THE COVNTRIE Mans Comfort OR Religious Recreations fitte for all well disposed persons Which was Printed in the yeere of our Lord 1588. And since corrected amended and enlarged by the same Author I. R. PSAL. 34. 11. Come ye Children in vnderstanding I will teach you the feare of the Lord. COL 3. 16. Let the words of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisedome teaching and admonishing your owne selues in Psalmes Hymnes and spirituall Songs singing with a grace in your hearts to the Lord. Printed at London by M. D. and are to be sold by Anne Boler at the signe of the Marigold in Pauls Church-yard 1637. To the Christian Reader grace and peace GOod Reader in the yeere of our Lord 1588. when the Divell Pope and Spaniard did rage against our late Q. Elizabeth never to be forgotten and this kingdome to haue both killed vs and to possesse the land and when God had so miraculously delivered vs from that invincible Navie as they termed it I wrote this Booke containing in it many good Songs Ditties Carrols for the comfort and solace of all those that are well disposed after so miraculous deliverance from our enemies the Pope and Spaniards If therfore it happen to light into hands that are wise and learned know this that I doe not count it so fit a booke for thee as for the Schollers of pettie Schooles the poore Coutrieman and his familie who wil aske these vain questions som times saying what shall we doe in the long winter nights how shall we passe away the time on Sundayes what wold you haue vs doe in the Christmas Hollydayes For such haue I made this booke wherein I shall no doubt please their merrie minds a little for that they are naturally given to sing if happily I may winne them to sing good things and forsake euill And when the gun-powder Treason was found out and bewrayed I began to looke over this little booke and finding as great cause to mooue vnto thankefulnesse now as then I did as my leasure serued me correct amend my former labors and added and augmented them more then was in the former booke and now haue finished the same I offer it to the view of all well minded persons and as for others that cannot take plaine labors in good part I leaue them to themselues and the rest vnto God The Lords poore and humble seruant I. R. The Countrymans comfort A song in stead of an Introduction to this worke worthy your reading and entituled A Table of good Counsell It will goe to the tune of in Create if you sing it FIrst learne to honour God aright Let loue and feare thereto provok Obey the King with all thy might Submit thy selfe to Parents yoke Imbrace the good and shunne the ill This is the summe of wisedomes skill To know thy selfe thou must apply And try thy friend before thou trust Content thy selfe clime not too hie Let word and deed be all waies iust Striue not to swim against the streame Account not of a drowsie dreame Wish not for wealth by parents death A friend farre passeth worldly good And while the body yeeldeth breath Seeke not for to exceede in foode For great excesse of meate and drinke Doth cause the soule in sinne to sinke Faint not though fortune fauour fooles Fret not at others good successe Delight to sit in learned schooles Thy former faults seeke to redresse Spurne not at him that tells thy crime Mend that against another time Spend sparingly yet not too nye And make accompt how wealth doth wast Hate Suretiship all debt bookes flie To giue thy word make thou no hast Let not apparrell sumptuous be But still remember thy degree Respect not only present time But marke also what may ensue For cracke of credit is a crime Change not an old friend for a new Take heed of brasen face past shame And loue to liue in honest fame Praise no man till thou dost him knowe Dispraise not rashly any wight Least shame thereby to thee may growe Speake but few words place them aright Into the world then maist thou goe And say thy friend hath taught thee so The summe of the Creed in Meeter IN Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Beleeue I stedfastly And that Christ Iesus Man became I hold as earnestlie He also suffered for our sinnes Himselfe still voyde of sinne Who did descend the manner how I say not much therein We find that Christ felt so much paine As satisfied Gods Ire And reconciled man to God That 's all we neede require And as for Christ in Pix in bread Or harrowing vp of Hell Of Purgatory Limbus twaine The Scripture doth not tell One true Church Catholike there is One earth still Millitant And I a member of the same Through Christ now Tryumphant This Church it hath Communion And God remitts their sinne To life and glory they shall rise And they shall neuer linne To sing out HALLELVIAH In euerlasting Blisse Wherefore beleeue and liue well here That so you may be his Amen The summe of the Tenne Commandements 1 None but Iehova haue for God 2 No Creature worship thou 3 Take not Gods holy Name in vaine 4 Keepe well the Sabboth now 5 Thy Parents honor and obey 6 No murder once commit 7 Be none adulterer at all 8 Steale not by hand or wit 9 False witnesse beare thou not I say 10 Ne couet not in heart Thy neighbors wife seruant or goods That God gaue for his part These Ten Commandements we deuide Still into Tables twaine And take them for our spirituall guide And our direction plaine First to the worship of our God And then to Christian loue That we may shunne the fiery rod And liue in heauen aboue Then doe not like to Papists adde Nor take from this his Law But downe with Images and all And euer liue in Awe And as the Lord did make vs all So let him teach vs too For he knowes what is best for vs And we blind what to doe FINIS A Briefe of the Lords Prayer O Father ours which art in heauen Still hallowed be thy Name Thy kingdome come thy will be done In earth without all blame As it performed is in heauen Ofsoules and Angels bright Where thou art serued without sin And praysed day and night Giue vs this day our daily bread Forgiue our sinnes likewise As we forgiue them that vs hurt When quarrells doe arise Into temptation lead us not So to be overcome As wicked persons euer are That lose thy sweet kingdome For thine is that celestiall place With power and glorie still Both now and euermore Amen Say we with right good will To pray to Saints or creatures then you see t is Po-pe-rie To haue a Picture in this worke Is idle certainely A Crucifix is nothing worth Ne Beades to count vpon For blind-men they must leaue those Paints And pray to God alone FINIS The Summe of the old Covenant or Testament with the
their iollitie and say it is but vanitie Refraine the santasies deere friends aske mercy for your former sinnes Accompt this world to be but lent praise God and alwayes be content His benefits both great and small we must giue reckning for them all Our time is short right well we know and none is sure when he shall goe With speed then let 's prepare to die for sure this word is vanitie Death is the end of mortall life and death doth cease all worldly strife He bridles vp the brainsicke foole and doth dispute in fancies schoole Where dainty damsels he doth meet and laps them all in shrowding sheet All Adams amorous impes beside which decke them selues in pomp pride With vgly face most tufully he takes them from their vanity If I might moue the minde of man onely in heart to way and scan How I haue now in verse displaid nothing but truth in that is sayd Repentance sure with teares would call helpe Lord forgiue thy people all O guide our steps still with thy word deliuer us from euill good Lord Inflame our hartes with ioyes on hie so shall we hate all vanitie In this song we are put in mind of our fraile and weake estate and we are taught how to lull and bring asleepe our affections that we may goe to God To the tune of the 15. Psalme SIng lullaby as women doe wherewith they bring their babes to rest And lulaby can I sing too as womanly as can the best With lulaby the child they still with sugred songs they sing out shrill Such wanton babes God knowes have I that must be stild with lulaby First lulaby my youthfull yeares it is now time to goe to bed For crooked age and hoarie haires haue wonne the haven in my head With lulaby then youth be still with lulaby subdue thy will Sith courage quailes and comes behind goe sleepe and so beguile thy mind Next lulaby my wanton playes let reasons rule restraine thy thought Since that I finde by sundry wayes how deere thou hast thy sporting bought With lulaby take thou thine ease with lulaby thy dumps appease Blest is that wight which ere he die doth sing aright this lulaby Now lulaby my gasing eyes that wonted were to glance apace For every glasse may now suffice to shew the furrowes in my face With lulaby then winke a while with lulaby thy lookes beguile Let no faire face nor beauty bright entice thee vnto vaine delight And lulaby my body eke which once was clad in trim attire Warme furs to cloth thee now goe seeke in chayer keepe thee by the fire And lulaby let some man sing while thou to God doest make reckning Prepare thy selfe alwayes to dye forget not this my lulaby With lulably then bring asleepe dispaire which commeth by mistrust And Sathans doubts which faine would creep into our hearts that are but dust Put confidence in Gods mercy and euermore sing lulaby Commit thy selfe to Christ alone with him to ioy when life is gone Last lulaby in graue we make amidst the greedy wormes in clay Vntill that Christ accompt shall take of euery one at the last day Wherefore let vs sing lulaby till all his sinnes sleepe quietly And then to God make hast away in heauen with him to liue for aye The lamentable mone of a sorrowfull soule IN trouble thus I heard one cry Vpon his knees with weeping eye Saying O whither should I flie Where might I wish my selfe to be That God take no account of me For why my sinnes are growne so great That if I come to iudgement seat In vaine it is for to intreat A place therefore to hide me in I craue by reason of my sinne If in the heauens I seeke to be There must I needes be seene of thee In hell is no defence for me Thy presence fills each place I know In heauen aboue and earth below If I had wings at will to flie Beyond the seas that farthest lie Yet there thy hand and power is nie To bind and bring me backe againe In place where I should still remaine Thou doest possesse me every whit My heart my raines my head my wit My sinewes that my joynts doe knit Thou broughtst me from my mothers womb And thou shalt raise me from my tomb Thy passing power thy workes declare Thy threats shew what thy terrors are Thou seest all secrets every where My soule therefore that is in woe Alas then whether shall it goe As I was in this great distresse One spake and sayd to me doubtlesse Despaire not man through heavinesse For God delighteth not to see The death of sinners credit me By faith on these words I tooke hold And yet I durst not be too bold But tremblingly as one acold I prayd and gaue God thankes withall For comfort in such wo full thrall And thus I was received well As one releast from paines of hell My horror sure no tongue can tell Those pinching paines that I did feele Would surely breake an heart of steele A Christian promise then made I And vow'd a vow to God on hie That from henceforth continually His faithfull servant I will be Which to performe Christ strengthen me You sinners obstinate and ill That daily doe resist Gods will Giue eare now to my crying shrill Amend your liues while you haue space Or else you are in wofull case For our good King now let us pray The Lord preserue him night and day His counsell eke God keepe for aye This Realme good Lord saue and defend From euery foe to the worlds end A ditty declaring the fervent desire of a christian soule To the tune of O Lord of whom I doe depend SWeete Iesus who shall giue me wings of pure and perfect loue That I may mount from earthly things and rest with thee aboue For heere beneath I flie about in weake and weary case Like to the Doue that Noe sent out which found no resting place Euen thou O Iesus by thy power must giue me wings to flie Else shall I neuer know thy lure to stoope obediently Ne can I rise off from the fist of worldly pleasures vaine But stubbornely thy will resist to mine eternall paine My wearie wings sweete Iesus marke and grant me my request Put forth thy hand out of thine Arke and take me to thy rest For sure with thee are endlesse ioyes and no man there laments But here with vs are great annoyes whereof each one repents In heauen thy Saints doe sing to thee without all strife and feare But we on earth at variance be and subiect much to care Deggerly conceipts and base O toyes of deepe contempt From which sweet Iesus by thy grace my silly soule exempt For I have learn'd to loath those things wherein I did delight And unto thee the King of kings I come with all my might Craving a place with thy great host where I may sing alwayes To Father Sonne and holy Ghost all honour laud and praise
arose A proud sect of the Libertines that did enuie him sore Still seeking him to persecute that he should speake no more They hyred some to sweare and say that Stephen spake blasphemie Against the Lord and Moses law for which he ought to die Then to the Counsell he was brought to purge him of that crime Which thing he did most worthily before them at that time When they had heard these words and saw he feared not the chiefe Their hearts for anger burst and they gnasht on him with their teeth They gaue a shout with voyces loud and lead him straight away Then did they stone him unto death yet he for them did pray O Lord forgiue their sinne quoth he and doe my soule still keepe Vpon his knees he prayed thus and so did fall a sleepe Such patience grant to us O Lord and eke such constancie When for thy truth or otherwise we shall be brought to die A Carroll for Saint Iohns day The holding of the same BEfore the Lord now let vs sing with all the ioy we can That we may rightly celebrate Christs birth with good Sainr Iohn The Carroll it selfe According to Gods promise made in mercy to Mankind Christ Iesus came into the world as we in Scripture find Of whom the Prophets prophecied long time ere he was sent That he should be a Sauiour to all that doe repent Our Sauiour Christ both God and man when these things ended were And he had led his life on earth the space of thirtie yeere He did begin to call the twelue and taught them earnestly To preach his fathers will in all the Regions farre and nie And as he walked by the Sea he saw both Iames and Iohn The sonnes of simple Zebedie who was a fisher-man Christ called them and they forthwith obeyed him and came Wherefore Apostles they were made to preach still in his name Saint Iohn was borne by mothers side of great and royall stocke Though he were once a fisher-man and after fed Christs flocke He came of Mary Sallome of Davids braunch most deere And Sister to the Virgin pure that bare our Saviour deere The words of this Euangelist hath sounded euery where Vnto the comfort of all those that serue the Lord in feare Wherefore let vs with cheerefull hearts sing prayses to Gods name And in our Christian life like John still imitate the same FINIS A Carroll for Innocents Day The holding of the Carroll VVEeping mourning there was heard in Rama did complaine That wofull woman Rachel shee her children they were slaine The words of the Carroll it selfe When that th' eternall Sonne of God by providence diuine Into this sinfull world did come mankind for to redeeme Then Bethelem Iuda thought her selfe thrise happy and thrise blest That shee was found a worthy place to lodge that heauenly guest Wise-men there came from the East parts to worship this yong King Farre they had seene his starre appeare which did foretell this thing VVhen Herod heard of this strange newes O he was troubled sore And all Hierusalem with him they were in an vprore He called the Priests and asked them where this great King should be They answered at Bethelem if he would search and see In secret then did Herod call the wise men vnto him To know what time the starr appeared of this the new borne king And when he knew the certaintie he bid the wisemen goe And bring him word that he might come and worship him also But in a dreame God warned them the King not to obey Wherefore as they returned home they went another way When Herod knew of this he said this yong King I will quaile Ten thousand for his sake shall die with blood I will prevaile The Infants young of two yeares old by Herods campe were slaine Their guiltlesse soules God hath receiu'd in Heauen with him to raigne To Ioseph then an Angell spake in sleepe as we may read Saying take Mary and the child and hast away with speede To Nazareth then was Iesus brought and there he nursed was Vntill such time as he was cal'd vnto an other place A Carroll for New yeares day setting out vnto vs the true circumcision of the heart with out the which the circumcision of the outward members was of none effect To the tune of any ordinary Psalme REioyce we in the Lord our God for this ioyfull new yeare And let our holinesse of life from day today appeare The law of Circumcision now we humbly call to minde Yeelding most hearty thanks therefore to God that is so kind He made his sonne our sauiour Christ obedient to the law For vs that disobedient were and would not liue in awe Not to the end we should abide in sin as heretofore But that we might repent and pray henceforth to sinne no more This law of circumcision first God gaue to Abraham And to the fathers euery one long time before Christ came As we haue Baptisme now in vse so did they hold and keepe This ordinance which was a signe betweene God and his sheepe The badge the marke the Sacrament whereby all men did know They were his chosen people then and he their God also The eight day after that their sonnes into the world were borne The Priests did circumcise them all or else thy were forlorne The foreskinne of their privie parts with sharpe knife they did pare And cald the children by that name which then was given there The women children were contain'd vnder the males each one Wherefore they gaue them not the signe of circumcision This signified and did set forth unto the peoples view The Circumcision of the heart in all Gods children true And this the Lord did oft recite by all his prophets then And in like sort by Preachers now he shewes it to all men That God may haue his honour due and euery man his owne That Iustice may be ministred to make the truth well knowne That helpe may still be granted to the blinde the halt and lame The prisoners that afflicted are for Christ his truth and name Then shall we tightly hold and keepe this day cal'd New-yeares day By putting euill out of our hands the which God grant we may To whom be honour laud and praise from whom be given grace To vs that we may magnifie his name in euery place The father Sonne and holy Ghost that euer loued vs deere Increase true amitie in vs and send a good new yeere A Carroll for Twelfe day On the Feast of the Epiphanie The holding of the Carroll CHrist manifested in the flesh to Iewes and Gentiles all Still shew himselfe to vs and ours when we doe cry and call The Carroll it selfe This feast of Christs Epiphanie or open setting out Vnto beleeving Gentiles all to put vs out of doubt That he the God and Sauiour is of Iewes and Gentiles too And makes one people of them both which none but he could doe He now saluted is of kings of