The Mirrour of Mutabilitie :: :: University of Virginia Library

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

Munday, Anthony (1553-1633)

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VERO NIHIL VERIVS

The Authors Commendation of the Right Honorable Earle of Oxenford.

Verses written by the Author vpon his Lords Posey. VERO NIHIL VERIVS.

Cladius Hollyband, in the Commendation of his Schollers exersise:

Thomas Procter in Commendation of this Woork, and the Author therof.

T. N. in commendation of this vvoork.

E. K. Gentleman in commendation of the Author.

Mathew VVighthand in the behalf of his Freend Antony Munday.

William Hall in commendation of his Kinseman Antony Munday.

Thomas Spigurnel in praise of the Book and the Author.

THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE Mirrour of Mutabilitie, rightly named, the Principall parte of the Mirrour for Magistrates.

PRIDE.

THE COMPLAINT OF King Nabuchodonozor, sometime King of Babilon, for the inordinate and excessive PRIDE, that he vsed in his life time.

ENVYE.

THE COMPLAINT of King Herod, the first Straunger that reigned ouer the Ievves, for the exceeding ENVYE that in his life he vsed.

VVRATH.

THE COMPLAINT of King Pharao, sometime King of Egipt, vvoorthily punnished of GOD, for his vvrathfull dealings tovvard the Children of Israel.

LECHERYE.

THE COMPLAINT of King Dauid, (by Gods permission) annointed King of Israel, sorovvfully from the bottome of his hart, bemoning his vnbrideled Lust of Lecherye, committed vvith BERSABA the VVife of VRIAS, and for the procuring of her Husbands death, therby obtayning his purpose.

GLVTTONY.

THE COMPLAINT of Diues for his Gluttony vsed in his life time:

AVARICE.

THE COMPLAINT of Iudas bemoning his Auaritious hart in selling his Maister Christe for thirtie pence.

SLOTHE.

THE COMPLAINT OF Ionas for his slothfull slacking the commaundement of the Lord beeing sent to preach to the Niniuites.

THE SECOND BOOKE OF the Mirrour of Mutabilitie, discoursing of diuers other excellent Historyes, bothe pleasant and profitable.

BEAVTIE.

THE COMPLAINT of Absalon, for his vayne aspiring to the Imperiall Crovvn and Diademe of his Father King DAVID, and for his sudden fall he obtayned in his pretended purpose.

CRVELTIE.

THE COMPLAINT of Triphon for his crueltie committed against the yung King ANTIOCHVS, vvhome hee cruelly murdered as hee vvalked to disporte him, and for his cruel putting to death IONATHAS, and his tvvo Children, through vvhich hee crovvned himself King of ASIA.

WICKEDNES.

THE COMPLAINT of King Achab King of Israel, for his wicked life led in IDOLATRIE and cruell Persecutions, and for sparing the life of the vvicked BENHADAB, King of Siria, vvhom GOD had deliuered into his hands only to put to death. Also for his procuring the poore NABOTH to be cruelly murdered, therby to get his Viniard, by the counsel of IEZABEL his Queene (vvhose blood the Dogs licked-vp on the ground) and also his ovvne blood, in the Battell fought at RAMOTH, according to the vvoord of the LORD.

RASHNES.

THE COMPLAINT of Iephtah sometime Iudge of Israel, for his so rash vovv, in the sacrifising of his Daughter, for the foyling of his enemyes.

MAGNANIMITIE.

THE COMPLAINT of Sampson, for his fond declaring to his wife vvhere his cheefest strength vvas, vvhich made his eyes be pulled out by the Philistines.

SAPIENCE.

THE COMPLAINT of King Salomon King of Israel, for his inordinate looue borne to Outlandish VVomen, vvho brought him from the vvisest and richest King that euer vvas, to be cast out of Gods fauour, and to be euen in maner, like a stark foole.

INCONTINENCYE.

THE COMPLAINT of Ammon, the eldest Sonne of King Dauid, for the rauishing of his Sister THAMAR, accomplishing his desire, through the craftie deuise of IONADAB his kinseman, vvho causing AMMON to fayne him self sick: obtayned of his Father DAVID, that THAMAR his sister should come and visit him, and vvhen she came, bringing vvith her a dish of meat: rauised her, and aftervvard cruelly despised her.

VOLVPTVOVSNES.

THE COMPLAINT of Adonia Sonne, to King David, for his proud aspiring to his Fathers kingdome, & also for his pride vsed against his Brother King Salomon, in crauing ABISAG the Sunamite to his mate vvho vvas a faire and verteous yung Damosell, and nourished King DAVID in his extreme age, thinking by that meanes to attaine to his desired pretence.

VAIN GLORY.

THE COMPLAINT of King Ptolomye King of Egipt, for his vnnaturall crueltie vsed tovvard the Famous ALEXANDER, vvho vvas his Sonne in Lavv.

VANITIE.

THE COMPLAINT of Iezabel Wife to King Achab, for her inforcing her Husband to all kinde of vvickednesse and Idolatree, & causing the Prophets of the Lord to be slain, and procuring the guiltles death of Naboth shee beeing iustly therfore plagued of the Lord.

WILFVLNES.

THE COMPLAINT of Zedekia sometime King of Iuda, for neglecting his vovved othe and faithfull promise made to King Nabuchodonozor, in suffering all sinne and vvickednes to abound in his Kingdome, beeing iustly plagued of GOD therfore.

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T. N. in commendation of this vvoork.

The Caruer often cuts from hard and craggie stone/
Some rare deuise & curious woork in hope to please ech one
But some that look theron oft times at rendō talk/
When they them selues can hardly freme the like of rēder chalk
So likewise he that pēd with pain this mirror for thy ease
Is sure though some slow his pains that that some he shall displease.
The woork it self no fables are but wouen from holy writ.
Wherto he hath in Tragick wise some prety Stories knit.
All which are doon for thy delight wherin he freendly showes:
That lofty mindes are subiect sure vnto a thousand woes.
Heerin he showes example wise/the guerdon due to Pride:
To Treason/Murder/Lechery/and Couetousnes beside.
Which if you shun or if it be thou feel some priuie prick:
Then thank him who dooth wish thee wel though he do toutch the quick.
And if thou know thy self for to be free from these/
Lend him good will as he deserues who seeks none to displease.
Who though he haue not loomd so farre as finer wits could weaue it
yet as it is vnto thy skil he is content to leaue it
Allow his labour yet accept what he hath dun/
And thou shalt see the monthly steps that Munday meanes to run:
And I his Freend and thine shall think as wel of thee/
As Mundayes woork dooth wel deserue accounted of to bee.

Petit ardua Virtus.

T N.

Finis.