no constant yea nor nay VVould fame intreate some longer time and scope But that he findes impatience in delay VVhile to himselfe he faies shall I obey Confesse my fault wherein I haue offended And pardon craue that all may be amended No no my heart shall never stoope so low To bow to those that vsde to bend to me I am not sure what favour such will shew Wherefore I wil devise some kinde of tree VVhose braunching bowghes might shrowd adulterie Thus reasons he a bird of Balams brood That will not be reclaim'd to any good At last the gapes for breath yet doubtes to speake Because his partners doubtes he doth not know Yet through his teeth this tragique tale doth breake VVhile foaming furie makes him puffe and blow Saith he in Ioachims orchard there doth grow A Masticke tree whose braunches clowd the sonne In whose darke shade the brothels act was done VVhen Daniell heard this vncomposed speach False are quoth he the wordes thou dost report Thy lying lippes thee partiall doe appeach Gods minde to me reavealed doth exhort Thy sinfull bodie from thy soule to sort As one deserving endlesse death to die That darst gainst God and conscience sweare a lie VVhen this was acted him they lead away And bring his brother foorth in open place In whose fell heart fowle cabbin envie lay Her wilde and staring looke sate in his face A wrinkled brovv a pale and megre grace Did murther mischiefe mallice fierce resemble While coÌ„science cold doth cause him quake treÌ„ble To whom younge Daniell saith in zealous mood O seed of cursed Cham ympe of dispight In vaine thy vaunt doth boast of Iuda blood VVhen as thou art lin life a Cananite True nobles should in noble actes delight But thou bewitch'd vvith beautie weart beguiled When thy misleading lust thine heart defiled Thus haue you past your passed liues ill-spent Since first your wanton heartes did traine you in To draw the dames of Israell to your bent Whom you with feare did force and flattry win To ioine with you in acting secreat sinne But this chast Iewish heere of Iuda race Resisted hath your follie to your face Now sith thy tongue hath testifide an act VVhich fame did not reporte but eie did vewe And thou death worthie deemed hast the fact Dissemble not be still a witnesse true Tell vs what tree and in what place it grew VVhose shamlesse shad did shrowd this shamfull sin Pause ere thou speake yet speake and soone begin Hee gravield now in greife and grim dispaire Like bowged barge that sinkes in swallowing sandes Gapes ere he speakes as if he wanted ayre VVhich oft with cloased lippes he countermaundes At length saith he in Ioachims orchard standes Neere fowntain faire a greene thâ—ck braunching Holly Vnder whose shad these wicked wrought their folly Quoth Daniell then your tongues haue you betrayd Your forged he shall light vppon your pates Your wicked heartes your wordes haue heere bewrayd The sword of Iustice that iniustice hates Is readie heere to slay you sinfull mates Provide therefore a treble death to die Of bodie soule and lasting infamie For as you boath haue caussesse sought to spill The guiltlesse blood of this chast Isralite By witnesse false therfore doth Moses will Your blood be shed and we will doe you right Sith that your tongues death-worthy you indite You shall be led where shee should leese her breath And there with stones your selues be done to death Which doome did much delight the standers by VVith greate applause the people do reioyce They clap their handes and fling their cappes on hie The roofe reflectes the Eccho of their voyce VVhile thankfull heartes their eies to heav'n vphoice And tongues pronownce Our God be praysed ever VVhich helpeth his and doth for sake them never These iudges thus disgraded from their states The multitude with readinesse doth ronne To doe that doome on these condemned mates They to acquitted Susan would haue donne VVhile zeale would act what wrong had ill beegonne Thus carelesse commons right or wrong support When they are swayd as sovereignes do exhort For as in man when vapoures vex the braines The giddie head doth feele a whirling fit So fickle heads to feed superiours vaines When as affection holdes the seate of wit Sway to and fro as ruling vapours flit If they say yea an yea doth answere stand If they say no a no is prest at hand And yet sometimes though sotted with content That everie act doth seeme to breed their case Some whiles when wayward vapors gets a vent A toy the least occasion doth displease VVhile thoughtes do eb and flow like surginge sear For who so deales with multitudes he findes In manie heades a multitude of mindes While heartes do harbour heapes of homely toyes And heades ar fraught with Chaos of conceiptes There coms continuall trade of chaunging â—oyes Which barter novelties for elder feates As chaunging time doth offer choice of cheates So those which yesterday wrought wrong with might Are busied now in acting of the right For now with hast they hal them from the barre Whome late before they heaved to the bentch No treatie could a day their death deferre While teeres the peoples furie could not quentch Which drue them forth vnto the fatall trentch And piniond bownd them to the stubborne stake Where they their wel-deserved death should take Who living now forlorne past liffes repaire Haue not the heart Gods mercie to intreate But rather seeke with Saul in deepe dispaire VVith bluddie murthring handes life to defeate VVhile gainst the stake their handes they bawle and beat And mind in vaine their dreame their fall their hight VVho wanted grace to take Gods warning â—ight The pitying people pray God turne their hartes But when they see repentance place had none To yeeld those reprobates their due desertes The happiest man doth hurle the heviest stone To make them giue the last life-yeelding grone VVhich done they part and leave the ded their roome And lawd the lord and Danâ—l for his doome VVhome God had made selected instrument To overthrow these wicked and vniust And saue the blood of this chast innocent That with stoute Constancie resisted lust And did not in distresse de frawd her trust But saw her teeres and heard her plainting voyce VVhich made the hearts of thowsandes to reioyce Amongst the rest whose heartes sweet comfort cheeres Heâ—chia happie man and his compeere which erst did weepe for woe shed ioyfull teeres VVhen Ioachims ioy had past this plunging feere And kinsfolkes clowded eâ—e shone bright and cleere All with sweete noates consent in Susaâ—s name Praise God that had preserv'd her from defame But cheifly shee like larke on mounting winges VVhile inward zeale breakes out in open sight Tryumphing in her tunes most sweetely singes The prayse of God his mercie and his might That did relive her wretch and wronged wight And iustly iudge her foes the death to die That would enâ—ombe her fame in infamie
Sometimes the matter naked wanteth wordes Sometimes good matters mar'd When ill contriv'd they say Sometimes the sence a caffling cause affordes Sometimes a sentence or affectate wordes A tedious stirre for in Philautus brawle There scapeâ— not one hee hath about withall Saith one of these the note is iust Mongst men of better note Our sharpest wittes that climbe the sceane of fame In vainest follies leese Themselues and vainely dote Doe spend much art for to deserue much blame While they some idle-dreamed phancie frame And leaue their workes a witnesse firme and stable VVhat time they lost in hatching of a â—able Great pittie sure that learned men Of great and rare conceate Should so these braue habilities debase That while they stretch them out To proofe to shew them great The praise of their imploimentes in this case Is voide of praise and hath this onelie grace That they haue wiâ—ely tolde a foolish tale And smoothly set a long made lie to sale And yet this inconvenience great Might finde some faire excuse If drift of their discourse at vertue aymed For oft in fables foldes Trimme morall truth doth vse But when the worke is matter meerely feigned And ende thereof deserues to be disdeigned The writer merites pitie more then praise And worke vnworthy presse fit flames to raise Thus surelie speakes this Censurer And doth his thoughtes reveale As if some sterne Dictator thundred lawes From whom on paine of death Vnlawfull to appeale Yet did not well bethinke him in his pawse For though a story true doth grace his cause He paintes it out with colours of invention And giues it wordes to fit his owne intention Which if the Censor vse himselfe Thy selfe maist vse the same Whose levill aymeth at as vertuous end And to reduce the worke And story into frame By reasons rule the whole discourse is pend And hath no cause the godly to offend Or grieue the good vnlesse some harsh divine Against his sacred Poems will repine An other sort of snarling mates Do pester ev'ry age Who will be critickes though they guide the cart And censure workes of weight Quoat faultes in every page Depraue the wittes of men of best desart And iudge of all by envie not by arte Who more doth mallice art then artlesse braine Who byteth worse then Beviâ—s in his vaine High spirited Homer matchlesse man A baggage deem'd a blocke And did with bitter tauntes his workes deface Of Virgilleâ— dainetie vaine Could Mevius frame a mocke Inferring that he filch'd his chiefest grace By treading in the tract of Homers trace Or from the fruites of Hesiods happie braine And Theocâ—ite the Syracusian swaine Thus to obscure the merâ—iest crie Where deepe-mouth'd hounds doe go Each time hath bawling curres that barke and howle Which sith tis so hath bin And ever will be so Of learned rest secure well train'd in schoole Thou must not feare the â—lout of every foole Who in a prating vaine though thou repine Will blame whole bookes but cannot mend a line C. A. R. WHat time the iudge severe sin-scourdging God CoÌ„peld to change the course that mercy ment Withdrew his favour and drew forth his rod To punish those that knew not to repent That time ingrate-full Iuda iudgement had To die or suffer bondage even as bad For when they scornd the heav'nly herauldes sent To summon them back-sliders to the Lord Crying with yernefull voice Amend repent Else hoattest wrath will follow this his word Eâ—se will too late repentance plead for grace When mercie flies and iustice holdes the place When hardned heartes could not become so wise By others harmes to learne their owne beware While fresh record presented to their eies Ten brethren tribes subdude to slavish care Whom the Assirian monarch did subdue And made of freemen borne a captiue crue When eke they were vnmindefull how their king Younge Ieconias but nine yeares before And thousandes moe the sanctus blacke did sing What time they did their dismall day deplore While captiues thence in bondage led to dwell They crying weeping schreeching say farewell When princes rulers priestes and people base Exceeded farre all heathen in their sin When Sadom and Samaria might giue place And not come neere the waies they walked in When harmelesse men were held of none account But he the man that did in sinne surmount Then as a raging flowd long bent with baies Beares headlong downe what standes before the breach Or as rebellious soares by long delaies Recure-lesse scorne the cunning of the leach Ev'n so remedilesse like raging thunder The Lord powrd downe his wrath long time kept vnder When whistling for the Bees of Babel-land Came Nabuchadnetzar sirnamd the great And brought with him a most puissant band Of souldiers skild in every war-like feate For as the clustring bees in swarmes doe clinge So flockt the Chaldeis round about their kinge Then Salem saw a sad heart-breaking sight Resolved foes entrench'd about her walles In glittring armouâ— many a warlike wight Most fully bent what ever hap befalles By dint of sword to winne eternall fame Or pawne their liues in purchase of the same But most of all this griefe the conscience gaules And ever mates their mindes so overtaken By deepe despaire to thinke amidst these brawles That God for sin their citie had forsaken A matchlesse woe if God the cause withstand A fearefull conscience makes a seeble hand Adde more to this the seige so long doth lie That famine in the citie is so soare The people pine consume doe droope and die While horses in the field haue forrage store Death in the house destruction in the streete Sword in the â—ield distresse and daunger meete Amidst these woes the rumbling Ecchoes sound How dreadfull drums strike vp the fierce allarme And ratling trumpe with bloudy noates rebound The valiant heartes to fell assault doth charme When herauld first had summond them to yeeld Or to expect a mercy-wanting field Then for supplie of thundring cannon shot Goâ—am and engine to the walles a pace The Pioner he bestirres him in his plot To make huge towers to giue the souldier place On either part their powers they fully bend To giue assault and from the walles defend Ensignes advaunce and glory scales the fort The ladders then are hoysed to the walles And honors hope th'assaylantes doth exhort To climb from whence an other headlong falles While Archers shoote from tough wel-timbred bow Their thirled singing shaftes as thicke as snow When once the eager souldier hath made way Within the walles and might commaund the towne Then as a hungry Lyon for his pray He rangeth rageth killeth knocketh downe Then might be seene like streames to make a flood The streetes and channels flow with crimson blood The bedlem handes do deale foorth murthring blowes The victor rageth restlesse Lyon-like While mercie craving vanquish'd pleades his woes To him that hath no eares but handes to strike The maid the wife is subiect to this rage The suckling babe and
and the vaines Dies dusky coloured what before was bright Each seemely part lesse seemely shewes in sight While heart poore heart forefeeling passions great With frighted panting pulse doth thumpe and beate The prety Ivory hilles the maiden pappes Powt now with paine to feele chaste flesh defiled The nibled teates that perch vpon their toppes Yeeld mayden blush to see themselues beguiled Their freedome sled their liberties exiled Must now be tugging stockes for tootlesse chaps And subiectes liue to myriads of mishaps Chast loines by lawlesse lust are martyred The brest doth feele short breathing simpathies The bowels by defect are tortured In weakned backe do crickes and crampes arise What swellings feele the feeâ—e the legges the thighes While seemely wast that all the members graced By strouting wombe is stretched and defaced Yea vvhere sound appetite did hold his seate There sicke abhorfulnesse hath built his bower Fond lust doth long for sundry sortes of meate Sometimes it loathes the sweete and likes the sower And oft vile things with eagernesse devour Or else is subiect to such qualmes and fits As doe depriue the sence and dull the wits And thus the body by a bodies breeding Becomes discrased plethorique oppressed Faintes in his faculties erres in his feeding Fluds of defectes beare downe poore health distressed VVhich dangers with more danger are redressed VVhile nature these and many mo presages Appointed hath birthes hand attending pages And yet perhaps conceived hath this wife No perfect birth but some vnperfect thing A Mole deformed lump that wanteth life Which direfull death remedilesse doth bring Or during life doth yeeld a deadly wring Againe if womb be subiect to abhorsion Best hope is bankrupt by the same extortion Yea vvhen fine mettall hath deformed mould Or makes a fault in little or too much Or is not of the kindred that it should Then nature in true working keepes not tuch But frames the seely creature to be such As vvas the mowld the mettall or the minde A minotaur a mongrell out of kinde VVhy should we name the deadly panges and throwes Heart-pinching paines companions of the birth The sowning fits the weale-awayes and woes The broken sleepes sad dreames depriving mirth The little ease when once the infant stirth VVhom seemingly paine suffering mother feeles To teare her tender fides with thumping heeles Let silence have the nightly paines in noursinge The cradles rockes the wrayling brawling cries The dayly chardge in buying and disbursing To bringe it vp and yeeld his want supplies The hastned age the breedinge bodie buies VVith millions moe of houshold cares and strife That do attend the happiest maryed wife But if to cloake their folly with devises They set the gaine of fruit against this thorne They buy bad wares at to excessive prices For if the climbinge weed pull downe the corne The parentes wish such seed had not bin borne And equall greife doth dim hearts lamp the eie To see the bad to live or good to die Of which fayre bitter sweets toyle borne and bred The husbandes part ofte standeth in conceipt VVhen lawlesse lust polluteth lawfull bed The fathers picture proues a counterfeit Some times discent is patched by deceit VVhen cradle rockes a chaunglinge foysted in Defeites true heire defraudes the lawfull kin But deeme the best and cownte them all their owne Vnhad they ar not theirs when they would have them And once possest their title then is knowne Not theirs but his the mightie Gods that gave them VVhich can in youth or age or wombe ingrave them Thus is the child wives choyce perplext and sad And better hope in husband is not had Hast thou a pheere whose faith exceedeth farre If him the mighty monarch doth commaund To prove his martiall armes in feates of warre Midst troopes of bedlem foes in forreigne land How comfortlesse wil thy poore comfort stand VVhile carfull thoughtes will cause thy hart to morne Till ioyfull eie enioy his safe returne But if thy wedded mate bee wedlocke breaker How much doth matchlesse greife torment thy minde If that hee bee a churle and cursed speaker It killes kinde heart to see him so vnkinde Againe is hee to ielous lore enclind VVhat toile to tie free actions of thy bed To fond survey of his suâ—pitious head If he be good what fearefull thought to leaue him If he be bad what cunning to reclaime him If he be kinde it grieues thy heart to grieue him If he be fierce what wisedome to refraine him If he be lost what pollicie to gaine him If he be loathsome tis thy taske to loue him And no redresse til death from thee remoue him But out fond thoughtes saith shee vvhy do you reason Gainst God my conscience and the common weale Dread heresie if that you dread not treason Be not blind Essees nor so badly deale To beate downe mariage with a virgins veale Which were to be iniurious to my birth And leaue no man to tread the trampled earth You partiall pâ—â—â—ders in affections cause â—â—owd impes thâ—t doe conspire nurse natures end You â—iolaters of Gods first made lawes You sectaâ—â— you foes to mans most friend Nice coy vnkinde to country and to kind Wast common-weales and spend your wits in woing Loues lost the churches downefull mans vndoing VVhilst vnder-mâ—â—ing mariage with your lore You kill the roote whence all your good began The wedded life of mankinde is the moâ—e Take mariage from the earth and vvhere is man Man ceasing to haue being what comes than Your owne decay your death by his decrease For when the roote doth râ—t the sap doth cease As if your earthly being were too base VVith trustlesse vvinges you sore beyond the son To draw discent from ancient Angel-race You spend wind-wasting wordes and breathlesse ron Perdie you must come downe vvhen all is done Kisse mariage hand your ancient on the earth Vnlesse you will vvith basenesse blot your birth As vaine you vaunt of Angelles imitation Angelles full numbred spirites doe liue for aâ—e But man was made for fruitfull propagation Man must increase because man must decay And to that worke chast wedlocke was the way To tame flesh treasons and appease those iarres Hels rebles raise to breede soule-slaughtring warres Againe if that you hatch your single broâ—d In Evaes rib or Adams quickned earth Like reason if it stand with you for good For musickes art like consequence infearth Tubulcaines hammers making maiden mirth Tuball from them did frame mayd Harmonie Sweete noates consent hath nam'd her melodie What if iust Habell choose the virgin life And Salems king did die a batch'ler blest What if Elias liv'd without a wife And single life lik'd Elizeus best What if Messias sucke a maiden brest One Autumne primrose doth not proue the spring One winter swallow doth not sommer bring What if some few by gift of speciall grace If God giue not the gift is nought at all Victoriously run out this virgin race Yet many mo in running tooke the fall
Vriahs wife no sure the childe did die That thus was gotten in adultery Yea God did sweare the like disgrace and sword Should light on his for leaving of his word VVhat did prowd Paris gaine to gad to Greece To fet that mynion Menelaus vvife Fames Phoenix beauties saint a peerelesse peece Shee cost a kingdome large and many a life Sardanapalus living voide of strife Became lustes wanton wallowed in her pleasure VVhich life did leese his empire life and treasure And well for if the Lord in wedlocks cause Plague common-weales and play the vanquisher When one fowle fornicator breakes his lawes What shall be done to that adulterer 〈◊〉 stâ—â—kler of this strife and bloody stirre Were he not worthy breeder of this brawle 〈◊〉 end esse death to pine and die for all Your selues of late in practise of the law 〈◊〉 doome of stoning death for like offence 〈◊〉 can desire your heartes from right withdraw That lawlesse now you can with laws dispence What brainsicke humor doth your braines incence To deeme that fact death worthy in an other Which you your selues do foster feed and cover If speeches dâ—â— but breath and labour leese If former 〈◊〉 cannot forwarne your eares Then yet behold I offer on my knees A 〈◊〉 of sigâ—es and stormie teares Pâ—tâ—y the paine that in my looke appeares Let these my wringed hands awake remorse Vse favour good my Lords abuse not force Consider what you are not base borne slaves Buâ— chiefe conductors of Gods chosen sheepe Then as a crâ—zed ship that's tost with waues Doth let the waters at the chinckes in creepe And drown'th her selfe withall in whelming deepe So you the ship wherein your subiectes saile Your subiectes sinke when you beginne to faile Therfore I coniure you by greate Iehove For countries cause for subiectes happinesse Eor your deere soules estate no further moue Mee poore afflicted soule heere succorlesse O do not seeke to drowne me in distresse Least now you see old Sodom flaines descendinge Suppresse your suite serve God who waits amending But what avayles to sownd to beastes retreyt Or quench the blazâ— that burneth in the straw Though Croco diles do weepe they meane deceit Though Lyons cowch they hide a hurtful paw So though these Lordes be moane the teâ—res they saw Commende her zeale extoll her good entent Yet still vntamed lust growes insolent The softest drops do peirce the hardest stoanes Through gentle wordes vngentle heartes will yeeld The tenderest zutho softneth toughest boanes Milde musick can mad beastes allure and weild Then are your stubborne heades so strongly sâ—eeld Or are your heartes so heard so rough so feâ—rce That nought can enter soften season peirce Behold the melting teeres this ladie sheds Behold what greef lies harbord in her heart Behold what modestie her over-spreds Behold how soare the wound vnmade doth smart Behold her soule repining at this parte Behold hart-renting sobbes assault your eies Behold vp heaved handes for mercie cryes But as the wilfull Aspis stoppes her eare VVhen charmers chaunting wordes like baites entise So these enchaunted adders will not heere The wordes of health or wisedomes sound advise So bendded will is bent to winne the price That neither may this ladies plaint or moane Make pitty pierce their heartes more hard then stone For when her hearts deepe oracles were ended And that they saw such resolution in her VVhile chastest faire faire chastitie defended Gainst those who sought with fawning wordes to win her As farre from hope as though they had not seene her Perswaded now faint means would marre their matter Her with strong hands weak fort they seeke to batter For savage Satyre-like they vvould vncover VVhat bashfull nature biddeth secreat hide And close as hungrie Ravens they doe hover To doe that great disgrace shee may not bide But when shee saw foule lust was at full tide And that her lingring girles did stay so long Shee cride amaine before shee felt the wrong Helpe helpe shee saith helpe helpe I am vndone O helpe a wofull wretch in wretched case At which her crie the iunior iudge doth ronne And open settes the garden dore apase As if some fellon fled out of the place And shee for helpe doth not so often crie But they as fast stop keepe the thiefe doth flie The servantes netled with this suddaine noyes Of help help help stop keepe the theif doth flie Ronne to the posterne gate maydes men and boyes To find the author of this mutinie The cursed cause of that lamenting crye VVho staring gazing gaping ronne aboute Like men amazde to find their mistresse out At length they do desire their ladie faire Her beautie blemished with blubbring teeres As Phebe mantled with the mystie aâ—re VVith watrish beames vnto the sight appeeres Officious dutie bids her bannish feares Relate her hap and let her heart be stronge VVhere hands and hearts are vowd to right her wrong But shee good ladie that did deeme her groomes Vnequall vmpires of her high disgrace Leaves her bad hap vnto theâ— better doomes And by her selfe aloane with-drawes the place And beares her greif imprented in her face That loachims eie might see and seeing rew Her wronged faith in her deformed hewe VVho when he saw his love and his lives breath To quake in ev'ry parte as palsie shaken And cheeke and lip to looke as pale as death VVhome fresh life feeding humour had forsaken Himselfe by fainting feare is overtaken But when he sees her sinkinge to the ground With girdling armes he doth embrace her rovnd And sobbing wordes through his tongue stopping teeres He saith O sweete sweete heart vnfolde thy griefe O speake my loue and bannish bashfull feeres Heere is a hand shall yeeld thee lardge reliefe VVhose hearts true tenure holdes of thee in chiefe If all the world should vowt ' ware wrong'd by thee Yet should it not appeare a wrong to me At vvhich his quickning wordes as Phoebus shine With powerfull beames and heat vegetatiue Vnshrowdes the earth from her congealed shrine And makes the wythering shrubbe and grasse reviue So shee begins to spring and seeme aliue And vvith her faltring tongue yet all a mort Of traitrous men doth render true report And as we blame misfortunes in their bringers Shee blames her maides as fawtors of her wrong Shee feeles impatient fittes and they her fingers That durst neglect their due returne so long Whose sad excuse permixt with teares amonge To seeke the thinges her selfe had laide amisse Return'd her selfe the blame that wrong'd her blisse Meane time the vnresolved servaunts feare it VVhat spitefull ill their lady did surprize And though their itching eares did long to heare it Yet a king heartes did rather sympathize Then know from whence their passions did arise At length with bashfull boldnesse and good grace They aske the seniors of their mistrisle case VVhose irefull eies when first they did behold This giddie rowt to presse with speed in place Did first condemne their deede as overbold VVhile fainting
the shamfull deede And him we caught but yet away he fled For him from vs his strength deliuered But her we held and thear examined VVhat youth he was that did her bodie vse And though confessing shame did die her red Yet to resolue our doupt shee did refuse And with still sylence did her selfe accuse Thus haue we shewd the fact of this lewd wife For which misdeed law biddes her lose her life Shee all this space with patience on her knee VVith handes and eies vp-reared to the skie Commends her cause to God which all doth see VVhile groaning spirite in anguish plundgd doth crye Help help me God or else in shame I die Thou ruâ—'st right then stretch thine arme so strong And overrule the rulers of this wronge While thus shee doth appeale vnto the highest Her burning zeale doth plead her innocence Her modest looke doth say false iudge thou liest Her bashfull sylence speakes in her defence Her good reporte reproves their ill pretence The streames of teares that on her cheekes at spilt By secreat verdict quittes her from the guilt Yet much amaz'd to here this divell speake For well shee wist no manlike mind he bore Shee shapes him answere else her heart would breake Although her tormentes should be much the more Shee saw pale death attending at the dore To take her thence if that shee held her peace And if shee speake shee could not death increase VVherefore ev'n as a man thats sencelesse stroken VVhen as he commes vnto himselfe againe And feeles his bodie wounded brus'd or broken By swarting cause cannot from wrath refraine But letteeh flie his irefull blowes amaine Ev'n so her conscience netled by dispight Fights with fierce words weake champions of her right O admyrable patience sayth shee And depth inâ—erachable of Gods intent Whether this happe for tryall vnto me Or for these helhownds greater punnishment Hee onely knowes which onely hath it sent VVhie doth he not with righteous hand represse This scum of sin and filth of filthinesse VVhie did not wombe before these babes did sprawle Abhorse such seede vnworthie for the brests VVhie entred life within such bitter gaule VVhie harbour soules within such filthie nestes Whie did the ayre giue breathing to such beastes Whie did the heav'nes permit so fowle an eie For to behould the pure vnspotted skie Whie did not nature mould deformed clay So fowle mishapen mindes for to ingerth Whie swell not floudes and swiftly sweepe away This seede of Cain from the polluted earth Whie did not hell devoure them in the birth VVhie do not angrie elementes conspire To powre vppon them hoat consuming fire Whie did the earth eate Corach and his crewe And suffer these to trample on her browe VVhie did wilde beares those idoll ympes subdue And do wilde beastes these beastes to liue allowe Whie do not thunderboltes enforce them bow What should I say whie doth not God in ruth Commaund each power to punnish theire vntruth But thou O Lord art free from this offence VVhen rav'ning woulves such seely lambes devower Thou righteous dost not punish innocence Tis not thy worke tis they abuse thy power Thy power is iust the imperfection our The aire is good that doth the voice dispence Though faultly vsde to giue false evidence Then iudges most vniust behold the skies Thinke thear's a God those glorious globes that guides Let not despaire your soules deere health dispise But haue regard what law you goe besides Perpend in deepest thought God not abides Such wrathfull Cains as vvast the guiltlesse blood Then haue respect to me for your owne good Perchance you thinke your sinnes so farre exceede That God is never able to forgiue O flie those thonghtes which swift destruction breede And that our God is mercifull belieue Doe not so willingly to darke hell diue But these your haynous deedes from heart repent And God will then remit â—innes punishment Let not fowle sin be seeded in your age Let not your vertues die before they spring Doe not commit on me so great outrage But let true iustice rule in ev'rie thing Consider what defame such wrong will bring VVhat doe you thinke God sees not what you doe Yes sure he doth then haue respect thereto Your conscience can controule your heartes of follie Your hearts can say your tongues doe falshood tell Your tongues can tell your action is vnholy To wrong a seely woman meaning vvell And hating this offence as hatefull hell Let pittie raise remorse and bannish wronge Be not to stout because you are to strong But if your heartes blood-hardned still remaine To shed her blood that hath no lawes offended Then worke your wils on me O sonnes of Cam VVould God in this good cause my life were ended So that your liues and manners were amended VVhich if you doe not right with speedy pace Mine honors wrong your honors will deface A tree but young one may both bow and bend VVhen as the old will hardly bend at all A whelpe with trickes is taught to fetch and send VVhen as old dogges to it you hardly hall VVho can reclaime wilde haggards to the call Even so these men that seas'ned are in sin To serue the Lord cannot tell how begin For when they heard this oratresses tale VVith constant speach and gesture so declaimed Fierce envies â—retting poyson made them pale Fearing to misse the marke whereat they aimed They doe inferre it falshood meerely feigned To frustrate iustice with a slie perswasion And from deserved death to make evasion No credit giue say they this cunning dame Which with lip-lavish wordes would shift her death A man huge myriades of vntruthes would frame If he by them could buy life-feeding breath Ist not a iudges word that witnesseth Is not our oath confirmed vvith our hand VVhat two doe vvitnesse law doth will to stand VVhich said they do proceede to doome of death By processe had from the imperiall state And one the dolefull sentence vttereth Shee should be led foorth of the citie gate And there as Moses doth the law relate The multitude a â—ickle wavering head Should presse her downe with stones til she were dead Thus doth the law by witnesse wrested deale Thus is the vertuous dame condemn'd to die The iudge reiectes the husbandes graue appeale He stops his eares at parentes sad reply He will not heere the infantes wofull cry No doubt a pase that godly land doth flourish VVhich doth such lust-affected iudges nourish But loath to be interred in shames nest Stab'd with heart-wounding wordes falles on her knee Shee wakes her thoughtes with thumping on her brest Flies to her last refuge to set her free Entreates her God with humble teeres that hee VVould not for sake or leaue her in distresse But send his comfort to her comfortlesse O righteous God my iudge saith shee VVhich seest the secret heart And dost inflict revenge on those That doe thy lawes subvert Represse the pride of tyrants stout VVhich doe my life assaile
Yea while her silent heart doth thankes record Her restlesse notes do reach beyond the skie VVhose endlesse ioy was in her gratious Lord. To him in hymnes and tuned psalmodie VVhich did transmute her mones to melodie shee giues the glorie of her victories As David when he foyld his enemies The mighty Lord saith shee Is my defence and might My king my guide my God My champion for to fight The combate of my truth and conscience triall He is my Anchor-hold My refuge rest and port My horne of saving health and eke my strongest fort Gainst whose coÌ„mand there standeth no denial VVhen over-flowing floodes Of raging fierce despight And great commaund of Lordes And men of power and might With dreadful threats of death did make me quiver I did implore his aide In deepenesse of distresse VVho heard my â—ust complaint And wrought my due redresse He sent me aide and did my soule deliver On him therefore I will In danger crie and call VVho can both heere and helpe He heeres and helpeth all He none but he is worthie to be praised Deathes swallowing sorrowes hem'd Me round on ev'rie side VVith renting paines of hel In danger to haue dide But he my life from ravening graâ—e hath raised He from my strongest foes Hath set me captiue free Because he had a loue And favour vnto me WhoÌ„ cunningly they sought to haue prevented But while he held me vp I could not swaie nor swarue They sought in vaine to spill The thing he did preserue And so to late their labour lost repented By him I made escape From handes of Tyrantes stout His power did put them downe And helpe his hand-maide out That power also will strongly keep them vnder He trampleth with his feete Bold traitours that rebell He makes their hurtfull tongues Their owne destruction tell Thus for his saintes he acteth workes of wonder VVhose workes are all divine VVhose mercies manifold His waies past finding out his word as finest gold His iudgement iust his providence vnspotted O let thine arme O Lord My feeble hand susteine O let thy holy sp'rite VVithin my heart remaine O let thy loue be still to me allotted I looke with wakefull eles Vnto thine holy lawes Thy statutes are my staffe And stay in ev'ry cause To doe thy will my will I finde affected That which I see is ill And hatefull in thy sight That doe I seeke to shun And flie with maine and might Least that my soule by sin should be infected Thou art a living God O blest be thou my king VVhich hast thy servant freed From tempting Sathans sting And reard my fame on high by wicked wroÌ„ged And hast confounded them That sought my greatest ill By working of my heart Vnto a wicked will To act such lewd designes as lust had longed They fought to end my life And gaue me doome to die Because my holy faith I would not falsifie Pretending right they worke what wrong them listed They vsed power to put Integritie to shame And ment an innocent To burie in defame Hadst thou not Lord their iudgement false resisted Thus hast thou bin my God Most mercifull to me Not wonne by my desert But of thy mercie free My workes I know deserue to be reiected But thy kinde promise made To helpe the godlie heartes Doth binde thee more then all Our deedes or good desertes To keepe protect and saue thy saintes elected Therefore I will sowne foorth Thy praise to ev'rie eare And shew thine endlesse power To nations farre and neere To Sathans and his kingdomes great confusion I haue bin am and will Remaine thine handmaide still Mine heart my thoughtes mine eies Shall waite vpon thy will This is my vow and setled resolution Thus did shee spend her following time of life In heavens contemplation and delight And lived long a ioious happie wife Of passing cariage and a worthie wight A foe to frawd and fastest friend to right VVho living in the world no worldling was But prest to bring a world of good to passe And as a bird escaped from the ginne Thinkes ev'ry bended twigge to be a trappe So shee that dangerously had snared bin VVith true remembrance of her former hap Surveâ—es her steppes to shunne each afterclap And feares to giue a fawning eie good grace In old or young in noble or in base At length when age had plotted lifes decay And sicknesse wrought in weakenesse more and more And that shee thought death had no long delay Shee cald her children taught in godlie lore And did bestow these precepts kept in store VVho come in place with dutious loving hearts Shee thus to them her carefull minde impartes Deare children cease with sad lamenting griefe And malancholicke moanes to waile my state Your sobbing hearts doe yeeld me no reliefe But vexing torments in my heart innate Leaue then for plaintes and teares are not in date No no if they could life in body hold VVeaye would weepe we would buy teares for gold But vaine it is to kicke against a pricke And sinne to take Gods scourge impatiently My debt to death to pay I must not sticke For why you know that all are borne to die Then must I yeeld for ther's no remedie And pay my due that I to nature owe For time requires and God will haue it so The strongest Lyon stoopes to conqu'ring death The aged oake at length doth change his hue In time the long liv'd Phoenix leeseth breath Thrice aged Enoch yeeldes to natures due Sith then tis so and what I saie is true And time doth trie that all things must decaie Then sure I know I haue not long to staie Therefore marke well the counsaile that I giue Revolue it in your mindes my children deere For it shall most prevaile if that you liue VVhen friends and worldly goods you haue not heere First worship God and to his lawes giue eare Set him your load-starre and your lampe of light His lawes the line to lead your liues aright Vse diligence in doing of your dueties To those superiours rulers over you Doe good to all bend thereto all your studies Sing not the Syrens song that proues vntrue Though trothlesse Absalon be faire in view VVith Ionathan doe faithfull still remaine Shun Ismaels bloudie teares and subtill braine Plaie not the cowards in your countries good Spend in her canse your deerest breath and wealth And though prosperitie hath you withstood And frowning world denies gal-sugred pelfe Be not dismaide esteeme your heav'nlie health For that shall yeeld you comfort in distresse VVhen world and friends haue left you comfortlesse Flie still aspiring mindes yet seeke renowne VVin it by vertue and by manly might Franke not rebellious flesh but keepe it downe Like not those painted dames that doe delight Lyllies are fowle in smell though faire in sight And though they tice with baites with teeres with moanes Yet minde that painted tombes haue rotten bones My sonnes if you must liue in wedlocke bandes Loue for vertue
and like the modest chast Set neither fading beauty goods nor landes Before that hue that in the heart is plast Be never prodigall your goods to wast Learne with the busie ant the way to liue Spare not to much but doe by sparing thriue If you vvith childrens store be blest of God His richest giftes account that pretie crew Enstruct and bring them vp to feare the rod VVith those precepts your parents taught to you Though all things want let them not want this due For sure my sonnes it is not saide for naught Better vnborne then borne to liue vntaught Esteeme the wavering world as it is VVhere swiftest time brings all things to decay Esteeme your selues heere voide of ioâ—es and blisse And thinke each morrow is your ending day Desire of God on earth not long to stay VVhere nought but sin griefe doth reigne be bold And nought is got but sinne in waxing old The little babe once comming to the birth Is borne as bare and naked as my naile The puling wretch his wofull state on earth VVith tongue and teeres new born doth weep and waile To see his soule shut vp in sinful gaile And swadled lims fast fettred round aboute Like captiue wreth that no way findeÌ„th out His childish actions all vnperfect are To sit to eate to speake to stand to goe The childe is taught and nursed vp with care And pampred eke with paine and wakefull woe He proues the pikes of manie a pangue also VVith furious foes he hath continuall warre His flesh this world and raging fiend they are His life is like the raging seas recoile His choysest things are in event but vaine His wealth is want his rest is restlesse toile His health mishap and all his pleasures paine His chiefe companions linked in one chaine Are hopelesse hope deepe danger care and feare VVhile dying life doth dailie dread the beare He often times beset with deepe distresse Doth call for death before his dying daie And dead man like by sleeping in excesse Doth spend the halfe of precious time away The rest mispent in idlenesse or play Or spent to serve our owne occasions so As least we care whear God haue part or noe Thus man is made the pray and spoyle of time A tipe of mis'rie and mishap God woat A sinke of sinfull-sin an heap of crime A ship that still on billowing waues doth flote When age comes on then all his sences doat He waxeth deafe his eies with dazing dimme His teeth currupt he hath no liuely limme Can such a dying man be sayd to liue What kind of life what living call you this No life but death a shade that life doth giue For perfect life by death obtained is Whie then do mortall worldlinges go amisse Whie love they life whie do they death detest Which sets them free from ill and bringeth rest Hence learne poore heartes your life vncerteine is Still heaps of harmes are hovering on your head Keepe these my wordes and feare to do amisse More would I say but life is partly fled Whome death with seely tryumph doth downe tred Fare well sweete ioyes somtimes my heartes delight The grownd my corpes to God I yeeld my spirite Epilogus Thus heere you see how God preserveth his And those that do them iniurize confowndeth Hence may you learne what t'is to live amisse What falles to him that with prowd sin abowndeth That hee which stedfast hope in Gods helpe growndeth Gainst him not hell nor hel houndes shall preveile For God will help when help of man doth faile FINIS Faultes escaped In foll 4. Page 1. make content malecontent 5. 1. surely surly 15 1. maiden birth mâ—ideâ— earth 15 2. maried wise maried wife 18 1. mu murne 23 1. faice faire 23 2. thus this 30 2. that those thus c. 37 1. repeate repleate 40 2. this these 42 2. smallow sâ—â—llow 46 1 â—heethey