forgiueth euery howre
Much more then that, why they in bands were layd,
8 And he that harrowd hell with heauie stowre,
The faultie soules from thence brought to his heauenly bowre.

1 The fourth appointed, by his office was

appointed > fixed by appointment; who had been appointed
office > duty, function

2 Poor prisoners to relieve with gracious aid,
3 And captives to redeem with price of brass,

price > payment
brass > money

4 From Turks and Saracens, who them had stayed;

Saracens > {Arabs or Moslems of the time of the Crusades; pagans}
stayed > detained, taken hostage

5 And though they faulty were, yet well he weighed

they > (The hostages as well as their captors)
faulty > guilty; at fault

6 That God to us forgives every hour

hour > hour; moment

7 Much more than that why they in bonds were laid,

why > [for which]

8 And he, that harrowed hell with heavy stour,

he > (Christ: see _The Apocryphal New Testament_ 94-146)
harrowed > harried
heavy > grievous; intense
stour > turmoil, conflict

9 The faulty souls from thence brought to his heavenly bower.

bower > dwelling

110.41

The fift had charge sicke persons to attend,
2 And comfort those, in point of death which lay;
For them most needeth comfort in the end,
4 When sin, and hell, and death do most dismay
The feeble soule departing hence away.
6 All is but lost, that liuing we bestow,
If not well ended at our dying day.
8 O man haue mind of that last bitter throw;
For as the tree does fall, so lyes it euer low.

1 The fifth had charge sick persons to attend,
2 And comfort those in point of death who lay;

in > [at the]

3 For them most need comfort in the end,
4 When sin, and hell, and death, do most dismay
5 The feeble soul departing hence away.
6 All is but lost, that living we bestow,

bestow > stow away, store up

7 If not well ended at our dying day.
8 O Man, have mind of that last bitter throe;

throe > (Equally, "throw", = the fall of a tree when cut down)

9 For as the tree does fall, so lies it ever low.

110.42

The sixt had charge of them now being dead,
2 In seemely sort their corses to engraue,
And deck with dainty flowres their bridall bed,
4 That to their heauenly spouse both sweet and braue
They might appeare, when he their soules shall saue.
6 The wondrous workemanship of Gods owne