made mée for to quake A subtle shift to gloze that matter then Dissembling I this drift did vnder take And set my tung a philed phrase to frame That no suspect there might be found of blamâ—… I promised him ful many a gentle gift So that at length his men hée sent away I séeing I so fine had playd this drift This Ionathas for Prisoner I did stay And at the last went out through Iuda Land That they abroad my fame might vnderstand To Simon who my prisoners Brother was I message sent declaring that the cause Why I retaind his Brother in this casse Was for due det claimd by the Princes lawes And if that hée would séek to set him frée His Children hée with spéed should send to mée Of Siluer eke an hundred talents more To mée should come els would I kéep him stil My wish was sent of mony I had store And eke his Children resting at my wil. Whome afterwarde to death I did commit That so therby my purpose might fall fit Then I of Asia was proclaimed King This was the wish I looked for so long But Fortune fel reuengement sharp did wring And made mée for to sing an other song Demetrius Sonne Antiochus by name Pursued mée fast to woork my open shame And to my ships perforce made mée to flye Els had I death sustayned at his hand But ne the lesse on seas I wretch did dye Deseruing wursse if that my fault were scand But God this sharp reuenge on mée did taite A guerdon 〈◊〉 for treason I did maite Flye Flye therfore take warning by my fall Let this my deed take place within your brest To make you flye the suddain sweetned gall Which in the end prouoketh your vnrest Fye on all treason woe vnto the day When first I sought this moste accursed way Wel since I haue so slyly falne in snare And haue to mée incurrde an endlesse pain You gallant wights I wish you to beware Betime see you from wiâ—… 〈◊〉 refrayne So of my woe for euer you shall misse And for my gréef shall reign in lasting blisse FINIS The Induction ACHAB King of Israel espoused Iezabel Daughter of King Ethbael of the Sidonites by meanes of the which Sezabel he fel into all straunge Idolatry and ex treame persecutioÌ„s for which offence hee receiued such a plague of God that in three yeers should no raine nor dewe fal from heaueÌ„ on the earth wherby ensued a great death bothe of men and beasts that a number dyed through his wicked offence This King as reporte is made in the sacred Scriptures was so wicked that euen it was his whole delight to doo lewdly contrary to his duty and yet God suffered him to obtain a vaitant victory ouer Benhadab the Sirian King who retayned in his company xxxii Kings twise hee harmed him by great and blody skirmishes but the third time he was forced to come prostrate before this Achab â–ª who for all his crueltie yet pit tied the case of Benhadab and making a bond with him gaue him licence to departe now for the mercy showne to this wicked Benhadab whome God had cursed and brought into the subiection of Achab to the intent he should be slain GOD was very wrathful against Achab â–ª promising his ruinate distruction for the same Shortly after this greedy Gainer not satisfied with his owne kingdome and signories with his battels spoyles and wunderful victoryes which God had suffered him to conquer but the guiltlesse and inocent Naboth hee forced to bee cruelly murdered for naught but for a Uiniard pertaining vnto this silly wight whose innoceÌ„t death such vengeance obtained in the sight of God that the Prophet Elia brought him message that where the Dogges had licked the Blood of Naboth in the same place should they lick his also And the God to him his posterity would do aâ—… had doon to the house of Ieroboam and Baasa These fearful threatnings sent from GOD so terrified Achab that with repentaunce he humbled him self in sorowing Sackcloth which did mooue the Lord to permit his plague farther of But this his repentaunce was but plaine dissimulation to winne the harts of men wherfore he refused the councel of Micheas the true Prophet of GOD and reposed confidence in foure hundred false Prophets and after their councel took his iour ney to Ramoth where beeing in Battell with the Sirians an Arrowe pearced into him sitting in his Chariot of which wound he died And then his Chariot going toward the Poole of Samaria to be washed the Dogs licked vp his blood So was the promise of the LORD fulfilled vpon this wicked and cruell King for his great trangression WICKEDNES VVhile time thou hast remember life misspent In all thy thoughts respect a Christian care Consider still the end ere thou attempt Knovve that thy sinnes innumerable are Examin vvell therfore eche fault amisse Dread that the LORD vvill angrye vvith thee bee Novv seek therfore to gaine the lasting blisse Erect thy hart that men good vvoorks may see So then to all thy life shall vvitnesse be THE COMPLAINT of King Achab King of Israel for his wicked life led in IDOLATRIE and cruell Persecutions and for sparing the life of the vvicked BENHADAB King of Siria vvhom GOD had deliuered into his hands only to put to death Also for his procuring the poore NA BOTH to be cruelly murdered therby toget his Viniard by the counsel of IEZABEL his Queene vvhose blood the Dogs licked vp on the ground and also his ovvne blood in the Battell fought at RAMOTH according to the vvoord of the LORD Caput 3. LAsciuious life deserueth like rewarde And disobedience must haue punishment Where falshod rules the trueth cannot be heard The rod must come to force them to repent Where man disdaynes to stand of God in aw Reuengement néeds must come by Iustice law Where Crueltie dooth harboure in the brest And Rigor puts poore séely soules to paine Where feare of God is vtterly supprest And eke the minde addicted to disdaine The sharpned swoord dooth hang abooue his head If God so please to strike him present dead For proofe wherof I Achab may suffise Whos 's wayward wil from Wisdomes wayes was bent I lawlesse liued my God I did despise In Idols I did fix my whole delight That Iezabel whome I did take to Wife Maintaind mée stil in this my lothsome life For mine offence no raine for thrée yéeres space Fel on the earth all barren was and dry So that by this a murrain came a pace That man and beast a multitude did dye The Prophet I Elia did disdain Auouching hée was cause of all my pain But moste of all that wicked cursed King Dispisde of God for wickednes of life God did vouchsafe into my hands to bring That so I might abridge him with my knife But for because hée homage did to mée I sau'd his life and so did set him frée But yet alas poore silly Naboths death
of Iezabell and her carkasse shall lye as dung vpon the earth so that none shall say This was Iezabell VANITIE Vivv vvel the state of euery mortall VVight Although they boast of Beauties beames so much Note hovv that Death dooth equall all aright Ineath degree hee spareth not to touch The VVise the Foolè the King and Begger bace Is à ll alike that commeth in his cloutch Excepteth none hee takes in euery place THE COMPLAINT of Iezabel Wife to King Achab for her inforcing her Husband to all kinde of vvickednesse and Idolatree causing the Prophets of the Lord to be slain and procuring the guiltles death of Naboth shee beeing iustly therfore plagued of the lord Caput 10. IF Beautie be a thing of such respect If hauty hart the Body doo adorn Why did my shape and beautie mée detect Why did my pride make mée somuch forlorne And if all these were Uertnes in a Wife Why did so soon my pleasure turn to strife O no déer Dames these vaunts are worldly vain These are the pomps wherin you glory so This painted pride procures your after pain Which you lament distâ—…est in double wo. And why because you did not séek before A souerain salue to cure so vile a sore But lo déer Dames to much you be deceiude To much you trust to that which is vnsure For péeuish pride your sences hath bereude Which makes you think for aye you shall indure O think not so for beautie is but vain To day a ioy tomorrow pinching pain Beholde by mée if beaâ—…tie might haue boast Or hauty hart to haue Dame Honors place Beholde her héer who through each forrain Coast Knew not her Péer for loftie lookes in face But now what dooth my mounting minde auaile So long on flote that glad to strike my saile I Iezabel soometime King Achabs Wife Disdaining God and Idols did obay Surmounting in all viciousnes of life And only Pride did force mée run astray For Pride from God did force my wilful fall That grace nor vertue I esteemd at all But in a World of pranked pleasures gay I flaunted foorth as much as hart could crane I was the cause the Préests of God to slay And Naboths death desired for to hane Why who but I. so many fetches had With subtle sleights to make my fancy glad But what at length was my deserued due From windowe down I fel and brake my neck By prophecie which I approoued true This hire I had that Uertue would detect In â—…inders small my Body lay on ground Trod so with Horse that little could be found Now sée what came to Iezabel at last See what became of my alluring face My Peacoks plumes down in the dust were cast What guerdon did my loftie pride purchase Beholde my déeds and then beholde my fame Beholde my life and then beholde my shame Now daintie Dames your Mirrour take by me To warne you pull your hauty heads more lowe Let me you learne your welfare to foresée And teach you how more grauitie to showe Let Modestie your outward vestures be And Uertue deck you inward frank and frée Leaue of these braue and sundry flaunting sutes Leaue of to wish for euery straunge deuise Milde Modestie your statelines rebultes She would not haue you goe so coy and nice But prudently to guyde your dealings so That in eche place with vertue you may goe Now when I smart I can you warning giue That you may shun the sorrowes which I haue Now I confesse that verteously to liue By due desart dooth endles honor craue Counsell once had is better suer then neuer Feare God and then thou shalt be crowned euer FINIS The Induction ZEDEKIA Sonne vnto Iosia was by Nabucodonozor elected and made King ouer Iuda in the sted and place of Ieboachin his Brother to whome he made him faithfully to vow that hee would truely obay the Chaldeis and so in tokeÌ„ therof from Mathania he changed his name to Zedekia But he neglecting his duty and falsifying his othe suffered sinne and wickednes to reigne and abound in his Land euen aswel among the cheef Rulers and Preests as also among the meaÌ„ and common sort So that God was not regarded his woord vtterly despised his Prophets vnlawfully misused therfore the Lord stirred vp the Chaldeis with whom he had before broken league and falsified his faith that they came and ruinated the Cittie of Ierusalem and sacked the Temple with fire and there took the King Zedekia his Army beeing scattred abrode in the plain of Iericho led him to the King of Babilon where first his two Sonnes were destroyed in his presence and then his owne eyes pulled out and then led him Captiue to Babilon bound in chaines wheras hee dyed and his People remained threescore and ten yeers in captiuitie til the dayes of King CIRVS WILFVLNES VVhere men doo more respect their priuate gayne In vaine excesse then VVisdomes stayed state Light to contemne slovve to release their paine From vvhom bothe helth and riches is ingrate Vsing them selues as belly Gods so rude Leaning vpon the honor of their pelf Not scorning still them selues for to intrude Eche man to pole for to inrich him self Soslides from God to greater greefe renued THE COMPLAINT of Zedekia sometime King of Iuda for neglecting his vovved othe and faithfull promise made to King Nabuchodonozor in suffering all sinne and vvickednes to abound in his Kingdome beeing iustly plagued of GOD therfore Caput 11. AMid the rest giue Zedekia place Iosias Sonne to tell his great mishap Whom Folly fond so gréeuous did deface As in my pomp depriu'de me at a clap Such crooked chaunce that for a time did smile But at the length displayd a hidden guyle First was I King and ruled Iuda Land In promise that I constant would remain When as this Welth was brought into my hanâ—… I suffred sin to much to haue the raine Gods woord was clean suppressed in the dust The Preests and Rulers find in filthy lust The Chaldies then Ierusalem destroyd The holy Temple burnd with flaming fire My Soldiars all with terror were annoyd I taken was so did my sinnes require My sonnes were slayne O gréefe before my face Mine eyes puld out in moste accursed case Then captiue I to Babilon was led In fettered chaines with direfull dole yfraught My people poore with tirrany were fed All long of sinne which I alas haue wrought Thrise twentye yéeres and ten they bid the pain Till Cirus came their fréedome to obtaine Loe thus I liu'd loe thus I had my shame A guerdon iust to counteruaile my hire take héed therfore how you contemn Gods name For your reward is euerlasting fire My sinfull life my death so voyd of grace Let now suffise to warn you in eche place Fewe woords shall serue in haste I goe my way And wish you well my perill to foresee Be rulde by trueth let Uertue beare the sway Think on the end the daunger for to flée
Puts mée in minde my vile and lewd desire By wrongful meanes to stop his guiltlesse breth Procured vengeance on mée for my hire His viniard I perforce would take away So by these meanes poore Naboth I did stay The Lord then sent his Prophet vnto mée Who thus did say for this thy wicked déed In place wheras all men did plainly sée The Dogs on Naboths guiltlesse blood to féed There shall they lick thy blood in self same case Because thou didst all feare of God deface When this I heard because all men should say That I was sory for my great offence I sackcloth got and so began to pray But this I faind and glozed with pretence And God who knew how I did glozings fain Preparde a meane to pay mée for my pain For as I sought how I might get again The Cittie Ramoth which to mée was due The Councel of Micheas did refrain And followed those that false weare and vntrue So there in fight an Arrow perced mée Of which I dyed in my tranquilitie Let now therfore this tristful tale of mée Giue warning how you run likewise astray Feare God and kéep your selues in your degrée Follow the trueth exile all fraude away And think on mée that passed you before To giue you warning that you sin no more FINIS The Induction IEPHTAH the Sonne of Gilead base borne and hated of his Bretheren was fain to flye so went and remained in the Land of TOB as a Straunger from his Bretheren and Familiars but within a while it fortuned the Ammonites oppressed the Israelites greatly with warres and stood in hazerd of subuertion so that the Elders of Gilead remeÌ„bring Iephtah was so goodly a man of personage strong and coragious they went to desire him to be their Captaine But he alleadged vnto theÌ„ the small regard they had of him before now in their distresse came to seek succour of him So at last through proÌ„ising to make him their go uernour he returned with them And preparing him self against the Ammonites he vowed vnto GOD that if the Uictory might redound into his hands the first quick thing that should happen to meet with him at his return he would sacrrfise in honor to the LORD It so fortuned that GOD gaue him such good successe in Battell so that he returned Conquerour And as he came homeward the first he met withall was his owne belooued Daughter who met him with pleasant Hermony at sight wherof he rent his heare tearing his garments with many sorowfull lamen tations declaring to her his vow Well Father quoth she content your self that is sayd fulfill it although it be I. And then for two monthes space among the Mountaynes she bemoned her virginitie with other virgins of her company and then returned and was sacrifised of her Father as his promise was I right and rare exam ple for all men to take heed of vaine othes RASHNES Regard alvvay to liue in modest meane ARASH attempt thou after mayst repent Shun such vayne thoughts as make thy life vncleane Haue good regard lest thou be sharply shent Novv is the time thy daungers to preuent Esteeme therfore that vvhich shall last for aye So shalt thou liue vvhen Sathan vvould say nay THE COMPLAINT of Iephtah sometime Iudge of Israel for his so rash vo vv in the sacrifising of his Daughter for the foyling of his enemyes Caput 4. THe loftiest minde dooth catch the fall at length The Wisest man is subiect to a stroke The Champion stout the vauÌ„teth in his strength Is forste at length his boasting to reuoke All is but vayne to purchase mortall prayse Which lasts awhile and soone departs his wayes Man dooth appoint but God dooth all dispose Euen so by me that sought vainglorious Fame I vowde to God if I might foyle â—…y foes And to return as Uictor of the game I vowed what thing did méet mée by the way As sacrafice to him I ment to slay Welfoorth I went such good successe God gaue That all my foes by force I did suppresse I had the wish that I did wholely craue I bare the name among bothe more and lesse My vow I made remayned yet behinde I little knew what shing I first should finde Returning home with all my mightie train My Daughter first in presence I did spye A treble gréef did agrauatâ—… my pain My mirth was turnd to many a doleful cry My hear I rent and garments did deface Twixt weale and woe I stood in doutful case My promise made alas perfourmd must bée For vnto God I firmely vowde the same My Daughter eke brought treble woe to mée That I on her my sacrafise should frame No remedy but death shée must sustaine And vnto her this tale I tolde with pain O Daughter déer which earst was cause of ioy Unto thy Sire to blemish dark debate Now art become alas his great annoy In that thy death is wrought by lucklesse fate My rash attempt to purchase lasting prayse Hath wrought the mean to end thy tranquil dayes To God I vowed if I the féeld might win What first I met his sacrifise should be My foes now foyld that would haue entred in Beholde my Déere the lot dooth fall on thée If I should seeke to saue thy tender life My promise made would more procure my strife What shall I say alas amazde I stand My promise I must bring to full effect Thy life therfore yéeld subiect to my hand And be content this World for to reiect The Maiden milde this answer made her Sire Content to graunt to that he did require Since you O Father haue supprest your foes And since your vow dooth fall so right on mée I yéeld my self to ease your after woes I shall suffise your sacrifise to be But for two Moneths to Desert I must wend My state to mone before my life dooth end The time expirde the Mayden turnd agayne Then offered I to God my Sacrifise Thus my rash vow returned to my payne To hunt for praise which did me moste despise When Man wil make a vow without respect It God offends his soule it dooth detect You yunger yéeres therfore be warnd by me Unto your vowes alwayes haue good regard Respect in time the daunger for to flée Least vnto you doo happen like reward Stil vow no more then well perfourme you may And so be sure you cannot goe astray FINIS The Induction SAMPSON a man thought inuincible for his strength and magnanimitie receiued a womaÌ„ of the Philistines to his wife wherby he came to his distructioÌ„ for by her alluring woords did open the Riddle put foorth at the mariage how out of the eater came meat and out of the strong came sweetnes This Sampson after that hee had sent the Foxes through the Philistines corne had three thousand men against him who by his owne permision suffered them to binde him and they seeing that they had gotten him greatly triumphed where withall he brake his bands as