A most excellent and famous ditty of Sampson iudge of Israel how hee wedded Philistines daughter, who at length forsooke him: also how hee slew a lyon, and propounded a riddle, and after how hee was falsely betrayed by Dalila, and of his death. To the tune of the Spanish pauin.

A most excellent and famous Ditty of Sampson Iudge of Israel , how hee wedded Philistines Daughter , who at length forsooke him : also how hee slew a Lyon , and propounded a Riddle , and after how hee was falsely betrayed by Dalila , and of his death . To the tune of the Spanish pauin . WHen Sampson was a tall yong man His power and strength increased than And in the host and Tribe of Dan , the Lord did blesse him still . It chanced so v●on a day , As he was walking on his way , He saw a Maiden fresh and gay in Ti●nah . With whom he fell so sore in loue , That he his fancy couldnot moue : His Parents therefore he did proue , and craued their good wills . I haue found out a wife quoth he , I pray you Father giue her me , Though she a strangers daughter be , I passe not . Then did bespeake his Parents deere , Haue we not many Maydens here , Of Countrey , and acquaintance neere , for thee to loue and like ? O no , ( quoth Sampson presently ) Not one so pleasant in mine eye , Whom I could find so faithfully to fancy . At length they granted their consent : And so with Sampson foorth they went , To see the Mayd was their intent . which was so faire and bright : But as they were a going there , A Lyon put them in great feare , Whom Sompson presently did teare , in peeces . When they were come vnto the place , They were agreed in the case : The wedding day appoynted was : and when the time was come . As Sampson went for beauties fées , The Lyons carkasse there he sees , Wherein a sort of honny bees had swarmed . Then closely Sampson went his way , And not a word thereof did say , Vntill the merry feasting day , vnto the Company . A Riddle I will shew , quoth he , The meaning if you tell to me Within seauen dayes , I will giue yée great riches . But if the meaning you doe misse , And cannot shew me what it is , Then shall you giue to me ( I wisse ) so much as I haue said . Put foorth the Riddle ( then quoth they ) And wee will tell it by our day , Or we will lose ( as thou dost say ) the wager . Then make ( quoth hee ) the totall summer Out of the eater meate did come , And from the strong did sweetnesse runne , declare it if you can . And when they heard the Riddle told , Their hearts wichin them waxed cold : For none of them could then vnfold the meaning . Then vnto Sampsons wife went they And theatned her with delay , If she would not the the thing bewray , to burne her Fathers house . Then Sampsons wife with griefe and woe Desired him the same to show : And when she knew she straight did goe to tell them . Then were they all full glad of this , To tell the thing they did not misse , What stronger beast then Lyon is ? What sweeter meat ? then honny : The Sampson answered them full round : If my Hayfar had not ploughed the ground , So easily you had not found my Riddle . Then Sampson did his losses pay , And to his father went his way , But wisht with them he there did stay , his wife forsooke him quite , And tooke another to her Loue , Which Sampsons anger much did moue , To plague them therefore he did proue his cunning . A subtill sight he then had found , To burne their corne vpon the ground , Their Vineyards he destroyed round which made them fret and fume . But when they knew that Sampson he Had done them all this iniury , Because his wife did him deny , they killed her . And afterward they had decreed , To murther Sampson for that deed , Three thousand men they sent with speede to bring him bound to them : But he did breake his cords apace , And with the Iaw-bone of an Asse , A thousand men ere he did passe , he killed . When all his foes were laid in dust , Then Sampson was full sore athirst , In God therefore was all his trust , to helpe his fainting heart : For liquor thereabout was none ? The Lord therefore from the Iaw-bone , Did make fresh water spring alone . to helpe him . Then Sampson had a ioyfull spright , And in a Citty lay that nigh , Whereas his foes with deadly spight , did seeke his life to spill : But he at midnight then awakes , And tearing downe the Citty gates With him away the same he takes , most stoutly . Then on Dalila faire and bright , Did Sampson set his whole delight , Whom he did loue both day and night , which wrought his ouerthrow : For she with sweete words did intreat , That for her sake he would repeat , Wherein his strength , that was so great consisted . At length vnto his water fall , And through her suite , which was not 〈◊〉 He did not let to shew her all , the secrets of his heart : If that my hayre be cut , ( quoth he ) Which now so faire and long you see , Likes other men then shall I be , in weckenesse . Then through deceit which was so deepe , She lulled Sampson fast asleepe , A man shee cald which she did keepe , to cut off all his hayre . Then did she call his hatefull foes , Ere Sampson from her lap arose , Who could not then withstand their blow , for weakenesse . To binde him fast they did deuise , Then did they put out both his eyes , In prison woefully he lyes , and there he grinds the Mill. But God remembred all his paine , And did restore his strength againe , Although that bound he did remaine , in prison . The Philistines now were glad of this , For ioy they made a feast ( I wisse ) And all their Princes did not misse to come vnto the same : And being merry bene that day , For Sampson they did send stratghtway That they might laugh to see him play , among them . Then to house was Sampson led And when he had their fancies fed , He plucke the house vpon their head , and downe they tumbled all : So that with griefe and deadly paine , Three thousand persons chere was slaine , Thus Sampson then with all his traine , was braiued . FINIS .

Printed by the Assignes of Thomas Symcocke .

The wofull lamentation of Edward Smith , a poore penitent prisoner in the Iayle of Bedford , which he wrote a short time before his death . To the tune of , Daintie come thou to me . I Am a Prisoner poore , Opprest with miserie : O Lord do thou restore , that faith which wants in me . In woe I waile and weep , In griping grief I cry , In dungeon darke and deep , In fetters fast I lie Sighing I sit and moane My foule offences all , My loathsome life is knowne , which makes me liue in thrall Ned Smith I am , the wight In prison that remaines , Tormented day and night , with bands and iron chaines . My ioyes are turnd to nought , My hopes are worne away , My wickednesse hath wrought my downe-fall and decay . Those gifts that God gaue me , My wants for to supply , Abused much I haue . to please my fantasie . My name I did deny , In Baptisme giuen me , That Sacrament whereby regenerate I should be . No wit nor strength may serue The Law to satisfie : For death I do deserue , in right and equity . For I offended haue Nobles of hie degree , What fauour can I craue for life or liberty . But hope of life is past , My acts so hainous be . And liberty is lost , till death doe set me free . All men both old and young Which are at liberty , And heare my dolefull song . example take by me . Be true and trust in God , Only theft and vice eschew , Lest Gods most heauie rod , correct your deeds untrue . Would I had nere bin borne To do such wicked déeds , Which makes me liue in scorne and shame that sore excéeds . But that which passed is , I cannot now recall : My sinnes and my amisse , O Lord forgiue them all . Woe worth ill company , Fie on that filthy crue : Accurst the day may be that euer I them knew . If life and death were set Before me for to chose , Though I might pardon get , my life first would I lose , Then runne that wicked race , And doe as I haue done , Sweet Iesus giue me grace , that life so lewd to shun . Farewell my louing wife Who sought to turn my minde , And make me mend my life , thy words full true I finde , Farewell my children all , My tender Babes adue : Let this your Fathers fall , be warning good for you . Deare wife and infants three , Serue God remember this , That you true subiects be , though I haue done amisse . Farewell my musick swéet , And Cittorn siluer sound , Mourning for me is méet my sinnes do so abound . O Lord on bended knees And hands lift vp on hie , Cast on me gracious eies with grace my wants supply Lay not unto my charge , The thinges that I haue done , Though I haue runne at large . and plaid the vnthrift sonne . Yet now I do repent , And humbly come to thee My sinnes I do lament , swéet Iesus comfort me . O Lord I do Lament , And onely ioy in thee , To praise thée day and night , for thou redeemedst me . Lord saue our royall King Whose prisoner poore am I , Prolong his daies on earth , with fame and victory . Against his Maiestie , I haue offended sore , Committing Felony , and now I die therefore . A dolefull death God knowes , Which once I did defie : Thus must I end my woes which I take patiently , By thee O Sauiour swéet , In heauen I hope to rest , In ioy where I shal méet , those soules whom thou hast blest Where we shall sing thy praise , O God , with voyce high , When I shall end my dayes , and liue eternally . FINIS .

Printed by the Assignes of Thomas Symcock .