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
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
sayeth Paule that tribulacion Doth bryng forth pacience that goodly grace And pacience doth render forth anon Experience the whiche doth hope purchace Whiche blessed hope who so that may imbrace She neuer wyll confound them with no shame But bryngeth forth a lyfe free from all blame This pure and perfect hope that we declare The gift is of the Lorde and at his wyll Whiche none can get by worldly wytte nor care But with this hope god his electe doth fyll With whome she doth continue euer styll Not by mans wyll but by gods mercy pure This blessed hope with good men doth indure The God of hope therfore replenysh vs With peace and ioye and with a lyvly fayth And make vs ryche in hope of Christ Iesus And tholy ghoste whose powre all mistruste stayth Whiche is our comfort as the scripture sayth This Trimtie be praysed now therfore As hath been is and shal be euermore ¶ The prayse of Godly loue or charitie out of 1. Cor. 13. Iohn 4. OF Charitie or godly loue To make a perfect prayse This godly loue to prayse I saye In order good and due I tooke to me gods word and wrote What the holy gooste sayes In diuine Iohn and holy Paule whose wordes are very true Attende therfore ye Christians dere And louers of the Lorde Harke and geue eare vnto the truthe And blessed worde of lyfe And pray to god for perfect loue Your lyues therto accorde That ye may lyue in christen peace Free from all seruyle strife By office of a lyvly fayth What euer we receyue Or by the office of our hope What so we doe retayne By charitie or godly loue To gods truthe if we cleaue The frute therof we must applie To render well agayne As faith the firste preferment hath our soules to iustifie For by the same we only doe Receyue our sauyng health So loue of vertues is the chiefe Wherby we edefie By it we worke the wyll of god And seke our neyghbours wealth Though I coulde speake sayth Paule with tongues Of men orangels bryghte And had no loue then were I lyke Vnto the soundyng bras Or lyke the â—ynklyng simbales sounde A short and vayne delyght Whiche beyng gon men streight forget What maner noyse it was Ye though that I could prophesie And secretes vnderstande All knowledge or suche mighty fayth As could mountayns remoue And set them in the ocâ—an seas Or in some other lande For all these yet I were nothyng If that I had not loue If I dyd all my goodes bestowe To fede therwith the poore Or geue my body to the fyre Therin consumde to be And finally all that I can Tyll I could doe no more If I be destitute of loue It doth not profite me Loue suffreth longe is courteous And neuer doth enuye Loue neuer dealeth frowardly Nor venemously swell Loue seketh not hyr owne therby To deale dishonestly Loue vnto wrath prouoketh not But alwayes thynketh well In euels loue doth not reioyce Nor Ioye in wyckednes But alwaye doth reioyce in truthe And suffreth all thynges well Beleueth all and hopeth all And doth indure no les Thus loue in goodnes doth excede All that our tongues can tell Though prophesiyng doe faile serue No vse in any case And tongues to speake knoledge to As once they shall I saye After this lyfe these haue no vse Yet loue shall then in place Remayne with gods elect in ioyes And neuer fall awaye Our knowledge is but vnperfecte So is oure prophesiyng When perfectnes doth come in place Vnperfectnes must flee For when I was a chylde my talke Was then chyldysh talkynge Myne vnderstandyng in lyke case All then was chyldyshly And as a chylde also that tyme I dyd imagin playn But then so sone as manhod came My chyldishnes was gone Now see we but as in a glasse By speache moste darke and vayne But then shall we see face to face When let there shall be none My knowledge now vnperfect is Then shall it not be so Then shall I knowe as I am knowne By rule of ryght bâ—liefe Faith hope and loue doe nowe abyde Away they will not goe And of all those after this lyfe Loue shall abyde as chiefe Saynt Iohn diuinly counsels vs One an other to loue For euery one that loues sayeth he Of God is truly borne For loue doth euer suerly come From God the lorde aboue Suche as loue not doe not knowe god But rather doe hym scorne In this the loue of god to vs Doth perfectly apere He but not we dyd truly loue And payne for vs did take For he into thys worlde did sende His only sonne so dere That for our sinnes he myght therby A full agrement make Wherfore my louyng brethern dere If god so loued vs That we should one another loue Wâ— certeynly are bounde If we loue one an other then Our loue doth playne discusse That god in vs doth dwell and reygne And hath a perfect grounde For god is loue and who so doth In loue abide or dwell Dwelleâ—h in god and god in him Thus loue in vs is sure That in the day of iudgement iuste We should in hope excell For in this worlde we are lyke hym By loue perfect and pure By this we knowe the godly loue That there in is no feare It casteth out all feare and doubte Wherin is paynfulnes Wher â—â—â—or iâ— the perfect loue In nowyse can be there For loue doth alwayes fixe hyr selfe On peace and gentylnes If we loue god he loude vs fyrst Then wherof can we boste But who so sayeth he loueth God And doth his brother hate He is a lyer verely And none of Christes hoste And therby doth prouoke the plage To lyght vpon his paâ—e For how can he that loueth not His brother in this lyfe Whom he may with his eyes beholde At all tymes when he wyll Howe can he with the lyuyng god Be other then at stryfe Or loue him whiche he can not seâ— By nature or by skyll Therfore hath Christ coÌ„maunded vâ— â–ª That he whiche loueth god By perfect loue as he forbeares All that god doth abhorre That he also his brother loue All hate is hym forbod All honour prayse and laude to god For this nowe euer more Amen ¶ The prayse of Godly wysdome out of the booke of wysdome called Sapientia cap. vi THe worthy wyse kyng Salomon inwysdoms exercyse The godly wysdome doth commende And praise hir on this wise wisdomis a much better thing Then strengthe orforce to fyght a wyse man is more worth also Then strong men of much might This wysdome O ye myghtie kynges Se that ye conne and learne To you sith iudgement on this earth Is geuen to decerne Geue â—are to hyr I saye all you That rule the multytude Whiche in much people haue delight And all thynges should conclude The god that gaue you powre streÌ„gth That lorde I saye most hye Shall serch out all that ye inuente And your
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
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
estate to tary styll What call ye then the vyle estate As some doo iudge this is the thyng If my superior doo me hate And would me to displeasure bryng And that also without desert If reason may the cause decerne And haue disdeyn for my true heart Wherfore to please I am to lerne Yet is myn heart determind sure If truth and reason take no place Of suche disdeyne to take no cure But wyse men rather wyll imbrace For yf wysedome were noblenes As noble byrthe and ryches is Then should not truth be in dystres And flattrye should of fauor mis. So flattrye and bland eloquence Should as they are be compted vyle And truth should then make none offence Nor vertue reigne in suche exyle Blamd but not shamd the prouerbe is And truth can haue none other wrong So may they hap theyr marke to mys That thinke them selues in falshod stroÌ„g Then hated lo I must reioyce And fonde regarde despyse as vayne Closing my mouth stoppyng my voyce From speache in presence of disdayne ¶ An holsome warning for all men that beare the name of Christians to lyue Christianly O Harke a whyle vnto my style all ye that Christians be that beare that name and doe not frame your liues accordingly Is Fayth in syche As beyng ryche Though they doo Christ professe That euery houre Do Christe deuoure And his poore flocke oppresse For we are all As sayth saynâ— Paule Membres of one body Of Christe Iesu â— round of vertue And of all veritie Then the poore man As proue I can Is Christ his member true As well as he What so he be That ryches doth endue Why should ye then To symple men Beare suche despight and hate Syth they be all In Christ equall With you in all estate Christ his kyngdome Was neuer wonne By wealth or hygh degree All though that here Some doo appere To reygne in dignitie Then let none thynke That Christ wyll shrynke When he shall iudge vs all Of all your wealth So got by stelthe You to accompt to call When yf he fynde Ye were vnkynde To your poore brethern dere Then wyll he say Go from me aye Into eternall fyre When I lackt meate And fayne would eate In sycknes thyrst and coldâ— In all my nede Not one good dede That you to me doo wold Then wyll ye say Wythout delay Lord when dyd we thee see Lacke any foode To doo thee good And dyd it not to thee And he agayne Shall answer playne I truely say to you Ye styll oppreste And muche detest The poore my members true When ye therfore Did them abhorre That â—re of lowe degree To me alone And other none Ye did that iniury Saint Iohn doth proue We can not loue God whom we doe not see If we doe hate Our brethern that Are present to our eye Nowe call for grace Whyle ye haue space Your wycked lyues amende And so procede In worde and dede True Christians to the ende ¶ A short song exhorting all men to abstayne from the vse of false weyghtes and measures MY harte constraines my mouth to tell the dutie of eche worldly wight howe they be taught in the gospell one with other to deale vpright with euen weightes ballance iust so doe we must So doe we must this is no naye Also with measure iust and true Who so doth not at the last day Ryght sore are lyke for it to rue When he shall goe for wante of breath Vnto his death Vnto his death when he must goe With painful panges and torment strong Then is he lyke to suffer wo For that his dealyng false and wrong Suche one is lyke in extreme payne For to remayne For to remayne wo worth the whyle That any man so fond should fare With othes his neighbour to beguyle When he should truly sell his ware O wherfore then dâ—o ye vnwyse Prudence despyse Prudence despyse that should so well Lâ—ade you in Godly wayes and ryght And teache you also how to deale With your neyghbours iustly vpryght For he that to amend denayes Thus the Lorde sayes Thus the Lord sayth very certayn Such measure as ye mete to other Suche measure shall ye haue agayn How then yf you deceyue your brother Thynk you that God wyll forget thys No no Iwys No no Iwys ye may be sure For heauen and earth shall ioyntly saylâ— â–ª But Gods word shall for euer dure In force and strength styll to preuayle All false dealers for to expell Downe in to hell Down in to hell therfore take hedâ— And call for gods grace and mercy Amend your wycked lyues with spede Lamentyng them repentantly God geue vs grace so to intende And there an ende ¶ A Ditie declarynge the sted fast hope and trust that the faythfull afflicted soule hath in Christ Iesu LIke as certain the hart wold faine of the fountain obtain the spring so hath my sprite his whole delight in God almight aboue all thing Myne enmies strong All the daye long To doe me wrong Is their intent Euery howre On me they loure Me to deuoure They doe inuent This doe I see For to myne eye It is truly Alwayes obiect With might and mayne Them selues they strayne My soule to gayne And to infect My soule therfore Doth tremble sore And euermore Doth stande in feare And all the whyle Myne enmies smyle Me to beguyle They not forbeare Therfore I say My sâ—ule alway Reiâ—yce and stay Thy selfe in Christ Though men extold Agaynst thee hold In Christ be bold Them to resyst Who is alyue That dareth stryue Strong dyuels fyue Although they were Thys can I proue O Lorde aboue If thou me loue I nede not feare O God of myght Strengthen my spryte That doth delyght Only in thee O holy Lord Let thy swâ—â—e word Wyth one accord Styll be wyth me O Christ Iesu Ground of vertue Messias true As sayth Scripture To thee I pray Graunt that I may In heauen aye With thee indure ¶ A song shewing that no commoditie is without a discommoditie ¶ Syng this as I am the man whome God c. AS I dyd sytte and muse Once by my selfe alone The wretched state of worldly wights The mind was fixed on Howe no commoditie May here with man indure Without some discommoditie To shewe it selfe vnpure By fyre we haue great ayde In colde vs for to warme Whiche in an houre somtime doth burnâ— Rewarding vs with harme We may lyue certayne dayes Without both drinke and meate But without ayre not one moment The lack would be so great Yet somtyme by his rage We mortall men doe fynde That trees houses and cattell eke Are ouerthrowne with wynde The water who can lack That in this worlde doth byde Yet many one therin is drownde By great aboundyng tyde The earth wheron we dwell And seke great welth to fynde In sekyng to possesse the same With iudgement vayne and blynde When we thynke to possesse This earth that we attende Behold the same possesseth vs
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
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
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