booke had rest and needle leaue to play Doth entertaine her thoughtes with some discourse From Adams age vntill that present day And oft recountes Ierusalems decay Whilst eke by cunning art chorographie He doth present the citie to her eie These lines saith he describe it triplewald Aleph the plot where stoode the temple great Beth Sion castle Davids citie cald Guemell the Senate house and iudgement seate Daleth the market place He Mathkad streate And so by letters of her Alphabet He pointeth out where every place was set And streete by streete recounteth till he came To say heere stoode my there he speechlesse then Could not pronounce my house teares stopt the same Whilst from his hand he flings he pointing pen And falling from his matter vnto men He curseth both the auctors and the sin The breeders of the bondage he is in For while sweete Suse saith he we feard the Lord And did his lawes and sacred hestes obey So long he was our shield our speare our sword Our castle fort and bulwarke day by day Philistin Ammon Aegypt beare no sway Not Assur nor fell Syrian with his bandes Or sun-burnt Aethiop could subdue our landes But vvhen our rulers all vvere out of rule VVhen prince and priestes and people everychone VVere irreligious like the lust-led Mule Pleased in sin and vile pollution Then kindled vvrath then vvas our vvoe begon Then did he giue vs over for a pray In Chaldean noates to sol fa weale avvay Yet though he hath vs bruz'd vve are not broken Or left as out-castes in the eies of men Sith by his spirit-taught prophets he hath spoken That at the end of threescore yeares and ten Our seed shall sit in Sion gates age'n Thy selfe but young maist liue to see the day Our stooping age hath hopelesse natures nay Meane time liue mindefull of thy latter end Thou maist die young once old canst not liue long Content thy selfe in state that God doth send In svveetest ioies expect some sovver among The vvorldes svveete smiles are as the Syrens song And humaine pomp is as a vvhirling blast Soone gone and saunce recall vvhen once tis past Yea man himselfe is as a raine bred bubble VVhose shape though it be like t' Hemâ—spheer sky Yet if a vvindy blast the vvater troble It doth revert to vvater by and by And leaues alone the vaine-beholding eâ—e Such is Susanna deere thy present state A shade a dreame a vvriting vvanting date Learne then svveete soule to loath things pleasing vaine Learne then to loue thy soules long lasting health Learne then to knovv thy God and him to gaine VVhich vvell thou maist if first thou knovv thy selfe VVhich is indeede more peere-lesse far then pelfe Seeme lesse to none then to thine ovvne conceipt Selfe-loue a servile foe on fooles doth vvaite Embrace Gods promises hold fast thy hope Measure thy life by line of sacred law Containe thine actions all vvithin this scope Be not secure but standing stand in avve Least thine affections thy zeale vvith-dravv And still svveete loving lamb in age and youth VVith stedfast constancie professe the truth Yeeld vs thy parentes ay a lovvly heart In guerdon of the loue vve beare to thee Offend not friendes let betters haue their part Be carefull of thy name as of thine eie Let loue of fame prevent all infamie Ill company avoide as from the divell If thou vvilt free thy life and actes from evill Remember vvench thou readest in thy booke Tvvo thinges the ornamentes of may den head To haue a shamefast eie and sober looke And other tvvo if that thou hap to vved Good name and chastitie to bring to bed Assure thy selfe the owner of these fower Is godly faire and hath a vvorthy dovver Delight not childe in braue and rich aray To prune thy selfe as if thou were imprented Be sâ—emely not a slut be graue not gay With cleanly comelinesse be still contented Be not fond sicke with fashions new invented For tis but superfluitie of pride To haue a fashon-coyner for thy guide Excessiue neatnesse is a badge of evill An antsigne of a light vnstable head An angling hooke and engine for the divell To catch such fooles as are by fancie lead A moath that fretteth till thy wealth be dead VVhile backe doth make the belly to be sterved VVhich matrons eie should see to be preserved Then is shee cald a huswife comely dame Whilst cleanly fine is voide of curious partes Then which in time was not a better name VVhen golden world did want prides painting artes VVhen plaine content possest the country heartes VVhen hospitalitie did feele no lacke And was not climbde from table to the backe If that thy neighbours doe possesse good name Doe thou not envie at their worldly blisse Nor be thou light to credite every fame Reportes doe often hit and often misse Of all thinges iudge the best for best it is VVith sober looke be courteous vnto all VVith few familiar be or none at all Hide not a wanton heart with modest eie Say not thy Psalter in the divelles booke Take heede beware of such hypocrisie He is no saint that saintishnesse forsooke Be more severe in life then in thy looke And when thine eares haue heard what other say Allow thy tongue abridle and a stay Learne good things with good vvill instruct the weake Comfort the comfortlesse in their distresse Stop not thine eare when pining-poore doth speake Hate with thine heart sin-breeding idlenesse Let thrifty minde be free from all excesse Craue not too much if riches once arise Obserue a meane and let inough suffice And if thou covet honest exercise Then read good bookes such as our Rabbies pen Or vse such dâ—mes as well can matronise With honest mirth amongst the godly men With due regard of seemely where and when And to conclude where so thou hap to dwell Loue thou thine house as snaile doth loue the shell Thus did Helchia painefull father teach His Susan deere sweete obiect of his eie Her mother daily ceased not to preach The like preceptes of grace and modestie And oft would heere how well shee would replie What time her heart reioiced for to see So witty answeres with like guise agree VVhile shape did hold Symmetricall estate Her manners mated vvith a gallant grace Her beauty feature fine did emulate VVith speech composed and vvith sober pase And this decorum sitting in her face The whole and partes resembled and were like To perfect numbers in Arithmetike And shee thus trained from her tender yeares Became in time to reape her iust renowne In all respectes so far surpast her peeres Of equall age and vvealth within the towne That every vvay her praises put them downe Whilst wantons bent to play and idle pleasure Shee train'd her thoughtes to seeke eternall treasure Whereby it came to passe that envie fell Pursuing vertue with great eagernesse When they could not come neere began to swell And with fine tauntes to make her praises lesse Some
the shamfull deede And him we caught but yet away he fled For him from vs his strength deliuered But her we held and thear examined VVhat youth he was that did her bodie vse And though confessing shame did die her red Yet to resolue our doupt shee did refuse And with still sylence did her selfe accuse Thus haue we shewd the fact of this lewd wife For which misdeed law biddes her lose her life Shee all this space with patience on her knee VVith handes and eies vp-reared to the skie Commends her cause to God which all doth see VVhile groaning spirite in anguish plundgd doth crye Help help me God or else in shame I die Thou ruâ—'st right then stretch thine arme so strong And overrule the rulers of this wronge While thus shee doth appeale vnto the highest Her burning zeale doth plead her innocence Her modest looke doth say false iudge thou liest Her bashfull sylence speakes in her defence Her good reporte reproves their ill pretence The streames of teares that on her cheekes at spilt By secreat verdict quittes her from the guilt Yet much amaz'd to here this divell speake For well shee wist no manlike mind he bore Shee shapes him answere else her heart would breake Although her tormentes should be much the more Shee saw pale death attending at the dore To take her thence if that shee held her peace And if shee speake shee could not death increase VVherefore ev'n as a man thats sencelesse stroken VVhen as he commes vnto himselfe againe And feeles his bodie wounded brus'd or broken By swarting cause cannot from wrath refraine But letteeh flie his irefull blowes amaine Ev'n so her conscience netled by dispight Fights with fierce words weake champions of her right O admyrable patience sayth shee And depth inâ—erachable of Gods intent Whether this happe for tryall vnto me Or for these helhownds greater punnishment Hee onely knowes which onely hath it sent VVhie doth he not with righteous hand represse This scum of sin and filth of filthinesse VVhie did not wombe before these babes did sprawle Abhorse such seede vnworthie for the brests VVhie entred life within such bitter gaule VVhie harbour soules within such filthie nestes Whie did the ayre giue breathing to such beastes Whie did the heav'nes permit so fowle an eie For to behould the pure vnspotted skie Whie did not nature mould deformed clay So fowle mishapen mindes for to ingerth Whie swell not floudes and swiftly sweepe away This seede of Cain from the polluted earth Whie did not hell devoure them in the birth VVhie do not angrie elementes conspire To powre vppon them hoat consuming fire Whie did the earth eate Corach and his crewe And suffer these to trample on her browe VVhie did wilde beares those idoll ympes subdue And do wilde beastes these beastes to liue allowe Whie do not thunderboltes enforce them bow What should I say whie doth not God in ruth Commaund each power to punnish theire vntruth But thou O Lord art free from this offence VVhen rav'ning woulves such seely lambes devower Thou righteous dost not punish innocence Tis not thy worke tis they abuse thy power Thy power is iust the imperfection our The aire is good that doth the voice dispence Though faultly vsde to giue false evidence Then iudges most vniust behold the skies Thinke thear's a God those glorious globes that guides Let not despaire your soules deere health dispise But haue regard what law you goe besides Perpend in deepest thought God not abides Such wrathfull Cains as vvast the guiltlesse blood Then haue respect to me for your owne good Perchance you thinke your sinnes so farre exceede That God is never able to forgiue O flie those thonghtes which swift destruction breede And that our God is mercifull belieue Doe not so willingly to darke hell diue But these your haynous deedes from heart repent And God will then remit â—innes punishment Let not fowle sin be seeded in your age Let not your vertues die before they spring Doe not commit on me so great outrage But let true iustice rule in ev'rie thing Consider what defame such wrong will bring VVhat doe you thinke God sees not what you doe Yes sure he doth then haue respect thereto Your conscience can controule your heartes of follie Your hearts can say your tongues doe falshood tell Your tongues can tell your action is vnholy To wrong a seely woman meaning vvell And hating this offence as hatefull hell Let pittie raise remorse and bannish wronge Be not to stout because you are to strong But if your heartes blood-hardned still remaine To shed her blood that hath no lawes offended Then worke your wils on me O sonnes of Cam VVould God in this good cause my life were ended So that your liues and manners were amended VVhich if you doe not right with speedy pace Mine honors wrong your honors will deface A tree but young one may both bow and bend VVhen as the old will hardly bend at all A whelpe with trickes is taught to fetch and send VVhen as old dogges to it you hardly hall VVho can reclaime wilde haggards to the call Even so these men that seas'ned are in sin To serue the Lord cannot tell how begin For when they heard this oratresses tale VVith constant speach and gesture so declaimed Fierce envies â—retting poyson made them pale Fearing to misse the marke whereat they aimed They doe inferre it falshood meerely feigned To frustrate iustice with a slie perswasion And from deserved death to make evasion No credit giue say they this cunning dame Which with lip-lavish wordes would shift her death A man huge myriades of vntruthes would frame If he by them could buy life-feeding breath Ist not a iudges word that witnesseth Is not our oath confirmed vvith our hand VVhat two doe vvitnesse law doth will to stand VVhich said they do proceede to doome of death By processe had from the imperiall state And one the dolefull sentence vttereth Shee should be led foorth of the citie gate And there as Moses doth the law relate The multitude a â—ickle wavering head Should presse her downe with stones til she were dead Thus doth the law by witnesse wrested deale Thus is the vertuous dame condemn'd to die The iudge reiectes the husbandes graue appeale He stops his eares at parentes sad reply He will not heere the infantes wofull cry No doubt a pase that godly land doth flourish VVhich doth such lust-affected iudges nourish But loath to be interred in shames nest Stab'd with heart-wounding wordes falles on her knee Shee wakes her thoughtes with thumping on her brest Flies to her last refuge to set her free Entreates her God with humble teeres that hee VVould not for sake or leaue her in distresse But send his comfort to her comfortlesse O righteous God my iudge saith shee VVhich seest the secret heart And dost inflict revenge on those That doe thy lawes subvert Represse the pride of tyrants stout VVhich doe my life assaile
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
Ev'n when they ment most finely foote the Ball. And so haue mist the goale and to their cost Lament too late things past recovery lost Yea some which seeme in shevv to seeke it most â—n secret heart proue trevants treasure wasters One seely thought marres all the maiden bost Which soone betides these great tentation tasters Yea tis a booke-case pend by our great masters In vaine chast flesh a mayden name doth win Where yeelding thoughts haue given consent to sin All are not maides that vow they vvill not wed All are not virgins that are maides esteemed All are not chast that shun the nuptiall bed All are not true Dianaes that are deemed Chast Sara was not single when shee seemed Abused Thamar wore a virgins weede And might haue cloak'd false Amnons foule misdeede A droane doth sometimes in a bees place stand The single life no seale of maiden head Some batch'lers be but traitours in the band Worse foes to virgin wealth then those that wed Who when the foe appeares their force is fled Like Gedeons host faint cowardes prone to yeeld Scant one of ten is chosen for the field Yet quaint encomiast-like with wordes at wil You paint them out with praises at your pleasure VVhile making hast to preconize your skill You make the coate before you take the measure And to entize young tyrons with your treasure Like gold-sicke Alcumistes you pamper in A golden tincture on a peece of Tin VVhat praise peculiar to the thing you paint Which fits not modest mariage more divine Yet to canonize maiden-head a saint You put no ods betweene the saint and shrine To make a painted brow the brighter shine You parasite with praises to her face And causlesse clowd dame wedlocke with disgrace Nay rather say this buxome pleasing wife VVhile shee her toilesome fieldes of houshold tilleth And weanes her children to a Godly life In this her care the Lordes behest fulfilleth Sith that shee doth the thing his wisedome willeth And therefore well may take the vpper-hand Of her vvhose warrant hath not one command Nay rather reason mariage preservation Is lawded loved honored far and neere VVhose sacred rightes haue solemne observation VVhose ancient priviledge hath not his peere VVhose daily fruites are dainties held most deere And adde the cause for which shee is required The most commodious things are most desired VVhat if her house be neighbour to annoyes The blame be theirs not hers that dwelleth by them For if we walke in faire and easie waies That haue some noysome brambles growing nie them That rent our cloathes before we can descrie them The fault is not in fairenesse or the way But our owne folly or the brambles stay In Breschith booke it resteth in record Reporting Register of mans creation That when great Ihova by his powerfull word Made shapelesse man to his owne shape and fashion He first gaue nuptiall rightes for propagation As glorious ground-worke where he vvould begin That building which his prescience laboureth in And did in blessing knit this sociall band Endowd vvith vvorldly empire and earthes treasure Whilst purest nature did vnstained stand In easterne Eden place of passing pleasure When giving Adam of his Evahâ— seasure Ioind two in one inseperable vnion To represent him and his church communion Yea vvhen false man fell to Apostasie Misled by Sathan and his owne freewill Had spoild himselfe and plagu'd his progeny And chang'd his seas of ioies for flouds of ill The matrimoniall state continued still A mithredate to cure sius poysned sting The Bezoar stone that should healthes blessing bring For as a playster to repell despaire Paine ceasing med'cine to an aking sore God promise made that Eve should haue an heire Should bruze hell-serpents head and make him rore And to repaire those ruins added more To faithâ—ull Abr'am when he thus professed That in his seede all nations should blessed VVhen eake loves hot-spur Lamech over bold VVith one sweete fayre could not fowle lust suffice But let desire go loose and vncontrold And chose him mates in number to his eies VVhilst following age was wedded to his guise True wedlocke went to wracke and nature then Straunge mixtures made straung monsters out of men It greived God to see vngratfull man Pollute the earth with rape and ravishment VVhile to sweete bayted sin all headlong ran Ne would in time become true penitent Hee like a champion full of discontent VVith wreakful waters did these wicked wast Not one preserued but the wedded chast And as it were a warning heereto made VVhen nature ruld with law nunâ—npative How sore hee did detest flesh-mongers trade Fell traytors that do wedlocks wracke contriue From Sodoms flames he kept chast fower alive So to preserve chast Saraes bed vnspotted Hee plagued kings whom beautie had bee sotted But in the true transcript of Goddes owne hand Transplendant star how bright doth wedlocke shine Hee vnderprops her empire with commannd Dyrectes her lore with lawes as with a line Condemnes to death her subiectes that decline And when her peace is rent by ielous iarres Hee sets the way to cease her civill warres And vvhile her lasting glasse of glory ronnes He blots her foes faire brow with fowle disgraces But doth vouchsafe to call her children sonnes Enfranchizing her fruit with freedomes mace Doth nicke their counterfeit with name of base As slips of sin and fruites of basest folly Whose rootes he rooteth out as seede vnholly And that fierce Mars with sterne and sower aspect Should nothing hinder Venus influence He Mars his might doth countermaund and checke But gâ—ues her power protection and defence In maryed mates to act benevolence When to the Brides faire groome for loue he spares One yeare exempt from warres and worldly cares Even so the nations led by natures light Din sâ—intilles of the soules synterisis Did patron ze her peace with good fore-sight And to maintaine her princely port in blisse Restrain'd with lawes wild lust that walkes amisse Denouncing death or danger to her foes That darst gainst their states friend themselues appose Thus hath all times and tongues well entertained her Gods faithfull servant and mans fastest friend And those condemn'd to shame that haue disdeign'd her And if I augure right shall to the end When man in vaine doth gainst the Lord contend Ne can the state or pollititian misse her While he for his sweete Sions sake doth blisse her VVhose company giues comfort in distresse Two heades at neede yeeld more advice then one Two walkers in the way may falles redresse Two bodies sooner warme then post alone Two hands to helpe are better far then none How man man misse her comfort doe her right To passe the lingring day or tedious night Shee concord doth augment by consanguinity Sometimes shee standes the counterpawne of peace Shee doth enlardge loues boundes by new affinitie Shee arbitrating vmpire warres doth cease Shee still imploies the common-wealthes increase Her ympes in youth are loues sweete pawnes and
temptation False Sathan had fit men fit time fit place VVas never foe so fitted for invasion The plot once laid he would not bate an ace The price was shame her glories dim disgrace The meanes the men the time the place thus fitteâ— Yet Sathan prov'd a foole and shallow witted VVhile flattring time could not her thoughts content Convenient place had no convenient praie Though nobles sought her fames disparagement Yet had more noble heart a constant naie A Iudges wordes gainst iustice beare no sway Gray haires grim sutors argued youthes greene follie Their vele of Priest-hoode made them more vnhollie Such were the wightes that would this Ladie wrong So were their hearts addicted to vile actions That their lust-fostred thoughtes did wholie long On harmelesse Chastitie to raise exactions VVhy should stout nobles stoope to base detractions VVhy should such ympious ympes haue rule of all Whose thoughts are base and bond-slaues vnto thrall VVoe to that place where law is turn'd to lust VVoe to that land where rulers fall to sin VVoe to that state where might doth say I must VVoe to the wrong'd that seeketh right of him VVho forceth not of good or right a pin But makes the earth the obiect of his eies Because he would both God and heav'n despise Thou God which dost fell tyrans rage detest VVhy suffrest thou such wolues to tyrannise VVhy are thy seely lamkins so opprest And doth not mercie in thy brest arise Sure thou art merciful in this thy guise In giving Tyrantes time for to repent And fruitfull patience to the innocent A rare example of which righteous loue Doth in this ladies life at large appeare VVhom tyrant stride vvhether shee vvould remoue Her heart from thee her loving Lord most deere But shee in thee remaind the vanquisher VVhen thou didst raise young Daniell in her right And put her shamelesse foes to shameful flight For when the nuptiall rightes had due dispatch And solemne lawes fast knit the sociall band By writing made attenticke of the mach VVhen first Helchia gaue his daughters hand Before the states and seniors of the land That yeare advaunced were to iudgement seate Those hell-taught hirelings fit for Sathans feate For while this tender lady taught her will T' attend her liked loue and Lordly mate The captiue Iewes in troopes resorted still To iet in Ioachims courtes and there debate Of meanes to mannage their forlorne estate To rowse religion and awake their law Borne downe by bondage breeder of their awe So to erect a secret Sanhedrin They singled foorth two seniors from the best Graue Aged learned wise of noble kin For to expound the law and rule the rest But they vvhich seem'd in shew what they profest In proofe were Beâ—als broode base slippes of Caâ—ne In faith false Apostates men vile and vaine These long frequented noble Ioachims place Grim sires severe like Aristarchus brow Seem'd nothing popular could not the grace To kisse the hand or stoope the stately bow But though with halting onely well knew how To render right without regard of gaine Which made contending troopes attend their traine But modest ladie Ladie modestie Shee to avoide the presse in this repaire And shun the gaze of every glauncing eâ—e VVould to her garden walke to take the aire A fine contrived plot and passing faire Hem'd in with stately walles vvhich lik'd her vvell Chast cloistred nymph within â—o sweete a cell And when the presse vvas past and coast vvas cleere Vnto her home her setled pase shee bendes VVhere oft shee findes her Lord and loving Pheere Conferring vvith those seniors his good friendes To whom for Ioachims loue good looke shee â—endes Secure of lust shee deemd their age more stable Their faith more holy thoughtes more honorable But in plaine-meaning trust false treason lurkes Slie Sathan hence gate breath to blow lustes fire At which their melting heartes he softly workes So that they take th' impression of desire And so did bend to vvhat he vvould require Thus with faire stales he baiâ—eth buzzardes eies To teach these dotardes trickes to wantonize The silver heares sterne sum'nors to the graue Are dipt in die-pot and vvell taught to fal In curled tuftes like yonkers neate and braue No Peruge yet had Peru seene at al While withered limmes would youthes delights recal The spundge the combe the glasse doe wait at hand To cleere the wrinckled skin that age had tand Th' Arabian odors mend a noisome fault Each word each looke each gesture smackes of art The limping legge begins to leape and vault VVhen Cupâ—d shootes where death should thrill his dart Old wagges exceede to play the wantons part And then though folly giue themselues the fal Yet must sweete beauty beare the blame of al. So things wel ment are oftentimes mistaken Sometimes the harmelesse eie doth feeâ—e offence Sometimes faire dutie makes his friend forsaken Sometimes foule faultes are hid by faire pretence So were these seniors snared by true sence VVhen burnd not by the fire but by the light They were entrap'd by that true spie the sight VVhile chast concentricke circles of her eies Like sphericke sections cut by curious art Reflect the wanton beames which gainst them flies Backe to the darkesome dungeon of the heart Makes Liver loue-sicke poysons every part Makes reason and heartes passions disagree Makes that which was not what it should not be Fie on fine beautie that dost bane thy breeder Fie on false honor that betraist thy friend Fie on thee foolish feature thou eie feeder Fie on vnstedfast riches friendes vnkinde Fie on choice education art thou blinde Fie on fit time alluring bawd to evil Fie on fit place a broker for the divel These were the traitours that entisementes gaue To blinde concupiscence and bedlem lust To hoodâ—winke vertue and at reason raue That bids be bold and banish faint distrust Pretendes the purchase good and title iust Perswades it cowardiâ—e to daunt for shame VVhere greater conquest winnes the greater fame And yet they deem'd her vertues farre to great Her thoughtes to high to stoope to base desire Which did not coole but much augment the heaâ—e Great logges laid on doe most encrease the fire Beate downe by doubtes stout lust doth â—im the higher When strugling streames with strongest baâ—es are bent Then flowdes doe swell and rage most insolent And so while raging lust out-reacheth reason Like bended waues they surge aboue the bankes Displease their friendes and selues and al to please one Leaue law and right to play vnlawful prankes Vow great attemptes not worthy smallest thankes Grow carelesse resolute in dissolution Bewitch'd with beauties blaze to worke abusion That those which vvhilome did like Martiall vvightes VVeild Mars his weapons and were manly men Become nice Sybarites faint hearted knights Forsake the field to diue in Cupids den Resigne the Eagles empire to the wren Obscure Herculean fortitude and fame By childish service of some Lydian dame For as the fish that of his force to
But heere I see a cursed fawning pleasure That freez'th my soule yet burn'th my heart with lust That doth torment my minde beyonde all measure And over-rules me ruler with I must Then tel me brother whereto both shall trust For my poore trembling heart is so tormented That I the act vnacted haue repented His sad colleage vvho all this time gaue eare VVith good attention to this wavering tale Did seeme as though he held his counsaile deere But in his brest they bred most deadly bale So sorrow suckt his bloud that he lookt pale And staggring paus'd what answere best to make him Or take advice what course he should betake him At length from sin-flowing soule as flame from fire He belloweth out hoat-breathed brutish wordes I must vvith speed effect my hearts desire Commaunding lust no longer pawse affords No though mine obiect were ten thousand swords Ne can my spirit represse so fierce a foe My vvil is bent my heart vvil haue it so A good physition may his patient cure If he be carefull of the vvound in season But carelesse if he let it long indure He findes at length not one sufficient reason How of a festred vlcer he might ease one So if in time I had this plague prevented I should haue had no time to haue repented But now my wound out-reacheth reasons skill It festreth inward and so hurts my heart That I must bend to my rebellious will Vnlesse I wil endure an endlesse smart I vvould some Pythonisse could vvorke by art Or man of God by praier obtaine the skil To turne my heart from this intended il But twil not be I cannot haue redresse Dispaire doth stop the way to former state I must therefore to her my griefes expresse And worke by griping might and forced hate If that shee vvill not be compassionare Thus I resolue my thoughts are past relenting And carelesse I my Lord of your consenting Yet while sinnes griefe would heale his foules consuÌ„ption Foorth steps the temptour and to stop restraint Doth beare him vp with winges of prowd presumption Biddes hope be stable and his faith not faint Thy God saith he with mercy heeres complaint If thou to him thy acted sinnes deplore He heales with speede and salues thy smarting soare And what thy slippe is but a veniall sinne Fine natures fault or else no fault at all The saved Saints themselues haue sinners binne The steddiest foote sometimes doth take a fall No shame to trip but being downe to crawle VVhat if graue age of wantonnesse reproue thee The blame be hers whose matchles parts did moue thee Thus subtile Sathan faines to shift a carde That vice is vertue and foule-sinne salvation And that condigne our works are of revvard VVhen as our deeds are vvorthy condemnation To build presumptuous sinnes on Gods compassion He brings sinnes warnings warrants vnto sinne VVhile thus to pray his pupill doth beginne O God saith he doe not behold this sin But if thou dost yet doe thou not reiect vs For moe thy servantes haue offendors bin Therefore O Lord doe not to shame detect vs Nor with thy heavy-falling hand correct vs. Sith we are not the first that haue transgressed Thy sacred precepts in thy lavv expressed Old Adam fell and yet thou didst relieue him Thou hast forgotten Nohahs drunkennesse Lottes sin was greater yet thou didst forgiue him Thy hearts-loue David Vrie did oppresse And made his wife his lustes adulteresse High-seated Salomon that held his throne Fel to fond lust and had more faultes then one Al these and moe thy servants left thy lawes Yet did thy mercies largesse pardon all VVhy should I then haue longer time to pawse Or dread the storme ere it begin to fal No no poore heart I will no thoughtes fore stall Invent the way to win thy choice delight And this my hand shal helpe vvith maine and might He making might the period of his speach Entreates his mate to censure his conclusion Protesting that no reason should out-reach Or interrupt his setled resolution VVhile thus he resteth carelesse of confusion His partner doth impart his thoughtes replie And leades amisse vvhat went before awry Senior saith he rash is this enterprise Hast-making marchantes often marre good marte Lettes pawse a space our hast may prodigize Let first a fawning eie to her impart The loue-sicke passions of a friendly heart Let sighes entreate let lookes oâ—r loue vnfold Lets tempt her truth with traitrous gobs of gold Lets hire some B. to boord her with perswations That letter hath more cunning then the Ka. Lets court her oft with stately salutations Lets sift the secrets of our Cabala Lets looke in Bresith booke and Marcana What hearb what stone what word hath power in loue Lets try their force and every vertue proue VVe read in bookes of pendants and of potions Of figures fram'd with quaint charecterâ—smes Of Mawmets made by art to plannets motions Of direfull wordes and powerfull exorcismes Of curious feates to raise loues paroxismes If heaven will not heere lets sue to hell The Fayries haue great force old wiues can tell Lets then hunt out some old Hecatean hagge That can eclipse the moone and clowde the sonne Sweepe hilles away and cause the grownd to wagge Make headlong streames backe to their heads to ron Raiâ—e spirites as Saul in Endor saw was done Worke mindes as wax make wayward will loues thrall Lets trie their skill before we venture all But out fond lingring leaches to sicke loue VVhile you provide your patient doth decay Let leasures guests your paltry physicke proue Our sickenesse is impatient of delay Therefore sweet Senior let vs hast away Into this happiest orchard there to hide vs To try what better fortune doth abide vs. VVhich said these dotards sneake in at the gate False traitor to take in his ladies foes And being in sly foxes they debate VVhere best to finde fit couch for to repose And shrowd themselues from gazing eies disclose Till trustlesse time might pay the hoped hire Their hunger-starved lust did so desire And standing thus at gaze at length they spie A spreading palme fit arbour for to feast in VVhose wreathed boughes and branches clowd the sky This louely bower these brothels choose to rest in To neat a perch for such night owles to nest in VVhere flowring Camomill did cloath the ground VVith Rose and Eglantine encloased round VVhile heere they lurke with pleasing shrubs inshrinde Faire sights fresh aire doth yeeld them little ease VVhile conscience sting doth gaule the guilty minde Their swelling thoughtes doe striue like struggling seas No obiect of the eie or eare doth please They dread the leaues with wavering wil bewray theÌ„ Or twitling birdes with taunting tunes betray them The whistling winde amongst the trembling trees Doth force the head to aile and heart to ake The harmelesse humming of the toyling Bees Doth cause the legges to quiver hands to quake Least Ioachim them suspect and tardy take VVherefore the fearefull
eie doth loath the light And long to haue sin-shrowding darkesome night And while they both revolue their case saith one I had a dreame God turne my dreame to good Mee seem'd we sitting on the iudgement throne Our seate fell downe into a streame of blood And both we drenched in the crymsen flood In sleepe I stroue and strugled wanting breath To scape those waues that did conspire our death VVhich terror made my feareful flesh so tremble Vnneathes I could my perfect sences finde Cease quoth his mate no more dreames oft dissemble Dreames are deceites as wavering as the winde They never daunt a full resolved minde A fainting heart shall never loose the pray VVhich mawgre dreames I meane to win this day Thus are those seniors sold to desolation VVho doth not see their soules subdude to sin VVhilst their lust-hardned hearts by no perswasion Can be recald from what they did begin But bent to venture all vnsure to win Like ravening beares bereaved of their whelpes They sit alone devising many helpes Devising manie helpes to worke their will To vvrest or winne her to their loathed lure O that such Tygers fierce her seeke to spill O that such drowsie droanes should be secure To creepe into a hiue vnstain'd and pure To tast that Nectar and Hyblean Honie That none but one could winne for loue or monie O hearts much harder then the Adamant O chartes of sinne mappes of impietie Are you the men that vices should supplant Doe you in shew adore the dietie And seeke in secret sinnes varietie O doe but thinke there comes a iudgement daie Where such misdeedes cannot be wip'd awaie But your hearts harbour nought but ravishment You follovv Tereus vaine in villanie You carelesse how to die or to repent Do liue secure of shame and infamie And thinke on nought but oportunity To perpetrate your vvicked levvd intent In which already many daies are spent But all daies now are passed and expired In vvhich you liv'd twixt hope and grimme dispaire VVhen time hath brought you vvhere you most deâ— Even to that orchard where most holsome aire Doth kisse the creature which you held most faire Iniurious time vvhy didst thou serue her so VVhich never vvas or ment to be thy foe VVhy didst thou seeke t' enthral a sacred soule VVhy didst thou seeke to traine her vnto lust VVhy dost not oportunitie controule VVhich seekes to draine her honour in the dust O flattring oportunitie vniust Fit slaue to sallie Sathans lewd designement VVhen thy compeere fit place yeeldes entertainment O God vvhy hast thou set the ravening wolfe Vpon the poore and harmelesse lamb to pray VVhy didst thou let her scape Charibdis gulfe For to by Scylla rocke be cast away Thou hast vpheld her happie to this daie And now must light in Lyons ravening iawes And plead to eares that know no right nor lawes For when the sunne neere sommer tropicke seated VVith bright reflected beames did all repeate And westvvard from the southerne line retreated Did make the foggie heart in shade to sweate And croaking raven gape and pant for heare Then did Susanna to her vvalke repaire In shadowed seate to take fresh cooling aire VVhere with her mates demure two modest maides Shee shrowds her selfe in shrubs neere pleasant spring Like harmelesse Elfes the fountaine fairy Naids VVhere waters rush and chirping birdes doe sing And art with nature framd a curious thing A stately conduit whence sweete streames distilled VVhich vnderneath a sumptuous cesterne filled In which this vertuous dame was wont to bath her VVhen lawful rightes such homage did require And now to soone induced much the rather Because sun-burning beames did fry like fire VVherefore shee saith good wentches home retire And bring the soape the cloathes and things I neede Shut fast the dores returne againe with speede VVith due obeysance and a bashfull smile They yeeld the looke of readie servitude And with officious foote they post awhile Vnto the garden dores and them occlude To stop each stranger out that night intrude And by a posterne gate they post away And yet quicke wantons make to tedious stay Thus left alone good lady voide of feare Shee serues her God with solitarie muse Secure what birdes of rapine roosted there That ment her wretch in their sharpe clawes to bruse And vnprophaned bodie to abuse O little doth shee know what serpentes lurke In traitrous place to pray on natures worke Had shee Diana bin as poets faine VVhen these Acteoâ—s pried through the vvood Shee as Diana did would them constraine To be transformed in her angry moode Shee could not doe her glory greater good But what Acteoâ—s seeke to serue their vvill Shee little knowes that never knew such ill The seely fish that hooke hath never angled Doth seldome feare whats hidden in the baite The bird that never was with snare entangled Doth shun no place for that shee feares deceite So carelesse shee what curres lie at receite To take entangle wronge her guiltlesse minde Doth nothing feare shee should such treason finde But Sathan that had smothered long his fire Brings now three blazes flaming hies apase To kindle bright the brand of their desire With beauties praie commodious time and place Vp saith he beastes faint sluggards are you base Cheere vp your spâ—rits let groaning thoughts be glad So faire a day no Lordings ever had VVhile faultlesse shee sits trapt by false occasion VVhen once her maides were gone and all things fast Forthwith these lust-breath'd Lordes made rash invasion To make prophane the soule that is so chast Like hunger-starved vultures they make hast To get the baite within their ravenous beakes To kisse those corall lips and roseall cheakes And though with hast they fall vpon the ground They rise againe and headlong foorth doe ronne The fall doth say this fact shall you confound Your seate is dipt in blood and you vndone O leaue it of that is so ill begonne But while rebellious Sathan runneth by them Good motions cannot enter or come nigh them VVhen shee good lady savv these stragling Lordes To presse in presence with such heedelesse speede Shee wondred greatly Ignorant vvhat wordes VVhen as they came would from their hearts proceede They streight vvith circled armes her bondage breede VVhile gazing eies beholde her comely hue And maffling mouthes these gracelesse speeches spue Quoth one of them for one did speake for boath Wee must with that false heart began to faile him To tell the rest his guilty minde was loath Thinking perhaps dumbe shewes would most availe him And shee amaz'd with merveile what should aile him To greete her helpelesse captiue with I must Did feare the fury of the tyrant lust And quivering standes as doth the harmelesse deere Beset with greedie curres and eagre houndes Shee lookes about and pries to finde a cleere To scape these Crocodiles that passe their bounds VVhose clasped armes doe yeeld her deadly wounds While shame doth tie their tongues make theÌ„ mute And
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
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