[Selections from]

Seven Sobs of a
Sorrowfull Soule for Sinne

by William Hunnis

Page Contents

The Author to his Booke.		The Booke to his Readers
Domine ne in furore. Psal.6.		Beati quorum. Psal.xxxii.
The first part	The second part	The first part	The second part
Domine ne in furore. Psal. 38
The first part	The second part

	The Author to his Booke.
	Passe foorth my booke into the hands
	and view of sundry men:
	Humble thy selfe, declare thy name
	who thee thus clad and when:
	And blush not at the frumps of some,
	ne feare at others frowne:
	More rich thou art in thred bare cote,
	then some in silken gowne.
	And give them all to understand,
10	from whence thou first didst spring,
	How thou wast fostred in the brest
	and bosome of a king.
	And so (perhaps) some woorthie wight
	wil shape thee rich arraie,
	And set thee foorth as thou deserv’st
	with costly jewels gaie.
	Behave thy selfe in such good sort,
	if possible maybe,
	That every one may thee embrace,
20	and wish well unto me.
	Vale.

	The Booke to his Readers
	Good friends with favor me peruse,
	halfe naked though I bee,
	Or not attierd so gallantlie,
	as you desire to see.
	Yet this from me your selves assure,
	such substance here to find,
	As shall bring hope unto the hart,
	and comfort to the mind.
	Oft under short and simple weed,
10	such vertue may be found,
	As under pall of purple hew
	that traileth on the ground.
	I being good am not the worse,
	though clothing mine be bad.
	He that bestowed the same on me,
	did give the best he had.
	In whose behalfe I humbly pray,
	and for my selfe also,
	You would vouchsafe to mend those faults,
20	that in my cote ye kno.
	Vale.

	Domine ne in furore. Psal.6.
	The first part.
	O Lord when I my self behold,
	how wicked I have bin;
	And view the paths and waies I went,
	wandering from sin to sin;
2	Againe, to think upon thy power,
	thy judgement, and thy might;
	And how that nothing can be hid,
	or close kept from thy sight;
3	Even then (alas) I shake and quake,
	and tremble where I stand,
	For feare thou shouldst revenged be,
	by power of wrathful hand.
4	The weight of sin is verie great,
	for this to mind I call,
	That one proud thought made angels thine
	from heaven to slide and fall.
5	Adam likewise, and Eve his wife,
	for breaking thy precept
	From paradice expelled were;
	and death thereby hath crept
6	Upon them both, and on their seed,
	for ever to remaine:
	But that by faith in Christ thy sonne,
	we hope to live againe.
7	The earth not able was to beare,
	but quicke did swallow in,
	Corah, Dathan, and Abiron,
	by reason of their sin,
8	Also because kind David did
	his people number all,
	Thou Lord therefore, in three daies space,
	such greevous plague letst fall;
9	That seventie thousand men forwith
	thereof dide presentlie,
	Such was thy worke, such was thy wrath,
	thy mightie power to trie.
10	(Alas) my sin surmounteth theirs,
	mine cannot numbred bee,
	And from thy wrath most mightie God,
	I know not where to flee.
11	If into heaven I might ascend,
	where angels thine remaine,
	O Lord thy wrath would thrust me forth
	downe to the earth againe.
12	And in the earth here is no place
	of refuge to be found,
	Nor in the deepe and water course,
	that passeth underground.
13	Vouchsafe therefore I thee beseech,
	on me some mercie take,
	And turne thy wrath from me awaie,
	for Jesus Christes sake.
14	Lord in thy wrath reprove me not,	Verse.1.
	ne chast me in thine ire,	Domine ne in furore tuo
	But with thy mercie shadow me,	arguas me, neq. in ira tua
	I humblie thee desire.	corripias me
15	I know it is my greevous sinnes
	that do thy wrath provoke,
	But yet O Lord, in rigor thine
	forbeare thy heavy stroke,
16	And rather with thy mercie sweet,
	behold my heavy plight,
	How weake and feeble I appeare
	before thy blessed sight.
17	For nature mine corrupted is,
	and wounded with the dart
	Of lust and foule concupiscence,
	throughout in every part.
18	I am in sinne conceavde and borne,
	the child of wrath and death,
	Having but here a little time
	to live and draw my breath.
19	I feele my selfe stil apt and prone
	to wickednesse and vice,
	And drowned thus in sinne I lie,
	and have no power to rise.
20	It is thy mercy, O sweet Christ,	Verse.2.
	that must my health restore:	Miserere mei domine,
	For al my bones are troubled much,	quoniam infirmus sum:
	and vexed very sore	sana me domine quaniam
21	I am not able to withstand	coturbata sunt omnia
	temptations such as be,	ossa mea.
	Wherefore good lord vouchsafe to heale
	my great infirmitie.
22	Good Christ as thou to Peter didst,
	reach forth thy hand to me,
	When he upon the water went,
	there drowned like to be.
23	And as the Leaper clensed was,
	by touching with thy hand.
	And Peters mother raised up
	from fever whole to stand.
24	So let that hand of mercy thine,
	make cleane the leprosie
	Of lothsome lust upon me growne,
	through mine iniquitie.
25	Then shal there strength in me appeer
	through grace my cheefe releese,
	Thy death, O Christ, the medicine is
	that helpeth all my greefe.
26	My soule is troubled verie sore,	Verse.3.
	by reason of my sin:	Et anima mea conturbata
	But Lord how long shall I abide	est valde, sed tu domine
	thus sorrowfull therein?	usquequo?
27	I doubt not Lord, but thou which hast
	my stonie hart made soft,
	With willing mind thy grace to crave,
	from time to time so oft;
28	Wilt not now stay, but foorth proceed
	my perfect health to make,
	Although a while thou doost defer,
	yet it is for my sake.
29	For lord, thou knowst our nature such
	if we great things obtaine;
	And in the getting of the same
	do feele no griefe or paine;
30	We little doo esteeme thereof,
	but hardly brought to passe,
	A thousand times we do esteeme,
	much more than th’other was.
31	So Lord, if thou shouldst at the first
	grant my petition,
	The greatnes of offences mine,
	I should not thinke upon.
32	Wherefore my hope still bids me crie
	with faithful heart in brest,
	As did the faithfull Cananite,
	Whose daughter was possest.
33	At least if I still knock and cal
	upon thy holy name,
	At length thou wilt heare my request
	and grant to me the same:
34	As did the man three loaves of bread
	unto his neighbor lend;
	Whose knocking long forst him to rise
	and shew himselfe a friend.
	35 Lord by the mouth of thy deere son,
	this promise didst thou make:
	That if we knocke thou open wilt
	the doore even for his sake.
36	Wherefore we crie, we knock, we cal
	and never cease wil wee,
	Til thou doo turne to us, O Lord,
	that we may turne to thee.
	The second part.
	Turne from thy wrath, O Lord of hosts,	Verse.4.
	and set my hart at large:	Covertere domine, & eripe
	O save me for thy mercies sake,	animam meam, saluum
	and all my sins discharge.	me fac, propter
2	Not for the merits I have doon	misericordiam tuam
	ne for the works I wrought,
	But for thy endlesse mercie sake,
	and bloud which hath us bought.
3	The debt is great that I am in,
	not able for to paie,
	And how to recompense the same,
	none other can I saie;
4	But goodesse thine must me acquite,
	or else (alas) must I
	To prison, where no ransome may
	set me at libertie.
5	For why in death, O God of life,	Verse.5.
	no man remembreth thee,	Quoniam non est in morte
	And in the hel who gives thee thanks	qui memor sit tui, in
	was none yet knowne to bee	inferno autem quis
6	The greevous plagues and tormentes there	confitebitur tibi?
	so smarting be and strong,
	That no can have mind on thee,
	or thee confess among.
7	No time is there of space, ne place
	repentence for to find;
	But burning paines, and torments sharpe
	to al be there assind.
8	Remembring this while I am here,
	and do this life possesse,
	To thee, O Lord, in humble wise,
	I doo my faults confesse:
9	And with a spirit all sorrowful
	I do my sinnes lament,
	And sory am even from my soule,
	I did such waies frequent.
10	And am with groning wearie made,	Verse.6.
	through tast of many feares,	Laboravi in gemitu meo,
	The night I spend my bed to wash,	lavabo meum, lachrymis
	my couch to wet with teares,	meis stratum meum
11	Not weeping to the sight of men,	rigabo
	(as doth the hypocrite)
	But in thy chamber secretly,
	where I my sinnes recite.
12	Not onely with the teares of eies,
	but teares set from alow,
	That is, from bottome of my hart,
	repentance great to show.
13	And as my bodie I have made
	a servant unto sin;
	So wil I now, by power of grace,
	delight no more therein:
14	But wil the same on thee bestow,
	O Lord, and freely give,
	To serve thee Lord in righteousnesse,
	the daies I have to live.
15	For in this bed of flesh and bloud,
	and couch of sensual life,
	The soules of all from Adams fall,
	have laine in wo and strife.
16	And this doth make our countenance
	or mind to changed be,
	For inwarde greefe of this our couch
	of sensualitie.
17	For when we seeke therein to rest,
	and thinke some ease to find,
	It after turneth to our griefe,
	and anguish great of mind.
18	It is a serpent faire in face
	appearing to the sho;
	But in his taile a sting lies hid
	of endlesse paine and wo.
19	Mine eie, O Lord, is troubled sore,	Verse.7.
	with extreame rage and paine:	Turbatus est a furore
	And I among mine enemies	oculus meus, inveteravi
	doo weake and old remaine.	inter omnes inimicos
20	The wicked feend mine enimie,	meos.
	still seeketh to devise
	Some matter of occasion,
	to laie before mine eies.
21	The world also doth draw me forth
	to follow her delight:
	My flesh to sensualitie
	runs on with maine and might.
22	The companie of wicked sort
	entise me daie by daie:
	Thus I with them, and they with me,
	(alas) stil run astraie.
23	These enemies I never can
	be able to subdue,
	It must be thou, O Jesu sweet,
	most mightie and most true:
24	Thou Lord which hast destroied deth
	the divel likewise supprest,
	Must give me power to overcome,
	Whereby to live in rest.
25	Then underneath thy death & crosse
	I shal my sinnes displaie,
	And strongly fight against my foes,
	and boldlie to them saie,
26	Away from me that workers be	Verse.8.
	of wickednes and sin:	Difecdite a me omnes,
	For why the Lord hath heard my voice,	qui operamini iniquitatem,
	and seene my teares therein.	quoniam ex audivit
27	You damned spirits and livers lewd,	dominus vocem fletus mei
	the members of the feend,
	Away from me: for now your power
	is brought unto an end.
28	Your prince and maister of this world
	that hath me turnd and tost,
	Is now cast out, and al his power,
	his might and strength is lost.
29	Although you have me long time held
	in prison and in thrall;
	Yet are yee now cleane overcome,
	by Christ most strong of al.
30	I that in darknesse erst was led,
	doo now behold the light;
	The Lord my praier sure hath heard,	Verse.9.
	my fate is in his sight.	Exaudivit dominus
31	To thee, O Lord, for grace I praid,	deprecationem meam
	and thou heardst my request;	dominus orationem meam
	And sentst abundant dewes thereof	suscepit.
	unto my quiest rest.
32	That I praid likewise, all my sins
	might cleane remitted be,
	And thou hast granted my desire,
	and safe delivered me.
33	Wherefore let all mine enemies	Verse.10.
	confounded be with shame,	Erubescant & omnes &
	And that right soone and suddenlie,	conturbentur vehementor
	O Lord I crave the same.	inimici mei, convertantur
34	I know that all mine enemies	erubescant valde,
	shal vexed be right sore,	velociter.
	And that thou wilt put them to flight,
	from henceforth evermore.
35	For what long time they have possest
	they lost in little space,
	Through operation of thy power,
	and working of thy grace
36	With wrong they kept, which that sweete Christ
	by bloud hast deerly bought,
	And thou a mightie Champion
	hast turned their power to nought.
37	Lord, I therefore thy servant poore
	most earnestlie to praie,
	To guide my feet and steps aright
	in thy most holie waie.
38	And that the feend mine enemie,
	who seekes me to devoure,
	Maie never over my poore soule
	have any strength or power:
39	But as by grace I am restord
	to favor thine againe;
	So with that grace defend me Lord,
	from everlasting paine, Amen.

	Beati quorum. Psal.xxxii.
	The first part.
	O God, I know by grace, through faith
	the sinner is made just,
	Though we offend; yet justifide
	by grace through faith we trust
2	Which grace & faith are thy good gifts,
	which thou hast given us free,
	And thorough them the works we doo
	are made right good to be.
3	I therefore Lord my faults confesse,
	by helpe of heavenly grace,
	And utterlie my sinnes forsake,
	and do them al deface:
4	Beseeching thee me to admit
	with those that blessed bee,
	And to forgive the trespasses
	which I have doone to thee.
5	For blessed is the man indeed,	Verse.1.
	whose wickednesse and sin,	Beati quorum remissae
	Is cleane forgiven and covered,	sunt iniquitates, & quorum
	as they had never bin.	tecta peccata sunt.
6	I will not hide my sinnes from thee,
	nor seeke them to excuse;
	But with my heart will them confesse,
	and doo my selfe accuse.
7	For, Lord, who goes about to hide
	his own iniquitie;
	Thou shalt the same make manifest,
	that al the world may see;
8	Thou wilt him strip and naked make,
	to his perpetual blame,
	When he to judgement shall arise,
	And live in endlesse shame.
9	And therefore blessed is the man,	Verse.2.
	to whom thou Lord shalt saie,	Beatus vir cui non imputavit
	not impute thy sinnes to thee,	dominus peccatum,
	nor to thy charge them laie,	nec est in spiritu eius dolus
10	He in whose spirit no fraud is found,
	shall blessed be also,
	And looke what thing he takes in hand,
	shall prosper wel and gro.
11	If I for sinne should saine my selfe
	all sorrowfull to be,
	And were not so, then should be found
	both fraud and guile in me.
12	Or if I should account my selfe
	a man that liveth just,
	Having my conscience stuft with sinne,
	so full as may be thrust
13	There shuld appeer great fraud in me
	for deepe dissembling so;
	For why, in me no goodnesse dwels,
	as of my self I know.
14	If ever any good were there,
	it surely must be thine,
	But as for sinnes I many have,
	and they by right are mine.
15	For while, O Lord, I held my peace,	Verse.3.
	confessing not my crime,	Quoniam tacui inveteraverunt
	My bones did wast through daily plaints,	ossa mea, dum clamorem
	I made from time to time.	tota die.
16	My soule doth feeble waxe and faint,
	because I held my peace;
	But now I have my sinnes confest,
	I feele hir strength increase.
17	I kept that backe I should have told,
	or else excus’d the same;
	And that I should have closelie kept,
	did publish to my blame.
18	I hid the sinnes that I have done,
	and they remained still,
	And boasted forth the good I did,
	contrairie to thy will.
19	Thus were the works that I had wrought
	quite lost with their reward,
	And I among that sort remaine
	whom thou doost not regard.
20	For daie and night thy heavy hand,	Verse.4.
	upon me thou hast laid,	Quoniam die ac nocte
	And in my trouble was I turnd,	gravata est super me manui
	when I was sore afraid.	tua conversus sum
21	My tribulation scourged me,	in aerumna mea:
	my moisture is made drie,	dum configitur spina.
	My verie backe bone striken was,
	that I began to crie.
22	My conscience likewise striken was,
	with pricke of great remorse,
	And conscience mine unquiet was,
	till grace the same did force,
23	And make me knowledge al my faults	Verse.5.
	that I had done to thee;	Delictum meum cognitum
	Thus hath thy grace made me confesse,	tibi feci, & iniustitiam
	all mine iniquitie.	meam non abscondi.
	The second part.
	Lord when against my selfe I spake,	Dixi: confitebor adversum & tu
	shewing what I had bin,	me iniustiam meam domino,
	Thou Lord, forwith didst cleane remis	remissisti impietatem
	my wickednesse and sin.	peccati mei.
2	So soone as I determind was,
	no longer them to hide,
	Thou Lord straight way forgavest me,
	my faith the same hath tride,
3	And yet my voice was in my mouth,
	thine eare was in my heart;
	Thus hath thy mercie clensed me
	throughout in every part.
4	Thou art more ready to forgive,
	than we are to confesse,
	So that we do our selves accuse
	and shew our guiltinesse.
5	Some blame the divel as cause of sin,
	some destinie do blame,
	Some other saie complexion theirs
	cannot avoid the same;
6	But, Lord, I leave such vaine excuse,
	and with the prophet saie,
	Its I O Lord that do offend,
	its I, I not denaie;
7	Its I my selfe that wrought this wo,
	through mine iniquitie,
	Its I O Lord, and not the devil,
	nor yet my destiny:
8	Yet by thy sufferance, Lord, they may
	onelie entise a man;
	But to inforce or him compell,
	that do they never can.
9	Wherefore good Lord, my sickly soule
	to health againe restore.
	For this ought all thy holy ones	Verse.6.
	to praie in time therefore.	Pro hac orabit ad te omnis
10	This is the time in which thou wilt,	sanctus, in tempore opportune.
	give eare when we do cal;
	For after this no time there is
	thou wilt us heare at all.
11	This is the time, Lord thee to seeke,
	while that thou maist be found,
	This is the time thou wilt us heare,
	and keepe us safe and sound
12	From rage of many waterflouds,	Verumtamen in diluvio
	that with tempations flo;	aquarum multarum,
	And from the proud and wicked sort,	ad eum non approximat
	with manie troubles mo.
13	These shal no time approch to us,
	to do us any harme;
	For why thy grace shal beat them backe
	by strength of mighty arme.
14	Although amid this water floud
	of surging waves of sin,
	We tossed be among the rocks,
	yet are not drownd therein.
15	For thou, O Lord, art my refuge	Verse.7.
	from troubles al that be,	Tu es refugium meum
	And though tempations of the world	a tribulatione,
	about have compast me;	quae circumdedit me,
16	I not regard inticements theirs,
	nor threats that they shal make:
	For why my faith assureth mo
	that thou my part wilt take.
17	Thou Lord art only my defense,
	my joy is al in thee,	exaltatio mea, erue me
	Thou shalt me compasse round about,	a circumdantibus me.
	and safe deliver me.
18	The tabernacle of my soule
	is round about me set
	With enemies, such as do seeke
	mine hinderance and let.
19	But yet, O Lord thy providence
	shal me deliver still,
	And from al dangers me defend,
	after thy holy wil.
20	Thou wil informe and shew to me
	the way that I shal go:	Verse.8.
	This life is but a pilgrimage	Intellectum tibi dabo
	I passe in to and fro.	& instruam te in via hac,
21	Of this way Lord, thou art the end,	qua gradieris:
	and marke whereat I shoot.
	Grant that I may this voiage passe,
	and foes of mine confute;
22	And in the running of my course,
	my faith so strong may be,
	That I may have one of those games
	of immortalitie.
23	Thus shal thine eie of strong defence	firmabo super te oculos meos.
	on me be fixed sure,
	And I with joie shal able be
	this travel to indure.
24	For Lord if thou shouldst turne thy face
	or cast thine eie aside,
	I should not able be to run,
	nor labor this abide.
25	But should be as the horse and mule	Verse.9.
	that understanding want:	Nolite fieri sicut equus & mulus,
	Such of thy grace, faith, and good works,	quibus non est intellectus
	Both barren be and scant.	in camo & freno maxillas
26	They are both too proud and scornfull eke,	eorum constringe, qui
	thy lawes to hold and keepe,	non approximat ad te.
	The lusts and pleasures of the flesh
	so lulleth them asleepe,
27	But yet the mouthes of such wild beasts
	thou Lord with bit and brake
	Shalt snaffle them with chaine and curbe,
	that do thee so forsake.
28	For great and many are the plagues
	of those that sinners be,
	By meanes whereof a number, Lord,
	are turned unto thee.
29	And thou, O lord, that didst the plage
	for their correction,
	Wilt also give them comfort great,
	and consolation.
30	And he that trusteth in the Lord,
	he shall be compast in
	With mercie and remission
	of all his former sin.
31	Be glad therefore ye righteous,
	and in the Lord rejoise:
	For he by grace hath made you just,
	through his most loving choise:
32	Which were before stifnecked, proud,
	now gentle meeke and mild;
	Not by your merits, but by grace,
	as father to his child.
33	Al ye that be upright of heart,
	in God rejoice also;
	And to his will submit your will,
	in anguish, paine, and wo.
34	And as S. Paule th’ Apostle was
	made great in his distresse,
	So Lord in all extremitie
	grant the like successe, Amen.

	Domine ne in furore. Psal. 38
	The first part.
	Within my soule, O Lord,
	doe manie troubles spring,
	Sometime by feare of punishment,
	that temprall things may bring:
2	Which happen may to me ,
	while I this life abide,
	For mine offenses done to thee,
	which cannot pass unspide:
3	Sometime, O Lord, by feare
	of sicknes and disease,
	Which here we suffer for his guilt,
	that first did thee displease:
4	Sometime againe by feare
	of death that follow must,
	Which in a time unlooked for
	shall al consume to dust:
5	And last by feare, O Lord,
	of everlasting paine,
	Which I by sin have well deservd,
	therein for to remaine.
6	But yet, O blessed Lord,
	when thou shalt angrie be,	Verse.1.
	In furie thine correct me not,	Domine ne in furore tu
	nor poure thy wrath on me.	arguas me, neque in ira
7	And though thy bow be bent,	tua corripias me.
	with arrow set therein,
	And ready thou my soule to wound,
	for my commited sin:
8	Yet let thy mercie move
	with ruth on me I crave;
	Because thou knowest I cannot give
	the thing that I not have.
9	For thou must first me give,
	Yet I can give to thee;
	For of my selfe and from my selfe,
	comes but iniquitie.
10	Thine arrowes I confesse,	Verse.2.
	so deepe have pearst my heart,	Quoniam sagittae tuae
	That medcine none, ne other craft,	in fixae sunt mihi,
	can sever them apart.
11	For if by craft I might
	these wounds make whole againe,
	And so escape eternal death,
	and everlasting paine;
12	My feare should be the lesse,
	my joy a great deal more:
	But thou, O Lord, the leach must be,
	for sicknesse mine and sore.
13	Thine hands thou hast inforst	& confirmasti super me
	so heavy upon me,	manum tuam.
	As death with dart I know right well,
	cannot avoided be.
14	O death, unto the man
	that substance hath at wil,
	How sharpe and bitter is thy dart,
	when thou comst him to kill?
15	Lord in my flesh I feele,	Verse.3.
	no health there is at all:	Non est sanitas in carne mea
	For when I think most sure to stand,
	I rediest am to fall.
16	But blessed are those men,
	which never did offend
	In sinfull lusts; but have themselves
	kept cleane unto the end.
17	For in their soules they find
	great quietnesse and rest,
	And every thing they take in hand,
	doth turne unto the best:
18	But contrarie to those,
	that spend the daie and night,
	In exercise of wickednesse,
	and take therein delight.
19	For they in conscience feele
	such busines, broile, and strife,
	That for to thinke upon their sin,
	a hel is to their life.
20	O Lord, among those sort,
	my selfe have gone astraie,
	And from the face of anger thine,	a facie irae tuae
	could never flee awaie.
21	Yet thou hast suffered me,
	and given me grace at last,
	For to acknowledge al my faults,
	and wicked life now past.
22	My bones were void of rest,	non est pax ossibus
	by reason of my sin:	meis a facie peccatorum
	And all my bodie greeved was,
	without and eke within.
23	Sinne may wel be comparde
	unto a serpent vile,
	Which with his bodie, head, and taile,
	doth manie one begile,
24	For where the serpents head,
	to enter doth begin
	There al the bodie with the taile,
	apace comes sliding in.
25	The motion first to sinne,
	unto the head applie,
	And when the heart consents thereto,
	then is the bodie nie.
26	The fact once being done,
	then is the serpents taile
	With head and bodie entred in,
	where he must needs prevaile.
27	For why this serpent sinne	Verse.4.
	so high himselfe doth reare,	Quoniam iniquitates meae
	Above mine head, the weight of whom	super gressae sunt caput
	is more then I can beare.	meum, & sicut onus grave
28	And this by sufferance came,	gravitae sunt super me.
	by licence that I gave,
	This serpents head into my soule
	his entrance first to have,
29	For now hath he brought in
	his bodie, taile, and al;
	And therwith doth charge my soule
	that she is like to fal.
30	The burthen is so great,
	that many times (alas)
	She is compeld to do the thing
	she would not bring to passe.
31	Too hard it is for me
	this serpent to compel,
	It must be thou O mightie king,
	the strength of Israel.
32	Thou that the divels dravest forth
	out of the men possest,
	Vouchsafe this serpent to expel,
	and set my soule at rest.
33	Thy grace must work in me	Verse.5.
	to be contrite in hart,	Putruerent & corruptae
	And this from thee to me must come,	sunt cicatrices meae,
	withouten my desart.	a facie insipientiae meae.
34	My bones corrupted are,
	and putrifide so sore,
	By reason of my follied past,
	that was in me therefore.
35	The marks of mine old sins,
	doo rotten waxe againe,
	And fresh and greene they doo appeare,
	to further more my paine.
36	By reason of my sinne,	Verse.6.
	I am a wretch become,	Miser facuts sum &
	Setting my mind on earthly thing,	curvatus usque in finem,
	like beast both brute and dum.
37	And crooked am I made,
	unto the very end;
	The daie throughout continuallie	tota die contri status
	with wo and greefe I spend.	ingrediebar
38	Because I am throwne down,
	and not compeld thereto;
	No violence did me inforce
	thus wickedly to doo.
39	It was my will, which led
	intelligence awry.
	And that which reason willed me,
	the same did I denie,
40	Will is the middle part,
	Lord of my soule I know:
	And I my will for to exalt
	did reason overthrow.
41	Whereby my loines are ful,	Verse.7.
	that is, my flesh to saie,	Quoniam lumbi mei
	Repleat is with illusiouns,	impleti sunt illusionibus,
	that me deceive alwaie.
42	Ah wicked flesh of mine,
	that doth my soule intise;
	Thou hurtst thy selfe, offendst my God,
	by thy lewd exercise.
43	And by this lust of mine,
	no health is in my flesh,	et non est sanitas in
	For sin my soule and body greeves	carne mea.
	still day by daie afresh.
44	My soule tormented is,
	by sight of mind uncleane;
	My bodie weake and feeble brought,
	through lust made bare and leane,
45	Thus I afflicted sore,	Verse.8.
	and weary low am brought,	Affictus sum, & humiliatus
	And am a bondman unto sinne,	sum nimis,
	in word, in deede, and thought.
46	This sinne so setled is,
	that it will not depart,
	Which causeth me To rore and crie	rogiebam a gemitu cordis mei.
	with sorrow from my hart,
47	O Lord the great desire,	Verse.9.
	that doth proceed from me,	Domine, ante te omne
	And mourning much that I do make	desiderium meum, gemitus
	not hidden is from thee.	meus a te non est absconditus.
	48 Thy sight is of great strength,
	for end thereof is none,
	And be the distance nere so far,
	thy power and strength is one.
49	Thy sight, O God, attains
	to distant al that bee,
	And makes no change of more or lesse,
	as is with us we see.
50	My heart is troubled sore,	Verse.10.
	my strength is gone me fro;	Cor meum conturbatum est,
	Likewise the sight of both mine eies,	dereliquit me virtus mea,
	from me is gone also.	& lumen oculorum meorum,
51	The tribulations great,	& ipsum non est mecum.
	wherewith my sinful hart
	Is vext, and troubled night and daie,
	about in everie part:
52	Is, Lord, for feare of thee,
	and of thy punishment,
	Which thou shalt render unto me,
	for this my life mispent.
53	O Lord, remove from me,
	this cloudie mist of mine,
	And with thy grace and mercy mixt
	annoint my dusked eine;
54	That I the way may see,
	wherein thou hast delight,
	And in the same my steps direct,
	to walke both daie and night, Amen.
	The second part.
	My wretchednes, O Lord,
	is more then may be said;
	Its not alone the greefe of hart,
	that maketh me dismaid.
2	Ne feeblnes of strength,
	deprest with vices all,
	Nor in the blindnesse of my soule,
	which readie is to fall,
3	But otherwise it coms,
	and stil increaseth more,
	That is, where I thought comfort find,	Verse.11.
	is turned to my sore.	Amici mei & proxime
4	My friends and neighbors Lord,	mei adversum me
	in whom I put my trust,	appropinquaverunt &
	Against me altogither stood,	steterunt.
	and shewd themselves unjust,
5	And they that stood me next,	Verse.12.
	far off got them away:	Et qui juxta me erant,
	And such as waited for my life,	de longe steterunt.
	set on me as a praie.	Et vim faciebant
6	The force of wicked feends,	qui quarebant
	O Lord, is verie strong:
	No earthly power is like to theirs,
	if thou them suffer long
7	To exercise their force,
	on sinners al that bee,
	Not one among ten thousand shal
	be left alive to thee.
8	They study to deceive;
	by worldly pleasures vaine,
	And joies such as the flesh desires,
	to bring us endlesse paine.
9	These Lord have sought for me,	Et qui inquirebant mala &
	and wrought me ill the while,	mihi, locuti sunt vanitates,
	And with deceitfull vanities,	dolos tota die meditabantur.
	did daily me beguile.
10	Lord many times I feele,
	when I thus tempted am,
	Such pleasures spring, I joy thereat,
	not looking whence they came.
11	Or at the least, O Lord,
	I would not understand,
	Ne see the snares for me were laid,
	to bring me underhand.
12	The pleasures of the flesh
	so sweet sounds in mine eare,
	That what is spoken there against,
	I list not for to heare.
13	But as one being deafe,	Verse.13.
	with silence passe away,	Ego autem tamquam
	And as a man that dumbe is borne,	surdus non audiebam,
	have not a word to say.	& sicut mutus non apriens os
14	Indeed I must confesse
	my selfe I have not sought,
	Nor spake against my wickednesse,
	in such sort as I ought.
15	But as one deafe and dumbe,	Verse.14.
	that sin no time would blame,	Et factus sum sicut homo
	Ye open would mine eares to heare,	non audiens, & non
	how to avoid the same.	habens in ore suo
16	Yet true it is, O Lord,
	let man his faults confesse,
	With sighs and sorrow from his hart,
	he did thy lawes transgresse.
17	Yea let him do his best,
	and satisfaction make;
	And yet if he be void of hope,
	thou wilt him sure forsake.
18	For Judas sorrow made,
	when he had thee betraid,
	And did restore the silver backe,
	and downe againe it laid.
19	He openly confest,
	he sinned greevouslie,
	In that he had falslie betraid
	the innocent to die;
20	And wanting hope, we see,
	into despaire he fel,
	And hangd himselfe upon a tree,
	among the ravens to dwel.
21	Hope is the gift, O Lord,
	that from thy grace proceeds,
	And grace brings faith, and faith brings love
	from which brings fruitfull deeds.
22	And for because that I	Verse.15.
	did alwaies hope in thee,	Quoniam in te domine
	Thou wilt me heare, O Lord my god,	speravi, tu exaudies me
	and safe deliver me.	domine deus meus.
23	My hope is firmely fixt,
	and cannot be remoovde;
	Because thy grace assureth me,
	my faith is not reproovde.
24	Thus have I said, O Lord,	Verse.16.
	least any time at all,	Quia dixi : nequando
	Mine enemies should over me	super gaudeant mihi
	triumph to see me fall.	inimici mei, & dum
25	For whiles my feet did slide,	commoventur pedes mei,
	against me much they spake;	super me magna locuti sunt.
	That is to saie, whiles my desires,
	the waie to sinne did take,
26	And were from thee remoovde
	to follow lothsome lust;
	Then did mine enemies rejoice,
	to see me in the dust.
27	But Lord, I me submit,
	unto thy discipline,
	And meekely take correction thine,
	for old offences mine.
28	And have my selfe prepard	Verse.17.
	unto the whip of paine,	Quoniam ego in flagella
	Whereby my griefe and dolour may	paratus sum, & dolor
	stil in my sight remaine.	meus in conspectu meo semper.
29	And Lord thou knowest of old,
	there is no good in me;
	Not one man good upon the earth,
	not one seeke after thee.
30	Among thy chosen sort,
	unfaithfulnes was found,
	Likewise among thy angles bright
	were thousands cast to ground:
31	Then how much more, alas,
	of wretches such as I,
	That dwel in houses made of clay,
	must sinne continuallie?
32	I will confesse to thee	Verse.18.
	all mine ungodlinesse,	Quoniam iniquitatem
	And for my sinnes wil take more thought	meam annuntioabo, &
	than any can expresse.	cogitabo pro peccato meo.
33	And yet O Lord thy grace
	must worke this goode in me;
	By which I stedfastlie beleeve
	I chosen am of thee.
34	For now by grace I mind
	my sinfull life amend,
	And unto vertue will applie
	my selfe unto the end.
35	I see the follies past,
	wherein I tooke delight,
	To be both vile, wicked and nought,
	and odious in thy sight.
36	And though my foes do live,	Verse.19.
	and over me made strong,	Inimici autem mei vivunt,
	And they which hated me are great	& confirmati sunt super me,
	and do me troble wrong:	& multiplicati sunt qui
37	No marvel it’s, O Lord,	oderunt me inique.
	for why they mighty be,
	And are except thy grace assist,
	too strong alwaies for me.
38	They have long time devisd
	deceitful crafty gins,
	And by the same have overthrowne
	the strongest in their sins.
39	If any time I flee
	repentance for to find,
	Then one of these malicious spirits
	assaileth straight my mind;
40	And with deviles new,
	and fraude that be unknowne
	He craftilie doth me subdue,
	and so makes me his owne.
41	Thus Lord when I am bent,	Verse.20.
	thy goodnesse to pursue,	Qui retribuunt mala pro bonis,
	Mine enemies do me detract,	detrahebant mihi,
	and breed my bale anew.	quoniam sequebar baritatem
42	The wicked feend (alas)
	doth many times me greeve;
	The world also doth follow me
	the daies I have to live.
43	The flesh doth me provoke
	with lust both lewd and nought:
	Thus by these three mine enemies
	I am in thraldome brought.
44	Yet, Lord, forsake me not,
	ne let thy grace depart;
	Least that mine enemies unwares
	do thorough pearse mine hart.
45	And though sometime, O Lord,
	thy preference thou withdraw,
	Whereby the feend may entrance make
	and bring me more in aw.
46	Yet Lord, thy grace restore
	to me poore wretch againe,
	That I thereby may him resist,
	to make his travel vaine.
47	Give heed therefore my God,
	which art my helpe and health,
	Whose mercy and whose goodnes shewd
	is to my soule cheefe wealth,
48	Give temporal health, O Lord,
	as unto thee seemes best,
	And to my soule thy saving health,
	in heaven with thee may rest, Amen.

Notes

frumps: mocking speech or action; a derisive snort (OED).
wight: person (OED).
Vale: “Farewell” (Latin).
attierd: attired.
weed: clothing, apparel (OED).
pall: fine or rich cloth (OED). purple: the distinguishing color of the dress of royalty (OED).
one proud thought: reference to Lucifer, who was cast down from Heaven for his pride.
from heaven to slide and fall: Is. 14:12
Upon them both, and on their seed: Gen. 3:17-23.
Corah, Dathan, and Abiron: Deut. 11:6.
seventie thousand men: 2 Sam. 24:10-16.
concupiscence: libidinous desire, lust (OED).
child of wrath and death: Ps. 51:5.
When he upon the water went: Matt. 14:29-31.
the Leaper clensed was: Matt. 8:2-3.
Peters mother raised up: Matt. 8:14-15.
the faithfull Cananite: Mark 7:26-30.
three loaves of bread: Matt. 7:7-8; Luke 11:9-10.
if we knocke thou open wilt: Luke 13:25-27.
assind: assigned.
wise: manner (OED).
I doo my faults confesse: Ps. 32:5.
faire in face . . . in his taile a sting lies hid: Allegory of Deceit; Hunnis combines the allegory with an allusion to Gen. 3 (i.e. “a serpent”).
maine: force, strength (OED).
deth: death.
the feend: the devil.
behold the light: John 1:3-4.
guide my feet: Luke 1:79.
through faith / the sinner is made just: Rom. 3:21-26.
forgive the trespasses / which I have doone to thee: Matt. 6:12.
dissembling: deceiving, hypocritical (OED).
thou wast: you were.
hir: her; refers to the soul.
knowledge: acknowledge.
remis: remiss;resolve, mitigate (OED).
shew: show.
complexion: reference to the “humours” (choleric, melancholic, sanguine, and phlegmatic), which were believed to determine one’s temperment.
denaie: deny.
mo: more.
let: hindrance, obstruction (OED).
turne thy face: 2 Chron. 6:42.
eke: also (OED).
snaffle: restrain or guide with a bridle (OED).
S. Paule th’ Apostle: St. Paul suffered physical affliction, and was repeatedly jailed and persecuted during his ministry. See 1. Cor. 12: 7-11, and Acts 21-28.
temprall: temporal.
first did thee displease: reference to Adam.
ruth: pity; compassion (OED).
leach: leech; a physician; a term often applied to God or Christ (OED).
inforst: enforced.
busines: business; mischievous or impertinent activity (OED). broile: broil; a confused disturbance; tumult (OED).
nie: nigh; near (OED).
dravest: drove.
desart: desert; deserving (OED).
greene: green; recent, unhealed, raw (OED).
the middle part . . . reason: Plato divided the soul into three parts, the lower and higher impulses, and the middle part logostikon (“reason”) which can calculate the effects and act as a guide or advisor. In its purest form soul was nous (“intelligence”), communicable with the divine (cf. Rep. 439aff; Phaedrus 245c-246d).
bondman: slave (OED).
nere: never.
praie: prey.
restore the silver backe: Matt. 27:3.
hangd himselfe: Matt. 27:4-7.
Hope is the gift:Eph. 2:8.
dwel in houses made of clay: Job 4:19.
I chosen am of thee: Eph. 1.
gins: cunning stratagems, tricks (OED).
bale: evil in its passive aspect; physical suffering, torment (OED).
nought: worth nothing, of no value (OED).
three: i.e. the devil, the world, and the flesh.
aw: awe; immediate and active fear; terror, dread (OED).
travel: labour, toil (OED).

[Selections from]

Seven Sobs of a
Sorrowfull Soule for Sinne

by William Hunnis

Home

Hunnis Biography

Hunnis Bibliography

Page Contents

The Author to his Booke.

The Booke to his Readers

Domine ne in furore. Psal.6.

Beati quorum. Psal.xxxii.

The first part

The second part

The first part

The second part

Domine ne in furore. Psal. 38

The first part

The second part

The Author to his Booke.

The Booke to his Readers

Domine ne in furore. Psal.6.

The first part.

The second part.

Beati quorum. Psal.xxxii.

The first part.

The second part.

Domine ne in furore. Psal. 38

The first part.

The second part.

Home

Top

Hunnis Biography

Hunnis Bibliography

Notes

Home

Top

Hunnis Biography

Hunnis Bibliography

[Selections from]

Seven Sobs of a Sorrowfull Soule for Sinne

by William Hunnis

Page Contents

The Author to his Booke.

The Booke to his Readers

Domine ne in furore. Psal.6.

The first part.

The second part.

Beati quorum. Psal.xxxii.

The first part.

The second part.

Domine ne in furore. Psal. 38

The first part.

The second part.

Notes

Seven Sobs of a
Sorrowfull Soule for Sinne