain her dede condempning ¶ For to affyrme and brefely conclude Our partie in this fully to sustayne Unto Minos with lyke similitude Let vs aduaunce our kyng and souerayne In all thynges that dothe appertayne Unto Justice or good gouernaunce By lawe reason or Ciuill ordynaunce ¶ Was there euer yet any prince liuyng In Chronicle story or sentence playne His noble grace in this resemblyng Or common welthe for to sustayne Or for our sake vndertoke suche payne As dothe his grace this present tyme Us to preserue from damnable cryme ¶ Howe far were we out of oure way For lacke of Justice and good gouernaunce Was there euer any before this day Kyng or prynce of suche remembraunce Us to instructe by lawe or ordinaunce Wherby we myght our foly redresse Till now his grace the truthe to confesse ¶ Whiche by study and diligent laboure Most circumspectly herein aduised For to reforme our olde behauiour His gracious lawes to vs hath commised To the entent we shulde not be supprised By bondage inforced with crueltee From olde customes set vs at lybertee ¶ We must of force the truthe confesse We cannot well our selues excuse Our deedes playnely beareth witnesse Of our folly and great abuse Olde customes had lothe to refuse Surely at the fyrste howe they began Not pleasyng to God nether yet to man. ¶ For among al some customes we had Whiche before God were intollerable As I suppose all men beyng sadde Will graunt it trewe and veritable A thyng vniuste falce and flexable Though some affirmed their customes sure By Charter Riall euer to indure ¶ Some Lordes no doute had great rialtie Conserued by kinges in times long past In Forest and Chace hauyng libertie But not their subiectes
a discontinuance Murdre to grace is playne a rebell Murdre at the first began sure in Hell. ¶ This was our couÌ„trey brought in defame Sclaundred and noysed for our outrage All trewe men of this reaported shame God knoweth who had the pylage The poore man but small aduauntage The Thefe his pleasure on mountayn hyll Yf he had money myght walke at his wyll ¶ Thus the slaunder ranne far abrode All most to our greate desolacion As thoughe we all had ben of one accorde No diuersitee in their opinion Suche was the rumoure and communicacioÌ„ No thyng reseruyng in their iudgement Betwene a Thefe and the Innocent ¶ And thus full ofte we bare the blame causeles of truethe nothyng offended Nor by consent worthy of infame Yet by report we were suspended As though we had therto intended Idelnesse was cause as in effecte Why we were had in suche respecte ¶ Oh thou vicious Sardanipall The beginnyng of slouthe and Idlenesse Whose example all welth dooth appall Delightyng in synne and wretchednesse With surfeites great the body to oppresse Whiche brought in thefte and robery Murder riote also aduoutry ¶ Who list the story to accompte Shall well perceiue in sloth and idlenesse 〈◊〉 other before the thou didst surmountâ—… Thy vicious life beâ—…th full witnesse She was thy lady and chiefe mastresse To whom thou didst thy self abounde Whiche was the cause thy person to coÌ„fouÌ„d ¶ For Arbachus of vertues respecte As a prince of excellent wisedome Did thee manace chastice and correcte For thy froward abhominacion Idlenesse was cause and occacion Why thou vicious Sardanapall From thyne estate had so greate a fall ¶ For like as verteous businesse Inuenteth thynges right laudable So doth riote and idlenesse Increase mischenes intollorable One thyng marke whiche is veritable Put idlenesse clene out of vâ—…e For custome all moste turneth to nature ¶ Note where idlenesse doth oft remayne Fare well all verteous businesse For idlenesse inflameth the brayne And bryngeth in newe fanglenesse Sequestrith the herte from all goodnesse And aldre last note this for euer God from man it doth cleane deceiuer ¶ Idlenes caused our abusion By idlenes increased our infame Till now of late by politicke reason Of our kyng moste gracious of name Whiche hath brought vs into a new frame So that we fele by worldly businesse There commâ—…th gayne and moderat richesse ¶ Thus hath our wise worthy Arbachus Suppressed our foly and customes rude Lausyng our hertes to be desirus To folowe the sage multitude Idlenes vtterly to 〈◊〉 Laboryng abrod our fode to gete Leuyng by our handes and bodely sweate ¶ To digge and deluâ—… to eare and sows To graffe or piant in rough or playne On mountayns hie or vales lowe Litle we force for labor and payne So that we maie our wâ—…lth attayne Tenderyng so muche our businesse That we forget the vice of idlenesse ¶ For where of truthe with vs late past Bothe corne and fruiâ—…e was scant and bare Our countree voyde laie halfe in wast I dare allege and surely declare Now at this tyme we maie well spare If there should chaunce a tyme of nede With corne and cattaile our neighbors feâ—… ¶ And thus daily we do preuaile In our increase bothe cataile and corne Thankes be to God all is quoche quaile The chaffe the wedes a waie are shorne Neuer so well sens we wer borne Our countree made playne and habitable Whiche semed before irrecurable ¶ And further of his benyng grace Through his moste mercifull assent Our commune welth for to purchace Hath remitted of pure intent Two thousande markes of yerely rent Before paied in siluer and golde Taxed emong vs of customes olde ¶ Yet hath our Troian most mighty emye Planted vs with prudent Latons roure â—…o be our president and gouernour Associate with noble Sipious With diuerse mo of high discressions For to augment our common weale Graunted by comission vnder his scale ¶ In sundery partes for our redresse As did some tyme the noble senate Consules prefectes of greate sadnesse Dictatours full famous of estate Decemusres wisedome to approbate â—…rauersyng the countries rounde aboute Where suspecte persones wer had moste in doubte ¶ To that intent our ciuility Wer not suppressed for lacke of gouernance Nether is inforced by tyrrany But redused to a Ciuile substance Accordyng to the vse and continuance Of Englishe lawes in tyme long past Wherof we bee now made sure and fast ¶ Thus charge vpon charge daily doth in Unto his grace in maner importable sewe Inuentyng lawes and statutes newe Gentill and softe by meane tretable To th entent it should bee pardurable Emong vs for euer this is the meane Uncorrupted to kepe vs pure and cleane ¶ Thus a kyng of vigilant respecte Sheweth vnto vs this constant loue As a father in this effecte Tenderyng his childe vice to remoue Without rigoure our foly doth reproue Caryng not for treasure or expence But to withdrawe the cause of our offence ¶ For to compare and brefe tâ—…e tyme Accompt all stories that euer was Inforce your self thereto to inclyne Rede where ye list your tyme to pas And ye shall not finde that euer there was A kyng of better remembrance His subiectes to kepe preserue and aduance ¶ Reken Lesar with his triumphes all Alexander Hectoâ—… or Achilles Edippus or worthy Haniball Minos the Iudges or greate Harcules Or yet Arbachus of knighthod pereles Let theim come all their vertue to declare Yet shall thei not with his grace compare ¶ For these princes these conquerors great Set their mynde and full attendance Countrees to subdewe kyngdoms to geate Onely by strength and mightie puysance And some again to take their chance Ieopard their persones to get theim a name As beastes wilde to make theim tame ¶ And thus thei wrought all by fantasy As fortune list the party assure To win or lose put in ieopardy Hap as it would all inaduenture Goodes landes life body and treasure But those kynges are moste to be commeÌ„ded FroÌ„ vicious life their subiectes hath defeÌ„ded ¶ As our noble and moste famous kyng Appoyncted by grace of the deite Moste circumspecte in ouer lokyng His subiectes to kepe in a conformite One lawe one kyng one deuinite One faithe one hope one erudicion One mynde one will and one intencion Neuer none like accompt the tyme Sens Brute our first progenitoure Borne by dissent of right noble lyne Beyng prince kyng and goueronure Unto our parentes chiefe protectoure Through whose manfull magnanimite Thei wer deliuered from olde captiuite ¶ As famous auctours moste seriously With a sincere opposicion In tyme long past right willyngly By a louyng emulacion Onely for our eriducion Hath related as after shall insewe More exactly matter constaunt and trewe ¶ Some what herin doubtles am I moued For to expresse my fantasy Not of impacience muche greued But that some hath iudged wrongfully As in reproche of our country Deniyng playne moste noble Brute Our antecessor our
stocke and our frute ¶ A boke of late there was compiled By Polidorus in Italy borne Nothyng to vs reconsiled But rather written in hatred or scorne Yet shall we saie if he had sworne We Welshmen with hym shall compare For olde antiquities the truth to declare ¶ His slanderous stile to exterminate Reiect auoyde and cleane put a waie Whiche is so subtle and intricate Thynkyng therby our fame to decaie None will so reporte I dare well saie Hauyng wit reason or intelligence Other to iustice myndyng aduertence ¶ Not contented this to deny But would of force our name appall Cleaue to extincte out of memory As though we wer reiectes of all Knowyng not our discent naturall From whence we came nor of what lyne Us to infame this is his cryme ¶ Me thinke of truth to muche ye erre In your reproche spoke of disdain Affirmyng plaine in tyme of warre We Welshemen no honor to attain Nether yet in peace trewe to remain Your barberous wordes backe doth rebouÌ„de To your infame all thynges doth sounde ¶ It is vnmete a man of your age Accompted sadde wise and discrete So violently abrode to rage Matters to penne whiche is vnmete With wordes vntrew with termes onswete Or thynges deny whiche auctours olde In tyme long past bothe wrote and tolde ¶ Who shal but thinke your sentence light As thynges in vain to none effecte Wordes of reproche spoke again right Menne should abhorre and cleane reiecte To breue my tyme this is th effecte Your slaunderous wordes affirmeth plaine To rise of ire hatred or disdayne ¶ If ye of force will vs persewe Onely through your ingratitude Blame vs nothyng your wordes exchewe Beware hurte not a multitude Lest some perchaunce with sentence rude Iustely again like your offence Euen with the same will you recompence ¶ We speake to you Master Polidorus Whose ingratitude we greatly complain Ye go aboute to rase out the floures Of our parentes as thynges in vain And yet of truthe ye cannot refrain But generally vs to accuse No indifferency herin ye vse ¶ We Welshemen saie for our defence That ye Romayns surmountyng in pride With your Imperiall magnificence Supposyng therby the heuens to deuide Came long after our noble tribe So that we maie write of your estate Not ye of vs ye came all to late ¶ How should ye knowe our antecessours Our stocke our line our progeny Our moste mightie conquerours Sithe ye bee of muche lesse memory Writyng nothyng almoste plainly But what doth rebounde to your estate Magnifiyng the pompe of your Senate ¶ By cause your auctoure Titus Liuius Of noble Brute maketh no mencion Beyng perchaunce somewhat obliuius Or knewe not of that succession Therfore ye make no discripcion But onely of your kynges of Italie Whiche reigned there successiuely ¶ As appereth by storie euident Called Fasciculus Temporum Where litle is to vs pertinent But to the first of your succession Hauyng the regall possession Breuely doth passe all other thynges Onely doth write but of a fewe kynges ¶ Though he forgate this noble prince Or listed not his fame to conuaie Yet shall he not his name conuince Nor this his honor to pulle awaie Fasciculus Temporum plainly doth saie That Brute beganne first to excell WheÌ„ Heli was prieste and Iudge of Israel ¶ Holy Eusebius doth testifie Also sainct Bede maketh mencion That noble Brute of the age fiue and thirty Entered first into this region Whiche was before Christes incarnacion A thousand i. C. twenty and twayne And after Troye xliii yeres playne ¶ Galfridus affirmeth assuredly That noble Brute in his yeres grene Like Marce for strength fearce and hardy In Grece moste princely was sene Wan there croune ceptre and diademe From Panderus of Achilles blud His doughter his treasure with all his gud ¶ And further the Grekes to deface That daie he did the felde recure Moste princely met them in the face Whose knightly strokes thei might not in A shilde he bare the felde of asure dure â—…hree crounes of gold sumteously wrought A Lion sette on his helmet a lofte ¶ Also Gâ—…ydo do Collumpnia Doth verifie this to be trewe That he did honor the goddes Diana Passyng the seas fortune to insewe Where he had answere his ioyes to renewe Beyng right yong should supply the place with scepter croune his enemies to inchase ¶ Ranulphus a manne of perfeccion Writeth right playne as in this case How noble Brute within this region Landed first by a speciall grace Predestinate before was that place As Diana the mightie Goddes Had promised namyng it Totnesse ¶ Also the Floure of histories Named Peter Pactauiences With many noble writers Alloweth the verie same sences To muche of truthe are their offences Whiche will alone suche thynges deny That auctours olde do write and verify ¶ Martinus super Cronicas Vtropius and Sabellicus Affirmeth playne how all thyng was In the tyme of Brenne and Belenus Of the discent of noble Brutus How thei entered first into Italie Hauyng at Rome gates a noble victorie ¶ This story to amplifie and augment The sixt yere of Artaxarses the kyng As Iacobus Phillippus doth assent Ouer the Persians that tyme reignyng These princes ii with standerdes displaiyng As brother with brother of one minde asseÌ„t Again you Romains with hert most verueÌ„t ¶ Had a battaill strong as is expressed Where your Senate Tribunes Dictators By knightly force wer clene oppressed Your Pretours Consules and gouernors Your lusty manfull young soldiors Your valiant knightes in stele armed bright All wer taken slain or put to flight ¶ Ye cannot well these auctours deny For all your vain stentacion Your citee spoyled all went a wry Make therof a true declaracion Ye wer right faine by composicion A peace to take ths is no naie Els to yelde vp or sone flie awaie ¶ Noble Arthur the famous Brute Of thesame line and true succession Whiche by his coÌ„quest and princely pursute Uanquished full many a region Sonne of Uter called Pendragon Chronicles plainly doth it specify Yet ye Romaines this prince will deny ¶ Loke in Fasciculus Temporum The tyme of Bisshoppe Hilarius In lina Christi accomptyng the sum Foure hundred sixty foure truly to discus Then florished Arthur that was victorious With his owne hande in one daie he slewe Foure hundred sixty if that story be true ¶ Also beholde Poli cronicon The â–ª xxiii Chapiter the seuenth boke There maie ye se by plain discripcion The yere of our Lorde who list to loke Aâ—… xi hundred foure score his body vp toke Translated into Glastinbury By the famous kyng the second Henry ¶ In the thirtie yere or there aboute Of our soueraigne kyng Henry theight Ye blinded Romains to put out of doubte The cause made plain perfect and streight A crosse was founde of full greate waight In Glastenbury with letters of golde Grauen full depe with this sentence olde ¶ Here lieth Arthur the worthy kyng Depe in the
in the time of your great outrage When no man myght your malice intreate So wilfull were ye of minde and corage Christ and his lawes sone to forget His electe to kyll malice and threate Of very constraint inforced to flee So cruell and merciles that time were ye ¶ Helpe or redresse none could they finde Their carefull life for to assure Their inspyred heartes their constant minde Inforced were lacke of recure To seke abrode their harde aduenture Where that they might with pure intent Christes religion for to augment ¶ Then into Wales they dyd approche Through Goddes prouidence his myght to Under many a stroÌ„g mighty roche shewe Builded their Chappels in desertes lowe In sondry places as men doth knowe As at this day plainely doth appere The places olde euident and clere ¶ This is no fayned inuencion Neither yet no curious fable Who lyst to loke without suspection Shall fynde it trewe and veritable Written by fathers honorable For a more concordant of Godly fame Our Churches at this day â—…reth their name ¶ Loke vp your stories and sentence olde Accompiyng the tyme yeares and season I dare affyrme Beyng so bolde To make herein a comparison With any Christen religion For lengthe of time bearyng good name Concernyng out fayth for any infame ¶ A thousand 300. fowre score twayne Sithen it floryshed fyrst with vs In the time of many a proude Romayne Martered was holy Euleutcrius In whose tyme raigned Lucius In Britaigne the famous region Then entered forth Christes religion ¶ This was in the yere of our Lorde An hundred six and fiftye playne After his byrthe stories doth accord Sithin the faythe came fyrst into Britaygne Among vs Brutes there to remayne As at this day ye may well see Neuer accused of Infidelite ¶ What place so constant sure and stable As at that tyme myght there be founde Like vnto Wales none so veritable No tiranny with vs there did abounde The Faith remayned full hole and sounde Accordyng to Christes religion Without spot or gall of infection To what place shuld they haue resorted To haue had redresse in this misery Or where shuld they haue ben supported Nether in Rome neither in Italy Nether in Spaine Fraunce or Germany Brefely to conclude this is manifest From the sonne risyng doune to the Weste Such tirantes that time had the gouernauÌ„ce That no man durste Christ to confesse Dispysed his lawes and in that instaunce In. xxx daies as Scripture doth witnesse Twenty thousand slayne this is doutlesse By Dioclesian raigning in the Easte And Maximinian do wne in the west ¶ Who euer harde of suche a sorte So vngracious and so vntrewe As were the Romaynes in their report To blaspheme our Lord Christ Iesu Affirmyng plaine this to be trewe That Rome neuer ioyousely prospered Sithin the faith among them entered ¶ Loke in the time of Arcadius There may ye se their false opinion Beyng Emperour with Honorius Unto their Idolles hauyng affection As sainct Austine maketh relacion In his boke called Ciuitate Dei Where he confoundeth their false Heresy ¶ My hand quaketh for fere and drede My heart of truthe beginneth to shrinke When I beholde this story to rede The teares weate distilleth my incke Oh Lorde to remember and thincke The crueltie mischefe and endles paine Among the Romains that time did raigne ¶ Who shuld but morne lament and wepe Consideryng all thynges of ryghte The vertuous with grace then replete Put in exile cleane out of syght The tirauntes great by force of myght Persecuted the innocent bloudde Thus with the Romains that time it stode To brefe my sentence the truthe to tel With vs in Wales none were opprest No tirauntes great with vs did dwelle There was the place of peace and rest Christ and his lawes for to degest None durst approche that to deny Agayne our faithe once to reply ¶ How may ye then with vs compare Or why do ye Welshmen defame Let your owne storâ—…es the truthe declare Ye are defectiue euen in the same As in reproche worthy of blame Innocentes gyltlesse to accuse In that your selfe most dothe abuse ¶ Of your nobles and Emperours all With Constantine make no comparison For his magnificence Imperiall Borne in Britaygn that famous region He was the fyrste of hearty affection That dyd decree al men to dye Christ and his lawes that wolde denye ¶ Unto the Churche for Christes sake Excelled all other before his time The Romayne Temples newely did make Dedicated them by sentence deuine To the honor of God and the orders nynâ—… With most mere and pure deuocion Gaue to the Church the fyrst possession ¶ To that intent from all indigence The ministers shuld stande at reste God for to serue with due reuerence All worldly thoughtes to be represt Uertue to increace this is manifest All solitary there for to abyde For the loue of Chryst this did he prouide Gaue goodes treasure with ornameÌ„ts large Amplifyde all thynges with great expence Made a decree and gaue in charge That all men shuld with due reuerence To Christes crosse kepe his obedience And was the fyrst in Banner and Shylde Crosses to peynt that bare in felde ¶ Oh most famous Coustantine To whom no Romayne might attayne Whose goodnesse the worlde did inlâ—…ine Borne in England then called Brytaygne Sonne of S. Helin the story is playne From Troy linially downe discended In Christes Churche most to be commeded ¶ But nowe a lacke all is reuersed Onely through fayned perfection For doubtles vertue was repressed When Constantine first of affection To Peters Churche gaue such possession Then obedience beganne to rebell Whiche caused pride Humilitee to expell ¶ O Rome Rome chaÌ„ge thi soil remoue thy BarreÌ„ bare fruteles is thy grouÌ„d place Yet vnto this day for lacke of grace Littell vertue in the there doth abound I dare alledge this world so rounde May not suffyce this present houre So satisfye thy head and gouernoure ¶ The cruell Emperours by force of warre Myght neuer suche ryches attayne Kingdomes to spoile countreis to marre As at this time the cause is playnâ—… With so smal trauayl and so great gayne Suche Policie there is inuented By seale and wax and parchment indented ¶ Solles for to saue ded gone and past But God alone no wight can tell Whether they be free or in payne caste In Paradice Heauen or in Hell Yet for money those solles wil they sell By auctoritee of Peter and Paule Pardon forgeue and release them all ¶ Thus Lord thy might thei wold â—…draw To whom mercy onely doth appertaigne As though they might in heuen make a lawe At their pleasure solles to detayne Some to release and some to remayne Like as they wolde for mede or hyre Some to acquite some leaue in the fire ¶ Oh Lorde aboue a damnable offence Among thy people suche erroures to bryng Against all trewthe and godly reuerence To haue a trust in any other thyng There is