University of Virginia Library

THE AVCTORS Commemoration for TVESDAY.

[The state of innocencie heare]

The state of innocencie heare,
Continually in mind lets beare.

The Translators Application.

The second day a Firmament, the Lord God dyd ordeyne,
VVaters aboue, as wel as vnder, to deuide in twayne,
The vpper Firmament Heauen cald, the neathermost Earth is,
The Mornyng and the Euennnng cleare, he let be made with this.

[The state of innocencie cleare]

The state of innocencie cleare,
In mind and maners let appeare.

[The Aucthor figured here by the portrature]

The Aucthor figured here by the portrature,
Of Adam and Eue our parentes innocence,
VVhen they a time in God his grace stood sure,
Before their fall, he geues intelligence,
Howe we should frame our liues with diligence,
To the recouerie of our lost heritage,
To God and Man eschewing all offence,
By lyfe innocent of eche estate and age.

[Right as white paper is redy to the print]

Right as white paper is redy to the print,
Of blacke and blew faire and foule Imagery,
So is the soule of man conuenient,
To good and euill addict vndoubtedly,
But sythen Vertue hath suche difficulty,
Men learne the sooner to be vicious.
In lacke of labour we flowe in folly,
For slothfull sottes can not be vertuous.

[VVhat seede men sowe, such corne they must sheare]

VVhat seede men sowe, such corne they must sheare,
As we oft see by prooued experience,
Euen so in youth, who liketh to forbeare,
The seedes of sinne, of slothe, and negligence,
And sowe the seedes of vertue and sapience,
So with small labour in great security,
VVith mede honor and inward compacience,
Theit age shall florishe in fayre felicity.

[The tyme os sowing is called tedious]

The tyme os sowing is called tedious,
But of the reaping svveete is the seasoune,
So of good life beginnyng is laborous,
Then folovveth fruite of honour and renoune,
Euerlasting life, and eke an heauenly crowne,
Therefore, O youth, in these thy yeeres greene,
Fyght feruently vvith harty affection,
And tyre not that triumph eternall to obtayne.

[But novve alacke youthy yeeres and innocence]

But novve alacke youthy yeeres and innocence,
To vice and vertue vvhich is indifferent,
So soked is in sinne and insolence,
Through euill examples, and liberty verament,
That of youthy yeeres time is mispent.
Though meete it be, that lost lyfe be refound,
Euyll vsage maketh so great impediment,
It vvyll not be but Gods grace more abound.

[Reuolue further yet yf any thou knewe]

Reuolue further yet yf any thou knewe,
Spending their youth in sinnes criminall,
VVhich with difficulty could their maners renewe,
Therefore dreade God, and for his grace doo call,
For to preserue thyne innocence from fall,
And ys that state be lost with abusance,
Sleepe neuer with sollace in bondage of Belyall,
But turne and take in tyme the plaster repentance.

[The soule of man so noble is of nature]

The soule of man so noble is of nature,
And made to ioy so hygh an heritage,
VVithout delight it can not long endure,
Therefore men should in their tender age,
VVith vertue and deuotion haue vsage,
VVhich without lothsomnesse bringeth delyte,
Encreasing euer her valiant corage,
For of taste, ay she renueth appetyte.

[Though corporall foode haue that quality]

Though corporall foode haue that quality,
The greater abstinence, the greater appetite,
And the more taste, the more tediosity,
Yea nowe we lothe, where we late dyd delite,
From spirituall foode which differeth quite,
The more we absteyne, the lesse we desyre,
The goodnesse of the taste no man can endite,
VVhich had augmented celestiall feruent fyre.

[More sweetenesse tis vnto sound conscience]

More sweetenesse tis vnto sound conscience,
And vertuous lyfe with delectation,
Then any pleasant carnall complacence,
Or fadyng gladnes of worldly abusion,
To please God euer in conclusion,
VVith vertuous lyfe, whose solace is most deare,
Full recompenst with hyre of heauenly crowne.
As of Gods saintes examples witnesse beare.

[For right as mem enfeobled with labour]

For right as mem enfeobled with labour,
Or which in battell haue bestowed their blood,
Through sustenance recouer vitall power,
Resuming to them force and courage good,
So by resemblance and similitude,
In spirituall toyle and conflict tossed they,
To vertue hauing deuoute consuetude,
Restore them selues to firme estate soone may.

[God graunt al states to keepe with diligence]

God graunt al states to keepe with diligence,
In conscience good the most assured stay,
Of treasures heauenly highest in excellence,
VVhich may our mindes chearefull make alway,
That lyfe from learnyng doo not goe astray,
Ne yet with shiftes of cloked collusion,
Our selues and our freendes corrupt we may,
To turne vnto our owne confusion.

[Eche Communalty then standeth in good state]

Eche Communalty then standeth in good state,
VVhen as their princes rulde are by reason,
But be they vicious and infatuate,
Then falleth all to foule confusion,
VVe haue to marke then what abusion,
Other Realmes doo on them selues ay bring,
By their misrule, way our condicion,
In happier state God knoweth florishng.

[VVho euer yet conioyned in one person]

VVho euer yet conioyned in one person,
So profound meekenes with high excellence,
Such temporall trouble with harts deuotion,
So great slaughter, so prteous penitence,
Seuere iustice mixt with compacience,
As had King Dauid, loe appeareth well,
To God and man his watchfull diligence,
At this day Princes many doth excell.

[In two poyntes dependeth principally]

In two poyntes dependeth principally,
The key of honest conuersation,
Into wyse counsayle and good company,
VVherefore as Princes with due discretion,
Knowe euery counsellours disposition,
For better sauety in good gouernment,
Semblably eche baser state and condicion,
By company and counsell are ruled verament.

[Good company is of so great vertue]

Good company is of so great vertue,
It causeth sinners to become gracious,
VVhen they endeuour them selues to rescew,
From their folly and faultes defamous,
And eke euill company is so contagious,
That it corrupteth good inclination,
It is so vigorus, violent, and venemous,
It puts euen princes to great perdicion.

[Among the plagues of Egypt most horrible]

Among the plagues of Egypt most horrible,
One was of darknes three dayes enduring,
VVhich was a token troublesome and terrible,
To all the Egyptians: but there abiding,
The people of Israel had large light shining,
So though this world be blinded by abusance,
Yet amongst all some be in grace growyng,
To innocent lyfe, through fruitefull repentance.

[All mortall creatures conceaued in sinne]

All mortall creatures conceaued in sinne,
VVretchedly borne, liuing in variaunce,
Are lyke fragrant flowres in a Garden,
VVith fading florishe euer chaunging the chaunce,
The newe to olde succeedeth by ordinaunce,
So in his kinde goeth humane succession,
Now sicke, now sound, now glad, now in greeuaunce,
Neuer standeth in one estate by condicion.

[VVherefore our God, meekely to thee we call]

VVherefore our God, meekely to thee we call,
Graunt vs thy grace for most surest suffisance,
To set aside all sinnes sensuall,
And be our guide with all good gouernance.
In mysty darknesse of worldly variance,
Graunt wylling mindes thy will to execute,
That vve may so serue thee vvithout dissimulance,
So as of thy grace vve be neuer destitute.

[As nothing more maketh resemblance]

As nothing more maketh resemblance,
To feendish feares then strife and debate,
So humane kinde by charitable acquaintance,
To heauenly Angels is associate.
This laudable loue makes man laureate,
Loue makes our labour light in comparison,
Loue is a vertue of valure inuiolate,
And chaungeth care to consolation.

[Thy corporall health from sicknesse to conserue]

Thy corporall health from sicknesse to conserue,
Is more of prise then any medecine,
So then thy soule may rather deserue,
Of deadly wound all sinne for to decline.
Then for to taste the venemous propine
Of sinne, and after seeke the salue of repentance,
Presumption ryseth of the olde serpentine,
VVhiche doubtles doth proue a perillous pestelance.

[Of our soules Lord we make record with ruthe]

Of our soules Lord we make record with ruthe,
As flowres fayre, tender, and delicate,
To Christe our spouse wedded with ring of truthe,
Though in this life we haue dayly debate,
Yet graunt in fayth that we be laureate,
From hurtfull sinne with syncere conscience,
O Lord to thee let vs not liue ingrate,
Sithe thou with vs wolte haue thy residence.