frendes thou couldest none fynd But I whych on a crosse was rent Why art thou to thy frend vnkynd Thus I lovde thee but whom lovst thou I am thy frend why wylt thou fayn I gaue thee lyfe and thou me slew Who parted thus our loue in twayn Turne thee to me bethynke thee how Thou hast done yll come home agayne And thou shalt be as welcome now As he that free from synne dyd raigne Thynke howe dyd Mary Magdaleyn What sayd I to Thomas of Inde I grant the blysse why wylt thou payne And art thus to thy frend vnkynde Of frends I am the beste and chiefe Thou wylt me neyther dreade nor please Of thy true loue to se a prefe My loue to thee would much increase For thy mysdedes I suffred grefe And thou dydst me that same disease Hanged I was most lyke a thefe I suffred death thy payne to cease Yet to loue me thou dost not prease Nor bearest not my payn in mynde But seekst Idols in thy dysease To me why art thou so vnkynde Vnkynd for thou hast slayn thy Lord And euery day dost wound hym newe If thou be brought vnto accord Of couenant made thou art vntrue To thy old synne thou dost resorte Thou louest vyce hatyng vertue All false Idols that I abborde To honour thou wylt not eschue But to my lyuely Image true The poore the halt the lame and blynd To offer thou wyle not insue But rather art to them vnkynd Thryse dyd the fiend tempt me truly And thou doste tempt me day by day Wyth syane and vyce most wyckedly To stirre my wrath thou wylt assay Thou dost as who so would me buye As false Iudas dyd me betraye For at my workes thou hast enuye There is nothyng that would thee stay If thou on me myghtst as I may Full cruelly thou wouldest me bynd If I forgyue thee thou sayste nay Why art thou to thy frend vnkynd ¶ A Ditie warnyng all townes and liberties to chose theyr gouernours for vertue wysedom and lernyng and by all meanes laudable to kepe from rule the proude enuious and wylfull wycked men lest the prince be dishonored and they them selues abused and oppressed ¶ Syng this as If truth may take no trusty hold c. VVher pride doth hold the helme in hand The shyp to rule by wylfull wyll Oft tymes we see on rocke or sand Both shyp and goods do ioyntly spyll As Phaeton prowde most wylfully Hys father Phebus charyot Would prease to rule tyll foolyshly He nygh spylde all suche was hys lot Wherby as Ouide playne doth tell The wrathe of Ioue he did proueke In floud of Po hym downe to fell Wyth dreadfull dynt of thunder stroke The lyke thyng may be sene â—â—he day In shyp of publike gouernance Where onely pryde and wyll beare sway Sekyng all discorde to aduance For reason there is caâ—tiuate Reâ—ect and cast cut as a slaue Tyll theyr owne swynge doth bring the quade Whose end doth shew how much they râ—ue Wherfore yf I myght counsell geue When as the matter lyes in choyce Blynde ignorance should not acheue To wyn to rule by common voyce For by theyr rude and â—onde abuse The prince they doo dishonor muche And subiectes poore they muche mysuse Of pryde and wyll the fruites are suche Then best it is for to reiect The blynde the ignorant and rude And vertues chiefly to respect And wysely so your choyce conclude If that ye knewe the difference Betwene the wyse and learned men And rude vnlearned negligence Muche more respect ye would haue then For loke howe farre a lusty wyght That can doo all actiuitie As go runne wrestle playe and fyght Dothe styll surmount in eche degree The infant yong that can not go But muste of force be led or borne So farre extendeth learnyng lo The rude and ignorant forlorne He that in all his lyfe and dayes His owne affections can not rule But beastly is in all his wayes As any saluage horse or mule Or he that hys house howe to guyde Or household yet coulde neuer tell Can such be mete at any tyde A towne of folke to gouerne well Haue this therfore before your eyes Whom hencefoorth ye doo chose or take Vertue imbrace and vyce despyse A ryght good choyce so shall ye make Esteme hym euer as moste yll Whiche by his froward mynde vniust Despysyng lawe wyll maynteyue wyll To lay good order in the dust If any man perceaue this case Or haue experience of this cry me Vertue hencefoorth let hym imbrace And take more hede an other tyme. ¶ A briefe description of wysedom and folly in gouernance VVHere wysedome beareth sayle In shyp of common wealth Lyke are they not to fayle Lawe loue good hope and health Iustyce shall there auayle All wrong to ouerthrowe Men dyng both hygh and lowe In lyke wyse and maner Of folly to defyne Ryght may no rule beare there Debate so doth enclyne And peace can there be none Ye may therof be sure Nothyng but payne and mone Euer doo fooles procure ¶ A briefe Description of truthe and falsehode TRuthe shall triumph and falshode fayle Hope in the Lord so hath vs taught Of falshode shall the cunnyng quayle Most when she hath her malice wrought As of the truth it is the guyse Suppresiyng wrong and then to ryse Why then doth falshode make her bost Of her dedes as they should endure Only a whyle they rule the rost Doubtles theyr buyldynges are not sure Myschief to doo they men allure And yet is all that they inuent Nothyng stable ne permanent ¶ An exhortation to truthe fayth and vertue EXamyn well thyne inward spryte Directe thy wayes with perfectnes Make streyght the thynges that are not right Vexe not thy frend with vnkyndnes No lye for gayne see that thou make Do nothyng yll for frendshyp sake Haue styll in mynde the truth which sayth All thynges are vayne that haue an ende Let all thy workes be done in fayth Lyke that whpch Christ doth most commend ¶ A de scription of mans lyfe both in his owne affections and vertues VVE may by profe behold and see In thys world what is mans delyghte Lewde is our lyfe naturally Lacke yf we doo gods holy sprite Iniurie hate wrath and despyghte All that to payne shall vs procute Most we frequent and put in vre In vertue yâ—t those that doo dwell Occasyons yll they wyll eschue Remembryng that suche as doo well Doubtles the Lorde wyll them endue All goodnes that they may ensue Yea and them kepe so safe and sound None ill shall them hurte or embrace Endeuoryng styll iust to be found A frendly aduertisement REioyce in him that did thee make In weith and we haue him in mynde Conceaue none ill all vyce forsake Helth in thy soule so shalt thou fynde And whâ—re thou art a louyng frynde Reuoke it not but stay thee there Decaye no loue but hate forbere To proued frendes commit thy trust And â—lee from suche as fayne
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
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
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
Iacob and Ioseph And Moses did the lyke By fayth how the redde sea went back Contrary to his kynde As on drye lande howe Israell dyd passe through that drye dyke The Egiptians when they the lyke Would seme to enterpryse They lackyng fayth weare drowned all As for their tâ—st rewarde By fayth the walles of Ierico Did falle downe in lyke wyse No force or engyn of the warres Against it once preparde The harlot Rahab in lyke wyse Nowe she dyd saue hir lyfe And perisht not with them that dyd Resist the wyll of god When she the spies receaued well In peace without all stryfe For she beleude that god would plage That contrey with his rodde What should be sayde of Gedeon Of Barach and Samson Iephte Dauid and Samuell And eke the prophetes all Who dyd by fayth great realmes subdue And myghty kyngdomes wonne They turnde their enemies to flyght And gaue their foes a fall By fayth some stopt the lyons mouthes Some quencht the rage of fyre By fayth some wrought out rightousnes Some promyse dyd obteyne Some scapie the sworde some were made strong Whom weaknes erste dyd tyre And women dyd their dead receyue To perfect lyfe agayne Some racked weare and would not voyde The danger of that wo Knowyng that they should ryse agayne Possessing better ioye With mockes and scornes and prisonment Lo some were tryed so Some were stoned some were tempted Thus did the worlde them noye Some hewed were a sonder quyghte Some with the sworde were slayne Some in the skynnes of shepe and gotes Disdeyned not to go In trouble and necessitie They were content to reigne In mountaynes desertes and in dennes By fayth this could they doe These was the worlde not worthy of Yet dyd it them despyse Though they did all through lyuly fayth Obteyne a good reporte Yet dyd they not that tyme receyue That God dyd them promyse That we with them and they with vs myght ioynctly haue comforte For Christe that holy promyse was The frute of all our fayth Without whom none can saued be No neither we nor they For in hym all fulfilled is That holy scripture sayth Ye Christ is he in whom both we And they our fayth doe staye For which all honor laude prayse To God ascribed be To the father and to the sonne And to the holy spyrite In vnitie and trinitie One God and persons three As hath ben is and shal be styll For euer so be it ¶ The prayse of hope out of many places of scripture HOpe the medcyn against dreadfull dispayre If we should prayse as doth hir well behoue As holy Paull we nede had to repayre to the third heuen or ells God from aboue to sound his voyce to one that he doth loue as in the holy mount Moyses dyd here And to Elias lykewyse did apere Or as the most blessed Apostles three At Olyuet euen Peter Iames and Iohn Where they the glorie of the Lord dyd see Transfigured that holy mount vpon Beside which syght they herde this voyce eche one This is myne only sonne and worde so bryghte In whom I fixe and set my whole delyght Who so I saye myght once haue suche a syghte Should afterward lacke no knowledge nor skyll To prayse dame hope that lady pure and bryght In whom all good men haue of ioye their fyll Who could without despayre suffer the ill That in this worlde we dayly see and byde If blessed hope stode not on our ryght syde Our spirituall foes that dayly vs asaulte As is the fende the flesh and world also With ignorance and error eke so haulte Behynde before we no where lacke a foe So that if hope once banyshte were vs fro Alas who could of gods fauour be sure That daily sethe his owne wayes so vnpure What man doth as god hath commanded playne That we should doe or els perysh in hell Sith none therfore can there vnto attayne For all doe disobey synne and rebell Howe can we thynke in heauen then to dwell If blessed hope doe not oure fayth directe That we in Christe are vnto blysse electe In all the stormes of Sathans cruell rage Wherwith he seketh mans soule to destroye If in our soules good hope dyd not aswage The sorowes that doe seke the same to noye And comfort them with quietnes and toye Assuryng them that doe their whole good wyll That Christ our lorde wyll all our wante fulfyll Without this hope I saye who could Indure The boystrous brunte of this moste mortall fyght Our enmies are no babes I you assure But very strong in respect of our myght Wherfore we ought to praye both daye and nyght To god our lorde that he woulde graunt vs aye That blessed hope with vs continue may Howe apte are we from comfort to decaye If we hyr helpe had not in our distres Sith she in Christe doth cause vs for to staye And to be bolde not fearyng our weaknes Syth our captayne in his great manlynes Is able styll our foes for to withstande If we in hym that battell take in hande As sayth saynt Paule hope is the geft of god In whiche we are made safe in all our nede And takes away of care the heauy lode An armor strong and spirituall indede An helmet sure wherwith we may procede Against the powres of darknes and of hell For heauenly thinges that we may wrestle well In it we ought to ioye and to reioyce As to the Romanes he doth farther saye And Peter also with a feruent voyce Sayth that we ought without all doubt and staye To yelde a reason of our hope alway Hope is the meane that men to God drawe nere without the whiche none faythfull may apere Who without hope can truly loue the lorde Who without hope can serue god in true feare Who without hope can cause his lyfe tacorde To vertues lore and fylthy synnes forbeare Who without hope can praye in true maner Who without hope can yelde god laude and prayse Who voyde of hope wyll walke in Christen wayes The blessed martyrs by the hope and truste That they had in the glorious lyfe to come Dyd from this worlde withdrawe their mynde luste And gladly suffred cruell martyrdom By fyre by sworde and briefly all the summe No kynde of death or tormente dyd despyse That wicked worldlynges could for them deuyse By hearyng scripture true hope doth procede And otherwyse can lyghtly not be had Confounded shall they neuer be in dede Whom perfect hope hath once with ioy made glad Whiche takes away all doubtfull dred so sad Whose hope in Christe therfore doth staye and reste We may well call them faithfull folke and bleste What so before tyme wrytten is sayeth Paule It written was vs to instructe and learne That we through comforte of the scriptures all And pacience might perfectly deserne The perfect hope to hope in God eterne Lo thus doth God in scripture vs procure Through hope in him of heauen to be sure We knowe
workes truly trye Howe that ye beyng officers Vnder his kyngly throne Ye did not iudgement execute As vnto hym is knowne And if ye haue not kept the lawe Of ryghtiusnes I saye Nor haue not done his blessed wyll By walkyng in his waye Full horribly and that ryght sone To you he shall apere And right hard iudgement shal they haue By powre that gouerne here His mercy sure he wyll extende Vnto the innocent But suche as beare authoritie Shall haue sore punyshment For god whiche is the lorde of all By iudgement iust and ryght Shall stande in awe of no mans powre Though he be of great myght For he made both the great and small And cares for them alyke But they that be of greatest powre The more he wyll them stryke Ye kynges eche one take hede therfore Se that ye ponder this And guyde your fete by wisdoms scole That ye goe not amysse All suche as obserue ryghteousnes Shall iudged be therby Suche ryght cousnes who so wyll learne Shall answere readily On wisdomes lore I saye therfore Set all your loue and luste To nourture so ye shall atayne In season due and iuste For wysdome is a noble thyng Whiche wyll not flete nor moue And wyll be sene full easily Of all that doe hyr loue Suche as vnfaynedly hir seke She wyll preuent them so That they shall haue hyr in their syghte In eche place where they goe Who so wyll wake to hir betyme Shall haue no great traueyle For at his dore he shall hir finde She wyll him neuer fayle Ryght perfectly they vnderstand That doe thinke hir vpon And they that watche for hir shal be Ryght safe and that anon For she alwayse doth goe about And seketh euery where For suche as for hir schole be mete And doe god loue and feare Before thâ—ir eyes ryght chierfully Hyr selfe she doth forth showe And meteth them dilygently Because they should hir knowe The faythfull and the iust desire Of reformation Is the beginning and the grounde That wysdome buildeth on The busye care for wysdomâ— lore Is loue and pure prudence And loue doth also kepe the lawes And that with dilygence To kepe the lawes is perfectnes And righâ—ly doth accorde An vncerrupt lyfe maketh man Familiar with thâ— lorde Se that your ioye in royall seates And scepters be not sette Ye kynges that doe the people rule By myghty powre and great But set on wysdom your delyght All folysh thinges abhorre That ye may reigne in glory great With god for euer more O loue the lyght all ye that rule The congregation And I wyll make of wisdom nowe A declaration What wisdome is howe she came vp I will you tell this tyde The misteries of god the lorde From you I wyll not hyde But I wyll seke hir out in dede That all men shall it se Ye from the first oryginall Of hyr natiuitie And bryng the knowledge of hyr lyght And shewe you all the grounde And as for keping backe the truthe In me shall not be founde Ne yet wyll I haue ought to doe With enuy nor disdayne For why suche men in no wyse may To wysdome aperteyne Where many wyse men haue abode The worlde may ioyfull be And where as kynges by wysdome rule Their realmes haue equitie O aprehende hir nurtour then Let wysdom be your foode And at my wordes your councell take For it shall doe you good I am a mortall man my selfe After the common trade And am of that same very kynde With hym that first was made And formed in my mothers wombe In fleshe there was I wrought And tenne moneths had my nutryment Of bloud that there was brought Where through the fruitfull seede of man I had my substance thus In whiche the apetite of sleape Is moste commodious When I was borne I tooke lyke ayre As doe all others lo I fell on earth whyche was my kynde In wepyng and in wo I wraped was in swadlyng clothes And brought vp with great care For why no kyng can in their byrth Haue other kynde of fare For all men in this wretched worlde As well the kyng as slaue In entrance and in goyng forth No kinde of difference haue Considryng in my mynde howe that The most rude multitude dyd nothyng differ from my byrth Nor death whiche doth conclude I me bethought therfore howe I Myght in my beyng here Aboue the kynde of common men Ryght excellent apere For wysdom pure to vnderstande Therfore was my desyre The spirite of wysdom came to me As my harte dyd requyre By whom I set more pryce and ioye Then by great kyngdoms fayre The royall seates or ryches great With hyr shall not compare And precious stones I neuer did Compare to hir I saie For gould is gâ—auell in hyr sight And syluer is but claye Wealth and beautie I wayed not But toke hyr for my light The beames of wysdome none can queÌ„ch That shyneth aye so bryghte By hir all thinges I did possesse All good thingâ—s came to me The ryches without number is That in hir handes styll be But yet in childyshe ignorance I could not make dyscourse Of all good thinges howe wysdome is The mother and the nource But nowe sithe I vnfeynedly Haue learned what she is Partakers other men to make Of hyr I will not mys Hyr ryches and hir treasure great From you I wyll not hide Whiche passeth all infinitly That is in this worlde wyde Which who so vse they ioye with god In friendship and great loue And in his syght excepted are Through wysdomes giftes aboue God hath me graunted wisdomes talke In forme conuâ—nient To handle all whiche he to me Hath graciously lent For he it is that to wysdome Doth leade and introduce And teacheth howe that in hir kynde Men shall hir ryghtly vse In hym are we and all our wordes Our wysdome and our skyll Our knowledge and our science all Our workes and all our wyll For vnto me he geuen hath The knowledge and the trade Of all those thynges so that I knowe Howe that the worlde was made And by his wisdome hath me taught Astronomy to knowe The elementes with all their powrs And wonders whiche they showe Howe tymes doe both begin and ende The mydste of tymes I see Howe tymes alter and doe succede Eche one in his degree I knowe the order and the ende And course or euery yere The dispositions of the starres To me doe well appere In naturall philosophie I haue the perfect arte I knowe the nature of eche beaste One from other aparte Howe some be gentill in their kynde Howe some in fury rage I knowe the cause and howe one may By wysdome them aswage I knowe the wyndes of euery coaste Theyr natures hotte or colde And by that arte send shyps with sayles To Ophir for muche goulde What mans imagination is Some wyse some fonde and vayne By Adams lyne and wysdoms lore The difference sheweth playne I knowe the natures and degrees Of eche
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
In it we take our ende The Sommer whiche doth repe Our sede both corne and frute Alas to hot this heate to hot With men thus goeth the brute And as with sommers heate We doe complayne and scoulde So do we wayle on wynters there And blame hym for his coulde No welth without some wo No Ioy without some care No blysse without his dolefull bale Thus wretched men doe fare We seke for sugred welth As we should aye dwell here The bytter galle of mysery Therfore doth strayte appere The wyne that cheres the hearte Doth ofte tymes vexe the brayne And woman made was for mans helpe Who doth hym ofte great payne Sometyme we call for dryth Some tyme we aske for rayne Some tyme we saye we haue to much Of eche thus we complayne In musyke we delyght And calle for it some tyme Wherof we sone be wery lo And blame our selues of cryme And iudge our selues to be Both vayne fonde and vnpure Because our myrth without sorowe No long tyme doth indure And whyle this dredfull care Had fraughted thus my breste I me bethought what myght be founde To purchase here moste rest And that we myght let passe With lesse disease of mynde These contraries that vs assaulte Of so repugnant kynde And temperance was the thyng That then came to my thought A better ayde in suche a case Is no where to be sought And therin seke to fynde The wyll of God aboue And doe the dedes prescribed vs Within the lawe of loue ¶ The iust innocent complayneth on sclanderous tongues LIke as the larke within the marlions foote from solace supplanted it were with me if thou lord wert not my buckler and boote at whose hand I hope saluacion to see My hope and helth lord is only in thee My castell of comfort my shylde and defence From sclanderous tongues Lorde delyuer me That thei no iust cause haue through myne offence So shall their deceites turne to their own shame Although for a tyme they chance to preuayle When truthe shall be tryde and vtred by fame Their falshod may faynte and vtterly quayle For they doe reporte that I neuer did My iudgement and cause I yelde vnto thee That out of this wo ryght fayne would be ryd And neuer did why so sclandred to be Oh mercifull lord creator of all I doe remember men sclandered thee Great diuell and Belzebub they did the call Thy myracles dayly though they did see If thou se it good thy seruant to trie By sclander of tongues and vntrue reporte For pacience thy gifte to suffer I crye Rememberyng thee my selfe to comforte For helpe at thy hande I only resorte Resolue their harde hartes and cause them relent For they that loue euell doe alwayes suporte All suche as to lyes and sclaunder are bent Yet if thy wyll weare that they myght repent Confessing their fault their falshod and guyle To comfort somwhat the poore innocent That falshod and lyes hath put in exyle Thy glory so should we largely expresse And teache it to men and cause them to feare Whiche were for this crime a perfect redresse For nothyng so much could make theÌ„ forbeare Thus all my whole cause to thee I commit My matters with thee I alway decyse Iustly in iudgement because thou doest syt And ryghteousnes is thy whole exercyse O lord geue theÌ„ grace to leaue ther great crime And me for to suffer walke without blame So wyll I endeuor from tyme to tyme To blesse and to prayse thy most holy name The innocent sclaundered complaineth praying for the conuertion of his enemies AL coÌ„fortles lo without any ayd now shuld I remayn if God wer not he which in y e defeÌ„ce of good meÌ„ hath sayd in all their distresse their helper to be My hope is therfore sure fixed O lorde That thou dost abhorre all vntrue reporte And as thou dost byd in thy holy worde All only for helpe to thee I resorte From thee O good lord ther is nothyng hyd Prouoke them by force their lyfe to refrayne For they doe reporte that I neuer dyd Accepted of suche as lyes doe maynteyne Good lord let not them their purpose obteyn Which in these my days wold turn me to shame Not that I refuse to suffer the peyne But only that it turne not to their blame My harmes be heinous wheÌ„ they me defame But yet the moste harme to them doth returne When they vpon me doe reporte the same That they can not proue it maketh me morne Lo thus am I bent in good part to take The sclander of tongues rememberyng thee Contented to suffer all thynges for thy sake For vengeance only belongeth to thee Oh mercifull Lord I render therfore To thee condygne thaÌ„ks which art my defence O strengthen me then good lorde euer more That I may styll suffer with pure pacience And finally graunt oh mercifull lorde That these false lyers may turne and conuert And being instructed by thy swete worde They may be ryght sad and sory in heart To God our Creator and lord omnipotent The Father the Sonne and the holy ghost Thre persons and one God most excellent Be all prayse and honour as worthy most ¶ The complaint of Christ our sauiour agaynst the Ingratitude of mankynde THys of the Lord is the complaynt Of man how he was sold and bought And thus he sayd hym to attaynt Myne own people what haue I wroght For towards me thou art so faynt And I thy loue so dere haue bought Thy answer loke thou nothyng paynt To me for why I knowe thy thought Haue not I done all that I ought Or els what haue I left behynd Thou sterst my wrathe I hurt thee nought Why art thou to thy frend vnkynd I sought thy loue it was well sene When I thee made so lyke to me Myne earthly workes both quicke and grene To thee I gaue bothe fruite and tree From Pharao that was fierce and kene Out of Egypt delyueryng thee I kylled hym and all hys men And the redde sea in twayne dyd flâ—e Which I commaunded drye to bee The water serude thee and the wynde From bondage so I made thee free Why art thou to thy frend vnkynd Full forty yeares in wyldernes To wyn thy loue I dyd the lead Toward a land of great ryches With Manna also I thee fed To thee to shewe my great kyndnes Thy kynde to take I had no drede I left my myght and toke mekenes Myne owne heart bloud for thee I bled To buy thy soule my selfe I led And bound my selfe thee to vnbynde Thus with great pâ—yne thy turne I sped â–ª Why art thou then to me vnkynde For thee I ordeynd Paradyse And shewde to thee my Testament And thou agayne dydst me despyse In breakyng my commaundement Thy synnes were great in dyuers wyse For to my foes thou dydst consent Downe I thee thrust thou couldst not ryse Thy wyts from thee away they went A naked wretche poore shamd and shent And as for
all cyse And arrogant ambition Although they feyne An other veyne They maynteyne superstition And he is well That can excell In vice and fylthynes Suche stryfe to wynne The price of synne Was neuer sene I gesse Fylthy lâ—cur Dothe them procure To parcialytie For worldly gayne They all are fayne To worke iniquitie They prate and pray And well can say To purchas them promotion The worlde to wynne They susteyne synne So vayne is theyr deuotion Flattryng they fleare Eche other in theare To worke theyr wycked mynd They sclandryng sâ—ay Good men eche â—ay As beastes that passe theyr kynd They fâ—yne a face To runne the race As men of Christ elect And yet in dâ—de They doâ— procede Wyth â—yues synfull infect They flatter can With eâ—ery man Where gayne may so be wonne Longer then gayne They not remayne Their freÌ„dshyp streight is done They wyll be meke And humbly crepe Where they no frendshyp beare Tyll theyr purpose They may vp close And theÌ„streight ways they â—care On promyse they No farther stay Then lucre doth extende No fayth nor truthe In age nor youth But falshode all attende Muche they pretende Fautes to amende And doe for common welth Wher in the end They nought intend But priuate gayne and stelth Ca me ca thee This styll we see They wynke at wyckednes None but the poore Doth wrynge therfore And suffer the distres With hartes moste stout They snuffe the snout Lyke swyne y â— smell their swyll With haulty harte And mynde peruarte To worke their wicked wyll Suche they oppresse As in distresse Do wante both helpe and ayde Their cruell myndes As fierce as fyndes By no meanes can be stayde No fayth we see On earth to bee Nor yet iustice or ryght But bearyng out Of falshod stout By office poure and myght Wherfore the day At hande I say Of force muste nedes appere This worlde to burne That thus dothe turne To worse from yere to yere ¶ A meruavlous dreame of the Author Anno. 1561. VVHen in the lyon Phebus had Obteynde the seuententh grade And on the bulles necke Ioue ridyng The twyns for to inuade And Saturne slow had in the Crab Then entred one degree Mars from the waterman regreâ—t The goate agayn to see And Venus by coniunction Wyth Phebus late had lyne By backward course as she returnde In Leone the sygne And Mercury the messenger In May last past was sent By myghty Ioue from out the bull And nowe in vyrgyn went Dyrectly walkyng through that sygne The balance to pervse And in September turne and shew To Phebus all the newes Diana rydyng on the ramme Dyd on her brother looke Wyth tryne aspect as wyth the lyke Dame Venus late she tooke Intollerable was the heate That Titans burnyng beames Gaue on the earth when he put foorth His bryght and shynyng leames Which parching heat had made y e corne Eche where to change hyâ— hewe Whych warning gaue that husbandmen Wyth sythes and sycles newe Should nowe prepare to cut and bynd And in theyr barnes preserue Suche necessary foode as myght For wynters nede well serue What was the cause I leaue to say But sodeynly that nyght Suche tempest rose of wynd and rayne And lyghtenyng in syght With thunder strokes most terrible And hasty stormes of hayle As though God wyth destruction Would then the world assayle When. iii long howres this sturdy storme Had hys continuance It dyd asswage and gan to go In farre other dystance And the deepe nyght approchyng fast From prayre to slepe I fell And suche a dreame to me apperde As strange is for to tell Me thought I stoode vpon a hyll Where I hard by myght see In a lowe playne of all estates A multitude to bee Where euery sort and eche estate Dyd stryue and muche contend The gredy gayn of gold to wyn Theyr hunger had none end So muche to gold theyr loue apeâ—de That nought els myght he founde To wyn or please or to haue fame Or in wealth to abounde There saw I kyngs and rulers great By tyranny to reigne Wheras the great consuinde the small And wysedom dyd disdeyne Theyr subiects when they had opprest By heapyng of muche golde They straight became ambicious Yea arrogant and bolde Theyr own realms could not theÌ„ coÌ„teÌ„t Theyr spendynges to discharge But they must conquere others ryght Dominions to enlarge And so wyth bloudy victory Great terrour and dystresse Of many poore at last by force They others lande posseste Which notwythstandyng of .iii. heyres Was not inherited But was agayne wyth losse and shame Forgone and home rendred And others as ready agayne Wyth lyke them to acquite As they before weare for to wynne And conquere others ryght There sawe I iudges in lyke case Whose mynde dyd whole depende For hym to doo that most wâ—lo geue And plentyfully spende For brybes giftes bare all the sway In matters of the lawe For gayne of golde and for no ryght All matters dyd they drawe All officers I dyd beholde From moste vnto the least Whych without brybes had no regard To any mans request Yea offices were solde and bought And not for vertue gaynde But all for gould thus went the world For gould were all retaynde A foole as sone should haue to doo To rule a common weale As should the wyse vules by mede He dyd his offyce steale Yet some desyre I not denye Of gold was to this ende The glutton gutte of Epicure To fyll full and extende For in some place no dronkard can So ofte yll rule repayre Nor yet frequent the tauerne more Then shryfe Iustyce or Mayre The spectacle of all excesse And mysrule to infect Was sene of them that ought of due Suche vyces to correct The ryche dyd poore men vndermynd To make them trauell sore And yet drue backe beneuolence And wages not the more But rather dyd wythdrawe the due They ought to haue of ryght For pryuate gayue thus waded they Wyth all theyr powre and myght To promyse or to counant made There no man had regarde For gayne of golde all thynges vndyd Theyr doynges well declarde No lease so good had any man Nor bonde so surely made But golde was able to vndoo And vtterly to quade Who had no gold vnable was Hys owne ryght to retayne Ne without gayne no kynde of force Myght permanent remayne Ryght many that good science had Vpryghtly wyth to lyue To tauerne and to typple fell Therto them selues to gyue Estemyng gayne therby to ryse Muche more abundantly Then by the former trade they vsde With lyuyng decently And dyuers artes theyr trade did leaue Wyth hurt of common weale Forstallyng corne and vâ—ctuals all Vyle gayne therby to steale The cobler tynker and the smyth Theyr labour gan to leaue More gold to gayne by phisykes art And therwyth dyd deceaue So leapt foorth Loy the loyterer That no man myght hym let To be a priest or mynister An ydle gayne to get Wyth gold some bought theyr benefice In
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