Cantus. Of duos, or songs for tvvo voices, composed and made by Thomas Whythorne Gent. Of the which, some be playne and easie to be sung, or played on musicall instruments, & be made for young beginners of both those sorts. And the rest of these Duos be made and set foorth for those that be more perfect in singing or playing as aforesaid, all the which be divided into three parts. [...]

About this Item

Title
Cantus. Of duos, or songs for tvvo voices, composed and made by Thomas Whythorne Gent. Of the which, some be playne and easie to be sung, or played on musicall instruments, & be made for young beginners of both those sorts. And the rest of these Duos be made and set foorth for those that be more perfect in singing or playing as aforesaid, all the which be divided into three parts. [...]
Author
Whythorne, Thomas, b. 1528.
Publication
Imprinted at London :: By Thomas Este, the assigne of William Byrd,
1590.
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Subject terms
Part-songs, English -- Early works to 1800.
Vocal duets, Unaccompanied -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A15292.0001.001
Cite this Item
"Cantus. Of duos, or songs for tvvo voices, composed and made by Thomas Whythorne Gent. Of the which, some be playne and easie to be sung, or played on musicall instruments, & be made for young beginners of both those sorts. And the rest of these Duos be made and set foorth for those that be more perfect in singing or playing as aforesaid, all the which be divided into three parts. [...]." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A15292.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 3, 2025.

Pages

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I. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 BLessed are those, that are vndefiled in the way, and 〈♫〉〈♫〉 walke in the law of the Lord, blessed are they that keepe his testimo- nies, 〈♫〉〈♫〉 and seeke him with their whole hart for 〈♫〉〈♫〉 they which doe no wickednesse walke in his waies thou hast charged, charged, 〈♫〉〈♫〉 thou hast charged that wee shall diligently, diligently ij. keepe 〈♫〉〈♫〉 thy commaunde- ments, keepe thy commaūde- ments.

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II. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 O That my wayes were made so di- rect that I might keep 〈♫〉〈♫〉 thy statutes, that I may keepe thy sta- tutes, so shall I not be so shall I not be 〈♫〉〈♫〉 confounded while I haue respect, while I haue re- spect vnto all thy 〈♫〉〈♫〉 commaundements, I will thanke thee, ij. with an vnfayned hart 〈♫〉〈♫〉 when I shall haue learned the iudgements of thy righteousnesse, I will keepe thy 〈♫〉〈♫〉 ceremonies forsake mee not vtterly.

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III. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 WHerewithall shall a yong man cleanse his waie euen by 〈♫〉〈♫〉 ruling him selfe after thy word, with my whole hart haue I sought thee 〈♫〉〈♫〉 O let me not go wrong out of thy commaunde- ments, thy wordes haue I 〈♫〉〈♫〉 hid within my hart that I should not sinne, ij. a- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 gainst thee against the ij. blessed art thou O Lorde 〈♫〉〈♫〉 O Lorde O Lorde, O teach me thy statutes, O teach me 〈♫〉〈♫〉 thy sta- tutes.

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IIII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 WIth my lips haue I beene tel- ling, of all the iudgements of thy 〈♫〉〈♫〉 mouth, ij. I haue had as great de- light in the waie of thy 〈♫〉〈♫〉 testimonies, thy testimonies, as in all maner of ri- ches, ij. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 I will talke of thy commaundements, of thy cōmaundements, and haue res- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 pect vnto thy waies, my delyght shalbe in thy statutes, ij. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 my delyght shalbe in thy sta- tutes, ij. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 and I will not forget, ij. thy word, and I will not forget thy 〈♫〉〈♫〉 word, and I will not for- get thy word.

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V. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 O Do well vnto thy ser- uant, O do well vnto thy seruant 〈♫〉〈♫〉 that I may liue and keepe thy word, open thou mine eies that I may 〈♫〉〈♫〉 see the wondrous things of thy law, of thy law, of thy law, that I may see 〈♫〉〈♫〉 the won- drous things of thy law, I am a stranger vpon 〈♫〉〈♫〉 earth, O hide not thy commaundements from me, my soule breaketh 〈♫〉〈♫〉 out, breaketh out, my soule breaketh out for very fer- uent de- sire, that it 〈♫〉〈♫〉 hath al- way vnto thy iudgements vnto thy iudgements.

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VI. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 THou hast rebuked the proud, ij. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 and cursed are they that doe erre from thy commaunde- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 ments, O turne from me shame & rebuke for I haue kept, for I haue kept, 〈♫〉〈♫〉 for I haue kept thy testi- monies, Princes, Princes also did sit & speak a- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 gainst mee, but thy seruant is occupied, ij. ij. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 ij. in thy sta- tutes for thy testi- mo- nies are 〈♫〉〈♫〉 my de- light and my counsay- lers. and my counsay- lers.

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VII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 MY soule cleaueth, my soule cleaueth to the dust, O quicken thou 〈♫〉〈♫〉 mee accor- ding to thy word, ij. I haue 〈♫〉〈♫〉 knowledged my waies, and thou heardest me O teach mee thy sta- tutes, make 〈♫〉〈♫〉 mee to vnder- stand, ij the waie of thy cōmaunde- ments, and 〈♫〉〈♫〉 so shall I talke ij. and so shall I talke, ij. of thy wondrous 〈♫〉〈♫〉 works, my soule melteth away for heauy-nesse, ij. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 for very heauy- nesse, comfort thou mee, comfort thou mee ac- cording 〈♫〉〈♫〉 vnto thy word.

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VIII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 TAke from mee the waie of ly- ing. ij. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 and cause thou me, ij. to make much of thy law, I haue chosen the 〈♫〉〈♫〉 way, ij. of truth, and thy iudgements, ij. ij. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 haue I layd, ij. ij. before mee, I haue stick- en ij. vn- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 to thy testimo- nies, O Lord confound mee not, I will run the 〈♫〉〈♫〉 way of thy commaunde- ments, when thou hast set my hart at 〈♫〉〈♫〉 libertie, when thou hast set my hart at liber- ty.

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IX. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 TEach me O Lord the way of thy sta- tutes, ij. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 and I shall keepe it vnto the end, giue me vnderstan- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 ding and I shall keepe thy law, shall keepe thy law, yea I shall keepe 〈♫〉〈♫〉 it with my whole hart, make me to go ij. in the path ij. of 〈♫〉〈♫〉 thy commaundements, ij. ij. for therein is my desier 〈♫〉〈♫〉 my desier dekier, for therin is my desier, enclyne my hart vnto thy testimonies, 〈♫〉〈♫〉 enclyne my hart &c. and not to 〈♫〉〈♫〉 couetousnesse ij.

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X. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 O Turne away mine eyes, ij. mine eyes, least 〈♫〉〈♫〉 they behold vanitie and quicken thou mee, ij. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 ij. ij. ij. in thy way, in thy way, O sta- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 blish thy word, thy word, ij. in thy seruaunt that I may feare 〈♫〉〈♫〉 thee, feare thee, that I may feare thee, take away the rebuke, rebuke, ij. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 that I am a frayd of for thy iudgements are good, be- hold my de- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 light is in thy commaundements O quicken me in thy righteousnesse.

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XI. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 LEt thy louing mercie come also vnto me O Lord euen thy 〈♫〉〈♫〉 salua- tion according vnto thy word, so shall I make aunswer ij, 〈♫〉〈♫〉 ij. vnto my blasphemers, blasphe- mers, for my trust is in thy 〈♫〉〈♫〉 word, O take not ij. the word O take not the word of thy truth vtter- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 ly out of my mouth, for my hope is in ij. thy iudgements, so shal I 〈♫〉〈♫〉 alway keep thy law, ij. yea, for euer and euer, for e- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 uer.

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XII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 ANd I will walke at liber- tie ij. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 for I seek thy commaunde- ments, I will speake ij. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 I will speake of thy testimonies also euen before kings and will not be 〈♫〉〈♫〉 asha- med and my de- light ij. shalbe in thy commaunde- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 ments which I haue lo- ued, ij. my hands also will I 〈♫〉〈♫〉 lift vp vnto thy commaunde- ments which I haue loued, and my study 〈♫〉〈♫〉 shalbe in thy sta- tutes. ij.

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XIII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 To God all honour giue. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XIIII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Thy Parents reuerence. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XV. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Loue thou thy neighbour. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XVI. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Thy Master feare. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XVII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Be faithfull to thy friend. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XVIII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 In counsell be thou close. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XIX. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Accompany the good. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XX. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 The ill doe thou flye. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXI. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Preace not to heare others secrets. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 O Lux beata trinitas. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXIII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 To vse good for ill. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXIIII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 As haughtie pryde oppresseth loue. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXV. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 In ouer comming appetite. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXVI. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Who speakes thee fayer vnto thy face. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXVII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Of all the things that we find best. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXVIII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 When speeches to much and out of frame. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXIX. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 If thou, wouldst know the swyftest thing. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXX. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 No exercise can hae. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXXI. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Though many iudge and giue sentence. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXXII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Of needefull things that oft disgrace. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXXIII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 To giue counsell to others is ryfe. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXXIIII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Auctoritie most doe desier. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXXV. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 The great desire to get riches. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXXVI. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Affections strong that doe moue vs. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXXVII. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Who doth not much esteeme of health. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXXVIII. The 1. Canon. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 What makes yong folks simple in shew. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XXXIX. The 2. Canon. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 The mynd of man. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉〈♫〉〈♫〉

XL. The 3. Canon. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 His mortall lyfe. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XLI. The 4. Canon. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 For to be borne as Infants be. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

XLII. The 5. Canon. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Lament we should at childrens birth. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XLIII. The 6. Canon. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 The worldlings iudge that man happie. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

XLIIII. The 7. Canon. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 But Solon sayd. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XLV. The 8. Canon. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Lyke as the birds that Swallows hight. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

XLVI. The 9. Canon. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 So fayned friends. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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XLVII. The 10. Canon. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 This oft is found for to be true. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

XLVIII. The 11. Canon. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 The conditions of man. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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XLIX. The 12. Canon. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 A tirannie not lasting long. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

L. The 13. Canon. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Acceptable is nothing more. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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LI. The 14. Canon. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 Two comforts hath the vnhappie man. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

LII. The 15. Canon. CANTVS.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 The other if he to mind can call. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉 〈♫〉〈♫〉

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