The Prologue AMids the twynnes when 〈…〉 Fayre Cithera and Iout beingue Last ouer went by his course ryght That he with them had conioyning Commodiously mitigating â—ath Mars and Saturns malice grette Whiche in thè Crabbe but lately mette Lykewyse Lucina then hir decte With eche planet diligently Hir selfe to ioyne with lyke aspecte Begynnyng first with Mercury To Iupiter consequently With Soland Cithera in haste With Saturne then and Mars at laste Almightie God that all hath wroughte Thus through their course moste naturall Within three signes together brought These sterres that crâ—atykes men call In these three were these planets all The Crab the Twyns the horned Bull Of wonders thus his workes are full At this tyme as for my solase To bany she pensyue heuynesse I went abrode the tyme to passe When thought my soule did sore oppresse Callyng my muses to to relese My soule whiche dyd in sorowe smarte Who aye were wonte to ease my harte The Muses nyne I meane whiche teache And Christen poets illuminate 〈…〉 with pen or mouth they preache 〈◊〉 â—ertuous and moste godly rate Of grace and knowledge they the gate Doe open in moste gentle wyse To all that goodnes exercise The fyrste of these is vertue fayre Whiche some men doe Arete call The seconde faith whiche doth repayre To sauing health as principall The third place lady hope haue shall The fourth is loue and wysdome fyue Whiche doe with grace ryght well reuyue Daine temperance the sixt muse is The seuenth is dame pacience The eight a lady full of blis To constancie in good pretence The nynthe of good experience Is mekenes or humilitie The purchasers of Gods mercie To these as I before haue sayde I made my playnte still as I went Desyring them of helpe and ayde Els am I all in peeces rent For ignorance moste pestilent With hir sonne error me assayle And would against my soule preuayle At lest quod I dere helpes alas Let come Arete and dame Spes Brynging with them dame Charitas That they my harte may bryng to ease And take from me my great disease This ougly griefe vyle ignorance And in hir stede knowledge aduance At last I sate downe on a grene Vnto a banke lenyng my backe But Phebus beames so whot did shyne That it constreined me to take The shade vnder the freshe grene brake Not farre from me then streight I spyde A groue whiche was there harde besyde Where as eche byrde with y â— swete noyse That nature gaue them to endure Began my harte for to reioyse Their notes my thought were so demure Whiche in short space did me procure My thoughtfull harte for to apalle That I into a sleape gan falle But in this slumber as I laye My spirit receyude no quiet rest Wherfore I wakte agayne streightwaye So sore encombred was my brest Whiche sought therof to be relest Thus on my muses gan I craue Take pitie on your simple slaue But then a freshe I herde agayne The byrdes that sang so swete a note To whom I sayde with glad harte fayne Now Christe his blessing on your throte And to my mynde it came I wote With laude and prayse for to aduance In them the Lordes hyghe ordinance O God quod I omnipotente We render the with hartes so pure All laude and prayse with good intente Thy handy workes doe me allure That my harte can ryght well indure For euer in this place to dwell And straight againe on sleape I fell But sure I had not rested long Yer that into a dreame I fell I sawe my thought the flowres among Fayre ladies three whiche dyd excell The prayse that any tongue can tell Aprochyng towardes me full faste For soth I was right sore agaste Me thought they compaste me about Standing as in a syrcle trayne The midlemoste without all doubte Dyd farre excelle the other twayne Them to beholde my harte was fayne Forsothe it was a semely syghte My harte therin dyd muche delyghte As I dyd earnestly beholde These ladyes three that weare so bryght From care my harte began vnfolde For I receiued perâ—ecâ—e syghte That madame hope so full of myght Was one of that same ladyes three That so about had compast me Of whom I had the knowledge founde By readyng of the worde of God As I behelde hyr in that stounde Hyr head at me she gan to nod Then from my harte the heauy lode Consumde away with all my thought For hope was come whom I had sought Then vp to hyr my handes I caste And kneled downe vpon the grounde Welcome quod I my hartes repaste That I haue sought now haue I founde The healer vp of this my wounde That iustice hath so fiersly made With thought that sharpe and cuttyng blade She tooke me then in hyr armes twayne And thus to me she sweetly sayde Be strong quod she stande vp agayne Oh man why shouldste thou be aâ—â—ayde For God hath made me for thyne ayde To thee we are sent from aboue Both vertue hope and also loue To loue then dyd I turne my face And vnto hyr I bowde my knee And gently she did me embrace Be of good chere O man quod she For here is also come to thee According to thy prayer true Arete or lady vertue When I had heard howe they had sayde That lady vertue was in place My harte forfothe was sore dismayde And colour rose streyght in my face And downe I fell before hir grace Desyryng hir beneuolence To pardon my rude negligence That lady then did me beholde And stepte and caught me by the hande Be not dismayde quod she be bolde And vp vpryght before me stande For I doe the to vnderstande That I am come downe from aboue And brought with me both hope and loue To hope and loue then dyd she call And thus began her tale to tell Marke well sayd she for shewe I shal How men from them do me expell And against their lorde God rebell Estemyng me but of small pryce And wholy geue them selues to vyce The lorde did ordeyne me for man That I should richely hym endue Why doe they thus forsake me than And synne and vyce so muche ensue Forsoth because they be vntrue Regardyng their owne wyt and wyll And wyll not harke gods worde vntyll Gods worde no no alas therfore Ther is no thyng I dare wâ—ll saye That worldly men doe more abhorre He that hath wyt perceyue it may Their outwarde workes doe them bewraye For when gods worde byds them amende With reason they theâ—r vycâ— defende And to be briefe nowe eche estate Doth seke all mâ—anes vyce to maynteyne And are with meat great debate So that I doe not ryghtly reigne At me the most part haue disdâ—yne All saue a fewe doe me resiste Whiche seweat the electe of Christe And thou O man marke what I saye To the I wyll my mynde declare That thou mayst nowe perceyue the waye Of worldly mâ—n and howe they fare That afterwarde thou mayest prepare Thy selfe
preache and recorde Let vertue therfore be had in all pryse Whiche styll to goodnes doth good men entyse And well doth rewarde all suche as hir serue And kepeth nought back that they doe deserue But with goodnes styll doth rychly augmente All suche as vnto hir seruice be bent And neuer doth leue them ne yet forsake Till ended be all that they vndertake She neuer doth sease to spurre them forwarde Tyll they be in blysse of heuâ—ns rewarde Whiche is the whole thyng they seke for and sue That serue in the court of Lady vertue And styll for hir sake doe suffer and byde The stumps and the mocks of suche as deryde Ye hatred and scorne and all kynde of spyghte Of such as in vyce and synne doe delyght But vertue doth tâ—ache to suffer this rage That we may styll passe on in our pylgrimage Considering that we but strangers are here And wander styll towarde our countrey dere And make ouâ— selues lyght from burden and lode Sythe in this vayne worlde is no sure abode No meruaile though then the worlde doth them hate And euer be styll with them at debate For Christ vnto his hath made it well knowne The worlde shall aye loue and fauour his owne And those from the worlde and sinne that remoue It is not possible the worlde should them loue The cause as sayeth Christe of all this whole stryfe Is that from the worlde they differ in lyfe For as in this worlde no mans lyfe is sure The vertuous lyfe shall eternally dure Though here they be murdred and sene for to die Of suche as all vertue and goodnes denye Then howe can we counte them short tyme to lyue To whom lady vertue rewarde doth gyue Whom as sayâ—h Gelasius ought styll to be From teror and dread and wrath euer free Her consolation where she doth bestowe In ryche or in poore in hyghe or in lowe From bondage of sinne she doth them free make Lo thus are her seruantes safe for hyr sake Among the good rootes that depely besette Vertue sayeth Tullie the chiefe prayse doth getie The whiche by no kynde of vyolence may Be hurte or destroyde by nyght or by daye From wanton desyres her seruantes flee all And folowe styll iustice as sayeth saint Paule Faith loue and vniâ—ie well doth accorde In them whiche with cleane hartes â—onor the Lorde Lactancius also would all men remember That they the true honor to vertue doe render With sensing or prayer she honor hath none Nor yet with an Image of woodde or of stone But only with good wyll and purpose true This honor to vertue alwayse is due For he that in Christes fayth doth not remayne In no wyse to vertue may apertayne Vertue refreyneth wrath without measure And also absteyneth from carnall pleasure The frutes of the spiritie as true godly loue Pacience and peace and ioy from about Bounteousnes goodnes and longe sufferance Gentlenes fayth and modest temperance Sobernes continence and chastitie All these in vertues courte officers be Therfore the quene vertue it may well beseme To were a moste hyghe and ryche diadeine ¶ The prayse of faithe Hebre. 11. IF I shall enterpryse to make A due prayse vnto fayth I can in no wyse better that Whiche written is of Paule In his epistle to the Iues marke therfore what he saieth though not eche woord yet wyll I here resite the summe of all Fayth is a perfect confidence Of thynges that hoped are And a most constant certeintie Of thynges whiche are not sene For therby did the fathers olde As scripture doth declare Obteyne a iust and good reporte That long tyme since hath bene And we through faythe doe vnderstande God dyd the worlde ordeyne By Christe his sonne the blessed worde That no beginnyng had By it also howe thynges were wrought We doe knowledge obteyne Thynges that are sene by thinges not sene Were ordeyned and made By fayth also as we doe reade The ryghteous man Abell Dyd offer vp a sacrifice More plentyfull then Cayne And therby had a wytnes true As holy wryte doth tell That he was iust Though he be dead His fame doth styll remayne By fayth Enoch translated was That death he should not see And was not founde for god therfore Had taken hym awaye Before whiche tyme he wan the name A ryghteous man to be Because he dyd the wyll of god And pleasde hym nyght and daye But sure without a lyvly fayth It can be in no wyse That any man by any meane The lyuyng god should please For all that come to god beleue And their fayth exercyse That he rewardeth them that seke Hym with eternall ease By fayth Noe beyng warnde of god Vnsene thynges dyd eschue Preparde an arke and savde his folke As holy scripture sayth Wherby he dyd ccondemne the worlde That synne dyd styll insue And became heyre of ryghteousnes Accordyng vnto fayth By fayth our father Abraham When he first called was To goe into a place most strange Dyd by and by obeye Whiche place though he inherite should As after came to pas When he went forth he knewe it not Nor no part of the waye By fayth into the promyste lande I saye he dyd remoue A strange countrey where he dyd long In tabernacles dwell And so dyd Isaac and Iacob Heyres with him from aboue All these dyd for a citie looke Which God had buylded well Through fayth Sara receiued strength When she was nowe past age To conceyue and bryng forth a sonne That perfect was and pure Because she iudgde the promyser Both faythfull true and sage Lo thus by fayth there sprang great health Where thought was no recure And therfore sprang there forth of one That dead was to esteme As many folke in multitude As are starres in the skye And as the sand on the sea shore Hir ofspryng then did seme The whiche without number to be No creature can deny These dyed in fayth yet the promys None of them dyd receyue But seyng it as afarre of They dyd right well beleue That as many as so it sawe And to the same dyd cleaue Salutyng it by livly fayth None euell should them greue These faythfull men the fathers olde As truthe was did confesse That they strangers and pilgrymes weare Vpon this earthly vale For they that see suche thynges before Of truth declare no lesse But that they doe a countrey seke Ryght hygh aboue this dale Also if they had mynded once The countrey whence they came They had leysour to turne agayne To that whiche they dyd loue But now it shewes they dyd desyre A thyng of better fame That is to saye a heauenly soyle With God the lorde aboue Wherfore the lyuing God hym selfe Estemeth it no shame To be called the God of these And suche lyke godly men For he a citie excellent Hath builded for the same And thynketh nothing ill bestowde That may well pleasure them Who so the texte wyll farther reade To folowe there shall fynde That Isac
and glose Note one thing well and kepe it iuste No secret of thy frende disclose Except counsell disdaine it not Repent thou mayst els well I wot That selfe loue and auarice weare neuer true friendes MAruell not though the faunyng tongue All other doth excede in guile Rather thinke howe the foulers song In to the net doth byrdes bewyle In couetise or in self loue Sâ— that ye put no stedfast trust Leste confused your fansie moue Euer complainyng of thuniust A description of frendship IN frendship true there surely is Of nothyng lacke or scarcetie He whiche is frendly doth not mys No tyme his frende to gratefye Neuer therfore was frendshyp found In selfe loue or in auarice Contrarily it doth abound Occasion shewde in exercise Loue neuer doth his frende despyse Sure frendshyp knoweth not hir owne Of this description to the wyse Now heÌ„ceforth may freÌ„dship be knowne An opening of the rude peoples inconstancie REade who so wyll in wyse wryting It shall be easy to conclude Commonly how the rashe doynges Haue of the moste fonde multitude Alwayes bene vayne and very rude Rauyng they doe reuers certayne Deuise of wyse men to disdayne Haue in their mynd therfore this feare Of their dedes be suspicious Out of all doubt theyr fond maner Can not be but pernicious At all tymes therfore let the wyse Reuoke their wayes and enterpryse That flattery and sclaunder are of all wyse men to be taken hede of RIfe in this life is rude reporte Of suche as order doe disdaine But who so wyll to blysse resort Auoyde must all their scouldinges vayne Regardyng in his mynde all whole To runne a pace and wynne the gole Trust not to much the faynt frendshyp In suche as flatter for a gayn Ne yet the leude and lying lyp Lyke one lyke other is certayn Ye therfore ought him well to proue Endeuor that ye doe to loue That a coÌ„stant mynde is a great pyller of bodily health HEalth of body for to procure Expediente a constant mynde Nothyng doth better be you sure Dircet you helth and welth to fynde Remember that the lyfe vnstable Is founde in no man commendable For custome Aristotle sayth Is lyke to an other nature So that he whiche him therin staith Hath good assurance long to dure And who the same to rente is ryfe Regardeth neither helth nor lyfe REspect euer and haue regarde Ill men from good for to deuide Constantly kepe both watche and warde Hate ill mens dedes on euery syde Agayne with iust men at eche tyde Regarde to dwell and them frequent Decyse with them your whole intent Beneuolence se you bestowe Alwayes on suche as loue vertue Regarde also to ouerthrowe Hatefull synners who vice ensue And alwayes company the wyse Make spede from vyce and fooles despise A commendacion of vertuous exercise INuention of the mynd ingenious Of godly thyngs and of humane science Hath shall be w t men good righteous Noted styll as a poynt of excellence Continue styll then in thy diligence Let not the world pluck back thy good intent And sure god wyll alwayes be thy defence Regardyng thee and thy doynges decente Know that the lord is styl the good maÌ„s guide Enuyronyng his ways on euery syde Against vndeceÌ„t busy medlers in other mens vocation neglecting their owne REason would that in the publique estate Of evry realme where order would be had Because therby the better to voyde hate All suche should be estemed to be mad Rudly that wyll his own calling forsake To vse others hym self a fâ—ole to make Better it were that eche in their degree Endeuour would to folow their own art Then fondly as experience we may se In breaking order cause the selues to smarte Nothing on earth the which hath vndone mo God for their plage hath wylde it to be so For câ—rteynly the vncontented mynde Extreamly doth hym selfe therby torment Lyuing â—o get they do many fetes fynde Dotyng in all that euer they inuent Euer therfore to constancie be bent Of fortune VVHo so would know what fortune is To Chilons answer take goo hede When lyke demande as nowe is this To hym was put he sayde in dede A leche right leude they did hir fynde That trusted hyr she made them blynde Or thus out of Iustinus EXamples great were without ende Vneth possible to be toulde I myght vnto the mynde commend Therin to stay if now I should Howe changeable howe frayle and fond Is fortune for to vnderstonde Whiche neuer yet made any ioye But sorowe strayght ensude the same And doth hir selfe prepare to noye Moste when the semes to noryshe fame Nor neuer strake the sorow stroke But where she first with ioye did mocke Of honor out of Tully HOnor as Tully doth wysly repete In wyse men doth norysh both wisdom skill And prayse in the wyttes doth kyndle a heate And also to study doth sturre vp the wyll Of glory IN thre thinges it doth well appeare Where perfect glory doth remayne The first is where as far and nere The multitude in loue doth reygne The second is as I perceaue Where they to good opinion cleaue The thyrd is where they maruel much At vs and doe vs well esteme And thynke vs able to be suche As they of worshyp worthy deme And so with loue and good pretence Doe gladly geue vs reuerence Of vain glory Of this vyle worlde the vayn glory Is a swetnes full of deceit A feare fyxed continually Aduancement bydyng dangers bayte A thyng begon without foresyght And endes without repentance quight ¶ Or thus By clymyng hyghe did neuer ioye So swyftly yet ensue As in the fallyng downe to wo Our sorowes doe vs rue Nor yet renoume by victory Doth not so muche inflame As doth in ruyne vyle reprochâ— Of follye vs to shame Of grace out of S. Bernarde In three thinges lo consisteth grace â–ª Ryght well to knowe as I doe thynke Of faultes nowe paste abhor the trace And present ioyes despyse and shrynke Desyryng only thynges to come Prepared for vs all and some Of temperance out of Plutarche VVHat may we thynke that maÌ„ to lack In any one degree To lyue in ioye and perfect welth And pure felicitie Whose vertue lo doth hym discharge From sorowe and from feare His temperance constreigneth hym All extremes to forbeare And calleth hym from carnall luste In thoughte in worde and dede That in reioycing folyshly He neuer doth excede Of tale bearers out of saynt Hierome The tale bearer that wicked man Whiche by his synfull sleyght Doth mynysh loue betwene true frendes Through his most vyle deceyte Offendeth in muche worse degree Then he that would constrayne The meate out of the beggers mouth Whom hunger sore doth payne For loke howe muche the soule excedes This mortall body here So is the foode that fedes the soule More precious and more dere And much more ought estemde to be Then that whiche here doth fede Oure carein vyle that dayly doth Offende
to doe and worke my wyll In that whiche I saye the vntyll Their pryde they name nowe cleanlynes And auarice is polycie So doe they name wrath manlynes And loue they call vyle lecherie Namyng enuie good memorie They call glutony fare honeste And slouth they call naturall reste Extortion lawfull gettyng Idolatrie catholyke fayth Vsury is wytty wynning Vyce is vertue as eche man sayeth But in the truthe who nowe hym stayeth Rebellyon is common welth And manly shifte robrie and stelth Oppression is good gouernance Crueines is seueritie The prodigall their dedes aduance And call it lyberalytie And Sodoms synne is chastitie Among those whiche compte mariage synne Whose wickednes wyll neuer blynne Some lyue in wylfull pouertie And beggers haue the proudest harte Thus wade they in hipocrisie And idlenes for the moste parte Whiche causeth vertue to departe For idlenes the mother is Of all mischiefe and thinges amys It is a thyng ay incident That eche man hath felicitie On some one thyng the mynde is bente In wysdomes schole or in folye And doe their myndes wholy aplye That they may it attayne and gette Wheron theyr harte is fyxte and sette The couetous delyghte in goulde The lechour in his fleshly luste The proude would haue all men beholde Their painted shethe of dounge and duste The slothfull sleape and slomber muste The wrathfull and the enuious noye Whose whole delyghte is to destroye The glutions loue their panche to fyll The dronkards doe delyghte in drynke And eche of these to haue theyr wyll No coste nor charge to greate they thynke Thus in a fansie all men synke And eche mans care is to aspyre Vnto his luste and hartes desyre Some studie in Astronomie Delyghting to beholde the sterres Some in musyke and harmonie And cosmographie some preferres Some in fygures some in numbers Some doe delyghte philosophie To knowe on earth eche herbe and tree The fowlers haue their whole delyghte To deuyse engyns byrdes to take Suche as in fyshing haue a syght They angles and their netâ—es wyll make And take great payne for fansies sake The faulkners hauke is his pleasure The hunter wyll good houndes procure In all thynges either good or yll That man doth folowe or embrace Felicitie they haue and wyll Their hartes desyre for to purchace Then happy are they whiche by grace Loue vertues supernaturall Whiche bryghtly shyneth aboue all Ye happy are those men I saye That haue in vertue their delyghte For in their sorowe they wyll praye For helpe and ayde to God almyghte And in their myrth their fayth moste ryght Doth cause them noty psaimes to synge And spirituall songâ—s to his praysyng As vyce doth cause delyght in synne To folowe all iniquitie And alwaye seketh waies to wynne Mens souls in wretched vylaynie So vertue in the contrarie Doth by all meanes hir selfe behaue The soule of man to blesse and saue O then you that my seruantes be In me haue all your exercise And as ye doe delyght in me So looke that yâ— doe enterpryse All good thynges vertuous and wyse That by your badge it may be sene That I am your lady and quene Suche as in carnall loue reioyce Trim songes of loue they wyll compile And synfully with tune and voyce They syng their songes in pleasant stile To Venus that same strompet vyle And make of hir a goddâ—s oere In lecherte that had no perc A booke also of songes they haue And Venus court they doe it name No fylthy mynde a songe can craue But therin he may finde the same And in suche songes is all their game Wherof ryght dyuers bookes be made To nuryshe that moste fylthy trade I will that my seruantes therfore Shall be as apte me for to serue In prayse of God sinne to abhorre â–ª And from me Vertue not to swerue That they may godly fame deserue Of good men here and after this To reigne with God in heauen blys As prayer in sadnes is mete In myrthe so godly songes to synge For Christen men to this is fytte I charge thee therfore with this thynge That thou thyne exercise doe brynge To make a boke of songes holy Godly and wyse blamyng foly To whiche boke godly men may adde From tyme to tyme as they see cause Ryght sober songes godly and sadde Compyled of gods holy lawes Of vertue and wyse olde sayd sawes That may to goodnes men procure Whyle here their lyfe dayes doe indure As thou wilt therfore at thy nede Haue hope and loue and also me Se thou accomplishe this with spede My systers twayne therto agree And then they warned me all three That in this thyng I should not staye But make that booke without delaye My cunnyng small though then I knewe In eche degree my wytte full weake Though lacke of learnyng eke I rue Yet of excuse I durst not speake But granted my poore head to breake About suche exercyse as she So streyghtly had commaunded me At that instant they dyd me kys And frendly did from me departe To heauen they went all Iwys And lefte me with an heuy harte So their departure made me smarte And in that thought I waked thore Merueyling at my dreame full sore In songes therfore sythe I must wade Accordyng as my dreame me â—oulde I wyll delyght to treade the trade That lady vertue sayde I should As blynde bayard none is so â—oulde And fyrste for lady vertues sake A song in hyr prayse wyll I make And then in mo procede I wyll As God shall geue me of his grace My wyt is rude and small my skyll To stande and supplie suche a place Yet must I nedes walke in the trace That vertue did assigne me in Therfore in hyr prayse I beginne The Courte of Vertue ¶ The prayse of vertue AL men that wyll walke in Gods deuine wayes To vertue they must geue honor and prayse For vertue is she by whom they possesse All good fame and prayse that loue godlynes There neuer was man that wan godly fame But doubtles dame vertue was cause of the same Though Abram by fayth was only made iuste By vertue that fay the was knowne and discuste Ye Isaac and Iacob were compted lyke wyse Both faythfull and iuste in their exercise The patriarkes all from Adam to Christe With prophetes and kynges that synne dyd resiste By vertue the praise of faith did obteyne Whiche yet to this daie doth dure remaine Ye Christ by the vertue that in him was sent Aboue all the holy that holiest haue bene To be true Mesias his flock did him know Whiche to this daye doth his foes ouerthrowe And he his disciples then charged eche one To folowe the steps that he so had gone Likewyse his Apostles that since his tyme was The martyrs and sainctes to whom he gaue grace Their light did so shine before the world here That by their true vertue well dyd appere That they were true seruaÌ„tes of Christ their good lord Whom truly their liues did
plante in his kynde All herbes rootes that growe on earth Their vertue I can fynde And howe they differ in degre In qualitie and powre All secrete and vnsought knowledge Doth spryng in wysdoms flowre Whiche he hath geuen vnto me That all this worlde hath made He taught me howe to vse this flowre That dures and doth not fade In hyr is spirite to vnderstande In holy exercyse In knowledge great she doth abounde And all thynges that are wyse I saye that with almyghty God All only she is one Subtyll and full of gentylnes And gracious alone She is courteous and discrete Quycke vndesiide and playne Swete and doth loue all that is good Reiectyng that is vayne She is sharpe yet forbideth not To doe ryghtly and well Kynde sure and free and to be briefe In vertue doth excell In althynges she is circumspecte Wherof she taketh cure All knowyng spirites she doth receyue That are both cleane and pure For wysdom doth in nymblenes All other thynges excell And therby through all thynges to pas She doth atayne full well For of the lyuyng god she is The breath of powre doubtlesse The cleanes of almyghty god Therby she doth expresse Therfore can no defyled thyng Come once within hyr syght For she the very bryghtnes is Of euerlastyng lyght She is the myrror vndefylde Wherin all good men see The Image of almyghty god In his great maiestie And for so muche as she is one All thynges are hyrs as due And beyng stedfast in hyr selfe She doth all thinges renewe Among the multitude of folke She doth hir selfe conuaye And entreth into holy soules In them to byde and staye She maketh god prophetes and frends The truthe to preache and tell For god doth loue none but suche men With whom wysdome doth dwell The sonne and starres may not compare With hir in lyght I saye For why hyr lyght doth farre excede The brightnes of the daye For be the daye neuer so bryght Yet night approcheth faste To quenche the beautie of the same And pattes it out in haste But wisdome can not be subdude I saye by wickednes Nor in hir sight to blemyshe hyr Can byde no folyshnes ¶ An example of a contemplatiue minde in the seruice of God out of the xxv Psalme THe noble king Dauid by name Hauing the spirite of truthe Who euer truly serued God Euen from his very youth He knowyng that by humblenes He sonest should aspyre To haue his prayer heard of God And obteine his desyre Disdeined not vpon his knees Hym selfe to prostrate lowe For sithe the harte must humble be Let outwarde members knowe That they shal not them selues refrain Their dutie to expresse My knees therfore shall doe their due So shall my handes no lesse Myne eyes shall vpwarde also tourne The heauens to beholde With stretched handes and bowed knees My prayer to vnsoulde My voyce I wyll not silent kepe But wyll expresse with tongue The meaning of a faythfull hatte And sing it in a song Debating with him selfe this thing Directing all aryght In this wyse he began to sing To god with all his myght Ad te dominum leuaui TO the oh lorde I lyfte my soule My god I truste in thee O suffer not myne enemies To tryumphe ouer me Ne yet let such as in thee truste Rebuke or shame susteyne But rather confounde scornefull men That spitefully dysdeyne To the I praye my kyng and god O shewe to me thy wayse And teach thy pathes O lord to me Thy name that I may prayse O lorde leade me to speake thy truthe And learne me to be iuste Myne only god and sauyng health All daye in thee I truste Forget not lorde but call to minde Thy tender mercy pure Let not thy louyng kyndnes slacke That euer hath ben sure Forget my sinnes remember not The fraylnes of my youthe For thy goodnes and mercy lorde Thynke vpon me with ruthe O ryghteous lorde with frendlynes Wytsafe to shewe thy myght Wherby thou shalt the sinners teach◠To walke thy waye a ryght The simple thou doest teache guyde Thy perfect wayes to knowe And thou doste suche instructe aright As humble be and lowe Thy wayes O lorde are mercifull Thy faythfulnes is bent To all that kepe thy couenant And faythfull testament For thy names sake therfore O lord◠Be mercifull to me And to my synnes that are so great And myne iniquitie Who so therfore doth feare the lorde He wyll hym shewe I saye His hyghe and his diuine preceptes His pure and chosen waye His soule shall euer be at ease His wayes shal prosper well His sede also shall styll possesse The lande therin to dwell The lorde his secretes dothe shew forth To suche as feare him styll Declaring them his testament His couenant and will O lorde my god to the therfore I wyll myne eyes dyrecte And praye to thee tyll thou haste losde My fete out of the nette O turne thee vnto me therfore Now for thy mercies sake Consider lorde my mysery Howe I am desolate The sorowes of my harte are great Ryght sore they doe me greue O ryd me from these troubles all For in thee I beleue O loke on myne aduersitie And my great mysery Forgeue me all my sinnes also Where I offended thee Consider how myne enemies Are many and peruearte That towardes me maliciously Are bent with hatefull hearte Oh preserue thou my soule therfore Within thy kepyng iust And let me not confounded be For in thee doe I truste Let iust dealyng and innocent O god styll with me dwell And from all vyle aduersitie Delyuer Israell ¶ An example how that we should alwayes be thankefull vnto almighty God for his benefites out of the xxxiiii psalme of Dauid AS in our streightes of nede We all are glad and fayne Some comfort at the handes of god By prayer to obtayne So when we haue recevd Of god our whole desyre That we should therfore thankfull be Good reason doth require For who so benefites At mortall men receaue If afterwarde the geuer dothe Ingratitude perceaue The same will streyght withdrawe His liberalitie From suche a stubberne blocke hed beaste As can not frendshyp see If vyle ingratitude To men be suche a cryme That it wyll frendly loue kepe backe Against an other tyme What beastly dogges are they Howe can we call them lesse That for great kyndnes of the lorde Doe paye vnthankfulnesse Whiche asketh nought of vs But honour laude and prayse For all the good he doth bestowe On vs a thousand wayes Wherfore that noble kyng And prophet of the lorde Dauid who dyd after Gods harte Agree and well accorde Gods glorie doth expresse In doyng of his due And for the benefites of God His harte declareth true Not only in hym selfe To flee ingratitude But other also to instructe That are vnlernde and rude In darke obliuion Gods goodnes for to hyde Or to forget his benefites Dyd neuer hym vetyde His harpe he toke in hande And thus began 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
wrynge Neither can it be coumpted les In sorowe for to synge As when the Iewes in Babylon Where they were captiue all Commaunded were to playe and synge Of suche as made them thrall Which vaine request of their great foes These miserable Iewes Would not accomplyshe in no wyse But did the same refuse They hangde asyde their instrumentes And laide their songes awaye And knewe it was not tyme to synge But rather for to praye That god would them delyuer once From that their bondage vyle Wherin they had bene punyshed A long and wery whyle But after thre score and tenne yeres When God them home had broughte With holy psalmes to prayse his name They diligently sought And in remembrance of the wo And bondage where they were And ioye of their deliuerance They songe as ye shall here Super flumina Babilonis ONce as we by the ryuers sate That runne in Babylon With bytter teares waylyng our wo When we thought on Sion We layde a syde our thankfull tunes Of honour laude and prayse And hung our harpes on wylow trees That grew there in those dayes Therfore our foes whiche to that land As captiues did vs bryng The more our sorowes to augmente Required vs to sing Cōmaunding vs with spightful scorne And great derision Sing vs quod they some hebrue songs Of your blessed Sion As though it were conuenient Contrary to gods wyll Suche vayne preceptes of wycked men To felowe or fulfyll In suche a lande gods laude to singe With songes of his swete worde Where Images the honor haue That due is to the lorde If euer we Ierusalem So from our myndes consume We wysh our right handes might forget Our harpes to touche in tune And that our tongues within our mouth May cleue we are content When we should vtter any thyng That mynde may vs inuente Thy prayses oh Ierusalem If we preferre not styll Before the moste or greatest ioye That hap may vs vntyll These Edomytes our enemyes Oh lorde remember them Their wyckednes when they destroyde Thyne owne Ierusalem Among them selues thus gan they say Our citie to confounde Destroye and sacke it down with it And rase it to the grounde And thou O daughter Babylon Well worthy of no les Thy mirthe shall turne to misery And thy ioye to distres And he shall be a happy man That with suche lyke agayne Shall the rewarde as thou didst vs With great reprofe and payne Ye blessed shall he be in dede That shall rewarde the once In takyng of thy suckyng babes And dashe them to the stones ¶ An example of Gods prayse for his great care ouer his elect in disapointing their enemies delyueringe them out of the Cxl. Psalme VVHat can the mortall man Inuente deuyse or skan Against the wyll of god Or howe can we withstande Of god the heuy hande His myghty plague and rod What nede we then to care What wicked men prepare With crafte vs to destroye Sythe god the Lorde of all Can bryng vs out of thrall And turne our care to ioye The noble kyng Dauid The lyke thyng hath proued That who so feare the lorde There shall no wyght preuayle Though they doe vs assayle With workes of god abhorde For in his tyme of nede He prayed with all spede To god for helpe and ayde As it doth folowe here And ryght well doth appere What he therin hath sayde Eripe me domine DEliuer me O Lorde Accordyng to thy worde Lorde let me not be shent On me some pitie haue From subtyle wayghtes me saue Of enmies violent In heart they thynke myschiefe And seke to doe me griefe Their tongues they whet so sharpe As aders venym vyle That they may vs begnyle Full wycked wyles they warpe Kepe me O lorde therfore From enmies euer more Whiche wicked be and ill Thy helpe let me not wante For they would me supplante From doyng of thy wyll These proude men they haue sette For me a pryuy nette Where I should out and in Yea and in my pathwaye My soule for to betraye They laye bothe snare and gyn Lorde therfore haue I sayde Thou art myne only ayde Lorde here my depe desyre O Lorde thou art my welth O God my sauing health Graunt me that I require Let not these men vnpure On me take their pleasure Distroye their ill intente They are so proude and haulte That they them selues exalte Therfore let them be shente I meane suche men as be Of their great subtiltie At no tyme vnpreparde Lorde in their owne deceyte Wherwith they layde suche weyke 〈◊〉 their owne fete be snarde Let coles of fyre fall downe And cast them on their crowne And throwe them into hell From whence howe for to ryse There is no tongue so wyse That can them rede or tell Let nothyng prosper well On earth where suche men dwell Reproue their ryche renowne To mischiefe they be wunte With plages therfore them hunte And hedlong throw them downe I knowe the lorde will wounde And viterly confounde All men to pryde adicte And wyll auenge in dede The poore that stande in nede And are thus sore afflicte The ryghteous verely Shall prayse and magnifie Thy holy name therfore The heartes of pure pretence Shall dwell in thy presence Good lorde for euer more ¶ An example howe to prayse God for his almyghty powre and gentylnes Out of the Cxlv. Psalme AS he that would set forth to men The prayse of some good kyng To cause his subiec tes hym to loue And obey in all thynge Doth shew to them his great goodnes His powre and all his myghte That therby he may cause all folke In him to haue delyght And also that his enemies The more may stande in feare And where perhaps they would rebell To cause them to forbeare So Dauid doth gods glory shewe And powre omnipente To make harde hartes that feare not god To soften and relente That they myght come in vnitie Of God and of his lawe And leaueth no good meanes vnsought Them to intyse and drawe That vniformely mortall men Whiche in this worlde doe dwell Myght all agree praysinge the lorde And in vertue excell Whiche if ye staye or stande in doubte Howe to begynne this game Take here a Psalme which will instruct And leade you in the same Exaltabo te deus O God that arte myne only kyng I wyll thee magnify and so set forth thy laude praise To dure eternally From daye to daye euen euery daye Great thankes I wyll thee gyue And prayse thy name for euer more Whyle I haue tyme to lyue Great is the Lorde and meruaylous And worthy of all prayse There is no ende of his greatnes Or magnificent wayes From tyme to tyme for euer more Eche generation To others shall thy powre declare And thy workes evry one And as for me myne only talke Shall worshyp styll thy name Thy glory and thy wondrous workes And prayse the for the same Men of thy workes so meruaylous To speake shall haue
recite What other hurtes your bewtie doth With your apparell proude and lyght Tempting the Irailtie of weake youth Therefore vse nowe meknes and truth This olde sayde sawe may warne you all That pryde wyll surely 〈◊〉 a fall ¶ An inuectiue against the most hatefull vyce enuy ¶ Syng this as Let nowe thy power he great O Lorde c. ALl they that will of enuy here Vnto my song let thâ—â—â— attend If you will â—erne then draw you nere Let enuious meÌ„ their mysse ameÌ„d Vnto my lippes haue good respect And marke what shall from them insue Enuy with blyndnes dothe infect And styll disprayseth dame vertue Within this worlde so full of sinne It is a scabbe sayth Tullius If that suche men as be therin To vertue shall be enuious Oh wicked worlde full of â—nuy Polluted with despight and hate Receiue agayne simplicitie Take loue and banysh all debate Salomon sayth in sapâ—ence I wyll none enuy nor disdeyne Banysh them cleane from my presence Wisdom wyll none suche enterteyne For hatefull enuie is mother Of wycked wordes fond ferce and fell Contrary wyse loue doth couer The wordes whiche are not spoken well Sythe loue then is the remedy Against enuy that wycked vyce Take loue to you continually It is a treasure of great pryce ¶ Agaynst slouthe Syng this as Of Ielousye who so wyll heare MArke and geue eare ye slouthful meÌ„ And to my song geue good respect Aryse out of your drousy dell To Idlenes that are subiect Ryght truly sayde kyng Salomon As smoke the tender eyes offende So slouthfull men are wrathe anon Wyth suche as moue them to amend Go to sayth he thou slouthfull beast Go to and slumber out thy fyll Wyth folded armes lye downe to rest Accordyng to thyne idle wyll As one that iourneyth all day long So pouertie shall on thee lyght And as a souldier fierce and strong Necessitie shall shâ—w her myght But who so is industrious And wyll his labour well apply His increace shall be plâ—ntious And he shall haue abundantly In slouthfull soules thus saith the Lord My wysedome it can taâ—â— no peace Oh be conuerted by Gods word Ye slouthfull men and callâ— for grace Who so to worke no payne wyll take Buâ— liues in slouâ—h thus saith S. Paul His company we must forsake And gâ—ue to hym no meate at all Thus sayth the lord therfore awake Thou that dost slepe and stande vpright Stande vp from death for Christes sake And Christ the â—orâ— shall geue thee lyght ¶ A description of auarice SAint Bernard saith the chariot of auarice is borne on fower wheles of vicâ—s in through which the poore are torne The first is couragâ—â—aynt and fonde The next vngentylnes The thirde contempt of God the fourth Of death forgetfulnes And horses two this chariot drawes That is as muche to saye As Raueny and Nygardshyp Whiche are in it alwaye The Carter whiche dooth dryue them bothe He is a greedye knaue And who so would hys name were knowen It is Desyre to haue That Carter dryueth with a whyp Whych whyp of cordâ—s hath twayne That is Great appetite to get And Lothe to yeld agayne Ryght many of the cart haue scorne And them that cartes doo dryue Yet moste men for to dryue thys cart Thys daye contende and stryue And they that take in most yll part Of carters to beare name Doo dryue thys carâ—e of coâ—etyse And muche delyght the same And suche as weare bothe sylke and golde That strange is for to see Doo sue to master Auarice His carters for to bee Where some were wont with speâ—â—â— shield Theyr countrey to defend Haue layde asyde theyr armour quight And to this carte attend The Clergy whych should preache and teache If they dyd playe theyr parte Doo laye asyde the worde of God And dayly dryue thys carte The Merchant and the learned leche And eke the man of lawe Forsake theyr artes and dayly doo This carte bothe dryue and drawe And they that common carters be Oâ— moste men called so Doo knowe least how to dryue this cart And farthest are therfro Our money as sayth Seneca Ought ay to be our drudge To serue for our necessitie And at our wyll to trudge But yf we as a lady dâ—re Make her our souerayne She wyll not mysse to bryng our soules Into eternall payne God of hys mercy therfore graunâ— This cartynge we may leaue To loue and lyberalytie That we may alway cleaue Free from the thefe and from the moâ—he That we may horde our store Forsakyng gredy auarice And dryue hys carte no more ¶ A dittie of the pen inueiyng against vsury and false dealyng MY pen obey my wyll a whyle till I see good to ende this stile for if all men would sinne abhorre such songs we nede not to compile nor my pen should write so no more If all men of their worde were true Promis to kepe and paye their due What â—â—de had pennes to worke therfore But sythe no whyght wyll truthe ensue Pennes were as good to wryte no more Pennes are abusde and that dayly About all craft and vsury We may well say alas therfore And yet least we make them angry It semes as good to wryte no more Yet let vs shewe the lordes intent Howe thaâ— for gaynes nought should be lent All fashod God wyll plage ryght sore And yet my penne least we be shent It semes as good to wryte no more For all in vayne we speake scripture To suche as wyll in synne endure For they amende neuer the more But hate all godly counsayle pure That warneth them to synne no more Yet if all men with suche pretence Should cease to shewe their conscience They should transgresse gods holy wre Yet sythe none wyll it reuerence It semes as good to wryte no more The scripture thus doth specifie In Dauids psalmee blâ—ssed is he That lendeth freely ryche and poore Without all gayne of vsury Yet doe they vse it styll the more Though some for writing wyl vs blame These crafty men whome we not name These false got 〈…〉 they must 〈◊〉 To those of whom they got the same Or els be damnde for 〈…〉 For though some men haue bene â—â— thys In vsury that dyd amys And haue bene warnde of it before That doo repent yet fewe there ys But rather vse it more and more But sure in hell theyr bed is 〈◊〉 And all that vse of crafte the trade Are lyke the same to rue ryght â—ore In crafte and guyle yet syth they wâ—de It were as good to wryce â—â— more God graunt as in this song is meâ—â— We may amende all and repâ—nt Rootyng out vyce to the harde core To serue the lorde omnipotent In loue and truthe for euermore ¶ An exhortation to wrathfull men Syng this as I am the man whom God c. IF wrathe were paynted out In perfect lyuely hue As coulde Apelles in hys lyfe Wyth colours â—yne and true Or as Demosthenes Deserybe it coulde with â—en
As it is yll it would appere Vnto these wrathfull men Or he that cunnyng had In meâ—re to recite Both soule and body how it noyâ—s As sheweth holy write Then should these wrathfull men That anger wyll sustayne Perceaue the incommodities That therwith doo remayne Concernyng body fyrste Diseases it doth bryng As fâ—uers vyle of euery kynd Whiche mortally doo styng It causeth phrenesie And madnes of the brayneâ— Of visage great deformyrie And palscys this is playne Concernyng soule also The whiche is worste of all It maketh men blaspheme their â—rendes And euell them to call Outrage and wycked othes And loue put out of place Reuengement is theyr whole desyre That banysht be from grace All benefytes forgot That to thee dyd thy frende Obedience true and reuerence Wrathe putteth out of mynde Wherof succedeth oft Contention full of cost By trouble and vnquiet mynde Thyne appetite is lost To scorne dysdeyne and hate Ye thynke it is no shame All though nothyng can hynder more A good report or name These wycked fruites of wrathe Remember he that can Full lytle haste as I suppose To wrathe they would haue than Harke and geue eare ye men That thus to wrath are bent Attend a whyle vnto my tune And holde your selfe content For as thou art a man Thynke also so â—â— he With whoÌ„ thou doest coÌ„ceiue such cause So wrathfull for to be Is it not laufull then And as conuenyent That he with thee should be as wrathe And as muche discontent Leaue of your wrath therfore I saye to you agayne Assure your selues that angry men Doo alway lyue in payne And calle to mynde howe Christ The sonne of God moste hye Whyche in a moment by hys powâ—â— Hys enmies myght destroye How dyd the Iewes hym greue â–ª Hauyng no cause wherwre Hys most swete face they strake in spight And buffeted hym sore It nothyng irked them At hym to spyt in scorne Wyth wytnesse wrong accusyng hym And crowned hym with thorne Hys vertous body lo. They haled to and fro An heauy Crosse on hym they laydâ— The more to doo hym wo. All faultlesse as a lambe To suffer deathe he went They dyd hys body all to beate And yet was he content They naylde hym on the crosse Thys shoulde we beare in mynde Thys suffred he of his good wyll For Moses in this zeale The Tables brake of stone In whych God with hys fynger wrote His ten precepts eche one As Dauid ment when he Ryght holyly dyd saye Be angery but doo not synne By no maner of way It was in Christe also As holy wryt dothe tell When he out of the temple whypâ— Those that dyd buye and sell Within his holy place Where nothyng els should be But prayer to the lyuyng God In secrete that doeth see And at an other tyme It shewde in hym agayne The hypocrites when he rebukâ— As Mathew telleth playne This symple song all ye That heare or doo it reade It is enough to cause you all Of wrathe to take good hede Of synfull wycked wrathe Beware in any wyse To all men that haue wyt in store Let this as nowe suffyse In hearyng of theyr faultes That they may mend them soone And aftâ—r stand at Gods ryght hand When they receyue theyr doome ¶ An Inuectiue agaynst wrathe â–ª Syng thys as The lyuyng God our only Lorde that c. SAlomon sayth A foole his guyse Is to be wrath immediatly But he is to be counted wyse That well can hyde hys iniury Therfore saynt Paule doth say of trauth Let not the sunne rest on your wrath And Plato beyng demaunded Wherby a wise man knowne should be Sayd yf wyse men be rebuked Therwith they wyll not be angry Therfore saint Paule doth say of trauth Let not the sonne rest on your wrath By as also dothe ryght well shewe Of wrath the discommoditie Saying that it in hygh and lowe To counsayle is chiefe enemye Therfore saint Paule doth say of trauth Let not the sonne rest on your wrathe The chiefest helpe agaynst the same Seneca dothe describe ryght playne Take Pacience that godly dame In her syght wrath can not remayne Therfore saint Paule doth saye of trauth Let not the sonne reste on your wrath Of wrathfull men it is the wunt To sowe discorde with eche estate But pacience doth alwayes hunte For to appease strife and debate Therfore saint Paule doth say of trauth Let not the sonne reste on your wrath Therfore with men replete with ire Vse no familiaritie And those whom wrath sone settes on fyre Byde thou not in their company But as saint Paule doth saye of trauth Let not the sonne reste on thy wrath As sayth saint Iames be swyft to heare The thyng that may thee edifie Be slowe in speache in lyke maner But slowe to wrath especially For why saint Paule doth say of trauth Let not the sonne reste on your wrath By wrath as sayth saint Gregory Wysdome is hid and out of syght And puts all out of memory That should be done by wisdomes myght Therfore saynt Paule doth saye of trauth Let not the sonne reste on your wrath My brethern here to make an ende I you commit to pacience As seruantes true doe you intende To serue hyr grace with diligence Because saynt Paule doth say of trauth Let not the sonne reste on your wrath ¶ Against drunkennes and gluttony ¶ Syng this as Of Ielousy who so wyll heare c. ADrunken workeman certeynly By labour neuer getteth ought A lyttle he settes nothyng by But from a litle commes to nought For learned men howe may suffice Their wyne in litle quantitie So in their reste and exercise It doth none incommoditie Wo be to those that early ryse The prophet sayth to make great haste And drynke tyll nyght as is their guyse Tyll reason banysht be at laste A drunkard as saint Austen sayth Offendeth nature very sore Castyng asyde both grace and fayth He hedlong runnes to hell therfore The moderate vse of drynke and meate No wyse man hateth this is true But luste inordinate and great Ought euery good man to eschue Saynt Ierome sayth Cursed be they That in theyr meate haue suche delyte That reason can not cease nor stay Theyr vyle and gredy appetite Saynt Ambrose playnly doth expresse A worse to serue can none inuent Then gluttony that yll maystresse Desyryng styll and nere content Nor nothyng more infaciate Then glottons bellyes most lyke hell For that whych they receyued late Ryght early they agayne expell These farsted panches aye abhorre Good continence and chastitie Before digestion they craue more Forsakyng vertue fyithyly All Christians therfore I exhort Voluptuous excesse to forbeare To moderation now resorte And frugally lyue in gods feare ¶ Lecherie rebuked Syng this as On tabrets to the Lorde c. LIke as the fowâ—er wyth hys bayte Soone brynges the byrd in snate So are mens soules through lechery Destroyde yer they be ware For lechery Gods ennemy With vertue is not plaste Of
be Vpon vncerteyne staye Their workes as we may se Doe vanysh sone awaye And those contrary wyse That grounde their matter well Their worke shall well aryse And perfectly excell When mariage then is made For ryches or for gouide If goodes and ryches fade The loue doth lose his houlde If beautie eke so gaye The cause be of thy loue When beautie fades away Thy fantsye wyll remoue For if the cause doe quayle Where one the mynde is bent The effect then must fayle What so therin is ment Then vertue shall be best Who so wyll it retayne All other beyng cest She euer doth remayne For beauty beyng gone Whose dwellyng is not sure Dame vertue styll alone For euer wyll endure And when gould hath his ende The causer of muche strife Yet vertue shall extende And garnysh well the lyfe A good rewarde also To louers doth she gyue In kepyng them from wo A quiet lyfe to lyue If mariage then be wrought On vertue buylding loue No suche thing can be sought To stande without remoue Ye that wyll web therfore On vertue set your cure All contraries abhorre So shall your loue be pure For better were the tyme Of death and of the graue Then otherwyse to clyme A wedded loue to haue For goulde doth cause and gayne Contention and vnreste He that hath moste wyll fayne Hym selfe to be the beste And beautie ofte doth brede Mistruste and ielousy But vertue hath no sedâ— Of suche iniquitie Then happy is the loue On vertue whiche is knytte That styll without remoue Continue wyll and sytte Whiche in this lyfe cause is Of prayse and godly fame And also after this Of heauen for the same ⧠Nomen Authoris IN hope I doe endure Of that whiche I intende Hauing my fantsy sure No false thyng to pretende Hope styll dothe me allure At theyr handes whom I serue Lyke goodnes to procure Lo as I doo deserue A godly warnynge to put all men in remembrance of theyr myserable estate and that they are subiecte to death and corruption Syng this as It truthe maye take no trustye holde c. REmember well ye men mortall From whence ye came go ye shall Of earth god made thy shape formâ— And vnto earth thou shalt returne Remember well O man I say Thou art wormes meaâ—e and very clay Thou art none other thys is iust But earth and ashes dung and dust Remember well though thou be young Thou art nought but a sacke of donng Deferre no tyme tyll thou be old For of long lyfe thou hast no hold Remember well though now thou sâ—me As beautyfull as kyng or quene That when thou shalt departe and dyt Thou shalt rot stynke and putrefye Remember well thou dounghyll dyght With garments gay to please mens syght Remember earth thy first estate Thy lyons harte it wyll abate Remember well that thou shalt come At the last day vnto thy dome Wher if thou doe thy selfe exalt In extreme payne remayne thou shalt Remember well I saye aloude Thou earth and ashes be not proude Suche coste on earth why doste bestowe Leue of thy pryde be meke and lowe Remember and in fyne marke this Who so of hym selfe humble is The lorde wyll hym exalte on hye In heauen aboue the sterry skye The faithfull souldiour of Christe desireth assistance of God against his ghostly enemies HEreout O lorde the right request of him that faine would haue redrest the wronges that are so sore increst with in my soule so sore opprest O lord to thee with wofull crye I call for grace and for mercy And if thou helpe not then truly In deadly wo remayn must I. The world the diuell death and hell With great assaultes against me swell Lorde let thy grace in me excell Against their fury fierce and fell O lorde my God to the I praye Suffer me not to goe astraye And haue in mynde the pryce and day Wherwith thou didste my ransome pay Oh haue in mynde thine own great cost And let not this thy payne be lost In the O lorde my trust is most To dwell among thy holy host Thou knowst wherin my help doth staÌ„d Whereuer I be on sea or lande Good lorde put to thy helping hand Saue me from hell that fierce fyre brand ¶ An exhortacion to brotherly loue and vnitie BEholde it is a ioyfull thyng that brethern should continually together haue their good dwelling in concord and in vnitie This godly loue Dauid lykned Vnto that precious vncâ—ion Which descended vpon the head And into the beard of Aron Whiche being powred on his crowne Was euer more styll descendyng And from his beard it dropped downe Into the skirtes of his clothing And as this precious oyntment swete Did smell all of one swete sauour For Christen brethern it is mete To be all of one behauour He that loues God aboue all thyng His neighbour as him selfe lyke wyfe Fulfyls the lawe in so doyng Whiche Christe would haue vs exercyse For where this godly loue doth byde There present is the lorde Iesus Whiche neuer from his flock wyll slyde It they in loue continue thus Loue not y â— world thus faith S. John Ne any thing conteynde therin For who so settes his loue theron The loue of God is not in hym And none can loue the lorde aboue Whom with our eyes we neuer see If we our brethern doe not loue That alway present with vs be Let loue therfore be among vs And from it let vs neuer swarue As we are lovde of Christ Iesus Muche more then euer we deserue The dewe that fell on Syon hyll The whiche descended plesantly Is nothyng lyke this loue vntill Belovde of god etâ—rnally For god from â—yme to tyme doth geue To this loue his holy blessyng For all that doe with loue beleue Shall reigne in ioye without ending He sayth the lorde that loueth me Doth kepe my lawe and holy lore And vnto him geuen shall be A crowne to reigne for euer more Lorde in this loue we thee beseke To set vs in a quiet staye That we beyng louyng and meke May reigne with thee in hlys for aye The iust and true maÌ„ complaineth that flattery and falshod is more regarded then truthe and reioyseth that he is hated for the truthe IF truth may take no trusty hold nor cleue so fast as flattring sence wel may thy harte poore man be colde for then is gone all sure defence The Nyghtyngale must change her note And of the Cucow learne to syng The modest mynde must learne to dote Or conne some other fayued thyng If meanyng well may take no place Nor dealyng iust haue no regarde Thou must deuyse an other space To fayne suche thyngs as may be heard Shall vertue dwell in such disdayne And honestie be had in hate Then must we learne to glose and fayne Orels remayne in vyle estate But yf there be none other way To purchase fauor and good wyll Better it were I dare well saye In vyle
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
kepe them in awe The haft of the broome lyke purpose shall serue To shrub well theyr backs that strypes do deserue And namely such knaues that are growne so bygge That they nothyng set by any small twygge Therfore is the staffe a toole for the nones To canuys theyr backes or kydgell theyr bones Then thyrdly the wyth wyll hang by the necke Such theues as feare not the strype nor the checke â–ª Thus in euery house .iii. Iustices reigne Whyche the byrchen besom well doth conteyne The hygh and the meane and also the lowe Thâ—yr offices all ought eche man to know By whom al such men must nedes passe theyr way The rules of reason that wyll dysobaye The highest Iustice the necke wyll out stretche The low from buttockes wyl skyn bloud fetche The meane must nedes shrobin the shoulders stout Of eche stubbern varlet lubber or loute The lowe Iustyce nowe he that wyll reiect Nor his lyfe by rule and compas direct Neglecâ—yng the small he stireth the great The haâ—te of the broome the shoulders â—must beat By which back beatyng yf he wyll not mend The with must hym hang and so hys lyfe end Lo thus may they see that wisely behold The besome hath vses many a folde Besides that for which most men do them kepe Namely theyr kitchâ—ns or houses to swepe For he hath office mens vicâ—s to purge By thre Iustice rules that sharply wyll scurge For who so euer they doo in hand take Either good or dead they wyll hym sure maâ—â— Good if by vertue from vyce they wyll vâ—â—y Dead yf by vyces they doo the contrary ¶ The description declaration of a monstrous chyld borne in the towne of Maydston in the Countie of Rent in the yeare of oure Saluation 1561. the .xxix. daye of September beynge Sayâ—cte Mychaell the Archangels day betwene two thre of the clock in the mornyng SIth monsters as some lerned men declare Doo demonstrate to vs oure monstrous lyfe Repentantly let vs our hartes prepare Synne to aduoyde wherin our fete be ryse For why we walke deuoyde of loue in stryfe And for the most part councell men doo scorne Which moÌ„strous ways cause monsters to be borne Behold those eyes which monstrously strout out Which typeth foorth our boldnes to doo yll And where it hath no forhead without doubt The lacke of shame ryght playnly shew it wyll Suche shameles grace we se frequented styll Whyles we stoutly our naughty ways defend And seme gods word to mocke and reprehend It hath no necke whych may also expresse That lacke of loue doth reigne in euery wyght No paps nor teâ—ts whiche signifieth no lâ—sse But that we doo regard no truth nor ryght To nouryshe vertue few haue nowe delyght But pryde and foolyshe fondeand vayn attyre Of women chiefely nowe is the desyre Such ruffes such rolles such folysh tricks beside More heathenlyke then any Turke doth vse In wycked waies thus bodly do we glyde And holsom counsell most folke do refuse Thus monstrously we walke in great abuse As God by tokens dothe to vs declare That paynfull plagues he doth for vs prepare A hole it hath depe in the head behynd Couered ouer with a fleshy flappe Thus were these partes contrary vnto kynde Which may declare and signify perhap With feigned maners how we do vs wrap Apperyng outwarde honest fayre and gay Corrupted inward with most wycked way The buttockes also ioyned are in one Without a twyst the same for to deuyde Yet some there were that looked it vpon That toke great payne the matter for to hyde Astribyng it to chaunce that myght betyde Vnto the woman whyle she therwith went As hurt or bruse so vayn heads dyd inuent But who that wyll discretely the same vewe Shal fynd that God therin hath wrought his will And their surmyse to be false and vntrue With lies that would our eares and wyt so fyll That we shoulde not repent vs of the yll That caused God therby vs to amend Thys token great before our eyes to sende Presumpteous boldnes in vnshamfast wayes Is termes courage or auâ— aciue But shame to sinne is counted now a dayes Great folyshnes and dollysh dastardy So ryfe so rype is nowe iniquitie That fearful signes must faine be vs to teache That no man els can doe although he preache Let vs therfore haue sufficient regarde To these great workes of God shewed to vs Least death and hell doe shortly vs rewarde For these our sinnes that we committed thus Let learned wits now more at large discusse By these great moÌ„strous tokens what is ment But in the meane space let vs all repent ¶ An exhortation to al preachers of the Gospell that they ought to preache as well in workes as with wordes if they wyll preache profitably namely to the conuertioÌ„ of soules to the truthe THe first mouer from easte to weste That turnes the starâ—y sphere Vnder the whiche the seuerall orbes The wandryng lyghts doe beare By endles turnyng in that course That all men doe perceyue Contrary to their stryuing waye Whiche fâ—w folke can conceaue Twelue thousand tymes hath borne the sonne This endles halle about Beshyning all our hemisphere With beames â–ª most clere and stoute Which cutting crosse our horizon The night away did dryue And froÌ„ this arke by glistryng light Dyd darkenes styll depryue Synce parentes procreation My lyfe did fyrst beginne And nutriment performyng it Tyll that I breth did wynne And yet in this number of dayes I neuer could espie Or on that wyght once fyx my looke Or see hym with myne eye That cary could a good report Vnto his finall graue Whiche in this lyfe dyd not subdue The fleshe when it dyd raue Or could not with a moste sharp byt The heady synnes refrayne Subduyng frayle affections As with a brydle rayne No though he could well prophesis And profitably preache And as a heauenly messenger The gospell purely teache If lyfe and conuersation Doth not therto accorde His labours are abandoned His preaching is adhorde For in bare wordes doth not coÌ„sist The pure sinceritie But perfect works doth chiefly shew The Christian veritie And only wyt in speakyng well Doth shewe his force and myght But wysdome euer is exprest In dealyng iust and ryght Thus wyt can say but wisdoÌ„ doth All thynges godly and iust Wit in good words wisdom in dedes Is knowne and well discust As workes then doe all wordes excede And doyng speache excell Though wit may make a glorious shew Yet wysdom beares the bell How many preachers haue ben staynde That spake eloquently Which wanting wisdom could not work Therwith accordingly Wherfore the wyse philosopher Vnhappy dyd them call Whiche had a wyt and neuer could Attayne wisdom withall For wytte doth serue wisdom to learne In eche reasnable wyght Wherfore they are but beastes who not In wisdoms schole delyght If wysdoms worke then folowe not Oâ— wyâ— what is theffecte To what ende are these goodly wordes If good workes be
reiect What are the frutes of lyvly fayth Whiche are the tokens true Of those whom God in Christ our helth With grace doth styll reuewe Is it not lyfe agreable To that ye teache and saye Howe can ye otherwyse with glose These verities denaye To what end speake ye all these wordes Wherin ye so glory I st not as good of godly dedes To tell an history Who best think you should me perswade Their churche and fayth to loue Or who to folow or beleue Should the moste mens hartes moue Of him that sayde and no good dyd Or he that helde his peace Walkyng a goâ—â— and Christian lyfe Among the 〈◊〉 prease Though faith by hearing come in dede Whiche I will not denye Wordes voyde of workes did neuer yet Worke halfe effectually It is but lyke the flowers gaye That floryshe fayre and grene And wyther streyght as sone as sonne Doth whot vpon them shyne Lyke wytherd haye vpon house tops That many tymes doth growe Whiche sodeynly doth spring and spreade Makyng a braggyng showe But streyght for lack of perfect roote Or grounde wheron to staye It wytherd is that no man can His handfull beare away Wherfore vnles ye preach with works The frutes of wysdom pure Your wytty wordes are vanitie Your ground is nothyng sure Howe some haue geuen vyle offence I nede not here to name For wyse men wyll my meanyng see And doe but reade this same And who so by an others fall Can staye and take good hede That man to be wytty and wyse We shall beleue in dede A buylder wyse vpon the rocke Christ doth hym ryghtly call That doth the gospell heare or reade And doe therafter shall Contrarywyse the negligent That gods worde vnderstande Are lykned to the folysh man That buylded on the sande Of whiche he fyrst was able well All stormes for to abyde Where as the last vnconstant was And subiect styll to slyde Wherfore for Christes bloud I saye Ye preachers all beware And that your lyfe make none offence Se that ye set your care For cursed are ye if ye doe Gods worke negligently And here I ende syth ye do knowe The same as well as I. But he that knowes his maisters wâ—â— Take this for your fare well And doth it not with many stripes Shall beaten be in hell ¶ Against y â— dissimulacion craft vn constaÌ„cie false dealing gredy couetousnes vntemperate catynge and drynkyng and incontinencie of an old man and the cause why the author others forsoke refused the societie of suche one O Monstrous satyre Of insaciat mynde Whose fylthy desyre All vertue doth blynde Can neyther thyne age Nor experience The vyle lust aswage Of concupicence Can not the balde hed With bearde and heare whyte Once stande thee in sted To brydle delight Can not the dimme eyes And nere foure score yeres Once make the despyse That in thee apperes How shall the young man His wayes reforme then As Dauid doth scan When suche are ould men If learnyng nor tyme Nor number of dayes Can scoure away cryme The cause of disprayse Nor scripture studie In suche a long space Made at hande redy Assistance of grace How canst thou thy selfâ— Gods messenger name Syth in this vyle pelfe Thou semest past shame But what man hath sene As yet other frute In suche as haue bene So beastly and brute With God and man to Dissemblyng to lye Where all that they doe Is Hipocrisye For he that wyll cloke The enmies of God And saye they reuoke That God hath forbod To shelde them from lawe And danger of cryme By crafte for to drawe And detract the tyme How shall we hym thinke The brydgroms true frende That falsly doth shrynke From hym to the fende And that to make truse Betwene wolues shepe Good men to misuse That dyd the flock kepe Betwene saynctes dogs What feloshyp is Betwene fylthy hogges And chyldren of blis Betwene the elect â–ª And vyle reprobate Betwene the reiect And blessed estate Betwene good and bad Betwene heauen and hell Betwene subiect sad And traytrous rebell Then those that proteste Suche vyce to forsake Howe can they requeste A peace for to make Making but one churche Of vertue and vyce How falsly suche lurche Is knowne to the wyse If riotously To lashe out and waste Moste prodigally Of deynties to taste The redyest waye be To please God aryght And Gods face to se And serue hym in spryte If to be careles To burden ones frende And to make redres Haue neuer in mynde Borowyng frankly No caryng to pay And somtyme falsly To shyft so away If to be wandryng So fugitiuly Leauyng the lyuyng Sure and constantly Intendyng therby With slâ—yghtes to deceaueâ— With subâ—iltie slye Both to take and leaue If bybbyng of wyne Tyll belkyng boyle out Be the true ryght lyne To fynde heauen out If lasciuious talke Prouokyng to synne Be the way to walke Heuen blysse for to wynne Then fare well saye I All workes and vertue We may well defie All good dealyng true But wo worth that suche Had euer the place That so and so muche The truthe doe disgrace Why takste in thy mouthe My worde sayth the lord That hast from thy youth All vertue abhord Thy lyfe to accord Doste also despyse Myxyng with my word Papystry and lyes If these causes nowe Be full sufficient Suche to dysallowe And from hym discent Also to abstayne Hym to hyde or cloke Hys doynges refrayne And also reuoke My frendes I desyre That they beare wyth me Though I doo retyre And from suche one flee For I thynke the pot Scant whole wyll appere Nor from fylthy spots The water be clere And rather I sure Had lyfe to forgo Then with mynde vnpure Affectionat so With suche one to beare In suche confusion That can not forbeare His frayle affection ¶ A song against the sinful time wherin all thynges are out of order and synne groweth nere vnto rypnes IT is not tyme That synne and cryme Myght cease that ye might mend Can plague nor payne Make you refrayne Nor from wickednes wende Shall eche brother Malyce other Can nothyng you perswade Once to tender Eche good member Whom Christ hath bought made Syth ye professe Of faythe no lesse Then the Apostles all Should you dâ—spyse Thus eche good guyse With lyues most sensuall Can one vessell At once expell From hym both swete and sowre Or can a man Any tyme whan At once both laughe and loure As wolues wroth Your selues ye cloth In lambe skinnes to seme good Hipocrites subtill Haue hartes styll britle Two faces in one whoode Commend they wyll Gods swete worde styll As though they lovd it well Yet they vary Most contrary Vnto that pure gospell In psalmes saying And in praying They seme to haue perfection Yet their delyght Is all in spyght Whiche is a great infection In wrathe and pryde From grace they slyde Wyth fylthy fornication Enuy and hate Excesse debate And all abhomination In auarice Beyond
gifts praise Christ our lord praise Christ our lorde with one hart mind and voyce with one hart mind voice Tenor. ALl vertuous men that vertu loue in vertu still reioyce and for those giftes praise Christ our lord with one hart mind voyce with one hart mind and voice Bassus ALl vertuous men that vertue loue in vertue still reioyce and for those giftes praise Christ our lord prayse Christ our lorde with one hart minde voyce with one hart mind and voyce For if as truthe is one good thought Can not in vs ouce growe Without his grace that alwayes doth his mercies to vs shewe How can there any vertuous deed At any time appere In vs that are but vayne and nought Saue for his mercies dere Wherfore let none of vertue boste As of his owne pure wayes But mekly thanke Christ for his giftes And geue him condigne prayse Praise him therfore that first all made And formed man of slime And doth his worke most intriâ—â—te Preserue from time to time Whiche also when as sinfull man By fault fell into thrall Ordeined Christ our sauing helth By death to heale vs all Immortall thankes eternall prayse Euer now let vs giue Vnto this lord of whom we are And of whose grace we liue Glory and prayse for euer more Therfore be to his name That vertue made for men to knowe And to walke in the same FINIS ¶ A Table after the order of the Alphabete directyng the Reader by y e number of the leafe to all Psalmes songes or sonets c. in thys Boke AD te dominuÌ„ le 18. A birchen besom 125 A drunken workeman 93. Against dissimulatioÌ„ 72. Against drunkennes and gluttony 9â— Agaynst enuy 84. Agaynst idolatry 76. Agaynst false dealing 87. Against flattery 102. Against necromancy witchecraft sorcery c. 147 Against euill and sclanderous tungues 95. 96. 108. 109. Agaynst the synfull tyme. c. 131. Agaynst slouth 85. Against vayn apparel 119. Against vnconstancie 132. Agaynst wrath 92. 120. Age and discretion 118. A lady had a forhed fayre 111. Al arrogaÌ„cy froÌ„ study 118 All comfortles lo 110. All folke that liue in 165. All men that wil walke 1. All they that will of enuy heare 85 All vertuous men c. 172 Anatomye of a byrchen broome 125. Anger 88. 92. 120. Arrogancy in studeÌ„ts 118 As eche thing hath 32 As flyes oft tymes 120. As flyes delight 120. As he that would 36. As I dyd syt muse 107 As in oure streightes of nede 20. As profyt by lying 16. 119 As roote of tree doth 163. As the Grape bearyngâ— vine 120. Auaryce 86. 114 A voyce froÌ„ heauen to you shall come 81 B Beatus vir qui timet 26 Behold it is a ioyfull thyng 101. BenedicaÌ„ dominum 20 Benedicite omnia opera 53. Benedictus dominus 45 Be not ouer thy wife ielous c. 38. Blame not my lute c. 74 Blessed be thou c. 52 Blessed nowe be c. 45 Brotherly loue and vnity 100. Busy medlers 116. By clymyng high c. 117. C CHaritie 9. Chose them for no frendes c. 120. Commodyties are not without discommodities 107 Complaynt of a town 169 Constant mynd 115. Constant temperance 119. Credo in deum c. 43. D Delyuer me O lord c. 35 De profund is clamaui 31 DescriptioÌ„ of auarice 86 Description of dignitie or true noblenes 124 Deus in nomine tuo 23 Dignitie 124 Directly who so now wyl walke 71. Dreame 135. Drunkennes 93 Dulce bellum inexpertis 120. E EGo dixi in dimidio dierum 61 Enuy 85 Eripe me domine 35 Errors of y e multitude 119 Euell tungues 96. Euenyng song 162. Euery good phisitieÌ„ c 22 Exaltabo te deus 36. Examin wel thin inward spirite c. 114. Examples great wer 116 Exhortation to wrathfull men 88. Exhortation to brotherly loue 100. F False dealyng 87. False weightes and measures 104. Fayth 3. 114. Fayth and vertue 114. Flattery and falshod 102. Flattery and sclander 115. Folly and wisdome in gouernance 113. Formed fyllets and deformed forheads 121. Foorthe as I went my way of late 169. Fortune 116. Frendes 120 Frendshyp 115. From care of heart c. 31. From Egypt lande when Israell 29. From out the ram 148. G Garmentes of profyt 119 Glory 117. Gluttony 93. Godly loue 9 Godly wysedome 12 Grace 117. Graces at meales 163 164 H Health of body for to procure 115. Heare oute O Lorde the ryght request 100. Hoâ—â—ure as Tullie do the wysely repete 117. Hope 6. 106. Hope the medcine against dredefull despayre 6 I I am thy Lorde and God c. 4â— I am the man whom God c. 65. I do beleue with stedfast trust 43. Idolatry 76. 94. Ielousy 38. If any man from woe c. 160. If I shall enterpryse to make c. 3. If thou a noble man wylt know c. 124. If truth may take no trusty hold c. 102. If vnto vs poore mortall men 29. If wrathe were paynted out c. â—8 I hearde a preacher once declare c 23. Inconstancy of the multitude 115. In exitu Israel de Aegypto c. 29. In frendeshpp true there surely is 115. Inhumanitie 119. In my trouble payn 70 In sadnes sette wyth wo opprest 95. In Sommer tyme when floures gan spryng 72 In three thynges it dothe well appere 117 In trouble and in pain 70 Inuention of the mynde c. 116. Is it not tyme that synne c. 132. I wyll vnto the lord 20 K King Dauid knowing well 27 L Laudate pueri c. 27 Lechery 93 Let heauen harke earth geue care 78 Let nowe thy powre be great oh lorde 55 Like as certeine c. 106 Like as the fouler c. 93 Like as the larke within the marlions foote 108 Like as the vyne that florisheth c. 120 Lodouicus viues in 119 Lord god that in the heauens hie 56 Loue. 9 M Magâ—ificat anima 44 Mans lyfe 114 Maâ—â—r of perfecte prayer 40 Marke geue care 8â— Maruel not though 114 Merueilous dreame 135 Monstrous childe 126 Morning song 161 My harte coÌ„streynes my mouth to tell 104 My louing friend 51 My lute awake 76 My pen obey my wyl 87 My soule truly 44 N Nobilitie 124 Non nobis domine 30 Not vnto vs lord not vnto vs. 30 Now that the day is wasted cleane 16â— Nunc dimittis 47 O Of charitie or godly c. 9 Nf great rudnes it is c. 119 Of Ielousy who so wyll heare 38 Of this vile world 117 O God I call to thee 2â— O god of myght 49 O god that art mine only kyng 36 O harke a while 103 O lord god y â— art c. 57 O lorde I shall be whole in dede 64 O lord I thee desire 60 O lord our god for euer more 56 O lord that art our onely god 42 O lord twoo thynges I thee require 60 O louing god and mightie lorde 158 O lorde our god we tourne to thee 69 O Lorde thou haste corrected me 64 O man amend 81 O monstrous satyâ—â— 130 Once as wee sat in Babyloâ— 33 On tabrets to the lorâ—â— 58 O plague possest with mortall myght 97 On t of my mothers woÌ„b 59 O who will geue my hed 62 O ye workes all 53 P Pater noster 42 Performe O penne 79 Poesis 147 Prayse of fayth 3 Prayse of godly loue or charitie 9 Praise of godly wisdom 12 Prayse of hope 6 Prayse of vertue 1 Pryde â—3 Pride of women 168 R Reade who so wyll in wyse writyng 115 Reason wold that in c. 116. Reioyce in hym that dyd thee make 114 RemeÌ„ber well ye men mortall 109 Reuerence to age 118 Respecte euer and haue regarde 116 Ryâ—e in this life is rude report 115 S Salomon saith a sole c. 92 Saint Bernardsaith c. 86 Sclanderous tungues 95 96. 108. Selfe loue 114 Sentences of the wyse 121 122. 123. 124. Syth in this world 31. Sythe monsters as some c. 146 Syth nothing caÌ„ be sure 97 Sommetyme that I haue sene 94 Stedfast hope 106 Suche good Hystoriographers 25 Superflumina Babilonis 33 T Tale bearers 118 Te decet hymnus deus in Syon 24 Te deum laudamâ—s 49 Temperance 117 The angry man 120 The daunynge dâ—â— begyns to glare 11â— The fyrste mouer from east to west 127 The holy maÌ„ S. CipriaÌ„ 118 The liuynge God oure only lorde 47  The