University of Virginia Library

THE AVCTHORS Commemoration for MVNDAY.

[Behold this worldly wretchednesse]

Behold this worldly wretchednesse,
Of euils which euer vs possesse.

The Translators Application.

First when Thalmighty prouidence dyd heauen and earth create,
An vniuersall darknesse dyd them both obtenebrate:
Then likte the Lorde to make a light deuided from darknesse,
The darknesse should night signifie, the light should day expresse.

[This day therfore darknesse mundame]

This day therfore darknesse mundame,
Eschevve and vvalke in light oh man.

[This volume breefe of sclender quantitie]

This volume breefe of sclender quantitie,
Called, of sinners the contemplation.
Accordeth well for eche state and degree,
Guiding by grace and due direction.
Our Soule to sease in sure saluation,
Therefore this tytle profoundly knowyng:
VVhich of thy conscience may cause correction,
In hart emprint, with matter folowyng.

[These sentences before resemble by figure]

These sentences before resemble by figure,
The world as it were set in the salt See:
VVhose perillous passage as in portrature,
Explaneth mearely cares and calamitee.
VVherevnto is subiect, eche state and degree,
For as the Sea is euer in commotion:
VVith raging storme, and perillous perplexitee.
So is this world wallowyng in confusion.

[Eche sentence here of foresayd Scripture]

Eche sentence here of foresayd Scripture,
Sheweth Sunne, Moone, and Starres to our sight.
To haue been enuironed with cloudes obscure,
Dimmed with darknes, which somtime blased bright.
So in the world some estates lacke the light,
Of grace, in maner of lyfe and religion:
The day of Vertue turnyng into night,
So blinde in wicked worldly abusion.

[O wicked world wrapped in wretchednesse]

O wicked world wrapped in wretchednesse,
Fye on thy fraude and fickle felicitie:
Fye on thy balefull blundred businesse,
Thy blandeshing blindnesse in prosperitie.
Hedged with Hawthorne, care, and calamity,
VVith drede, dolour, and double disease:
Thy pleasant poyson slayth soule and body,
So rewardest thou such as seeke thee to please.

[O polisant graue and donghill clad with snawe]

O polisant graue and donghill clad with snawe,
Thou sister to Sodome, and seate to Sathanas,
Thy likyng lustes last but for a thrawe,
Thou tyrant treasonable, and germaine to Iudas.
VVhom thou canst kisse, salute, and imbrace,
By honor, ritches, delight, and dignitie:
As Iudas betrayed Christe with flattering face,
His soule thou seazest in endles captiuitie.

[That prudent prince, and wyse kyng Salomon]

That prudent prince, and wyse kyng Salomon,
Preferred his pleasance in such proued plentee:
For honor, ritches, delites, and renoune,
He had no peare, so surpassed hee.
Raignyng in all most royall felicitie,
Natheles his state, he sayd, for conclusion:
VVas of no force, but meare vanitie,
Through corporall toyle, and spirituall affliction.

[Some are so choked with worldly businesse]

Some are so choked with worldly businesse,
Both Spiritual and Temporal, as time doth oft shevv
They haue but small care of Hell or heauenlinesse,
To saue them selues they are vvoonderous slovve.
Such study not hovv their concience for to knavv,
As a Spider fighteth to catche a Flee:
Making her net, vvhich faileth vvith a flavve,
Such sell their soules for vaine prosperitee.

[O strong tyrant, traytour right treasonable]

O strong tyrant, traytour right treasonable,
Conuent of all contagious company:
Thy faded florishing is Fantasie fayleable,
Thou graue of guile, schoole of cupidity.
Father of falshood, nurse of iniquitie,
The changeable chaunce of thy foolish renovvne:
Oppressing the lust, placing euill men on hie,
Maketh many to loose an incorruptible crovvne.

[That morall man, and famous Philosopher]

That morall man, and famous Philosopher,
Foure thinges commendeth befitting a king:
To his disciple Traiane the Emperour,
Fyrst dreade and loue God aboue all thyng.
Next of his person haue discreete gouernyng,
Then see that his officers be true and diligent,
Lastly his subiectes euer defendyng.
Shall winne theyr loue, as conquest congruent.

[In weyghty matters geue personall presence]

In weyghty matters geue personall presence,
In smaller actions geuyng commission,
To men of fayth, good name, and sapience,
Iustice to keepe without exception.
As they wyll answere to God and your crowne,
And take inquest how iustly they proceede,
VVithout feede or fauour, or cloked correction,
Then graunt them dome accordyng to deede.

[So dyd Cambises, which of Persia was kyng]

So dyd Cambises, which of Persia was kyng,
Geuing afray to officers of inftry,
Vpon a Iudge he made such punishing,
Because he handled his office vntruely.
Causd his skinne to be rent from the body,
And on the seate where he gaue sentment,
Made stretch it foorth for lastyng memory,
Placing his sonne to sitte in iudgement.

[VVere in a kyng such disposition kend]

VVere in a kyng such disposition kend,
That he would iust men promote and cherishe,
And from his Court and Counsell suspend,
Such as are knowen corrupters of iustice.
And open malefactors suffer in no wyse,
That should stablishe iustice, policy, and peace,
Causing good order into the Realme to ryse,
And make euill men soone from their sinne to cease.

[Nowe then would Princes to Churchly promotion]

Nowe then would Princes to Churchly promotion,
Aduaunce none other, but men of suffisance,
VVhich truely should keepe their state and profession,
Seeking soules health without dissimulance.
Gracious and godly in their gouernace,
So might Princes in fame and meede increase,
Causyng the Cleargy keepe good obseruance,
should bridle many from hurtful blindnes.

[And as a Prince hath cheefe correction]

And as a Prince hath cheefe correction,
On spirituall state, so may his hygh prudence,
Into the Church cause reformation,
By fauourable meanes of princely excellence.
For all his Realme to him geues attendance,
so dyd Iosaphat which was kyng of Iury,
His whole empyre by his great diligence,
He causd to keepe the lawe of God duely.

[Then should God in eche state honoured bee]

Then should God in eche state honoured bee,
Hereby might men both grace and glory obteyne,
Iustice should raigne with peace and policee,
And trouth returne with triumph home ageyne.
VVhich is exilde, and almost forlore cleane,
Thus might men liue in great securitie,
And loue theyr God, which doth eche state sustayne,
VVere Vertue captayne of theyr cheualry.

[Thus sythen in earth amongst men mortall]

Thus sythen in earth amongst men mortall,
The weale and woe of euery region,
Dependes vpon the Kyng most principall,
Therefore we should with true intention,
Beseeche Christe Iesu with deuotion,
All mortall sinne that he may put aside,
And efte in heauen, as with his benediction,
So eake on earth would eache good prince guide.

[But where some Princes and leaders of the lawe]

But where some Princes and leaders of the lawe,
Breake fayth to God by lost alleageance,
Their ciuill iustice must suffer ouerthrawe,
This vertue Iustice is made intemperance.
VVhom grace not guiding, keepes none obseruance,
VVhat Prince to Poore keepes Iustice without lesing
Hearing complaint with good deliuerance,
In Heauen and Earth he shall be floreshing.

[As Iustice is cause of peace and policie]

As Iustice is cause of peace and policie,
And VVell of welfare in euery Region,
So without Iustice Kingdomes feele contrarie,
For robberie, theft, pouerty, and oppression,
Murmure, discord, and desolation,
Confiskes many a Kingdome ane huge Impery,
From theyr late former good condicion,
For want of Iustice through iniquity.

[In England then, trueth shewe thy stately style]

In England then, trueth shewe thy stately style,
And Iustice thou thy Baner brode display,
All leagerdy maynes from hence quite exile,
Graunt God that good meaning mainteined be may
All subtyll shiftes to conuince and bewray,
VVherewith the couetous encombred bee,
Least that the great flee the small eatyng alway,
Doo the same deuoure by lawles libertee,

[Farre from vs, O God, expell corrupt iustice]

Farre from vs, O God, expell corrupt iustice,
VVith couetousnesse and false affection.
That goodnesse of eache cause may full suffise,
To try it selfe cleare in the action,
Of euill buddes let no bitter abusion,
Make crooked causes cloked to bee,
In Consistory Court, or Ciuill Session,
But graunt, O GOD, to trueth the victory.

[To Kyng without colour that lyst to keepe Iustice]

To Kyng without colour that lyst to keepe Iustice,
The nearest way most honorable and easie,
Ys corrupt men to suffer in no wyse,
By false affection or parcialitie,
To execute the office of Iustice duely,
And yf in this poynt a Prince be negligent,
His mind perswaded may be fully,
He shall incurre Gods dreedfull iudgement.

[Nowe Princes, Lordes, and Nobles of renowne]

Nowe Princes, Lordes, and Nobles of renowne,
VVhom it pleaseth to vse Iustice with mercie,
Take Iob and Dauid examples to your crowne,
VVhen to the poore they had a piteous eye,
And of mighty offenders punisht peruersitee,
VVhom Gods good grace hath remunerate
VVith blessinges moe then may expressed bee,
In lasting fame ay to be Lawreate.

[Our hope, our happe, we set in worldlines]

Our hope, our happe, we set in worldlines,
And men with men defraude in vvhite and black,
Corrupting conscience, all daring in darknes,
In our conceiptes as vve should aye hold svvack,
Our crazed Cables all at a cast vvyll crack,
Yf God so please his stormes but once to steare,
VVherefore in time for our misse, mendes lets make,
And stand vve fast, els perishe vve in feare.

[There is no reason our misrule can arrest]

There is no reason our misrule can arrest,
This vvretched vvord so farre vvakes our vvitte,
Invvard to vvysedome our vvyls vve doo not vvrest,
For Couetis hath vs in his chaine so knitte,
And vvicked examples of sinners can vs tvvit,
VVhat resteth more, vve shrinke not to trespas,
From this guilefull vvorld, as vve should neuer flitt,
But our vvylles vve vvorke, tyll out run be our glas.

[Therefore I counsell eache christian creature]

Therefore I counsell eache christian creature,
In vvorldly vvayes his mind to modefy,
To liue in trueth iustly, and not to iniure,
Yea and vvith glad pacience to vvelcome aduersity,
VVith dreade and temperance vsing prosperity,
Thinking this vvorld a throughfare of vvo,
VVhat euer God send, blesse him ay gladly,
As vve vvere Pilgrimes passing to and fro.