Alas my God, and was there ever any,
That hath endured of combrances so many,
As I have done by fleeting too and fro,
Since I my native country did forgo?
Or is there any living on the ground,
Of benefits that hath such plenty found?
Lo how thou makest mortal men to see,
Thy passing goodness by calamity.
And as of nought thou madest every thing:
So out of ill thou causest good to spring.
Was never wight so blessed at thy hand,
That could thy greatness fully Understand.
⟨p. 2⟩Full threescore years and thereto fifteen more,
My life had lasted now in weal and woe.
According to the course in sundry wise
Appointed by thy heavenly destinies,
Whose will it was I should be bred and borne
Of parents rich in cattle, coin, and corn.
But unto him that richest is in fee,
What joy or comfort could his riches be,
When he compelled, compelled was (I say)
To see, to serve, and worship every day,
A thousand forged gods in stead of thee,
Which madst the heaven & earth which we do see?
Thou then eftsoons didst will me to convey
My self from those same places quite away.
And I immediately upon thy call,
Left Parents, country, goods with gods & all.
Yea Lord, thou knowest I wist not whither then
Thou wouldst me lead, nor where me stay again:
But he that followeth thee, full well may say,
He goeth right: and while he holds that way
He never needs to fear that he shall stray.
ALas my God, and was there euer any,
That hath indurde of cōbrāces so many,
As I haue done by fleeting too and fro,
Since I my natiue countrie did forgo?
Or is there any liuing on the ground,
Of benefits that hath such plenty found?
Loe how thou makest mortall men to see,
Thy passing goodnes by calamitie.
And as of nought thou madest euery thing:
So out of ill thou causest good to spring.
Was neuer wight so blessed at thy hand,
That could thy greatnes fully Vnderstand.
⟨p. 2⟩Full threescore yeares and thereto fifteene mo,
My life had lasted now in weale and woe.
According to the course in sundry wise
Appointed by thy heauenly destinies,
Whose will it was I should be bred and borne
Of parents rich in catell, coyne, and corne.
But vnto him that richest is in fee,
What ioy or comfort could his riches be,
When he compeld, compelled was (I say)
To see, to serue, and worship euery day,
A thowsand forged gods in steede of thee,
Which madst ye heauen & earth which we do see?
Thou then eftsoones didst will me to conuey
My selfe from those same places quite away.
And I immediatly vpon thy call,
Left Parents, countrie, goods with gods & all.
Yea Lord, thou knowest I wist not whither thē
Thou wouldst me lead, nor where me stay agen:
But he that followeth thee, full well may say,
He goeth right: and while he holds that way
He neuer needes to feare that he shall stray.
