University of Virginia Library

The Prologue.

What good gift of God but may be misused?
Nay what good thing nowe but to euill is applyed
Howe is the Scripture with many abused
With mouth it is talked, but with liuing denyed.
What iewel it is the iust haue well tryed
For if that be a Iewell that comfortes in care
Than this is a iewell of other most rare.
It is the consolacion of the repentant sinner
It is the chiefe comfort of Christes persecuted
The faithfull and wronged person haue therein pleasure
The penitent which are with pouertie oppressed
Thereby are made richer then the couetous and wicked
For it is our Euidence of all our ioye and saluation
Whereby we are certified that Christe hath payd our raunsome.
Thereby many godly sciences needefull be studied
Whereof the bodie hath onely the fruition
As the Physicall arte whereby the sicke are cured.
Musicke through whose harmonie the minde hath consolation.
Cosmographi which describes the countrie, citie and Nacion.
Geometri, through whose subtill arte and measuring
At this day there is much costly and sumptuouse building.
The pleasant science of Astrologie whereby Gods wonderfull workes
Are rather to be marked then mused on, or meruayled:
Which arte is not hidde from the Sarisons, Paganes and Turkes
Whereby such starres and heauens they may knowe were not created
But by a mightie God, whose name for euer be honoured.
And the moouing of the Planetes to be learned very strange
With the swifte course of the Moone who monethly keepes her change.
Yet all other sciences with these before delated
Shall vanishe as the smoke, and be nothing at length
Yet heauenlie Theologie, Gods worde before declared
Hath bene, is nowe, and euer of such force and strength
That though heauen and earth perishe, as Christes woordes meaneth
Yet his worde shall abyde and remayne for euer:
The following whereof God graunt we endeuer.
Notwithstanding Epicures and belly goddes so swarme
Farced, and flowing with all kinde of euill
That they feare not to doe any kinde of harme
So much they fauour their father the deuill
The Scripture is taken with them as no Iewell
Their mindes are so much on their riches and goods
That the learned they esteeme lesse then fooles that weare hoods.
But if the learned be riche, then be they esteemed:
Not for their learning but for their goodes sake.
Such power haue riches and money obteyned
That the riche are helde vppe, the poore fooles in the lake:
God giue them grace not so much on goodes to make:
Diues me thinkes might be to them a warning,
For pleasure therein, lyeth nowe in hell burning.
What mettayle is this money that makes men so mad?
What mischiefe is it thereby is not wrought?
What earthly thing is not therefore to be had?
What hath bene so loued but money hath bought?
What vertue or goodnes of vs so much sought,
Who doth not wishe for money, and that euery day:
I would I had thus much money eache one doth say.
Howe many for money haue bene robbed and murthered?
Howe many false witnes and for money periured?
Howe many wyues from their husbands haue bene enticed?
Howe many maydens to folly for money allured?
Howe many for money haue spirites and deuilles coniured?
Howe many friends for money haue bene mortall foes?
Mo mischieues for money then I can disclose.
Howe many Kings and Princes for money haue bene poysoned,
Howe many betrayers of their countrey for money euery day,
Howe many with money from true iudgement are led:
Did not the prophete Balam curse gods people for money?
Did not Iudas for money his master Christ betraye?
Whereof he had no ioye, when he the same had done,
But like a damned wretch honge him selfe full soone.
One asked Diogenes why golde did looke so wan:
No marueill said he it is though he so pale doe looke,
For euery one layes wayte to catche him if they can.
Fewe will take the paynes to catche holde on gods booke:
Money ill vsed is the diuels snare and hooke,
Whereby many are brought to endles damnation:
But the godly doe bestowe it to their saluation.
Fyer is the good gift and creature of God,
Whereby we may do good and also wickedly,
We may warme the poore therewith as charitie hath vs bode,
And also seeth the meate wherewith to feede the hungrie:
We may keepe houses therewith, as many haue done truely:
And we may cut our necessaries and meate with our knyfe
Wherewith many haue cut their owne throtes & bereued thē of their life.
Thus the creature of God is not euill of him selfe,
But through our misuse from good to euill conuerted:
Euen so money ill vsed is a most wicked pelfe.
And also as good where well it is, bestowed.
Let all people take heede lest it of them be hoarded:
For at the last day against them it will witnes,
And then that they had not done it, to late for to wishe.
And because that euery man of money is so greedie
Our Authour a pleasant Tragedie with paynes hath now made,
Whereby you may peceyue, All thing is for money:
For Omnia pecunia effici possunt, as in Tullies sentence is said.
In hearing vs attentiuely we craue but your ayde,
Beseeching God, the hearers that thereby shalbe touched,
May rather amend their faultes, then therewith be grieued.