But rather with my heart I craue The liue child wholy let her haue Nay but sayes tother to the King As thou hast spoke performe the thing Nor mine nor thine let it remaine But share it equall twixt vs twaine Then said the King the babe shall liue And to the mother I it giue Which I am sure thou canst not bee Because no kindnesse rests in thee Cruell Queene Iezabel turned vnto dogges meate WHat terror is my spirit vexed in How doth Reuenge sound dolefull to mine eares My soule 's pursude with that same crying sin Of murther Naboth fils my thoughts with feares There is no horror like a troubled mind As I accursed Iezabel do find Reuenge for bloud I heare continuall sound Till vengeance comes thus will it euer crie My soule is lost to get a little ground I caus'd the guiltlesse man causlesse to die I wrote a letter in my husbands name And onely I the wicked plot did frame By my aduice a fast there was pretended And Naboth plac'd amongst the chiefest then Being suddenly accus'd to haue offended By two suborned leud and diuellish men Who to the Elders did auouch this thing The Iezralite blasphem'd God and the king Vpon this slandrous false accusing breath He sentenc'd was to die with common voice And presently they stoned him to death Which I no sooner heard but did reioyce And went to Ahab saying Ioyfull be The vineyard now is thine I le giue it thee Going to take possession of the same He meeteth with Elias by the way Sent from the Lord who tels him in his name Hearke bloudie purchaser what God doth say Hast thou both kil'd and got possession too For this thy sin marke what the Lord will doo Euen in the place where dogs did licke the bloud Of Naboth to whose vineyard thou mak'st claime Euen in that place the Lord hath thought it good That dogs shall with thy bloud performe the same Euill on thee and on thy seed shall fall From thee to him makes water gainst the wall And for thy wife thus saith the God of power Since she hath wrought such euill in his eyes Dogges shall the flesh of Iezabel deuoure When by the citie wals her carcase lies In Iezrael it shall be shortly seene That dogs shall eate thy proud and painted Queene Which punishment reuenging Iehu wrought In rooting out the house of Ahab quite Ioram he slue and caused to be brought Vnto the plot of ground was Naboths right Then to the citie did in triumph ride Where me most wretched murdresse hee spide My face was painted euen as pride would haue it My head attyr'd to vanities content Thus at a window I did stand to braue it Said Iehu who is there to my side bent With that were chamberlaines at hand lookt out The instruments to bring my death about He bad them throw me downe and so they did They sent me with a vengeance to the ground My blood dasht out my life was sodaine rid Deuouring dogs my flesh had quickly found And with a Queene they fild their paunches full Leauing but palmes of hands my feete and scull The measuring of mans life by Dauids span THreescore and ten the age and life of man In holy Dauids eyes seem'd but a span For halfe that time is lost and spent in sleepe So onely thirty fiue for vse we keepe Then dayes of youth must be abated all Wise Salomon childhood and youth doth call But vanitie meere vanitie he sayes All that doth passe vs in our infant dayes Our time of age we take no pleasure in Our dayes of griefe we wish had neuer bin Then sleepe deducted youth and age and sorrow Onely a span is all thy life doth borrow Mans Salue being wounded by temtatiō Is to remember Christ his passion THe wounds that Iesus suffred for my sin Are mouthes that cry Oh loue him with thy heart The thornes that pierced through his sacred skin Are tongues pronouncing Loue is his desert The tort'ring whips that did to anguish moue him Are echoes sounding Wretched sinner loue him There is no losse that griefe can get againe But losse of grace sorrow may grace attaine Salomons good houswife in the 31. of his Prouerbs HE that a gracious wife doth find Whose life puts vertue chiefe in vre One of the right good houswife kind That man may well himselfe assure And boasting say that he hath found The richest treasure on the ground Who so enioyeth such a loue Let him resolue with hearts consent She euer constantly will proue A carefull nurse want to preuent With diligence and painfull heed Preuenting tast of beggars need And while she liues will still procure By true and faithfull industrie T' increase his wealth and to insure His state in all securitie To seeke his quiet worke his ease And for a world no way displease Her houshold folke from sloth to keepe She will endeuour with good heed At worke more wakefull then asleepe With flaxe and stuffe which houswiues need To be employd her hands also The way to worke will others show Her wit a common wealth containes Of needments for her houshold store And like a ship her selfe explaines That riches brings from forraine shore Ariuing with a bounteous hand Dispearsing treasure to the land Before the day she will arise To order things and to prouide What may her family suffice That they at labour may abide If she haue land no paine shall want To purchase vines set sow and plant No honest labour shee le omit In ought she can attaine vnto But will endeuour strength and wit Adding the vtmost she can do And if that profit comes about By night her candle goes not out A willing hand to the distrest She lends and is a chearefull giuer Come winters cold and frostie guest When idle huswiues quake and quiuer She and her houshold's cloathed well The weathers hardnesse to expell Her skill doth worke faire tapistrie With linnen furnish'd of the best Her needle workes do beautifie And she in scarlet costly drest When Senators assembled be Her husbands honor there shall see Her spinning shall her store increase The finest cloth shall yeeld her gaine And daily profit shall not cease Which her vnidle hands maintaine Her clothing shall her worth expresse And Honors yeares her end possesse Her mouth shall neuer opened be But wisedome will proceede from it And such mild gracious words yeelds shee Sweetnesse vpon her tongue doth sit In age she will her care addresse To eate no bread of idlenesse Her children shall their dutie show Most reuerent to her all their life Her husband blesse that he did know The time to meete with such a wife And vttring foorth his happinesse Her vertues in this wise expresse I know t' is true that more then one Good huswife there is to be found But I may say that thou alone Aboue all women dost abound Yea I protest in all my dayes Thou art the first and thee I le praise
be sold for Aegypts store What 's gold to him that food doth need The mettall cannot hunger feed What 's meate to him wants appetite Sicknesse doth loath though health inuite But loue doth choisest welcome bring To lowest beggar highest king How oft haue I emboldned thee With that kind word Come lie with mee Where is thy sence and manly sprite That should be ready to requite Wilt thou so haâ—shly go away My hearts desire mild Ioseph stay Doest turne thy backe wilt not consent By Pharaoes life thou shalt repent I le keepe this garment to thy shame Thy Lord I vowe shall see the same I le tell him if I had not cride I had bin forced to abide Foule rauishment which to preuent Clamors vnto the skies I sent And thou for feare that durst not stay Leauing thy mantle ranst away This plot the harlot put in vre Ioseph this slaunder did endure Yet still continude constant chast With lust allur'd with lies disgrac'd Sampson betrayed by Dalilah WOnder of men thou great in might My hearts chiefe ioy my soules delight Thou onely admirable man Of all the stocke and tribe of Dan. Thou that at Thamnah valiant did Euen rend a Lion like a Kid. At Askalon in valour tride Where thirtie by thine owne hand dide That Azah gates with powrefull will Didst carry vp to Hebron hill Oh let me craue a boone of thee As thou in loue shall gaine of mee Thy strength to other men denide Great Samson where doth that abide Oh proue thy selfe to me so kind As tell me but how I may thee bind Delude me not kind sweete with mockes Not withes nor tying of thy lockes Is ought auailing thereunto Deere Samson tell me what to do Thrice by thee I haue bin deluded Now tell me where 's thy might included Wilt thou this small request denay Wilt thou refuse thy Dalila Then I resolue thou lou'st me not For out of loue is all things got Thy sute quoth he my deare hath sped There nere came razor on my head I haue bene from my mothers wombe A Nazarite by heauens doome Loue if my head be shauen bare I shall be weake as others are Then on her lap his head she layd And with his curious lockes she playd And so in dalliance did him keepe Till she had wantond him asleepe Then sent for one that shau'd him quite Of all the haire contain'd his might Which done her sexes nature showes Betraid him instant to his foes The Philistines who him despise And cruelly put out his eyes Then set him in a mill to grind This woman-trust did Samson find King Sauls despairefull Tragedie DAunted with feare of the Philistines force Disanimated Saul where shall I flie Of my distresse there 's no man hath remorce To answer me by dreames God doth denie No helpe by Prophets all my comfort 's fled Oh Samuel that man of God is dead I know inchantment is a grieuous sin And Israels God forbids it in his law Yet with a witch at Endor I haue bin To speake with Samuel whose shape I saw Appeare in 's mantle reuerent graue and old Who my destruction and my end foretold Wherefore hast thou disturbed me he said In causing of me to be raised thus I answered him for that I was afraid Of Philistines that vexe and trouble vs And God is gone he answers not at all Oh tell what will become of wretched Saul Because quoth he thou didst not God obay To execute on the Amalekites Therefore he hath done this to thee this day Thy disobedience thus his wrath requites Thy kindome from thee he away hath rent And giuen it Dauid this is Gods intent Moreouer Israel and also thee The Lord will put in the Philistins hands And euen to morrow shalt thou be with mee Thou and thy sonnes thus Saul thy kingdome stands Thy hoast subdude thy selfe of life bereft And thou become the man whom God hath left With this I fell despairefull on my face My strength was gone with fasting and with feare O wretched man depriued of Gods grace That mine owne end with dread did trembling heare To morow he hath tould me is the day That Philistines my sonnes and me will slay Come fatall day come cursed Philistines The men of Israel now are forc'd to flie My three deare sonnes their latest breath resignes Mount Gilboa in thee their bodies lie Abinadab Melchisua Ionathan I le follow you with all the speed I can See harnesse-bearer th'archers haue me found I will not haue them triumph in my death Oh draw thy sword I do intreate a wound Shew me the kindnesse to depriue my breath Art thou afraid to shed thy Princes blood Why then my selfe will do my selfe that good This mine owne sword the instrument I le make Of this my last and bloudy sacrifice Vpon this point the worlds farewell I le take Here the distressed King of Israel dies He dies that least his foes should glorying stand Will kill himselfe euen ready to their hand The Virgine-sacrifice of Duke Jepthahs daughter THe mightie Marshall of the Israelites In armes against contending Amonites Soliciting th' Almightie for successe And whole depending on his powrefulnesse When he towards Gilead in armes did passe And thence to Mispah where proud Ammon was Vow'd if the victory he might obtaine Gainst those that held Gods people in disdaine And home returne a conqueror in peace His feruour to the Lord should so increase In gratitude that in most humble wise He to his Maiestie would sacrifice What ere it were that his sight first beheld Come forth his doore at his returne from field Iephthah in conquest to his hearts desire From Aroer a victor doth retire But here behold the end of Amons slaughter Begins the tragedie of his owne daughter To welcome him all her endeuours striues True loue 's most ioyfull when beloued thriues With daunces and with timbrels she doth meete him And all the solace she can make to greete him When he beheld his deare and onely child Surpriz'd with griefe in raging humor wild He rent his clothes and vnto heauens cride Oh worse then death the sight I now abide Thy presence all my fortunes doth confound Within a sea of teares mine eyes be drownd Most louing child to God my vow is made With sacrifice of thee it must be paide Wherewith obediently she did reply Grieue not so much deare father that t is I To Iacobs God be faithfull in your vow Onely kind father vnto me allow Two months of mourning to bewaile the state Of my virginitie disconsolate Euen at the mountaines will I go and mourne And at the time appointed thence returne His leaue she had with mournfull maides attending Each one her griefe and teares and sorrow lending Their virgin teares compassions rules did keepe They waild for her she mourn'd to see them weepe The time expir'd of her short stinted houres To him that had the guide of Israels powres She meekly came and with most
willing mind For virgin-sacrifice her selfe resign'd Dauids combat with the Giant of Gath. YOu men of Israel seruants vnto Saul Goliah sounds defiance to you all Your Soueraigne and his hoast I do defie Base Israelites a Philistine am I. Behold my stature t is sixe cubits long My helmet brasse my coate of stuffe as strong All likewise brasse fiue thousand sickles wayde My bootes are brasse of brasse my shield is made My speares shaft looke vpon it and confesse A Weauers beame in bignes t is no lesse The very head thereof iron and steele Sixe hundred weight as some of you shall feele Bring forth your champion single me a man And I le confesse there 's valour in you than Giue me a man I say and let vs fight Amongst you all find one stout Israelite When Dauid heard this mightie man of Gath With terror breathing out his irefull wrath He did intreate a fauour of the King To combat that huge giant with a sling No other weapon but a staffe he tooke And fiue smooth stones of choise out of the brooke So forth with courage resolute he went The Philistine perceiuing his intent To combat him in stature but a child Disdainfully in scoffing maner smild And said to Dauid What seeme I to be Belike a dog thou bringst a staffe for me Now in the name of all the gods I serue I curse thee and as thou doest well deserue Thy flesh for meate the birds shall present share I le with thy gobbets feed the fowles of th' aire Thy carcasse on the sodaine I will yeeld For beasts to prey vpon that are in field Thus did the Giant of his valour brag While Dauid tooke out of his shepheards bag A stone and slang the same into his head That he vnto the ground fell groueling dead Who when the Philistines beheld to fall Dismaid in fearfull maner they fled all And then that hand which the Almightie guided With his owne sword his head from 's trunke deuided Thus did the simple weake vpright and iust Subdue the strong that in his strength did trust The true Map of a dogged Miser FRom Pharan wildernesse King Dauid sent Ten of his yong men that to Carmel went With kind salute to an vnkind churle there Nabal who at that place his sheepe did sheare Their Soueraignes message to the wretch they tell And how his Maiestie did greete him well No curious cates they came for to demand But what he pleasde to giue came next to hand Nabal on them a frowning looke bestowes And thus with tongue his dogged nature showes What 's Dauid that I should my victuals take And giue it run-awayes for Dauids sake With Isays sonne pray what haue I to do Haue I no vse to put my meate vnto You may be vacabonds for ought I know Vpon such fellowes nothing I le bestow Feed such as you yes marry t were good reason I haue mouths of mine owne to stop this season Worke and be hang'd earne it like other men Is' t prouender you lacke pray labour then Shall I take of my bread my flesh and drinke And giue to eu'ry rascall do you thinke No Dauids men your master must prouide Such hungry sharkes I neuer could adide Want he that will my shearers shall not lacke Emptie you came and so I pray go backe To him that sent you tell him what I say My food must be emploid another way This churlish answer did so much incense Dauid vowde death should guerdon the offence Which when the wife of Nabal vnderstood She prudently preuented shedding blood And with a present speedily did meete him Falling to ground euen at his feete to greete him Let not my Lord said she regard the man At whose offence thy wrath so late began Euen with his name his nature doth accord Folly is with him but my gracious Lord Thy hand-maid was not guiltie of the crime Nor did I see thy seruants at that time Successe attend thee wheresoere thou go Perish all they intend thy ouerthrow Accept the present which my humble thought In meekest dutie to my Prince hath brought Wherewith the kingly Prophet did replie Thou hast preuailed Nabal shall not die I do reuerse my doome a gracious wife Hath sau'd a churlish foolish husbands life The dead sleepe of Sisara REuengefull Iabin King of Canaan Whose anceters great Iosuah had slaine To vexe the Israelites with warres began At such time as in Hazor he did raigne His hoast by Sisara conducted was Who did vnto the riuer Kison passe Nine hundred chariots vnder his command When with ten thousand men neere Thabor hill Barac subduing them had vpper hand And with the edge of sword his foes did kill Sisara in distresse constraind to light Was forc'd vpon his legs to take his flight And as he fled most fearfull of his life Disanimated full of cares increase He came vnto the tent of Habers wife For Habers house with Iabin was at peace Iael went forth and met him on the way And did intreate him to turne in and stay Turne in my Lord quoth she be not afraid Repose thy weary limmes in Iaels tent For thou art welcome to thy poore hand-maid Then for a mantle presently she went To couer him and such demeanor showes That most secure he did himselfe suppose Oh I am tyr'd said he and ouercome In wearinesse and cares orewhelmed deepe I thirst for water pray thee giue me some And then be centinell while I do sleepe Stand at the doore and haue a speciall care That none do intercept me vnaware If any chance to come enquire of thee Who thou hast here or what guest is within Answer him then that no man thou didst see For at thy tent there hath no creature bin Performe this carefully at my request And so he very soundly fell to rest The sleepe of death he slept on Iaels bed For she a hammer and a naile did take And driue it through the temples of his head That neuer after he had power to wake Thus he that from his foes his life did hide By his supposed friend a woman dide The Tragedie of Prince Absolom AMbition I embrace thee in mine armes Scepter and Crowne are golden kingly charmes And haue preuail'd in my heroike minde Vnto a kingdomes rule my heart 's inclinde To be as high as Maiestie can sit Is the faire marke my thoughts desire to hit Why then ascend to Dauids royall throne Prince Absolom as King will sit thereon To fit my head euen with my fathers crowne Keeps filiall loue and subiect dutie downe In Hebron let the trumpets sound proclaime me And King of Israel let the Heralds name me My eares allow to heare no other sound But Dauid is deposde his sonne is crownd Euen in the citie gates Ile causes heare And steale the hearts of all the people there Vpon the curteous that obeysance show A mild and sweete behauiour I le bestow Kindnesse by art I will accomplish rare And how to