XCVI. Christopher Fetherstone

Made by way of Exhortation to the Frenchmen, which are reuolted from true religion, to the end they may returne to God.

O FRENCHMEN, which were once belou’d,

With loue surpassing that of men,

Of God, who had by sundrie signes

The same reuealed to you as then:

But now that God you haue forsaken,

And part with Romish idoll taken.

What spirite, what counsaile, or what rage

So carrieth you? what hope, what feare,

Doth make you turne? you so reuolt

From him that loued you so deare?

O blockishnes which Sathan breedes,

Not once to see whither he you leades!

What! will you then forsake for earth

The holie heauens? what! hazard all

To gaine a thing that’s nothing worth?

What thing more precious can you call,

Then God, the soule, and body neate,

And honour, which are riches greate?

You loose all those, if you proceed

In course which you haue erst begunne.

Returne to God. Vp! courage take,

And to that path full swiftlie runne,

Which constant hath proposde to you;

Vp, vp! I say, and enter now.