Cradle truly tended When as their Mothers before them doth curse the day that e're they bore them Then to avoid all strife c. Do we then behold and see When men and wives agree and live together Where the Lord hath sent them eke Fair Children mild and meek like flowers in summer weather How greatly are they grieved And will not by joy he relieved if that Death doth call Either wife or Children small whom their vertues do command Their losses whom they thus added from their hearts cannot be moved Then to avoid all strife c. Who being in that happy state Would work himself such hate his Fancy for to follow Or living here devoid of strife Would take him to a wife for to procure his sorrow With cárking and with caring Evermore must be sparing Were he not worse'then mad being merry would be sad Were he to be commended That e're would seek much pleasure where grief is all his treasure Then to avoid all strife c. 11. The Widdows Solace To the Tune of Robinsons Almain MOurn no more fair Widdow thy tears are all in vain 'T is neither grief nor sorrow can call the dead again Man's well enough compared unto the Summers flower Which now is fair and pleasant yet withereth in an hour And mourn no more in vain as one whose faith is small Be patient in affliction and give God thanks for all All men are born to dye the Scripture telleth plain Of Earth we were created to Earth we must again I was neither Croesus treasure nor Alexanders fame Nor Solomon by wisdom that could Deaths fury tame 〈◊〉 Physick might preserve them when nature did decay What man can hold for ever the thing that will away Then mourn no more c. Though you have lost your Husband your comfort in distress Consider God regardeth the Widdows heaviness And hath strictly charged such as his Children be The Fatherless and Widdow to shield from injury Then mourn no more c. If he were true and faithful and loving unto thee Doubt not but there 's in England enough as good as he But if that such affeâ—tion within this heart was none Then give God praise and glory that he is dead and gone And mourn no more c Receive such Suitors friendly as do resort to thee Respect not the outward person but the inward gravity And with advised judgement chuse him above the rest Whom thou by proof hast tried Then mourn no more c. Then shalt thou live a life exempted from all annoy And whensoever it chanceth I pray God give thee joy And thus I make an end with true humility In hope my simple solace may well excepted be Then mourn no more c. FINIS 12. A gentle Womans Complaint in that she found her Friend Faithless which should have continued Constant. FAith is a Figure standing now for nought Faith is a fancy we ought to cast in thought Faith now adays as all the world may see Resteth in few and faith is fled from thee Is there any faith in strangers to be found Is there any faith lies hidden in the ground Is there any faith in men that buried be No there is none and Faith is fled from thee Fled is the Faith that might remain in any Fled is the Faith that should remain in many Fled is the Faith that should in any be Then farewel hope for Faith is fled from thee From Faith I see that everyone is flying From Faith I see that all things are a dying They flye from faith that most in faith should be And faithless thou that brake thy faith to me Thee have I sought but thee I could not find Thou of all others was most within my mind Thee have I left and I alone will be Because I find that Faith is fled from thee 13. Of the Prince of England who wooed the Kings Daughter of France and how he was slain and she afterwards Married to a Forrester To the Tune of Crimson Velvet IN the days of old When fair France did flourish Stories plainly told Lovers felt annoy The King a Daughter had Beautious bright and lovely Which made her Father glad she was his only joy A Prince of England came Whose Deeds did merit Fame he woo'd her long and so at last Look what he did require She granted his desire their hearts in one were linkt so fast Which when her Father proved Lord how he ws moved and tormented in his mind He sought for to prevent them And to discontent them Fortune crosseth Lovers kind When the Princes twain Were thus barr'd of pleasure Through the Kings disdain which their joys withstood The Lady got up her cloaths Her Jewels and her Treasure Having no remorse of State or Royal Blood In homely poor array She got from Court away to meet her joy and hearts delight Who in a Forrest great Had taken up his seat to wait her comming in the night But to see what sudden danger To this Princely stranger chanced as he sat alone By Out-laws he was Robbed And with Poniard stobbed uttering many a dying groan The Princess arm'd by him And by true desire Mandring all the night without dread at all Still unknown she pass'd In her strange attire Comming at the last in the ecchoes call You fair woods quoth she Honoured may you be harbouring my hearts delight UUhich doth compass here My joy and only dear my trusty friend and Noble Right Sweet I come unto thee Sweet I come to woe thee that thou may'st not angry be For my long delaying And thy courteous staying ' mends for all I 'le make to thee Passing thus along Through the Forrest Many grievous groans sounding in her ears UUhere she heard a man To lament the sorest That was ever seen forced by deadly fear Farewel my dear quoth he Whom I shall never see for why my life is at an end Through villanies cruelty Loe here for thee I dye to shew I am a faithful Friend Here I lye a bleeding UUhile my thoughts are feeding on the rarest beauty found O hard hap that may be Little knows my Lady my heart blood lies on the groundâ— UUith that he gave a groan UUhich did burst asundier All the tender strings of his bleeding heart She which knew his voice At his tale did wonder All her former joy did to grief convert Straight she ran to see UUhom this man should be that so like her love did speak And found when as she came Her lovely Lord lay slain all smeared in blood which life did break When this deed they spied Lord how sore she cried her sorrows cannot counted be Her eyes like fountains runing While she cried out my Darling I would that I had died for thee His pale lips alas Twenty times she kissed And his face did wash with her trickling tears Every bleeding wound Her fair words bedewed Wiping off the Blood with her Golden Hair Speak fair Prince to me one sweet word of
endure UUith her a number great did go which she by Prayers did procure In Battel then they Marcht along For to redress this grievous wrong And near a Rider called Store the King with all his Host she met UUhere both the Armies fought full sore but yet the Queen the Field did get Yet â—'re they did the Conquest gain The King was with an Arrow slain Then Guendoline did take in hand until her Son was come to age The Government of all the Land but first her fury to asswage She did command her Souldirs wild To drown both Estrild and her Child Incontiâ—eâ—tithâ—◠〈◊〉 they did brinâ— fair Estrild 〈◊〉 River siâ—e And â—abriâ—â— Daughter to a King whom Guendoline could not abide Who being bound 〈…〉 fast Into the River there was cast And ever since that running stream wherein the Ladies drowned were Iâ— called Saveâ—â— â—hrough the Realm because that â—abrine dieâ— there Thus they that did to 〈…〉 Were brought 〈◊〉 a woful end FINIS 6. A Song of Queen Isabel Wife to King Edward the Second how by the Spencers she was constrained secretly to go out of England with her eldest Son Prince Edward to seek for succour in France and what happened â—nto her in her Journey PRoud were the Spencers and of condition ill All England and the King â—likewise they ruled at their will And many Lords and Nobles of the Land Through their occasions lost 〈◊〉 lives and none did them withstand And at the last they did encrease truth grief Between the King and Israel his Queen and fall 〈◊〉 wise Do that her life she dreaded wandrous sorâ— And cast within her secret thoughts some present help therefore That she requests with counts nance grave and sage That she to Thomas Beckets Youth might go on Pilgrimage Then being joyful to have that happy charice Her Son and she took Ship with speed and sailed into France And Royally she was receiued then By the King and all the rest of â—aers and Mohlemen And unto him at last she did express The cause of her Areivâ—â— there her cause and heaviness When as her Brother her grief did understand He gave her leave to gather men throughout his famous Land And made a promise to 〈◊〉 her eberâ—uâ—re As oft as she should standin need of Gold and Silver 〈◊〉 But when indeed she did require its same He was as far 〈◊〉 it as when she thither came And did proclaim whilst matters were so That none on pain of death should go to 〈◊〉 the English 〈◊〉 This alteration did greatly grieve the Queen That down along her lonely face the bitter 〈◊〉 were sâ—en When she perceiv'd her friends for look her so She knew not for her safety which way to turn or go But through good 〈◊〉 at last she then decreed To seek in fruitful Germany some succour to this nâ—ed And to Sir John Henault the 〈◊〉 she Who entertain'd this weful Queen with great solâ—mnity And with great sorrow to him she then complain'd Of all her 〈◊〉 and Injuries which she of last 〈◊〉 So that with weeping 〈…〉 The sum whereof did greatly grieve that Noble Courteous Knight Who made an oath he would her Champion â—e And in her 〈◊〉 spend his Blood from wrong to set her free And all my friends with 〈…〉 Shall help for to advance your state whose truth no time shall 〈◊〉 And in his promise most faithful he was found And many Lords of great account was in his Voyage bound So setting forward with a â—â—odly train At length through Gods special Grace into England they came At Harwich then when they were ashore Of English Lords and Barrons bold there came to her great state Which did reioyce the Queens afflicted hearts That English Lords in such sort came for to take her part When as King Edward hereof did understand How that the Queen with such a power was entred on his Land And how his Nobles were gone to take her part He fled from London presently even with a heauy heart And with the Spencers unto Bristol go To fortisle that gallant town great cost he did bestow Leaving behind to govern London town The stout Bishop of Exeter whose pride was soon pull'd down The Mayor of London with Citizens great store The Bishop and the Spencers both in heart they did aâ—â—or Therefore they took him without fear or dread And at the Standard in Cheapside they sinoâ—e off his head Unto the Queen then this Message they sent The City of London was at her Commandment â—herefore the Queen with all her company Did straight to Bristol march amain whereas the King did lie Then she Beâ—â—teg'd the City round about Threatning sharp and cruel Death to those that were so stout Wherefore the Townsmen their Children and their wives Did yield the City to the Queen for safeguard of their lives Where was took the story plain doth tell Sir Hugh Spencer and with him the Carl Arundel This judgement just the Nobles did set down They should be drawn and hanged both in sight of Bristol Town Then was King Edward in the Castle there And Hugh Spencer still with him in dread and deadly fear And being prepar'd from thence to sail away The winds were found contrary they were enforc'd to stay But at last Sir John Beamount Knight Did bring his Sailing Ship to shore and so did stay their Flight And so these men were taken speedsly And brought as Prisoners to the Queen which did in Bristollâ—e The Queen by counsel of the Lords and Barons bold To Barkely sent the King there to be kept in hold And young Hugh Spencer that did much ill procure Was to the Marshal of the Post sent unto keeping sure And then the Queen to Hereford took her way With all her warlike Company which late in Bristol lay And here behold how Spencer was From town to town euen as the Queen to Hereford did pass Upon a Iade which they by chance had found Young Spencer mounted was with legs and hands fast bound I writing paper along as he did go Upon his head he had to wear which did his treason show And to decide this Traytor lewd and ill Certain men with Reeden pipes did blow before him still Thus was he led along in every place While many people did rejoyce to see his strange disgrace When unto Hereford our Noble Queen was come She did assemble all the Lords and Knights both all and some And in their presence young Spencer judgement had To be both hang'd and quartered his treasons were so bad Then was the King deposed of his Crown from Rule and Princely Dignity the Lords did cast him down And in his life his Son both wise and â—age Was Crown'd King of fair England at fifteen years of age FINIS 7. A Song of the banishment of the two Dukes of Hereford and Norfolk TWo Noble Dukes of great Renown that long had lived in Fame Through hateful envy were cast down and brought to sudden shame
this Night your Company Quoth she I will not my Lord in any thing deny A very great and sumtuous Feast did Holofornes make Amongst the Lords and 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Iudiths 〈◊〉 But of their dainties in 〈…〉 would pleasant Iudith take â—et Holofornes merry 〈◊〉 so near him she was 〈◊〉 And being very pleasâ—â—â—ly disposed at that 〈◊〉 Ye drunk with them 〈…〉 of strong 〈…〉 So that his strength 〈…〉 so far from 〈…〉 They laid him down and Judith their was brought unto his Bed When all the Doors about were sâ—ut and every one was 〈◊〉 Hard by the Pillow of his 〈◊〉 his Sword 〈…〉 dawn Then down she took 〈…〉 to 〈…〉 She cut his Head from 〈…〉 quite and gave it to her Maid The rich and Golden Canopy that hung â—â—er his Bed She took the same with her likewise with Holofornes Head And thus through all the Court of Guards she escap'd clean away None did her stay thinking that she had gone forth to pray When she had past escap'd quite the danger of them all And that she was come near unto the siedged Cities wall Come open me the Gates quoth she our Foe the Lord hath slain See here his Head within my hand that bore so great a Fame Upon a Pole they pifcht his Head that all men might it spy And o're the City wall forthwith they set it presently Then all the Souldiers in the town marcht forth in rich Array But sure their Foes spy'd their approach for 't was at break of day Then running hastily to call their General out of Bed They found his liveless Body there but clean without a head UUhen this was known all in amaze they fled away each man They left their tents full rich behind and so away they ran â—o here behold how God provides for them that in him trust UUhen earthly hope is all in vain he takes us from the dust How often hath our Judith sav'd and kept us from decay Sainst Holofornes and Pope as may he seen this day FINIS 5. A Princely Ditty in praise of the English ROSE Translated out of French AMongst the Princely Paragons Bedeckt with dainty Diamonds UUithin my eye none doth come nigh the sweet Red Rose of England The Lillies pass in bravery In Flanders Spain and Italy But yet the famous flower of France doth honour the Rose of England A s I abroad was walking I heard the small Birds â—â—l king And every one did frauâ— her sâ—ng in praise of the Rose of England The Lillies c. Caesar may vaunt of Histories and Croesus of his happiness But he were blest that may hear in his breast the sweet Red Rose of England The Lillies c. The bravest Lute bring hither And let us sing together Whilst I do ring on every string the praise of the Rose of England The Lillies c. The sweet perfumes and Spices The Wise-men brought to Jesus Did never smell a quarter so well as doth the Rose of England The Lillies c. Then fair and Princely Flower That ever my heart doth power None may be compared to thee which art the fair Rose of England The Lillies c. 6. A Communication between Fancy and desire COme hither â—hepherds Swain Sir what do you requireâ— I pray thee shew thy Name my name is fond Dellre When wast thou â—orsâ— Desire â— in pomp and pride of May By whom sweet Child wast thou 〈◊〉 of fond Conceit men say Tell me who was thy Nurse sweet Youth and sugreâ— joys What was thy Meat and dainty Food sad sighs and great Aâ—noys What had'st thou for to Drink unsavory Lovers teares What Cradle wast thou rocked in in Love devoid of fears What lull'd thee then asleep sweet Speech which likes me best Tell me where is thy dwelling place in gentle Hearts I rest What thing doth please thee most to gaze on beauty still UUhom dost thou think to be thy Foe disdain of thy good-will Doth Company displease ye sure many a one UUhere doth desire delight to live he loves to live alone Doth either time or Age bring him into decay No no Desire both lives and dyes ten thousand times a day Then fond Desires farewel thou art no meat for me I would loath to dwell with such a one as thee FINIS THE THIRD PART OF THE GARLAND of GOOD-WILL Song 1. A Maids Choice 'twixt Age and Youth CRabbed Age and Youth cannot live together Youth is full of pleasure Age is full of care Youth 's like Summers morn Age like winters weather Youth is full of sport Age's breath is short Youth is wild and Age is lame Youth is hot and bold Age is weak and cold Youth is wild and Age is tame Age I do abhor thee Youth I do adore thee O my Love my Lord is Young Age I do defie thee O sweet Shepherd hye thee for methinks thou stay'st too long Here I do attend arm'd by love and pleasure UUith my youthful Friend joyful for to meet 〈…〉 for my onely treasure Genus sugred habit fancy dainty sweet Like a loveing wife So lead I my life thirsting for my hearts desire Come sweet Youth I pray Away Old Man away thou canst not give what I require For Old Age I care not Come my love and spare not Age is Feeble Youth is strong Age I do defie thee O sweet Shepherd hye thee for methinks thou stay too long Phaebus stay thy Steeds over-swift running Drive not on so fast bright resplendant Sun For fair Dapnes sake now express thy running Pitty on me take else I am undone Your hours swift of flight That waste with Titans sight and so consuâ—ie the chearful â—oy O stay a while with me Till I my Love may see O Youth thou dost so long delay Time will over slip us And in pleasure trip us come away therefore with 〈◊〉 I would not lose an hour For fair Londons Tower Genus therefore help my 〈◊〉 Flora's Banks are spread in their rich attire With their dainty Uiolet and the Priâ—â—rose sweet Dazies white and red fitting Youths desire Whereby the Daffadilly and the Cowslip meet All for youths deâ—ire Their fresh Colours move in the Meadows green an◠〈◊〉 The Birds with sweeter Roâ—ts Do strain their pritty throats to entertain my love this way I with twenty wishes And an hundred kisses would receive him by the hand If he gave not me a fall I would him Coward call and all unto my word would stand Lo where he appears like young Adonis Ready to set on fire the chasest heart alive Jewel of my life welcome where thine own is Pleasant are thy looks sorrows to deprive Embrasing thy Darling Dear Without all doubtful fear on thy command I wholly rest Do what thou wilt to me Therein I agree and be not strange to my request To Youth I only yield Age fits not Venus field though I be conquered what care I In such a pleasant war Come meet me if you dare who first mislikes let them cry
The Duke of Hereford was the one a prudent Prince and wise 'Gainst whom such malice there was sâ—own which soon in sight did rise The Duke of Norfolk most untrue declared unto the King The Duke of Hereford greatly grew in hatred of each thing UUhich by his Grace was acted still against both high and low Now he had a traytorous will his State to overthrow The Duke of Hereford then in haste was sent for to the King And by the Lords in order plac'd examin'd of each thing UUho â— ing guiltless of this crime which was against him laid 〈◊〉 Duke of Norfolk at that time these words unto him said How can'st thou with a shameless face deny a truth so stout And here before his Royal Grace so falsly face it out Did not these wicked treasons pass when we together were How that the King unworthy was the Royal Crown to hear Wherefore my gracious Lord quoth he and you his Noble Peers To whom I wish long life to be with many happy years I do pronounce before you all this treacherous Lord that 's here A traytor to our Noble King as time shall shew it clear The Duke of Hereford hearing that in mind was grieved much And did return this answer flat which did Duke Norfolk touch The term of traytor truthless Duke in scorn and great disdain With flat distance to thy face I do return again And therefore if it please your Grace to grant me leave quoth he To Combat with my known Foe that here accuseth me I do not doubt but plainly prove that like a perjur'd Knight He hath most falsly sought my shame against all truth and right The King did grant this just request and did there with agree At Coventry in August next this Combat fought should be The Dukes on sturby Steebs full stout in Coats of Steel most bright With Spears in Rests did enter Lists this Combat flerce to fight The King then east his Warden down commanding them to stay And with his Lords he councel took to stint that mortal fray At length unto these Noble Dukes the King of â—eraulds came And unto them with losty speech this Sentence did proclaim Sir Henry Bullingbrook this day the Duke of Hereford here And Thomas Maubry Norfolk Duke so valiant did appear And having in honourable sort repaired to this place Our Noble King for special cause hath altered thus the case First Henry Duke of Hereford e're fifteen days be past Shall part the Realm on pain of death while ten years space doth last And Thomas Duke of Norfolk thou that hath begun this strife And therefore no good proof can bring I say for term of life By judgement of our Soveraign Lord which now in place doth stand For evermore I vanish thee out of thy Native Land Charging thee on pain of death when fifteen days are past Thou never tread on English ground so long as life doth last Thus were they sworn before the King e're they did further pass The one should never come in place whereas the other was Then both the Dukes with heavy hearts was parted presently Their uncouth streams of froward chance of forreign Lands to try The Duke of Norfolk coming then where he should Shipping take The bitter tears fell down his cheeks and thus his moan did make Now let me sigh and sob my fill e're I from hence depart That inward pangs with speed may burst my sore afflicted heart Ah cursed man whose loathed life is held so much in scorn Whose Company is clean despis'd and left as one forlorn Now take thy leave and last adieu of this thy Country dear Which never more thou must behold nor yet approach it near Now happy should I account my self if death my heart had torn That I might have my Bones Entombd where I was bred and born Or that by Neptunes wrathful rage I might be prest to dye Whilst that sweet Englands pleasant banks did stand before mine eye How sweet a scent hath English ground within my senses now How fair unto my outward sight seems every Bâ—anch and Bough The fields and flowers the trees and stones seem such unto my mind That in all other Countries â—uâ—e the like I shall never find O that the Sun with shining face would stay his steed by strength That this same day might stretched be to twenty years in length And that the true peâ—formed Lyve their hasty course would stay That Eolus would never yield to bear me hence away That by the fountain of my eyes the fields might watered be That I might grave my grievous Plaints upon each springing tree But time I see with Eagles wings so swift doth flie away And dusky Clouds begin to dim the brightness of the day The fatal hour it draweth on the winds and tydes agree And now sweet England oversoon I must depart from thee The Marriners have hoised Sails and call to catch me in And now in woful heart I feel my torments to begin Wherefore farewel for evermore sweet England unto thee But farewell all my Friends which I again shall never see And England here I kiss thy ground upon my bended knee Whereby to shew to all the world how dearly I love thee This being said away he went as Fortune did him guide And at the length with grief of heart in Venice there he dy'd The Noble Duke in doleful sort did lead his life in France And at the last the mighty Lord did him full high advance The Lord of England afterwards did send for him again While that King Richard at the Wars in Ireland did remain Who brought the vile and great abuse which through his deeds did spring Deposed was and then the Duke was truly Crowned King FINIS 8. The noble Acts of Arthur of the Round Table To the Tune of Flying Fame When Arthur first in Court began and was approved King By force of Arms great Victories won and conquest home did bring Then into Brittain straight he came where fifty good and able Knights then repaired unto him which were of the Round Table And many Justs and Turnaments before them that were drest Where valiant Knights did then excel and far surmount the rest But one Sir Lancelot du lake who was approved well He in his fights and deeds of arms all others did excell When he had rested him a while to play to game and sport He thought he would to try himself in some adventurous sort He armed rode in Forrest wide and met a Damsel fair Who told him of adventures great whereto he gave good ear Why should I not quoth Lancelot tho for that cause I came hither Thou seem'st quoth she a Knight right good and I will bring thee thither Whereas the mighty King doth dwell that now is of great fame Therefore tell me what Knight thou art and then what is your Name My name is Lancelot du Lake quoth she it likes me than Here dwells a Knight that never was e're