like a shadow doth decay most true it is in deede Then ere thy breath be spent and past reuoke thy childish toyes And giue thou ouer yet at last that most was once thy ioyes For why fond Will â— thou canst not haue that solely to thy selfe When others may in time it craue as gayned with their pelfe Thou art of yeares to know this well The Hauke whose gorge is full Lakes more delight to shake her bell then on the lure to pull Euen so conceyue this in thy thought for why thou maiest it see The newest things are soonest bought and are still wont to be Then thus consider in thy minde Where thou thy fancie frames Giue leaue let Nature â—howe her kindâ— but publish out no names For Nature she can not digresse I speake not this to faine But euen the truth for to expresse to those who to that vaine Doe seeme so much for to apply their studie in their hearte God graunte in fine such do not trie a close vnhidden smart And thus adue I leaue this verse to scanned be of some Which often times do wordes rehearseâ— when as they might be mume Verses vvritten vpon this vvord vvho doth refaine to faine declared vnto him priuatly by his friende vvhome he ansvvereth thus WHo can refraine where flatterie heareth sway Who doth not Sir Dissemble for sooth the vpright mind Who hath the harmles heart not verteouse meÌ„ I say Who mindeth most mistrust the lewd and truthles kind Who fauours friendlesse fraud the fickl flearring friend Who most rebuketh vice those that wish godly ende A lothsome lise it were if idlenesse were maintained A brutish kinde of trade to fauour a fâ—lthie faâ—t A mischieuous meaning man for most part is disdayned An innocent to sâ—ay were but a cowardes acte A pratler much to be declares but simple sense A drunkardes draught to drinke you grauÌ„t to be offence Well Sir as for offence offenders we are all Aswell the riche as poore the wise as is the foole God graunt we may haue grace for mercy stil to call And with repentant hearts to set a godly dole In place where we may see and willing to amend As we by nature ready are Gods goodnesse to offend Verses vvritten vpon a dreame which was dreamed on Sundaie night the x. of April and written vnto Mistresse F. W. WHen darkesome night approched wasâ— and Phoebus ceast to shine Then went I to my â—asing bed to rest this corps of mine Wherein laide downe before I slept according to my vse I craued pardon for my faultes abounding in abuse Thus when I had bequeath'd my selfe vnto high loue to keepe My heauy eyes inforced me strâ—ight waies to fall asleepe Then Morpheus he was courteous bent to merry make my minde And vnto me this Sundayes night a pleasant parte assignde For lo beholde one of my friendes my thought thus tolde to me That modest mistresse F. W. shoulâ— most welthie married be Unto a proper Gentlâ—man whose Parentes are of fame And he himselfe by due deserteâ— doth merrite euen the same Whose vertuous life from infancie hath wonne him such renowme As Trust me friend I want the skill in order to set downe Well friende quoth I a thousand thankes for this thy happy tale This may preuent the peruers pangues of bitter beyling bale Wiâ—h that I wak'd from slothfull sleepe and to my selfe did say I craue of God with all my heart that Iames may see that day And as this dreame of my deliâ—ht did friendlesse feare reiect So I doe wish if you so please that it may take effect And thus I â—nd my duely done your selfe I doe commend Unto the heauenly Lord of hostes who alwayes you defend Verses vpon feare and Fury FEare is a foe as fury is a friend And selfe coÌ„ceipt is worker of much harme Disdainefull doubts dâ—e bring a man to end And careful cold doth neuer keepe maÌ„ warme Mistrustfull mindes haue euery houre care As much as they can well vprightly beare The quiâ—t minde is neuer trobled muchâ— But tries to take each thing in sober sorte When frâ—waâ—d fancy fretteth and doth gruteh To see her selfe contemned in her sporte Well vaine it is heere much for to reueale In close coÌ„ceipt I will the rest conceale Till Time doth serue according to my minde And opportunitie to open my intent I see yet seeme as though that I were blind I ioy likewise when as I might lament I frame my selfe to vse such play and sporte As others doe which to the place resorte Sighing is signe of sadnesse As myrth is shevve of gladnesse Verses vpon this Theame Silence breaketh many Friendeshippes Written vnto his friende G. P. IF Silence friendship breake then silent for to be Is euen the way to loose a friend as seemeth vnto me For when I call'd to minde how longe my pen did rest From writing to him which deserues as well as doth the best Then saide I to my selfe I am too silent I That to my friend of all this time nothing I doe discrie I doe consider thus he is of courteous kind Hee will haâ—e no ill conceipt I hope within his minde For I must needes confesse I haue not idle Time So much as I had heâ—â—etoforeâ— to write each thing in rune I am inforced nowe to bend both wit and will For to discharge that is my charge and rest in fauour â—till The which God graunt I may for that is my Desire The onely sore I seeke to salue the right I doe require The more of it I muse the more I haue good cause To try which way and what to dâ—e to poâ—der and to pause To print in priuate brest and secrets to conceale For why it is a folly vaine each actâ—on to reueale But whether doe I wend I run beyond my reach What doe I meane to write so much as though that I should teach O no I not so minde but this is my intent Some verses to my very friend my thinkes I must present And thus I you commend vnto the Lord of all Who readie is to heare and helpe those that on him doe call Verses written in a solitary suppose of a doubtfull Dumpe I Sadly sitting in a Dumpe deuysing what to write My Muse could not asorde me thaâ— which should yeelde me delight Because she saw I was dispos'd in solitarie soâ—te With matter voyd of pleasant glee to make a plaine reporte Of priuate passione which procure the inward wo and paine The secret causes of contempt the doleur and disdaine The lingring hope that faintly feedes the mindes of many wightes That passe their time in place where grow but few delightes And yet we seâ— it happens so that in the mid'st of smart They finde some causes of conceipâ—e which doâ— reâ—oyce their heart And trust me true that is the way to mittigate the ill Which other wise might be the causeâ— of wounding of their will To be disposed from delight is meane to moue or
will not see That worngfull iudgement geuen be Then preace in place thou guyltlesse mindâ— Whose modest moode deserues no blame God will all misbeliues vnbinde And try thy truth with worthie fame And like as Laurell kepes the hue So truth the falshood shall subdue Conceyue no cause of ponsiue thought In Nature good each small is greate The wise themselues haue wisely taught More then my pen can here repeat Wherefore I cease I stay to tell Hoping in end all shall be well Verses written vpon a Question I Being once occasioned Comparisons to vse A friend of mine a question put to aunswere or refuse The which was this VVhat thing vvas that vvhich lonâ—est doth remaine In â—appie blisse but aâ— the lastiâ—â—asteth of some paine Where with I grewe astonied an aunswere streight to make For why quoth I deliberation in this I had neede â—ake Yet as my simple head a simple reason can render I hope you will accept it well though it be small and slender Then Sir I thus confesse as reason would I should To tell my minde I am content to speake the best I could The happiest thing quoth I is Gods eternall grace For that is that which doth remaine and stayes in happie case For els I knowe no thing that happie can be counted No worldly wealth no Towre high that to the skye is mounted No faith of any friend for why it shall decay We see it is like fortunes wheele which turneth euery way In faith my friend quoth he you haue me full resolued It seemes you trust not much the world from it you are dissolued The fragrant florishing feates and gallant glosing glee Is like a blast or puffe of wind which blowes the leafe from tree Esteeme it as it is and weigh and ponder thus That mindes of men change euery houre as fancie doth discusse But ah the changlesse state that euer shall endure Is Gods eternall blisse on hye of this we may be sure Verses written vpon Desire to vnload the minde THe Bird that buildes her nest doth order due obserue And theâ—ein takes her rest her younglings to preserue As nature doth ordaine each thing by course of kind So she doth them maintaine till seekers do them â—ind Like so where worldly woes doe dayly still increase And lucklesse chaunces shewe that sorrowes will not cease Till happy kap doth hit and course doth turne and change And good lucke come to those to whomâ— she hath bin strange Where want doth weaue the web there skant doth pleasure growe Wherâ— good successe doth ebb there ill successe doth flowe Where Patience perforce in spight must vsed be Vnhappy is that course such haplesse hap to see As pleasantnesse doth vade and dieth like the flowâ—e So ioyfulnesse consumes within one silly houre Or what doth boote it nowe in myrth for to abound When as we bend and bow to sorrowes sollemne sound The head opprest with dumpes the heart doth heauie make And wayward chances come our ioyes away to take And as the Impe that 's greene iâ— tender for the knife So mirth is seldome seene whereas such cares be riâ—e Verses vvhich signifie the ease Hovv medling least doth not displease THe busie heads whose harebraine wits With causelesse cause will haue to dealâ— Doe often shewe but foolish fittes For nothing they can close conceale All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease The Royster and the quarreling foole That standes vpon his garde of strength May meete with one that shall him coole And ouercome his pride at length All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease The pratler he cannot abstaine Ne yet keepe in his tongue from prate O blame him not for t is his vaine He takes a glory in that rate All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease T is vaine to put our hand in fire Or in a fray to take a parte When as no cause doth so require Perchance he comes vnto his smart All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease The prouerbe often thus doth shew Which warneth vs in this respect Heere much but little seeke to know That any tumult may erect All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease By busie pates strife and Debate Rancour and Rage be reared vpright Enuie Disdaine and cruell hate Are put in vre by such a wight All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease So may you well be bold of this The loue of each man thou shalt winneâ— And haue likewise eternall blisse For quiet state you liued in All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease Of medling least I thus define The happie state in it doth rest And like a Iuell it doth shine Among all Iuels of the best All you that then wil liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease Verses written vpon Saint Iames his day OH Blesseâ— Sainte whose glorious name doth shine Throughout the world with fame and honouâ— eke Whose wisdome rare and modest life diuine Doe â—hew thy selfe to be both iust and meâ—ke Thou follow'ost Christ thou neuer wast to seeke God graunt I Iames may euer doe the like That Iames may ioy with Iames that was so pure In heauenly throne which euer shall endure O Lord Direct and guide my steps like his With harmelesse heart to treade so true a traâ—e Then shall my steps be steadie and not misse But by good life to winne thy heauenly place With courage bâ—uld to come and view thy face For that I haue sincerely runne the race And liu'd vpright in thought in worde and deede And in excesse of sinne doe not exceede O Lord if I may iustly this approue Then let me haue according to desert Reiect me not but for thy tender loue Reuerse the rage of sinnes internall smart And I protest to laude thee with my heart O Lord I craue from sinne doe me conuert That when my life no longer heere may bee My soule may rest in heauen aboue with thee FINIS None good but God quoth Iames Yatis THE Chariot of Chastitie Drawne to publication by Dutiful Desire Good will and Commendation Also A Dialogue betwene Diana and Venus With Ditties deuised at sundrie idle times for Recreation sake Set downe in such wise as insueth by Iames Yatis LONDON Imprinted by Iohn Wolfe dwelling in Distaffe Lane neere the Signe of the Castle 1582. To the vertuouse and his approued good Mistresse Mistresse Elizabeth Reynowls wife vnto his approued good Master and friend Master Henry Reynowls Esquire COnsidering with my selfe worshipfull Mistresse the due desert proceeding to your person the perfect proofe of pure pretence in supporting and holding vp of vertuouse exercises was and is the occasion to incourag me of presenting this vnto your view I am though vnskilfull yet not vnmindful of your deserts
to take his due He heares some false reporte in hand which makes his heart to rue But he that bends his eare to euery â—atling tale Shall neuer be without a cause to busie him with bale Aâ—d he shall haue conceipts to coople with his will And some fond fancy put in vse to feede his humour still Wherfore a head that 's stai'd with steady â—amed braine Is vvorth a Masly Mounte of mucke that worldlings seeke to gaine For riches flieth loose where Rashnes rulâ—s the â—and And Right ReasoÌ„ is cut off vvhere Rigor seemes to staÌ„d But vnto false Report that fables feine and finde Esteeme of them no other vvaies but blastes of bootles vvind Put finger in thy eare and harke not to there taleâ— For they are motions mou'd by those that loue to heare of bales So shall each state stand fast and steady on his gound He shall not be accounted wise that folly doth confound So shall he sovv in ease and reape againe in ioy So shall he vvin the wished hap that wresteth downe anoy Wherefore I count him vvise that bridle can his braine And not too rashly ruÌ„ in rage though cause doth him coÌ„straine Verses vnto his Muse. MUse not my minde of worldly thinges Thou sâ—e'st what care to some it bringes The merriest minde from folly free Sometimes conceaues discourtesie Which is the occasion oft of Ire Through frowarde will which kindles fire But if thou wilt liue well at ease And worldly wights seeke for to please Then frame thy nature to this plight In each respect to deale vpright Thou seest my Muse how Fancie â—edes And what Desire in some it breâ—des Thou seest that those which haue bene well Haue not the skill thereof to tell But tâ—inke to get a better place When as they worke their owne Disgrace For why from heauen they chaunge to hell In deepe despite for time they dwell So is our fickle fancie fraught Whom can we blame but tickle Thought The sillie bird that dreedes no ill But singes with ioyfull notes ful shrill Is by the craft of birders arte Ketcht to her paine and carefull smart For why the lime her winges doth charge Who erâ— to fore did fly at large And then she resteth as we see To try the birders Courtesie Euenso if some do thee intrap Thou must needes stay to trye thy hap Wherefore who well can them content Haue seldome cause for to repent For if thou well doe feele thy selfe Chaunge not that life for worldly pelfe You know the ease of quyet minde Is happiest gifte by Ioue assign'd Admit that riches do encrease And then the quyet life surcease What is 't the better for the gilt When fretting fumes sweet rest haue spilt To haue both welth and quyet vaine Oh happie wightes that it attaine Oh golden dayes of quyet state When fortune giues no crabbed mate And on the other side I say O cursed life that euery day Doth not escape from furious fittes Which heates the hearte woundes the wites The merry meane I hould for best Oh happie wightes that it inuest Thâ— labouring man with breade and drinke Liues merrier in mind I thinke Then some which féede on dayntie fare Whose Corpes sufficed yet haue greate care For sure that meate digestes not well Where merrie measure doth not dwell Oh Life most happie still I say That liues at rest and hath to pay And lyeth downe with quyet minde The rest to take that Ioue asign'd Verses vpon the troubles of this Worlde OH troublesome world the worker of wâ—e bale Of bitter biasces of stormes that stint no stryfe Oh hazardes hard which heape vp such a gale In furiouse wise that gréefe is greedy ryfe In vaine with worldly welth is any wight indued If that by mightie Ioue it be not still renewed The cares are greate to cause the minde to muse Of this and that that happeneth oft awrye The Fates be fond that doth vs oft abuse Wherein consisteth a greate perplexetie For whilst with ioyes we seeke to haue relife In meane tune comes some cause of double griefe Thus sharpely shap'd are shimmering shewes that shine To bleare the eyes that very fame would see Such pleasant sightes whose asâ—ect doth incline No wight to wo nor moues to miserie To carke to care to gréefe nor to disease Oh happie wight whom Fortune so doth please But for to tell for truth now which be they My wit is small and cunning it is lesse I cease to speake my sense serues not to say For if perchaunce I should not name aright They would me deeme some mome or doltish wight But this to say the wight that most doth spend His Time in ioy hath some time care among The world is such the best for to offend To reaue their rest that would be free from wrong So some do spend the Wicked World in feares Which for one ioy doth bring a Mâ— cares Verses in declaration of a friend written at the request of P. W. MY Muse did moue me my pen in hand to take In skillesse wise vnsteady to eâ—dyte But sith it is here written for your sake Accept it well and construc it aright For of a friende I do intende to treate What is a friende right well I can repeate For to declare by iust probation true What is a friend and what a friend should be A friend standes firme in causes olde or new He flitteth not as fickle friendes we see He keepes his oth he fosters eke no guyle He laugheth not with face of craftie wile A friend is fraught with faith and fastened stay A friend kepes close that is to him disclosed A friend heares not that may his friend betraye But he declares vnto his friend Deposed A friend in woe which sayleth not at need A friend so found I call a friend in deede A friend doth mourne and languish in his heart A friend lamentes when as his friend doth fall A friend doth muse to helpe his friende in smart A friend doth marke and to his minde doth call How to Disnull the dolours of Disdaine which he perceaues do put his friend to paâ—ne Loe this my friende if that thou finde by Tryall That firme and fâ—st is kept a vow once made Thou canst not then procure a wronge Denyall But that he is a friend of friendly trade If such you finde keepe him and be not straunge For fickle friends for euery folly chaunge I hope this shall suffise to satisfy This your request I write it not for gaine But glad if that herein I do discry Such wordes as do lay open verie plaine The friendly factes of those whose friendly lore Doth winne them praise and so of this no more Verses vpon Hope declared by Motion and Answere Motion My hope is helpe which lendes my minde reliefe Though care be cause Some times to force my griefe Aunswere As griefe doth gripe and moues the heart to meane So hope is help'd by priuie thoughts
did me recreate Be noysome sauours vnto me and worke me much Debate Sir Phebus glistering hue seemes nothing in my eyes For why I weepe and spend the day with sorrowing sobbes and cryes No maruaile though I write with pensiue pen in hand No maruaile though I waile in deedâ— when things be rightly skand And marke now which be they that do oppresse me most Deride me not though plaine I tell you heades of finest cost Lo thus I do beginne they are in number three The first of them is losse of friendes the next discurtesie The thirde is not beléeue the spitfullest of all Which griues me more then former two and bitter seemes as gall But well what remedie Plaine patience is the best For why by her we dayly see is got most quyet rest What doth it boote the shippe to saile against the winde She must abide for Time and Tide els tarrie still behinde Or els perchaunce she drinkes for enterprâ—se so bolde And layes her ribbes in foaming seaeâ— of waters wanne and cold What doth it eft preuaile to striue to reach the skye In my conceipte it were but vaine least some for it do crye Whâ—t though that smyling wordes hath led me on the bit Some froward speech shall loose the bond if luckie chaunce so hit A Prouerbe long a go tels Faire wordes makes fooles faine Which Sentence tries it selfe in me the more hath beene my paine I stand to trye my Chaunce as Fortune will alotte To see if that she white thâ—e rede or dimme it with a blot And if she be so kinde to take the blot away Then will I sing some ioyfull songe in praise of that good day But if that it be so the blot do still remaine What remedie but Patience she must medicine bee â—or paine But if that spite will spitte her spite in furiouse wise Let all the spites do what they will or what they can surmise For by my Troth I am as the condemned wight Which thinkes his â—iâ—e is past release and voyde is of delight So I am voyde of ioy yet laugh I with the best And smile it out in pleasant hue as well as do the rest But what of that I know ther 's many a smiling face Beares heauie heart in Carefull Corpes which causeth their disgrace Some laugh outwardly Yet sorow inwardly A Glasse for Amorouse Maydens to looke in friendly framed as a caueat for a light beleeuing Mayden which she may take as a requisite rebuke if she modestly meditate the matter FY Mayden fy that Cupids flamesâ— within you so abounde To trust the tatling tales of some whose wordes proue oft vnsounde Should euery knaue intice you so to talke with you at will What be your wittes so simple now and of such litle skill As you can not discerne in minde who leades you on the bit Fy fy for shame now leaue it off it is a thing vnfit I promise you it griues me sure because I am your friend That euery Iacke should talke with you and it is to no end But for to feele and grope your minde and then they laugh in sleeue And say it is a gentle maide how she will men beléeue Thus do the knaues so cogge and foyst and count you as a foole And say your wittes they be so â—ase as you may go to schoole Wherefore loue no such fleering Iackes and giue to them no eare And thinke this lesson to be true which I haue written here For well in Time you shall it finde to breede in you vnrest Wherefore to leaue it of at first I thinke it were the beâ—t Giue not your mind to be intic'd to heare each tatling tale Where constant heades do not abide what Hope doth there auaile You will not warned be I see vntill you haue a nippe You know the horse which drawes in cartâ— is euer nye the whippe But when too late you do repent repentance will not serue Wherefore foresee in time I warne from follie fond to swerue Take heede I say in time therefore so shall your state be blest And I shall cease to write so much my pen shall take his rest A praise of friendshippe OF all the Iuels vnder heauen firme friendshipe is the best Oh happie man that findes the same yea twise and double blest A trustie friend is harde to finde as Sages old doe tell But flattering friendes attend at hand some profit out to smell And when for greedinesse of gaine his friend he doth forsake That friendship is not faithfull fixt but as the lurking Snake Lies hidden vp in leaues so greene to sting a man vnwares Euen so a fauning friend is found to leaue a man in cares But faâ—thfull friendship saith to him thou dost declare thy kinde Thou shew'st thy nature and thy moode and eke thy truthles minde O faithfull friendship high in hap thou dost no time Dissemble Thou swaruest not in time of neede though foes coulde make thee tremble Thou standest like a steadie rocke though friend be link'd in chaines And if thou maist expulse his thralles thou thinkst it happy paines And to redresse him of his greeues and libertie to get Such iâ— thy faiâ—h and constancie as charge no time can let Such is a faithfull friend indeedâ— but for a friend by shewes He is a friend but flatteringly as well his conscience knowes A faithfull friend is neuer tried till one be neare the brinke And that his fâ—iend is like to fall and iâ— he then doe shrinke That friend will beare the name no more of faithfull friend I say But counted as a fleeting friend wherein there is no stay There are many kindes of frends god knows more then I can well name There are friends in words and not in deedes and friendes that faile with shame And friendes by former promise true till stone is roulde on necke And then Godboy they cannot stayâ— but feede thee with a becke Such is the friendship of this world O Lorde a faithfull friend Is rare to finde and daintie sure to haue vnto the end For faithfull friendes were neuer more in scarcitie then now Nor neuer harder for to finde to God I make a vowe For I my selfe not long a goe by raunging wise did trie What seedes were sowne in frieÌ„dships grouÌ„d and where the chafte did lye And as the triall telles the trueth euen so I haue founde out To settle thinges within my thought which I tofore did doubt For why that friend that laughes on thee is not a friend in heart But outwardly he seemes thy friend and inwardly thy smarte And suckes thee as the lurking Drone which doth beguild the Eâ—e So he lyes lurking in his den some spite to worke to thee And yet with â—auning smiling lookes he laughes vpon thee so To bleare thy eies as who should say he cannot be thy foe But trust him not for his faire lookes ne for his glosing vaine But vtterly detest such mates as flatter fleare and faine