A Larume bell for London, with a caveat or warning to England: also a pitiful complaint of the penitent sinner, newly set for the by john Car, Citizen of London. ❀  
¶ Imprinted at London, by Henry Kirckham, at the sign of the black Bole, at the little North door of Paul's. 1573.   


FOR thee O London I lament,  
And wring my hands with mourning cheer  
Because that thou wilt not repent,  
Seeing thy destruction draweth near.  
If it be true as scriptures tell:  
Thy sins will sink thee down to hell.   

The vices which in thee are used,  
To tedious are for me to tell:  
Thy noble fame is sore abused,  
By those which in thee now do devil.  
Whereby I see thy great decay,  
That God doth threaten thee each day.   

The vice of pride hath ta'en such place,  
That it can not be rooled out:  
And hath continued so long space,  
That of God's ire thou hast no doubt.  
And such a place pride doth supply,  
That from thee it will never fly.   

For like a weed it up doth spring,  
It is not set nor sown at all:  
The which good herbs & fruits will bring  
Ere they be ripe unto a fall.  
To cut it down it is no boot,  
Except ye clean pluck up the root.   

For where this weed doth spring & grow  
Good fruits can not there prosper well:  
Because that cruelness so doth flow,  
That virtuous herbs it doth excel.  
Which weed we may compare to pride,  
That causeth virtue away to slide.   

So likewise Pride in London now,  
Doth flourish in such goodly sort:  
That they muent which way and how,  
Thereby augmented it might be.  
And nothing do regard at all,  
That Pride in the end will have a fall.   

Consider well that Pride hath been,  
The fall of many cities great:  
And Sodom sunk for such like sin,  
As sacred scriptures doth repeat.  
Gomorrha eke came to decay,  
Because that Pride did bear the sway.   

And Alexandria in like case,  
Which was a city strong and great:  
Pride would not let them purchase gracer  
Nor yet for mercy would entreat.  
Because that Pride so much did flow,  
It was destroyed and lies full low.   

And Niniveh like cause I find,  
In the end for Pride was clean destroyed,  
For Pride so much did puff their mind,  
That God was clean forgot and void.  
In Pride so much they did delight,  
That God the same destroyed quite.   

jerusalem that city strong,  
Pride would not let them God to know,  
In which Pride they contined long,  
As josephus the same doth show.  
Till Titus did destroy the same,  
And did accuse their pride with shame.   

Ensample take by noble Troy,  
The like for pride was never seen:  
With wars the Greeks did it destroy,  
Both wall and house the threw down clean  
Because that Pride did bear the sway,  
It came to ruin and decay.   

Therefore, O London, now take heed,  
For thou wast called Troic sometime:  
That such decay doth not proceed,  
For to revenge of Pride the crime.  
Therefore repent, from Pride refrain,  
Jest as Troy did, thou feel some pain.   

For God doth threaten thy great fall,  
By signs and tokens many ways:  
The which unto thee happen shall,  
Shortly Christ saith, and that in few days,  
Therefore his power divine to please,  
Repent, his ire thou shalt appease.   

O London, thou hast cause to weep,  
For to consider thine estate:  
Thou art in sin now drowned so deep,  
That from hell mouth thou caused not scape.  
Except repentance thou embrace,  
At God's hand thou shalt find no grace.   

To practise pride thou dost delight,  
And fond devices for to gain:  
Which is esteemed all in God's sight,  
A thing most frivolous and vain.  
Yet thou dost seek the same to use,  
Which doth thy noble fame abuse.   

Let this a reformation be,  
For thee, that thou in time repent:  
Whereby thou mightst have grace to flee,  
From Pride, the Lords will to content.  
Revolve in mind what happen shall,  
For Pride in the end will have a fall.   
Finis.  
quod John Car.   

¶ A caveat or warning to England.  
THe present plagues, that now we feel,  
our joys death much encroach:  
And fear of foreign foes beside,  
who seek for to approach.  
To work annoy to Britain soil,  
but jove be thankte therefore:  
That hath dislodgde the treasen now,  
which Curia kept in store:  
The hidden sparks have wind dispersed,  
the smoke hath shown her fire:  
And dristing Yris hath constrained,  
the furious flames retire.  
That long within Rammusius breast,  
in covert close did lurk:  
Pretending nought but Princes fall,  
and England's woe to work.  
For outward face may simple seem,  
where savour doth affect:  
And Wolf being clad in lambs array,  
who can at first suspect.  
Till greedy jaws to work decay,  
of silly Lambs do thirst:  
And doth return to vomit old,  
from whence he came at first.  
But time hath tried what coloured craft,  
simplicity long did cloak:  
And rooted up such weeds as crste,  
good corn have sought to choke.  
The gardener hath her sickle sharpte,  
to pluck up all such seeds:  
As to the eye do fruitful seem,  
and yet are stinking weeds.  
Whose barren branch as fertile seemed,  
to those that simple were,  
In each respect as did the tree,  
that yearly fruit did bear.  
But he which first did plant those trees,  
in this our English land:  
And did assign the Gardener she,  
to take the charged in hand:  
Hath shown her grace, where she shall grafted  
and where that she shall root:  
According as affection serves,  
to snche as yield no fruit.  
And lest that soil hereafter should,  
his force again renew:  
And wholesome herbs in England sown,  
should foreign weeds subdue.  
Her grace in hand the sickle holds,  
to crop such imps in time:  
Lest if she stay as erst she did,  
they hap to high to climb.  
Though that our gracious Prince doth loath,  
to yield the fatal stroke:  
To those that by deserts might much,  
her highness ire provoke.  
With edged tools seem not to jest,  
move not your Prince to much:  
least that the edge do turn and cut,  
when you the same do touch.  
Let each degree obey their Prince,  
as duty hath assigned:  
Good England watch and look about,  
there comes a plague behind.  
That more will vex then sickness doth,  
repent therefore with speed:  
least God for thy incestuous life,  
to take revenge proceed.  
O worthy Prince as erst thou haste,  
the Gospels might maintained:  
And haste redreste the poor man's cause,  
which hath for right complained.  
Ronoumed Prince even so I crave,  
foresee thy subjects woes:  
And yield revenge to such as wish,  
thy Crown to foreign foes.  
Except the deeds of such in time,  
as hollow hearts possess:  
In words true subjects to your grace,  
in deeds mind nothing less.  
O Lord cut of such imps in time,  
and send your grace tranquillity:  
God grant the nobles may incline,  
to yield your grace humility.  
God grant the Gospel good success,  
and Clergy for to preach:  
The sincire truth as Christ himself,  
was wont the same to teach.  
Do antichrist confound (O Lord)  
bring Rome to desolation:  
And do preserve Elizabeth,  
The Queen of English nation.  
Illuminate the Commons eyes,  
that they may walk their path:  
And grant the magistrate to use,  
the office that he hath.  
And to this city grant (O God)  
lord Maior with his fraternity:  
Degresse nothing from Princes will,  
but join as one in unity.  
God prosper her, God length her reign,  
from harms her grace God save:  
Poor Phillippes he with gushing tears,  
doth thus desire to have  
Finis  per W. Phillippes.  

The penitent sinner.  

BItterly and earnestly,  
Before thy mighty majesty,  
On knees I fall,  
And cry and call,  
For mercy Lord unfeignedly.  
Day and night, before thy sight,  
My sinful life I do recite,  
And crave for grace,  
For to embrace,  
Which is my chief and hearts delight.  
And I with humble reverence,  
Do crave thy pardon for mine offence:  
Thy mercy eke, o Lord I seek,  
With humble soul, and heart most meek.   

What am I o king most high,  
That thus by mine iniquity,  
I should provoke,  
Thy heavy stroke,  
To punish me so grievously.  
Mine offence, and negligence:  
Hath monde to wrath thy patience:  
Which now in haste,  
I feel and taste,  
By proof and plain experience.  
But Lord though I have sinned sore,  
Yet slay me not in anger therefore:  
Nor in thine ire, I thee desire,  
Condemn my soul to endless fire.   

Worthily, undoubtedly,  
I have deserved extremely,  
And trod the path:  
Right to thy wrath,  
Such was my weak infirmity,  
Satan hath so blinded me:  
That I forsook thee utterly,  
And by his art,  
He dulled my heart,  
That I had quite forgotten thee.  
And did let slip out of my mind,  
Thy benefits and favour so kind:  
Thy mercy most, o Lord of host.  
The perfect rest to grieved ghost.   

Cast thine eyes, from crystal skies,  
Upon my state, and hear my cries,  
I do repent,  
With heart's consent,  
Therefore my suit do not despise.  
heal my wound, and make me sound:  
Lest fear of hell my spirits confound,  
Respect my case,  
And grant thy grace,  
That hope of health may once abound.  
And that the storms of death and sin.  
May not in me such victory win:  
That I at last, when health is paste,  
In everlasting pains be cast.   

Pity me and secure me,  
O God of thy benignity,  
I do intend,  
For to amend,  
And fly from sin unfeignedly,  
Utterly, I will defy,  
To run my race so wickedly.  
As here tofore,  
I have full sore  
The greater grief assuredly.  
But though I be a wicked wight,  
By true repentance pardon me quite:  
For God above, as scriptures prove,  
A contrite heart doth daily love.   

Though my sin, so vile hath been,  
That judgement just, the same doth win  
Yet since I due,  
Myself renew.  
And to repent my fault begin.  
Offer grace, for I embrace,  
A broken heart in present place:  
And I detest,  
With constant breast.  
The works of sin before thy face.  
All deeds of darkness I defy,  
And to thy ways my footsteps apply:  
Thou art my tower of health each hour,  
I force not then for Satan's power.   

Merciful and pitiful,  
Thou art unto the sorrowful,  
To such as be,  
Convert to thee,  
Thou showst thy graces plentiful.  
Scripture saith, that only faith,  
Doth quench thy hot and burning wrath  
Which kindled is,  
I know well this.  
Against the man that treads the path.  
Of wicked life, and unbelief,  
And other sins engendereth grief:  
And will constrain perpetual pain.  
Except from sin he do refrain,   

Therefore I unsainedlie,  
Acknowledge mine iniquity,  
And now I crave,  
Thy grace to have,  
And mercy in this misery.  
Fear of hell doth me compel,  
My sins with trickling tears to tell,  
Thy heavy hand,  
I understand,  
And all thy scourges fierce and fell.  
Wherewith thou hast from time to time,  
Corrected such as fell into crime:  
And did transgress thy laws no less,  
Whereto we aught our lives address.   

Wilfulness in wickedness,  
Is most extreme ungodliness:  
The man that doth,  
Against all truth,  
Resist of sturdy stubborness,  
He I say, a sore decay:  
Shall taste, as one quite cast away,  
In endless pain,  
There to remain,  
As unto hell a lasting pray,  
Where with the glutton he shall taste,  
In Limbo lake, sore torments in haste:  
Where he shall cry with voice on high,  
With Dives, till his tongue be dzie.   

While the same, to mind I frame,  
I call upon thy holy name,  
My sin I leave,  
To thee I cleave,  
And eke my wanton flesh I tame.  
Making moan to thee alone,  
With many a sigh, and many a groan,  
For my misdeed,  
Which do exceed:  
And stink before thy crystal throne.  
My sins like Scarlet seem in sight,  
O make them Lord, like will very white,  
Like Purple they appear I say,  
But thou like Milk canst them convey.   

David just did not mistrust,  
Thy mercy when he kneeled in dust,  
And on his back,  
A hairy sack,  
Did wear, as scripture have discussed.  
Grevouslie and bitterly,  
Confessing his adultery:  
His murder eke,  
With mind most meek,  
When Nathan true did prophecy.  
The plague of God against him than,  
Except to turn forthwith he began:  
So David's heart, for fear of smart.  
By true repentance did convert.   

God forgave and did him save,  
From vengeance just, which sin did crave  
O deal with me,  
So tenderly,  
That David's rest my soul may have.  
For no doubt, I go about,  
To turn from sin that deadly rout,  
From bloody Saul:  
To faithful Paul,  
I bridle ill affections stout.  
Which did restrain my heart and mind,  
From thee my maker loving and kind:  
And did withdraw the fear and awe,  
Prescribed in thy holy law.   

I confess with singleness,  
My former vile ungodliness:  
And I despise,  
With weeping eyes,  
The deadly ways of wickedness.  
Which I took,  
And so forsook,  
The way of life without rebuke,  
To Christians all in general,  
The glorious gains whereon to look.  
Which way who so doth walk a right,  
He shall attain the heavenly light:  
And for reward of his regard,  
A blessed crown there is prepared.   

Hope of this eternal bliss,  
Hath made me leave to run amiss,  
And shun the way,  
Which brings decay,  
The ends whereof destruction is.  
Pain and woe,  
As scriptures show,  
With everlasting overthrow:  
And therefore I this pains to die,  
Submit my soul, and seek to know.  
That narrow gate of blessed state,  
Where is no strife nor any debate,  
But joy always with perfect praise,  
O God vouchsafe my soul to raise.   

Though I be unkind to thee,  
In mercy father pardon me,  
And though my race,  
Be void of grace,  
Yet grant that I, thy love may see.  
Though we begun, yet Lord anon.  
Vouchsafe that I with Simeon,  
May see my wealth,  
And saving health,  
I mean that steadfast corner stone.  
Which of the builders was refused,  
And in their deeds most spitefully used:  
This stone was Christ that kingly Priest,  
That with his blood our souls hath blessed.   

grievously and bitterly,  
Behold my great adversity,  
Wherein I stand:  
Bound with the band,  
Of sin, and sore captivity.  
Haste then thine ears to bow,  
To me oppressed with sorrow now.  
On thee in haste,  
My care I cast,  
My prayers Lord in faith allow.  
O let my plaints the heavens pierce,  
And here the suit which I do rehearse:  
Turn not away thy face I pray,  
But save my soul from hell's decay.   

Satan still, by wicked will,  
Would turn my hope from Zion hill:  
Which to attain,  
I pitch with pain:  
The tents of faith, though devil nill.  
Tempting me, to disagree,  
From confidence, o Lord in thee,  
And to mistrust:  
Thy promise just,  
Which unto sinners showed be.  
But thou my God, make weak his strength,  
Lest he by craft, subdue me at length:  
For I am weak, in spirit I speak,  
All Satan's slights in sunder break.   

Subtly and craftily,  
He seeks by devilish policy:  
To clog my feet,  
In paths unmeet,  
And walk in ways of vanity.  
Steadfastly and zealously,  
I will adore thy Majesty:  
And eke prepare,  
To fix my care,  
Upon thy mercy faithfully.  
Thus doing still, I hope by faith,  
Thou wilt translate, to favour thy wrath:  
And cleanse my spot, and purge the blot,  
That all my faults may be forgot.   

Harte and tongue, and griefs among,  
Shall sing as holy David song,  
The Psalms of praise:  
To thee always,  
Before assemblies old and young.  
Fervently and ardently,  
My lips thy praise shall testify,  
Both young and old:  
With hearts most bold,  
Thy holy name shall magnify.  
And I with thanks will ay commend,  
Thy works & wonders, world without end,  
Let all adore with me therefore,  
Thy name be praised for evermore.   
Finis.