ODES. IN IMITATION OF THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS, With Sundry other Poems and ditties tending to devotion and piety.  

HIS  
 IMPRINTED, ANNO DOMINI. M. D.CI.   

TO THE VIRTUOUS LADIES AND GENTLE WOMEN READERS OF THESE DITTIES.  
WHen for my own private recreation I had penned some of these poems yet not intending to make them public, for that I feared their soon receiving the deserved censure of the slenderness of their worth. Yet having by chance communicated them with a friend, I was not a little urged, to afford them the liberty of open view, but also persuaded to their further augmentation. And now having yielded unto the one, & adventured the other, I knew no better way then to make dedication of them unto yourselves, whose sweet voices or virginals may vouchsafe so to grace them, as that thereby they may be much bettered, and the rather if it shall please you to obtain of some skilful physician, such requisite tunes, as may unto them be best fitting. And therein craving your helpful furtherance, and for my presumption your favourable pardon, I humbly take my leave, excusing myself with my own good meaning:  
Uttered as ensueth. Vid.  

The vain conceits of loves delight  
I leave to Ovid's art,  
Of wars and bloody broils to write  
Is fit for Virgil's part.   

Of tragedies in doleful tales  
Let Sophocles entreat:  
And how unstable fortune fails  
All Poets do repeat.   

But unto our eternal king  
My verse and voice I frame  
And of his saints I mean to sing  
In them to praise his name.   
Yours in his best endeavours R. V.   

ODES. IN IMITATION OF THE SEVEN PENItential Psalms:  
To so-many several tunes of Music.  

In imitation of the first penitential Psalm. Beginning.  
Domine ne in furore. Psalm. 6.  

WHen my misdeeds o God  
May thee to anger move,  
amid the rigour of thy rage  
Vouchsafe me not reprove.   

Nor when for my offence  
Thy chastisement must be,  
In thy displeasure o dear Lord  
Let it not light on me.   

Thy mercy's Lord I crave  
Of strength I am bereft,  
O salve the soreness that my sin  
Upon my bones hath left.   

My much aggrieved soul▪  
In sorrows doth abound,  
How long o Lord shall they endure  
Or comfort be unfound.   

O turn thyself to me  
And rid my soul of pain,  
Even for thy mercies which exceed  
And ever do remain.   

O hasten thee o Lord  
To save and set me free,  
Amongst the dead (to their avail)  
there's none can think on thee.   

And in the depth of hell  
Where there is no redress,  
Who is it that will give the praise  
Or unto thee confess?   

My sighings for my sins  
Have passed in painful wise,  
And I each night will wash my bed  
With tears of wailing eyes.   

My sight is vexed with fear  
Of fury in thy rage,  
Oh that my sins must be my foes  
To wear me out in age.   

A way a way from me  
All ye that are unjust,  
Let him my mournful sound receive  
In whom I put my trust.   

That I with joy may say  
How to my suits accord,  
vouchsafed hath to condescend  
My dear and loving Lord.   

Let shame my foes befall  
And vexed let them be,  
Their own conversion or their shame  
Lord let them quickly see.   

Glory o God to thee  
And unto christ thy son,  
As also to the holy ghost  
Let endlessly be done.   
AMEN.   

In imitation of the second penitential Psal. Beginning.  
Beati quorum remiss sunt. Psalm. 31.  

O How much blest may they remain  
That pardon for their guilt obtain,  
And whose great ill and each offence  
Lies hid in contrite penitence.   

What happy state may he be in  
To whom our Lord imputes no sin,  
Whose conscience doth no guile retain  
That can himself beguile again.   

I did my sins in silence hold,  
In grief whereof my bones grew old,  
M●ane while my days in plaints of pain  
Without redress I spent in vain.   

But when o Lord thy heavy hand  
No day or night I could withstand,  
But that in anguish overworn  
My conscience pricked as with a thorn.   

Lo then o Lord I did begin  
To utter all my secret sin,  
No longer list I ought conceal  
But each injustice to reveal.   

Against myself I said will I  
My wrongs confess and faults defy,  
To thee o Lord, o Lord to thee  
That haste from all absolved me.   

And since I thus thy mercies find  
Let each of good and godly mind,  
Approach to thee in happy time  
To pray for pardon of his crime.   

For such as so do sink in sin  
That still they plunged lie therein,  
Unable are of thee to gain  
What contrite sinners can obtain.   

O Lord my refuge rests in thee  
When troubles do environ me,  
O free me then my freedoms joy  
From such as seek me to annoy.   

Great comforts Lord I do conceive  
Thou me thy servant wilt not leave,  
But wilt instruct and guided me right  
And keep me ever in thy sight.   

O ye that careless are of grace  
Behold and see your brutish case,  
And be not as the horse and mule  
That live devoid of reasons rule.   

And thou o Lord in mercies ryf  
Vouchsafe restrain their straying life,  
With bit and bridle make them stay  
That unto thee will not obey.   

Since that for those of sinful trade  
Full many scourges there be made,  
Well him, that doth in God repose  
Whose mercies may his soul enclose.   

Be therefore joyful in our Lord  
All that to righteousness accord,  
Let each with gladness bear his part  
That hath a pure and perfect heart.   

All glory be O Lord to thee  
And to thy Son in like degree  
As also to the holy Ghost  
Perpetual and enduring most.   
AMEN.   

In imitation of the third penitential Psal. Beginning.  
Domine ne in furore. Psalm. 37.  

amid thy fury my dear lord  
Rebuke not me,  
Nor let thy chastisement befall  
When wrathful thou shalt be.   

Thy arrows in myself I feel  
Already stand,  
I see o Lord thou fixed haste  
At me thy aiming hand.   

Within myself (o woe is me)  
No health I find,  
Through fear and terror of thy face  
That seems to wrath inclined.   

My very bones disturbed be,  
Gon is their peace,  
My own beholding of my sins  
Doth work my woes increase.   

And as my sins surmounting are,  
I must confess,  
So are they mounted on my head  
And heavy me oppress.   

My crimes forepast and pardoned  
Like scars remain,  
That putryfyde break out a new  
Because I sin again.   

A woeful wretch am I become  
Crooked I grow,  
Each day I wail and while I live.  
I will continue so.   

My members by illusions led  
Me so restrain,  
My healthless body is unapt  
True virtue to retain.   

By great affliction I am brought  
Exceeding low,  
Be moved Lord through my loud groans  
Thy mercies to bestow.   

My suits o Lord tend all to thee  
Thou knowest my case,  
My plaints and penance Lord accept  
That so I may have grace.   

Within myself my silly heart  
Is vexed still,  
My force is lost, my sight I lack,  
To see and shun my ill.   

In my displeasing thee o Lord  
Right well I see,  
My friends are foes, my soul is sought  
And force is wrought on me.   

They wish my ill, and speak my scorns,  
And when they smile,  
Their hate admits no time of stay  
To study fraud and guile.   

But I alas with patience priest  
Must all forbear,  
Like to the dumb and seeming deaf  
I neither speak nor hear,   

And for because o gracious God  
I trust in thee,  
Thou wilt I know my loving Lord  
Give ear and aid to me.   

Let not o Lord my foes prevail  
Lest they rejoice,  
Sith scars my feet I may remove  
But they advance their voice.   

Of my misdeeds I am prepared  
To bear the smart,  
Still is my sin before my sight  
And sorrow in my heart.   

I will revolve my faults forepast  
amid my mind,  
And those I truly will confess  
That I may mercy find.   

Hate hath confirmed on me my foes  
In wrongful wise  
And still they live and do increase  
Whose envy never dies.   

They yield me ill that gave them good  
And me defy,  
Because I goodness would ensue  
From which they seek to fly.   

Forsake me not o Lord my God  
In state distressed,  
Be ready Lord to my relief  
My life in thee doth rest.   

To Father Son and holy Ghost  
All glory be,  
From former endless date to dure  
To all eternity.   
AMEN.   

In imitation of the fourth penitential Psal. Beginning.  
Miserere mei Deus. Psal. 50.  

Have mercy o good God on me  
In greatness of thy grace,  
O Let thy mercies manifold  
My many faults deface.   

Fowl filthy loath-some ugly sin  
Hath so defiled me,  
With streams of pity wash me clean  
Else clean I cannot be.   

To well my foul unclensed crimes  
Remembrance do renew,  
To plain in anguish of my heart  
They stand before my view.   

To thee alone o Lord to thee  
These evils I have done,  
And in thy presence, woe is me,  
That ere they were begun.   

But since thou pardon promisest  
Where hartes-true-ruthe is shown,  
Show now thy mercies unto me  
To make thy justness known.   

That such as do infringe thy grace  
Be made ashamed and shent,  
As rife thy mercies to behold  
As sinners to repent.   

With favour view my foul defects  
In crimes I did begin,  
My nature bad, my mother frail,  
Conceived I was in sin.   

But since thyself affectest truth  
And truth itself is thee,  
I truly hope to have thy grace  
From sin to set me free.   

Since to thy faithful thou before  
The secret science gave,  
Whereby to know what thou wouldst spend  
The sinful world to save.   

Whose heavenly hyssop sacred drops  
Shall me besprinkle so,  
That it my sin-defyled soul  
Shall wash more white than snow.   

O when mine ears receive the sound  
Of such my soul's release,  
How do sin-laden limbs rejoice  
At hats true joys increase?   

From my misdeeds retire thy sight  
View not so foul a stain,  
First wipe a way, my spots impure  
Then turn thy face again.   

A clean and undefiled heart  
O God create in me,  
Let in me Lord, of righteousness  
A spirit infused be.   

From that most glorious face of thine  
O cast me not away,  
Thy holy Ghost vouchsafe o God  
With me that it may stay.   

The joy of thy salvation Lord  
Restore to me again  
And with thy sprite of graces chief  
Confirm it to remain.   

That when at thy most gracious hand  
My suits received be,  
The impious I may instruckt  
How they may turn to thee.   

For when o Lord I am released  
From vengeance and from blood,  
How joyful shall I speak of thee  
So gracious and so good.   

Thou Lord wilt give me leave to speak,  
And I thy praise will show,  
For so the graces do require,  
Thou dost on me bestow.   

If thou sin-offringes hadst desired,  
As wont were to be,  
How gladly those for all my ills,  
I would have yielded thee.   

But thou accepts in sacrifice,  
A sorrowing soul for sin,  
Despising not the heart contrite,  
And humbled mind within.   

Deal graciously o loving Lord,  
In thy free bounties will,  
With Zion, thy dear spouse in earth,  
And fortify it still.   

That so thou mayest thence receive,  
That sovereign sacryfise,  
From alter of all faithful hearts,  
Devoutly where it lies.   

To thee o Father glory be  
And glory to the Son,  
And glory to the holy Ghost  
Eternally be done.   
AMEN.   

In imitation of the fift penitential Psal. Beginning.  
Domine exaudi orationem meam. Psal. 101.  

O Let o Lord thine ears inclined be  
To hear the prayers that I make to thee:  
And my hearts grief that breaketh forth in cries  
O let it have the power to pierce the skies.   

Turn not from me thy favourable face,  
What day or hour I am in heavy case:  
But when I call to thee in my distress  
O hear me Lord and send me soon redress.   

My days and years alas with little gain  
Like unto smoke how are they passed in vain:  
My forces Lord how are they parched and dry,  
Devotions lack yields moisture no supply.   

The blasted grass my image now can show,  
My withered heart confirms that it is so:  
And I forgotten have unto my grief,  
To eat the bread of my soul's best relief.   

And my too much regard of earthly care  
Before myself for grace I could prepare,  
Made reason to abandon reason quite,  
And to affection fast itself unite.   

burr now o Lord, since that I do begin  
To see myself, and know the shame of sin,  
From earthly train I will retire my mind,  
Thee will I seek, my saving health to find.   

In desert like as lives the Pelicane,  
Or as the crow that doth day light refrain  
Or chirping sparrow sitting all alone.  
I shroud, I watch, retired, I make my moan.   

But while O Lord I do endure this life  
Expecting peace by fleeing worldly strife  
Old friends I find become new noisome foes  
O love me Lord, for loss of love of those.   

My penance not restrained through scorn of theirs,  
My food I take with ashes & with tears:  
Thee more I fear, lest thou on me shouldst frown,  
That canst me raise, and raising cast me down.   

My days decline as doth a shadow pass,  
And I as hay that whilom was as grass:  
But thou from age to age shalt ever be,  
Then evermore o Lord forget not me.   

Vouchsafe o Lord in puissance to arise,  
To raise thy Zion that depressed lies:  
Now is the time, the time doth now expire,  
It mercy wants, and mercy doth desire.   

This glorious work was first begun by thee,  
Thy servants erst were glad the stones to see:  
And they will grieve with hartes-afflicted care,  
If so the ruins thou dost not repair.   

But when o Lord thy works shall show thy fame  
The faithless people than shall fear thy name:  
And earthly kings shall bend their glory down,  
At thy celestial glory and renown.   

Because thy Church thy Zion thou didst build,  
Where thou wouldst ever have thy honour held:  
And haste not unregarded hard the plaint,  
Of faithful folk, thralled in untruths restraint.   

And that no time remembrance may impair,  
Of thy maintained work, and mercy rare,  
Let people now, for people to ensue,  
Thy praise record, thy praises to renew,   

For from high heaven to this low earthly place,  
From bliss to bale our Lord inclines his face:  
The groans to hear, the grieved to release,  
To free from thrall, to make affliction cease.   

The more may Zion now sound forth his fame,  
jerusalem his praises may proclaim:  
Where in his Church his people do accord,  
And whereas kings are subjects to their Lord.   

Who may o Lord thy dateless days relate,  
That of all ages overpass the date:  
It's thou to us haste put appointed space,  
O stop not me ere half I run my, race.   

The world and welkin first by thee were made,  
Thou heavens sphere, thou earth's foundation laid,  
Thou shalt endure, they shall consumed be,  
Thou madest time, time hath no force on thee.   

These elements by alteration strange,  
Shall changed be, and so remain in change:  
But thou o Lord that works all at thy will,  
Wa'st erst the same, the same remaining still.   

Vousafe o Lord there offspring to preserve,  
That thee in fear and faith and love do serve:  
And in thy ways directed to remain,  
A lasting life in lasting bliss to gain.   

Unto the Father, Son and holy Ghost,  
All praise and glory be ascribed most,  
As herefore before the world begun  
And as it now, and ever shallbe done.   
AMEN.   

In imitation of the sixth penitential Psal. Beginning.  
De profundis clamavi ad te Domine. Psal. 129.  

Even from the depth of woes  
Wherein my soul remains,  
To thee in supreme bliss  
O Lord that highest reigns,  
I do both call and cry:  
'tis deep hart-sorrowes force  
That moves me thus to wail,  
'tis pity Lord in thee  
Must make it to avail,  
Thine ears therefore apply.   

If strictly thou o Lord  
Observed haste my sin,  
Alas what shall I do?  
What case then am I in?  
If rigour thou extend:  
But well o Lord I know  
Sweet mercy dwells with thee,  
And with thy justice than  
It must expected be,  
And I therefore attend.   

My soul doth wait on thee,  
Thy grace confirms my trust,  
My warrant is thy word:  
Thou keepest promise just,  
Keep me o Lord secure:  
Let thy afflicted flock  
Comfort in thee retain,  
From dauning day to night,  
From night to day again,  
Let still their hope endure.   

There is with our good God  
Much mercy still in store,  
Redemption doth remain  
With him for ever more,  
Abundant is his grace:  
His people he affects  
He will not leave distressed,  
The thralled he will free,  
With ease of their unrest,  
And all their faults deface.   

All glory be therefore  
O Father unto thee,  
And so unto the Son,  
The like great glory be,  
And to the holy Ghost:  
Such as it wont was,  
Before the world began,  
Such as now yet it is,  
And ever shall remain,  
Above all glory most.   
AMEN.   

In imitation of the seventh penitential Psal. Beginning.  
Domine exaudi orationem meam. Psalm. 142.  

Vouchsafe admit thy gracious ears,  
With mild regard for to attend,  
The prayers that a plaining heart,  
With sorrowing sighs to thee doth send:  
And let thereto o loving Lord  
Thy justice and thy truth accord.   

In rigour of thy righteous doom  
O do not skan thy servants cause,  
For there is none on earth alive  
Through faultless life freed from thy laws:  
Then how may I in sinful plight  
Seem just in thy allseeing sight?   

The friend of sin, the foe of souls,  
Down to the earth my soul hath brought,  
Which to the heaven should aspire,  
Since from the heaven it was wrought:  
O raise it up again to bliss  
From earth and all that earthly is.   

Amids the dark misled am I,  
Where lack of light sins view denies,  
I hue a life more like to death,  
While dead from grace my body lies:  
And whereas care through secret smart  
Sends anguish to afflict my heart.   

But I o Lord recall to mind  
What thou hast done in time before,  
And how thy justice hath been great,  
But how thy mercy hath been more:  
Thus hope of help still comfort gives,  
While mercy still with justice lives.   

My stretched hands to thee display  
The ensigns of my yielding heart,  
My soul as earth that water wants  
Of virtues fruit can bear no part:  
I faint, send soon relief of rain,  
Lest else unfruitful I remain.   

Thy face of pity not of wrath  
Turn not o loving Lord from me,  
And let not Lord my own misdeeds  
Have lasting force to anger thee:  
For so might I compare my case  
To theirs that furthest fall from grace.   

But since my hope is firm in thee  
Let me betimes thy mercy have,  
The way of health make known to me,  
My feet from erring paths to save:  
Only to thee my soul retires,  
Only thy mercy it desires.   

O free me from my sinful foes,  
To thee I fly to be secure,  
Teach me the lesson of thy will,  
And let me put it well in ure,  
Thou art my God and God of all  
That for thy aid and comfort call.   

Thou wilt vouchsafe to me o Lord  
Thy holy sprit to be my goyd,  
My faith and hope in thee is such,  
And such it ever shall abide:  
revive thou wilt me for thy name,  
Goodness in thee requires the same.   

So that at last by thee o God  
My soul from bale to bliss be brought,  
And that in mercy thou sub●…ert  
All those my soul's destruction sought:  
And force of foes destroyed may be,  
And I made safe for serving thee.   

All glory be to thee o God,  
The Father of eternal might:  
And to the Son, and holy Ghost,  
Three in an undevyded plight:  
As now it is, and was of yore,  
And shall endure for evermore.   
AMEN.    

EXTRACTS OF THE SIBYLLAES' PROPHECIES OF CHRIST.  

Sibylla Persica.  
Thou serpent fraught with craft and cruelty  
Shalt by a mightier strength be trodden low,  
And on base earth, the high God borne shallbe,  
And from a maid the branch of bliss shall grow:  
And that true word, unseen before of all,  
Shall now be seen, and shallbe felt withal.   

Sibylla Libyca.  
IN obscure darkness light shall glistering shine,  
The Synagogues strait bands unbound shallbe:  
The king of life be seen of mortal eyen,  
And in a maiden's lap shall nowrisht be,  
And high above the gentiles he shall reign,  
And shall in mercy his estate maintain.   

Sibylla Delphica.  
ATtend (o earth) thy sovereign Lord to see,  
And know thy God, which is God's only son:  
Child of the highest, and most high is he,  
Whose being by no earthly wight begun:  
He shall the great expexted prophet be,  
Of worthy greatness, and great dignity.   

Sibylla Cumea.  
AMaid excelling all in sanctity  
And whose clear beauty shall the stars exceed  
Of Child (in future time) conceived shallbe,  
And of the rarest sacred blood and seed:  
And from the heavens the sweet dew down shall fall  
Into her breasts to nowrish him withal.   

Sibylla Erithrea.  
IN later age, high God will him abase,  
And unto low estate himself incline,  
Mixing his nature with our humane race,  
His Godheid to our manheid to combine:  
And lo the little lamb in strawy bed,  
Shall of a maid be nowrished and fed.   

Sibylla Samia.  
O Fond judea, why dost thou neglect,  
The certain knowledge of thy very God,  
Thy happy days why dost thou so reject?  
O why dost thou prepare for him a rod?  
With thorny crown his head why dost thou press?  
And for his taste a bitter potion dress.   

Sibylla Cumana.  
WHat time the third days sleep hath taken end  
The time prescry bed also end shall take,  
Of death, whose rule to that space did extend,  
And then as from his sleep shall wax awake,  
He whose now bringing lives revyned joy,  
Shall show how men from death may life enjoy.   

Sibylla Helispontiaca.  
EVen from the heavens most high & stately throne  
The eyes of God the earth shall overview,  
And of all creatures take regard of one,  
Of modest meekness, and most gracious hue:  
And as a man God shall be borne on earth,  
And of an hebrew virgin have his birth.   

Sibylla Phrigia.  
THe earth shall rend at fearful trumpet sound,  
And kings as vassals at God's seat appear,  
In justice all his judgements shall abound,  
Yielding to men as men deserved here:  
unto the good, still during heavenly joy,  
And to the ill, long-lasting hells annoy.   

Sibylla Tiburtina.  
Thou Bethlem art the birthplace of thy Lord,  
That doth from Nazareth assume his name,  
O blessed mother, bliss doth thee afford,  
His love, that leaves himself pledge of the same▪  
O blessed be that sweet milk-yeilding breast,  
To nourish God, right happily addressed.  
FINIS.    

THE FIFTEEN MYSTERIES OF THE rosary, OF OUR BLESSED LADY. 

WHEREOF 

The first five. are joyful.  
The second sorrowful.  
And the third glorious.      

The first joyful mystery.  
Containing the Anuntiation of our blessed Lady.  
WHen heavens rare love resolved man's release▪  
From thrall to him that first produced sin,  
It was decreed that this redeeming peace,  
Must by a God and by a man begin,  
Then on embassage was an Angel sent,  
unto the best of all the best on earth,  
With grace-ful greeting to declare th'intent,  
Of God's design in such a sacred birth.  
And even as she assented to the same,  
eftsoones in her conception did begin,  
And blessedness gave title to her name,  
And joy at her glad heart did enter in.   

The second joyful mystery.  
Containing our lady's visitation of S. Elizabeth.  
HEr change exchanged not humbleness for pride,  
That bore God's Son and yet would go to see,  
Her in whose womb God's servant did reside,  
vain points could not with her pure virtue be.  
And as her cousin's ears received her voice,  
One child by Sympathy the other moved,  
Which outwardly both mothers made rejoice,  
Whose joy each child by inward joy approved,  
From virgin's mouth the ditty then begun,  
How much her soul did magnify her lord,  
Which since enured help-seekers from her son  
Therein her praise, in his praise to record.   

The third joyful mystery.  
Containing the birth of Christ.  
AT Caesar's hest to Bethlem she repairs,  
As duty wild, where duty had no claim,  
No harbinger her loging there prepares,  
Her poor estate finds harbour like the same.  
But when as God in chyldheid would appear,  
Odours and Angels brightness it adorn,  
And with dear love, her loving babe so dear,  
She doth adore assoon as it is borne.  
High privilege exempted her from woe,  
Which but God's mother none could else obtain,  
And heavenly bounty did on her bestow,  
That she a maiden ever should remain.   

The fourth joyful mystery.  
Containing the presentation of Christ in the temple.  
AT time prefixed by rite of ancient lore,  
That now the mother must her babe present,  
Though not impure, but purer then before,  
And pureness bringing with her where she went.  
As warned then, through hire of hope and faith,  
Good Simeon comes, to see his wished sight,  
Where as the Swan he singes before his death,  
And in one joy doth end all world's delight.  
And all they years old Anne devoutly spent,  
That with her age increased her godly zeal,  
Did now bring joy unto her hearts content,  
And joy to all where joy she did reveal.   

The fift joyful mystery.  
Containing our Ladies finding of Christ in the temple.  
Sequestered love doth foster grief and joy,  
Twixt fear of loss and hope of happy gain,  
Such was her case that lost her little Boy,  
Whose joy reuyned in finding him again.  
In Temple once built by the wisest king,  
Where not till now the wise king took his place,  
Who yet no kingly port did thither bring,  
But wisdom uttered with a childish face.  
With like in years she haply might him seek,  
But did him find with doctors in dispute,  
He left repose to fraudless minds and meek,  
And took in hand wise folly to confute.   

The first sorrowful mystery.  
Containing the apprehension of Christ.  
woe worth that sorrow should succeed to joy,  
Or for the ill the good sustain the smart,  
But since the son would suffer wrongs annoy,  
The mother bears her undeserved part.  
For when as he distressed in garden prayed,  
And bloody sweat ran down his face amain,  
And judas false him judasly betrayed,  
Lost joy her left, betrayed unto pain.  
And when with rage the jews led him away.  
Then anguish her surprised and led in thrall,  
And all that outwardly on him they lay.  
Doth inwardly unto her heart befall.   

The second sorrowful mystery.  
Containing the scourging of Christ.  
T'Apease the rage of causeless raging jews,  
false pilate wild true Christ should scourged be,  
Crime knew he none, and yet he did refuse,  
unpunished to set the guiltless free.  
Then was sweet jesus to a pillar tide,  
And hellhounds lashed at his fair tender skin,  
imbrued with blood all round on every side,  
Think then how stood th'acquitter of our sin.  
And in what sorrow his poor mother stood,  
For his great good, their so great il to view,  
Her heart bled inward, and distilled the blood,  
Forth at her eyes, though altered in the hue.   

The third sorrowful mystery.  
Containing the crowning of Christ with a crown of thorn.  
FOr change of torture not for ease of grief,  
The jews do from the pillar Christ unlose,  
While his sad mother's hopes of his relief,  
Increase her sorrow in his lengthened woes.  
For they his dolour to deride and scorn,  
The king of kings in mockage king do call,  
And on his head they fix a crown of thorn,  
And in his hand a reed to rule withal.  
Yielding pure love impure despite and hare,  
Accursed rebels to a king of grace.  
That purchase now the due disgraceful state,  
Of their still kinglesse and contemptuous race.   

The fourth sorrowful mystery.  
Containing Christ his bearing of his Cross.  
WHen Pylat pressed by the jewish rage,  
With wrested conscience gave the doom of death,  
The jews made hast their fury to assuage,  
In the extinguishing lyf-givers' breath.  
And his death's engine, burden of his woe,  
They make him bear, that him to bear they made.  
Him in the way to death to torture so,  
Till they his fainting force, give forced aid.  
Well may his mother mourn this to observe,  
That from his burden loads her mind with woes,  
And he well ask what withered stocks deserve?  
When fruitful trees are served so of those.   

The fift sorrowful mystery.  
Containing the crucifying of Christ.  
OH woe is me at this great end of grief,  
Christ is arrived at his dying place,  
Lamblyke he stands, bereft of all relief,  
Subject of sorrow, vassal of disgrace.  
For on his cross all naked they him nail,  
And rear it up, and wound him in the side,  
Which all the blessed of heaven do be wail,  
While of the earth th'accursed'st it deride.  
The sword of sorrow peirseth now the heart,  
Of his lamenting mother in her dolour most,  
Whose dear Sons sorrow, and surmounting smart,  
Now takes an end, in yielding of his ghost.   

The first glorious mystery.  
Containing the resurrection of Christ.  
SVbdued sorrow glory now ensues,  
For from the cross the soul of Christ descending▪  
Brings to expecting souls the cheerful news,  
Of heavens entrance, their de●ynments ending.  
And to his corpse his ghost returned again,  
Triumphant raiseth it from closed tomb,  
Terror unto the actors of his pain,  
Whose hate, and death, and hell, is overcome.  
And glory that his sorrows now had chased,  
Extinguished woe in his kind mother's heart,  
And glory there and in all others placed,  
That of his anguish had sustained part.   

The second glorious mystery.  
Containing the ascension of Christ into heaven.  
WHen forty days the day had overpast,  
Of that now life that Christ from death had taken,  
He did resolve his heavens return at last,  
To leave the world that had him first forsaken.  
And having to his mother now appeared,  
And also unto his apostles true.  
Confirmed in faith, and in his glory cheered,  
On Olive mount he bids them all adieu.  
And there lifts up himself to sacred bliss,  
Th'unworthy world no more him so retains,  
And all the glory that in heaven is,  
To him is yielded and to him remains.   

The third glorious mystery.  
Containing the coming down of the holy Ghost.  
Placed in his throne and glorious chair of state,  
Our loving Lord regardful of o●● weal,  
Would let no more than ten days run their date,  
Ere he his keeping promise would reveal.  
What time his mother and disciples bend,  
In secret wise to invocate his name,  
Down unto them his holy Ghost he sent,  
With glorious fire their hearts for to inflame,  
And to conjoin to his Church now begun,  
That spirit of truth that ever must it guide,  
In only truth, while shineth any Sun,  
Maugre the worst, of daunted hellish pride.   

The fourth glorious mystery.  
Containing the assumption of our blessed Lady.  
WHen hence to part the virgin did obtain,  
The Hierarchies their due attendance gave,  
To bring her sinless soul to endless reign,  
While saints on earth brought her pure corpse to grave.  
Which therein laid, and found thence ●o be ta'en,  
Makes piety to faith to recomend,  
That soon her soul to earth returned again,  
And took her corpse and did therewith ascend.  
A due prerogative, and due alone,  
Unto that body that had borne a child,  
As never did, nor never shall do none,  
That never was with thought of sin defyld.   

The fift glorious mystery.  
Containing the coronation of our blessed Lady.  
ASsumpted so with soul and corpse combined,  
As glorious as at last the blessed shalbee,  
And placed in her princely seat asygned,  
Like 〈◊〉 worthy self appeared she.  
And that eternal ever three in one,  
There crowned her the highest heavens Queen,  
Where angels yielded honour to her throne,  
As seemly might to her estate be seen.  
And she that erst replenished was with grace,  
Now placed where grace flows out in plenty's store,  
Where as she sees her sons most gracious face,  
And sues for such as sue to her therefore.    

AVE MARIA.  

HAil Marry, filled full of grace,  
Our Lord remains with thee,  
And thou amongst thy sex's race,  
Remainest blest to be.   

And as thou blessed didst become,  
So didst thou blessed bring,  
The blessed fruit that from thy womb,  
So blessedly did spring.   

Both now and when we yield our ghost,  
To him prefer our case,  
Because his mercy lasteth most,  
And thou art full of grace.    

EPITHETS OF OUR BLESSED LADY.  

Templum Dei.  
WHen God would from the heavens to earth his progress take,  
No palace there he found, that might him entertain,  
Save one rare edifice, which earthquake could not shake,  
The worthiest work of praise, that might on earth remain.  
Fair court of sanctity, made holier for his sake,  
That thee the Temple made, his presence to contain:  
O Temple where as God, vouchsafed for to be,  
Still may we him adore, adoring still in thee.   

Porta Caeli.  
WHen grace came from above, than was't thou made the gate,  
By which it entered here, & brought the hope of bliss,  
Which hope in hearts of men, remaineth still in state,  
And still through faith and love, alive preserved is:  
Then since thou was't the door, for grace this to relate,  
So art thou heavens gate, and well accordeth this,  
That as God unto men, did thee his entrance make,  
Men entrance unto God, again by thee may take.   

Scale Caeli.  
HOw may our heavy load, inclining to descend,  
Ascend up in the air, beyond the eagles flight,  
Except by such a guide, as will assistance lend,  
And can from step to step, direct the passage right:  
Or rather her own self, us better to defend,  
The ladder will become, that scaleth heavens height,  
By whose degrees of grace, to bliss we may attain,  
And in our mounting up, not to fall down again.   

Electa ut Sol.  
Brave ornament of heaven, and comforter of kind,  
Of whom the shining Sun, doth but the shadow seem,  
Which as it is elect, and hath his place assigned,  
Above the planets all in earthly eyes esteem,  
Above all saints to thee, is worthily resigned,  
The seat in supreme bliss, that best doth thee beseem,  
Where thy fair beauteous face, no foggy clouds can hide,  
But chosen there by grace, in beauty dost abide.   

Pulchra ut Luna.  
WHen Ph●bus fiery steeds, in compassing the ground,  
Leave night behind their backs, till they again return,  
Then that there should some light, in darkness yet be found,  
Fair Phobe stays behind, supplying Ph●bus turn:  
Where she through borrowed light, in beauty doth abound,  
And cheers therewith the earth, that might in darkness mourn,  
So thy fair influence, fair Cynthia us extend,  
Which thy most bounteous son, doth thee most freely lend.   

Stella Maris.  
BRight shining star by sea, in lands abandoned fight▪  
At once apparent seen, on either side the spherre,  
The goodly guided of all, and guiding all aright,  
That in this raging sea, ensue thy brightness clear:  
And bending not there course to such illuding light,  
As may misled to wrack, ear danger do apeer,  
For thy direction leads, unto the port of rest,  
Those guided by thyself, whose guidance is the best.   

Civitas Dei.  
Fair City stately built, by singular device,  
Of that great Architeckt who is of greatest art,  
With all those goodly stones that are esteemed of price,  
Which to this fairest work, their fairness do convert:  
And through far aquaducts, from springs of paradise,  
The waters thither led, which do refresh the heart,  
And to octroy this town, with all-surpassing fame,  
The builder here himself, a Citizen became.   

Turris David.  
HIgh Tower of stately port, and far to be descried,  
And far from thence again, the world about to view,  
Itself the centinel, that therein doth abide,  
To give advice of foes, or danger to ensue:  
Well furnished for defence, for e'ury time and tide,  
For there a thousand shields are hanging on a rew,  
Not weapons of offence, but for defence to be,  
Of all such innocents, as from oppression flee.   

Navis Institoris.  
IF certitude of gain, may stit the searching mind,  
To venture in the ship, from whence misfortunes flee,  
That governeth the side, and doth command the wind,  
And speedily returns, with goods that precious be,  
The bark of bliss is she, and fortunate by kind,  
With grace she freighted is, and is of custom free,  
Taking but for her hire, and her inritching trade,  
Love of devoted minds, that rich by her are made.   

Puteus Aquarum.  
Clear well that overflows, with water fresh and fine,  
More pure than unicorn, could water ever make,  
Made by the hand of him, that water turned to wine,  
Who giving it the force, dry sorrow to aslake,  
Made that it never should, to any drought incline,  
But that at all assays, men might refreshing take,  
And our their healths decay, in deadly agonies,  
Since from the flood of life, the issue doth atise.   

Quasi plantatio Rosae in jericho.  
Even as the fragrant Rose, on prickling stalk doth grow,  
In fairness and sweet smell, and virtue to be seen,  
And woorthyest to be worn, and well beseeming so,  
In place of diadem, in garland of a Queen,  
So thou which heaven did once, on bryry earth bestow,  
In fairness, smell, and force, and burgeo●s ever green,  
Show'st that this goodly flower, may thy resemblance be,  
Save in his vading kind, which cannot be in thee.   

Lilium Conualium.  
THe little lily flower, that groweth in the dale,  
Leaves not in low degree, sweet fairness for to show,  
Which Solomon himself, could never countervail,  
With all his gorgeous cost, he liked to bestow;  
So thou sweet smelling flower, whom sorrows did assail  
And worlds esteem debase, to fortune that was low,  
Didst not therefore restrain, the splendure of thy face,  
Nor now from heaven to earth, the greatness of thy grace.   

Flos Campi.  
THe fair flower of the field, the dayes-eye doth apere,  
When thence all flowers beside, retire and vade away,  
For to this only slower, doth each month of the year,  
For comely beauty's cause, become the month of may,  
But that dayes-eye in deed, which doth all seasons cheer,  
And keeps her beauty still, which no time can decay,  
The dayes-eye is of day, where night may never be,  
And thou celestial flower thyself art only she.   

Lilium inter Spinas.  
amid a guard of thorn, this goodly lily grew,  
Defended from the foe, that would it feign deface,  
Who near it to approach, the entrance never knew,  
With poison to infect, where filth had never place,  
Yet such might be the hate, that hereon did ensue,  
That he reserved revenge, unto succeeding space,  
What time a crown of thorn, the sons head did sustain,  
To make the mother's heart, be pricked with the pain.   

Quasi Cedrus.  
Like as the Cedar doth, her nurs Libantis hill,  
Pay with begotten fame, of her dear nowrishing,  
In that so tall a tree, as all trees doth excel,  
Most stately there doth stand, in verdure flourishing:  
And doth through savour sweet, serpents away expel,  
So that high tree of bliss, that from the earth did spring,  
Unto the earth again, her sweetness doth extend,  
Il things to drive a way, that may the good offend.   

Quasi Palma.  
THrough burden of thy grief, long didst thou live depressed,  
Part-bearer of the woe, thy dear son did sustain,  
But as it was a grief, to see him so distressed,  
Love made it seem some joy to help to bear his pain:  
Yet grief had never force, so far thee to molest,  
That thou didst virtue want, thy courage to maintain,  
No more than is the palm, depressed by heavy weight,  
Who doth thereby the more, endeavour to be strait.   

Quasi Cypressus.  
Like to the Cypress tree, on holy Zion hill,  
That fair and uncorrupt, in vigour doth endure,  
And with sweet smelling breath, her near aprocher fill,  
And doth for Temples yield, her timber ever pure,  
So on that sacred mount, thou art remaining still,  
And in that Temple wrought, whence grace men must procure,  
And where approaching souls, do thy sweet scent receive,  
And where no su●er thou, dost unrelieved leave.   

Quasi Oliua.  
WHen earth's foul face of sin, might not the heaven see,  
The waters all did hide, that unto earth pertained,  
Except the ark wherein, few were reserved free,  
There to expect the time, that mercy might be gained,  
From whence the hopeful Noah, a pigeon did let flee,  
Who by an Olive branch, brought news that hope remained,  
So thou the Olive tree, whereout our joy did spring,  
Becamest the sign of joy, and joy itself didst bring.   

Quasi Platanus.  
Like as the goodly plane, doth beautify the field,  
And far her root extend, more steadfast for to stay,  
To make her farspred boughs refreshful shadow yield,  
For travelers repose, in hottest time of day,  
So thou exalted art, of heaven to be beheld,  
Where in assured state, thy boughs thou dost desplay,  
To the refreshful shade, of travelers desire,  
That pass in dangers dread, of soul afflicting fire.   

Hortus Conclusus.  
Most pleasant garden plot, true Paradise of praise,  
Erected in the room, of Paradise of iore,  
But yet that garden far, exceeding sundry ways,  
As perfect second works, exceed things wrought before:  
All closely walled about, inmolate it stays,  
No serpent can get in, nor shall for evermore,  
All goodly flowers and fru●●s, here in perfection grow,  
Virtue on stocks of grace, hath them engrafted so.   

Fons signatus.  
PVre ●ountaine surely sealed, from each infectious thing.  
Whose water doth exceed, the taste of Nectar sweet,  
And in two milk-white streams, did issue out and spring,  
And for one only taste, allowed to be meet,  
Who by divineful power, did to it virtue bring,  
That turned it to a red, whose colour could not fleet,  
And taken from thy breast, did yield it from his side,  
To salve the sins of men, when on the cross he died.   

Speculum sine Macula.  
Clear crystal erst conseald, in rock of heavens height,  
Was framed into a glass, to mirror virtues face,  
Whence lookers on receive, conservative of sight,  
And can no spot espy, to make it bear disgrace:  
But serveth as a book, and moveth much delight,  
By pureness therein seen, impureness to deface,  
And sacred was the skill, that pullisht it so clear,  
That through it unto men, salvation did appear.   

L'enuoy.  
LEt not offence mistake dispraising this my praise,  
As to dispraise the same, in deeming it too much,  
Whose worth demandeth more, of duty many ways▪  
And doth deserve dispraise, in that it is not such,  
But since devotion hath, afforded these assays,  
Let not uncaused offence, all causeless seem to grudge,  
For heaven did by behest, most blessed her ordain,  
And she ordained her praise, successive to remain.  
FINIS.    

OUR BLESSED LADY'S LULLABY.  

Upon my lap my sovereign sit●,  
And sucks upon my breast,  
Mean while his love sustains my life,  
And gives my body rest.  
Sing lullaby my little boy,  
Sing lullaby my lives joy.   

When thou hast taken thy repast,  
Repose (my Babe) on me,  
So may thy mother and thy nurs  
Thy cradle also be.  
Sing lullaby my little boy,  
Sing lullaby my lives joy.   

I grieve that duty doth not work  
All what my wishing would,  
Because I would not be to thee  
But in the best I should,  
Sing lullaby my little boy,  
Sing lullaby my lives joy.   

Yet as I am and as I may  
I m●st and ●●lbe thine,  
Though all to 〈◊〉 ●ot thyself,  
Vout●af●●g to be mine▪  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

My vits my words, my deeds, my thoughts,  
And else what is in me,  
I rather will not wish to use,  
If not in serving thee.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

My babe, my bliss, my child, my choice,  
My fruit my flower, and bud,  
My jesus, and my only joy,  
The some of all my good.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

My sweetness and the sweetest moste,  
That heaven could earth deliver,  
Soul of my love, spirit of my life,  
Abide with me for ever.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

Live still with me, and be my love,  
And death will me refrain.  
Unless thou let me die with thee,  
To live with the again.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

Leave now to wail thou luckless wight,  
That wrough'st thy races woe,  
Redress is found, and foiled is,  
Thy frute-aluring foe.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

Thy fruit of death from Paradise  
Made thee exiled mourn,  
My fruit of life to Paradise  
Makes joyful thy return.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

Grow up good fruit, be nowrisht by  
These fountains two of me,  
That only flow with maiden's milk,  
The only meat for thee.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

The earth is now a heaven become,  
And this base bower of mine  
A princely pallas unto me,  
My Son doth make to shine,  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

His sight gives clearness to my sight,  
When waking I him see,  
And sleeping his mild countenance  
Gives ●auour unto me.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

When I him in mine arms embrace  
I feel my heart embraced,  
Even by the inward grace of his,  
Which he in me hath placed.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

And when I kiss his loving lips  
Then his sweet smelling breath  
Doth yield a savour to my soul,  
That feeds love hope and faith.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

The shepherds left their keeping sheep,  
For joy to see my lamb,  
How may I more rejoice to see,  
Myself to be the dam.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

Three Kings their treasures hither brought,  
Of incense myrrh and gold,  
The heavens treasure and the King  
That here they might behold,  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

One sort an Angel did direct,  
A star did guide the other,  
And all the fairest son to see  
That ever had a mother.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

This sight I see, this child I have,  
This infant I embrace,  
O endless comfort of the earth,  
And heavens eternal grace.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

Thee sanctity herself doth serve,  
Thee goodness doth attend,  
thou blessedness doth wait upon,  
And virtues all commend,  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

Great Kings and Prophets wished have,  
To see that I possess,  
Yet wish I never thee to see,  
If not in thankfulness.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

Let heaven, and earth, & saints, & men,  
Assistance give to me,  
That all their most occurring aid  
Augment my thanks to thee.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

And let th'ensuing blessed race  
Thou wilt succeeding raise,  
join all their praises unto mine.  
To multiply thy praise.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.   

And take my service well in worth,  
And joseph's here with me,  
Who of my husband bears the name,  
Thy servant for to be.  
Sing lullaby, etc.  
Sing lullaby, etc.    

A REPREHENSION OF THE REPREHENDING of our lady's praise.  

FIE foul contempt of self-defyling breath.  
That darest disgorge, 'gainst so great purity.  
The poisson issued from defect of faith,  
To serve to witness thy impiety.   

Whence can it come but from infernal hat●  
That earthbred wretches are become to brag,  
As Gods own mother's glory to abate,  
To call and count her but a saffron bag.   

Or that a ●il the subject unto sin  
Dare equalize herself as good as she,  
In whom no thought impure hath ever been,  
Or least of purenesse-want might ever be.   

No Saint or Angel ever taught them this,  
For heaven did her entitle full of grace,  
And her conception of the king of bliss  
Her high regard commends to every race.   

Herself of her own praise was prophetess,  
And of the races that should it conserve,  
Needs must they then her ever-praise profess  
That love and law enuyteth to observe.   

The honour to a mother such as she  
To such a son must argue greater love,  
Which may not unto him offensive be,  
In whom kind love can it no less approve.   

But hatred of her laud may never grow  
Of zeal that love unto her son may raise,  
Nor can the child his love on such bestow,  
As kindle hatred at the mother's praise.   

He which is mighty her hath magnifyde,  
Let faithful then her ever magnify,  
While the unfaithful in conceit abide,  
Of doing well her praises to deny.   

And let performance of her worthy praise,  
Of her praise-yeilding race remain the sign,  
That so the blame that for it others raise,  
Become the mark of their dissenting line.   

And let contempt of her with such abide,  
As pay in hell the tribute of their pride.    

THE TRIUMPH OF feminine saints.  

THe trump of fame sounds forth the facts,  
Of well-deserving wights:  
And kings with honour do reward,  
The service of their knights.  
Of such therefore I cease to sing,  
My song of such to frame:  
Whose meed rests in no prince's power,  
Nor praise in earthly fame.   

And of the sex of woman kind,  
Though not of those of yore:  
With seared breasts against their foes,  
That warlike armour wore.  
But such as armed were with faith,  
Against soul-killing evil:  
And did in combat overcome,  
The flesh, the world, and devil.   

And for thy love o jesus Christ,  
And glory of thy name:  
That found no woes to be endured,  
But did endure the same.  
Their faith did bring them to endure,  
Endurance bliss did bring:  
In bliss they now do sing to thee,  
Now here of them I sing.   

Unheard it was in earth before,  
Unsounded forth by ●ame:  
Unknown that ere in silly sex  
Such resolution came.  
Till will and virtue did conjoin,  
In choice of chiefest good:  
And grace gave aid, & faith gained force,  
And nothing it withstood.   

As Teela first example gives,  
Whom fire could not annoy:  
And bears and lions left unhurt,  
Each other to destroy.  
Fierce rigour working rigours ruth,  
No hurt the hurtless find:  
Yet she a martyrs is esteemed,  
That martyred was in mind.   

Euphemia thrown to savage beasts,  
By men of beastly mood:  
Found beasts devoid of savageness,  
And men more thirsting blood.  
And all the torments that she had,  
To her not seemed pain:  
But when a sword transpearst her corpse,  
True glory was her gain.   

The noble Anastatia,  
Poor christians did relieve:  
Whose heath nish husband her therefore,  
unkindly did agrieve.  
But when the sword and cruel death,  
Did her from thrall release:  
The heavens her freedom did restore,  
With endless joy and peace.   

Besides this Anastatia,  
A martyrs and a wife:  
Two virgins of like name and faith,  
Lost each like wise their life.  
The elder that most pains endured,  
Most is her glory spread:  
That losing first, paps, hands and feet,  
Did lastly lose her head.   

Mild Dorothy endured much,  
And died by dint of sword:  
Whose sufferance did her love approve,  
To her dear loving Lord.  
She dead, to him 
* Th●●-phil●●.  sweet roses sent,  
That dying did her scorn:  
Which moved him her to ensue,  
That else had been forlorn.   

Erasma in her faith's defence,  
Did wade through many a woe:  
Until the hedsman ended all,  
In his death-bringing blow.  
And with this virgin, virgins three,  
Did gladly yield to die:  
So selling life at rate of death,  
Undying life to buy.   

Seraphia her settled love,  
To Christ was so entire:  
That strokes with cudgels she sustained,  
And burning flames of fire.  
And last of all, her life and all,  
For his dear love she left:  
And gained an ever-lyving life,  
In steed of that was reft.   

Sabi●a nobly did ensue,  
Seraphia noble dame:  
Yet nobler either in their acts,  
Then only in there name.  
Refusing of ungodly gods,  
The service to fulfil:  
She rather yielded to the sword,  
Then to the pagans wil   

As Authia the woes beheld,  
Which were by tyrants done:  
Unto the constant Bishop 
* Eleuth●rius. ,  
Her so well-beloved son.  
She joyed to have so good a child,  
For Christ to suffer smart:  
But when with him she strangled was,  
Then joyed most her heart.   

Affra in turning unto Christ,  
Turned from a life impure:  
And for his love the fires fierce flame,  
Was willing to endure.  
And to a stake when she was tied,  
Even as the fire was made:  
I give the thanks oh God for this,  
This glorious martyrs said.   

Sincere was Simphorosas faith,  
As did by deeds appear:  
In gaining unto her belief,  
Her spouse and children dear.  
And with her husband to accord,  
And sons in number seven:  
To live in Christ to die for Christ,  
To love and live in heaven.   

Fides and Spes and Charitas,  
Borne of S●p●●● sage.  
Ripe in their faith and fortitude,  
Though green in years of age.  
Were whipped, thrust in boiling pitch,  
And headed afterward:  
Whose worth the world of right admyres,  
And heaven doth reward.   

When blessed Blandina had the rack,  
And sundry tortures past:  
Unto a bull wrapped in a net,  
She was with fury cast.  
And when of this so fierce a beast,  
No harm she could receive:  
Then with the sword, men worse than beasts.  
Did her of life bereave.   

Potamina a noble Dame,  
Was with her mother 
† Marcelia.  brent:  
When fearing-threates nor ●uries ●orce,  
Might move her to relent.  
She being dead to him 
* Basilides.  appeared,  
That her did aid in death:  
Whereby he turning unto Christ,  
Was martyred for h●s faith.   

Thrice happy was Felicitas,  
Tha● happily did see:  
Her sons her sayings to ensue,  
And of her faith to be.  
And for the same by divers deaths,  
A deathles life renew:  
Which by the sword she lastly gained,  
And so did them 〈◊〉.   

The maid Martina being led  
Apollo 〈◊〉 adore:  
The Idol of itself fell down,  
As she it came before.  
A Lion unto her they put,  
Her body they did wound:  
And by the sword her life she lost,  
And life thereby she found.   

To offer to the Idol Gods,  
Cecilia did refuse:  
And contumelies, pains, and death,  
Contented was to choose.  
And in a scalding cauldron cast,  
And thrice struck with the sword:  
Attaining so unto the joys,  
The heavens do afford.   

Fair Agatha in beauty rare,  
And wealth did both abound:  
But virtue which is more of worth,  
Might more in her be found.  
Unhurt on Irons hot she stood,  
Cut of were both her paps:  
Her life she left, and gained bliss,  
So ending all mishaps.   

The loyal Appollonia.  
Withstood the pagan laws:  
For which with violence her teeth,  
Were torn from out her jaws.  
And when for her a burning fire,  
The hellhounds did provide,  
Into the same she went herself,  
And constantly she died.   

Russi●● and Sec●n●● both,  
Sisters and virgins were:  
Both living in the love of God,  
And dying in his fear.  
From sundry sorrows which they 〈◊〉,  
The sword did them release:  
And life and joy forth with began,  
As woe and death did cease.   

Basilia having fixed her love,  
Where love is best beloved:  
took no regard of carnal love,  
By fond affection moved.  
To Christ she vowed chastity,  
And being forced to choose  
A heathens love, or loss of life,  
To live she did refuse.   

Eugenia worthy well her name,  
Not of Diana's train:  
To offer therefore did refuse,  
Unto her Idol vain.  
She drowned not tied to a stone,  
And in the Tiber cast:  
But on a Christmas day to Christ,  
By dint of sword she passed.   

Concordia with the heavens in peace,  
And with the earth at strife:  
With blows was beaten unto death,  
And ended so her life.  
United fast in faith and hope,  
And Charity's accord:  
She died here in perfect p●ace,  
And so lives with her lord.   

Pure Margares a prised pearl,  
For Christ himself to buy:  
In tender years embraced his love,  
A●● for his law did die.  
The devilish dragon burst in twain●,  
That meant her to destroy:  
Her death and sorrows here but short,  
Brought life and lasting joy.   

Columbae sixteen years of age,  
Resolved a chaste intent:  
Whose vow to Christ a lose youngman,  
To violate was sent.  
But him a savage bear had slain,  
Had she not stayed the force:  
A virgin martyrs so she died,  
And he obtained remorse.   

Theodosia martyrs did salute,  
As at the bar they stood:  
And prayed them pray for her to him,  
For whom they shed there blood.  
For which the ireful judge ordained,  
To tear her breasts a way:  
And to rend open both her sides,  
And cast her in the sea.   

Sweet Catharin beloved of Christ,  
To Christ was constant seen:  
In leaving for his only love,  
To be a crowned Queen.  
Yet crowned she was with martyrdom,  
When torments from her fled:  
And Angels bore her ghost to bliss.  
When she had lost her head.   

The true believing Barbara,  
Falls Gods would not adore:  
And lost her father's worthless love,  
For Christ his love and lore:  
Strange torments he on her imposed,  
And in strait prison held:  
And lastly her his only child,  
With his own hands he killed.   

Young Agnes aged thirteen years  
In Christ reposed her trust:  
A●d not for favour nor for force,  
Would yield to aught unjust.  
No harm she had, when in the fire,  
She thrown was by her foes:  
And with a sword thrust through her neck,  
Were ended all her woes.   

Christina fair and noble maid,  
Did unto Christ obey:  
For which she ●y'd unto a stone,  
Was cast into the sea.  
But Angels aided her to land,  
Where she more woes did taste:  
And as an arrow struck her heart,  
Her soul to heaven paste.   

When Fausta in her faithful mind,  
Resolved did remain:  
The Idol priest wild with a saw,  
To cut her corpse in twain.  
But when he saw it hurt her not,  
He in her faith affied:  
And comfort from the heavens received,  
With her when as he died.   

●udelia many did convert,  
Unto her lords belief:  
Which in the Persian pagans did  
Enkindle ireful grief.  
Unto the Sun she would not pray,  
Nor yet the fire adore:  
And had the skin flayed from her face,  
And lastly died therefore.   

Sout Iuli●na did endure.  
The torments of the evil:  
And did in combat overcome,  
Th'accursed cruel devil.  
And after all her conquests gained,  
Then gained she renown:  
For by the sword unto her due,  
Remained a martyrs crown.   

Victoria well might called be,  
That worthy minded maid:  
That in herself subdued sin,  
With courage undismayed.  
And gained virgins unto Christ,  
And acts of wonder wrought:  
And did by martyrdom attain,  
The garland that she sought.   

Because the Idols to adore,  
Lucia did refuse:  
She threatened was she should be thrust,  
Into the common stews.  
No no quoth she; the mind being pure,  
The body is unstaynd:  
Then with the sword she martrid was,  
And glory so she gained.   

To Fortunata for her faith,  
Much evil did betid:  
Who fiery flames & fierce beasts clawed,  
Was willing to abide.  
And tortures and lim-stre●ching ●ack,  
From whence her saviour pleased:  
To call her blessed soul to bliss,  
Where with her woes were eased.   

Febronia with resolved force,  
For chastity and faith:  
Endured with patience to the end,  
The worst of tyrant's wrath.  
The rack, the fire, and rods, she felt,  
Teeth loss, and either breast,  
And with the sword all loss of woe,  
And gain of lasting rest.   

Macra a maid of heavenly mind,  
No earthly things did move:  
For prison, fire, nor loss of breasts,  
Might not her faith remove.  
All naked o'er hot-sheards of pots,  
Her body rolled was:  
While she in praying unto God,  
To paradise did pass.   

Z●a a glorious martyrs 
* Nicostr●tus.  wife  
Before the altar prayed:  
Where-under blessed saint P●●ters bones,  
The faithful had conveyed.  
And for this fact surprised then,  
Was hanged on a tree:  
Both by her he●●●, and by her neck,  
And so her crown had she.   

Charitina with fire annoyed,  
And cast into the seas:  
Came forth and had no hurt at all▪  
Nor feeling▪ of unease.  
Then were her hands and feet cut of,  
But he whom she did love:  
Even as she prayed, received her ghost,  
Into his joys above.   

Eulalia ardent in her zeal,  
Unto her loving lord:  
To suffer torments many ways,  
Most midly did accord.  
And lastly in the burning fire,  
Lauding his holy name:  
To him her soul she sacryfysed,  
And died in the ●lame.   

The like in love the like in zeal,  
In some succeeding space:  
A second good Eulali● was,  
A like endued with grace.  
The rack she felt, and sundry grieves,  
The last; of life the loss:  
When foes of Christ, for faith of Christ,  
Did nail her on a cross.   

While Emer●●●i●na. yet  
was taught in Christian lore,  
Her foster-sister 〈◊〉 tomb,  
She prayed, and kneeled, before.  
And taken at this martyrs tomb,  
A martyrs she was made:  
And unto happy heaven's joys,  
Her ghost strait was conveyed.   

Chaste Theodora to the stews,  
To be deflowered led:  
Got thence in habit of a youth,  
That stayed there in her stead.  
But for this fact, & for his faith,  
When he was led to death:  
She came and yielded up herself,  
And with him yielded breath.   

Crispina of renowned race,  
Did by her virtues mind,  
More honour in herself achieve,  
Then came to her by kind.  
She would unto the Idol Gods,  
No sacrifice afford:  
But yeided for her Lord and God,  
Her neck unto the sword.   

Susanna of a worthy stock,  
Was of as worthy fame,  
As she that false defamed was,  
And first did bear her name.  
She Christ his servants did relieve,  
And lived in his lore:  
And for the same she lost her head,  
And gained heaven therefore.   

Imprisoned Leocadia long.  
Did for her faith remain:  
Whose faithful mind remained free,  
In most afflicting pain.  
Till God at length for her release,  
Her ghost took thence away:  
Her sufferance by a martyrs crown,  
In glory to repay.   

The virgin Bibiana was,  
Established in belief:  
Which faithless foes could not subvert,  
By guerdon nor by grief.  
So long her body lashed was.  
With knotted whips with lead:  
That her sweet soul to heaven past,  
And left it lying dead.   

Euphrasia with more maidens chaste,  
In place unchaste was placed:  
But he their purity preserved,  
That purely him embraced.  
Then by their death-contriving-crew,  
Stones to their nectes were bound,  
And so into the water cast,  
The innocentes were drowned.   

Antonia had her tender limbs  
Beyond all measure pained,  
And three days hanged by one arm,  
Most constant still remained.  
And two years having prisned been,  
Received at last her hire,  
What time her soul her body left  
Consuming in the fire.   

Lucretia, not that Lucres once  
Which did herself destroy,  
Did for true faith and faithful love,  
Bear wrongful griefs annoy.  
The one in earth her glory left,  
The other in heaven and earth:  
Because more worthy was the cause,  
Why she endured death.   

With tearing hooks and iron combs,  
Was Tatiana torn:  
Cointha trayld along the streets,  
Her flesh from bones was worn.  
Paula that gathered martyrs blood,  
Her own for Christ did shed:  
Crescentia for her faith to Christ,  
Was thrust in boiling lead.   

Corona torn between two trees,  
Her crown in bliss did find:  
As did Cirilla when she left,  
Her bleeding corpse behind.  
Balbina daughter to a saint 
* S. 〈◊〉 ,  
Her father's steps did trace:  
And Aquilina by her death,  
Did deathless life embrace.   

Helconis that great grief endured,  
Did lastly lose her h●d:  
Calliopa her scorched corpse,  
Left with tormentors dead.  
Felicula by torture killed,  
And Paula stoned to death:  
And with the sword Constantia,  
Constantly●yeilded breath.   

Regina many pains endured,  
heavens diadem to gain:  
Mustiola did suffer woe,  
For gaining joys again.  
Irene that good books did hide,  
Her life for Christ bestowed:  
Dominica that Idols broke,  
By death her fervour showed.   

Dafrosa that to martyrdom,  
Her husband 
* Fabi●●●.  hath ensued:  
And Marciona with whose blood,  
The wild beasts were imbrued.  
Mannea that with her three sons,  
And with her husband died:  
Valeria saint Vitals wife,  
'Gainst death her courage tried.   

Pelagia in a brazen Ox  
Red hot, alive was thrust:  
Anthusia thrown into a well,  
To please the tyrants lust.  
Maxima unto cruel death,  
With cudgels beaten was:  
Agathoclia lost her tongue,  
Ere she to bliss did pass.   

Blanda with her dear husband did▪  
Whose heads on stakes on hic:  
Through pagan policy were set,  
Christians to terrify.  
With Leonis and Libya,  
The faithful sisters twain,  
Eutropia twelve years old ●ndur'd,  
Death and most deadly pain.   

The virtuous virgin Sophia.  
Cornelia loyal ever:  
Albina and Asteria,  
Did unto death persever.  
Prisca and L●oc●itia,  
Martha and Anto●ina:  
With Leonilla▪ of that lore,  
And settled Secund●●a.   

Sebastiana whom saint Paul,  
Did bring to Christ his love:  
And Reparata (dead) whose ghost,  
Ascended like a dove.  
Fair Flora and Maria both,  
And Fla●ia Do●itilla:  
Good Dula and Demetria,  
Gaudentia and Lucilla.   

With Alexandra six beside,  
For Christ their blood have spent:  
And Ciriaca and fy●e more,  
With bodies razed and rend.  
With other martyresses twelve,  
Theodosia went to heaven:  
Even as at S●●irna for that cause,  
Died holy virgins seven.   

Six that were called Candida,  
Gave beauty to that name.  
More fairer far than ●t self ●ound,  
Doth signify the same.  
Some married were and some were maids,  
Their sufferance sundry ways:  
There cause all one, their only king,  
Did all to glory raise.   

Seven of the name of julia,  
Did one of them ensue:  
Whereby eight martyrs glorious crowns,  
To this one name is due.  
And of the name justina five,  
As of Pelagia were?  
Of Martiana there were three,  
Whose count Valer●● bear.   

Of this most glorious troop and rank,  
Of martrid woomen-kind:  
I shall not need to reckon mor●,  
Though many more I find,  
For even as these, rehearsed here,  
There cross with Christ sustained:  
So did the rest, and all with Christ,  
All glory have obtained.   

In sundry regions of the earth,  
Full many more beside,  
For faith, for vow, for zeal to Christ●,  
Full gloriously have died.  
Chaste W●●n●frid did feel of death,  
The bloody stroke and sting.  
As Dymp●a of her father did,  
A pagan Irish King.   

With soul and body undefyld,  
In endless life to reign:  
Good Ursula, and all her troop,  
Endured to be slain,  
And C●rdula that hide herself,  
Her life thereby to save▪  
Came forth and yielded unto death,  
Her life thereby to have.   

To bring the number in account,  
Unable is my skill:  
Of all such glorious martyrs names,  
And their endured ill.  
But in the Lamb his book of life,  
No one omitted is:  
Nor no one woe that they sustained▪  
Vnrecompenst in bli●.   

No more than their formenter● miss,  
Their just reward in hell:  
For each inflicted grief and smart,  
Wherewith they them did quell.  
Exiled those wretches are from heaven,  
And odious dead in earth:  
Yet in hells horror never die,  
Though ever feeling death.   

Mean while, the chosen saints of God,  
In heaven ever live:  
And ever glory unto him,  
In all rejoicing give.  
All clad in white for purity,  
Each with a golden crown:  
And bearing palms of victory,  
As ensigns of renown.   

No eye hath seen, no ear hath heard,  
No heart of man conceived:  
No sight, no sound, no thought of joy,  
As now they have received.  
All griefs are now extinguished,  
All sorrows have ●n end:  
No tears can fall from weeping eyes,  
Nor sighs from heart ascend.   

O g●orio●● troop, whose praise the heavens,  
With melody refound 〈◊〉  
Accept that we as cocoes here,  
Yield noise unto the sound.  
And when for your true followed faith,  
We any woe sustain:  
Our constant sufferance of the same,  
Vouchsafe of God obtain.   
Deo gratiae.   

A RESEMBLANCE OF MARTYRS.  

BEfore the craggy flint  
Meets with the hardened steel,   

It seems not to contain,  
The virtue it contains,   

But when it doth the stroke  
Of swift encountering feel,   

Even then the force appears,  
That hid in it remains,   

Right so resolved minds,  
Through wicked fortunes wheel,   

Encountering with mishap,  
And feeling bitter pains.   

Make fire of sacred jove,  
From ardent zeal proceed:   

Which mounting up to heaven,  
Doth all the Stars exceed.    

TE DEUM LAUDAMUS, OR The song of S. Ambrose, & S. Augustyne.  

TO thee O God we praises give,  
We thee our Lord confess  
Eternal father, all the earth,  
Adores thy worthiness.   

The Angels, heavens, & heavenly powers,  
Yield praises all to thee:  
The Cherubinnes, and Scraphinnes,  
Sound out incessantly.   

O holy, holy, holy, Lord.  
O God of Sabaoth,  
Thy glorious majesty repleates,  
The earth and heaven both.   

To thee the choir so glorious,  
Of thy Apostles all,  
To thee the number woorthy-praise,  
Of prophet's cry and call.   

The army of thy martyrs bright,  
Thy praises do express:  
Thy holy Church throughout the earth,  
Doth thee o Lord confess.   

Father of endless Majesty,  
Thy only Son withal,  
Together with the Holy Ghost,  
Comforter of us all.   

Thou King of glory art O Christ,  
And ere the earth begun,  
Thou of thy father didst remain,  
His ever being Son.   

Thy willingness man to release,  
Made thee in earth to come:  
And for that cause not to abhor,  
Thy maiden-mothers' womb.   

And when the sting of cruel death,  
By the was vanuisht quite,  
Thou opned'st then thee realm of bliss,  
To each believing wight.   

In glory of the father thou,  
Dost sit at God's right hand:  
We hold thee for the judge by whom,  
Our causes must be skand.   

We humbly therefore thee desire,  
Vouchsafe thy servants aid:  
Of whom with thy most precious blood,  
The ransoms thou hast paid.   

O make that we rewarded be,  
With thy dear saints in bliss:  
Even with thy glory and thy grace,  
Which ever during is.   

Thy people and thine heritage,  
O Lord save and defend:  
And govern them, and still their praise,  
In altitude extend.   

And from offending thee by sin,  
This day do thou us save:  
And mercy have on us O Lord,  
Lord on us mercy have.   

And as our trust in thee hath been,  
Such let thy mercy be:  
Confounded let me not become,  
That hoped have in thee.    

HOW GOD IN ALL AGES hath been served with Sacrifice.  

Sacrificium sub lege Naturae.  
WHen God created man, and rule unto him gave,  
Of creatures all on earth, and every earthly thing,  
And knowledge of his God, did in his heart engrave,  
Subjection so to know, unto his sovereign King:  
Then for to know and yield, what homage he would have,  
Nature by her instinckt, unto his mind did bring,  
And Sacrifice it was, and well accepted than,  
Thus mannes adoring God, with sacrifice began.   

Sacrificium sub lege Moses.  
WHen from the house of thrall, through aid of heau'uly might  
God's people were led forth, by Moysis then their guided,  
For this new freedom found, it rested that of right,  
God with augmented thanks, must now be gratifyde:  
And him to honour more, in more than wont plight,  
Old Sacrifice was now, with new rites beautifyde,  
So for more good received, more gratitude did rise,  
Which still to God was done, in doing sacrifice.   

Sacrificium sub lege evangelica.  
WHen Gods dear Son from heaven, did unto earth desced,  
Lost love of God again, for man's release to win,  
Himself in sacrifice, blood-sacrifise did end,  
When his high prised blood, did satisfy for sin:  
But since God's service must on sacrifice depend,  
He changed, not took away, what faith did first begin,  
And did ordain himself, in Sacramental wise  
To be to God for man, a sovereign sacrifice,    

SAINT PETER COMFORT.  

Even there where sin, my silly soul defyld,  
Shame bade me hy, and seek to hide my face,  
Fowl face of mine, that that fair face beheld,  
And could my so well knowing it out face,  
And make himself even whom I did deny,  
True witness, unto my false perjury.   

I scarcely was gone forth out of the hall,  
When sorrow strait my soul did apprehend,  
Poor soul of mine, deserver of thy thrall,  
Whose fault no manner skuses can defend,  
Only unfeigned tears, told my distress  
And with my grief declared my guiltiness.   

In sorrows jail, thus captive did I lie,  
And there lament, and there my case complain,  
And there did pity overhear my cry,  
And did in my behalf access obtain,  
To sue to him whom I denied to know,  
To let him know my grief for doing so.   

Who deigning then upon my heart to look,  
upon my heart, the spectacle of woe,  
He thereupon so great compassion took,  
That he on it sweet mercy did bestow,  
Sweet mercy, that itself so far extends,  
As to accept contrition for amends.   

And that the world here of might witness be,  
His mercy renovated all his love,  
Th'effects whereof all men in me might see,  
But none more than myself did ever prove,  
The good I had before, that still I held,  
Only my guilt he only hath annild.   

For where my soul for mercy only sought,  
It mercy found, even in the most degree,  
And mercy love with it united brought,  
Dear love, my dying souls restauratie,  
life of my life, which did me now restore,  
To lively strength, which I did lack before.   

The wound is healed, yet must the scar remain,  
The scar my still remembrance of the sore,  
For which, kind grief still will I entertain,  
That never may sufficiently deplore,  
Kynd-grief it is, close in my heart it lies,  
To urge the ever-dutie of mine eyes.   

For though my heart all comfort have received,  
That heavens comfort did on it bestow,  
Yet can it not of that grief be bereaved,  
That doth even out of that self comfort grow,  
For in admiring so great grace extended,  
I grieve that I so sweet a Christ offended.   

My dearest Lord, oh might I die for thee,  
That bragged to die with thee, and the denied,  
By thy strong aid I must assisted be,  
For never thought shall in my breast abide,  
To say I will, and not assistance crave,  
Because my will, must thy will also have.   

That sheep was I which did his way mistake,  
And he the shepherd that recalled me,  
Of me his mercies-miracle to make,  
By abling me his deputy to be,  
For he myself a shepherd did ordain,  
That not deserved to be a shepherds swain.   

Thus not my cry me and punishment therefore,  
His pardon only stretched to deface,  
But he me raised to what I was before,  
And did renew and ampliphy his grace,  
And I that fell the lowest of eleven,  
Still hold my charge to keep the keys of heaven.   

The Rock of stone he hath confirmed me,  
Whereon the building stands that cannot fail,  
'Gainst which hells puissance and superbity,  
May offer force, but never shall prevail,  
Thus I that late through feeble fainthes fell,  
Support the force, that breaks the force of hell.   

Dost thou me love, thrice did he ask of me,  
In three demands of feigned doubtfulness,  
For what my love to him was bound to be,  
And what it was, I needed not express,  
Well he it witted, and would but let me see,  
By such demands, how well he loved me.   

And more than these; dost thou me love quoth he,  
God wots more cause had I my Lord to love,  
Yet such he did allow my love to be,  
As that it did a more reward behove:  
Giving to me the office for my meed,  
At parting hence; his lambs and sheep to feed.   

Love is my debt, for love and mercy due,  
And gratitude the interest thereon rising.  
The obligation stands in heavens view.  
And was set down by equity's devising.  
The date it bears is endless to avail,  
My soul the pawn to forfeit if I fail.   

Performance of thy promise Lord I see,  
Strengthened am I, my brethren strength to give,  
My faith shall never fail thou warrant'st me,  
Then in my mouth truth must for ever live,  
And though I die; succession will supply,  
Undying truth, unto posterity.   

And all the graces thou hast given to me,  
To bind and lose the free and bond of sin,  
Must not in my lives-ending ended be,  
Though by thy gift they do in me begin,  
But in successive power remain for ever.  
To yield the lasting graces of the giver.   

O endless comfort ending thus my care,  
un-ending thanks must therefore be my part,  
Which for thy due, I duly will prepare,  
To offer on the Altar of my heart,  
Whereas the sire of love for ever lies,  
To serve for my eternal sacrifice.    

SACRUM CONVIVIUM.  

WHen time approached that the lamb of life  
Must yield himself among the wolves to die,  
Who did repay his peace with mortal strife,  
And his meek patience with most cruelty,  
Then in the space that yet to him remained,  
For his few friends his farewell he ordained.   

It was the night before the dismol day,  
He caused prepare his last and farewell feast,  
Desired before, deferred by delay,  
Delayed well, to time befitting best,  
For words and deeds, at parting done or said  
In memory's conservance best are laid.   

And as his will, and custom had decreed,  
That at this feast a lamb must be the meat,  
So he that was th'unspotted lamb indeed,  
Gave them therein, his Image for to eat:  
Retaining yet for their more greater good,  
Far better meat than his self-seeming food.   

For that no sooner was the Paschal donn●  
And custom and their bodies satisfied  
But that eft 'zounds another feast begun  
And of a lamb, and that before he died  
Himself was he, and he himself did give  
Eaten to be, the while himself did live.   

Which to ordain, he bread and wine did take,  
And with his sacred breath did bless the same,  
And did thereof his blood and body make.  
Through that self might that all of nought did frame,  
And could not now be destitute of art,  
One thing into an other to convert.   

And as the lamb their bodies had suffysed,  
The true lambs body turned into bread,  
Was now the supper for their souls devised,  
True bread of life alive and seeming dead,  
Flesh of his flesh, bread his true body made,  
When as eternal truth the word had said.   

Take eat this is my body, were the words,  
Which unrepugnant hearts did so receive,  
For humble faith gainsaying not affords,  
And well they witted he would them not deceive,  
And in his wisdom he right well foreknew.  
What faith their would, & should hereon ensue.   

For from that instant, in succeeding space,  
In en'ury region that is far or nigh  
Where Christian lore did paganism displace,  
As all foregoing times do testify,  
Thus was the faith, this is the faith of old,  
Held by the whole, now by the part controlled.   

Christ said not, eat this in my memory,  
But that his body take and eat they should,  
Nor said he that it did him signify,  
But was himself that for them give he would,  
His truth and justice could not bear the stain,  
One thing to say, and it unsay again.   

And for he would that those whose souls he fed,  
By his example so should others feed,  
Lest but themselves none might be nowrished,  
His plenteous goodness hereupon decreed,  
That they in memory of him likewise,  
Should with like food, like faithful souls suffice   

Hence is descended that successive power,  
Of celebrating this soule-feeding feast,  
And that remaining reverence to this hour,  
As elder times devotion hath expressed,  
And hence it comes, that to our lasting joy,  
This heavenly meat our souls on earth enjoy.   

And as by kind, loves-grief increaseth love,  
So love that caused, that God with men did live,  
Caused that for love he did great sorrow prove,  
Whose sorrow to his love more force did give.  
And so less wonder his great love did move,  
To leave himself the caution of his love.   

Thus comes it that the seeming bread we see,  
Is that same corpse our saviour Christ had here,  
Yet not in that self manner is it he,  
But as in covert veil so doth apeere;  
His body true, in Sacramental wise,  
Beheld by faith more than by earthly eyes.   

And as he had his body at his will,  
When doors and walls 'gainst it could not resist,  
But did it use, and yet no place did fill.  
And wrought therewith such wonders as him list,  
So still remains, his will, his word, and might,  
In heaven and earth, in his all power-ful plight.   

His body doth his soul import withal,  
A body by effect of sacred saws,  
A soul by sequel which is natural,  
conjoined in one, by his efficient cause,  
Touchstone of faith whereby God would us teach  
His heavenly works exceed our earthly reach.   

And when our souls presume unto this feast,  
In clean attire they must themselves present,  
(Lest else they far as th● unwelcome gest,  
That il atyred to the wedding went)  
That so this bread of life such virtue give,  
That eating it, with it we ever live.   

And that esteem and condign reverence,  
That grave Antiquity of duty gave,  
Unto a thing of so great excellence,  
Let in all ensuing seasons have,  
And live that faith, whereof Christ gave the ground,  
As long as faith may on the earth be found.    

A COMPLAINT OF S. MArie Magdalen. At her not finding Christ in his sepulchre.  

A Las my Lord is gone,  
How must I now deplore,  
Where may he be that is each where,  
And I him see no more.   

Hope led me here to seek  
Recure of my distress,  
But sorrow here hath sought me out,  
And found me comfortless.   

Here life late seemed dead,  
Head dead I seem alive,  
It is my death him thus to miss,  
That may my life revive.   

Ye windows on my face,  
That serve me not to see,  
Serve now of water stilled of woe,  
The conducts for to be.   

In stead him to anoint,  
Whom here I cannot have,  
Make that the plenty of my tears,  
May overflow his grave.   

Perhaps it may him move,  
His presence to impart,  
To see how moistening these dry stones,  
I therewith dry my heart.   

Good Gardner that art here,  
To keep this garden place,  
Lo how I water all thy plants,  
With rain fallen from my face.   

Be grateful for this good,  
And tell me I thee pray,  
Where is he laid if so thyself,  
Haste carried him away.   

If it have troubled thee.  
Here to afford him room,  
O let me know but where he is,  
My heart shallbe his tomb.   

And thou thereon mayst write,  
This epitaph in verse,  
Here life that lately lay for dead.  
Lives and revyues his hearse.    

OF THE INVENTION, OR finding of the Cross of Christ.  

IN Britain soil fair Helena was bred,  
The worthy Empress of the world of yore,  
The cause that Yorck. Rome's glory more did spread,  
Then Rome itself could ever spread before,  
There was she borne, and there she brought him forth,  
That brought Rooms diade me to greatest worth.   

To greatest worth for that he it adorned,  
Even with the Cross in middle top of all,  
Raising to honour that which pagans scorned,  
And honouring therein himself withal,  
Whose title now, Great Constantyne became,  
First Roman Emperor of Christian name.   

Good Siluister that sat in Peter chair,  
Succeeding those that all had suffered death,  
Now to salvation did the soul prepare,  
Of Constantyne by teaching him the faith,  
Whereby himself an endless life might have,  
Whose now conversion many lives did save.   

For when his mercy, mercy him had gained,  
And he in sacred font had bathed been,  
His soul and body's weal he both obtained,  
In being cured of leprosy and sin,  
Then that the more he might Christ's glory rear  
He on his crest his cognisance did wear,   

It was the sign that heaven to him did show,  
For patron of the ensign he should bear,  
When 'gainst Maxentius he in arms did go,  
And unto his encouragement did hear,  
An Angel's voice, that in the air did cry,  
Thou in this sign shalt have the victory.   

All which did so this noble mother move  
To due esteem of such a sacred sign,  
As this of him, that so much merits love.  
To whom her hearts dear love she did resign,  
That ardent zeal, did animate her mind,  
To seek where she his hidden cross might find.   

Led by desire that kindled was of love,  
She took her voyage to the holy land,  
Faith was her guide, hope did her will approve,  
Speed did assist, to what she took in hand.  
Desire, and love, and faith, and hope, & speed,  
Did all concur, to her deserving meed.   

And as her feet did travail on the ground,  
Her inward mind did up to heaven sty,  
Where the right holy land was to be found,  
Of him whose presence this did sanctify.  
So what in earth her bodies travail sought,  
In heaven her mind in more perfection wrought.   

And there high God beholding her intent,  
And knowing well whereto devotion tends,  
And that it all unto himself is meant,  
That unto aught approaching him intends,  
Did even accept her ardent fervour futch,  
As erst her faith that did his vesture touch.   

And so concurred to what she went about,  
That his hid cross so hidden might not be,  
But she at last it happily found out,  
Though doubtful which the right one was of three,  
Until a corpse laid on it; did renyve,  
Showing withal; her faith to be alive.   

It was the third day of the month of May.  
The worlds fair maypole thus was found again,  
And now reared up that long obscured lay,  
As if reserved for her own honours gain,  
whom faith, and love, & hope, & zeal, did raise,  
To raise therein her glorious fame and praise.   

L'ENVOY.  
Sometime the Cross as sundry records tell,  
deriving virtue from our saviours death,  
Hath had the force, the devil to expel,  
And by the same confirmed Christian faith,  
But now it seems, faith hath sustained loss,  
Because the devil hath chaste away the cross.    

COMPLAINT OF CHURCH CONTROVERSY.  

THe golden world long since is worn away,  
As now the golden year hath taken end,  
The Iron world doth still remain and stay,  
And in his rust doth to his ruin tend,  
And in the show of virtue and of truth,  
Seeme-good seeme-gospel turneth all to ruth.   

At Babel tower where tongues confusion came,  
It stayed the work that fond advice begun,  
But fond advice now seeketh to disframe,  
A tabernacle seated in the Sun,  
And tongues confusion Churchwar hath procured  
Lately begun and yet to long endured.   

True yet it is that strife hath ever been,  
Twixt good and ill in deadly feud depending,  
But never such confusion hath been seen,  
Nor different numbers in so great contending,  
As in our days when each one truth doth claim,  
And of untruth each doth each other blame.   

While Truth herself the heavens begotten child  
And glorious imp of high Antiquity,  
Lies overtrod and under foot defyld,  
By each and all that work her inury,  
All disagreeing in their own truth claming,  
Yet all agreeing in truths false defaming.   

God 〈◊〉 good corn did cast into the ground,  
But soon the devil threw in cockle there,  
God first his Church on earth did firmly found,  
Where strait the devil did his chapel rear,  
God unto Truth the foremost place assigned,  
And fall hood with the devil came behind.   

When God in Adam had his Temple built,  
The serpent's synagogue began in Eue.  
Good Abel's blood his wicked brother spilled,  
At his Gods-woorship divel-taught to grieve,  
So soon began ills envy unto good,  
Two only borne; one sheds the others blood.   

Through Moses' God did give his Church a law,  
And Chores crew against it did rebel,  
Hating to live in order and in awe,  
With their misleader went alive to hell,  
They claimed truth, rejecting right of his,  
And served the diu'l in serving God amiss.   

Saint Peter did ensue his master's lore,  
Which Simon Magus, stoutly did withstand,  
And that great pastor greatly hate therefore,  
But first-born truth obtained the upper hand,  
And that falls Prophet mounting up in pride,  
Fel down out of the air to earth and died.   

In ancient paths trod by our elders feet,  
The way is found which is to rest assigned,  
But self-sought by ways for self-choosers meet,  
They ever seek that seeking never find,  
Blind guides they be, guyders of blind they seem,  
And with them fall ere they of danger deem.   

To mend amiss was ever work well done,  
In faults and manners of Church-mennes' abusion,  
But by no prophet ever was begun,  
Reforming of abuses by confusion,  
Nor for some faults grown through Church-mennes' defect.  
No good man ever did new Church erect.   

Il thrift may to that builder well befall,  
That will a faire-built edifice deface,  
And with the rubbish of the broken wall,  
Erect some cottage in an obscure place,  
And to adorn it with usurped fame,  
Gives it the title of the others name.   

Must now an upstart Martin or a john,  
In question call the firm fidelity,  
Of her whose pallas on a rock of stone,  
Presents the picture of her chastity?  
Who was of heaven, and earth long held in grace,  
Ere aught was heard of this new-risen race.   

Why hath not else each man like privilege,  
To chop to change, to found what faith he list,  
And wrested scripture for his proofs allege,  
And 'gainst a world in self conceit persist,  
And say all say amiss, except as he,  
And all his words Gods word & Gospel be.   

If free it be for one its free for all,  
For all can claim the like instinct of spirit,  
But shrewd suspicion doth apeere withal,  
That of false prophets all the name do merit,  
Their fruit is ill, themselves were never sent,  
They come to late, to soon to such intent.   

Susanna like, they Christ his Spouse accuse,  
And will both judges and accusers be.  
But like as Daniel falsehood did confuse,  
By untruth found in contrariety,  
So contradictions in these false accusers,  
Shows them to be, the world and her abusers.   

And as the sprite of God did Daniel move,  
The innocent accused to defend,  
The spirit of God his dear spouse so doth love,  
That to her false accusers in thee end,  
In steed of casten stone's their blood to spill,  
They 'gainst the rock themselves shall cast and kill.   

AN EPIGRAM.  
A Puritan did plain himself of late,  
Of late grown controversies into great debate,  
And prayed him to whom he did complain  
That he his censure would afford him plain,  
Well then quoth he if neither I shall flatter  
But speak my conscience freely of the matter,  
You are in fault, to make somuch contending,  
How can so new a faith, so soon lack mending.    

AN EXPOSITION OF the ave bell.  

THe Chaser of my sence-detayning slumber,  
undid the windows of my closed eyes,  
And freed my thoughts from sleeps confused cumber,  
That humours turned unto fantasies,  
And fair Aurora ready at the tide,  
Withdrew the ayes dark curtin all aside.   

In waking silence as a while I lay,  
Ere my fresh muse new exercise had found,  
I heard the bell that soundeth thrice a day,  
And took the sense leaving mine ear the sound,  
For sounds and sights are messengers assigned,  
To bring lost memory unto the mind.   

And that same message which the Angel brought,  
To her chaste ears that could no noise receive,  
That might suggest conceit of any thought,  
Her mind of any purity to reave,  
Was by this noise unto my mind renewed,  
Whereby light idle fancies were eschewed.   

eftsoon thereon to my remembrance came,  
Breach of the Law, the first lawmaker made,  
First act of sin, first cause of knowing shame,  
First opened gap, for death man to invade,  
Loss of heavens love, purchase of earth's ill will,  
Finding of sorrow, hid in seeking skill.   

Alas O wretched man that made th'offence,  
justice of thee demanded the amends,  
And for thy want of yielding recompense,  
Thy unacquyted gilded still down descends,  
As doth some inward rooted malady,  
By heritage unto a family.   

Thus stood from age to age and race to race,  
The score of sin unpaid unraced out,  
The world had not the worth to purchase grace,  
Hope sighing sat between despair and doubt,  
And thraldom was the woeful misery,  
Of helpless man's successive malady.   

So long till heavens great care conceived grief,  
At man's unableness himself to free,  
And love no longer could withhold relief,  
And sweet relief that may thrice happy be,  
Came even at last when else lost had been all,  
And all did save, and all up-hold from fall.   

love first bred grief and grief did pity move,  
And pity sought the way to work redress,  
And kind redress the true effect of love,  
Did salve the s●re that seemed remediless,  
justice for right, mercy for grace did crave,  
justice had right, mercy her favour gave.   

Which to accomplish that eternal word,  
Which was with God and was himself a God,  
His heavenly presence would the earth afford,  
And in a virgin's closure make abode,  
Whereof an Angel's voice the message brought,  
As metals noise renewed it to my thought.   

To her it came whom heavens wide view did see,  
For pureness all the world's most worthy creature,  
A chosen mansion for the deity,  
Adorned with virtues fitting to her feature,  
Whom nature made, to show the heavens her skill  
And heaven through her the earth with grace did fill.   

And where a serpent with his poisoned sting,  
In paradise infected Adam's wife  
A pure white dove from paradise doth bring,  
To josephes' spouse restaurative of life,  
And in a virgin's bed the seed doth sow,  
Whereof the tree and fruit of life doth grow.   

Her ears conceived first the Angel's voice,  
Her heart conceived the heavens high decree,  
Her soul just cause conceived to rejoice,  
And her pure womb as pure as pure might be,  
Conceived withal; and that strong infant bred,  
Who with his foot did break the serpent's head.   

Against the time, his birthtyme to adorn,  
Came down on earth to consecrate the ground,  
(With Al●ion rest) Peace that in heaven was borne,  
Because there might no noise of war be found,  
When to the world the Prince should show his face.  
That came to all the world to offer grace.   

Whose entrance when it pleased him to take,  
Into that country whereof death is King,  
His own self virtue midwife he did make,  
And to annex more wonder to the thing,  
From his pure mother's closure he did pass,  
Even as the Sun makes entrance through the glass.   

O sacred force enforcing such a birth,  
The wonder of the wonders most of worth,  
The breath of heaven clad in core of earth,  
Through an unopened passage passing forth,  
A humane body spryte-lyke doth dispose,  
His powerful self that may no puissance lose.   

And that sweet Infant of eternity,  
Is borne the infant of a virgin's womb,  
And God is man and so affinity,  
Doth twixt the earth and twixt the heaven come,  
Whereby th'Almighty maker thus we see,  
Kinsman to men, to make himself to be.   

Making withal the virgins glorious fame,  
In faithful hearts engraven for to stand,  
(Where of God's mother she must bear the name)  
In fair characters of a sacred hand,  
And such a mother, maid and wife to be,  
As all her sex excels in all thee three.   

Clear chastity descending from her throne,  
To do her homage here upon the ground,  
A garland brought, made by herself alone,  
Of Flowers that only were in Eden found,  
And with obeisance set it on her head,  
With title of eternal maidenhead.   

The Angel's trumps did sound the heaven's peace,  
An eastern star streamed out the fire of joy,  
God on his footstool did his state decrease,  
New amity extinguished old annoy,  
Hate had no place on all the earth to dwell,  
But did remove unto her house in hell.   

O Infant offspring of unending line,  
That in this world to spring would so begin,  
And with old Adam's race thyself combine,  
And be the man to satisfy for sin,  
True God, true man, except with sin defyld,  
Who for to be a man became a child.   

Thus God in childhood did appear on earth,  
Admitting time his manly growth to show,  
Whose days yet crossed were by cross of death,  
Ere time on him could mannes full time bestow,  
But since for man he would lost life obtain,  
He death to kill would first of death be slain.    

A SECONDARY exposition.  

THe contemplation of the mystery,  
Of the subjecteth state of heavens king,  
And the revival of the memory,  
That three times thrice a day the bell doth ring,  
Leads down my muse from height I erst began,  
Unto the lowness of the life of man.   

First how in darkness of self-knowing state,  
And as if all foregoing time were night,  
We enter in at this worlds cumbrous gate,  
As doth the day new dawning with his light,  
And that first treasure Time on us bestows,  
In childish things unwittingly we lose.   

Thence grow we up as do the hours of day,  
Our days and years outrunning youthful rage,  
From all repose Time carrying us away,  
Doth unaware draw on our middle age,  
And through his haste will us no leisure lend,  
Once back to tutne, youths errors to amend.   

At noontide of our days we do arrive,  
As doth the Sun at midday in his height,  
What time the bell a second sound doth give,  
To move remembrance of the heavy weight,  
Of sins huge burden when high heavens grace,  
In humane flesh released humane race.   

The midday time, hath but the name of time,  
For time himself no moment hath of stay,  
Nor we repose before or after prime,  
But as the Sun declineth with the day,  
So we decline even at our highest rate,  
Changing with time the change of our estate▪   

E●t 'zounds draws on the eventide of our years,  
As doth the Sun draw down ward to the west,  
What time the bell reneweth to our ears,  
The sound of joy now twice before expressed,  
To show how in the worlds declining ●ase,  
Attendant hope obtained expected grace.   

Now of our life is come the better part,  
And of our labours fruit to reap the gain,  
If youths endeavours wrought our well desert,  
Or if in life so long we do remain,  
For from the tree where we behold the bud,  
Much fruit falls down ere it be ripe and good.   

Lastly as day, our days thei● ending take,  
And as before from dark night we arose,  
Our day our nights return again doth make,  
And we yield up unto our last repose,  
Our claim to earth, and all that nature gave,  
And lay us down where death shall dig our grave.    

OF THE STATE OF SOLItary life dedicated to the service of God.  

OWel are you that have subdued,  
The force of world's desire,  
And in the fort of solitude,  
For safety do retire.   

Retired from freedom so supposed,  
In straightness freedom find,  
Because true freedom is enclosed  
In circuit of the mind.   

The world and fortune you deprive,  
From doing you despite,  
Dead unto men, to God alive,  
That gives lives true delight.   

That soul saith God which I affect,  
I will withdraw apart  
And tell unto it in effect,  
The secrets of my heart.   

Think th●n you that retired live,  
For Gods dear love and dread,  
His love your soul's desire did give,  
Retired lives to lead.   

Where as with him you might confer  
When sole yourselves you deem,  
And so alone less never are,  
Then when alone you seem.   

Faith of yourfort is governor,  
Love is lieutenant there,  
Hope is ordained officer,  
The ensign for to b●are,   

Contempt of wealth is treasurer,  
Who works no guile for gains,  
within whose coffers never there,  
Corrupting dross remains.   

Pure Chastity the charge doth take,  
The cloister clean to keep,  
And of her thoughts the broom doth make,  
Wherewith she doth it sweep.   

Obedience which doth sacrifice,  
In valued worth exceed,  
Is ready for each exercise,  
As duty deemeth need.   

Perseverance is Centinel,  
The watchwoord watch and pray.  
Whose due observance doing well,  
The heavens do repay.    

THE SUBSTANCE OF humane flesh.  

AS once I did behold,  
The potters active skill,  
In ordering of his earthen pots,  
According to his wil   

And some for worthy use.  
And some for servile trade,  
As he them from one clod of clay,  
In sundry fashions made.   

And when they all were wrought,  
And each was put a part,  
No cause they had (If they had could)  
To blame their maker's art.   

To each it might suffice,  
To serve his use asygned,  
Since each to serve some proper use,  
Was utile in his kind.   

Then as thereat I mused,  
It came unto my thought,  
How God even from one mass of clay,  
All humane kind had wrought,   

aswell the silly wretch,  
That lives in low degree,  
As any mighty Emperor,  
How puissant so he be.   

And how at his estate,  
None rightly may repine,  
Since that the work man of his work,  
Hath freedom to resign.   

And each in each degree,  
Sufficient hath in charge,  
And he the more whose mighty rule,  
Extendeth most at large.   

For how more great the charge.  
Cares burden greater ways,  
And greatness bears the greatest brunt,  
And breeds the lesser ease.   

And virtue can aswell  
In cottages remain,  
As honour may in high estate,  
In courts of Prince's reign.   

Let each him than dispose,  
Well in his charge to serve,  
To have the hire that at the last,  
well-doing doth deserve.   

For when a while on earth,  
Each hath served in his turn,  
Earth's fragile work erst made of earth,  
Must unto earth return.    

VISIONS OF THE world's instabillitie.  

I.  
WHen musing on this worlds v●sted fastness,  
Ere sleep attained my senses to surprise,  
Aggrieved at the woeful wretchedness,  
That sad examples set before mine eyes:  
It chanced me in this perturbed plight,  
By Morpheus arrested for to be,  
In whose close prison lying in the night,  
Srange visions then there did apeer to me:  
A spacious Th●●…re first me thought I saw,  
All hanged with black to act some tragedy.  
Which did me unto much attention draw,  
To see the sequel of the mystery:  
About the which; my brain oft have I broken,  
To skan what such phantasmataes betoken.   

II.  
I saw a Holly sprig brought from a hyrst,  
And in, a princely garden set in was,  
Where of all trees it strove to be the first,  
In stately height whereto it grew a pace:  
Tall Cedar trees it overtopped far▪  
And all with coral berries overspread.  
It seemed the roses beauty for to ma●,  
And to deface it with a scarlet red:  
Where at the Gardener when he it suspected,  
Or might perhaps misweene this trees intent,  
For all first favour now grew il affected,  
And all the Toughes a way did race and rent:  
Thus stood disgraced the stock so brave before,  
Which now of grief grew dead and sprung no more.   

III.  
Two stately pillars then to me appeared,  
Of Ruby th'one of Saphir tother wa●,  
That on their bases strongly stood up reared,  
Whose vnder-ground●woork was a rocky place:  
And through transparent lustre shining bright,  
They not alone their beauty did extend,  
But they did serve as lanterns in the night,  
The travelers from straying to defend:  
Yet it befell; he that the soil did owe,  
'Gan to devise these pillars down to take,  
On his new buyding them for to bestow,  
And workmen brought, & theretro gins did make:  
But out alas, in languor I complain,  
In forcing them; they fell, and burst in twain.   

FOUR  
I saw a bird, of eagles race I deem,  
For that she hatched was in eagles nest.  
Which of a Lord was held in high esteem,  
And to his lure she only her addressed:  
But it so fell that he a Hawk espied,  
And took such pleasure in her speckled plume,  
That he for her his fair foul thrust a side,  
In undeserved sorrow to consume:  
But lo this Ha●ke he now bore on his fist,  
obliged and taught to come when as he lured,  
Would not by him be lured as he list,  
But was by stealth to others lures enured:  
Which when he saw, in wrath and in despite,  
He wrang her neck of from her body quite.   

V  
A pleasant crop of trees than did I see,  
On which sweet nightingales did sit and sing,  
Till one that seemed to hate their melody,  
Sought how he might them to destruction bring:  
He sat up snares and grins and lymy twigs,  
And all devices that might them betray,  
And broke their nests that were among the sprigs,  
And many killed and many chaste away:  
And that they should no more come there again,  
The very trees unto the ground he threw,  
That scarcely any one he let remain,  
But see how just revenge did soon ensue;  
His foot s●ipt in a pitfal he had cast,  
And down he fell and so his neck he braced.   

VI  
A Giant then me thought there came in place,  
Who dreaded was for greatness of his stature,  
And many trembled to beh●ld his face,  
And mused at the strangeness of his nature:  
for he a sword did hold in either fist,  
And friends and foes he cared not to kill,  
For few could in his favour long persist,  
Because to keep his love was such a skill:  
At last a monster all compact of bones,  
Came traytor-lyke and with a dart him ●ent,  
That down he fell and so was dead at once,  
And as it seemed, few did his loss lament:  
And where alive he monuments defaced,  
Now dead, no monument on him was placed.   

VII.  
When all these things were vanished from my view,  
At such unwonted sights I greatly mused,  
And though I not the certain meaning knew,  
Yet did it seem, although it seemed confused:  
That things which are the cause of others wrong,  
Themselves do often also suffer wrack,  
Whereby is seen that sway endures not long,  
And that revenge not always cometh slack:  
And that theirs none on earth hath leave to tarry,  
And that when bearing-rule hath taken end,  
Fame doth survive, and takes an inventary,  
Of ruler's actions and whereto they tend:  
And unto after ages she it shows,  
To learn them what of good or ill ensues.    

VERSES OF THE worlds vanity, supposed to be made by S. Bernard.  
And translated into English to be sung to the tune they bear in Latin.  

WHy doth this world contend,  
For glorious vanity,  
Whose wealth so subject is,  
To mutability.   

As earthen vessels fail,  
Through their fragility,  
So standeth worldly force,  
Unsure and slippery.   

Characters ra'st in ice,  
Think rather permanent,  
Then earthly vanities,  
Vading incontinent.   

Shadowed with virtue pure,  
But falls in recompense,  
At no time yielding us,  
True trust or confidence.   

To men more credit gi●●,  
That want fidelity,  
Then trust in worldly wealth,  
Which is but 〈◊〉.   

Falsehood in fond-delight,  
Pleasures in ●ranticknes,  
Desired vanities,  
Of fleeting fickleness.   

Where now is Solomon,  
Sometime in royalty,  
Or Samson with his great,  
Inuincibillitie.   

Or gentle jonathas,  
Praised for freindlynesse,  
Or fairest Absalon.  
So rare in comeliness.   

Wheare now is Caesar go●,  
High in authority,  
Or Dives with his fare,  
And sumptuofitie.   

Tell now where Tully is,  
Clearest in eloquence,  
Or Aristotle fled,  
With his intelligence.   

O sil●y vermens' food,  
O mass of dustynesse,  
O dew, o vanity,  
Whence is thy loftiness.   

To morrow for to live,  
Thou haste no certainty,  
Do good to all therefore,  
While thou haste liberty.   

This worldly glory great,  
How short a feast it i●▪  
And like a shadow here,  
Lo how it vanishes.   

Which takes rewards away,  
Of long continuance,  
And leads us in the ways,  
Of erring ignorance.   

This earthly glory most,  
Which here is magnifyde,  
In Scripture termed is,  
As grass that's withered.   

And as the lightest leaf,  
The wind a way doth blow,  
So light is life of man,  
For death to overthrow.   

Think that which thou mayst lose,  
Is not thine certainly,  
This world will take again,  
These gifts of vanity.   

Think then on things above,  
On them thy heart address,  
Contemn all worldly wealth,  
For endless blessedness.   
FINIS.