The Complaint of Verity, Poem 2 – Title page 2
¶ The inſtruction of a Father to his Children, which he wrote a few dayes before his burnynge.
GIueGive eare my Chyldren to my wordes.
Whome God hathe dearelye bought:
Lay vp his lawes within your hertes
and print them in your thought.
For I your father hauehave foreſene,
the frayle and fylthy way:
Which fleſh & bloud would folow faine
euen to their owne decay.
For all and eueryevery liuyng beaſt,
their cribbe do knowe full well:
But Adams heyres aboue the reſt,
are ready to rebell.
And all the creatures of the earth,
full well do kepe their way:
But Adams heires euē frō their birth,
are apt to goe aſtray.
For earth and aſhes is his ſtrength,
his glory and his gayne:
And into aſhes at the length,
he ſhall returne againe.
For fleſhe doth floriſhe lyke a floure,
and growe vp like a graſſe:
And is conſumed in an houre,
as it is come to paſſe.
For I the ymage of your yeares,
your treaſure and your truſt:
Am nowe dyeng before your face,
and ſhal conſume to duſt,
For as you ſee your Fathers fleſhe,
conſumed into clay:
Euen ſo ſhall ye my children deare,
conſume and weare away.
The ſun, the moone, & eke the ſtars,
that ſerue the day and night:
The earth and eueryevery earthly thinge,
ſhall be conſumed quyte.
And al the worſhip that is wrought
that hath bene heard or ſene:
Shal clean cōſume & turne to nought
as it had neuer bene.
Therfore ſee that ye folowe me,
your father and your frende:
And enter into the ſame lande,
which neuer ſhall hauehave ende.
I leaue you here a little booke,
for you to looke vponupon:
That you may ſee, your fathers face,
when he is dead and gon.
Who for the hope of heauenly thinges
while he did here remayne:
Gaue ouer all his golden yeares.
in priſone and in payne.
where I among mine iron bandes,
incloſed in the darke:
A fewe dayes before my death,
did dedicate this warke.
And in example of your youth,
to whome I wiſhe all good:
I preche you here a perfect trouth,
and ſeale it with my bloud.
To you mine heires of erthly things
wich I do leaue behinde:
That you may reade & vnderſtande,
and keepe it in your minde.
That as ye hauehave bene heires of that
whiche once ſhall weare a way:
Euen ſo ye maye poſſeſſe that parte,
which neuer ſhall decay.
In folowinge of your fathers feete,
in truth and eke in louelove:
ye may be alſo heires with him
for euermore aboue.
HaueHave god alwayes before your eyes
withal your whole intente:
Commit not ſinne in any wiſe,
keeke his commaundement.
Abhorre that arrant hoore of Rome
and all her blaſphemies
And drinke not of her decretales,
nor yet of her decrees.
Geue honour to your mother deare
remember well her paine:
And recompence her in her age,
in lyke with louelove againe.
Be alwaies ayding at her hand,
and let her not decay:
Remember well your fathers fall.
who ſhould hauehave bene her ſtay.
Geue of your portion to the poore,
as riches doth aryſe:
And from the needy naked ſoule,
turne not away your eyes.
For he that will not here the crye,
of them that ſtand in neede:
Shal crye himſelfe and not be harde,
when he would hope to ſpeede.
If God hauehave geuen you increaſe.
and bleſſed well your ſtore:
Remember ye are put in truſt,
to miniſter the more.
Beware of foule and filthy luſt,
let ſuche thinges hauehave no place:
kepe cleane your veſſels in the Lord
that he may you embrace.
ye are the temples of the Lord,
…or ye are dearly bought:
And they that do defile the ſame,
ſhall ſurely come to nought.
Poſſeſſe not pride in any wiſe,
…uilde not your houſe to hie:
But hauehave alwaies before your eies,
that ye be borne to dye.
Defraude him not that hired is,
your labour to ſuſtaine:
But giuegive him alwaies out of hand,
his peny for his paine.
And as you would an other man,
againſt you ſhould procede:
Doo you the ſame to them againe,
when they do ſtand in neede.
And part your porcion to the poore,
in money and in meate:
And feede the fainted feable ſoule,
with that whiche ye ſhould eate.
Farewall my true and louyng wyfe,
my Children and my frendes:
I hope in God to hauehave you all,
when all thinges hauehave their endes.
And if you doe abide in God,
as you hauehave now begonne:
your courſe I warrant ſhalbe ſhorte,
you hauehave not longe to ronne.
God graūt you ſo to ende your daies
as he ſhall thinke it beſt:
That I may hauehave you in the heauens
where I doe hope to reſt.
¶Finis quod Mathewe Rogers.
A lamentable complaynt of the afflicted, vntounto god our onelyonly healper.
ARyſe O Lord, why ſlepeſt thou?
ſet to thy hand in tyme of neede:
That wicked men thē ſelues may know
… be but mortal men in deed.
They doe exalt them ſelues on hie,
…r to caſt downe the ſimple ſorte:
…oſtinge of their aucthoritie,
…et none careth for Ioſephes hurte.
They robbe the poore and fatherles,
…king their good by violence:
…he faythfull flocke they doe oppres,
…herof we hauehave intelligence.
If we to them will not agree,
…en ſhall we neither bye nor ſell:
…ut faſt in priſon for to lye,
ſtockes and Irons the trueth to tel.
…hē they hauehave caught vsus in their net
…n wil they not forgo their pray:
…th ſhameful words they do vsus thret
…uenting miſchiefe eueryevery daye.
Againſt the truth they kick & ſpurne,
& breath out threates wt maine & might
All Gods elect with fyre they burne,
or els doe put them to their flight.
They ſpoyle and waſt in eueryevery place,
the people that doe feare the lorde:
Like rauening wolues void of al grace
thus they ſuppres Gods holy worde.
Locuſters they are withouten fayle,
ryſing out of the bottomles pitte:
Like ſtinking ſcorpions is their tayle,
throughout ye world gods flocke to bite.
The very trueth do they caſt downe,
what can the righteous doe withall:
Refuſyng Chriſt the corner ſtone,
& with their workes build vp the wal.
Thus are we killed all the day longe,
for thy names ſake we ſuffer payne:
As ſimple ſheepe bochers amonge,
ſo vnderunder tyrauntes we remaine.
They feede thy flock with their decrees
mainteining them with fyre & ſword:
Thus they defende moſt wicked lyes,
and kil the ſaintes of chriſt our Lord.
Wilt thou now hide thy face O lorde
the time of our tribulacion:
while the enemies of thy worde,
…e ſet vp their abhominacion.
Thy promiſſe Lorde we doe beleue
at thou wilt helpe vsus in due tyme:
though that tirauntes doe vsus greue,
death or life yet we are thyne.
For this we knowe aſſuredly,
…e lordes right hād can ſone chāge all:
…herfore we praye moſte hartely.
…his churche in generall.
Helpe now O lord for thy names ſake
… all mens thoughtes ar vaine truly:
…is of my lyfe my leaue I take,
…ſting for euer to dwell with thee.
…is. ꝙ Raffe Allerton.
A briefe reherſal of parte of the aucthours trouble, entituled God is my comforte.
IN trouble and aduerſitie,
we do finde moſt aſſuredlye
As the perfyt doeth teſtify,
that God is our comforte.
We do not feare the euil daies,
nor folow not the wicked waies:
Of Antechriſt nor yet his lawes,
for God is our comforte.
Although we hauehave bene tyed in fetters
ſo hath bene ſome of our betters:
As Peter Iohn and ſuch others,
yet God was their comforte.
Both all day and night in the ſtockes
with prety Irons and double lockes:
Abydyng tauntes rebukes & mockes
yet God is our comforte.
If we doe our Bochers diſpleaſe,
then are we caſt in little eaſe:
And often bytte with lyce and fleas,
yet God is our comforte.
Sumtime we are in lowlers tower,
or in the colehouſe ſtinkyng flower:
Lokyng when they wil vsus deuoure,
…ut God is our comforte.
With whips & rods they do vsus threat
…aiyng doubtles we ſhall you beate:
If we will not the rownd God eate.
…et God is our comforte.
we may not pray if it be harde,
…nto God that is our ſauegarde:
…age him ſay they for a rewarde,
…hough God be his comforte.
If we ſinge a Godly ſonge,
…ut of the ſtockes we are not longe:
…nd then they ſay we liue wronge:
…ut God is our comforte.
Let them not hauehave theyr meate ſay they
…nd their drinke ſe you kepe awaye:
…ut bread and water eche other day,
…et God is our comforte,
They did keepe vsus ſo Gentilly,
ſtockinge vsus ſo tenderly:
…ntill the bloud in our houſe dyd lye
…et God is our comforte.
Our Byble they hauehave taken awaye
and our bookes whereon we dyd pray,
with other thinges the truth to ſaye
yet God is our comforte.
Although wt cords thei hauehave vsus bounde
with gibes and giuers tricke and roūd,
yet in our troubles we hauehave founde,
that God is our comforte.
what if they burne vsus in the fyre,
let this be onelyonly our deſyre:
To raigne with God in his empyre,
for he his our comforte.
Let all people be glad with me,
that ſtandes to Chriſtes veritie:
And take the croſſe vp ioyfully,
for God is our comforte.
Se that no troubles turne your ha…
nor of the fleſhe to feare the ſmart:
So ſhall you ſurely hauehave your parte
with Chriſt your whole comforte.
Finis. quod. R. A.
¶The ſonge of the poore priſoners in Lolers tower.
CAyne wilt thou not withdrawe
thy hande.
to ceaſe thy frowarde wyll:
wilt thou lift vp thy firy brande,
and vexe poore Abell ſtill.
Though Abel hauehave no fleſhly ſtrengthe
thy furious wrath to tame:
yet God wil preſerue him at the length
to thy rebuke and ſhame.
Although his fleſh thou lay ful lowe
thy wrath to ſatiſfie:
yet by the death of Lamethes bowe,
for his bloud thou ſhalt die.
Though Iſmael had the greater ſtay
before the promis begonne:
yet God bad Abraham put away,
the bond maide with her ſonne.
Though Iacob fled his brothers ire
to cauſe the fury ceaſe:
yet God gaue him his whole deſire,
and brough… him home in peace.
when Iſrael out of Egipt fled,
from him that helde them thrall:
The lord preſerued the righteous ſede,
and drowned their enemies all.
when that Golias in his great pryde
his hie blaſtes out did blowe:
The lord ſoone laied his pompe aſyde
and brought his boaſtinges lowe.
when king Saule ſought Dauids life
without Dauids offence:
The Lord at laſt ended that ſtrife,
and Saule made recompence.
when Acheor to a tree was bounde.
becauſe he truth did tell:
He was ſoone healed of that wounde,
by the God of Iſraell.
when Holifernus in his rage.
againſt Goddes flocke did ſtand:
Then ſoone did his pryde aſſwage.
euen by a womans hand.
when A man made a gallowes ſtrong,
for Mardocheus the Iewe:
Himſelfe was hanged theron ere long,
for God is iuſt and true.
when Suſan was without refuge,
and like to ſuffer paine:
The Lord that is a righteous iudge
did pay her foes againe.
As Daniell in the Lions den,
was kept from wo and greefe:
So God preſerueth righteous men.
and ſendes them quicke reliefe.
when that the ouen was made red hot,
the children to deſtroy:
Gods angel the flame out ſwot,
and walked with them in ioy.
when Peter & Iohn in pryſon were,
for preaching of Gods worde:
Gods angel did the doore vnbarre,
as Luke doth well recorde.
Thus by examples ſtrong and ſure,
the Scripture doth witnes:
The enemies power can not endure,
for God doth it ſuppres.
when God made all thinges with his word,
he bleſt it with increaſe:
But ſoone the deuil brought Caine the ſword,
& bad him breake the peace.
So from that day vntounto this houre,
Cain hath the ſworde in hande:
Seking ſtill Abell to deuoure,
either by ſea or lande.
For by the deuils great enuie,
came death amongſt mankynde:
And all that his dere children be,
fulfill their fathers mynde.
Dere chriſtians be not nowe afraide
to doe your maiſters will:
For he doth promiſe to be your aide,
and your defence from ill.
His mercy is to ſuccour thoſe
that truſt to him at neede:
Feare not for God will your bands loſe
as he hath promiſed.
Therfore ſticke harde vntounto the worde
the whiche you hauehave profeſſed:
And then no doubt but that the Lorde
will ſee your cauſe redreſſed.
Now ſeing we ſhall deliuered be
as Eſdras doth declare:
By death or life, what cauſe hauehave we
either to doubt or care.
But onelyonly in our Lorde Ieſus,
to put our confidence:
who in theſe daies is vntounto vsus,
a tower and ſtrong defence.
All prayſe be to the liuing God,
which iudgeth righteouſly:
And in all ages fulfyls his worde,
his name to magnify.
Finis.
¶The wordes of Maiſter Houper at his death.
O Lord Ieſus, that for whoſe louelove I leaue wyllyngly this lyfe and deſyre the bytter death of the croſſe, with the loſſe of all my worldlye thinges, then eyther to abyde, the blaſphemie, of thy moſte holye name, or to abey vntounto menne, in breakynge of thy Commaundementes, thou ſeeſt Lorde that where I myght lyue in wealth, to worſhip a falſe god: and to honour thine ennemy, I chooſe rather the tormentes of my bodye, and the loſſe of this my lyfe, and I hauehave counted all thynges but vile duſt and donge, that I mighte wyn thee, whiche death is more deare vntounto mee then thouſandes of gold and ſyluer, ſuch louelove Lorde, haſt thou laid vp in my breſt, that I honger for thee as the deare that is wounded, deſireth the ſoile, ſo ſend thy holy comforter to ayde comfort, and ſtrengthen this weke peece of yearthe, whiche is of it ſelfe, empty of al ſtrēgth, thou remembreſt that I am, but vyle duſte and donge, and of my ſelfe able to doo nothinge, therfore O Lorde, as thou of thine a cuſtomed louelove, haſt bidden me to this banket, & counted me worthi to drink of this thy cuppe amōgeſt thine elect, giuegive me ſtrēgth againſt this thy ellyment, that as to my ſight it is moſte yrkeſom, & vntolerable, ſo to mi mind it may at thy commaundemēt, go as an obediēt ſeruaunt be ſwete and pleſant, and through the ſtrength of thy holy ſpirite, I may paſſe through the fury of this fire, into thy boſom according to thi promiſſe, and for this mortal lyfe, receyue an immortalitie, and for this corruptible receiue an incorruptibilite, accept this bornt ſacrifcie O heauenly Father, not for the ſacrifice ſake, but for thy dere ſonnes ſake my ſauiour, for whoſe teſtimoni I offer this my free wyl, offering with al my hart, with al mi ſtrength, with al my ſoule, Oh heauenli father, forgeue mee my ſinnes: as I forgeue all the worlde, O ſwete ſonne of God my ſauyour ſprede thy winges ouer me, O God the holy ghoſt, comforte ſtrengthen and ſtabliſh me, and as through thy mighty power thou haſt brought me hyther to death, ſo condyth me in to euerlaſting bliſſe, O Lord into thy handes I commende my ſpirite, thou haſte redemed me O God of truthe, Lorde hauehave mercye vponupon me, Chriſt hauehave mercy vponupon me, Lord hauehave mercy vponupon me. Amen.
¶Finis.
¶ Theſe are the wordes that Maiſter Iohn Houper wrote on the wall with a cole, in the newe Inne in Gloceter, the night before he ſuffered.
COntent thy ſelfe with pacience,
wt chriſt to beare ye croſſe of payne
…ho can or will recompence,
… thouſand folde with Ioyes againe,
…et nothing cauſe thy hart to fayle,
…ainch out thy bote, hoiſe vp thy ſaile
Put from the ſhore,
…nd be thou ſuer thou ſhalt attayne,
…nto the porte that ſhall remayne,
For euer more.
…ere not death pas not for bandes,
…nly in God put thy whole truſt:
…r he wil require thi blod at their hāds
… thou doſt know yt once die thou muſt,
Only for that thy life if thou geue,
…eth is no deth but amens for to liue
Do not diſpaire.
Of no worldly tirant ſee thou dreede,
…y cōpace whiche is gods worde ſhall the leade
…nd the wind is faire.
¶Finis.
TWO NOTABLE Sermons, Made by that worthy Martyr of Chriſt, Maſter Iohn Bradford: the one of Repentance, and the other of the Lords Supper, now newly imprinted.
Peruſed and allowed, according to the Queenes Maieſties Iniunctions.
Imprinted at London by Simon Stafford, dwelling on Adling hill. 1599.