But leaped lyke the playing lamines If one myght aske what ayled thee Thou sea that thou dydest so forbeare And Iordan what cause myght there be That draue the backe in suche a feare Ye myghty mountaynes in lyke case Why skipped you lyke rammes I saye Ye little hilles why from your place â—an ye to leape as lammes doe playe All the whole earth it shall behoue When Iacobs God shall be present To tremble shake and muche to moue And in his sight hym reuerent For at his wyll he turned tho The hard rocke in to water clere Conuertyng harde flynte stones also To springyng welles as dyd appere ¶ An example of praier against idolatrous tyraÌ„tes that set vp false worship in the reproche of Gods true worshyp Out of the Cxv. Psalme IF vnto vs poore mortall men No prayse is due of very ryght Howe are they mockte and blynded then How farre are they from perfect sight That to a stocke or dead Image Wil geue such laude as god should haue How vayne is he howe doth he rage That doth Gods glorie so depraue The whiche sinne and most vyle offeÌ„ce Dauid did so abhorre and hate That he a Psalme in Gods defence Compiled hath that eche estate May vnderstande howe farre awrye They wandred be from righteousnes The lyuing God that doe denye By an Image or false lykenes And therfore doth all men exhorte To fearâ— the lorde and in hym truste Whiche is a true and sure comforte To all that in his hope are iust His harpe in hande he therfore tooke And on his knees this noble kyng As it is in the Psalter booke This holy Psalme began to synge Non nobis Domine NOt vnto vs lord not to vs But to thy holy name alwayse For thy mercy truthe done thus Ascribed be all laude and prayse These heathen folke that faythles be Why should they saye to vs in spighte Where is their God let vs hym see In whom these Christians haue delyghte For their false Gods their chiefe best Are nothyng but syluer and goulde The handes of men both most and lest Haue forged them out of the moulde Yet haue they for their idols made Mouthes wherw t they can speak nothing And eyes also wherof the trade Is to be blynde from all seyng Suche eares also in them are wrought As heare nothyng that one can tell And noses whiche are likewyse nought For they with them can nothyng smell Vayne handes haue they and fete also For with their handes they handle not Nor with their feete they can not goe Nor sounde no voyce out of their throte Wherfore suche as doe Idols make Doe their owne workes resemble iust And they also that doe them take For Gods or haue in them their truste Let Israell then in the lorde Set all their truste and confidence And Araons house therto accorde For he is their most sure defence All ye that feare the lorde aright Truste in hym well be not afrayde For he will surely shewe his myght To succoure you and be your ayde The lorde will not forget doubtles But haue vs in his mynde full well The ryghteous houses he wyll bles Of Araon and of Israell Ye that doe feare the lorde therfore Are blessed both the great and small The lorde increase you more and more Both you and eke your children all For sithe ye are his chosen sorte And haue the lord whole in your thought He wyll you blesse with great comforte Both heaueÌ„ earth that made of nought The heauens and the firmament Are his and at his holy wyll But the rounde earth he hath forth lente The sonnes of mortall men vntyll The dead O lorde that are gone hence Can not in graue expresse thy wayes Nor suche as downe are in sylence Can honor thee or geue the prayse But we O lorde that be alyue Thy prayse wyll spreade and ramifye And in our hartes due thankes contryue Vnto thy name eternally ¶ An example of prayer from a repentant harte out of the Cxxx. psalm Sythe in this worlde all men doe fall And none from sinne is free and clere It doth behoue we study all In humblenes for to appere For in this lyfe we dayly see By stoutnes none can wynne nor gayne But rather it in eche degree Doth purchase woe and cruell payne Who is so fonde if he offende To stande hym selfe to iustifie And rather doth not knele and bende Tyll he haue pardon and mercy The noble prynce Dauid therfore Knowyng the frutes of humblenes Did froÌ„ his harte powre forth great store Of teares and contrite gentilnes Because he would all men should lerne The lyke to doe in their great nede He sheweth howe his harte did yerne Tyll he had felte mercy in dede Him selfe prostrating in due wyse For sorowe of his greuous sinne In prayer was his exercise Thus doth his humble sute begynne De profundis clamaui FRom care of harte that caue so depe So hath my soule my sinnes abhorde Repentantly I humbly crepe And call to thee for helpe O lorde O lorde witsafe my voyce to here I thee beseche to bowe thyne eares Suffer my prayer to appere Pourde forth to thee w t piteous teares For if thou wylt for euermore Our wyckednes laye by thy syde Or kepe a note of them in store Oh lorde who then may 〈◊〉 abide Thy mercy lorde then make vs taste Whiche is to thee most naturall That graciously forgeue thou mayste And rayse them whiche by frailtie fall This made me on the lorde to wayte My soule also on hym to byde His promise is without deceyte And from his worde he wyll not slyde My soule hath more earnest delyghte Vpon the lorde to watche and staye Than watchmen whiche wake al y e night And long ryght sore tyll it be daye Let Israell the Lordes electe The iust that godly be and wyse Haue to the lorde their whole respecte For mercy is his exercyse This Israell I saye he shall All wickednes from them expell From sinnes he shall redeme them all Though thei be more then tongue can tel Glory be to our god aboue The father whiche of myght is moste And to the sonne as doth behoue And also to the holy ghoste As it from the beginning was And yet doth to this tyme extende And shall be still as tyme shall pas For euer more worlde without ende ¶ An example that as wel penitent prayer as ioyfull thankes and prayse haue their due tyme and place out of the Cxxxvii Psalme AS eche thinge hath his due tyme herâ— On this earth where we goe So is ther tyme for ioye and glee And eke for care and woe For as we ioye in tyme of welth Praysing the lorde therfore So in the tyme of pensyvnes Of myrth we make no store In one subiecte two contraries Can neuer well agree Both myrth and wo at once in one A strange thyng were to see It would be thought a great madnes In ioye to wayle and
plante in his kynde All herbes rootes that growe on earth Their vertue I can fynde And howe they differ in degre In qualitie and powre All secrete and vnsought knowledge Doth spryng in wysdoms flowre Whiche he hath geuen vnto me That all this worlde hath made He taught me howe to vse this flowre That dures and doth not fade In hyr is spirite to vnderstande In holy exercyse In knowledge great she doth abounde And all thynges that are wyse I saye that with almyghty God All only she is one Subtyll and full of gentylnes And gracious alone She is courteous and discrete Quycke vndesiide and playne Swete and doth loue all that is good Reiectyng that is vayne She is sharpe yet forbideth not To doe ryghtly and well Kynde sure and free and to be briefe In vertue doth excell In althynges she is circumspecte Wherof she taketh cure All knowyng spirites she doth receyue That are both cleane and pure For wysdom doth in nymblenes All other thynges excell And therby through all thynges to pas She doth atayne full well For of the lyuyng god she is The breath of powre doubtlesse The cleanes of almyghty god Therby she doth expresse Therfore can no defyled thyng Come once within hyr syght For she the very bryghtnes is Of euerlastyng lyght She is the myrror vndefylde Wherin all good men see The Image of almyghty god In his great maiestie And for so muche as she is one All thynges are hyrs as due And beyng stedfast in hyr selfe She doth all thinges renewe Among the multitude of folke She doth hir selfe conuaye And entreth into holy soules In them to byde and staye She maketh god prophetes and frends The truthe to preache and tell For god doth loue none but suche men With whom wysdome doth dwell The sonne and starres may not compare With hir in lyght I saye For why hyr lyght doth farre excede The brightnes of the daye For be the daye neuer so bryght Yet night approcheth faste To quenche the beautie of the same And pattes it out in haste But wisdome can not be subdude I saye by wickednes Nor in hir sight to blemyshe hyr Can byde no folyshnes ¶ An example of a contemplatiue minde in the seruice of God out of the xxv Psalme THe noble king Dauid by name Hauing the spirite of truthe Who euer truly serued God Euen from his very youth He knowyng that by humblenes He sonest should aspyre To haue his prayer heard of God And obteine his desyre Disdeined not vpon his knees Hym selfe to prostrate lowe For sithe the harte must humble be Let outwarde members knowe That they shal not them selues refrain Their dutie to expresse My knees therfore shall doe their due So shall my handes no lesse Myne eyes shall vpwarde also tourne The heauens to beholde With stretched handes and bowed knees My prayer to vnsoulde My voyce I wyll not silent kepe But wyll expresse with tongue The meaning of a faythfull hatte And sing it in a song Debating with him selfe this thing Directing all aryght In this wyse he began to sing To god with all his myght Ad te dominum leuaui TO the oh lorde I lyfte my soule My god I truste in thee O suffer not myne enemies To tryumphe ouer me Ne yet let such as in thee truste Rebuke or shame susteyne But rather confounde scornefull men That spitefully dysdeyne To the I praye my kyng and god O shewe to me thy wayse And teach thy pathes O lord to me Thy name that I may prayse O lorde leade me to speake thy truthe And learne me to be iuste Myne only god and sauyng health All daye in thee I truste Forget not lorde but call to minde Thy tender mercy pure Let not thy louyng kyndnes slacke That euer hath ben sure Forget my sinnes remember not The fraylnes of my youthe For thy goodnes and mercy lorde Thynke vpon me with ruthe O ryghteous lorde with frendlynes Wytsafe to shewe thy myght Wherby thou shalt the sinners teach◠To walke thy waye a ryght The simple thou doest teache guyde Thy perfect wayes to knowe And thou doste suche instructe aright As humble be and lowe Thy wayes O lorde are mercifull Thy faythfulnes is bent To all that kepe thy couenant And faythfull testament For thy names sake therfore O lord◠Be mercifull to me And to my synnes that are so great And myne iniquitie Who so therfore doth feare the lorde He wyll hym shewe I saye His hyghe and his diuine preceptes His pure and chosen waye His soule shall euer be at ease His wayes shal prosper well His sede also shall styll possesse The lande therin to dwell The lorde his secretes dothe shew forth To suche as feare him styll Declaring them his testament His couenant and will O lorde my god to the therfore I wyll myne eyes dyrecte And praye to thee tyll thou haste losde My fete out of the nette O turne thee vnto me therfore Now for thy mercies sake Consider lorde my mysery Howe I am desolate The sorowes of my harte are great Ryght sore they doe me greue O ryd me from these troubles all For in thee I beleue O loke on myne aduersitie And my great mysery Forgeue me all my sinnes also Where I offended thee Consider how myne enemies Are many and peruearte That towardes me maliciously Are bent with hatefull hearte Oh preserue thou my soule therfore Within thy kepyng iust And let me not confounded be For in thee doe I truste Let iust dealyng and innocent O god styll with me dwell And from all vyle aduersitie Delyuer Israell ¶ An example how that we should alwayes be thankefull vnto almighty God for his benefites out of the xxxiiii psalme of Dauid AS in our streightes of nede We all are glad and fayne Some comfort at the handes of god By prayer to obtayne So when we haue recevd Of god our whole desyre That we should therfore thankfull be Good reason doth require For who so benefites At mortall men receaue If afterwarde the geuer dothe Ingratitude perceaue The same will streyght withdrawe His liberalitie From suche a stubberne blocke hed beaste As can not frendshyp see If vyle ingratitude To men be suche a cryme That it wyll frendly loue kepe backe Against an other tyme What beastly dogges are they Howe can we call them lesse That for great kyndnes of the lorde Doe paye vnthankfulnesse Whiche asketh nought of vs But honour laude and prayse For all the good he doth bestowe On vs a thousand wayes Wherfore that noble kyng And prophet of the lorde Dauid who dyd after Gods harte Agree and well accorde Gods glorie doth expresse In doyng of his due And for the benefites of God His harte declareth true Not only in hym selfe To flee ingratitude But other also to instructe That are vnlernde and rude In darke obliuion Gods goodnes for to hyde Or to forget his benefites Dyd neuer hym vetyde His harpe he toke in hande And thus began to
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
plesant song shall not song be To the goddesse of lechery Nor to nothyng vnder the Sunne But praysing of the almyghty My lute and I tyll we haue done This teacheth vs Dauid the kyng With harpe and lute geue God praysyng All men that in this worlde doe wonne To God therfore geue prayse and synge As my lute and I haue begonne This lord first made al things of nought And when against his lawe we wrought From heauen he sent downe his sonne Whiche with his gospell vs all taught After the whiche we haue not donne Although in man weare nothyng good Hym to redeme Christ shed his blood with thrones y e Iuâ—s our lord did crown He suffred death vpon the roode Lo thus our sauyng health was donne On this therfore we fix our fayth That Iesus Christ as scriptur sayth Is only our saluation Vpon this rocke who so him stayth Thus sayth the lord it is well don But one thing sore my harte doth greue That hipocrites made vs beleue In Idols both of wodde and stone From Christ our rock they did vs dryue Wo be to them what haue they done Whiche canker still within their heartes Doth yet remayne and fewe conuertes For at gods worde they frete and frown Therfore my lute it is our partes Them to rebuke as we haue done God sent his worde vnto this ende That we our synfull lyues should mende And yet repenteth fewe or none My lute therfore let vs intende To say the truthe tyll we haue done If in our songe we should recyte Nowe eche estate doth not vpright Whiche will be their confusion Whiche knowe the truthe and do not ryght My lute when should our song be done But to be short my hartes intent Is to prayse God omnipotent Whoe of our helth the thred hath spunne And hath his worde to vs nowe sent To mende our lyues tyll we haue done Mans soule to saue Christ died therfore Who of vs men doth aske no more But this lesson to lerne and conne With loue to kepe his holy lore In whiche all perfect workes are donne Lorde graunt vs to thy worde to cleane That no man other doe deceaue And in that zeale that I begunne Lauding our lorde God here I leaue Be styll my lute my song is done ¶ A ditie shewyng the office of all estates warnyng them to repent walke euery estate accordyng to their callyng LEt heauen harke earth geue eare let mountains bowe with humblenes let waters all their rage forbeare and once growe to some stablenes wauer no more with evry wynde but once cleane to a constant mynde In fayth and loue for why the lord him self doth speake and will you els in sonder breake euen from aboue Let not god speake now to deafe eares Nor vnto hartes made of flynt stone But rather with repentant teares Bewayle your synnes now evry one And let a godly lyfe all newe Shew forth frutes of repentance true And them expresse That from henceforth in such new lyfe We may remayn without all stryfe In righteousnes Let suche as shewe the heauenly muse Haue godly conuersation Least through their vyle and great abuse They worke abhomination When as in synfull wayes they walke Contrary to their outwarde talke And gods true worde For who that sclandreth so the truthe Their myrth shall turne to wo and ruthe Before the lorde Let kynges that mountains sygnifie In iustice doe styll their due part Supporte no more iniquitie Nor mainteyne suche as areperuart Se that henceforth with all your myght Ye put downe wrong mainteine right Or els surely The lord God whiche is kyng of all Your glory â–ª turne to shame he shall Moste ryghteously Let nowe the waueryng multitude That signifyd is by the sea Oh let I saye this rable rude Still henceforth cleaue to constancie And not them selues as waters showe Vnstable for to ebbe and flowe But styll depende Vpon the churche to lerne their due And serue their kyng w t hartes most true Euen styll an ende Let not the churche be temporall Let not rulers â—e rude and vayne Let no man from his calling fall But eche man in his state remayne Let not the common people deale With matters highe of common weale â–ª For why I saye If one anothers callyng vsâ— All equitie they doo refuse From day to daye Let all men nowe repent therfore And leaue theyr synne without delay And henceforth vse the same no more Least by theyr goyng thus astray Gods wrathe in hast they doo procure For this theyr doyngs so vnpure In synfull trade Knowe that the Lorde his mercy styll Dothe offer all with ryght good wyll That he hath made Let men whyle mercy then doothe last Haue mynde of this theyr onely meane Abhorre theyr yll lyfe that is past Lyftyng their eyes vp into heauen Lokyng from thence for theyr reliefe Whiche is a salue for all our griefe Swete Christe Iesu Your hartes and eares I say attend That you to blysse without all end May hence insue ¶ A Ditie declaringe the daungerous abuse of all degrees whyche go astraye from theyr vocation PErforme O penne I thee desyre The thyng that we dyd late deuyse Blowe to this cole kyndle thys fyre That suche may know as truth despise That darknes shall no more them hyde No secrete place shall they prouyde To couer guyle For now the lyght shall them bewray That secretly haue gone astray A ryght long whyle Suche Princes as the poore oppresse Vnder titie of gouernance And wyll no poore mans cause redresse But all theyr ioye and fyne pastance Is howe with craft in couerture They may in theyr yll wayes indure And styll remayne It shall appeare at the laste day That they haue wrongly gone astray Vnto theyr payne Suche prelates as for fylthy gayne With errors doo mens soules destroy And on theyr flock lyke lordes wyll raigne Wherin Gods woorde they doo anoy The fleece to take is all theyr care And for the soule no foode prepare But venym vyle Suche prelates shall once know I say That they haue falsly gone astray With fraude and guyle Suche men of lawe as wyll for golde Make thyngs seme right the which at wrong And wyll for gayne with falshode hold And eke delaye the tyme to long Suche as in Iudgement wrest the lawe And wrongly doe the sentence drawe Wrong to supporte Poore innocentes for to betraye For brybes they goe from ryght astraye In wicked sorte Suche marchantes as are not content With right and reason for to wynne But daily doe false fraude inuent To gayne by wickednes and synne â—nlawfull gayne and vsury And counterfetyng wyckedly Muche marchandyse In hell they shall once fele I saye Howe they by fraude haue gone astraye In vntust wyse Suche leches as wyckedly vse Medicines arte but not aryght But fasly doe the same abuse And to that arte doth wrong and spyght They rob and murder where they go From place to place workyng muche wâ— Without cunnyng The Diuell
kepe them in awe The haft of the broome lyke purpose shall serue To shrub well theyr backs that strypes do deserue And namely such knaues that are growne so bygge That they nothyng set by any small twygge Therfore is the staffe a toole for the nones To canuys theyr backes or kydgell theyr bones Then thyrdly the wyth wyll hang by the necke Such theues as feare not the strype nor the checke â–ª Thus in euery house .iii. Iustices reigne Whyche the byrchen besom well doth conteyne The hygh and the meane and also the lowe Thâ—yr offices all ought eche man to know By whom al such men must nedes passe theyr way The rules of reason that wyll dysobaye The highest Iustice the necke wyll out stretche The low from buttockes wyl skyn bloud fetche The meane must nedes shrobin the shoulders stout Of eche stubbern varlet lubber or loute The lowe Iustyce nowe he that wyll reiect Nor his lyfe by rule and compas direct Neglecâ—yng the small he stireth the great The haâ—te of the broome the shoulders â—must beat By which back beatyng yf he wyll not mend The with must hym hang and so hys lyfe end Lo thus may they see that wisely behold The besome hath vses many a folde Besides that for which most men do them kepe Namely theyr kitchâ—ns or houses to swepe For he hath office mens vicâ—s to purge By thre Iustice rules that sharply wyll scurge For who so euer they doo in hand take Either good or dead they wyll hym sure maâ—â— Good if by vertue from vyce they wyll vâ—â—y Dead yf by vyces they doo the contrary ¶ The description declaration of a monstrous chyld borne in the towne of Maydston in the Countie of Rent in the yeare of oure Saluation 1561. the .xxix. daye of September beynge Sayâ—cte Mychaell the Archangels day betwene two thre of the clock in the mornyng SIth monsters as some lerned men declare Doo demonstrate to vs oure monstrous lyfe Repentantly let vs our hartes prepare Synne to aduoyde wherin our fete be ryse For why we walke deuoyde of loue in stryfe And for the most part councell men doo scorne Which moÌ„strous ways cause monsters to be borne Behold those eyes which monstrously strout out Which typeth foorth our boldnes to doo yll And where it hath no forhead without doubt The lacke of shame ryght playnly shew it wyll Suche shameles grace we se frequented styll Whyles we stoutly our naughty ways defend And seme gods word to mocke and reprehend It hath no necke whych may also expresse That lacke of loue doth reigne in euery wyght No paps nor teâ—ts whiche signifieth no lâ—sse But that we doo regard no truth nor ryght To nouryshe vertue few haue nowe delyght But pryde and foolyshe fondeand vayn attyre Of women chiefely nowe is the desyre Such ruffes such rolles such folysh tricks beside More heathenlyke then any Turke doth vse In wycked waies thus bodly do we glyde And holsom counsell most folke do refuse Thus monstrously we walke in great abuse As God by tokens dothe to vs declare That paynfull plagues he doth for vs prepare A hole it hath depe in the head behynd Couered ouer with a fleshy flappe Thus were these partes contrary vnto kynde Which may declare and signify perhap With feigned maners how we do vs wrap Apperyng outwarde honest fayre and gay Corrupted inward with most wycked way The buttockes also ioyned are in one Without a twyst the same for to deuyde Yet some there were that looked it vpon That toke great payne the matter for to hyde Astribyng it to chaunce that myght betyde Vnto the woman whyle she therwith went As hurt or bruse so vayn heads dyd inuent But who that wyll discretely the same vewe Shal fynd that God therin hath wrought his will And their surmyse to be false and vntrue With lies that would our eares and wyt so fyll That we shoulde not repent vs of the yll That caused God therby vs to amend Thys token great before our eyes to sende Presumpteous boldnes in vnshamfast wayes Is termes courage or auâ— aciue But shame to sinne is counted now a dayes Great folyshnes and dollysh dastardy So ryfe so rype is nowe iniquitie That fearful signes must faine be vs to teache That no man els can doe although he preache Let vs therfore haue sufficient regarde To these great workes of God shewed to vs Least death and hell doe shortly vs rewarde For these our sinnes that we committed thus Let learned wits now more at large discusse By these great moÌ„strous tokens what is ment But in the meane space let vs all repent ¶ An exhortation to al preachers of the Gospell that they ought to preache as well in workes as with wordes if they wyll preache profitably namely to the conuertioÌ„ of soules to the truthe THe first mouer from easte to weste That turnes the starâ—y sphere Vnder the whiche the seuerall orbes The wandryng lyghts doe beare By endles turnyng in that course That all men doe perceyue Contrary to their stryuing waye Whiche fâ—w folke can conceaue Twelue thousand tymes hath borne the sonne This endles halle about Beshyning all our hemisphere With beames â–ª most clere and stoute Which cutting crosse our horizon The night away did dryue And froÌ„ this arke by glistryng light Dyd darkenes styll depryue Synce parentes procreation My lyfe did fyrst beginne And nutriment performyng it Tyll that I breth did wynne And yet in this number of dayes I neuer could espie Or on that wyght once fyx my looke Or see hym with myne eye That cary could a good report Vnto his finall graue Whiche in this lyfe dyd not subdue The fleshe when it dyd raue Or could not with a moste sharp byt The heady synnes refrayne Subduyng frayle affections As with a brydle rayne No though he could well prophesis And profitably preache And as a heauenly messenger The gospell purely teache If lyfe and conuersation Doth not therto accorde His labours are abandoned His preaching is adhorde For in bare wordes doth not coÌ„sist The pure sinceritie But perfect works doth chiefly shew The Christian veritie And only wyt in speakyng well Doth shewe his force and myght But wysdome euer is exprest In dealyng iust and ryght Thus wyt can say but wisdoÌ„ doth All thynges godly and iust Wit in good words wisdom in dedes Is knowne and well discust As workes then doe all wordes excede And doyng speache excell Though wit may make a glorious shew Yet wysdom beares the bell How many preachers haue ben staynde That spake eloquently Which wanting wisdom could not work Therwith accordingly Wherfore the wyse philosopher Vnhappy dyd them call Whiche had a wyt and neuer could Attayne wisdom withall For wytte doth serue wisdom to learne In eche reasnable wyght Wherfore they are but beastes who not In wisdoms schole delyght If wysdoms worke then folowe not Oâ— wyâ— what is theffecte To what ende are these goodly wordes If good workes be
Wherof he was depryude By fals theues and vyle barators That wrongly it atchieude It can not be but a good worke Thus beastly men and fond Do answer them that would instruct Or make them vnderstand Not regardyng the law of God Nor hys commanndement That no yll thyng ought to be doue Vpon a good intent Also yf Gods permission Were a laufull defence So were it for all kynd of synne And most wycked offence As whoredome homicide and theft Wyth vyle I dolatâ—y For treason couetyse and pryde And moste vyle simony May I not say all these be good Sythe God dothe them permyt As well as those whom ye defende Oh men of beastly wyt His sufferance is to let your synnâ— Vnto full rypenes growe That in the lake of sulphure he Most iustly may you throwe And so declare hys glory great Vnto hys flocke electe That do by grace these wycked artes Cleane from theyr heartes reiect Their counsels all at God they aske And doo at hym require Theyr sauyng health and he doth geue To them theyr whole desyre For why one heare shall neuer fall From of theyr heads no tyme Wythout hys wyll whych doth impute To them no synne nor cryme For why they aske in lyuely â—ayth All wherof they haue nede Whiche causeth them assuredly â–ª Of theyr purpose to spede Therfore it must of force procede Of Infidelitie That ye at dyuels seke suche helpe Through moste vyie sorcery As dyd kyng Saule that damned man When Gods sprite hym forsoke When God would hym no answer make For wytchecraft gan he loke Which faithles shift how much it dyd Hym in his nede auayle Dyd well appere he slewe hym selfe When foes dyd hym assayle And so do ye your selues declare Of that same very sect Whyle ye at Sathan seke your helpe And do Gods powre suspect For as to dyuels here ye sought As reprobates forelorne So shall ye be hys porcion Syth God ye haue forswortie Vnlesse in tyme ye may repent Whiche yf it be gods will He graunt ye all that ye may hate And shonny she thys great yll For though on prudent Salomon They father this theyr art They are the workes of wickednes And of eternall smart The very cause for why saint Iohn As God dyd hym reueale Hath found their place to be in hell Where tormentes are eche deale Confounded are these coniurers Wyth conscience vncleane And all that vnto sorcery Or wycked wytchecraft leanâ— For in theyr art they doo no dout The lyuyng God forsake Cleauyng to condemnation And therof hold doo take What nede I here recyte scripture Syth all men well do knowe That god so deadly doth it hate That neyther hygh nor lowe The same may vse but that it wyll To Sathan his soule gyue Or if Gods lawe obserued were Not one of them should lyue That charmers are or coniurers Wyth wytches sorcery Or suche as chosers are of dayes Markyng the byrdes that slye For why the faythfull that do feare God ryghtly and beleue Assuredly do know that no Suche thyng can once them greue And as for that Astrologie Iudicial that ye name Let learned Caluine satisfie All wyse men of the same But Phisike and Astronomy Alas is nowe the cloke For euery kynde of trâ—chery That goodnes dothe reuoke For wycked wandryng fugitiues Or vagabundes most lâ—wde Do now a dayes from shyre to shyrâ— Wyth shyftes both false and shrewâ—â— Vnder colour of Phisikes arte And noble Surgery Dâ—lude the common multitude Wyth shamefull sorcery All secrete markes they wyll disclose And thynges long done and paste Whych doth with admiration The people make agast In suche wise that they streight beleue That nothyng vnder sonne Dothe stande to hard or difficill Of suche men to be donne So that partly wyth Palmestry Or Chyromancies gaude And foolysh Physiognomye And wytchery that fraude Vnto theyr wycked false purpose The people they allure More then can any godly art That perfect is and pure For Bedlem baudes hatefull hoores This is a common shyft Of ruffyen theues and murderers It also is the dryft Vnder suche cloke their companies Together oft they drawe Free from danger of officers And punyshement of lawe Alas that thys myght be sene to With Iustice powre and myght That Vranie and Medicine Agayn myght haue theyr ryght That nowe is by extorcion So fraudulently kept That for most true possessionâ—rs The most part them accept For how theyr Field was put them fro Before I haue you sayd Desyryng now all learned men In this to adde theyr ayde That from the fylthy fruites of hell It may once be purged That there the ryght inheritours Agayne myght be lodged That now be fayne to seke els where Some holsome place to dwell Where of the wyse they are accept And entertayned well Among these thoughtes most troublesome At laste I dyd awake Fyndyng my body sweatyng sore And all my synewes shake Where I long tyme lay syghyng sore Thynkyng of thys strange dreame Wyshyng for some interpretour If any in thys Realme Were full expert therin as was Ferdinand Ponzetus Or Artemidor whose syrname Is sayd Daldianus But as eche thyng doth weare by time So other thoughtes at last Abated this perplexitie And it began to wast And I agayne came to my selfe That I dyd shortly heare The warbiyng notes song so swete Of Philomela cleare Which counsayld me that slouthfulnes I should from me expell Wherfore I rose and wyth all spede I lyghted a candell So serude my turne my tynder boxe Whych stoode in my chamber Then toke I foorth my standyshe to Wyth pen ynke and paper Where I carude foorth yll fauoredly Thys rough and ragged verse Wherin theffect of thys my dreame I â—udely doo reherse Desyryng yet my readers dere To bearâ— it paciently Syth it is but the buddyng flowre Of my poore infancy Whych as rypenes of knowledge growes I shall be glad t amend If any man shall me informe And thus I make an ende Esay 1â— When they aske councell at theyr Gods at their Prophets at theyr Sothsayers and Witches theÌ„ wyll I bryng theyr counsels to nought Hieremie 10. Ye shall not lerne after the maner of the heathen and ye shall not feare the tokens of heauen for the heathen are afrayd of such yea all the customes and lawes of the Gentiles are nothyng but vanitie Esay 47. Go now to thy coniurers and to the multitude of thy wytches whom thou hast ben acquaynted with all froÌ„ thy youthe yf they may heare thee or strengthen thee Thou hast hytherto had many counsels of them So let the heauen gasers beholders of starres come on nowe and deliuer thee yea and lâ—t them shew when these new things shall come vppon thee Behold they shal be lyke straw which if it be kyndied with fyre no man may rid it for the vehemency of the flame And yet it gyueth no synders to warme a man by nor clere fyre to sit by EueÌ„ so shall they be whom from thy