Whose constancie great tirants' rage subdued, Through patient death professing Christ their Lord:

As his apostles perfect witnesse bere,

With many more that blessed martirs were:
Whose patience rare and most couragious minde,
With fame renoun'd, perpetuall shall endure;
By whose examples we may rightly finde
Of holie life and death a patterne pure.
That we, therefore, their vertues may embrace,
Pray we to Christ to guide vs with his

grace.

[ELIZ. POETS.]

15

XIX.

ANTHONY MUNDAY.

A DITTIE

Declaring the uncertaintie of our earthly honor, the certaine account that we must all make of death; and therefore that we should make ourselues ready at all times, because we are ignorant of our latter howre.

WHAT state so sure but time subvarts?
What pleasure that is voide of paine?
What cheereful change of former smarts
But turnes straitwaie to greefe againe?
What credite may a man repose
Vppon so fraile a clod of clay,
Which as to-day in sollace goes,
To-morrow is brought to earthly bay?
Thinke, O man!

How thy glasse is daily sette to runne,
And how thy life shall passe when it is doone:

Thy graue hath then thy glory wun,
And all thy pompe in cinders laide full lowe.
Take example

By the fragrant flower in the feeld,
Which as to-day in brauery is beheld,
The parching sun hath ouer-quel'd.

O wretched man! euen thou thyselfe art so.
How then?

How canst thou bragge, or canst thou boast, How that thou maiest

Or that thou shalt

Enjoy thy life untill to-morrow day?

Thou seest

That death subdues the strength of kings,

Of high and lowe,

Of rich and poore;

And all as one he dooth call awaie.

To goe,

*

Put on your black aray; for needes you must

away

Unto your house of clay:

Prepare your conscience gay against the dreadfull day,

That you may be
Christ's chosen flocke and sheepe,
Whom he will safely keepe,
Whether you doo wake or sleepe:
Then shall the hellish foe
Away in terror goe,
This joy to see.
Remember this, amidst your blisse,

That Christ hath redeemed vs by his blood. Then let vs kill our affections so ill,

To be elected in his seruants' good.
Then shall we be sure for aye to endure
On God's right hand among the pure;
When as the ill against their will
The endlesse paine shall passe untill.
God graunt us feruent constancie
To auoide so great extremitie,
That by his grace continuallie
We may purchase heauen's felicitie !

A DITTIE

Which sheweth by example of diuers worthy personages past in ancient time, that neither strength, wit, beautie, riches, or any transitory things, wherein worldlings put any confidence, can saue them from the stroke of death.

ADIEW, my former pleasure,

For I of force must leaue thee:
I see my state is most unsure,
And thou hast long deceiude me.
Time bids me minde my latter end,
And that I am but clay;
And euerie hour I doo offend
In manie a wicked waie.

Then farewell sinne,

I will beginne

To sorrow for my wicked life at the last,
And feare to sinne any more:
For when I remember all that is past,
My hart doth bleede therefore.

I see that ualiant Sampson,

Who uaunted of his stature,

His strength hath failde and he is gone;
Time forst him yeeld to nature:
And all the courage he possesst

Amidst his flowring dayes,

When death did call him home to rest,
Did uade from him straitwaies.
Then why should I

On strength rely,

Perceiuing that the stoutest hart dooth obey,
When death dooth shew his power?
And so must I needes (as all flesh) passe

I see that wise king Salomon,

Whose wisedome was most excellent,
Among the rest is dead and gone,
For all his prudent gouernment.
And what is he that liueth now
In wisedome most profound?
But death compelleth him to bow,
And brings him to the ground.
If strength then faile,

And wit doth quaile,

Vnwise were I once for to think that I might Escape the stroke of death;

And know that there is on the earth no one right,

But must resign his breath.

I see that faire young Absalon,
Beautie did nought auaile him:
The welthy glutton eke is gone,

His riches could not vaile him.
And he that had his barnes so thwakt,
And bade his soul take rest,

In one night from his wealth was rapt,
And so was dispossest.

Thus see you plain,

It is in vaine

To make anie certaine account of this life, Or in yourselues to trust:

Therefore make you ready to part from this strife,

For to the earth you must.