All thys true, lorde, cannot thy words reprove,
Lete hys weaknesse yet thy mercyfull goodnesse move.
Lete hys weaknesse yet thy mercyfull goodnesse move.
Dodsley - Select Collection of Old Plays - v1
first printed imperfectly Wesel 1549, and afterwards more com
not bound any rules
those from whom differed
terests, Religion were concerned. The acrimony
pletely
1557 and 1559. ” He was the Author
which
the chefe the olde
great number Dramatic Pieces, three only appear have been published, viz.
“A Tragedye Enterlude, manyfesting “promyses God unto Man ages
Five centuries writers seem have been printed Ipswich 1549, under the following title. Illustrium Majoris Britania:
Scriptorum, hoc Angliae, Cambria, Scotia, Summarium. The most complete and enlarged edition was printed Basil Oporinus in1559. C. -
vo I.
appears have taken his antagonists his
have considered himself decorum replying
matters wherein the in
I.
est
et of
inof inheby
at
to in
to
et
,
in
of
in* as of ofof his
ofto atad on in nohe
in
of
of orof to
he it
by of he
to a
he
in
all a
on
is
to in to in onofinofa
by of
atof a
in
of
a of to
in
in of to all
in he in
to he by he a
up on
in he of of heof
6
“lawe from the fall of Adam to the Incarnacyon of
“the Lorde Jesus Christ. Compyled by Johan Bale, “Anno Domini 1538, 8vo. ”
Another Edition of this performance was printed in
4to. by John Charlewood 1577, and in the title-page said to be now fyrst imprinted. ” (See Ames, 369. )
“A brefe Comedy or Enterlude of Johan Baptystes “preachyng in the Wildernesse, the crafty assaultes of “the hypocrytes, with the gloryouse baptysme of the
“Lorde Jesus Christ. Compyled by Johan Bale, “Anno 1538, 8vo. ”
Re-printed in the Harleian Miscellany.
“A brefe Comedy or Enterlude, concernynge the
“temptatyon of our Lorde and Saver Jesus Christ by “Sathan in the desart. Compyled by Johan Bale,
“Anno 1538, 8vo. ” According to Ames
printed abroad,
This present copy
(Ames, 497,498. )
these pieces were originally
taken from old Black Letter edition 4to. the valuable collection David
Garrick, Esq. The title-page being damaged,
unable give the date
will not imagined, that any the pieces
this volume, except Ferrex and Porrex, are given
am
good; but only curiosities, and
low beginnings our stage has arisen. they afford any entertainment,
shew from what this view
What remarkable this drama into seven acts,t and the end
that that
each act
intended. divided
kind
chorus, which was performed with voices and instru ments. The curious reader will observe, this and the other pieces which compose this volume, how very loose and undetermined the orthography our lan
very likely was the first edition from English press,
the copy bearing the date 1588, the time when was “com piled” Bale was obviously printed abroad, and probably
itself into seven ages periods, for the seven promises the Creator Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Esaias, and John
the Baptist.
Geneva. C.
-
+It will seen that the design the author necessarily divided
Ç.
or
of
is
by
I as in
of
as
“
*
at
as
it
in
of It
It
toby isto be
in
an
of is,
all to
an
it is If of isin
of
at
of it.
all
is a
of
as in
be
in
it
is
7
guage was about 200 years ago: the same words being so constantly spelled different ways, makes it very cer
tain they had no fixed rule of right and wrong in spelling; and provided the letters did but in any manner make out the sound of the word they would express, it was thought sufficient.
INTERLOCUTORES,
PATER COELESTIs. Justus NoAH. MosEs sanctus. EsAIA's propheta. ADAM primus homo. AB RAHAM fidelis. DAvID rew pius.
JoA N N Es baptista.
BALEUs prolocutor. ”
* This list of characters is not in the old copy but was made out from the mention of persons in the progress of the piece. C.
GO D’S PRO M I SES.
BALEUs Prolocutor.
If profyght maye growe, most Christen audyence, By knowlege of thynges whych are but transytorye,
And here for a tyme, of moch more congruence, Advantage myght sprynge, by the serche of causes
heavenlye,
As those matters are, that the Gospell specyfye.
Without whose knowledge no man to the truthe can fall,” -
Nor ever atteyne to the lyfe perpetuall.
For he that knoweth not the lyvynge God eternall, The father, the sonne, and also the holye Ghost,
And what Christ suffered for redempcyon of us all, What he commaunded, and taught in every coost,
And what he forbode, that man must nedes be lost, And cleane secluded, from the faythfull chosen sorte, In heavens above, hys most hygh dysconforte.
Yow therfor (good fryndes) lovyngely exhort Towaye soche matters, wyll uttered here,
whom may loke have tryfeling sporte fantasyes fayned, nor soche lyke gaudysh gere,
But the thyngs that shall your inwarde stomake chear, The old copy from which this dramatic piece was first reprinted
Dodsley, and subsequently and part the leaf lost, last word this line:
Mr. Reed, having been damaged,
was not possible ascertain exactly was therefore supplied conjecture
and very happily: the line has till now stood
“Without whose knowledge no man the truthe can come. ”
But the form the stanza and the rhime the next line shews decidedly that this wrong. There are objections the
word fall, now substituted for come, for the sake Perpetuall: fall from the truth, however not Pression, and without very great violence case
may perhaps also use full the truth.
rhiming with
uncommon ex such necessity
we
the
by *
In Of ye
to to
is
it it
by
to as
to
in is a
I no be
C.
of an of
to in
to
of
to
by to
not
of of
a
the
10 God's PRoMises.
[ACT 1.
Yea, first ye shall have the eternal generacyon
Of Christ, like as Johan in hys first chaptre wryght, And consequentlye of man the first creacyon,
The abuse and fall, through hys first oversyght,
And the rayse agayne through God's hygh grace and
myght:
By promyses first, whych shall be declared all, Then by hys owne sonne, the worker pryncypall.
After that Adam bywayleth here hys fall,
God wyll shewe mercye to every generacyon,
And to hys kyngedome, of hys great goodnesse call Hys elected spouse, or faythfull congregacyon,
As here shall apere by open protestacyon,
Whych from Christe's birthe shall to hys death con clude:
They come that therof wyll shewe the certytude.
ACTUS PRIMUS. *
Pater calestis. In the begynnynge, before the hea vens were create,
In me and of me was my sonne sempyternall With the holy Ghost, in one degre or estate
Of the hygh Godhed, to me the father coequall,
And thys my sonne was with me one God essencyall, Without separacyon at any tyme from me.
heaven and earthe, and have their dyverse workynge: Wythout hys power, was never made anye thynge, That was wrought; but through hys ordynaunce, Each have hys strength and whole contynuance.
hym the lyfe and the just recoveraunce
The commencement this Act not marked the original although notice given conclusion.
To rejoyce in God for your justyfycacyon,
And alone in Christ to hope for your salvacyon.
.
equall dignyte.
True God he
Sens the begynnynge, my sonne hath ever be, Joined wyth hys Father one essencyall beynge. All thynges were create hym yehe degre,
of of its
byin in
is C.
*
In In
is is
is, of
in
Act. I. ]
GoD's PROM is Es. 11
For Adam and hys, which nought but deathe deserved. And thys lyfe to men is an hygh perseveraunce,
Or a lyght of faythe, wherby they shall be saved.
And thys lyght shall shyne amonge the people darkened
With unfaythfulnesse. Yet shall they not with hym take,
But of wyllfull hart hys lyberall grace forsake. Whych wyll compell me agaynst man for to make
In my dyspleasure, and sende plages of coreccyon, Most grevouse and sharpe, hys wanton lustes to slake, By water and fyre, by sycknesse and infeccyon,
Of pestylent sores, molestynge hys compleccyon,
By troublouse warre, by derthe and peynefull scarse nesse,
And after thys lyfe be an extreme heavynesse.
I wyll first begynne with Adam for hys lewdenesse,
Whych for an apple neglected my commaundement.
He shall contynue in laboure for hys rashenesse,
Hys onlye sweate shall provyde hys food and rayment: Yea, yet must he have a greatter ponnyshment,
Most terryble deathe shall brynge hym to hys ende,
To teache hym how he hys lord God shall offende. Hic pracceps in terram cadit Adamus, ac post quartum
versum denuo resurgit.
Adam primus homo. Mercyfull Father, thy pytiefull
grace extende
To me carefull wretche, whych have mesore abused, Thy precept breakynge. O Lorde, I mynde to amende,
If thy great goodnesse wolde now have me excused, Most heavenlye Maker, lete me not be refused,
Nor cast from thy syght for one pore synnefull cryme, Alas I am frayle, my whole kynde ys but slyme.
Pater calestis. I wott it is so, yet art thu no lesse faultye,
Than thu haddyst bene made of matter moch more worthye.
I gave the reason, and wytte to understande
The good from the evyll, and not to take on hande,
Of a braynelesse mynde, the thynge whych I forbad the. l
12 GoD's PROMISEs.
|Act 1.
Adam primus homo. Soch heavye fortune hath chefelye chaunced me,
For that I was left to myne owne lyberte.
Pater calestis. Then thu art blamelesse, and the
faulte thu layest to me.
Adam primus homo. Naye ascribe my own imbecyllyte.
No faulte the Lorde, but my infirmyte,
And want respect soche gyftes
Pater calestis. For that lyberte,
Thu oughtest my goodnesse
Adam primus homo. Avoyde me so harde.
put the
Lorde, now perceyve what power man,
And strength hymselfe, whan thy swete grace
have
thu gavest me. thyne owne
more regarde. cannot, thu layest
absent.
-
He must nedes but fall, do he the best he can,
apereth evydent; thu wert present;
Pater calestis. Thu shalt dye for with thy posteryte. -
Adam primus homo. For one faulte, good lorde, avenge not thyself me,
posteryte.
Adam primus homo. Yet mercy swete lorde, anye
mercy maye be.
Pater calestis. am immutable, maye change -
decre.
Thu shalt dye (Isaye) without anye remedye.
Adam primus homo. Yet gracy. ouse Father, extende me thy mercye, - And throwe not awaye the worke whych thu hast create
To thyne owne Image, but avert from me thy hate.
Pater calestis. But art thu sorye from bottom thy hart
And daunger hymselfe, For synned not longe
But whan thu wert gone,
And the dyspleased. Good lorde axe the mercy.
Who am but
Pater calestis. saye thu shalt dye, with thy whole
fell synne and by,
worme, fleshelye vanyte.
I
2 a Iofin
of
yf mo
all
to
to
II
of to
I
I to
it to I
all I
or
a on
I as as
I in
it,
by
in
is
it
is
in
at
as
to
in
Act
GoD's PROM1s Es. 13
Adam primus homo. Thy dyspleasure me most heavye smart.
Pater calestis. Than wyll tell the what thu shalt stycke unto,
Lyfe recover, and my good faver also.
Adam primus homo. Tell me, swete Lorde, that
maye therafter go.
Pater calestis. Thys my covenant the and thy sprynge.
For that thu hast bene deceyved the serpent, wyll put hatred betwixt hym for hys doynge,
And the woman kynde. They shall herafter dyssent; Hys sede with her sede shall never have agrement; Hersede shall presse downe hys heade unto the grounde, Slee hys suggestyons, and hys whole power confounde,
Cleave thys promyse, with thy inwarde powre,
Fyrmelye enclose thy remembraunce fast; Folde . thy faythe with full hope day and houre, And thy salvacyon will the last.
thy wyckednesse past, And procure thy peace, with most hygh grace my
That sede shall clere the syght.
Sethu
and holde not the matter lyght. Adam primus homo. Swete lorde, the promyse that
thyself here hath made me,
thy mere goodnesse, and not my deservynge,
my faythe trust shall establyshed be,
helpe longe
And shewe That they
thy grace, that shall remaynynge shall have here contynuynge,
wyll my posteryte,
lyke case have therby felycyte.
Pater calestis. For closynge up, take yet one sentence with the.
Adam primus homo. thy pleasure, Lorde, thynges myght ever be. -
Pater calestis. For that my promyse maye have the deper effect
the faythe the and thy generacyon,
Take thys sygne with seale therto connect. Crepe shall the serpent, for hys abhomynacyon;
In
So ByIn Of
I
of
to
in
as of it I
to
of
II
it,
to
it
it in
it,
as all
a it allat I
a
At so of be
ys
all
all I
be
of
all by
in
it in
to
1. ]
to
is to
it
14 God's PRom is Es.
[Act I.
The woman shall sorowe in paynefull propagacyon.
Like as thu shalt findethys true in outwarde workynge, So thynke the other, though it be an hydden thynge.
Adam primus homo. Incessaunt praysynge to the most heavenlye lorde
For thys thy socoure, and undeserved kyndnesse
Thubyndest me in hart thy gracy. ouse gyftes to recorde,
And to beare in mynde, now after my heavynesse,
The brute of thy name, with inwarde joye and glad Inesse.
Thu dysdaynest not, as wele apereth thys daye,
To fatche to thy folde thy first shepe goynge astraye.
Most myghtye maker, thu castest not yet awaye Thy synnefull servaunt, whych hath done most offence.
It is not thy mynde for ever I shuld decaye,
But thu reservest me, of thy-benyvolence,
And hast provyded for me a recompence,
By thy appoyntment, like as I have receyved
In thy stronge promyse, here openly pronounced.
Thys goodnesse, dere lorde, of me is undeserved, I so declynynge from thy first instytucyon,
At so lyght mocyons. To one that thus hath swerved,
What a lorde art thu, to geve soche retrybucyon 1 I, damnable wretche, deserved execucyon
Of terryble deathe,
without remedye, good memorye.
rejoyce here inwardelye,
helle, deathe, and dampnacyon,
put out am enforced An ympe though
And
Through my owne workynge: for consydre thy mercye And pytiefull mynde for my whole generacyon.
thu, swete lorde, that workest my salvacyon,
And my recover. Therfor congruence,
From hens thu must have my hart and obedyence.
Though mortall, reason my offence,
And shall dye the deathe", like God hath appoynted:
This scriptural expression occurs very frequently dramatick writers.
Never this heart shall have the thoughtful dread
our ancient
your grace's doom, By just desert, shall pronounc'd me:
To die the death that
Ferrex and Porrex, A.
4.
S. * 2. -
t be by
Ibeto of
to
of
*
It is
I
in
I be
to be
by
a as
of
all I
of
all
ACT. II. ]
GoD's PROM Ises. 15
Of thys am I sure, through hys hygh influence,
At a serten daye agayne to be revyved.
From grounde of my hart thys shall not be removed,
I have it in faythe and therfor I will synge,
Thys Antheme to hym that my salvacyon shall brynge.
Tunc sonora voce, provolutis genibus, Antiphonam incipit,
O sapientia, quam prosequetur chorus cum organis, eo interim ereunte.
Vel sub eodem tono poterit Anglice cantari.
eternal sapyence, that procedest from the mouthe the hyghest, reachynge fourth with great power
from the begynnynge the ende, with heavenlye
swetnesse dysposynge all creatures, come now and en struct the true waye thy godlye prudence.
Finit Actus primus.
ACTUS SECUNDUS.
Pater calestis. have bene moved stryke man dyverselye,
Sens lefte Adam thys same earthly mansyon; For whye? hath done me dyspleasures manye, And wyll not amende hys lyfe anye condycyon:
respect hath my worde nor momycyon,
But doth what hym lust, without dyscrete advysement, And wyll wyse take myne advertysement.
Cain hath slayne Abel, hys brother, innocent,
Whose bloude from the earthe doth call vengeaunce:
Either die the death, abjure For ever the society men.
- Midsummer's Night's Dream, Or else must not only die the death,
But thy unkindness shall his death draw out To lingering sufferance.
me for
Measure for Measure, A. See Dr. 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.
not bound any rules
those from whom differed
terests, Religion were concerned. The acrimony
pletely
1557 and 1559. ” He was the Author
which
the chefe the olde
great number Dramatic Pieces, three only appear have been published, viz.
“A Tragedye Enterlude, manyfesting “promyses God unto Man ages
Five centuries writers seem have been printed Ipswich 1549, under the following title. Illustrium Majoris Britania:
Scriptorum, hoc Angliae, Cambria, Scotia, Summarium. The most complete and enlarged edition was printed Basil Oporinus in1559. C. -
vo I.
appears have taken his antagonists his
have considered himself decorum replying
matters wherein the in
I.
est
et of
inof inheby
at
to in
to
et
,
in
of
in* as of ofof his
ofto atad on in nohe
in
of
of orof to
he it
by of he
to a
he
in
all a
on
is
to in to in onofinofa
by of
atof a
in
of
a of to
in
in of to all
in he in
to he by he a
up on
in he of of heof
6
“lawe from the fall of Adam to the Incarnacyon of
“the Lorde Jesus Christ. Compyled by Johan Bale, “Anno Domini 1538, 8vo. ”
Another Edition of this performance was printed in
4to. by John Charlewood 1577, and in the title-page said to be now fyrst imprinted. ” (See Ames, 369. )
“A brefe Comedy or Enterlude of Johan Baptystes “preachyng in the Wildernesse, the crafty assaultes of “the hypocrytes, with the gloryouse baptysme of the
“Lorde Jesus Christ. Compyled by Johan Bale, “Anno 1538, 8vo. ”
Re-printed in the Harleian Miscellany.
“A brefe Comedy or Enterlude, concernynge the
“temptatyon of our Lorde and Saver Jesus Christ by “Sathan in the desart. Compyled by Johan Bale,
“Anno 1538, 8vo. ” According to Ames
printed abroad,
This present copy
(Ames, 497,498. )
these pieces were originally
taken from old Black Letter edition 4to. the valuable collection David
Garrick, Esq. The title-page being damaged,
unable give the date
will not imagined, that any the pieces
this volume, except Ferrex and Porrex, are given
am
good; but only curiosities, and
low beginnings our stage has arisen. they afford any entertainment,
shew from what this view
What remarkable this drama into seven acts,t and the end
that that
each act
intended. divided
kind
chorus, which was performed with voices and instru ments. The curious reader will observe, this and the other pieces which compose this volume, how very loose and undetermined the orthography our lan
very likely was the first edition from English press,
the copy bearing the date 1588, the time when was “com piled” Bale was obviously printed abroad, and probably
itself into seven ages periods, for the seven promises the Creator Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Esaias, and John
the Baptist.
Geneva. C.
-
+It will seen that the design the author necessarily divided
Ç.
or
of
is
by
I as in
of
as
“
*
at
as
it
in
of It
It
toby isto be
in
an
of is,
all to
an
it is If of isin
of
at
of it.
all
is a
of
as in
be
in
it
is
7
guage was about 200 years ago: the same words being so constantly spelled different ways, makes it very cer
tain they had no fixed rule of right and wrong in spelling; and provided the letters did but in any manner make out the sound of the word they would express, it was thought sufficient.
INTERLOCUTORES,
PATER COELESTIs. Justus NoAH. MosEs sanctus. EsAIA's propheta. ADAM primus homo. AB RAHAM fidelis. DAvID rew pius.
JoA N N Es baptista.
BALEUs prolocutor. ”
* This list of characters is not in the old copy but was made out from the mention of persons in the progress of the piece. C.
GO D’S PRO M I SES.
BALEUs Prolocutor.
If profyght maye growe, most Christen audyence, By knowlege of thynges whych are but transytorye,
And here for a tyme, of moch more congruence, Advantage myght sprynge, by the serche of causes
heavenlye,
As those matters are, that the Gospell specyfye.
Without whose knowledge no man to the truthe can fall,” -
Nor ever atteyne to the lyfe perpetuall.
For he that knoweth not the lyvynge God eternall, The father, the sonne, and also the holye Ghost,
And what Christ suffered for redempcyon of us all, What he commaunded, and taught in every coost,
And what he forbode, that man must nedes be lost, And cleane secluded, from the faythfull chosen sorte, In heavens above, hys most hygh dysconforte.
Yow therfor (good fryndes) lovyngely exhort Towaye soche matters, wyll uttered here,
whom may loke have tryfeling sporte fantasyes fayned, nor soche lyke gaudysh gere,
But the thyngs that shall your inwarde stomake chear, The old copy from which this dramatic piece was first reprinted
Dodsley, and subsequently and part the leaf lost, last word this line:
Mr. Reed, having been damaged,
was not possible ascertain exactly was therefore supplied conjecture
and very happily: the line has till now stood
“Without whose knowledge no man the truthe can come. ”
But the form the stanza and the rhime the next line shews decidedly that this wrong. There are objections the
word fall, now substituted for come, for the sake Perpetuall: fall from the truth, however not Pression, and without very great violence case
may perhaps also use full the truth.
rhiming with
uncommon ex such necessity
we
the
by *
In Of ye
to to
is
it it
by
to as
to
in is a
I no be
C.
of an of
to in
to
of
to
by to
not
of of
a
the
10 God's PRoMises.
[ACT 1.
Yea, first ye shall have the eternal generacyon
Of Christ, like as Johan in hys first chaptre wryght, And consequentlye of man the first creacyon,
The abuse and fall, through hys first oversyght,
And the rayse agayne through God's hygh grace and
myght:
By promyses first, whych shall be declared all, Then by hys owne sonne, the worker pryncypall.
After that Adam bywayleth here hys fall,
God wyll shewe mercye to every generacyon,
And to hys kyngedome, of hys great goodnesse call Hys elected spouse, or faythfull congregacyon,
As here shall apere by open protestacyon,
Whych from Christe's birthe shall to hys death con clude:
They come that therof wyll shewe the certytude.
ACTUS PRIMUS. *
Pater calestis. In the begynnynge, before the hea vens were create,
In me and of me was my sonne sempyternall With the holy Ghost, in one degre or estate
Of the hygh Godhed, to me the father coequall,
And thys my sonne was with me one God essencyall, Without separacyon at any tyme from me.
heaven and earthe, and have their dyverse workynge: Wythout hys power, was never made anye thynge, That was wrought; but through hys ordynaunce, Each have hys strength and whole contynuance.
hym the lyfe and the just recoveraunce
The commencement this Act not marked the original although notice given conclusion.
To rejoyce in God for your justyfycacyon,
And alone in Christ to hope for your salvacyon.
.
equall dignyte.
True God he
Sens the begynnynge, my sonne hath ever be, Joined wyth hys Father one essencyall beynge. All thynges were create hym yehe degre,
of of its
byin in
is C.
*
In In
is is
is, of
in
Act. I. ]
GoD's PROM is Es. 11
For Adam and hys, which nought but deathe deserved. And thys lyfe to men is an hygh perseveraunce,
Or a lyght of faythe, wherby they shall be saved.
And thys lyght shall shyne amonge the people darkened
With unfaythfulnesse. Yet shall they not with hym take,
But of wyllfull hart hys lyberall grace forsake. Whych wyll compell me agaynst man for to make
In my dyspleasure, and sende plages of coreccyon, Most grevouse and sharpe, hys wanton lustes to slake, By water and fyre, by sycknesse and infeccyon,
Of pestylent sores, molestynge hys compleccyon,
By troublouse warre, by derthe and peynefull scarse nesse,
And after thys lyfe be an extreme heavynesse.
I wyll first begynne with Adam for hys lewdenesse,
Whych for an apple neglected my commaundement.
He shall contynue in laboure for hys rashenesse,
Hys onlye sweate shall provyde hys food and rayment: Yea, yet must he have a greatter ponnyshment,
Most terryble deathe shall brynge hym to hys ende,
To teache hym how he hys lord God shall offende. Hic pracceps in terram cadit Adamus, ac post quartum
versum denuo resurgit.
Adam primus homo. Mercyfull Father, thy pytiefull
grace extende
To me carefull wretche, whych have mesore abused, Thy precept breakynge. O Lorde, I mynde to amende,
If thy great goodnesse wolde now have me excused, Most heavenlye Maker, lete me not be refused,
Nor cast from thy syght for one pore synnefull cryme, Alas I am frayle, my whole kynde ys but slyme.
Pater calestis. I wott it is so, yet art thu no lesse faultye,
Than thu haddyst bene made of matter moch more worthye.
I gave the reason, and wytte to understande
The good from the evyll, and not to take on hande,
Of a braynelesse mynde, the thynge whych I forbad the. l
12 GoD's PROMISEs.
|Act 1.
Adam primus homo. Soch heavye fortune hath chefelye chaunced me,
For that I was left to myne owne lyberte.
Pater calestis. Then thu art blamelesse, and the
faulte thu layest to me.
Adam primus homo. Naye ascribe my own imbecyllyte.
No faulte the Lorde, but my infirmyte,
And want respect soche gyftes
Pater calestis. For that lyberte,
Thu oughtest my goodnesse
Adam primus homo. Avoyde me so harde.
put the
Lorde, now perceyve what power man,
And strength hymselfe, whan thy swete grace
have
thu gavest me. thyne owne
more regarde. cannot, thu layest
absent.
-
He must nedes but fall, do he the best he can,
apereth evydent; thu wert present;
Pater calestis. Thu shalt dye for with thy posteryte. -
Adam primus homo. For one faulte, good lorde, avenge not thyself me,
posteryte.
Adam primus homo. Yet mercy swete lorde, anye
mercy maye be.
Pater calestis. am immutable, maye change -
decre.
Thu shalt dye (Isaye) without anye remedye.
Adam primus homo. Yet gracy. ouse Father, extende me thy mercye, - And throwe not awaye the worke whych thu hast create
To thyne owne Image, but avert from me thy hate.
Pater calestis. But art thu sorye from bottom thy hart
And daunger hymselfe, For synned not longe
But whan thu wert gone,
And the dyspleased. Good lorde axe the mercy.
Who am but
Pater calestis. saye thu shalt dye, with thy whole
fell synne and by,
worme, fleshelye vanyte.
I
2 a Iofin
of
yf mo
all
to
to
II
of to
I
I to
it to I
all I
or
a on
I as as
I in
it,
by
in
is
it
is
in
at
as
to
in
Act
GoD's PROM1s Es. 13
Adam primus homo. Thy dyspleasure me most heavye smart.
Pater calestis. Than wyll tell the what thu shalt stycke unto,
Lyfe recover, and my good faver also.
Adam primus homo. Tell me, swete Lorde, that
maye therafter go.
Pater calestis. Thys my covenant the and thy sprynge.
For that thu hast bene deceyved the serpent, wyll put hatred betwixt hym for hys doynge,
And the woman kynde. They shall herafter dyssent; Hys sede with her sede shall never have agrement; Hersede shall presse downe hys heade unto the grounde, Slee hys suggestyons, and hys whole power confounde,
Cleave thys promyse, with thy inwarde powre,
Fyrmelye enclose thy remembraunce fast; Folde . thy faythe with full hope day and houre, And thy salvacyon will the last.
thy wyckednesse past, And procure thy peace, with most hygh grace my
That sede shall clere the syght.
Sethu
and holde not the matter lyght. Adam primus homo. Swete lorde, the promyse that
thyself here hath made me,
thy mere goodnesse, and not my deservynge,
my faythe trust shall establyshed be,
helpe longe
And shewe That they
thy grace, that shall remaynynge shall have here contynuynge,
wyll my posteryte,
lyke case have therby felycyte.
Pater calestis. For closynge up, take yet one sentence with the.
Adam primus homo. thy pleasure, Lorde, thynges myght ever be. -
Pater calestis. For that my promyse maye have the deper effect
the faythe the and thy generacyon,
Take thys sygne with seale therto connect. Crepe shall the serpent, for hys abhomynacyon;
In
So ByIn Of
I
of
to
in
as of it I
to
of
II
it,
to
it
it in
it,
as all
a it allat I
a
At so of be
ys
all
all I
be
of
all by
in
it in
to
1. ]
to
is to
it
14 God's PRom is Es.
[Act I.
The woman shall sorowe in paynefull propagacyon.
Like as thu shalt findethys true in outwarde workynge, So thynke the other, though it be an hydden thynge.
Adam primus homo. Incessaunt praysynge to the most heavenlye lorde
For thys thy socoure, and undeserved kyndnesse
Thubyndest me in hart thy gracy. ouse gyftes to recorde,
And to beare in mynde, now after my heavynesse,
The brute of thy name, with inwarde joye and glad Inesse.
Thu dysdaynest not, as wele apereth thys daye,
To fatche to thy folde thy first shepe goynge astraye.
Most myghtye maker, thu castest not yet awaye Thy synnefull servaunt, whych hath done most offence.
It is not thy mynde for ever I shuld decaye,
But thu reservest me, of thy-benyvolence,
And hast provyded for me a recompence,
By thy appoyntment, like as I have receyved
In thy stronge promyse, here openly pronounced.
Thys goodnesse, dere lorde, of me is undeserved, I so declynynge from thy first instytucyon,
At so lyght mocyons. To one that thus hath swerved,
What a lorde art thu, to geve soche retrybucyon 1 I, damnable wretche, deserved execucyon
Of terryble deathe,
without remedye, good memorye.
rejoyce here inwardelye,
helle, deathe, and dampnacyon,
put out am enforced An ympe though
And
Through my owne workynge: for consydre thy mercye And pytiefull mynde for my whole generacyon.
thu, swete lorde, that workest my salvacyon,
And my recover. Therfor congruence,
From hens thu must have my hart and obedyence.
Though mortall, reason my offence,
And shall dye the deathe", like God hath appoynted:
This scriptural expression occurs very frequently dramatick writers.
Never this heart shall have the thoughtful dread
our ancient
your grace's doom, By just desert, shall pronounc'd me:
To die the death that
Ferrex and Porrex, A.
4.
S. * 2. -
t be by
Ibeto of
to
of
*
It is
I
in
I be
to be
by
a as
of
all I
of
all
ACT. II. ]
GoD's PROM Ises. 15
Of thys am I sure, through hys hygh influence,
At a serten daye agayne to be revyved.
From grounde of my hart thys shall not be removed,
I have it in faythe and therfor I will synge,
Thys Antheme to hym that my salvacyon shall brynge.
Tunc sonora voce, provolutis genibus, Antiphonam incipit,
O sapientia, quam prosequetur chorus cum organis, eo interim ereunte.
Vel sub eodem tono poterit Anglice cantari.
eternal sapyence, that procedest from the mouthe the hyghest, reachynge fourth with great power
from the begynnynge the ende, with heavenlye
swetnesse dysposynge all creatures, come now and en struct the true waye thy godlye prudence.
Finit Actus primus.
ACTUS SECUNDUS.
Pater calestis. have bene moved stryke man dyverselye,
Sens lefte Adam thys same earthly mansyon; For whye? hath done me dyspleasures manye, And wyll not amende hys lyfe anye condycyon:
respect hath my worde nor momycyon,
But doth what hym lust, without dyscrete advysement, And wyll wyse take myne advertysement.
Cain hath slayne Abel, hys brother, innocent,
Whose bloude from the earthe doth call vengeaunce:
Either die the death, abjure For ever the society men.
- Midsummer's Night's Dream, Or else must not only die the death,
But thy unkindness shall his death draw out To lingering sufferance.
me for
Measure for Measure, A. See Dr. 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
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of
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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.
