plante in his kynde All herbes rootes that growe on earth Their vertue I can fynde And howe they differ in degre In qualitie and powre All secrete and vnsought knowledge Doth spryng in wysdoms flowre Whiche he hath geuen vnto me That all this worlde hath made He taught me howe to vse this flowre That dures and doth not fade In hyr is spirite to vnderstande In holy exercyse In knowledge great she doth abounde And all thynges that are wyse I saye that with almyghty God All only she is one Subtyll and full of gentylnes And gracious alone She is courteous and discrete Quycke vndesiide and playne Swete and doth loue all that is good Reiectyng that is vayne She is sharpe yet forbideth not To doe ryghtly and well Kynde sure and free and to be briefe In vertue doth excell In althynges she is circumspecte Wherof she taketh cure All knowyng spirites she doth receyue That are both cleane and pure For wysdom doth in nymblenes All other thynges excell And therby through all thynges to pas She doth atayne full well For of the lyuyng god she is The breath of powre doubtlesse The cleanes of almyghty god Therby she doth expresse Therfore can no defyled thyng Come once within hyr syght For she the very bryghtnes is Of euerlastyng lyght She is the myrror vndefylde Wherin all good men see The Image of almyghty god In his great maiestie And for so muche as she is one All thynges are hyrs as due And beyng stedfast in hyr selfe She doth all thinges renewe Among the multitude of folke She doth hir selfe conuaye And entreth into holy soules In them to byde and staye She maketh god prophetes and frends The truthe to preache and tell For god doth loue none but suche men With whom wysdome doth dwell The sonne and starres may not compare With hir in lyght I saye For why hyr lyght doth farre excede The brightnes of the daye For be the daye neuer so bryght Yet night approcheth faste To quenche the beautie of the same And pattes it out in haste But wisdome can not be subdude I saye by wickednes Nor in hir sight to blemyshe hyr Can byde no folyshnes ¶ An example of a contemplatiue minde in the seruice of God out of the xxv Psalme THe noble king Dauid by name Hauing the spirite of truthe Who euer truly serued God Euen from his very youth He knowyng that by humblenes He sonest should aspyre To haue his prayer heard of God And obteine his desyre Disdeined not vpon his knees Hym selfe to prostrate lowe For sithe the harte must humble be Let outwarde members knowe That they shal not them selues refrain Their dutie to expresse My knees therfore shall doe their due So shall my handes no lesse Myne eyes shall vpwarde also tourne The heauens to beholde With stretched handes and bowed knees My prayer to vnsoulde My voyce I wyll not silent kepe But wyll expresse with tongue The meaning of a faythfull hatte And sing it in a song Debating with him selfe this thing Directing all aryght In this wyse he began to sing To god with all his myght Ad te dominum leuaui TO the oh lorde I lyfte my soule My god I truste in thee O suffer not myne enemies To tryumphe ouer me Ne yet let such as in thee truste Rebuke or shame susteyne But rather confounde scornefull men That spitefully dysdeyne To the I praye my kyng and god O shewe to me thy wayse And teach thy pathes O lord to me Thy name that I may prayse O lorde leade me to speake thy truthe And learne me to be iuste Myne only god and sauyng health All daye in thee I truste Forget not lorde but call to minde Thy tender mercy pure Let not thy louyng kyndnes slacke That euer hath ben sure Forget my sinnes remember not The fraylnes of my youthe For thy goodnes and mercy lorde Thynke vpon me with ruthe O ryghteous lorde with frendlynes Wytsafe to shewe thy myght Wherby thou shalt the sinners teach◠To walke thy waye a ryght The simple thou doest teache guyde Thy perfect wayes to knowe And thou doste suche instructe aright As humble be and lowe Thy wayes O lorde are mercifull Thy faythfulnes is bent To all that kepe thy couenant And faythfull testament For thy names sake therfore O lord◠Be mercifull to me And to my synnes that are so great And myne iniquitie Who so therfore doth feare the lorde He wyll hym shewe I saye His hyghe and his diuine preceptes His pure and chosen waye His soule shall euer be at ease His wayes shal prosper well His sede also shall styll possesse The lande therin to dwell The lorde his secretes dothe shew forth To suche as feare him styll Declaring them his testament His couenant and will O lorde my god to the therfore I wyll myne eyes dyrecte And praye to thee tyll thou haste losde My fete out of the nette O turne thee vnto me therfore Now for thy mercies sake Consider lorde my mysery Howe I am desolate The sorowes of my harte are great Ryght sore they doe me greue O ryd me from these troubles all For in thee I beleue O loke on myne aduersitie And my great mysery Forgeue me all my sinnes also Where I offended thee Consider how myne enemies Are many and peruearte That towardes me maliciously Are bent with hatefull hearte Oh preserue thou my soule therfore Within thy kepyng iust And let me not confounded be For in thee doe I truste Let iust dealyng and innocent O god styll with me dwell And from all vyle aduersitie Delyuer Israell ¶ An example how that we should alwayes be thankefull vnto almighty God for his benefites out of the xxxiiii psalme of Dauid AS in our streightes of nede We all are glad and fayne Some comfort at the handes of god By prayer to obtayne So when we haue recevd Of god our whole desyre That we should therfore thankfull be Good reason doth require For who so benefites At mortall men receaue If afterwarde the geuer dothe Ingratitude perceaue The same will streyght withdrawe His liberalitie From suche a stubberne blocke hed beaste As can not frendshyp see If vyle ingratitude To men be suche a cryme That it wyll frendly loue kepe backe Against an other tyme What beastly dogges are they Howe can we call them lesse That for great kyndnes of the lorde Doe paye vnthankfulnesse Whiche asketh nought of vs But honour laude and prayse For all the good he doth bestowe On vs a thousand wayes Wherfore that noble kyng And prophet of the lorde Dauid who dyd after Gods harte Agree and well accorde Gods glorie doth expresse In doyng of his due And for the benefites of God His harte declareth true Not only in hym selfe To flee ingratitude But other also to instructe That are vnlernde and rude In darke obliuion Gods goodnes for to hyde Or to forget his benefites Dyd neuer hym vetyde His harpe he toke in hande And thus began to
The Prologue AMids the twynnes when 〈…〉 Fayre Cithera and Iout beingue Last ouer went by his course ryght That he with them had conioyning Commodiously mitigating â—ath Mars and Saturns malice grette Whiche in thè Crabbe but lately mette Lykewyse Lucina then hir decte With eche planet diligently Hir selfe to ioyne with lyke aspecte Begynnyng first with Mercury To Iupiter consequently With Soland Cithera in haste With Saturne then and Mars at laste Almightie God that all hath wroughte Thus through their course moste naturall Within three signes together brought These sterres that crâ—atykes men call In these three were these planets all The Crab the Twyns the horned Bull Of wonders thus his workes are full At this tyme as for my solase To bany she pensyue heuynesse I went abrode the tyme to passe When thought my soule did sore oppresse Callyng my muses to to relese My soule whiche dyd in sorowe smarte Who aye were wonte to ease my harte The Muses nyne I meane whiche teache And Christen poets illuminate 〈…〉 with pen or mouth they preache 〈◊〉 â—ertuous and moste godly rate Of grace and knowledge they the gate Doe open in moste gentle wyse To all that goodnes exercise The fyrste of these is vertue fayre Whiche some men doe Arete call The seconde faith whiche doth repayre To sauing health as principall The third place lady hope haue shall The fourth is loue and wysdome fyue Whiche doe with grace ryght well reuyue Daine temperance the sixt muse is The seuenth is dame pacience The eight a lady full of blis To constancie in good pretence The nynthe of good experience Is mekenes or humilitie The purchasers of Gods mercie To these as I before haue sayde I made my playnte still as I went Desyring them of helpe and ayde Els am I all in peeces rent For ignorance moste pestilent With hir sonne error me assayle And would against my soule preuayle At lest quod I dere helpes alas Let come Arete and dame Spes Brynging with them dame Charitas That they my harte may bryng to ease And take from me my great disease This ougly griefe vyle ignorance And in hir stede knowledge aduance At last I sate downe on a grene Vnto a banke lenyng my backe But Phebus beames so whot did shyne That it constreined me to take The shade vnder the freshe grene brake Not farre from me then streight I spyde A groue whiche was there harde besyde Where as eche byrde with y â— swete noyse That nature gaue them to endure Began my harte for to reioyse Their notes my thought were so demure Whiche in short space did me procure My thoughtfull harte for to apalle That I into a sleape gan falle But in this slumber as I laye My spirit receyude no quiet rest Wherfore I wakte agayne streightwaye So sore encombred was my brest Whiche sought therof to be relest Thus on my muses gan I craue Take pitie on your simple slaue But then a freshe I herde agayne The byrdes that sang so swete a note To whom I sayde with glad harte fayne Now Christe his blessing on your throte And to my mynde it came I wote With laude and prayse for to aduance In them the Lordes hyghe ordinance O God quod I omnipotente We render the with hartes so pure All laude and prayse with good intente Thy handy workes doe me allure That my harte can ryght well indure For euer in this place to dwell And straight againe on sleape I fell But sure I had not rested long Yer that into a dreame I fell I sawe my thought the flowres among Fayre ladies three whiche dyd excell The prayse that any tongue can tell Aprochyng towardes me full faste For soth I was right sore agaste Me thought they compaste me about Standing as in a syrcle trayne The midlemoste without all doubte Dyd farre excelle the other twayne Them to beholde my harte was fayne Forsothe it was a semely syghte My harte therin dyd muche delyghte As I dyd earnestly beholde These ladyes three that weare so bryght From care my harte began vnfolde For I receiued perâ—ecâ—e syghte That madame hope so full of myght Was one of that same ladyes three That so about had compast me Of whom I had the knowledge founde By readyng of the worde of God As I behelde hyr in that stounde Hyr head at me she gan to nod Then from my harte the heauy lode Consumde away with all my thought For hope was come whom I had sought Then vp to hyr my handes I caste And kneled downe vpon the grounde Welcome quod I my hartes repaste That I haue sought now haue I founde The healer vp of this my wounde That iustice hath so fiersly made With thought that sharpe and cuttyng blade She tooke me then in hyr armes twayne And thus to me she sweetly sayde Be strong quod she stande vp agayne Oh man why shouldste thou be aâ—â—ayde For God hath made me for thyne ayde To thee we are sent from aboue Both vertue hope and also loue To loue then dyd I turne my face And vnto hyr I bowde my knee And gently she did me embrace Be of good chere O man quod she For here is also come to thee According to thy prayer true Arete or lady vertue When I had heard howe they had sayde That lady vertue was in place My harte forfothe was sore dismayde And colour rose streyght in my face And downe I fell before hir grace Desyryng hir beneuolence To pardon my rude negligence That lady then did me beholde And stepte and caught me by the hande Be not dismayde quod she be bolde And vp vpryght before me stande For I doe the to vnderstande That I am come downe from aboue And brought with me both hope and loue To hope and loue then dyd she call And thus began her tale to tell Marke well sayd she for shewe I shal How men from them do me expell And against their lorde God rebell Estemyng me but of small pryce And wholy geue them selues to vyce The lorde did ordeyne me for man That I should richely hym endue Why doe they thus forsake me than And synne and vyce so muche ensue Forsoth because they be vntrue Regardyng their owne wyt and wyll And wyll not harke gods worde vntyll Gods worde no no alas therfore Ther is no thyng I dare wâ—ll saye That worldly men doe more abhorre He that hath wyt perceyue it may Their outwarde workes doe them bewraye For when gods worde byds them amende With reason they theâ—r vycâ— defende And to be briefe nowe eche estate Doth seke all mâ—anes vyce to maynteyne And are with meat great debate So that I doe not ryghtly reigne At me the most part haue disdâ—yne All saue a fewe doe me resiste Whiche seweat the electe of Christe And thou O man marke what I saye To the I wyll my mynde declare That thou mayst nowe perceyue the waye Of worldly mâ—n and howe they fare That afterwarde thou mayest prepare Thy selfe
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
delyght And alwayes shall be talkyng of Thy greatnes and thy myght Of thyne abundant kyndnes we Wyll kepe memoriall And syng of thy great ryghteousnes From henceforth all men shall For thou O lorde art gracious Yea mercifull and meke Long suffring and of great goodnes To them that doe hym seke To euery man lyberally The lorde doth shewe his loue And ouer all his goodly workes His mercy styll doth moue And they expresse thy glory great Thy kyngoome and thy powre To men that all these myght be knowne At euery tyme and houre Thy kyngdom euerlastingly A kyngdome is ryght sure Thy lordshyp shall from age to age Eternaly endure For in his dedes he faithfull is What so he take in hande His workes he all holy and iuste Both vpon sea and lande The lorde vpholdeth all that are In danger for to fall Them that be downe he lyfteth vp When they on hym doe call The eyes of all on thee O lorde Doe wayte and put their trust And thou dost geue to them their meate In season due and iuste Thou openest thy holy hande Thy powre and thy good wyll All lyuing thynges plentifully Therwith that thou mayst fyll The lorde is righteous in his wayes His workes be holy all And he is nyghe to faithfull men When they on him doe call Suche as feare him he will fulfyll To them their whole desire He will them here and helpe also When they doe hym require All suche as loue and feare the Lorde Them styll preserueth he And he wyll scatter all abroade Suche as vngodly be My mouth shall speake prayse y e lorde And that abundantly Let all fleshe thanke his holy name With laude eternally ¶ The nynth chapiter of Ecclesiasticus or booke of Iesus the sonne of Sirach ¶ The argument OF iclousie who so wyll heare vnto my tune harke drawe nere howe ye shall of the harlottes vyle eschâ—â—â— the sleyght the fraude and guile What mischiefe and what hurte they doe To suche as harken them vnto Howe vayne and vyle adultrie is Howe fonde they are that walke amys Howe we shoulde kepe an olde frend true And neuer change hym for no newe Howe for to leade a godly lyfe In holynes without all stryfe How that a kyng by wysdomes lore Should rule and gouerne euermore Howe eche man should in his degree Se that his worke well vsed be And howe the folysh talkatyue Are the moste wicked folke on lyue To Iesus Sirach geue good eare Whiche telles his tale in this maner Ecclesiast Cap. ix BE not ouer thy wyfe Ielouse but without strife kepe wel thy house Lest that she shewe some point of ill Or wycked sleight the for to spyll Nor tangle not thy powre nor lyfe With a false whore which maketh strife Lest she redounde within thy strength And so confounde thy soule at length Beholde not women vayne nought Whiche vpon men set all their thought On suche I saye set not thy care Lest they betray thee in their snare Abstayne and flee hir wicked waye That loues to geste scoffe daunce playe To hir consent not in no wyse Though she the tempte and ofte entyse Loke not to longe vpon a mayde Least with hir forme thou be dismayde Muche lesse on harlotes then haue mynde Nor on women of suche ill kynde Least thou decaye before thyne age And so consume thyne heritage In townes and cities doe not gase As one whose wittes were in amase Nor wander not in euery strete Least with ill men perhappes thou mete Chiefly of all turne thy face fro The woman gaye whiche worketh wo. Beholde not muche the great bewtie Of any one vnknowne to thee For in tyme past suche fooles haue bene Which with their fonde eyes as I wene â–ª Did so regarde the beuty fayre Of strangers where they did repayre That they decayd through their desire Whiche burned lyke the flaming fyre Wherfore women adulterous Should only be regarded thus As most vyle dounge durte myre claye That eche man treads on in his waye For suche as on them wonder had Were by their beutie tangled mad All wysdom they from them did caste So whot of fonde loue was the blast Lead thou therfore a godly lyfe Couet thou not thy neighbours wyfe Syt not with hir at any sted Lye not with hir vpon a bed No talke with hir make thou at wyneâ— Least thy heart should to hir inclyne Therby makyng thy bloud to fall And so destroy thy lyfe and all Forsake not thou a good olde friende For suche a newe is harde to fynde For a newe friende is lyke newe wyne Whiche is not good tyll it be fyne But when the wyne is olde and pure Then mayst y â— drynke hym with plesure Desyre not the honor therfore That synnâ—rs gayne and kepe in store If thou dydst their destruction knowe Whiche will them once all ouerflowe To suche honour thou wouldst not haste Nor of their vayne welth wysh to taste Of one thyng more warne thee I will Abstain froÌ„ such whose powre may kill For if with suche thou makest stryfe He may sone take from thee thy lyfe Forsee and shurne eche casualtie So shalt thou scape all ieopardie Take good hede of an ill neighbour Least with some crafte he thee deuoure With wyse men be in company So shalt thou gayne great honestie Let iust men be thy gestes alwayes Ioye in gods name and geue hym prayse Be courteous gentyll good and kynde Haue gods feare euer in thy mynde Let all thy workes and talke be bent Vpon the lordes commaundemente Eche good craftes maÌ„ shuld set his wil His worke to frame by discrete skyll Whiche being set before mens eyes Shall cause hym to be counted wyse For eche worke brought to gorgeous end Doth cause all men it to commende A prynce that rightly gouerne wyll Lyke wise of wisdom should haue skyll So well he should wysdom decerne That at his talke others myght lerne Hym that doth many fonde wordes vse A wyse mans parte is to refuse For suche in towne and in citie Doe kyndle stryfe and vylainy They neither weye cause tyme nor place In them is neither wytie nor grace They are past shame I saye therfore Refuse suche men and them abhorre ¶ The maner of true and perfecte prayer instituted by our sauiour Iesus Christe the only sonne of God the wisdom of the father and seconde person in trinitie THe syxt of mathewe if ye reade example ye may finde What praier is and how to vse the same in perfecte kynde For Christ our only mercy seate So soundly hath vs taughte That in his gospell we may fynde Not els where to be sought When thou doste praye sayth Christe our Lorde Se that thou doe refuse The vayne glory that hippocrites Doe in their prayers vse For they wyll in the synagoges Their prayers to appere In open stretes or in suche place As moste men may them here For whiche their folysh vaynglorie That would of men be
All slouthfull sleape let vs refuse To vertuous workes let vs be beat Let vs commyt our selues to Christ Wyth thankes prayse him first to serue Whyche dothe out deadly foes resyst And from all dangers vs preserue And then thys type se that you mynde That lyke as you in nyght doo rest And in the mornyng your selues fynde Awake and redy to be brest So shall our bodyes slepe by death And after be to lyfe restorde When Christ shall come restore breth And Iudge vs all as sayth his worde Then mekely let vs hym desyre That it may be hys blessed wyll That we thys day may well aspire By grace his seruyce to fulfyll So that we may do hurt to none Nor of none other hurt receaue But styll be kept by Christe alone That Sathan neuer vs deceaue But styll in christen godlynes By grace we may our selues prepare Of all offence and wyckednes For to escape the nette or snate Thys graunt vs Lord omnipotent For Christ his sake our mercy seate That we may tast ioyes permanent Before thy throne of glory great Amen ¶ A ditie to be sung at nyght when men go to bed Syng this as In sommer time when flowres gan spryng c. NOwe that the day is wasted cleane And Phebus dothe hym self absent And Hesperus dothe downward leane And lurkyng nyght with darknes bent Her mantle darke abrode to spreade And hyde from vs the welkyn cleare The starres also are prepared With glystryng lyght nowe to appeare Therfore of force we must nedes yelde In bed to sleape and take our rest Forsakyng cleane both strete and field And other workes bothe most and least Wherfore to Christ now let vs call In thys our nede vs to assist From drede and feare and dangers all Defend our sely soules O Christ O Lord defend vs wyth thy grace In thys our nede when we do slepe Syth we are able at no space Ourselues from dangers small to keepe O Lord that styll hast wakyng eyes And knowst no sleape nor felest nyght Out humble sute do not despyse But vs defende now by thy myght Defende vs wyth thy grace and powre To helpe our selues syth we ne can Nor haue no strength at any howre The same to doo so weake is man O let thy powre out feblenes Wyth helpe of grace this nyght supply O way our myserablenes And comfort vs wyth thy mercy O let vs then with mynde contrit With prayse and prayer to Iesus Lye downe to rest and so commyt Our selues to hym that saueth vs. O Lord forgeue vs all our synne And plant true fayth wythin our brest And after cares that we are in Let vs ones tast eternall rest Amen ¶ A ditie to be sung at dyner tyme and meales Syng thys as If truth may take no trusty holde c. AS roote of tree dothe of the grounde Take moysture named radicall And causeth branches to abounde Wyth that he geues them ouer all And suffreth no small twyg to want But naturally doth dispose Suche as he hath plentie or scant Vnto the nutriment of those As Nature by thys industry Dothe cause thynges vegitall to grow In other sort shee dothe apply On animals good to bestowe Among the whych we men mortall That formed are to Gods Image Wyth meate and drynke nutrimentall We maintaynde are from age to age The myghty maker of all thynges Hys creatures leaues not destitute An that they haue is hys geuyng As well to man as beastes brute Leste therfore we appere vnkynde Vnto this God that all dothe sende To prayse his name with thankful mynd And gratfull harts now let vs bende Let vs not one morcell receyue Wyth forgetfull ingratitude Least to our owne lustes god vs leaue More wretched then brute beastes rude Ne yet let vs in any wyse Forget the nedy brethern poore The sycke and lame do not despyse Nor hym that goes from doore to doore For God hath made vs ministers That one an others nede should serue Wherfore we are but murderers If in our fault our neyghbours sterue And may be to that dogge comparde That lay vpon an heape of haye Spying the oxe come thitherwardâ— Wyth barkyng draue the same away Whyche nedes must be churly she enuy Syth he hym selfe no haye could eate To stand at baye so frowerdly And kepe the poore oxe from hys meate Let vs therfore doo otherwyse And from our bellies somwhat spare In loue to shewe some exercyse To brethern poore that nedy are For who so to the poore dooth geue Dothe lend to God on vsury And shall receyue for hys releue Great gayne agayne abundantly To hym therfore most gratefully Geue honour glory thankes and prayse To hym as one in Trinitie All honour be nowe and all ways ¶ An other to the same purpose Syng thys as Heare out O Lord the ryght request c. VVHen ye take foode at any tyme Your bodyes to refreshe with ought Remember Gods infynite powre Which all hath made formde of nought Remember eke his prudent reygne His mercy and benignitie Who all his workes doth aye susteyne And gouerne styll continually And consequently call to mynde Hys clemency and great mekenes Whych all creatures dothe fede fynde Yea hys most foes in theyr dystresse Pander also the great meruayle How many great gyftes he ordeynes Sufficient foode and all victayle For all that this whole world conteines Haue mynde how fast we do declynâ—e How apt we are styll to decay Whiche only he by powre diuine Preserues els were we gone away No mans wysedom nor angell bryght Were able this to take in hand In any wyse or thyng more lyght The way howe once to vnderstande Sythe of hys gyftes therfore we lyue Were it not cursed vnkyndnes That we due praise shold hym not geue Oh hatefull vile vnthankfulnes At thy table let sobernesse And wysedome be wyth talke most chast Myndyng styll his pure holynes Whose gyftes this time in hand thou hast Let bytter wordes and backbytyng From thy table secluded be Hys loue to thee rememberyng Whole kyndnes is great towardes thee This place therfore contaminate Not wyth dysprayse of any man Syth thou feciste here for thyne estate Gods fauour that no wyght want can Let therfore here no hate appere Where God so greatly shewes his loue But rather loue thy brother dere As gods great giftes here doo the moue Lorde graunt vs grace for euermore That we thy mercyes so muche mynde That hatred our heartes may abhore And neuer shewe our selues vnkynde Amen ¶ An other grace ALl folke that lyue in lyuely fayth Confesse wyth one accorde That all creatures are fed of God And prayse therfore the Lorde Lest then we shewe ingratitude And mere vnthankfulnesse By lawe of loue graft in our heartes Let vs our fayth expresse And prayse the Lord for thys our foode Here present to vs sent And for our helth whyche he to vs Mercyfully hath lent And for hys worde to fede our soules We also ought
preache and recorde Let vertue therfore be had in all pryse Whiche styll to goodnes doth good men entyse And well doth rewarde all suche as hir serue And kepeth nought back that they doe deserue But with goodnes styll doth rychly augmente All suche as vnto hir seruice be bent And neuer doth leue them ne yet forsake Till ended be all that they vndertake She neuer doth sease to spurre them forwarde Tyll they be in blysse of heuâ—ns rewarde Whiche is the whole thyng they seke for and sue That serue in the court of Lady vertue And styll for hir sake doe suffer and byde The stumps and the mocks of suche as deryde Ye hatred and scorne and all kynde of spyghte Of such as in vyce and synne doe delyght But vertue doth tâ—ache to suffer this rage That we may styll passe on in our pylgrimage Considering that we but strangers are here And wander styll towarde our countrey dere And make ouâ— selues lyght from burden and lode Sythe in this vayne worlde is no sure abode No meruaile though then the worlde doth them hate And euer be styll with them at debate For Christ vnto his hath made it well knowne The worlde shall aye loue and fauour his owne And those from the worlde and sinne that remoue It is not possible the worlde should them loue The cause as sayeth Christe of all this whole stryfe Is that from the worlde they differ in lyfe For as in this worlde no mans lyfe is sure The vertuous lyfe shall eternally dure Though here they be murdred and sene for to die Of suche as all vertue and goodnes denye Then howe can we counte them short tyme to lyue To whom lady vertue rewarde doth gyue Whom as sayâ—h Gelasius ought styll to be From teror and dread and wrath euer free Her consolation where she doth bestowe In ryche or in poore in hyghe or in lowe From bondage of sinne she doth them free make Lo thus are her seruantes safe for hyr sake Among the good rootes that depely besette Vertue sayeth Tullie the chiefe prayse doth getie The whiche by no kynde of vyolence may Be hurte or destroyde by nyght or by daye From wanton desyres her seruantes flee all And folowe styll iustice as sayeth saint Paule Faith loue and vniâ—ie well doth accorde In them whiche with cleane hartes â—onor the Lorde Lactancius also would all men remember That they the true honor to vertue doe render With sensing or prayer she honor hath none Nor yet with an Image of woodde or of stone But only with good wyll and purpose true This honor to vertue alwayse is due For he that in Christes fayth doth not remayne In no wyse to vertue may apertayne Vertue refreyneth wrath without measure And also absteyneth from carnall pleasure The frutes of the spiritie as true godly loue Pacience and peace and ioy from about Bounteousnes goodnes and longe sufferance Gentlenes fayth and modest temperance Sobernes continence and chastitie All these in vertues courte officers be Therfore the quene vertue it may well beseme To were a moste hyghe and ryche diadeine ¶ The prayse of faithe Hebre. 11. IF I shall enterpryse to make A due prayse vnto fayth I can in no wyse better that Whiche written is of Paule In his epistle to the Iues marke therfore what he saieth though not eche woord yet wyll I here resite the summe of all Fayth is a perfect confidence Of thynges that hoped are And a most constant certeintie Of thynges whiche are not sene For therby did the fathers olde As scripture doth declare Obteyne a iust and good reporte That long tyme since hath bene And we through faythe doe vnderstande God dyd the worlde ordeyne By Christe his sonne the blessed worde That no beginnyng had By it also howe thynges were wrought We doe knowledge obteyne Thynges that are sene by thinges not sene Were ordeyned and made By fayth also as we doe reade The ryghteous man Abell Dyd offer vp a sacrifice More plentyfull then Cayne And therby had a wytnes true As holy wryte doth tell That he was iust Though he be dead His fame doth styll remayne By fayth Enoch translated was That death he should not see And was not founde for god therfore Had taken hym awaye Before whiche tyme he wan the name A ryghteous man to be Because he dyd the wyll of god And pleasde hym nyght and daye But sure without a lyvly fayth It can be in no wyse That any man by any meane The lyuyng god should please For all that come to god beleue And their fayth exercyse That he rewardeth them that seke Hym with eternall ease By fayth Noe beyng warnde of god Vnsene thynges dyd eschue Preparde an arke and savde his folke As holy scripture sayth Wherby he dyd ccondemne the worlde That synne dyd styll insue And became heyre of ryghteousnes Accordyng vnto fayth By fayth our father Abraham When he first called was To goe into a place most strange Dyd by and by obeye Whiche place though he inherite should As after came to pas When he went forth he knewe it not Nor no part of the waye By fayth into the promyste lande I saye he dyd remoue A strange countrey where he dyd long In tabernacles dwell And so dyd Isaac and Iacob Heyres with him from aboue All these dyd for a citie looke Which God had buylded well Through fayth Sara receiued strength When she was nowe past age To conceyue and bryng forth a sonne That perfect was and pure Because she iudgde the promyser Both faythfull true and sage Lo thus by fayth there sprang great health Where thought was no recure And therfore sprang there forth of one That dead was to esteme As many folke in multitude As are starres in the skye And as the sand on the sea shore Hir ofspryng then did seme The whiche without number to be No creature can deny These dyed in fayth yet the promys None of them dyd receyue But seyng it as afarre of They dyd right well beleue That as many as so it sawe And to the same dyd cleaue Salutyng it by livly fayth None euell should them greue These faythfull men the fathers olde As truthe was did confesse That they strangers and pilgrymes weare Vpon this earthly vale For they that see suche thynges before Of truth declare no lesse But that they doe a countrey seke Ryght hygh aboue this dale Also if they had mynded once The countrey whence they came They had leysour to turne agayne To that whiche they dyd loue But now it shewes they dyd desyre A thyng of better fame That is to saye a heauenly soyle With God the lorde aboue Wherfore the lyuing God hym selfe Estemeth it no shame To be called the God of these And suche lyke godly men For he a citie excellent Hath builded for the same And thynketh nothing ill bestowde That may well pleasure them Who so the texte wyll farther reade To folowe there shall fynde That Isac
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
sayeth Paule that tribulacion Doth bryng forth pacience that goodly grace And pacience doth render forth anon Experience the whiche doth hope purchace Whiche blessed hope who so that may imbrace She neuer wyll confound them with no shame But bryngeth forth a lyfe free from all blame This pure and perfect hope that we declare The gift is of the Lorde and at his wyll Whiche none can get by worldly wytte nor care But with this hope god his electe doth fyll With whome she doth continue euer styll Not by mans wyll but by gods mercy pure This blessed hope with good men doth indure The God of hope therfore replenysh vs With peace and ioye and with a lyvly fayth And make vs ryche in hope of Christ Iesus And tholy ghoste whose powre all mistruste stayth Whiche is our comfort as the scripture sayth This Trimtie be praysed now therfore As hath been is and shal be euermore ¶ The prayse of Godly loue or charitie out of 1. Cor. 13. Iohn 4. OF Charitie or godly loue To make a perfect prayse This godly loue to prayse I saye In order good and due I tooke to me gods word and wrote What the holy gooste sayes In diuine Iohn and holy Paule whose wordes are very true Attende therfore ye Christians dere And louers of the Lorde Harke and geue eare vnto the truthe And blessed worde of lyfe And pray to god for perfect loue Your lyues therto accorde That ye may lyue in christen peace Free from all seruyle strife By office of a lyvly fayth What euer we receyue Or by the office of our hope What so we doe retayne By charitie or godly loue To gods truthe if we cleaue The frute therof we must applie To render well agayne As faith the firste preferment hath our soules to iustifie For by the same we only doe Receyue our sauyng health So loue of vertues is the chiefe Wherby we edefie By it we worke the wyll of god And seke our neyghbours wealth Though I coulde speake sayth Paule with tongues Of men orangels bryghte And had no loue then were I lyke Vnto the soundyng bras Or lyke the â—ynklyng simbales sounde A short and vayne delyght Whiche beyng gon men streight forget What maner noyse it was Ye though that I could prophesie And secretes vnderstande All knowledge or suche mighty fayth As could mountayns remoue And set them in the ocâ—an seas Or in some other lande For all these yet I were nothyng If that I had not loue If I dyd all my goodes bestowe To fede therwith the poore Or geue my body to the fyre Therin consumde to be And finally all that I can Tyll I could doe no more If I be destitute of loue It doth not profite me Loue suffreth longe is courteous And neuer doth enuye Loue neuer dealeth frowardly Nor venemously swell Loue seketh not hyr owne therby To deale dishonestly Loue vnto wrath prouoketh not But alwayes thynketh well In euels loue doth not reioyce Nor Ioye in wyckednes But alwaye doth reioyce in truthe And suffreth all thynges well Beleueth all and hopeth all And doth indure no les Thus loue in goodnes doth excede All that our tongues can tell Though prophesiyng doe faile serue No vse in any case And tongues to speake knoledge to As once they shall I saye After this lyfe these haue no vse Yet loue shall then in place Remayne with gods elect in ioyes And neuer fall awaye Our knowledge is but vnperfecte So is oure prophesiyng When perfectnes doth come in place Vnperfectnes must flee For when I was a chylde my talke Was then chyldysh talkynge Myne vnderstandyng in lyke case All then was chyldyshly And as a chylde also that tyme I dyd imagin playn But then so sone as manhod came My chyldishnes was gone Now see we but as in a glasse By speache moste darke and vayne But then shall we see face to face When let there shall be none My knowledge now vnperfect is Then shall it not be so Then shall I knowe as I am knowne By rule of ryght bâ—liefe Faith hope and loue doe nowe abyde Away they will not goe And of all those after this lyfe Loue shall abyde as chiefe Saynt Iohn diuinly counsels vs One an other to loue For euery one that loues sayeth he Of God is truly borne For loue doth euer suerly come From God the lorde aboue Suche as loue not doe not knowe god But rather doe hym scorne In this the loue of god to vs Doth perfectly apere He but not we dyd truly loue And payne for vs did take For he into thys worlde did sende His only sonne so dere That for our sinnes he myght therby A full agrement make Wherfore my louyng brethern dere If god so loued vs That we should one another loue Wâ— certeynly are bounde If we loue one an other then Our loue doth playne discusse That god in vs doth dwell and reygne And hath a perfect grounde For god is loue and who so doth In loue abide or dwell Dwelleâ—h in god and god in him Thus loue in vs is sure That in the day of iudgement iuste We should in hope excell For in this worlde we are lyke hym By loue perfect and pure By this we knowe the godly loue That there in is no feare It casteth out all feare and doubte Wherin is paynfulnes Wher â—â—â—or iâ— the perfect loue In nowyse can be there For loue doth alwayes fixe hyr selfe On peace and gentylnes If we loue god he loude vs fyrst Then wherof can we boste But who so sayeth he loueth God And doth his brother hate He is a lyer verely And none of Christes hoste And therby doth prouoke the plage To lyght vpon his paâ—e For how can he that loueth not His brother in this lyfe Whom he may with his eyes beholde At all tymes when he wyll Howe can he with the lyuyng god Be other then at stryfe Or loue him whiche he can not seâ— By nature or by skyll Therfore hath Christ coÌ„maunded vâ— â–ª That he whiche loueth god By perfect loue as he forbeares All that god doth abhorre That he also his brother loue All hate is hym forbod All honour prayse and laude to god For this nowe euer more Amen ¶ The prayse of Godly wysdome out of the booke of wysdome called Sapientia cap. vi THe worthy wyse kyng Salomon inwysdoms exercyse The godly wysdome doth commende And praise hir on this wise wisdomis a much better thing Then strengthe orforce to fyght a wyse man is more worth also Then strong men of much might This wysdome O ye myghtie kynges Se that ye conne and learne To you sith iudgement on this earth Is geuen to decerne Geue â—are to hyr I saye all you That rule the multytude Whiche in much people haue delight And all thynges should conclude The god that gaue you powre streÌ„gth That lorde I saye most hye Shall serch out all that ye inuente And your
synge That with gods honour laude and prayse All Israell dyd rynge Benedicam dominum I Wyll vnto the lorde Be geuing thankes alwayes My mouth and tungue shall euer be A speakyng of his prayse My soule shall make hyr boste In God the lorde of myght That poore oppressed men may here The same them to delighte Together let vs nowe In honor doe our partes His name to prayse and magnifie With meke and humble hartes For when I him besought He heard my prayer so That he did streyght delyuer me From all my care and wo. Receaue therfore the lyght And to hym drawe you nere And so without all shamefastnes Your faces shall appere For I poore man made once To hun my playnte and mone He heard me crye and dyd me ryd From troubles euery one His angell pytched hath His tente about his shepe I meane all suche as feare the lorde In saftie them to kepe His frendshyp proue and see And take therof a taste For they that truste in hym are sure Most happy at the laste O feare the lorde all ye His saynctes of him electe For such as feare him lacke nothyng He doth them well protecte The lyons ofte doe lacke And hunger for their foode But they which seke the lord shal wantâ— Nothyng the whiche is good Ye children all I saye Come harken to my voyce I wyll you teache to feare the lorde And in him to reioyce If thou to lyue in ioye And see good dayes be fayne Thy lyppes tongue from guyle wroÌ„s See that thou doe refrayne Se that thou doe none ill In goodnes neuer cease But se thou seke and folowe faste On quietnes and peace The lorde doth fixe his eyes On iust men louingly And to their prayers openly He doth his eares applye Contrariwyse the Lord Doth bende his countenance Of from the earth ill men to moue And their rememberance But to the iuste the lorde Doth so inclyne his â—are That when they praye he wyll them ryd From all trouble and feare The Lorde is nyghe to suche As are in harte contrite And he wyll saue suche as be meke And of an humble sprite Though iust mens troubles be Both manifolde and great The lord from care wyl make them free When they doe him intreate Their bones he wyll defende And kepe so free from cryme That not so muche as one of them Shall breake at any tyme. Misfortune or ill happe The wicked men shall kyll And suche as doe the iust men hate Shall peryshe in their ill The Lorde will saue the soules Of all that doe hym serue And all that put their trust in hym Shall not in peryll swerue ¶ An example that God heareth all suche prayers as are made with a faithfull harte out of the .liiii. Psalme EVery good phisicien That doth a medcyne proue To take effecte in curyng well Is striken streyght with loue Not only to geue god the prayse For his vertue and grace But dothe the same in wryting put To comfort all his race That all whiche after folowe hym In that moste godly arte May proue the lyke and prayse the lorde In lyke case for their parte Noble kyng Dauid in suche wyse Doth godly ioue bestowe By wryting medcines for the soule That other men may knowe As if they doubte at any tyme Howe he dyd health obteyne He dyd the same declare abrode In wryting to remayne That when to others lyke distres Here after may betyde With cleane hartes that they may prepare And lyke medcines prouide But I will neuer teache quod he In darke or doubtfull waye But suche as I in practice dyd By perfect proofe assaye And of my selfe probatum est Suche medicines I bryng And in example to you all In this wyse wyll I synge Deus in nomine tuo O God I call to thee for helpe In my distresse and nede For thy names sake in thy streÌ„gthe Auenge my cause w t spede For strangers full of tyranny Against me ryse and raue Suche foly she folke as feare not God Doe seke my lyfe to haue But lo God is my helpe at nede Yea only it is hee That doth my soule vpholde and saue From their iniquitee And euell shall the lorde rewarde Vpon myne enemyes And in his truthe destroy them all That vertue doe despyse With offrynges of an harte most free Now wyll I prayse thy name Because O lorde my comfort styâ—â— Consisteth in the same For thou lorde didst delyuet me From troubles manyfolde So that vpon my foes myne eye Doth his desire beholde For this to geue glory to god Shall be my hartes delyght To the father and to the sonne And to the holy sprite As it from the begynnyng was And at this time is sure And as it shall worlde without ende Continue and endure ¶ An example that the thankefull age gaue prayse to god for al his benefites geuen to his creatures out of the lxv Psalme of Dauid I Herde a preacher once declare Two partes to be in prayre The one to god in all our nede For succor to repayre And aske of hym with stedfast sayth All wherof we haue nede For Christ hath surely promysed That therof we shall spede The second part of perfect prayre Is geuyng thankes and prayse To God for all his benefites That we receyue alwayes This is the lyvly sacrifice The lyuing God to please As prayer of the penitent His anger doth appease And sure quod he the very cause That god ofte wyll not here Is that men for his benefites Vnthankfull doe appere For when we praye in tyme of nedâ— For plenty of our foode Howe can we thinke that God to vs Will geue ought that is good If we in tyme of plentie be Vnthankfull and ingrate To geue him praise and honor both According to the rate Yea I may also farther saye This lyuing without awe Ingratitude doth cause the lorde His goodnes to withdrawe And surely Dauid in this Psalme Lykewyse doth well declare That to prayse God we neuer should Any tyme cease or spare But for the goodnes whiche god doth On mortall men bestowe In prayse of his most holy name Some thankfull psalme to showe Howe men shall with a faythfull hartâ— Gods holy name agnise He doth instruct all Christen men By synging in this wyse Te decet hymnus deus in Sion TO the O god in Sion still Great prayses are in store To the also they vowe and kepâ— Their promyse euer more My prayer lorde sithe thou dost hearâ— And art my whole comfort All fleshe to the for succour shall In their due tyme resorte My mysdedes and my wickednes Against me doth preuayle Oh to my sinnes be mercifull That thus doe me asayle For thei are blest whom thou dost chose And in thy house retayne Or doste elect within thy court To dwell and to remayne For he shall leade a plesant lyfe Within thy holy place Thy temple shall hym satisfie With goodnes and with grace For wonders
for all my helpe To the I must resorte Beholde those men that say to me In mockage and in scorne Where is the worde of God say they Let it come vs beforne Though not withstanding when I led Thy flocke in godly trayne Into thy wayes by violence I did them not constrayne Ne yet the death of any man I neuer dyd desier Thou knowste right wel that before thee My tongue was not a lyer Be not to me to terrible O lorde but me refrayne For thou arâ—e he in whom I hope In perill and in payne Confound me not but confound theÌ„ That doe my lyfe pursue Nor feare me not but make thou them To feare and eke to rue And powre on theÌ„ their painful plague When thou shalt see the tyme And them destroye that haue thee done So detestable cryme Ieremie .xxxi. ¶ Syng this as On tabrets to the Lorde c. O Lorde thou hast corrected me For my sinfull lyuyng Though I did as a calf vntame Receyue thy chastening Conuert me from my sinne and so Shall I conuerted be Thou art my God and only Lorde And others none but thee So sone as thou hast turned me From sinne I shall returne Before whiche tyme I haue no powre My selfe for to reforme Which when thou madest me perceiue And vnderstande the same I smoâ—e my selfe vpon my thyghe In my great zeale and shame For shamful thinges sure haue I done Oh let my youth therfore Confounded be with his reproofe For nowe I them abhorre ¶ Out of the thirde chapiter of Ieremies lamentations I Am the man whom God in his wrath and fury hath with his rodde made right expert of eury mysery He droue and led me forth In darknes to endure But as for lyght I myght none see So weare my wayes obscure He only agaynst me Doth turne his hande and powre And laith the same vpon me styll At eury tyme and howre My flesh and skyn waxe olde My bones are brused all He buylded round and closde me in With trauell and with galle In darknes he me sette As dead for euer more He hedgd me in and fettered me With heauy linkes and sore With clamors pitiously Though I to hym did call My prayer and my painfull playnt He heareth not at all My wayes he stopped vp With stones of cubike forme My pathes are made so crokedly I not where me to torne As doth the cruell beare Lye wayting for his praye And as the lyon in his hole To take me in my waye He marred hath my wayes In peces he me brake He altogether layde me waste And brought me all to wrake And when he bente his bowe He made his marke of me The arrowes of his quiuer â—o Into my raynes shot he I laughed am to scorne Of people in the throng They make deridyng songes of me And mocke me all day long He fylde my hungry soule With bale and bitternes And wormwod was my drynke also In my great thyrstynes In peces weare my tethe In dust he did me roule All good thynges then I cleane forgot No reste had my poore soule Then in mynde I thought My selfe vndone to be For in the lorde I see quod I There is no helpe for me O yet remember then My misery and wo The wormwod and the bitter gall And my troubles also Yea some rememberance I truste and hope thou hast For why my soule within me lorde Doth melte away and waste Whyle I dyd these thynges thus Consyder in my harte I gat some houlde of hope agayne That was so long aparte How thy mercies oh lorde Are not gone clene awaye And howe thy louyng kyndnes doth Not cease from vs for aye My faythfulnes is great And euer doth renewe As after the most darkest nyght The mornyng doth ensue The lorde quod my soule tho He is my porcion Therfore my faythe and perfect hope Is fixâ—e on hym alone O howe good is the lorde To them that in hym truste And to the soule that seketh hym With feruent mynde and luste Lo then howe good it is Vpon the Lorde to staye And tary for his sauyng health With stilnes daye by daye Howe good is it for man His yoke on hym to take And from his youth vp weare the same Whiche wyll hym perfect make Suche one alone wyll syt And holde hym selfe ryght styll Who by hym selfe wyll euer dwell And quiet be from ill Hym sclfe he doth prostrate To harke for hope with loue And offreth styll his cheke to them That smyte or wyll reproue In hope thus wyll he reste And purely styll perseuer For god the lorde wyll not forsake His chosen flock for euer But though he seme somtyme To cease of for a space By multitude of mercies he Receaues agayne to grace He suffreth sonnes of men Not from his harte to fleete Nor all the prisners on the earth He treades not vnder feete He doth not iudgment geue By mans desertes in syght And to condemne man in his cause The lorde hath no delyght What kynde of man is he How mad is suche a one Without the lordes commaundment That sayth ought may be done Out of the holy mouth Of God the lorde moste hye Both ill and good doth not procede What man can this denye Why doth the lyuyng man Then grudge and murmur so At his owne sinne let him repyne And so commit no mo Behold we our owne wayes And eke bethynke vs well Aâ—d turne agayne vnâ—o the lorde From whom we did rebell To heauen let vs lyfte Our heartes and handes on hye And to the Lorde that there in is On this wyse let vs crye Dissemblers haue we bene And did thee sore offende O lorde let vs intreat thee yet That thy wrath now may ende We hid are in thy wrath And persecutyng payne Without all fauor and regard O lorde thou hast vs slayne For in a cloude from vs Thy selfe thou hydest so That through the thicknes of the same Our prayers can not go For outcastes are we nowe The Heathen vs despyse Our enmies all on vs they gape And mocke in sondry wyse And subiectes are we made To feare and to the snare Destruction on vs is come And we despysed are Whole ryuers from myne eyes Of teares doe styll increase My peoples hurte doth cause myne eyes From wepyng not to cease For why there is no reste O lorde consider this O when wylt thou from heauen loke And mende that is amys Myne eyes haue causde my hearte Insonder for to ryue The daughters of my citie made My wo so to reuyne As foulers seke to haue The byrdes within their pawes Myne enmies sharply hunted me And that without a cause Into a pit moste depe My lyfe put downe they haue Because I should not ryse they layde A stone vpon my graue They powred water then Vpon my head also Nowe am I quyte and clene vndone To my selfe thoughte I tho Yet from this pit profounde I called to the lorde Whiche heard my playnt
plesant song shall not song be To the goddesse of lechery Nor to nothyng vnder the Sunne But praysing of the almyghty My lute and I tyll we haue done This teacheth vs Dauid the kyng With harpe and lute geue God praysyng All men that in this worlde doe wonne To God therfore geue prayse and synge As my lute and I haue begonne This lord first made al things of nought And when against his lawe we wrought From heauen he sent downe his sonne Whiche with his gospell vs all taught After the whiche we haue not donne Although in man weare nothyng good Hym to redeme Christ shed his blood with thrones y e Iuâ—s our lord did crown He suffred death vpon the roode Lo thus our sauyng health was donne On this therfore we fix our fayth That Iesus Christ as scriptur sayth Is only our saluation Vpon this rocke who so him stayth Thus sayth the lord it is well don But one thing sore my harte doth greue That hipocrites made vs beleue In Idols both of wodde and stone From Christ our rock they did vs dryue Wo be to them what haue they done Whiche canker still within their heartes Doth yet remayne and fewe conuertes For at gods worde they frete and frown Therfore my lute it is our partes Them to rebuke as we haue done God sent his worde vnto this ende That we our synfull lyues should mende And yet repenteth fewe or none My lute therfore let vs intende To say the truthe tyll we haue done If in our songe we should recyte Nowe eche estate doth not vpright Whiche will be their confusion Whiche knowe the truthe and do not ryght My lute when should our song be done But to be short my hartes intent Is to prayse God omnipotent Whoe of our helth the thred hath spunne And hath his worde to vs nowe sent To mende our lyues tyll we haue done Mans soule to saue Christ died therfore Who of vs men doth aske no more But this lesson to lerne and conne With loue to kepe his holy lore In whiche all perfect workes are donne Lorde graunt vs to thy worde to cleane That no man other doe deceaue And in that zeale that I begunne Lauding our lorde God here I leaue Be styll my lute my song is done ¶ A ditie shewyng the office of all estates warnyng them to repent walke euery estate accordyng to their callyng LEt heauen harke earth geue eare let mountains bowe with humblenes let waters all their rage forbeare and once growe to some stablenes wauer no more with evry wynde but once cleane to a constant mynde In fayth and loue for why the lord him self doth speake and will you els in sonder breake euen from aboue Let not god speake now to deafe eares Nor vnto hartes made of flynt stone But rather with repentant teares Bewayle your synnes now evry one And let a godly lyfe all newe Shew forth frutes of repentance true And them expresse That from henceforth in such new lyfe We may remayn without all stryfe In righteousnes Let suche as shewe the heauenly muse Haue godly conuersation Least through their vyle and great abuse They worke abhomination When as in synfull wayes they walke Contrary to their outwarde talke And gods true worde For who that sclandreth so the truthe Their myrth shall turne to wo and ruthe Before the lorde Let kynges that mountains sygnifie In iustice doe styll their due part Supporte no more iniquitie Nor mainteyne suche as areperuart Se that henceforth with all your myght Ye put downe wrong mainteine right Or els surely The lord God whiche is kyng of all Your glory â–ª turne to shame he shall Moste ryghteously Let nowe the waueryng multitude That signifyd is by the sea Oh let I saye this rable rude Still henceforth cleaue to constancie And not them selues as waters showe Vnstable for to ebbe and flowe But styll depende Vpon the churche to lerne their due And serue their kyng w t hartes most true Euen styll an ende Let not the churche be temporall Let not rulers â—e rude and vayne Let no man from his calling fall But eche man in his state remayne Let not the common people deale With matters highe of common weale â–ª For why I saye If one anothers callyng vsâ— All equitie they doo refuse From day to daye Let all men nowe repent therfore And leaue theyr synne without delay And henceforth vse the same no more Least by theyr goyng thus astray Gods wrathe in hast they doo procure For this theyr doyngs so vnpure In synfull trade Knowe that the Lorde his mercy styll Dothe offer all with ryght good wyll That he hath made Let men whyle mercy then doothe last Haue mynde of this theyr onely meane Abhorre theyr yll lyfe that is past Lyftyng their eyes vp into heauen Lokyng from thence for theyr reliefe Whiche is a salue for all our griefe Swete Christe Iesu Your hartes and eares I say attend That you to blysse without all end May hence insue ¶ A Ditie declaringe the daungerous abuse of all degrees whyche go astraye from theyr vocation PErforme O penne I thee desyre The thyng that we dyd late deuyse Blowe to this cole kyndle thys fyre That suche may know as truth despise That darknes shall no more them hyde No secrete place shall they prouyde To couer guyle For now the lyght shall them bewray That secretly haue gone astray A ryght long whyle Suche Princes as the poore oppresse Vnder titie of gouernance And wyll no poore mans cause redresse But all theyr ioye and fyne pastance Is howe with craft in couerture They may in theyr yll wayes indure And styll remayne It shall appeare at the laste day That they haue wrongly gone astray Vnto theyr payne Suche prelates as for fylthy gayne With errors doo mens soules destroy And on theyr flock lyke lordes wyll raigne Wherin Gods woorde they doo anoy The fleece to take is all theyr care And for the soule no foode prepare But venym vyle Suche prelates shall once know I say That they haue falsly gone astray With fraude and guyle Suche men of lawe as wyll for golde Make thyngs seme right the which at wrong And wyll for gayne with falshode hold And eke delaye the tyme to long Suche as in Iudgement wrest the lawe And wrongly doe the sentence drawe Wrong to supporte Poore innocentes for to betraye For brybes they goe from ryght astraye In wicked sorte Suche marchantes as are not content With right and reason for to wynne But daily doe false fraude inuent To gayne by wickednes and synne â—nlawfull gayne and vsury And counterfetyng wyckedly Muche marchandyse In hell they shall once fele I saye Howe they by fraude haue gone astraye In vntust wyse Suche leches as wyckedly vse Medicines arte but not aryght But fasly doe the same abuse And to that arte doth wrong and spyght They rob and murder where they go From place to place workyng muche wâ— Without cunnyng The Diuell
be Vpon vncerteyne staye Their workes as we may se Doe vanysh sone awaye And those contrary wyse That grounde their matter well Their worke shall well aryse And perfectly excell When mariage then is made For ryches or for gouide If goodes and ryches fade The loue doth lose his houlde If beautie eke so gaye The cause be of thy loue When beautie fades away Thy fantsye wyll remoue For if the cause doe quayle Where one the mynde is bent The effect then must fayle What so therin is ment Then vertue shall be best Who so wyll it retayne All other beyng cest She euer doth remayne For beauty beyng gone Whose dwellyng is not sure Dame vertue styll alone For euer wyll endure And when gould hath his ende The causer of muche strife Yet vertue shall extende And garnysh well the lyfe A good rewarde also To louers doth she gyue In kepyng them from wo A quiet lyfe to lyue If mariage then be wrought On vertue buylding loue No suche thing can be sought To stande without remoue Ye that wyll web therfore On vertue set your cure All contraries abhorre So shall your loue be pure For better were the tyme Of death and of the graue Then otherwyse to clyme A wedded loue to haue For goulde doth cause and gayne Contention and vnreste He that hath moste wyll fayne Hym selfe to be the beste And beautie ofte doth brede Mistruste and ielousy But vertue hath no sedâ— Of suche iniquitie Then happy is the loue On vertue whiche is knytte That styll without remoue Continue wyll and sytte Whiche in this lyfe cause is Of prayse and godly fame And also after this Of heauen for the same ⧠Nomen Authoris IN hope I doe endure Of that whiche I intende Hauing my fantsy sure No false thyng to pretende Hope styll dothe me allure At theyr handes whom I serue Lyke goodnes to procure Lo as I doo deserue A godly warnynge to put all men in remembrance of theyr myserable estate and that they are subiecte to death and corruption Syng this as It truthe maye take no trustye holde c. REmember well ye men mortall From whence ye came go ye shall Of earth god made thy shape formâ— And vnto earth thou shalt returne Remember well O man I say Thou art wormes meaâ—e and very clay Thou art none other thys is iust But earth and ashes dung and dust Remember well though thou be young Thou art nought but a sacke of donng Deferre no tyme tyll thou be old For of long lyfe thou hast no hold Remember well though now thou sâ—me As beautyfull as kyng or quene That when thou shalt departe and dyt Thou shalt rot stynke and putrefye Remember well thou dounghyll dyght With garments gay to please mens syght Remember earth thy first estate Thy lyons harte it wyll abate Remember well that thou shalt come At the last day vnto thy dome Wher if thou doe thy selfe exalt In extreme payne remayne thou shalt Remember well I saye aloude Thou earth and ashes be not proude Suche coste on earth why doste bestowe Leue of thy pryde be meke and lowe Remember and in fyne marke this Who so of hym selfe humble is The lorde wyll hym exalte on hye In heauen aboue the sterry skye The faithfull souldiour of Christe desireth assistance of God against his ghostly enemies HEreout O lorde the right request of him that faine would haue redrest the wronges that are so sore increst with in my soule so sore opprest O lord to thee with wofull crye I call for grace and for mercy And if thou helpe not then truly In deadly wo remayn must I. The world the diuell death and hell With great assaultes against me swell Lorde let thy grace in me excell Against their fury fierce and fell O lorde my God to the I praye Suffer me not to goe astraye And haue in mynde the pryce and day Wherwith thou didste my ransome pay Oh haue in mynde thine own great cost And let not this thy payne be lost In the O lorde my trust is most To dwell among thy holy host Thou knowst wherin my help doth staÌ„d Whereuer I be on sea or lande Good lorde put to thy helping hand Saue me from hell that fierce fyre brand ¶ An exhortacion to brotherly loue and vnitie BEholde it is a ioyfull thyng that brethern should continually together haue their good dwelling in concord and in vnitie This godly loue Dauid lykned Vnto that precious vncâ—ion Which descended vpon the head And into the beard of Aron Whiche being powred on his crowne Was euer more styll descendyng And from his beard it dropped downe Into the skirtes of his clothing And as this precious oyntment swete Did smell all of one swete sauour For Christen brethern it is mete To be all of one behauour He that loues God aboue all thyng His neighbour as him selfe lyke wyfe Fulfyls the lawe in so doyng Whiche Christe would haue vs exercyse For where this godly loue doth byde There present is the lorde Iesus Whiche neuer from his flock wyll slyde It they in loue continue thus Loue not y â— world thus faith S. John Ne any thing conteynde therin For who so settes his loue theron The loue of God is not in hym And none can loue the lorde aboue Whom with our eyes we neuer see If we our brethern doe not loue That alway present with vs be Let loue therfore be among vs And from it let vs neuer swarue As we are lovde of Christ Iesus Muche more then euer we deserue The dewe that fell on Syon hyll The whiche descended plesantly Is nothyng lyke this loue vntill Belovde of god etâ—rnally For god from â—yme to tyme doth geue To this loue his holy blessyng For all that doe with loue beleue Shall reigne in ioye without ending He sayth the lorde that loueth me Doth kepe my lawe and holy lore And vnto him geuen shall be A crowne to reigne for euer more Lorde in this loue we thee beseke To set vs in a quiet staye That we beyng louyng and meke May reigne with thee in hlys for aye The iust and true maÌ„ complaineth that flattery and falshod is more regarded then truthe and reioyseth that he is hated for the truthe IF truth may take no trusty hold nor cleue so fast as flattring sence wel may thy harte poore man be colde for then is gone all sure defence The Nyghtyngale must change her note And of the Cucow learne to syng The modest mynde must learne to dote Or conne some other fayued thyng If meanyng well may take no place Nor dealyng iust haue no regarde Thou must deuyse an other space To fayne suche thyngs as may be heard Shall vertue dwell in such disdayne And honestie be had in hate Then must we learne to glose and fayne Orels remayne in vyle estate But yf there be none other way To purchase fauor and good wyll Better it were I dare well saye In vyle
estate to tary styll What call ye then the vyle estate As some doo iudge this is the thyng If my superior doo me hate And would me to displeasure bryng And that also without desert If reason may the cause decerne And haue disdeyn for my true heart Wherfore to please I am to lerne Yet is myn heart determind sure If truth and reason take no place Of suche disdeyne to take no cure But wyse men rather wyll imbrace For yf wysedome were noblenes As noble byrthe and ryches is Then should not truth be in dystres And flattrye should of fauor mis. So flattrye and bland eloquence Should as they are be compted vyle And truth should then make none offence Nor vertue reigne in suche exyle Blamd but not shamd the prouerbe is And truth can haue none other wrong So may they hap theyr marke to mys That thinke them selues in falshod stroÌ„g Then hated lo I must reioyce And fonde regarde despyse as vayne Closing my mouth stoppyng my voyce From speache in presence of disdayne ¶ An holsome warning for all men that beare the name of Christians to lyue Christianly O Harke a whyle vnto my style all ye that Christians be that beare that name and doe not frame your liues accordingly Is Fayth in syche As beyng ryche Though they doo Christ professe That euery houre Do Christe deuoure And his poore flocke oppresse For we are all As sayth saynâ— Paule Membres of one body Of Christe Iesu â— round of vertue And of all veritie Then the poore man As proue I can Is Christ his member true As well as he What so he be That ryches doth endue Why should ye then To symple men Beare suche despight and hate Syth they be all In Christ equall With you in all estate Christ his kyngdome Was neuer wonne By wealth or hygh degree All though that here Some doo appere To reygne in dignitie Then let none thynke That Christ wyll shrynke When he shall iudge vs all Of all your wealth So got by stelthe You to accompt to call When yf he fynde Ye were vnkynde To your poore brethern dere Then wyll he say Go from me aye Into eternall fyre When I lackt meate And fayne would eate In sycknes thyrst and coldâ— In all my nede Not one good dede That you to me doo wold Then wyll ye say Wythout delay Lord when dyd we thee see Lacke any foode To doo thee good And dyd it not to thee And he agayne Shall answer playne I truely say to you Ye styll oppreste And muche detest The poore my members true When ye therfore Did them abhorre That â—re of lowe degree To me alone And other none Ye did that iniury Saint Iohn doth proue We can not loue God whom we doe not see If we doe hate Our brethern that Are present to our eye Nowe call for grace Whyle ye haue space Your wycked lyues amende And so procede In worde and dede True Christians to the ende ¶ A short song exhorting all men to abstayne from the vse of false weyghtes and measures MY harte constraines my mouth to tell the dutie of eche worldly wight howe they be taught in the gospell one with other to deale vpright with euen weightes ballance iust so doe we must So doe we must this is no naye Also with measure iust and true Who so doth not at the last day Ryght sore are lyke for it to rue When he shall goe for wante of breath Vnto his death Vnto his death when he must goe With painful panges and torment strong Then is he lyke to suffer wo For that his dealyng false and wrong Suche one is lyke in extreme payne For to remayne For to remayne wo worth the whyle That any man so fond should fare With othes his neighbour to beguyle When he should truly sell his ware O wherfore then dâ—o ye vnwyse Prudence despyse Prudence despyse that should so well Lâ—ade you in Godly wayes and ryght And teache you also how to deale With your neyghbours iustly vpryght For he that to amend denayes Thus the Lorde sayes Thus the Lord sayth very certayn Such measure as ye mete to other Suche measure shall ye haue agayn How then yf you deceyue your brother Thynk you that God wyll forget thys No no Iwys No no Iwys ye may be sure For heauen and earth shall ioyntly saylâ— â–ª But Gods word shall for euer dure In force and strength styll to preuayle All false dealers for to expell Downe in to hell Down in to hell therfore take hedâ— And call for gods grace and mercy Amend your wycked lyues with spede Lamentyng them repentantly God geue vs grace so to intende And there an ende ¶ A Ditie declarynge the sted fast hope and trust that the faythfull afflicted soule hath in Christ Iesu LIke as certain the hart wold faine of the fountain obtain the spring so hath my sprite his whole delight in God almight aboue all thing Myne enmies strong All the daye long To doe me wrong Is their intent Euery howre On me they loure Me to deuoure They doe inuent This doe I see For to myne eye It is truly Alwayes obiect With might and mayne Them selues they strayne My soule to gayne And to infect My soule therfore Doth tremble sore And euermore Doth stande in feare And all the whyle Myne enmies smyle Me to beguyle They not forbeare Therfore I say My sâ—ule alway Reiâ—yce and stay Thy selfe in Christ Though men extold Agaynst thee hold In Christ be bold Them to resyst Who is alyue That dareth stryue Strong dyuels fyue Although they were Thys can I proue O Lorde aboue If thou me loue I nede not feare O God of myght Strengthen my spryte That doth delyght Only in thee O holy Lord Let thy swâ—â—e word Wyth one accord Styll be wyth me O Christ Iesu Ground of vertue Messias true As sayth Scripture To thee I pray Graunt that I may In heauen aye With thee indure ¶ A song shewing that no commoditie is without a discommoditie ¶ Syng this as I am the man whome God c. AS I dyd sytte and muse Once by my selfe alone The wretched state of worldly wights The mind was fixed on Howe no commoditie May here with man indure Without some discommoditie To shewe it selfe vnpure By fyre we haue great ayde In colde vs for to warme Whiche in an houre somtime doth burnâ— Rewarding vs with harme We may lyue certayne dayes Without both drinke and meate But without ayre not one moment The lack would be so great Yet somtyme by his rage We mortall men doe fynde That trees houses and cattell eke Are ouerthrowne with wynde The water who can lack That in this worlde doth byde Yet many one therin is drownde By great aboundyng tyde The earth wheron we dwell And seke great welth to fynde In sekyng to possesse the same With iudgement vayne and blynde When we thynke to possesse This earth that we attende Behold the same possesseth vs
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
and glose Note one thing well and kepe it iuste No secret of thy frende disclose Except counsell disdaine it not Repent thou mayst els well I wot That selfe loue and auarice weare neuer true friendes MAruell not though the faunyng tongue All other doth excede in guile Rather thinke howe the foulers song In to the net doth byrdes bewyle In couetise or in self loue Sâ— that ye put no stedfast trust Leste confused your fansie moue Euer complainyng of thuniust A description of frendship IN frendship true there surely is Of nothyng lacke or scarcetie He whiche is frendly doth not mys No tyme his frende to gratefye Neuer therfore was frendshyp found In selfe loue or in auarice Contrarily it doth abound Occasion shewde in exercise Loue neuer doth his frende despyse Sure frendshyp knoweth not hir owne Of this description to the wyse Now heÌ„ceforth may freÌ„dship be knowne An opening of the rude peoples inconstancie REade who so wyll in wyse wryting It shall be easy to conclude Commonly how the rashe doynges Haue of the moste fonde multitude Alwayes bene vayne and very rude Rauyng they doe reuers certayne Deuise of wyse men to disdayne Haue in their mynd therfore this feare Of their dedes be suspicious Out of all doubt theyr fond maner Can not be but pernicious At all tymes therfore let the wyse Reuoke their wayes and enterpryse That flattery and sclaunder are of all wyse men to be taken hede of RIfe in this life is rude reporte Of suche as order doe disdaine But who so wyll to blysse resort Auoyde must all their scouldinges vayne Regardyng in his mynde all whole To runne a pace and wynne the gole Trust not to much the faynt frendshyp In suche as flatter for a gayn Ne yet the leude and lying lyp Lyke one lyke other is certayn Ye therfore ought him well to proue Endeuor that ye doe to loue That a coÌ„stant mynde is a great pyller of bodily health HEalth of body for to procure Expediente a constant mynde Nothyng doth better be you sure Dircet you helth and welth to fynde Remember that the lyfe vnstable Is founde in no man commendable For custome Aristotle sayth Is lyke to an other nature So that he whiche him therin staith Hath good assurance long to dure And who the same to rente is ryfe Regardeth neither helth nor lyfe REspect euer and haue regarde Ill men from good for to deuide Constantly kepe both watche and warde Hate ill mens dedes on euery syde Agayne with iust men at eche tyde Regarde to dwell and them frequent Decyse with them your whole intent Beneuolence se you bestowe Alwayes on suche as loue vertue Regarde also to ouerthrowe Hatefull synners who vice ensue And alwayes company the wyse Make spede from vyce and fooles despise A commendacion of vertuous exercise INuention of the mynd ingenious Of godly thyngs and of humane science Hath shall be w t men good righteous Noted styll as a poynt of excellence Continue styll then in thy diligence Let not the world pluck back thy good intent And sure god wyll alwayes be thy defence Regardyng thee and thy doynges decente Know that the lord is styl the good maÌ„s guide Enuyronyng his ways on euery syde Against vndeceÌ„t busy medlers in other mens vocation neglecting their owne REason would that in the publique estate Of evry realme where order would be had Because therby the better to voyde hate All suche should be estemed to be mad Rudly that wyll his own calling forsake To vse others hym self a fâ—ole to make Better it were that eche in their degree Endeuour would to folow their own art Then fondly as experience we may se In breaking order cause the selues to smarte Nothing on earth the which hath vndone mo God for their plage hath wylde it to be so For câ—rteynly the vncontented mynde Extreamly doth hym selfe therby torment Lyuing â—o get they do many fetes fynde Dotyng in all that euer they inuent Euer therfore to constancie be bent Of fortune VVHo so would know what fortune is To Chilons answer take goo hede When lyke demande as nowe is this To hym was put he sayde in dede A leche right leude they did hir fynde That trusted hyr she made them blynde Or thus out of Iustinus EXamples great were without ende Vneth possible to be toulde I myght vnto the mynde commend Therin to stay if now I should Howe changeable howe frayle and fond Is fortune for to vnderstonde Whiche neuer yet made any ioye But sorowe strayght ensude the same And doth hir selfe prepare to noye Moste when the semes to noryshe fame Nor neuer strake the sorow stroke But where she first with ioye did mocke Of honor out of Tully HOnor as Tully doth wysly repete In wyse men doth norysh both wisdom skill And prayse in the wyttes doth kyndle a heate And also to study doth sturre vp the wyll Of glory IN thre thinges it doth well appeare Where perfect glory doth remayne The first is where as far and nere The multitude in loue doth reygne The second is as I perceaue Where they to good opinion cleaue The thyrd is where they maruel much At vs and doe vs well esteme And thynke vs able to be suche As they of worshyp worthy deme And so with loue and good pretence Doe gladly geue vs reuerence Of vain glory Of this vyle worlde the vayn glory Is a swetnes full of deceit A feare fyxed continually Aduancement bydyng dangers bayte A thyng begon without foresyght And endes without repentance quight ¶ Or thus By clymyng hyghe did neuer ioye So swyftly yet ensue As in the fallyng downe to wo Our sorowes doe vs rue Nor yet renoume by victory Doth not so muche inflame As doth in ruyne vyle reprochâ— Of follye vs to shame Of grace out of S. Bernarde In three thinges lo consisteth grace â–ª Ryght well to knowe as I doe thynke Of faultes nowe paste abhor the trace And present ioyes despyse and shrynke Desyryng only thynges to come Prepared for vs all and some Of temperance out of Plutarche VVHat may we thynke that maÌ„ to lack In any one degree To lyue in ioye and perfect welth And pure felicitie Whose vertue lo doth hym discharge From sorowe and from feare His temperance constreigneth hym All extremes to forbeare And calleth hym from carnall luste In thoughte in worde and dede That in reioycing folyshly He neuer doth excede Of tale bearers out of saynt Hierome The tale bearer that wicked man Whiche by his synfull sleyght Doth mynysh loue betwene true frendes Through his most vyle deceyte Offendeth in muche worse degree Then he that would constrayne The meate out of the beggers mouth Whom hunger sore doth payne For loke howe muche the soule excedes This mortall body here So is the foode that fedes the soule More precious and more dere And much more ought estemde to be Then that whiche here doth fede Oure carein vyle that dayly doth Offende
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