holy land And faine would haue since thus thransported hether All sorts and sects associate me thether But all alas woe worth doe me disdaine one my Palmers weed with scorn complaine Vp-brayding me that I sometime of yore Triumphant vertues vestures viuely wore which thogh those lines a prisners pace do walk Which whilom did in Courtly measure stalke To open view now they expose their faults Though like a weakling that on crowches haults The fading flower of those youthfull times Now rest of power bewailes her ruthful crimes And ruminating on a sea of sinne Bewraies without what her betrayes within Then with my Poems plaine wreck't dispence Deuour'd in zeale is oft distrac't in sence Let not the rashnes of demolish't Time Explode my harshnes and vnpolisht rime Nor shun me now though I like lowly Ioh This leprous Corps of sin with raggs enrobe But sit by me read me and turne me o're And with thine vngments gently salue my sore within this Port wee 'le Anchour safe frō rockes Frō swelling billowes rageing gusts shockes Til Thetis Halcion Neptunes storke doth haile Then shall our Gallion spread a loftier saile And frō outragious stormes tempests stand For safe arriuall in the holy land ¶ Idillion in eximii Millitis Leightonis laudem THese dulcid layes which heere thy Muse doth sing sound most melodious to the heauenly King Thy zealous Emulation heere aspires To Parallel thy selfe in Angels quires If such ambition from thy Muse can glide Be more ambitious t' is a heauenly pride Still with this Emulation thee inuest For t' is a habit that becomes thee best And as thy selfe thy selfe dost most controule Seeming afflicted with a wounded soule Know for thy comfort thus Iehouah cries Offer to me a liuing sacrifice Thē these Oblations are more pleasing notes Then flesh of Bulls many thousand goates To him that saith in his Diuine behest Giue me thy heart then shalt thou please me best Better then he who all at once exhausts Chiliads of Hecatombs and Holocausts Nor weigh's he Psalmes composures prickt by art Till first the Psalmists soule be prickt in heart Thē yeeld thy simphonies which best accord With Dauids harmonies that pleas'd the Lord As when the women sung this sweet Idillion Saule slew his 1000. Dauid slew his million Hould on thy course and be assur'd at last Heauens will raise thee some Encomiast That like Apollo's Pean shall disperse The sacred diapason of thy verse In spight of Zeallesse Zoylus all abroad And make proud Momus chaunt his palinode Ed. Cooke ¶ In laudem authoris presentes operis sui Antonii dyat Arm. All euill deedes in darkenes doe delight the perfect good surmoūts the Sun shine bright The cardinall vertues yeald to thē their right Doe vertues lead that are Diuine in sight The former frame to honesty of life The latter are to soules saluation rife The former hath our author lately showne In Goulden verse and matter choycly apt The Latter leading vnto heauenly throwne Will be applauded as the onely that Doth ioyes angelicall and eternall blisse By sweete repenting bring from darke abisse Names do the Nature of the man declare Leighton our authors name from true light floweth To blisse the way to show he doth not spare His name eternal therefore each man knoweth God graunt the soyle where these good seedes do fall may bring forth fruit to rid the soule from thrall ¶ Vnto the troubles and sorrowes of the worthy Knight Sir William Leighton CHrists yoake is sweet see how it workes the Heart with steam's of sigh's with throw's of suppcation Say Well-i am whē griefes Leight-on my part soul's are sublim'd in fire of tribulation No meruaile Marble weepes on gloomy day Since griefe yeeldes Hunny dewes griefe to allay Io. Layfeilde To the Right Worshipfull Sir William Leighton Knight his endeared friend and kinsman concerning his diuine Lamentations EVē as some curious Image wrought in gold is a rich obiect stately to behold And we not only doe the wealth desire But doe asmuch the workmanship admire Yet if it turn'd be to a vse prophane What men did loue as soone they loath the same For all the cost and curious Art bestow'd Is counted base if worship to 't be show'd So stately posey oft is put in vse To sing laciueously her owne abuse And being rich and curious often times Is wrongd with base foule vnchristian rimes Then Poets all this heauenly verse come view Which bringes sweet Art and ripe conceipts to And doth thereby your Poetrie refine And teach it how for to become deuine you A second Dauid here soules health doth sing And thereby honor doth to Poets bring Here is no forged tale of loue or lust To sot the simple and deceiue the most No ticeing baud or foule abusing scoule No Art of loue but Phisicke for thy soule He that the Cardnall vertues late did bring For to vse conference with our mightie King Now likewise bringes a liuely verse to winne Faith vnto all that all may hate their sinne The flintie eye this worthy Knight doth moue To shed salt teares fore-wronging him aboue And as himselfe so is his verse likewise Most Deuine Noble Ciuill good and wise Then let no blasting tongue abuse the tree That beareth fruite to saue thy soule thee Ar. Hopton MVsicke is then Diuine and not but then when words notes in aptnes do concord Composed so by zealous cunning men as words notes both praise the heauenly Lord Such Musique is Diuine none but such be conceit cunning ne'reso much And such is worthy Leightons true intention whose heauēbred Muse Musiqu do conspire Both to Demonstrate his Diuine inuention and to Illustrate his most iust desire Oh let not then his patterne be neglected who hath Gods praise by Notes to him directed Luke Iones I Inlaudem Authoris THis is the second time thou hast appear'd in publick print wel willing worthy knight First thy Tryumphant vertue highly rear'd thy fame aboue our Moderne Poets flight For why those lines in serious wise I write do with such generall learning richly shine As if some blessed or Caelesticall spright possessed had that heart and soule of thine But in this second worke much more Diuiue thy Lamentations woefully cōposed thou dost thy thoughts in such low verse combine as wondrous skill thou hast in thē disclosed That mē may see thou canst write high or low in both so well as none thy worth can show Iohn Lepton THE TEARES OR LAMENTAtions of a Sorrowfull Soule A prayer vnto Almightie God to preuent prepare and dispose our hearts rightly vnto prayer Lord teach me how to pray Luke 11. 1. Verse O Louing God and Father deere I humbly thee beseech pray For Iesus sake my prayers heare and harken what my soule shall say My heart thoughts Lord sanctifie thine holy spirit inspire within mee Mee from corruptions mundifie and let thy louing mercies win me Oh let me
dispaire To thee O Lord I doe commit my selfe I neuer will repine For thou know'st best what is most fit in life and death let me be thine FINIS ¶ Precepts of duties HIgh mightie God of righteousnes in wrath a dread consuming fire Thou did'st in perfect happines make man that dard gain'st thee conspire And breake thy lawes with all dispight whē thou had'st made him pure holy Plac'd him in garden of delight so great and wicked was his folly That hauing leaue to take or leaue to chuse refuse or vse at pleasure He did himselfe by sinne deceaue of that Diuine surpassing treasure And by his mutabilitie regardles of thy sacred sawes He brought in instabillitie lost his free will made breach of lawes Thou God of iustice must doe right man wanting grace with want of grace By grace substraction did'st requite bannishe him that blessed place By meanes of which we are inclin'd from thy behests to runne astray Our tōgue our heart our soule our mind by sinne is carried cleane away Thine honor first is sted fast faith in Christ and in thine holy booke And in thy truth that thy spirit saith which in mine hart for faith doth looke The next obedience to thy will as thou cōmanded'st by thy sweet word From Syna and from Sions hill to teach vs do thine hests O Lord. Vs for thy children hast elected and vs adopted to inherit Thy blisse if thy blisse be respected and seal'd vs with thine holy spirit Thou mad'st vs free by thy sons bloud to th' end thou mayest be glorifi'd In soules and bodies for our good his passion hath vs purified thou freed'st vs to that end we mought serue thee in holy righteousnes Thou gau'st thy sonne and he vs bought from thraldome of our sinfullnes Thou would'st he should for al men die to make him liue in thine elect And they in him to fructifie and with his graces hast them deckt By grace and holy inspiration rebellious nature seek'st to tame With precepts for instruction leau'st vs lawes in thine owne name The readie way of seruing thee and profit to our neighboures bring And louing thee most zealously who art our father Lord and King Though by thy Gospell we be free from lawes of sinne and Punishment Yet rules of life and pietie thou hast prescrib'd and to vs lent Thereby to mannage all our deeds and guide vs least we stepp awry And rightly vse our natures seedes both well to liue and well to die These lawes did'st write in tables two with the pure finger of thine hand Deliuered them Moyses vnto that we thy will might vnderstand The first cóntaineth precepts foure of duties due vnto thy fear◠The second six commandements more of loue we should to neighbours beare The summe and substance of them all and that fulfilleth euery part Is thee to loue on thee to call with all our soule might minde heart To other men especially thine houshold that are firme in faith As to our selues to giue supply with all our helpe as scripture saith But we are weake our case thus stands in this fraile mortall life of ours No man can keepe these thy commaunds but breakes them at all times houres Yet thou thy children oft dost will them selues to comfort hopeingly Ther 's left for them some measure still t' approach to thee acceptablie Namely when they bend their whole strength dayly preuented by thy spirit And stand in hope t' attaine at length what now they want by Christ his merit Walking and dayly going on by stepps thereof to Paradice Praysing and lauding thee alone sighes yet for their infirmities The faithfull know all and beleeue with thee our father mercie is For with thy sonne do'st all thinges giue how can we then of mercy misse Therefore my God now giue to me all that thou giu'st to thine elect Of thine eternall clemencie let not thy spirit my soule reiect Illuminate my knowledge darke Possesse my heart the Lord to loue What 's don amisse Lord doe not marke but let thy spirit my spirit still moue That I most constantly may walke the steps path's of thy iust lawes And of thy goodnes dayly talke with feare and loue and all applause To whom I wholie owe my selfe for thou hast Lord created me And bought me not with worldly pelfe but by thy sonne hast made me free Whence I doe also learne to loue all men in thee and for thy sake Who beare thy image from aboue and my vocation surer make O let me thus thy fauour finde and peace of consience vnderstand Thy blessings and thy mercies kinde to God the work 's of mine ill hand That fil'd with daies I leaue my life rest to inioy with all contents And liue eternally from strife and keepe thy ten Commaundements Finis ¶ An invocation to God humbly praying for remission of sinne WEll spring of bountie God of feare beginning that mak'st all begin With what oblation to appeare appease thy wrath that 's due for sinne I know not blood of Bulles and beast or sweetest incense that doth rise From earth of old they were the least and are not now of any prise O how should I be reconcil'd againe vnto thy louing fauour How long Lord shall I be exil'd from my sweete Lord only Sauiour How long O haue I cal'd to thee to thee in name of thy deere Sonne Yet what I ask'd thou gau'st not mee and what I would is left vndonne I long haue knocked at thy doore of mercy but none entrance finde Sorrowes and troubles more and more increase and vex my soule and minde I dayly waite most wofull mortall before thy seate of clement grace But may not peepe within thy portall nor see thy glorious beautious face I sigh and mourne my teares are seas I sincke vnder the burdnous loade Of sinne and shame and find none ease prouoke me forward with thy word Of castigation I desire to quench thy wrath with flouds of teares Yet still increase thy fearefull fire and so increase my frostie feares By prayers thee to presse who dares except by thy sonnes mediation To seeke thy glory 's all our cares and th' end of earthly mens creation what course should I poor wretch thē take to doe or aske that 's good iust But vnto thee my prayers make and onely in thy sonne put trust Yf that my sinnes shall thee offend then all thy creatures rage storme And all conspire by thy commaund to beate on me poore sillie worme Where shall I be or whether flie from sight of thine all seeing ey ne As Noahs doue on earth am I and cannot looke against thy shine But if thou show thy louing face all creatures on my seruice tend Men beasts and Angels doe me grace to helpe me all their powers doe bend What should I
shrinke though knowing this Thy wonderous power great mercies most infinite thy mercy is Yf mad'st the Rocke a water spring thy thirsty people to refresh Frō mine hard hearted foes can'st wring some comfort for my withered flesh Yf thou raind'st Manna from aboue meate by a Rauen thy saints to feede Thousands of men did feede with loue when their was little shew of bread Yf to thy people thou sendest Quailes in desert where all foode was scant And since thy goodnes neuer failes should I suppose that I should want ¶ The fift part of the ninth Lamentation COnfirme my faith for euermore that I most constantly belieue Thou can'st and wilt encrease my store and all good things thou wilt me giue All power belongeth vnto thee who can imagine or will say Thou can'st not in my neede helpe me or that thy loue is tane away Sith thou hast don such mighty things so freely for men in distresse Should not I fly with swiftest wings to thee in time of heauines But lo O Lord all things are thine the heauens are thine the earth also The Cattle Fowles the shrubs vine all things in heauen and earth belowe All things aboue all things beneath is thine who truely then can say Thou can'st not giue or them bequeath to whom thou wilt who can say nay Thou makest the corn to spring grow waterst th' earth with thy sweet showers Thou causest beasts with thankes to low with dewes thou water'st fragrāt flowers Since then thou art the Lord of all sith thou cōmaund'st do'st forbid The rich poore mak'st proud men fall that down can'st throvv raise at need Sith that thou tryest vvilt revvard sith thou dost vvhat shall please thy will And in what manner vvilt regard vvhom thou vvilt can'st saue or spill No liuing man commandeth thee not all the vvorld can thee controle O Lord I still vvill pray to thee for health of body and of soule Let it be thus O father deare for Christ his sake thy dearest sonne That dyed and rose my soule to cleare in all things Lord thy wil be done All glory to the Trinity to Father Sonne and holy Ghost Combind in holy vnity of power in might and glory most FINIS ⧠To God the Father WEll-spring of deity God God-head giuer who giu'st away yet kepest what was giuē A fountaine vndiminisht by thy riuer Riuer and fountaine both in fullnes euer Father by euerlasting generation Without precedence in paternity Whether it be of substance or relation For all things are togither in eternity Disclose the depth take frō my muse obscurity Thine hidden depth which makes my verse an oracle So shall I both attaine vnto thy purity And all that read my lines conceiue this miracle How God in getting of another yet Another not an other God did gett FINIS To God the Sonne GReat sonne of God but borne the sonne of man One subiect of a double substance fram'd wherein nor man-hood lost nor god-head wan But of thē both at once one Christ was nam'd Before all times begot in time created The Lord of Lords a seruant from retaining And yet no former forme thereby abated In seruāts forme the forme of God remaining Great sonn of God thē whō there is no greater No not the father in his great diuinitie As God creator and as aman a creature For more and lesse agree not in infinity Teach me to know how man by God assumed Ys both and yet not man by God consumed To God the holy Ghost O Spirit Diuine the cōmon knot whereby The father the sonne do loue together For sonne and father vniuersally Are loue though loue be proper vnto neither Thou that frō both Proceedest from none Vnequally but with the like authority As from one principall though from that one Principally yet without priority One all the first from two the last of three Sweete breath that ioyest euery pensiue heart Breathed from God O God breath into me Skill aboue skill and teach me how thou art The last of three and yet of three so cast As in them all is neither first nor last FINIS ¶ Diuers consolations that the life and time of affliction is short THe comfort that doth make vs bold is our afflictions transitory Cause wee of Christ do take sure hold the troubles short endlesse the glory Eye hath not seene eare hath not hard the ioyes that God for his elect In heauen already hath prepar'd though many troubles to effect Light are our troubles temporarie because Christ and his spirit diuine This waight and burthen helpe to carry and doth in yoake with vs conioyne We looke not on things seene vaine but on things vnseene cast our eie The blessed saints for Christ were slaine Christ answered when they did cry How long how long Lord wilt thou stay a little time though God doth lowre Stay till his wrath be past away t' is but a minute of an howre Christ calles the time of troubles little but Paule doth say the glori's great And in respect t' is but a tittle if 't be compar'd to heauens seate A while saith God I thee forsooke that is short time in misery But thee t'ernall mercy tooke that is to heauen's felicity I 'le feare no danger paine nor losse t' is but the twinckling of an eye I see the crowne I 'le beare the crosse for I shall liue eternally Good gratious God me patience send and then do send what send thou wilt Graunt me those ioyes that ne'r shall end for to that end Christ's bloud was spilt FINIS ⧠Of Death WHat 's death a seperation of mortall body frō our breath What 's that but a Cessation from cares and from a liuing death What 's that Cessation it t' is a sleepe by which we wholie are refreshed Yea but in sleepe who shall vs keepe he that blest all and is most blessed But who made death t'vvas made by sinne what is sin the lawes transgression Of that how should I vauntage win all sinne is weakned by confession But by death's dynt t' is ouercome and whence came sin frō hell beneath Whē wa'st first bred in mothers wombe when will it end not till our death This seemeth strange but this is true by nature sinne is hatcht in vs Old Adams rules till God renue why then I see the case stands thus As sinne goes in soe life goes out as sinne goes out so life comes in So by the Lord t' is brought about sinne conquers life Life conquers sinne Though life by sinne be still anoyde sinne of death by strength sting Yet Viprous sinne by death's destroy'd life killeth death whē death kill'th sin The death of body or of nature is that where to all subiect be Cause sinne hath tainted euery creature according vnto Gods decree When bodies life doth fade away and we giue vp our dying ghost And this our Corps is clad in clay and vnto God
If I by chaunce a foile might haue they would exalt with ioyfull cries With deadly plagues I am beset and heauy thoughts in me doe stay My horrid sinnes I le nere forget but mourne for them both night and day My cruell foes are great in strength and they in number doe exceed Therefore O Lord ayde me at length and succour me in time of neede ⧠Psalme 51. LOrd of thy mercies multitude and goodnes great I doe implore My hainous sinnes from me exclude and sanctifie me euermore Wash me cleane from my wickednesse and purge me from my sinfull crimes That I may neuer more transgresse but glorifie thy name all times For I acknowledge all my faults my sinnes are euer in mine eyne Defend me still in all assaults thou know'st O Lord my soule is thine Gainst thee alone was mine offence my sinnes lay open to thy view Therefore the Lord's Omnipotence if I were cast is iust and trew Behould I first was form'd in sinne and from my mother so was borne And so poore soule continue in yet let me neuer be forlorne But loe the truth thou do'st require from the interiour parts of mine And then my soule thou shalt inspire with prudence secret and Diuine Purge me with Hisop then I know although my sinnes are wondrous blacke I shall be whiter then the Snow no brightnes then my soule can lacke O Lord into my wounded heart send downe thy spirits ioyfull voice That my brus'd bones in euery part which thou hast broken may reioyce From mine offences turne thy face and Purge me from mine euill deeds Increase in me thy spirit of grace from whence new birth of heart proceeds Let me not from thy presens part take not thy holy spirit from me But be a comfort to my heart still with me let thy spirit be And then the man that doth transgresse I shall reclaime from wicked waies O free me from bloud guiltienesse that I may sing thy rightfull praise O Lord doe thou my lips vnfould that open'd mouth may offer praise Which is the sacrifice of ould gratefull to thee in all my daies A contrite heart thou dost require for a sweete smelling sacrifice A broken spirit is thy desire which at no time thou wilt despise Be gratious Lord to Sions hill and Salems wales build and repaire Then Caâ—ues and Lambes we 'le offer still vpon thine Alter fat and faire FINIS ¶ Psalmes 102. O Heare my prayers Lord and let my mournefull moanes to thee assend Hide not thy face nor me forget in time of trouble me defend Encline thine eares vnto my call heare me O God and that right soone Support me euer least I fall both Morning Euening Night Noone My daies like smoake consume away my bones are burnt my heart is dead And withered like grasse or hay that I forget to eat my bread My flesh will scarce cleaue to my boanes I am become so weake a man And worne away with grieuous groanes like to some Owle or Pellican In watching I haue spent the night and like a sparrow all alone That on some houses top doth light disconsolate I made my moane All the day long I am reuil'd by those which are against me sworne And lead a life like one exil'd and of his country quite forlorne For I like bread did ashes eate and powred teares into my cup. Cause in thy wrath and anger great thou threw'st me downe took'st me vp My daies doe like a shadow passe but thou for euer Lord art sure And I am wither'd vp like grasse but thy remembrance still shall dure O Lord arise and pitty take with Sion let thy mercy stand Good God euen for thy meries sake for now the time is full at hand For why thy seruants Meditate vpon her stoanes with greeuance iust To see her lye so ruinate deuoid of comfort in the dust The heathens then thy name shall feare and earthly Kings thy maiesty When thou O Lord shalt Sion reare vnto her glorious dignity And then all Nations of the earth which vex the poore with furious hate Shall quake and tremble at thy breath when thou shalt helpe the desolate This shal be written on Record for vnborne babes which shall ensue That they may lawd the liuing Lord and magnifie his iudgements true The Lord lookt from his mighty throane and glorious seate of maiestie That he might heare the playning moane of Captiues then adiudg'd to die That they in Salem might declare the glorious name of God the Lord How he of Sion tooke such care as with his mercy did accord My strength in progresse down he brought and suddainely cut of my daies To spare me yet I him besought till riper age when life decayes Thy yeares O Lord endure for aye there is no limmit to thy times For thou did'st the foundations lay of heauenly Spheres and earthly Climes Thy handy workes shall weare away but thou for euer wilt endure They like a garment shall decay thy yeares eternall are most sure Thy Seruants Children shall remaine and their posterities abide And they in heauen with thee shall raigne in earth stand fast and neuer slide ⧠Psalme 130. OVt of the deepe to thee I cry'd therefore O Lord heare thou my voice Oh let thine eares to me be ty'd that I in thee may still reioyce If thou O Lord wilt be seuere to note in me what is amisse Thy iudgments I might iustly feare dispairing of thy heauenly blisse But thou art mercyfull O God and still thy grace doth most abound To them that reuerence thy rod thy fauour euer wil be found On thee O Lord I did attend and in thy word repos'd my trust Till thou thy light to me did'st send and raise me vp euen from the dust Trust in the Lord O Israell his mercies rich as sands on shore Redemption great with him doth dwell in bounteous plenty plenteous store Then he from sinne will thee redeeme and ransome home from soule offence Houlding thee in as great esteeme as Adam in his innocence ⧠Psalme 144. TO my Petitions bow thine eare good Lord consider my desire O comfort me in dreadfull feare for thy truths sake I thee require With vs in iudgment enter not no man is righteous in thy sight O let thine anger be forgot and thine Annoynted vs acquite The enemy hath vex't my soule and cast my life downe to the ground My boanes in darkenes he doth roule that like a dead man I am found Therefore my spirit is opprest my heart within me grieued sore That I can finde no quiet rest but desolation euer-more Yet former times to minde I call musing vpon thy workes begun And exercise my selfe in all the wondrous acts which thou hast done To thee doe I stretch out my hand and vnto thee my soule doth groane Euen as the dry and thirsty land that for her moisture maketh moane Heare me O Lord and that with speed because my spirit waxeth spare Hide not thy face in