The Countesse of Pembrokes Emanuel Conteining the natiuity, passion, buriall, and resurrection of Christ: togeather with certaine Psalmes of Dauid. All in English hexameters. By Abraham Fraunce.

The Countesse of Pembrokes Emanuel .

The Natiuity of Christ , in ryming Hexameters . CHriste euer-lyuing , once dying , only triumpher Ouer death by death ; Christe Iesus mighty redeemer Of forelorne mankynde , which led captyuyty captiue , And made thraldome thrall ; whose grace and mercy defensiue Mercyles and graceles men sau'd ; Christe liuely reuiuer Of sowles oppressed with sin ; Christe louely reporter Of good-spell Gospell , Mayds son , celestial ofspring , Emanuel , Man-god , Messyas , euer abounding With pity perpetuall , with pure loue , charity liuely , This Christe shal be my song , and my meditation only , O euerlasting aeternall , euer-abyding , Euer-lyuing Lord : O life , and stil-pity-taking , Stil-quicknyng Spyrite , which causedst God to be manly , That true-God true-man might soe cause man to be godly ; Graunt mee a sounding voyce to recount these funeral horrors , Which made vs t' enioy those sweete celestial harbors . And thou Babe stil-borne , borne always from the begynning , Whose sweete byrth in skyes causd Angels for to be singing ; Looke , sweete Babe , from aboue , lend gracius eares to my prayers , Soe shall these my lipps , this mouth , this tong , be thy praysers . When noe Sunne gaue light , noe Moone distinctly apeared , And noe twinckling starrs this lightsom Olympus adorned , When noe world was made ; then that most mighty Iehoua , That king omnipotent , that Lord and only Monarcha Himself did meditate , enioyd his glorius essence , Glorius , aeternall , vnspeakable , infynit essence : Liu'd and lou'd himself , himself , felicity matchles , All through all , chief good , chief blisse , perfection endles . But the most good God , this simple Trinity blessed , This most louing Lord , this three-fould Vnity sacred , Would haue this goodnes manifest , this bounty declared , This loue expressed this wondrous mercy reuealed . In tyme conuenient therefore this world he created , And it , a large Theater to behould his glory , apoynted . Which when he had with store of treasures richly replenisht , And with abundant grace causd euery part to be furnisht ; Man was made at length ; Adam was lastly created , Last woork , not least woork ; Adam was dayntily framed , Most perfect creature , and like to the mighty Creator , Good , wise , immortall , of mankynde onely beginner . But prowd ambition , but Serpent craftily cloaking With curst bitter-sweete his cankred poyson abounding , Adam dispossest of pleasant beautiful harbors , Adams hart possest with most vnspeakable horrors : Man was mard at length , Adam was fowly defaced , Last woork , and lost woork , Adam was filthily fowled , Most cursed creature , vnlyke to the mighty creator , Bad , foolish , mortall , of mankinde only the murdrer . Yet that greatest God , pitying this fall of a sinner , His manyfold mercies did againe most freely remember : Gaue new grace to the world , and caused his only begotten , Only beloued son to be sent vs downe fro the heauen : Here to receaue our flesh , and here with thorns to be crowned , Here to be mockt , to be whipt , and here at last to be murdred : Murdred for mankynde , t' appease Gods infinit anger , Guyltles for guylefull , man synles , for man a synner . And now that good tyme ; that ioyfull day was aproaching , Which by the liuing Lord was apoynted from the begynning : There was a man which came from Dauyds progeny noble , Called iust Ioseph , but dwelt in a place very simple , Nazzareth it was nam'de : himself had lately betroathed That most spotles spowse , that Mayden Mary renowned : Whoe to be Christs mother was a chosen vessel apoynted , And by an Angels voyce from God thus friendly saluted ; Hayle , o sacred Nymph , of woemens company greatest , Blest with abundant grace , to the blessed Trynity dearest . At these wondrous woords this mayde was somwhat abashed , And did meruayle much , by an Angel strangely saluted . Which when Gabriel once perceaued , he myldly replyed , Feare not blessed Mary , beleeue and stand not amased : Blessed Mary , beleeue , thou shalt be a mayd , be a mother , Iesus thy son shall be a King , be a Lord , be a ruler : Ruler , Lord , and King , almighty , without any ending , His faythfull subiects with grace and mercy protecting . Mary began thus againe : Good God , this seemeth a woonder , How can a mayde conceaue ? can a may'd vntutcht be a mother ? Gabryel added againe , this thy conception holy Is not a woork of man , but Gods operation only . Gods dyuine power shall woork this woonder vpon thee , And therfore this chylde soe borne is son to the mighty , Mighty triumphant Lord : this Lords dyuynyty dreadfull Thy cosyn Elisabeth made alsoe for to be fruytfull , Which was barren afore : therfore geue eare to the Lords heast , For there is noething impossible vnto the highest . Mary resolu'd in mynde this message firmely beleeued , And submytts herself , by the Angells woords to be guyded . Then soone after that , to the hylls of Iury shee hastned , And there , Elisabeth greate with Chylde , sweetly saluted . At which chearefull woords from blessed Mary proceeding Elisabeths yong babe this sound very strangely receauing , Sprang in wombe for ioy , causd Maryes voyce to be sounding , Elisabeth to reioyce , dumbe Zachary for to be speaking . Mary , with her kinsfolk , three moonth's in Iury remayned , And then blessed Nymph to her husband home shee returned , Husband iust Ioseph , good man , whoe thought it a wonder , That new wife , vnknown , vntutcht , should now be a mother . Vnwilling therfore in publyke place to reproue her , Good-natur'd Ioseph meant pryuyly for to renounce her . This man thus meanyng , in sleepe Gods Angel apeared , And with chearefull woords this message fryendly delyured . Feare not , iust Ioseph , thy wife is a mayde , is a mother , Pure , chaste , vnspotted , feare not therefore to receaue her . This babe is Gods Chylde , this son coelestial of-spring , Lambe of God , Gods heyre , ordeyned from the begynning For to redeeme lost Sheepe , to be mankynds sole mediator , For to releeue poore sowles , to be mankynds mighty protector . Ioseph awak's from sleepe , Gods Angel he gladly obeyeth , And his matchles mate , mayd , Mother , Mary receaueth . In those dayes all warrs and vproares fully repressed , Augustus Caesar causd euery man to be taxed , Taxed in each mans towne : then Ioseph quyckly remoued Vnto the blest Beathleme , and brought home Mary beloued ; Mary beloued he brought ; whoe there , when tyme was apoynted , Was mayde , was Mother , was most dyuynely delyured , Bare her first borne Chylde , and layd hym downe in a manger , Wrapt in swadling cloaths , poore bed , for want of a better . Seelly Shepheards by the night theyr flocks were waryly watching , And fro the skyes they sawe strange brightnes mightyly shynyng : Downe to the ground they fall : but an Angel cheareful apeared , And with ioyfull news theyr trembling harts he reuyued . Feare not fryendly shepheards , for I bring good news from Olympus , This day borne is a babe , his name is called Iesus , Only Reconcyler , Mediator , mighty Redeemer , Only the salue to the sick , and pardon free to the synner . And take this for a signe : this babe is a sleepe in a manger , Wrapt in swadlyng cloaths , sweete sowle , and cast in a corner . Eu'n as he spake these woords , many thousands sweetly resounding Immortall spyrites , coelestial harmony making , Sang and praysed God , lyfting theyr voyce to the heauen , For this ioyfull byrth , this blessed babe of a mayden , Glory to God most high , good will to man , and to his of-spring , Peace to the earth itself , and all that on earth is abyding . Seelly Shepherds ran downe to behould theyr only redeemer , And found all to be true , and sawe Christe layd in a manger . Then they praysed God , most chereful company keeping , And gaue lawd to the Lord , that gracius harmony making , Glory to God most high , good will to man , and to his of-spring , Peace to the earth itself , and all that on earth is abyding . Soe that on euery syde , this glorius eccho resounded , Glory to God most high , which man-kynde freely redeemed , Freely redeem'd man-kynde , yet man-kynde dearely redeemed , In that his owne deare sonne for man was freely delyu'red . O blessed byrth day , ô starts most luckyly shynyng , O first day of ioy , and last of anoy to the of-spring Of sinfull man-kynde , ô greate compassion endles , O loue still fayntles pyty peareles , Charyty matchles . God that ruleth aboue in royall throane of Olympus , Sent his blessed Babe , and only begotten among vs : And fro the bowre of blisse did abase him downe to the manger , For to reconcile vs lost sheepe , that wandred in error . Noemans tong can tell , nor noemans hart can imagin , That th' aeternall God , should thus take flesh of a Virgin . Christe that in heauen sate with God most mighty coaequall , From the beginning crownd with grace and glory supernall , This God's made to be man , this King is come from the scepter , This Christe is swadled , this Lord is laid in a manger : Christe whoe fils each place , ( ô Christe how are wee beholding ? ) Christe whome noe-place holds , in soe small place is abiding ; Christe noe-way-conteind , Christ first , last , Christ the Creator , Infinit euery way , is now conteynd of a creture ; Christe noe-where-enclosd , Christe ender , Christe the beginner . Euery-where , noe-where , is now enclosd in a corner . And all this for man : soe that , where sin was abounding , Grace did abound much more ; as man was cause of a falling , Man was a raiser againe ; as man made deadly beginning , Soe true God , true man did make most gracius ending . Adam sinned first , and brought in death to reward it : Christe by death kild death , and gaue his life to remoue it . Adam lost Paradise , where pleasures earthly abyded ; Christe purchast heauen , where treasures greater abounded . Serpent wyly beguyld Adam , by the meanes of a woeman ; Serpents head was bruisd by Christe , by the meanes of a woeman . Aspyring Adam was quite cast downe to the darcknes , Humble-minded Christe hath lifted vs vp to the brightnes Of stil lasting light , to the ioyful face , to the presence Of God , there to behold his sacred ineffable essence . Sing then , friendly Shepherds , and lift your voyce to the heauen , Glory to God most high , for blessed Babe of a Mayden . Whom neither Sathan could daunt , nor company hellish , Nor raging Pharisees , nor deaths vnspeakable anguish : Who by the crosse , by the nayles , by the spear , by the thorns , by the whipping , Passed alost to the skies , and there in ioy is abyding : Whoe by the whipps , by the thorns , by the speare , by the nayles , by the crossing ; Lifted vs vp to the skies , with his Angels stil to be dwelling . Whoe to be blest , was curst ; whoe gaue himself for a ransome , Whoe by the Crosse crost death , by death obteynd vs a Kingdome . Whose incessant pangs , whose grief and agony restles , Whose bloody sweate did cause our sinfull soules to be spotles . Sing then , friendly Shepherds , and Angels all be a singing : Come fro the Fast , you Kings , and make acceptable offring : Come fro the East by the light of a blessed starre that apeareth , And to the King of Iews your footesteps rightly directeth . Loe , here lyes your Lord , bow downe , make peaceable offring , Gold to the golden Babe , of golden time the beginning ; Franckencense and Myrrhe , to be sweete perfumes to the sweetest Chylde , that sweete sacrifice , acceptable vnto the highest , Sweete-smelling sacrifice , once offered only for euer For t' appease Gods wrath and his most infynit anger . Home to the East , you Kings , and bring this news to the godly . God suffreth for man , guyltles condemnd for a guylty : Home to the East , you Kings , and tell this abroade for a wonder , Wee haue seene that Babe of a Virgin , layd in a manger : Home to the East you Kings , and shew that mighty resounding Of those sweete Angels coelestial harmony making : Tell this abroade for a truth , and think , that from the beginning , Noe such sight to an eye , noe such sound came to a hearing . Backe to the East , you Kings but back by a contrary passage , Least ye be partakers of a most vnmerciful outrage . And get away Ioseph , get away , and haste thee to Aegypt , Herode seekes thy sonne to be murdred , not to be worshipt : Merciles Herodes to be sole and only triumphant , Seeking one infant , wil murder a number of infants . Beathlem's red with blood , sweets sucklings blood that abounded , Beathlem's white with bones , babes bones all woefuly scattred . Childles mothers mourne , and howle with watery countnance , All crye out for grief , and all crye out for a vengeance : Vengeance light on a woolf , vengeance and plagues on a tyger , Vengeance on this beast , vengeance on this bloody butcher . And , when he thought his throane with firme foelicity grounded , And his senseles soule with most security flattred , Vengeance lights on a woolf , vengeance and plagues on a tyger , Vengeance on that beast ; vengeance on that bloody butcher . Lyce did suck his blood , which first was cause of a bloodshed , Vermyne tore his flesh , which babes flesh made to be mangled . Soe let such men fare , that take a delight to be murdring , Christs curse light on his head , that Christs flock loues to be spoyling Now come back Ioseph : but come not nere bloody Iury , Fly fro the butchers broode , let Nazzareth only receaue thee , There shall thy deare Chylde in yeares and wit be a growing , And with guifts of grace , with supreame glory abounding . Thence shall thy deare Chylde to the Church of God be repairing , And doating Doctors and Priests diuinely reprouing : Thinck not much therefore , if three dayes there hee abyded , Father on earth must yeelde , whylst Father in heu'n is obeyed . And now Iohn that sprang in mothers wombe , was a preaching . Teaching , baptizing , and Christs wayes duely preparing . When this Iohn Christs head with water duly besprinckled . And Christe from Iordan was now but newly remoued , Sacred Ghost fro the skies flew downe all louely to Christs head . And in forme of a Doue itself there sweetly reposed : Then fro the heu'ns these woords with chereful glory resounded , Thou art my deare chylde , in whome I doe meane to be pleased . And forerunning Iohn , Iohn Baptist dayly reporteth , Christe to be Lamb of God , that sins with mercy remoueth . At these wondrous news th' old Serpent deadly repyned , And the renowmed fame of Christe extreamely maligned , Fearing this to be that great sou'raigne lordly Monarcha , Sin-par'dning Iesus , foretold long since by Sybilla : And he remembred well , what plagues were duly denounced , When greate grand-dame Eue with a bitter sweete he beguyled . Therefore now he begins and takes occasion offred , When fouretimes ten dayes from meate and drinck he refrained , And in desert kept : he begins him thus to be tempting , With colored friendship concealed treachery cloaking . Shall the coaeternall and consubstantial ofspring Of God , soemany dayes , and soemany nights be a fasting ? Shall those purpled cheekes , which earst so cheareful apeared , Looke thus pale and wan , with too much penury pinched ? Make these stones to be bread ; for I know , if Sonne to the Thundrer Speake but a woord , it s doone : let cretures serue the Creator . But when he heard of Christe , that grace from mighty Iehoua Strengthned more than bread , and fed man more than a Manna , Then with a new stratageme to the Templs towre he repayred , And Christe ( soe Christe would ) on a pynacle high he reposed , Saying ; Leape to the ground , if thou be the Sonne to the Mighty , Thy Fathers Angels are prest at an inch to receaue thee . Yet when he heard Christe say , that God was not to be tempted , And that hee alwayes had foole hardy presumption hated , Sith both thse proou'd naught , last cast hee began to be prouing , And with spitefull rage , his latest part to be playing : For when hee had brought Christe , by Christs permission only , Vnto a huge mountaine , which gaue full view to the glory Of world and worlds wealth : World and worlds wealth wil I giue thee . Sayd this damned fiend , if thou wilt learne to obey mee . Here Christe with iust zeale and indignation vrged , That malapert rashnes with these woords boldly rebuked ; Get thee away Sathan to the burning lake of Auernus , Woorship alone is due to the sou'raigne Lord of Olympus . Then with dead despaire Christe toowell knowne hee relinquisht Sith that hee saw himself and all his villany vanquisht . Lying Serpent thus confounded ; an Angel apeared , And long-fasting Christe with chearefull foode he refreshed . Thenceforth Christe his life was noething els but a teaching , Preaching , and woorking of woonders woorthy the woondring . Sicke are whole , lame goe , dumbe speake , blynde see the Redeemer , Hearing 's giu'n to the deafe , and clensed skynne to the leaper . Netts eu'n burst with fish , and full boates gin to be sincking , Water made to be wyne makes brydegroome greatly reioycing , Wyndes are whist with a woord , and blustring storms be repressed , And foaming seaes waues to a firme walk mightily changed . Diu'ls roare out for feare , and haste their heauy departure Which tormented men with too too woeful a torture . Fiue loaues , twooe fishes , fiue thousand fully refreshed , Yet twelue baskets full with broaken meate be reserued . Seu'n loaues , feaw fishes , foure thousand fully refreshed , Yet seu'n baskets fyld with broaken meate be reserued . Elias came downe to behold life-giuer Iesus , And Moses rose vp , to behold soule-sauer Iesus , His face shyn'de as sunne : himself transform'd in a moment ; Surpassing brightnes did stand in steede of a garment , Mount Tabor glistred : sweete voyce came downe from Olympus , Heare my beloued sonne , my dearely beloued Iesus . Yea , dead men lyued : yet Iewes causd him to be dying , Whoe raisd Lazarus vp , whoe dead Gyrle made to be lyuing .

The Passion , Buryall , and Resurrection of Christe . CHriste , whose blessed byrth causd Angells for to be singing : Christe , whose louing life forst diu'ls themselus to be wondryng , Christe , whose bitter death made templs vayle to he rentyng , Grau's to be op'nyng , earth to be quaking , heu'ns to be lowring , Geue mee the grace , sweete Christe , since euery thing is a mournyng , For to recount these pangs , this crosse , this death by my mournyng . When that apoynted fight , that feareful combat aproached , Fight with pangs of death , and hells vnsuffrable horrors , Combat with mans syns , and Gods vnspeakable anger , Then cursed capten Caiphas with his hellish adhaerents Contryued platforms , conspyred ioyntly togeather For to beetray that man which was mans only redeemer . Yf that he hould on thus such wonders stil to be working , Then farewell Pharisees , with Scribes , and onely renowmed High Priests ; and therfore it s more than tyme to preuent hym . Yet forbeare for a while , till solempne feasts be determynd , Least this strange murder may chaunce to be cause of an vproare ▪ O dyuine doctors , deuout Priests , woorthy protectors Of Salomons temple , good graybeards ; that for a feast day Can vouchsaufe to delay this murder , this bloody outrage , Not for loue of God , but for this feare of an vproare . But Christe foreknowing theyr treachery , came to the leper Leper - Symons howse in Bethany : where when he supped , Mary , ( remembring how herself was lately released From seu'n tormenters ) kneeld downe to her only redeemer , Washte his blessed feete with trickling teares that abounded , Wypte liys blessed feete with her hayre that sweetly beseemed . Kyst his blessed feete ; and heade , and feete then anoynted With precious sweete balme , with most odoriferus oyntment . But that most cursed caytiue , that greedy deuouring Murdrer , cutthroate , thiefe , with his hellish treason abounding Iudas Iscariot , stil bent to the bag , to the budgett , Gan to repyne and grudge , that this soe costly anoyntment Was thus wasted away , which might haue beene by the purser Sould and geu'n to the poore : but alas this traiterus abiect Meant t' enrich hymself , and not to be good to the needy , As by his accursed stratagems it playnly apeared . For , when hee lost this pray , his master he deadly maligned , And balme box broaken brake Iudas hartful of enuy . Damnable , infernall , outragius , horrible enuy : Soe that noe myschief , noe part of a theefe , or a murdrer Was by the vile reprobate , by the damned villen omytted , Vntil hee had this losse as hee tooke it , fully recou'red , Vntil hee had for gaine his master falsly betrayed . Christe fro the mount Olyuet with an asse coms seellyly ryding , Poorely , without any pompe , to the pompous cytty repayring , Some with flowring bowes his wayes had freshly adorned , Some with fragrant flowres his passage sweetly prepared , Some causd they garments by the highe way side to be scattred , Euery man cryde out with chearefull voyce to the heauens , Hosanna sweete vmpe of Dauids gracius of-spring , Hosanna to the King almighty of Israel holy , Hosanna to the Lord of Lords , to the prince of Olympus , Soe that on euery syde , Hosanna sweetly resounded . And sweete Hosanna from rocks with an eccho rebounded . Yt was a plague to the Priests , to the fatbely Priests to behould this . Yt was a death to the Scribes , to the scraping Scribes to abyde this , Yt was a hell to the prowd Pharisees for a truth to beleeue this ; Yet , t' was a ioy to the yong and ould , for a truth to report this . And for a truth , both yong and ould went straight to the temple , Straight to the temple went with Iesus seellyly ryding , And yet on his poore asse with a princelyke glory triumphing . Into the Church when hee came more lyke to a fayre or a market , Than Salomons temple such chapmen hee quyekly remoued , Ouerturnd theyr seates , and tables iustly defaced , His fathers orders , and seruice rightly reuyued : But to the prowd Pharisees , to the scraping Scribes , to the fatt Priests It was more then a plague , then a death , then a hell to behould this . Therefore once yet againe themselus they gyn to be styrring For t'entrappe Iesus : but loe , whil'st this was a woorking , In comes that cutthroate , that thiese , yet freshly remembring How th' Alablaster box of balme his greedy deuowring Clawes escaped afore : and then to the company hellish , And Sathans synagogue , his murdring mynde he reuealed . Hayle sacred Cayphas , chiefe Priest , and mighty Protector Of Iewish customes , and Hebriews laudable orders : Hayle Scribes and Pharisees , that teach and preach the renowned Doctrine of Moses : geue eare and mark what I tell you : This wandryng vpstart vpocrite , this Christus , Iesus , Man , God , I know not what , doth abuse and dayly deceaue vs . Vs fooles his folowers ; and mee vnworthyly hating . Chiefly of all others with slaundrous taunts he reuyleth . And yet I could forget this abuse and iniury priuate , But that by these meanes he begins t'aspyre to the scepter . For , what a sedition , what a styrr doth hee make , what an vproare ? And what a sort be before , what a trayne coms dayly behynde hym ? His woonders woondring , his doctrine vaynly beleeuing , His wayes with fresh flowres and branches dayntyly dressing , His delicate fine feete with balmes most costly anoynting , His royall person with tytles princely saluting , His foamyng palfray with rich roabes gayly bedecking , Hosanna singing , and each where freely triumphing ? Yf that I bring hym bound , and soe cause all to be ended , And people quyeted , say on , what shal be my guerdon ? What shal I haue ? for I serue but a snudg , and am but a begger . Hereat Caiphas smylde , and Iews all greatly reioyced ; And of theyr syluer , they peeces thyrty apoynted For this vile butcher , which causd that Lambe to be slaughtred . These things dispatched , those fathers ghostly departed , Counsell's dissolued : Iudas back slyly returned . Christe with a curse by the way ( most fearful signe to the saythles ) That fruyteles figgtree causd euermore to be fruytles . Christe rose from table ( most perfect signe of a meeke hart ) And wash this fryends feete , teaching them for to be lowely . Christe foretould his death ( most doubtles signe of a true God ) And did note to the rest , that shameles desperat outcast . But woe woe to the wretch , but alas woe woe to the traytor , Better he were not borne , then borne to a damnable horror . Christe tooke bread and wyne ( most sacred signes to the faythful ) And gaue thancks to the Lord , and brake and gaue it among them , Most cherefull sacrament , most louly and lyuly remembrance Of Christ his body crost , and blood shed freely for all men . And now that Renegate that damned Apostata Iudas Coms to the Priest Caiphas , and there his brybe he receaueth , Brybe for blood , Lambs blood , Gods Lambe : and bringeth a great rowte Of swearing cutters and souldiers duely prepared , With lynckes and lanterns , with swerds and staues for an onsett , Marching all in aray in due and martial order , As though some fyeld were to be fought , or king to be conquer'd : Whereas alas noeman was there with force to resist them , But some feawe fishers , and theyr poore mayster Iësus . O valyant Iudas , of a warlike company capten : These be the synners plagues , these these be rewards to the wicked , That not a mouse can creepe , not a leafe can shake , not a wynde blowe ▪ But theyr sowls with syn , theyr mynds with murder aboundyng , Stil be a trembling stil be a quiu'ring , stil be a quaking , Quaking stil for dreede and feare of an hasty reuenging Afterclapp to be giu'n by the thundring Prince of Olympus . Christe after supper , gaue thancks , rose vp fro the table , Came to the mount Olyuete ; then these woords gracius vttred ; My saythfull folowers and fryends , my dearly beloued And best companyons ; this night you shal be molested , And sore offended , to behould some villanies offred : For soe t' was written long since , and truly reuealed , That your fryendly shepherd must needs at last be remoued , And his Sheepe scattred , wandring for want of a sheepsman . But faythfull folowers and fryends , but dearly beloued And best companyons , your mayster shal be reuyued , And by death kill death , and ouer death be triumphing , His faythfull folowers visyting , his dearely beloued And best companyons and fryends in Galyly seeing . Scarce had he sayd thusmuch : but Peeter stowtly replyed ; Not soe , sweete Master , though euery man be amased , liuery man fly back , yet Peeter's fully resolued . For noe loue of life , noe feare of death to be startyng : Great woords , small woonders : But Iesus gaue hym a watch-woord , His weaknes knowing , his rashnes meekly rebuking , And sayd : Poore Peeter , pray , and leaue off thy protesting , This night quickly , for all thy stowt and manly presuming , Ere that a Cock crow twise , thou shalt thrice flatly deny mee . And now when that night , that dreadfull night was aproaching Christe did watch hymselfe , and wyld his friends to be watching , Christe prayd thrice himselfe , and wyld his friends to be praying , Christe with fearefull pangs , and dropps of blood was abounding , Christe fell flat to the ground , and wisht that cup to be passing , ( Yet not his owne conceipt , but Fathers will stil obeying ) Christe at length came back , and found his friends to be sleeping : Come , let 's goe ( quoth hee ) now , it s more than tyme to be styrring , Loe here com's Iudas , with a cursed kisse to betray mee . Eu'n as hee spake these woords , that martial army apeared , Lynkes gaue light to the night , and causd their swoords to be glistring , And fore-man Iudas for a guyde went iollyly marching , That vile vipers kisse , for a signe and token apoynting . Then with a brazen face , past grace , Christe Iesus he kissed , And sayd , Hayle Mayster ; to the which Christe mildly replyed , Friend , Wherefore comst thou ? But Peeter rashly reuenging Christs disgrace , as he thought , who first came , first he requited , And Malchus right eare from his head with a swoord hee diuided . Whoso strikes with a swoord , with a swoord must looke to be stricken , And blood seekes for blood : Stay Peeter , learne to be lowly , If that I meant to reuenge , sayd Christe , and make a resistance , Could not I ten thousand Angells haue quickly procured , Whose strength these forces might haue most easily daunted ? But then my Fathers edict shou'd not be obeyed , And scriptures verifyde : This spoken , he strangely refixed Malchus his eare to his head : O meeknes , charity , mildnes , Of true God , true man , long suffring , infinit , endles : This was enough t' haue causd brute beasts themselues to be tamed , Ragged rocks to relent , and harts of flynt to be yeelding . This done : Whom doe yee seeke , quoth Christe ? To the which the renowmed Craking swashbuklers , like meeke and humble obeyssants Their mouth 's scarce op'ning , sayd thus : Wee seeke for Iesus . Then , quoth Christe , He is heere : which words diuinely proceeding From that sacred mouth , causd Iudas sowle to be trembling , Theyr captens quaking , and euery man to be reeling , And falling backward to the grownd , extreamely amased , Lyke to a towre throwne downe by the roaring crash of a thunder , Or to a man that 's scorcht by the feareful flash of a lightnyng . Christ for a while conceales that greate dyuynity dreadful , Stayes that breath which makes heu'n , earth , and hell to be quaking , Geu's them leaue to arise , and then more myldly demandeth , Whom doe yee seeke ? Iesus , say they , of Nazareth only . Haue not I sayd , he was here , quoth Christ ? What need 's any further Search ? What neede yee to bring swerds , staues , and armor abowt you ? As though some famous thiefe , or notorius owtlaw Were to be suppressed ? did I not walk dayly among you ? Did not I day by day teach , preach , and woork many woonders ? Then might your Ealders and Scribes haue sought to represse mee . But the prefixed tyme , the predestinat howre was apoynted , And this is it : Therefore my Fathers Will be obeyed , Noeman shall withstand , noeman shall make any stryuing : Loe here take Iesus : But these , must not be arested , Let them alone for a while , till greater things be reuealed . Christ then caught and bound ; his fryends with terror amased , Euery man fled back , as Sheepe that wanted a sheepesman , Or vanquisht souldyers disperst for want of a Capten . Whoe can alas that night , that cursedst night of a thowsand , Those woorks of darcknes , that mockery , villany , treason , Those byndings , beatings , spyttings , and fylthy reuylings Counteruayly with woords , or thoughts , or streames of abounding And still trickling teares ? They brought hym bound to the high Priest , Late high Priest Annas , sage Father , whoe for a pastyme , Disdainefull pastime , not for deuotion , asked Christ many ydle toyes and fond , not worthy the hearing , Of fishmen folowers , and poore contemptible abiects , Of newfound doctrine on brainesick fantasy grownded . All that I spake , sayd Christe , was spoken abroade to the whole world , All that I taught was taught in temple , among many thowsands , In corners not a woord , in secreat place not a woonder , They can tell what I taught , what I wrought , let them be reporters , Ask them . What Iack sawce , quoth a blewcoate knaue , be yee thus taught With noe more reuerence and humble duty to awnswere This reuerend Father ? learne , and take this for a lesson : Soe from a woord to a blow , with a sinfull fyste hee defyled That synles sweete mouth , which these woords peaceably vttred ; Fryend , if I haue sayd yll , beare witnes , let mee be punisht , Yt but well , why then doest thou vnworthyly stryke mee ? Here any man might thinck , that Christ thus fowly abused , Should haue beene pytyed , should haue bene fryendly releeued Of this sage Father : but alas , t is an Asse , not an Annas , And sends Christ to the chiefe of theyre good company Caiphas . Scarce was hee come to the howse , but anone they fall to reuylings , Here 's that princely Prophete , that towld vs soemany tydings , Here is Gods owne Sonne , that wrought vs soemany wonders , Famous carpet knight , and pardoner only renowmed , Sorcerer , inchaunter , taleteller , noble abuser Of fooles and matrones , that casts out diu'ls by the diu'ls help , Plucks downe Gods temple with a trice , and buyldeth a better Only within three dayes : as twooe rogues falsly suborned , Hyr'de by the owld hyrelings , had most vntruly deposed . Then good Syr Caiphas , with greate integryty asked , What sayst thou feallow , to the crymes obiected against thee ? Christ sayd iust noething , his damned iniquyty loathing . Caiphas gan to be hoate , and tooke on lyke to a Prellate , And coniuring Christe , charg'd hym by the mystery sacred Of Gods dreedfull name , to declare it playnly among them , Wheather he were that Christe , Gods Sonne , borne from the begynnyng ; Thou hast sayd , quoth Christe , yet marck what further I tell you : You shall see this Christ sitting on a mighty tribunali , On Gods owne right hand , in clowds with glory apearing . Then that puft-vp Priest from a badman , turnd to a madman , Rent his roabes in a rage , and , Blasphemy , blasphemy , roared , What doe wee seeke for proofes hereof , what need any wytnes ? Our selus haue heard all , hymself hath playnly reueald all . What 's to be herein doone ? or what , doe ye thinck , he deserueth ? Death , sayd euery man , Death , death with an eccho rebounded . Then those lewd rakehells with poysned rankor abounding , His sweete face , ô griefe , with spyttle fylthy defyled , His bloody cheeks , ô hell , with buffetts all to be bruysed , Some stroake him blindfyeld , and then thus scornefuly taunted , Now , good Christe arread , and gesse whoe gaue thee the buffet ? Peeter saw all this , Peeter that manly protester , Peeter styr'd not a foote ; Peeter that mighty protector , Peeter , stowt Peeter , by a gyrle , by a paltery damsell Is dasht , is vanquisht , forsakes his Mayster Iësus , Thrice forsakes , and twice fore-sweares his Mayster Iësus . And now Cock gan crow , and giu's him a friendly Memento , That mans flesh is frayle , that man 's but a smoke , but a vapor , His pride nought but dust , and all his glory , but ashes . Peeter in his cursing heard this Cock chearefuly chaunting , And saw Christe then all arp soule-searching sight to be turning . Yet with a louely regard , with a merciful eye to be looking . Euery eye was a bowe , and euery looke was an arrow , Eye and eye-arrow pierst Peeters hart in a moment , Peeters hart and sowle : and there inflicted a deepe wound , So deepe wound , that it had been no way possibly cured , Were not his owne soules-wound with his owne teares all to bewashed . Now he remembreth alas , his first foole-hardy presuming , Now he detesteth alas , his last vnfriendly reuolting : Now that wan countnance , which feare of death had apaled , All on a fire is set for shame of duty neglected , Sith that blood , fro the face to the hart which lately retyred , Back fro the hart to the face with speede is freshly repayred , Now his maysters eyes in his eyes are euer apearing , And therein doth he seeme his whole offence to be reading . Now Cock crowes in his eares , and calls foorth day to be wytnes , Wytnes of euery woord that Peeter spake to the darcknes . Cock with an open mouth , and lowd voyce bowldly proclaymeth , That bragging seruant his mayster cowldly renounceth . Euery sight , each sound , iust accusation offreth , And self-wounding sowle , self-condemnation vrgeth . Noe rest , noe harts-ease : now loathed lyfe he detested More , yea much more now , than death at first he abhorred . Lyfe , let Peeter dye ; lyfe , leaue to be dayly prolonging These my dolefull dayes , least lyfe soone draw'n to an ending Cause me to loose that lyfe , which neuer leaues to be lasting . This frayle life , smale broyles and shortest iarres to be shunning , Made me the greatest ioyes and endles peace to be leauing , Made me deny my Lord , of lasting lyfe the begynnyng , Made me renounce sweete life , for a follish feare to be dying . Lyfe let Peeter dye : many dayes heape on many mischifs . Blessed were those babes that dy'de , when merciles Herode Seeking one chyldes death , many Mothers made to be chyldeles : Blessed , most blessed chyldren , whose tymely departure Parted theyr sweete sowles from such , and soemany thowsand Woes , who dyed afore they knew what t' was to be synnyng , And fro the damnable earth to the highest heau'ns be remoued , Lyke to a Lilly , before it chaunce by the frost to be nypped . They , in stead of mouths , theyre throates then sweetely did open , And , for want of woords , powr'd foorth theyr blood to the heauen . O straunge thing , these babes are now with glory triumphing , Which yet neuer afore did taste any part of a fighting ; Theyr yong heads with crownes of Martyrdome be adorned , Ere any tender lockes had theyre heads sweetly bedecked ; Yea , theyr feete , that on earth were neuer seene to be treading , Walk in Olympus now , and there in ioy be abiding , But Peeters gray heares , draw graceles face to the graues-dore , Peeters long lyuing , makes Peeters sowle to be doating , Peeter lyu's , yea lyu's to deny his mayster Iësus , Lyu's , yea lyu's to renounce his lord and mayster Iësus , Lyu's , and yet forsakes , forsweares lyfe-geauer Iësus . Christe , who might commaund that glorius hoaste of Olympus , Those spotles spirites , those euer-dutiful angels , Sought , found , and tooke vs from soemany , soemany thowsands , Vs ragged fishers , from soemany , soemany thowsands , Vs poore , poorest sowles of soemany , soemany thowsands . Yet we alas his loue haue most vnlouely rewarded , And this most kinde Christe haue most vnkindly requited , Wee , most cursed crewe , of soemany , soemany thowsands , Wee , woorst vipers broode , of soemany , soemany thowsands , Wee , the detestedst twelue , of soemany , soemany thowsands . One with a cursed kisse his deare Lord falsly betrayed , Ten fled back for feare , when death and danger aproached , And I , the woorst of twelue , yea after soemany greate woords , Leaft , forsooke , forsware , Lord , Sou'raigne , Mayster Iësus . Whyl'st poore Peeter thus with mynde extreamely molested . With deepe fobbs and sighs , with streames of teares that abounded , Washed away those spotts , and most syncearely repented ; Mornyng came at last , and then those damnable owtcasts That condemned Christe , did bring hym bound to be slaughtred , Bound , bruysd , and beaten to the Romayne Deputy Pilate , Pilate , who for a Iudg of lyfe and death was apoynted . In meane tyme , Iudas possest with desperat horrors , Clog'd with a synfull sowle , with a dogged deadly repentance , Coms with his afterclapps , when he see 's his mayster Iesus Thus condemnd to the death , and runs in a rage to the high Priests , Saying , Synned I haue , that guyltles blood to betray thus . Yf thou haue synned , say they , looke thou to be plagued , What care wee for that ? w' haue kept tutch , giu'n thee thy wages . That woefull wages drew my destruction onward , That graceles guerdon my death vntymely procured , That brybe bred my bane : Take there your Mammon among you , Take back your bloody brybe : soe threw theyr syluer among them : And flinging headlong , enrag'de with an hellish Erynnis , Hangd hymself on a tree : fit death for treachery faythles : His loathed carkas was an ougly detestable obiect , Spectacle infamous , most fearefull sighte to the people , With gutts gushing foorth , wyth bowells broken asunder . Loe here , you Traytors , your treasons iustly rewarded , Your Mayster Iudas himself hath rightly requyted : Your Mayster Iudas dealt soe , that now to the worlds end Of that name Iudas , each traytor 's named a Iudas , Euery faythles fryend from that tyme 's called a Iudas . Marck Peeters weakenes , marck Iudas villany , fly from Both dead despayring , and too much hasty presumyng . Peeter started asyde for feare of death , with a faynt harte , Iudas slyded back for loue of a bribe , with a false harte : Peeter by and by wept sore and truly repented , Iudas neuer againe came home , but deadly repyned . Iudas thus bursting , highe Priests and Scribes be amased , And consulting long , at last they fully resolued , With that cursed coyne some peace of ground to be buying , For straungers ▪ buryall , with a fayned sanctyty cloaking That cursed bloodshed , that most vnnatural owtrage . Soe this pryce of blood was payd for a fyeld of a potter , Called a fyeld of blood , for a signe of this bloody murder . Christ is brought to the barr : sir Pilate sits as a bencher , Priests be his accusers : many captall crymes , many treasons , And many seditions were there obiected against him . Soe much sayd , nought prou'd ; Christ standing seellyly sylent , By smoothing Pilates commaunde was sent to the Tetrarche , Herodes Tetrarche of Galyly , there to be iudged , Sith Christ seem'd to belong t' his Iurisdiction only . Herode greatly reioyst , and looked for many woonders When Christe came : But Christe with sylence wysely rebuked This Tetrarchs tatling , and Priests vnruely reuylings . Herode contemn'd Christe , when hee saw noe hope of a wonder . Sent hym back for a foole , to the first iudg deputy Pilate , All in a long whyte coate , for a scornefull mockery cloathed . Thus poore Christ , meeke lambe was tost fro the poast to the piller , Wandring here and there , hence thence fro the Woolf to the slaughter . Pilate seeing Christ fro the Tetrarch saufly retorned , Spake to the Priests and Scribes : This man seem's stil to be guyltles , Herode sends him back : its best hee be whipt for a frantike , And soe loost at large : for I know you looke for a prisner At this feast , of course : say then , whoe shal be released ? Barrabas , or Iesus ? What needest thou to be asking O pytyfull Pilate ? thou know'st , theyr only desyring Is t' haue Christ murdred ; thou giust this lambe to the woolus iawes . Kill , kill Christ , say they , and geue vs Barrabas only . ( Barrabas , in theeuing and murdring , barbarus owtlaw . ) Then people pleasing Pilate , cauld Christ to be scourged , And in a scornefull sort to the Iews to be newly produced , But kill , kill , they cry , and crucify , crucify Iesus . Pilate seeing Christe by the sowldyers all to be scourged , Causd him then for a mock with a crowne of thorns to be crowned , With royall garments and roabes of purple adorned , And in a throane placed , with a reede in his hand for a scepter . Some mockt , some spytted , some kneeld and fynely saluted , Hayle ô King of Iews , for same and glory renowmed . Some with his owne scepter that sweete face all to be bruysed , Euery one tooke paynes , that noe paynes might be omytted , Noeman spar'd any cost , least Christ might chaunce to be spared : Yet this was not enough , t' appease theyr villany monstrous , But kill , kill , they cry , and crucify , crucify Iesus . Pilates wife in a dreame with Christ then greatly molested , Perswades her good man for feare , that he might be released : Yet noe dreames would serue t' appease theyr villany monstrous , But kill , kill , they cry , and crucify , crucify Iesus . Then iust iudg Pilate in an open shew to the people , His pure hands forsooth , with greate solempnyty washed , Thincking soe fro the guylt of guyltles blood to be quytted . Noe wynde , noe water , could stay theyr villanv monstrous , But , kill , kill , they cry , and crucify , crucify Iesus . Crucify coosnyng Christe , his death and blood be requyted On Iews that now lyue , and Iewish progeny after . Caesars saythfull fryend can abyde noe Kyng but a Caesar , Therefore looke Pilate , that this King soone be remoued . Christe in his owne coate now to the Iews was lastly presented , And by Pilates doome ( deaths doome ) giu'n vp to be crossed : Whose Crosse , in Latyne , Greeke , Hebriew , had for a tytle These woords , Here 's Iesus , Iewes King , of Nazareth , added . Chiefe Iewes tooke Iesus prickt , whip't fro the crowne to the anckles , Faynt , weake , and feeble , scarceable for to be creeping : Yet they layd on a Crosse , his shoulders heauyly loading , Dryuing him foreward , til he fell downe vnder a burden , Burden with deaths pangs , plagues , griefs , and horror abounding . Christe and Crosse faln downe , by chaunce one Symon aproached , Whoe to be Crossecaryer , by the prowd Priests then was apoynted , Crossecaryer to a place , that in Hebriew's Golgatha called , Place of deadmens sculls : where Christe they speedyly Crossed , Feete and hauds with nayles , with great nayls all to be mangled : And , for a greater spyte , two theeues they causd to be hanged , Hanged on eyther syde , and Christe almighty betweene them . Christe once nayld to the Crosse , now euery knaue is a craking , Prowd harted Pharisees , sell Scribes , hypocritical Ealders , Captens , and Souldyers , greate , smalle , from the Priest to the Pyper , Wagging theyre wise heads , laughing , and scornefuly tauntying , Thou that sau'st others , now saue thy self from a mischif , Thou that buyldst temples with a tryce , come downe fro the gallows , Come Gods deare dearling , come King of Iews fro the gybbett , Leape from a Crosse to a Crowne , from a cursed tree to a Kingdome . Christe , ( o louing Christe , long suffring Christe ) thus abused , Gaue not a check for a taunt , but alas very hartyly prayed , Father forgeue them , forget this villany Father . Hark and mark that thief , ( that thief eu'n brought to the last gaspe ) How he reuyles his Lord : Peace thiefe , geue care to thy fellow , Wee for a synfull lyfe with death are iustly rewarded , But Christs synles lyfe hath noe death duly deserued : Thou Christe , thou Iesus , thou Lord vouchsaufe to remember Mee , mee , sinfull wretch , mee , when thou comst to thy kingdome . Christe heard and sayd thus , Thy prayers shal be regarded . This day in Paradise with mee thou shalt bee receaued . O blest thief , curst thief , Sheepe , Goate : Therefore let a synner Not despaire , one thiefe is sau'd in an howre in a moment : But let a sinner feare , let a sinner not be presuming , One thiefe only repents , and scapes in an howre , in a moment . Christs coate was seameles , for a signe of an absolut , endles , And perfit kingdome : this coate soe fitly cohaerent And all-wrought ouer , was nothing toucht by the souldyers , Nor torne in peeces , nor cut , nor parted among them , But lotts cast , that some one man might wholly receaue it , That , what was foretold , might haue effectual ending . Christe now hangs on a tree , suffring vnsuffrable horrors , Torments for mans sins , and Gods vnspeakable anger : Whylst Christe is suffring , whylst fearefull pangs be aproaching , Sunne for Gods Sons griefe doth greeue , and gyns to be lowring : Hydes his darckned face , let s golden rayes be eclipsed , Seeing Light of light with pricking thorns to be crowned : Hea'n and earth is darck fro the sixth howre vnto the nynth howre , Heu'n and earth laments , and euery thing is a mourning : Heu'n and earth laments , whylst Iesus Christe is a dying , Heu'n and earths comfort , heu'n and earths only reuyuing . But now Christe gan faint , with an infinit agony troubled , And Ely Ely , and Lamasabacthany cryed , Father , deare Father , why should thy Son be refused ? Then bitter vineger they raught , when he sayd , that he thirsted , Which Christe once tasting , said , Father , now it is ended , Thy will 's fulfilled thy lawes and heast be obeyed , Take my sowle to thy hands ; Then his head he began to be bowing , With those woords his life and endles passion ending . Scarce did he yeeld his breath , but straight fro the top to the bottom . Templs vayle was rent , and torne , and broken asunder , Earth did quake , stones brake , graues op'ned , dead-men apeared . Then captens , souldyers , men , matrones , all the beholders Smote theyr breasts , and said , this man was son to the mighty , Whose strange death eu'n makes lyue dead , and dead to be lyuely . Christe is dead indeede , his bones neede not to be bruysed : Yet for a further proofe , his side was speedily pearced , Pearc't with a speare , and thence pure blood , pure water abounded . Then noble Ioseph , with faithfull friend Nicodemus Did begg of Pilate , that blessed corps of Iësus , Tooke it downe fro the crosse , fine lynnen duly prepared , With Myrrh and Aloes themselues it carefuly wynded , And in a late-made tombe , wherein was no-body chested , That sweete corps ( sweete corps of Christe almighty ) reposed , Rolled a stone to the graue , and so all heauy departed . Yet these Priests left not , til they had watchmen apoynted , And graues stone sealed , least Christe might chaunce to be stollen By his wel-willers , as they then vainly pretended ; Sots , fooles , and mad-men , stil against this prick to be kicking , And stil against this streame , this sacred streame to be striuing . For when third day came , there came with a terrible earthquake Gods Angel fro the skies , and rold that stone fro the graues-dore , And there sate for a while : his face was like to a lightning , His roabes white as snow , which made those watchmen amazed , And half dead for feare : but th' Angel spake to the women , ( Twoo Maries , comming of purpose , for to anoynt Christe With precious spices , with sweete odoriferus oyntments ) You seeke here for Christe , here Christe is not to be sought for , Christe is quickned againe , and risn ' , as he truly reported , And foretold his friends ; in Galyly there wil hee meete them , Loe , where lately hee lay : feare not , but boldly report it . As they ran to report , Christ Iesus plainly apeared , And met them by the way , and bade them not be amazed , But bring news to the rest , that he would in Galyly see them . This doone , and they gone ; poore watchmen ran to the Citty ; And told all to the Priests ; whoe then with an obstinat error , And wilfull blyndenes , these watchmen largely rewarded , Willing them to report , and tell this abroade to the people , That Christs disciples stole him by night fro the watchmen , Whylst they lay sleeping . Which haeresy stoutly , to this day Stifneckt Iews mainteine : ô curst and damnable error , O hard-harted Iewes , that giue more care to a hyreling And brybed souldier , by the prowd Priests falsly suborned , Than to the truth it self with soe great glory reuealed , Than to the eyes which saw , to the eares which heard , to the fingers And to the hands which felt that which was truly reported , Hands which felt Chrysts hands and feete and sides to be wounded , Fares which heard his woords and blessings sweetely delyu'red , Eyes which saw and knew , that Christe in Galyly walked , And foure times ten dayes in diuers places apeared : Eyes which saw Christe eate , and then fro the earth to be lifted Vp to the highest heu'ns , and there with glory receaued On Gods owne right hand with iurisdiction endles : Vntil he come to be Iudg of quick and dead , by the thundring Sound of a fearefull trumpe : and bring his sheepe to the sheepefold Immortall sheepefold , and goates throw downe to the darcknes Aeternall darcknes , fro the sacred face , fro the presence Of God , there to abyde with Lucifer and his adhaerents , Plagud with a dying life , with a lyuing death , with a roaring , Weeping , and gnashing of teeth , and horrible howling : Where 's nought but woe , woe ; but a worme stil greedily gryping , Nought but a loathsome lake with fyre and Sulphur abounding .

FINIS .