made mée for to quake A subtle shift to gloze that matter then Dissembling I this drift did vnder take And set my tung a philed phrase to frame That no suspect there might be found of blamâ—… I promised him ful many a gentle gift So that at length his men hée sent away I séeing I so fine had playd this drift This Ionathas for Prisoner I did stay And at the last went out through Iuda Land That they abroad my fame might vnderstand To Simon who my prisoners Brother was I message sent declaring that the cause Why I retaind his Brother in this casse Was for due det claimd by the Princes lawes And if that hée would séek to set him frée His Children hée with spéed should send to mée Of Siluer eke an hundred talents more To mée should come els would I kéep him stil My wish was sent of mony I had store And eke his Children resting at my wil. Whome afterwarde to death I did commit That so therby my purpose might fall fit Then I of Asia was proclaimed King This was the wish I looked for so long But Fortune fel reuengement sharp did wring And made mée for to sing an other song Demetrius Sonne Antiochus by name Pursued mée fast to woork my open shame And to my ships perforce made mée to flye Els had I death sustayned at his hand But ne the lesse on seas I wretch did dye Deseruing wursse if that my fault were scand But God this sharp reuenge on mée did taite A guerdon 〈◊〉 for treason I did maite Flye Flye therfore take warning by my fall Let this my deed take place within your brest To make you flye the suddain sweetned gall Which in the end prouoketh your vnrest Fye on all treason woe vnto the day When first I sought this moste accursed way Wel since I haue so slyly falne in snare And haue to mée incurrde an endlesse pain You gallant wights I wish you to beware Betime see you from wiâ—… 〈◊〉 refrayne So of my woe for euer you shall misse And for my gréef shall reign in lasting blisse FINIS The Induction ACHAB King of Israel espoused Iezabel Daughter of King Ethbael of the Sidonites by meanes of the which Sezabel he fel into all straunge Idolatry and ex treame persecutioÌ„s for which offence hee receiued such a plague of God that in three yeers should no raine nor dewe fal from heaueÌ„ on the earth wherby ensued a great death bothe of men and beasts that a number dyed through his wicked offence This King as reporte is made in the sacred Scriptures was so wicked that euen it was his whole delight to doo lewdly contrary to his duty and yet God suffered him to obtain a vaitant victory ouer Benhadab the Sirian King who retayned in his company xxxii Kings twise hee harmed him by great and blody skirmishes but the third time he was forced to come prostrate before this Achab â–ª who for all his crueltie yet pit tied the case of Benhadab and making a bond with him gaue him licence to departe now for the mercy showne to this wicked Benhadab whome God had cursed and brought into the subiection of Achab to the intent he should be slain GOD was very wrathful against Achab â–ª promising his ruinate distruction for the same Shortly after this greedy Gainer not satisfied with his owne kingdome and signories with his battels spoyles and wunderful victoryes which God had suffered him to conquer but the guiltlesse and inocent Naboth hee forced to bee cruelly murdered for naught but for a Uiniard pertaining vnto this silly wight whose innoceÌ„t death such vengeance obtained in the sight of God that the Prophet Elia brought him message that where the Dogges had licked the Blood of Naboth in the same place should they lick his also And the God to him his posterity would do aâ—… had doon to the house of Ieroboam and Baasa These fearful threatnings sent from GOD so terrified Achab that with repentaunce he humbled him self in sorowing Sackcloth which did mooue the Lord to permit his plague farther of But this his repentaunce was but plaine dissimulation to winne the harts of men wherfore he refused the councel of Micheas the true Prophet of GOD and reposed confidence in foure hundred false Prophets and after their councel took his iour ney to Ramoth where beeing in Battell with the Sirians an Arrowe pearced into him sitting in his Chariot of which wound he died And then his Chariot going toward the Poole of Samaria to be washed the Dogs licked vp his blood So was the promise of the LORD fulfilled vpon this wicked and cruell King for his great trangression WICKEDNES VVhile time thou hast remember life misspent In all thy thoughts respect a Christian care Consider still the end ere thou attempt Knovve that thy sinnes innumerable are Examin vvell therfore eche fault amisse Dread that the LORD vvill angrye vvith thee bee Novv seek therfore to gaine the lasting blisse Erect thy hart that men good vvoorks may see So then to all thy life shall vvitnesse be THE COMPLAINT of King Achab King of Israel for his wicked life led in IDOLATRIE and cruell Persecutions and for sparing the life of the vvicked BENHADAB King of Siria vvhom GOD had deliuered into his hands only to put to death Also for his procuring the poore NA BOTH to be cruelly murdered therby toget his Viniard by the counsel of IEZABEL his Queene vvhose blood the Dogs licked vp on the ground and also his ovvne blood in the Battell fought at RAMOTH according to the vvoord of the LORD Caput 3. LAsciuious life deserueth like rewarde And disobedience must haue punishment Where falshod rules the trueth cannot be heard The rod must come to force them to repent Where man disdaynes to stand of God in aw Reuengement néeds must come by Iustice law Where Crueltie dooth harboure in the brest And Rigor puts poore séely soules to paine Where feare of God is vtterly supprest And eke the minde addicted to disdaine The sharpned swoord dooth hang abooue his head If God so please to strike him present dead For proofe wherof I Achab may suffise Whos 's wayward wil from Wisdomes wayes was bent I lawlesse liued my God I did despise In Idols I did fix my whole delight That Iezabel whome I did take to Wife Maintaind mée stil in this my lothsome life For mine offence no raine for thrée yéeres space Fel on the earth all barren was and dry So that by this a murrain came a pace That man and beast a multitude did dye The Prophet I Elia did disdain Auouching hée was cause of all my pain But moste of all that wicked cursed King Dispisde of God for wickednes of life God did vouchsafe into my hands to bring That so I might abridge him with my knife But for because hée homage did to mée I sau'd his life and so did set him frée But yet alas poore silly Naboths death
For I haue proou'd that which I rew with payn And wish to late I had not liu'd so vayne FINIS ADPRECLARVM et nobilissimum Virum EO NAuta Mari medio vectus spumaÌ„tibus vndepositis portu sperat reâ—…erire saluteÌ„ dis Conscius extremo procumbeÌ„s Carcere latrâ—… sperat fortunam lucis sentire ministram Pallidus attonito vultu tardatur Amator Finem tamen dominam confidit habere benignam Apatrijs sperat Petigrinus finlbus exul Orbe pererratâ—… sibi conciliare quietem Hac ratione meum viuo visurus Alexin Tristitiaeque meae lâ—…t as perstringere fines Speque rereabor medicum Fortuna resistat Donec opemferat et morbo mediatur acerbo Noâ—… aliquando diem tantae peresfere tenebrae quin redeat spargens glebis sua fulmina Phaebus Aequora quando metam certam posuere furendi Gaudia securis ego sic possessa tenebo Mi formose vale valeat tua grata voluntas Deprecor optata tutus potiaris arena Te canctosque tuos CHRISTO committo tuendos Donec praestentes sermone fruamur amico FINIS Honos alit Artes. THE TABLE discoursing the sum of the Chapters contained in this BOOK The contents of the first BOOK THe complaint of King Nabucodonozor sometime King of Babilon for the inordinat and excessiue pride that hée vsed in his life time Caput 1 ¶ The Complaint of King Herod the first Straunger that reigned ouer the Iewes for the excéeding Enuie that in his life hée vsed Ca. 2. ¶ The Complaint of King Pharao sometime King of Egipt woorthily punished of God for his wrathful dealings toward the Children of Israel Caput 3. ¶ The Complaint of King Dauid by Gods permission an noynted King of Israel sorowfully from the bottome of his hart bemoning his vnbrideled lust of Lechery committed with Bersaba the Wife of Vrias and for the procuring of her Husbands death therby obtayning his purpose Caput 4. ¶ The Complaint of Diues for his Gluttony vsed in his life time Caput 5. ¶ The Complaint of Iudas bemoning his Auaritious hart in selling his Maister Chirste for thirtie pence Ca. 6. ¶ The Complaint of Ionas for his slothful slacking the commaundement of the Lord beeing sent to preach to the Niniuites Caput 7. Heer endeth the sum of the Chapters conteined in the first BOOK The Contents of the second Book THe Complaint of Absalon for his vain aspi ring to the Imperiall Crown and Diadem of his Father King Dauid and for his suddain fall he obtayned in his pretended purpose Caput 1. ¶ The Complaint of Triphon for his crue ' tie committed a gainst the yung King Antiochus whome hée cruelly murdered as hée walked to disporte him and for his cruel putting to death Ionathas and his two Children through which hée crowned him self King of Asia Caput 2. ¶ The Complaint of King Achab King of Israel for his wicked life led in Idolatrie and cruel persecutions for sparing the life of the wicked Benhadab King of Siria whome God had deliuered into his hands only to put to death Also for his procuring the poore Naboth to be cru elly murdered therby to get his Uiniard by the councel of Iezabel his Queen whose blood the Dogs licked vp on the ground and also his owne blood in the battel fought at Ramoth according to the woord of the lord Ca. 4. ¶ The Complaint of Iephath sometime Iudge ouer Israel for his so rash vow in the sacrifising of his Daughter for the foyling of his Enemies Caput 4. ¶ The Complaint of Sampson for his fond declaring to his wife where his chéefest strength was which made his ey es be pulled out by the Philistines Ca. 5. ¶ The Complaint of King Salomon king of Israel for his in ordinate looue borne to outlandish women who brought him from the wisest and richest King that euer was to be cast out of Gods fauour and to be euen in manner like a stark Foole. Caput 6. ¶ The Complaint of Ammon the eldest Sonne of K. Dauid for the rauishing of his Sister Thamar accomplishing his desire through the craftie deuice of Ionadab his kins man who causing Ammon to fain him self sick obtained of his Father Dauid that Thamar his Sister should come and visit him and when shée came bringing with her a dish of meat rauished her and afterward cruelly despised her Caput 7. ¶ The Complaint of Adonia Sonne to King Dauid for his proude aspiring to his Fathers kingdoome and also for pride vsed against his Brother King Salomon in cr auing Abisag the Sunamite to his mate who was a fair and vertuons yung Damosel nourished King Dauid in his extreme Age thinking by that meanes to attain to his desired pretence Caput 8. ¶ The Complaint of Ptolomye King of Egipt for his vnnaturall crueltie vsed toward the famous Alexander who was his Sonne in law Caput 9 ¶ The Complaint of Iezabel Wife to King Achab for her inforcing her Husband to all kinde of wickednes Idolatrye and causing the Prophets of the Lord to be slaine and for the procuring the guiltlesse death of Naboth shée béeing iustly therfore plagued of the LORD Caput 10. ¶ The Complaint of Zedekia sometime King of Iuda for his neglecting his vowed othe and faithful promise to K. Nabuchodonozor in suffering all sinne and wickednes to abouÌ„d in his Kingdome béeing iustly plagued of God therfore Caput 11 The end of the Table of the Chapters contained in this BOOK Honos alit Artes. FINIS Antony Munday
of Iezabell and her carkasse shall lye as dung vpon the earth so that none shall say This was Iezabell VANITIE Vivv vvel the state of euery mortall VVight Although they boast of Beauties beames so much Note hovv that Death dooth equall all aright Ineath degree hee spareth not to touch The VVise the Foolè the King and Begger bace Is à ll alike that commeth in his cloutch Excepteth none hee takes in euery place THE COMPLAINT of Iezabel Wife to King Achab for her inforcing her Husband to all kinde of vvickednesse and Idolatree causing the Prophets of the Lord to be slain and procuring the guiltles death of Naboth shee beeing iustly therfore plagued of the lord Caput 10. IF Beautie be a thing of such respect If hauty hart the Body doo adorn Why did my shape and beautie mée detect Why did my pride make mée somuch forlorne And if all these were Uertnes in a Wife Why did so soon my pleasure turn to strife O no déer Dames these vaunts are worldly vain These are the pomps wherin you glory so This painted pride procures your after pain Which you lament distâ—…est in double wo. And why because you did not séek before A souerain salue to cure so vile a sore But lo déer Dames to much you be deceiude To much you trust to that which is vnsure For péeuish pride your sences hath bereude Which makes you think for aye you shall indure O think not so for beautie is but vain To day a ioy tomorrow pinching pain Beholde by mée if beaâ—…tie might haue boast Or hauty hart to haue Dame Honors place Beholde her héer who through each forrain Coast Knew not her Péer for loftie lookes in face But now what dooth my mounting minde auaile So long on flote that glad to strike my saile I Iezabel soometime King Achabs Wife Disdaining God and Idols did obay Surmounting in all viciousnes of life And only Pride did force mée run astray For Pride from God did force my wilful fall That grace nor vertue I esteemd at all But in a World of pranked pleasures gay I flaunted foorth as much as hart could crane I was the cause the Préests of God to slay And Naboths death desired for to hane Why who but I. so many fetches had With subtle sleights to make my fancy glad But what at length was my deserued due From windowe down I fel and brake my neck By prophecie which I approoued true This hire I had that Uertue would detect In â—…inders small my Body lay on ground Trod so with Horse that little could be found Now sée what came to Iezabel at last See what became of my alluring face My Peacoks plumes down in the dust were cast What guerdon did my loftie pride purchase Beholde my déeds and then beholde my fame Beholde my life and then beholde my shame Now daintie Dames your Mirrour take by me To warne you pull your hauty heads more lowe Let me you learne your welfare to foresée And teach you how more grauitie to showe Let Modestie your outward vestures be And Uertue deck you inward frank and frée Leaue of these braue and sundry flaunting sutes Leaue of to wish for euery straunge deuise Milde Modestie your statelines rebultes She would not haue you goe so coy and nice But prudently to guyde your dealings so That in eche place with vertue you may goe Now when I smart I can you warning giue That you may shun the sorrowes which I haue Now I confesse that verteously to liue By due desart dooth endles honor craue Counsell once had is better suer then neuer Feare God and then thou shalt be crowned euer FINIS The Induction ZEDEKIA Sonne vnto Iosia was by Nabucodonozor elected and made King ouer Iuda in the sted and place of Ieboachin his Brother to whome he made him faithfully to vow that hee would truely obay the Chaldeis and so in tokeÌ„ therof from Mathania he changed his name to Zedekia But he neglecting his duty and falsifying his othe suffered sinne and wickednes to reigne and abound in his Land euen aswel among the cheef Rulers and Preests as also among the meaÌ„ and common sort So that God was not regarded his woord vtterly despised his Prophets vnlawfully misused therfore the Lord stirred vp the Chaldeis with whom he had before broken league and falsified his faith that they came and ruinated the Cittie of Ierusalem and sacked the Temple with fire and there took the King Zedekia his Army beeing scattred abrode in the plain of Iericho led him to the King of Babilon where first his two Sonnes were destroyed in his presence and then his owne eyes pulled out and then led him Captiue to Babilon bound in chaines wheras hee dyed and his People remained threescore and ten yeers in captiuitie til the dayes of King CIRVS WILFVLNES VVhere men doo more respect their priuate gayne In vaine excesse then VVisdomes stayed state Light to contemne slovve to release their paine From vvhom bothe helth and riches is ingrate Vsing them selues as belly Gods so rude Leaning vpon the honor of their pelf Not scorning still them selues for to intrude Eche man to pole for to inrich him self Soslides from God to greater greefe renued THE COMPLAINT of Zedekia sometime King of Iuda for neglecting his vovved othe and faithfull promise made to King Nabuchodonozor in suffering all sinne and vvickednes to abound in his Kingdome beeing iustly plagued of GOD therfore Caput 11. AMid the rest giue Zedekia place Iosias Sonne to tell his great mishap Whom Folly fond so gréeuous did deface As in my pomp depriu'de me at a clap Such crooked chaunce that for a time did smile But at the length displayd a hidden guyle First was I King and ruled Iuda Land In promise that I constant would remain When as this Welth was brought into my hanâ—… I suffred sin to much to haue the raine Gods woord was clean suppressed in the dust The Preests and Rulers find in filthy lust The Chaldies then Ierusalem destroyd The holy Temple burnd with flaming fire My Soldiars all with terror were annoyd I taken was so did my sinnes require My sonnes were slayne O gréefe before my face Mine eyes puld out in moste accursed case Then captiue I to Babilon was led In fettered chaines with direfull dole yfraught My people poore with tirrany were fed All long of sinne which I alas haue wrought Thrise twentye yéeres and ten they bid the pain Till Cirus came their fréedome to obtaine Loe thus I liu'd loe thus I had my shame A guerdon iust to counteruaile my hire take héed therfore how you contemn Gods name For your reward is euerlasting fire My sinfull life my death so voyd of grace Let now suffise to warn you in eche place Fewe woords shall serue in haste I goe my way And wish you well my perill to foresee Be rulde by trueth let Uertue beare the sway Think on the end the daunger for to flée
mée and mine for to resist with 〈◊〉 With Cannon cracks â–ª the 〈◊〉 then began Eche one to showe him self a martiall man. On each side then began the bloody blowes Assault assault the Captaines cry amain The Ensignes spred the battels force forshoweâ—… The horsmen they the ranks haue broke in twain the hurling shaâ—…ts and â—…ery balles dâ—… flye With such a force as darkned is the skye My men although they were the greater part A number slaine the rest began to faint The other side are Uictors by desart then dark annoy my courage did attaint I had the wurst I thought it best to flye Without I would before myne enmyes dye Then fled I thence and glad my life to saue For God was angry with my vnkinde act Considering I my Fathers crown did craue And entred féeld which was a bloody fact For this my déed reuengement soone hée sent to make mée knowe my hart was wicked bent For in my flight my heare caught on a 〈◊〉 Out of my saddle it did take mée quite And there I hung most woful for to sée And could no way redresse my heauy plight A guerdon iust thus fel vnto my share Because against my Sire I would prepare Then knew I wel my hainous great offence Had brought mée to my due deserued hire Which from the heauens was sent for recompence Because so hye in hart I did aspire Then wished I all were to doo again â–ª Because as now I felt therof the paâ—… So long I hong in this my doleful pain That Ioab did at last retire that way When hée mée saw incenst with ire amain At mée hée ran perforce and did mée sâ—…ay This sharp reuenge from heauen on mée fel to teach mée gainst my Father to rebel Sée gallant Brutes by mée a pattern plain Of hauty hart aspiring to renown Who did attempt my Fathers right to gain And would haue robde him of his stately crown But loe what guerdon dooth on mée betide To pay mée home for my excessiue pride Content your selues therfore with mean estate Kéep that which Iustice dooth to you allowe Take héed by mée remember this my fate Perforst the wrath of God on mée to bow Wherfore beware this filthy vice preuent Least as I am like case you may be shent FINIS The Intduction TRIPHON a man of great reputation who assisted Alexander in fight against the noble King Ptololomye when this Alexander was de parted his life by subtle sleights and craftie conceits found such meanes that he got the yung Antiochus the only heire to this King Alexander from the Arabian Emascuel who nourisht him vp in vertuous educations to obtain the crown after his Fathers death And when he had obtained the yung King vnder his iurisdiction he began to compact 〈◊〉 against him which he could not fully compasse so long as Ionathas whome the King had made high Preest enioyed his life wherfore to preuent the same he sought which way he might slay Ionathas and beeing at Bethsan where Ionathas met with him accompayned with fortye thousaÌ„d men was greatly discouraged because the force of Ionathas was so great and therfore to coullour the matter he commaunded his Armie to yeeld as due renerence vnto Ionathas in all respects as to him self And beeing met togither quoth Triphon in dissembling sorte vpon what occasion compellest thou these thy People to take such tedious trauail consdering wee be at peace and no warres is between thee mee return them home again reseruing those whome thou pleasest to haue to attend and to waight vpon thee and so walk with me to Ptolomais for I wil frankly bestowe it vpon the beside diuers other strong fortified holdes and for no cause els come I and so I wil depart Ionathas reposing confidence in the disseÌ„bling tale of Triphon commaunded his Army to depart then went with Triphon to Ptolomais where as soone as Ionathas with his men were entred the Cittie the gates were fast shut and Ionathas put in Prison and all his men slain Then afterward departed Triphon in to the land of Iuda leading Ionathas with him as prisoner and hauing intelligence that Simon the Bro ther of Ionathas stood vp in resistaÌ„ce against him in flattering sort he sent woord to Simon that the cause why he kept Ionathas in warde was but for certaine money due by him in the King's account and if so he would send an huÌ„dred talents of Siluer and also the two sonnes of Ionathas for surety in their fathers behalf Ionathas should return home again But Simon wel perceiued the craftie deceit of Triphon and yet douting least he should become a greater enemy to the people of Israel and that they should an other day reporte that because no money was sent by Simon his Brother Ionathas was dead did send him bothe money and the two Children This fel right euen as Triphon did wish for and would not release Ionathas but soone after put bothe him and his Children to death and now at last beginneth he to bring about his long and ancient grudge toward the yung King for as he walked abrode to disporte with him traiterously did murder him and so obtained the realme crowning him self King of Asia did much hurt in the land But in the end this Triphon became so hated of all men that when Antiochus Sonne vnto Demetrius came against him the moste of his men returned and hee beeing so per secuted by Antiochus that he took ship on sea after which he was neuer seen CRVELTIE Content thy self to liue in quiet stay Remember sti the end ere thou begin Vaunt not to much of thy poor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pray Except thou â—…nk that thou 〈◊〉 â—…uer siâ—… Let CRVELTIE in thee be cleane supprest Think that thou canst not alvvay Victor bee In thyne affayres respect thy quiet rest Esteeme thy Freend that vvell dooth councell thee THE COMPLAINT of Triphon for his crueltie committed against the yung King ANTIOCHVS vvhome hee cruelly murdered as hee vvalked to disporte him and for his cruel putting to death IONATHAS and histvvo Children through vvhich hee crovvned himself King of ASIA Caput 2. IF loftie looks might gain immortall Fame Or double dealing merit woorthy prayse Then Triphon I by right deserue the same Because long time I sought it many waies But if that Vertue vaunteth for her fée Destance then is open come to mée Promotion stil did prick my hart on hye With whole desire to gain a Princes place For by deceit I thought to mount the sâ—…ye But at the last deceit did 〈◊〉 deface Deceit they say so long may vsed â—…ée â–ª That at the length his Maister shame wil hée For so by mée the proof appéereth plain When Alexander shrined was in graue Antiochus his Sonne I did obtain Thinking by him that I the Crown might haue But Ionathas did make mée stil to doubt Wherfore for him I brought a fetch about When hée mée â—…t with fortie thousand Men A mightie hoast that
For all his might sée how he fel at length And forste to yéeld to Womâ—… as they list Take héed by me let Sampsons great mishap Learne you beware to fall in such a trap Ful many moe haue fallen in like case And all through this wherfore I warning giue Remember Beautie beares a fickle face And Beautie asks a treble cost to line You haue your choyse which you wil take or leue Refuse the bad the best you may receiue FINIS The Induction SALOMON beeing the Sonne of Bethsabe was annoynted King to reigne after his father Dauid and when he was established in his Kingdome first executed Iustice vpon Adonia his Brother who would haue aspired to the Kingdome Secondly vpon Ioab who had slayne Abner and Amasa and he also conspired with Adonia Thirdly vpon Semei who cursed his father Dauid This King was so great ly belooued of GOD that in a dreame he had him aske what so euer he would and he should haue it Salomon considering his youth and ruling in a Kingly office how difficil a thing it was to rule desired of GOD to haue an vnderstanding hart to iudge the people with Iustice and equitie and to discerne good from euill His request found fauour in the sight of GOD and not only he gaue him such great and excellent Wisdome but also abundaunce of worldly Riches wherin he excelled all the Kings of the Earth that were either before or after him to this day So that all the World came to see and heare his graue and excel lent Wisdome which farre surpassed Ethan Herman Chalcal and Darda who were foure of the notablest men that then liued in the World. But the rare Wisdome of this Sapient Salomon caused them all to stand astonished bothe for his excellency and also for his Riches For he had twelue Officers which dayly prouided the victuals for his housholde and his ordinary expences was euery day thirtye quarters of fine Manchet flow er and sixtie quarters of meale ten stalled Oxen and twentie out of the pasture one hundred sheep beside Harts Bucks wilde Goates Capons other Foules Also he had fortie Thousand Horses and xit Thousand Horsemen to keep them And the weight of Golde that came euery yeere out of Ophir to Salomon was six hundred three score and six Tallents beside the bringing in of Merchaunts and other men His riches was so abundant that he made all the ornaments of the Lords Temple of pure Golde and euery drinking pot in his house was of cleane Golde and he vsed Siluer as plentifully as the stones in the street But yet alas for all the worldly possessions and Wisdome that he had he fell into vnlawfulllyking of Outlandish women wherof he had such store that he made seuen hundred Queenes and three hundred Concubines all which turned his hart to straunge Gods and of a wise King made him in maner a stark foole and wicked Idolater So that for this his greeuous offence he lost the fauoure of God and so after he had reigned fortye yeeres he dyed and was buryed in the Cittye of Dauid SAPIENCE Since mans estate corrups as dooth the Flovver And in short time his pomp is layd in dust Perceiue you may hovv that this earthly hovver Is still vnsure Mans pleasures vade as rust Eftsoones vve see as soone goes yung as olde No King nor Keysor VVise nor yet the Foole Can Death deny they all must to one Folde Earth must to earth so teacheth VVisdomes schoole THE COMPLAINT of King Salomon King of Israel for his inordinate looue borne to Outlandish VVomen vvho brought him from the vvisest and richest King that euer vvas to be cast out of Gods fauour and to be euen in maner like a stark foole Caput 6. BEholde my fréends the wight whose fickle safe Through wanton wil procurde his wofull fall Sée héer the man that thought his stedfast state Unlikely was to come in such a thrall But wel ye sée that Sinne deceiues the Wise When fond conceits hath power to blinde his eyes I Salomon whom God with Wisdome deckt And worldly Welth wherof I had great store Did think that sinne could neuer me infect Because Dame Folly stil did stand before And through the world blew foorth a golden blaze That thousands came on Salomon to gaze For when I had giuen sentence on the Childe For whom two women stroue before my face Such rare reporte went of my Iustice milde That Salomon was knowen in euery place Loe thus my God adornd mée frank and frée That all the World amazed stood at mée Beside of welth I had the World at wil To straunge it is to hear my large expence Of golden gifts I aye enioyd my fil My princely port my Garders and defence Were to to long to you for to recite For all this welth did naught but blinde my sight So that alas I cruelly transgrest For fond delight intangled had my minde Outlandish Dames did like my pleasure best I clean forgot the wrath to mée assignde Seuen hundred Quéenes I Salomon did make Of Concubines thrée hundred I did take O wicked wretch where was the feare of God where was the wise foresights the thou didst vse what didst thou think there was no scorging rod That would correct thy hainous vile abuse If so thou thought'st why then the didst but well To liue so lewd gainst duty to rebell Why did not God in dreame appéere to thée And bad thée aske what best thy hart could craue Did God not graunt thy wish perfourmd to be And did permit that thou shouldst Wisdom haue How thinkest thou this canst thou not denay How happens then thou wentest so astray Alas because thou didst not God regard But in thy welth didst set thy whole delight Eche wanton Dame with welth the didst reward This made thée fall in such a wofull plight And where before thou west estéemed wise Now as a foole eche man dooth thée surmise What wilt thou doo thou sinned hast so sore By knéeling down to Gods of stocks stones That God will now respect thy case no more Down on thy knées sound foorth thy heauy groÌ„es Lament lament O wretch thy wicked crime Desire thy Lord to saue thy soule in time You Potentates beholde my wofull fall How wanton will hath throwen me in the dust That now to sinne I rest a seruile thrall Loe what reward obtaines vnlawfull Lust. My hainous faults recount before your eyes And learne in time such vices to despise Remember me that thought my self so wise That I no way could gayne so great a fall But when I did the feare of God despise Ah wofull man my comfort then was small My trickling teares found fauour in Gods sight And for my gréef did yéeld me harts delight So shall your liues be frée from spotted blame Your whole delight shal be in feare of God Then after death you gayne immortall fame If so your liues be swayd with Wisdomes rod. Then shall you liue
surmounts all vayne desire of vvelth Orpriuate gaines got vvith vnhonest vse Let man therfore consider of his helth Vainglory dooth bothe minde and life abuse Proou'd it hath beene by reasons manifolde That mortall Fame dooth run by he adlesse chance Vertue her Fame cannot to oft be tolde Ordayned aye the Godly to aduaunce Vayne then it is on bad I vvist to glaunce Stay fast thy faith in him that rules abooue No time deferre to turn from vvickednes Eternall Fame Faith and assured Looue Shall you adorne in vvorlds of rich increase THE COMPLAINT of Adonia Sonne to King Dauid for his proud aspiring to his Fathers kingdome also for his pride vsed against his Brother King Salomon in crauing ABISAG the Sunamite to his mate vvho vvas a faire and verteous yung Damosell and nourished King DAVID in his extreme age thinking by that meanes to attaine to his desired pretence Caput 8. ALthough my déed dooth well demerit blame My stately Pride and hautines of hart Although my life so farre spent out of frame Néeds no reporte for such a vitious part Yet that the world may warning take by me I le tell my tale that all my life may sée And when you haue perusde my life at large My mallice bent against my Fathers state How blinde ambition did me ouercharge With péeuish Pride alas vnfortunate Reporte that I did well deserue my fall In running headlong in to such a thrall I Adonia Sonne to Dauid King Perceiuing age bedewe my Fathers state By sundry sleights I sought about to bring Presumpteously to pearch to be his mate I thought his yéeres were so farre gon 〈◊〉 spent that well I might presume to my intent O what renown did I in pride suppose To be a King and beare the souereign sway By force of Armes to irritate my foes By woords to cause my Subiects to obay No life me thought in all the world more fit Then princely pomp in regall throne to â—…t It did me good to heare the braue reporte Of boldened brests indued with valiancy Who trye their fate in mightie Mars his Court Protesting faith to Magnanimitie On carued Creast to shake the shiuering Launce This valiant sporte their honors dooth aduaunce This is the way to win them rare renown This is the ioy that chéeres a Princes hart This is the way to vaunt on Honors crown And lasting Fame dooth quit them with desart O valiant youthes welfare your plied paines Whose happy helths are valiant Wictors gaines Well in this minde so farre I did procéed That I had got such as would take my parte Abiathar and Ioab bothe indéed Ood giue consent to my presumpteous hart A feast I made where many did resorte Wishing me King as woords did make reporte O gallant ioy to heare so many say With valiant voyce erected to the skyes God saue our King our woorthy Adonia O wished pray so gladsome to mine eyes But when my Father of my déed did knowe My loftie pride was quickly laid full lowe Those which before had called me their King Left me alone they durst it not auouch O straunge euent to sée such sorrowes spring So soone a king and made so soone to couch Dame Iustice scornd that I should mount so hye And threw me down in twinckling of an eye With that I fled and hid my self for feare To see what tidings would approche of this Then Salomon for to preuent this geare Was crowned King in moste triumphant blisse At last of him my pardon I did gayne So that I would in quietnes remayne Yet wicked wretch through loftines of minde I could not holde my self with state content But once more would reuert to former kinde Aspiring still my purpose to attempt And for to bring my matter more aboute This prettye shift on sudden I found out I sought to haue Abisag fayre to wife Which when my Brother Salomon did spye I could not kéepe my self in quiet life But still I sought to pearch my head on hye Deserued death for pride I did attayne So all my pomp on sudden did distayne Now Lordings sée my proud presumpteous hart What liew I gaynd in recompence for all Sée Iustice scornd at my vnlawfull part And from the top did headlong make me fall I which was Sonne vnto a famous King By pamperd pride my ruin great did bring Consider 〈◊〉 will haue her rightfull place 〈◊〉 touchstone tries sounds eche mans intent Though for a while Uaine glory her deface Yet at the lengh her foes she will preuent For Falshode dooth a while holde on her glose But trueth at length her dealings will disclose Now what auailes my lostines of minde My princely pomp in midst of all my flowers My hauty hart which made my sences blinde And made me séeke to rule in Kingly bowers What haue I gaind immortall fame therby Or such renown to pearch the azured skye O no my fréends small honor is my share Small is the fame that will redound to me Shame is my due for this my rechelesse care My wicked life so lothesome for to sée Rebelling so gainst Natures stayed state And séeking so to be my Fathers mate What didst thou think thy Father liu'd to long And duty bad thée to cut of his dayes And did obedience mooue thee offer wrong To him whose life so many men did prayse Or canst thou iudge Dame Wisdome did agrée That so thou shouldst vsurp his dignitie Alas no no thy duty had thée séeke To serue thy Sire with reuerence in eche place To stand in awe to showe thy self so méeke In euery point Obedience to imbrace How saist thou how hast thou doone so or no Alas my fréends in life I thought not so Remember me which past before your time Remember how I fell from blisse to bale Be mindefull still of my presumpteous crime Which forced me to tell this tristfull tale Respect the end before you doo begin Feare to offend in such a gréeuous sinne Consider life is but a puffe of winde And worldly pomp is but a brittle blaze Your earthly drosse dooth naught but make you blinde while you abide within this mortall maze Ful many sin but fewe their liues repent Nor think how soone their folly will them shent Gods Iudgement stands to cut down lofty grafts As séeme to reach more then they can aspire Though for a time you faine such cunning crafts As well you think to gaine your whole desire The end brings all the proofe hath oft béen séene Pride hath his due iudge what therof I meane And thus I wish you well your liues to frame In modest meane to kéepe your selues content Auoyd this vice and so you shun the blame Which dooth belong to such as it frequent Let Adonia serue example due For perfect proofe that this his text is true .. FINIS The Induction PTOLOMYE King of Egipt espoused his fayre Daughter Cleopatra to Alexander the Sonne of the Noble Antiochus the which contracted betweene them two
a great bond and league of ami tie the which Ptolomye afterward periurd ely forlook in recalling his former fauour from Alexander labouring by all possible meanes for to defeat him of his Kingdome and Alexander remayning for a time out of his Realme serued fit for the pur pose of Ptolomye for he leuyed a great Armye of men and iournyed into Siria where he was very honorably receiued into euery Cittie because it had beene so commaunded before by Alexander his trecherous treason was not suspected for be cause he was the Kings Father in law But Ptolomye whose going was only for that intent in euery Cittie left certayne well armed men to fortifye them for his practise And hauing subdued all the Citties on the Sea coasts ioyned in League with Demetrius and took Cleopatra his daugh ter from Alexander and gaue her to Demetrius raysing vp a slaunderous reporte of Alexander how that he sought all meanes to kill him When as his greedy and vnsatiable couetousnes was noted and espyed he departed to Antioche where he set two Crownes vpon his owne head the one of Egipt the other of Asia Alexander at that time making his aboad in the dominions of Cicilia hauing been ixcitated with the cruell attempt of his rather in law returned home making open warres against him But Ptolomye beeing more puisant in strength forced him for to flye into the Countrey of Arabia wheras the king of that land smot of his head and sent it vnto Ptolomye which was the thing he cheefly desired But small ioy had he therof for within three daies after he was slaine and after his death his men that were left in the Citties were all put to death VAINGLORY Vaunt not to much of that vvhich is but vayne And beare in minde thy state is heer vnsure It is not vvelth that can abridge thy payne Nor loftie looks thy vvelfare can procure Greeue not to see thy neighbour prosper vvell Let blinde Ambition rule thy hart no more Or seek not gainst the simple soule to svvell Regard to haue discretion good before Your happy helth shall aye increase the more THE COMPLAINT of King Ptolomye King of Egipt for his vnnaturall crueltie vsed tovvard the Famous ALEXANDER vvho vvas his Sonne in Lavv. Caput 9. NO greater Foe then gréedynes of minde No seruile life like to contemptuous pride No greater sinne then willing to bâ—… blinds No folly more then in vain hope to bide What more deceit then look thy Fréend in face And woork his death in most vngentle case For proof wherof I Ptolomye may serue Whose hauty hart and moste ambitious minde Procured mee from Princely rule to swerue And cruelly to stray from Natures kinde Wherfore my tale let peirce the flinty hart How like they fall in such vnlawful part My Daughter fair that Cleopatra hight To Alexander of illustrious fame In nuptiall band contented I did plight Til Enuie vile contempt did séek to frame My gréedy minde my honor soon let fall That in the end I lost both fame and all My former vow I wretch did clean reuoke Of faithful fréendship to my sonne in law Now perching pride had quickly strook the stroke Gainst verteous life wherof I had no awe But banishing all fauour from my hart Did seek to frame a moste vnlawful part My noble Sonne from Kingdome béeing gon Whose absence wrought the more for my intent I ruled at home and none but I alone Now thought I good my Sonne for to preuent And of his Kingdome clean him to bereaue By traitrous déeds I purposde to deceiue Then I likewise to all his Citties went Wherin I left of armed men good store That at such time as serude for mine intent I might obtain that long I wisht before Yet for his sake vnto his Citties all I was receiude with Fame imperiall More Traitour I that such a déed could frame Considering that I was receiude so wel And only hée did yéeld to mée such fame Gainst whom I did vnkindly so rebel Wel looue nor fauour could my minde intreat But enuiously I went about this feat When as I had eche Cittie fair subdude That on the seas did harbour there about By other shifts my fetches I renude And now I had an other plat drawen out Demetrius I did ioyne in league with mée And so to war til all consumde might bée My Daughter fair I took from rightful mate And to Demetrius did her giue againe Then had I raysde a slaunder vp of hate How Alexander sought to haue mée slaine And so through this such enuie vile I bred That Kingdomes twain I crowned on my hed O braue delight as braue as beaten Golde O happy life long looked for before I droue my Sonne into Arabian holde Wheras to make my honor larger more His hed was sent as present vnto mée Oh how I ioyd when I this sight did sée But yet this pomp to short a time did laâ—… Within thrée dayes I dyed in gréeuous case What vauntage then when honor all was past Did I obtaine in my new Kingly place My sonnes déer blood for vengeance stil dooth cry Gainst me a wretch that wrought this villany You Noble harts sée héere a pattern playne Of painted Pride contemning verteous life Sée héere a gulf of Enuye and Disdayne A mortall foe that still procured strife Sée héere the wight whose folly made him fall In séeking that which did return his thrall Sée what I gaynd for gréedines of minde Sée how the Lord did pay me for my payne In that I went so farre from Natures kinde As woork the meanes to cause my sonne be slayn Whose guiltlesse death beholde I now lament Desiring pardon for my life mispent Learne now therfore like Enuy to eschew Least that your selues doo fall into like snare Dout not but you shall finde the end to true Therfore in time I wish you to beware So are you sure the daunger to preuent Of such a sinne as I poore wretch am shent FINIS The Induction IEZABEL espoused to king Achab pricked her husband forward vnto all wickednes and Idolatrie and also caused the Prophets of the Lord to be slayne and was cheefe cause that Naboth was stoned to death therby to enioy his Uiniard But when she had intelligence of the comming of Iebu she tricked her self vp in her flaunting fines looked out at her windowe as he came in at the gate to whom she sayd in this maner Had Zimei peace which slew his maistere meaning Could a Traitour or any that presumeth against his superiour haue good successe in his enterprise After which woords she was throwen out at the windowe with such great violence that her bones were all brused in peeces and so tramped on with horses that when they came to take her vp to bury her no more was found then her scull her feet the palmes of her hands Heerin was Elias Prophecie brought to passe when he said That Dogs shall eat the flesh