The monument of matrones conteining seuen seuerall lamps of virginitie, or distinct treatises; whereof the first fiue concerne praier and meditation: the other two last, precepts and examples, as the woorthie works partlie of men, partlie of women; compiled for the necessarie vse of both sexes out of the sacred Scriptures, and other approoued authors, by Thomas Bentley of Graies Inne student.

The fift lamentation, or praier of Zion.

CAll to remembrance, O Lord, what is come vpon vs: consider and behold our confusion and reproch.

Our inheritance is turned to the strangers, and our houses to the aliens.

We are vnderlings without fathers, and our mo∣thers are as widowes.

We haue drunken our water for monie, and our wood haue we by sale sold vnto vs.

Our necks are vnder persecution: we are wearie, and haue no rest.

Aforetime we yeelded our selues to the Aegyptians, and now [we haue submitted our selues] to the Assyrians, onlie that we might be satisfied, & haue bread inough.

Our fathers which now are gone haue sinned, and we must beare their wickednesse.

Seruants haue the rule of vs, and no man deliue∣reth vs out of their hands.

We must get our liuing with the perill of our liues, bicause of the drought of the wildernesse.

Our skin is made blacke like as an ouen, bicause of the trouble, famine, and verie sore hunger.

They rauish and defile the wiues in Zion: and the maidens in the citie of Iudea.

The princes are hanged vp by their enimies hand: they haue not honoured the old sage mens faces.

They haue taken the yoong men [for slaues] to grind, and the boies fainted vnder the burden of wood, [not able to abide it.]

The elders haue ceased from the gates, [so that there were no more lawes, nor forme of Commonwealth:] and the yoong men from their songs.

The ioie of our hart is gone, our danse and melodi∣ous meeting is turned into mourning.

The garland or crowne of our head is fallen: Wo now vnto vs, and alas that euer we sinned.

Therfore our hart is full of heauinesse, and for these things our eies are dimme [with wéeping.]

Bicause of the hill or mountaine of Zion, which is destroied and desolate, insomuch that the foxes runne vpon it.

But thou, O Lord, remainest for euer, and thy seate & throne from generation to generation, world with∣out end: [and therefore thy couenant and mercies can neuer faile.]

Wherefore dost thou forget vs for euer, and forsake vs so long time?

Turne thou vs vnto thee, O Lord, and so we shall be turned: renew our daies as in old times.

But thou hast vtterlie banished and reiected vs: and thou art exceedinglie angrie and displeased against vs.