The appellation of Iohn Knoxe from the cruell and most iniust sentence pronounced against him by the false bishoppes and clergie of Scotland, with his supplication and exhortation to the nobilitie, estates, and co[m]munaltie of the same realme [by William Kethe] |
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 | The appellation of Iohn Knoxe |  |
[78]
PSALME OF DAVID XCIIII, turned in to metre, by W. Kethe.
O Lorde sith vengeance doth to thee,
and to none els belonge:
Now showe thy self (o Lorde oure God)
with spede reuenge oure wronge.
and to none els belonge:
Now showe thy self (o Lorde oure God)
with spede reuenge oure wronge.
Arise thow great iudge of the worlde,
and haue at length regarde,
That as the prowde deserue and do,
thow wilt them so rewarde.
and haue at length regarde,
That as the prowde deserue and do,
thow wilt them so rewarde.
How longe (o Lorde) shall wicked men
triumphe thy flock to slea?
Yea Lorde, how longe? For they triumphe
as thog he, who now but they.
triumphe thy flock to slea?
Yea Lorde, how longe? For they triumphe
as thog he, who now but they.
How longe shall wicked doers speake?
their great disdaine we se,
Whose boastīg prowd doth seem to threat
no speach but theirs to be.
their great disdaine we se,
Whose boastīg prowd doth seem to threat
no speach but theirs to be.
O Lorde they smite thy people downe,
not sparinge yonge or olde:
Thine heritage they so torment,
as strange is to beholde.
not sparinge yonge or olde:
Thine heritage they so torment,
as strange is to beholde.
The widdowe and the stranger both
they murther cruelly:
The fatherlesse they put to death
and cause they know none why.
they murther cruelly:
The fatherlesse they put to death
and cause they know none why.
79
And yet saye they: tushe, tushe, the Lorde
shall not beholde this dede,
Ne yet will Iacobs God reuolue
the thinges by vs decreed.
shall not beholde this dede,
Ne yet will Iacobs God reuolue
the thinges by vs decreed.
But now take hede ye men vnwise,
amonge the folke that dwell:
Ye fooles (I saye) when will ye waye
or vnderstand this well?
amonge the folke that dwell:
Ye fooles (I saye) when will ye waye
or vnderstand this well?
He that the eare did plante and place,
shall he be slowe to heare?
Or he that made the eye to see,
shall he not see most clere?
shall he be slowe to heare?
Or he that made the eye to see,
shall he not see most clere?
Or he that whipte the hethen folke,
and knolledge teacheth men,
To nurture such, as went astraye,
shall he not punishe then?
and knolledge teacheth men,
To nurture such, as went astraye,
shall he not punishe then?
The Lorde oure God, who mā did frame,
his very thoghts doth knowe,
And that they are but vile and vaine,
to him is knowne also.
his very thoghts doth knowe,
And that they are but vile and vaine,
to him is knowne also.
But blessed is that man (o Lorde)
whom thou doest bringe in awe,
And teacheste him by this thy rodd
to loue and feare thy lawe.
whom thou doest bringe in awe,
And teacheste him by this thy rodd
to loue and feare thy lawe.
That patience thou mayste him geue
in tyme of troubles great,
Vntill the pitt be digged vp
th'ungodly for to eate.
in tyme of troubles great,
Vntill the pitt be digged vp
th'ungodly for to eate.
[79]
For why, the Lorde will neuer fayle
his people, whiche him loue:
Ne yet forsake his heritaunce,
whiche he doth still approue,
his people, whiche him loue:
Ne yet forsake his heritaunce,
whiche he doth still approue,
Till righteousnes to iudgement turne,
as it must be in dede,
And such as be full true in hearte
to folowe it with spede.
as it must be in dede,
And such as be full true in hearte
to folowe it with spede.
Who now will vp and rise with me
against this wycked bande?
Or who against these workers ill
on my parte stowte will stande?
against this wycked bande?
Or who against these workers ill
on my parte stowte will stande?
Yf that the Lorde had not me holpt,
Dowtelesse it had bene done,
To witt, my soule in silence broght,
and so my foes had wonne.
Dowtelesse it had bene done,
To witt, my soule in silence broght,
and so my foes had wonne.
But thogh my foote did swiftly slide,
Yet when I did it tell,
Thy mercie (Lorde) so helde me vp,
that I therewith not fell.
Yet when I did it tell,
Thy mercie (Lorde) so helde me vp,
that I therewith not fell.
For in the heapes of sorrowes sharpe,
that did my hearte oppresse,
Thy comfortes were to me so greate,
they did my soule refreshe.
that did my hearte oppresse,
Thy comfortes were to me so greate,
they did my soule refreshe.
Wilte thow (vaine man) haue ought to do
with that most wicked chaire,
That museth mischief as a lawe
with out remorse or feare?
with that most wicked chaire,
That museth mischief as a lawe
with out remorse or feare?
80
Against the soules of righteous men
they all with spede conuent,
And there the giltlesse blood condemne,
with one most vile consent.
they all with spede conuent,
And there the giltlesse blood condemne,
with one most vile consent.
But my refuge is to the Lorde
in all these daungers deepe,
And God the strength is of my truste,
who allwaies dothe me keepe.
in all these daungers deepe,
And God the strength is of my truste,
who allwaies dothe me keepe.
He shall rewarde their wickednesse,
and in their wrathe them kill,
Yea, them destroye shall God oure Lorde,
for he bothe can and will.
and in their wrathe them kill,
Yea, them destroye shall God oure Lorde,
for he bothe can and will.
FINIS.
| The appellation of Iohn Knoxe | |