bellowes blowes The quenchles coales of Râ—le that burneth still And ore the banks the flouds of folly flowes And priuate wealth â—o blindes a worldlings will That wicked wit doth banish reasons skill Climes vp aloft cries fame and rare renowne Till heauy stone from top comes tottering downe The mounting heart that daily doth aspire With wilfull wings of pride to cloudes would flie And though he feeles his feathers singd with fire He will not stoupe he holdes his head so hie To beare a sway and alwaies casts his eie With eager lookes on honors stately throne He likes no mate but all would weld alone The simple sort that sées soore Fawcon rise Disdains to death the bird that flies too farre Then as on owle flocks crowes and chatring pies So at great dogs the little tikes doe snarre Tweene small and great when spite â—nes moues the warre There is no rest for rage runnes all on head Hate kindleth fire and loue growes cold as lead A greater strife is when two tides doe méete Both of one force like mighty strugling streames I meane when men doe striue of equall sprite The robe is ript or rented through the seames Great troubles grow in sundry ciuill Realmes For whilst the one in chiefest rowme is plaste The other comes and hales him downe in hast There is no meane where matches meete at shocke The strong shewes strength the stout stands wrangling still About the ball the finest fellowes flocke They winne the goale that hath the greatest skill The force of floud turns round the Water-mill So where two men doe wrastle for a fall Most might preuailes the weake is turnde to wall But why do I finde fault with greatest band My traine was such as I a King had beene In Court and Towne Earle Murton was so mand As euery day I had a world to winne That was the frette that did the warre beginne For those that sawe me waited on so well Did skorne the same and so like toades they swell At my renowne and loe a greater thing By chaunce befell for I had secret foes That daily sought my fall about the King And as on steps to stately stage I rose So my decay in Court and countrey growes For priuy hate and malice matchth with might Tooke out the oyle that gaue my lampe the light Yet through great helpe and friends as world may wéene Whose wisdoms was wel known both graue sage I regent was when many a broile was gréene And set abroach in Court by reuels rage I ruled all whilst King was vnder age And where I saw the people make offence I scowrgd them sore which kept them quiet sence Some did I hang and trust them vp on hye That slaughters made or murders did committe Some were redeemde that did for fauour crie And strongest heads I helde in hard with bitts With equall eares I would in iudgement sit Yea bent my braine to beate out right and wrong And conscience bad deferre not iustice long The rich by this were sory to offend The poore did dread to hang that faulty were And yet oft times when faulters did amend I hangd but one to bring the rest in feare To suters all I gaue a gracious eare By gentle waies and wisdomes modest meane From filthy facts I cleansed Countrey cleane By order good I made them feare the law I pincht the purse and pawsde in sheading blood I punisht sore where great abuse I saw Straight rules I sette to learne rude people good By which strong staies my state in surety stood So wealth came in with goodly gold and geare That paide for paines and did the charges beare Yea sure more wealth and riches I possest Then twenty Lords of Scotland any way I might compare for treasure with the best We call it Poess in our plaine Scottish lay I had the bags of Aungell nobles gay I had the chests fild vp vnto the brim With sondry stamps of coine and treasure trim My houses stood in gladsom soiles and sâ—ats Stuft with rich things and Arras clothes â—now My table spread with deare and dainty meates My ward robe storde with change of garments throw My corne in stacks my hay in many a mowe My stable great of gallant goldings good And I like Prince amidst these pleasures stoodâ— What I would wish I had with glorie great Each knée did bow and make their bodies bend Each eye stood fixt to gase on honors seat Eache friendlie face a louing looke would send To stately throne and I againe would lend A Lordlie grace to kéepe the worlds good will Whereby encreast my fame and honor still I buyâ—t me bowers sometime to banquet in Made plotts for walkes and gardens of delight Sought swéete conceits not fowsing soule in sinne With glutted gorge at pleasures baite to bite But pastime tooke to put off worlds despite My streamers stoode in topp of barke so braue That flaggs of ioy with each good wind wold waue For worldly pompe and worship waites at héele Where rule and power sets out gay glittring showes Who folowes not the swinge of fortunes wheele What fish forsakes the floode that daily flowes Both great and small with course of water goes Where sunne doth shine both beast birdes repaire And what flies not to pleasaunt weather faire But well away when we haue all we wish A house a home bedect with gallaunt grace A golden net beguiles a carlesse fish Wee haue no holde of fortunes flittering face For when wee doe worldes flattring giftes embrace Wee groope and gape for more vaine goodes so fast That gracelesse hap sweepes all away at last Our gréedy mind gaines gold and tyens good name Winnes wealth yet workes a wicked web of woe Breedes déepe disdaine and bringes a man in blame Breakes bandes of loue makes friend become a foe Shutes spitefull shaftes from malice sturdie bowe Strikes dead good name reares vp slaunders brute Sowes seedes of vice and brings foorth rotten fruite All these deâ—eâ—s doth follow gréedie minde But loe my skill and sight in publicke state For soaking soores a soueraigne salue could finde For where I fearde sharpe warres foule debate To cut off strife great friendes at hand I gat And by my wit to kéepe the King in right At my commaund I fréelie brought much might Which strake the stroke and stoutly rulde the roste Spent many dayes in broyles and making peace Bestowde great charge and carde not for no coste So that they could our common quarrels seace And euer as I sawe our brawles encreace I helpt the harmes by worthy wisdomes arte So planted peace rule in euery part For euery years some brawle was set abroche Some treason wrought some trecherie tane in hand Which without stay would sounde to my reproche Such falshood raignde and raged in the land In factions still did runne a bloodie bande About the Realme as wilde as wolues for praye But by my friendes I set these thinges in sâ—aye In greatest
well to bee séene that none by Caesar might meddle with men of Warre And it séemeth this libertie was fetched from Alexanders dayes who called his olde souldiours Noble men and gaue them noble priuileges and rewardes to cause the Worlde that did followe to augmente their renowne and spreade theire fame to the highest Heauens that haue beene valliant on earth and Noble of minde Which great foresight of Alexander and other great Princes to aduaunce Souldiours hath made menne more like Gods than earthly creatures and done such good to the Worlde thereby that there is no Worlde but will make of men of Warre and giue place to the goodnesse of those that striue by stoutnesse of heart and labour of bodie to enlarge the limmets and boundes of his Countrey The effect of this aboue expressed was drawne out of Spanish and remaines among Christians as a matter worthy noting though Infidells did obserue them Now though a man haue had charge and borne a number of Offices yet the name of an old soldiour beautifies his title But yet perticularly I will goe through the offices as breefly as I maie and therein shew who may iustlie bée called Gentlemen among them A Collonell a Captaine and Ensigne bearer A Lieutenaunt a Corporall a Sergeant of the band and old souldiour though hée neuer bare any office are all gentlemen graunting and allowing that none of the officers were made for affection at home But had their beginning by seruice in the Feelde and aâ—e knowne of good courage and conduct and well experimented in Marshâ—all affaires The rest of other officers that haue noble roumes and places in the Campe néedes no setting out for all men know such officers as are chosen and made by the most noble in any gouernement are not to bee treated off for that euerye souldiour giues them due honour and place You may not looke for at my hands the originall discourse of all gentlemen albeit I go as farre as I dare in that behalfe For I loue not to meddle with thankelesse labour and would be lothe to roue beyond my reach and knowledge in a matter that my betters as yet haue not dealt withall For a doubtfull attempt brings a dangerous construction And with drawing a strong Bow a weake arme waxeth weary Wherfore I go no further in this matter desâ—ring the Reader to bear with my boldnes herein and regard souldiers as they deserue FINIS TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull Sir Iohn Sauage Knight one of the Lieutenants of Cheshire MY good and affectionate Worshipfull friend for manie curtesies I promised to dedicat some verses vnto you and finding no subiect better to write vpon then the maintenance of Hospitalitie I thought a little to touche the losse of time and charges that a number of Gentlemen spendeth at London not anie whit thereby blemishing the good bruite of that honorable Cittie so I praie you vnderstand me but shewing the inconuenience that commeth by ouer great charges bestowed and spent where nothing is gathered againe nor reaped at the last but repentance or such colde acquaintance as when money is gone will scarse knowe a man in time of necessity this being spoken generally of all the places and Citties in the worlde where men shall finde but strangenes when their owne wealth and estate begins to decline A Discourse of Gentlemen lying in London that were better keepe house at home in their Countrey I Muse why youth or age of gentle blood Borne vnto wealth and worldly worship héere In London long consumes both land and good That better were at home to make good chéere In London still they finde all vittells déere Hoist vp a height to bring our purses low And send men home with empty bags yée know The stréetes with fields may neuer matched be For all swéete aire at will abroad we finde What is it then in London that they sée But Countrey yéeldes and better glads the minde Perhaps some say the people are so kinde And curteous to in stately ciuill Towne As men thereby wins credite and renowne First for they séeme in Citty fresh and fine Most gay to eie and gallant as a rose But shall a man for pleasure of his eien And pompe or pride of painted goodly cloes He sees abroad at home his credite lose Our Elders did not so delight in trashe And tempting toyes that brings a man in lash For when they came to London there to stay They sent fat béenes before them for their store And went sometimes a shooting all the way With all their traine and houshold that is more Yet were they not at no lesse charge therefore Kept house in Ins and fedde the poore thereby That in hard world may now for hunger die They taried not in Towne to card and dice Nor follow long lewd lusts that lothsome are Which breedes rebuke and fosters secrete vice And makes tame birds to fall in Satans snare They loude plaine robes but hated purses bare Made much of men gaue neighbors béefe and bred Yet left their aires great wealth now they are dead Their care was still to kéepe good house and name Spend they might spare yet spare where cause they found And librall be when bounty purchast fame And let floud runne where water did abound Rulde all with wit and wary Iudgement sound Not bent in braues great hauocke for to make But drawne and moâ—de to spend for vertues sake Gaue much to poore that craude an almes at gate Kept buttry dore for straungers open still Made neighbours eate that earely came or late By which they wonne the Countreys great good will Could serue the Prince with coundit men and skill With their owne charge and pors a rare thing now That seelde is seene with loue and power throw They raisd no rents to make the tenant whine Nor clapt no yoke on friendly neighbours necke Nor made poore folke find fault with cuâ—â—hroat fine But had the hearts of people at a becke As we haue now our seruants vndâ—r checke O how plaine men would follow Landlord than Like swarmes of Bees when any warres began Yea glad was he that might with maister goe Though charge and wife be lest at home behinde In this fine world the manner is not so Hard handling makes men shew another minde Then loyall loue made mens affection blinde Now can they sée and will doe what they list Cast of like Hawkes comes when they please to fist What change finde you yong maisters in these daies What hath drawn backe the forward minds of men What makes somtime prâ—st souldier run his waies What makes this world much worse then world was then I dare not now expresse the cause with pen. But lay your hands vppon your brest and winke And you shall gesse what of these thinges I thinke Gay golden robes and garments pownced out Silke laide on sâ—â—ke and stitched ore the same Great losse and play and keeping reuell route With grosser knackes I list not now
Then thousands doe the world doth so report FINIS A Discourse of an old Souldiour and a young To the right Worshipfull Sir Henry Kneuet Knight one of the Lieutenants of Willshire THE world cannot wonder nor the wise thereof thinke strange that experience commaunds me to keepe friends and my pen doth what it maie to purchase me fauour for that is all the fruites of my studies Which once taken from me I haue neither prop to vphold mee nor foundation to stand on so feaâ—ing the weaknes of my feeble buildings that lies open to enuies blast which soddenly may bee blown downe I seeke manie staies and craue manie supportations for the maintenance of my honest mind and workes framed for the world to behold So good sir Henry among the worthy company of my selected friends I honor you with a smal discourse of age youth where a little is spoken of the olde Souldiour and the young not in dispraise of anie of them both but in the commendation of knowledge courage conduct vnder which three vertues consists many noble actions so vnder your fauourable sufferaunce I passe to my purposed matter THere is a strife a swéete dispute I troe Betwene two sorres of men in these our daies On which debate doth many reasons grow That soundes in déede to each good Souldiours praise Whose fame my pen is ready for to raise But my intent is first with flat plaine truth To treat a verse or two of age and youth Age is the fire and father of great thinges That hath begot both science rule and wit Brought great renowne and honour vnto kinges And for mans wealth may well in councell sit Youth is for field and towne a member fit To vse the sword in Countreys cause and right In whose defence youth hath great force to fight Age may commaund because it knoweth most And best can iudge of euery thing it knowes Hath mightie mind yet makes but little bost On whose aduice men may their liues repose The worth of youth standes oft in outward shewes That fresh and gay to worlde it séemeth still Like bladder faire that is blowne vp with quill Age lookes like tree whose barke is rough without When winters waste hath made gréene leaues to fall But when spring comes that braunch should bud and sprout With threefold fruite the sprayes are loaded all Bare youth lookes like a picture on a wall That stands both mute and dumme like shadow weake To séeke for sence whom age beginnes to â—peake The brute in world is how old thinges decreace For that sweete sap at length forsakes the trée Yet men will aske old wittes in warres or peace Of this or that what the successe shall be In outward shewes young iudgements well can sée When old mens sightes that wisely lookes within The end beholdes as sâ—one as they beginne A great old Oake long time will akornes beare And small young graffes are long in sprouting out Some say old wine is liked euery where And all men knowe new ale is full of growt Old horse goes well young titts are much to doubt But sure old gold is more estéemed than new No hauke compares with haggard in the mue Old men knowes much though young men calls them fooles Old bookes are best for there great learning is Old authors too are dayly read in schooles New Sects are naught olde knowledge cannot misse Old guise was good and nothing like to this Where fraude and craft and finesse all would haue And plainest men can neyther powle nor shaue Old Fathers builte faire Colleges good store And gaue great goodes and landes to bring vp youth Young men loues not to make of little more But spendes away their thrift to tell the trueth Old men were full of mercie grace and rueth And pittie tooke on those that seemde to lacke Young gallants gay from poore doe turne their backe Old beaten wayes are ready still to hit These new be-pathes leades men on many stiles An old prouerbye hath no more worâ—es than wit New fangled heades at each old order smiles Old wisedome farre surmountes young fondlings willes Experience is the Doctor euerie daie That carries close all knowledge cleane awaie Young houndes are fléete the old huntes sloe and true Old dogges bite sore if all their teeth be sound Old auncient freindes are better than the new In younglings loue there is small suretie found For like a top light fancie turneth round Old clothe or silke made in our elders dayes Wears long and firme when new thinges soone decayes Old souldiers are the beauty of a state Young branches beare but blossomes many a day Old Doctors can deepe matters well debate Young punies knowes not what old doctors say King Harries crue brought conquest home away From Flowdayne field from France and many a soyle And put the proud by strength and force to foyle Old souldiers were great Allexanders ayde And chiefest ioy in all the warres he had The white gray head made beardlesse boyes affraide Where graue men ruld the countrey all was glad And where they lackt the fortune was but bad As all thinges doth to skill and knowledge yeeld So old men beare the honour of the field What needs more proofe of auncient souldiers nowe Both old and young are needfull members heere I want both time and power to praise them throw For seruice great in countries quarrell deere When cause requires ye know the case is cleere These champions must in field and open plaine With shining sword the right of kinges maintaine FINIS A DISCOVRSE OF CALAMITY To the right VVorshipfull my singuler good friend Sir William Hatton knight IN the remembrance of a sorrowful losse I had by the death of the last Lord Chancelor good Sir William Hatton and considering your great countenance partly declined by that soddaine accident besides the great soms of money you were left to pay For the parting from such an honourable friend I thought euery peece of cause well waied you knowe as well what calamitie is as a meaner man and feeling the smart and weight of that burthen before you were ready to support it your care and calamitie could not be little First for the losse of so great a comfort next for the sorrow trobles that belongs to such a losse though lands or liuings helps to beare of a peece of the vexasion of mind yet the body shall alwayes beare to the death a sorrowfull imagination of that hastie mishap the impression therof shal neuer goe out of your memory so long as life lasteth So good sir in signe of some consolation I present you a discourse of Calamity the right path to come to quietnesse and the very hie way that leades a good mind to thinke of the immortality of the soule thus presuming your fauorable acception of the same I passe to the discourse of Calamity wishing you much worship hartes ease health T. Churchyard A Discription or Discourse that declareth how
knacke Beare euen hand and holde the bridle right Yet whiskt the wande sometimes for pleasures sake Yea spyce thy speach and tearmes with trifels light That lookers on may not thy mind mistake When store is gone yet doe thy budget shake Among the best and féede their fancies still No matter though a mouse créepe out of hill Small toyes may bréede great sporte in great estates And in great grounds men walke through little gates Doe wisely warne and warely vse thy pen Speake english playne and roue about the but And shoote at will and flaunt by wicked men Shale cut the shell and bid them cracke the Nut Shew some delight and so the sentence shut And bid the world beholde mee in a glasse That did to ruine from Pompe and pleasure passe Now I am gone I wish the rest behinde As they desire may better Fortune finde FINIS THE MAN IS BVT his Minde TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull my singular good friend Sir Iohn Skidmoer one of the Liefetenants of Haruordshire I Am not forgetfull good Sir Iohn of a promise made touching The man is but his minde Which worke now I present you though not so well penned as the matter requireth yet as wel ment as any peece of worke in this Booke written as well to keepe promise as to show the circumstance of the mistery that belongeth to euery mans minde and to hope that all I write thereof shall be as well taken as a dutifull writer can meane I haue plainely set downe mine opinion in that behalf doubting not but some one man or other shall see a peece of his owne minde in this my presumption of the same So wishing your good and vertuous minde augmented in grace and your selfe encreased in worship and contentation of mind I betake you to God and fall to my purposed discourse AS I was reading in the delightfull discourses of Ieronimus Cardanus his comforts among many pleasant passages and speciall sentences I founde that he said A man was but his mind either in the value of vertue or vanity of vice So waying the worth of that conclusion knowing that Manhood or Cowardize consistes in the selfe same opinion of the minde I considered that common quarrels and priuate reuengement of Iniuries receiued proceeded in a manner from this spring and flowing Fountaine that euer is fedde and nourished with som setled conceite or other For the minde is so noble watchfull and worthy that it is neuer vnoccupied whilest the man is awaken nor taketh any great rest when the body is a sleepe as some dreames and visions manifesteth plaine For euen as a cunning CarpeÌ„ter or Smith is hammering and heawing some péece of wood or iron to bring the same to such shape and perfection as the artificer would haue it So the minde the harber of all secretes and mouer of all good and bad motions can at no season be idle or wax weary of deuises The Imaginations thereof are so many and the innumerable conceites therein are so mighty the fire is of such vehement heat and operation that it must néedes burne or consume any thing that long remaines in it so the minde is of such force and power that it leadeth the man any way it listeth and shapes al the sences and vitall spirites in what forme or fashion it pleaseth For the longer the fancies of the head by rouling to and froe are tired and at length reposeth themselues in the constantnes of the minde the more is the mans reason subiect to the mindes resolution and the lesse strength the iudgement hath when it féeles the forces of the body captiuated and compeld to obay the greatnes of the minde Though learning education and good instructions be a meane and restraint that a peruerse mind shall not draw the whole body to destruction yet the minde being bent to some dangerous determination hath ouercome all the good causes rehearsed and brought both the body reputation and life into a shamefull disorder and made a cruell confusion not onely of the man but likewise brought a licentious liberty to the minde experience of proud practises hath proued this argument no fable but now to talke truely and probably of the minde what can be named or thought on if they be things to be executed but the minde dare attempt and the man may goe about it dare aduenture the hazarde of the soule the losse of life and goods and the cracking of estimation and credit if any purposed mischiefe hale the minde forewarde to some odious enterprises this showes but a weakenes of Iudgement naughtines of nature and a most wicked and wilfull disposition of a desperate conceite diuelishly drawen and enclined and carelesly coÌ„mitting it selfe to euery kinde of practises and dangerous determination But now to touch the noblenes of an inuincible minde that neither Fortune can conquer power may commaund nor worldly pompe nor wealth can winne The true discourse of this minde craues a writer of a higher knowledge for the vnspeakeable spirite that keepes life and breatheth continuall constancy in the brest where this minde makes his mansion house is to be explained and set forth by the profoundest pen man of the worlde that can lay open like an Anotomy the hidden and secrete partes of the body especially the diuine nature closed vp in flesh and bloud and secrecy belonging to the vertue of this manly and valiaunt minde Some men there are and though they boast not much the nuÌ„ber may be great that with a strong heart can suffer afflictions beare burthens abide disgraces and in their most torments seeme careles of all the crossings counterchecks is offered them yet they are armed within to withstand all outward assaults as it were a fortresse manned with souldiers and munition throughly to defend it selfe against the power of Princes practises of warlike people yea as they in peace can vse this approued patience so in the hottest broiles of the warre the hope to ouercome the cruelty of their enemies doth redouble their courages and so with a resolute minde the Cannon they approch the combate they present and the present daunger is presently forgotten a present matter of great momeÌ„t to be in the presence and presented before the vniuersall people placed vnder the cope of the heauens But yet I can not leaue out the mind they haue of honour in greatest extremities for minding the preseruation of Prince and countrey they clap on such a minde as Mucius Sceuola did that burned his hande in the â—ire for missing the killing of Porcena They care not in like sort for imprisonment penury hunger torting racking but can suffer all manner of misery as want of meat lacke of liberty and open aire and lie on the hard earth or bare strawe to kéepe their enemies out of the Fort or hould committed to their charge yea and in respect of the loue they loyally beare to their Countrey they suffer many a mortall wound and in the end offer
of troublesome seruitude or at least willing to see some sodaine sturre and strange accidents This mischieuous and male-contented mind is swift to sow discord and shed innocent blood and slow to saue his owne credit Countrey ready and apt to forget God and most vnwilling to forgiue any iniurie a beginner of all brable and contention and a mayntayner of all execrable acts and enterprises Now passing ouer the rusticall rable of Rogues Uacabounds Ruffians Roysters and rancke Rebels whose mischieuous minds surmounts all the rest in villanie filthynes reueling rudenes trecherie and treasons the fruites whereof are but beggery banishment and wretchednesse that brings the maislers of that misrule to Tiborne a shamefull end I come to the malicious mindes of our Forrein enemies many in number that are so drowned in a deadly desire of hatred wilfulnes obstinacie papistrie and old worm-eaten Religion that they cannot see nor well vnderstand what they goe about There minds carries them headlong into many hellish damnable deuises making account of that which neuer shall be there own I hope and making their boast of conquest victorie triumph before they dare fight for it or attempt manly to trie who shall finde Fortune most fauourable what partie hath God the right of their side And further to bee marueled at a matter most moÌ„struous in iudgement they were come into our Câ—astes in ships of great burthen fraught filled with great riches munition and men hauing in the same shippes to countenaunce their quarrell numbers of Noble houses Friers Priests English Traytors Spanish Women and such like people as were come to possesse a Country kingdom that easily should bee gotten which kingdome is so noblie peopled and furnished that I doubt not but the sight and bare vew of this stoute nation shall make the Spaniards abashed and yet behold to proue A man is but his mind our Enemies haue such minds to doe wrong and haue such hope that they are appoynted to bée the scourge of God that they saie openly they haue commission to kill man woman and child and to saue none aboue the age of seauen yeare old loe heere is a goodly mind a goodly commission and a goodly sorte of Fooles that thinks so populous a Countrey as this will be so soone supplanted a wise companie of wild Geese that with a little gagling and thrusting out the necke beleeus to bring to passe so great a matter you neuer heard of more madder minded men than these are that came to sit downe in other mens houses before they knew the good will of their Hosts and bow déerely they were like to pay for the purchase ere they shold make their entry or set their féet on any péece of this Land and by my troth they goe about a pretty Bargaine to offer the sheeding of so much blood and especially do bring hither so paltring a Commission so voide of Christianitie and shall cost so manie a broken head before any iott or parcell of the same commaundement be put in execution Now heere is to bee spoken and treated of good and godly mindes that peaceably shall possesse their soules in patience these patient mindes are those that sees other men preferd as the affection of some will haue it so and beholdes themselues abiects that neither want vertue nor valiance yea they find few good turnes and suffer many iniuries boastes little of their seruice and are greatly to be praysed being men of good years and experience and yet of bad Fortune and ability fauoured of some that can doe but little for them yet holpen or aided of no one body that haue power to aduaunce them the men of this minde makes much of a little and seldome comes to any greate portion and so because mine owne desteny is not the best and being loath to put on a worse minde then now last I haue spoken of I knit vp all this discourse in these fewe wordes and thus I bid you farewell Hoping that the mindes of men though they are seuerall in disposition will now draw all in one yoke to hold out the enemies of our Countrey and to stand together against all forraine inuasions and forget all kinde of quarrelling among our selues that often times hath bred in manie kingdomes ciuile warres and sorrowfull dissentions The plagues and plaine examples therof being well waighed will I doubt not make our noble Nation be not only mindful of their libertie and honor but in like manner make vs all of one good mind resolution courage and manhood FINIS TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull siâ— Edward Dimmocke Knight Champion by byrth to the Queenes Maiestie I would haue searched the bottome of my studies and chiefest of my labors good Sir Edward Dimmocke if my leasure had serued to haue fouÌ„d out some peece of worke worthy of your reading but doubting that verse delightes you not Tragicall discourses breeds but a heauie conceit in a pleasant disposition I thought it more fitter to treat of a Marshiall cause wherein great honor consists that may moue many considerations in a noble minde and so not only stir vp vertue but also beat downe all occasions that hinders the quiet sweet societie of meÌ„ not meaning that I see any motioÌ„ cause or action in this age that may procure my pen to go beyond the compas of my reach in reforming the same but to shew there is no greater blessednes on earth then freindly felowship and amitie among men and all the disturbers thereof are rather instrumeÌ„ts of dissention than mayntainers of good will And for that in your long trauells abroad where variaunce is moderated with wisdome manie quarrells you haue seene or heard off I haue written a little peece of the nature of a quarrell compounded on many accidents not teaching anye man a newe course peaceable order to his life but to nourish gentlenes kindlie loue among all our noble natioÌ„ So trusting no matter of mislike shal passe my Pen I present you with this little peece of paper that follows wishing you the good fame and honor your own hart can desire A Discourse of true Manhoode AMid the wickednes of a naughtie world quarells hatred and headstrong people a bridled mind knowes not what pace to hotde nor steppes to tread and where madnesse shews furie world mayntaynes follye wise ' alâ—mon were hee heere could not reforme the defect of this wilful age which neither regards God good Gouernours nor naturall loue or order And where libertie in mans wilfulnes is proclaymed good rule and lawe is not known and rud rashnes runs so farre beyond reason that euery sencible creature doth wonder at and stands astonied at the stubberne wickednes of mans vnstayed mind which growes so blood thirstie and eager after life that it seeketh nothing but death and destruction in a manner of his owne proper brother which was horrible in Cain and may bee odious in all kind of Christians Among
beasts that wants reason remaynes no such crueltie For now a dayes men may not meete without snarring lostie lookes bitter wordes haughty fashions and froward behauioure on which stoutnes of stomacke malice is kindled contention is breed and quarrells are set abroach The accustomed curtesie sweete conuersation freindle gentlenes humane manners and ciuile humblnes in our common societie is almost forgotten brought in contempt and put out of exercise if Noble Parsonages shew it not and in place of the commendable vertues are corrupt conditions and newfangled vices closely crept to the great disquietnes of many and commoditie of no one person And now briefly to come to y e cause of this my bold argumēt my short worke shall only touch y e terrible brawels that lately on the shew of manhood are sprong vp among vs nourished to long in the stoute courages of men A matter more meeter to bee lamented than mayntayned and a new deuised wilfulnesse that our old Fathers taught vs not nor scarsely was known till our youth beganne to trauell straunge Countreys and so brought home strange manners It must be graunted and necessarie to bee allowed that weapons shall be worne alwaies of equall length and vsed in causes of defence And further for slaunders naughtie reports in absence and present spitfull speaches men ought for the mayntenance of good name somtimes vse an lawfull manner of correction this spoken not of the scripture for the sharpe sworde makes a blunt blockhead beware how hee vseth his tongue and if bold bablers were not snibbed for their sawsines this world would bee full of talkatiue merchants and no man would care what he spoke if wordes should not be wisely set to sale and in the end of an ill market be dearly bought For it is not fit that euery man should goe to Law about a trifle nor necessarie blood should be shed whatsoeuer in manhoods behalf I haue spokē wel to come to my purposed matter In the old time the sight of England was daungerous but not deadly couragious not cruell valiant but not villanous and most nobly vsed oftimes without anye great harme in which season men were as great Conquerors as they be now let Fraunce and Scotland witnes as loath to offend as men be at this presens when rapier fight is more desperate And generally then were as good men as valiant and venturous as now can bee found and yet they stoode not vppon such tearmes and quarrels as men doe now adayes a thousand iniuries could then bee forgiuen if they had eased their hearts a little at the sharpe weapon now life is sought in England for an Italian lie and nothing but blood and death can pacifie mens furies men are become such Cockes of the game they must fight in a sharppe scrat out each others eyes and thirst so much for blood that nothing can mitigate their wrath till one bee out of the world and the other bée fled God knowes whither A prettie quarrell that compells men to bée fugitiues for playing of beastly parts and bringeth such repentaunce as breedeth both beggerie and extremitie of Fortune and namely when friends shall forsake you and weeping can not helpe For whilst law persecuteth the offender the world is like a Laborinth endles is the labor and trouble of that bodie that thinks euery man follows him In the olde world when swords of one length and heartes of equal courage did meet some in differencie debated the matter and fewe were put to foile and many were worthely esteemed for their value And now when the rapier and dagger dispatcheth a man quickly neither he liues to heare his owne fame nor no man liuing can let fall a good word of the quarrell begun of such trifles maintaind with such terror and ended with such madnes not so manly as miserable nor so much praised among the fool hardy as condemned in the consideration of the wise And so to come to the right order of manhood courage valiancy and stoutnes of heart it lieth more in the Iudgement then in the iarring in the fortitude then in the forwardnes and restes more in the modesty then in the malice For anger of it selfe is but a sencelesse monster an vnreasonable rage a furious franzie a distemperate imperfection a priuy passion of choller and an open enemy of life The discouerer of the frailty and naughty nature of man and the discredite of as many as cannot maister that outragious disease of the minde Then how should the fury of mallice bring forth any other fruict but such a pestiferous fire as shall consume the beginners of hatred and the last reuengers of wretched wroth For reuenge is like a winde ball the more it is stricken and remembred with force of hand the higher it mountes makes the more rebound so that endlesse becomes a quarrell so long as the exercise of mallice is had in vre and men with euill disposition goe about to store vp mischiefe Now is to be decided euery degrée and manner of a quarrel and to shew how and in what sort an vniust quarrell may bee offered and a iust quarrel may be taken both by law of armes and nature and by a vsuall custome and manner among men prouing by antiquities and art military the matter purposed to treat vppon so that with patience you here out that may bée spoken As it is vnfit for a Gentleman that stands on reputation to play the ruffian and roister so it is most vncomely for him to stoupe so lowe as any way to abase his good calling with the bad conditions of a rude and rusticall fellowe by which prerogatiue the match is vnmeete the quarrell may be refused the strife hath no equality nor no honesty is gotten in brawling with inferiors or fighting with men of so small temperancy and credit but because most stoutnes and courage with hazard of life is betweene Gentlemen and trifles not taken vp growe to great busines their quarrels are most requisite to be spoken of redressed corrected and brought to better order First yée shall finde among Souldiers that are of greate mindes a kinde of stately consideration in all quarrels they take in hand They taking vppon them in the art military which well becomes their calling to maintaine honour defend their countrey and credite and to fight in no quarrell but Princes right and their owne honest causes haue set downe by certaine cerimonies what wordes may touch them what manner of men they may deale withall what occasions may force a combate what scope liberty pertaines to a iust quarrell and what restraines a manly minde from doing iniury to others or harming himselfe On which resolution the Souldier sets vp his rest and commonly hazards the winning or loosing of as great thing as life may be worth not with presumption procured to this danger but with estimation of his honor haled forewarde by daunger of enemy to leaue good example to those that comes after him But
ioyne in a battaile against those dogs that biteth them The Fish in the floud swim in skulles arming themselues against their enemies and you shall reade in Plinie that among the Dolphins was such amity that a Dolphin being taken prisoner by a King and closely kept there assembled such a number of Dolphins together as is incredible and they neuer lefte mourning and playning showing by sorrowfull signes the dolour taken for the losse of their companion by which meanes they recouered him againe of the King Thus if Fish Fowle and Beast agrée in vnion with a wonderful league of amity men may blush to behold their own defects and Serpentine natures that neuer rests hissing stinging and casting out of venome bred in vaine mindes and nourished in hatefull brests The reason that man beareth and the forme and shape of his noble creation should be an euerlasting remembraunce to moue him vnto quietnes especially the renowne that is gotten by patience and fortitude should alwaies kéepe reasonable men from rages and be a bulwarke and target to beare of quarrels the destruction of life the hour glasse of death and the whole consumer of all good credite It is to be presupposed that prowd hearts growes so Princely and euery one that is quarrelous would séeme a King or a conquerour yet Princes take great aduisement before they breake peace and cunningly put of causes of warre waying the innumerable troubles daungers and losses that pertaines to a quarrell but the generall number of men runs headlong into mischiefe casting neither perill nor hazard as all our life and fame stood on slashing cutting roisting and striuing for vain-glory In our Elders daies fighters were called ruffians and ruffians were so lothsome that no honest man could abide their company If seruing men which alwaies should be ciuile had quiet sober maisters such buckelers with pikes such swords like spits and such long great daggers should not bee worne The weapon and countenaunce by maintainers of quarrels may cause cowards to be bold and cause corage to catch copper or creepe closely in cornes And now in the chiefe and highest degree of quarrelling where see you iarres questions brawls banding and the rest of disorders but where some party is ouer great playing on aduantage or weapons are not equall except it be among noble great mindes whose valiauncy can neither suffer iniury nor abide any blemishe of honour So euen now to them this worke is adressed the baser sort néedes not my perswasions nor but of good will and presumption this needeth not I speake of The whole world is fraught so full of malice that the least occasion can be ministred bréedes such great busines that quarrels are so common the custome thereof so olde it séemeth nothing straunge to beholde murthers odious practises shamefull poisnings and miserable man slaughters In Italy a simple quarrell but once conceiued neuer endes till death hath dispatched peraduenture both the parties and so greedily they goe to take away life that all the mischiefe can be imagined is put in exercises without delay taking breath regard of God feare of law or shame of the world so blouddy is the minde the body sléepes not till the handes haue done some abhominable outrage The minde cannot bee in quiet til open folly monstruous madnes haue disturbed the whole sences and brought the life and body in hazard of hell fire or daunger of worldly shame these are the fruits of fury The defects of nature the miseries of man and the brutish conditions of the counterfaite finesse in Italy In Fraunce if a lie may bée brought in by circumstaunces or a fine quarrell can be sifted out of grosse speeches present death followes or perpetuall hatred is set abroach wherein murthers are committed and many a mischieuous act is taken in hand odious to beholde and a great horror to heare but most vnchristianly executed And so generally in all countreys and kingdoms a quarrell once begon comes to butchery and bloudshed and commonly growes after in many generations and kindreds to deadly foed and shamelesse slaughters A quarrell in property nature may be compared to many bigge barrels of Gun-powder which once set on fire flames so vehemently that euery little corne thereof is throughout consumed and the blast and busines it makes ouerthrowes houses beateth downe great buildings and shakes a whole towne and the walles thereof in sunder Yea euen as a tennis ball the harder is stricken the further it flieth and the oftner it reboundeth the more he labors that strikes it so a sparke of spitefull hatred being blowen with the busy bellowes of mallice that kindleth coales which can neuer be quenched encreaseth such a smoothering smoke and fire that burnes like the hill of Ethna that neuer goeth out nor wanteth heate and fume to trouble a whole countrey And one especiall point is alwaies to be noted in the naughty nature of a quarrell that whosoeuer hath done any iniury or giuen a wound or a blow neuer can auoide daunger and vtter destruction without some amendes made crauing of pardon open repentance or secrete working of friends that are wearied with the long debating of the matter As one good turne doth craue another so an Iniury demands a quarrell a quarrell bréedes a thousand offences offences hardly can bee forgotten and the more a wrong remaines in minde â—he lesse hope is of forgiuing the fault and the more mischiefe is put in proofe and exercise And whosoeuer duely considers the ill inclination of people he shall finde thousands so apt and ready to take in hand a quarell that in some sort it is held a cowardise and a kinde of no courage to put vp a trifle so many desires to sée bloudshed so many sets men agog in vnhappines and so many goes about with tales and bad deuises to stur vp strife and contention Well since our imbecillity is much our fury not little and disposition so stout that all thinges must be disputed of and drawen to the vttermost degrée of dangerous quarrelling I wish peraduenture vpon some experience that mildnes might moderate the manner of our falling out and if nothing could qualifie the cruelty of courage a regard of God good reputation iust cause and honest dealing may be vsed exhorting all men to looke to life common society mutuall loue and the generall peace of a christian Kingdome For how so euer the Worlde may imagine of fighting and brawling the very route and grounde of disorder in a common wealth is vnreasonable quarels wherein is maintained a kinde of Turkishe tyranny and brutish boldnesse This not spoken beyond the compasse of dutie nor to the preiudice and hinderaunce of any mans manhood which may bee as well seene and vnderstood by the conquering of himselfe and maistring his owne passions as in hauing the victorie of others Which triumph and victorie cannot bée gotten without great bloodshed and businesse Thus Friend worshipfull I haue discoursed a matter worthy treating off
Let practise goe and play a subiects parte Playne troath yee knowe bids â—ie on cunning arte One God one law one mind and manner now In double world shews subiects duties throwe All other drifts doe drawthe wyer awrie And backward bends the bow that should bee streight Come neere no cloudes the reach is ouer hie Liue safely then no suretie comes by sleight Content below doth hate to climbe on height Who knows his owne hath wealth and wit ynough Hee soundly sleepes that only lookes to plough And such as wakes to ouerlooke this age May sing adew when foote is fast in cage O Countrey swéete perswade obedience héere Reforme the fond and still preserue the wise No plot of earth more proâ—ious nor more deere Than natiue soyle that for her children cries And calls for chicks where kites and puttocks flies O Babes well borne if you will bastards proue Bid welcome hate and farewell Countries loue And this be sure my friends goe where you please No goodnes growes by gadding ore the seas Note where you tooke both breath warme blood and life Your parents care and Countries right do waie Regarde what broyles and brawles beginne on strife Marke how stout hartes stand all on tickle staie And birdes of th'aire your follie doe bewraie And marke how God hath opened all your drifts And in your pride hath put you to your shifts And chiefely note how God and man doth knowe For want of grace wilde heades a gadding goe Religion Lord perhaps shall bee your shield Nay there a straw you meane an other thing You are so great you would faine march in fielde That world should iudge you feathers of one wing So busie birdes together all would sing Well waking Cockes yee crow for daie too soone Yee neither looke on starres ne sunne nor moone But clapping wings yee thrust out necke and throat And cares not who doth heare your midnight noate That sounds not right of no Religion sure Rebellion is the string you play vppon O God forbid that hauke forsooke the lure To feede on frog that sits one euery stone I say not much would God abuse were gone Rebellion dead and all her branches bare Faythlesse were fled and Countrey voyd of care But since strange toyes bréeds humming Bées in braine I meane to touch rebellion once againe When mother spight to world this monster brings A naughtie nourse vile nature then prepares Who cradle rockes and lullabie she singes Till retchlesse sence be brought a sléepe vnwares Then as in corne do créepe wild weeds and tares So cockle séede in common wealth is sowne Whereby good graine is quicklie ouergrowne The cause thereof is cunning craftie wittes That still workes woe and neuer idle sits O wretched rage that riues and rents a Realme In péeces small and gaines nothing thereby O labour lost that striues with flood and streame And dayly hopes to drinke great riuers drie O cruell plague that doe for vengeaunce crie O priue hate that open mischiefe bréedes O shameles sleight that honest people dréedes Accurst I hold rebellion is of kinde That neuer dies but liues in cankred minde The Countries weale and Princes honor both It cleane forgets and spoyle and hauocke cries Takes no regard to dutie faith or oath But claps on wood where fire and flame may rise Tels tatling tales shewes furious angry eies Makes brags and boast that all shall lie in dust And hath no hope but treason is his trust The wife the child the friend and neighbour toâ— Rebellion hates for hee will mischiefe doe It findeth fault with peace and ciuill Lawes Abhors good men and such as gouernes well Takes toy in head bolts out when is no cause Frames deuilish drifts to make this world a hell And at the length would King and Countery sell To wreak his wrath O vile reuenge most vaine When all is lost what doth rebellion gaine Ioyes it to see the wracke of natiue land Such fowle offence is whipt with his owne wand Their goodes their rent their honour and their liues Shall vnder foote be troden euery day Their kinde deflourde their children and their wiues Made captiue slaues in bondage many a way And when the land is made a straungers pray Like Israelites poore Iacobs house shall mourne Drawe in the yoke and sée their houses burne Beare burthens still and bend their backs to toile While enemies laugh and triumphs of the spoile What can procure a man to sell his life Forsake his Prince become a seruile slaue What cause can be in state to stir a strife What ioy or blisse by thraldome can we haue When men are well what deuill would they craue What makes men mad why dote they in this age To forraine foes to run in such a rage Their language sure I trowe is not so fine Their loue is grosse and tastes like troubled wine Want thou but gilt where they are maisters still There shalt thou starue for all their goodly showes With mockes and skornes and many another ill Poore hewlet stands among a many of Crowes The wandring wight that long a gadding goes Comes home at last by beggars wéepiâ—g crosse Like rowling stone that neuer gathers mosse A straunger doth but stare in trauailers face And smiles in sleeue at silly soules disgrace Rebellion likes the man he neuer saw If blouddy wars vpon that league may linke As to the sicke doth euill humors draw And from fowle pits comes smoake and noisome stinke So filthy flouds flow from rebellious brinke A troubled streame of puddle mixt with mire Doth quench the thirst of rebels hote desire The water cleare but skalds a rebels breast For cruell rage and ryot takes no rest It runnes with hare and hunts with blouddy hound It stands with strong and leaues the weake at worst In common wealth it makes a mortall wound It brags to fight and yet retireth forst It is a plague that God himselfe hath curst For it deuides in little péeces small Both Kingdomes great and mighty monarkes all Dissention workes to sowe but Sathans séedes And pluckes vp slowres and plants in stinking wéedes It créepes in hoales and corners close by ribs Prouides for friends to band it out for néede It bankets still and fréely quafs and bibs And with lewd words their wicked humor féedes Prates much of Prince makes boast of doughty deedes When feeble hearts lies quaking in their hose Much like bold Cocks that lowd on midding crowes But yet cries creake when that in sharpe they come For rebels can not bide the sound of Drome At May Powl mirth or at some mariage feast Or in a faire where people swarme like Bées These stinging wasps but new come out of neast Doe flie for life and so together grées Like little mites or maggots in a chéese The humming then that these wood wasps doe make Doth séeme at first as it would mountaines shake But out alas those lawlesse loytring soules Are hid in hast or crept in Conny holes The priuy
any good Some say the cause of this hard happe to the one and good Fortune to the other is a certaine deadly dissention fallen betwéene the sword and the penne By which mortall malice is bred and nourished in bosome such a headstrong hatred and parcialitie that the penne is euer giuing a dash out of order against the commendation of the sworde and the sword being disgraced by a balde blot of a scuruie Goose quill lies in a broken rustie scabberd and so takes a Canker which eates awaye the edge and is in a manner lost for lacke of good looking to and consideration of a painfull Cutler And the penne as many people are perswaded is like the Pensell of a Painter alwaies readie to set out sundrie colours and somtime more apt to make a blurre then giue a good shape and proportion to any inuention or deuise that proceedes of a plaine meaning And as all pensels are as well occupied of a bongling Paynter as a cunning woorkeman So the scribling Penne is euer woorking of some subteltie more for the benefite of the Writer then commonly for the profitte or pleasure of the Reader yea and the penne is waxt so fine and can shew such a florishe that a Mayster of Fence though hée playde with a twoo hand Sworde might bee put to a foule foyle where the Penne is in place and is guided by a sleight handâ— and a shrewde head But vnder correcton if a man may bee plaine the Penne and the Sword can neuer agree because the Penne standes in such feare of the sword it would not come vnder the blow of the blade the sword is in such doubt to bee moiâ—ed with inke by the dash of a penne that it loues not to come where the pen may annoye it And so the dissention and quarrell betweene the Penne and the Sworde is neuer like to bee taken vp the harmes are so great that growes on their amitie and méeting and the aduauntage of them both is so much when they bee kept a sunder For the Sworde is the best and in his most brauery when it is shyning in the fielde where bloode may be shed and honour may bée wonne And the Pen is in the chiâ—fest pompe when it lies lurking in the Towne where pence may bée purchased and peace and quietnesse may do what it pleaseâ—h And the Pen is so glad to rest in the pennar till profite cals him out that hée cannot abide the hindrers of his commoditie nor the disquieter of his ease Which commeth by warres and proceedeth from the Sword when the Drum and the Trumpet puts the penne out of credit Now to speake roundly to the reason may bee alledged in the Pens behalfe and prayses of those that haue the vse of the same it cannot bée denied but the penne may both perswade warre and purchase peace And those that heere at home maintaine good Lawes sée iustice ministred vpholde the publike state plead controuersies at the barre studie to vnfold doubtes Labour at their Booke to bée profitable members and striue dayly to excell in learning and quiet the quarrellous people of their Countrey Such I saye that with Pen or tongue aduaunceth vertue and ouerthrows vice are méete to bée honoured deserueth great laude and ought to goe in the rancke and place of commendation and dignitiye For there is but foure sortes of true Nobilitie or Gentlemen The first Gouernours by whom all States and Kingdomes are guided brought to know order and made to possesse in quietnesse the goodes that eyther good Fortune or sweate of browes hath gotten The second are Souldiers whose venter and valliance hath beene great seruice and labour not little and dayly defended with the hazard of their liues the libertie of the Countrey The thirde are vpright and learned Lawiers that lookeâ—h more to the matter they haue in hand then the money they receiue And are neuer idle in doing their duty and studying for the quietnesse of matters in controuersie The fourth are Marchants that sayles forrain Countreys and brings commodities home and after great hazards abroad do vtter their ware with regard of conscience and profite to the publike estate And as from the beginning Gouernours and Rulers were ordayned by God and the rest of Gentilitie came in and did follow as reason required and desart did commaund So ancient birth and blood ioyned with good conditions is a thing much to bee honoured and esteemed and beautifies not only the noble race but bringes likewise a treable beatitude to the person so vertuously bent and nobly borne And as for the Souldiers and their originall of honours titles and calling the Romaines which were the Fathers of all Marshiall affaires and Conquerors of the world haue so much spoken of and praysed that no man can denie but they are the men of greatest antiquitie and people that Princes first preferred and gaue stippendes vnto Yea and the chiefest Conquerours that euer were before our dayes had a great glorye themselues to bee called Souldiours and Noble Captaynes For they thought none so worthie as the Souldier nor none so meete to compare themselues vnto as the man that stoode on his honour and would neyther stoupe to no kinde of slauerye nor yeelde to no villanous action But in verie deede to speake of euery one in their order there is none â—o much to bee feared loued and honoured as the Rulers and Leaders of the common people For the peaceable Gouernour and such as are experimented in Wordly pollicies knowes how to make warre and howe to auoyde troubles and as they are loth to fall from rest and wealth to ruffeling Warre and wickednesse that bréedes bloodshed and want So they can breake the bandes of peace and set men out to the field when causes commaundes them and oportunitie doth serue But since that my purpose is but to treate of Souldiers alone and that I lacke skill to set foorth the rest I will returne to my first Discourse and intent and leaue the wise to consider what good matter may bee sayde in the thing I leaue off The Souldiour because his life is in ballaunce and his death is at the dore hath so many mischieues to passe so few meanes to escape daunger that he is compelled to be honest and be ready to make an accompt euery houre of the day For as the Cannon may call him before he be aware or the pollicie of the enemie may cut off his yeares so is he assured that the pot which goeth often to the water comes home with a knock or at length is passhed all in peeces Through which accidents or crosse chances he is held so harde and curbed so shorte if any feare of God be in his breast that he hath no scope to runne at riot in nor play the parts of a wanton or prodigall sonne Albeit some hold opinion that Souldiours be giuen to spoile and offered to insolent life by a number of inconueniences yet may they so well bee
occupied in warre that they may bee occasion of great good and a great hinderer of many harmes For when houses are ready to be burnt impoteÌ„t persons poore women and children ready to bee slayne they may saue what they list and preserue an infinite number of thinges that a man at home can doe no good in nor none but the Souldiour in the fielde hath power to comfort and succour And for certame I know Souldiours of that disposition that hath beene occupied in these honest actions when some Helhoudes haue beene spoyling and murthering and founde by their follye and ouer great cruelitye a dispatch of their owne dayes and peraduenture the terrible wrath of God and damnation to their soules My Prince maie bée well serued and the Enemie not alwayes to the vttermost persecuted the Lesson that Sainct Iohn Baptist gaue the souldiours may suffice for this matter and carrie mens mindes from violence and doing wrong to quallifie furie and maintaine right with a regard to the innocent that ought not to bée touched for the offence of an ambicious Leader or one whose faultes the ignoraunt may not answers This point though simply it is passed ouer may containe a large volume and is to be looked into with a diuine 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Christian consideration Then if the souldiors as few there are in number be honest and is to be proued they are not to be reproued it followes that honor and reputation accompanies those souldiours and that a singular priuiledge and libertie may be had for those that haue such regard of their fame that they wil do no any one thing preiudicial to their credite in the compasse of which regard is knit valiancy modestie pitty hope of another life to come wheÌ„ thâ— affaires of this world shall dutifully and honestly be finished And for that the reader hereof shal not thinke but that great Princes thought their Souldiours to bee honest men that were worthy the making of whose doings regarde did argue and shew a speciall hope of another place to go to or a certaine fame and credite heere to be maintained I will shew you as I haue gathered by translation how triumphant kings princely potentates did ordaine set downe and deliuer a law rule for souldiours By the which they had honor libertie prerogatiue aboue and beyond the Commoners or common course of people The translation I speake of is not long and tedious but bringing willing mindes to heare know the truth you may read if leasure permit and you peruse that followeth First you must marke and make a good note of that Heraldes were at the beginning souldiours and were called auncient knights as well it séemeth to be true for they I meant Heraldes being brought vp in warre beheld who deserued renowne and had by their authoritie and experience a power to giue Armes and signe of honor to those which for well doing in field or publike state did merite remembraunce which power and place of the Heralde doth plainely expresse that from the fielde or honourable offices at home sprong vp our gentilitie generation of Gentlemen For as euery mans blood in a bâ—son lookes of one colour and when Adam was created and a long while after meÌ„ were al alike So vertuous actes that shines to the heauens hath made them to bee honoured and aduaunced where vicious liuers and bloodthirsty wretches were accursed of God and hated of man And had a marke set vpon them to be known by and be a testimony to the world that they were not worthy of honour and were appointed to reproch Let Cain that killed his brother Abell by an vniust warre be a witnes in this behalfe Aeneas Siluius doth derine Heraldes of ab Heroibus of Noble men For Heroes were auncient Knights otherwise called Souldiours and an Herauld signifieth Centonicum vocabulum videlicet and old man of Armes or an old Knight but at this daie sayd Eneas a long while since certayne seruile men feeble and weake messengers which neuer haue playde the Souldiours doe professe that office The priuileges and offices of the Herauldes in auncient time to this day continuing neuerthelesse And the first authour of them was Bacchus which India being conquered did call them by this name I absolue you of Warres and trauell and will that you bée auncient Souldiers and to bée called Heroes Your office shall bée to prouide for the Common weale to try out the originall of causes and to prayse the wise you shall call for greater rewardes in what place or Countrey you shall come And the Kings shall giue you meat and apparell You shall bée most honourable to all men Princes shall offer vnto you many thinges and shall licence you their apparell Credite shalbe giuen to your sayings you shall abhorre lies You shall iudge traytors and Aduâ—â—terers These infamous persons ye shall punish and in euery Nation you shall haue libertie and sure egresse and regresse shall bée vnto you if any man shall gayne say any of you in worde or déede let him die with the sword Alexander the Great hath annexed to these priuileges of noble men after a long season that they might vse purple golden and beautiful garments And that they should bring in princely and notable Armes at euery place in any Countrey or Region soeuer it shal bée If any man shal repulse these without respect or secretely defame in woorde hée shall bée accounted gilty of death and deposition of gooddes And so the same Eneas doth say Tucidides Herodotus Didimses Magashones and Zenophon together Thirdly then Octauian Auguste the Romaine Monarch being established hath beautified them on this condition Who so euer sayd hée hath played the Souldiour with vs the space of ten yeares and be of the age of fourty yeares whether he be horseman or els footeman he shall haue his wages and afterwards be absent from wars be a noble man and old Souldiers No man shal forbid thée the Ctity the Market the Church Hospitality and house no man shall impute any fault to thée thou shalt be discharged of that blemish or burthen no man shall aske any thing of thee if thou make fault in any thing onely looke thou for Caesars vengeance for what filthinesse men shall impute let them feare thée being a iudge and corrector whether they bée priuate or Princes what so euer thou sayest thou shalt affirme and no man contrary All iourneis and places shall bée free and plaine to thée let thy meat and drinke be in the houses of Princes and take daily of the common treasure wherewithall to kéepe thée and thine house Marry thou a wife of comely beauty and estéeme her aboue all other Whom thou wilt checke and reproch with infamy thou shalt say this man is an infamous reprobat Armes Ensignee names and ornaments of noble men beare thou Doe what thinges become Kinges and what thou wouldest doe or say in euery place and Nation make mention of it if there be
to name Hath by abuse brought world cleane out of frame And made them rich and prowd that borne were bare Yet liues by lust and sale of paltry ware Our fathers wore good frées to kéepe them warme And kendall gréene in sommer for a show Might better to take trifles for a farme Then these that now in silkes and veluets goe The former age made tenants duety know To Landlords all and so their cates they sold As much for loue as now they sell for golde Now is the case and custome altered cleane The tenant he in deede will part from nought For landlords weale nor lose by him a beane Nor sell him thing that is not dearely bought At tenants hand what euer may be sought Beares double price as though the farmer might Liue on himselfe and set his Landlord light This bréedes contempt in vassall past all cry And makes the Lord racke vp his rents a height And take great fines you see wherefore and why And lode the backes of Farmers with great weight This makes wise men vse many a craft and sleight To punish churles and pinch them néere the bone That doth small good yet all would haue alone Why plead they want where plenty is great store And God hath blest the earth with fruite and graine They say because they charged are so sore To pay such rent and take such toile and paine Well well there doth a fault in both remaine The one will not let nought in market fall The other still in London spendeth all Like one that flings more water in the seas Or casts away his gold where it is lost The Gentleman is seldome well at ease Till that he ride to London all in post And vp and downe the dice and cards be lost When he a while about the streets doth rome He borrowes pence at length to bring him home O saieth the boy or girle that kéepes the barre This man is frée and francke where ere he goes And spends as much as doth a man of warre That comes from spoile and conquest of his foes Cries fill the pot the ebbing water flowes The chencks are here we haue inough to spend Set all agog vntill bad world amend O Lord how soone a man is ore his shooes That wades and steps in streame or water déepe How soone from towne in countrey we haue newes That some spends all for they can nothing kéepe If such lads were at home in bed a sléepe Twere better sure then lie in London thus Uppon the score or like banckrouts iwus Fine shops and sights fine dames and houses gay Fine wares fine words fine sorts of meat is there Yea all is fine and nothing grosse they say Fine knaks costs much costs spoils vs euery where Spoile is a worme that wealth away will weare A cancker crept in Court for some mens crosse That eates vp lands and breeds great lacke and losse Expense and spoile waits hard on braueries héeles With daily debt and daunger of disgrace A crue of Dickas as world went all on whéeles With swashing Tom and goodman Maple face In sundry cloakes and thred bare liueries bace That neuer ware ne badge nor signe of thrift But certaine signes and showes they liue by shift And in the necke of al this retchles band Comes thought and care in sad and mourning wéede And sore forethinkes that he hath sold his land Or laide to gage good leases and old deedes No better fruite we ceâ—pe of ill sowne seedes But heauy sighes or 〈◊〉 thistels bare That doth destroy good ground where ere they are Spoile brings home plagues to wife children both When husband hath at play set vp his rest Then wife and babes at home a hungry goeth Thrice euery weeke where seld good meat is drest With rusty broach the houshold all are blest For potched egs in good howre be it spoke Must for a shift make kitchin chimney smoke A fine deuise to kéepe poore kaett in health A pretty toy to mocke an Ape withall No maâ—tter much though wife hath little wealth Shee hath for nâ—â—de a messe of creame at call A trim young boy to tosse and tirle the ball A 〈…〉 and pretty pus or catte And at a pinch a great deale more then that Gay gownes and geare God wot good store inough And faire milke maids as dainty as a Doe That fares as well as â—ob that holds the plough Yea chéere in bowles they haue sometime ye know Swâ—te whay and cruds a bancket for a Croe Such rule shee keepes when husband is farre of Whiles children weeps that séeds on hard browne lofe Thinke you these things nips not the pye crost néere And rubs the gaule that neuer will be whole The maister may keepe reuell all the yéere And leaue the wife at home like silly soule What recke of that who lists may blow the cole Though some doe starue and pine away with want Young lusty lads abroad liues all aflant Some come to Court to breake vp house at home Such kéepes a cloake vntill a rainy day Some weaues their yarne and cloth in other loeme At tabling house where they may fréely play Some walk to Pauls wher some maks many a fray The greatest summe are sworne to spend and spoile And royot runne at large in euery soile Great chéere is turnd at home to empty dishe Great bounty lookes like bare foote beggers bag Great hardnes brings to boord ne flesh nor fishe Great hast to giue comes limping lame and lag Great shew men make of house but thats a brag For if ten daies at home they kéepe great fare Thrée months abroad for that they absent are England was cald a librall countrey rich That tooke great ioy in spending béefe and bred In déede this day the countrey spendeth mich But that expense stands poore in little sted For they finde nought where hounds and hawks are fed But hard colde posts to leane at in great lacke Who wants both foode and clouts to cloth their backe Almes déedes are dead and conscience waxeth cold World scrats and scrapes pluckes flesh and fell from bone What cunning heads and hands can catch in hold That couetous mindes doth séeke to weld alone The poore complaynes and makes a gréeuous mone The ritch heares all and kéepes all safe in fist As all were his to spend it as he list Well spend on still a reckning must bée made When hee doth call that sendes you all the store You will be taught to vse another trade Or in the end full dearly paie therefore I wish you well you can desire no more Waie all my wordes as you haue reason still I find no fault but speakes this of good will And you deare friend that in Rocksauage dwell For whom I haue these verses heere set down To you no péece of this Discourse I tell For you lie not at charge so long in towne As others doe that are of like renowne Your house at home you hold in better sort
that by tasting of miseries men are become happie written for that souldiers alwayes beares the burthen of sorrow and suffers more calamitie then any other people RIght worshipfull for that calamitie and combersome chances doe seeme intollerable too beare and for our first fathers offence they are the burthens of life and companions of man till the hower of his death I being often charged with the heauie faâ—dle of misfortunes haue taken in hand to treate of a troubled mynd and shewe what blessednesse and benefit to the body and soule this worldly in felicity bringeth As the common afflictions of mankind are many in number and seeme at the first feeling so irksome and weightie that few can suffer them or support them So a multitude of miseries accustometh the mind so long in the sharpnesse of sorrowes that a sound iudgement is made the more able therby to abide the brunte of troubles and attende for a short season a remedie of mischâ—eâ—eâ— by proofe â—he troth of this is tried For let the laboryng man or ordinarie porter that daily carries great burthens be often vsed to lift vp packes he shall better beare a great burthen then an other that is fine fingered shall bâ—e able to heaue a small peece of Timber And there is none that laboureth so sore but is sure at one tyme or other to attaine to rest and commoditie So that all sorrowes are to be compted but a sharpe sause to season the appetite and bring the sweete and delicate dishes into such order that it glut not the stomacke And nowe to consider how all pleasures are possessed and proâ—ittes take their begininges The very issue and originall of those yearthly commodities springes onely from continuall care and paine and labourious vexation of body and minde The greatest glories and chiefest seates of honour any where are gotten and compassed by this kinde of calamitie and the least or most sparkes of mans delite is maintained and at the length enioyed by the meane of studious labour and painefull exersices But herein to be briefe paine and labour is the portion appointed for man in his pilgrimage and they that are most persecuted so they be not tempted aboue their strength are most to be thought in fauour with God and happiest among men if heauenly graces and correction be measured by the yearthly vesselles of vanitie that we carry about which without correction and refourming would growe so full of filthe and corrupt manners that they neither could holde good liquor nor serue to any good purpose Doe you not behold that the purest mettall with ill looking vnto becometh full of cankers and rust if it be not scoured rubbed and roughly handled his beautie decayeth and the worth and vallue of it is little because it hath lost his vertue and estimation So mans corrupt Nature were it not serched with sundrie instrumentes that takes away the dead flesh and toutcheth the quicke would putrifie and waxe lothsome to the whole world and to the creature himselfe that beares it in his bowells And for the auoiding of such an inconuenience calamitie must be tasted and troubles are necessary for the keeping cleane of a spotted conscience and fraile body puffed vp with Pride and vanitie of curious conceits And so I proue aduersitie is the bringer home of good spirites and gentill wittes that wanders after worldly follies and runnes a gadding beyonde the boundes of measure to the vtter confines of daunger and destruction Yea a little trouble and torment produceth great goodnesse and bringeth soorth noble bookes and goodly workes which the libertie of life and wantonnesse of pleasure denies and hinders As a thing that drawes man from the coueting of Fame and true searching of immortalitie Mans prosperous estate breedes but idlenesse nourisheth vice contemnes vertue and banisheth good studies and learning albeit some one among the richest at one season or other may looke on a booke fauor writers and giue good speeches of well dooyng Yet seldome comes any great worke from their handes that are in prosperity And none in a manner but the afflicted did at any time hetherto yeeld benefit to their countrey and knowledge to the vniuersall worlde Let Socrates Plato Aristotle Cleantes and a number of poore Philosophers yea princes of education be witnesse of that I speake from which Philosophers the fountaine of noble Arts Sciences did spring and aboundantly flow The body pampered bedecked with beautie full of ornamentes and set out to sale like flesh in the Shambelles Either would be bought quickly or will be tainted in hanging too long in the winde So that as horses doe waxe reistie for want of good vsage and cleanest thinges taketh corruption by lacke of looking vnto in season Pleasure and liberty in processe of time makes a man wild if callamitie tame not thâ— bodie and bring the minde in willing subiection Sorrow sadnesse and other passions of this worlde that comes by common causes puttes the wittes and iudgemente to such a plonge secret shifte and policy that all the senses openly makes a muster to defend the estimation and vpright body from falling to which assemblie comes Patience Reuerence and Modestie that the matter is so well taken iniuries are put vppe and wronges that haue beene offered woorkes in a wise head a world of deuises wherein vertue gettes victorie To beare the comfortable crosse of persecution is the true badge of blessednesse whereby the seruant is seene to follow his maister and all the vices of man he maistered or reformed by the crossyng chances of this worlde and vertuous operation of calamitie which miraculously worketh the distempered minde as the hote Fornace tries out the Golde and the warme fire bringes in temper and makes softe the hard and coldest Waxe A deuine secret to them that are chosen and familiar example to those that glories in wordly felicitie who knowes the naturall causes of earthly thinges If a man might aske wherefore was man made sent from the highest dignitie of pleasures to this lowe dongion of sorrowes and base soile of seruitude It may be aunswered Adam was thrust out of Paradice for offence he had committed and for that he was formed out of the earth on the race of the earth he should get his foode and liuing as a vessell ordained to beare all manner of liquour that is put into it and as a Creature condemned to tast and feele tormentes sorrowes and troubles wherein man sees Gods mercie and his owne infirmities And refusing to beare and suffer what is laied vpon him hee seemeth to holde an other course then God hath appointed and so seeketh that he cannot attaine For since the earth was cursed it neuer could bring forth but cares and griefe of minde The onely fruit and painefull portion that was from the beginning prepared for al Adams children and posteritie Now some will replie and say that the rich and wealthy of the worlde that may wallow and tumble on their treasure Haue builded such
when some of them flue away I say not with my fethers and sat on the top of their aduancements gazing on the basenesse of my fortune which strange accidente ministred by the mutability of time makes me chuse faster friends whose noble disposition breeds greater regard whose constancies will longer continue and whose frendships bringes forth better fruite So good sir Iohn knowing your good inclination towardes the best sorte of men and faitfullnesse towardes your country and friendes I being tyed by good turns to remember you haue deuised a discourse I hope delightfull for your reading because in your sundry trauells beyonde the seas besides your good exercises at home you haue heard of many excellent men and artes of diuers natures and qualitie The worke I present you is a commendation of them that can or hath made gold if any such bee or hath bin the art wherof I haue not only commended but in some part touched as far as my simple capacitie can reach vnto touching setting downe in verse with comly termes some sufficient cause how by transmutation of mettals many men haue aduentured the making of gold Thus crauing the worlds goodwill and your fauour for the setting forth this bold discourse I passe to the matter wish you much worship wordly felicitie and heauenlie blessednesse Thomas Churchyard A Commendation to them that can make gold shewing that many heretofore hath found out the Philosophers stone WHat wordes of worth or â—â—led phrase of men May serue my turne to shew rare gifts of grace What percing speech what toong or flowing pen Is fiâ— to blase the valour of this case My wits are weake my sense and skill to base To talke or treate on thinges of such great weight That séemes so dâ—epe and reacheth such a height With Uirgills verse and Homers haughtie style In golden lines should knowledge glorie shine Would God one man were borne in this our Ile Could catch from cloudes great arts and grace diuine As he were taught of all the muâ—es nine To knowe the course of stars and stately skies And howe deepe seas and floudes doe fall and rise If mortall man may robbe the gods of skill And rule the son the moone and planets all And easly climbe the heauens when he will Or make the spirites belowe obey his call Or clap the earth into a compasse small Knowledge is he nay rather better seed A sacred power hath knowledge in his head That from the Lord of life and glory came No earthly gifte nor worldly wicked knacke For world is vaine most certaine sure I am And all foule artes makes worlolings liue in lacke The cleanest mindes are frée from ruine and wracke For vertue raignes and rules this wretched mould And drawes from drosse huge heapes of massie gold They neuer thriue that workes with hagges of hell Bare liues they lewd bare robes and wéedes they weare They seldome want that in ioyes doying well Great store of fruit a happie trée doth beare A blasted branch but withers euery where A vertuous man whose hart to grace aspires Findes good successe of all his whole desires Great studies gaines great grace and wisdome too Great wisdome lookes into Gods sacred throne And fewe doe knowe what speciall grace can doe Such secrets great doth rest in God alone And God giues man the Philosophers stone Then who hath that hath all that can be gote And needes not care for all the world a grote Some say that knowes how god is pleased best Good life helpes much to make men blessed héere If that be true God doth bad life detest where are we then where shall soule life appéere Who hath faire face who shewes a conscience cléere Such as can purge themselues with praiers still Gets greatest grace and gaineth greatest skil Good arts are armes to all our bodies throwe By force to worke by strength to strike all parts To make stife stones or steele to bend or bowe As nothing could escape the reach of arts Schollers in scholes and merchantes in their marâ—â— Can ply their thrift so they that maketh gold By giftes of grace haue cunning treble fold To catch the heate of son or fire by light And melt and myxe the mettals as they are And put by art compounds together streight As all should yeeld to fine inuention rare When science leaues all hidden secretes bare No mastry then to worke on waxe newe wrought A picture plaine to answere workmans thought Most néerest God the cleanest hartes doe goe They cast of flesh and Angels nature take And than throwe faith they may moue mountaines so Gold by that meanes a mortall man may make God doth great things for his great glories sake That world shall sée some vessels God hath chose To whome he doth his hidden giftes disclose vii of Wisdome The wise king said he saw how world was made How things began and how they end againe How fruits and flowers doe flourish and doe fade How vertues rare in herbes and roots remaine How out of stones comes dewe like drops of raine And how dry dust and earth that seemes nought worth Hides gold in hord yet brings great treasure forth He saw what grace and knowledge could discerne What wisdomes eies could sée in darkest night What God himselfe to his electe did learne What man might doe by Gods cleere lampe of light What might be knowne by simple sacred sight And what poore men by plainenesse might attaine And what fruit comes by trauell toile and paine To gather flowers and wéedes where ere they growe And take vp fruit from tops of trées that fall And mixe these things with flouds that ebbe and floe And at a becke to change their natures all Is art at will and knowledge we it call But to digge out from drosse the gold most fine Is secret skill and speciall power deuine To make fine glasse and giue it forme and shape Was sure an art that fewe at first did knowe A painter made quicke birds to picke the grape That pensell had most finely painted so In dome dead things life hath bin breathd you knowe Who reades shall sée great knowledge vnder son That was with men by grace and vertue won Mercurius Tres migistus king of the Egiptianes A king there was of yâ—er that Hermies hight Who fiâ—st found out the cause how gold was made Some at his torch did there dime candells light That earst did walke for want of Son in shade Since that in seas full many wits did wade To sound and sée how farre weake feete might goe And some did find the depth thereof I troe Gâ—bar a king likewise of great estate A volume large of this great art did write Throw studie long Gebar such knowledge gat That in his books great princes did delight Great thinges of him great actors doe resyte Greater then he some say was neuer none For he did teach how men should make the stone In a vision much matter may you read