delyght And alwayes shall be talkyng of Thy greatnes and thy myght Of thyne abundant kyndnes we Wyll kepe memoriall And syng of thy great ryghteousnes From henceforth all men shall For thou O lorde art gracious Yea mercifull and meke Long suffring and of great goodnes To them that doe hym seke To euery man lyberally The lorde doth shewe his loue And ouer all his goodly workes His mercy styll doth moue And they expresse thy glory great Thy kyngoome and thy powre To men that all these myght be knowne At euery tyme and houre Thy kyngdom euerlastingly A kyngdome is ryght sure Thy lordshyp shall from age to age Eternaly endure For in his dedes he faithfull is What so he take in hande His workes he all holy and iuste Both vpon sea and lande The lorde vpholdeth all that are In danger for to fall Them that be downe he lyfteth vp When they on hym doe call The eyes of all on thee O lorde Doe wayte and put their trust And thou dost geue to them their meate In season due and iuste Thou openest thy holy hande Thy powre and thy good wyll All lyuing thynges plentifully Therwith that thou mayst fyll The lorde is righteous in his wayes His workes be holy all And he is nyghe to faithfull men When they on him doe call Suche as feare him he will fulfyll To them their whole desire He will them here and helpe also When they doe hym require All suche as loue and feare the Lorde Them styll preserueth he And he wyll scatter all abroade Suche as vngodly be My mouth shall speake prayse y e lorde And that abundantly Let all fleshe thanke his holy name With laude eternally ¶ The nynth chapiter of Ecclesiasticus or booke of Iesus the sonne of Sirach ¶ The argument OF iclousie who so wyll heare vnto my tune harke drawe nere howe ye shall of the harlottes vyle eschâ—â—â— the sleyght the fraude and guile What mischiefe and what hurte they doe To suche as harken them vnto Howe vayne and vyle adultrie is Howe fonde they are that walke amys Howe we shoulde kepe an olde frend true And neuer change hym for no newe Howe for to leade a godly lyfe In holynes without all stryfe How that a kyng by wysdomes lore Should rule and gouerne euermore Howe eche man should in his degree Se that his worke well vsed be And howe the folysh talkatyue Are the moste wicked folke on lyue To Iesus Sirach geue good eare Whiche telles his tale in this maner Ecclesiast Cap. ix BE not ouer thy wyfe Ielouse but without strife kepe wel thy house Lest that she shewe some point of ill Or wycked sleight the for to spyll Nor tangle not thy powre nor lyfe With a false whore which maketh strife Lest she redounde within thy strength And so confounde thy soule at length Beholde not women vayne nought Whiche vpon men set all their thought On suche I saye set not thy care Lest they betray thee in their snare Abstayne and flee hir wicked waye That loues to geste scoffe daunce playe To hir consent not in no wyse Though she the tempte and ofte entyse Loke not to longe vpon a mayde Least with hir forme thou be dismayde Muche lesse on harlotes then haue mynde Nor on women of suche ill kynde Least thou decaye before thyne age And so consume thyne heritage In townes and cities doe not gase As one whose wittes were in amase Nor wander not in euery strete Least with ill men perhappes thou mete Chiefly of all turne thy face fro The woman gaye whiche worketh wo. Beholde not muche the great bewtie Of any one vnknowne to thee For in tyme past suche fooles haue bene Which with their fonde eyes as I wene â–ª Did so regarde the beuty fayre Of strangers where they did repayre That they decayd through their desire Whiche burned lyke the flaming fyre Wherfore women adulterous Should only be regarded thus As most vyle dounge durte myre claye That eche man treads on in his waye For suche as on them wonder had Were by their beutie tangled mad All wysdom they from them did caste So whot of fonde loue was the blast Lead thou therfore a godly lyfe Couet thou not thy neighbours wyfe Syt not with hir at any sted Lye not with hir vpon a bed No talke with hir make thou at wyneâ— Least thy heart should to hir inclyne Therby makyng thy bloud to fall And so destroy thy lyfe and all Forsake not thou a good olde friende For suche a newe is harde to fynde For a newe friende is lyke newe wyne Whiche is not good tyll it be fyne But when the wyne is olde and pure Then mayst y â— drynke hym with plesure Desyre not the honor therfore That synnâ—rs gayne and kepe in store If thou dydst their destruction knowe Whiche will them once all ouerflowe To suche honour thou wouldst not haste Nor of their vayne welth wysh to taste Of one thyng more warne thee I will Abstain froÌ„ such whose powre may kill For if with suche thou makest stryfe He may sone take from thee thy lyfe Forsee and shurne eche casualtie So shalt thou scape all ieopardie Take good hede of an ill neighbour Least with some crafte he thee deuoure With wyse men be in company So shalt thou gayne great honestie Let iust men be thy gestes alwayes Ioye in gods name and geue hym prayse Be courteous gentyll good and kynde Haue gods feare euer in thy mynde Let all thy workes and talke be bent Vpon the lordes commaundemente Eche good craftes maÌ„ shuld set his wil His worke to frame by discrete skyll Whiche being set before mens eyes Shall cause hym to be counted wyse For eche worke brought to gorgeous end Doth cause all men it to commende A prynce that rightly gouerne wyll Lyke wise of wisdom should haue skyll So well he should wysdom decerne That at his talke others myght lerne Hym that doth many fonde wordes vse A wyse mans parte is to refuse For suche in towne and in citie Doe kyndle stryfe and vylainy They neither weye cause tyme nor place In them is neither wytie nor grace They are past shame I saye therfore Refuse suche men and them abhorre ¶ The maner of true and perfecte prayer instituted by our sauiour Iesus Christe the only sonne of God the wisdom of the father and seconde person in trinitie THe syxt of mathewe if ye reade example ye may finde What praier is and how to vse the same in perfecte kynde For Christ our only mercy seate So soundly hath vs taughte That in his gospell we may fynde Not els where to be sought When thou doste praye sayth Christe our Lorde Se that thou doe refuse The vayne glory that hippocrites Doe in their prayers vse For they wyll in the synagoges Their prayers to appere In open stretes or in suche place As moste men may them here For whiche their folysh vaynglorie That would of men be
shall them fetche away By suche deceyte that goe astraye With false wynnyng Suche as in any kynde of arte Doe worke both slyghtly and vnsure For to deceyue with a false harte His neighbour by his worke vnpure slightly they worke and all for haste wherin this day is wrong and waste Yea hatefull wrong Syth now ther is no faith nor fay But all from truth are gone astray Wo be our songe Suche as breake vnitie and loue Suche as by couetyse contende Such as wyll sweare great othes moue Suche as on whordom doe depende Suche as in pryde doe leade their lyfe Suche as by wrath doe lyue in stryfe And great debate Satan with suche must make afraye For their walkyng so farre astraye Whiche god doth hate God for his mercie graunt therfore That men may nowe repent their ill And that they may their synnes abhorre Wherin they walked with their wyll It is hyghe tyme for to redres And to absteyne from wyckednes For feare of payne And for Gods mercy call and praye That we through grace froÌ„ this our stray Come home agayne ¶ A voyce from heauen to you shall come Venite ad iudicium O Man amend defer no tyme but be alwayes in redines For if thou dwell in sinne and crime it wyll thee bryng in great distres for why a voyce from heauen shall come venite ad iudicium Then blessed shall that seruant de Whom God shall fynde in perfect mynde To doe his due in eche degree For great reward then shall be fynde When that a voyce from heauen shall come Venite ad iudicium Contrary wyse the seruant yll That walked in offences great Contrary to his maisters wyll With many strypes he shal be beate When that a voyce from â—â—â—uen shall come Venite ad iudicium For God shall come ryght sodeynly In the mydst of your wyckednes When you thynke least appeare wyll he From whose face none can you releace When that a voyce from heauen shall come Venite ad iudicium Eche lorde and lady Kyng and quene Before that lorde muste bowe theyr knee And then shall theyr rewarde be sene Lyke as their dedes and lyfe hath bee When that a voyce from heauen shall come Venite ad iudicium What shall anayle you then your pryde Your welthy pompe and dignitie Your ryches then must stande asyde And not helpe your necessitie When that a voyce from heauen shall coâ—â— Venite ad iudicium The shynyng face of God the Lorde Your stony hearts shall then appall Because that ye so muche abhorde His preceptes euangelicall When that a voyce from heauen shall come Venite ad iudicium Then shall ye say Wo worthe the tyme Your lawes agaynst the Lorde of blis That you made in despyte of hym And all that hys true members is When that a voyce from heauen shall come Venite ad iudicium And you shall gnashe your tethe and saye Lo 〈◊〉 whom wâ— did hate and mocke We see them sytte in quiet staye Beyng the lâ—â—des elected flocke For nowe a voyce from heauen is come Venite ad iudicium And we lyke fooles haue erred styll Oâ—â— worldly wyt is nowe all spent To plâ—ad our cause we haue no skyll Before the lorde omnipotent For nowe a voyce from heauen is come Venite ad iudicium The sonne of wisdom and of lyght Of vnderstanding end of grace Did geue to vs no kynde of lyght We are vndone alas alas For nowe a voyce from heauen is come Venite ad iudicium In payns of hell thus shall they crye That nowe doe Christ his flocke oppresse Tormented styll eternally With diuels for their wyckednes When that a voyce from heaueÌ„ shal come Venite ad iudicium Therfore let vs defer no tyme But be alwayes in readynes That we may all to heauen clyme Wiâ—h Christ the kyng of ryghteousnes When that a voyce froÌ„ heauen shal come Venite ad iudicium ¶ Against pryde YOu proud men all I saye abyde and banishe pryde out of your hart if climing high ye haply slyde then are ye like to fele some smart therfore I saye in tyme conuert repent and turne for that is best yer dredfull death doe you areste Study therfore in holy wryte And knowe howe that lucifer fell Whiche beyng once an angell bryghte God for his pryde dyd hym expell Out of all lyght downe into hell Lo here you see the frute of pryde I say therfore laye it asyde Before your eyes fixe also this Howe Nebucadnezaâ— the kyng Whose dedes in Daniell wrytten is Who praisde him selfe aboue all thyng And gaue not God his due praysing Was made an oxe and did eate haye Seuen yeres his great pryde to alaye And kyng Hetod as sayth scripture As he was clad in proude aâ—aye His owne honor for to procure To his own praise great wordes did say Therfâ—re Gods angell that same day Dyd stryke hun for his harte vnwyse Who vnâ—o death was eate with lyce Lo if God would such kings not space To punysh for ambition What shall we thinke he wyll prepare To plague our sinfull nacion Whiche forsake their vocation And will in no wyse pryde eschue Nor seke to serue swete dame vertue For Salomon in sentence play ne Câ—lles fauor a deâ—eynyng thyng Yea beautie is a thing moste vayne Wherin some haue suche delyghâ—yng Which in ill case once wyll them bryng Gods heauy wrath they so procure Through their proude hartes vayn vnpure For from the course of reason true They seme to be vnknowne and strange That doe delyght in the vayne hewe Of beautie that so sone wyll change For that wherin their rude wittes range To muche more britle then is glasse And fades as doth in sieldes the grasse More inconstant it is also That vnto pryde doth you prouoke Then wynde that wandreth to and fro Yea much more vain theÌ„ smothring smoke Lo thus of vyce you beare the yoke Of beautie proude more vyle then slyine And fleteth faster then tyme. A thousand thynges may beauty fade As wyse men dayly see and saye For if a feuer you inuade And shake you but one simple daye Is not your beauty gone strayghtwaye Your colour shewes your substance â—ust Euen earth and ashes doung and dust If men were bent the truth to tell Is beauty any other thyng Then color in the skyn or fell Wherin some haue suche reiosing But if as well were appearing Their inwarde partes then myght we see A sacke stufte full of doung fylthy What syght more strange may there apeare Vnto our eyes so fantsy full Then see one bewtifull and clere Declare it selfe so vnfrutfull And cause hym whose wites be not dull Hym self to knowe a dounghill dyght As with a cloth purple and whyght What impudence yea what madnes Is it in beutie to glorie Forsakyng all sober sadnes For thynges that bene transitorie Sythe more delectabilitie It is to some that see the same Then those that therof beare the name I leue of here for to
Wherof he was depryude By fals theues and vyle barators That wrongly it atchieude It can not be but a good worke Thus beastly men and fond Do answer them that would instruct Or make them vnderstand Not regardyng the law of God Nor hys commanndement That no yll thyng ought to be doue Vpon a good intent Also yf Gods permission Were a laufull defence So were it for all kynd of synne And most wycked offence As whoredome homicide and theft Wyth vyle I dolatâ—y For treason couetyse and pryde And moste vyle simony May I not say all these be good Sythe God dothe them permyt As well as those whom ye defende Oh men of beastly wyt His sufferance is to let your synnâ— Vnto full rypenes growe That in the lake of sulphure he Most iustly may you throwe And so declare hys glory great Vnto hys flocke electe That do by grace these wycked artes Cleane from theyr heartes reiect Their counsels all at God they aske And doo at hym require Theyr sauyng health and he doth geue To them theyr whole desyre For why one heare shall neuer fall From of theyr heads no tyme Wythout hys wyll whych doth impute To them no synne nor cryme For why they aske in lyuely â—ayth All wherof they haue nede Whiche causeth them assuredly â–ª Of theyr purpose to spede Therfore it must of force procede Of Infidelitie That ye at dyuels seke suche helpe Through moste vyie sorcery As dyd kyng Saule that damned man When Gods sprite hym forsoke When God would hym no answer make For wytchecraft gan he loke Which faithles shift how much it dyd Hym in his nede auayle Dyd well appere he slewe hym selfe When foes dyd hym assayle And so do ye your selues declare Of that same very sect Whyle ye at Sathan seke your helpe And do Gods powre suspect For as to dyuels here ye sought As reprobates forelorne So shall ye be hys porcion Syth God ye haue forswortie Vnlesse in tyme ye may repent Whiche yf it be gods will He graunt ye all that ye may hate And shonny she thys great yll For though on prudent Salomon They father this theyr art They are the workes of wickednes And of eternall smart The very cause for why saint Iohn As God dyd hym reueale Hath found their place to be in hell Where tormentes are eche deale Confounded are these coniurers Wyth conscience vncleane And all that vnto sorcery Or wycked wytchecraft leanâ— For in theyr art they doo no dout The lyuyng God forsake Cleauyng to condemnation And therof hold doo take What nede I here recyte scripture Syth all men well do knowe That god so deadly doth it hate That neyther hygh nor lowe The same may vse but that it wyll To Sathan his soule gyue Or if Gods lawe obserued were Not one of them should lyue That charmers are or coniurers Wyth wytches sorcery Or suche as chosers are of dayes Markyng the byrdes that slye For why the faythfull that do feare God ryghtly and beleue Assuredly do know that no Suche thyng can once them greue And as for that Astrologie Iudicial that ye name Let learned Caluine satisfie All wyse men of the same But Phisike and Astronomy Alas is nowe the cloke For euery kynde of trâ—chery That goodnes dothe reuoke For wycked wandryng fugitiues Or vagabundes most lâ—wde Do now a dayes from shyre to shyrâ— Wyth shyftes both false and shrewâ—â— Vnder colour of Phisikes arte And noble Surgery Dâ—lude the common multitude Wyth shamefull sorcery All secrete markes they wyll disclose And thynges long done and paste Whych doth with admiration The people make agast In suche wise that they streight beleue That nothyng vnder sonne Dothe stande to hard or difficill Of suche men to be donne So that partly wyth Palmestry Or Chyromancies gaude And foolysh Physiognomye And wytchery that fraude Vnto theyr wycked false purpose The people they allure More then can any godly art That perfect is and pure For Bedlem baudes hatefull hoores This is a common shyft Of ruffyen theues and murderers It also is the dryft Vnder suche cloke their companies Together oft they drawe Free from danger of officers And punyshement of lawe Alas that thys myght be sene to With Iustice powre and myght That Vranie and Medicine Agayn myght haue theyr ryght That nowe is by extorcion So fraudulently kept That for most true possessionâ—rs The most part them accept For how theyr Field was put them fro Before I haue you sayd Desyryng now all learned men In this to adde theyr ayde That from the fylthy fruites of hell It may once be purged That there the ryght inheritours Agayne myght be lodged That now be fayne to seke els where Some holsome place to dwell Where of the wyse they are accept And entertayned well Among these thoughtes most troublesome At laste I dyd awake Fyndyng my body sweatyng sore And all my synewes shake Where I long tyme lay syghyng sore Thynkyng of thys strange dreame Wyshyng for some interpretour If any in thys Realme Were full expert therin as was Ferdinand Ponzetus Or Artemidor whose syrname Is sayd Daldianus But as eche thyng doth weare by time So other thoughtes at last Abated this perplexitie And it began to wast And I agayne came to my selfe That I dyd shortly heare The warbiyng notes song so swete Of Philomela cleare Which counsayld me that slouthfulnes I should from me expell Wherfore I rose and wyth all spede I lyghted a candell So serude my turne my tynder boxe Whych stoode in my chamber Then toke I foorth my standyshe to Wyth pen ynke and paper Where I carude foorth yll fauoredly Thys rough and ragged verse Wherin theffect of thys my dreame I â—udely doo reherse Desyryng yet my readers dere To bearâ— it paciently Syth it is but the buddyng flowre Of my poore infancy Whych as rypenes of knowledge growes I shall be glad t amend If any man shall me informe And thus I make an ende Esay 1â— When they aske councell at theyr Gods at their Prophets at theyr Sothsayers and Witches theÌ„ wyll I bryng theyr counsels to nought Hieremie 10. Ye shall not lerne after the maner of the heathen and ye shall not feare the tokens of heauen for the heathen are afrayd of such yea all the customes and lawes of the Gentiles are nothyng but vanitie Esay 47. Go now to thy coniurers and to the multitude of thy wytches whom thou hast ben acquaynted with all froÌ„ thy youthe yf they may heare thee or strengthen thee Thou hast hytherto had many counsels of them So let the heauen gasers beholders of starres come on nowe and deliuer thee yea and lâ—t them shew when these new things shall come vppon thee Behold they shal be lyke straw which if it be kyndied with fyre no man may rid it for the vehemency of the flame And yet it gyueth no synders to warme a man by nor clere fyre to sit by EueÌ„ so shall they be whom from thy
to pray So shall we neuer dye but lyue Wyth God in blysse for aye Through Christ his death who in thys worlde Dyd take our fleshe therfore To whome be honour prayse and laude Bothe nowe and euermore Amen ¶ A sonnet inueyinge agaynst the abuses and pryde that reygâ—â—th among vayne women YE women aud maydes of Citie country Leue your leude lightnes lerne som honesty If an of you the truth wyll regarde Spoke wyth simplicitie let it be hearde And heare not only but folowe the same Lest God discouer you to your great shame Remember your synnes and rufully rue Lest after this barker a byter insuc In Esay the prophete there may you fynde The plages y t for proude womeÌ„ God hath assignde The daughters of Syon sayth he in that place Do tryp on theyr toes wyth counterfayt pace Wyth stretched out necks and nyce wanton â—ies But now wil I plage them for theyr proude guâ—se They wold not my voyce here when that I cald Therfore for fayre heare they now shal be bald For gyrdles of gold they shall haue lose bandes Theyr husbandes shall fall in theneâ—ies handes Theyr beautie shall fade they shall waxe duÌ„ne Theyr faces shall wyther all burnt wyth sunne In stede of gay stomachers that thei now weare They shall weare sackloth in greate dread feare Theyr brooches and ouches and garlandes gay Theyr partlets and pynnes I wyll take away Theyr hookes and hedbaÌ„ds wherin they delight Hearlace and fyllets their heades wyth to dyght Perles precious stones gold wroght by maÌ„s arâ— Gold rings iewels wheron was theyr hart Theyr spaÌ„gs their chains their collâ—â—s hooues Theyr vales and theyr glasses theyr gay gloues Bonets and taches and slyppers so thyn Settyng foorth beautie and shewyng whyteskyn Theyr smockes theyr kerchers bracelets also And euery thyng els I wyll take them fro And for the swete smell that they do now vse They shall haue stynkyng that all men refuse For theyr great ryches and rayment costly They shall be naked and in pouertie But leste ye should thynk this is but my mynde Reade Esay the third and there shall ye fynde Whether that your lyfe from vertue rebell Or if it accord to Christ his gospell For I can not thynke but then ye shall see That ten tymes as prowde as they were you be For whyche ye deserue ye can not deney To be plagued ten tymes as muche as they For Christ in the Gospell playnly discust Who so dothe a woman sâ—e and doth hee lust Hath presently in adultery done synne Then wo be to suche as trayne men therin For yf a mans eyes to lust do hym moue The woman dothe cause it as I can proue For Christ in the gospell also doth say Offences must nedes be thys is no nay But wo be to them through whoÌ„ they be brought That is to say suche as make men do nought Let women in haet then ryghtly recorde If they cause not men to offend the Lord Whych all their whole lyfe for naught els prouide But paynt out them selues of men to be spyde As men are adulterers so are they whores That these wais mens souls consumes deuoures If they commyt synne that doo but desyre Much more do those women through theyr attyre Whych curlyng theyr hear painting their face Tempt and entice men vayne loue to imbrace To daly and dance suche women delyght Inuentyng newe tricks from mornyng to nyght In pastyme and play theyr pleasure styll is And all the long day to clyp and kisse No good wyll suche doo wythin or wythout But dasse on theyr tayle pricke through a clout And some to be small so streyneth theyr lace That they cleane depriue from colour their face The ryght course of bloud so stoppyng wythall That often they faynt and to the ground fall Yet though theyr smal wast ful oft make theÌ„ swouÌ„d Theyr froks must haue buttocks most moÌ„strously rouÌ„d Lyke dancyng gyantes they go in the strete As though theyr hung houpes about theyr fine fete That Salomon sayth ryght true styll is it That recheles women doo by the way syt For suche as go by they styll doo prepare The vnwyse to snarle in theyr wycked snare For women and maydens syt now adayes In wyndowes and doores theyr beautie to praise The eyes of suche women thys is no nay Dooe wounde foolyshe men that passe by the way Whyche is the whole cause as semeth to me That men report of them worse then they be For why the scripture doth clerely preferre Our gate and behauour to teache what we are A tree by hys fruite men truly shall knowe And dedes what man is doo perfectly showe When suche perceaue men theyr pryde to despyse They leaue theyr old toyes and new tricks deuise The fashion is changed but streyght they wyll Haue other newe fangles worse or as yll When I was a bey I nowe well remember Though I at that tyme of age were but tender That women theyr breastes dyd shew lay out And wel was y t mayd whose dugs then wer stoute Which vsance at fyrst came vp in the stues Which mens wyues and daughters after dyd vse The preachers at that then gan out to crye And honest men dyd it lothe and defye Wherfore they left of that foule synfull guyse But streight thei laid down their hear to their eies So as fast as gods word one synne doth blame They deuyse other as yil as the same And this varietie of Englyshe solke Dothe cause all wyse people vs for to mocke For all discrete nations vnder the sonne Do vse at thys day as they fyrst begonne And neuer doo change but styll doo frequent Theyr old guyse what euer fond folkes do inuent But we here in England lyke fooles and apes Do by our vayne fangles deserue mocks and iapes For all kynde of countreys dooe vs deryde In no constant custome sythe we abyde For we neuer knowe howe in our aray We may in fyrme fashion stedfastly stay But nowe to my purpose I mynde not to put In no womans head to become a slut For though God to pryde haue geuen his curse I 〈◊〉 slutty shenes to be muche worse For cleannes is vertue none can denaye If pryde and excesse be banysht away But change of proude rayment now dayly vsed Ought of all good women to be refused Thys day my cassocke to morow my frocke Next day my vardy gue nyghest my smocke Thys day my kyrtell wyth partlet and gowne To morowe a furred cap iust on my crowne Next day a veluet cap or a frenche hâ—â—de Who can beleue that suche women be good Some weare a cheyne and some a blacke lace And colours also to paynt with theyr face Wherwith they doo make theyr faces to shyne Since god made the world such pride was nere sene In doyng of the whyche this is no dout The Image of God they blot and put out Lo thus are they paynted out