Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	heart_n	lord_n	way_n	4,954	5	4.7237	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20777	The French historie, that is, A lamentable discourse of three of the chiefe, and most famous bloodie broiles that haue happened in France for the Gospell of Iesus Christ namelie, 1. The outrage called the winning of S. Iames his streete, 1557, 2. The constant martirdome of Annas Burgans one of the K. Councell, 1559, 3. The bloodie marriage of Margaret sister to Charles the 9, anno 1572 / published by A.D.	Dowriche, Anne, fl. 1589.	1589 (1589)	STC 7159.3; ESTC S352	64,108	86

the hazard of his death The oath that he hath sworne so oft to keepe the peace No Christian conscience can assent at all for to release His mother gaue her faith his brothers sware likewise The publique recordes of the Land doo witnesse this deuise What band may surer be what more may you desire What can we farther wish And yet if more you doo require The Queene of England is a witnes of the same The Prince of Aurendge the States that from the Germaines came This Royal match likewise my hart doth wel assure That such a seale of perfect loue for euer will indure Which marriage latelie made with counsell graue and good The King will not permit to be so soone defilde with blood For what would strangers saie if such things should befall But such things Lord be farre from vs Lord preserue vs all What would the future age of impes as yet vnborne What would all Nations thinke if we by trust should be forlorne The stout and constant minde honor of the King Will neuer giue consent I know to doo so leaud a thing Thus whilest among the rest the case he did debate His trustie keeper Cossin came and knocked at his gate Who was no sooner come within the outward dore But that there came in after him of armed men great store Then after went the Lords the Nobles and the rest For to dispatch this noble man whom they did most detest And those whom Cossin found within to lie or stand He slew them with a Partisan which he had in his hand Which wofull newes when as the Admirall perceiude Wo worth the time quoth he that I by trust haue been deceiude Wel now the time is come I may no longer doubt Come lend your help my frends I pray frō bed to lift me out To Christ my onelie hope my soule I doo betake And in this place from off my couch this life I will forsake Then stāding on his feet his night gown on his back Shift for your selues my frends quoth he that you goe not to wrack And haue no care for me for I am well content This life to yeeld vnto the Lord which he to me hath lent It greeues me not to die Gods will is alwaie best From future feares I know with Christ my soule shalbe in rest This plot is not preparde alone to murder me But for the rasing of that truth which they are loath to see The godlie for to spoile which haue receaude the word These tyrants seeke with cruel hate by falshood and by sword Which word vnto my power I alwaies did defend The mallice of which godly course hath broght me to my end Which doth reioyce my heart soule exceedinglie That for his truth the Lord hath thought me worthy for to die For though our sinnes doo cause these troubles in our land Yet shall these tyrants not escape the Lords reuenging hand And though our God doo seeme from vs to hide his face And armes our foes with cruell death his people to disgrace Yet if we be content his mercie will retire Haue mercie Lord vpon thy Church ô Christ I thee desire And you ô traitors vilde that laide this trothlesse traine Against the Lord haue lifted vp your wicked harts in vaine For you are puffed vp with hope that is not sure For these our paines you shal receaue the pains that shal indure And you that dare to lift your hands against the Lord Before your death most iustlie shall of all men be abhord Though yet you doo not feele the sentence that is due To this your bloodie traitors act yet know that you shall rue Your breach of plighted faith your deepe dissembling hart There is a God will iudge vs all that will reuenge our smart The paine that we receaue doth breed eternall ioy But for the wrōg that you haue done the Lord wil you destory O Lord confirme my faith which now must here be tride Reach me thy hand ô Christ that I from thee may neuer slide My fearfull flesh is weake my heart and will is prest Forsake me not my God but now receaue me to thy rest Let not this irksome shade this darke and dolefull night Keepe from my heart in this assault thy sweete plesant light For though the worldlie Sunne mine eie shall see no more Thy blessed Sonne let me enioy whom I by faith adore And whereas I dispaire no more to see the day In steed of that thy louing face shew me my God I praie Loe then a blessed chance and happie change for me That from this vale of wretched life with Christ in ioy shalbe Now let these traitors come the feare of death is past And fainting flesh that did rebell hath yee ● ded at the last Now doth my soule reioice my heart most gladlie saie Thou Sonne of God my Sauiour come my Christ now come thy waie For here againe to thee my soule I do commend And to thy poore afflicted Church ô Lord thy mercie send So shall they be at rest so shall they praise thy name Let not these tyrants longer Lord thy seruants put to shame Least they doo proudlie bragge and saie within their heart Vvher is the God whō they do serue that now shuld take their part Come quicklie Lord therefore make no more delay To ende these fierce and bloodie broiles Amen Amen I saie By this came vp the staires ere ended were his words One Benuise two other mates with targets with swords The chamber broken vp this Benuise swearing came Vvith sword drawn to the Admirall asking for his name Art thou the Admirall the man not much appalde Vvith quiet minde gaue answere thus Indeed so am I calde Then seeing Benuise bend his naked sword to slaie My frend quoth he that bloodie blade I pray thee for to staie And haue respect vnto my age and weake estate To which by treason wrought by trust I haue bin drawn of late But beastlie Benuise would to this no answere giue But swearing to this Noble man his pointed sword let driue And thrust him to the heart but yet not fullie dead With force he laid a mightie blow strake him on the head With that came Attin in with Pistoll in his hand And shot him in the wounded breast yet did he stoutlie stand Till Benuise came againe with third repeated wound And slasht him on the thigh which done he fel vnto the groūd Where he gaue vp the ghost The bloodie Guise that staid This while within the lower court with lifted voice now said Hoe Benuise hast thou done who straightwaie did replie Yea sir this happie deed is done and that most perfectlie Then said the Duke of Guise Come throw him down to me That where it be the same or not we here may quicklie see For now our Cheualier will thinke it but a lie Except at window throwen out he see him with his eie

as if it came from the diuels owne mouth as no doubt it came from his spirite Againe in all the orations of the Martirs of the King the Queene the Guise and all other that haue speaches in this booke marke that of purpose the nature both of the person that speaks and also of the matter that is spoken are liuely set downe so that here are not bare examples of vertue and vice but also the nature and qualities of those vertues or villanies are manifestly depainted to them that will seeke for it The noble Martirs of England are knowen sufficientlie almost to all these excellent French Histories were seene but of few being in worthinesse nothing inferior vnto the other The causes why I haue described it in verse are 3. First for mine owne exercise being a learner in that facultie Secondlie to restore againe some credit if I can vnto Poëtrie hauing been defaced of late so many waies by wanton vanities Thirdlie for the more noueltie of the thing and apt facilitie in disposing the matter framed to the better liking of some mēs fantasies because the same Storie in effect is alreadie translated into English prose Many of these orations that are here fully amplie expressed were in the French Commentaries but onely in substance lightly touched and the summe set downe without amplifying the circumstance and yet heere is no more set downe than there is signified I haue also for the more terror vnto the wicked diligentlie collected the great plagues and iust iudgements of God shewed against the persecutors in euery seuerall History haue set them downe so in order and amplified them by the like iudgments against sinners out of the word and other histories that euerie proud persecutor may plainly see what punishment remaineth due vnto their wicked tyrannie To speake trulie without vaine glorie I thinke assuredlie that there is not in this forme anie thing extant which is more forceable to procure comfort to the afflicted strength to the weake courage to the faint hearted and patience vnto them that are persecuted than this little worke if it be diligentlie read and well considered So wishing that all the excellent and rare wits that now flourish in England and shew them selues manie times in vaine deuises would all learne to consecrate their singular giftes to the glorie of God the edifying of his Church and the saluation of the soules of Gods chosen Then would the Lord still blesse their labours and giue their names a perpetuall memorie So I commit thee to Gods protection and commend this my pleasant exercise to thy good liking which if I perceiue to be accepted thou shalt incourage mee to proceede to make thee acquainted with more excellent actions Honiton in Deuon this xxv of Iuly 1589. A Dowriche To the Reader that is frendlie to Poetrie VVhat so thou be that readst my Booke Let wit so weigh my will That due regard maie here supplie The want of learned Skill A D THE FRENCH Historie AS walking on a daie the woods and forrests nie In shrilling voyce and mournfull tunes me thought I heard one crie Which sodaine feare so dasht my blood and senses all That as one in a traunce I staid to see what would befall A thousand thoughts opprest my fearfull wauering braine In musing what amid the woods that fearful voice shuld mean I feard least theeues had robd and cast some man aside Because it was the common waie where men did vse to ride Among the sauage beasts that in these woods remaine I doubted least some trauler stood in danger to be slaine But casting feare apart I ranne toward the place To see the wight that did lament and waile his wofull case Alone no perill nigh within a bushie dale A stranger sate I got aside to heare his dolefull tale O noble France quod he that bor'st sometime the bell And for thy pleasure and thy wealth all Nations didst excell How art thou now of late with mischiefe so possest That al the Realmes of Christendome thy falshoods do detest Where is thy vernant hiew thy fresh and flowring fame What fell vnluckie spot is this that so dooth stain thy name Where is thy mirth become where is thy smiling cheere Wher is thy ioiful peace that erst did make thee shine so cleer Where are thy youthlie troopes the Nobles of thy Land Where is thy faith without the which no realm can euer stād Where is the mutuall loue that Prince and people had Where is the noble vnion that makes the Countrie glad Where is the due regard that Princes ought to haue From all the bands of tyrannie their people for to saue Where is thy pitie gone where is thy mercie fled That Lion-like in euerie place such Christian blood is shed But these of late to thee ô France haue bid adieu That rigor reignes in mercies seate alas it is too true For hauing no remorse to heare thy childrens grone Like as a widow comfortlesse thou shalt be left alone For they that feare the Lord and haue for him a care Haue learnd too late the costlie wit thy treasons to beware Therefore thy children haue their natiue Coasts resignde With better hope in forrein Lands more mercie for to finde And that which is the worst I see thou dost not waie The Spiders spite that long hath woue the web of thy decaie Therefore if thou wilt know the cause of all thy woe Then mark the iudgements of the Lord from which thou cāst not goe If Iuda now saith he should aske the causes why Their Land was like a wildernesse that no man passed by He makes no long delaie but bids the Prophet show This plague doth alwaies follow them that do despise his law For they that Idols serue and from the Lord doo shrinke They shal be fed with bitter gall wormwood water drinke And why at sundrie times was Egipt plagued so But for because he would not yeeld to let Gods people goe Why was the Lord with Saul so wroth and full of ire In sparing Agag and the beasts the people did desire For he had now accurst both Agag and his Land Commanding Saule without remorse to kil them out of hand Because this Amalek would not at all vouchsaue Within his Land Gods chosen locke a passage for to haue But falslie did conspire to worke their open shame To snare their feete they laie in waite from Egipt as they came And thou Ierusalem what sinne did file thy fall When Titus and Vaspasian did tumble downe thy wall Why did the Lord depart from thee that wast so braue And to thy foes made thee a pray a iest a seruile slaue Because amiddes thy mirth thy God thou didst forget And wouldst not haue his prophets liue but didst thē il intreat O France therefore be wise learne ere it be too late By these examples to begin these bloodie sinnes to hate For thou with Iuda land hast done thy God

this thing Yes sir you doo refuse with vs to Baal your offrings bring O mercie now good Lord what wicked times are these How long shal these vngodlie men keep these vngodlie waies How long wilt thou forbeare to bridle this their lust And when shall all their fleshlie pride be raked in the dust Why doost thou winke so long whie dost thou so delaie Why dost thou not cut off those Impes that stir this fierie fray But if it be thy will that they should longer raigne And if thou thinke it best for vs that they should yet remaine Restraine them yet good Lord least they doo go too farre For they against thy godlie Saints intend a cruell warre And till thy pleasure be for to destroie them quite Withhold their cruell iawes ô Lord with thy most mightie Bitt Haue mercie still on vs ô louing Father deere Maintaine vs in defending thee from danger fals and feare And make them Lord to know that they those Rebels are That frō the simple which do seek the light truth debarre And while that I haue breath I will declare the same That Sathan may not with his lies thy blessed truth defame Is this a Rebels part when men to Princes giue Their bodies goods and al things els without repine griefe Is this a traitors pranke vnto the Lord to praie That he will keepe both Prince Land from troble decaie And that he will vouchsafe to take from them the myste Which keeps thē from the knowledge of their sauior their Christ Or rather is not this a most rebellious part To seeke by all rebellious meanes Gods glorie to subuart To giue the honor due vnto the Lord alone To Saints that you haue made or els to senseles stock stone To vse blasphemous oathes to suffer common stewes To iustifie your owne deuice and such like filthie vse Your Conscience shall be iudge to you I doo appeale Hath God deliuered you the sword against his truth to deale If not beware betime and marke what I shall saie This mallice which you beare to Christ will be your own decaie And what are you so blinde that you perceaue not this How in this sentence you pronounce that you are none of his Recount within your selues and call to minde at large Where anie sinne or wickednesse be laid vnto our charge If not then iudge againe and tell me if you can VVhich is the best to serue the Lord or follow sinfull man Now if you loue your goods your credite and your life If you preferre before your God your houshold child or wife Then know you are not fit with Christ to haue a part But feare least for your sinne in hell you finde a lasting smart But if you doo not feare the iudgements of the Lord Yet know your deeds in forreine lands to strāgers are abhord How manie sinfull actes and deedes deuoyd of wit That ruddie purpled Phalaris hath made you to commit Who for his cursed gaine hath set about the King Such as wil Prince and Commons all to deadlie ruine bring And when that Beast doth bid you runne at euerie call You racke teare Gods knowen truth not caring what befall To please him you doo yeeld the godlie to torment With such outrage as you are forc't the same for to lament But what me thinkes I see the teares tril downe your cheeke What haue I spoken that which now your conscience doth misllike Well then beware betime for yet the time is wel But if you shun this profered grace beware the paines of hell Your conscience must be knowen your deeds must al appeere Then call for grace and so repent while yet you tarrie heere But if you quake in rest as Felix did before And if you feare without remorse your paine wilbe the more You see how they reioice whom you condemne to die No terror can assaile the heart on Christ that doth relie We waie not all your force your mallice and your strife We doo accompt this cruell death to vs a happie life Why should it grieue my heart for Christ to hang or burne For little paine I know the Lord great pleas●re will returne But they vnhappie are and cursed from aboue Which from thēselues others seek the truth for to remoue But this I know from Christ nothing shall me depart And from assured hope in him none shall remoue my heart For though you teare my flesh and heart to pouder grinde Yet this shall neuer so preuaile as once to change my minde And when that you haue done the worst you can deuise Vve know that in the latter day with Christ we shall arise This death therefore to vs we recken little paine For we beleeue assuredlie that we shall liue againe Now hap what maie befall to hang to burne to frie I haue professed Christ and so a Christian I will die Vvhy therefore doo we staie Come hangman doo thy part Thy fact in this loe heere I doo forgiue with all my heart And this he did repeate Come hangman doo the deed Till that the stoutest heart that heard for griefe began to bleed Put out put out said he your franticke fierie brands That Christ may onlie rule reign set to your helping hands Repent your wicked thoughts forsake your filthie waies And if you hope to haue release then vse no more delaies But why doo I so long draw this forsaken breath Farewell my mates for now behold I goe vnto my death Thus hauing said his minde and readie to depart The hangman takes and ties his hands and laies him on a cart In which he was conuaid vnto a place fast by Where chained to a stake it was ordainde that he should die The streetes of Paris towne were kept with watch and ward There went with him of armed mē foure hūdred for his gard The waies on euerie side that lead vnto the place Were stopped vp as if they had foreseen some doubtful case And where we plainlie see these tyrants all afraid The godlie man for all this broile was not a whit dismaid For when he was vnbound there was in him no feare He put his clothing off himselfe with bold and constant chear Where standing naked then and stript vnto his skin With cheerefull voyce he did at last this heauie speach begin The cause why I am come good people to this death Is not for murder theft or wrong But for a liuelie faith Which said he held his peace and kneeling on the ground VVith sighes he praid til to the stake by hangmā he was boūd VVhere he did oft repeate O Lord forsake not me Least by the frailenesse of my flesh I hap to slide from thee O Lord receaue my soule into thy blessed rest Giue me thy strength while I doo liue O Lord I thee request Thus with a quiet minde and heart deuoide of strife For Christ amidst the fierie flame he yeelded vp his life BVt what a ioy is

great wrong To serue and set vp other Gods to runne a whoring long Thou hast for wooden Gods Gods liuelie Image spilde And with the streams of christiā blood the streets canels fild Thou hast with Egipt long Gods word in prison pent And wilfullie refusde the light that he to thee hath sent The M●ses that begins this light for to vnfolde Thou seekst to lap him presentlie in chaines and irons colde Thou dost with Amalek with all thy wit assaie To lie in waite that in thy land the truth may haue no waie And thou a cruell nursse to Gods elect hast been To blemish thus the shining light that in thee hath bin seene And with Ierusalem Gods Prophets thou hast slaine That in thy popish ignorance thou mightest still remaine If Iuda shall be fed with wormwood mixt with gall If wilfull Egipt plagued were that kept Gods Church in thral If God no pitie showde and mercie none would haue Vpon the land of Amalek nor man nor beast to saue And if the blinded pride that in Ieruslem dwelt Could not escape Gods heauie wrath but man childe it felt What shall become of thee thou blinde and bloodie land How dost thou think for to escape Gods iust reuenging hand But sith I doo not doubt God will reuenge our case And for his chosen when he list prouide a dwelling place I will no more lament in sad and mourning stile But thanke the Lord that set me safe within this pleasant Ile O happie England thou from God aboue art blest Which hast the truth established with peace and perfect rest God giue thee therewithall a good and thankfull minde That to thy louing God no waie thou shew thy selfe vnkinde But still thou maist remaine as thou hast been of yore A Nurse to Gods afflicted flock that he maie blesse thee more But now will I depart the Lord direct my waie And send me in this pleasant Ile some simple slender staie Till God grant me returne or otherwise prouide But is not that an English-man that I haue yonder spide Wel met my frend tel what thou art that mak'st this mone And whie within these desart woods art thou thy selfe alone I am a stranger wight and France my natiue soyle Frō which of late by luckles chance need am forst to toyle Such troubles and such warres of late haue there befell That such as feare the Lord aright no suretie haue to dwell Within that wofull Land so God me hether sent To liue with you in happie state which he this Land hath lēt Oh happie then am I my frend I thee desire Come goe with me for of these warres I greatly long to hear And if that thou wilt staie as long as thou wilt craue My house as thine and all therein thou shalt be sure to haue Therefore my frend I praie thy wit and tongue prepare The cause of all these bloodie broiles in verse for to declare And first of all describe the matter and the man The place the time the manner how this Ciuill warre began O Sir but this request doth pierce my wounded hart Which gladly would forget again my woful countries smart For who can well displaie the treasons and the guiles The bloodie murders mercilesse the snares and craftie wiles Which France hath put in vre these thirtie yeeres and more The like of which in Christendome was neuer seene before But sith it is your will to know the wofull state hate Of Christs afflicted Church in France which Antichrist doth Come rest you here a while and marke what I shall tell Great warres broiles I must declare God grāt it may be wel And first to pitch the plot that you doo so desire I will vnfolde the cheefest cause that kindled first this fire ABout the verie yeere of Christ his Incarnation A thousand fiue hundred fiftie seuen by iust cōputation Henrie ware the Crowne the second of that name In whose vnhappie Reigne began this fearfull fierie flame For now in France began Gods truth for to appeere Whose ioiful beames in Germanie at this time shone ful cleer But as the Iewes sometimes Gods Prophets did despise And as the Scribes and Pharisies did set their whole deuise To shade the shining light which God to them had sent So France in furie blindlie set against Gods truth is bent Which truth but latelie sowen and scant appearing greene They seeke by force by fire sword to roote raze it cleene But though proud Pharao did Gods chosen long oppresse Yet still amiddes the fierie broiles his people did increase So now amiddes the flame Gods word a passage found Which did increase his chosen flocke by force of siluer sound VVhich sound in Gods elect did worke such sodaine change In all estates that at the first in France it seemed strange Gods mightie Spirite did worke his mercie still was prest That some of all estates were calde their blindnesse to detest Though riches be a let and noble birth some staie That verie few of these saith Christ do finde the perfect way Yet God to bring to passe the worke he did intend Did also raise some Noble men the poorer to defend So now they fall at square now here began the strife For Sathan could not beare to see a new reformed life That Prophesie is true for Christ did speak the word I came not to giue peace to mine but strife debate sword The sonne against the sire one frend against another The word shal brothers part set the daughter gainst the mother So fel it out in France his word did now deuide His chosen from the rest of those that tooke the aduerse side The Land deuided thus two parts there fell at first Gods people were in number least the greater was the worst Now Sathan was afraid for now he striued sore To keepe the King and chiefest States in blindnes as of yore It pincht him to the quicke to lose his kingdome so It greeude him to the hart that he should let his seruants go He sits not idle now he calls his wits in place Some cunning knacke for to contriue to help him in this case His wilie wilfull craft by long experience bred Hath taught him now an ancient feat to crush the gospels head Now summons he his men and seruants to appeere Now help me at this need quoth he my frends felows deer Now is the time to stirre while matters yet be newe While blinded mindes in doubting hang not knowing what istrue For if the word of God do once begin to shine Then farewell all I shalbe faine my kingdome to resigne But if you will agree and follow mine aduise We shall cut off this sowen word as fast as it shall rise And first we must giue out some vile and leud report Of such as doo professe the truth and such as doo resort Vnto their Sermons so this waie it will be best To

Which they no sooner gaue the King to vnderstand But letters came which did command him answere out of hād The letters read he said my Prince I will obaie But otherwise you had not heard a word of me this daie Then questions were proposde of Saints and Popish Masse Of Purgatorie and such trash as then in credit was Whereof he spake his minde and freelie did protest That all these leaud and filthie toyes in heart he did detest I serue said he no Saint but Christ my onelie staie I will not yeeld to anie man his honor to betraie He is the Sacrifice by death that made me free He is the onelie Paschall Lambe that shed his blood for me He is the onelie heate by faith that purgeth sinne In them that now beleeue or those that heretofore haue bin Therefore I doo defie your popish arifles all And thanke the God that giues me grace to come whē he doth call Which answere being made to sentence they proceede Who was condemned then for that the King had so decreed The sentence being read he had but one refudge He did appeale to Iesus Christ as his supernall Iudge And being sent againe to place from whence he came He was content for Christ to beare this grief rebuke shame But Sathan did reioyce his matters framde so well Whose bloodie minde had cast the plot Christ Iesus to expel Great troubles did he stirre and mischife still deuise To shred the truth in euerie place so fast as it should rise And though Burgaeus did from sentence oft appeale Yet Sathan seeking for his blood this thing could not preuaile So now from out againe the prison he was brought And then disgraded solemnly which thing the Bishop sought Which being done he gaue a sweete and smiling cheare And being not dismaide at all he said deuoide of feare I thanke my God that lent me life to see this daie Wherein these badges of the Beast are taken cleane awaie That Antichrist hencefoorth in me maie claime no part Whose whorish art and Romish raggs I hate with al my hart This Popish sinfull oyle I gladlie here doo leaue For this of God a glorious crowne I know I shall receaue If you could see the waie that leadeth vnto life If you could know the perfect truth thē ended wer this strife But yet you are too dull your eies are yet too blinde Farewell therefore you Romish ragges which here I leaue behind For these my God when I before thee shall appeare Giue me ô Lord a quiet heart a conscience voide of feare So shall I stouthe stand and still professe thy name So shall my foes be turned backe and quite be put to shame So shall I gladlie goe vnto that wished place And in defence of this thy truth my stake I shall imbrace Now Sathan doo thy worst I will appeale no more The truth I know which I professe is it that gals thy sore Now let me know I pray my sentence and my doome My blood it is which you do seeke now let my sentence come Which being said indeed they did prouide againe The final sentence to pronounce which should for aie remain Which then in solemne wise with words demure and graue By Pilates brother was pronounst who once like sentēce gaue Burgaeus I pronounce the sentence of thy death For that thou like an Heretike hast slidden from our faith And tied to a stake there still remaine thou must Till that thy flesh by fierie flakes be all consumde to dust Which when Burgaeus heard he did no white repine But cheerfullie for Christ he said my life I will resigne To God he lifted vp his hands with thankfull hart That he was worthy made for Christ to feele this ioiful smart And meeklie kneeling downe with holie Stephen did praie For them that had most wrongfully condemned him that day That God in mercie would his Iudges all forgiue And not to laie vnto their charge the sin that might thē grieue So he forgaue them all though they in fierie moode For seeking Christ had long deuisde to shed his guiltles blood But heere we may not passe what counsell sage and graue And to the Senate what he said and what aduice he gaue AS thus Are Plutoes Nymphes instald within your brest Doth dire Megara now posses the place where Christ shuld rest Hath Sathan which deceite and lies hath vsed long Inforced you against the truth and Christ to practise wrong And are you gone so farre that you can be content For loue ye beare to Sathans lies to kill the innocent VVhat is there not a God that searcheth euerie vaine And will he not reuenge the blood of Abel spilt by Cain And can you now accompt the truth to be a lie And can you think within yout hart that Christ can go awrie And dare you to blaspheme that great and sacred name And feare you not by fained glose his Gospell to defame And will you be so bold to saie that we doo straie Vvhich haue for vs the written word Christ our only way Vve are the sonnes of God whom thus you doo pursue If you persist you shall too soone perceiue it to be true Vve know that he doth liue his voice doth shew his loue If you refuse his profered word your sinnes shall you reproue By him we can doo all If he doo hide his face Vve maie not hope without his help for mercie loue or grace Vvhat boldnesse is it then for ashes filth and claie By fond attempt for to resist the thing that he shall saie And can you be content that Christ for to depraue Whose wounds haue washt our sinnes whose mercie doth vs saue Shall we denie our King our Prince our ioy our might Shall we consent to do him wrong that doth defend our right He is our princelie Guide our Captaine and our staie He wakes for vs when we do sleepe keepes vs from decay Then heare what shall we doo Shall feare make vs to flie Shall anie earthlie force make vs our Captaine to denie Shall we vnconstant be our duetie to forgoe Shall we repaie such curtesie to him that loude vs so No no we are but earth to earth we must returne O happie earth if earth for Christ thou be content to burne Our time is heere but short our deadlie foe but weake The Lord is able when he list his mallice for to breake But what would Sathan haue what doth this flesh require But onelie this that from our God and truth we should retire If anie doo blaspheme we must them not controll If anie wilie wantons sinne we must their deedes extoll If truth be troden downe If we will liue at ease We must be then with heauy hearts cōtent to hold our peace Which sith we doo refuse you runne with open crie Loe these are wicked Rebels which most worthie are to die And are we Rebels then how will you prooue