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Albions England

A Continued Historie of the same Kingdome, from the Originals of the first Inhabitants thereof: With most the chiefe Alterations and Accidents theare hapning, vnto, and in the happie Raigne of our now most gracious Soueraigne, Queene Elizabeth: Not barren in varietie of inuentiue and historicall Intermixtures: First penned and published by William Warner: and now reuised, and newly inlarged by the same Author: Whereunto is also newly added an Epitome of the whole Historie of England
  

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CHAP. XXXIX.

Svch as was Loue in Figure of Ascanius, when the same
In kisses slie did shead himselfe into the Tyrian Dame,
Or such as was sweete Hyacint, Apollos louely Boy,
Or Iupiters Ganymædes, rapt vp to heauen from Troy,
Or rather like yoong Salomon, in sentencing betwixt
Two mothers claiming one-same Child, was yoong Edward the Sixt.
Now Rome fell sicke in England, but how long she lay in traunce
We list not write, alonly death to her did neuer chaunce.
For old Rome neuer lackt that durst their liues for her bestoe,
Nor new Rome that to Hell for her dare soules and bodies goe.
Then true Religion might be said with vs in Primatiue,
The Preachers and the people both then practiuely did thriue.
Our decent Church-Rites, still in print, scarce practise (worthy those
Whose reuerrent heads collected them frō whence true wisedō groes:
Not mangled then of Nouesses and curious Doults, which now
Would haue they know not what, & would reforme they know not how,
Omitting or admitting as their owne Conceits allow)

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Did then put forth her Braunches, and were fruitfull in the bood.
And, were our Church-Lords now for zeale, as Church-lawes now
Soone might like vnion be, now by indifferencie withstood (for good,
For giue to vulgar Heads the head, and looke for all confused,
At once they publish and repeale, all else, saue Order, vsed:
And as Kytts Campe ill-form'd good forme at their reforming Tree,
Sonnes oft by aime consorting voice their Fathers hang'd should be,
So, wheare the Multitude preuaile, they censure ere they see.
But (might I be so bould to speake to them should speake to mee)
A good example would doe good in Church-men, seeing thay
In saying troth are lesse beleeu'd, not doing as the say.
I know our Church men know that Faith is dead where lacke good works,
Yeat know I not what pollicie in Almes vnpreached lurks.
Some teach (& well) that these concurre, but few doe vrge the Theame
Of charitie, affeard, perhaps our Mote should vrge their Beame.
But feare not, Fathers, preach at full Loue, good workes, & Remorse,
More will your bad Examples let than shall your words inforce.
To preach by halfes is to be worse than those tongue-holly Iauels,
That cite good words, but shift off works and Discipline By Cauells.
Oft haue ye handled pithily (not preached without neede)
What good to giue, what hurt to take, frō those that Soules do feede,
But so obscurely hath beene blancht of good workes else-wheare done,
As many, boasting onely Faith, faiths fruits selfe-aptly shonne.
When such a faith is but the faith of that faith-fruitles Deuill
That cited Scripture vnto Christ, applying good to euill.
Tell whether that the Leuite or Samaritane did better:
Tell wherein Dines liu'd and dide to Lazarus a Debter:
Vnknot sententious Salomon his Parable which is,
Full Cloudes will raine vpon the Earth: How thus is meant by this.
Rich mē by Cloudes, poore men by Earth (els Clerks expoūd amis)
Tell, how some Cloudes but misell Rayne: that is, if so they giue
A peny Almes or twaine a yeare they thinke they much releeue.
Some Clouds flash down their Shewres, that is, som set vp two or three,

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And begger so themselues and theirs: say such are foolish free.
Some Clouds haile downe their Raine, beat flat, hurt, & helpe not the ground:
That is, vpbraid whō they releeue, & hold thē seruile bound.
Some Clouds giue Snow, that lights and lies a moysture moystles: so
Doe those that say, alas, God helpe, and nothing else bestoe.
Some Cloudes doe shewre into the Seas: say such do giue to such
Whom Almes make idle, or belike to recompence as much.
Some Clouds with lightning, thunder, & lowd winds drip downe their raine:
That is, giue sildom almes, & those proclaim'd & seen, ere taine.
Some Clouds retayne but forme of clouds, with figure black as Coale:
That is, looke bigge, Examine long, but Scriptumest their doale.
Som gracious Clouds shed temprate Shewres on thirstie earth indeed:
That is, the Orphant, Widdow, Thrall, succour, protect and feed.
Say also whatsoere we giue to whosoere it bee,
Though giuen in sight of men, if not because that men should see,
But with Deuotion, as a worke from Faith thar cannot seuer,
God for such cheerefull Almes will be our bounteous Almner euer.
Say, make not as it weare Quest of quere ere Yee giue,
But giue yee Almes as men be poore, not as poore men doe liue.
Prouided common Beggers nor disordered Lossels, who
Men know prouided for, or can but labour none will doe,
Then whom doe say (for so is sooth) no Creatures worse desarue,
Take you no Orators for them, but that they hang or starue.
And thus for this Our Ouerture to it reduceth mee:
The Vncles of this Orphant King, so long as they agree,
Vphild Religion, King, themselues, and Realme in happie state:
Which then began to ruinate when they begun debate.