THE Countesse of Pembrokes Emanuel Conteining the Natiuity Passion Buriall and Resurrection of Christ togeather with certaine Psalmes of Dauid All in English Hexameters By ABRAHAM FRAVNCE Imprinted at London for William Ponsonby dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Bishops head 1591. To the right excellent and most Honorable Lady the Lady Mary Countesse of Pembroke MAry the best Mother sends her best Babe to a Mary Lord to a Ladies sight and Christe to a Christian hearing Your Honors most affectionate Abraham Fraunce The Countesse of Pembrokes Emanuel The Natiuity of Christ in ryming Hexameters CHriste euer-lyuing once dying only triumpher Ouer death by death Christe Iesus mighty redeemer Of forelorne mankynde which led captyuyty captiue And made thraldome thrall whose grace and mercy defensiue Mercyles and graceles men sau'd Christe liuely reuiuer Of sowles oppressed with sin Christe louely reporter Of good-spell Gospell Mayds son celestial ofspring Emanuel Man-god Messyas euer abounding With pity perpetuall with pure loue charity liuely This Christe shal be my song and my meditation only O euerlasting aeternall euer-abyding Euer-lyuing Lord O life and stil-pity-taking Stil-quicknyng Spyrite which causedst God to be manly That true-God true-man might soe cause man to be godly Graunt mee a sounding voyce to recount these funeral horrors Which made vs t'enioy those sweete celestial harbors And thou Babe stil-borne borne always from the begynning Whose sweete byrth in skyes causd Angels for to be singing Looke sweete Babe from aboue lend gracius eares to my prayers Soe shall these my lipps this mouth this tong be thy praysers When noe Sunne gaue light noe Moone distinctly apeared And noe twinckling starrs this lightsom Olympus adorned When noe world was made then that most mighty Iehoua That king omnipotent that Lord and only Monarcha Himself did meditate enioyd his glorius essence Glorius aeternall vnspeakable infynit essence Liu'd and lou'd himself himself felicity matchles All through all chief good chief blisse perfection endles But the most good God this simple Trinity blessed This most louing Lord this three-fould Vnity sacred Would haue this goodnes manifest this bounty declared This loue expressed this wondrous mercy reuealed In tyme conuenient therefore this world he created And it a large Theater to behould his glory apoynted Which when he had with store of treasures richly replenisht And with abundant grace causd euery part to be furnisht Man was made at length Adam was lastly created Last woork not least woork Adam was dayntily framed Most perfect creature and like to the mighty Creator Good wise immortall of mankynde onely beginner But prowd ambition but Serpent craftily cloaking With curst bitter-sweete his cankred poyson abounding Adam dispossest of pleasant beautiful harbors Adams hart possest with most vnspeakable horrors Man was mard at length Adam was fowly defaced Last woork and lost woork Adam was filthily fowled Most cursed creature vnlyke to the mighty creator Bad foolish mortall of mankinde only the murdrer Yet that greatest God pitying this fall of a sinner His manyfold mercies did againe most freely remember Gaue new grace to the world and caused his only begotten Only beloued son to be sent vs downe fro the heauen Here to receaue our flesh and here with thorns to be crowned Here to be mockt to be whipt and here at last to be murdred Murdred for mankynde t'appease Gods infinit anger Guyltles for guylefull man synles for man a synner And now that good tyme that ioyfull day was aproaching Which by the liuing Lord was apoynted from the begynning There was a man which came from Dauyds progeny noble Called iust Ioseph but dwelt in a place very simple Nazzareth it was nam'de himself had lately betroathed That most spotles spowse that Mayden Mary renowned Whoe to be Christs mother was a chosen vessel apoynted And by an Angels voyce from God thus friendly saluted Hayle o sacred Nymph of woemens company greatest Blest with abundant grace to the blessed Trynity dearest At these wondrous woords this may de was somwhat abashed And did meruayle much by an Angel strangely saluted Which when Gabriel once perceaued he myldly replyed Feare not blessed Mary beleeue and stand not amased Blessed Mary beleeue thou shalt be a mayd be a mother Iesus thy son shall be a King be a Lord be a ruler Ruler Lord and King almighty without any ending His faythfull subiects with grace and mercy protecting Mary began thus againe Good God this seemeth a woonder How can a mayde conceaue can a may'd vntutcht be a mother Gabryel added againe this thy conception holy Is not a woork of man but Gods operation only Gods dyuine power shall woork this woonder vpon thee And therfore this chylde soe borne is son to the mighty Mighty triumphant Lord this Lords dyuynyty dreadfull Thy cosyn Elisabeth made alsoe for to be fruytfull Which was barren afore therfore geue eare to the Lords heast For there is noething impossible vnto the highest Mary resolu'd in mynde this message firmely beleeued And submytts herself by the Angells woords to be guyded Then soone after that to the hylls of Iury shee hastned And there Elisabeth greate with Chylde sweetly saluted At which chearefull woords from blessed Mary proceeding Elisabeths yong babe this sound very strangely receauing Sprang in wombe for ioy causd Maryes voyce to be sounding Elisabeth to reioyce dumbe Zachary for to be speaking Mary with her kinsfolk three moonth's in Iury remayned And then blessed Nymph to her husband home shee returned Husband iust Ioseph good man whoe thought it a wonder That new wife vnknown vntutcht should now be a mother Vnwilling therfore in publyke place to reproue her Good-natur'd Ioseph meant pryuyly for to renounce her This man thus meanyng in sleepe Gods Angel apeared And with chearefull woords this message fryendly delyured Feare not iust Ioseph thy wife is a mayde is a mother Pure chaste vnspotted feare not therefore to receaue her This babe is Gods Chylde this son coelestial of-spring Lambe of God Gods heyre ordeyned from the begynning For to redeeme lost Sheepe to be mankynds sole mediator For to releeue poore sowles to be mankynds mighty protector Ioseph awak's from sleepe Gods Angel he gladly obeyeth And his matchles mate mayd Mother Mary receaueth In those dayes all warrs and vproares fully repressed Augustus Caesar causd euery man to be taxed Taxed in each mans towne then Ioseph quyckly remoued Vnto the blest Beathleme and brought home Mary beloued Mary beloued he brought whoe there when tyme was apoynted Was mayde was Mother was most dyuynely delyured Bare her first borne Chylde and layd hym downe in a manger Wrapt in swadling cloaths poore bed for want of a better Seelly Shepheards by the night theyr flocks were waryly watching And fro the skyes they sawe strange brightnes mightyly shynyng Downe to the ground they fall but an Angel cheareful apeared And with ioyfull news theyr trembling harts he reuyued Feare not fryendly shepheards for I bring good news from
those babes that dy'de when merciles Herode Seeking one chyldes death many Mothers made to be chyldeles Blessed most blessed chyldren whose tymely departure Parted theyr sweete sowles from such and soemany thowsand Woes who dyed afore they knew what t'was to be synnyng And fro the damnable earth to the highest heau'ns be remoued Lyke to a Lilly before it chaunce by the frost to be nypped They in stead of mouths theyre throates then sweetely did open And for want of woords powr'd foorth theyr blood to the heauen O straunge thing these babes are now with glory triumphing Which yet neuer afore did taste any part of a fighting Theyr yong heads with crownes of Martyrdome be adorned Ere any tender lockes had theyre heads sweetly bedecked Yea theyr feete that on earth were neuer seene to be treading Walk in Olympus now and there in ioy be abiding But Peeters gray heares draw graceles face to the graues-dore Peeters long lyuing makes Peeters sowle to be doating Peeter lyu's yea lyu's to deny his mayster Iësus Lyu's yea lyu's to renounce his lord and mayster Iësus Lyu's and yet forsakes forsweares lyfe-geauer Iësus Christe who might commaund that glorius hoaste of Olympus Those spotles spirites those euer-dutiful angels Sought found and tooke vs from soemany soemany thowsands Vs ragged fishers from soemany soemany thowsands Vs poore poorest sowles of soemany soemany thowsands Yet we alas his loue haue most vnlouely rewarded And this most kinde Christe haue most vnkindly requited Wee most cursed crewe of soemany soemany thowsands Wee woorst vipers broode of soemany soemany thowsands Wee the detestedst twelue of soemany soemany thowsands One with a cursed kisse his deare Lord falsly betrayed Ten fled back for feare when death and danger aproached And I the woorst of twelue yea after soemany greate woords Leaft forsooke forsware Lord Sou'raigne Mayster Iësus Whyl'st poore Peeter thus with mynde extreamely molested With deepe fobbs and sighs with streames of teares that abounded Washed away those spotts and most syncearely repented Mornyng came at last and then those damnable owtcasts That condemned Christe did bring hym bound to be slaughtred bound bruysd and beaten to the Romayne Deputy Pilate Pilate who for a Iudg of lyfe and death was apoynted In meane tyme Iudas possest with desperat horrors Clog'd with a synfull sowle with a dogged deadly repentance Coms with his afterclapps when he see's his mayster Iesus Thus condemnd to the death and runs in a rage to the high Priests Saying Synned I haue that guyltles blood to betray thus Yf thou haue synned say they looke thou to be plagued What care wee for that w'haue kept tutch giu'n thee thy wages That woefull wages drew my destruction onward That graceles guerdon my death vntymely procured That brybe bred my bane Take there your Mammon among you Take back your bloody brybe soe threw theyr syluer among them And flinging headlong enrag'de with an hellish Erynnis Hangd hymself on a tree fit death for treachery faythles His loathed carkas was an ougly detestable obiect Spectacle infamous most fearefull sighte to the people With gutts gushing foorth wyth bowells broken asunder Loe here you Traytors your treasons iustly rewarded Your Mayster Iudas himself hath rightly requyted Your Mayster Iudas dealt soe that now to the worlds end Of that name Iudas each traytor's named a Iudas Euery faythles fryend from that tyme's called a Iudas Marck Peeters weakenes marck Iudas villany fly from Both dead despayring and too much hasty presumyng Peeter started asyde for feare of death with a faynt harte Iudas slyded back for loue of a bribe with a false harte Peeter by and by wept sore and truly repented Iudas neuer againe came home but deadly repyned Iudas thus bursting highe Priests and Scribes be amased And consulting long at last they fully resolued With that cursed coyne some peace of ground to be buying For straungers buryall with a fayned sanctyty cloaking That cursed bloodshed that most vnnatural owtrage Soe this pryce of blood was payd for a fyeld of a potter Called a fyeld of blood for a signe of this bloody murder Christ is brought to the barr sir Pilate sits as a bencher Priests be his accusers many captall crymes many treasons And many seditions were there obiected against him Soe much sayd nought prou'd Christ standing seellyly sylent By smoothing Pilates commaunde was sent to the Tetrarche Herodes Tetrarche of Galyly there to be iudged Sith Christ seem'd to belong t'his Iurisdiction only Herode greatly reioyst and looked for many woonders When Christe came But Christe with sylence wysely rebuked This Tetrarchs tatling and Priests vnruely reuylings Herode contemn'd Christe when hee saw noe hope of a wonder Sent hym back for a foole to the first iudg deputy Pilate All in a long whyte coate for a scornefull mockery cloathed Thus poore Christ meeke lambe was tost fro the poast to the piller Wandring here and there hence thence fro the Woolf to the slaughter Pilate seeing Christ fro the Tetrarch saufly retorned Spake to the Priests and Scribes This man seem's stil to be guyltles Herode sends him back its best hee be whipt for a frantike And soe loost at large for I know you looke for a prisner At this feast of course say then whoe shalbe released Barrabas or Iesus What needest thou to be asking O pytyfull Pilate thou know'st theyr only desyring Is t'haue Christ murdred thou giust this lambe to the woolus iawes Kill kill Christ say they and geue vs Barrabas only Barrabas in theeuing and murdring barbarus owtlaw Then people pleasing Pilate cauld Christ to be scourged And in a scornefull sort to the Iews to be newly produced But kill kill they cry and crucify crucify Iesus Pilate seeing Christe by the sowldyers all to be scourged Causd him then for a mock with a crowne of thorns to be crowned With royall garments and roabes of purple adorned And in a throane placed with a reede in his hand for a scepter Some mockt some spytted some kneeld and fynely saluted Hayle ô King of Iews for same and glory renowmed Some with his owne scepter that sweete face all to be bruysed Euery one tooke paynes that noe paynes might be omytted Noeman spar'd any cost least Christ might chaunce to be spared Yet this was not enough t'appease theyr villany monstrous But kill kill they cry and crucify crucify Iesus Pilates wife in a dreame with Christ then greatly molested Perswades her good man for feare that he might be released Yet noe dreames would serue t' appease theyr villany monstrous But kill kill they cry and crucify crucify Iesus Then iust iudg Pilate in an open shew to the people His pure hands forsooth with greate solempnyty washed Thincking soe fro the guylt of guyltles blood to be quytted Noe wynde noe water could stay theyr villanv monstrous But kill kill they cry and crucify crucify Iesus Crucify coosnyng Christe his death and blood be requyted On Iews that now lyue and Iewish progeny after Caesars saythfull
Olympus This day borne is a babe his name is called Iesus Only Reconcyler Mediator mighty Redeemer Only the salue to the sick and pardon free to the synner And take this for a signe this babe is a sleepe in a manger Wrapt in swadlyng cloaths sweete sowle and cast in a corner Eu'n as he spake these woords many thousands sweetly resounding Immortall spyrites coelestial harmony making Sang and praysed God lyfting theyr voyce to the heauen For this ioyfull byrth this blessed babe of a mayden Glory to God most high good will to man and to his of-spring Peace to the earth itself and all that on earth is abyding Seelly Shepherds ran downe to behould theyr only redeemer And found all to betrue and sawe Christe layd in a manger Then they praysed God most chereful company keeping And gaue lawd to the Lord that gracius harmony making Glory to God most high good will to man and to his of-spring Peace to the earth itself and all that on earth is abyding Soe that on euery syde this glorius eccho resounded Glory to God most high which man-kynde freely redeemed Freely redeem'd man-kynde yet man-kynde dearely redeemed In that his owne deare sonne for man was freely delyu'red O blessed byrth day ô starts most luckyly shynyng O first day of ioy and last of anoy to the of-spring Of sinfull man-kynde ô greate compassion endles O loue still fayntles pyty peareles Charyty matchles God that ruleth aboue in royall throane of Olympus Sent his blessed Babe and only begotten among vs And fro the bowre of blisse did abase him downe to the manger For to reconcile vs lost sheepe that wandred in error Noemans tong can tell nor noemans hart can imagin That th'aeternall God should thus take flesh of a Virgin Christe that in heauen sate with God most mighty coaequall From the beginning crownd with grace and glory supernall This God's made to be man this King is come from the scepter This Christe is swadled this Lord is laid in a manger Christe whoe fils each place ô Christe how are wee beholding Christe whome noe-place holds in soe small place is abiding Christe noe-way-conteind Christ first last Christ the Creator Infinit euery way is now conteynd of a creture Christe noe-where-enclosd Christe ender Christe the beginner Euery-where noe-where is now enclosd in a corner And all this for man soe that where sin was abounding Grace did abound much more as man was cause of a falling Man was a raiser againe as man made deadly beginning Soe true God true man did make most gracius ending Adam sinned first and brought in death to reward it Christe by death kild death and gaue his life to remoue it Adam lost Paradise where pleasures earthly abyded Christe purchast heauen where treasures greater abounded Serpent wyly beguyld Adam by the meanes of a woeman Serpents head was bruisd by Christe by the meanes of a woeman Aspyring Adam was quite cast downe to the darcknes Humble-minded Christe hath lifted vs vp to the brightnes Of stil lasting light to the ioyful face to the presence Of God there to behold his sacred ineffable essence Sing then friendly Shepherds and lift your voyce to the heauen Glory to God most high for blessed Babe of a Mayden Whom neither Sathan could daunt nor company hellish Nor raging Pharisees nor deaths vnspeakable anguish Who by the crosse by the nayles by the spear by the thorns by the whipping Passed alost to the skies and there in ioy is abyding Whoe by the whipps by the thorns by the speare by the nayles by the crossing Lifted vs vp to the skies with his Angels stil to be dwelling Whoe to be blest was curst whoe gaue himself for a ransome Whoe by the Crosse crost death by death obteynd vs a Kingdome Whose incessant pangs whose grief and agony restles Whose bloody sweate did cause our sinfull soules to be spotles Sing then friendly Shepherds and Angels all be a singing Come fro the Fast you Kings and make acceptable offring Come fro the East by the light of a blessed starre that apeareth And to the King of Iews your footesteps rightly directeth Loe here lyes your Lord bow downe make peaceable offring Gold to the golden Babe of golden time the beginning Franckencense and Myrrhe to be sweete perfumes to the sweetest Chylde that sweete sacrifice acceptable vnto the highest Sweete-smelling sacrifice once offered only for euer For t'appease Gods wrath and his most infynit anger Home to the East you Kings and bring this news to the godly God suffreth for man guyltles condemnd for a guylty Home to the East you Kings and tell this abroade for a wonder Wee haue seene that Babe of a Virgin layd in a manger Home to the East you Kings and shew that mighty resounding Of those sweete Angels coelestial harmony making Tell this abroade for a truth and think that from the beginning Noe such sight to an eye noe such sound came to a hearing Backe to the East you Kings but back by a contrary passage Least ye be partakers of a most vnmerciful outrage And get away Ioseph get away and haste thee to Aegypt Herode seekes thy sonne to be murdred not to be worshipt Merciles Herodes to be sole and only triumphant Seeking one infant wil murder a number of infants Beathlem's red with blood sweets sucklings blood that abounded Beathlem's white with bones babes bones all woefuly scattred Childles mothers mourne and howle with watery countnance All crye out for grief and all crye out for a vengeance Vengeance light on a woolf vengeance and plagues on a tyger Vengeance on this beast vengeance on this bloody butcher And when he thought his throane with firme foelicity grounded And his senseles soule with most security flattred Vengeance lights on a woolf vengeance and plagues on a tyger Vengeance on that beast vengeance on that bloody butcher Lyce did suck his blood which first was cause of a bloodshed Vermyne tore his flesh which babes flesh made to be mangled Soe let such men fare that take a delight to be murdring Christs curse light on his head that Christs flock loues to be spoyling Now come back Ioseph but come not nere bloody Iury Fly fro the butchers broode let Nazzareth only receaue thee There shall thy deare Chylde in yeares and wit be a growing And with guifts of grace with supreame glory abounding Thence shall thy deare Chylde to the Church of God be repairing And doating Doctors and Priests diuinely reprouing Thinck not much therefore if three dayes there hee abyded Father on earth must yeelde whylst Father in heu'n is obeyed And now Iohn that sprang in mothers wombe was a preaching Teaching baptizing and Christs wayes duely preparing When this Iohn Christs head with water duly besprinckled And Christe from Iordan was now but newly remoued Sacred Ghost fro the skies flew downe all louely to Christs head And in forme of a Doue itself there sweetly reposed Then fro the heu'ns these woords with
chereful glory resounded Thou art my deare chylde in whome I doe meane to be pleased And forerunning Iohn Iohn Baptist dayly reporteth Christe to be Lamb of God that sins with mercy remoueth At these wondrous news th'old Serpent deadly repyned And the renowmed fame of Christe extreamely maligned Fearing this to be that great sou'raigne lordly Monarcha Sin-par'dning Iesus foretold long since by Sybilla And he remembred well what plagues were duly denounced When greate grand-dame Eue with a bitter sweete he beguyled Therefore now he begins and takes occasion offred When fouretimes ten dayes from meate and drinck he refrained And in desert kept he begins him thus to be tempting With colored friendship concealed treachery cloaking Shall the coaeternall and consubstantial ofspring Of God soemany dayes and soemany nights be a fasting Shall those purpled cheekes which earst so cheareful apeared Looke thus pale and wan with too much penury pinched Make these stones to be bread for I know if Sonne to the Thundrer Speake but a woord its doone let cretures serue the Creator But when he heard of Christe that grace from mighty Iehoua Strengthned more than bread and fed man more than a Manna Then with a new stratageme to the Templs towre he repayred And Christe soe Christe would on a pynacle high he reposed Saying Leape to the ground if thou be the Sonne to the Mighty Thy Fathers Angels are prest at an inch to receaue thee Yet when he heard Christe say that God was not to be tempted And that hee alwayes had foole hardy presumption hated Sith both thse proou'd naught last cast hee began to be prouing And with spitefull rage his latest part to be playing For when hee had brought Christe by Christs permission only Vnto a huge mountaine which gaue full view to the glory Of world and worlds wealth World and worlds wealth wil I giue thee Sayd this damned fiend if thou wilt learne to obey mee Here Christe with iust zeale and indignation vrged That malapert rashnes with these woords boldly rebuked Get thee away Sathan to the burning lake of Auernus Woorship alone is due to the sou'raigne Lord of Olympus Then with dead despaire Christe toowell knowne hee relinquisht Sith that hee saw himself and all his villany vanquisht Lying Serpent thus confounded an Angel apeared And long-fasting Christe with chearefull foode he refreshed Thenceforth Christe his life was noething els but a teaching Preaching and woorking of woonders woorthy the woondring Sicke are whole lame goe dumbe speake blynde see the Redeemer Hearing's giu'n to the deafe and clensed skynne to the leaper Netts eu'n burst with fish and full boates gin to be sincking Water made to be wyne makes brydegroome greatly reioycing Wyndes are whist with a woord and blustring storms be repressed And foaming seaes waues to a firme walk mightily changed Diu'ls roare out for feare and haste their heauy departure Which tormented men with tootoo woeful a torture Fiue loaues twooe fishes fiue thousand fully refreshed Yet twelue baskets full with broaken meate be reserued Seu'n loaues feaw fishes foure thousand fully refreshed Yet seu'n baskets fyld with broaken meate be reserued Elias came downe to behold life-giuer Iesus And Moses rose vp to behold soule-sauer Iesus His face shyn'de as sunne himself transform'd in a moment Surpassing brightnes did stand in steede of a garment Mount Tabor glistred sweete voyce came downe from Olympus Heare my beloued sonne my dearely beloued Iesus Yea dead men lyued yet Iewes causd him to be dying Whoe raisd Lazarus vp whoe dead Gyrle made to be lyuing The Passion Buryall and Resurrection of Christe CHriste whose blessed byrth causd Angells for to be singing Christe whose louing life forst diu'ls themselus to be wondryng Christe whose bitter death made templs vayle to he rentyng Grau's to be op'nyng earth to be quaking heu'ns to be lowring Geue mee the grace sweete Christe since euery thing is a mournyng For to recount these pangs this crosse this death by my mournyng When that apoynted fight that feareful combat aproached Fight with pangs of death and hells vnsuffrable horrors Combat with mans syns and Gods vnspeakable anger Then cursed capten Caiphas with his hellish adhaerents Contryued platforms conspyred ioyntly togeather For to beetray that man which was mans only redeemer Yf that he hould on thus such wonders stil to be working Then farewell Pharisees with Scribes and onely renowmed High Priests and therfore its more than tyme to preuent hym Yet forbeare for a while till solempne feasts be determynd Least this strange murder may chaunce to be cause of an vproare O dyuine doctors deuout Priests woorthy protectors Of Salomons temple good graybeards that for a feast day Can vouchsaufe to delay this murder this bloody outrage Not for loue of God but for this feare of an vproare But Christe foreknowing theyr treachery came to the leper Leper Symons howse in Bethany where when he supped Mary remembring how herself was lately released From seu'n tormenters kneeld downe to her only redeemer Washte his blessed feete with trickling teares that abounded Wypte liys blessed feete with her hayre that sweetly beseemed Kyst his blessed feete and heade and feete then anoynted With precious sweete balme with most odoriferus oyntment But that most cursed caytiue that greedy deuouring Murdrer cutthroate thiefe with his hellish treason abounding Iudas Iscariot stil bent to the bag to the budgett Gan to repyne and grudge that this soe costly anoyntment Was thus wasted away which might haue beene by the purser Sould and geu'n to the poore but alas this traiterus abiect Meant t' enrich hymself and not to be good to the needy As by his accursed stratagems it playnly apeared For when hee lost this pray his master he deadly maligned And balme box broaken brake Iudas hartful of enuy Damnable infernall outragius horrible enuy Soe that noe myschief noe part of a theefe or a murdrer Was by the vile reprobate by the damned villen omytted Vntil hee had this losse as hee tooke it fully recou'red Vntil hee had for gaine his master falsly betrayed Christe fro the mount Olyuet with an asse coms seellyly ryding Poorely without any pompe to the pompous cytty repayring Some with flowring bowes his wayes had freshly adorned Some with fragrant flowres his passage sweetly prepared Some causd they garments by the highe way side to be scattred Euery man cry de out with chearefull voyce to the heauens Hosanna sweete vmpe of Dauids gracius of-spring Hosanna to the King almighty of Israel holy Hosanna to the Lord of Lords to the prince of Olympus Soe that on euery syde Hosanna sweetly resounded And sweete Hosanna from rocks with an eccho rebounded Yt was a plague to the Priests to the fatbely Priests to behould this Yt was a death to the Scribes to the scraping Scribes to abyde this Yt was a hell to the prowd Pharisees for a truth to beleeue this Yet t'was a ioy to the yong and ould for a truth to report this And for a
Iudg of quick and dead by the thundring Sound of a fearefull trumpe and bring his sheepe to the sheepefold Immortall sheepefold and goates throw downe to the darcknes Aeternall darcknes fro the sacred face fro the presence Of God there to abyde with Lucifer and his adhaerents Plagud with a dying life with a lyuing death with a roaring Weeping and gnashing of teeth and horrible howling Where's nought but woe woe but a worme stil greedily gryping Nought but a loathsome lake with fyre and Sulphur abounding FINIS The first Psalme O Thrice happy the man that lends noe care to the counsail Of soule-sick sinners nor frames his feete to the footestepps Of backsliding guvdes nor sets him downe with a scorner In the maligning chayre that makes but a mock of Olympus But to the liuing Lords edicts himself he referreth And therein pleasures and treasures only reposeth Night and day by the same his footesteps duly directing Day and night by the same hart mynde soule purely preparing This man's like to a tree to a tree most happily planted Hard by a brooke by a brooke whose streames of siluer abounding Make this tree her fruite her pleasant fruite to be yeelding Yeelding fruite in tyme to the planters dayly reioycing This tree's rooted deepe her bowes are cherefuly springing Her fruite neuer fades her leaues looke liuely for euer This man's setled sure his thoughts woords dayly proceedings Happy beginnings haue and haue as fortunat endings Sinners are not foe they and theyrs all in a moment All in a moment passe past hope grace mercy recou'ry As weight-wanting chaffe that scattreth in euery corner Whyrled away fro the earth hence thence by a blast by a wyndepuffe Woe to the scorner then whose soule wil quake to be iudged Quake when it heares that doome by the Iudg almighty pronounced Woe to the sinner then noe setled sinner aproacheth Neare to the sinles Saincts where ioy and glory aboundeth For the triumphant God doth stil looke downe to the godly Their wayes well knowing and them with mercy protecting But the reuenging Lord hath threatned a plague to the godles And theyr wayes shal away and they themselues be a wayling The sixth Psalme LOrd forbeare to rebuke forbeare and stay thy reuenging Hand in thy greate wrath and indignation endles Heale my wounds my God take some compassion on mee My bones are bruysed my strength is wholly decayed My sowle is troubled my mynde extreamely molested How long shall thy wrath and these my plagues be prolonged Turne yet againe good God thy woonted mercy remember And this sowle poore sowle for thy greate mercy delyuer Saue my life from death in death noe worthy remembrance Of thy name is founde and keepe my sowle fro the dungeon Infernall dungeon where noe tonge yeelds any prayses My hart with groanyng my sowle is weary with anguish Euery night doe I wash my carefull couch with abounding Streames of trickling teares my flesh is myghtyly troubled My color all faded my former bewty decayed For feare all for feare of such as seeke to deuoure mee But get away get away all you that woork any myschief My sighes ascende vp my prayers pierce to the heauens And such as my sowle with griefe vnworthyly vexed With shame and sorrow shall worthyly soone be requyted The eyghth Psalme O Prince all-puysant ô King al-mightyly ruling How wōdrous be thy works how strange are thy proceedings Thou hast thy greate name with most greate glory reposed Ouer aboue those Lamps bright-burning Lamps of Olympus Eu'n very babes yong babes yong sucking babes thy triumphant Might set foorth to the shame of them which iniury offer Eu'n to the shame of them which damned blasphemy vtter When that I looke to the skies and lyft myne eyes to the heauens Skies thyne owne hand-work and heauens fram'd by thy fingers When that I see this Sunne that makes my sight to be seeing And that Moone her light light half-darck dayly renuing Sunne dayes-eye shynyng Moone nights-light chereful apearing When that I see sweete Starres through Christal skies to be sprinckled Some to the first spheare fixt some here and there to be wandryng And yet a constant course with due reuolution endyng Then doe I thinck ô Lord what a thing is man what a wonder O what a thing is man whom thou soe greatly regardest Or what a thing's mankynde which thou soe charyly tendrest Thou hast man this man this blest man mightly framed And with aboundant grace with aboundant dignyty crowned Not much inferior to thy sweete caelestial Angells Thou hast giu'n hym right and iurisdiction ouer All thy wondrous woorkes thou hast made hym to be mayster Hym chiefe mayster on earth right Lord and absolut owner Of beast fowle and fishe on th' earth ayre water abyding O prince all-puysant ô King al-mightyly ruling How wondrous be thy woorks and how strange are thy proceedings The nine and twentith Psalme YOu Kings and rulers you Lords and mighty Monarchaes Whose hands with scepters and heads with crownes be adorned Kneele to the King of Kings and bring your dutiful offrings Lowt to the lyuing Lord ascribe all might to the mighty Alwayes-mighty Monarch and learne to be rul'd by the ruler Which heu'n earth and hell rul's ouerrules in a moment For this is only that one whose thundring voyce fro the clustred Clowds breaks foorth and roares and horror brings to the whole world For this is only that one whose feareful voyce fro the heauens Cedars tall Cedars teares rents and ryues fro the rooting Cedars of Libanus constrayns lyke calues to be leaping And Cedar-bearing Libanus with frightened Hermon Lyke to a yong Vnicorne makes here and there to be skipping For this is only that one whose threatnyng voyce the deuouring Lightnyngs flakes throwes downe and terror brings to the deserts Teares downe trees and woods makes hyndes for feare to be caluyng And that forelorne waste of Cadesh for to be tremblyng Euery voyce his voyce his prayse and glory pronounceth His sacred temple with his honnor dayly resoundeth Ouer gulfs and deepes his royall throane he reposeth Ouerwhelmyng gulfes and drownyng deepes he represseth And stil a lyuing Lord stil a King almighty remayneth And yet a father stil for he leaues not stil to be sendyng Strength to his owne elect and inward peace for a blessing The eyght and thirtith Psalme SCourge mee not my God whylst thy wrath's kyndled against mee Put mee not to rebuke in thyne vnspeakable anger For thy darts ô God dead darts and dangerus arrowes Stick fast fast to my hart ô Lord stick fast to my hartroote And thy hands sore hands presse and oppresse mee with anguish In my flesh noe health in bones noe rest is abyding Thy wrath plagues my flesh my syns to my bones be a poyson My syns woefull wretch my syns now growne to a fullnes Ouergrow my head curst head and keepe mee stil vnder Lyke to a burden alas my back too heauyly loading My carefull carkas with sores lyes all to be wounded
meeke and humble obeyssants Their mouth's scarce op'ning sayd thus Wee seeke for Iesus Then quoth Christe He is heere which words diuinely proceeding From that sacred mouth causd Iudas sowle to be trembling Theyr captens quaking and euery man to be reeling And falling backward to the grownd extreamely amased Lyke to a towre throwne downe by the roaring crash of a thunder Or to a man that's scorcht by the feareful flash of a lightnyng Christ for a while conceales that greate dyuynity dreadful Stayes that breath which makes heu'n earth and hell to be quaking Geu's them leaue to arise and then more myldly demandeth Whom doe yee seeke Iesus say they of Nazareth only Haue not I sayd he was here quoth Christ What need's any further Search What neede yee to bring swerds staues and armor abowt you As though some famous thiefe or notorius owtlaw Were to be suppressed did I not walk dayly among you Did not I day by day teach preach and woork many woonders Then might your Ealders and Scribes haue sought to represse mee But the prefixed tyme the predestinat howre was apoynted And this is it Therefore my Fathers Will be obeyed Noeman shall withstand noeman shall make any stryuing Loe here take Iesus But these must not be arested Let them alone for a while till greater things be reuealed Christ then caught and bound his fryends with terror amased Euery man sled back as Sheepe that wanted a sheepesman Or vanquisht souldyers disperst for want of a Capten Whoe can alas that night that cursedst night of a thowsand Those woorks of darcknes that mockery villany treason Those byndings beatings spyttings and fylthy reuylings Counteruayly with woords or thoughts or streames of abounding And still trickling teares They brought hym bound to the high Priest Late high Priest Annas sage Father whoe for a pastyme Disdainefull pastime not for deuotion asked Christ many ydle toyes and fond not worthy the hearing Of fishmen folowers and poore contemptible abiects Of newfound doctrine on brainesick fantasy grownded All that I spake sayd Christe was spoken abroade to the whole world All that I taught was taught in temple among many thowsands In corners not a woord in secreat place not a woonder They can tell what I taught what I wrought let them be reporters Ask them What Iack sawce quoth a blewcoate knaue be yee thus taught With noe more reuerence and humble duty to awnswere This reuerend Father learne and take this for a lesson Soe from a woord to a blow with a sinfull fyste hee defyled That synles sweete mouth which these woords peaceably vttred Fryend if I haue sayd yll beare witnes let mee be punisht Yt but well why then doest thou vnworthyly stryke mee Here any man might thinck that Christ thus fowly abused Should haue beene pytyed should haue bene fryendly releeued Of this sage Father but alas tis an Asse not an Annas And sends Christ to the chiefe of theyre good company Caiphas Scarce was hee come to the howse but anone they fall to reuylings Here's that princely Prophete that towld vs soemany tydings Here is Gods owne Sonne that wrought vs soemany wonders Famous carpet knight and pardoner only renowmed Sorcerer inchaunter taleteller noble abuser Of fooles and matrones that casts out diu'ls by the diu'ls help Plucks downe Gods temple with a trice and buyldeth a better Only within three dayes as twooe rogues falsly suborned Hyr'de by the owld hyrelings had most vntruly deposed Then good Syr Caiphas with greate integryty asked What sayst thou feallow to the crymes obiected against thee Christ sayd iust noething his damned iniquyty loathing Caiphas gan to be hoate and tooke on lyke to a Prellate And coniuring Christe charg'd hym by the mystery sacred Of Gods dreedfull name to declare it playnly among them Wheather he were that Christe Gods Sonne borne from the begynnyng Thou hast sayd quoth Christe yet marck what further I tell you You shall see this Christ sitting on a mighty tribunali On Gods owne right hand in clowds with glory apearing Then that puft-vp Priest from a badman turnd to a madman Rent his roabes in a rage and Blasphemy blasphemy roared What doe wee seeke for proofes hereof what need any wytnes Our selus haue heard all hymself hath playnly reueald all What's to be herein doone or what doe ye thinck he deserueth Death sayd euery man Death death with an eccho rebounded Then those lewd rakehells with poysned rankor abounding His sweete face ô griefe with spyttle fylthy defyled His bloody cheeks ô hell with buffetts all to be bruysed Some stroake him blindfyeld and then thus scornefuly taunted Now good Christe arread and gesse whoe gaue thee the buffet Peeter saw all this Peeter that manly protester Peeter styr'd not a foote Peeter that mighty protector Peeter stowt Peeter by a gyrle by a paltery damsell Is dasht is vanquisht forsakes his Mayster Iësus Thrice forsakes and twice fore-sweares his Mayster Iësus And now Cock gan crow and giu's him a friendly Memento That mans flesh is frayle that man's but a smoke but a vapor His pride nought but dust and all his glory but ashes Peeter in his cursing heard this Cock chearefuly chaunting And saw Christe then all arp soule-searching sight to be turning Yet with a louely regard with a merciful eye to be looking Euery eye was a bowe and euery looke was an arrow Eye and eye-arrow pierst Peeters hart in a moment Peeters hart and sowle and there inflicted a deepe wound So deepe wound that it had been no way possibly cured Were not his owne soules-wound with his owne teares all to bewashed Now he remembreth alas his first foole-hardy presuming Now he detesteth alas his last vnfriendly reuolting Now that wan countnance which feare of death had apaled All on a fire is set for shame of duty neglected Sith that blood fro the face to the hart which lately retyred Back fro the hart to the face with speede is freshly repayred Now his maysters eyes in his eyes are euer apearing And therein doth he seeme his whole offence to be reading Now Cock crowes in his eares and calls foorth day to be wytnes Wytnes of euery woord that Peeter spake to the darcknes Cock with an open mouth and lowd voyce bowldly proclaymeth That bragging seruant his mayster cowldly renounceth Euery sight each sound iust accusation offreth And self-wounding sowle self-condemnation vrgeth Noe rest noe harts-ease now loathed lyfe he detested More yea much more now than death at first he abhorred Lyfe let Peeter dye lyfe leaue to be dayly prolonging These my dolefull dayes least lyfe soone draw'n to an ending Cause me to loose that lyfe which neuer leaues to be lasting This frayle life smale broyles and shortest iarres to be shunning Made me the greatest ioyes and endles peace to be leauing Made me deny my Lord of lasting lyfe the begynnyng Made me renounce sweete life for a follish feare to be dying Lyfe let Peeter dye many dayes heape on many mischifs Blessed were