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
conscience seekes their conquest to confute At warre was vvit and will for best endevours Contending thoughtes did hold a civill schisme As freezing fittes preceede hoate burning fevors So conscience feeles a shaking paroxisme In vaine doth reason fight with Rhetorisme The weaklig wit constrained is to yeeld And bedlem lust left owner of the field For when hee had a tyme him selfe be thought Right shame and feare exiled from his heart And love with lust a cruell combate fought And strived one the other to converte Then hee began his passions to imparte Yet bent to speake and douptfull of her nay Hee faintes againe and knowes not what to say Then as those cheating mates in conny-catchinge Cogge prate and lie to furnish foorth their feate He beates and settes his braines a brood in hatching Straung sleightes to gaine this more then golden cheate And Epitheme to coole flesh-burning heat At length twixt faltring hope and faint despaire He fawnes he frownes he threates he speakes her faire Sweete ladie now saith he we must enioy thee If no or liues will soone vnbodied be Consent therefore if no vve will destroy thee And say we saw one heere embracinge thee Nay wee will vow by heaven wee did thee see To act adulterouse sinne with some base slaue Then yeeld if thou wilt lief and honor have If thou demaund how our sin-seas'ned hearts VVith out remorse can harbor this misdeed Then know that love and dutie playd their partes VVithin our brests some better thoughts to breed But lust did blot what reason still decreed Thy looke fair ladie worthie to be loved So bownd our hearts they might not be removed Thy stature like the statly Cedar trees Thy peerlesse beautie passing al the rest Thy seemely iestures which each noatâ— and sees These are the thinges enthrall the mightiest And make commaunding monarches to be prest To fall from honor iustice law and right And bannish those which love them out of sight These are the traytors which betray thee now These like false guides do lead vs from the Lord. These thinges make lawfull kinges and Lordes allow Thinges most vnlawfull and to bee abhord What man faire ladie could not well afford To try fell paines to purchaze such a loue Yea pains of death aud thousand perils prove Didst ever read those high conceyted storyes In which the livesâ— of worthy loves are writ If so thou seest the trophies of their glories Weare raysd on loue and how inspir'd with it They pawne their lives by farthest reach of wit To make loves name eternall and admired That else to fame had not with cost bin hired O then but thinke thy Lords are more tormented Who dare suscept more perilles then them all And yet we know our deedes may be repented Sith greater men do take the greatest fall For when they slip the Eccho is not smal That doth reflect their faultes to every eare VVhich makes contented mindes not climb for feare Had not the Charmer beautie vs bee witched VVe should have held the freedom of our state And have bin richly with Gods giftes enriched And never feard the spite of daring fate But why do we our fortunes now relate VVhich may perhapes our rash attemptes ensue VVe came not now our future state to rue But came our over burning hearts to cole Enflamed by reflection of thine eies Let them sweet love be quenched in that poole That may thy Ioachims vse and ours suffice But say the word and we will meanes devise That thou fair dame shalt never be suspected For why our deed to none shall be detected What if thy parentes be right deere vnto thee Thy children deere good Ioachim deerst of all Yet flie faint feare this fact shall not vndo thee Beat down distrust and all his thoughts appall For this misdeed shall not in question call Thy spotlesse fame which all men hold vnfracted And deeds vnknowne are ev'nas thoughtes vnacted Qâ—oth he we both are linially descended From Iuda race kinsmen to Zedechias Thou maist sweet fair in vs be princely frended Yea more if thou wilt bend vnto our byas Thou maist be mother to the great Messias And â—o be famosed by royall birth Of absolute commaunder of the earth Thus fleshly speakes this carnall Cabalist Pawninge his soules deere life to ransom lust Or like a kingdome dreaming Thalmudist That in an eartlhy empyre puts his trust For Iuda scepter then lay in the dust And then as now they hop'd an earthly kinge But to his tale this Sophist more doth singe If treasure want thou shalt haue gold at will Or what thy wish or pleasinge thought desireth If honors hight thie honor lasteth still While secreasie our age and state requireth Yea place and time thie free consent now hireth Thie maides away do winke at thine offence The cloased dores will with thie fact dispence If douptes obiecte our wordes in iest are spoken And that our loue is conninge deeply feigned Then heere by hollyest vow for never broken VVee deeply do protest and vnconstreigned Our suite is loue by true affection trayned Then yeeld if no this armes consent shall drawe For needs wee must and need obeyes no lawe Else if thou dost persist in flat deniall Bee hold extreames at hand thie doome is teemed Adulterie shall breed thie death in tryall So shalt thou dead an hipocrite bee deemed So shall thine end bee infamous esteemed So shalt thou staine thiekin and blud debase Defame thie pheere and bastardize thy race For we vvell knowne graue fathers in the land VVil in thy trial iudge and vvitnesse be By oath of two each verdict giv'n must stand Our selues vvill sweare we found embracing thee A beardlesse groome in foule adulterie Then better twere to liue and haue good name Then haue thy death sepulchred in defame As for our selues we haue at large debated VVhat shame what infamie this fact may gaine How that we may be pointed at and haâ—ed Yea more then pointed daâ—lie die like Cain While drowping life is buried in disdaine A loathsome graue a death far worse then death Because the scandal shal reviue on earth Thus haue we thought what may ensue the deede VVho feares what may be misseth Ladies loue Faint hearted carpet knightes doe seldome speede If feare of what may be doth them reproue No feare shall daunt my heart or may bee moue So strongly hath desire enchaunted me That I must needes embrace mine infamie Sweete let vs then feede on thy coral lippes If that wil not suffice lets farther feede For raging lust hath gotten bedlem whippes And beates our heartes so that the wounds doe bleede And nought can cure them and contentment breede But thine embracings and thy bodies vse Which can recure the hurt procure thy truce Be briefe therefore report to vs thy minde If thou wilt yeeld weele rest thy secret friendes If no thou knowst what friendship thou shalt finde Thou knowst who so against the streame contends Doth striue in vaine his health
Vriahs wife no sure the childe did die That thus was gotten in adultery Yea God did sweare the like disgrace and sword Should light on his for leaving of his word VVhat did prowd Paris gaine to gad to Greece To fet that mynion Menelaus vvife Fames Phoenix beauties saint a peerelesse peece Shee cost a kingdome large and many a life Sardanapalus living voide of strife Became lustes wanton wallowed in her pleasure VVhich life did leese his empire life and treasure And well for if the Lord in wedlocks cause Plague common-weales and play the vanquisher When one fowle fornicator breakes his lawes What shall be done to that adulterer 〈◊〉 stâ—â—kler of this strife and bloody stirre Were he not worthy breeder of this brawle 〈◊〉 end esse death to pine and die for all Your selues of late in practise of the law 〈◊〉 doome of stoning death for like offence 〈◊〉 can desire your heartes from right withdraw That lawlesse now you can with laws dispence What brainsicke humor doth your braines incence To deeme that fact death worthy in an other Which you your selues do foster feed and cover If speeches dâ—â— but breath and labour leese If former 〈◊〉 cannot forwarne your eares Then yet behold I offer on my knees A 〈◊〉 of sigâ—es and stormie teares Pâ—tâ—y the paine that in my looke appeares Let these my wringed hands awake remorse Vse favour good my Lords abuse not force Consider what you are not base borne slaves Buâ— chiefe conductors of Gods chosen sheepe Then as a crâ—zed ship that's tost with waues Doth let the waters at the chinckes in creepe And drown'th her selfe withall in whelming deepe So you the ship wherein your subiectes saile Your subiectes sinke when you beginne to faile Therfore I coniure you by greate Iehove For countries cause for subiectes happinesse Eor your deere soules estate no further moue Mee poore afflicted soule heere succorlesse O do not seeke to drowne me in distresse Least now you see old Sodom flaines descendinge Suppresse your suite serve God who waits amending But what avayles to sownd to beastes retreyt Or quench the blazâ— that burneth in the straw Though Croco diles do weepe they meane deceit Though Lyons cowch they hide a hurtful paw So though these Lordes be moane the teâ—res they saw Commende her zeale extoll her good entent Yet still vntamed lust growes insolent The softest drops do peirce the hardest stoanes Through gentle wordes vngentle heartes will yeeld The tenderest zutho softneth toughest boanes Milde musick can mad beastes allure and weild Then are your stubborne heades so strongly sâ—eeld Or are your heartes so heard so rough so feâ—rce That nought can enter soften season peirce Behold the melting teeres this ladie sheds Behold what greef lies harbord in her heart Behold what modestie her over-spreds Behold how soare the wound vnmade doth smart Behold her soule repining at this parte Behold hart-renting sobbes assault your eies Behold vp heaved handes for mercie cryes But as the wilfull Aspis stoppes her eare VVhen charmers chaunting wordes like baites entise So these enchaunted adders will not heere The wordes of health or wisedomes sound advise So bendded will is bent to winne the price That neither may this ladies plaint or moane Make pitty pierce their heartes more hard then stone For when her hearts deepe oracles were ended And that they saw such resolution in her VVhile chastest faire faire chastitie defended Gainst those who sought with fawning wordes to win her As farre from hope as though they had not seene her Perswaded now faint means would marre their matter Her with strong hands weak fort they seeke to batter For savage Satyre-like they vvould vncover VVhat bashfull nature biddeth secreat hide And close as hungrie Ravens they doe hover To doe that great disgrace shee may not bide But when shee saw foule lust was at full tide And that her lingring girles did stay so long Shee cride amaine before shee felt the wrong Helpe helpe shee saith helpe helpe I am vndone O helpe a wofull wretch in wretched case At which her crie the iunior iudge doth ronne And open settes the garden dore apase As if some fellon fled out of the place And shee for helpe doth not so often crie But they as fast stop keepe the thiefe doth flie The servantes netled with this suddaine noyes Of help help help stop keepe the theif doth flie Ronne to the posterne gate maydes men and boyes To find the author of this mutinie The cursed cause of that lamenting crye VVho staring gazing gaping ronne aboute Like men amazde to find their mistresse out At length they do desire their ladie faire Her beautie blemished with blubbring teeres As Phebe mantled with the mystie aâ—re VVith watrish beames vnto the sight appeeres Officious dutie bids her bannish feares Relate her hap and let her heart be stronge VVhere hands and hearts are vowd to right her wrong But shee good ladie that did deeme her groomes Vnequall vmpires of her high disgrace Leaves her bad hap vnto theâ— better doomes And by her selfe aloane with-drawes the place And beares her greif imprented in her face That loachims eie might see and seeing rew Her wronged faith in her deformed hewe VVho when he saw his love and his lives breath To quake in ev'ry parte as palsie shaken And cheeke and lip to looke as pale as death VVhome fresh life feeding humour had forsaken Himselfe by fainting feare is overtaken But when he sees her sinkinge to the ground With girdling armes he doth embrace her rovnd And sobbing wordes through his tongue stopping teeres He saith O sweete sweete heart vnfolde thy griefe O speake my loue and bannish bashfull feeres Heere is a hand shall yeeld thee lardge reliefe VVhose hearts true tenure holdes of thee in chiefe If all the world should vowt ' ware wrong'd by thee Yet should it not appeare a wrong to me At vvhich his quickning wordes as Phoebus shine With powerfull beames and heat vegetatiue Vnshrowdes the earth from her congealed shrine And makes the wythering shrubbe and grasse reviue So shee begins to spring and seeme aliue And vvith her faltring tongue yet all a mort Of traitrous men doth render true report And as we blame misfortunes in their bringers Shee blames her maides as fawtors of her wrong Shee feeles impatient fittes and they her fingers That durst neglect their due returne so long Whose sad excuse permixt with teares amonge To seeke the thinges her selfe had laide amisse Return'd her selfe the blame that wrong'd her blisse Meane time the vnresolved servaunts feare it VVhat spitefull ill their lady did surprize And though their itching eares did long to heare it Yet a king heartes did rather sympathize Then know from whence their passions did arise At length with bashfull boldnesse and good grace They aske the seniors of their mistrisle case VVhose irefull eies when first they did behold This giddie rowt to presse with speed in place Did first condemne their deede as overbold VVhile fainting
he that stoopes for age For as the mower with his keene edg'd sickle Cuts downe aswell the greene as seeded grasse EveÌ„ so the souldiers sword though teares downe trickle Permitteth not a breathing soule to passe He spareth none that happen in his way Faire wordes chast lookes entreaties beare no sway Then sounded foorth the screitching griesly crie Of slaughtered soules and many a deepe fet groane Of such as murthred yeelde the ghost and die From wounded lungs yeelding a hollow moane While manly men that whilome stoutly stoode Dismembred now lie weltring in their blood Then might be heard and seene with wofull eies The living soules lamenting for the dead Powring out plaintes with sobbes with sighes and cries And bitter teares as bleeding heartes might shed The old lament long life to be forlorne The young repent that ever they were borne The wife shee soundes and yeeldes her vitall breath To see her husband die in wofull case The husband feeles a fit far worse then death To see his wife defild before his face And seely babes poore heartes to perish this That never did offence or thought amisse The mourning mothers tugge and hale their heares To see their slaughtred seede remedilesse The children bath their cheekes with bloudy teares To see their wretched parentes in distresse While help-lesse handes doe trust vnto their feete And leaue poore infantes crawling in the streete For now the men of armes were fled by stealth And every soule was left to shift for one Counsaile did want regard was none of wealth Of kin or friend or who were left alone Who makes not hast death and destruction feeles The happrest wight doth shew the swiftest heeles When souldiers slaughtring sword embrewd with blood Found not a man that durst resistance make Then bedlem minde gan grow to milder moode If mildnesse be as bad a course to take For now vnbridled lust at large doth stray And prowles about for pillage and for pray Had chast Lucrecia dwelt amongst those dames Full many a Tarquin would haue wrought his will Had good Susanna wandred in those flames Her spot-lesse corpes had bin constrain'd to ill While seely lambes the chastest and most iust Became a pray vnto a peysantes lust The matchlesse vessels of magnificence The temples treasure many a millions mate The wealth of Zedechias excellence The riches of his Lordes and men of state These things were sent away to Babilon As fit for Nabuchadnetzar alone What else was left of Iewels gold and plate Amongst the meaner sort which might be much Each souldier held what so thereof he gate While they with other spoiles themselues enrich And when the pilfring hand had his desire The rest was left to be consum'd withâ— fire Then clims the furious flame the stately tower Each priveleadge doth giue the souldier place The pioner spares nortemple house nor bower The time is spent to spoile and to deface There was not left one monument of fame Which did not feele the force of burning flame The Heav'n-like house the temple of the Lord The worldes eie and onely worke of name Whom once he did delight but now abhord Is raysed downe and robbed of that fame The walles also that hem the citie round By might of men are ev'ned to the ground The seely captiues that had scap'd the sword And were reserv'd as Trophies of the spoile Hange downe their heades and cannot speake a word Or sound adue vnto their natiue soile The servantes loath to see the masters face The subiectes grieue to weigh the princes case Whom haplesse king slight could not yeeld reliefe But as the deere before the nimble dogge He was enforst to stoope vnto his griefe And for a crowne to were a heavie clogge What time his sonnes once slaine before his face He had his eies put out with great disgrace And so blinde captiue led to Babilon To be a bondman to his dying day He left the royall seate of Salomon And now must leaue commaunding and obey Since he that was impyring prince before Is now a fellow prisner and no more Amongst these fettred troopes of thralled states You must suppose transported with the rest Helchia Ioachim and those tragicke mates VVhose natures not their names are heere exprest Were Susan borne or no their glories shine Vnknowne it wantes a Delius to divine But Daniell then past twenty yeares of age In Babilon was growne to great regard Of fame in court the mighty monarches page Dreame secreat Seear and renowned Bard. VVhich knowne I leaue both story and my skill Vnto your courteous censure and good will EVSTATHIA or the CONSTANCIE OF SVSANNA CONTAINING THE PRESERvation of the Godly subversion of the wicked precepts for the aged instructions for youth pleasure with profitte WHen Chaldean glory sate in whinged throane Of flying Fame which far and neere doth waÌ„der In Asian soile in statelie Babilon The worldes monarch and the earthes commander VVhat time no humane forces might vvithstand her Then did stout Syria stoope and Aegypt bovv And Iuda bend before her frowning brow Then princely peeres did ducke and doe her duety Then raisd shee in the aire sky-kissing towers Then did the circled earth admire her beauty Then dwelt there in her braue and matchlesâ—e bowers The hight and sovereigntie of worldlie powers VVhose selfe-ruld handes did sway the scepter royall That kingdomes kept in awe and subiectes loyall Standing this tipe of sading maiestie There dwelt vvithin this state-commaunding towne A Iew a man of passing modestie Helchia hight and he of good renowne Right worthy for his wit to weare a crowne VVho tooke to vvife a faire and louely dame VVhose godly life gaue glory to his fame â—or as the ringe compact by curious art 〈◊〉 of it selfe right seemely to the eâ—e â—ut when the Saphire is his true conserte There doth appeare a fuller maiesty â—er vertue so his fame doth beautifie Her husband was esteem'd among the states And decked with her glory in the gates â—rom which chaste roote in time did spring a rose â—usanna cleapt not borne â—o eate her foode Or make dandling that must feele no blowes Her parentes care was how to teach her good And to invest her minde with modest mood Their reason fond affection had exilde Not bent to make an idoll oâ— their childe â—ometimes the godly mother matron-like â—ith rod in hand to keepe her babe in awe â—ith setled looke and grace demure and meeke â—ould teach her childe the precepts of the law â—nd make her imitate what so shee saw In comely â—esture seemely gate and guise That vse might manners make and doctrine wise And as sweete Aprill showers make Flora flourish â—o her kinde father carefull for his ioy â—ith choice preceptes doth vertue feed and nourish That grace might freely grow without annoy And natures weedes keepe vnder and destroy Whereby it came to passe at bed and bord There past no ill-spent time or idle word And carefull man he led by meere remorse VVhen
said the mayd would proue a prophetesse The booke-wise vvench will yeeld a deepe divine Or of a saint will hardly make a shrine But godly graue that best doth iudge and say Did deeme her right a worke of rare perfection A peerelesse peece to be a princesse pray One Angel-like a vessell of election Whose shining fame was free from deathes infection Though her time-fading beavty dead doth lie Which did surmount each feature seene with eie Why didst thon beauty fade vvhy didst thou vvither O budding Rose why didst thou ever blast Why didst thou proue vnconstant as a feather In her whose constancie did stand so fast Sure twas to teach vs nothing heere doth last For else thou wouldst haue liv'd with Susans name And as a handmaide waited on her fame Whose shape splendiserous vvas in each mans sight Whose looke gaue argument of sober grace Whose eies two twinckling starres nev'r proved light Whose silent tongue knew well fit words to place Whose faith so firme that nothing could deface Though two great seniors sought to blot her brow And to their lure to make her chast soule bow O that such peerelesse splendor should haue wrong And be entised vnto lawlesse lust Not Iuda but false Iudasses doe long Pure chastitie to cast into the dust But leaving heere those matters vndiscust You heard her life first wained from the lappe Now doth ensue the processe of her happe When trust-lesse time by his swift-footed pages Cleap'd minute hower day weeke the month yeare Had brought her past her two first sevens of ages And set her in th' ascendant of her sphere And nature now gaue summons to draw neere In nuptiall court to yeeld expected homage Since that in bar shee could not pleade her nonage Then scruple-finding stickler vnto strife Propones her bashfull thoughtes this bold discourse Twixt barren mayden-head and bearing wife VVhich of these two did stand in greatest force For with the best shee ment to shape her course Whilst in pure conscience court where her soule sate Her pleading thoughtes it argue and debate Like Hebrew disputantes that had bin trained In Moses schoole at some Gamaliels feete And were not yet to christian lore reclaimed Sometimes they argue mariage is most meete Sometimes è contra spider-sucke the sweete VVhile sotted sences are so Iew-beguiled To deeme the mariage bed a thing defiled At her heartes bar these silent virgin pleaders VVith soaring high conceites as highly rated Far fet their petegree from stately leaders Pure Angell spirites virgins ere man created VVhose actiue life no Angell ever mated While victory of virgins doth excell Which vanquish their owne slesh wherein they dwell Each other iarre not long suspended hanges An hower a day a yeare doth stint the strife Blud-died martyrs soone do passe their panges But this fell battle dureth during life Heere daily striving victory not rife So matchlesse is by antique rare discent The mayden life and glorious vanquishment Yea auncient Adam Iohvaes protoplast Was moulded of his mother mayden birth And old dame Evah to commend the chast Of virgin rib was fram'd a mayden birth Iust Habell liv'd vn marryed heere on earth Melchâ—sedech also our Rabbins tell Did virgin preist and kinge in Salem dwell The wonder-workinge prophettes most of fame The Thesbite and the Abel-Mecholite The one transumpt to heav'n in fiery flame Do shew how god doth virgin life delight Fore-seeinge Esay where hee doth endite Messias birth a maydens son doth make him And sure I am his ayme doth not mistake him The thinge wee prayse is mynion to this kinge The iustice which the iustest iudge approveth Vowd to the Lord a secret holy thinge Sacred to God as such a state beehoveth And for bycause her contrary shee loveth Shee alwayes maryed lives a spowsed wife Yet evermore a mayd in single life Whose life is termd the Angels imitation And therefore is hir figure Angel faced Shee mowntes to heaven by winges of contemplation And therefore is shee paynted stately pased And for bycause like Goddesse shee is graced Her traine is trod with troopes of vertues nighnesse Like maydes of honor neere a princesse highnesse VVhose robes the spotlesse flesh integritie Do emulate the white spot Ermelin A trophie of vice-quellinge victorye The brannchinge palme hir fingers claspeth in The wimple that shee weareth on hir chin An ant-signe is of bashfull modestie Her humble minde declares her stoopinge eie The Gentiles hence in their high observations Compare chast Pallas Goddesse in their heaven To yeeld true maiden life due commendations Vnto the full and misticke number seven Compacted of two numbers od and eaven Th' entire and incorrupted vnitie VVith six the secrete of virginitie For what content but in the maiden life VVhose fleet wingd thoughts ar free to serve the Lord VVhose mal-content if not the maried wise Careful to please grim sir at bed and bord VVith best obedience in hir deede and word And so mans service is then Goddes more geason Thus on the virgin part her thoughtes do reason And to amase her weake and pusill minde In creepe through crannies of imagination Deformd Idean formes and phansies blinde Sent foorth by hir sicke sences instigation Like staringe greisly fendes threatninge invasion Presenting to her heart the homely iarres And houshold cares accurringe nuptiall warres Base mariage say these bugges is rife to all Braue virgin life a perle possest of few The seild found Sagda stoane though it bee small Exceedes huge rockes that make more often shew VVhat recknings made of recklesse drops of dew Rare things are in request and do surmount VVhere common base and vile have none accouur Perhaps some worldling will thee woo for wealth And talke of love when heart by lust is galled Pleades his playn-dealing steps not in by stealth Vowing thy vertue hath his heart enthralled When as thy beautie sitteth their enstalled VVhile mucke not modestie hath him bewitched VVith honor kin or friends to bee enriched And so when causes of his suite decay Lust fully gordgd with lothsomnesse infected Fine beautie fled false riches runne away The causes gon for which thou were elected Th'effectes fal downe and thou art then reiected VVhat better hope or hap may bee maintained Of better rightes why mariage was ordeined If that thou wed to tame flesh kindled sin The fault is doubled if thou fall away If to increase and multiplie thy kin Thou shalt for loathed pleasure deerly pay VVe but report what maryed folkes do say Childe-getting vadinge ioy is in their creedes A raging toy that rash repentance breedes VVhen once the fruitfull wombe hath seede conceived The altred woman seemes not what shee vvas But growes vnweildy groning and agrieved As one surchardged with some weighty masse Like Balams bearing Angel-frighted Asse No sence no signe no pulse no part no passion But that it feeles some perfect alteration Some giddy vapour doth infest her braines And with his foggy missing dims her sight Inslates the secret Artires
gages To parents staues to stay by in their ages VVhose house is held an Academie royall Heere Faith by doctrine hath due exercise Heere Duetie biddes her children to be loyall Heere Patience prest if that extreames arise Heere Loue in liking heartes Hope never dies Heere Fortitude repelles faint feares offence Heere Mercie doth with many a fault dispence Heere Gratitude giues guerdon with good vvill Heere Constancie doth checke false wavering Fame Heere Humble minde doth take nor doe none ill Heere Temp'rance doth fond lusts entisements tame Heere Chastitie is guardian of good name Heere Labour Lasies foe doth keepe true â—uch Heere Meane obserues enough and not to much Heere doth sharpe Logique proue her right with reasons Heere Grammar traines her ympes in grounds of speach Heere shewes Astronomie the starres and seasons Heere to accompt Arethmeticke doth teach Heere Rhetoricke in bad causes plaies the leach Heere doth Geometrie worke all in measure Heere Musicke is maintaind to maintaine pleasure Heere Historie doth eternize her actes Heere Poetrie paintes her never dying fame Heere Natures clerkes doe authorize her factes Heere Phisicke stirs to keepe her health in frame Heere Lawiers plead the charter of her name Heere Sophistes though like newters standing mute Yet doe not dare against themselues dispute Heere sits Compassion porter at her gate Prudence purveis her plenty and her store House-keeping Care is steward to this state Her liberall hand is Almner to the poore Religion leades her life directes her lore Good-order standeth vsher in her hall Iustice controwles if ought amisse doth fall Within her courtes attendeth on her traine The high the low the noble and the base The stately monarch and the statelesse swaine Priest prophet patriarch and the princely race The troopes of warlike gallantes presse for place All times all tongues all nations farre and neere With duties knowledgement are present heere No law no learning science art not skill No craft no cunning knowledge or invention No state that was or that continueth still No trade no misterie that man can mention But that it guardes her gates with good intention And when shee passeth by with seemly greeing All bow the knee and thanke her for their beeing Thus her al-blessinge auctor blest her prime Thus hath shee gotten glory from her ground Prioritie from venerable time High sovereigntie with empire hath her crownd All laws their nurse and foundresse fence her round Fayce Edens prayse doth grace her grovnded fame Mans nature then most pure doth now the same Thus doth her high resemblannce rowse renowne Thus doth her fast coniunction rayse regard Thus doth her sovereigne promise prayse resowne Thus was shee made when all thinges else were mard Thus doth Iehove him selfe her greatnesse gard Thus doth Gods church her child coÌ„mend their mother Thus common weales her wainlings will none other Thus Nature aye ennobleth her estate Thus Reason doth vphold her reputation Thus Profit doth her peerlesse estimate Thus Neede doth tend her princely preservation Thus doth mans life maintaine her estmation Thus time doth yeeld her charters true content Prescription custome practize and consent Thus doe all times extend her excellence Thus doe all tongues extoll her rule and raigne Thus doe all wittes afford her best defence Thus doe all states her sacred state maintaine Thus doe all sortes of men attend her traine Thus nations all nobilitate her name Thus doe all worldly powers advance her fame Thus happie shee when all doe pleade for one But haplesse you when one doth speake for all You might haue spred your praises and bin gone And not chast mariage name in question call But lide franke gamsters sith you venter all You that of others speake the things you should not Must be content to heere the wordes you would not If you had blotlesse made your mistresse brow Before you spide the moate in mariage eie You might her right with better right avow Thus truth though tyred never went awry In vaine the master findes a limping fault Where he himselfe doth stumble and go hault Your clyent while shee claimes a single gift Doth contradict the law of propagation And with a poore pretence and seely shift Denies man comfort cause of her creation Flies from old Evaâ—s faith to newer fashion Depriues her seede lifes blessing in the land Her selfe th'obedience God doth first command Yea while fine nature worketh in her kinde Deathes ruines â—o repaire in lifes repriue To liue for aie in those shee leaues behinde Shee laboureth still to leaue her like aliue And never die her selfe whilst they surviue You while you crosse this kindly worke of nature Would liue your selues but leaue none other creature And where the nations to vphold their state Coherse with lawes and shame the single life Your selues as lawlesse lawes doe antiquaâ—e Set barren sect against the bearing wife Thus wage you warre thus stirre you endlesse strife Thus swaying in selfe-will your will withstandeth What natures biddes and God himselfe commandeth And thus your life resembleth desolation Your bodies graues to burie babes vnborne Your vow a cord to strangle propagation Far better ill-kept vowes weare left vnsworne Your thoughts fierce foes to leaue you kin forlorne Your willes flat worldlings while you temporize Your tongues in wedlockes wracke doe scandalize God mariage made in commanding moode And what he biddes the same we must obey But mayden life commended is for good Where is command commending beares small sway Therefore to stint this strife I boldly say If God giue grace the single life doth well If not such gift then mariage doth excell Be quiet then sweete thoughtes lets rest agreede Let mariage haue deserved commendation Let virgins haue that virgins are indeede Due praise renowne and sacred observation True maide true vvife in thought and conversation Both holy in the Lord the one as wife The other as a maide in single life Thus her soules sences held a long dispute And sillogize their reasons pro con While minde the moderatour standeth mute VVhat's vnresolved to resolue vpon At length shee thus coÌ„cludes when thoughts were gon Sith God made Eve least man should liue alone Shee was of man and not Pâ—gmalions stone When Fame the light-foote titling babe by birth False spie that into secrets makes intrusion Tale-bearing paritour to mone and mirth Foule-fleering blab truthes traitour and confusion Had tane by top the tale of her conclusion Shee spreds with speede the motiue of her marying Pretending hast as if there were no tarying Whence came to passe that troopes of corrivals Like eager houndes to get a gallant pray Doe poast with speede not caring what befals To win the goale and beare the price away They flaunt it out in traine and rich aray To get the favour of this gracious faire That is so buxome and so debonaire Some offer stately dower some princely gifts Some honors hight and to advaunce her kin Some bâ—re of these do sue with loue-sicke shiftes Pawne sighes
sad looks straung vowes they make no sin To sweare for-sweare this golden fleece to win Each streignes his thoughts his rivall to beguile VVhilst in her iowre lurks death life in her smile But as the mounting Eagle in the winde Disdeâ—es to stoope and checke base flockes of flies Or as club griping Hercules by kinde Doth single combate with a dwarfe dispise VVhose force his manhood doth not equalize So shee doth scorne to fawne on such a frend VVhose faith doth soone beegin and sooner end Yet as in gardens whear all herbes do grow Some fragrant are whose sweetenesse doth excell Though some eie-pleasing lillies trimlie shew VVhen as they yeeld the sent a loathsome smell So some there weare might please her eie full well And by sweete vertues odor fume her sent VVith grace automaticke and redolent For as while those bright globes of rare accoumpt And splendant plannets in their spheeres do ronne One is superior and doth all surmount VVithout compare aye gloryous shininge sonne So in this gloabe of gallantes theaâ— stoode one VVhose neate beehavior grace and bounty bright Did dim the rest as sonne the candle light Renowned Ioachim thou the man admired Both of the Chaldees and the Iewish nation Thou weart of all regarded and desired Greate was thie wealth so was thie reputation Thy life an obiect worthie contemplation That didst with Titus purchaze thee a frend Each day beefore the soune his course did end Thou didst not with gnuffe Craesus hoord thy wealth Thou weart with Cato rich when once contented Thou hatedst Cesars pride which was the pelfe That causd his death which hee to late repented Thou hadst Iobs waxen heart which still relented If orphanes cride if widdowes wanted right If poore men said they wear opprest by might Thou weart a Moses in maintayning lawes Thou didst fell Pharaos goverment detest Thou with the Macbies in thy countries cause Wouldst pawne that heart that harbord in thy brest Thou ever heldst Manasses wayes vnblest Thou weart a polititian graue and wise Yet free from that slie tricke to temporize What heart so iudurate that Would not yeeld Whear vertues puissant valor stroue to win What minde so obstinate to take the feild Gainst those fine partes whose matches scant-have bin Sure causelesse to reiect him t'weare foule sin Whearfore her thoughtes well trayned in their good Do entertaine his suite with gratious moode For as a Diamond rich through vertue rare To it the gads of sturdie steele doth draw And as the youthâ—worne lett by like compare Bestowes hâ—s power attrative on the straw So sweete Susanna not compeld by awe But led to love by like heartes Simpathie Did yeeld his eares his wished heartes replie VVho thought him selfe to bee the happiest wight VVhen shee became not hers but his desired VVhen shee had made surrender of her right The ioy the comfort which his heart required VVhile to obtaine that pray hee more aspired Then conqur'ing Alexander to subdue A world far wider then the world hee knew O peerelesse purchaze fownd by few or none O pleasant conquest pleased conqueror VVhilst true content triumpheth in loues throane More rightly rich then Asiaes emperor The price was vertue thou the vanquishor For in thy pris'ner with a princely port Residinge vertues held their royall court VVithin the closet of whose cloysest pleasure Neat cabbonet for vertues sweete repose Nature and Grace had hid their finest treasure And left it all to Constancies despose A trustie guardian for such goodes as those Amongst which glorious graces in her brest Bright Chastitie was seen aboue the rest Shee seated in a seate which vertue placeth A royall throne the soule and minde divine As onely grace that every vertue gâ—aceth Is canopied with Fayth most pure and fine Like milkie-way with circling Cristalline And at her knees are kneele and parte not thence Transparent puritie and Gods gifte Continence And to vphold her high and heav'nly state Shee hath for guard attending on her traine Sobrietie truthes friend and vices hate Foresight that evill occasions doth refraine Dumbe tongue dead heart blinde eie deafe eare sad brainâ— Well guided thoughts a hand and foote not idle Sterne abstinence that head-strong lust doth bridle O chastitie thou beautie of the minde Vnspotted puritie in things vnpure The comliest ornament of woman kinde Were not this seate most slipprie and vnsure Thou wouldst in all and not in few indure But thy light foes false title of true pleasure Thee loathed makes her loved out of measure Yea since thy friends in shew but foes indeede Vaine Tutors taught their pupils how to spell For caste caute and to serue fowle neede If chastly want that cloasly doth doe well This motiue made some subiects to rebell Who by pretence to vnderprop thy crowne In secret make assaultes to pull thee downe VVhose prowd Essenian high-priest Rabbena To canonize thy saint wil kisse thy shrine Yet not with Aaron choose chast El'saba But like that Levite vse his concubine Yea if thou dost thy selfe in mariage ioine They blesse thy name as sacred one of seven Yet ban thine act as most vnworthy heaven O neighing Iades fast friendes to infamie Nuâ—ses to naughtinesse lewd bawdes to lust Base vassalles to your willes Apostasie Why doth not Conscience checke your deedes vniust VVhy doth not sad Dispaire drowne in distrust Those temptors of these sacred Nymphes to sin VVhom rape may not enforce nor flattry win Delightsome flowers doe quickely fall and fade And budding beauty blasteth in small space But constant Chast thy sonne goes not to glade No age nor eating time can thee deface VVhile vertue thee thou vertue dost imbrace Thou gracest Susan having thee in hold As richest Iemmes doe grace the finest gold Her Ambeâ— tresses made a seemely shew Her milke-white skin adorned natures skill Yet all did vanish as the liquid devv VVhile Chastitie remaines eternall still VVhy then are vvomen vvedded to vaine vvill That for a wanton momentanie pleasure They wilful vvast an everlasting treâ—sure Had Susan bin of their vnstable minde To sel eternitie to get a toy Shee had not left such noted fame behinde But had bin titled faith-lesse fondly coy VVhich did relinquish lust for lasting ioie And left her loved name to be eternall But those that wrong'd the same like fendes infernal For when her choice did yeeld a vvorldes delight And ioies did soare aboue the reach of sorrow VVhen setled thoughtes secure of worldly spight And barge of blisse high fortunes seas did forrow Then flâ—ttring night brought foorth a doleful morrow What time her gracious God did hold it best To blaze abroade what harbord in her brest For as he faithful Abrahams heart did proue By willing offring of his guiltlesse sonne And tride Ioâ—s stable faith and constant loue What time she Sathan his consent had wonne To leaue Iobs health forlorne and wealth vndone Even so he sifted Susans constancie â—f that shee would her pure faith falsifie And to complot this treason by
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
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
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
Heere now and helpe thy handmaide helpe For helpe of man doth faile Doe not expose me for their pray Because they doe not right But hunt in heart to bring about That's hatefull in thy sight And of a meere malicious minde False witnesse heere haue brought And causlesse laid vnto my chardge The things I never thought Thou seest my God vvhat they haue done Thou seest their envious heart Thou knowst they sought to lawlesse lust Thine hand-maide to convert Thou knowst I dread not dâ—ring death No force his might a pin No no I doe desire to die A better life to win I tender not faire beauties trash I tender my good name Least leesing life I be by death Entombed in defame For this cause rise O Lord make hast Repell my soules despight And shew the nations farre and neere How much thou tendrest right I know my sinnes are passing great VVhich acted are each hower Yet let my teeres thy mercy treate And shield me with thy power If no defamed wretch I die For keeping of thy law And causlesse thou shalt seeme my God Thy comfort to withdraw Hast then O Lord make hast I say Least guiltlesse blood be spilt Yet not my will be done in this But be it as thou vvilt VVhen shee her godly oraysons had ended And that no meanes was left to make delay The fawning officers in court attended VVith prophane handes to hale her thence away And though shee were as readie to obey Yet still this soare doth smart in guiltlesse minde That shee should leaue an ill report behinde VVhen once the streetes did act this tragaedie Vaultes and resounding Ecchoes from the stones Reporte the mothers teeres her childrens crie Her parentes plaintes her husbandes hideous moanes Her kinfolkes sighes her friendes heart-breaking grones The peoples pleading tongues to God to free her VVhile thicke tumultuous troopes doe run to see her VVho passing foorth with passing seemely port Her looke abated with her languishment Shee doth the gazing lookers on exhort Good people pray for me poore innocent Thats gultlesse faultlesse free from al intent Of this misdeede for which weake wretch I die VVhome still with deepest hate I did defie VVhile thus with plaintes they doe Gods aide implore The Lord did heere and helpe her wofull case For as when tyrant Pharaoh scepter bore A Pharaoh fierce that knew not Iosâ—phes face And did the Israelites oppresse long space They being tyred with his tirannie In deepest griefe vnto Gods favor flie VVho when their moanes did mount vnto his sight Dâ—d single foorth their speedy preservation From Pharaos traine a courtly trained wight Moses an Hebrew borne by education His daughters sonne which bred his estimation So now God seeing Susans great distresse Ev'n in the nicke did speede her due redresse For in the Chaldean court did then attend A noble Iew a youngling for his yeares The monarches mynion and his chiefest friend One of his sage and sharpest â—ighted Seeres In which high feate he past his graue compeeres While Isrels God did reare his fortunes hie To beare a stroake in Asias maiestie He Daniel cleaped by his natiue name The Chaldees cald him noble Balthazar VVhom neither courtly glee nor phrase of fame Could in faire Sions zeale ought make or marre But would to keepe the captiue Iewes from iar In private sort at times repaire and prie Into his brethernes state with wakefull eie And standing now in this tumultuous thronge Hee saw blinde zeale imployd in good pretence VVhat time Gods truth enform'd him of the wrong And raisd his sp'rite to speake in her defence Bad him be bold to plead her innocence Step foorth in place doe not thy thoughtes conceale Cry out amaine from divellish doome appeale Then Daniell as the Lord commaunded him Cride in the streetes I from this blood am cleane VVhile gazing heerers looked sowre and grim To muse what these vnlook'd for wordes should meane Fowle toades sâ—ith he infect the christall streame Because you would the streame farre purer finde You kill the fish but leaue the toades behinde Are you such sots O seede of Israell Are you so blind you see not what you do Are you so deafe you heare not what they tel Know you not right and what bee longes thearto Survey you not your steppes before you goe Whie haue yov heere condemnd this dame to dies And would not heere her iust appeale and crie O turne with speed turne to the iudgment seate And then behould what God will thear relate Your seviors sinnes haue growne exceeding â—greate Repelled lust ingendring with foule hate In them the bastard periurie begate Bold periurie did breed false witnesse bearing False witnesse wrested iudgmente by for-swearing At which his wordes the people yonge and olde Do make a stand and backwardes thence retire Whear daunting sins the seniours heartes make cold While daunger woundes the depth of their desire Yet past shams bowndes their shamlesse thoughts aspire And foorth they passe into the sessions hall And hide in crabbed brow their conscience gaule The elders of this circumsized race Which with repriued pris'nour turne a ge'n When ev'rie one had ta'ne his vsuall place They say vnto this stately stripling then Vse thou the roome of these malitious men Declare to vs Gods iudgmente and decree Sith God hath giv'n an elders spirite to thee Then Daniell tooke the powerfull place of life And thear to intimate God will to all Where are quoth he the wrongers of this wife Put them a parte out of each others call And bring forth one by one in to the hall So you shall see their tray trouse tonges reveale What wicked heartes do cover and conceale The formall officers performe his mind And brought forth one to be examined Who lookd like murthrous marked Cain vnkind When brothers blood he guiltlessely had shed His colour shew'd what harbord in his head His ioyntes as if vnioynted were at iarre False iudge now pris'ner pleading at the barre And standing thus before the balefull bench The beardlesse iudge to checke him vncontrold That conscience as a cooling carde-might quench The heate of his bravado overbold Saith thou sin seasned wretch that waxest olde In sin thy wicked life is come to light Whose falshood harmed manie a harmlesse wight Thou hast abus'd thy life God lent to thee To mend thy life and passed sins repent For nothing but oppressions he could see Therefore he will thie glorie from thee rent Which hast condemn'd to death an innocent And let the guiltie goe for giftes a way VVhile lust and bribes did blind thee day by day Sith sworne thou hast eie witnesse thou didst see This comely dame with her companion sin Report the trurh and name to vs the tree That hid the fact you did surprise them in Pause not but speake if wordes shall creadit win Be briefe let not oblivion beare the blot Things done so late are not so soone forgot Then pawsing twixt despaire and tyred hope As one that had
no constant yea nor nay VVould fame intreate some longer time and scope But that he findes impatience in delay VVhile to himselfe he faies shall I obey Confesse my fault wherein I haue offended And pardon craue that all may be amended No no my heart shall never stoope so low To bow to those that vsde to bend to me I am not sure what favour such will shew Wherefore I wil devise some kinde of tree VVhose braunching bowghes might shrowd adulterie Thus reasons he a bird of Balams brood That will not be reclaim'd to any good At last the gapes for breath yet doubtes to speake Because his partners doubtes he doth not know Yet through his teeth this tragique tale doth breake VVhile foaming furie makes him puffe and blow Saith he in Ioachims orchard there doth grow A Masticke tree whose braunches clowd the sonne In whose darke shade the brothels act was done VVhen Daniell heard this vncomposed speach False are quoth he the wordes thou dost report Thy lying lippes thee partiall doe appeach Gods minde to me reavealed doth exhort Thy sinfull bodie from thy soule to sort As one deserving endlesse death to die That darst gainst God and conscience sweare a lie VVhen this was acted him they lead away And bring his brother foorth in open place In whose fell heart fowle cabbin envie lay Her wilde and staring looke sate in his face A wrinkled brovv a pale and megre grace Did murther mischiefe mallice fierce resemble While coÌ„science cold doth cause him quake treÌ„ble To whom younge Daniell saith in zealous mood O seed of cursed Cham ympe of dispight In vaine thy vaunt doth boast of Iuda blood VVhen as thou art lin life a Cananite True nobles should in noble actes delight But thou bewitch'd vvith beautie weart beguiled When thy misleading lust thine heart defiled Thus haue you past your passed liues ill-spent Since first your wanton heartes did traine you in To draw the dames of Israell to your bent Whom you with feare did force and flattry win To ioine with you in acting secreat sinne But this chast Iewish heere of Iuda race Resisted hath your follie to your face Now sith thy tongue hath testifide an act VVhich fame did not reporte but eie did vewe And thou death worthie deemed hast the fact Dissemble not be still a witnesse true Tell vs what tree and in what place it grew VVhose shamlesse shad did shrowd this shamfull sin Pause ere thou speake yet speake and soone begin Hee gravield now in greife and grim dispaire Like bowged barge that sinkes in swallowing sandes Gapes ere he speakes as if he wanted ayre VVhich oft with cloased lippes he countermaundes At length saith he in Ioachims orchard standes Neere fowntain faire a greene thâ—ck braunching Holly Vnder whose shad these wicked wrought their folly Quoth Daniell then your tongues haue you betrayd Your forged he shall light vppon your pates Your wicked heartes your wordes haue heere bewrayd The sword of Iustice that iniustice hates Is readie heere to slay you sinfull mates Provide therefore a treble death to die Of bodie soule and lasting infamie For as you boath haue caussesse sought to spill The guiltlesse blood of this chast Isralite By witnesse false therfore doth Moses will Your blood be shed and we will doe you right Sith that your tongues death-worthy you indite You shall be led where shee should leese her breath And there with stones your selues be done to death Which doome did much delight the standers by VVith greate applause the people do reioyce They clap their handes and fling their cappes on hie The roofe reflectes the Eccho of their voyce VVhile thankfull heartes their eies to heav'n vphoice And tongues pronownce Our God be praysed ever VVhich helpeth his and doth for sake them never These iudges thus disgraded from their states The multitude with readinesse doth ronne To doe that doome on these condemned mates They to acquitted Susan would haue donne VVhile zeale would act what wrong had ill beegonne Thus carelesse commons right or wrong support When they are swayd as sovereignes do exhort For as in man when vapoures vex the braines The giddie head doth feele a whirling fit So fickle heads to feed superiours vaines When as affection holdes the seate of wit Sway to and fro as ruling vapours flit If they say yea an yea doth answere stand If they say no a no is prest at hand And yet sometimes though sotted with content That everie act doth seeme to breed their case Some whiles when wayward vapors gets a vent A toy the least occasion doth displease VVhile thoughtes do eb and flow like surginge sear For who so deales with multitudes he findes In manie heades a multitude of mindes While heartes do harbour heapes of homely toyes And heades ar fraught with Chaos of conceiptes There coms continuall trade of chaunging â—oyes Which barter novelties for elder feates As chaunging time doth offer choice of cheates So those which yesterday wrought wrong with might Are busied now in acting of the right For now with hast they hal them from the barre Whome late before they heaved to the bentch No treatie could a day their death deferre While teeres the peoples furie could not quentch Which drue them forth vnto the fatall trentch And piniond bownd them to the stubborne stake Where they their wel-deserved death should take Who living now forlorne past liffes repaire Haue not the heart Gods mercie to intreate But rather seeke with Saul in deepe dispaire VVith bluddie murthring handes life to defeate VVhile gainst the stake their handes they bawle and beat And mind in vaine their dreame their fall their hight VVho wanted grace to take Gods warning â—ight The pitying people pray God turne their hartes But when they see repentance place had none To yeeld those reprobates their due desertes The happiest man doth hurle the heviest stone To make them giue the last life-yeelding grone VVhich done they part and leave the ded their roome And lawd the lord and Danâ—l for his doome VVhome God had made selected instrument To overthrow these wicked and vniust And saue the blood of this chast innocent That with stoute Constancie resisted lust And did not in distresse de frawd her trust But saw her teeres and heard her plainting voyce VVhich made the hearts of thowsandes to reioyce Amongst the rest whose heartes sweet comfort cheeres Heâ—chia happie man and his compeere which erst did weepe for woe shed ioyfull teeres VVhen Ioachims ioy had past this plunging feere And kinsfolkes clowded eâ—e shone bright and cleere All with sweete noates consent in Susaâ—s name Praise God that had preserv'd her from defame But cheifly shee like larke on mounting winges VVhile inward zeale breakes out in open sight Tryumphing in her tunes most sweetely singes The prayse of God his mercie and his might That did relive her wretch and wronged wight And iustly iudge her foes the death to die That would enâ—ombe her fame in infamie
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
Yea while her silent heart doth thankes record Her restlesse notes do reach beyond the skie VVhose endlesse ioy was in her gratious Lord. To him in hymnes and tuned psalmodie VVhich did transmute her mones to melodie shee giues the glorie of her victories As David when he foyld his enemies The mighty Lord saith shee Is my defence and might My king my guide my God My champion for to fight The combate of my truth and conscience triall He is my Anchor-hold My refuge rest and port My horne of saving health and eke my strongest fort Gainst whose coÌ„mand there standeth no denial VVhen over-flowing floodes Of raging fierce despight And great commaund of Lordes And men of power and might With dreadful threats of death did make me quiver I did implore his aide In deepenesse of distresse VVho heard my â—ust complaint And wrought my due redresse He sent me aide and did my soule deliver On him therefore I will In danger crie and call VVho can both heere and helpe He heeres and helpeth all He none but he is worthie to be praised Deathes swallowing sorrowes hem'd Me round on ev'rie side VVith renting paines of hel In danger to haue dide But he my life from ravening graâ—e hath raised He from my strongest foes Hath set me captiue free Because he had a loue And favour vnto me WhoÌ„ cunningly they sought to haue prevented But while he held me vp I could not swaie nor swarue They sought in vaine to spill The thing he did preserue And so to late their labour lost repented By him I made escape From handes of Tyrantes stout His power did put them downe And helpe his hand-maide out That power also will strongly keep them vnder He trampleth with his feete Bold traitours that rebell He makes their hurtfull tongues Their owne destruction tell Thus for his saintes he acteth workes of wonder VVhose workes are all divine VVhose mercies manifold His waies past finding out his word as finest gold His iudgement iust his providence vnspotted O let thine arme O Lord My feeble hand susteine O let thy holy sp'rite VVithin my heart remaine O let thy loue be still to me allotted I looke with wakefull eles Vnto thine holy lawes Thy statutes are my staffe And stay in ev'ry cause To doe thy will my will I finde affected That which I see is ill And hatefull in thy sight That doe I seeke to shun And flie with maine and might Least that my soule by sin should be infected Thou art a living God O blest be thou my king VVhich hast thy servant freed From tempting Sathans sting And reard my fame on high by wicked wroÌ„ged And hast confounded them That sought my greatest ill By working of my heart Vnto a wicked will To act such lewd designes as lust had longed They fought to end my life And gaue me doome to die Because my holy faith I would not falsifie Pretending right they worke what wrong them listed They vsed power to put Integritie to shame And ment an innocent To burie in defame Hadst thou not Lord their iudgement false resisted Thus hast thou bin my God Most mercifull to me Not wonne by my desert But of thy mercie free My workes I know deserue to be reiected But thy kinde promise made To helpe the godlie heartes Doth binde thee more then all Our deedes or good desertes To keepe protect and saue thy saintes elected Therefore I will sowne foorth Thy praise to ev'rie eare And shew thine endlesse power To nations farre and neere To Sathans and his kingdomes great confusion I haue bin am and will Remaine thine handmaide still Mine heart my thoughtes mine eies Shall waite vpon thy will This is my vow and setled resolution Thus did shee spend her following time of life In heavens contemplation and delight And lived long a ioious happie wife Of passing cariage and a worthie wight A foe to frawd and fastest friend to right VVho living in the world no worldling was But prest to bring a world of good to passe And as a bird escaped from the ginne Thinkes ev'ry bended twigge to be a trappe So shee that dangerously had snared bin VVith true remembrance of her former hap Surveâ—es her steppes to shunne each afterclap And feares to giue a fawning eie good grace In old or young in noble or in base At length when age had plotted lifes decay And sicknesse wrought in weakenesse more and more And that shee thought death had no long delay Shee cald her children taught in godlie lore And did bestow these precepts kept in store VVho come in place with dutious loving hearts Shee thus to them her carefull minde impartes Deare children cease with sad lamenting griefe And malancholicke moanes to waile my state Your sobbing hearts doe yeeld me no reliefe But vexing torments in my heart innate Leaue then for plaintes and teares are not in date No no if they could life in body hold VVeaye would weepe we would buy teares for gold But vaine it is to kicke against a pricke And sinne to take Gods scourge impatiently My debt to death to pay I must not sticke For why you know that all are borne to die Then must I yeeld for ther's no remedie And pay my due that I to nature owe For time requires and God will haue it so The strongest Lyon stoopes to conqu'ring death The aged oake at length doth change his hue In time the long liv'd Phoenix leeseth breath Thrice aged Enoch yeeldes to natures due Sith then tis so and what I saie is true And time doth trie that all things must decaie Then sure I know I haue not long to staie Therefore marke well the counsaile that I giue Revolue it in your mindes my children deere For it shall most prevaile if that you liue VVhen friends and worldly goods you haue not heere First worship God and to his lawes giue eare Set him your load-starre and your lampe of light His lawes the line to lead your liues aright Vse diligence in doing of your dueties To those superiours rulers over you Doe good to all bend thereto all your studies Sing not the Syrens song that proues vntrue Though trothlesse Absalon be faire in view VVith Ionathan doe faithfull still remaine Shun Ismaels bloudie teares and subtill braine Plaie not the cowards in your countries good Spend in her canse your deerest breath and wealth And though prosperitie hath you withstood And frowning world denies gal-sugred pelfe Be not dismaide esteeme your heav'nlie health For that shall yeeld you comfort in distresse VVhen world and friends haue left you comfortlesse Flie still aspiring mindes yet seeke renowne VVin it by vertue and by manly might Franke not rebellious flesh but keepe it downe Like not those painted dames that doe delight Lyllies are fowle in smell though faire in sight And though they tice with baites with teeres with moanes Yet minde that painted tombes haue rotten bones My sonnes if you must liue in wedlocke bandes Loue for vertue
and like the modest chast Set neither fading beauty goods nor landes Before that hue that in the heart is plast Be never prodigall your goods to wast Learne with the busie ant the way to liue Spare not to much but doe by sparing thriue If you vvith childrens store be blest of God His richest giftes account that pretie crew Enstruct and bring them vp to feare the rod VVith those precepts your parents taught to you Though all things want let them not want this due For sure my sonnes it is not saide for naught Better vnborne then borne to liue vntaught Esteeme the wavering world as it is VVhere swiftest time brings all things to decay Esteeme your selues heere voide of ioâ—es and blisse And thinke each morrow is your ending day Desire of God on earth not long to stay VVhere nought but sin griefe doth reigne be bold And nought is got but sinne in waxing old The little babe once comming to the birth Is borne as bare and naked as my naile The puling wretch his wofull state on earth VVith tongue and teeres new born doth weep and waile To see his soule shut vp in sinful gaile And swadled lims fast fettred round aboute Like captiue wreth that no way findeÌ„th out His childish actions all vnperfect are To sit to eate to speake to stand to goe The childe is taught and nursed vp with care And pampred eke with paine and wakefull woe He proues the pikes of manie a pangue also VVith furious foes he hath continuall warre His flesh this world and raging fiend they are His life is like the raging seas recoile His choysest things are in event but vaine His wealth is want his rest is restlesse toile His health mishap and all his pleasures paine His chiefe companions linked in one chaine Are hopelesse hope deepe danger care and feare VVhile dying life doth dailie dread the beare He often times beset with deepe distresse Doth call for death before his dying daie And dead man like by sleeping in excesse Doth spend the halfe of precious time away The rest mispent in idlenesse or play Or spent to serve our owne occasions so As least we care whear God haue part or noe Thus man is made the pray and spoyle of time A tipe of mis'rie and mishap God woat A sinke of sinfull-sin an heap of crime A ship that still on billowing waues doth flote When age comes on then all his sences doat He waxeth deafe his eies with dazing dimme His teeth currupt he hath no liuely limme Can such a dying man be sayd to liue What kind of life what living call you this No life but death a shade that life doth giue For perfect life by death obtained is Whie then do mortall worldlinges go amisse Whie love they life whie do they death detest Which sets them free from ill and bringeth rest Hence learne poore heartes your life vncerteine is Still heaps of harmes are hovering on your head Keepe these my wordes and feare to do amisse More would I say but life is partly fled Whome death with seely tryumph doth downe tred Fare well sweete ioyes somtimes my heartes delight The grownd my corpes to God I yeeld my spirite Epilogus Thus heere you see how God preserveth his And those that do them iniurize confowndeth Hence may you learne what t'is to live amisse What falles to him that with prowd sin abowndeth That hee which stedfast hope in Gods helpe growndeth Gainst him not hell nor hel houndes shall preveile For God will help when help of man doth faile FINIS Faultes escaped In foll 4. Page 1. make content malecontent 5. 1. surely surly 15 1. maiden birth mâ—ideâ— earth 15 2. maried wise maried wife 18 1. mu murne 23 1. faice faire 23 2. thus this 30 2. that those thus c. 37 1. repeate repleate 40 2. this these 42 2. smallow sâ—â—llow 46 1 â—heethey