Chapter 14

John Bale, author of the morality of "God's Promises," is more known as an historian and controversialist than as a dramatic writer. He was [the son of Henry and Margaret Bale, and was] born on the 21st of November 1495, at Cove, a small village near Dunwich, in Suffolk. His parents, having many other children, and not being in very affluent circumstances, sent him, at the age of twelve years, to the monastery of Carmelites at Norwich,[277] where he received part of his education, and whence he removed to [Jesus] College,[278] Cambridge.[279] While he continued at the University, being as he says seriously stirred up by the illustrious the Lord Wentworth, he renounced the tenets of the Church of Rome; and, that he might never more serve so execrable a beast, I took, says he, to wife the faithful Dorothy, in obedience to that divine command, "Let him that cannot contain, marry," Bishop Nicolson insinuates that his dislike to a state of celibacy was the means of his conversion, more than any doubts which he entertained about the truth of his faith. The change of his religion exposed him to the persecution of the Romish clergy, particularly of Lee, Archbishop of York, and Stokesley, Bishop of London; but he found an able and powerful protector in the person of Lord Cromwell, the favourite of Henry the Eighth. On the death of this nobleman, he withdrew into the Low Countries, and resided there eight years; in which time he wrote several pieces in the English language. On the accession of King Edward the Sixth, he was recalled into England, and obtained the living of Bishopstoke, in the county of Southampton. During his residence at his living, he was almost brought to the point of death by an ague; when hearing that the king was come in progress to Southampton, five miles only from where he dwelt, he went to pay his respects to him. "I toke my horse," says he, "about 10 of the clocke, for very weaknesse scant able to sytt him, and so came thydre. Betwixt two and three of the clocke, the same day, I drew towardes the place where as his majestie was, and stode in the open strete ryght against the gallerye. Anon, my frinde Johan Fylpot, a gentylman, and one of hys previe chambre, called unto him two more of hys companyons, which in moving their heades towardes me, shewed me most frendely countenaunces. By one of these three the kynge havynge informacion that I was there in the strete, he marveled thereof, for so much as it had bene tolde hym a lytle afore that I was bothe dead and buried. With that hys grace came to the wyndowe, and earnestly behelde me a poore weake creature, as though he had upon me so symple a subject an earnest regard, or rather a very fatherly care." This visit to the king occasioned his immediate appointment to the bishopric of Ossory, which was settled the next day, as he declared[280] afterwards, _against his will, of the king's own mere motion only, without suit of friends, meed, labour, expenses, or any other sinister means else_. On the [2d February] 1553,[281] he was consecrated at Dublin by the archbishop of that see, and underwent a variety of persecutions from the Popish party in Ireland, which at length compelled him to leave his diocese, and conceal himself in Dublin. Endeavouring to escape thence in a small trading vessel, he was taken prisoner by the captain of a Dutch man-of-war, who rifled him of all his money, apparel, and effects. The ship was then driven by stress of weather into St Ives in Cornwall, where he was taken up on suspicion of high treason, but soon discharged. From thence, after a cruise of several days, the ship arrived in Dover Road, and he was again put in danger by a false accusation. On his arrival in Holland, he was kept prisoner three weeks, and then obtained his liberty on payment of a sum of money. From Holland he retired to Basil in Switzerland, and continued abroad during the remainder of Queen Mary's reign. On the accession of Queen Elizabeth, he returned to England; but being disgusted with the treatment he met with in Ireland, he went thither no more. He was promoted on the 15th of January 1560, to a prebend in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury, and died in that city in [or before] November 1563, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. According to the manners of the times in which he wrote, he appears to have taken very indecent liberties with all his antagonists in his religious controversies, and to have considered himself as not bound by any rules of decorum in replying to those from whom he differed in matters, wherein the interests of religion were concerned. The acrimony of his style on these occasions acquired him the appellation of "Bilious Bale," and it was applied to him with singular propriety. His principal work is esteemed the "_Scriptorum illustrium majoris Brytaniae quam nunc Angliam et Scotiam vocant Catalogus;" a Japheto per 3618 annos usque ad annum hunc domini_ 1557, &c., first printed imperfectly at Wesel in 1549, and afterwards more completely in 1557 and 1559.[282] He was the author of a great number of dramatic pieces, [four[283]] of which only appear to have been published.

This present copy is taken from an old black letter edition in 4to, in the valuable collection of David Garrick, Esq.[284] The title-page being damaged, I am unable to give the date of it.

What is remarkable in this drama is that it is divided into seven acts,[285] and at the end of each act has a kind of chorus, which was performed with voices and instruments.

INTERLOCUTORES.

PATER COELESTIS. ADAM _primus homo_. _Justus_ NOAH. ABRAHAM _fidelis_. MOSES _sanctus_. DAVID _rex pius_. ESAIAS _propheta_. JOANNES _baptista_. BALEUS _prolocutor_.[286]

GOD'S PROMISES.

BALEUS _prolocutor_.

If profit may grow, most Christian audience, By knowledge of things which are not transitory And here for a time, of much more congruence Advantage might spring by the search of causes heavenly, As those matters are that the gospel specify. Without whose knowledge no man to the truth can fall,[287] Nor ever attain to the life perpetual. For he that knoweth not the living God eternal, The Father, the Son, and also the Holy Ghost, And what Christ suffered for redemption of us all, What he commanded, and taught in every coast, And what he forbode, that man must needs be lost, And clean secluded from the faithful chosen sort, In the heavens above, to his most high discomfort. You therefore, good friends, I lovingly exhort To weigh such matters, as will be uttered here, Of whom ye may look to have no trifling sport In fantasies feigned, nor such-like gawdish gear, But the things that shall your inward stomach cheer, To rejoice in God for your justification, And alone in Christ to hope for your salvation. Yea, first ye shall have the eternal generation Of Christ, like as John in his first chapter writes, And consequently of man the first creation, The abuse and fall, through his first oversight, And the rise-again through God's high grace and might: By promises first which shall be declared all: Then by his own Son, the worker principal. After that Adam bewaileth here his fall, God will show mercy to every generation, And to his kingdom of his great goodness call His elected spouse or faithful congregation, As here shall appear by open protestation, Which from Christ's birth shall to his death conclude: They come, that thereof will show the certitude.

ACTUS PRIMUS.[288]

PATER COELESTIS. In the beginning, before the heavens were create, In me and of me was my Son sempiternal, With the Holy Ghost, in one degree or estate Of the high Godhead, to me the father coequal, And this my Son was with me one God essential, Without separation at any time from me. True God he is, of equal dignity. Since the beginning my Son hath ever be, Joined with his Father in one essential being. All things were create by him in each degree, In heaven and earth, and have their diverse working: Without his power was never made anything, That was wrought; but through his ordinance Each have his strength and whole countenance. In him is the life and the just recoverance For Adam and his, which nought but death deserved. And this life to men is an high perseverance Or a light of faith, whereby they shall be saved. And this light shall shine among the people darkened With unfaithfulness. Yet shall they not with him take, But of wilful heart his liberal grace forsake. Which will compel me against man for to make In my displeasure, and send plagues of correction, Most grievous and sharp, his wanton lusts to slake By water and fire, by sickness and infection, Of pestilent sores molesting his complexion, By troublous war, by dearth and painful scarceness, And after this life by an extreme heaviness. I will first begin with Adam for his lewdness, Which for an apple neglected my commandment. He shall continue in labour for his rashness, His only sweat shall provide his food and raiment. Yea, yet must he have a greater punishment, Most terrible death shall bring him to his end, To teach him how he his Lord God shall offend.

_Hic praeceps in terram cadit_ ADAMUS, _ac post quartum versum denuo resurgit_.

ADAM PRIMUS HOMO. Merciful father, thy pitiful grace extend To me careful wretch, which have me sore abused, Thy precept breaking. O Lord, I mind to amend, If thy great goodness would now have me excused; Most heavenly Maker, let me not be refused, Nor cast from thy sight for one poor sinful crime; Alas! I am frail, my whole kind is but slim.

PATER COELESTIS. I wot it is so, yet art thou no less faulty, Then thou hadst been made of matter much more worthy. I gave thee reason and wit to understand The good from the evil, and not to take on hand, Of a brainless mind, the thing which I forbade thee.

ADAM PRIMUS HOMO. Such heavy fortune hath chiefly chanced me, For that I was left to mine own liberty.

PATER COELESTIS. Then thou art blameless, and the fault thou layest to me?

ADAM PRIMUS HOMO. Nay, all I ascribe to my own imbecility. No fault in thee, Lord, but in my infirmity, And want of respect in such gifts as thou gavest me.

PATER COELESTIS. For that I put thee at thine own liberty, Thou oughtest my goodness to have in more regard.

ADAM PRIMUS HOMO. Avoid it I cannot: thou layest it to me so hard. Lord, now I perceive what power is in man, And strength of himself, when thy sweet grace is absent. He must needs but fall, do he the best he can, And danger himself, as appeareth evident; For I sinned not too long as thou wert present; But when thou wert gone, I fell to sin by and by, And thee displeased. Good Lord, I axe thee mercy.

PATER COELESTIS. Thou shalt die for it, with all thy posterity.

ADAM PRIMUS HOMO. For one fault, good Lord, avenge not thyself on me, Who am but a worm or a fleshly vanity.

PATER COELESTIS. I say thou shalt die, with thy whole posterity.

ADAM PRIMUS HOMO. Yet mercy, sweet Lord, if any mercy may be.

PATER COELESTIS. I am immutable, I may change no decree; Thou shalt die, I say, without any remedy.

ADAM PRIMUS HOMO. Yet, gracious Father, extend to me thy mercy, And throw not away the work which thou hast create To thine own image, but avert from me thy hate.

PATER COELESTIS. But art thou sorry from bottom of thy heart?

ADAM PRIMUS HOMO. Thy displeasure is to me most heavy smart.

PATER COELESTIS. Then will I tell thee what thou shalt stick unto: Life to recover, and my good favour also.

ADAM PRIMUS HOMO. Tell it me, sweet Lord, that I may thereafter go.

PATER COELESTIS. This is my covenant to thee and all thy offspring. For that thou hast been deceived by the serpent, I will put hatred betwixt him for his doing And the woman kind. They shall hereafter dissent; His seed with her seed shall never have agreement; Her seed shall press down his head unto the ground, Slay his suggestions, and his whole power confound. Cleave to this promise with all thy inward power, Firmly inclose it in thy remembrance fast; Fold it in thy faith with full hope day and hour, And thy salvation it will be at the last. That seed shall clear thee of all thy wickedness past, And procure thy peace with most high grace in my sight. See thou trust to it, and hold not the matter light.

ADAM PRIMUS HOMO. Sweet Lord, the promise that thyself here hath made me Of thy mere goodness, and not of my deserving, In my faith I trust shall so established be By help of thy grace, that it shall be remaining, So long as I shall have here continuing, And show it I will to my posterity, That they in like case have thereby felicity.

PATER COELESTIS. For a closing up, take yet one sentence with thee.

ADAM PRIMUS HOMO. At thy pleasure, Lord, all things might ever be.

PATER COELESTIS. For that my promise may have the deeper effect In the faith of thee and all thy generation, Take this sign with it as a seal thereto connect. Creep shall the serpent for his abhomination; The woman shall sorrow in painful propagation. Like as thou shalt find this true in outward working. So think the other, though it be an hidden thing.

ADAM PRIMUS HOMO. Incessant praising to thee, most heavenly Lord, For this thy succour and undeserved kindness: Thou bindest me in heart thy gracious gifts to record, And to bear in mind now, after my heaviness, The bruit of thy name with inward joy and gladness. Thou disdainest not, as well appeareth this day, To fetch to thy fold thy first sheep going astray. Most Mighty Maker, thou castest not yet away Thy sinful servant, which hath done most offence. It is not thy mind for ever I should decay, But thou reservest me of thy benevolence, And hast provided for me a recompense By thy appointment, like as I have received In thy strong promise, here openly pronounced. This goodness, dear Lord, of me is undeserved, I so declining from thy first instruction At so light motions. To one that thus hath swerved, What a Lord art thou to give such retribution! I, damnable wretch, deserved execution Of terrible death without all remedy, And to be put out of all good memory. I am enforced to rejoice here inwardly, An imp though I be of hell, death, and damnation, Through my own working: for I consider thy mercy And pitiful mind for my whole generation. It is thou, sweet Lord, that workest my salvation And my recover. Therefore of a congruence From hence thou must have my heart and obedience. Though I be mortal by reason of my offence, And shall die the death,[289] like as God hath appointed: Of this am I sure, through his high influence, At a certain day again to be revived. From ground of my heart this shall not be removed. I have it in faith, and therefore I will sing This anthem to him that my salvation shall bring.

_Tunc sonora voce, provolutis genibus, Antiphonam incipit_, O sapientia, _quam prosequetur chorus cum organis, eo interim exeunte_.

_Vel sub eodem tono poterit sic Anglicè cantare_.

O eternal sapience, that proceedest from the mouth of the highest, reaching forth with a great power from the beginning to the end, with heavenly sweetness disposing all creatures, come now and instruct us the true way of thy godly prudence.

_Finit Actus primus_.

ACTUS SECUNDUS.

PATER COELESTIS. I have been moved to strike man diversely. Since I left Adam in this same earthly mansion; For why he hath done to me displeasures many, And will not amend his life in any condition: No respect hath he to my word nor monition, But doth what him lust without discreet advisement, And will in no wise take mine advertisement. Cain hath slain Abel his brother, an innocent, Whose blood from the earth doth call to me for vengeance: My children with men so carnally consent, That their vain working is unto me much grievance: Mankind is but flesh in his whole dalliance. All vice increaseth in him continually, Nothing he regardeth to walk unto my glory. My heart abhorreth his wilful misery, His cankered malice, his cursed covetousness, His lusts lecherous, his vengeable tyranny, Unmerciful murther and other ungodliness. I will destroy him for his outrageousness. And not him only, but all that on earth do stere,[290] For it repenteth me that ever I made them here.

JUSTUS NOAH. Most Gentle Maker, with his frailness somewhat bear; Man is thy creature, thyself cannot say nay. Though thou punish him, to put him somewhat in fear, His fault to knowledge,[291] yet seek not his decay. Thou mayest reclaim him, though he goeth now astray, And bring him again, of thy abundant grace, To the fold of faith, he acknowledging his trespass.

PATER COELESTIS. Thou knowest I have given to him convenient space, With lawful warnings, yet he amendeth in no place. The natural law, which I wrote in his heart, He hath outrased, all goodness putting apart: Of health the covenant, which I to Adam made, He regardeth not, but walketh a damnable tread.[292]

JUSTUS NOAH. All this is true, Lord, I cannot thy words reprove, Let his weakness yet thy merciful goodness move.

PATER COELESTIS. No weakness is it, but wilful working all, That reigneth in man through mind diabolical. He shall have therefore like as he hath deserved.

JUSTUS NOAH. Lose him not yet, Lord, though he hath deeply swerved. I know thy mercy is far above his rudeness, Being infinite, as all other things are in thee. His folly therefore now pardon of thy goodness, And measure it not beyond thy Godly pity. Esteem not his fault farther than help may be, But grant him thy grace, as he offendeth so deeply, Thee to remember, and abhor his misery. Of all goodness, Lord, remember thy great mercy To Adam and Eve, breaking thy first commandment. Them thou relieved with thy sweet promise heavenly, Sinful though they were, and their lives negligent. I know that mercy with thee is permanent, And will be ever, so long as the world endure: Then close not thy hand from man, which is thy creature. Being thy subject, he is underneath thy cure, Correct him thou mayest, and so bring him to grace. All lieth in thy hands, to leave or to allure, Bitter death to give, or grant most sovereign solace. Utterly from man avert not then thy face; But let him savour thy sweet benevolence Somewhat, though he feel thy hand for his offence.

PATER COELESTIS. My true servant Noah, thy righteousness doth move me Somewhat to reserve for man's posterity. Though I drown the world, yet will I save the lives Of thee and thy wife, thy three sons and their wives, And of each kind two, to maintain you hereafter.

JUSTUS NOAH. Blessed be thy name, most Mighty Merciful Maker, With thee to dispute it were inconvenient.

PATER COELESTIS. Why dost thou say so? be bold to speak thy intent.

JUSTUS NOAH. Shall the other die without any remedy?

PATER COELESTIS. I will drown them all for their wilful, wicked folly, That man hereafter thereby may know my power, And fear to offend my goodness day and hour.

JUSTUS NOAH. As thy pleasure is, so might it always be, For my health thou art, and soul's felicity.

PATER COELESTIS. After that this flood have had his raging passage, This shall be to thee my covenant everlasting. The seas and waters so far never more shall rage, As all flesh to drown, I will so temper their working; This sign will I add also, to confirm the thing. In the clouds above, as a seal or token clear, For safeguard of man my rainbow shall appear. Take thou this covenant for an earnest confirmation Of my former promise to Adam's generation.

JUSTUS NOAH. I will, blessed Lord, with my whole heart and mind.

PATER COELESTIS. Farewell then, just Noah, here leave I thee behind.

JUSTUS NOAH. Most Mighty Maker, ere I from hence depart, I must give thee praise from the bottom of my heart. Whom may we thank, Lord, for our health and salvation, But thy great mercy and goodness undeserved? Thy promise in faith is our justification, As it was Adam's, when his heart therein rested, And as it was theirs, which therein also trusted. This faith was grounded in Adam's memory, And clearly declared in Abel's innocency. Faith in that promise old Adam did justify, In that promise faith made Eve to prophecy. Faith in that promise proved Abel innocent, In that promise faith made Seth full obedient. That faith taught Enos on God's name first to call, And made Methuselah the oldest man of all. That faith brought Enoch to so high exercise, That God took him up with him into paradise. Of that faith the want made Cain to hate the good, And all his offspring to perish in the flood. Faith in that promise preserved both me and mine. So will it all them which follow the same line. Not only this gift thou hast given me, sweet Lord, But with it also thine everlasting covenant, Of trust for ever, thy rainbow bearing record, Nevermore to drown the world by flood inconstant, Making the waters more peaceable and pleasant, Alas! I cannot to thee give praise condign, Yet will I sing here with heart meek and benign.

_Magna tunc voce Antiphonam incipit_, O oriens splendor, _&c., in genua cadens; quam chorus prosequetur cum organis ut supra_.

_Vel Anglicè sub eodem tono_.

O most orient clearness, and light shining of the sempiternal brightness! O clear sun of justice and heavenly righteousness, come hither and illumine the prisoner sitting now in the dark prison and shadow of eternal death.

_Finit Actus secundus_.

INCIPIT ACTUS TERTIUS.

PATER COELESTIS. Mine high displeasure must needs return to man, Considering the sin that he doth day by day; For neither kindness nor extreme handling can Make him to know me by any faithful way, But still in mischief he walketh to his decay. If he do not soon his wickedness consider, He is like, doubtless, to perish altogether. In my sight he is more venom than the spider, Through such abuses as he hath exercised, From the time of Noah to this same season hither. An uncomely act without shame Ham commised, When he of his father the secret parts revealed. In like case Nimrod against me wrought abusion, As he raised up the castle of confusion. Ninus hath also, and all by the devil's illusion, Through image-making upraised idolatry, Me to dishonour. And now in the conclusion The vile Sodomites live so unnaturally, That their sin vengeance asketh continually, For my covenant's sake I will not drown with water, Yet shall I visit their sins with other matter.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. Yet, merciful Lord, thy graciousness remember To Adam and Noah, both in thy word and promise: And lose not the souls of men in so great number, But save thine own work, of thy most discreet goodness. I wot thy mercies are plentiful and earnest. Never can they die nor fail, thyself enduring, This hath faith fixed fast in my understanding.

PATER COELESTIS. Abraham, my servant, for thy most faithful meaning, Both thou and thy stock shall have my plenteous blessing. Where the unfaithful, under my curse evermore, For their vain working shall rue their wickedness sore.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. Tell me, blessed Lord, where will thy great malice light? My hope is, all flesh shall not perish in thy sight.

PATER COELESTIS. No, truly, Abraham, thou chancest upon the right. The thing I shall do I will not hide from thee, Whom I have blessed for thy true fidelity: For I know thou wilt cause both thy children and servants In my ways to walk, and trust unto my covenants, That I may perform with thee my earnest promise.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. All that will I do, by assistance of thy goodness.

PATER COELESTIS. From Sodom and Gomorrah the abhominations call For my great vengeance, which will upon them fall: Wild fire and brimstone shall light upon them all.