to sundry greenous cares The first borne griefe or Sorow that began To shew it self was this to saue from snares The pleasant pledge which God for vs prepares I meane the séede and ofspring that he giues To any wight which in this world here lyues Few see themselues but each man séeth his chylde Such care for them as care not for themselfe We care for them in youth when witte is wilde We care for them in age to gather pelf We care for them to kéepe them from the shelf Of such quicke sands as we our selues first founde When headdy will dyd sett our shippes on grounde The care which Christ dyd take to saue his sheepe Hath bene compard to fathers care on child And as the hen her harmles chicks can keepe From cruell kyte so must the father shylde His youthfull Sonnes that they be not beguylde By wicked world by fleshly foule desire Which serue the deuill with Fewell for his fire Fyrst parentes care to bring their children forth To breede them then to bring them vp in youth To match them eke with wightes of greatest worth To see them taught the trusty tracks of trueth To barre excesse from whence all sin ensueth And yet to geue enough for common néede Least lothsome lacke make vise for vertue breede Let shame of sinne thy Childrens bridle be And spurre them foorth with bounty wysely vsed That difference each man may plainly see Twéene parentes care and maisters bodes abused So Terence taught whose lore is not refused But yet where youth is prone to follow ill There spare the spurre and vse the brydell still Thus infinite the cares of Parentes are Some care to saue their children from myshappe Some care for welth and some for honours care Whereby their Sonnes may sitte in fortunes lappe Yet they which cram them so with worldly pappe And neuer care to geue them heauenly crommes Shall see them sterue when happe of hunger comes Said Socrates that man which careth more To leaue his chyld much good and rych of rent Then he for seeth to furnish him with store Of vertues welth which neuer can be spent Shall make him lyke the steed that styll is pent In stable close which may be fayre in sight But seldome serues such horse in field to fight So Xenophon his friend Dan Tully told And so do here Phylopaes and his pheare Phylocalus that selfe same lesson hold They rather loue to leaue their sonnes in feare Of God aboue then wealth to wallow heare Which godly care O God so deigne to blisse That men may sée how great thy glory is Finis Actus primus Actus Secundi Scoena prima GNOMATICVS PHYLAVTVS PHYLOMVSVS PHYLOSARCVS and PHYLOTIMVS Gnomaticus MY well beloued as tyme is the greatest treasure which man may here on earth receiue so let vs not leese time but rather séeke so to bestowe the same that profitte may thereof be gathered I will nowe return to enstruct you what dutyes you owe vnto the King whose place is next vnto Gods place in consideration of your duty And as I haue taught you thrée principall poyntes in seruice of God almighty so will I also conuey into thrée pointes as much as shal be necessary for this tradition for I feare least I haue bene ouer longe in my first deuision but I was drawne thervnto by the request which you made of your selues and therefore beare with me Phylotus Sir our desire is such to beare away perfectly your enstruction that your prolixity séemeth vnto vs very compendious Gnomaticus Well then to return vnto the matter you shall performe vnto the King thrée especial dutyes that is to say Honour Obediencae and Loue Hypodamus in his booke of a common welth saith that a kingdome is a thing compared to the imitation of gods power Diotogenes the scholler of Pytagoras in his booke of gouernment saith that a king representeth the figure of God amongst men Lykewise he sayth that as god excelleth the most perfect things of nature so the king excelleth amongst men and worldly matters so that he is to bee honored as the lieutenant of God here vpon earth both because he hath power of commaundement and chiefly because he representeth that heauenly King who is king of kinges and aboue all Kynges to be honoured Euen so is hee also to bee obayed in all seculer constitutions and pollitike prouisions This obedience doth consequently follow honoure as the shadow folowes the body for whatsoeuer he be that gyueth vnto his king that honor which to him apperteineth will no doubt lykewise obay him with all humilitie Erasmus teacheth in his Apothegmes that obediēce expelleth al seditiō maynteyneth concorde the which may also appeare by naturall reason and common experience neyther shall they euer become able to beare rule them selues whiche cannot bee content to obay the aucthoritie of others Wherfore it shal be most conuenient that you obay the King synce his aucthoritie is frō god as this obedience dependeth vpon the honour wherewith ye shall reuerence the King as Gods lieutenant so must you also ioyne therunto an vnfayned loue for as almightye God is to be loued because hee is mercifull so the King beeing apoynted by God muste be loued bycause he is thy pretector heere on earth Salamon sayth that the kings indignation is the messenger of death whereby I would frame myne argument from the contrarye that hee is to be loued least his indignation being iustly kindled thou bee not able to beare it Next vnto the king we are to consider the Magistrates which are appoynted for administration of iustice and pollityke gouerment these Magistrates must also bee honoured obeyed loued honored because they are the substituts of the king vnto whom all honour on earth apperteyneth obeyed because theyr office is appointed by the Kings aucthoritie and loued because they are the graue and expert personages which deuise lawes and constitutions for continuaunce of peace and tranquillitie The apostle Paule in his xiii. chapter of his Epistle to the Romaines teacheth playnely that Rulers beare not the sworde in vaine saying Let euerie soule be subiect vnto the higher powers for there is no power but of God Againe the ruler sayth he doth not beare the sworde in vayne Wherefore you must néedes be subiect not onelye for feare but also for conscience And Sanct Peter in hys fyrst Epistle and the seconde chapiter doth sufficientlie teach vs this point saying Submit your selfe vnto all manner ordinaunce of man for the Lordes sake whether it bee vnto the king as hauing the preheminence or vnto the rulers as vnto them that are sent of him for the punishment of euill dooers but for the laude of them that do well Whereby appeareth that the magistrates are not onely to be feared because they punysh offenders but also to be loued because they cherish the verteous and for conclusion of this poynt if you desire to be good men then learne to performe duety towardes all magistrates
Gods ministers in al places for it shal become you well So shall you also loue them bycause they preach the gospel of him which hath power to saue you If the sensual apetite of man be such as engeÌ„dreth affection towards the handmaide bicause she is of familiar coÌ„uersation with the Mistris or bréedeth loue towards them which are in office with Princes bycause they may also procure vs fauour how much more ought the mindes of men to be kindled with loue towardes the ministers of God which enstructs vs diligently minister vnto vs painfully and pray for vs faithfully yea how much are we bouÌ„d to loue them which by their holsome preceptes do make vs worthy through Gods mercy of his holy loue and fauour To conclude this chapter you shall feare God for his might loue him for his mercyes and trust in him for he is faithfull You shall also harken vnto his ministers bycause they are sent of God you shall do them reuerence because it becometh you and for their office sake and you shal loue them by cause they feede you with the breade of lyfe And this I thinke sufficient for explanation of this first chapter at this time Onaticus Sir I haue done as you commaunded and there is meate redy for your dinner if it please you that it be sette on the table Gnomaticus Well we wil then defer the rest of our labour vntill dinner be past go we togither for I thinke it tyme Phylosarcus We followe when it pleaseth you They depart Actus primi Scoena quinta LAMIA ECCHO PANDARINA and DICK DROOM Lamia COme on my good friendes for were not your frendly help I could rather content my self to be buryed in my flowing yeares then to liue in such a miserable and precise world as this is Oh what Superfinesse are we now grown vnto a gentlewoman may not now adaies séeme to speak to her frende at the dore passing by she may not looke at him in the window she may not kisse him if she méete him as a straunger nor receyue his letters or presentes but euery pratling minister will record it in the pulpit Eccho In déed faire Lady Lamia they are both too curious and too much suspicious for if they do but sée two in bedde togyther they will say that it was for to committe some wickednesse fye fye vpon such tongues Lamia Ha ha by my troth Eccho wel said but by your leaue let master minister tattle what he will for I will take my frendes present when it commeth and shall I tell you if I could haue bene contented to be so shutte vp from sight and spéech of such as like me I might haue liued gallantly and well prouided with my mother who though I say it is a good old Lady in Ualentia but when I sawe that I must weare my good apparell alwayes within doores and that I must passe ouer my meales without company I trussed vp my Jewelles in a casket and being accompanyed with my good Aunte here I bad Ualentinian farewell for I had rather make hard shifte to liue at lyberty then enioy great riches in such a kind of emprisonment Eccho A good Aunt in déede I would I had such an Uncle Pandarina Content your selfe niece it were now but folly to spend time in bootelesse complaints nor to lament the thing which may not be remedied you must rather learne the way that may maintaine your estate for beauty will not alwayes last and if you prouide not in youth you may be assured to begge in age take example at me I tell you I thought my halfepeny good siluer within these few yeares past and now no man estéemeth me vnlesse it be for counsell Dicke Counsell quoth you mary sir and good counsell is much worth now adayes Lamia I pray you Aunt since you are so good a councellour giue me some aduise how to behaue my selfe Pandarina As for that another time shall serue betwéen you and mée Eccho Why and shall I be cast vp for a hobler then I am sure I was neuer yet vntrusty to any of you both Dicke Well Ladyes and if you looke well vppon the matter I think that I am as worthy as one to be of counsell well I wot if any gentleman offer you the least parte of iniury then Dicke must be sent for to sweare out the matter Dicke must byde all brontes and therfore it were not amisse that he were of counsel in all your conferences Lamia By myne honesty Aunt to confesse a troth both these are our very approued fréendes therfore you may be bolde to speake your minde before them Pandarina Well content then I will tell you mine opinion you take not the way to liue you are too much subiect to your passion for if you chance to be acquainted with a gentleman that is in déed courtlike and of good desertes you become straight way more destrous of him then he is of you and so farre you dote vpon him that you do not only sequester your selfe from all other company but also you become so franke harted that you suffer him not to bestow vpon you any more then is necessary for present vse yea hassilwâ—d I pray you learne these thrée pointes of me to gouerne your steppes by First Trust no man how faire so euer he speake next Reject no man that hath ought how euil fauored so euer he be And lastely Loue no man longer then he geueth since lyberall gyfts are the glewe of euerduring loue Eccho O noble Dame why were not you mother of the maydes vnto the Quéene of Hungary by the fayth of a true Burgondyan you had wrong for you well deserud the place Dyck. I warrant you if the King our master had store of daughters such a matrone could not liue vnknowen but was it not therfore thinke you that ambassadours were sent this other day to the old Duchesse Lamia Well Aunt I were worthy of great reprehension if I would reiect the good documents of such a frende and if I haue heretofore done contrary impute it to my youth but be you sure that hereafter I will endeuour my selfe to follow your precepts Eccho And I fayre Lady will stande you in some stead to driue byrdes to the Net If I be not much deceyued I saw a frosty bearded scholemaster iustructing of four lusty young men erewhyle as we came in but if my iudgement do not fayle me I may chaunce to read some of them another lecture Dyck. Lush what needeth such open talke here in the streate let vs go to the Lady Pandarinaes house and there we may deuise at better commodity vpon these causes Lamia He speaketh reason let vs go Aunt for it is not meete that euery dancer heare our musike before the maskers be ready Pandarina Well I sayde so at the first but when you wyll let vs departe They depart to their howses The first Chorus WHen God ordeynd the restlesse life of man And made him thrall
hath to vs deliuered for I assure you although he hath bene therein verie compendious and sentencious yet in my iudgement euery sentence is such as requireth a rype deliberation and weightie consideration of the same Philotimus Surely Philomusus I am of your opinion and therefore let vs bestowe the time therein althoughe percase our brethren here will vse this afternoone in some other exercise Philosarchus beckneth Eccho Philomusus and Philotimus go together Eccho Sir it is vnto you that I addresse my selfe for although I be not the rediest man on liue to deale in such affayres yet such is the great good liking which I haue alwayes had in you that since I spake with you earewhile I haue not béen vnmindful of you surely I suppose that God doth fauour your desires for euen now when I departed from you and as soone as I ouertooke the gentlewoman I cast in my braines how to pleasure you and meaning to haue deuised some subtilty wherby the thing might be brought into communication the gentlewoman of her selfe proffred the occasion for shee demaunded of me what yong gentlemen those were with whom I stayed I tolde her that ye were Sonnes to two of the welthiest burghers in this citie and be you sure I left out no commendation which might aduaunce you whereat she séemed to bite on the bridle and commended you for your curtesies in that yée saluted her so gently as shee passed by but especially shee marked you by sundry thinges and gestures and coulde describe you vnto me by your apparell Short tale to make I neuer saw her shew so much lykelyhoode of affection since I first saw her as shée bewrayed presently and shall I tell you in your eare if Eccho be any better then a foole she hath a monethes minde vnto Phylosarchus wherfore play you now the wise man strike the Iron whiles it is hot she returneth this way presently and thereupon I haue aduentured to come vnto your Scoolemaster to craue you a libertie in the name of the Markegraue saying that you were his kynsemen and this haue I done to the ende that you might take occasion to salute her eftsâ—nes as she returneth and if you vse the matter wisely as I know you can you may take oportunity also to talke with her yea and to conduct her to her lodging Phylosarchus Surelie Eccho thou shewest playnlie what good will thou bearest me but what shall we do with the Markgraue Eccho Tush folow you your busines now that you haue libertie and let me alone with that matter if euer hereafter the thing come in question lay all vppon me and I will say that I mistooke both the Scoolemaster and the Skollers vnto whom I was sent Phylosarchus Well friend Eccho I know not how to deserue thy gentlenes but in token of gratefull mind holde receiue these twentie gildres vntil I haue greater abillity and be sure that if euer I liue to enherit Phylocalus then Eccho shall not be vnprouided for Eccho What meane you sir stay your purse vntill another time well if you will néedes enforce me I will neuer refuse the curtesie of a gentleman but behold where the Ladie Lamia commeth Sir me recomandez I will not be séene to talke with you for I stale from her to pleasure you priuilie Eccho departeth Actus primi Scoena sexta PHYLAVTVS PHYLOSARCHVS ECCHO LAMIA DYCK DROM and PANDARINA Phylosarchus OH my friend Phylautus behold here a péerelesse péece doth it not delight your eyes to gaze vppon such a shyning starre on myne honor she hath a swéet face by al likelihood she is much to young to haue béen hetherto comonly abused but wherfore am I abashed I wil go and salute her Fayr lady God saue you and send you that your hart most desireth Lamia Worthie gentleman I thanke you most heartely for your good wil and if God hear your prayer he shal do more than he did for me a good whyle but it is no matter when he hath taken his pleasure of punishing he will at last haue pitie on the poore Philosarchus Surely mystresse it were great pitie that such a one as you should indure any punishment without great cause and hardly can I thinke that any heart is so hard as to see you sorowfull if remedie maye be therefore obteyned Lamia Syr I coulde be content that all men were of your mynde but I finde curtesie verie colde nowe adayes and many there be which woulde rather depryue a poore gentlewoman of her right then rue vpon her piteous plyght the good king Amadis is dead long sythens whose Knightes vndertooke alwayes the defence of Dames and Damselles She whyneth Phylautus Alas what ayleth the yong gentlewoman to complayne Pandarina Syr and not without cause since she is by great wrong dispossessed of riche Signiories which belong to her by right and inheritance and complayning here vnto the magistrates she receyueth small comforte but is rather hindered by malice and detraction Philosarchus taketh her by the hand to comfort her Phylosarchus Fayre gentlewoman although I haue hitherto had no great acquaintaÌ„ce with you yet if I might craue but to knowe the cause of your griefe be you sure I woulde vse my best indeuer to redresse it and therefore I coniure you by your curtesie that you change your opinioÌ„ for all Amadis Knightes are not yet deade onely bewray your griefe and prayse thereafter as you finde She beginneth to tell a tale Lamia Syr I haue not power to reiecte your curtesie you shall vnderstand then that being c. Pandarina interrupteth her Pandarina Neyce it séemeth that you haue not your honour in such comendation as I would wish you should I pray you let vs begon homewardes Phylosarchus Why Mistres are you offended that shée should herken vnto such as séeke to reléeue her estate Pandarina Sir you are a gentleman well nurtured and you know this is no place to talke in without discredyt Phylosarchus Well Mistres if it please you we will waite vppon you vnto your lodging and there you shall sée what desire I haue to comfort this fayre Ladie Pandarina As for that sir at your pleasure I pray God sende her good friendes in her right for God knoweth she hath neede of such at this present They follow the Ladies The second Chorus BEhold behold O mortall men behold Behold and sée how soone deceipt is wrought How soone mens mindes of harmefull thinges take hold How soone the good corrupted is with nought Beholde the cares whereof our sauiour spake As Mathew telles in thirtéenth chapter playne Such wicked means malitious men can make The frutfull séede with worthles wéedes to stayne Beholde the deuill whose ministers are prest To stir an ore in euery forward boate Beholde blynd youth which holdeth pleasure best And skornes the payne which might their state promote Great is the care which grauest men endure To sée their Sonnes brought vp in Godly wise And greate the paines which teachers