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
wrynge Neither can it be coumpted les In sorowe for to synge As when the Iewes in Babylon Where they were captiue all Commaunded were to playe and synge Of suche as made them thrall Which vaine request of their great foes These miserable Iewes Would not accomplyshe in no wyse But did the same refuse They hangde asyde their instrumentes And laide their songes awaye And knewe it was not tyme to synge But rather for to praye That god would them delyuer once From that their bondage vyle Wherin they had bene punyshed A long and wery whyle But after thre score and tenne yeres When God them home had broughte With holy psalmes to prayse his name They diligently sought And in remembrance of the wo And bondage where they were And ioye of their deliuerance They songe as ye shall here Super flumina Babilonis ONce as we by the ryuers sate That runne in Babylon With bytter teares waylyng our wo When we thought on Sion We layde a syde our thankfull tunes Of honour laude and prayse And hung our harpes on wylow trees That grew there in those dayes Therfore our foes whiche to that land As captiues did vs bryng The more our sorowes to augmente Required vs to sing Cōmaunding vs with spightful scorne And great derision Sing vs quod they some hebrue songs Of your blessed Sion As though it were conuenient Contrary to gods wyll Suche vayne preceptes of wycked men To felowe or fulfyll In suche a lande gods laude to singe With songes of his swete worde Where Images the honor haue That due is to the lorde If euer we Ierusalem So from our myndes consume We wysh our right handes might forget Our harpes to touche in tune And that our tongues within our mouth May cleue we are content When we should vtter any thyng That mynde may vs inuente Thy prayses oh Ierusalem If we preferre not styll Before the moste or greatest ioye That hap may vs vntyll These Edomytes our enemyes Oh lorde remember them Their wyckednes when they destroyde Thyne owne Ierusalem Among them selues thus gan they say Our citie to confounde Destroye and sacke it down with it And rase it to the grounde And thou O daughter Babylon Well worthy of no les Thy mirthe shall turne to misery And thy ioye to distres And he shall be a happy man That with suche lyke agayne Shall the rewarde as thou didst vs With great reprofe and payne Ye blessed shall he be in dede That shall rewarde the once In takyng of thy suckyng babes And dashe them to the stones ¶ An example of Gods prayse for his great care ouer his elect in disapointing their enemies delyueringe them out of the Cxl. Psalme VVHat can the mortall man Inuente deuyse or skan Against the wyll of god Or howe can we withstande Of god the heuy hande His myghty plague and rod What nede we then to care What wicked men prepare With crafte vs to destroye Sythe god the Lorde of all Can bryng vs out of thrall And turne our care to ioye The noble kyng Dauid The lyke thyng hath proued That who so feare the lorde There shall no wyght preuayle Though they doe vs assayle With workes of god abhorde For in his tyme of nede He prayed with all spede To god for helpe and ayde As it doth folowe here And ryght well doth appere What he therin hath sayde Eripe me domine DEliuer me O Lorde Accordyng to thy worde Lorde let me not be shent On me some pitie haue From subtyle wayghtes me saue Of enmies violent In heart they thynke myschiefe And seke to doe me griefe Their tongues they whet so sharpe As aders venym vyle That they may vs begnyle Full wycked wyles they warpe Kepe me O lorde therfore From enmies euer more Whiche wicked be and ill Thy helpe let me not wante For they would me supplante From doyng of thy wyll These proude men they haue sette For me a pryuy nette Where I should out and in Yea and in my pathwaye My soule for to betraye They laye bothe snare and gyn Lorde therfore haue I sayde Thou art myne only ayde Lorde here my depe desyre O Lorde thou art my welth O God my sauing health Graunt me that I require Let not these men vnpure On me take their pleasure Distroye their ill intente They are so proude and haulte That they them selues exalte Therfore let them be shente I meane suche men as be Of their great subtiltie At no tyme vnpreparde Lorde in their owne deceyte Wherwith they layde suche weyke 〈◊〉 their owne fete be snarde Let coles of fyre fall downe And cast them on their crowne And throwe them into hell From whence howe for to ryse There is no tongue so wyse That can them rede or tell Let nothyng prosper well On earth where suche men dwell Reproue their ryche renowne To mischiefe they be wunte With plages therfore them hunte And hedlong throw them downe I knowe the lorde will wounde And viterly confounde All men to pryde adicte And wyll auenge in dede The poore that stande in nede And are thus sore afflicte The ryghteous verely Shall prayse and magnifie Thy holy name therfore The heartes of pure pretence Shall dwell in thy presence Good lorde for euer more ¶ An example howe to prayse God for his almyghty powre and gentylnes Out of the Cxlv. Psalme AS he that would set forth to men The prayse of some good kyng To cause his subiec tes hym to loue And obey in all thynge Doth shew to them his great goodnes His powre and all his myghte That therby he may cause all folke In him to haue delyght And also that his enemies The more may stande in feare And where perhaps they would rebell To cause them to forbeare So Dauid doth gods glory shewe And powre omnipente To make harde hartes that feare not god To soften and relente That they myght come in vnitie Of God and of his lawe And leaueth no good meanes vnsought Them to intyse and drawe That vniformely mortall men Whiche in this worlde doe dwell Myght all agree praysinge the lorde And in vertue excell Whiche if ye staye or stande in doubte Howe to begynne this game Take here a Psalme which will instruct And leade you in the same Exaltabo te deus O God that arte myne only kyng I wyll thee magnify and so set forth thy laude praise To dure eternally From daye to daye euen euery daye Great thankes I wyll thee gyue And prayse thy name for euer more Whyle I haue tyme to lyue Great is the Lorde and meruaylous And worthy of all prayse There is no ende of his greatnes Or magnificent wayes From tyme to tyme for euer more Eche generation To others shall thy powre declare And thy workes evry one And as for me myne only talke Shall worshyp styll thy name Thy glory and thy wondrous workes And prayse the for the same Men of thy workes so meruaylous To speake shall haue
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
and excesse And none can cause them to conuert Wherfore I crye in heauines Lord Christ helpe evry wofull heart Who reigneth nowe but pryde alone Eche man in his owne sight is wyse And graue councell regardeth none But rather doth doctrine despyse Dissimulation and lewde lyes Is nowe excepted as an arte Whiche made me crye out in this wyse Lord Christ helpe evry wofull hart Suche are most wyse and honest now As sonest can their friendes beguyle Suche doth the most sorte best allowe Whose talke is fayre dedes most vyle Simplicitie is in exyle And as for truthe can make no marte Which made me morne crie this whyle Lorde Christ helpe evry wofull harte Gods worde both to and fro is toste As men doe with a tenis ball And wrested from pyller â—o poste To serue mens tourne for sinne and all But fewe from wickednes doe fall In godlynes to doe their parte Wherfore thus crie I euer shall Lorde Christe helpe evry wofull hearte Of wexe they make scripture a nose To turne and wryng it evry waye With many a false and filthy glose Suche as by errors walke astraye The same doe wrythe soules to betraye And from the truthe doe them peruerte Wherfore I shall crye day by daye Lord Christ helpe evry wofull hearte No error synce Christe did ascend But nowe it starteth stoutly forth The seamles coate of Christe is tend And vnitie is nothing worth Wherfore plentie is tournd to dearth And many plagues shall make vs smart Wherfore my crie styll forward goeth Lorde Christe helpe evry wofull heart But sure such hartes as here haue wo And in this worlde doe mone and morne The lorde Christe hath promysed so That they shall ioye his face beforne When suche as here deryde and scorne Shall suffer sorowe for their parte Which â—ewdly haue them selues forlorne Lorde Christe helpe evry wofull hearte Wo be to you that here reioyce Ye shall hereafter wepe and wayle For that ye would not heare the voyce Of Gods worde for your owne aâ—ayle Which although heaueÌ„ earth doe falle Shall styll remayne and byde in quarte Wherfore my voyce shall neuer fayle Lord Christ helpe evry wofull harte For all the byrdes with mery songe And the bryght shyning of the sonne And plesant floures I went among FroÌ„ wo my hearte myght not be wonne To see what worldly men had done For all doe ryde in sinne his carte Wherfore I ende as I begonne Lorde Christe helpe evry wofull hearte Amen ¶ A ditie named blame not my lute whiche vnder that title toucheth replieth and rebuketh the wycked state and enormities of most people in these present miserable dapes BLame not my lute though it doe sounde the rebuke of your wicked sinne but rather seke as ye are bound to know what case that ye are in And though this song doe sinne coÌ„fute and sharply wyckednes rebuke blame not my lute My lute and I sythe truth we tell Meanyng no good man to offâ—nde Me thynke of ryght none should refell The godlynes that we intend But muche rather if they haue grace They will our good counsell imbrace Then blame my lute Although my lute with sentence playn Rebuke all suche as fayne and glose With flatterers and lyces vayne That truthe to falshod can transpose Ye though we sharply speake and syng Against false and craftie wynnyng Blame not my lute And if my lute sound in your eare The priuy hate and larke of loue And howe ye should sclander forbeare Syth gods word doth ill toÌ„gues reproue Though as saint Iames we doe expresse The same a worlde of wickednes Blame not my lute Though my lute doe expres and show That prayet and holy fasting Is tourned nowe with hyghe and low To vncleane talke and banqueting Although we saye that chastitie Be gone and in place lecherie Blame not my lute Though with their own fewe be coÌ„tent Chastly to lyue with one good make But rather the moste part be bent Their constant vowe for to forsake Though some in Sodom rather byde Then honest mariage to prouide Blame not my lute If my lute blame the couetyse The glottons and the drunkards vyle The proud dysdayne of worldly wyse And howe falshod doth truth exyle Though vyce and sinne be nowe in place In sted of vertue and of grace Blame not my lute Though wrong in iustice place be set Committing great iniquitie Though hipocrites be counted great That mainteine styll idolatrie Though some set more by thynges of nought Then by the lorde that all hath wrought Blame not my lute Although eche man finde faulte with other And no man will him selfe acuse But eche man blameth his brother Though he him selfe as great faulte vse Though we see none their owne fault fynde Nor call repentance vnto mynde Blame not my lute Though my lute say that suche as preache And should men leade in wayes directe Doe lyue amys though truth they teache Whiche causeth truth to be suspect Though my lute say suche cause offence Through their great slouth and negligence Blame not my lute Though some gods worde doe still despyse For beggetly traditions Aduancing highly fayned lyes Of mens imaginations Although my lute doe suche accuse As by errors gods worde abuse Blame not my lute Although we see the clergie slack Wrong wayes by ryght for to redres Though some also goe rather back Then procede forth in righteousnes Although we saye that auarice Doth stop the mouthe and choke the wyse Blame not my lute Though offendors be borne withall Although the wolues in corners lurke That haue and will the lambes make thrall And daily doe their false seates worke Though whispryng treason in the eare Burst out somtyme without all feare Blame not my lute Though some also abuse the lute With sinfull songes of lechery Though some goe forth as beastes brute In false treason and trechery Though at eche sermon we may see Gods holy worde scorned to be Blame not my lute Blame not my lute I you desyre But blame the cause that we thus playe For burnyng heate blame not the fyre But hym that blowth the cole alway â–ª Blame ye the cause blame ye not vs That we meÌ„s faultes haue touched thus Blame not my lute Blame not my lute nor blame not me Although it sound against your sinne But rather seeke for to be free From suche abuse as ye are in Although we warne you to repent Whiche grant you God omnipotent Blame not my lute ¶ A song of the lute in the prayse of God and disprayse of Idolatrie ¶ Syng this as My pen obey c. MY lute awake and prayse the lord My heart and haÌ„des therto accord Agreing as we haue begon To syng out of gods holy worde And so procede tyll we haue done Prayse we the lord in this our song And syng it Christen men among That in a godly race doe ronne The whiche although it be not long Shall be right good or it be donne This
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
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
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
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