Yea while her silent heart doth thankes record Her restlesse notes do reach beyond the skie VVhose endlesse ioy was in her gratious Lord. To him in hymnes and tuned psalmodie VVhich did transmute her mones to melodie shee giues the glorie of her victories As David when he foyld his enemies The mighty Lord saith shee Is my defence and might My king my guide my God My champion for to fight The combate of my truth and conscience triall He is my Anchor-hold My refuge rest and port My horne of saving health and eke my strongest fort Gainst whose coÌ„mand there standeth no denial VVhen over-flowing floodes Of raging fierce despight And great commaund of Lordes And men of power and might With dreadful threats of death did make me quiver I did implore his aide In deepenesse of distresse VVho heard my â—ust complaint And wrought my due redresse He sent me aide and did my soule deliver On him therefore I will In danger crie and call VVho can both heere and helpe He heeres and helpeth all He none but he is worthie to be praised Deathes swallowing sorrowes hem'd Me round on ev'rie side VVith renting paines of hel In danger to haue dide But he my life from ravening graâ—e hath raised He from my strongest foes Hath set me captiue free Because he had a loue And favour vnto me WhoÌ„ cunningly they sought to haue prevented But while he held me vp I could not swaie nor swarue They sought in vaine to spill The thing he did preserue And so to late their labour lost repented By him I made escape From handes of Tyrantes stout His power did put them downe And helpe his hand-maide out That power also will strongly keep them vnder He trampleth with his feete Bold traitours that rebell He makes their hurtfull tongues Their owne destruction tell Thus for his saintes he acteth workes of wonder VVhose workes are all divine VVhose mercies manifold His waies past finding out his word as finest gold His iudgement iust his providence vnspotted O let thine arme O Lord My feeble hand susteine O let thy holy sp'rite VVithin my heart remaine O let thy loue be still to me allotted I looke with wakefull eles Vnto thine holy lawes Thy statutes are my staffe And stay in ev'ry cause To doe thy will my will I finde affected That which I see is ill And hatefull in thy sight That doe I seeke to shun And flie with maine and might Least that my soule by sin should be infected Thou art a living God O blest be thou my king VVhich hast thy servant freed From tempting Sathans sting And reard my fame on high by wicked wroÌ„ged And hast confounded them That sought my greatest ill By working of my heart Vnto a wicked will To act such lewd designes as lust had longed They fought to end my life And gaue me doome to die Because my holy faith I would not falsifie Pretending right they worke what wrong them listed They vsed power to put Integritie to shame And ment an innocent To burie in defame Hadst thou not Lord their iudgement false resisted Thus hast thou bin my God Most mercifull to me Not wonne by my desert But of thy mercie free My workes I know deserue to be reiected But thy kinde promise made To helpe the godlie heartes Doth binde thee more then all Our deedes or good desertes To keepe protect and saue thy saintes elected Therefore I will sowne foorth Thy praise to ev'rie eare And shew thine endlesse power To nations farre and neere To Sathans and his kingdomes great confusion I haue bin am and will Remaine thine handmaide still Mine heart my thoughtes mine eies Shall waite vpon thy will This is my vow and setled resolution Thus did shee spend her following time of life In heavens contemplation and delight And lived long a ioious happie wife Of passing cariage and a worthie wight A foe to frawd and fastest friend to right VVho living in the world no worldling was But prest to bring a world of good to passe And as a bird escaped from the ginne Thinkes ev'ry bended twigge to be a trappe So shee that dangerously had snared bin VVith true remembrance of her former hap Surveâ—es her steppes to shunne each afterclap And feares to giue a fawning eie good grace In old or young in noble or in base At length when age had plotted lifes decay And sicknesse wrought in weakenesse more and more And that shee thought death had no long delay Shee cald her children taught in godlie lore And did bestow these precepts kept in store VVho come in place with dutious loving hearts Shee thus to them her carefull minde impartes Deare children cease with sad lamenting griefe And malancholicke moanes to waile my state Your sobbing hearts doe yeeld me no reliefe But vexing torments in my heart innate Leaue then for plaintes and teares are not in date No no if they could life in body hold VVeaye would weepe we would buy teares for gold But vaine it is to kicke against a pricke And sinne to take Gods scourge impatiently My debt to death to pay I must not sticke For why you know that all are borne to die Then must I yeeld for ther's no remedie And pay my due that I to nature owe For time requires and God will haue it so The strongest Lyon stoopes to conqu'ring death The aged oake at length doth change his hue In time the long liv'd Phoenix leeseth breath Thrice aged Enoch yeeldes to natures due Sith then tis so and what I saie is true And time doth trie that all things must decaie Then sure I know I haue not long to staie Therefore marke well the counsaile that I giue Revolue it in your mindes my children deere For it shall most prevaile if that you liue VVhen friends and worldly goods you haue not heere First worship God and to his lawes giue eare Set him your load-starre and your lampe of light His lawes the line to lead your liues aright Vse diligence in doing of your dueties To those superiours rulers over you Doe good to all bend thereto all your studies Sing not the Syrens song that proues vntrue Though trothlesse Absalon be faire in view VVith Ionathan doe faithfull still remaine Shun Ismaels bloudie teares and subtill braine Plaie not the cowards in your countries good Spend in her canse your deerest breath and wealth And though prosperitie hath you withstood And frowning world denies gal-sugred pelfe Be not dismaide esteeme your heav'nlie health For that shall yeeld you comfort in distresse VVhen world and friends haue left you comfortlesse Flie still aspiring mindes yet seeke renowne VVin it by vertue and by manly might Franke not rebellious flesh but keepe it downe Like not those painted dames that doe delight Lyllies are fowle in smell though faire in sight And though they tice with baites with teeres with moanes Yet minde that painted tombes haue rotten bones My sonnes if you must liue in wedlocke bandes Loue for vertue
Heere now and helpe thy handmaide helpe For helpe of man doth faile Doe not expose me for their pray Because they doe not right But hunt in heart to bring about That's hatefull in thy sight And of a meere malicious minde False witnesse heere haue brought And causlesse laid vnto my chardge The things I never thought Thou seest my God vvhat they haue done Thou seest their envious heart Thou knowst they sought to lawlesse lust Thine hand-maide to convert Thou knowst I dread not dâ—ring death No force his might a pin No no I doe desire to die A better life to win I tender not faire beauties trash I tender my good name Least leesing life I be by death Entombed in defame For this cause rise O Lord make hast Repell my soules despight And shew the nations farre and neere How much thou tendrest right I know my sinnes are passing great VVhich acted are each hower Yet let my teeres thy mercy treate And shield me with thy power If no defamed wretch I die For keeping of thy law And causlesse thou shalt seeme my God Thy comfort to withdraw Hast then O Lord make hast I say Least guiltlesse blood be spilt Yet not my will be done in this But be it as thou vvilt VVhen shee her godly oraysons had ended And that no meanes was left to make delay The fawning officers in court attended VVith prophane handes to hale her thence away And though shee were as readie to obey Yet still this soare doth smart in guiltlesse minde That shee should leaue an ill report behinde VVhen once the streetes did act this tragaedie Vaultes and resounding Ecchoes from the stones Reporte the mothers teeres her childrens crie Her parentes plaintes her husbandes hideous moanes Her kinfolkes sighes her friendes heart-breaking grones The peoples pleading tongues to God to free her VVhile thicke tumultuous troopes doe run to see her VVho passing foorth with passing seemely port Her looke abated with her languishment Shee doth the gazing lookers on exhort Good people pray for me poore innocent Thats gultlesse faultlesse free from al intent Of this misdeede for which weake wretch I die VVhome still with deepest hate I did defie VVhile thus with plaintes they doe Gods aide implore The Lord did heere and helpe her wofull case For as when tyrant Pharaoh scepter bore A Pharaoh fierce that knew not Iosâ—phes face And did the Israelites oppresse long space They being tyred with his tirannie In deepest griefe vnto Gods favor flie VVho when their moanes did mount vnto his sight Dâ—d single foorth their speedy preservation From Pharaos traine a courtly trained wight Moses an Hebrew borne by education His daughters sonne which bred his estimation So now God seeing Susans great distresse Ev'n in the nicke did speede her due redresse For in the Chaldean court did then attend A noble Iew a youngling for his yeares The monarches mynion and his chiefest friend One of his sage and sharpest â—ighted Seeres In which high feate he past his graue compeeres While Isrels God did reare his fortunes hie To beare a stroake in Asias maiestie He Daniel cleaped by his natiue name The Chaldees cald him noble Balthazar VVhom neither courtly glee nor phrase of fame Could in faire Sions zeale ought make or marre But would to keepe the captiue Iewes from iar In private sort at times repaire and prie Into his brethernes state with wakefull eie And standing now in this tumultuous thronge Hee saw blinde zeale imployd in good pretence VVhat time Gods truth enform'd him of the wrong And raisd his sp'rite to speake in her defence Bad him be bold to plead her innocence Step foorth in place doe not thy thoughtes conceale Cry out amaine from divellish doome appeale Then Daniell as the Lord commaunded him Cride in the streetes I from this blood am cleane VVhile gazing heerers looked sowre and grim To muse what these vnlook'd for wordes should meane Fowle toades sâ—ith he infect the christall streame Because you would the streame farre purer finde You kill the fish but leaue the toades behinde Are you such sots O seede of Israell Are you so blind you see not what you do Are you so deafe you heare not what they tel Know you not right and what bee longes thearto Survey you not your steppes before you goe Whie haue yov heere condemnd this dame to dies And would not heere her iust appeale and crie O turne with speed turne to the iudgment seate And then behould what God will thear relate Your seviors sinnes haue growne exceeding â—greate Repelled lust ingendring with foule hate In them the bastard periurie begate Bold periurie did breed false witnesse bearing False witnesse wrested iudgmente by for-swearing At which his wordes the people yonge and olde Do make a stand and backwardes thence retire Whear daunting sins the seniours heartes make cold While daunger woundes the depth of their desire Yet past shams bowndes their shamlesse thoughts aspire And foorth they passe into the sessions hall And hide in crabbed brow their conscience gaule The elders of this circumsized race Which with repriued pris'nour turne a ge'n When ev'rie one had ta'ne his vsuall place They say vnto this stately stripling then Vse thou the roome of these malitious men Declare to vs Gods iudgmente and decree Sith God hath giv'n an elders spirite to thee Then Daniell tooke the powerfull place of life And thear to intimate God will to all Where are quoth he the wrongers of this wife Put them a parte out of each others call And bring forth one by one in to the hall So you shall see their tray trouse tonges reveale What wicked heartes do cover and conceale The formall officers performe his mind And brought forth one to be examined Who lookd like murthrous marked Cain vnkind When brothers blood he guiltlessely had shed His colour shew'd what harbord in his head His ioyntes as if vnioynted were at iarre False iudge now pris'ner pleading at the barre And standing thus before the balefull bench The beardlesse iudge to checke him vncontrold That conscience as a cooling carde-might quench The heate of his bravado overbold Saith thou sin seasned wretch that waxest olde In sin thy wicked life is come to light Whose falshood harmed manie a harmlesse wight Thou hast abus'd thy life God lent to thee To mend thy life and passed sins repent For nothing but oppressions he could see Therefore he will thie glorie from thee rent Which hast condemn'd to death an innocent And let the guiltie goe for giftes a way VVhile lust and bribes did blind thee day by day Sith sworne thou hast eie witnesse thou didst see This comely dame with her companion sin Report the trurh and name to vs the tree That hid the fact you did surprise them in Pause not but speake if wordes shall creadit win Be briefe let not oblivion beare the blot Things done so late are not so soone forgot Then pawsing twixt despaire and tyred hope As one that had
Sometimes the matter naked wanteth wordes Sometimes good matters mar'd When ill contriv'd they say Sometimes the sence a caffling cause affordes Sometimes a sentence or affectate wordes A tedious stirre for in Philautus brawle There scapeâ— not one hee hath about withall Saith one of these the note is iust Mongst men of better note Our sharpest wittes that climbe the sceane of fame In vainest follies leese Themselues and vainely dote Doe spend much art for to deserue much blame While they some idle-dreamed phancie frame And leaue their workes a witnesse firme and stable VVhat time they lost in hatching of a â—able Great pittie sure that learned men Of great and rare conceate Should so these braue habilities debase That while they stretch them out To proofe to shew them great The praise of their imploimentes in this case Is voide of praise and hath this onelie grace That they haue wiâ—ely tolde a foolish tale And smoothly set a long made lie to sale And yet this inconvenience great Might finde some faire excuse If drift of their discourse at vertue aymed For oft in fables foldes Trimme morall truth doth vse But when the worke is matter meerely feigned And ende thereof deserues to be disdeigned The writer merites pitie more then praise And worke vnworthy presse fit flames to raise Thus surelie speakes this Censurer And doth his thoughtes reveale As if some sterne Dictator thundred lawes From whom on paine of death Vnlawfull to appeale Yet did not well bethinke him in his pawse For though a story true doth grace his cause He paintes it out with colours of invention And giues it wordes to fit his owne intention Which if the Censor vse himselfe Thy selfe maist vse the same Whose levill aymeth at as vertuous end And to reduce the worke And story into frame By reasons rule the whole discourse is pend And hath no cause the godly to offend Or grieue the good vnlesse some harsh divine Against his sacred Poems will repine An other sort of snarling mates Do pester ev'ry age Who will be critickes though they guide the cart And censure workes of weight Quoat faultes in every page Depraue the wittes of men of best desart And iudge of all by envie not by arte Who more doth mallice art then artlesse braine Who byteth worse then Beviâ—s in his vaine High spirited Homer matchlesse man A baggage deem'd a blocke And did with bitter tauntes his workes deface Of Virgilleâ— dainetie vaine Could Mevius frame a mocke Inferring that he filch'd his chiefest grace By treading in the tract of Homers trace Or from the fruites of Hesiods happie braine And Theocâ—ite the Syracusian swaine Thus to obscure the merâ—iest crie Where deepe-mouth'd hounds doe go Each time hath bawling curres that barke and howle Which sith tis so hath bin And ever will be so Of learned rest secure well train'd in schoole Thou must not feare the â—lout of every foole Who in a prating vaine though thou repine Will blame whole bookes but cannot mend a line C. A. R. WHat time the iudge severe sin-scourdging God CoÌ„peld to change the course that mercy ment Withdrew his favour and drew forth his rod To punish those that knew not to repent That time ingrate-full Iuda iudgement had To die or suffer bondage even as bad For when they scornd the heav'nly herauldes sent To summon them back-sliders to the Lord Crying with yernefull voice Amend repent Else hoattest wrath will follow this his word Eâ—se will too late repentance plead for grace When mercie flies and iustice holdes the place When hardned heartes could not become so wise By others harmes to learne their owne beware While fresh record presented to their eies Ten brethren tribes subdude to slavish care Whom the Assirian monarch did subdue And made of freemen borne a captiue crue When eke they were vnmindefull how their king Younge Ieconias but nine yeares before And thousandes moe the sanctus blacke did sing What time they did their dismall day deplore While captiues thence in bondage led to dwell They crying weeping schreeching say farewell When princes rulers priestes and people base Exceeded farre all heathen in their sin When Sadom and Samaria might giue place And not come neere the waies they walked in When harmelesse men were held of none account But he the man that did in sinne surmount Then as a raging flowd long bent with baies Beares headlong downe what standes before the breach Or as rebellious soares by long delaies Recure-lesse scorne the cunning of the leach Ev'n so remedilesse like raging thunder The Lord powrd downe his wrath long time kept vnder When whistling for the Bees of Babel-land Came Nabuchadnetzar sirnamd the great And brought with him a most puissant band Of souldiers skild in every war-like feate For as the clustring bees in swarmes doe clinge So flockt the Chaldeis round about their kinge Then Salem saw a sad heart-breaking sight Resolved foes entrench'd about her walles In glittring armouâ— many a warlike wight Most fully bent what ever hap befalles By dint of sword to winne eternall fame Or pawne their liues in purchase of the same But most of all this griefe the conscience gaules And ever mates their mindes so overtaken By deepe despaire to thinke amidst these brawles That God for sin their citie had forsaken A matchlesse woe if God the cause withstand A fearefull conscience makes a seeble hand Adde more to this the seige so long doth lie That famine in the citie is so soare The people pine consume doe droope and die While horses in the field haue forrage store Death in the house destruction in the streete Sword in the â—ield distresse and daunger meete Amidst these woes the rumbling Ecchoes sound How dreadfull drums strike vp the fierce allarme And ratling trumpe with bloudy noates rebound The valiant heartes to fell assault doth charme When herauld first had summond them to yeeld Or to expect a mercy-wanting field Then for supplie of thundring cannon shot Goâ—am and engine to the walles a pace The Pioner he bestirres him in his plot To make huge towers to giue the souldier place On either part their powers they fully bend To giue assault and from the walles defend Ensignes advaunce and glory scales the fort The ladders then are hoysed to the walles And honors hope th'assaylantes doth exhort To climb from whence an other headlong falles While Archers shoote from tough wel-timbred bow Their thirled singing shaftes as thicke as snow When once the eager souldier hath made way Within the walles and might commaund the towne Then as a hungry Lyon for his pray He rangeth rageth killeth knocketh downe Then might be seene like streames to make a flood The streetes and channels flow with crimson blood The bedlem handes do deale foorth murthring blowes The victor rageth restlesse Lyon-like While mercie craving vanquish'd pleades his woes To him that hath no eares but handes to strike The maid the wife is subiect to this rage The suckling babe and
gages To parents staues to stay by in their ages VVhose house is held an Academie royall Heere Faith by doctrine hath due exercise Heere Duetie biddes her children to be loyall Heere Patience prest if that extreames arise Heere Loue in liking heartes Hope never dies Heere Fortitude repelles faint feares offence Heere Mercie doth with many a fault dispence Heere Gratitude giues guerdon with good vvill Heere Constancie doth checke false wavering Fame Heere Humble minde doth take nor doe none ill Heere Temp'rance doth fond lusts entisements tame Heere Chastitie is guardian of good name Heere Labour Lasies foe doth keepe true â—uch Heere Meane obserues enough and not to much Heere doth sharpe Logique proue her right with reasons Heere Grammar traines her ympes in grounds of speach Heere shewes Astronomie the starres and seasons Heere to accompt Arethmeticke doth teach Heere Rhetoricke in bad causes plaies the leach Heere doth Geometrie worke all in measure Heere Musicke is maintaind to maintaine pleasure Heere Historie doth eternize her actes Heere Poetrie paintes her never dying fame Heere Natures clerkes doe authorize her factes Heere Phisicke stirs to keepe her health in frame Heere Lawiers plead the charter of her name Heere Sophistes though like newters standing mute Yet doe not dare against themselues dispute Heere sits Compassion porter at her gate Prudence purveis her plenty and her store House-keeping Care is steward to this state Her liberall hand is Almner to the poore Religion leades her life directes her lore Good-order standeth vsher in her hall Iustice controwles if ought amisse doth fall Within her courtes attendeth on her traine The high the low the noble and the base The stately monarch and the statelesse swaine Priest prophet patriarch and the princely race The troopes of warlike gallantes presse for place All times all tongues all nations farre and neere With duties knowledgement are present heere No law no learning science art not skill No craft no cunning knowledge or invention No state that was or that continueth still No trade no misterie that man can mention But that it guardes her gates with good intention And when shee passeth by with seemly greeing All bow the knee and thanke her for their beeing Thus her al-blessinge auctor blest her prime Thus hath shee gotten glory from her ground Prioritie from venerable time High sovereigntie with empire hath her crownd All laws their nurse and foundresse fence her round Fayce Edens prayse doth grace her grovnded fame Mans nature then most pure doth now the same Thus doth her high resemblannce rowse renowne Thus doth her fast coniunction rayse regard Thus doth her sovereigne promise prayse resowne Thus was shee made when all thinges else were mard Thus doth Iehove him selfe her greatnesse gard Thus doth Gods church her child coÌ„mend their mother Thus common weales her wainlings will none other Thus Nature aye ennobleth her estate Thus Reason doth vphold her reputation Thus Profit doth her peerlesse estimate Thus Neede doth tend her princely preservation Thus doth mans life maintaine her estmation Thus time doth yeeld her charters true content Prescription custome practize and consent Thus doe all times extend her excellence Thus doe all tongues extoll her rule and raigne Thus doe all wittes afford her best defence Thus doe all states her sacred state maintaine Thus doe all sortes of men attend her traine Thus nations all nobilitate her name Thus doe all worldly powers advance her fame Thus happie shee when all doe pleade for one But haplesse you when one doth speake for all You might haue spred your praises and bin gone And not chast mariage name in question call But lide franke gamsters sith you venter all You that of others speake the things you should not Must be content to heere the wordes you would not If you had blotlesse made your mistresse brow Before you spide the moate in mariage eie You might her right with better right avow Thus truth though tyred never went awry In vaine the master findes a limping fault Where he himselfe doth stumble and go hault Your clyent while shee claimes a single gift Doth contradict the law of propagation And with a poore pretence and seely shift Denies man comfort cause of her creation Flies from old Evaâ—s faith to newer fashion Depriues her seede lifes blessing in the land Her selfe th'obedience God doth first command Yea while fine nature worketh in her kinde Deathes ruines â—o repaire in lifes repriue To liue for aie in those shee leaues behinde Shee laboureth still to leaue her like aliue And never die her selfe whilst they surviue You while you crosse this kindly worke of nature Would liue your selues but leaue none other creature And where the nations to vphold their state Coherse with lawes and shame the single life Your selues as lawlesse lawes doe antiquaâ—e Set barren sect against the bearing wife Thus wage you warre thus stirre you endlesse strife Thus swaying in selfe-will your will withstandeth What natures biddes and God himselfe commandeth And thus your life resembleth desolation Your bodies graues to burie babes vnborne Your vow a cord to strangle propagation Far better ill-kept vowes weare left vnsworne Your thoughts fierce foes to leaue you kin forlorne Your willes flat worldlings while you temporize Your tongues in wedlockes wracke doe scandalize God mariage made in commanding moode And what he biddes the same we must obey But mayden life commended is for good Where is command commending beares small sway Therefore to stint this strife I boldly say If God giue grace the single life doth well If not such gift then mariage doth excell Be quiet then sweete thoughtes lets rest agreede Let mariage haue deserved commendation Let virgins haue that virgins are indeede Due praise renowne and sacred observation True maide true vvife in thought and conversation Both holy in the Lord the one as wife The other as a maide in single life Thus her soules sences held a long dispute And sillogize their reasons pro con While minde the moderatour standeth mute VVhat's vnresolved to resolue vpon At length shee thus coÌ„cludes when thoughts were gon Sith God made Eve least man should liue alone Shee was of man and not Pâ—gmalions stone When Fame the light-foote titling babe by birth False spie that into secrets makes intrusion Tale-bearing paritour to mone and mirth Foule-fleering blab truthes traitour and confusion Had tane by top the tale of her conclusion Shee spreds with speede the motiue of her marying Pretending hast as if there were no tarying Whence came to passe that troopes of corrivals Like eager houndes to get a gallant pray Doe poast with speede not caring what befals To win the goale and beare the price away They flaunt it out in traine and rich aray To get the favour of this gracious faire That is so buxome and so debonaire Some offer stately dower some princely gifts Some honors hight and to advaunce her kin Some bâ—re of these do sue with loue-sicke shiftes Pawne sighes
Vriahs wife no sure the childe did die That thus was gotten in adultery Yea God did sweare the like disgrace and sword Should light on his for leaving of his word VVhat did prowd Paris gaine to gad to Greece To fet that mynion Menelaus vvife Fames Phoenix beauties saint a peerelesse peece Shee cost a kingdome large and many a life Sardanapalus living voide of strife Became lustes wanton wallowed in her pleasure VVhich life did leese his empire life and treasure And well for if the Lord in wedlocks cause Plague common-weales and play the vanquisher When one fowle fornicator breakes his lawes What shall be done to that adulterer 〈◊〉 stâ—â—kler of this strife and bloody stirre Were he not worthy breeder of this brawle 〈◊〉 end esse death to pine and die for all Your selues of late in practise of the law 〈◊〉 doome of stoning death for like offence 〈◊〉 can desire your heartes from right withdraw That lawlesse now you can with laws dispence What brainsicke humor doth your braines incence To deeme that fact death worthy in an other Which you your selues do foster feed and cover If speeches dâ—â— but breath and labour leese If former 〈◊〉 cannot forwarne your eares Then yet behold I offer on my knees A 〈◊〉 of sigâ—es and stormie teares Pâ—tâ—y the paine that in my looke appeares Let these my wringed hands awake remorse Vse favour good my Lords abuse not force Consider what you are not base borne slaves Buâ— chiefe conductors of Gods chosen sheepe Then as a crâ—zed ship that's tost with waues Doth let the waters at the chinckes in creepe And drown'th her selfe withall in whelming deepe So you the ship wherein your subiectes saile Your subiectes sinke when you beginne to faile Therfore I coniure you by greate Iehove For countries cause for subiectes happinesse Eor your deere soules estate no further moue Mee poore afflicted soule heere succorlesse O do not seeke to drowne me in distresse Least now you see old Sodom flaines descendinge Suppresse your suite serve God who waits amending But what avayles to sownd to beastes retreyt Or quench the blazâ— that burneth in the straw Though Croco diles do weepe they meane deceit Though Lyons cowch they hide a hurtful paw So though these Lordes be moane the teâ—res they saw Commende her zeale extoll her good entent Yet still vntamed lust growes insolent The softest drops do peirce the hardest stoanes Through gentle wordes vngentle heartes will yeeld The tenderest zutho softneth toughest boanes Milde musick can mad beastes allure and weild Then are your stubborne heades so strongly sâ—eeld Or are your heartes so heard so rough so feâ—rce That nought can enter soften season peirce Behold the melting teeres this ladie sheds Behold what greef lies harbord in her heart Behold what modestie her over-spreds Behold how soare the wound vnmade doth smart Behold her soule repining at this parte Behold hart-renting sobbes assault your eies Behold vp heaved handes for mercie cryes But as the wilfull Aspis stoppes her eare VVhen charmers chaunting wordes like baites entise So these enchaunted adders will not heere The wordes of health or wisedomes sound advise So bendded will is bent to winne the price That neither may this ladies plaint or moane Make pitty pierce their heartes more hard then stone For when her hearts deepe oracles were ended And that they saw such resolution in her VVhile chastest faire faire chastitie defended Gainst those who sought with fawning wordes to win her As farre from hope as though they had not seene her Perswaded now faint means would marre their matter Her with strong hands weak fort they seeke to batter For savage Satyre-like they vvould vncover VVhat bashfull nature biddeth secreat hide And close as hungrie Ravens they doe hover To doe that great disgrace shee may not bide But when shee saw foule lust was at full tide And that her lingring girles did stay so long Shee cride amaine before shee felt the wrong Helpe helpe shee saith helpe helpe I am vndone O helpe a wofull wretch in wretched case At which her crie the iunior iudge doth ronne And open settes the garden dore apase As if some fellon fled out of the place And shee for helpe doth not so often crie But they as fast stop keepe the thiefe doth flie The servantes netled with this suddaine noyes Of help help help stop keepe the theif doth flie Ronne to the posterne gate maydes men and boyes To find the author of this mutinie The cursed cause of that lamenting crye VVho staring gazing gaping ronne aboute Like men amazde to find their mistresse out At length they do desire their ladie faire Her beautie blemished with blubbring teeres As Phebe mantled with the mystie aâ—re VVith watrish beames vnto the sight appeeres Officious dutie bids her bannish feares Relate her hap and let her heart be stronge VVhere hands and hearts are vowd to right her wrong But shee good ladie that did deeme her groomes Vnequall vmpires of her high disgrace Leaves her bad hap vnto theâ— better doomes And by her selfe aloane with-drawes the place And beares her greif imprented in her face That loachims eie might see and seeing rew Her wronged faith in her deformed hewe VVho when he saw his love and his lives breath To quake in ev'ry parte as palsie shaken And cheeke and lip to looke as pale as death VVhome fresh life feeding humour had forsaken Himselfe by fainting feare is overtaken But when he sees her sinkinge to the ground With girdling armes he doth embrace her rovnd And sobbing wordes through his tongue stopping teeres He saith O sweete sweete heart vnfolde thy griefe O speake my loue and bannish bashfull feeres Heere is a hand shall yeeld thee lardge reliefe VVhose hearts true tenure holdes of thee in chiefe If all the world should vowt ' ware wrong'd by thee Yet should it not appeare a wrong to me At vvhich his quickning wordes as Phoebus shine With powerfull beames and heat vegetatiue Vnshrowdes the earth from her congealed shrine And makes the wythering shrubbe and grasse reviue So shee begins to spring and seeme aliue And vvith her faltring tongue yet all a mort Of traitrous men doth render true report And as we blame misfortunes in their bringers Shee blames her maides as fawtors of her wrong Shee feeles impatient fittes and they her fingers That durst neglect their due returne so long Whose sad excuse permixt with teares amonge To seeke the thinges her selfe had laide amisse Return'd her selfe the blame that wrong'd her blisse Meane time the vnresolved servaunts feare it VVhat spitefull ill their lady did surprize And though their itching eares did long to heare it Yet a king heartes did rather sympathize Then know from whence their passions did arise At length with bashfull boldnesse and good grace They aske the seniors of their mistrisle case VVhose irefull eies when first they did behold This giddie rowt to presse with speed in place Did first condemne their deede as overbold VVhile fainting
no constant yea nor nay VVould fame intreate some longer time and scope But that he findes impatience in delay VVhile to himselfe he faies shall I obey Confesse my fault wherein I haue offended And pardon craue that all may be amended No no my heart shall never stoope so low To bow to those that vsde to bend to me I am not sure what favour such will shew Wherefore I wil devise some kinde of tree VVhose braunching bowghes might shrowd adulterie Thus reasons he a bird of Balams brood That will not be reclaim'd to any good At last the gapes for breath yet doubtes to speake Because his partners doubtes he doth not know Yet through his teeth this tragique tale doth breake VVhile foaming furie makes him puffe and blow Saith he in Ioachims orchard there doth grow A Masticke tree whose braunches clowd the sonne In whose darke shade the brothels act was done VVhen Daniell heard this vncomposed speach False are quoth he the wordes thou dost report Thy lying lippes thee partiall doe appeach Gods minde to me reavealed doth exhort Thy sinfull bodie from thy soule to sort As one deserving endlesse death to die That darst gainst God and conscience sweare a lie VVhen this was acted him they lead away And bring his brother foorth in open place In whose fell heart fowle cabbin envie lay Her wilde and staring looke sate in his face A wrinkled brovv a pale and megre grace Did murther mischiefe mallice fierce resemble While coÌ„science cold doth cause him quake treÌ„ble To whom younge Daniell saith in zealous mood O seed of cursed Cham ympe of dispight In vaine thy vaunt doth boast of Iuda blood VVhen as thou art lin life a Cananite True nobles should in noble actes delight But thou bewitch'd vvith beautie weart beguiled When thy misleading lust thine heart defiled Thus haue you past your passed liues ill-spent Since first your wanton heartes did traine you in To draw the dames of Israell to your bent Whom you with feare did force and flattry win To ioine with you in acting secreat sinne But this chast Iewish heere of Iuda race Resisted hath your follie to your face Now sith thy tongue hath testifide an act VVhich fame did not reporte but eie did vewe And thou death worthie deemed hast the fact Dissemble not be still a witnesse true Tell vs what tree and in what place it grew VVhose shamlesse shad did shrowd this shamfull sin Pause ere thou speake yet speake and soone begin Hee gravield now in greife and grim dispaire Like bowged barge that sinkes in swallowing sandes Gapes ere he speakes as if he wanted ayre VVhich oft with cloased lippes he countermaundes At length saith he in Ioachims orchard standes Neere fowntain faire a greene thâ—ck braunching Holly Vnder whose shad these wicked wrought their folly Quoth Daniell then your tongues haue you betrayd Your forged he shall light vppon your pates Your wicked heartes your wordes haue heere bewrayd The sword of Iustice that iniustice hates Is readie heere to slay you sinfull mates Provide therefore a treble death to die Of bodie soule and lasting infamie For as you boath haue caussesse sought to spill The guiltlesse blood of this chast Isralite By witnesse false therfore doth Moses will Your blood be shed and we will doe you right Sith that your tongues death-worthy you indite You shall be led where shee should leese her breath And there with stones your selues be done to death Which doome did much delight the standers by VVith greate applause the people do reioyce They clap their handes and fling their cappes on hie The roofe reflectes the Eccho of their voyce VVhile thankfull heartes their eies to heav'n vphoice And tongues pronownce Our God be praysed ever VVhich helpeth his and doth for sake them never These iudges thus disgraded from their states The multitude with readinesse doth ronne To doe that doome on these condemned mates They to acquitted Susan would haue donne VVhile zeale would act what wrong had ill beegonne Thus carelesse commons right or wrong support When they are swayd as sovereignes do exhort For as in man when vapoures vex the braines The giddie head doth feele a whirling fit So fickle heads to feed superiours vaines When as affection holdes the seate of wit Sway to and fro as ruling vapours flit If they say yea an yea doth answere stand If they say no a no is prest at hand And yet sometimes though sotted with content That everie act doth seeme to breed their case Some whiles when wayward vapors gets a vent A toy the least occasion doth displease VVhile thoughtes do eb and flow like surginge sear For who so deales with multitudes he findes In manie heades a multitude of mindes While heartes do harbour heapes of homely toyes And heades ar fraught with Chaos of conceiptes There coms continuall trade of chaunging â—oyes Which barter novelties for elder feates As chaunging time doth offer choice of cheates So those which yesterday wrought wrong with might Are busied now in acting of the right For now with hast they hal them from the barre Whome late before they heaved to the bentch No treatie could a day their death deferre While teeres the peoples furie could not quentch Which drue them forth vnto the fatall trentch And piniond bownd them to the stubborne stake Where they their wel-deserved death should take Who living now forlorne past liffes repaire Haue not the heart Gods mercie to intreate But rather seeke with Saul in deepe dispaire VVith bluddie murthring handes life to defeate VVhile gainst the stake their handes they bawle and beat And mind in vaine their dreame their fall their hight VVho wanted grace to take Gods warning â—ight The pitying people pray God turne their hartes But when they see repentance place had none To yeeld those reprobates their due desertes The happiest man doth hurle the heviest stone To make them giue the last life-yeelding grone VVhich done they part and leave the ded their roome And lawd the lord and Danâ—l for his doome VVhome God had made selected instrument To overthrow these wicked and vniust And saue the blood of this chast innocent That with stoute Constancie resisted lust And did not in distresse de frawd her trust But saw her teeres and heard her plainting voyce VVhich made the hearts of thowsandes to reioyce Amongst the rest whose heartes sweet comfort cheeres Heâ—chia happie man and his compeere which erst did weepe for woe shed ioyfull teeres VVhen Ioachims ioy had past this plunging feere And kinsfolkes clowded eâ—e shone bright and cleere All with sweete noates consent in Susaâ—s name Praise God that had preserv'd her from defame But cheifly shee like larke on mounting winges VVhile inward zeale breakes out in open sight Tryumphing in her tunes most sweetely singes The prayse of God his mercie and his might That did relive her wretch and wronged wight And iustly iudge her foes the death to die That would enâ—ombe her fame in infamie