The Actes of the Apostles translated into Englyshe Metre, and dedicated to the Kynges most excellent Maiestye, by Christofer Tye ... wyth notes to eche Chapter, to synge and also to play upon the Lute, very necessarye for studentes after theyr studye, to fyle theyr wyttes, and also for all Christians that cannot synge, to reade the good and Godlye storyes of the lyues of Christ hys Apostles |
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| [Consydrynge well, most godly Kyng] |
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| i. |
| ii. |
| iii. |
| iiii. |
| v. |
| vi. |
| vii. |
| viii. |
| ix. |
| x. |
| xi. |
| xii. |
| xiii. |
| xiiii. |
 | The Actes of the Apostles |  |
[Consydrynge well, most godly Kyng]
Consydrynge
well, most godly Kyng
The zeale and perfecte loue:
Your grace doth beare, to eche good thyng
That geuen is from aboue.
The zeale and perfecte loue:
Your grace doth beare, to eche good thyng
That geuen is from aboue.
And that your grace, oft tymes doth looke
To learne of the last daye:
The whiche ye fynde, with in gods booke
That wyll not passe awaye.
To learne of the last daye:
The whiche ye fynde, with in gods booke
That wyll not passe awaye.
Whose boke is geuen, in these your dayes
Wherin ye do reioyce:
And eke prayse hym, in al his wayes
And that with thankeful voyce.
Wherin ye do reioyce:
And eke prayse hym, in al his wayes
And that with thankeful voyce.
Which doth make glad, your subiectes all
And moueth them to learne:
Gods lyuelye worde, and how they shal
The truthe therby discearne.
And moueth them to learne:
Gods lyuelye worde, and how they shal
The truthe therby discearne.
Beholde O Kynge, of God electe
And ye shall right well se:
That as your highnes, is affect
So wyll your Subiectes be.
And ye shall right well se:
That as your highnes, is affect
So wyll your Subiectes be.
Youre grace may note, frō tyme to tyme
That some doth vnder take:
Upon the Psalmes, to wryte in ryme
The verse pleasaunt to make.
That some doth vnder take:
Upon the Psalmes, to wryte in ryme
The verse pleasaunt to make.
And some doth take, in hande to wryte
Out of the booke of Kynges:
Because they se, your grace delyte
Insuche like Godlye thynges.
Out of the booke of Kynges:
Because they se, your grace delyte
Insuche like Godlye thynges.
And last of all, I youre poore man
Whose doinges are full base:
Yet glad to do, the best I can
To geue vnto your grace
Whose doinges are full base:
Yet glad to do, the best I can
To geue vnto your grace
Haue thought it good, nowe to recyte
The storyes of the Actes:
Euen of the twelue, as Luke doth wryte
Of all their worthy factes.
The storyes of the Actes:
Euen of the twelue, as Luke doth wryte
Of all their worthy factes.
Unto the text, I do not ad
Nor nothynge take awaye
And though my style, be grosse and bad
The truth perceyue you maye.
Nor nothynge take awaye
And though my style, be grosse and bad
The truth perceyue you maye.
Your Maiestye, is not to teache
Thapostles wordes are playne:
With ynkhorne termes, they dyd not preache
But sought an easye vayne.
Thapostles wordes are playne:
With ynkhorne termes, they dyd not preache
But sought an easye vayne.
Playnely to speake, their maisters wyll
The people to enstruct:
That they their callynge, myght fulfyll
In truth them to conduct.
The people to enstruct:
That they their callynge, myght fulfyll
In truth them to conduct.
Prayinge your grace, not to thynke now
That I do condescende:
The pleasaunt style, to disalow
But do it much commende.
That I do condescende:
The pleasaunt style, to disalow
But do it much commende.
But he that shal, of scripture treat
Yf he wyll please God well:
Of force he must, such termes forgeat
The truth playnely to tell.
Yf he wyll please God well:
Of force he must, such termes forgeat
The truth playnely to tell.
My Ignoraunce, thus to excuse
I haue my mynde exprest:
I trust your grace, wyl not refuse
To make of it the best.
I haue my mynde exprest:
I trust your grace, wyl not refuse
To make of it the best.
And yf your grace, shall in good part
My symple worke so take:
My wyttes to this, I will conuart
All vayne thinges to forsake.
My symple worke so take:
My wyttes to this, I will conuart
All vayne thinges to forsake.
My callynge is, another waye
Your grace shall here in fynde:
By notes set forth, to synge or playe
To recreate the mynde.
Your grace shall here in fynde:
By notes set forth, to synge or playe
To recreate the mynde.
And thoughe they be, not curious
But for the letter mete:
Ye shall them fynde, harmonious
And eke pleasaunt and swete.
But for the letter mete:
Ye shall them fynde, harmonious
And eke pleasaunt and swete.
That such good thīges, your grace might moue
Your lute when ye assaye:
In stede of songes of wanton loue
These stories then to playe.
Your lute when ye assaye:
In stede of songes of wanton loue
These stories then to playe.
So shall your grace, please God ye Lorde
In walkynge in hys waye:
His lawes and statutes, to recorde
In your heart nyght and daye.
In walkynge in hys waye:
His lawes and statutes, to recorde
In your heart nyght and daye.
And eke your realme, shall floryshe styll
No good thynge shall decaye:
Your subiectes shal, with right good wyll
These wordes recorde and saye.
No good thynge shall decaye:
Your subiectes shal, with right good wyll
These wordes recorde and saye.
Thy lyfe O Kynge, to vs doth shyne
As Gods boke doth thee teache:
Thou dost vs fede, with suche doctrine
As Christes elect dyd preache.
As Gods boke doth thee teache:
Thou dost vs fede, with suche doctrine
As Christes elect dyd preache.
The lyuyng God, graunt thee to raygne
In great honour and wealth:
Thy vertuous life, good Lord mayntayne
And sende thee prosperous health.
In great honour and wealth:
Thy vertuous life, good Lord mayntayne
And sende thee prosperous health.
Thy dere Systers, the sprite them leade
To loue the worde of God:
Whiche shall them stande, in better steade
Then doth their whole liuelod.
To loue the worde of God:
Whiche shall them stande, in better steade
Then doth their whole liuelod.
Thy whole counsayle, the Lorde preserue
And graunt to man and wyfe:
To craue of hym, not ones to swarue
From hys swete worde of lyfe.
And graunt to man and wyfe:
To craue of hym, not ones to swarue
From hys swete worde of lyfe.
Amen.
CHRIST dyd ascende, vp in to heauen
As ye shall after reade:
Mathias vvas, of the eleuen
Electe in Iudas steade.
As ye shall after reade:
Mathias vvas, of the eleuen
Electe in Iudas steade.
| The Actes of the Apostles | |