XCII. John Bodenham

Faith shews a good man’s fruits; preserues the soule;

And zeale doth best giue euidence of faith.

FAITHE’S best is triall, then it shineth most;

The faithfull stands, the faultie man wil flye:

Zeale is but cold where louelesse law restraines

This hastie rashnes, where true faith doth flye;

In deepe distress true faith doth best auaile.

When once man’s faith is spotted and defamd,

The bodie had been better neuer framd.

Zeale and good courage best become a prince;

Faith bides no perfit triall but by time;

Shipwrack of faith is made where conscience dyes;

Friends haue no priueledge to breake their faith;

The gift deserueth most is giuen in zeale.

False fainting zeale, shadowed with good pretence,

Can find a cloake to couer each offence.

False faith is ouer-poizde with weakest weight,

The ballance yeelds vnto the lightest feather;

An easie yeelding zeale is quickly quaild;

Faith violated is most detestable;

Faith once resolued treads fortune vnder foot;

The man that holds no faith shall find no trust.

Where faith doth fearlesse dwell in brazen tower,

There spotlesse pleasure builds her sacred bower.

A zealous heart is alwaies bountifull;

The faith of knighthood is by vertue tryed;

Euery occasion quailes a hireling faith;

A prince’s greatest fault is breach of faith;

The faith of pagans ought not be belieu’d.

Faith is a fortress ’gainst all fainting feare,

And zeale the walles doth euermore vpreare.

Take faith from iustice, all things runne to spoile;

Authoritie is strengthened best by zeale:

Who binds himself by faith had need beware;

Faith to rash oathes no credit giues at all:

The greater faith, the greater sufferance.

Faith is the true foundation of the soule,

And soonest doth redeeme the same from sinne.

Zeale makes opinion stand inuincible;

A good man’s wish is substance, faith, and fame.

Selfe-wille doth frown when earnest zeale reprooues;

Faith mounteth to the cloudes on golden wings:

Faith brings forth workes, and workes declare our faith;

No faith too firme, no trust can be too strong.