Soliciting for them that did accuse him Excusing such as vvickedly did blame him Tendring of loue vvhere hatred did refuse him Their ordur'd soules seeking so to refine Grace might reduce them to celestiall shine His sute imports his holy thoughts did say Inflict not iustice on these sinne-defiled Vpon my flesh thine angers burden lay Graunt nothing be to thee vnreconsiled Least my redemption should vnperfect seeme Or any sinne I did not full redeeme He vvould not haue our sinnes ascend vp so That they should come vnto his fathers sight Nor yet his fathers vengeance fall so low That on vs sinne committers it should light But plac'd himselfe betwixt both vvrath and sinne True reconcilement by true loue to vvinne For Murderers that gainst his life transgressed With meekest loue he humbly craued grace For such as their vile sinne left vnconfessed And still spit venome in their makers face That peirc'd his heart from which his blood abounds To them he giues acquittance for his vvounds They to the Citty vvould not backe repaire Ere cruelty haue left him life-depriued He vvould not die before his feruent praier Intreats to haue their dying soules reuiued His sprite from forth his body past no rather But forth his mouth went with it Pardon father FINIS Amen dico tibi hodie mecum eris in Paradiso TRuly I say that am heau'ns glory giuer To thee true penitent repentant theefe This day from a defild and sinfull liuer Shalt thou be Sainted in exiling greefe With me this day thou passest to the blest In Paradise vvhere glorious Angels rest Euen at the vvane of life the dying hower This happy theefe did offer God his heart His daies vvere dedicate to Sathans power Only remain'd one moment to conuert Wherein he gaue his heart to him that ought it Preuenting him that long in hope had sought it The hellish foe stood bold vpon his claime Because to theeues he is misguiding guider But heau'nly friend did countermaund the same Being sinners father Mercies firme prouider No sooner did his true contrition say Lord thinke on me but Sathan lost his pray Caines offering vvas a sacrifice of corne Abels the Lambes the meekest vnto slaughter Annaes the sonne that of her vvombe vvas borne Iepthaes his sole and deere affected daughter Noe weathers Abraham doues and Dauid gold Melchisidech of vvine did offrings hold All these did offer things of great esteeme Yet none so rich as this poore theefe presented An offered heart to God doth greater seeme Then vvhat by heauen and earth can be inuented Nothing more gratefull vnto Mercies throne Then gift of heart due debt to heauen alone That debt of all the thefts vvhich he had donne His satisfaction rightly did restore Repaying in one hower to the Sonne What all his life rob'd father of before Obtaining grace for all deserts of strife To be recorded in the booke of life His vvandring courses are retyr'd from danger Vnto the harbour of a Christian rest He liu'd to new Ierusalem a stranger But vvas at death free Cittizen profest With Christ on crosse gaining in three houres more Then Iudas did in yeares for howers before FINIS Mulier ecce Filius tuus WOman true map of greefes obiect of vvoes Behold thy sonne sinnes heauy burden beares Thy vveeping eies Sorrows right methode shows Sonne bath'd in blood and Mother vvashd in teares A dying Sonne repleat vvith fathers hate A pensiue Mother most disconsolate Of all affections that the soule admits On vvhich loues fauours doe most firmly build That loue in place of supreme soundnesse sits Which is deriu'd from parent to the child Then losse of that must needs proue heartiest greefe That from the heart takes place and offspring cheefe If Dauid lou'd his Absolon so vvell That he vvith vveeping vvishd t'haue died for him Who false and disobedient did rebell Yet did his loue no vvhit the more abhorre him Or reuerent Iacob teares aboundant shed To heare his sonnes but faine their brother dead If holy Iob himselfe so patient bore To giue meeke eare to many a greeuous crosse Destruction of his cattell flockes and store Vntill he heard his deerest childrens losse And then his greefes extreamest did abound Renting his garments falling on the ground Needs must in mournfull sorrow's dire complaints The blessed Virgin farre excell all other What soule vvith dolours euer so acquaints As this most carefull comfort wanting Mother To see her God life father loue and sonne By bitt'rest torments vnto death be donne No earthly loue on such perfection grounded But that the same may be defectiue proued Loue of the sonne to mother vvas vnbounded Sonne of the mother vvas the like beloued All power of Angels powrelesse only proues To vveigh or measure those vnmeasur'd loues Of loue vvith vvoes by crosse shevveping stood There sending sighs to heav'n and teares to ground Of loue vvith paines on crosse he streamed blood There death he conquer'd hell he did confound Such vvas his loue that lou'd vvhen vve vvere hatefull To die for loue vvhen sinne vvas most vngratefull FINIS Deus meus deus meus vt quid me dereliquisti MY God said Christ vvhen God to God cōplained My God vvho am true God and perfect man Why hast thou my distres'd estate refrained Thou doest seuere sinnes imputation scan Forsaken in this strait thy selfe bereauing Me to afflictions cruel'st torments leauing Vntaught till now vvas Iesus to complaine Though infinite the vvrongs he vnder-went He vvelcom'd euery torment greefe and paine Afflictions could not mooue his discontent All gaue offence vvhich he imputes to none Only his father now accus'd alone When violence did vvith outrage apprehend him His patient yeelding did most meekely beare it When blasphemies vvith taunts of spight offend him He silent seem'd as though he did not heare it In all the furie they did execute He stood like lambe before the shearer mute He not complain'd of Peter that denide him Nor yet of Iudas that most false betrayde him Nor those in Pilats hall that did deride him Nor gracelesse Iewes his owne that disobay'd him But his complaint vvas of his father made Not meant to those denide condemn'd betray'de Gods angry vvrath seuerely set gainst sinne The vvares that Sathan sold man dearely bought With losse of grace the trafficke did beginne Heau'ns losse soules death hels dome eternall vvrought That vvrath on Christs humanity abounded Who only cur'd vvhat sinne had mortall vvounded As man threw sinne at God as in despight And God cast plagues on man reuenge to fall The sinne vvhere with man gainst his God did fight And punishments God chastned man vvithall On Christ that stood twixt wrath and sinne was laid He could not sinne yet sinners sinne vvas made He laid our sorrowes burden on his sprite When he indur'd his bitter agonie He tooke our death on him vvounding deaths might When he on crosse Deaths conquerour did die He vnderwent afflictions heauiest loade Reducing soules from hell to heau'ns aboade FINIS Sitio
THE BETRAYING OF CHRIST IVDAS in despaire The seuen Words of our Sauior on the Crosse. WITH Other Poems on the Passion LONDON Printed by Adam Istip 1598. TO THE RIGHT WORshipfull Sir Nicholas Walsh Knight cheefe Iustice of her Maiesties court of common pleas in Ireland and of her Highnesse counsaile there ALbeit right Worshipfull that the art of Poesie is in sort dealt withall as Cacus once vsed Hercules oxen when he drew them backewards vp the hill being customarily in these daies wrested and turned to the fooleries of Loue and such like base subiect of fancies abortiue births conuerting Poetries imploiment to follies vse and wit ill spent runnes violent that way with the current of errour Yet hath it a natiue diuine off-spring and issue wherof partaking kindly floates with a calme tempered gale from all miscarying wracke to the harbour of a quiet applause The vpright and best approoued censure I presume gains your Worships vertuous allowance to whose wisdome and grauitie associate with an heroicall sprite I dedicate affections testimony by these vnpolished lines crauing your fauourable fault-shadowing view if in the manner any thing appeare defectiue trusting that as a fruitfull tree the more it is fruitladen the more it declineth so your plenteous accōplished vertues wil humble them in daining to accept the loue I reuerence you withall wishing your Worship Worlds prosperitie and Heauens happinesse Yours in the best endeuours of affection S. R. The betraying of Jesus EVen vvhen no beauties of the garnisht skie Had left the view of Heauen-makers vvonder And Phebus steeds were gallop'd posting by Their hasty speed had got the vvorlds half vnder Yea eu'ry creature that had life or sprite Mourn'd at the darke approch of vgly night An host of swartest sable foggie clouds Wrapt in faire Cinthia from her siluer shine Mantling her brightnesse vvith their obscure shrouds As though heav'ns lampe vvere come to latest fine Her cannapie of starres vvas eke vnseene Where on she vvonted mount imperious Queene The airy vvinged people gone to rest Had clear'd vvith day not left a note vnpaid All other creatures that might be exprest In caues and holes for nights repose vvere laid Of vvild or tame none raung'd or ran astray But rauenous by darke that hunt for pray Thicke mistie vapours vvere dispersed foule Prohibiting day-followers to be seene Dispensing only vvith the shriking Owle And eies that Nature put lights hate betweene Such as vvere banisht from the face of day To lurke the couert shamelesse night away Then child of vtter darknesse lights offence Intituled The lost sonne of perdition Hired against his Lord for thirty pence To be a traitor vnder hels commission In this nights time did rebell troupes increase To manage armes against the Prince of peace Toward Cedron brooke th'accursed leader goes With horse and foot vveapon'd vvith launce and speare His blessed maister vs'd that vvalke he knowes Vnworthy vvretch had oft ben vvith him there Oft as a friend the place he did frequent But now foe-harted trecherous of intent As in a garden Adam disobayed And there became a captiue to the diuell So in a garden Iesus vvas betrayed To suffer death for Adams former euill Within a garden Adams crime offended For vvhich Christ vvas in garden apprehended And as in pleasures garden at the fall For Adams clothing dead beasts skins God gaue In euidence that death vvent ouer all And that his garment might presage his graue So Christ in garden tombe and dead mans shrowd Defray'd our debts vvith paiment best alowd Ouer the brooke to garden they repaire Swift vvere their feet about the sheading blood Euen to the place that Iesus vs'd for praier Where he intreated grace for sinners good Where he consulted to redeeme and saue Thither they came resolu'd his life to haue With easie search the guiltlesse may be found Whose quiet thoughts and peace vnite in one A voice Whom seeke you threw them all to ground A power diuine to make true godhead knowne Iesus came forth encountred them vvith breath And they at once fell backward all to th'earth Had then his vvill consented to his power If Iustice had appear'd and mercy hid They had descended hell that sinfull hower Like Corah Dathan and Abiram did Where th'one vvas seandale to the seruant done The other vvas rebellion gainst the sonne While Ieroboam stretcht his threatning hand Right insolent and full of daring pride To stay the Prophet giuing strict command Iudgement laid hold on him his hand vvas dryde But these in armes and violent enterprise Though throwne to ground doe vnrepentant rise Deaths harbenger vnto Damasco towne Then bloody-mind Saint-persecuting Saul Was with like powreful voice from heauen thrown down But to conuersion grace imploy'd his fall With greater fauour blisse can none acquaint Then crowne a greeuous sinner glorious Saint But these vvhose hearts vvere hardned sight extinct Haters of knowledge children of the night Atvvar vvith God in league vvith Sathan linckt Grosse darknesse followers shunners of the light Stiffe necked stubborne and rebellious Iewes Contemne saluation offered grace refuse Wisdomes beloued Israels vvisest king Doth say the vvicked cannot sleeping rest Till they are pleased vvith some ill done thing The vvorser deed the doer likes for best A minute spent in good seems long loth'd day A night of sinne but moment stolne avvay How toilesome tedious had that vvatching bin If vertue had persuaded thereunto But Owle-eied they became to compasse sin Fit vvas the time so foule a fact to do That vvork of darknesse ioin'd vvith darknesse power Might meet together all in darknesse hower When they should rest their malice not indur'd it For malice neuer closeth sleeping eies And vvhen they should not vvake reuenge procur'd it Reuenge doth hourely some reuenge deuise Who rides the deuill hath no curbe they say For malice drawes and fury spurs away Th'vnseemely vprore to the night vnkind Happening as frightfull as in fires danger Caus'd him make hast that left his clothes behind Hardly entreated like vnwelcome stranger For in retire his case like Iosephs stands Who left his garment in his mistresse hands T'was no offence springing from his intent That did demerite violent force resist him Yet pawn'd he shirt for skin before he vvent Gladdest vvhen naked gone that rage had mist him What furies guided this misguided swarme To bend their force against vnthoughted harme When traitor meets these quaint deceits he had In gesture kind imbracements vvith a kisse In vvords All haile God saue thee or be glad Yet murder blood and death lies hid in this This cup of gold did poisons draught begin This greene had serpents lurking hid vvithin The vvord All haile seru'd Ioab to salute Good vvords do often make for ill pretence But Abner found a mortall stab the fruit While falshood spake twas murder did insence Like that vvas this of Iudas false intent By vvord God saue the deed Destroy vvas ment All haile the Angell reuerently did vse With
Would I had neuer preacht the vvay to grace Would I had ne're ben borne or died in youth Who knowes his maisters vvill and doth neglect it Sore stripes and many shall seuere correct it I must salute Ashur and Elams traines To drinke vvith Tuball of the vvrathfull cup Edom inuites me to th'infernall paines No time of grace vvith Christ againe to sup Now feast vvhere teeeth are gnasht hands are wrong Where Diues begs for drops to coole his tong Downe by the vvay that Corah vvent to hell Like Dathan and Abiram to descend Where furies fiends and damned ghosts do dwell And euer torments neuer know an end Let earth deuide and opening swallow then The most accurs'd of all the sonnes of men The man that from Ierusalem descended And hapned in the hands of bloody theeues A pittifull Samaritane befriended With mercy and his hard distresse releeues Such holy loue true charity suppli'd him Pitty vvas present and no grace deni'd-him But I from new Ierusalem retyr'd The restfull Canaan happinesse vnbounded For thirty pence hels iourny being hyr'd In Sathans snares I fell that theefe hath vvounded And priest is past Samaritane gone by Seeing me curelesse carelesse let me lie Ah Magdalen sower sorrowes turn'd thy sweet Well didst thou vveepe to vvash and vvashing gaine With hairie towell vviping Iesus feet Thy true repentant teares did grace obtaine While I thy vertues sought to haue disgrast Tearming that holy vvorke A needlesse vvast But happy vvoman guiltlesse vvast ' controld How falsely did I vvish thy ointment spared How couetous said I Better this been sold And giu'n the poore vvast for the poore I cared Ah no my guilty conscience doth deny it I bare the purse and would haue gained by it Sampson till Sathan fierce Philistine caught me And in his rage put out my sprituall eies Then blind in sinne to Cayphas house he brought me Against the piller vvhere all mercy lies I bent my force to mooue the corner stone Destruction fell my selfe destroy'd alone Like Iezabels so my corrupted thought When she complotted for good Naboths ground Cleare purchase tvvas her vvile his vineyard bought Such seem'd my bribe I held it money found But see how soone sweet sinnes conuert to sower I loath for euer that I lou'd an hower These three deuide my soule Fear Thought Anguish Their intrest is the forfaits of my fall But vvhile in claime they striuing let me languish The roaring Lion comes and seazeth all Insatiable serpent pleas'd vvith nought but this Both soule and body must be graunted his If gracelesse outcasts in this vvorld begin To tast of second death's tormenting power If soules surpriz'd by selfe-wrought murdring sinne Turne vengeance glasse to run a staylesse hower Then here in earnest of perpetuall care I vveare damnations liuery blacke despaire Deuore'd from mercy alienate from grace Reft of repentance vvedded vnto euill From highest calling downe to lowest place From chosen Twelue a singled outcast deuill From th'holy city lou'd of God so vvell Within vvhose streets may no vncleanesse dwell When Christ foretold intended treason nie By one of vs his guests to be betray'd Each straight inquir'd Lord is it I or I But my demand had answer Thou hast said I that was fed that night with loues regard Return'd the giuer treason for reward Darke night black deed blind soule and Sathans slaues Did fit defile destroy it selfe did further With shade vvith sinne vvith death vvith clubs staues Tintrap betray condemne assist to murder The Lambe of God the rocke the dore the vine The Angels brightnesse heav'ns eternall shine Much vvorse though Ioab-like I gaue a kisse I pris'd my birth-right base at Esawes gaine I putchas'd hell vvith losse of heauens blisse And in effect exchanged ioy for paine Oh foolish sot vile earthly drosse esteemer To sell true life dead Adams sonnes redeemer Thou partiall hand swai'd sword of Peters drawne I should ben mangled and not Malcus eare Like currish dog it vvas my flattering fawne Did bite my maister vvorse then any there Mistaken champion in thy valour swaruing To giue his eare my trecherous hearts deseruing I vvas cheefe actor in the Iewish spight I vvas a captaine to that rascall rout I vvrought the tumult of that guilty night I vvas blind guide to that they vvent about They all expected notice come from me Till craft had kist they knew not vvhich vvas he False tongue pronounc'd All haile to hurtfull end When hollow heart sequestred loues true zeale Heav'ns mildnesse asked Why art thou come friend Straight violent hands not vvords our thoughts reueale Call him not friend that sauors most offoe Tearme me thy hangman for I merite so In death's pursute insatiate thirsting blood We posted thence to Priests vvith rudest throng Where purest lambe before his shearer stood Pleading not guilty by truths silent tong Ther's craft accusing hate helps to deuise And falshood forgeth in a mint of lies My impious eies beheld vvithout remorse The gracelesse vsage of heau'ns gracious king Scornd spit at mocked yet repentance force Sought not for shelter vnder mercies vving In all these euils I pitttied not his paine Til being condemn'd then greeu'd my greeues in vain No true contrition had my faults defence Though I confess'd I sinn'd in his betraying Twas desp'rate satisfaction came from thence For faith vvas liuelesse should ben vengeance staying Wrath is gone forth vvas Moses admonition But lights on me that am for vvraths perdition VVhat vvondrous obiects haue mine eies beheld Deaffe dumbe and lame the blind and curelesse cured The stubborne vvinds vvith checking calmely stild The dead reuiu'd death's sleepe foure daies indured Fiue loaues two fish fiue thousands satisfied Yet more then much spare crums vvere multiplied My tast did vvitnesse vvater turn'd to wine One cur'd that toucht my maisters vesture hemme Commanded deuils forth men to enter swine And in the sea destruction plunging them Mine eares haue heard and eies haue seene the sight That Kings haue vvisht and Prophets neuer might Yet he that's cal'd manslaier from beginning Deceiuer dragon serpent father of lies God of this vvorld author of humane sinning Hardner of hearts blinder of spirituall eies Prince of the aire malicious euill sprite Made me hels guest vvhom heav'ns did kind inuite Like as the brauing greene but barren tree That flourisht faire vvhen not a figge vvas found Christ curs'd vvith Neuer fruit grow more on thee Because it did no good but comber ground So fares the false deluding show of mine Greene leav'd beginning vvithered fruitlesse fine Could sinnes-besotted hell-path vvrandrers see The horrours on an outcast vvretch imposed Or sence the inward vvorme that gnaweth me Bondslaue to bondage neuer to be losed They vvould retire the flesh most fearefull race To auoid hels gaole obtain'd vvith losse of grace Me thinkes my conscience turnes a blacke leav'd booke Titl'd Distrust dedicate to Despaire Where couetous eie and traitrous heart do looke On vengeance lines pointed this period Care The
I Thirst fift word on Crosse our Sauiour spake Concluding last of greefes he suffered His last complaint thirst did for vvater make His last request for that he vttered His last torment vvas drinke of bitter gall That cruelty offends his tast vvithall By trauell once leauing Iudea land With vvearie iourney through Samaria He crau'd in Sichar at a vvomans hand Her gift of vvater his great thirst t'alay While she on tearmes delaies and hinderance finds Delaies begotten by vnwilling minds Yet after publicke in Ierusalem He did proclaime to all vvith thirst at strife That plenteously he had to succour them With flowing vvaters to eternall life Inuiting come true comming free attaine That vvhich vvho drinkes shall neuer thirst againe Such thirst-staunch riuers he to thirsty gaue That streames of grace heau'ns dew in soules did shower Yet for his owne thirst vvater he did craue At Iacobs vvell and at his dying hower To come and drinke he free inuites all first And at his last himselfe complaines of thirst As to our thirsty soules he tendereth His grace against all deadly thirst defence So to his thirst soules duty rendereth The purest vvater of obedience There is in him for vvhich our vvants do call There is in vs he vvill be seru'd vvithall To corporall thirst strong Sampson once did yeeld Vntill the chaw-bone of an Asse supplide him And Sisara that vanquish'd lost the field Complain'd of thirst to her vvhose tent did hide him And holy Dauid thirstie vvater needing Did long for Bethlem cesternes most exceeding But different farre soules thirst from bodies is Vnsatisfied vvith springs of vvorldly tast Grace gain'd by Christ doth only answere this A spirituall substance craues the like repast Those foodlesse soules famisht eternall pine Which are vnfed by th'essence pure diuine FINIS Consummatum est EVen vvhen the gaule of odious bitternesse Was offered to our Sauiour on a reed The bitter drinke of bitter vvickednesse The Iewish present to Christs thirsty need To comfort soules his gracious vvords extended And sounding mercy vttered All is ended What tongue till then durst such a speech deliuer That all tooke end vvhich holy vvrit foretold Only the tongue of sinnes true ransome giuer Was powerfull his owne mercies power t'vnfold Holy of holies most vprightly spake All's ended ending life sinnes end to make Not Dauid Esay Ieremy Elias Could in their times affirme sinne tooke conclusion They prophecied alluding to Messias That he should vvorke the viper sinnes confusion And end his life to end foule sinne lifes killer Of all predictions to be full fulfiller By vvhose owne mouth truths soundest euidence We heare sinnes end the old law satisfied How Mercy doth vvith Iustice dome dispence And how the Iudges sonne hath qualified His fathers rigor no vvay to be donne But by th'obedience of Gods dying sonne The vvord All's ended notice giues to all By death of Christ the Law was in exemption The Church began the Synagogue did fall And man obtained perfect full redemption His reconcilement vvas vvith God effected To glories throne by graces hand protected High Mysterie and deepe profound diuine That God by man for man should death sustaine As strange a speech if humane vvit define He being man should die and rise againe Yet God and man vvith God to end mans strife From life to death from death did rise to life Our vlcers curing captiue state inlarging From Sinnes infectious venome Sathans gaile Bonds of damnation canseld soules discharging Descending heau n to be on yearth our baile At price of life vvith blood bought and befriended Sealing saluations trust vvith All is ended FINIS Pater in manus tuas commendo Spiritum meum WIth blood-spent vvounds euen at the point to die The last bequest of heauens high testator Was all eternities rich Legacie His soule the soule of mans true mediator Vnto his Fathers hands he did commit Yeelding to Death by Death to vanquish it The Princely Phrophet on his dying bed Gaue charge vnto his heire apparant sonne To vvorke reuenge on martiall Ioabs head For murdring deed by his offence fore done T'abridge vvhat nature for his date intended And cut him off before his period ended Including vvith reuenge of Abners death The vvrongs that Simei to his person did When Absolon pursued his fathers breath Whose asse became his hangman as he rid And vvretched Simei cursing full of spight Cast stones at Dauid vvith most vvrath he might That testament Reuenge set hand vnto Imposing vvisdomes tutored prince the taske To execute vvhat he vvas vvilled do For shedding blood blood-shedders blood doth aske To Salomon this charge his father gaue Let them not passe in peace vnto their graue How different Dauids from our Sauiours seemes Whose vvill contain'd reuenge for others act Christ at his death forgiues sinners redeemes Solicites pardon for a murdring fact As Dauid dies vvith Sonne let them not liue So Christs yeelds breath vvith Father them forgiue First guiltlesse blood to God most high displeasing Was that iust mans vvhich dide by th'hand of Caine First guiltlesse blood Gods iustice cheefe appeasing Was that most righteous vvhom the Iewes haue staine And as the ones blood vvas a soules damnation So vvas the others many soules saluation The blood of Abel from earths bosome cride And sounded Iustice Iustice through the skies The blood of Iesus at the hower he di'de Vnto his father Mercy Mercy cries Whereby Gods title of reuenge till then Turn'd gracious father to repentant men FINIS The death of Death sinnes Pardon and soules Ransome O Sinfull soule the cause of Iesus passion Put sorrowes on and sighing view thy guilt Bring all thy thoughts fix thē on meditation weep drops of tears for streams of blood christ split Summon thy fostred sins selfe-hatched euils And cast them low as hell they are the deuils Seat vertue riuall vvhere vsurping vice Had seaz'd for Sathan to possesse thy heart And though the traitor flesh from grace intice Yet yeeld thy sauiour his deere purchast part The greatest loue that heav'n or earth dooth know Did heav'ns free-loue on hels bond-slaues bestow He left his fathers glorious right-hand seat To liue euen vvhere his earthly footstoole stands Vnmou'd thereto by our submisse intreat No suite of clay obtain'd it at his hands No power in vs no humane vvill that sought it It vvas his loue grace freely giuen vvrought it O loue of soules deaths victor true life-giuer What charitie did ouercome thee so To die that man might be eternall liuer Being thine aduerse disobedient foe For friends if one should die vvere rarely much But die for foes the vvorld affoords none such An ignominious death in shames account Of odious censure and contempts disgrace On Caluarie a stincking dunghill Mount For murderers the common fatall place There di'de the Angels brightnesse God and man There death vvas vanquisht and true life began Yet there began not Iesus suffering Nor in the garden vvith his soules vexation There he performd victorious conquering His
life vvas nothing els but stintlesse passion From cratch to crosse hee trod a painefull path Betwixt our guilt and Gods reuengefull vvrath What paines their paines to Iesus not impart What moment tortures vvant did he indure What anguish addes not to his greeued heart What minute vvas he sorrowlesse secure What age vvherein his troubles were neglected What people but his death cheefly affected In eies he suffred monefull showres of teares His face had spittings and dispightfull blowes Blasphemous speech vpbraid his sacred eares Most loathsome carrion stinckes entred his nose Gaule in his mouth the holiest hands were bound Hands feet heart head were nailed pierc'd crownd From his birth-hower vntill his life-lost blood What moment past vvhere in hee did not merite What minute scap'd imploiment vnto good Who did implore his grace and he deferre it How painfully his preaching spent the day How watchfully his nights vvere houres to pray Whom taught this Truth that him for truth beleeued Though truth vvithout his presence ne're vvas knowne With whom did he conuerse and vvas vngreeued How ill intreated euen amongst his owne Though foxe and bird could find both hole and nest Where found his head reposed place for rest Pouertie hee indured in the manger Warre vvith the tempter in the vvildernesse Exile in Aegypt forc'd by tirants danger And on the vvay o're-painfull vvearinesse In all his speech and actions contradictions Laden vvith vvrongs burdned vvith dire afflictions VVith hungers sword food-giuer vvas acquainted And that the stone-presenting deuill saw At Iacobs vvell vvith thirst he vvel-nie fainted VVhile pinching vvoman stood on tearmes to draw All vvants and vvoes impos'd vpon him still And his obedience suffered euery ill Traitor-led troopes by night did apprehend him Haling him cruell to the iudgement hall VVhere all inflicted torments did offend him And mockeries to greeue his soule vvithall There Iudge vvas iudg'd king scorned priest abus'd And of all Iust the Iust vniustly vs'd Thence to his death vvith clamours shouts and cries Theeues at his side the torturing hangman by him His crosse his burden borne before his eies Hart-launcing Longius the Centurion nie him His friends aloofe inuiron'd round vvith foes Thus vnto death soules loue sweet Iesus goes Victoriously vpon the dunghill field He manag'd combate vvith the roaring Lion Old serpent death and hell at once did yeeld All vanquisht by triumphant lambe of Sion Performing in that glorious bloodie fight The euer conquest of infernall might FINIS The wonders at Christs death THat instant hower the vvorlds Redeemer di'de And breathed out his soule vpon the crosse Heav'ns glorious lampe abating all his pride Bewail'd in blacke his murdred makers losse Turning his splendant beames of gold to drosse The Moone like suted in a sable vveed Mourned for sinnes outragious bloody deed VVhen Iosua Israels valiant captaine praid And in his praier coniuring did command The firmaments bright eie stand still it staid Till he vvas victor of the vvickeds band Waighting vpon Gods battaile then in hand Yeelding the richest treasure of his light Lengthning the vvant of day vvith day-made night But here reflecting light to darkesome change Shaming to see vvhat shamelesse sinne had done VVas more admir'd to alter kind so strange Then vvhen he ceas'd his posting course to run Loue to Gods forces his bright staying vvonne But now beholding Sathans power preuailing He turn'd the day to night in darknesse vvailing At death of Christ appear'd foure signes of vvonder To euidence diuine and God-like might The first The temples vaile did rent in sunder Next Sunne and Moone extinguisht both their light Affoording darknesse to blind Iewish sight Then flintie stones deuiding part in twaine And Saints from graues reuiv'd to life againe What faithlesse Iew or gracelesse Atheist can With impious tongue sound out blasphemous breath Affirming Christ to be but only Man VVhose dietie vvrought vvonders after death VVonders in heauen strange miracles on earth Of each beholders heart feare tooke possession And taught the Pagan captain Truths confession Thou canst not say those vvorkes vvere Magickes art From slaunders charge Christs power diuine is free His soule vvas fled and did before depart His liuelesse bodie euery eie did see No charming vvords by dead tongues vttred be Thou must of force confesse true God-head by it Or say that Mallice vvilfull doth denie it FINIS The Funerals of Iesus WHen Iosephs suite had got the Iudges leaue To take sweet Iesus from the bloodie crosse VVhose blessed life Iewes blindnesse did bereaue To our eternall gaine their endlesse losse Christs night-disciple aidfull did agree To take his bodie from that guiltie tree The Virgine mother cheefe in mournefull teares VVith holy Maries twaine that stintlesse wept To Caluarie both sheet and odours beares There must the sacred funerall be kept VVhō hearts did loue him vvith their feet they sought Teares in their eies hands myrrhe and aloes brought Their greefes and labours they deuide in parts Partaking each t'affoord some needfull thing True faith and loue vvas seated in their hearts On shoulders ladders armes the shroud doe bring Their hands haue ointments eies with teares abounds Teares well imploi'd to wash his bloodie wounds With tired steps they ouertooke the place Where store of vveeping dew moistned the ground The Sunne vvas hid nights darke approcht apace Greefes did surprise dolours increase abound Whom infidels nail'd vp did pierce and crowne Faithfull from Crosse act holy taking downe Before the same to signe a perfect zeale They cast themselues so low as earth gaue leaue In reuerence of those vvounds that only heale All feauer'd soules blood-salue from thence receaue Which vvorship vvell perform'd they sighing rise And towards the crosse all guide plaint-pouring eies The honourable two old aged men Aduis'd the rest respect vvhat scanting time Remain'd to annoint and shroud and burie then Their ladders raising vp the crosse they clime Teares sighs and sobs descend ech step they goe While eies wet Orators repli'de below On Iacobs ladder ioifull Angels sing No iarre their heav'nly musicke did restraine On Iosephs ladder teares to top they bring And mournefull sobs send sorrowes downe againe Those heav'nly quires partake no tunes like this Christs bitter death vvas faultie mans amisse When hands and feet they carefull did vn-naile Letting the body downe conieal'd in gore This vvas the obiect Visage wan and pale Eies turn'd in head his flesh all rent and tore Scull boared through thornes spurting out his braines Bones out of ioint and full of broken vaines Vpon the ground the holy corpes being laid Most reuer'nt vvhere the shrouding sheet was spred His blessed Mother full of vvoes dismaid Renew'd her plaints vvith showers of teares she shed Whom Iudas sold for thirty pence aliue To buy him dead her pearled drops did striue The taske of Sorrowes equall to deuide At Iesus head laments his pensiue mother Ioseph with Nichodemus at one side And both the Maries place them at the other Thus bout the mangled
corpes these mourners stands With teares in eies with ointments in their hands Wken kneeling round the bodie they inclose Prepar'd with baulme and readie to annoint it Viewing blew wales that came of Iewish blowes Rupture of nailes wan flesh how they disioint it Compassion pittie loue with true remorse Inuited all their eies to wash the corse Their knees vvith humble seruice lowly bowing Their hands embaulme him vvounded rent and tore Their eies no mangled part vnwasht allowing Their hearts vvith vvorship God and man adore Both knees and hands vvith hearts and vvatry eies All sorrow laden tir'd vvith sighs and cries For deepe-made vvounds and torturing cruell blowes No small expence of ointments could suffise But bountie on that holy worke bestowes Plentie of odours in such liberall vvise Their baulme to couer him inough had bin And teares might serue to haue baptis'd him in His glorious bodie shrouded in the sheet On vvhich to be embaulmed they did lay him With binding clothes vvrapt vvhole from head to feet To be inter'd his seruant Saints conuay him Only in armes good Iesus dead they haue Within their hearts he liues being borne to graue O mournefull trod where comforts paths are failing Deaths bed must haue eternall life in keeping Joseph goes sighing Magdalen bewailing Ther's Iohn laments and Nichodemus weeping The blessed virgins eies like fountaines run Left vvofull vviddow to her murdred son What pens report can tell her sorrowing heart That saw her sonne the only of her vvombe Before her eies pay death mans foule desert And vvith her armes assist him to the tombe What sorrowes mappe like sorrow ere exprest What eies like teares what teares like greefes profest Her liquid eies stroue each t'exceed the other By sighs her mone by teares her vvoe appeares She vveepes yet is the mirth of heav'ns mother Virgine in office young in tender yeares Filled vvith grace eternities Princesse Excelling in perfections holinesse O Sunne vvhose shine is heav'ns eternall bright Of funerall pompe why art thou destitute Borne to thy graue vvithout one candles light Or Clergie night precedent institute Thy birth was simple void of worldly pride And in thy buriall cost vvas laid aside Oh heav'ns riches mercies fountaine head When thou vvast borne no house thy parents haue Thy life vvas poore thy death vvithout a bed Thy buriall vvas in Iosephs borrowed graue Thou didst indure our paines sinnes purchase hell Thou louedst soules lost soules so vvondrous vvell Though Salomon vvas Israels crowne successour And gain'd his kingly fathers state and throne Of Dauids mercy seemes he no possessour Funerall cost or teares vve read of none But Scriptures recommend the honour done In Iacobs buriall by his gratefull sonne The great Priest Simon caused to bee made A monument of curious carued stones Wherein his bodie after life vvas laid And eke his brethren Machabes their bones But tombe for Christ vvas in his life vnknowne And for him dead his mother knew of none No earthly care soules loue to him vvas sweeter When vnto Iohn the virgine was commended His enemies to Mercie church to Peter His soule to Father saying All is ended No speech he vs'd nor any order gaue For costly funerals or a sumptuous graue With greefes attaining to the garden place From which oft staies to weepe and vvipe did let Pensiue distrest in most perplexed case The shrouding sheet all moistned slacke and wet Not vvith the dew descending from the skies With teares that rained from their shouring eies Oh glorious hearbes this garden plot did beare Oh holy ground trod in this iournies paines Not for the oile of Oliues growing there But sanctified by blood from Iesus vaines O earth vvhereon true loue and greefes combine Blood from the sonne teares from the mothers eyen The tombe prepar'd vvherein hee should bee laid From which although great paine the stone remooued Yet farre exceed the suites intreatie made Before his mother yeelds her deere beloued Still they solicite still her loues denie him Vntill on knees with price of teares they buy him The brothers sonne intreats his holie aunt Persuasiue reasoning humbly dooth beseech Times breuitie good Ladie mooues your graunt Let eies doe more with teares then tongues vvith speech Vpon detaining now no longer stand Darke sable night leads dangers by the hand If foes should vvrong vs bootlesse vve to striue How can poore three our Lords dead corse defend Twelue could not guard him when he vvas aliue Giue license this last seruice take an end Much troubles cease vvhen by free vvill is done That vvhich constraint vvell nere dispence to shunne Thou friend of God incline to vs at length Let our vveake vvords o'recome thy loues the stronger Our hearts vvant comforts all our members strength Our teares are spent eies dri'de can vveepe no longer Sorrow that holds vs for her lawfull prize Hath left not one poore teare to taske our eies Wearie vvith importunitie and vveeping A most vnwilling leaue the Virgine gaue Yeelding her sonne to the sepulchres keeping Her sweetest loue to deaths most bitter graue Like as from Golgotha they brought him thether All helpe all sigh all put him in together Thus being laid into his bed of stone By liquid eies and hearts of sorrowing flesh Instead of earth their teares vvere poured on A last farewell greefes cesternes yeeld afresh There left they Iesus that sinnes burden beares Wept vvrapt annointed bath'd in streames of teares FINIS