The Poems of Henry Howard :: :: University of Virginia Library

Gyrtt in my giltlesse gowne, as I sytt heare and sowe,
I see that thinges are not in dead as to the owtward showe.
And who so lyst to looke and note thinges somewhat neare,
Shal fynde, wheare playnnesse seemes to haunte, nothing but craft appeare.
For with indifferent eyes my self can well discearne
How som, to guyd a shyppe in stormes, stycke not to take the stearne;
Whose skill and conninge tryed in calme to steare a bardge,
They wolde sone shaw, yow shold sone see, it weare to great a chardge.
And some I see agayne sytt still and say but small
That can do ten tymes more than they that say they can do all.
Whose goodlye gyftes are suche, the more they vnderstand,
The more they seeke to learne and know and take lesse chardge in hand.
And, to declare more playne, the tyme flyttes not so fast

But I can beare right well in mynd the song now sung and past.
The auctour whearof cam, wrapt in a craftye cloke,
In will to force a flamyng fyre wheare he could rayse no smoke.
If powre and will had mett, as it appeareth playne,
The truth nor right had tane no place, their vertues had bene vayne.
So that you may perceave and I may saflye see,
The innocent that giltlesse is, condempned sholde have be.
Muche lyke untruth to this the story doth declare,
Wheare the elders layd to Susans chardge meete matter to compare.
They did her both accuse and eke condempne her to,
And yet no reason, right, nor truthe, did lead them so to do.
And she thus judged to dye, toward her death went forthe
Ffraughted with faith, a pacient pace, taking her wrong in worthe.
But he, that dothe defend all those that in hym trust,
Did raise a childe for her defence, to shyeld her from the unjust.
And Danyell chosen was then of this wrong to weete
How, in what place, and eke with whome, she did this cryme commytt.
He cawsed the elders part the one from the others sight,
And did examyne one by one and chardged them bothe say right.
Vndra molberye trye it was, fyrst sayd the one;
The next namede a pomegranate trye; whereby the truth was knowne.
Than Susan was discharged and they condempned to dye,
As right requeares and they deserve that framede so fowll a lye.
And he, that her preserved and lett them of their lust,
Hath me defendyd hetherto, and will do still I trust.