Book VIII, Chapter 40

SVCH as was Loue in Figure of Ascanius, whē the same
In kisses slie did sheade himselfe into the Tyrian Dame,
Or such as was sweete Hyacint, Apollos louely Boy,
Or Iupiters Ganymaedes, rapt vp to heauen from Troy,
Or rather like young Salomon, in sentencing betwixt
Two mothers claiming one same Child, was young Edward the Sixt.
Now Rome fell sicke in England, but how long she lay in traunce
We list not write, alonly death to her did neuer chaunce:
For old Rome neuer lackt that durst their liues for her bestoe,
Not new Rome that to Hell for her dare soules and bodies goe.
Then true Religion might be sayd with vs in Primatiue,
The Preachers and the people both then practiuely did thriue:
Our decent Church-Rites, still in print, not practise (worthie those
Whose reuerent heads collected them frō whence true wisedō groes.
Not mangled then of Nouesses and curious Doults, which now
Would haue they know not what, & would reform they know not how,
Omitting or admitting as their owne Conceits allow)
Did then put forth her Braunches, and weare fruitfull in the bood:
And, weare our Church-Lords now for zeale as Church-lawes now for good,
Soone might like vnion be, now by indifferencie withstood:
For giue to vulgar Heads the head and looke for all confused,
At once they publish and repeale, al els, saue Order, vsed:
And as Kytts Campe ill-form'd good forme at their reforming Tree,
Sonnes ost by aime consorting voice their Fathers hang'd should be,
So wheare the Multitude preuaile they censure ere they see.
But (might I be so bould to speake to them should speake to mee)
A good example would doe good in Church-men, seeing thay
In saying […]oth are lesse beleeu'd, not doing as the say.
I know our Churchmen know that Faith is dead where lack good works.
Yeat know I not what pollicie in Almes vnpreached lurks.
Some teach (& wel) that these concurre, but few doe vrge the Theame
Of charitie: affeard, perhaps, our More should vrge their Beame.
But feare not, Fathers, preach at full Loue, good workes, & Remorse,
More will your bad Examples let than shall your words inforce,
To preach by halfes is to be worse than those tongue-holly Iauells,
That cite good words, but shift off works and Discipline by Cauells.
Oft haue ye handled pithily (not preached without neede)
What good to giue, what hurt to take, frō those that Soules do feede:
But so obscurely hath beene blancht of good workes elsewheare done,
As many, boasting only Faith, Faiths fruites selfe-aptly shonne:
When such a faith is but the faith of that faith-fruitles Deuill
That cited Scripture vnto Christ, applying good to euill.
Tell whether that the Leuite or Samaritane did better:
Tell wherein Diues liu'd and dide to Lazarus a Debter.
Vnknot sententious Salomon his Parable which is,
Full Cloudes will rayne vpon the Earth: How thus is meant by this,
Rich mē by Cloudes, poore men by Earth (els Clerks expound amis)
Tell, how some Cloudes but misell Rayne: that is, if so they giue
A peny Almes or twaine a yeare they thinke they much releeue.
Som Clouds flash down their Shewres: that is, som set vp two or three,
And begger so themselues and theirs: say such are foolish free.
Some Clouds hayle downe their Raine, beate flat, hurt, & helpe not ye ground:
That is, vpbraid whō they releeue, & hold thē seruile bound.
Some Cloudes giue Snow, that lights and lies a moysture moystles: so
Doe those that say, alas, God helpe, and nothing els bestoe.
Some Cloudes doe shewre into the Seas: say such do giue to such
Whom Almes make idle, or belike to recompence as much.
Som Clouds with lightning, thunder, & lowd winds drip down their raine:
That is, giue sildom almes, & those proclam'd & seene, ere […]ayne.
Some Clouds retayne but forme of clouds, with figure black as Coale:
That is, looke bigge, Examine long, but Scriptum est their doale.
Some gracious Clouds shed temprate Shewres on thirstie earth indeed.
That is, the Orphant, Widow, Thrall, succour, protect and feed.
Say also whatsoere wee giue, to whosoere it bee,
Though giuen in sight of men, if not because that men should see,
But with Deuotion, as a worke from Faith that cannot seuer,
God for such cheerfull Almes wilbe our bounteous Almner euer.
Say, make not as it weare a Quest of quere ere Yee giue,
But giue yee Almes as men be poore, not as poore men to liue.
Prouided common Beggers nor disordered Lossels, who
Men know prouided for, or can but labour none will doe,
Than whom doe say (for so is sooth) no Creatures worse desatue,
Take you no Orators for them, but that they hang or statue.
And thus for this. Our Ouerture to it reduceth mee.
The Vncles ofthis Orphant King, so long as they agree,
Vphild Religion, King, themselues, and Realme in happie state:
Which then began to ruinate when they begun debate.