¶ A Godly Exhortation, whereby England may know: What sinful abomination, there now doth flow.  
AT LONDON Printed by Edward Allde, and are to be sold at Saint Magnus' Corner by Hugh Astley.  
Anno. 1588.   

To the Christian Reader.  

I Touch not those which godly be,  
my pen blames none of them:  
I wish no ill to he or she,  
but good unto all men.   

But this I wish with all my heart,  
God grant it may be so:  
That wicked persons may convert,  
and all their vice forego.   

I wish that virtue may increase,  
in every Christians heart:  
I wish that wicked vice may cease,  
and quite be laid a part.   

I wish that England may so frame,  
itself unto God's word:  
That other nations seeing the same,  
may praise the living Lord.   

The cause why that I made this book,  
is this I tell you plain:  
I would all those that herein look,  
from vices should refrain.   

And not all those alone I say,  
but all the rest beside:  
God grant us now and always,  
in him for to abide.   

Accept this Treatise in good part,  
most humbly I desire:  
And let me have of every heart,  
good will even for my hire.   

Although it rude and simple be,  
yet do it not detest:  
But where as any faults you see,  
of them make you the best.   

That I by hearing good report,  
of this the first of mine:  
May be encouraged with comfort.  
to write an other time.   

I trust at this my simple work,  
there's none will be offended:  
Except be those that means to lurk,  
in sin while life be ended.   
Edward Peck.  
FINIS.   


Hast thou forsaken Covetousness,  
that greedy gulping sin?  
Hast thou given over thy great excess,  
which thou dost wallow in.   

Or hast thou now exiled quite,  
the vice of Fornication?  
With envious hate and deadly spite,  
and all abomination.   

From swearing, lying, and all deceits,  
dost thou thyself refrain?  
All polling measures, and crafty weights,  
with heart dost thou disdain?   

If that thou hast forsaken those,  
with all the rest beside:  
Then mayst thou say as I suppose,  
thou hast no more but Pride.   

I doubt thyself thou canst not clear,  
of never a one of them:  
The which I have rehearsed here,  
with this my scribbling pen.   

Wherefore it makes me to lament,  
that such vices should dwell:  
In thee, for whom Christ shed his blood,  
as witnesseth his Gospel.   

He that doth walk thy Coasts abroad,  
O England at this time:  
May see what strife and great discord,  
is in the Children of thine.   

Where one there is O England now,  
that walks aright in thee:  
There is a thousand I dare abowe,  
that follows iniquity.   

O England, is it not a shame,  
and a filthy shame to thee:  
That thou which hast a Christians name,  
shouldst make this true to be?   

The mighty God of his mere grace,  
did send his word to thee:  
To that intent thou shouldst embrace,  
the same most lovingly.   

But thou forsookest his word and grace,  
when he gave it to thee:  
And willingly thou didst embrace,  
all kind of vanity.   

And now thou art so trained therein,  
thou wilt it not forsake:  
But day and night in horrible sin,  
thy pleasure thou dost take.   

What eyes be they that can refrain,  
from streming floods of tears:  
To see the vices that do reign.  
in these thy latter years?   

Wherefore, O England now repent,  
thy wicked life amend:  
That God, thy God, incontinent,  
his grace to thee may send.   

And if thou have any respect,  
unto thy health at all:  
His righteous laws do not neglect,  
but come when he doth call.   

And with an heart and right good will,  
his word see thou obey,  
And then he will defend thee still,  
from Satan's filthy way.   

Thy Usurers if thou root out,  
and hoysers up of rents:  
With all the Rogish ruflling rout,  
which doth defile thy tents.   

Then mayst thou bear Christ's name aright,  
then mayst thou boldly say:  
Thou art a Christian clear and bright,  
  

But of this thing thyself assure,  
O England now I say:  
So long as such in thee endure,  
from God thou goest astray.   

Therefore with Christ's Gospel true,  
thy Usurers reprove:  
With all the rest of Satan's crew,  
which he so well doth love.   

And so if that they will repent,  
by Preaching of God's word:  
If the● will not Incontinent,  
on them place justice sword.   

This thing if thou do put in ure,  
thy wicked vice shall cease:  
And faithful love with virtues pure,  
in thee shall still increase.   

sword of justice be not slack,  
sleep not in silence so:  
Lest little England go to wrack,  
through vice which there doth slew.   

Awake therefore, take up thy sword,  
and view England about:  
And root out those, which at God's word.