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.
And XVIII years vexed the cruell Ammonytes.
Dodsley - Select Collection of Old Plays - v1
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
II to
to
-•:
*.
of
O
all to
&
as
:
O
in
of
Ise I no
to
I in all
I
of
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
? I
as I
I
iii.
is
by
I
of
iii.
in
or at
a as I of
art
is no
iii.
all
A
I -
I
of
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.
David rer pius. Immortall glorye the, most hea venlye kynge,
For that thu hast geven contynuall vyctorye me thy servaunt, ever sens my anoyntynge, And also before, by manye conquestes worthye.
beare and lyon slewe through thy strengh onlye.
slew Golias, which was cubites longe. Agaynst thy enemyes thu madest me ever stronge.
My fleshlye fraylenesse made me deadlye wronge,
And cleane forget thy lawes ryghteousnesse. And though thu vysytedst my synnefulnesse amonge, With pestylent plages, and other unquyetnesse:
Yet never tokest thu from me the plenteousnesse thy godly sprete, which thu me dedest plant.
havynge remorce, thy grace coulde never want. For conclusyon, thy everlastynge covenaunt
in
IOf
IA To
In To Of A I II
iii.
in
of doaof to
to
is I
to
I
a
of
a
do
vi.
I
to
I he of
O
of
it
I
be
a
in
it
ed
32 - GOD’s PROMISES. ” [ACT VI.
Thu gavest unto me for my wycked synne;
And hast promysed here protestacyon constant,
That one my sede shall soch hygh fortune wynne, As never ded man sens thys worlde ded begynne.
hys power shall put Sathan from hys holde, rejoyce whereof synge wyll bolde.
Canora voce tunc incipit Antiphonam, Adonai, quam (ut prius) prosequetur chorus cum organis.
Vel sic Anglice:
lorde God Adonai, and gyde the faythfull howse
Israel, whych sumtyme aperedest the flamyng bushe Moses, and hym dedst geve lawe
mounte Syna, come now redeme strengthe thyryght hande.
Finit Actus quintus.
INCIPIT ACTUS SEXTUS.
Pater calestis. brought chyldren from their first infancye,
Whych now despyseth my godlye instruccyons.
An oxe knoweth hys lorde, asse hys master's dewtye,
But Israel wyll not know me, nor my condycyons. Oh frowarde people, geven superstycyons, Unnaturall chyldren, expert blasphemyes, Provoketh me hate, their ydolatryes.
my wordes, tyrauntes Sodoma, offer your sacryfyce me.
am with yow beastes Gomorra, pleasure whan your offerynges se,
Take hede vayne
Dyscontent
And have
abhorre your fastes and your solempnyte.
For your tradycyons my wayes set apart,
Your workes are vayne, hate them from the hart. Esaias propheta. Thy cytie, swete lorde, now
come unfaythfull,
And her condycyons are turned downe. Her lyfe unchast, her actes very hurtefull,
Her murther and theft hath darkened her renowne. Covetouse rewardes doth their conscyence drowne,
is
to
I
In
of O
In By
noI in
ye
to to I
of
of
Iby to all soI by
be
ye inall up for yetoan I
upto so of
toof
O be
. be
in thein
of
in
is a
us .
to
he
Act v1. ]
GoD's PROM1 ses. " - 33
That the fatherlesse they wyll not help to ryght,
The poore wydowe's cause come not afore their syght.
Thy peceable pathes seke they neyther daye nor nyght;
But walke wycked wayes after their fantasye.
Convert their hartes, lorde, and geve them thy true lyght,
That they maye perceyve their customable folye: Leave them not helplesse in so depe myserye,
But call them from it of thy most specyall grace,
By thy true prophetes, to their sowle's helthe and solace.
Pater calistis. First they had fathers, than had they patryarkes,
Than dukes, than judges to their gydes and monarkes. Now have they stowte kynges, yet are they wycked styll, And wyll in no wyse my pleasaunt lawes fulfyll. Alwayes they applye to ydolles worshyppynge,
From the vyle begger to the anoynted kynge.
Fsaias propheta. For that cause thu hast in two devyded them,
In Samaria the one, the other in Hierusalem. The kynge of Judain Hierusalem ded dwell,
And in Samaria the kynge of Israel.
Ten of the twelve trybes bycame Samarytanes, And the other two were Hierosolymytanes.
In both these cuntreyes, accordynge to theirdoynges,
Thu permyttedest them to have most cruell kynges. The first of Juda was wycked kynge Roboam,
Of Israel the first was that cruell Hieroboam;
Abia than folowed, and in the other Nadab,
Than Basa, then Hela, then Zambri, Joram and Achab.
Then Ochosias, then Athalia, then Joas;
On the other part was Jonathan and Achas.
To rehearce them that have done wretchydlye
the syght the, were longe verelye.
Pater calistis. For the wycked synne fylthye ydolatrye,
Whych the ten trybes ded the lande Samarye, WOL.
In I.
in
of
of D
of
it all
34 GoD's PROMISEs.
[Act v I.
In space of one daye fyfty thousand men I slewe, Thre of their cyties also I overthrewe,
And left the people in soche captyvyte,
That in the worlde they wyst not whyther fle.
trybes, whan they from me went back left the hande Sesack,
Were slaoyne
The other To ydolatrye,
Egipt, whych toke awaye their treasure, tyme Achas, hondred thousande and twentye
The kynge
Convayed their cattel, and slewe them without measure.
tw e
one tyme for their ydolatrye.
thousande from thens were captyve
od
Their goodes dyspersed, and they with penurye fed.
d,
Seldom they fayle but eyther the Egipcyanes Have them bondage, els the Assyreanes.
And alone they maye thanke their ydolatrye.
Esaias propheta. Wele, yet blessed lorde, releve
them with thy mercye.
Though they have been yll, other prynces dayes,
Yet good Ezechias hath taught them godlye wayes. Whan the prynce good, the people are the better; And nought, their vyces are the greatter. Heavenlye lorde, therfor send them the consolacyon,
Whych thu hast covenaunted with every generacyon. Open thu the heavens, and lete the lambe come
hither,
-
Whych wyll delyver thy people togyther.
Ye planetes and cloudes, cast downe your dewes and
rayne,
That the earth maye beare out helthful saver playne. Pater calistis. Maye the wyfe forget the chylde
her owne bodye?
Esaias propheta. Naye, that she can not anye
wyse verelye.
-
Pater calistis. No more can them whych wyll my commandementes,
But must preserve them from inconvenyentes.
Esaias propheta. Blessed art thu, lorde, thy
actes and judgementes.
in all
in do
.
to
all I
all
by
of
as
In of
he is
all
is
it, or
an
in
at
ofI ii. in
of
AcT v
GoD's PROMISEs. 35
Pater calistis. Wele, Esaias, for thys thy sydelyte, covenaunt of helthe thu shalt have also of me.
For Syon's sake now wyll not holde my peace, And for Hierusalem, speake wyll not cease,
Tyll that ryghteouse lorde become sunne beame bryght,
And their just saver lampe extende hys lyght. rodde shall shut fourth from the olde stocke of
Jesse,
And bryght blossome from that rote wyll aryse, Upon whom alwayes the sprete the lorde shall be, The sprete wysdome, the sprete heavenly prac
tySe,
And those that wyll godlynesse devyse. Take thys for sygne, mayde Israel
Shall conceyve and beare that Lord Emanuel.
Esaias propheta. Thy prayses condygne tunge can tell,
mortal
Most worthye maker and kynge heavenlye glorye, For capacytees thy goodnesse doth excell,
Thy plenteouse graces brayne can cumpas trulye, No wyt can conceyve the greatnesse thy mercye, Declared late David thy true servaunt
And now confirmed thys thy latter covenaunt.
Of goodnesse thu madest Salomon wyt most preg naunt,
Asa and Josaphat, with good kynge Ezechias,
thy syght that was the ryght pleasaunt.
To quench ydolatrye, thu raysedest up Helias, Jehu, Heliseus, Michas, and Abdias,
And Naaman Syrus thu pourgedst leprye.
The workes wonderfull who can but magnyfye Aryse, Hierusalem, and take faythe and bye,
For the verye lyght that shall save the commynge. The Sonne the lord apere wyll evydentlye,
Whan shall resort, that nojoye wantynge. He thy saver, and thy lyfe everlastynge,
Thy release from synne, and thy whole ryghteousnesse.
Help me thys songe knowledge his great good neSSe.
he in
of
of
to a
of
se to
a
no a
is
all
be
2
is by
of
of
as I
In
A a
A
I. ]
do
in
to
in
as toI
of aofof a
of
of
no
.
all
36 GoD's PROMISEs. [ACT v
Concinna tunc voce Antiphonam inchoat, radix Jesse quam chorus prosequeter cum organis.
Vel Anglice hoc modo canet
frutefull rote Jesse, that shall be set synge
amonge people, agaynst the worldly rulers shall fearce open their mouthes. Whom the Gentyles worshypp
their heavenlye lorde, come now for delyver
and delaye the tyme longar. Finit Actus sertus.
ACTUS SEPTIMUS.
Pater calistis. have with fearcenesse mankynde tymes corrected,
And agayne, have allured hym swete promes. have sent sore plages, when hath me neglected,
And then and by, most confortable swetnes.
To wynne hym grace, bothe mercye and ryghteousnes
have exercysed, yet wyll not amende.
Shall now lose hym, shall hym defende?
hys most myschefe, most hygh grace will sende.
To overcome hym favoure, may be. With hys abusyons longer wyll contende
But now accomplysh my first wyll and decre.
My worde beynge flesh, from hens shall set hym fre. Hym teachynge waye perfyght ryghteousnesse,
That shall not nede perysh his weaknesse.
Johannes baptista. Manasses (lorde) turned from the hys harte,
Achas and Amon have now more ado,
past, whych
-
-
Jechonias with other, whych ded themselves avarte
Fro the ydolles, may now farther go.
The two false judges, and Bel's wycked prestes also, Phassur and Semeias, with Nabuchodonosore,
Antiochus and Triphon, shall the dyplease more. Thre score yeares and ten, thy people into Babylon
Were captyve and thrall ydolles worshyppynge. Hierusalem was lost, and left voyde domynyon, Brent was their temple, was their other buyldynge,
so
for
no
to of
I he
of
no
is
to : O
.
oft
us. II.
to
by
a to I
In I he
II asly
O
no
I it
in
if he
by
no by
or
of no
I
as Ia
Act v II. ]
GoD's PROMISEs.
37*
Ther hygh prestes were slayne, ther treasure came to nothyng.
The strength and bewtye of thyne owne heretage.
Thus dedest thu leave then in myserable bondage. Oft had they warnynges, sumtyme by Ezechiel,
And other prophetes, as Esaye and Hieremye, Sumtyme by Daniel, sumtyme by Ose and Johel, By Amos and Abdias, by Jonas and by Sophonye, By Nahum and Micheas, by Agge and by Zacharye, By Malachias, and also by Abacuch,
By Olda the wydowe, and by the prophete Baruch. Remembre Josias, whych toke the abhomynacyon
From the people, then restorynge thy lawes agayne.
Of Rechab consydre the faythfull generacyon,
Whom to wyne-drynkynge no fryndshyppe myght con
strayne.
Remembre Abdemelech, the frynde of truthe certayne, Zorobabel the prynce, whych ded repare the temple,
And Jesus Josedech, of vertu the exemple. Consydre Nehemias, and Esdras the good scrybe,
Mercyfull Tobias, and constaunt Mardocheus. Judith and quene Hester, of the same godly trybe,
Devoute Mathias, and Judas Machabeus.
Have mynde of Eleazar, and then Joannes Hircanus, Waye the ernest faythe of thys godlye companye,
Though the other cleane fall from thy memorye.
Pater calestis. I wyll Johan, I wyll, for as I sayd afore,
Rygour and hardenesse I have now set apart,
Myndynge from hens fourth to wynne man evermore By wonderfull kyndenesse to breake hys stubbeylehart,
And change it from synne. For Christ shall suffre Smart,
In mannys frayle nature for hys inyguyte,
Thys to make open, my massenger shalt thu be.
Johannes baptista. As thy pleasure blessed lorde appoynt me,
For my helthe thu art, and my sowle's felycyte.
Pater caelestis. Longe ere made the, the predes tynate,
I
I
so
is,
38 GoD's PROMISEs.
[ACT v11.
Before thu wert borne I the endued with grace.
In thy mother's wombe wert thu sanctyfycate By my godlye gyft, and so confirmed in place,
A Prophete, to shewe a waye before the face
Of my most dere sonne, whych wyll come: the untyll Applye the apace thyne offyce to fulfyll.
Preache to the people, rebukynge their neglygence,
Doppe them in water, they knowledgynge their offence;
And saye unto them, The kyngedome of God doth cum. Joannes baptista. Unmete, lorde, I am, Quia puer
ego sum.
An other than that, alac, I have no scyence
Fyt foi that offyce, neyther yet cleane eloquence.
Pater calestis.
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
II to
to
-•:
*.
of
O
all to
&
as
:
O
in
of
Ise I no
to
I in all
I
of
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
? I
as I
I
iii.
is
by
I
of
iii.
in
or at
a as I of
art
is no
iii.
all
A
I -
I
of
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.
David rer pius. Immortall glorye the, most hea venlye kynge,
For that thu hast geven contynuall vyctorye me thy servaunt, ever sens my anoyntynge, And also before, by manye conquestes worthye.
beare and lyon slewe through thy strengh onlye.
slew Golias, which was cubites longe. Agaynst thy enemyes thu madest me ever stronge.
My fleshlye fraylenesse made me deadlye wronge,
And cleane forget thy lawes ryghteousnesse. And though thu vysytedst my synnefulnesse amonge, With pestylent plages, and other unquyetnesse:
Yet never tokest thu from me the plenteousnesse thy godly sprete, which thu me dedest plant.
havynge remorce, thy grace coulde never want. For conclusyon, thy everlastynge covenaunt
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32 - GOD’s PROMISES. ” [ACT VI.
Thu gavest unto me for my wycked synne;
And hast promysed here protestacyon constant,
That one my sede shall soch hygh fortune wynne, As never ded man sens thys worlde ded begynne.
hys power shall put Sathan from hys holde, rejoyce whereof synge wyll bolde.
Canora voce tunc incipit Antiphonam, Adonai, quam (ut prius) prosequetur chorus cum organis.
Vel sic Anglice:
lorde God Adonai, and gyde the faythfull howse
Israel, whych sumtyme aperedest the flamyng bushe Moses, and hym dedst geve lawe
mounte Syna, come now redeme strengthe thyryght hande.
Finit Actus quintus.
INCIPIT ACTUS SEXTUS.
Pater calestis. brought chyldren from their first infancye,
Whych now despyseth my godlye instruccyons.
An oxe knoweth hys lorde, asse hys master's dewtye,
But Israel wyll not know me, nor my condycyons. Oh frowarde people, geven superstycyons, Unnaturall chyldren, expert blasphemyes, Provoketh me hate, their ydolatryes.
my wordes, tyrauntes Sodoma, offer your sacryfyce me.
am with yow beastes Gomorra, pleasure whan your offerynges se,
Take hede vayne
Dyscontent
And have
abhorre your fastes and your solempnyte.
For your tradycyons my wayes set apart,
Your workes are vayne, hate them from the hart. Esaias propheta. Thy cytie, swete lorde, now
come unfaythfull,
And her condycyons are turned downe. Her lyfe unchast, her actes very hurtefull,
Her murther and theft hath darkened her renowne. Covetouse rewardes doth their conscyence drowne,
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Act v1. ]
GoD's PROM1 ses. " - 33
That the fatherlesse they wyll not help to ryght,
The poore wydowe's cause come not afore their syght.
Thy peceable pathes seke they neyther daye nor nyght;
But walke wycked wayes after their fantasye.
Convert their hartes, lorde, and geve them thy true lyght,
That they maye perceyve their customable folye: Leave them not helplesse in so depe myserye,
But call them from it of thy most specyall grace,
By thy true prophetes, to their sowle's helthe and solace.
Pater calistis. First they had fathers, than had they patryarkes,
Than dukes, than judges to their gydes and monarkes. Now have they stowte kynges, yet are they wycked styll, And wyll in no wyse my pleasaunt lawes fulfyll. Alwayes they applye to ydolles worshyppynge,
From the vyle begger to the anoynted kynge.
Fsaias propheta. For that cause thu hast in two devyded them,
In Samaria the one, the other in Hierusalem. The kynge of Judain Hierusalem ded dwell,
And in Samaria the kynge of Israel.
Ten of the twelve trybes bycame Samarytanes, And the other two were Hierosolymytanes.
In both these cuntreyes, accordynge to theirdoynges,
Thu permyttedest them to have most cruell kynges. The first of Juda was wycked kynge Roboam,
Of Israel the first was that cruell Hieroboam;
Abia than folowed, and in the other Nadab,
Than Basa, then Hela, then Zambri, Joram and Achab.
Then Ochosias, then Athalia, then Joas;
On the other part was Jonathan and Achas.
To rehearce them that have done wretchydlye
the syght the, were longe verelye.
Pater calistis. For the wycked synne fylthye ydolatrye,
Whych the ten trybes ded the lande Samarye, WOL.
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34 GoD's PROMISEs.
[Act v I.
In space of one daye fyfty thousand men I slewe, Thre of their cyties also I overthrewe,
And left the people in soche captyvyte,
That in the worlde they wyst not whyther fle.
trybes, whan they from me went back left the hande Sesack,
Were slaoyne
The other To ydolatrye,
Egipt, whych toke awaye their treasure, tyme Achas, hondred thousande and twentye
The kynge
Convayed their cattel, and slewe them without measure.
tw e
one tyme for their ydolatrye.
thousande from thens were captyve
od
Their goodes dyspersed, and they with penurye fed.
d,
Seldom they fayle but eyther the Egipcyanes Have them bondage, els the Assyreanes.
And alone they maye thanke their ydolatrye.
Esaias propheta. Wele, yet blessed lorde, releve
them with thy mercye.
Though they have been yll, other prynces dayes,
Yet good Ezechias hath taught them godlye wayes. Whan the prynce good, the people are the better; And nought, their vyces are the greatter. Heavenlye lorde, therfor send them the consolacyon,
Whych thu hast covenaunted with every generacyon. Open thu the heavens, and lete the lambe come
hither,
-
Whych wyll delyver thy people togyther.
Ye planetes and cloudes, cast downe your dewes and
rayne,
That the earth maye beare out helthful saver playne. Pater calistis. Maye the wyfe forget the chylde
her owne bodye?
Esaias propheta. Naye, that she can not anye
wyse verelye.
-
Pater calistis. No more can them whych wyll my commandementes,
But must preserve them from inconvenyentes.
Esaias propheta. Blessed art thu, lorde, thy
actes and judgementes.
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AcT v
GoD's PROMISEs. 35
Pater calistis. Wele, Esaias, for thys thy sydelyte, covenaunt of helthe thu shalt have also of me.
For Syon's sake now wyll not holde my peace, And for Hierusalem, speake wyll not cease,
Tyll that ryghteouse lorde become sunne beame bryght,
And their just saver lampe extende hys lyght. rodde shall shut fourth from the olde stocke of
Jesse,
And bryght blossome from that rote wyll aryse, Upon whom alwayes the sprete the lorde shall be, The sprete wysdome, the sprete heavenly prac
tySe,
And those that wyll godlynesse devyse. Take thys for sygne, mayde Israel
Shall conceyve and beare that Lord Emanuel.
Esaias propheta. Thy prayses condygne tunge can tell,
mortal
Most worthye maker and kynge heavenlye glorye, For capacytees thy goodnesse doth excell,
Thy plenteouse graces brayne can cumpas trulye, No wyt can conceyve the greatnesse thy mercye, Declared late David thy true servaunt
And now confirmed thys thy latter covenaunt.
Of goodnesse thu madest Salomon wyt most preg naunt,
Asa and Josaphat, with good kynge Ezechias,
thy syght that was the ryght pleasaunt.
To quench ydolatrye, thu raysedest up Helias, Jehu, Heliseus, Michas, and Abdias,
And Naaman Syrus thu pourgedst leprye.
The workes wonderfull who can but magnyfye Aryse, Hierusalem, and take faythe and bye,
For the verye lyght that shall save the commynge. The Sonne the lord apere wyll evydentlye,
Whan shall resort, that nojoye wantynge. He thy saver, and thy lyfe everlastynge,
Thy release from synne, and thy whole ryghteousnesse.
Help me thys songe knowledge his great good neSSe.
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36 GoD's PROMISEs. [ACT v
Concinna tunc voce Antiphonam inchoat, radix Jesse quam chorus prosequeter cum organis.
Vel Anglice hoc modo canet
frutefull rote Jesse, that shall be set synge
amonge people, agaynst the worldly rulers shall fearce open their mouthes. Whom the Gentyles worshypp
their heavenlye lorde, come now for delyver
and delaye the tyme longar. Finit Actus sertus.
ACTUS SEPTIMUS.
Pater calistis. have with fearcenesse mankynde tymes corrected,
And agayne, have allured hym swete promes. have sent sore plages, when hath me neglected,
And then and by, most confortable swetnes.
To wynne hym grace, bothe mercye and ryghteousnes
have exercysed, yet wyll not amende.
Shall now lose hym, shall hym defende?
hys most myschefe, most hygh grace will sende.
To overcome hym favoure, may be. With hys abusyons longer wyll contende
But now accomplysh my first wyll and decre.
My worde beynge flesh, from hens shall set hym fre. Hym teachynge waye perfyght ryghteousnesse,
That shall not nede perysh his weaknesse.
Johannes baptista. Manasses (lorde) turned from the hys harte,
Achas and Amon have now more ado,
past, whych
-
-
Jechonias with other, whych ded themselves avarte
Fro the ydolles, may now farther go.
The two false judges, and Bel's wycked prestes also, Phassur and Semeias, with Nabuchodonosore,
Antiochus and Triphon, shall the dyplease more. Thre score yeares and ten, thy people into Babylon
Were captyve and thrall ydolles worshyppynge. Hierusalem was lost, and left voyde domynyon, Brent was their temple, was their other buyldynge,
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Act v II. ]
GoD's PROMISEs.
37*
Ther hygh prestes were slayne, ther treasure came to nothyng.
The strength and bewtye of thyne owne heretage.
Thus dedest thu leave then in myserable bondage. Oft had they warnynges, sumtyme by Ezechiel,
And other prophetes, as Esaye and Hieremye, Sumtyme by Daniel, sumtyme by Ose and Johel, By Amos and Abdias, by Jonas and by Sophonye, By Nahum and Micheas, by Agge and by Zacharye, By Malachias, and also by Abacuch,
By Olda the wydowe, and by the prophete Baruch. Remembre Josias, whych toke the abhomynacyon
From the people, then restorynge thy lawes agayne.
Of Rechab consydre the faythfull generacyon,
Whom to wyne-drynkynge no fryndshyppe myght con
strayne.
Remembre Abdemelech, the frynde of truthe certayne, Zorobabel the prynce, whych ded repare the temple,
And Jesus Josedech, of vertu the exemple. Consydre Nehemias, and Esdras the good scrybe,
Mercyfull Tobias, and constaunt Mardocheus. Judith and quene Hester, of the same godly trybe,
Devoute Mathias, and Judas Machabeus.
Have mynde of Eleazar, and then Joannes Hircanus, Waye the ernest faythe of thys godlye companye,
Though the other cleane fall from thy memorye.
Pater calestis. I wyll Johan, I wyll, for as I sayd afore,
Rygour and hardenesse I have now set apart,
Myndynge from hens fourth to wynne man evermore By wonderfull kyndenesse to breake hys stubbeylehart,
And change it from synne. For Christ shall suffre Smart,
In mannys frayle nature for hys inyguyte,
Thys to make open, my massenger shalt thu be.
Johannes baptista. As thy pleasure blessed lorde appoynt me,
For my helthe thu art, and my sowle's felycyte.
Pater caelestis. Longe ere made the, the predes tynate,
I
I
so
is,
38 GoD's PROMISEs.
[ACT v11.
Before thu wert borne I the endued with grace.
In thy mother's wombe wert thu sanctyfycate By my godlye gyft, and so confirmed in place,
A Prophete, to shewe a waye before the face
Of my most dere sonne, whych wyll come: the untyll Applye the apace thyne offyce to fulfyll.
Preache to the people, rebukynge their neglygence,
Doppe them in water, they knowledgynge their offence;
And saye unto them, The kyngedome of God doth cum. Joannes baptista. Unmete, lorde, I am, Quia puer
ego sum.
An other than that, alac, I have no scyence
Fyt foi that offyce, neyther yet cleane eloquence.
Pater calestis.
