hearde The prayse of men whiche they desyre Is only their rewarde But at suche tyme as thou wylt praye Into thy chamber go A faythfull and a contrite harte Prayer must Issue fro And when thou hast closed thy dore And shut out wordly care And vayn thoughtes of this wretched worlde Thy prayer then declare Vnto thy god and father dere Whiche is in secrete still Seing the bothom of eche harte Eche thought eche worke and wyll Whoe will rewarde thee in such wise That it shall well appere That he hath heard thy hartes requeste Moste lyke a father dere But in thy prayer bable not With many wordes and vayne As Heathen men whiche thinke therby their purpose to obteyne It is the harte and not the lyppes Wherby thou mayste aspyre Thy sute to god for to attayne And to haue thy desyre The harte I saye both cleane and pure Must be the very meane For lips doe but prouoke gods wrath Where hartes be founde vncleane For god doth knowe before you speakâ— Your nede and all your lacke And wyll you kepe it you be iuste That nought shall goe to wracke And erre thou praye bethynke thy self Who did the hurt or greue Refrayne thy wrath in continent And louyngly forgeue If thou forgeue not other men Their trespasses and cryme Thinke not that god will thee forgeue Thy faultes at any time Contrariwyse if thou forgeue Suche as did the vnryght God by his promis wyll thee here And shewe the mercy bryght And where thou hast done any hurte It is not worth the whyle To praye before thou make amendes And thy selfe reconcyle But when thou art prepared thus In all pointes as I saye With pure harte in moste humble wyse On this sorte see thou praye Pater noster O Lorde that art our only god And father of vs all In heauen whiche arte resident To thee we crie and call Thy holy and thy blessed name That we may sanctifie Graunt that we may for euer vse The same reuer ently Oh let thy kyngdom downe descende And alwayes vs protecte That we may reigne in peace and ioye Whiche are thyne owne electe Thy worthy wyll let it be done Of worldly wretches here As it in heauen euer is Among thy saintes moste dere Our daily bread geue vs this daye Our bodies to susteyne And to our soules thy blessed worde Thy truthe styll to mainteyne Both for the body and the soule Relieue vs with thy store That we therby may taste thy grace This daye and euer more Our trespasses our great sinnes Redeme and clene forgeue As we forgeue and mercy take On them that doe vs greue O lorde into temptation Aboue our strengthe and powre Doe not leade vs at any tyme Least Sathan vs deuowre But with thy grace defende vs styll Let not thy goodnes cease But from all euylles vs defende Delyuer and release For onely to thee doth belonge The kyngdome very ryght The power and gloryous maiestie For euer so be it ¶ The abridgement of our Christen beleefe written as some suppose into .xii. Articles by the .xii. holy apostels of our sauiour Iesus Chryste THe .xii. Apostelles of Iesus our lorde After their holy preachyng a long tyme And settyng forth of goddes most holy worde Preaching repentaunce from al synne and cryme Yet not withstandinge all their dilygence Mistaking of goddes worde dyd make offence For many heresyes dyd then aryse And mysbeleâ—e in god our lorde aboue By mystakyng and worldely wyt lyke wise Whiche made from true fayth many to remoue For carnall reason walketh styll astray And vnto fayth dothe alwayes disobay These holy preachers therfore thinkinge best In this turmoyle to set order and staye Dyd then deuyse bothe vnto most and least Of true beleefe a breefe and perfect waye That all men might as well the younge as oâ—lde Sone lerne the same and in memory houlde Syth then the holy ghost hath taught vs thus It doth behoue that we dilygently Do learne the same to knowe and to discusse And kepe eche parte therof most faythfull Wherefore the summe of it I wyll reherse As here doth folowe in this kynde of verse Credo in deum patrem I Do beleue with stedfast true intent In God the father which is of all myght Who made heauen earth and al their whole content The nyght the day the darkenes and the lyght And I beleue in Iesus Christ our lorde Hys onely sonne thee uerlastyng worde Which of the holy ghost conceyued was And of the most pure virgyn Mary borne And vnder Ponce Pylat as came to passe Suffred and on the crosse was rente and torne And beyng dead was buryed in the ende And also downe into hell dyd descende And the thirde day accordyng to scripture He rose from death to perfect lyfe agayne And vp to heauen he ascended sure On god the fathers ryght hande to remayne Till at the last he once agayne shall come Both quicke and deade to iudge by rightfull dome I also beleue in the holy ghoste And in the church of chryst catholycall And of the sayntes the communion moste The forgeuenes of myne offences all And this our fleshe shall ryse agayne at last And I beleue eternall lyfe to taste Amen ¶ The songe of prayse and thankesgeuinge of blessed Mary the vyrgyn mother of our lorde and sauiour Iesus Chryst after the salutation of the Angell Gabriell and of Elizabeth mother of blessed Iohn baptist written Luke the j. Chapter Magnificat anima mea My soule truelye Shall magnifye The lorde and hym honour So shall my sprite Ioy and delyghte In god my sauyour Hys eyes he stayd On hys handmayde In poore and lowe degree And kinreds all From henceforth shall Knowe me blessed to be For he whose myght Excelleth ryght Hath exalted my â—ame Doynge to me Great thinges and hye And holy is is name His mercy sure Doth aye endure And doth not wast nor weare In kynredes all Continuall That do hym loue and feare He in his powre Hath at this howre His arme put forth at length The prowde abowght Bringeth to nowght What so their hartes inuenth He putteth downe From their renowme The mighty and the stronge And doth vp set In honour great The meeke that suffer wronge And he doth styll Both fede and fyll All those that hunger payne And doth them good When without foode The ryche empty remayne He hath in minde His mercy kynde His folke to helpe and saue His seruantes well Euen Israell That for his mercy craue As he like wise Dyd once promyse To Abraham before Our fathers olde that fayth dyd holde And their sede euermore Glory and prayse And laude alwayes Vnto the trynitie With one accorde Prayse we the lorde One god and personnes three As hath ben aye And at this daye Continueth as yet And shall extende Worlde without ende For euer so be it Finis ¶ The songe of prayse and thankes geuinge of holy Zachary father of Saynct Iohn baptist beinge restored to
synge That with gods honour laude and prayse All Israell dyd rynge Benedicam dominum I Wyll vnto the lorde Be geuing thankes alwayes My mouth and tungue shall euer be A speakyng of his prayse My soule shall make hyr boste In God the lorde of myght That poore oppressed men may here The same them to delighte Together let vs nowe In honor doe our partes His name to prayse and magnifie With meke and humble hartes For when I him besought He heard my prayer so That he did streyght delyuer me From all my care and wo. Receaue therfore the lyght And to hym drawe you nere And so without all shamefastnes Your faces shall appere For I poore man made once To hun my playnte and mone He heard me crye and dyd me ryd From troubles euery one His angell pytched hath His tente about his shepe I meane all suche as feare the lorde In saftie them to kepe His frendshyp proue and see And take therof a taste For they that truste in hym are sure Most happy at the laste O feare the lorde all ye His saynctes of him electe For such as feare him lacke nothyng He doth them well protecte The lyons ofte doe lacke And hunger for their foode But they which seke the lord shal wantâ— Nothyng the whiche is good Ye children all I saye Come harken to my voyce I wyll you teache to feare the lorde And in him to reioyce If thou to lyue in ioye And see good dayes be fayne Thy lyppes tongue from guyle wroÌ„s See that thou doe refrayne Se that thou doe none ill In goodnes neuer cease But se thou seke and folowe faste On quietnes and peace The lorde doth fixe his eyes On iust men louingly And to their prayers openly He doth his eares applye Contrariwyse the Lord Doth bende his countenance Of from the earth ill men to moue And their rememberance But to the iuste the lorde Doth so inclyne his â—are That when they praye he wyll them ryd From all trouble and feare The Lorde is nyghe to suche As are in harte contrite And he wyll saue suche as be meke And of an humble sprite Though iust mens troubles be Both manifolde and great The lord from care wyl make them free When they doe him intreate Their bones he wyll defende And kepe so free from cryme That not so muche as one of them Shall breake at any tyme. Misfortune or ill happe The wicked men shall kyll And suche as doe the iust men hate Shall peryshe in their ill The Lorde will saue the soules Of all that doe hym serue And all that put their trust in hym Shall not in peryll swerue ¶ An example that God heareth all suche prayers as are made with a faithfull harte out of the .liiii. Psalme EVery good phisicien That doth a medcyne proue To take effecte in curyng well Is striken streyght with loue Not only to geue god the prayse For his vertue and grace But dothe the same in wryting put To comfort all his race That all whiche after folowe hym In that moste godly arte May proue the lyke and prayse the lorde In lyke case for their parte Noble kyng Dauid in suche wyse Doth godly ioue bestowe By wryting medcines for the soule That other men may knowe As if they doubte at any tyme Howe he dyd health obteyne He dyd the same declare abrode In wryting to remayne That when to others lyke distres Here after may betyde With cleane hartes that they may prepare And lyke medcines prouide But I will neuer teache quod he In darke or doubtfull waye But suche as I in practice dyd By perfect proofe assaye And of my selfe probatum est Suche medicines I bryng And in example to you all In this wyse wyll I synge Deus in nomine tuo O God I call to thee for helpe In my distresse and nede For thy names sake in thy streÌ„gthe Auenge my cause w t spede For strangers full of tyranny Against me ryse and raue Suche foly she folke as feare not God Doe seke my lyfe to haue But lo God is my helpe at nede Yea only it is hee That doth my soule vpholde and saue From their iniquitee And euell shall the lorde rewarde Vpon myne enemyes And in his truthe destroy them all That vertue doe despyse With offrynges of an harte most free Now wyll I prayse thy name Because O lorde my comfort styâ—â— Consisteth in the same For thou lorde didst delyuet me From troubles manyfolde So that vpon my foes myne eye Doth his desire beholde For this to geue glory to god Shall be my hartes delyght To the father and to the sonne And to the holy sprite As it from the begynnyng was And at this time is sure And as it shall worlde without ende Continue and endure ¶ An example that the thankefull age gaue prayse to god for al his benefites geuen to his creatures out of the lxv Psalme of Dauid I Herde a preacher once declare Two partes to be in prayre The one to god in all our nede For succor to repayre And aske of hym with stedfast sayth All wherof we haue nede For Christ hath surely promysed That therof we shall spede The second part of perfect prayre Is geuyng thankes and prayse To God for all his benefites That we receyue alwayes This is the lyvly sacrifice The lyuing God to please As prayer of the penitent His anger doth appease And sure quod he the very cause That god ofte wyll not here Is that men for his benefites Vnthankfull doe appere For when we praye in tyme of nedâ— For plenty of our foode Howe can we thinke that God to vs Will geue ought that is good If we in tyme of plentie be Vnthankfull and ingrate To geue him praise and honor both According to the rate Yea I may also farther saye This lyuing without awe Ingratitude doth cause the lorde His goodnes to withdrawe And surely Dauid in this Psalme Lykewyse doth well declare That to prayse God we neuer should Any tyme cease or spare But for the goodnes whiche god doth On mortall men bestowe In prayse of his most holy name Some thankfull psalme to showe Howe men shall with a faythfull hartâ— Gods holy name agnise He doth instruct all Christen men By synging in this wyse Te decet hymnus deus in Sion TO the O god in Sion still Great prayses are in store To the also they vowe and kepâ— Their promyse euer more My prayer lorde sithe thou dost hearâ— And art my whole comfort All fleshe to the for succour shall In their due tyme resorte My mysdedes and my wickednes Against me doth preuayle Oh to my sinnes be mercifull That thus doe me asayle For thei are blest whom thou dost chose And in thy house retayne Or doste elect within thy court To dwell and to remayne For he shall leade a plesant lyfe Within thy holy place Thy temple shall hym satisfie With goodnes and with grace For wonders
sede In .iiii. degrees therwith defylde But nowe oh lorde be gracious Vnto thy flocke and their offence And of thy mercy bounteous Remember not our negligence Thy people as thou didst forbeare From Egypt into wyldernes We the beseche in lyke maner That we may taste thy gentylnes ii Esdras .i. ¶ Syng this as O lorde our god we turne to thee c. LOrde god that in the heauens hie Doste kepe thy residence Thou art a god of terrible And great magnificence Thou that hast kept thy couenant And mercy eke in store For them that loue thee and obserue And kepe thy holy lore Oh let thine eares be attendante And marke what I doe saye And let thyne eyes be vigilant Beholde me when I praye For I am bent both daye and nyght To praye before thy face That to thy seruant Israell Thou wilt geue health and grace And to forgeue them all their synne That they did thee transgresse For in the person of them all Their faultes I doe confesse For I my selfe among them all Doe in the number syt My fathers house hath not bene free But did lyke synne commyt Corrupted haue we bene in that Thy lawes we haue not kept Thy wyll and thy commaundementes Because we did reiecte Yet call to mynde thy worde O lorde By Moyses that was sayde Thy seruant whom thou didst commaund For to proclayme thyne ayde The punishment that thou hast made For our transgressions Is for to scatter vs a broade Among the nacions But thou hast sayd and promysed That if we turne agayne Obseruyng thy commaundementes And in thy lawes remayne That though we scattred were abroade Neuer so farre about Yea in the vtmost partes of all Thou wouldst yet fynd vs out And gather vs from thence agayne Inâ—o the very place That thou vs gaue to dwell therin Of thy bountie and grace O heare vs nowe thy seruantes lorde And people of thy lande That were deliuerd by thy powre And by thy myghty hande O lorde nowe let thyne eares attendâ— To marke what we requyre For thee to serue and feare thy name Is nowe our whole desire Tobias .xiii. ¶ Syng this as The. 6. of Mathew If ye reade c. O Lorde our God for euer more Thy greatnes doth extende Thy powre thy kyngdom thy might For euer without end For after scurges helth Insues And pleasure after payne And vnto hell when thou hast brought Thou bringest out againe Wherby thou hast instructed vs That we may vnderstande That there is none by any meanes That may escape thy hande Geue thankes therfore vnto the lorde Ye children of the iuste Before the Heathen let his prayse Be shewed and discuste For therfore hath he scatred you His wondrous workes to showe Among the Heathen and the folke That dyd him neuer knowe That they may knowe and eke confesse That other there is none That is a god omnipotent But our good God alone Whiche hath vs made for our misdedes His chastisment to take And wyll vs saue and helpe agayne For his owne mercies sake Then praye to hym with feare dread And ponder well this thing And magnifie in all your workes The euerlastyng kyng For I will prayse him in the land Of my captiuitie For he dyd shewe the synfull folke His myghty maiestie O turne you vnto God therfore Ye sinners and doe ryghte Ye may be sure with mercy then That he wyll you requite And as for me so wyll I doe In soule and with my voyce For why my god is only he In whome I wyll reioyce O prayse the lorde all ye that be His chosen and electe In ioâ—full dayes geue hym the thankes That still doth you protecte Tobias .iii. ¶ Sing this as the forme of perfect prayer beginnyng The .vi. of Mathewe O Lorde god thou art righteous Thy iudgements all are true Thy iust wayes thy faithfulnes Doth mercy styll ensue Be myndfull nowe O lorde on me And plage not for my sinne Nor haue no mynde of my misdedes Ne of myne elders kynne For we to thy commaundementes Weare not obedient wherfore among all nacions Thou hast vs captiue sent And scattred haste vs them among That dayly vs deryde For dredfull death most vyle shame Doth euer vs betyde In whiche thou hast declard O lorde Thy iudgementes great and hye We did not as thou didste commaunde Nor walkt innocently And therfore now O liuing lorde My prayer shall be styll That thou commaunde deale with me According to thy wyll Receaue O lorde my sprite in peace To thee I doe it gyue For it is more expedient For me do die then lyue Iudith 16. ON tabrets to the lorde let vs our thankfull songes begin Vpon the simbals let vs syng a new songe vnto hym With ioyfull thankes his name to prayse And call vpon the same It is the lorde that warres doth cease Yea the lorde is his name Which pitched hath his tentes of streÌ„gth His people all among Vs to delyuer from the handes Of all our enmies strong For from the mountaynes of the northe Came the Assirian And many thousandes myght we see Within his army than His multitude had shut the streames In all our coastes throughout And with his horsmen couerd were The valleys all about My markes boundes he sayd he wold Consume with burning fyre To kyll my young men with the sworde Was also his desyre To brayne my suckyng babes and geue Myne infantes for a praye My maydens and my virgins pure He thought to dryue awaye But through the lorde omnipotent Suche grace we vnderstande Of their purpose they are decevd Euen by a womans hande For with the handes of youÌ„g meÌ„ strong He truly was not slayne Nor they that were of Tytan borne To kyll hym toke no payne Nor gyant great but Indith lo Daughter of Merari For with hyr face she scattred them And with hyr great beutye Hir wydowes clothes hir morninge wede She gan theÌ„ to forbeare And did on suche as she was wonie On holy dayes to weare To helpe the wofull Israelites Whom ieopardie had hent Hir vertuous face she did anoynte With oyntment excellent And with an houe she trimde hyr heare Hir worke thus could she weaue She ware a lyÌ„nen stole also Thus did She him deceaue Hir slypers rauished his eyes Hir beutie eke his mynde And through his necke his own sworde went Suche ende lo did he fynde The Persians weare in doubt feare At hir audacitie The Medes dyd maruell very muche Hir bouldnes suche to be The humble folke reioyced then They Ioyde that erste dyd crye And they dyd feare that bragd before And fayne were nowe to flye Our womens sonnes then killed them Lyke slaues they ran away The seruantes of the lorde my God Thus caused them to straye A song of prayse vnto the Lorde To syng I will procure Thy glory lorde and strength also Inuincible and pure For eche thing y â— thy hande hath made Doth serue thee in his kynde
frendes thou couldest none fynd But I whych on a crosse was rent Why art thou to thy frend vnkynd Thus I lovde thee but whom lovst thou I am thy frend why wylt thou fayn I gaue thee lyfe and thou me slew Who parted thus our loue in twayn Turne thee to me bethynke thee how Thou hast done yll come home agayne And thou shalt be as welcome now As he that free from synne dyd raigne Thynke howe dyd Mary Magdaleyn What sayd I to Thomas of Inde I grant the blysse why wylt thou payne And art thus to thy frend vnkynde Of frends I am the beste and chiefe Thou wylt me neyther dreade nor please Of thy true loue to se a prefe My loue to thee would much increase For thy mysdedes I suffred grefe And thou dydst me that same disease Hanged I was most lyke a thefe I suffred death thy payne to cease Yet to loue me thou dost not prease Nor bearest not my payn in mynde But seekst Idols in thy dysease To me why art thou so vnkynde Vnkynd for thou hast slayn thy Lord And euery day dost wound hym newe If thou be brought vnto accord Of couenant made thou art vntrue To thy old synne thou dost resorte Thou louest vyce hatyng vertue All false Idols that I abborde To honour thou wylt not eschue But to my lyuely Image true The poore the halt the lame and blynd To offer thou wyle not insue But rather art to them vnkynd Thryse dyd the fiend tempt me truly And thou doste tempt me day by day Wyth syane and vyce most wyckedly To stirre my wrath thou wylt assay Thou dost as who so would me buye As false Iudas dyd me betraye For at my workes thou hast enuye There is nothyng that would thee stay If thou on me myghtst as I may Full cruelly thou wouldest me bynd If I forgyue thee thou sayste nay Why art thou to thy frend vnkynd ¶ A Ditie warnyng all townes and liberties to chose theyr gouernours for vertue wysedom and lernyng and by all meanes laudable to kepe from rule the proude enuious and wylfull wycked men lest the prince be dishonored and they them selues abused and oppressed ¶ Syng this as If truth may take no trusty hold c. VVher pride doth hold the helme in hand The shyp to rule by wylfull wyll Oft tymes we see on rocke or sand Both shyp and goods do ioyntly spyll As Phaeton prowde most wylfully Hys father Phebus charyot Would prease to rule tyll foolyshly He nygh spylde all suche was hys lot Wherby as Ouide playne doth tell The wrathe of Ioue he did proueke In floud of Po hym downe to fell Wyth dreadfull dynt of thunder stroke The lyke thyng may be sene â—â—he day In shyp of publike gouernance Where onely pryde and wyll beare sway Sekyng all discorde to aduance For reason there is caâ—tiuate Reâ—ect and cast cut as a slaue Tyll theyr owne swynge doth bring the quade Whose end doth shew how much they râ—ue Wherfore yf I myght counsell geue When as the matter lyes in choyce Blynde ignorance should not acheue To wyn to rule by common voyce For by theyr rude and â—onde abuse The prince they doo dishonor muche And subiectes poore they muche mysuse Of pryde and wyll the fruites are suche Then best it is for to reiect The blynde the ignorant and rude And vertues chiefly to respect And wysely so your choyce conclude If that ye knewe the difference Betwene the wyse and learned men And rude vnlearned negligence Muche more respect ye would haue then For loke howe farre a lusty wyght That can doo all actiuitie As go runne wrestle playe and fyght Dothe styll surmount in eche degree The infant yong that can not go But muste of force be led or borne So farre extendeth learnyng lo The rude and ignorant forlorne He that in all his lyfe and dayes His owne affections can not rule But beastly is in all his wayes As any saluage horse or mule Or he that hys house howe to guyde Or household yet coulde neuer tell Can such be mete at any tyde A towne of folke to gouerne well Haue this therfore before your eyes Whom hencefoorth ye doo chose or take Vertue imbrace and vyce despyse A ryght good choyce so shall ye make Esteme hym euer as moste yll Whiche by his froward mynde vniust Despysyng lawe wyll maynteyue wyll To lay good order in the dust If any man perceaue this case Or haue experience of this cry me Vertue hencefoorth let hym imbrace And take more hede an other tyme. ¶ A briefe description of wysedom and folly in gouernance VVHere wysedome beareth sayle In shyp of common wealth Lyke are they not to fayle Lawe loue good hope and health Iustyce shall there auayle All wrong to ouerthrowe Men dyng both hygh and lowe In lyke wyse and maner Of folly to defyne Ryght may no rule beare there Debate so doth enclyne And peace can there be none Ye may therof be sure Nothyng but payne and mone Euer doo fooles procure ¶ A briefe Description of truthe and falsehode TRuthe shall triumph and falshode fayle Hope in the Lord so hath vs taught Of falshode shall the cunnyng quayle Most when she hath her malice wrought As of the truth it is the guyse Suppresiyng wrong and then to ryse Why then doth falshode make her bost Of her dedes as they should endure Only a whyle they rule the rost Doubtles theyr buyldynges are not sure Myschief to doo they men allure And yet is all that they inuent Nothyng stable ne permanent ¶ An exhortation to truthe fayth and vertue EXamyn well thyne inward spryte Directe thy wayes with perfectnes Make streyght the thynges that are not right Vexe not thy frend with vnkyndnes No lye for gayne see that thou make Do nothyng yll for frendshyp sake Haue styll in mynde the truth which sayth All thynges are vayne that haue an ende Let all thy workes be done in fayth Lyke that whpch Christ doth most commend ¶ A de scription of mans lyfe both in his owne affections and vertues VVE may by profe behold and see In thys world what is mans delyghte Lewde is our lyfe naturally Lacke yf we doo gods holy sprite Iniurie hate wrath and despyghte All that to payne shall vs procute Most we frequent and put in vre In vertue yâ—t those that doo dwell Occasyons yll they wyll eschue Remembryng that suche as doo well Doubtles the Lorde wyll them endue All goodnes that they may ensue Yea and them kepe so safe and sound None ill shall them hurte or embrace Endeuoryng styll iust to be found A frendly aduertisement REioyce in him that did thee make In weith and we haue him in mynde Conceaue none ill all vyce forsake Helth in thy soule so shalt thou fynde And whâ—re thou art a louyng frynde Reuoke it not but stay thee there Decaye no loue but hate forbere To proued frendes commit thy trust And â—lee from suche as fayne