XVII. Humphrey Gifford

LIKE as the theefe in prison cast

With wofull wayling mones,

When hope of pardon cleane is past,

And sighes with dolefull grones:

So I a slaue to sinne,

With sobs and many a feare,

As one, without thine ayde, forlorne,

Before thy throne appeare.

O Lorde, in rage of wanton youth

My follies did abounde,

And eke since that I knewe thy trueth

My life hath beene vnsound:

Alas! I do confesse,

I see the perfect way,

Yet frayltie of my feeble fleshe

Doth make me run astray.

Aye me, when that some good desire,

Woulde moue me to doe wel,

Affections fond make mee retire,

And cause me to rebell.

I wake, yet am asleepe;

I see, yet still am blinde;

In ill I runne with hedlong race;

In good I come behinde.

Loe, thus in life I daily die,

And dying shall not liue;

Unlesse thy mercy speedily

Some succour to me geue.

I die, O Lorde, I die!

If thou doe mee forsake,

I shall be likened vnto those

That fall into the lake.

When that one prop or onely stay

Holdes vp some house or wall,

If that the prop be tane away,

Needes must the building fall:

O Lorde, thou art the prop

To which I cleaue and leane:

If thou forsake or cast mee of,

I still shall liue in paine.

Although my hard and stony hart

Be apt to runne astray,

Yet let thy goodnesse mee conuert,

So shall I not decay:

Sweete God, doe rue my plaints,

And sheelde me from annoy:

Then my poore soule, this life once past,

Shall rest with thee in ioy.

Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD