The Mirrour of Mutabilitie or Principall part of the Mirrour for Magistrates. Describing the fall of diuers famous Princes, and other memorable Personages. Selected out of the sacred Scriptures by Antony Munday, and dedicated to the Right Honorable the Earle of Oxenford |
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THE COMPLAINT OF
Ionas for his slothfull slacking the commaundement
of the Lord beeing sent to preach to the Niniuites.
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 | The Mirrour of Mutabilitie |  |
THE COMPLAINT OF Ionas for his slothfull slacking the commaundement of the Lord beeing sent to preach to the Niniuites.
Caput. 7.
Muse
not my Freends though Ionas now,
appeere before your face:
I come to vtter foorth my crime,
gainst Gods Almightie grace.
appeere before your face:
I come to vtter foorth my crime,
gainst Gods Almightie grace.
For beeing straitly chargde by him,
that I to Niniuie:
Should goe and tel the People how,
they liued in great miserye.
that I to Niniuie:
Should goe and tel the People how,
they liued in great miserye.
I would not doo as I had charge,
but went an other way:
To Ioppa wher in secret sorte,
to Tharsus I would stray.
but went an other way:
To Ioppa wher in secret sorte,
to Tharsus I would stray.
And finding hoyssed sayles at hand,
and ready to depart:
I entred ship not minding that,
which was my cheefest part.
and ready to depart:
I entred ship not minding that,
which was my cheefest part.
So foorth wee launcht and vnder hatch,
I went to take my rest:
Desiring for to sleep my fil,
for that did please mee best.
I went to take my rest:
Desiring for to sleep my fil,
for that did please mee best.
But suddainly vnlooked for,
a mightie storme did ryse:
The anger of the God abooue,
was threatned in the skyes.
a mightie storme did ryse:
The anger of the God abooue,
was threatned in the skyes.
The ship was tossed wunderously.
a greeuous sight to see:
For death each man did then awayt,
no way els might there bee.
a greeuous sight to see:
For death each man did then awayt,
no way els might there bee.
And stil the Maister plied his charge,
to ease the heauy wait:
Suspecting that should be the cause,
wherwith the ship was frayght.
to ease the heauy wait:
Suspecting that should be the cause,
wherwith the ship was frayght.
So foorth hee cast his merchandise,
into the swelling seas:
When that was doon, yet nere the more,
the tempest did appease.
into the swelling seas:
When that was doon, yet nere the more,
the tempest did appease.
Then euery man fel on his knees,
and loude to God did cry:
Yet was the tempest terrible,
and raged cruelly.
and loude to God did cry:
Yet was the tempest terrible,
and raged cruelly.
Then vnder hatch the Maister came,
where mee a sleep hee found:
Awake quoth hee, and pray with vs,
shun Sloth wee now are bound.
where mee a sleep hee found:
Awake quoth hee, and pray with vs,
shun Sloth wee now are bound.
Then to our prayers fel wee hard,
yet all would not content:
For stil it raged more and more,
in vain their time was spent.
yet all would not content:
For stil it raged more and more,
in vain their time was spent.
At last the Maister thus gan say,
my Freends if you agree:
Wee lots wil cast which of vs all,
procures this rage to bee.
my Freends if you agree:
Wee lots wil cast which of vs all,
procures this rage to bee.
The Lots were their immediatly,
deuided twixt vs all:
And when each one had tooke his chaunce,
the lot on mee did fall.
deuided twixt vs all:
And when each one had tooke his chaunce,
the lot on mee did fall.
Wel then (quoth I) since that this rage,
procured is by mee:
Into the seas doo cast mee strait,
then all content shall bee.
procured is by mee:
Into the seas doo cast mee strait,
then all content shall bee.
To which for sauegarde of their liues,
they gladly did consent:
But God though I offended had,
would not my perishment.
they gladly did consent:
But God though I offended had,
would not my perishment.
But present sent a mightie VVhale,
when I was throwen in sea
Within whose paunch free from all harm
I did remain three dayes.
when I was throwen in sea
I did remain three dayes.
And at the last deliuered was,
this did my God for mee:
So that by this the seas were calm
and they escaped free.
this did my God for mee:
So that by this the seas were calm
and they escaped free.
And though that I offended had,
and slackt my duty so:
God would not leaue mee succourlesse,
but sheelded mee from wo.
and slackt my duty so:
God would not leaue mee succourlesse,
but sheelded mee from wo.
For when I called vnto minde.
my great and lewd offence;
The sighing sorowes from my hart,
made speedy recompence.
my great and lewd offence;
The sighing sorowes from my hart,
made speedy recompence.
For God delighteth more to see,
a sinner wayle his sin:
Then hee should vengeance present
or iudgment enter in.
a sinner wayle his sin:
Then hee should vengeance present
or iudgment enter in.
So for example you may see,
my sin which was so sore:
Gods mercy soone did mittigate,
to make mee sin no more.
my sin which was so sore:
Gods mercy soone did mittigate,
to make mee sin no more.
You therfore that remain on earth,
let this your minde suffise:
Feare stil for to displease the Lord,
be not to worldly wise.
let this your minde suffise:
Feare stil for to displease the Lord,
be not to worldly wise.
Fix stil your minde on heauenly things
that neuer wil decay.
The rest are but as shadowes heer,
and soone wil passe away:
that neuer wil decay.
and soone wil passe away:
What vantage is it for a man,
to haue of riches store:
And for to want the feare of God,
which stil should be before.
to haue of riches store:
And for to want the feare of God,
which stil should be before.
The more a man dooth fix his minde,
vpon that filthy drosse:
The more endamagde is his soule,
vnto the vtter losse.
vpon that filthy drosse:
The more endamagde is his soule,
vnto the vtter losse.
For welth dooth pamper him so much,
that God is clean forgot:
And then at last vnto his pain,
vpon him falls the lot.
that God is clean forgot:
And then at last vnto his pain,
vpon him falls the lot.
So that all good and verteous men,
from company refuse him:
And where before hee was esteemd,
now they disdain to vse him.
from company refuse him:
And where before hee was esteemd,
now they disdain to vse him.
Then is hee throwen into the lake,
of euerlasting pain:
Whereas no fish shall rescue him,
to cast him vp again.
of euerlasting pain:
Whereas no fish shall rescue him,
to cast him vp again.
But shall among the damned soules,
in endlesse torments dwel:
Where weeping wayling dooth remain,
euen to the pit of hel.
in endlesse torments dwel:
Where weeping wayling dooth remain,
euen to the pit of hel.
Beare this in minde in all your woorks,
before you doo begin:
Remember God is merciful,
and be afrayd to sin.
before you doo begin:
Remember God is merciful,
and be afrayd to sin.
Turne vnto God, and God to you,
wil turn his cheerful face:
Flye slauish Sloth, and then be sure,
that God wil you imbrace.
wil turn his cheerful face:
Flye slauish Sloth, and then be sure,
that God wil you imbrace.
For idlenes is enemye,
to goodnes as men say:
Therfore doo shun the enemy,
and one the Vertue stay.
to goodnes as men say:
Therfore doo shun the enemy,
and one the Vertue stay.
Let all that have you preter past,
examples be to you,
How you may learn in all assayes,
vile sin for to eschew.
examples be to you,
How you may learn in all assayes,
vile sin for to eschew.
And thus if you direct your wayes,
you walk the path so right:
That heauen is your inheritance,
in foyle of Sathans spight.
you walk the path so right:
That heauen is your inheritance,
in foyle of Sathans spight.
Anthony Munday.
FINIS.
Memor esto breuisæui,
| The Mirrour of Mutabilitie | |