THE love of God.  
Here is declared, if you will read  
That god doth love this land in deed  
By feeling his rod.  
ENgland is blessed, & loved of god  
who can the same deny  
For she hath felt his louin● rod  
because she went awry.  
Deserve she did, more to be whypt  
her faults they were so great  
Who did not see, how far she slipped  
from law, and justice seat.  
The word so freely taught & preached  
as no land had it more  
When teachers truly truth them teached  
they set by it no store.  
They kept it not in heart and mind  
to lead thereby their life.  
If they had been to God so kind  
than had not come the strife.  
But so long as they heard the voice  
full still they were as sheep  
All huste & peace, there was no noise  
but silence they did keep.  
And straight as sermon ended was  
they said that he said well  
But ask them how his words did pass  
& then they could not tell.  
And some there seemed to be so full  
that they would hear no more  
Their spirits & ears were waxen dull  
they cared not therefore.  
All knowledge had they caught & won  
as they had in their thought  
So that with speed their hearts begun  
to set by it as nought.  
And fell to seeking land and good  
by rape and eke unright  
As men full mad and worldly wood  
from measure flying quite.  
For glory eke and earthly praise  
some sought as they were mad  
Not sparing by unlawful ways  
so they in silks were clad.  
Promotion some so swiftly sought  
to place their blood on high  
That friend or foe they spared nought  
though they therefore should die.  
To be forsworn, it was no sin  
the custom made it law  
So they a life at ease might win  
of God they had no awe.  
though law did will of Idols foil  
but few with will them burst  
But all content to take the spoils  
not thinking them a cursed.  
Of pride, of envy, and disdain  
Whose heart was not possessed  
Of wanton eyes and lusts so vain  
Who long from these did rest.  
So given to sects and fables fond  
so bend to tales untrue  
So given to lies as any land  
still lusting things of new.  
Who did not see, that had his eyes  
these vices so to reign  
That scourge & plague must needs arise  
to bring them home again.  
Then came the rod by death to kill  
the prince that was full good  
And let such tyrants have their will  
as shed the guiltless blood.  
At large were set all wicked men  
and good men put to thrall  
Full little thought so sudden then  
that they should have the bawl.  
The sins that long had taken rote  
and blossoms full did bear  
The willing ear and ready foot  
false witness for to hear:  
Was punished then by hypocrites  
and men that had no God  
and such as passed not of ii mites  
to do the thing forbade.  
By this means men that were without  
and looked upon our land  
Did bring in question and in doubt  
how that this gear could stand.  
Saying to God he did not love  
the English blood at all  
Because he did the sweet remove  
and sent them bitter gall  
To that his word did answer make  
and took his cause in hand  
affirming God not to forsake  
the little Isle England.  
Whom God doth love, than said his lore  
the same he doth correct  
Lest they should die in hell therefore  
and so for aye reject.  
Also to prove and try his vine  
he let that the defence  
Of romish bores, and sowish swine  
should quite be taken thence.  
A foreign land to set in foot  
he winked at also  
To prove a case by form of mote  
that sinners might him know.  
And whiles the word & carnal men  
did reason thus a while  
To make that each his will should ken  
he straight began to smile.  
Hold still he said, I will be judge  
and sentence straight he gave  
quod he to death see that thou trudge  
and fill thou up a grave.  
A grave quod he, where may that be  
and who shall therein lie  
& strait was seen the english queen  
all prone and fit to die.  
The roussed up death & cast his dart  
and clove her heart in twain  
Then lay she dead, that caused the smart  
that fell upon Britain.  
Death then had thought, that he had done  
& would have taken rest  
nay nay said God, thou hast begun  
therefore I think it best:  
That thou do kill more of my foes  
that would my will withstand  
Then found he out, as tumour goes  
some captains of the band.  
He made them shrink for all their brags  
and burst their bands in twain  
He plucked them quite out of their jags  
thus by him were they slain.  
Lo lo said God, now have I told  
my sentence and my will  
And I myself have been so bold  
my foes by death to kill.  
For this let us give thanks to him  
and praise his holy name  
And now let us with hearts begin  
a better life to frame.  
Let all confess the mercy of God  
the cause to be alone  
Why he hath cast away his rod  
And is with us at one.  
praying to him, that he will give  
unto this ruler sent  
A willing mind while she doth live  
as always she was bend.  
To set up God, and godliness  
the truth for to restore  
To banish out pope holiness  
by law for evermore.  
Let all degrees upon their knees  
thus pray with one consent  
That he which sees our miseries  
may better be content.  
Now to conclude my metre rude  
but matter true and just  
see you repent your life misspent  
Or else be sure and trust:  
That God will strike, & strike again  
a sharper stroke than this  
That you shall feel which greater pain  
be sure he will not miss.  
Finis.  ꝙ William Samuel. 
God save the Queen.