sayeth Paule that tribulacion Doth bryng forth pacience that goodly grace And pacience doth render forth anon Experience the whiche doth hope purchace Whiche blessed hope who so that may imbrace She neuer wyll confound them with no shame But bryngeth forth a lyfe free from all blame This pure and perfect hope that we declare The gift is of the Lorde and at his wyll Whiche none can get by worldly wytte nor care But with this hope god his electe doth fyll With whome she doth continue euer styll Not by mans wyll but by gods mercy pure This blessed hope with good men doth indure The God of hope therfore replenysh vs With peace and ioye and with a lyvly fayth And make vs ryche in hope of Christ Iesus And tholy ghoste whose powre all mistruste stayth Whiche is our comfort as the scripture sayth This Trimtie be praysed now therfore As hath been is and shal be euermore ¶ The prayse of Godly loue or charitie out of 1. Cor. 13. Iohn 4. OF Charitie or godly loue To make a perfect prayse This godly loue to prayse I saye In order good and due I tooke to me gods word and wrote What the holy gooste sayes In diuine Iohn and holy Paule whose wordes are very true Attende therfore ye Christians dere And louers of the Lorde Harke and geue eare vnto the truthe And blessed worde of lyfe And pray to god for perfect loue Your lyues therto accorde That ye may lyue in christen peace Free from all seruyle strife By office of a lyvly fayth What euer we receyue Or by the office of our hope What so we doe retayne By charitie or godly loue To gods truthe if we cleaue The frute therof we must applie To render well agayne As faith the firste preferment hath our soules to iustifie For by the same we only doe Receyue our sauyng health So loue of vertues is the chiefe Wherby we edefie By it we worke the wyll of god And seke our neyghbours wealth Though I coulde speake sayth Paule with tongues Of men orangels bryghte And had no loue then were I lyke Vnto the soundyng bras Or lyke the â—ynklyng simbales sounde A short and vayne delyght Whiche beyng gon men streight forget What maner noyse it was Ye though that I could prophesie And secretes vnderstande All knowledge or suche mighty fayth As could mountayns remoue And set them in the ocâ—an seas Or in some other lande For all these yet I were nothyng If that I had not loue If I dyd all my goodes bestowe To fede therwith the poore Or geue my body to the fyre Therin consumde to be And finally all that I can Tyll I could doe no more If I be destitute of loue It doth not profite me Loue suffreth longe is courteous And neuer doth enuye Loue neuer dealeth frowardly Nor venemously swell Loue seketh not hyr owne therby To deale dishonestly Loue vnto wrath prouoketh not But alwayes thynketh well In euels loue doth not reioyce Nor Ioye in wyckednes But alwaye doth reioyce in truthe And suffreth all thynges well Beleueth all and hopeth all And doth indure no les Thus loue in goodnes doth excede All that our tongues can tell Though prophesiyng doe faile serue No vse in any case And tongues to speake knoledge to As once they shall I saye After this lyfe these haue no vse Yet loue shall then in place Remayne with gods elect in ioyes And neuer fall awaye Our knowledge is but vnperfecte So is oure prophesiyng When perfectnes doth come in place Vnperfectnes must flee For when I was a chylde my talke Was then chyldysh talkynge Myne vnderstandyng in lyke case All then was chyldyshly And as a chylde also that tyme I dyd imagin playn But then so sone as manhod came My chyldishnes was gone Now see we but as in a glasse By speache moste darke and vayne But then shall we see face to face When let there shall be none My knowledge now vnperfect is Then shall it not be so Then shall I knowe as I am knowne By rule of ryght bâ—liefe Faith hope and loue doe nowe abyde Away they will not goe And of all those after this lyfe Loue shall abyde as chiefe Saynt Iohn diuinly counsels vs One an other to loue For euery one that loues sayeth he Of God is truly borne For loue doth euer suerly come From God the lorde aboue Suche as loue not doe not knowe god But rather doe hym scorne In this the loue of god to vs Doth perfectly apere He but not we dyd truly loue And payne for vs did take For he into thys worlde did sende His only sonne so dere That for our sinnes he myght therby A full agrement make Wherfore my louyng brethern dere If god so loued vs That we should one another loue Wâ— certeynly are bounde If we loue one an other then Our loue doth playne discusse That god in vs doth dwell and reygne And hath a perfect grounde For god is loue and who so doth In loue abide or dwell Dwelleâ—h in god and god in him Thus loue in vs is sure That in the day of iudgement iuste We should in hope excell For in this worlde we are lyke hym By loue perfect and pure By this we knowe the godly loue That there in is no feare It casteth out all feare and doubte Wherin is paynfulnes Wher â—â—â—or iâ— the perfect loue In nowyse can be there For loue doth alwayes fixe hyr selfe On peace and gentylnes If we loue god he loude vs fyrst Then wherof can we boste But who so sayeth he loueth God And doth his brother hate He is a lyer verely And none of Christes hoste And therby doth prouoke the plage To lyght vpon his paâ—e For how can he that loueth not His brother in this lyfe Whom he may with his eyes beholde At all tymes when he wyll Howe can he with the lyuyng god Be other then at stryfe Or loue him whiche he can not seâ— By nature or by skyll Therfore hath Christ coÌ„maunded vâ— â–ª That he whiche loueth god By perfect loue as he forbeares All that god doth abhorre That he also his brother loue All hate is hym forbod All honour prayse and laude to god For this nowe euer more Amen ¶ The prayse of Godly wysdome out of the booke of wysdome called Sapientia cap. vi THe worthy wyse kyng Salomon inwysdoms exercyse The godly wysdome doth commende And praise hir on this wise wisdomis a much better thing Then strengthe orforce to fyght a wyse man is more worth also Then strong men of much might This wysdome O ye myghtie kynges Se that ye conne and learne To you sith iudgement on this earth Is geuen to decerne Geue â—are to hyr I saye all you That rule the multytude Whiche in much people haue delight And all thynges should conclude The god that gaue you powre streÌ„gth That lorde I saye most hye Shall serch out all that ye inuente And your
be Vpon vncerteyne staye Their workes as we may se Doe vanysh sone awaye And those contrary wyse That grounde their matter well Their worke shall well aryse And perfectly excell When mariage then is made For ryches or for gouide If goodes and ryches fade The loue doth lose his houlde If beautie eke so gaye The cause be of thy loue When beautie fades away Thy fantsye wyll remoue For if the cause doe quayle Where one the mynde is bent The effect then must fayle What so therin is ment Then vertue shall be best Who so wyll it retayne All other beyng cest She euer doth remayne For beauty beyng gone Whose dwellyng is not sure Dame vertue styll alone For euer wyll endure And when gould hath his ende The causer of muche strife Yet vertue shall extende And garnysh well the lyfe A good rewarde also To louers doth she gyue In kepyng them from wo A quiet lyfe to lyue If mariage then be wrought On vertue buylding loue No suche thing can be sought To stande without remoue Ye that wyll web therfore On vertue set your cure All contraries abhorre So shall your loue be pure For better were the tyme Of death and of the graue Then otherwyse to clyme A wedded loue to haue For goulde doth cause and gayne Contention and vnreste He that hath moste wyll fayne Hym selfe to be the beste And beautie ofte doth brede Mistruste and ielousy But vertue hath no sedâ— Of suche iniquitie Then happy is the loue On vertue whiche is knytte That styll without remoue Continue wyll and sytte Whiche in this lyfe cause is Of prayse and godly fame And also after this Of heauen for the same ⧠Nomen Authoris IN hope I doe endure Of that whiche I intende Hauing my fantsy sure No false thyng to pretende Hope styll dothe me allure At theyr handes whom I serue Lyke goodnes to procure Lo as I doo deserue A godly warnynge to put all men in remembrance of theyr myserable estate and that they are subiecte to death and corruption Syng this as It truthe maye take no trustye holde c. REmember well ye men mortall From whence ye came go ye shall Of earth god made thy shape formâ— And vnto earth thou shalt returne Remember well O man I say Thou art wormes meaâ—e and very clay Thou art none other thys is iust But earth and ashes dung and dust Remember well though thou be young Thou art nought but a sacke of donng Deferre no tyme tyll thou be old For of long lyfe thou hast no hold Remember well though now thou sâ—me As beautyfull as kyng or quene That when thou shalt departe and dyt Thou shalt rot stynke and putrefye Remember well thou dounghyll dyght With garments gay to please mens syght Remember earth thy first estate Thy lyons harte it wyll abate Remember well that thou shalt come At the last day vnto thy dome Wher if thou doe thy selfe exalt In extreme payne remayne thou shalt Remember well I saye aloude Thou earth and ashes be not proude Suche coste on earth why doste bestowe Leue of thy pryde be meke and lowe Remember and in fyne marke this Who so of hym selfe humble is The lorde wyll hym exalte on hye In heauen aboue the sterry skye The faithfull souldiour of Christe desireth assistance of God against his ghostly enemies HEreout O lorde the right request of him that faine would haue redrest the wronges that are so sore increst with in my soule so sore opprest O lord to thee with wofull crye I call for grace and for mercy And if thou helpe not then truly In deadly wo remayn must I. The world the diuell death and hell With great assaultes against me swell Lorde let thy grace in me excell Against their fury fierce and fell O lorde my God to the I praye Suffer me not to goe astraye And haue in mynde the pryce and day Wherwith thou didste my ransome pay Oh haue in mynde thine own great cost And let not this thy payne be lost In the O lorde my trust is most To dwell among thy holy host Thou knowst wherin my help doth staÌ„d Whereuer I be on sea or lande Good lorde put to thy helping hand Saue me from hell that fierce fyre brand ¶ An exhortacion to brotherly loue and vnitie BEholde it is a ioyfull thyng that brethern should continually together haue their good dwelling in concord and in vnitie This godly loue Dauid lykned Vnto that precious vncâ—ion Which descended vpon the head And into the beard of Aron Whiche being powred on his crowne Was euer more styll descendyng And from his beard it dropped downe Into the skirtes of his clothing And as this precious oyntment swete Did smell all of one swete sauour For Christen brethern it is mete To be all of one behauour He that loues God aboue all thyng His neighbour as him selfe lyke wyfe Fulfyls the lawe in so doyng Whiche Christe would haue vs exercyse For where this godly loue doth byde There present is the lorde Iesus Whiche neuer from his flock wyll slyde It they in loue continue thus Loue not y â— world thus faith S. John Ne any thing conteynde therin For who so settes his loue theron The loue of God is not in hym And none can loue the lorde aboue Whom with our eyes we neuer see If we our brethern doe not loue That alway present with vs be Let loue therfore be among vs And from it let vs neuer swarue As we are lovde of Christ Iesus Muche more then euer we deserue The dewe that fell on Syon hyll The whiche descended plesantly Is nothyng lyke this loue vntill Belovde of god etâ—rnally For god from â—yme to tyme doth geue To this loue his holy blessyng For all that doe with loue beleue Shall reigne in ioye without ending He sayth the lorde that loueth me Doth kepe my lawe and holy lore And vnto him geuen shall be A crowne to reigne for euer more Lorde in this loue we thee beseke To set vs in a quiet staye That we beyng louyng and meke May reigne with thee in hlys for aye The iust and true maÌ„ complaineth that flattery and falshod is more regarded then truthe and reioyseth that he is hated for the truthe IF truth may take no trusty hold nor cleue so fast as flattring sence wel may thy harte poore man be colde for then is gone all sure defence The Nyghtyngale must change her note And of the Cucow learne to syng The modest mynde must learne to dote Or conne some other fayued thyng If meanyng well may take no place Nor dealyng iust haue no regarde Thou must deuyse an other space To fayne suche thyngs as may be heard Shall vertue dwell in such disdayne And honestie be had in hate Then must we learne to glose and fayne Orels remayne in vyle estate But yf there be none other way To purchase fauor and good wyll Better it were I dare well saye In vyle
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
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
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
recite What other hurtes your bewtie doth With your apparell proude and lyght Tempting the Irailtie of weake youth Therefore vse nowe meknes and truth This olde sayde sawe may warne you all That pryde wyll surely 〈◊〉 a fall ¶ An inuectiue against the most hatefull vyce enuy ¶ Syng this as Let nowe thy power he great O Lorde c. ALl they that will of enuy here Vnto my song let thâ—â—â— attend If you will â—erne then draw you nere Let enuious meÌ„ their mysse ameÌ„d Vnto my lippes haue good respect And marke what shall from them insue Enuy with blyndnes dothe infect And styll disprayseth dame vertue Within this worlde so full of sinne It is a scabbe sayth Tullius If that suche men as be therin To vertue shall be enuious Oh wicked worlde full of â—nuy Polluted with despight and hate Receiue agayne simplicitie Take loue and banysh all debate Salomon sayth in sapâ—ence I wyll none enuy nor disdeyne Banysh them cleane from my presence Wisdom wyll none suche enterteyne For hatefull enuie is mother Of wycked wordes fond ferce and fell Contrary wyse loue doth couer The wordes whiche are not spoken well Sythe loue then is the remedy Against enuy that wycked vyce Take loue to you continually It is a treasure of great pryce ¶ Agaynst slouthe Syng this as Of Ielousye who so wyll heare MArke and geue eare ye slouthful meÌ„ And to my song geue good respect Aryse out of your drousy dell To Idlenes that are subiect Ryght truly sayde kyng Salomon As smoke the tender eyes offende So slouthfull men are wrathe anon Wyth suche as moue them to amend Go to sayth he thou slouthfull beast Go to and slumber out thy fyll Wyth folded armes lye downe to rest Accordyng to thyne idle wyll As one that iourneyth all day long So pouertie shall on thee lyght And as a souldier fierce and strong Necessitie shall shâ—w her myght But who so is industrious And wyll his labour well apply His increace shall be plâ—ntious And he shall haue abundantly In slouthfull soules thus saith the Lord My wysedome it can taâ—â— no peace Oh be conuerted by Gods word Ye slouthfull men and callâ— for grace Who so to worke no payne wyll take Buâ— liues in slouâ—h thus saith S. Paul His company we must forsake And gâ—ue to hym no meate at all Thus sayth the lord therfore awake Thou that dost slepe and stande vpright Stande vp from death for Christes sake And Christ the â—orâ— shall geue thee lyght ¶ A description of auarice SAint Bernard saith the chariot of auarice is borne on fower wheles of vicâ—s in through which the poore are torne The first is couragâ—â—aynt and fonde The next vngentylnes The thirde contempt of God the fourth Of death forgetfulnes And horses two this chariot drawes That is as muche to saye As Raueny and Nygardshyp Whiche are in it alwaye The Carter whiche dooth dryue them bothe He is a greedye knaue And who so would hys name were knowen It is Desyre to haue That Carter dryueth with a whyp Whych whyp of cordâ—s hath twayne That is Great appetite to get And Lothe to yeld agayne Ryght many of the cart haue scorne And them that cartes doo dryue Yet moste men for to dryue thys cart Thys daye contende and stryue And they that take in most yll part Of carters to beare name Doo dryue thys carâ—e of coâ—etyse And muche delyght the same And suche as weare bothe sylke and golde That strange is for to see Doo sue to master Auarice His carters for to bee Where some were wont with speâ—â—â— shield Theyr countrey to defend Haue layde asyde theyr armour quight And to this carte attend The Clergy whych should preache and teache If they dyd playe theyr parte Doo laye asyde the worde of God And dayly dryue thys carte The Merchant and the learned leche And eke the man of lawe Forsake theyr artes and dayly doo This carte bothe dryue and drawe And they that common carters be Oâ— moste men called so Doo knowe least how to dryue this cart And farthest are therfro Our money as sayth Seneca Ought ay to be our drudge To serue for our necessitie And at our wyll to trudge But yf we as a lady dâ—re Make her our souerayne She wyll not mysse to bryng our soules Into eternall payne God of hys mercy therfore graunâ— This cartynge we may leaue To loue and lyberalytie That we may alway cleaue Free from the thefe and from the moâ—he That we may horde our store Forsakyng gredy auarice And dryue hys carte no more ¶ A dittie of the pen inueiyng against vsury and false dealyng MY pen obey my wyll a whyle till I see good to ende this stile for if all men would sinne abhorre such songs we nede not to compile nor my pen should write so no more If all men of their worde were true Promis to kepe and paye their due What â—â—de had pennes to worke therfore But sythe no whyght wyll truthe ensue Pennes were as good to wryte no more Pennes are abusde and that dayly About all craft and vsury We may well say alas therfore And yet least we make them angry It semes as good to wryte no more Yet let vs shewe the lordes intent Howe thaâ— for gaynes nought should be lent All fashod God wyll plage ryght sore And yet my penne least we be shent It semes as good to wryte no more For all in vayne we speake scripture To suche as wyll in synne endure For they amende neuer the more But hate all godly counsayle pure That warneth them to synne no more Yet if all men with suche pretence Should cease to shewe their conscience They should transgresse gods holy wre Yet sythe none wyll it reuerence It semes as good to wryte no more The scripture thus doth specifie In Dauids psalmee blâ—ssed is he That lendeth freely ryche and poore Without all gayne of vsury Yet doe they vse it styll the more Though some for writing wyl vs blame These crafty men whome we not name These false got 〈…〉 they must 〈◊〉 To those of whom they got the same Or els be damnde for 〈…〉 For though some men haue bene â—â— thys In vsury that dyd amys And haue bene warnde of it before That doo repent yet fewe there ys But rather vse it more and more But sure in hell theyr bed is 〈◊〉 And all that vse of crafte the trade Are lyke the same to rue ryght â—ore In crafte and guyle yet syth they wâ—de It were as good to wryce â—â— more God graunt as in this song is meâ—â— We may amende all and repâ—nt Rootyng out vyce to the harde core To serue the lorde omnipotent In loue and truthe for euermore ¶ An exhortation to wrathfull men Syng this as I am the man whom God c. IF wrathe were paynted out In perfect lyuely hue As coulde Apelles in hys lyfe Wyth colours â—yne and true Or as Demosthenes Deserybe it coulde with â—en
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
thynke no platforme in the worlde Where one myght more aptly The rysyng see and settynges bothe That Cosmike haue to name Acronyke to and Helyak Of starres of noble fame About our Artick pole ye myght The lyttle Beare fyrst see That called are the guardes of those That cunnyng saylers be The great Beare also in the whych Charles wayne appeareth stoute Whych wyth the small Beare euermore Dothe walke the pole about Which Beares the Dragon dothe inuolue Then Bootes and the North Crowne And after knelynge Hercules Is sene with great renowne Harpe falling gryp goate swan and he That vse to dryue the cart The man that dothe the serpent beare The Egle and the dart Dolphin forthers and thother hors That flyes caulde pegasus The tryangle and Androwede As some men doo discusse The zodiake wyth hys .xii. sygnes Where Planets haue theyr waye Wyth all aspects that may bechance To any nyght or day The Bulls eye with the rest of sterres That caulde are Hyades â–ª Myght there be sent wyth the brood henne That some name Pleiades The Manger and the Asses twayne The Lyons hart and tayle The virgins spyke the scorpyons harte And Water potte all hayle Whale Oryon and Golden yarde That ladyes Elle some call The ryuer hare and bothe the dogges As well the great as small The serpent of the southe the Cuppe The Rauen and Centaure The Centaures speare then the wolfe And also the altare The South crowne also may be senâ— Wyth many other there As Tricars Constellation Or â—erenices heare The shyppe that Argo poetes do name There myght a man beholde And many mo then I can name An hundred thousande folde There myght ye see ascensions Bothe oblique and ryght No secretes of Astronâ—mye That were not there in syght And to be briefe it was the ioye Of Lady Vranie Wherin to walke she dyd frequent Wyth all her famylie But as I clymed vp the rocke As I had oft before Of that swete fielde to take the ayre Whyche doth mans sprites restore I mette a mâ—n in garments long Most decent to beholde His long beard gray so was hys head Which dyd declare hym old His countenance in sobernes All others dyd excell His gate and gâ—sture semd ynough All vyces to expell For from the rule of honestye In hym was nothyng sene His outward workes dyd explicate An inwarde conscience cleane He toke me by the hand and sayd Dere frende howe farre away To yonder field father I sayd A whyle my selfe to play My frend alas quod he bewarâ— Howe ye henceforth come there It wyll you els in hell confound Therfore I say forbeare What is your name my father fayre Sayd I doo it disclose Theologus I am quod he Wyth thee I wyll not glose Why then sayd I do ye me warne From yonder plesant place Because quod he it late receaude A chance of great disgrace Howe so sayd Iâ— then harke quod he I doo not vse to lye I wyll the shâ—we howe it befell And that ryght orderly A Heron foule that hunger gutte Of all fowles at hys foode Most rauenous insaciate And of most gredy moode Hard by the dolefull banks of Styx That fowle infernall flood To fyll hys gut or take hys pray Styll watchyng late he stoode Where at the last a serpent yong Of Plutos hatefull kynde Came craulyng out whych gredy gut Coulde very quickly fynde And thynkyng it had ben an â—ele He cobde hym vp at ones And wyth that pray away he flewe And made therof no bones Whyche crepyng in hys belly dyd To hym suche extreme payne Tyll in thys Field at last he lyght Thynkyng there to remayne And foorth wyth at hys fundament Put foorth hys for sayd meate Thynkyng as he was wont wyth eclâ—s The same agayne to eate But beyng quyâ—ke the serpent streight Dyd crepe among the grasse Whyche long necke â—ould no more espy Nâ— yet fynde where she was Wherfore to Styx he went agayne And lykewyse swalowed mo And to this Fielde styll toke hys flyght And there dyd let them go Tyll he at last so many brought Through thys hys frequent vse That now thys Field is marred quight Through most hatefull abuse And suche a numbre of serpents In it doo dayly breede Whych on these herbes pleasant gras Continually doo feede That nowe it is not onely robde Of euery plesant flowre But hatefull stynche may there be felâ— At euery tyme and howre And Vranie hath it forsoke With holsome pleasant showres And naturall Astronomie With all her fauoroures And true Phisyke forsakes it to For why clowdes infernall Are dayly blowne from Lethes floud To water it wythall Which causeth nothing there to grow But Superstition Of learnyng pure and science good The vyle obliuion Astrologye Iudiciall Therfore dothe it possesse Whiche is a strumpet counterfet And yet neuerthelesse Because some learned men to hyâ— Do cast their myndes and loue That she is true Astronomie Ryght many she doth moue And vnder colour of that name They vse Necromancye Wyth hatefull incantations And vyle Geomancye Of Magikes artes there are great store And Augures arte pe rdye Foredemyng as Aruspices And some as Pyrethi All wytchecrafte vyle and Sorâ—ery Of false phytonicus Although they geue themselues the name Of graue Philonicus These are the fruites of phlegiae Or Sathans wycked broode That in thys Fyeld the Heron shyâ— To ease hym when he stoode Alas quod I hath this vncleane And hatefull byrde done so And natures dearlyng thus defaâ—t To hym Vae Vae wo wo. Then am I of my fantasy And my plesant delyght And holsome recreation Robde and depryued quyght Wyth hangyng head and bathfull face I turned backe agayne For grayberds counsell durst I noâ— Refuse or once dysdayne But with most lowly reuerence Wyth thanks and condigne prayse I serued hym when as we went Eche one hys sundry wayes But sorowfull syghyng I Went wyth my sory newes Enformyng my famyliar frendes Wyth whome I dyd peruse My study small wherwyth I doâ— My wytte styll occupy And doo with them communicatâ— My mynde continually Of whyche some dyd sorowfully Wyth me thys chance lament And other some would not beleue But to the place they went Nor would not here Theologus That frendly dyd them warne But nedes would go presumptuously The matter to decearne Whiche hath them so infected now And that most diuelyshly They are content to graunt it styll To be Astronomye And necessary wyll it call Though by the diuels worke Vnder cloke of Astronomye These foule false faytors lorkâ— So I be holpe of griefe say they Or fynde that whiche I loste Or know my desteny to come Why should I count it coste God would not suffer other sayd Suche thynges for to be wrought If he dyd not allowe the same Or knewe it to be naught It is a good worke other sayd Men to health to restore Although it be by dyuels worke What nede I passe therfore To helpe a true man to hys goods
youth thou hast frequented Euery one shall shewe thee hys erronious waye yet shall none of them defend thee ¶ A Ditie declaryng the risyng and setting of the .xii. sygnes of the zodiake one always opposite and goyng down at the same instant that an other ryseth THe Sygnes do ryse and sette At iust instant of tyme Eche hydyng hym selfe when His opposyt dothe clyme For why the Ramme so soone Appeares not in the east But streyght the balance be Gone downe then in the west The Scorpion rysyng The Bull euen then doth fall When twynnes come the Archeâ— On thother syde the Ball Doth passe from vs and so The Crabbe and Goate lykewyse The Lyon and the Water potte Eche fall when thother ryse The Vyrgin in the east No sooner shewes hir face But in Weste the Fyshes Them hyde and so gyue place Thus in lyke order as One in East dothe appere The Opposite sygne then Abstaynes from tarying here Ne yet can one of them Declare hym selfe so bolde Aboue the Horizon His contrary beholde ¶ A Ditie made to the prayse of God by the Author for a pacient to vse after helth attayned who contrary to all mens expectation was in hys handes by the goodnes of God cured Syng thys as Of Ielousye who so wyll heare O Louyng God and myghty Lorde My maker and my gouernour My mouth and heart shall now accorde Thee to worshyp laude and honour As Moses sung thy laude and prayse When through the red sea he had past And Pharao drownde as Scripture sayes As he pursude thy people fast In many Psalmes as Dauid dyd That kyngly Prophet prayse thy name When out of sorowes he was ryd He sung thy prayses for the same As dyd good kyng Ezechias When thou dydst hym to helth restore Makyng hym whole as earst he was To lyue yet full fyftene yeares more As Ionas brought from poynt of death Hym selfe adressed by and by As soone as he could drawe his breathe Thy holy name to magnify And as thy Prophet Daniell From lyons mouthe delyuered For ioye thy prayse and powre dyd tell And Darius the worshipped So doo I wretched synner nowe Hauyng a cause as great as those In thys case execute my vowe Thy mercyes great Lord to disclose Thou bryngest downe to depth of wo Suche as thou myndest to correct And yet thou doste not leaue them so But doste to knowledge them direct As connyes myne and theyr holes make In bankes where they delyght to brede Lyke order dyd my sycknes take Wythin my fleshe so dyd it fede Tyll at last I was consumed And nothyng left but bone and skynne My synncwes shrunke my veynes were fled Not once possyble to be sene Incredible was my weakenes Consumed cleane wyth peyne and griefe But in greatest of my dystres Thy grace was sent to my reliefe Wherfore whyle breath within my breast May moue I shall thy prayse declare And wyll shewe foorth to most and least Howe swete thy grace and mercies are And howe at nede thou art hand To helpe all that in thee doo trust And makest vs to vnderstand Howe faythfull thou art and how iust My holowe caues are fyllde agayn Those runnyngsores are whole and drye And I in ease ryd out of payne In health and strength ryght perfectly All honour prayse and great glory To thee therfore I styll shall gyue And wyll not put from memory Thy grace and mercyes whyle I lyue But wyll all other folke exhorte By all occasyons as I may To trust in thee to theyr comforte And faythfully moue them to pray All honour therfore I render To thee God that of myght hast most O Father with thy sonne so dere And also to the holy ghost As hath ben is and shal be styll To worlde of worldes for euermore Where angels euer with good wyll Doo prayse thee styll out of theyr stor◠¶ An other Ditie to the same purpose and vse IF any man front wo And payne restorde to ease When griefe is gone hym fro With sycknesse and dysease Haue cause with prayse To laude thy name And shewe the same Wyth thankes always Then I most wretched wyght Of all folke most am bounde To cause bothe daye and nyght Hys prayses to abounde Whyche at thys day Haue had reliefe From all my griefe Wherin I lay My pynyng payne and sore Incomparable was As beastes in payne doo rore So dyd I wretche alas Almoste tyll death Would me haue caught At me he raught To stoppe my breath For as a carkas dead I lay in wo and care I coulde not eate my bread So faynt was I â—nd bare But nowe beholde Howe God my Lorde Hath me restorde A thousand folde For where before his rod I carelesse was and wylde Forgettyng my swete God With all his mercies myld I nowe am taught To prayse hys powre And kepe eche howre The same in thought Thus may we dayly see He scurgeth vs for loue True christians to be His mercie dothe vs moue And euer styll Dothe vs procure Ay to indure To doo hys wyll Wherfore I wyll not cease On earthe here whyle I dwell Hys kyndnes to rehearse And of hys mercyes tell And howe that he When hope was past Yet at the last Restored me All godly men therfore That in hym hope and truste Prayse hym with all honour For he is true and iuste And wyll not mysse To helpe at nede And that wyth spede All that are hys Se that both day and nyght Whether ye worke or rest Ye prayse hym for hys myght All creatures moste and least Whether ye play Lye downe or ryse Styll exercise His prayse alway Whether ye syt or stande Whether ye ryde or go On sea or on the lande What so euer ye doo Whether therfore Ye drynke or eate After your meate And eke before All honour to hym gyue For he vs wrought and made And causeth vs to lyue Eche ereature in his trade And dothe gouerne As shypmayster Dothe guyde and stere His shyppe wyth sterne With all our myght and strength Let vs hym magnifie Whych saueth all at length That loue hym faythfully Wherfore all thyng Wyth hart and voyce In hym reioyce And thys wyse syng Glory to the father God that of myght hath moste And to the sonne so dere And to the holy ghoste As hath ben yâ—re Is and styll shall Be ouer all For euermore Amen ¶ A ditie to be sung of musiciens in the mornyng at theyr lord or masters chamber doore orels where of hym to be heard THe hauning day begins to glare And Lucifer doth shine on hie And saith that Phebus doth prepare To show him selfe immediatly And the most darke tenebrous nyght Is fayne to flee and turne her backe Whyche can in no wyse bbyde the lyght But beares away hir mantle blacke Wherfore in tyme let vs aryse And slouthfulnes doo cleane away Doyng some godly exercyse As seruantes true whyle it is day Let vs in no wyse tyme abuse Whyche is gods creature excellent
frendes thou couldest none fynd But I whych on a crosse was rent Why art thou to thy frend vnkynd Thus I lovde thee but whom lovst thou I am thy frend why wylt thou fayn I gaue thee lyfe and thou me slew Who parted thus our loue in twayn Turne thee to me bethynke thee how Thou hast done yll come home agayne And thou shalt be as welcome now As he that free from synne dyd raigne Thynke howe dyd Mary Magdaleyn What sayd I to Thomas of Inde I grant the blysse why wylt thou payne And art thus to thy frend vnkynde Of frends I am the beste and chiefe Thou wylt me neyther dreade nor please Of thy true loue to se a prefe My loue to thee would much increase For thy mysdedes I suffred grefe And thou dydst me that same disease Hanged I was most lyke a thefe I suffred death thy payne to cease Yet to loue me thou dost not prease Nor bearest not my payn in mynde But seekst Idols in thy dysease To me why art thou so vnkynde Vnkynd for thou hast slayn thy Lord And euery day dost wound hym newe If thou be brought vnto accord Of couenant made thou art vntrue To thy old synne thou dost resorte Thou louest vyce hatyng vertue All false Idols that I abborde To honour thou wylt not eschue But to my lyuely Image true The poore the halt the lame and blynd To offer thou wyle not insue But rather art to them vnkynd Thryse dyd the fiend tempt me truly And thou doste tempt me day by day Wyth syane and vyce most wyckedly To stirre my wrath thou wylt assay Thou dost as who so would me buye As false Iudas dyd me betraye For at my workes thou hast enuye There is nothyng that would thee stay If thou on me myghtst as I may Full cruelly thou wouldest me bynd If I forgyue thee thou sayste nay Why art thou to thy frend vnkynd ¶ A Ditie warnyng all townes and liberties to chose theyr gouernours for vertue wysedom and lernyng and by all meanes laudable to kepe from rule the proude enuious and wylfull wycked men lest the prince be dishonored and they them selues abused and oppressed ¶ Syng this as If truth may take no trusty hold c. VVher pride doth hold the helme in hand The shyp to rule by wylfull wyll Oft tymes we see on rocke or sand Both shyp and goods do ioyntly spyll As Phaeton prowde most wylfully Hys father Phebus charyot Would prease to rule tyll foolyshly He nygh spylde all suche was hys lot Wherby as Ouide playne doth tell The wrathe of Ioue he did proueke In floud of Po hym downe to fell Wyth dreadfull dynt of thunder stroke The lyke thyng may be sene â—â—he day In shyp of publike gouernance Where onely pryde and wyll beare sway Sekyng all discorde to aduance For reason there is caâ—tiuate Reâ—ect and cast cut as a slaue Tyll theyr owne swynge doth bring the quade Whose end doth shew how much they râ—ue Wherfore yf I myght counsell geue When as the matter lyes in choyce Blynde ignorance should not acheue To wyn to rule by common voyce For by theyr rude and â—onde abuse The prince they doo dishonor muche And subiectes poore they muche mysuse Of pryde and wyll the fruites are suche Then best it is for to reiect The blynde the ignorant and rude And vertues chiefly to respect And wysely so your choyce conclude If that ye knewe the difference Betwene the wyse and learned men And rude vnlearned negligence Muche more respect ye would haue then For loke howe farre a lusty wyght That can doo all actiuitie As go runne wrestle playe and fyght Dothe styll surmount in eche degree The infant yong that can not go But muste of force be led or borne So farre extendeth learnyng lo The rude and ignorant forlorne He that in all his lyfe and dayes His owne affections can not rule But beastly is in all his wayes As any saluage horse or mule Or he that hys house howe to guyde Or household yet coulde neuer tell Can such be mete at any tyde A towne of folke to gouerne well Haue this therfore before your eyes Whom hencefoorth ye doo chose or take Vertue imbrace and vyce despyse A ryght good choyce so shall ye make Esteme hym euer as moste yll Whiche by his froward mynde vniust Despysyng lawe wyll maynteyue wyll To lay good order in the dust If any man perceaue this case Or haue experience of this cry me Vertue hencefoorth let hym imbrace And take more hede an other tyme. ¶ A briefe description of wysedom and folly in gouernance VVHere wysedome beareth sayle In shyp of common wealth Lyke are they not to fayle Lawe loue good hope and health Iustyce shall there auayle All wrong to ouerthrowe Men dyng both hygh and lowe In lyke wyse and maner Of folly to defyne Ryght may no rule beare there Debate so doth enclyne And peace can there be none Ye may therof be sure Nothyng but payne and mone Euer doo fooles procure ¶ A briefe Description of truthe and falsehode TRuthe shall triumph and falshode fayle Hope in the Lord so hath vs taught Of falshode shall the cunnyng quayle Most when she hath her malice wrought As of the truth it is the guyse Suppresiyng wrong and then to ryse Why then doth falshode make her bost Of her dedes as they should endure Only a whyle they rule the rost Doubtles theyr buyldynges are not sure Myschief to doo they men allure And yet is all that they inuent Nothyng stable ne permanent ¶ An exhortation to truthe fayth and vertue EXamyn well thyne inward spryte Directe thy wayes with perfectnes Make streyght the thynges that are not right Vexe not thy frend with vnkyndnes No lye for gayne see that thou make Do nothyng yll for frendshyp sake Haue styll in mynde the truth which sayth All thynges are vayne that haue an ende Let all thy workes be done in fayth Lyke that whpch Christ doth most commend ¶ A de scription of mans lyfe both in his owne affections and vertues VVE may by profe behold and see In thys world what is mans delyghte Lewde is our lyfe naturally Lacke yf we doo gods holy sprite Iniurie hate wrath and despyghte All that to payne shall vs procute Most we frequent and put in vre In vertue yâ—t those that doo dwell Occasyons yll they wyll eschue Remembryng that suche as doo well Doubtles the Lorde wyll them endue All goodnes that they may ensue Yea and them kepe so safe and sound None ill shall them hurte or embrace Endeuoryng styll iust to be found A frendly aduertisement REioyce in him that did thee make In weith and we haue him in mynde Conceaue none ill all vyce forsake Helth in thy soule so shalt thou fynde And whâ—re thou art a louyng frynde Reuoke it not but stay thee there Decaye no loue but hate forbere To proued frendes commit thy trust And â—lee from suche as fayne