Classic Poem

When God of hosts in eighty eight had brought,
an host of men, our Countrey to annoy:
in that distresse the Lord by vs was sought,
whereby our woes were turned then to ioy.
But yet full true to vs may this be sayde,
in your distresse, you onely seeke my ayde.


For then in deede, and only then we seeke,
when troubles great, and greeuous plagues aryse:
But those once past, no promise made, we keepe,
nor yet by them can learne to be more wyse:
But as the Sow in fylth agayne doth wallow,
so we our sinnes of former tymes do swallow.


For great and small, no sinnes of olde forbeare.
No rich, no poore, can say in hart, I ioy:
For garment whyte, which I now dayly weare,
but steede thereof, we faigne and frame each toy,
each toy, yea toyes and tayles, such to behold,
with wyer and heare, that monsters be we would


Yet few there be whose hartes consider well,
what sinnes are wrought each day by men of might.
No one there is that thinkes how God doth tell,
his owne misdeedes he worketh day and nyght:
yet doth the Lord the least of them regarde,
and will in time, giue each his full rewarde.


But how, to whip by Spayne, as some men deeme?
Not so be sure, those Rods would proue to sore:
For neuer yet, the Lord his solde I weene,
to sworde of foe, vnles Gods they had store.
But rather with his owne most gentle hand,
he hath and will still beat a sinfull land.


But wilt thou know what is the sinne of sinnes?
It is contempt of Gods most holy worde:
for that cast off, Idolatrie begins,
false Gods then sought, God draweth out his sword,
his sword? yea all his plagues therewith are sent,
when on false Gods the mindes of his are bent.


Alas, how then can we escape his hand?
Haue not all sortes his holy worde off cast?
Not so, for then nought els but plagues in land,
and it to ly both desolate and wast.
Wast? nay worse: for Ohim therein then should dwel,
yea Zim and lem in stead of men to tell.


For wilt thou see for this, what God once wrought
on his owne seate, Ierusalem of fame?
In dust she lyeth, by Babel first so brought:
once buylt agayne: yet Rome hath spoylde the same.
Too greeuous were her harmes all to be tolde,
she lyeth in dust, that glittered so with golde.


Euen shee, whose beautie shone so cleare and bryght,
that all the worlde, Perfection did her call:
Yea, shee, the ioy of all that were vpright,
none such there was, nor neuer like there shall:
yet downe she is, and neuer shall be buylt:
thou mayest so see in Gods booke, if thou wylt.


And so Aholah sister hers lykewyse,
before her long, with Asshurs rod was whypt:
for that new goddes amongst them did aryse,
Gods worde cast off, and Omries lawes well kept,
from Ahabs house their manners still they sought:
wherefore to dust, their glorious crowne was brought


And so in dayes of Judges, long before,
the Lord his solde, to spoylers rounde about:
because their goddes they dayly did adore,
and praysed them, whom God had bid thrust out:
but quite forgot the Lord, who did redeeme
their neckes from thrall: him did they not esteeme.


And hath not this of vs yet taken holde?
Not full I hope: for though great store therebe
who make them Gods of wealth and wedge of gold,
of lustes of flesh, and pleasures of the eye:
All those who loue their wealth or pleasure more
then they do God, to them, Gods they are sure.


But yet this sinne on all hath not layde holde,
For though on some, yet many more there bee,
who neuer sought to Gods yet made of mould,
or Sunne or Starres: for such ne heare nor see,
To one they call, who can their sute well heare,
and doth to them by worde and workes appeare.


To God alone we seeke in hope to finde,
by meanes of Christ, eternall sonne of his,
who did our sinnes and foes to tree fast binde,
when he on earth Gods statutes none did mis:
yet death he tooke, the wages due for sinne,
and so by death, spoyld him that death brought in.


Who after death, all glorie was to haue:
which earst he had with God before all time,
and there doth sit, in shape of man to craue,
the lyke for all that are of him true vine.
Wherefore by him our prayers we present,
which are to God a sweete and pleasing scent.


We maruell much what foolysh doults do meane,
to fall to blockes, or call to Saincts on hie:
since none on earth or heauen yet doth raigne,
but God alone, who can our thoughtes espie:
For Abram knoweth vs not, doth Esai say,
and Iacob wanteth eares to heare vs pray.


That Virgin pure, most blessed was in deede,
in wose small wombe the Lord of lyfe did dwell:
yet for to know what time we stand in neede,
she hath no skill, the Scripture playne doth tell:
for God alone, our prayers all doth heare:
wherefore to him by Christ we still draw neare.


We holde them fooles that labour so in vayne,
to call on Paul, or Peter, or on Pope:
for had they eyes, saint Iohn hath tolde them playne,
that who now sinnes, Christ now must be his hope;
for he now only mediator is,
cause Arons trade our sinnes could not dismis.


We haue Gods worde to teach vs fayth and feare,
we learne by it, all secrets meete to know.
No writ of man, to vs yet is so deare,
or like esteemd Gods councels vs to shew:
We are most sure that God by it must gayne,
such wanderyng soules as must with Christ heere raine.


We haue the Sacramentes in perfect sort,
as Christ him selfe at first did them ordayne.
Our foes are false, who giue vs this report,
that we holde not, that Christ doth there remayne.
But how? not Really, as they do teach:
but there by fayth, as learned heere do preach.


Yf this be true, that all Gods trueth we holde,
what neede we then of Spayne to be afrayde:
For God I say, hath neuer yet such solde
to sworde of foe: but still hath sent them ayde.
The trueth we haue, yet therein walke not wee,
wherefore oft times God hisseth for a bee.


In deede? Then must we all looke for the same,
for few there be, that will of God do seeke,
but all degrees, contemne his holy name:
Few rich or poore, one Saboth true do keepe:
and all are bent their owne willes to obey,
but will of God, we seeke it no one day.


For whereas we should spend our lyues and time,
in Gods owne Booke, his will to see therein:
great store there be, that neuer sought one lyne,
to write in hart, that so they might know him.
And so Gods will of vs not being knowne,
he castes vs off, to follow wayes our owne.


O Englande, then consider well thy state,
oft reade Gods worde, and let it beare chiefe sway
within thy hart, or els thou canst not scape
the wrath of God: for he will surely pay.
Yea diuers rods the Lord of Hostes doth vse,
to chasten such, as do his worde refuse.


His sworde thou knowest, he threatened sore to draw,
in eightie eight; but then he did thee spare:
yet since that time, in thee great sinnes he saw:
wherefore for thee great plagues he did prepare.
The Pestilence through out thy coastes hath bin,
and now with sworde, to threat he doth begin.


Thy land as hard as Brasse hath oft bin made.
Thy heauens haue as Iron bin likewyse:
they both conspier to stay their wonted trade,
whereby to thee great darthes and famines ryse.
Thy corne fayre growen, with blasting hath bin spoyld
well gotten in, yet meldeaw hath it soyld.


Thy Trees, thy Vines, thy Cow, and clothing Sheepe:
all fruitefull thinges, to thee oft fruiteles are,
because with God thou promise none dost keepe,
thy feeldes and fayth, through barrennes are bate:
In steade of rayne, much dust abrode doth fly:
for want of deaw, thy ground doth burned ly.


Thy Oxe and Cow with blaynes and murrens mad,
thy Sheepe with rot destroyed oft haue bin:
Thy house with fire, thy goodes thy foes haue had,
thy land and right, the vile oft tymes do win.
Thy troubles great by law do dayly ryse,
because Gods worde can not yet make thee wyse.


And for this cause opprest thou art with wrong,
yea pylde and polde by tythes, by toules, by rent,
by Landlordes bad, who thinke thy Lease too long:
by neighbours ill, to mischiefe that are bent.
Thy owne bad minde to law oft moueth thee,
and wilt not cease, tyll all be spent on fee.


Thy foes and aduersaries dayly do aryse,
God styrreth them thy troubles to increase:
And all for this, yet art thou not so wyse,
to know that he doth make them breake thy peace:
But rather thou the like for like dost lend,
whereas by them thou shouldst thy selfe amend.


Thy Seruantes they rebellious be and nought,
they fyltch, they steale, they rob, & seeke thy spoyle,
in goodes and name, thy hinderance they haue sought
they run & range, they daunce, and keepe a quoyle,
Thy neighbours tongues by them are set on talke,
for prate and heare they must, as they by walke.


And when a tale to some of them is tolde,
they can well add, to bring thee in disgrace:
for thy deare name for nought, by them is solde,
to many more that dwell in further place:
And by and by as ware that rots with them,
they make great hast to sell it other men.


And thus the land with wicked tongues is fraught,
whereby one may in maner playne deserne,
that Gods pure law by them is iudged naught:
for els by it, to speake well they would learne.
Wherefore as men from flesh do wysedome take,
so fleshly rods do often times them wake.


And what els more, for this cause dost thou feele?
Thy body sicke with agues colde and hot,
with greeuous paynes from head downe to thy heele,
because of this, doth fall vnto thy lot.
Yet were it well, if bodyes payne were all:
but soule for this is still in bondes and thrall.


For it, as blynde and lame doth range about,
and plundged is in pitts of crosses store,
and there doth lie, when Gods worde helpes not out:
and so oft tymes with such floods is forlore,
but iustly then to helpe doth it refuse,
since oft it would, but thou wouldst not it vse.


And what now wantes of all Gods plagues to thee?
now surely store; there is yet more behinde.
But yet this one I would thee wysh to see,
the which to view, I pray thee be not blinde:
the Spanyardes now with Armour braue them dight,
in hope to finde thy fayth, but vayne and lyght.


Remember then thy former loue and zeale,
which thou to God, and to his worde didst beare:
and let them now agayne with thee preuale:
and so no force of forrayne shalt thou feare.
None shall then moue thy Candlesticke from thee,
yf thou from it a lyght wilt take to see.


But is there nothing els for to be don?
Yes sure; we are to haue both Shylde and Speare,
good Armour bright, with Arrowes, Bowes & Gon.
These being had, we neede not Spayne to feare.
But if thou trust in these, and strength of men,
then know, as broken Reedes, shall all proue then.


For woe to them that Egypts helpe do seeke,
or trust in store of Horse, and Charrets strong,
or wit of man: for none of these could keepe
those anciant Townes, or yet their peace prolong:
for noble peares of Zoan proued fooles:
yea so did all, that wrought by such like tooles.


Samarias Oxe, nor Bethels Calfe of golde,
nor Ieroboams fine deuice for wit,
could saue ten Tribes, when God had them once solde
to Asshurs Rod, no helpe could saue from it:
For all such wysedome, drunkennes became,
yea all deuice of man did then proue lame.


And so will now, if these we make our ayde:
Wherefore agayne, best helpe I will thee show.
To turne to God, for so him selfe hath sayde:
and that well done, will proue best fence I know:
But how? to cast on mournyng for a day?
No no, such fastes with God can beare no sway.


But this is it that shall thy Lord well please,
to reade his Booke with all delyght and care,
both nyght and day, vntill thou know his wayes:
and that his lawes within thy hart writ are:
Which lawes well kept, for weapons haue the name,
then for thy helpe, I will bring foorth the same.


When Sinai hill, and Horeb mount did burne,
and thunder clappes made Seir with them to shake.
When trumpet shrill did found, & loude blew horne,
then Iacobs sonnes for feare thereof did quake:
they quakde for feare, though God from Paran came,
with lawes to saue all those that keepe the same.


Yet thou deare frende needst not to feare or quake,
though Moses did, and thousands more with feare:
for now no Sinai terror shall thee shake,
because a Lambe in Sion doth appeare:
On Sion hill there standes a Lambe most meeke,
who bids thee come in peace, Gods lawes to seeke.


Ten thousand Sainctes did God attend, when hee
those glorious Lawes, in sayinges ten proposed:
In which thy debts towardes God are all to see,
yea all thou owst towardes men are there inclosed,
inclosed are thy duties all therein:
the which to learne in time thou must begin.


First then, the Lord requires of thee to heare,
that he alone from Egypts thrall thee brought.
None other Gods before thee must appeare,
nor none such serue, as may be made of nought:
Of nought some Gods are made, which men do serue,
as those of Wood and Stone, which fine they carue.


But such, the Lord commandes thee not to make,
nor any thing that may him represent:
in heauen or earth, or yet from sea or lake,
one wyght to take, whereon thy mynde is bent:
one wyght to take from none of these thou art,
to bow vnto, or worshyp in thy hart.


For if thou doest, the Lord thy God is hee,
a ielous God, and therefore will not spare,
to punysh sinnes to third and fourth degree,
on those whose hartes on feigned gods set are:
Wherefore on him, let all thy hart be set,
so mercies great to thousandes thou shalt get.


Thou must not take the name of God in vayne,
but thereof speake with trembling and with feare:
for if thou dost, he hath in store great payne,
to power on thee, and those that do him teare:
him teare by othes, or speaches els prophane,
not meete to vse on his most holy name.


The Saboth day remember well to keepe,
both thou, thy Man, thy Mayde, thy Oxe thy Asse:
Thy owne affayres in that day do not seeke,
ne from thy gate then let the Stranger passe:
for in sixe dayes thou labour mayest full free,
and God will cause thy blessignes store to bee.


Lyke as him selfe, the heauens all did make,
the earth, the sea, and all that is therein,
within sixe dayes, and seuenth rest did take:
so would he haue thee sample take by him:
by him, the seuenth day was sanctified,
in which thy soule on him must be imployed.


Vnto thy Parentes honour thou must giue.
Thou must not kill, nor whoredome once commit:
to steale abhor, but labour hard, to liue.
And witnes false to beare, let none thee get.
To couet house, or wyfe, or man, or mayde,
or oxe, or asse, of neighbours be afrayde.


These are the sum, of many more, all pure:
of which poore store, though none canst thou fulfil,
yet haue no feare: for all are writ most sure
in Christ his hart, and he hath done Gods will.
The will of God, that Lambe hath done for thee,
and bids not feare, his preceptes all to see.


These Lawes so pure (good freende) do thou esteeme
aboue the golde, the pearle, the precious stone:
all Iewels rare, shall nothing then be seeme,
thy Necke lyke them, yf thou wilt put them on:
Yf all Gods lawes within thy hart thou hould,
more strength will be, then can with pen be tould.


Thy soule to God they will conuert and turne.
Thy sight so dim, they will make cleare and bright.
Thy thoughtes so foule, they will consume and burne.
This will they do, yf thou with them thee dight,
Yf dight thy selfe with armour this thou wilt,
thy soule gaynst sinne shall dayly strong be built.


The Tower of Dauid they will be to thee,
wherein a thousand shyldes and targets strong:
yea many weapons more therein will bee,
for thy defence, gainst those that would thee wrong:
That would thee wrong in soule, in goodes, or name,
gaynst euery harme, a weapon for the same.


A Shylde for Fayth it is, both sound and good.
A Sworde for Spirit, a Plate for Brest well tryde.
A Helmet for thy health, not made of Wood,
but made of Right and Trueth, which will abyde.
Which will abyde, thy health still to procure,
yf to thy sydes thou wylt them fasten sure.


Thy Loynes must be still gyrt with Veritie,
thy Feete still shod the Gospels peace to seeke:
Thy shute to God in prayer each day let be,
that from thy foes he would thee safely keepe:
He would thee keepe, from ghostly foes great store,
which thee to spoyle, seeke dayly more and more.


Since then thou art each day (my freende) to fight,
agaynst the Flesh, the Worlde, and Ghostly foe:
with armoure tryde, thy selfe each day bedight:
so shalt thou from their harmes still safely goe,
still safely shalt thou goe, gaynst fende so fell,
yf all Gods lawes within thy hart do dwell.


Thus to conclude, deare friend, be strong in God,
put on the armour whole which he hath made:
which is his worde, from ende to ende each iod,
and so no foe thy strength shall then inuade:
inuade can none, ne yet thy soule annoy,
yf euery part thereof thou wilt inioy.


Stande vp therefore, and corrage to thee take.
Cast off thy sinne, and cloath thy selfe with right,
and then no noyse of Spanniardes shall thee shake,
or yet once quayle thy wonted force and might:
Thy might, say I, no, God thy might hath bin,
and still will be, if turne thou wilt to him.


Returne thou then, returne o Shulamyte,
returne to God, and so thy foes shall see,
an armie great, with men of might to smite,
all forces downe, that shall rise vp gaynst thee:
gaynst thee, nay, gaynst thy Lord they shall then fight,
when thou from sinne returnest cleare in sight.


A wake therefore, and to the Lord giue eare,
thy hart lykewyse vnto his Lawes incline:
print all therein, that so they may appeare
to giue thee light in darke estate of thine,
and so no plagues of Spayne, or Egypt olde,
shall lyght on thee, the Lord hath thee so tolde.


For what if Spayne, and thousandes ten such more,
should hem thee in, or cumpas thee about:
yet will the Lord, as Captayne go before,
and fight thy feelde, agaynst the proude and stoute.
Since then he hath this promise past to thee,
be not afrayde, yf Spannyardes thou do fee.


For what are they? Are they of Anake sonnes?
Suppose they were: yet be not thou afrayde:
for though with slaues such speach of terrour runnes,
yet come gaynst thee, they are full soone dismayde.
For thou a noble people art of name,
thy valiant actes sound through the worlde with fame.


Thy God hath thee now almost fourtie yeeres,
as his olde folke, in Wildernes safe kept:
A wonder through the worlde, as it appeares.
When they at warre, then quiet thou hast slept:
and yet much more, in this time hast thou wonne,
for now to all thy terror is begunne.


We are the men, not Spannyardes, well I know,
to whom God sayth: This day do I begin,
to sende thy feare through out the worlde to show
what God it is, whose seruice thou art in.
The Lord of Hostes is he, whom we do sarue:
But Gods of Spayne, are mettals which they carue.


What neede we then of them to be afrayde?
For when they call, their gods are oft a sleepe:
or els abrode; as one of olde hath sayd,
and can not heare: wherefore they houle & weepe.
For though their gods the like gods do subdue,
yet fight gaynst ours, their cases thus they rue.


Wherefore yf they should aske to feare the weake,
what were become of Sepharvaims gods?
Or what of Indians, which they dayly breake?
with many more: all which haue felt their roddes.
Yet answere thou, They had no Gods at all,
no maruell then, though Spanyardes gaue the fall.


And what yf they should once demaund agayne,
and aske thee of Samarias gods likewyse?
and tell how Assors Rod is now in Spayne?
And as hee then, so they shall now surpryse.
Yet answere thou agayne thou mayest full true,
Samarias Gods were then of Heathens hue.


Euen so are all the Gods quite rounde about,
where euer yet the Spanyardes bore the sway:
though Christians names yet are they none no dout:
for Christ by them, is driuen quite away,
and Cakes of bred with them, are Gods in deede,
as Calues of golde, to ten Tribes as we reade.


Yet thou Ierusalem, which we now are,
hast no such Gods, for thine in heauen dwelleth:
who doth for thee all good thinges still prepare,
and woundes thy foes, thy blood so deare that spilleth
yet doth he thee, by them sometimes correct,
but yf thout urne, he doth thee not reiect.


Returne therefore, returne thou Shulamyte,
returne to God, and his pure worde imbrace:
Returne in time, and he thy foes will smyte,
when teares of greefe shall trickell downe thy face:
and ioyfull then his holy ones will be,
to strike thy foes, that would haue sore stroke thee.


For wilt thou see, how God of olde did deale
with all the foes of his owne folke that were?
now sure to hell he sent each common weale,
that bent their force, his owne poore folke to teare.
no Rod there was, which God for his did hier:
but if too sharpe, he cast the Rod in fier.


For didst thou Babylon, olde Rod scape free?
Or hadst thou Rome, new Rod, for this, cause peace?
No Babylon, thy blowes all men may see:
And thou, O Rome, thy plague shall neuer cease.
Two instrumentes, too hard for wrathfull ire,
were for that cause, well mollyfied with fire.


What Rome? why, she is vp a loft agayne.
But what for that; Shall shee as chiefe raigne still?
No, no, her beawtie can not long remayne,
but low in dust with Babel must she dwell:
As she of ancient Babel beareth name,
so both a lyke, for mischifes, shall haue shame.


But what became of Assur, Ephraims rod?
Did he escape, for seruice done gaynst him?
No sure: for he the whip, would needes be God:
the axe be hee, who did the helue put in:
But he that tooke this instrument to hier,
his worke once done, set instrument on fier.


And what became of Egypt, that hard rod,
that rod, which did foure hundreth yeeres long last?
Would not the Lord then shew him selfe a God,
to burne the same, which did his people wast?
He did not burne: but it in Sea he dround,
because therewith his people they did wound.


And what of Edom and of Pallistine?
Of Tyer and Zoan, of Vz and Buz withall?
Hath not the Lord to all these, drunke in Wine?
Yes wrathfull Wine, more bitter then was gall.
Which cup of gall, to Elam kinges he sent:
yea Ianan dranke, till all that wrath was spent.


So now, O Lord, cause all thy foes to drinke,
this bitter cup, which thou of olde didst fill,
to Nations all, whom thine to spoyle did thinke:
but yet could not, one straw breadth passe thy will.
Repay them Lord, with thine eternall fier,
for thou hast sayd, that such shall be their hier.


And cursse, O Lord, yea Meroz folke cursse still,
which now are slacke, thy poore flocke to defend.
But blesse our Qveene, the hand-mayde of thy will:
who doth with Jael, thy foes sound blowes stil lend.
Our gratious Qveene, aboue all let be blest:
because alone, she fights against the beast.


Be thou O Lord, her buckler and her shylde,
her strong defence, agaynst all forren power:
yea gaynst all foes, that forces now do yeelde
to helpe that Beast, thy people to deuoure.
Confounde them Lord: their faces fill with shame:
And helpe our Qveene, for honour of thy name.


Be thou her peace, her plentie, and her myght.
Arme her with fayth, thy Gospel to defende.
Cause thou her Crowne, to shine long, fresh, & bright:
yea Dauids dayes, twise double do her lende.
Cause her in peace, with Sallomon to raigne,
in spight of all, that now are ioynd with Spayne.


Make her, O Lord, a mother olde and graue:
for she to vs true Deborah hath bin,
So keepe her still, thy people long to saue,
from those new Gods, which former dayes brought in:
and let them not such Gods agayne erect,
for fayne they would: but Lord do them reiect.


For yf they should, they would then brag and vaunt,
and say to vs, Where now is hee your God?
Yea thus they will thy seruauntes mocke and taunt,
yf now at last they should be made thy rod.
Wherefore O Lord, thy glorious name regarde,
and burne these rods, that so would thine rewarde.


So will we prayse and magnifie thy name,
thy glorious name to ages we will show:
which is, that was, and still will be the same,
to all that seeke, thy face in Christ to know.
Christ is the ende of Law, for righteousnesse:
Beleeue in him, Gods kingdome then possesse,