Bon-acords decorement. Or, Newes from the North. Wherein is truely expressed the forme (or situation) of the famous citie of new Aberdeene, the vertues of the honourable and renowned governours thereof, together with these Grampians anagrames. : Wherewith is adjoyned the proofe, and praise of chast beautie, and the scorne of idols. / By William Mercer..

THE HISTORIE OF SVSANNA.

The Argument.

THis Storie tels Susanna's chast, though faire, As likewise doth these Iudges false declare: Her constant mynde, for to controll their aime, And for their fault what hapned vnto them, They with false judgement her condemnde to die, Gods Sprite appeares, convicts them, sets her free: Her Parents, Husband, and her kinsfolke all, Praise God, who red Susanna out of thrall. Whereby Gods power, these Iudges two disgrace, And Daniels prudence, kytheth in this place: As likewise more this storie lets you see, Susannas beauties buskt with chastitie.

IN Babylon resided one by name, Cald Ioacim, yet eternizde by fame, Who did espouse, and for his match receaue, Susanna, whom no courting could deceaue, Who doubtlesse was Chelchias blest borne chyld, Since twofold fire, nor loue, nor hate defyld: One wondrous faire, whose beautie was so braue, It did graue ••udges, of their sences reaue: Whose Parents whence, by nature shee did spring, Her in the Law of Moses did vp bring, Which Ioachim, so richly did abound In wealth▪ that scarce his equall could bee found: Vnto whose Palace, was ajoynde full neare, An Orchard, which for pleasure had no peare: To whom the Iewes by custome did repare, Because of all hee most was honoured there, Now was prescrivde, two ancient Iudges then, For to reclaime the vitious wayes of men; Who most frequented, and remainde at will, In Ioacims house, the law for to fufill: Whence when the folke, at noone tyde did reteare, Susanna in her Orchard did appeare,

Who was perceavde by these two Elders ay, As shee resorted therein everie day: On whom their lust, inflaming ho••e as fire, Sought to accomplish their vnchast desire: Withdrew their eyes, perverted so their minde, Heaven not to see, whence they should judgement find And though they both, with loue were tortoured so, The one durst not, this to the other sho, For of their lust, they both possest such shame, That heereof they, would not expresse their aime, But alwayes watcht each houre, and did awake, Till subtilly they could occasion take, Whereby they might their piercing paine expresse, And haue the meanes whereby to finde redresse, So when the time aproacht, when they should eate, Their stomackes starving, more for loue then meate, The one did say, thus to the other, Loe, Now is the time wee must to dinner goe: Therefore farewell each to another said, For they in minde a privat paction had, And being parted, both returnd anone. Vnto that place, from whence they straight were gone So they began betwixt them both to try, They both were vrgd by one extreamity: Then through one loue, or lust, both did agree, How they should find fitt opportunitie: Or when by fortune sheé alone should stand, So that they thought they should her loue command, Who watching alwayes, found a time wherein, Shee with her maids, the Orchard entred in: Whose bounds were buskt and deckt with floures most faire, And bordered braue with ornaments most rare: Wherein shee thought her selfe to bath and byde, A while vnseene, till thus they her espyde, Shee sent her maids to bring her Balme and Ball, For to anoynt her body therewithall, Commanding them they should the doore make fast, As they from her foorth of the Garden past, Who did according, as shee them desirde, ••••utting the doore while they themselues retirde: ••••d went from thence in private, even as shee▪

But did the Elders not perceaue, for they Were hid and quyet, in some corner lay▪ Who when these maids, were absent as yee heare, The Elders to Susanna did appeare: And said, Behold the Garden doores you see, Are shut, and wee are fnard in loue with thee, Therefore consent to lye with vs full soone, Or else thy life and honour is vndone: For if thou will not, but thou will deny, Wee shall approue wee saw one with thee ly: And that thou sent thy maids away to chuse, A tyme alone, thy body to abuse, Thus chast Susanna, sighing said alace, On both the sides I'm burthend in this place, For it is death to grant their ill demands, And to refuse I cannot scape their hands: Yet in this doubt, thus I resolue to bee, Kild rather, then an adulteresse to die, Thus then this chastest, calde aloud, and loe, These Elders did, extend their voyce also, And ranne in rage, and opned vp the doore, To make the matter to appeare the more: For when the solke, this purpose did perceaue, They rusht in haste, and curiously did craue, What was the cause, and why shee calde so hie, Or of her griefe from whence the ground might bee: The Elders then, thus their devise did show, Whereby they might Susanna overthrow: Which when the servants hearing were ashamde, And made Susannas fame bee farre proclaimde, And on the day ensuing as is said, When Ioachim a publick meating made, These Elders came, with minds mischivously, Disposde for to perceiue Susanna die: And in the presence of the people sought, That they might haue this chast Susanna brought, Helcias daughter as I vnderstand, Ioachims spouse, a rich man in the land, So shee compeared with her parents two, Her children and her kinds-folke came also: Thus was Susanna wondrous faire to see, Th•••• •••• •••••• •••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 could more beauteous bee▪

Whom when shee stood before these Iudges tway, They causd her cast her cover quyte away: For as her minde was maskt with woefull moane, Her vnstaind face, a vaile shee put vpon, Which these two vnjust Iudges causde remoue, With seeing▪ somewhat to content their loue: Wherefore her friends, and all her kin also, Waxt wondrous sad, to see Susanna so: These Iudges two stood vp in hast indeede, And laid their hands on her vnspotted heed, Who holding vp her face, calde to the Lord, Iu whom shee trusted, hee would helpe afford, The Elders then, said this to her anone, Into the Garden, as wee walkt alone: Wee saw Susanna, with her maidens two, Come in, and then in haste shee let them goe: Made fast the doores, and with a stranger lay, Whom we perceavde in their adulterous play, And ran most fiercely, aiming for to take Them, as they were in their adulterous act: But this young man was strong by nature, so That hee leapt foorth, and from our hands did goe: And when wee askt this woman, who was hee, Shee would not tell, and this wee testifie: The assemblie then, these judges having heard, Believing them, Susanna straight debard, And did command, that shee the death should die, For her reward, of vnchast villanie: Then did anone this innocent out call, To God for helpe, whose power is over all, And said, O LORD, thou liues and all things know, Therefore alace my innocencie show: And since they falsely now haue mee accusde, Because by them I would not bee abusde, And seeing that of force I needes must die, Lord, now proclaime my vpright chastitie, And let this malice which they now haue wrought, Soone vnto knowledge▪ by thy power bee brought: Thus then behold, this jugde great over all, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her request, and set her free from thrall: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 when shee was to dying paine exposde, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for faith shee fully was rei••••••••••••

For as shee prayde, a spirit did appeare, Namde Daniel, who commanded them reteare. And with a voyce extended wondrous hie, Did say, I alwayes from this blood am free: Then all the people as amazde did stand, And did the meaning of these words demand, Who stood, as if his power could them compell, And said, O foolish sonnes of Israel, Who would without examination so, An innocent thus to the death let goe: Convert your course, to judgement goe and heare, And you shall finde, they did false witnesse beare, Against Susanna, who is truely chast, Vpon the which the people turnde in haste, To whom the Elders said, sit downe heer bye, And shew vs what thou heereof more can try: And since that God hath sent thee heere to bee A judge, come let vs of thy judgement see, Then Daniel causde these two bee set asunder, So that his wit hereby procurde a wonder: For hee did call the one, and to him say, O thou whose haires are waxed old and gray, And thou whose yeares, haue now attaind such hight, Thy forepast faults, shall now appeare in sight: For thou false judgement hath pronuncde, and so Condemnde the just, and let the guiltie goe, Albeit the Lord sayes, that thou shalt these tway, The righteous and the innocent not slay: Yet if thou saw them, tell mee by what tree, Thou saw these two together company: Who answerd, I a Lentick tree did spy, Beneath the which I saw these persons ly: Then did the Prophet say, thou lyed and loe, God hath ordaind that thou bee cut in two: So that shall bee, of thy intent the hyre, Since thou against Susanna did conspyre: And hee was placde a part. where to remaine, Even till the other was cald in againe: Who when the prophet, saw him there to stand, Hee then of him this question did demand,

And said, O thou Chanans sinfull seede, And not of Iuda, as appeares indeede, Chast beautie hath allured thee to ly, And lust thine heart perverted hath I see, For thus yee dealt with Israell and did vse, Them by constraint, for they durst not refuse, But loe the daughters of just Iuda they, Could neither would your wickednesse obey: Now therefore tell, in what place did thou see Them ly, he said, beneath an Oaken tree, Then Daniel answered, saying, Thou hast lyed, As I perceiue, against thine owne head, And loe Gods angell doth a sword convoy, By just desert, thee quyte for to destroy, Vpon the which the people praisde with trust, God for his goodnes, who preserues the just: And then arose, against these elders two▪ Who by themselues were thus convicted so, And did conforme, to their owne law ordaine, They should bee pind, with their appoynted paine, That thereby might the innocent bee savde, The guiltie punisht, and their plots deceavde: Therefore Chelchias, and his wife did sing, Praise vnto God, their great and glorious King: And Ioachim her Husband sang that day, Glore to Hosanna, for Susanna ay: And all their kinred, as wee plainely see, Sang endlesse honour, to the Trinitie: Even so doe wee, likewise let all who moue, Vnto this God all glorie, power, approue: Who doth condemne the guiltie, and doth raise, The innocent, to render alwayes praise: To whom I meane this Essence one in three, Let men and Angels sing continually.

Amen.