_C. Custance._ O Lorde, howe necessarie it is nowe of dayes,
That eche bodie live uprightly all maner wayes,
For lette never so little a gappe be open,
And be sure of this, the worst shall be spoken[.]
Howe innocent stande I in this for deede or thought,[596] 5
And yet see what mistrust towardes me it hath wrought[.]
But thou Lorde knowest all folkes thoughts and eke intents
And thou arte the deliverer of all innocentes.
Thou didst helpe the advoutresse[597] that she might be amended,
Much more then helpe Lorde, that never yll intended. 10
Thou didst helpe _Susanna_, wrongfully accused,
And no lesse dost thou see Lorde, how I am now abused,
Thou didst helpe _Hester_, when she should have died,
Helpe also good Lorde, that my truth may be tried.
Yet if Gawin Goodlucke with Tristram Trusty speake. 15
I trust of yll report the force shall be but weake,
And loe yond they come sadly talking togither, H iii _b_
I wyll abyde, and not shrinke for their comming hither.
Actus. v. Scæna. iiii.