Heere now and helpe thy handmaide helpe For helpe of man doth faile Doe not expose me for their pray Because they doe not right But hunt in heart to bring about That's hatefull in thy sight And of a meere malicious minde False witnesse heere haue brought And causlesse laid vnto my chardge The things I never thought Thou seest my God vvhat they haue done Thou seest their envious heart Thou knowst they sought to lawlesse lust Thine hand-maide to convert Thou knowst I dread not dâ—ring death No force his might a pin No no I doe desire to die A better life to win I tender not faire beauties trash I tender my good name Least leesing life I be by death Entombed in defame For this cause rise O Lord make hast Repell my soules despight And shew the nations farre and neere How much thou tendrest right I know my sinnes are passing great VVhich acted are each hower Yet let my teeres thy mercy treate And shield me with thy power If no defamed wretch I die For keeping of thy law And causlesse thou shalt seeme my God Thy comfort to withdraw Hast then O Lord make hast I say Least guiltlesse blood be spilt Yet not my will be done in this But be it as thou vvilt VVhen shee her godly oraysons had ended And that no meanes was left to make delay The fawning officers in court attended VVith prophane handes to hale her thence away And though shee were as readie to obey Yet still this soare doth smart in guiltlesse minde That shee should leaue an ill report behinde VVhen once the streetes did act this tragaedie Vaultes and resounding Ecchoes from the stones Reporte the mothers teeres her childrens crie Her parentes plaintes her husbandes hideous moanes Her kinfolkes sighes her friendes heart-breaking grones The peoples pleading tongues to God to free her VVhile thicke tumultuous troopes doe run to see her VVho passing foorth with passing seemely port Her looke abated with her languishment Shee doth the gazing lookers on exhort Good people pray for me poore innocent Thats gultlesse faultlesse free from al intent Of this misdeede for which weake wretch I die VVhome still with deepest hate I did defie VVhile thus with plaintes they doe Gods aide implore The Lord did heere and helpe her wofull case For as when tyrant Pharaoh scepter bore A Pharaoh fierce that knew not Iosâ—phes face And did the Israelites oppresse long space They being tyred with his tirannie In deepest griefe vnto Gods favor flie VVho when their moanes did mount vnto his sight Dâ—d single foorth their speedy preservation From Pharaos traine a courtly trained wight Moses an Hebrew borne by education His daughters sonne which bred his estimation So now God seeing Susans great distresse Ev'n in the nicke did speede her due redresse For in the Chaldean court did then attend A noble Iew a youngling for his yeares The monarches mynion and his chiefest friend One of his sage and sharpest â—ighted Seeres In which high feate he past his graue compeeres While Isrels God did reare his fortunes hie To beare a stroake in Asias maiestie He Daniel cleaped by his natiue name The Chaldees cald him noble Balthazar VVhom neither courtly glee nor phrase of fame Could in faire Sions zeale ought make or marre But would to keepe the captiue Iewes from iar In private sort at times repaire and prie Into his brethernes state with wakefull eie And standing now in this tumultuous thronge Hee saw blinde zeale imployd in good pretence VVhat time Gods truth enform'd him of the wrong And raisd his sp'rite to speake in her defence Bad him be bold to plead her innocence Step foorth in place doe not thy thoughtes conceale Cry out amaine from divellish doome appeale Then Daniell as the Lord commaunded him Cride in the streetes I from this blood am cleane VVhile gazing heerers looked sowre and grim To muse what these vnlook'd for wordes should meane Fowle toades sâ—ith he infect the christall streame Because you would the streame farre purer finde You kill the fish but leaue the toades behinde Are you such sots O seede of Israell Are you so blind you see not what you do Are you so deafe you heare not what they tel Know you not right and what bee longes thearto Survey you not your steppes before you goe Whie haue yov heere condemnd this dame to dies And would not heere her iust appeale and crie O turne with speed turne to the iudgment seate And then behould what God will thear relate Your seviors sinnes haue growne exceeding â—greate Repelled lust ingendring with foule hate In them the bastard periurie begate Bold periurie did breed false witnesse bearing False witnesse wrested iudgmente by for-swearing At which his wordes the people yonge and olde Do make a stand and backwardes thence retire Whear daunting sins the seniours heartes make cold While daunger woundes the depth of their desire Yet past shams bowndes their shamlesse thoughts aspire And foorth they passe into the sessions hall And hide in crabbed brow their conscience gaule The elders of this circumsized race Which with repriued pris'nour turne a ge'n When ev'rie one had ta'ne his vsuall place They say vnto this stately stripling then Vse thou the roome of these malitious men Declare to vs Gods iudgmente and decree Sith God hath giv'n an elders spirite to thee Then Daniell tooke the powerfull place of life And thear to intimate God will to all Where are quoth he the wrongers of this wife Put them a parte out of each others call And bring forth one by one in to the hall So you shall see their tray trouse tonges reveale What wicked heartes do cover and conceale The formall officers performe his mind And brought forth one to be examined Who lookd like murthrous marked Cain vnkind When brothers blood he guiltlessely had shed His colour shew'd what harbord in his head His ioyntes as if vnioynted were at iarre False iudge now pris'ner pleading at the barre And standing thus before the balefull bench The beardlesse iudge to checke him vncontrold That conscience as a cooling carde-might quench The heate of his bravado overbold Saith thou sin seasned wretch that waxest olde In sin thy wicked life is come to light Whose falshood harmed manie a harmlesse wight Thou hast abus'd thy life God lent to thee To mend thy life and passed sins repent For nothing but oppressions he could see Therefore he will thie glorie from thee rent Which hast condemn'd to death an innocent And let the guiltie goe for giftes a way VVhile lust and bribes did blind thee day by day Sith sworne thou hast eie witnesse thou didst see This comely dame with her companion sin Report the trurh and name to vs the tree That hid the fact you did surprise them in Pause not but speake if wordes shall creadit win Be briefe let not oblivion beare the blot Things done so late are not so soone forgot Then pawsing twixt despaire and tyred hope As one that had
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
he that stoopes for age For as the mower with his keene edg'd sickle Cuts downe aswell the greene as seeded grasse EveÌ„ so the souldiers sword though teares downe trickle Permitteth not a breathing soule to passe He spareth none that happen in his way Faire wordes chast lookes entreaties beare no sway Then sounded foorth the screitching griesly crie Of slaughtered soules and many a deepe fet groane Of such as murthred yeelde the ghost and die From wounded lungs yeelding a hollow moane While manly men that whilome stoutly stoode Dismembred now lie weltring in their blood Then might be heard and seene with wofull eies The living soules lamenting for the dead Powring out plaintes with sobbes with sighes and cries And bitter teares as bleeding heartes might shed The old lament long life to be forlorne The young repent that ever they were borne The wife shee soundes and yeeldes her vitall breath To see her husband die in wofull case The husband feeles a fit far worse then death To see his wife defild before his face And seely babes poore heartes to perish this That never did offence or thought amisse The mourning mothers tugge and hale their heares To see their slaughtred seede remedilesse The children bath their cheekes with bloudy teares To see their wretched parentes in distresse While help-lesse handes doe trust vnto their feete And leaue poore infantes crawling in the streete For now the men of armes were fled by stealth And every soule was left to shift for one Counsaile did want regard was none of wealth Of kin or friend or who were left alone Who makes not hast death and destruction feeles The happrest wight doth shew the swiftest heeles When souldiers slaughtring sword embrewd with blood Found not a man that durst resistance make Then bedlem minde gan grow to milder moode If mildnesse be as bad a course to take For now vnbridled lust at large doth stray And prowles about for pillage and for pray Had chast Lucrecia dwelt amongst those dames Full many a Tarquin would haue wrought his will Had good Susanna wandred in those flames Her spot-lesse corpes had bin constrain'd to ill While seely lambes the chastest and most iust Became a pray vnto a peysantes lust The matchlesse vessels of magnificence The temples treasure many a millions mate The wealth of Zedechias excellence The riches of his Lordes and men of state These things were sent away to Babilon As fit for Nabuchadnetzar alone What else was left of Iewels gold and plate Amongst the meaner sort which might be much Each souldier held what so thereof he gate While they with other spoiles themselues enrich And when the pilfring hand had his desire The rest was left to be consum'd withâ— fire Then clims the furious flame the stately tower Each priveleadge doth giue the souldier place The pioner spares nortemple house nor bower The time is spent to spoile and to deface There was not left one monument of fame Which did not feele the force of burning flame The Heav'n-like house the temple of the Lord The worldes eie and onely worke of name Whom once he did delight but now abhord Is raysed downe and robbed of that fame The walles also that hem the citie round By might of men are ev'ned to the ground The seely captiues that had scap'd the sword And were reserv'd as Trophies of the spoile Hange downe their heades and cannot speake a word Or sound adue vnto their natiue soile The servantes loath to see the masters face The subiectes grieue to weigh the princes case Whom haplesse king slight could not yeeld reliefe But as the deere before the nimble dogge He was enforst to stoope vnto his griefe And for a crowne to were a heavie clogge What time his sonnes once slaine before his face He had his eies put out with great disgrace And so blinde captiue led to Babilon To be a bondman to his dying day He left the royall seate of Salomon And now must leaue commaunding and obey Since he that was impyring prince before Is now a fellow prisner and no more Amongst these fettred troopes of thralled states You must suppose transported with the rest Helchia Ioachim and those tragicke mates VVhose natures not their names are heere exprest Were Susan borne or no their glories shine Vnknowne it wantes a Delius to divine But Daniell then past twenty yeares of age In Babilon was growne to great regard Of fame in court the mighty monarches page Dreame secreat Seear and renowned Bard. VVhich knowne I leaue both story and my skill Vnto your courteous censure and good will EVSTATHIA or the CONSTANCIE OF SVSANNA CONTAINING THE PRESERvation of the Godly subversion of the wicked precepts for the aged instructions for youth pleasure with profitte WHen Chaldean glory sate in whinged throane Of flying Fame which far and neere doth waÌ„der In Asian soile in statelie Babilon The worldes monarch and the earthes commander VVhat time no humane forces might vvithstand her Then did stout Syria stoope and Aegypt bovv And Iuda bend before her frowning brow Then princely peeres did ducke and doe her duety Then raisd shee in the aire sky-kissing towers Then did the circled earth admire her beauty Then dwelt there in her braue and matchlesâ—e bowers The hight and sovereigntie of worldlie powers VVhose selfe-ruld handes did sway the scepter royall That kingdomes kept in awe and subiectes loyall Standing this tipe of sading maiestie There dwelt vvithin this state-commaunding towne A Iew a man of passing modestie Helchia hight and he of good renowne Right worthy for his wit to weare a crowne VVho tooke to vvife a faire and louely dame VVhose godly life gaue glory to his fame â—or as the ringe compact by curious art 〈◊〉 of it selfe right seemely to the eâ—e â—ut when the Saphire is his true conserte There doth appeare a fuller maiesty â—er vertue so his fame doth beautifie Her husband was esteem'd among the states And decked with her glory in the gates â—rom which chaste roote in time did spring a rose â—usanna cleapt not borne â—o eate her foode Or make dandling that must feele no blowes Her parentes care was how to teach her good And to invest her minde with modest mood Their reason fond affection had exilde Not bent to make an idoll oâ— their childe â—ometimes the godly mother matron-like â—ith rod in hand to keepe her babe in awe â—ith setled looke and grace demure and meeke â—ould teach her childe the precepts of the law â—nd make her imitate what so shee saw In comely â—esture seemely gate and guise That vse might manners make and doctrine wise And as sweete Aprill showers make Flora flourish â—o her kinde father carefull for his ioy â—ith choice preceptes doth vertue feed and nourish That grace might freely grow without annoy And natures weedes keepe vnder and destroy Whereby it came to passe at bed and bord There past no ill-spent time or idle word And carefull man he led by meere remorse VVhen
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
gages To parents staues to stay by in their ages VVhose house is held an Academie royall Heere Faith by doctrine hath due exercise Heere Duetie biddes her children to be loyall Heere Patience prest if that extreames arise Heere Loue in liking heartes Hope never dies Heere Fortitude repelles faint feares offence Heere Mercie doth with many a fault dispence Heere Gratitude giues guerdon with good vvill Heere Constancie doth checke false wavering Fame Heere Humble minde doth take nor doe none ill Heere Temp'rance doth fond lusts entisements tame Heere Chastitie is guardian of good name Heere Labour Lasies foe doth keepe true â—uch Heere Meane obserues enough and not to much Heere doth sharpe Logique proue her right with reasons Heere Grammar traines her ympes in grounds of speach Heere shewes Astronomie the starres and seasons Heere to accompt Arethmeticke doth teach Heere Rhetoricke in bad causes plaies the leach Heere doth Geometrie worke all in measure Heere Musicke is maintaind to maintaine pleasure Heere Historie doth eternize her actes Heere Poetrie paintes her never dying fame Heere Natures clerkes doe authorize her factes Heere Phisicke stirs to keepe her health in frame Heere Lawiers plead the charter of her name Heere Sophistes though like newters standing mute Yet doe not dare against themselues dispute Heere sits Compassion porter at her gate Prudence purveis her plenty and her store House-keeping Care is steward to this state Her liberall hand is Almner to the poore Religion leades her life directes her lore Good-order standeth vsher in her hall Iustice controwles if ought amisse doth fall Within her courtes attendeth on her traine The high the low the noble and the base The stately monarch and the statelesse swaine Priest prophet patriarch and the princely race The troopes of warlike gallantes presse for place All times all tongues all nations farre and neere With duties knowledgement are present heere No law no learning science art not skill No craft no cunning knowledge or invention No state that was or that continueth still No trade no misterie that man can mention But that it guardes her gates with good intention And when shee passeth by with seemly greeing All bow the knee and thanke her for their beeing Thus her al-blessinge auctor blest her prime Thus hath shee gotten glory from her ground Prioritie from venerable time High sovereigntie with empire hath her crownd All laws their nurse and foundresse fence her round Fayce Edens prayse doth grace her grovnded fame Mans nature then most pure doth now the same Thus doth her high resemblannce rowse renowne Thus doth her fast coniunction rayse regard Thus doth her sovereigne promise prayse resowne Thus was shee made when all thinges else were mard Thus doth Iehove him selfe her greatnesse gard Thus doth Gods church her child coÌ„mend their mother Thus common weales her wainlings will none other Thus Nature aye ennobleth her estate Thus Reason doth vphold her reputation Thus Profit doth her peerlesse estimate Thus Neede doth tend her princely preservation Thus doth mans life maintaine her estmation Thus time doth yeeld her charters true content Prescription custome practize and consent Thus doe all times extend her excellence Thus doe all tongues extoll her rule and raigne Thus doe all wittes afford her best defence Thus doe all states her sacred state maintaine Thus doe all sortes of men attend her traine Thus nations all nobilitate her name Thus doe all worldly powers advance her fame Thus happie shee when all doe pleade for one But haplesse you when one doth speake for all You might haue spred your praises and bin gone And not chast mariage name in question call But lide franke gamsters sith you venter all You that of others speake the things you should not Must be content to heere the wordes you would not If you had blotlesse made your mistresse brow Before you spide the moate in mariage eie You might her right with better right avow Thus truth though tyred never went awry In vaine the master findes a limping fault Where he himselfe doth stumble and go hault Your clyent while shee claimes a single gift Doth contradict the law of propagation And with a poore pretence and seely shift Denies man comfort cause of her creation Flies from old Evaâ—s faith to newer fashion Depriues her seede lifes blessing in the land Her selfe th'obedience God doth first command Yea while fine nature worketh in her kinde Deathes ruines â—o repaire in lifes repriue To liue for aie in those shee leaues behinde Shee laboureth still to leaue her like aliue And never die her selfe whilst they surviue You while you crosse this kindly worke of nature Would liue your selues but leaue none other creature And where the nations to vphold their state Coherse with lawes and shame the single life Your selues as lawlesse lawes doe antiquaâ—e Set barren sect against the bearing wife Thus wage you warre thus stirre you endlesse strife Thus swaying in selfe-will your will withstandeth What natures biddes and God himselfe commandeth And thus your life resembleth desolation Your bodies graues to burie babes vnborne Your vow a cord to strangle propagation Far better ill-kept vowes weare left vnsworne Your thoughts fierce foes to leaue you kin forlorne Your willes flat worldlings while you temporize Your tongues in wedlockes wracke doe scandalize God mariage made in commanding moode And what he biddes the same we must obey But mayden life commended is for good Where is command commending beares small sway Therefore to stint this strife I boldly say If God giue grace the single life doth well If not such gift then mariage doth excell Be quiet then sweete thoughtes lets rest agreede Let mariage haue deserved commendation Let virgins haue that virgins are indeede Due praise renowne and sacred observation True maide true vvife in thought and conversation Both holy in the Lord the one as wife The other as a maide in single life Thus her soules sences held a long dispute And sillogize their reasons pro con While minde the moderatour standeth mute VVhat's vnresolved to resolue vpon At length shee thus coÌ„cludes when thoughts were gon Sith God made Eve least man should liue alone Shee was of man and not Pâ—gmalions stone When Fame the light-foote titling babe by birth False spie that into secrets makes intrusion Tale-bearing paritour to mone and mirth Foule-fleering blab truthes traitour and confusion Had tane by top the tale of her conclusion Shee spreds with speede the motiue of her marying Pretending hast as if there were no tarying Whence came to passe that troopes of corrivals Like eager houndes to get a gallant pray Doe poast with speede not caring what befals To win the goale and beare the price away They flaunt it out in traine and rich aray To get the favour of this gracious faire That is so buxome and so debonaire Some offer stately dower some princely gifts Some honors hight and to advaunce her kin Some bâ—re of these do sue with loue-sicke shiftes Pawne sighes
sad looks straung vowes they make no sin To sweare for-sweare this golden fleece to win Each streignes his thoughts his rivall to beguile VVhilst in her iowre lurks death life in her smile But as the mounting Eagle in the winde Disdeâ—es to stoope and checke base flockes of flies Or as club griping Hercules by kinde Doth single combate with a dwarfe dispise VVhose force his manhood doth not equalize So shee doth scorne to fawne on such a frend VVhose faith doth soone beegin and sooner end Yet as in gardens whear all herbes do grow Some fragrant are whose sweetenesse doth excell Though some eie-pleasing lillies trimlie shew VVhen as they yeeld the sent a loathsome smell So some there weare might please her eie full well And by sweete vertues odor fume her sent VVith grace automaticke and redolent For as while those bright globes of rare accoumpt And splendant plannets in their spheeres do ronne One is superior and doth all surmount VVithout compare aye gloryous shininge sonne So in this gloabe of gallantes theaâ— stoode one VVhose neate beehavior grace and bounty bright Did dim the rest as sonne the candle light Renowned Ioachim thou the man admired Both of the Chaldees and the Iewish nation Thou weart of all regarded and desired Greate was thie wealth so was thie reputation Thy life an obiect worthie contemplation That didst with Titus purchaze thee a frend Each day beefore the soune his course did end Thou didst not with gnuffe Craesus hoord thy wealth Thou weart with Cato rich when once contented Thou hatedst Cesars pride which was the pelfe That causd his death which hee to late repented Thou hadst Iobs waxen heart which still relented If orphanes cride if widdowes wanted right If poore men said they wear opprest by might Thou weart a Moses in maintayning lawes Thou didst fell Pharaos goverment detest Thou with the Macbies in thy countries cause Wouldst pawne that heart that harbord in thy brest Thou ever heldst Manasses wayes vnblest Thou weart a polititian graue and wise Yet free from that slie tricke to temporize What heart so iudurate that Would not yeeld Whear vertues puissant valor stroue to win What minde so obstinate to take the feild Gainst those fine partes whose matches scant-have bin Sure causelesse to reiect him t'weare foule sin Whearfore her thoughtes well trayned in their good Do entertaine his suite with gratious moode For as a Diamond rich through vertue rare To it the gads of sturdie steele doth draw And as the youthâ—worne lett by like compare Bestowes hâ—s power attrative on the straw So sweete Susanna not compeld by awe But led to love by like heartes Simpathie Did yeeld his eares his wished heartes replie VVho thought him selfe to bee the happiest wight VVhen shee became not hers but his desired VVhen shee had made surrender of her right The ioy the comfort which his heart required VVhile to obtaine that pray hee more aspired Then conqur'ing Alexander to subdue A world far wider then the world hee knew O peerelesse purchaze fownd by few or none O pleasant conquest pleased conqueror VVhilst true content triumpheth in loues throane More rightly rich then Asiaes emperor The price was vertue thou the vanquishor For in thy pris'ner with a princely port Residinge vertues held their royall court VVithin the closet of whose cloysest pleasure Neat cabbonet for vertues sweete repose Nature and Grace had hid their finest treasure And left it all to Constancies despose A trustie guardian for such goodes as those Amongst which glorious graces in her brest Bright Chastitie was seen aboue the rest Shee seated in a seate which vertue placeth A royall throne the soule and minde divine As onely grace that every vertue gâ—aceth Is canopied with Fayth most pure and fine Like milkie-way with circling Cristalline And at her knees are kneele and parte not thence Transparent puritie and Gods gifte Continence And to vphold her high and heav'nly state Shee hath for guard attending on her traine Sobrietie truthes friend and vices hate Foresight that evill occasions doth refraine Dumbe tongue dead heart blinde eie deafe eare sad brainâ— Well guided thoughts a hand and foote not idle Sterne abstinence that head-strong lust doth bridle O chastitie thou beautie of the minde Vnspotted puritie in things vnpure The comliest ornament of woman kinde Were not this seate most slipprie and vnsure Thou wouldst in all and not in few indure But thy light foes false title of true pleasure Thee loathed makes her loved out of measure Yea since thy friends in shew but foes indeede Vaine Tutors taught their pupils how to spell For caste caute and to serue fowle neede If chastly want that cloasly doth doe well This motiue made some subiects to rebell Who by pretence to vnderprop thy crowne In secret make assaultes to pull thee downe VVhose prowd Essenian high-priest Rabbena To canonize thy saint wil kisse thy shrine Yet not with Aaron choose chast El'saba But like that Levite vse his concubine Yea if thou dost thy selfe in mariage ioine They blesse thy name as sacred one of seven Yet ban thine act as most vnworthy heaven O neighing Iades fast friendes to infamie Nuâ—ses to naughtinesse lewd bawdes to lust Base vassalles to your willes Apostasie Why doth not Conscience checke your deedes vniust VVhy doth not sad Dispaire drowne in distrust Those temptors of these sacred Nymphes to sin VVhom rape may not enforce nor flattry win Delightsome flowers doe quickely fall and fade And budding beauty blasteth in small space But constant Chast thy sonne goes not to glade No age nor eating time can thee deface VVhile vertue thee thou vertue dost imbrace Thou gracest Susan having thee in hold As richest Iemmes doe grace the finest gold Her Ambeâ— tresses made a seemely shew Her milke-white skin adorned natures skill Yet all did vanish as the liquid devv VVhile Chastitie remaines eternall still VVhy then are vvomen vvedded to vaine vvill That for a wanton momentanie pleasure They wilful vvast an everlasting treâ—sure Had Susan bin of their vnstable minde To sel eternitie to get a toy Shee had not left such noted fame behinde But had bin titled faith-lesse fondly coy VVhich did relinquish lust for lasting ioie And left her loved name to be eternall But those that wrong'd the same like fendes infernal For when her choice did yeeld a vvorldes delight And ioies did soare aboue the reach of sorrow VVhen setled thoughtes secure of worldly spight And barge of blisse high fortunes seas did forrow Then flâ—ttring night brought foorth a doleful morrow What time her gracious God did hold it best To blaze abroade what harbord in her brest For as he faithful Abrahams heart did proue By willing offring of his guiltlesse sonne And tride Ioâ—s stable faith and constant loue What time she Sathan his consent had wonne To leaue Iobs health forlorne and wealth vndone Even so he sifted Susans constancie â—f that shee would her pure faith falsifie And to complot this treason by
conscience seekes their conquest to confute At warre was vvit and will for best endevours Contending thoughtes did hold a civill schisme As freezing fittes preceede hoate burning fevors So conscience feeles a shaking paroxisme In vaine doth reason fight with Rhetorisme The weaklig wit constrained is to yeeld And bedlem lust left owner of the field For when hee had a tyme him selfe be thought Right shame and feare exiled from his heart And love with lust a cruell combate fought And strived one the other to converte Then hee began his passions to imparte Yet bent to speake and douptfull of her nay Hee faintes againe and knowes not what to say Then as those cheating mates in conny-catchinge Cogge prate and lie to furnish foorth their feate He beates and settes his braines a brood in hatching Straung sleightes to gaine this more then golden cheate And Epitheme to coole flesh-burning heat At length twixt faltring hope and faint despaire He fawnes he frownes he threates he speakes her faire Sweete ladie now saith he we must enioy thee If no or liues will soone vnbodied be Consent therefore if no vve will destroy thee And say we saw one heere embracinge thee Nay wee will vow by heaven wee did thee see To act adulterouse sinne with some base slaue Then yeeld if thou wilt lief and honor have If thou demaund how our sin-seas'ned hearts VVith out remorse can harbor this misdeed Then know that love and dutie playd their partes VVithin our brests some better thoughts to breed But lust did blot what reason still decreed Thy looke fair ladie worthie to be loved So bownd our hearts they might not be removed Thy stature like the statly Cedar trees Thy peerlesse beautie passing al the rest Thy seemely iestures which each noatâ— and sees These are the thinges enthrall the mightiest And make commaunding monarches to be prest To fall from honor iustice law and right And bannish those which love them out of sight These are the traytors which betray thee now These like false guides do lead vs from the Lord. These thinges make lawfull kinges and Lordes allow Thinges most vnlawfull and to bee abhord What man faire ladie could not well afford To try fell paines to purchaze such a loue Yea pains of death aud thousand perils prove Didst ever read those high conceyted storyes In which the livesâ— of worthy loves are writ If so thou seest the trophies of their glories Weare raysd on loue and how inspir'd with it They pawne their lives by farthest reach of wit To make loves name eternall and admired That else to fame had not with cost bin hired O then but thinke thy Lords are more tormented Who dare suscept more perilles then them all And yet we know our deedes may be repented Sith greater men do take the greatest fall For when they slip the Eccho is not smal That doth reflect their faultes to every eare VVhich makes contented mindes not climb for feare Had not the Charmer beautie vs bee witched VVe should have held the freedom of our state And have bin richly with Gods giftes enriched And never feard the spite of daring fate But why do we our fortunes now relate VVhich may perhapes our rash attemptes ensue VVe came not now our future state to rue But came our over burning hearts to cole Enflamed by reflection of thine eies Let them sweet love be quenched in that poole That may thy Ioachims vse and ours suffice But say the word and we will meanes devise That thou fair dame shalt never be suspected For why our deed to none shall be detected What if thy parentes be right deere vnto thee Thy children deere good Ioachim deerst of all Yet flie faint feare this fact shall not vndo thee Beat down distrust and all his thoughts appall For this misdeed shall not in question call Thy spotlesse fame which all men hold vnfracted And deeds vnknowne are ev'nas thoughtes vnacted Qâ—oth he we both are linially descended From Iuda race kinsmen to Zedechias Thou maist sweet fair in vs be princely frended Yea more if thou wilt bend vnto our byas Thou maist be mother to the great Messias And â—o be famosed by royall birth Of absolute commaunder of the earth Thus fleshly speakes this carnall Cabalist Pawninge his soules deere life to ransom lust Or like a kingdome dreaming Thalmudist That in an eartlhy empyre puts his trust For Iuda scepter then lay in the dust And then as now they hop'd an earthly kinge But to his tale this Sophist more doth singe If treasure want thou shalt haue gold at will Or what thy wish or pleasinge thought desireth If honors hight thie honor lasteth still While secreasie our age and state requireth Yea place and time thie free consent now hireth Thie maides away do winke at thine offence The cloased dores will with thie fact dispence If douptes obiecte our wordes in iest are spoken And that our loue is conninge deeply feigned Then heere by hollyest vow for never broken VVee deeply do protest and vnconstreigned Our suite is loue by true affection trayned Then yeeld if no this armes consent shall drawe For needs wee must and need obeyes no lawe Else if thou dost persist in flat deniall Bee hold extreames at hand thie doome is teemed Adulterie shall breed thie death in tryall So shalt thou dead an hipocrite bee deemed So shall thine end bee infamous esteemed So shalt thou staine thiekin and blud debase Defame thie pheere and bastardize thy race For we vvell knowne graue fathers in the land VVil in thy trial iudge and vvitnesse be By oath of two each verdict giv'n must stand Our selues vvill sweare we found embracing thee A beardlesse groome in foule adulterie Then better twere to liue and haue good name Then haue thy death sepulchred in defame As for our selues we haue at large debated VVhat shame what infamie this fact may gaine How that we may be pointed at and haâ—ed Yea more then pointed daâ—lie die like Cain While drowping life is buried in disdaine A loathsome graue a death far worse then death Because the scandal shal reviue on earth Thus haue we thought what may ensue the deede VVho feares what may be misseth Ladies loue Faint hearted carpet knightes doe seldome speede If feare of what may be doth them reproue No feare shall daunt my heart or may bee moue So strongly hath desire enchaunted me That I must needes embrace mine infamie Sweete let vs then feede on thy coral lippes If that wil not suffice lets farther feede For raging lust hath gotten bedlem whippes And beates our heartes so that the wounds doe bleede And nought can cure them and contentment breede But thine embracings and thy bodies vse Which can recure the hurt procure thy truce Be briefe therefore report to vs thy minde If thou wilt yeeld weele rest thy secret friendes If no thou knowst what friendship thou shalt finde Thou knowst who so against the streame contends Doth striue in vaine his health
hope did much distrust their case Their lustfull heartes did murthring thoughtes embrace For bashfull nature once to boldnesse bent Growes shamelesse bold and boldly impudent And as a hoat and eagre dogge in hand VVhen he beholdes his game before his eies Doth fawne and leape licke to loose his band But when he sees him keeper surer ties Then feirce against him hee begines to rise So they when fawning could not win their wil Rayse like curst curres and have a minde to kill For to the sad demaundantes there they say Heere fownd we Susan in adulterye Whose yongue companion fled from hence away Bee fore we could what wight he was descrie Beleeve vs gentle frendes we tell no lie For these our eies are witnesses we saw them And here's the place to which thee did with draw theÌ„ VVhich cursed sight did so our eies offend And much the more for noble Ioachims sake Our honorable kinsman and good frend That we did do our best the groome to take That speedie death for wrong a mendes might make But he for vs to nimble at strong hand Fled by that dore which yet doth open stand The dutious servitors with bashfull brow Blush now with sylent shame at this her fact Who never till that day was thought to bow Vnto so base a sin or vile an act Wherefore they did suspect some plot compact And in her cause would shape some sharp replie VVell armed in her right to giue the lie But when they saw those elders of the land VVere vouchers of the fact and filthie deed They darst not contradict them or withstand And yet their inward partes were touch'd with meed To thinke how ill poore pris'ner shee should speed When as the iudges mouth the witnesse breath Should verdict giue that giues the doome of death And so sad men greife laden home they go To prie what comfort in their ladies looke And leaue these iudges plotting of her woe VVho straight the way vnto their howses tooke Where they their goodly being badly brooke While eagre enuie restlesse doth invent The overthrowe of this chast innocent O Envie wayward witch fowle hagge of hel Whie dost thou make men pine at mens prosperitie O you fond fooles that in her den do dwel And theare torment your selues with her seueritie VVhose slaue is slannder and her page Temeritie Whie wast you restlesse seruice on a dame That restlesse wisheth vertues seruantes shame Pale fretting furie furious sorceresse Bel-dame to madnesse and yoake mate to woe Thy mother pride a mortal murtheresse Thy father Plutus mans immortall foe Thy brattes blood shedding hate that hath no hoe Contention strisse debate revendge and slaunder VVhich vex the life and after death do wander Thy guttes are gald cholers boyling fome Like Aeinaes wombe that belkes sulphurious flames Thy cabbin carrin thoughtes a hell thy home Thy habite like those fierce Tartarian dames VVhose flesh consum'd there resteth but the rames For while thou know'st not how to hold a meane To eate thy neighbors fatlings makes thee leane Their hartes haue anguish soules haue bitternesse VVhome thou dost learne to laugh at vertues woe Thy path is blind and pau'd with slippernesse They walke to hell that in thy wayes do goe Yet are these elders thine devoted so That liuing now they liue but to depriue The life of her they loath to see aliue The filthie roades infect the fowntaines cleere Where others sucke the venome that they leaue And serpentes spue their poyson everie wheare VVhich yet them selues do not of life bereaue But these false seniors do themselues deceaue That spet foorth enuies venome on this dame Yet kill them selues by sucking in the same For on the following day of this disgrace The 〈◊〉 with the people make repaire To keepe thier vsuall courts in wonted place In Ioachims house a spacious roome and faire VVhere feeble hope vpholdeth faint dispaire VVhile their blud-thrishe thoughtes do wholie long To do her fame and body deadly wronge And mounted on the pow'rfull seat of life They wil their summ'nors to ascite and call Susan Helchias daughter loachims wife To make appearance there before them all And answere in an action criminall Thus they pretend with right roote out evilles But whie should right be prophand in such divelles And shee good lady loyall to the lawes Armd with assurance of her innocence And guarded with the goodnesse of her cause In conscience brazen fortresse of defence Feignes none excuse or shifting â—lie pretence But doth obey the summons and proceed And leaves to Godth ' event of her good speede And so attended with a mourning traine Shee makes appearance in the fatall place VVhere standers by cannot from teeres refraine To see the gallant pris'ners wofull case Her pheere her frendes her parentes children race Repleate the ayre with woes and grownd with teeres VVhile heartes eclipse in clowded eie appeeres And standing in a robe of finest blacke Deepe sorrowes signe by causlesse infamie There overspreades her shoulders head and backe Availe of lawne to note integritie Which hid her whiter beautie from the eie This shadow they commaund to be removed That they at least might looke on what they loued Which when th' officious officers had done Sweete beauties blush did yeeld her such a grace As when a clowd is taken from the sonne VVhen sorrow suckes the reds forth of her face The machlesse white aloane doth hold the place But when the crymson humor steines the white Corall seemes shadowed in the Galactite Such is the beautie that enchauntes their eies And charmes their heartes through it so sore attaynted That they both God and goodnesse do despise And vvith nought else but sin are novv acquainted O That shee should with such faire shape be painted To make commaunders mindes to lust obey And shâ—e her selfe exposed for their pray For when they had full gordgd their ravenous eies On beauties dainties with a short repast They two amid'st the people do aryse To giue their witnesse gainst this constante chast And as the law doth will their handes they plast Vppon the head of this pure innocent Two woulves foule pawes a seely lamb to rent VVheare swearing by Gods name a solemne oath To set aside all partiall loue and hate And speake the truth and nothing but the troth Periured iudges foes to truthes estate Vnto the people thus they intymate This noble dame that shewd a sant in sight Is fownd vnconstant fickle lewd and light For yesterday in Ioachims orchard walkinge To recreate our spirites with holesome ayre This dame with her two damselles thither stalkinge Thear did to her an vnknowne youth repayre VVhose shape was comly and his feature fayre But er he came in sight that none detect it Her madens shee disnust least they suspect it VVhoe being gone and dores ybarred fast VVee shrowded from their sight with wakefull heed Perceu'd the wicked to their sin make hast And creaping cloasly with conuenient speed Wee did surprize them in
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