wyll not one jote, lorde, from thy wyll dyssent,
thy pleasure alwayes obedyent,
Thy lawes fullfyll, and most precyouse precyouse commaunde ment.
thy pleasure alwayes obedyent,
Thy lawes fullfyll, and most precyouse precyouse commaunde ment.
Dodsley - Select Collection of Old Plays - v1
Johnson and
Mr. Steevens's Notes the two latter passages, Wert thou my bosom-love, thou dyst the death;
Best ease for madness the loss breath.
Machin's Dumb Knight,
A. 2.
1. S. 1.
is
of
of to
sic
on 2. S.
in
of
4.
.
No
I
of 0 us
he
to
in no
he
or to
to
to A.
an
to
a
he in I to
16 God's PROMISEs.
[Act
My children with mennis That their vayne workynge
carnallye consent,
Mankynde but fleshe
All vyce encreaseth hym contynuallye,
Nothynge regardeth walk unto my glorye. My hart abhorreth hys wylfull myserye,
Hys cankred malyce, hys cursed covetousenesse, Hys lustes lecherouse, hys vengeable tyrannye, Unmercyfull mourther, and other ungodlynesse.
will destroye hym for hys outragyousnesse.
And not hym onlye, but that earthe stere”, For repenteth me that ever made them here.
Justus Noah. Most gentyll maker, with hys frayle leness sumwhat beare,
Man thy creature, thyselfe cannot saye naye. Though thu punysh hym, put hym sumwhat feare, Hys faulte knowledge, yet seke not hys decaye.
Thu mayest reclayme hym, though goeth now astraye,
And brynge hym agayne, thy abundaunt grace,
unto memoche grevaunce: hys whole dallyaunce.
faythe, acknowlegynge hystrespace.
To the fold
Pater calestis. Thu knowest have geven him
convenyent space,
With lawful warnynges, yet amendeth place.
The naturall lawe, which wrote hys harte,
He hath outraced, goodnesse puttynge parte:
Of helthe the covenaunt, whych Adam made, He regardeth not, but walketh damnable trade.
Justus Noah. All thys true, lorde, cannot thy words reprove,
Lete hys weaknesse yet thy mercyfull goodnesse move.
Pater calestis. No weaknesse but wylfull work ynge all,
That reigneth man through mynde dyabolycall.
He shall have therfor lyke hath deserved. Justus Noah. Lose hym not yet, lorde, though
hath depelye swerved.
knowe thy mercye farre above hys rudenesse,
Stir. Glossary Mandeville's Voyages, 1785.
I *
is
I it
to
is
all
I he
in
he
II,
he
he
is aIin I
I
on
in
it, to
Ia he in
do
no
to
in
of
to
he
is
to in
as is of to all isso
Act II. ]
17
Esteme not hys faulte farder than helpe may be, Butgraunt hym thy grace, offendeth depelye, The remembre, and abhorre hys myserye.
goodnesse, lorde, remembre thy great mercye
Adam and Eve, breakynge thy first commaunde ment.
Them thu relevedest with thy swete promyse heavenlye, Synnefull though they were, and their lyves neglygent.
knowe that mercye with the permanent,
And will ever, longe the worlde endure:
Than close not thy hande from man, whych thy crea tute,
Beynge thy subject, undreneth thy cure, Correct hym thu mayest, and brynge hym grace. All lyeth thy handes, leave allure,
Bytter deathe geve, graunte most suffren solace.
Utterlye from man averte not then thy face, Butlete hym saver thy swete benyvolence,
GoD's PROMISEs.
Beyenge infynyte, as other thynges are the. Hys folye therfor now pardone thy goodnesse, And measure not beyonde thy godlye pytie.
Sumwhat, though fele thy hande for hys offence.
Pater calestis. My true servaunt Noah, thy ryght ousnesse doth move me
Sumwhat reserve for mannys posteryte.
Though drowne the worlde, yet wyll save the lyves
the and thy wyfe, thy three sonnes and their wyves,
And yeh kynde two,
Justus Noah. Blessed mercyfull maker,
With the dyspute,
maynteyne yow herafter. thy name, most myghtye
were unconvenyent.
Pater calestis. Whye doest thusaye so? bolde speke thy intent.
Justus Noah. Shall the other dye without any re
medye
-
Pater calestis. wyll drowne them all, for their wyl full wycked folye,
That man herafter therby maye knowe my powre, And feare offende my goodnesse daye and houre,
WOL. ix,
G
be isso to
in
to
2
to he
it
I
so he
to
it
be to
or to
as
all as
Of
I
To
of
to to in be
Ofto all
I
I
or to
so
is
he
of
is
18
GoD's PROM1sEs.
[Act
Justus Noah. be,
thy pleasure myght alwayes
For my helthe thu art, and sowle's felycyte,
Pater calestis. After that thys floude have had hys ragynge passage,
Thys shall the my covenaunt everlastynge. The sees and waters farre never more shall rage,
wyll
also, seale
For savegarde man, my raynebowe shall apere.
Take thu thys covenaunt for ernest confirmacyon Of my former promyse Adam's generacyon.
Justus Noah. wyll, blessed lorde, with my whole hart and mynde.
Pater carlestis. Farewele than, just Noah, here leave the behynde.
Justus Noah. Most myghtye maker, ere from hens depart,
must geve the prayse from the bottom my hart. Whom may we thanke, lorde, for our helthe and
salvacyon
But thy great mercye and goodnesse undeserved? Thy promyse faythe, our justysycacyon,
As was Adam's, whan hys hart therin rested, And was theirs, whych therein also trusted. Thys faythe was grounded Adam's memorye,
And clerelye declared Abel's innocencye.
Faythe that promyse, olde Adam ded justyfye,
that promyse faythe, made Eva prophecye. Faythe that promyse, proved Abel innocent,
that promyse faythe, made Seth full obedyent. That faythe taught Enos, God's name first call, And made Mathusalah the oldest man of all.
That fayth brought Enoch hygh exercyse,
That God toke hym with hym into paradyse.
Of that faythe the want, made Cain hate the good, And hys ofsprynge peryshe the flood.
As fleshe drowne, nge
tempre their work
Thys wyll o:
thynge. token clere,
adde the cloudes above,
confirme the
all
as it
I in
toup in
is
to
asso aI
in
to
to
or
to so
on
in
to
it
II.
In In in
I
In
in
; to be to
it
all
of
I
I
of
I
As
to an
so
is, so
Act III. ]
GoD's PROMISEs. 19
Faythe in that promyse, preserved both me and myne.
So wyll it them whych folowe the same lyne.
Not onlyethys gyfte thu hast geven me, swete lorde,
But with also thyne everlastynge covenaunt, trust for ever, thy raynebowe bearynge recorde,
Nevermore drowne the worlde floude inconstaunt, Makynge the waters more peaceable and plesaunt,
Alac can not the geve prayse condygne,
Yet wyll synge here with harte meke and benygne. Magna tunccoce Antiphonam incipit, oriens splendor, &c. genua cadens; quam chorus prosequetur Cuno
organis supra.
-
Vel Anglice sub eodem tono.
most orient clerenesse, and lyght shynynge the
sempiternall bryghtnessel clere sunne justyce and heavenlye ryghtousnessel come hyther and illu myne the prisoner, syttynge now the darke prison and shaddowe of eternall deathe.
Finit Actus secundus.
INCIPIT ACTUS TERTIUS.
Pater calestis. Myne hygh displeasure must nedes re
man,
Consyderynge the synne that doth daye daye;
For neyther kyndenesse, nor extreme handelynge can, Make hym knowe me any faythfull waye,
Through soch abuses hath exercysed,
From the tyme Noah, this same season hyder.
An uncomelye acte without shame Cham commysed,
When hys father the secrete partes reveled. lyke case Nemrod against me wrought abusyon,
But styll
turne
myschefe walketh hys decaye. not sone hys wyckednesse consydre, lyke, doubtlesse, perysh togydre.
He
my syght, more venym than the spyder,
raysed the castell
Ninus hath also, and Through ymage makynge,
Me dyshonoure. And now
confusyon.
the devyl's illusyon,
raysed idolatrye, the conclusyon
to
in
he all to
all up byof
as to he to he
As In he
If Inis he
O I in I
Of
up
to to by
to all
he of
do
of
is
to
he
in ut it
by
of of
in
by O
O
20 God's PROM is Es.
[ACT III
The vyle Sodomytes lyve so unnaturallye,
That their synne vengeaunce axeth contynuallye,
For my covenaunte's sake, I wyll not drowne with water,
Yet shall Ivysyte their synnes with other matter. Abraham fidelis. Yet, mercyfull lorde, thy gracyous
nesse remembre
To Adam and Noah, both in thy worde and promes:
And lose not the sowles of men in so great nombre, But save thyne owne worke, of thy most dyscrete
goodness.
I wote thy mercyes are plentyfull and endles.
Never can they dye, nor fayle, thyself endurynge, Thys hath faythe fixed fast in my understandynge.
Pater calestis. Abraham my servaunt, for thy most faythfull meanynge,
Both thu and thy stocke shall have my plentouse
blessynge.
Where the unfaythfull, undre my curse evermore,
-
For their vayne workynge, shall rewe their wyckednesse SOre.
Abraham fidelis. Tell me, blessed lorde, where wyll
Pater calestis. No trulye Abraham, thu chauncest upon the ryght.
The thynge shall do, wyll not hyde from the Whom have blessyd for thy true fydelyte:
For knowe thou wilt cause both thy chyldren and servauntes,
my wayes walke, and trust unto my covenauntes, That may perfourme with the my earnest promes.
Abraham fidelis. All that wyll do, assystence thy goodnes.
Pater calestis. From Sodom and Gomor, the abho mynacyons call
For my great vengeaunce, whych wyll upon them fall. Wylde fyre and brymstone shall lyght upon them
Abraham fidelis. Pytiefull maker, though they have kyndled thy furye,
thy great malyce lyght.
- My hope fleshe shall not perysh thy syght.
all.
of
I
by *
in -
I
In
I
I
is,
I to
all I
Act III. ]
GoD's PROM is Es.
21
Cast not awaye yet the just sort with the ungodlye. Paraventure there maye be fiftye ryghteouse persones
Within those cyties, wylt thu lose them ones, And not spare the place, for those systye ryghteouse
sake?
farre from the sochrygoure undertake. hope there not the cruell hardenesse,
cast awaye the just men with the rechelesse, And destroye the good with the ungodlye.
the judge all, never soch furye.
Pater calestis. sones fiftye,
Sodom, may synde just per
The place wyll spare for their sakes verelye.
Abraham fidelis. take upon me, speake here thy presence,
More then become me, lorde pardon my neglygence: am but ashes, and were lothe the offende.
Pater calestis. Saye fourth, good Abraham, for dost thu mon intende.
Abraham fidelis. Happlye there maye fyve lesse the same nombre;
For their sakes trust thu wylt not the rest accombre”.
Pater carlestis.
fyve and fortye,
amonge them myght fynde but
Them wolde not lose for that just companye.
Abraham fidelis. What the cytie maye fortye rygh teouse make
Chaucer, his Canterbury Tales, 1. 509, describing the Parson, says,
“He sette not his benefice
“And lette his shepe accombred the mire, &c. ”
Dr. Morrell spells the word accumbrit, and explains this manner: “Accumbrit may interpreted wallow, down, gu
“accumbere. But Chaucer sometimes uses another sense.
“That they were acombrit their own distreyt. Merchants' 2d Tale, 29. 10.
they were encumbred, brought into great Streights. vet. “Gall. Combre or Comble.
“Thro' Wine and Women ther was Loth accombred. ” Pierce Plowman's Visions.
None these explanations exactly agree with the text. Bishop Bale certainly means, agreably the passage the Bible which
alludes, destroy
overwhelm.
hire,
he
. “ IIn i. y *
AsI Be soto it
of to
to
or
I
7 I be
to
be in
if
in
to
to lie it
e.
o in
I
I of is If IAt
A in
itto
to in
a to
to
be
all at
in
yll
in
to
if I
so
in
22
GoD's PRomises.
[Act III.
Pater calestis. Then wyll I pardone it for those same fortye's sake.
Abraham fidelis. Be not angrye, lorde, though I speake undyscretelye.
Pater calestis. Utter thy whole mynde, and spare me not hardelye.
Abraham fidelis. Perauventure there maye be thirty founde amonge them.
Pater calestis. Maye I fynde thirty, I wyll nothynge do unto them.
Abraham fidelis. I take upon me to moche, lorde, in thy syght.
Pater calestis. No, no, good Abraham, for I knowe thy saythe is right.
Abraham fidelis. No lesse, I suppose, than twenty can it have.
Pater calestis. Coulde I fynde twenty, that cytie wolde I save.
Abraham fidelis. Ones yet wyll I speake my mynde, and than no more.
Pater calestis. Spare not to utter so moche as thu hast in store.
Abraham fidelis. And what if there myght be ten good creatures founde?
Pater calestis. The rest for their sakes myght so be safe and sounde,
And not destroyed for their abhomynacyon.
Abraham fidelis. O mercyfull maker, moche is thy tolleracyon
And sufferaunce of synne. I se it now in dede, Witsave yet of faver out of those cyties to leade Those that be faythfull, though their flocke be bu
small.
.
Pater calestis. Loth and hys howsholde, I wyll de lyver all,
For ryghteousnesse sake, whych is of me and not them.
Abraham fidelis, Great are thy graces in the gene -
racyon of Sem.
Abraham, well, thy Pater calestis. Well - for
faythfulnes,
true
Act III. ]
GoD's PROMISEs. 23
Now wyll I geve the my covenaunt, or third promes. Loke thu beleve thu covetyst ryghtuousnesse.
Abraham fidelis. Lorde with gladnesse.
regarde me, recey've
Pater calestis. Of manye peoples the father make the,
All generacyons thy sede shall blessyd.
the starres heaven, shall thy kyndred be;
wyll
And the same sede the worlde shall redressed. cyrcumcysyon shall thys thynge expressed,
sure seale, prove my promyse true,
Prynt thys thy faythe, and shall thy sowle renue.
Abraham fidelis.
wyll not one jote, lorde, from thy wyll dyssent,
thy pleasure alwayes obedyent,
Thy lawes fullfyll, and most precyouse commaunde ment.
Pater calestis. Farwele Abraham, for heare place leave the.
Abraham fidelis. Thankes wyll rendre, lyke shall behove me.
Everlastynge prayse thy most gloryouse name, Whych savedyst Adam through faythe thy sweet
promes
the womannys sede, and now confyrmest the same
the sede me. Fosoth great thy goodnes can not perceyve, but that thy mercye endles,
But
soch feare the, every generacyon,
For endureth without abrevyacyon.
Thys have prynted depe consyderacyon,
worldly matter can race out mynde. For ones wyll the synall restauracyon
Adam and Eve, with other that hath synde; Yea, the sure helthe and rayse mankynde. Helpe have the faythfull therof, though they They condempnacyon where reject.
Mercyfull maker, my crabbed voyce dyrect, That maye breake out some swete prayse
infect, the
And suffre me not thy due lawdes neglect, Butlete me shews forth thy commendacyons fre.
-
it
Of No it
it
ToIInOf as
to to
AsIn As in
a by
in
in it
to
as
it of
it
be
I
it,
toisallofis I is in
be
be
be ;
to
in
I
I of
it
I
in beto as
as it
in
of
in
be
as I
so
so
24 God's promises.
[ACT v1.
Stoppe not my wynde pypes, but geve them lyberte, To sounde to thy name, whych is most gracy. ouse, And in it rejoyce with hart melodyouse.
Tunc alta voce canit Antiphonam, O rex gentium, choro eandem prosequente cum organis, ut prius:
Vel Anglice hoc modo.
O most myghtye governour of thy people, and in hart
most desyred, the harde rocke and true corner stone, that of two maketh one, unynge the Jews with the Gentyles in one churche, come now and releve man kynde whom thu hast fourmed of the vyle earthe.
Finit Actus tertius.
INCIPIT ACTUs QUARTUs.
Pater calestis. Styll so increaseth the wyckednesse of man.
That I am moved with plages hym to confounde. Hys weakenesse to ayde, I do the best I can,
Yet he regardeth me no more than doth an hounde. My worde and promyse, in hys faythe taketh no grounde,
He wyll so longe walke in hys owne lustes at large, That nought he shall fynde hys folye to dyscharge.
Sens Abraham's tyme, whych was my true elect, Ismael have I founde both wycked, fearce, and cruell,
And Esau in mynde with hatefull murther infect. The sonnes of Jacob to lustes unnatural fell,
And into Egypte ded they their brother sell. Laban to ydolles gave faythfull reverence, Dina was corrupt through Sichem's vyolence.
Ruben abused hys father's concubyne,
Judas gate chyldren of his own doughter in lawe : Yea, her in my syght went after a wycked lyne.
Hys sede Onan spylte, his brother's name to withdrawe. Achan lyved here without godlye awe.
And now the chyldren Israel abuse my powre,
vyle maner, that they move me everye howre. Moses sanctus. Pacyfye thy wrathe, swete lorde,
the desyre,
As thu art gentyll, benygne and pacyent
Lose not that people fearcenesse thine yre,
in
of
of
*
:
so
I
In
all
Act Ivl.
GoD's PROM1s Es. 25 *"-
For whom thu hast shewed soche tokens evydent, Convertynge thys rodde into a lyvelye serpent,
And the same serpent into thys rodde agayne, Thy wonderfull power declarynge very playne.
For their sakes also puttest Pharao to payne.
By ten dyverse plages, as I shall here declare.
By bloude, frogges, and lyce, by flyes, death, botche,
and blayne.
By hayle, by grassoppers, by darknesse, and by care: By a soden plage, their first-gotten ware
Thu slewest one nyght, for hys fearce cruelnesse. From that thy people, witholde not now thy goodnesse.
Pater calestis. certyfye the, my chosen servaunt Moses,
That people myne full unthankefulnes.
Moses sanctus. Dere lorde, knowe alas, yet waye their weakenesse,
And beare with their faultes, neSSe.
flamynge bushe, havynge
thy great bounteous -
them respect,
Thu appoyntedst me their passage direct:
And through the reade see thy ryght hande ded lede
Where Pharoe's hoost the floude overwhelmed dede.
Thu wentest before them shynynge cloude daye,
toile
And
Thu sentest them manna from heaven, be their food.
Out the harde stone thu gavest them water good. Thu appoyntedest them lande mylke and honye. Let them not perysh for want thy great mercye.
Pater calestis. Content they are not with foule nor yet with fayre,
But murmour and grudge, people dyspayre. As sent manna, they had dysdayne,
Thus their welfare they manye tymes complayne.
Over Amalech gave them the vyctorye.
Moses sanctus. Most gloryouse maker, that
thy glorye.
Thu sentest them also lawe from heaven above,
And daylye shewedest them manye tokens great love.
nyght, fyre thushewedest theirwaye.
of
a
in
of in to
.
to
inus all
I
of
in
of
in
in all
to
to
it,
is
I
of
In
it as in
a of
I of of
a
- a
is
I
all
26 GoD's PROMISEs.
[Act Iv.
The brazen serpent thu gavest them for their healynge, And Balaam's curse thu turnedest into a blessynge.
I hope thu wilt not dysdayne to help them styll.
Pater calestis. I gave them preceptes, which they will not fulfyll.
Nor yet knowledge me for their God and good lorde,
So do their vyle dedes with their wycked hartes ac corde
Whyls thu hast talked with me famylyarlye
In Synai's mountayne, the space but of dayes fortye, Those sightes all, they have forgotten clerely,
And are turned to shamefull ydolatrye.
For their God, they have sett up a golden calfe. .
Moses sanctus. Let me saye sumwhat, swete Father, in their behalfe. w
Pater calestis. I wyll first conclude, and then saye on thy mynde.
For that I have founde that people so unkynde, Not one of them shall enjoye the promyse of me, For enterynge the lande, but Caleb and Josue.
Moses sanctus. Thy eternall wyll evermore fulfylled be.
For dysobeydence thu slewest the sonnes of Aaron, The earthe swellowed in both Dathan and Abiron. The adders ded stynge other wycked persones els,
In wonderfull nombre. Thus hast thu ponnyshed re bels.
Pater calestis. Never wyll I spare the cursed iny quyte
Of ydolatrye, for no cause, thu mayst trust me.
Moses sanctus. Forgeve them yet Lorde for thys tyme, if it may be.
Pater calestis. Thynkest thu that I wyll so sone change my decre?
No, no, frynde Moses; so lyght thu shalt not fynde me,
I wyll ponnysh them Israel shall se.
Moses sanctus. wote, thy people hath wrought
abhomynacyon,
I
all
it
Act Iv. ]
GoD's PROMISEs. 27
Worshyppynge false goddes, to thy honour's deroga cyon,
Yet moise thu mayest upon them loke. And if thu wylt not, thrust me out of thy boke.
Pater calestis. Those great blasphemers shall out of my boke cleane,
But thu shalt not so, for I knowe what thu doest meane.
Conduct my people, myne angell shall assyst the,
That synne at a day wyll not uncorrected be. And for the true zele that thu to my people hast, I adde thys covenaunt unto my promyses past.
Rayse them up I wyll a prophete from amonge them.
Not onlyke to the, to speke my wordes unto them. Whoso heareth not that he shall speake in my name, I wyll revenge it to hys perpetual shame.
The passover lambe wyll be a token just,
Of thys stronge covenaunt. Thys have I clerely dys
custe,
In my appoyntement thys houre for your delyver aunce.
Moses sanctus. Never shall thys thynge depart from my remembraunce.
Laude be for ever to the most mercyfull lorde
Whych never withdrawest from man thy heavenlye comfort,
But from age to age thy benefytes doth recorde
What thy goodnesse we fynde thy grace,
most bounteouse,
Yea, for our synnes most rype and plenteouse.
Abraham our father founde the benyvolouse. ded good Isaac hys dystresse amonge.
Jacob thu wert gyde most gracy. ouse.
Joseph thu savedest from daungerouse deadlye wronge.
Melchisedech and Job felt thy great goodnesse stronge,
ded good Sara, Rebecca, and fayre Rachel, With Sephora my wyfe, the doughter Raguel.
And doubtlesse
and hath bene hys sort. ought we report.
of
to
to
So ToSo
As
all
a in
is,
it is
to us so
28 GoD's PROM is Es.
[ACT v.
To prayse the, swete lorde, my faythe doth me compell,
For thy covenauntes sake, wherin rest our salvacyon, The sede of promyse, other sedes excell,
For therin remayneth our full justyfycacyon.
From Adam and Noah, Abraham's generacyon, That sede procureth God's myghty grace and powre,
For the same sede's sake, wyll synge now thys howrs. Clara tunc voce Antiphonam incipit, Emanuel, quam chorus (ut prius) prosequetur cum organis.
Wel Anglice canat
hygh kynge Emanuel, and our lege lorde the
longe expectacyon Gentyles, and the myghtye saver
their multytude, the healthe and consolacyon
synners, come now for save us, our Lorde and our Redeemer.
Finit Actus quartus.
INCIPIT ACTUS QUINTUS.
Pater calestis. For all the faver have shewed Israel,
Delyverynge her from Pharaoe's tyrannye,
And gevynge the land, fluentem lac mel,
Yet wyll she not leave her oldeydolatrye,
Nor know me for God. abhorre her myserye. Vexed her have with battayles and decayes, Styll must plage her, other wayes.
Tavid rer pius. Remembre yet, lorde, thy worthye servaunt Moses,
Walkynge thy syght, without rebuke the. Both Aaron, Jetro, Eleazar, and Phinees,
Evermore feared offende thy"mageste,
Moch thu acceptedest thy servant Josue.
Caleb and Othoniel sought the with their hart, Aioth and Sangar for thy folke ded their part.
Gedeon and Thola thy enemyes put smart,
Jayr and Jephte gave prayses thy name. These, leave ydolles, thy people ded coart. Samson the strongest, for hys part ded the same. Samuel and Nathan thy messages ded proclame.
to
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ACT v. ]
GoD's PROMISEs. 29
What though fearce Pharao wrought myschef in thy syght:
He was a pagane, laye not that in our lyght.
I wote the Benjamytes abused the wayes of ryght,
So ded Helye's sonnes, and the sonnes of Samuel. Saul in hys offyce was slouthful daye and night, Wycked was Semei, so was Achitophel.
Measure not by them the faultes of Israel,
Whom thu hast loved of longe tyme so inteyrlye, But of thy great grace remyther wycked folye.
Pater calestis. I cannot abyde the vyce of ydolatrye, Though I shuld suffer other vyllanye.
Whan Josue was dead, that sort from me ded fall
the worshyppynge Asteroth and Baal, Full uncleaneydolles, and monsters bestyall.
David rer pius. For they have had thy righteouse
ponnyshment,
And for moch they did wyckedly consent the Palestynes and Chananytes ungodlye
-
Idolaters, takynge them matrymonye,
Thu threwest them undre the kynge Mesopotamye, After thu subduedest them for their idolatrye.
Eyghtene years Eglon, the kynge Moabytes, And XX years Jabin, the kynge Chananytes, Oppressed they were VII years the Mydyanytes,
And XVIII years vexed the cruell Ammonytes.
three great battayles, threescore thousand and fyve,
Of thys people, not one was left alyve.
Have mercye now, lorde, and call them repentaunce. Pater calestis. So longe they synne, longe
shall they have grevaunce.
David my servaunt, sumwhat must say the: For that thu latelye hast wrought soch vanyte.
David rer pius. Spare not, blessed lorde, but saye
thy pleasure
Pater callestis. Of late dayes thu hast mysused Bersabe,
The wyfe Urye, and slayne hym the fyelde.
me.
of
to
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of
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In To To as
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all
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to
to in
of
30 God's PRoMises.
[ACT v.
David rer pius. Mercye, lorde, mercye, for doubt lesse I am defyelde.
Pater calestis. I constytute the a kynge over Israel, And the preserved from Saul, whych was thy enemye. Yea, in my faver, so moch thu dedyest excell,
That of thy enemyes I gave the vyctorye.
Palestynes and Syryanes to the came trybutarye.
Why hast thu then wrought soch folye in my syght, Despysynge my worde, against godlye ryght?
David rer pius. have synned, lord, beseech the, pardon me.
Pater calestis. Thu shalt not dye, David, for thys inyguyte,
For thy repentaunce; but thy sonne Bersabe
Shall dye, for moch my name blasphemed Among my enemyes, and thu the worse estemed. From thy howse for thys the swerde shall not depart.
David rer pius. am sorye, lorde, from the bottom my hart.
Pater calestis. To further anger thu doest me yet compell.
David rer pius. For what matter, lorde? beseech thy goodnesse tell.
Pater calestis. Why dedest thu numbre the people of Israel
Supposest thy mind, therein thu hast done well?
David rew pius. cannot saye naye, but have done undyscretelye,
To forget thy grace, for humayne pollycye.
Pater calestis. Thu shalt these three- chose whych plage thu wilt have,
For that synnefull acte, that thy sowle maye save.
scarcenesse vii. years, else monthes exyle, Eyther for dayes the pestylence most vyle,
For one thu must have, there remedye.
David rer pius. Lorde, thy pleasure, for thu
mercye.
Pater calestis. Of pestylence, then score thou sand and ten,
full
a
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as I
I
iii.
is
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in
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Pater calestis.
GoD's PRom Is Es. 31
Act v. ]
In dayes shall dye thy most puysant men.
David rer pius. lorde, whych have offen thy grace,
Spare them and not me, for have done the trespace.
Though thy synnes great, thy inwarde harte's contrycyon
Doth move my stomake wonderfull condycion. fynde the man accordynge my hart.
Wherefor thys promyse make the, ere depart.
frute there shall come forth yssuynge from thy bodye,
Whom wyll advaunce upon thy seate for ever. Hystrone shall become seate heavenlye glorye, Hys worthy scepture from ryght wyll not dyssever, Hys happye kingedome, fayth shall perysh never.
heaven and earthe was autor pryncypall, And wyll contynue, though they do perysh all.
Thys sygne shalt thu have for token specyall,
That thu mayst beleve my wordes unfaynedlye, Where thu hast mynded, for my memoryall,
buylde temple, thu shalt not fynysh trulye. But Salomon thy sonne shall that accyon worthye,
token that Christ must fynysh every thynge That have begunne, my prayse everlastynge.
Mr. Steevens's Notes the two latter passages, Wert thou my bosom-love, thou dyst the death;
Best ease for madness the loss breath.
Machin's Dumb Knight,
A. 2.
1. S. 1.
is
of
of to
sic
on 2. S.
in
of
4.
.
No
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to
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16 God's PROMISEs.
[Act
My children with mennis That their vayne workynge
carnallye consent,
Mankynde but fleshe
All vyce encreaseth hym contynuallye,
Nothynge regardeth walk unto my glorye. My hart abhorreth hys wylfull myserye,
Hys cankred malyce, hys cursed covetousenesse, Hys lustes lecherouse, hys vengeable tyrannye, Unmercyfull mourther, and other ungodlynesse.
will destroye hym for hys outragyousnesse.
And not hym onlye, but that earthe stere”, For repenteth me that ever made them here.
Justus Noah. Most gentyll maker, with hys frayle leness sumwhat beare,
Man thy creature, thyselfe cannot saye naye. Though thu punysh hym, put hym sumwhat feare, Hys faulte knowledge, yet seke not hys decaye.
Thu mayest reclayme hym, though goeth now astraye,
And brynge hym agayne, thy abundaunt grace,
unto memoche grevaunce: hys whole dallyaunce.
faythe, acknowlegynge hystrespace.
To the fold
Pater calestis. Thu knowest have geven him
convenyent space,
With lawful warnynges, yet amendeth place.
The naturall lawe, which wrote hys harte,
He hath outraced, goodnesse puttynge parte:
Of helthe the covenaunt, whych Adam made, He regardeth not, but walketh damnable trade.
Justus Noah. All thys true, lorde, cannot thy words reprove,
Lete hys weaknesse yet thy mercyfull goodnesse move.
Pater calestis. No weaknesse but wylfull work ynge all,
That reigneth man through mynde dyabolycall.
He shall have therfor lyke hath deserved. Justus Noah. Lose hym not yet, lorde, though
hath depelye swerved.
knowe thy mercye farre above hys rudenesse,
Stir. Glossary Mandeville's Voyages, 1785.
I *
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in
he
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Act II. ]
17
Esteme not hys faulte farder than helpe may be, Butgraunt hym thy grace, offendeth depelye, The remembre, and abhorre hys myserye.
goodnesse, lorde, remembre thy great mercye
Adam and Eve, breakynge thy first commaunde ment.
Them thu relevedest with thy swete promyse heavenlye, Synnefull though they were, and their lyves neglygent.
knowe that mercye with the permanent,
And will ever, longe the worlde endure:
Than close not thy hande from man, whych thy crea tute,
Beynge thy subject, undreneth thy cure, Correct hym thu mayest, and brynge hym grace. All lyeth thy handes, leave allure,
Bytter deathe geve, graunte most suffren solace.
Utterlye from man averte not then thy face, Butlete hym saver thy swete benyvolence,
GoD's PROMISEs.
Beyenge infynyte, as other thynges are the. Hys folye therfor now pardone thy goodnesse, And measure not beyonde thy godlye pytie.
Sumwhat, though fele thy hande for hys offence.
Pater calestis. My true servaunt Noah, thy ryght ousnesse doth move me
Sumwhat reserve for mannys posteryte.
Though drowne the worlde, yet wyll save the lyves
the and thy wyfe, thy three sonnes and their wyves,
And yeh kynde two,
Justus Noah. Blessed mercyfull maker,
With the dyspute,
maynteyne yow herafter. thy name, most myghtye
were unconvenyent.
Pater calestis. Whye doest thusaye so? bolde speke thy intent.
Justus Noah. Shall the other dye without any re
medye
-
Pater calestis. wyll drowne them all, for their wyl full wycked folye,
That man herafter therby maye knowe my powre, And feare offende my goodnesse daye and houre,
WOL. ix,
G
be isso to
in
to
2
to he
it
I
so he
to
it
be to
or to
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all as
Of
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I
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so
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18
GoD's PROM1sEs.
[Act
Justus Noah. be,
thy pleasure myght alwayes
For my helthe thu art, and sowle's felycyte,
Pater calestis. After that thys floude have had hys ragynge passage,
Thys shall the my covenaunt everlastynge. The sees and waters farre never more shall rage,
wyll
also, seale
For savegarde man, my raynebowe shall apere.
Take thu thys covenaunt for ernest confirmacyon Of my former promyse Adam's generacyon.
Justus Noah. wyll, blessed lorde, with my whole hart and mynde.
Pater carlestis. Farewele than, just Noah, here leave the behynde.
Justus Noah. Most myghtye maker, ere from hens depart,
must geve the prayse from the bottom my hart. Whom may we thanke, lorde, for our helthe and
salvacyon
But thy great mercye and goodnesse undeserved? Thy promyse faythe, our justysycacyon,
As was Adam's, whan hys hart therin rested, And was theirs, whych therein also trusted. Thys faythe was grounded Adam's memorye,
And clerelye declared Abel's innocencye.
Faythe that promyse, olde Adam ded justyfye,
that promyse faythe, made Eva prophecye. Faythe that promyse, proved Abel innocent,
that promyse faythe, made Seth full obedyent. That faythe taught Enos, God's name first call, And made Mathusalah the oldest man of all.
That fayth brought Enoch hygh exercyse,
That God toke hym with hym into paradyse.
Of that faythe the want, made Cain hate the good, And hys ofsprynge peryshe the flood.
As fleshe drowne, nge
tempre their work
Thys wyll o:
thynge. token clere,
adde the cloudes above,
confirme the
all
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is, so
Act III. ]
GoD's PROMISEs. 19
Faythe in that promyse, preserved both me and myne.
So wyll it them whych folowe the same lyne.
Not onlyethys gyfte thu hast geven me, swete lorde,
But with also thyne everlastynge covenaunt, trust for ever, thy raynebowe bearynge recorde,
Nevermore drowne the worlde floude inconstaunt, Makynge the waters more peaceable and plesaunt,
Alac can not the geve prayse condygne,
Yet wyll synge here with harte meke and benygne. Magna tunccoce Antiphonam incipit, oriens splendor, &c. genua cadens; quam chorus prosequetur Cuno
organis supra.
-
Vel Anglice sub eodem tono.
most orient clerenesse, and lyght shynynge the
sempiternall bryghtnessel clere sunne justyce and heavenlye ryghtousnessel come hyther and illu myne the prisoner, syttynge now the darke prison and shaddowe of eternall deathe.
Finit Actus secundus.
INCIPIT ACTUS TERTIUS.
Pater calestis. Myne hygh displeasure must nedes re
man,
Consyderynge the synne that doth daye daye;
For neyther kyndenesse, nor extreme handelynge can, Make hym knowe me any faythfull waye,
Through soch abuses hath exercysed,
From the tyme Noah, this same season hyder.
An uncomelye acte without shame Cham commysed,
When hys father the secrete partes reveled. lyke case Nemrod against me wrought abusyon,
But styll
turne
myschefe walketh hys decaye. not sone hys wyckednesse consydre, lyke, doubtlesse, perysh togydre.
He
my syght, more venym than the spyder,
raysed the castell
Ninus hath also, and Through ymage makynge,
Me dyshonoure. And now
confusyon.
the devyl's illusyon,
raysed idolatrye, the conclusyon
to
in
he all to
all up byof
as to he to he
As In he
If Inis he
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to to by
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20 God's PROM is Es.
[ACT III
The vyle Sodomytes lyve so unnaturallye,
That their synne vengeaunce axeth contynuallye,
For my covenaunte's sake, I wyll not drowne with water,
Yet shall Ivysyte their synnes with other matter. Abraham fidelis. Yet, mercyfull lorde, thy gracyous
nesse remembre
To Adam and Noah, both in thy worde and promes:
And lose not the sowles of men in so great nombre, But save thyne owne worke, of thy most dyscrete
goodness.
I wote thy mercyes are plentyfull and endles.
Never can they dye, nor fayle, thyself endurynge, Thys hath faythe fixed fast in my understandynge.
Pater calestis. Abraham my servaunt, for thy most faythfull meanynge,
Both thu and thy stocke shall have my plentouse
blessynge.
Where the unfaythfull, undre my curse evermore,
-
For their vayne workynge, shall rewe their wyckednesse SOre.
Abraham fidelis. Tell me, blessed lorde, where wyll
Pater calestis. No trulye Abraham, thu chauncest upon the ryght.
The thynge shall do, wyll not hyde from the Whom have blessyd for thy true fydelyte:
For knowe thou wilt cause both thy chyldren and servauntes,
my wayes walke, and trust unto my covenauntes, That may perfourme with the my earnest promes.
Abraham fidelis. All that wyll do, assystence thy goodnes.
Pater calestis. From Sodom and Gomor, the abho mynacyons call
For my great vengeaunce, whych wyll upon them fall. Wylde fyre and brymstone shall lyght upon them
Abraham fidelis. Pytiefull maker, though they have kyndled thy furye,
thy great malyce lyght.
- My hope fleshe shall not perysh thy syght.
all.
of
I
by *
in -
I
In
I
I
is,
I to
all I
Act III. ]
GoD's PROM is Es.
21
Cast not awaye yet the just sort with the ungodlye. Paraventure there maye be fiftye ryghteouse persones
Within those cyties, wylt thu lose them ones, And not spare the place, for those systye ryghteouse
sake?
farre from the sochrygoure undertake. hope there not the cruell hardenesse,
cast awaye the just men with the rechelesse, And destroye the good with the ungodlye.
the judge all, never soch furye.
Pater calestis. sones fiftye,
Sodom, may synde just per
The place wyll spare for their sakes verelye.
Abraham fidelis. take upon me, speake here thy presence,
More then become me, lorde pardon my neglygence: am but ashes, and were lothe the offende.
Pater calestis. Saye fourth, good Abraham, for dost thu mon intende.
Abraham fidelis. Happlye there maye fyve lesse the same nombre;
For their sakes trust thu wylt not the rest accombre”.
Pater carlestis.
fyve and fortye,
amonge them myght fynde but
Them wolde not lose for that just companye.
Abraham fidelis. What the cytie maye fortye rygh teouse make
Chaucer, his Canterbury Tales, 1. 509, describing the Parson, says,
“He sette not his benefice
“And lette his shepe accombred the mire, &c. ”
Dr. Morrell spells the word accumbrit, and explains this manner: “Accumbrit may interpreted wallow, down, gu
“accumbere. But Chaucer sometimes uses another sense.
“That they were acombrit their own distreyt. Merchants' 2d Tale, 29. 10.
they were encumbred, brought into great Streights. vet. “Gall. Combre or Comble.
“Thro' Wine and Women ther was Loth accombred. ” Pierce Plowman's Visions.
None these explanations exactly agree with the text. Bishop Bale certainly means, agreably the passage the Bible which
alludes, destroy
overwhelm.
hire,
he
. “ IIn i. y *
AsI Be soto it
of to
to
or
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to
be in
if
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to
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so
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22
GoD's PRomises.
[Act III.
Pater calestis. Then wyll I pardone it for those same fortye's sake.
Abraham fidelis. Be not angrye, lorde, though I speake undyscretelye.
Pater calestis. Utter thy whole mynde, and spare me not hardelye.
Abraham fidelis. Perauventure there maye be thirty founde amonge them.
Pater calestis. Maye I fynde thirty, I wyll nothynge do unto them.
Abraham fidelis. I take upon me to moche, lorde, in thy syght.
Pater calestis. No, no, good Abraham, for I knowe thy saythe is right.
Abraham fidelis. No lesse, I suppose, than twenty can it have.
Pater calestis. Coulde I fynde twenty, that cytie wolde I save.
Abraham fidelis. Ones yet wyll I speake my mynde, and than no more.
Pater calestis. Spare not to utter so moche as thu hast in store.
Abraham fidelis. And what if there myght be ten good creatures founde?
Pater calestis. The rest for their sakes myght so be safe and sounde,
And not destroyed for their abhomynacyon.
Abraham fidelis. O mercyfull maker, moche is thy tolleracyon
And sufferaunce of synne. I se it now in dede, Witsave yet of faver out of those cyties to leade Those that be faythfull, though their flocke be bu
small.
.
Pater calestis. Loth and hys howsholde, I wyll de lyver all,
For ryghteousnesse sake, whych is of me and not them.
Abraham fidelis, Great are thy graces in the gene -
racyon of Sem.
Abraham, well, thy Pater calestis. Well - for
faythfulnes,
true
Act III. ]
GoD's PROMISEs. 23
Now wyll I geve the my covenaunt, or third promes. Loke thu beleve thu covetyst ryghtuousnesse.
Abraham fidelis. Lorde with gladnesse.
regarde me, recey've
Pater calestis. Of manye peoples the father make the,
All generacyons thy sede shall blessyd.
the starres heaven, shall thy kyndred be;
wyll
And the same sede the worlde shall redressed. cyrcumcysyon shall thys thynge expressed,
sure seale, prove my promyse true,
Prynt thys thy faythe, and shall thy sowle renue.
Abraham fidelis.
wyll not one jote, lorde, from thy wyll dyssent,
thy pleasure alwayes obedyent,
Thy lawes fullfyll, and most precyouse commaunde ment.
Pater calestis. Farwele Abraham, for heare place leave the.
Abraham fidelis. Thankes wyll rendre, lyke shall behove me.
Everlastynge prayse thy most gloryouse name, Whych savedyst Adam through faythe thy sweet
promes
the womannys sede, and now confyrmest the same
the sede me. Fosoth great thy goodnes can not perceyve, but that thy mercye endles,
But
soch feare the, every generacyon,
For endureth without abrevyacyon.
Thys have prynted depe consyderacyon,
worldly matter can race out mynde. For ones wyll the synall restauracyon
Adam and Eve, with other that hath synde; Yea, the sure helthe and rayse mankynde. Helpe have the faythfull therof, though they They condempnacyon where reject.
Mercyfull maker, my crabbed voyce dyrect, That maye breake out some swete prayse
infect, the
And suffre me not thy due lawdes neglect, Butlete me shews forth thy commendacyons fre.
-
it
Of No it
it
ToIInOf as
to to
AsIn As in
a by
in
in it
to
as
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be
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it,
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be
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be ;
to
in
I
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of
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be
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so
so
24 God's promises.
[ACT v1.
Stoppe not my wynde pypes, but geve them lyberte, To sounde to thy name, whych is most gracy. ouse, And in it rejoyce with hart melodyouse.
Tunc alta voce canit Antiphonam, O rex gentium, choro eandem prosequente cum organis, ut prius:
Vel Anglice hoc modo.
O most myghtye governour of thy people, and in hart
most desyred, the harde rocke and true corner stone, that of two maketh one, unynge the Jews with the Gentyles in one churche, come now and releve man kynde whom thu hast fourmed of the vyle earthe.
Finit Actus tertius.
INCIPIT ACTUs QUARTUs.
Pater calestis. Styll so increaseth the wyckednesse of man.
That I am moved with plages hym to confounde. Hys weakenesse to ayde, I do the best I can,
Yet he regardeth me no more than doth an hounde. My worde and promyse, in hys faythe taketh no grounde,
He wyll so longe walke in hys owne lustes at large, That nought he shall fynde hys folye to dyscharge.
Sens Abraham's tyme, whych was my true elect, Ismael have I founde both wycked, fearce, and cruell,
And Esau in mynde with hatefull murther infect. The sonnes of Jacob to lustes unnatural fell,
And into Egypte ded they their brother sell. Laban to ydolles gave faythfull reverence, Dina was corrupt through Sichem's vyolence.
Ruben abused hys father's concubyne,
Judas gate chyldren of his own doughter in lawe : Yea, her in my syght went after a wycked lyne.
Hys sede Onan spylte, his brother's name to withdrawe. Achan lyved here without godlye awe.
And now the chyldren Israel abuse my powre,
vyle maner, that they move me everye howre. Moses sanctus. Pacyfye thy wrathe, swete lorde,
the desyre,
As thu art gentyll, benygne and pacyent
Lose not that people fearcenesse thine yre,
in
of
of
*
:
so
I
In
all
Act Ivl.
GoD's PROM1s Es. 25 *"-
For whom thu hast shewed soche tokens evydent, Convertynge thys rodde into a lyvelye serpent,
And the same serpent into thys rodde agayne, Thy wonderfull power declarynge very playne.
For their sakes also puttest Pharao to payne.
By ten dyverse plages, as I shall here declare.
By bloude, frogges, and lyce, by flyes, death, botche,
and blayne.
By hayle, by grassoppers, by darknesse, and by care: By a soden plage, their first-gotten ware
Thu slewest one nyght, for hys fearce cruelnesse. From that thy people, witholde not now thy goodnesse.
Pater calestis. certyfye the, my chosen servaunt Moses,
That people myne full unthankefulnes.
Moses sanctus. Dere lorde, knowe alas, yet waye their weakenesse,
And beare with their faultes, neSSe.
flamynge bushe, havynge
thy great bounteous -
them respect,
Thu appoyntedst me their passage direct:
And through the reade see thy ryght hande ded lede
Where Pharoe's hoost the floude overwhelmed dede.
Thu wentest before them shynynge cloude daye,
toile
And
Thu sentest them manna from heaven, be their food.
Out the harde stone thu gavest them water good. Thu appoyntedest them lande mylke and honye. Let them not perysh for want thy great mercye.
Pater calestis. Content they are not with foule nor yet with fayre,
But murmour and grudge, people dyspayre. As sent manna, they had dysdayne,
Thus their welfare they manye tymes complayne.
Over Amalech gave them the vyctorye.
Moses sanctus. Most gloryouse maker, that
thy glorye.
Thu sentest them also lawe from heaven above,
And daylye shewedest them manye tokens great love.
nyght, fyre thushewedest theirwaye.
of
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26 GoD's PROMISEs.
[Act Iv.
The brazen serpent thu gavest them for their healynge, And Balaam's curse thu turnedest into a blessynge.
I hope thu wilt not dysdayne to help them styll.
Pater calestis. I gave them preceptes, which they will not fulfyll.
Nor yet knowledge me for their God and good lorde,
So do their vyle dedes with their wycked hartes ac corde
Whyls thu hast talked with me famylyarlye
In Synai's mountayne, the space but of dayes fortye, Those sightes all, they have forgotten clerely,
And are turned to shamefull ydolatrye.
For their God, they have sett up a golden calfe. .
Moses sanctus. Let me saye sumwhat, swete Father, in their behalfe. w
Pater calestis. I wyll first conclude, and then saye on thy mynde.
For that I have founde that people so unkynde, Not one of them shall enjoye the promyse of me, For enterynge the lande, but Caleb and Josue.
Moses sanctus. Thy eternall wyll evermore fulfylled be.
For dysobeydence thu slewest the sonnes of Aaron, The earthe swellowed in both Dathan and Abiron. The adders ded stynge other wycked persones els,
In wonderfull nombre. Thus hast thu ponnyshed re bels.
Pater calestis. Never wyll I spare the cursed iny quyte
Of ydolatrye, for no cause, thu mayst trust me.
Moses sanctus. Forgeve them yet Lorde for thys tyme, if it may be.
Pater calestis. Thynkest thu that I wyll so sone change my decre?
No, no, frynde Moses; so lyght thu shalt not fynde me,
I wyll ponnysh them Israel shall se.
Moses sanctus. wote, thy people hath wrought
abhomynacyon,
I
all
it
Act Iv. ]
GoD's PROMISEs. 27
Worshyppynge false goddes, to thy honour's deroga cyon,
Yet moise thu mayest upon them loke. And if thu wylt not, thrust me out of thy boke.
Pater calestis. Those great blasphemers shall out of my boke cleane,
But thu shalt not so, for I knowe what thu doest meane.
Conduct my people, myne angell shall assyst the,
That synne at a day wyll not uncorrected be. And for the true zele that thu to my people hast, I adde thys covenaunt unto my promyses past.
Rayse them up I wyll a prophete from amonge them.
Not onlyke to the, to speke my wordes unto them. Whoso heareth not that he shall speake in my name, I wyll revenge it to hys perpetual shame.
The passover lambe wyll be a token just,
Of thys stronge covenaunt. Thys have I clerely dys
custe,
In my appoyntement thys houre for your delyver aunce.
Moses sanctus. Never shall thys thynge depart from my remembraunce.
Laude be for ever to the most mercyfull lorde
Whych never withdrawest from man thy heavenlye comfort,
But from age to age thy benefytes doth recorde
What thy goodnesse we fynde thy grace,
most bounteouse,
Yea, for our synnes most rype and plenteouse.
Abraham our father founde the benyvolouse. ded good Isaac hys dystresse amonge.
Jacob thu wert gyde most gracy. ouse.
Joseph thu savedest from daungerouse deadlye wronge.
Melchisedech and Job felt thy great goodnesse stronge,
ded good Sara, Rebecca, and fayre Rachel, With Sephora my wyfe, the doughter Raguel.
And doubtlesse
and hath bene hys sort. ought we report.
of
to
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As
all
a in
is,
it is
to us so
28 GoD's PROM is Es.
[ACT v.
To prayse the, swete lorde, my faythe doth me compell,
For thy covenauntes sake, wherin rest our salvacyon, The sede of promyse, other sedes excell,
For therin remayneth our full justyfycacyon.
From Adam and Noah, Abraham's generacyon, That sede procureth God's myghty grace and powre,
For the same sede's sake, wyll synge now thys howrs. Clara tunc voce Antiphonam incipit, Emanuel, quam chorus (ut prius) prosequetur cum organis.
Wel Anglice canat
hygh kynge Emanuel, and our lege lorde the
longe expectacyon Gentyles, and the myghtye saver
their multytude, the healthe and consolacyon
synners, come now for save us, our Lorde and our Redeemer.
Finit Actus quartus.
INCIPIT ACTUS QUINTUS.
Pater calestis. For all the faver have shewed Israel,
Delyverynge her from Pharaoe's tyrannye,
And gevynge the land, fluentem lac mel,
Yet wyll she not leave her oldeydolatrye,
Nor know me for God. abhorre her myserye. Vexed her have with battayles and decayes, Styll must plage her, other wayes.
Tavid rer pius. Remembre yet, lorde, thy worthye servaunt Moses,
Walkynge thy syght, without rebuke the. Both Aaron, Jetro, Eleazar, and Phinees,
Evermore feared offende thy"mageste,
Moch thu acceptedest thy servant Josue.
Caleb and Othoniel sought the with their hart, Aioth and Sangar for thy folke ded their part.
Gedeon and Thola thy enemyes put smart,
Jayr and Jephte gave prayses thy name. These, leave ydolles, thy people ded coart. Samson the strongest, for hys part ded the same. Samuel and Nathan thy messages ded proclame.
to
II to
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of
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&
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:
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to
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of
z
ACT v. ]
GoD's PROMISEs. 29
What though fearce Pharao wrought myschef in thy syght:
He was a pagane, laye not that in our lyght.
I wote the Benjamytes abused the wayes of ryght,
So ded Helye's sonnes, and the sonnes of Samuel. Saul in hys offyce was slouthful daye and night, Wycked was Semei, so was Achitophel.
Measure not by them the faultes of Israel,
Whom thu hast loved of longe tyme so inteyrlye, But of thy great grace remyther wycked folye.
Pater calestis. I cannot abyde the vyce of ydolatrye, Though I shuld suffer other vyllanye.
Whan Josue was dead, that sort from me ded fall
the worshyppynge Asteroth and Baal, Full uncleaneydolles, and monsters bestyall.
David rer pius. For they have had thy righteouse
ponnyshment,
And for moch they did wyckedly consent the Palestynes and Chananytes ungodlye
-
Idolaters, takynge them matrymonye,
Thu threwest them undre the kynge Mesopotamye, After thu subduedest them for their idolatrye.
Eyghtene years Eglon, the kynge Moabytes, And XX years Jabin, the kynge Chananytes, Oppressed they were VII years the Mydyanytes,
And XVIII years vexed the cruell Ammonytes.
three great battayles, threescore thousand and fyve,
Of thys people, not one was left alyve.
Have mercye now, lorde, and call them repentaunce. Pater calestis. So longe they synne, longe
shall they have grevaunce.
David my servaunt, sumwhat must say the: For that thu latelye hast wrought soch vanyte.
David rer pius. Spare not, blessed lorde, but saye
thy pleasure
Pater callestis. Of late dayes thu hast mysused Bersabe,
The wyfe Urye, and slayne hym the fyelde.
me.
of
to
o;
to
as
of
in I of to
of
to
so
as
In To To as
ofof
it
all
of
to
to in
of
30 God's PRoMises.
[ACT v.
David rer pius. Mercye, lorde, mercye, for doubt lesse I am defyelde.
Pater calestis. I constytute the a kynge over Israel, And the preserved from Saul, whych was thy enemye. Yea, in my faver, so moch thu dedyest excell,
That of thy enemyes I gave the vyctorye.
Palestynes and Syryanes to the came trybutarye.
Why hast thu then wrought soch folye in my syght, Despysynge my worde, against godlye ryght?
David rer pius. have synned, lord, beseech the, pardon me.
Pater calestis. Thu shalt not dye, David, for thys inyguyte,
For thy repentaunce; but thy sonne Bersabe
Shall dye, for moch my name blasphemed Among my enemyes, and thu the worse estemed. From thy howse for thys the swerde shall not depart.
David rer pius. am sorye, lorde, from the bottom my hart.
Pater calestis. To further anger thu doest me yet compell.
David rer pius. For what matter, lorde? beseech thy goodnesse tell.
Pater calestis. Why dedest thu numbre the people of Israel
Supposest thy mind, therein thu hast done well?
David rew pius. cannot saye naye, but have done undyscretelye,
To forget thy grace, for humayne pollycye.
Pater calestis. Thu shalt these three- chose whych plage thu wilt have,
For that synnefull acte, that thy sowle maye save.
scarcenesse vii. years, else monthes exyle, Eyther for dayes the pestylence most vyle,
For one thu must have, there remedye.
David rer pius. Lorde, thy pleasure, for thu
mercye.
Pater calestis. Of pestylence, then score thou sand and ten,
full
a
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iii.
in
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Pater calestis.
GoD's PRom Is Es. 31
Act v. ]
In dayes shall dye thy most puysant men.
David rer pius. lorde, whych have offen thy grace,
Spare them and not me, for have done the trespace.
Though thy synnes great, thy inwarde harte's contrycyon
Doth move my stomake wonderfull condycion. fynde the man accordynge my hart.
Wherefor thys promyse make the, ere depart.
frute there shall come forth yssuynge from thy bodye,
Whom wyll advaunce upon thy seate for ever. Hystrone shall become seate heavenlye glorye, Hys worthy scepture from ryght wyll not dyssever, Hys happye kingedome, fayth shall perysh never.
heaven and earthe was autor pryncypall, And wyll contynue, though they do perysh all.
Thys sygne shalt thu have for token specyall,
That thu mayst beleve my wordes unfaynedlye, Where thu hast mynded, for my memoryall,
buylde temple, thu shalt not fynysh trulye. But Salomon thy sonne shall that accyon worthye,
token that Christ must fynysh every thynge That have begunne, my prayse everlastynge.
