vostro valorose Mani Humilissimo e Diuotissimo e sempre Osseruandissimo Vasallo e Seruitore Antony Munday ¶ The Authors Commendation of the Right Honorable Earle of Oxenford Except I should in fréendship séeme ingrate Denying duty where to I am bound With letting slip your Honnors woorthy state At all assayes which I haue Noble found Right well I might refrayne to handle pen Denouncing aye the company of men Down dire despayre let courage come in place Exalt his fame whom Honnor dooth imbrace Vertue hath aye adornd your valiant hart Exampled by your déeds of lasting fame Regarding such as take God Mars his parte Eche where by proofe in Honnor and in name Eche one dooth knowe no fables I expresse As though I should encroche for priuate gayne Regard you may at pleasure I confesse Letting that passe I vouch to dread no paine Eche where gainst such as can my faith distaine Or once can say he deales with flatterye Forging his taâ—…es to please the fantasye Of mine intent your Honnor iudge I craue Xephirus blowe your Fame to Drient skyes Extoll I pray this valiant Brittayne braue Not séeming once Bellona to despâ—…se For valliantnes beholde young Caesar héere Or Hanniball loe Hercules in place Ring foorth I say his Fame both farre and neere Dout not to say De Vere will soes deface ¶ Verses written by the Author vpon his Lords Posey VERO NIHIL VERIVS Vertue displayes the trueth in euery cause Eche vaine attempt her puisance dooth disprooue Repelling falsehood that dooth seek eche clause Of dire debate Dame Trueth for to remooue Nothing vvee say that truer is then trueth It follie is against the streame to striue Hard is the hap that vnto such ensueth In vain respects the trueth for to depriue Let such take heed for folly dooth them driue Vaunt not to much of thy vainglorious state Esteeme the trueth for shee vvil guide thee right Refrain alvvay to trust to fickle fate â–ª In end shee fayles so simple is her might Vse tried trueth so shalt thou neuer fall Svveet is the yoke that shall abridge thy thrall FINIS To the Reader YOur freendly courtesies considered gentle Readers I finde my self more largely indeâ—… ted then any possibilitie that lyeth in me is able to counteruayle But more building on thy bounty then my simple demerits more on thy freendship theâ—… any deserued fauour I haue now the third time presumed on thy clemency Confessing it might haue been far better deliuered if a more expert cunning Artificer had taken it hand But some I knowe will finde more fault then needeth some will carp vpon no occasion some will condemn before they haue read Yet some agayne though they finde a scape they wil beare with the Authors simplicitie and consider his good will indifferâ—… ly concerning his want of learning and also his Adolocencye Not as yet able to vaunt his Muse so Heroycally as writers of longer libertie who are dayly practised in the rules of Poetric To all those he giueth place and suffiseth his want on courser cheats till time serueth to prefer him to a daintier dish Thus desiring thee to accept this till the third part of this woork be finished I leaue thee listning to the clock to take vp my books and hye me to Schoole Nil tam difficile est quod non solertia vincat Tuus dum suus Antony Munday ¶ Claudius Hollyband in the Commendation of his Schollers exersise SItu veux fuir plusieurs vices damnables Moyennement au monde te tenir Et voir à loeilles choses conuenables Lis moy cest oeuvre pour te bien contenir C'est vn Flambeau â—…our clairement venir Au lieu ou fait Vertu sa demeurance Sanspoint avoir du peruers l'accointance Qui ne peut point à ce bien paruenir C'est le guidon droit facile et plaisant De bonnes moeurs et miroir euidant Te dirigeant à fuir toute meschance M. Claudius Hollyband his Verses thus Englished IF thou wilt flye from diuers Uices vayne And in this world abide in quiet stay And with thine eyes perceiue a Mirrour plain Of things conuenient for thy self eche day Peruse this woork where thou no dout shalt finde A rule to keep thy state in stedfast kinde For like a Torche it cléerely giueth light Unto Dame Uertues famous Mansion place Without acquaintaunce with the wicked wight Which by no meanes such honor can purchase This is the guyde of manners prooued playne To teach thée flye the feare of farder payne Dum spiro spero Finis C. H. ¶ Thomas Procter in Commendation of this Woork and the Author therof WHat shall I speak or shall I holde my peace I knowe not wel which of them bothe were besâ—… If of my fréend my pen in prayse should preace Some would alledge of fréendship I exprest But sith his matters are so manifest To speak my minde what shall I néed to feare Since good report his Woorks well woorthy are If I should séeme hauing perusde the same And sée no cause why I should not commend To let it passe I should deseruâ—… but shame Beside displeasure of my loouing â—…nd I would be loth in either to offend But to say trueth bothe daungers to preuent He well deserues because so well he ment He showes how fraile our earthly Honor is How soone our pleasures perish vnto nought What daunger turnes to bale our worldly blisse By elder Age which haue such frailtie sought At length how Death â—…che state to earth hath brought The hautyest hart that vaunts of Uictors force His direfull dart vnbreaths without remorce The Wise whose wit inferiour vnto none Through his abuse bewayles his follyes fall The Ualliant yéelds and conquerd makes his mone The Rich complaines to minde his fault to call By these estats he séemes to warne vs all Lest through our Wit our Strength and Riches store We vainly vaunt and last their losse deplore Of pamperd Pride of Enuye and of Wrath. Of lothsome Lust and filthie Gluttony Of Couetousnes and sluggish Sloth he hath Prescribde the shame and greefe that comes therby Last biddeth vs such shamelesse sius to fly For feare as those who haue them selues abusde Wée waile to late their warnings good refusde Some of these Men were Kings Dukes Earles and Lords Some woorthy Knights some learned Iudges weare But what of that no fauour Death affordes Hée striketh vs vncertain when or wheare Hée vnregardes of what estate wée are As soone the King that rules the regall Crown Yeelds vnto him as dooth the siely Clown And piercst with Death wherto wée all shall yéeld Their shameles sins witâ—… sorow they bemone Whome neither VVit 〈◊〉 force of Mars his shéeld Can sauegarde them through their abuse orethrone Ne Worldly VVelth may proffit any one Nor earthly ioyes wherin thâ—… séemd to trust Auailes a whit to help their sutes vniust Of Elder Age hée showes the â—…il estate Who in their liues Inferiours were
made mée for to quake A subtle shift to gloze that matter then Dissembling I this drift did vnder take And set my tung a philed phrase to frame That no suspect there might be found of blamâ—… I promised him ful many a gentle gift So that at length his men hée sent away I séeing I so fine had playd this drift This Ionathas for Prisoner I did stay And at the last went out through Iuda Land That they abroad my fame might vnderstand To Simon who my prisoners Brother was I message sent declaring that the cause Why I retaind his Brother in this casse Was for due det claimd by the Princes lawes And if that hée would séek to set him frée His Children hée with spéed should send to mée Of Siluer eke an hundred talents more To mée should come els would I kéep him stil My wish was sent of mony I had store And eke his Children resting at my wil. Whome afterwarde to death I did commit That so therby my purpose might fall fit Then I of Asia was proclaimed King This was the wish I looked for so long But Fortune fel reuengement sharp did wring And made mée for to sing an other song Demetrius Sonne Antiochus by name Pursued mée fast to woork my open shame And to my ships perforce made mée to flye Els had I death sustayned at his hand But ne the lesse on seas I wretch did dye Deseruing wursse if that my fault were scand But God this sharp reuenge on mée did taite A guerdon 〈◊〉 for treason I did maite Flye Flye therfore take warning by my fall Let this my deed take place within your brest To make you flye the suddain sweetned gall Which in the end prouoketh your vnrest Fye on all treason woe vnto the day When first I sought this moste accursed way Wel since I haue so slyly falne in snare And haue to mée incurrde an endlesse pain You gallant wights I wish you to beware Betime see you from wiâ—… 〈◊〉 refrayne So of my woe for euer you shall misse And for my gréef shall reign in lasting blisse FINIS The Induction ACHAB King of Israel espoused Iezabel Daughter of King Ethbael of the Sidonites by meanes of the which Sezabel he fel into all straunge Idolatry and ex treame persecutioÌ„s for which offence hee receiued such a plague of God that in three yeers should no raine nor dewe fal from heaueÌ„ on the earth wherby ensued a great death bothe of men and beasts that a number dyed through his wicked offence This King as reporte is made in the sacred Scriptures was so wicked that euen it was his whole delight to doo lewdly contrary to his duty and yet God suffered him to obtain a vaitant victory ouer Benhadab the Sirian King who retayned in his company xxxii Kings twise hee harmed him by great and blody skirmishes but the third time he was forced to come prostrate before this Achab â–ª who for all his crueltie yet pit tied the case of Benhadab and making a bond with him gaue him licence to departe now for the mercy showne to this wicked Benhadab whome God had cursed and brought into the subiection of Achab to the intent he should be slain GOD was very wrathful against Achab â–ª promising his ruinate distruction for the same Shortly after this greedy Gainer not satisfied with his owne kingdome and signories with his battels spoyles and wunderful victoryes which God had suffered him to conquer but the guiltlesse and inocent Naboth hee forced to bee cruelly murdered for naught but for a Uiniard pertaining vnto this silly wight whose innoceÌ„t death such vengeance obtained in the sight of God that the Prophet Elia brought him message that where the Dogges had licked the Blood of Naboth in the same place should they lick his also And the God to him his posterity would do aâ—… had doon to the house of Ieroboam and Baasa These fearful threatnings sent from GOD so terrified Achab that with repentaunce he humbled him self in sorowing Sackcloth which did mooue the Lord to permit his plague farther of But this his repentaunce was but plaine dissimulation to winne the harts of men wherfore he refused the councel of Micheas the true Prophet of GOD and reposed confidence in foure hundred false Prophets and after their councel took his iour ney to Ramoth where beeing in Battell with the Sirians an Arrowe pearced into him sitting in his Chariot of which wound he died And then his Chariot going toward the Poole of Samaria to be washed the Dogs licked vp his blood So was the promise of the LORD fulfilled vpon this wicked and cruell King for his great trangression WICKEDNES VVhile time thou hast remember life misspent In all thy thoughts respect a Christian care Consider still the end ere thou attempt Knovve that thy sinnes innumerable are Examin vvell therfore eche fault amisse Dread that the LORD vvill angrye vvith thee bee Novv seek therfore to gaine the lasting blisse Erect thy hart that men good vvoorks may see So then to all thy life shall vvitnesse be THE COMPLAINT of King Achab King of Israel for his wicked life led in IDOLATRIE and cruell Persecutions and for sparing the life of the vvicked BENHADAB King of Siria vvhom GOD had deliuered into his hands only to put to death Also for his procuring the poore NA BOTH to be cruelly murdered therby toget his Viniard by the counsel of IEZABEL his Queene vvhose blood the Dogs licked vp on the ground and also his ovvne blood in the Battell fought at RAMOTH according to the vvoord of the LORD Caput 3. LAsciuious life deserueth like rewarde And disobedience must haue punishment Where falshod rules the trueth cannot be heard The rod must come to force them to repent Where man disdaynes to stand of God in aw Reuengement néeds must come by Iustice law Where Crueltie dooth harboure in the brest And Rigor puts poore séely soules to paine Where feare of God is vtterly supprest And eke the minde addicted to disdaine The sharpned swoord dooth hang abooue his head If God so please to strike him present dead For proofe wherof I Achab may suffise Whos 's wayward wil from Wisdomes wayes was bent I lawlesse liued my God I did despise In Idols I did fix my whole delight That Iezabel whome I did take to Wife Maintaind mée stil in this my lothsome life For mine offence no raine for thrée yéeres space Fel on the earth all barren was and dry So that by this a murrain came a pace That man and beast a multitude did dye The Prophet I Elia did disdain Auouching hée was cause of all my pain But moste of all that wicked cursed King Dispisde of God for wickednes of life God did vouchsafe into my hands to bring That so I might abridge him with my knife But for because hée homage did to mée I sau'd his life and so did set him frée But yet alas poore silly Naboths death
and euermore be blest Among the Saints in the eternall rest FINIS The Induction AMMON the eldest Sonne of the famous King Dauid was so raui shed with the beautye of his Sister Thamar that he refrained the sustenaunce of his body only laÌ„guishing for his deep desire Ionadab his Kinsman often espying the crooked cares wherwith poore Ammon was opprest demaunded of him one day by chaunce what should mooue his minde to such straunge motions To whom Ammon brake foorth and sayd O Looue it is to whom I am enthralled and except I may obtayne my looue I am but dead but yet I blush to showe on whom I am so affectioned yet vnto you it skilleth not greatly it is my Sister Thamar that procureth my sorowfull sighing Ionadab beeing one who furdered his intent sayd Faine thy self vanquished with debilitie of sicknes and when thy Father Dauid coÌ„meth to visit thee desire that thy Sister Thamar may dresse meat for thee and also bring it thee The which counsell Ammon fulfilled and when Thamar brought him meat he neuer resteÌ„d vntill he shamefully forced her And hauing obtayned his pleasure he vtterly disdayned her thrusting her out of his Chamber To whom she sayd In thy vsing me thâ—…s discourteously and in repugning now is farre greater then the villainy thou didst vnto me But for this his wicked deed his Brothâ—…r Absalon afterward slew him at a Banquet in cheefest of his pleasure THE COMPLAINT of Ammon the eldest Sonne of King Dauid for the rauishing of his Sister THAMAR accomplishing his desire through the craftie deuise of IONADAB his kinseman vvho causing AMMON to fayne him self sick obtayned of his Father DAVID that THAMAR his sister should come and visit him and vvhen she came bringing vvith her a dish of meat rauised her and aftervvard cruelly despised her Ca. 7. INCONTINENCYE If men respect their fickle date of time Novv in delight then drovvnd in dark annoy Computing Age vvith their vnbrideled time Of all estates hovv brittle is their Ioy. Needs must they say they taste a svveetned gall That as to day their pleasure dooth procure In tract of time it leaues their comfort small No Rock it is that euer vvill indure Exampled be by preter time vnsure No man although he liue in vvorlds of ioy Can keep him there as in a certayne stay You see the proofe vvhat greef it dooth imploy Euen at a clap dooth fetch all pomp avvay OAmmon fond borne vnto great mishap O lawlesse Lust that made thée doo the déed O wicked wretch now throwen in terrors trap Where griefly gripes vpon thy carkasse féed Fye on thée wretch lothe for to showe thy face Thy hainous act condems thée in eche place Hadst thou the hart to woork such villany No point of manhood did remaine in thée So to dispoyle thy Sisters déere virginitie A wicked wish desired for to be No merueil though at sound of Ammons name That all the world cryes on thée open shame What art thou now a man depriu'd of ioy And subiect to a thousand heaps of woes Thy pleasures past is sunk in dire annoy Beholde thy fate how froward still it goes Thy déed is more then is thy punnishment Yet wicked wretch thou canst not be content But moste of all when thou the déed hadst doone And gotten that which thou didst wholy craue Then in despite her presence thou didst shun And thought great scorne her company to haue O hardned hart yfraught with mallice fell So gainst all law thy Sister to compell O Thamar I my wicked déed lament I sorowe sore for my vnkinde offence Deserued doome full right my state hath shent And for my déed beholde my recompence A iust reward since so I did neglect My duty bound to God in eche respect For as I sat in midst of mirth of ioy At Banquet with my Brother Absalon Not thinking to receiue so great annoy With bloody blade he killed me annon Loe what a guerdon did befall to me That so from natures law did disagrée If I had rulde my self in Reasons law And framde my life vnto a good intent Or if I had of God remaind in awe Then had not I my time so vayuly spent But where self will is suffered so at large Great is the paynes that after will him charge For idle life procures this lawlesse Lust And idlenes is foe to Learnings lore Where wanteth faith hope and assured trust There Sathan still hath libertye the more And Sathan aye dooth forward frame the will To that which would bothe soule and body spill Therfore of Ammon héer a warning take Learne in your youth to walke in vertues waies Least sinne in age your pleasant ioy dooth slake And so forget bothe God and blisfull dayes Remember God alwayes set him before And your affayres shall better spéed the more Then vaine desire can neuer you assault Nor no such sinne as I wretch did commit Be warnd therfore by this my present fault And shun such drifts as dooth no Christian fit In all thy thoughts woorks woords or déeds I say For good successe to God continuall pray FINIS The Induction ADONIA Sonne to the Godly Prophet king Dauid perceiuing his father conuinced with debilttie in his aged yeers began with proud Courage to exalte him self to the Kingdome and prouided for him self bothe Chariots horsemen footmen to goe before his father as though he were king Which his father well perceiued but yet he said nothing because he would not displese him to incurre his enuye toward him So Adonia went forward in his pretended purpose and following the counsell of Ioab the Captaine and Abiathar the Preest who greatly took his parte heerin he made a sacrifise of Oxen and Sheep wherunto he inuited his Brethern and the kings Seruaunts who in his presence reioyling sayd God saue King Adonia But when as Bersaba his mother and Nathan the Prophet had giuen knowledge to King Danid of his wicked intent he caused Sadock the Preest and the Prophet Nathan to an noint his Sonne Salomon and to set him vp on his owne Mule and then goe foorth and proclaim him king These tidings blazed in the new vp start Kings Court caused all his company for to shrink away from him and so Adonia was left all alone who for his more safetie sted to the Tabernacle of the Lord and would not depart from thence till Salomon had graunted his pardon so at last vpon this condition that afterward there should no more disquietnes arise by him remitted him free TheÌ„ he departed home to his house and when Dauid his father was dead Adonia fell in looue with Abisag the sunamite â–ª and so desired Bethsaba Salomons mother to speak to the king that he would giue him Abisag to his wife Salomon hearing his mothers request and seeing that Adonia beeing his eldest Brother through his Pride would aspire to the Kingdome thought it good to cut of his pretended purpose and so put him to death VOLVPTVOVSNES Vertue
a great bond and league of ami tie the which Ptolomye afterward periurd ely forlook in recalling his former fauour from Alexander labouring by all possible meanes for to defeat him of his Kingdome and Alexander remayning for a time out of his Realme serued fit for the pur pose of Ptolomye for he leuyed a great Armye of men and iournyed into Siria where he was very honorably receiued into euery Cittie because it had beene so commaunded before by Alexander his trecherous treason was not suspected for be cause he was the Kings Father in law But Ptolomye whose going was only for that intent in euery Cittie left certayne well armed men to fortifye them for his practise And hauing subdued all the Citties on the Sea coasts ioyned in League with Demetrius and took Cleopatra his daugh ter from Alexander and gaue her to Demetrius raysing vp a slaunderous reporte of Alexander how that he sought all meanes to kill him When as his greedy and vnsatiable couetousnes was noted and espyed he departed to Antioche where he set two Crownes vpon his owne head the one of Egipt the other of Asia Alexander at that time making his aboad in the dominions of Cicilia hauing been ixcitated with the cruell attempt of his rather in law returned home making open warres against him But Ptolomye beeing more puisant in strength forced him for to flye into the Countrey of Arabia wheras the king of that land smot of his head and sent it vnto Ptolomye which was the thing he cheefly desired But small ioy had he therof for within three daies after he was slaine and after his death his men that were left in the Citties were all put to death VAINGLORY Vaunt not to much of that vvhich is but vayne And beare in minde thy state is heer vnsure It is not vvelth that can abridge thy payne Nor loftie looks thy vvelfare can procure Greeue not to see thy neighbour prosper vvell Let blinde Ambition rule thy hart no more Or seek not gainst the simple soule to svvell Regard to haue discretion good before Your happy helth shall aye increase the more THE COMPLAINT of King Ptolomye King of Egipt for his vnnaturall crueltie vsed tovvard the Famous ALEXANDER vvho vvas his Sonne in Lavv. Caput 9. NO greater Foe then gréedynes of minde No seruile life like to contemptuous pride No greater sinne then willing to bâ—… blinds No folly more then in vain hope to bide What more deceit then look thy Fréend in face And woork his death in most vngentle case For proof wherof I Ptolomye may serue Whose hauty hart and moste ambitious minde Procured mee from Princely rule to swerue And cruelly to stray from Natures kinde Wherfore my tale let peirce the flinty hart How like they fall in such vnlawful part My Daughter fair that Cleopatra hight To Alexander of illustrious fame In nuptiall band contented I did plight Til Enuie vile contempt did séek to frame My gréedy minde my honor soon let fall That in the end I lost both fame and all My former vow I wretch did clean reuoke Of faithful fréendship to my sonne in law Now perching pride had quickly strook the stroke Gainst verteous life wherof I had no awe But banishing all fauour from my hart Did seek to frame a moste vnlawful part My noble Sonne from Kingdome béeing gon Whose absence wrought the more for my intent I ruled at home and none but I alone Now thought I good my Sonne for to preuent And of his Kingdome clean him to bereaue By traitrous déeds I purposde to deceiue Then I likewise to all his Citties went Wherin I left of armed men good store That at such time as serude for mine intent I might obtain that long I wisht before Yet for his sake vnto his Citties all I was receiude with Fame imperiall More Traitour I that such a déed could frame Considering that I was receiude so wel And only hée did yéeld to mée such fame Gainst whom I did vnkindly so rebel Wel looue nor fauour could my minde intreat But enuiously I went about this feat When as I had eche Cittie fair subdude That on the seas did harbour there about By other shifts my fetches I renude And now I had an other plat drawen out Demetrius I did ioyne in league with mée And so to war til all consumde might bée My Daughter fair I took from rightful mate And to Demetrius did her giue againe Then had I raysde a slaunder vp of hate How Alexander sought to haue mée slaine And so through this such enuie vile I bred That Kingdomes twain I crowned on my hed O braue delight as braue as beaten Golde O happy life long looked for before I droue my Sonne into Arabian holde Wheras to make my honor larger more His hed was sent as present vnto mée Oh how I ioyd when I this sight did sée But yet this pomp to short a time did laâ—… Within thrée dayes I dyed in gréeuous case What vauntage then when honor all was past Did I obtaine in my new Kingly place My sonnes déer blood for vengeance stil dooth cry Gainst me a wretch that wrought this villany You Noble harts sée héere a pattern playne Of painted Pride contemning verteous life Sée héere a gulf of Enuye and Disdayne A mortall foe that still procured strife Sée héere the wight whose folly made him fall In séeking that which did return his thrall Sée what I gaynd for gréedines of minde Sée how the Lord did pay me for my payne In that I went so farre from Natures kinde As woork the meanes to cause my sonne be slayn Whose guiltlesse death beholde I now lament Desiring pardon for my life mispent Learne now therfore like Enuy to eschew Least that your selues doo fall into like snare Dout not but you shall finde the end to true Therfore in time I wish you to beware So are you sure the daunger to preuent Of such a sinne as I poore wretch am shent FINIS The Induction IEZABEL espoused to king Achab pricked her husband forward vnto all wickednes and Idolatrie and also caused the Prophets of the Lord to be slayne and was cheefe cause that Naboth was stoned to death therby to enioy his Uiniard But when she had intelligence of the comming of Iebu she tricked her self vp in her flaunting fines looked out at her windowe as he came in at the gate to whom she sayd in this maner Had Zimei peace which slew his maistere meaning Could a Traitour or any that presumeth against his superiour haue good successe in his enterprise After which woords she was throwen out at the windowe with such great violence that her bones were all brused in peeces and so tramped on with horses that when they came to take her vp to bury her no more was found then her scull her feet the palmes of her hands Heerin was Elias Prophecie brought to passe when he said That Dogs shall eat the flesh
of Iezabell and her carkasse shall lye as dung vpon the earth so that none shall say This was Iezabell VANITIE Vivv vvel the state of euery mortall VVight Although they boast of Beauties beames so much Note hovv that Death dooth equall all aright Ineath degree hee spareth not to touch The VVise the Foolè the King and Begger bace Is à ll alike that commeth in his cloutch Excepteth none hee takes in euery place THE COMPLAINT of Iezabel Wife to King Achab for her inforcing her Husband to all kinde of vvickednesse and Idolatree causing the Prophets of the Lord to be slain and procuring the guiltles death of Naboth shee beeing iustly therfore plagued of the lord Caput 10. IF Beautie be a thing of such respect If hauty hart the Body doo adorn Why did my shape and beautie mée detect Why did my pride make mée somuch forlorne And if all these were Uertnes in a Wife Why did so soon my pleasure turn to strife O no déer Dames these vaunts are worldly vain These are the pomps wherin you glory so This painted pride procures your after pain Which you lament distâ—…est in double wo. And why because you did not séek before A souerain salue to cure so vile a sore But lo déer Dames to much you be deceiude To much you trust to that which is vnsure For péeuish pride your sences hath bereude Which makes you think for aye you shall indure O think not so for beautie is but vain To day a ioy tomorrow pinching pain Beholde by mée if beaâ—…tie might haue boast Or hauty hart to haue Dame Honors place Beholde her héer who through each forrain Coast Knew not her Péer for loftie lookes in face But now what dooth my mounting minde auaile So long on flote that glad to strike my saile I Iezabel soometime King Achabs Wife Disdaining God and Idols did obay Surmounting in all viciousnes of life And only Pride did force mée run astray For Pride from God did force my wilful fall That grace nor vertue I esteemd at all But in a World of pranked pleasures gay I flaunted foorth as much as hart could crane I was the cause the Préests of God to slay And Naboths death desired for to hane Why who but I. so many fetches had With subtle sleights to make my fancy glad But what at length was my deserued due From windowe down I fel and brake my neck By prophecie which I approoued true This hire I had that Uertue would detect In â—…inders small my Body lay on ground Trod so with Horse that little could be found Now sée what came to Iezabel at last See what became of my alluring face My Peacoks plumes down in the dust were cast What guerdon did my loftie pride purchase Beholde my déeds and then beholde my fame Beholde my life and then beholde my shame Now daintie Dames your Mirrour take by me To warne you pull your hauty heads more lowe Let me you learne your welfare to foresée And teach you how more grauitie to showe Let Modestie your outward vestures be And Uertue deck you inward frank and frée Leaue of these braue and sundry flaunting sutes Leaue of to wish for euery straunge deuise Milde Modestie your statelines rebultes She would not haue you goe so coy and nice But prudently to guyde your dealings so That in eche place with vertue you may goe Now when I smart I can you warning giue That you may shun the sorrowes which I haue Now I confesse that verteously to liue By due desart dooth endles honor craue Counsell once had is better suer then neuer Feare God and then thou shalt be crowned euer FINIS The Induction ZEDEKIA Sonne vnto Iosia was by Nabucodonozor elected and made King ouer Iuda in the sted and place of Ieboachin his Brother to whome he made him faithfully to vow that hee would truely obay the Chaldeis and so in tokeÌ„ therof from Mathania he changed his name to Zedekia But he neglecting his duty and falsifying his othe suffered sinne and wickednes to reigne and abound in his Land euen aswel among the cheef Rulers and Preests as also among the meaÌ„ and common sort So that God was not regarded his woord vtterly despised his Prophets vnlawfully misused therfore the Lord stirred vp the Chaldeis with whom he had before broken league and falsified his faith that they came and ruinated the Cittie of Ierusalem and sacked the Temple with fire and there took the King Zedekia his Army beeing scattred abrode in the plain of Iericho led him to the King of Babilon where first his two Sonnes were destroyed in his presence and then his owne eyes pulled out and then led him Captiue to Babilon bound in chaines wheras hee dyed and his People remained threescore and ten yeers in captiuitie til the dayes of King CIRVS WILFVLNES VVhere men doo more respect their priuate gayne In vaine excesse then VVisdomes stayed state Light to contemne slovve to release their paine From vvhom bothe helth and riches is ingrate Vsing them selues as belly Gods so rude Leaning vpon the honor of their pelf Not scorning still them selues for to intrude Eche man to pole for to inrich him self Soslides from God to greater greefe renued THE COMPLAINT of Zedekia sometime King of Iuda for neglecting his vovved othe and faithfull promise made to King Nabuchodonozor in suffering all sinne and vvickednes to abound in his Kingdome beeing iustly plagued of GOD therfore Caput 11. AMid the rest giue Zedekia place Iosias Sonne to tell his great mishap Whom Folly fond so gréeuous did deface As in my pomp depriu'de me at a clap Such crooked chaunce that for a time did smile But at the length displayd a hidden guyle First was I King and ruled Iuda Land In promise that I constant would remain When as this Welth was brought into my hanâ—… I suffred sin to much to haue the raine Gods woord was clean suppressed in the dust The Preests and Rulers find in filthy lust The Chaldies then Ierusalem destroyd The holy Temple burnd with flaming fire My Soldiars all with terror were annoyd I taken was so did my sinnes require My sonnes were slayne O gréefe before my face Mine eyes puld out in moste accursed case Then captiue I to Babilon was led In fettered chaines with direfull dole yfraught My people poore with tirrany were fed All long of sinne which I alas haue wrought Thrise twentye yéeres and ten they bid the pain Till Cirus came their fréedome to obtaine Loe thus I liu'd loe thus I had my shame A guerdon iust to counteruaile my hire take héed therfore how you contemn Gods name For your reward is euerlasting fire My sinfull life my death so voyd of grace Let now suffise to warn you in eche place Fewe woords shall serue in haste I goe my way And wish you well my perill to foresee Be rulde by trueth let Uertue beare the sway Think on the end the daunger for to flée
For I haue proou'd that which I rew with payn And wish to late I had not liu'd so vayne FINIS ADPRECLARVM et nobilissimum Virum EO NAuta Mari medio vectus spumaÌ„tibus vndepositis portu sperat reâ—…erire saluteÌ„ dis Conscius extremo procumbeÌ„s Carcere latrâ—… sperat fortunam lucis sentire ministram Pallidus attonito vultu tardatur Amator Finem tamen dominam confidit habere benignam Apatrijs sperat Petigrinus finlbus exul Orbe pererratâ—… sibi conciliare quietem Hac ratione meum viuo visurus Alexin Tristitiaeque meae lâ—…t as perstringere fines Speque rereabor medicum Fortuna resistat Donec opemferat et morbo mediatur acerbo Noâ—… aliquando diem tantae peresfere tenebrae quin redeat spargens glebis sua fulmina Phaebus Aequora quando metam certam posuere furendi Gaudia securis ego sic possessa tenebo Mi formose vale valeat tua grata voluntas Deprecor optata tutus potiaris arena Te canctosque tuos CHRISTO committo tuendos Donec praestentes sermone fruamur amico FINIS Honos alit Artes. THE TABLE discoursing the sum of the Chapters contained in this BOOK The contents of the first BOOK THe complaint of King Nabucodonozor sometime King of Babilon for the inordinat and excessiue pride that hée vsed in his life time Caput 1 ¶ The Complaint of King Herod the first Straunger that reigned ouer the Iewes for the excéeding Enuie that in his life hée vsed Ca. 2. ¶ The Complaint of King Pharao sometime King of Egipt woorthily punished of God for his wrathful dealings toward the Children of Israel Caput 3. ¶ The Complaint of King Dauid by Gods permission an noynted King of Israel sorowfully from the bottome of his hart bemoning his vnbrideled lust of Lechery committed with Bersaba the Wife of Vrias and for the procuring of her Husbands death therby obtayning his purpose Caput 4. ¶ The Complaint of Diues for his Gluttony vsed in his life time Caput 5. ¶ The Complaint of Iudas bemoning his Auaritious hart in selling his Maister Chirste for thirtie pence Ca. 6. ¶ The Complaint of Ionas for his slothful slacking the commaundement of the Lord beeing sent to preach to the Niniuites Caput 7. Heer endeth the sum of the Chapters conteined in the first BOOK The Contents of the second Book THe Complaint of Absalon for his vain aspi ring to the Imperiall Crown and Diadem of his Father King Dauid and for his suddain fall he obtayned in his pretended purpose Caput 1. ¶ The Complaint of Triphon for his crue ' tie committed a gainst the yung King Antiochus whome hée cruelly murdered as hée walked to disporte him and for his cruel putting to death Ionathas and his two Children through which hée crowned him self King of Asia Caput 2. ¶ The Complaint of King Achab King of Israel for his wicked life led in Idolatrie and cruel persecutions for sparing the life of the wicked Benhadab King of Siria whome God had deliuered into his hands only to put to death Also for his procuring the poore Naboth to be cru elly murdered therby to get his Uiniard by the councel of Iezabel his Queen whose blood the Dogs licked vp on the ground and also his owne blood in the battel fought at Ramoth according to the woord of the lord Ca. 4. ¶ The Complaint of Iephath sometime Iudge ouer Israel for his so rash vow in the sacrifising of his Daughter for the foyling of his Enemies Caput 4. ¶ The Complaint of Sampson for his fond declaring to his wife where his chéefest strength was which made his ey es be pulled out by the Philistines Ca. 5. ¶ The Complaint of King Salomon king of Israel for his in ordinate looue borne to outlandish women who brought him from the wisest and richest King that euer was to be cast out of Gods fauour and to be euen in manner like a stark Foole. Caput 6. ¶ The Complaint of Ammon the eldest Sonne of K. Dauid for the rauishing of his Sister Thamar accomplishing his desire through the craftie deuice of Ionadab his kins man who causing Ammon to fain him self sick obtained of his Father Dauid that Thamar his Sister should come and visit him and when shée came bringing with her a dish of meat rauished her and afterward cruelly despised her Caput 7. ¶ The Complaint of Adonia Sonne to King Dauid for his proude aspiring to his Fathers kingdoome and also for pride vsed against his Brother King Salomon in cr auing Abisag the Sunamite to his mate who was a fair and vertuons yung Damosel nourished King Dauid in his extreme Age thinking by that meanes to attain to his desired pretence Caput 8. ¶ The Complaint of Ptolomye King of Egipt for his vnnaturall crueltie vsed toward the famous Alexander who was his Sonne in law Caput 9 ¶ The Complaint of Iezabel Wife to King Achab for her inforcing her Husband to all kinde of wickednes Idolatrye and causing the Prophets of the Lord to be slaine and for the procuring the guiltlesse death of Naboth shée béeing iustly therfore plagued of the LORD Caput 10. ¶ The Complaint of Zedekia sometime King of Iuda for his neglecting his vowed othe and faithful promise to K. Nabuchodonozor in suffering all sinne and wickednes to abouÌ„d in his Kingdome béeing iustly plagued of God therfore Caput 11 The end of the Table of the Chapters contained in this BOOK Honos alit Artes. FINIS Antony Munday