grace ere he proceed too farre Your count'nance may his progresse mend or marre Because as of you first his life did grow So must his course be guided by your starre Which him first hope of heauenly light did show Vouchsafe then to bestow one reading more To welcome him or thrust him out of dore To the graue and learned Sir Iohn Popham Knight Lord chiefe Iustice of England O Would I might without my hearts deepe griefe For common crosses following men opprest Record your worth whence many find reliefe Which makes you iustly chiefe of all the rest Your carefull thought and bodies paine addrest To reconcilement of contentious mind Your vniuersall loue to truth profest By which the desolate do fauour find Doth as me seemes in common dutie bind My pen to chalenge you truths true defence Though dull my Poem be my sight not blind That sought to take his priuiledge from thence You chiefe of Iudges best of truth can treat To you therefore I truth of truths repeat To Sir Edmond Anderson Knight Lord chiefe Iustice of the Common pleas YOur eares so daily exercisd to heare The plaints and the petitions sutors make Make you most fit of many to appeare My selfe and workes protection both to take Not for my selfe but for the Commons sake I presse it thus into your presence now Whose theame may hap some drowsie heads awake To chalenge if I dare this worke auow But if that you whose wisedome best knowes how That lawfull make to speake what Scripture taught I know the common sort dare but allow My publishing what from wise king I brought Then you the common shield to guiltlesse wight Vouchsafe this worke find fauour in your sight To Sir William Perriam Knight Lord chiefe Barron of the Exchequor THou kind accorder of the dreamt discord Twixt law and conscience Gods and mans decree By whom oppression'and brib'rie are abhord The common poysons of lands peace that bee I not vnfitly do direct to thee These monuments of wisest kings experience Them to allow if you them worthy see Me to reproue if I haue made offence I no man craue to stand in wrongs defence I may as all men do some weaknesse show If great my fault spare not if small dispence Because it did not of meere malice grow This will you do vncrau'd that done I pleasd Both God and man submission hath appeasd To the valorous Knight Sir William Russell Lord Deputie of Ireland IF iustly Dauid did by law ordaine That they an equall part of spoyle should haue Who when he fought behind did still remaine The carriage from the spoyle of foes to saue Doth not your merits by more reason craue To be recorded in my Kalender By whose blest worke God of his goodnesse gaue Part of our peace amidst such threatned warre In worthy vertues most mens peere you are In true religious zeale by none exceld Your noble house like to a blazing starre Hath showne wherein true honour euer dweld Then share with worthies all in blessed fame And reade this worke which treateth of the same To the valorous Knight Sir Walter Rawleigh Lord Warden of the Stannerie and Captaine of the Guard OF happinesse when as I hapt to write Me thoughts did make a period Sir in you Who being sworne to Mars and Pallas knight They both with equall honor did endew And therefore might become a censurer trew Of greatest blessings men propound or find Vouchsafe you then this tract thereof to vew As if that Salomon had it assignd Whose interest in you expects your kind And grate acceptance of his graue aduise From whom though many other men were blind He chalengeth a doome right godly and wise But as for me his messenger suffiseth The prayse too truly speake what he deuiseth To the valorous Knight Sir Iohn Norris Lord Generall of her Maiesties forces in Ireland AMong the blessed worthies of our time Your flickering fame aloft I do espy Whose toylesome trauell such a pitch doth clime As euery auncient worthy came not ny The moderne Marses did your vertues try Whilst you the proud Iberian forces quayld In Britany and in Netherland whereby With equall armes they seldome haue preuayld The trecherous practise wherewith they assayld Th' inconstant humors of the Irish foes Your pollicies haue stayd when force hath fayld Whereby your merits measure daily growes So that I must of due make roome for you Though twise nine worthies shold be coynd anew To the valorous Knight Sir Francis Veare MY pen was stayd but purpose chang'd anew So soone as I amidst the noble traine Of worthy knights did cast a thought on you Who yet vnsu'd to did for grace remaine If you I win I shall not litle gaine Because both much you can and much you will For wisedome vertue honor sure sustaine Which haue bene your supporters hereto still I need not then perswasiue lines to fill The matter will suffise to moue your mind If that my hand the beauty of it spill Then let my loue of good your fauour find Whose wisedome can whose goodnes may excuse The faults which want not malice made me muse To the worthy Knight Sir Iohn Stanhop Treasurer of the Chamber to her Maiestie NO common thing it is to find I graunt Humilitie and honour both in one Who loueth vertue of them both may vaunt True honor still hath mild and vertuous showne Then since this worke of vertue treats alone For sure true wisedome doth pure vertue teach It shall offensiue be I trust to none Their words of fauour for truths shield to reach Much lesse a shame what mighty king did preach The same to suffer passe them vncontrold But now adayes men euery worke appeach As barren borrow'd base or ouer bold This makes me craue by you wise noble good My wrong deprauers malice be withstood To the worthy knight Sir Edward Dyer Chauncellor of the most Honorable order of the Garter NOt last nor least for common good desarts I you repute though fortune point your place Your loue to vertue winneth many harts And vertues followers do your loue imbrace I know my argument requires no grace Because grace it doth send it brings delight For both all sue all loue their pleasing face Yet vainely world for both of them doth fight To make more plaine the way for euery wight This princely moderator paines did take Which to your equals men of learned sight A full accord if well iudg'd worke will make You then kind Courtier sound scholler knowne Accept reade and protect these as your owne To the worthy Knight Sir Henry Killegrew THe natiue dutie which of right I owe To you good Knight for many fauours past To me and mine do will me now bestow Some token of my thankfull mind at last Which I more fitly no way yet can show Then by presenting of this volume small Which from repentant heart of king did flow And may a warning be vnto vs all Who daily into new
Then this no fiction that man doth deuise But built on best experience life can bring With patience reade and do it not despise Yâ—â— wise experience can confirme each thing It is not rated as Sibillaes were But priz'd by you it will the value reare To the Ri. Ho. the Earle of Esseâ— Great Master of the Horse to her Highnesse and one of the most Noble order of the c. NOt Neptunes child or Triton I you name Not Mars not Perseus though a Pere to all Such word I would find out or newly frame By sea and land might you triumphant call Yet were such word for your desert too small You Englands ioy you en'mies terror are You vices scourge you vertues fenced wall To Church a shield to Antichrist a barre I need not feare my words should stretch to farre Your deedes out-fly the swiftest soaring pen You praise of peace th' vndaunted powre of warre Of heauens elect the happieloue of men Not knowing then How to expresse my mind Let silence craue this gift may fauour find To the Ri. Ho. the Lord Charles Howard of 〈…〉 Admirall of England one of the most Noble order of the garter c. VVHen as wise Salomons most happie raigne Is registred in bookes of holy writ His greatnesse seemes increase of honour gaine By store of worthy Peeres his state which fit Whose excellence of courage and of wit His Impery'causd with wealth and peace abound Whose heads and hands did neuer idle sit But seeking commons good through world around By sea and land their swords free passage found Which subiects safetie bred and feare to foe Like fame vnto our Prince you cause to sound Both farre and neare whilst you victorious goe For which her trust our loue to you is due As pledge whereof I this present to you To the Right Ho. the Lord Cobham Lord Chamberlaine of her Maiesties houshold Lord Warden of the Sink ports and of the Noble order of the Gaâ—ter c. GIftes are not measur'd by the outward show Nor by the price of Peeres of Noble kind They shadowes are the harts intent to know And simple figures of a faithfull mind Then since your vertues high all hearts do bind To striue to testifie their grate intent Vouchsafe suppose my powre cannot yet find A present fit as will and heart was bent And what king writing once thought time well spent That reade you once as thing of some regard His mind ment well that it vnto you sent Time not spent ill in view thereof is spard If it more worth I more loue could expresse My due regard of you should yeeld no lesse To the Right Ho. the Lord North Treasurer of her Maiesties houshould I May not say I shun to shew my want Before your selfe whom I true noble hold Since I to others haue not made them scant And may of meaner men be well controld This common guilt of mine makes me more bold To prosecute the error I begunne Who craue your fauour not my faults vnfold Although my folly ouer-rashly runne If with the best they haue a pardon wonne They may the boldlier passe the common view What Princes like the people hold well done And fame in passage doth her force renew Which good or bad your censure is to make When now first flight it in the world doth take To the Right Honorable the Lord of Buckhurst AS you of right impart with Peeres in sway Of common weale wherein by you we rest So hold I fit to yeeld you euery way That due the which my powre affoordeth best But when I call to mind your pen so blest With flowing liquor of the Muses spring I feare your daintie eare can ill digest The harsh tun'd notes which on my pipe I sing Yet since the ditties of so wise a king Can not so lose their grace by my rude hand But that your wisedome can conforme the thing Vnto the modell doth in margent stand I you beseech blame not though you not prayse This worke my gift which on your fauour stayes To the Right Honor. Knight Sir William Knowles Controller of her Maiesties houshold OF auncient vertues honor'd ofsprings race Of true religions you blest progeny On which two pillers vertue built your grace And court by gracing you is grast thereby Of such since this worke treates such worke do I Well fitting hold for you to reade and shield Whose wisedome honor vertue doth apply To true religion on the which you build My selfe too weake so heauy a taske to wield As was the treating of so high a stile At first attempt began to fly the field Till some which lik't the theame bid pause awhile And not dismay the title would suffise To daunt the vaine and to allure the wise To the Right honorable knight Sir Iohn Fortescue Chauncellor of the Exchequor HE who in dutie much to you doth owe In power is little able to present For pledge of gratefull mind is forst bestow These ill limd lines best signes of hearts intent The scope whereof by Salomon was bent To teach the way to perfect happinesse By me transformed thus and to you sent To shew that I do wish to you no lesse To wish well is small cost I do confesse But such a heart as truly it intends Is better worth esteeme then many gesse And for all other wants makes halfe amends Such is my heart such be therfore your mind Then shall my mite a millions welcome find To the Right Honourable Sir Robert Cecill Knight principall Secretary to her Maiestie TO you my hopes sweet life nurse to my muse Kind foster father of deseruing sprights This Poem comes which you will not refuse I trust because of blessednes it wrights Your aged youth so waind from vaine delights Your growing iudgment farre beyond your yeares Your painefull daies your many watchfull nights Wherein your care of Common good appears Assureth him that of your fame once hears That you some heauenly obiect do aspire The sweet conceit whereof your soule so chears That earth 's bred vanities you not admire Such is this theame such was first writers mind For whose sakes I do craue it fauour find To other Lords Ladies and aproued friends To the Right Honourable the Earle of Oxford Lord great Chamberlaine of England IF Endors widdow-hâ—â—d had powre to raise A perfect bodie of true temperature I would coniure you by your wonted prayse Awhile my song to heare and trueth indure Your passed noble proofe doth well assure Your blouds your minds your bodis excellence If their due reuerence may this paines procure Your pacience with my boldnesse will dispence I onely craue high wisdoms true defence Not at my suit but for works proper sake Which treats of true felicities essence As wisest king most happiest proofe did make Whereof your owne experience much might say Would you vouchsafe your knowledge to bewray To the right Honorable the Earle of Northumberland VVHo would intreat of earthly happinesse
To the vertuous Lady the Lady Woollie FArre fet deare bought doth fit a Lady best Such you deserue such would my will bestow Good things are rare rare things esteem'd you know Rare should yours be as you rare of the rest Such hold this gift fetcht from a forraine land Which wisest King as pretious did prouide Who viewing all the earth hath nought espide Whose worth herewith coÌ„par'd may longer stand The price I dare assure is very deare As puchasd by your merit and my care Whose trauell would a better gift prepare If any better worthy might appeare Then this accept as I the same intend Which dutie to the dead would will me send ECCLESIASTES OTHERVVISE CALLED THE PREACHER Containing Salomons Sermons or Commentaries as it may probably be collected vpon the 49. Psalme of Dauid his father Compendiously abridged and also paraphrastically dilated in English poesie according to the analogie of Scripture and consent of the most approued writer thereof Composed by H. L. Gentleman Whereunto are annexed sundrie Sonets of CHRISTIAN PASSIONS heretofore printed and now corrected and augmented with other affectionate Sonets of a feeling conscience of the same Authors Psal. 144. 3 Lord what is man that thou regardest him or the sonne of man that thou thinkest vpon him 4 Man is like to vanitie his dayes like a shadow that vanisheth LONDON Printed by Richard Field dwelling in the Blacke-friers neare Ludgate 1597. TO THE RIGHT EXCELLENT AND NOBLE PRINCESSE LADIE OF RAREST VERTVES Queene Elizabeth our most gracious Soueraigne her Highnes faithfull subiect Henrie Lok wisheth perfect and perpetuall felicitie THE purest liquor drawne out of the heauenly fountaine of SALOMONS inspired wisdom I here with all zeale of your Highnesse seruice in most huÌ„ble dutie offer to your thrise sacred Maiestie vnder whose most glorious Empire hauing first receiued the breath of this life and by whose shining beames of most gracious gouernement that life hauing tasted part of the common comfort of your many happie subiects and peculiar fauor of your most princely countenance I cannot but as I acknowledge all my powers of right to pertain to your Highnesse disposition so to force my weake indeuours to testifie the sinceritie of the same This my present which in a rustie caske in steed of a golden cup I haue ventured to purchase for your Highnesse is I confesse farre vnworthie your Maiesties tasting of though in the benignitie of Dauids spirit I doubt not your Highnes will accept the same which as it is borrowed from the labours of so mightie and worthie a king as was Salomon the true Author therof it seems most fit the dedication to your Maiestie who in Empire being a peere vnto him in election a partner in happinesse a riuall and in wisedome a Sabian obseruer of his soundest doctrines can perfectliest iudge and will kindliest I assure my selfe welcome this his child for his fathers sake which must be and so I desire his onely grace For with me it is true that in the composition hereof it fared as with more worthie Nehemias when he attempted the repaire of the holy Citie who being oftentimes disturbed therein by the practise and malice of Sanballat Tobia and Geshem was sometimes forced to desist from his attempt and in the end to effect it with sword in one hand and mattock in the other so whilest common cares and domestik duties the direct enemies to all ingenious actions and proper poyson of pure inuention did many times confound my iudgement disturbe my leisure in a maner vtterly disable my disposition for so waighty an affaire remouing so often my hand from my mind and my minde almost from the affection of my heart I with half my weak selfe haue bene driuen thus to peece together this often broken off now vnworkmanly perfected taske VVhich yet as a well fauoured person euen in meane attires seemes yet euer comely will I doubt not shew some excellencie of the coÌ„posers spirit though it be not artificially clothed with borowed bewties froÌ„ my barren braine And your Highnesse whose course of life so wel conformeth with this his discourse teaching vs your subiects by holy practise what he by deuine precepts instructed his may as iustly chalenge me seemeth the publication of the like discourse as we without defrauding God of his honor your Highnesse of your due may not conceale the perfect resemblance your Highnes hath of him in name disposition and fortune we with his subiects in honor prosperitie and peace which albeit we your inferior subiects as the weake sighted eyes which cannot behold perfectly the face of the sunne but looking downe in the water nor see his first appearing in the East but by looking for the shadow in the VVest knowing our disabilities iudicially to obserue the cleare brightnes of your shining vertues referring to bordering Princes and attendant Peeres the more fit recording of the same we take palpable assuraÌ„ces of the blessed Spirit of God working in you by the like frute of peace prosperitie and plenty deriued by your Maiesties most excellent gouernement and wisdome vnto vs whos 's first worke of building vp the Church of Christ prouiding for learning restoring the decayd streÌ„gth and munitions of the realme enriching the treasurie of the land by refined coine retaining with most princely magnanimity the ancient ample bounds of your Empire the establishment of so many profitable factories for vnfrequented trafficke the chargeable discoueries of so many vnknown parts the honorable repulsioÌ„ of so many foes the bounteous purchase of so many neighbor frieÌ„ds the charitable relief of so many Christians oppressed the equal distribution of iustice vnto all all tending to the glory of God prosperitie of your raigne do sensibly without any disparagement of the greatnesse of that mightie Prince draw on a certaine liuely comparison of both your ê“perties blessings which therfore might excuse me of flatterie if in a few words I should point thereat But I wil leaue the ampler relatioÌ„ hereof to future posterities herein huÌ„bly crauing pardon of your Maiestie for this my presumption which indeed hath bene founded on your Highnesse gracious acceptance of my former Passionate present and recommending them anew to your Maiesties fauor herewithall augmented and reformed I will with all feruencie of prayer coÌ„mend your Highnes to the protection of the Almightie who as he hath confirmed your throne these now nigh fortie yeares amongst vs to the vniuersall peace and comfort of his Israell the Church of Europe so may he redouble and continue euen to the end if so his Highnesse please your Maiesties most happie raigne ouer vs for euer Your Maiesties most dutifull and loyall subiect HENRY LOK To the Christian Reader IT is the most fit subiect for the nobility of mans spirit to meditate of felicitie and a true saying of Aristotle that Omnia appetunt bonum Yea the common practise of our high minded age is to striue for the same in the
remember that they are but men And vse good words as wisedome teacheth when For words well vsed workes the grossest wits Vnto a plient patience more to heare And patience fauour more in time begits And time forgetfulnesse if thou forbeare And mild forbearance makes thy fault the lesse And him his fault if grace he haue confesse verse 5 This euill on earth I oft haue seene great rulers greatly fall verse 6 The foole aduanst the rich and wise reiected most of all 5. There is an euil that I haue seene vnder the sunne as an error that proceedeth from the face of him that ruleth But yet this rule I find not alwayes true Nay rather often times it fayleth quight A thing I cannot mend though it I rue And is the thing I hold the greatest spight That euer may to common wealth alight To see that those to whom all rule is due And should be guides to other men in good Should all the vices of the world insue And may not be by any meanes withstood By whose examples many others fall To ruine as do shrubs with Cedar tall 6. Folly is set in great excellencie and the rich set in the low place How can it be in any other wise If folly sit in seat of excellence Like will to like and as the bad arise Downe goes the good and vertue'is banisht thence For wicked ones in wicked seeke defence Pure vertue naked in a beggers guise May wander for protection and for ayde For euery one her merits will despise Because like gifts their natures haue denayd Thus topsie turuie euery thing will grow As cart the horse the sterne ships way should show verse 7 Slaues by desart a cockhorse ride right nobles lackie by verse 8 But who layes snares himselfe may fall and pricks in hedges try 7. I haue seene seruants on horses Princes walking as seruants on the ground For what obsurder thing can you suppose Then what is oftentimes before your eye When you on cockhorse see a prauncing those Whose birth and qualities you may despise Whilst wise and noble both contemned lies Nay lackie-like in trotting time do loose In seruing such as know not true desart A worser life there could be no way chose Or that could more torment an honest hart For where shall they expect their paines reward Which they to foole all readie see is shard 8. He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it and he that breaketh the hedge a Serpent shall bite him But for my part I can be well content To yeeld all honor where God honor giues But yet oppressors should in time repent For God in heauen a iudge for euer liues And to confusion wicked worldlings driues He doth preuent their fraudulent intent And makes them fall into the pit they cast Whilst they indeuour others to preuent The Serpents sting to martyr them as fast For fraud with fraud is oftentimes repayd And wicked snard in grin for others layd verse 9 Bounds changers and wood stealers are oft tane and punished verse 10 By slight force men may do much but blunt wits cut like lead 9. He that remoueth stones shall hurt himselfe thereby and he that cutteth wood shall be in danger thereby If lawes of kingdomes chastisement procure For such as alter auncient bounds of land If that poore pilfring hedge-breakers be sure To sit in stockes if owners vnderstand And euery crime is punisht out of hand Shall wrong or shall oppression still assure The mightie ones to tread the weaker downe Nay God the king of kings will not endure But in his wrath on them will fiercely frowne For though his patient suffring doth excell Yet moued long he striketh downe to hell 10. If the yron be blunt and one hath not whet the edge he must then put too more strength but the excellencie to direct a thing is wisedome Let no man therefore so misuse his wit To hurt of neighbour or to proper shame But let him do the thing he findeth fit And let him wisely his intentions frame So shall lesse toyle more sweet insue the same For as the dulled toole craues force with it Of doubled strength to make it pierce aright Yet will with all thy paines scarce cut awhit Vnlesse thou ioyne thy skill vnto thy might So in all actions reason must be guide Else no good issue will the same betide verse 11 As serpents sting if charmes do want so babbling tongs do bight verse 12 Himselfe he doth deuour whilst words of wise men do delight 11. If the Serpent bite when he is not charmed no better is a babbler And as in deeds euen so in words beware How thou dost guide thy tongue in any case Wherein to find a wise man it is rare Licentious speech hath now so common place And slanderous tongues do find such speciall grace Yet not the Serpents which in Lybia are Whilst they vncharmed lye in wait for man More daungerously do sting or do prepare More present poyson then vile slander can If it haue hearing once and credit lent It will destroy the saint most innocent 12. The words of the mouth of a wise man haue grace but the lips of a foole deuoure himselfe The lauish tatling tongue on prating set Spares no man nor regardeth what it sayth It cuts like to a razor which is whet And prickes himselfe which rashly with it playth And him that so it vseth fond bewrayth But wise men speake when matter good they get With modestie and vnto matter good Out of their lips no vaine vntruths they let They speake distinctly to be vnderstood And words accompany'd with matter graue For which of all they commendations haue verse 13 His speech begins with foolish talke with wicked madnesse ends verse 14 Increasing words of future things strange questions he defends 13. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishnesse and the latter end of his mouth is wickednesse Fooles if they once begin can neuer end And with their will they all the words will haue They loue to heare themselues and will defend Their follies euen before the wise and graue And thinke they brauely do themselues behaue They do begin their speech if eare you lend With vaine and foolish talkes or lying toyes But in the middle they to mischiefe bend In fine with madnesse ends he and annoyes The honest eare and soule that heares him speake And them compell his senslesse tale to breake 14. For the foole multiplyeth words saying man knoweth not what shall be and who can tell him what shall be after him From table talke and childish toyes he growes To highest points of learning and of skill In deepe points of diuinitie he showes That with best learned clarke compare he will And all the world with paradoxes fill Gods secrets he by inspiration knowes He prophecies of things yet long to come With super-naturall skill he ouerflowes And in each science seemeth to haue some When silly wretch his knowledge is
but small For in those points the best knowe nought at all verse 15 He tyres himselfe in highest points yet knowes not common way verse 16 O wretched land ruld by such child whose peeres do feast by day 15. The labour of the foolish doth weary him for he knoweth not to go into the citie Thus do the foolish vainely take in hand To vexe their braines with things for them to hie They know that future things none vnderstand Yet they their faculties therein will try Such wise fooles fondly wise the world hath many It fares with them if it be rightly scand As with the blind that would the seeing guide As if one wandring in an vncouth land Would those instruct the way dwell hard beside They silly fooles know not their next way home And yet their wits would ouer all things rome 16. Wo to thee ô land when the king is a child and thy Princes eat in the morning Wo be to such that by such ruled are But speciall wo be to thee land where they Do beare the Scepter least they all do marre As ill as infants when they beare the sway Who not themselues much lesse thy state can stay And doubled is thy woe and mischiefe farre If that thy Magistrates who should aduise Their Prince in highest points of peace or warre To banqueting and surfets early rise Neglecting common good which first of all With temperate braine they should to counsell call verse 17 But blest ô land where honor rules where Nobles feed to liue verse 18 By sloth the house decays rain through top of roofe doth driue 17. â—lessed art thou â— land when thy king is the sonne of Nobles and thy Princes eat in time for strength and not for drunkennesse And thou thrice happy soyle whose Prince descends Of pedegree of Emp'rors and of Kings Of auncient honor which to vertue bends Whose rule both peace and plenty to thee brings Where through thy fame moÌ„gst forreÌ„ regions rings And happy Prince whom God a Councell sends Of noble Peeres and wise whose watchfull eyes Thy subiects from all forren foes defends And ciuill broyles that might at home arise Such do in temperate wise their plentie vse And feed for strength and plenty not abuse 18. By slothfulnes the roofe of the house goeth to decay by the idlenes of the hand the house droppeth through They cause the Pesant in sweet peace manure The land the treasury of wealths encrease Vnto the needy they do worke procure And see the poore with wealthy liue in peace And all oppression in the land to cease Their waking eyes doth Princes state assure Doth to the people courage giue to toyle Gaines to themselues a fame shall aye indure Giues to the foe the most disgracefull foyle All this with paine and diligence is wonne Slouth ruines all makes all to hauock ronne verse 19 Bread streÌ„gthens hart wine cheers the mind but siluer al doth by verse 20 Curse not thy king or Peeres in thought lest birds the same descry 19. They prepare bread for laughter and wine comforteth the liuing but siluer answereth to all They giue the safetie for to vse thy owne And peace of plentie that thou mayest feed Thou feedst by them of best on earth hath growne Of fatlings which thy flocks and heards do breed To recreate thy soule at time of need And for by gold and siluer wealth is showne They do inrich the land with purest quine By which thy trafficke farre and neere is knowne And Indian gems and Arabian drugs are thine Gold gayneth all and Ophire gold thou hast Then happie thou if hap in wealth be plast 20. Curse not the king no not in thy thought neither curse the rich in thy bed chamber for the heauen shall carry thy voice and that which hath wings shall declare the matter Then slander not such Prince that counsell graue By whom so many benefits we find Their many merits many thankes do craue Each honest hart to reuerent loue they bind And base backbiters only are vnkind The lawes of God and nature willed haue The Magistrate should reuerenced bee The lawes of man the bounds vnto thee gaue Of words and deeds but God the thought doth see In deed then word and thought them honor aye Least flying fowles of ayre thy guilt bewray Chap. 11. verse 1 Cast bread on waters freely spend ere long thou shalt it find verse 2 To seuen seuen giue if they need earths wants are great behind 1. Cast thy bread vpoÌ„ the waters for after many days thou shalt find it NOw since no lesse discretion is requir'd In vsing wealth then getting of the same And that the bounteous mind is most admir'd Doth profit others most and gaines best name I therefore wish thereto thy hart to frame I would not haue thy hand too quickly tyrde Nor too respectiue vnto whom to giue Some I haue seene for shame haue not desyrde An almes whom greatest need to craue might driue Though water powred in the sea seeme vaine Yet needlesse gift a gratefull hart may gaine 2. Giue a portion to seuen also to eight for thou knowest not what euill shall be vpon the earth Some giue in hope a gift to gaine thereby Such gifts I rather bribes then gifts do call Some feare to giue least they themselues may try Like want ere long and so giue nought at all Some sometimes giue but yet their gifts are small But I would haue thy almes giuen cheerefully Vnaskt sometimes if crau'd to none denide Let none lacke to thy powre in need that lye And to preuent their need some goods deuide For God all bountie is and so should we Dispose our goods if like him we would be verse 3 If clouds be full raine fals on earth and trees in north south verse 4 Who sowes and reapes by rules of wind but little land he plow'th 3. If the cloâ—des be full they wil powre forth raine vpon the earth and if the tree do fall toward the South or toward the North in the place that the tree falleth there it shal be Yea looke how plenteously thou seest the raine Fro out the deaw-fild clouds on earth distill So long as any drops in them remaine Wherewith earths dryed cesterns vp to fill So in thy almes be thou as forward still And as each soile some sap from heauen doth gaine And euery tree and shrub of deaw hath part So thinke thou not thy gift bestowd in vaine To whom or when so ere thou giuing art And if thy store be great more mayst thou spend If lesse yet some vnto more needy lend 4. He that obserueth the wind shall not sow and he that regardeth the clouds shal not reape Take all occasions to be doing well Let euery season for it proper seeme The husbandmen that most in skill excell Though sometimes they to sow more fit do deeme Yet to be too precise vnfit esteeme Who marketh alwaies where the wind doth dwell And
shal speake thy praise 172 My tongue shall tell thy word of truth and walke thy righteoâ—s wayes 173 Helpe with thy hand for I entend thy precepts to pursue 174 Thy sauing helpe and law I seeke Lord do my faith renue 175 Let liue my soule to praise thy name thy mercie me vphold 176 I feare thy law then clense my sinnes and bring me to thy fold Psalme 121. 1 VNto the hils I lift my eye from whence my helpe shall grow 2 EueÌ„ to the Lord which fram'd the heauens made the deeps below 3 He will not let my feete to slip my watchman neither sleepes 4 Behold the Lord of Israell still his flocke in safety keepes 5 The Lord is my defence he doth about me shadow cast 6 By day nor night the Sunne nor Moone my limbs shall burne or blast 7 He shall preserue me from all ill and me from sinne protect 8 My going in and comming forth he euer shall direct Psalme 130. 1 FRom pit of deepe perplexities to thee for helpe I cry 2 O Lord giue â—are vnto my plaâ—â—t and 〈◊〉 me speedily 3 If strictly thou my sinnes behold ô Lord what â—â—esh is iust 4 But mercy proper is to thee and thereto dâ— we trust 5 Vpon thy promise I attend thy word is alwayes true 6 With morning and with euening watch I will my sute renue 7 Thy seruant must depend on thee in thee iâ— mercie found 8 Thou wilt redeeme their â—oules from death thy grace doth so abound Lords Prayer OVr Father which in heauen art Lord halowed be thy name Thy knigdome come thy will be done in heauen and earth the same Giue vs this day our daily bread our trespasses forgiue As we for other mens offence do freely pardon giue Into temptation leade vs not but liuer vs from ill For thine all kingdome glory powre is now and euer will SVNDRY CHRISTIAN PASSIONS CONTAINED in two hundred Sonnets Diuided into two equall parts The first consisting chiefly of Meditations Humiliations and Prayers The second of Comfort Ioy and Thankesgiuing By H. L. Call vpon me in the day of trouble so will I deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me LONDON Printed by Richard Field 1597. To the rIght renoVVneD VertVoVs VIrgin ELIzabeth VVorthy QVeene of happIe EngLanD her hIghnesse falthfVL subleCâ— Henry Lok VVIsheth Long Lyfe VVIth eternaL bLIsse IVne VII MY worthlesse pen To eternize In holy flame VVhich doth dispise Thee sacred dame That should protect VVhose Phoenix quil And those hath dect Heauens do distill As come from thence Ioue long you saue For whose defence Venus would craue VVhich Pallas wils Presumeth to deuise Your peerles vertuous fame Of zeale my hart doth rise A theame of vulgar frame The graces haue select The holy Muses hill Doth heauenly Crowne affect VVhich Romane Trophies fill Their happie influence You there your portion haue VVhose Scepters you dispence True English hearts he gaue And Dain doth that due Me yeeld alone to you The obseruations of the square following 1 A Saint Georges crosse of two collumbs in discription of her Maiestie beginning at A. and B. in the middle to be read downward and crossing at C. and D. to be read either single or double 2 A S. Andrews crosse beginning at E. read thwartwaies and ending with F. containing the description of our happie age by her highnesse 3 Two Pillers in the right and left side of the square in verse reaching from E. and F. perpendicularly containing the sum of the whole the latter columbe hauing the words placed counterchangeably to rime to the whole square 4 The first last two verses or the third and fourth with seuenth and eighth are sense in them selues containing also sense of the whole 5 The whole square of 100. containing in it self fiue squares the angles of each of them are sense particularly and vnited depend each on other beginning at the center 6 The out-angles are to be read 8. seuerall waies in sense and verse 7 The eight words placed also in the ends of the S. Georges crosse are sense and verse alluding to the whole crosse 8 The two third words in the bend deaeter of the S. Andrews crosse being the middle from the angles to the center haue in their first letters T. and A. for the Author and H. L. in their second for his name which to be true the words of the angles in that square confirme 9 The direction to her Maiestie in prose aboue containeth onely of numerall letters the yeare and day of the composition as thus DD. C LL LL LL LL. VV VV VV VV VV VV VV VV. IIIIIIIIIIIII For 1593. Iune V. A Square in verse of a hundred monasillables only Describing the cause of Englands happinesse  Haec   ◠   A B    F  In           â—oc  God 5 hath pourd forth Rare Grace On this Iâ—â—e And   Makes Cround 4 your rule Queene In the same so 4 still   Kings lawd THis 3 saint Faire that with truth 3 doth stand   Rule so long time 2 milde Prince ioy 2 land it will  C Forma For proofe you showes 1 wise 1 of earths race whome There Quadrata  HeaueÌ„s haue vp held Iust 1 choice 1 whome God thus sheilds   Your stocke of Kings 2 worlds rich of 2 spring and feare   States fame Known 3 farre Praise Isle which ALl 3 blisse yeilds   Hold God 4 there fore sure stay of all the 4 Bâ—st  Vinces Blâ—st 5 is your raigne Here Builds sweet Peace true Rest 5 Signâ—â— Â Fiâ—â—â— Â The Square plainely set downe GOd hath powr'd forth rare grace on this I le and Makes crown'd your rule Queene in the same so still Kings laud this Saint faire that with truth doth stand Rule so long time mild Prince ioy land it will For proofe you showes wise of earths race whom there Heauens haue vpheld lust choyce whom God thus shields Your stocke of kings worlds rich ofspring and feare States fame knowne farre praise I le which all blisse yeelds Hold God therefore sure stay and port the best Blest is your raigne here builds sweet peace true rest To the Christian Reader WHo so shall duly consider the whole progresse of mans estate from life to death shall find it gentle Reader to be nothing else but a very pilgrimage through this earth to another world for whether we obserue the common course of all flesh which from the mothers wombe to the graue is still trauelling with change of bodily constitution from youth to age from health to sicknesse so from one estate to another Or if we behold the particular incounters which each man findeth in himselfe in the variable change of hopes and crossing of his purposes in both it shall by a generall experieÌ„ce of all mens calamities be assuredly confirmed to be too true But
how much more may we find in the direction of our sâ—ules to the proper hauen of their habitation euen to heauen a multitude of aduersaries lying in the way to hinder out tâ—auell to that Promised land how many afflictions of the minde frailties of the flesh bayts of the world and snares of Satan are bent against vs to slacken if not cleane to diuert our due course thitherwardes in such sort as if God of his infinite mercie and prouidence did not oftentimes preuent and stop our willes and powers and bridle the malice of these aduersaries we should all assuredly perish by the way But now such is his fatherly care and loue to vs in Christ that he hath left vs a direction ready way of safetie in the midst of all assaults or afflictions how perillous soeuer euen praier which being formed according to the rules prescribed vnto vs by his Sonne and with feruencie of faith offered vp vnto him are of power to penetrate the heauens purchase our safetie pay our debts and procure vs peace of heart in the midst of all earthly perils yea knowing our coldnesse herein and feare of our owne guilt deterring vs from his presence he doth not onely licence vs to this boldnesse but allurâ—th vs by many sensible blessings felt in our owne consciences and calleth vs by a supernaturall courage sometimes with confidence to come vnto him and euen to hope against hope in our most desperate necessities He doth direct our tongues oftentimes here in before our mindes and our mindes before our hearts being himselfe readier to giue then we to aske and giuing with more regard of our good then we can craue or conceiue for all which he expecteth nothing else at our hands but continually to flie vnto him and to yeeld him due praise to relie on him onely in the day of triall and to encourage others thereto for in this sort alone he will be honoured of vs. This our earthly pilgrimage being then so daungerous to all flesh so readie a way prescribed vnto vs for our safer passage therein â—e were very vnwise that would not furnish himselfe with such prouisioâ— which costs so litle as our wils to haue it more vncharitable that would nor do his best to assist his coÌ„panion in his iourney with both couÌ„sell coÌ„fort of the same For this cause gentle Readers I hauing through gods great goodnes felt in the direction and protection of my vnstable youth a plentifull portion of the wonderfull care he hath ouer vs of the vnspeakable force of praier thanksgiuing in all extremities the more to stirre vp my selfe to a memorie thereof haue thought good to set downe these abrupt passions of my passed afflictions as witnesses of the impedimeÌ„ts most stopping me in my Christian pilgrimage and testimonies of the meanes of my euasion hitherto which may serue for presidents for my selfe in the like future occasions and not be altogither vnprofitable for others to imitate In which as in a glasse may be seene the state of a renegerate soule sicke with sinne sometimes Ague-like shiuering with cold despaire straight waies inflamed with feruencie of faith and hope One while yeelding vnder the burden of sinne to eternall death and presently incouraged to runne chearefully forward the appointed course of this his pilprimage and like a practised traueller vsed to the change of company dyet heat cold paine pleasure plentie and want not to amaze himselfe long with any change but by a consideration of pleasures passed or rest expected patiently to passe ouer this world full of incombrances from a sence and feeling whereof in some measure no true child of God is any long time as I suppose expempt Now although I doubt not but euen these reasons will carry the iudgement of the godly Christian Reader to a fauourable interpretation of my purpose herein and to some delight in the tast thereof to whom no person or occasion style or phrase will seeme vnseasonable being imployed to the glorifying of God and profit of the Church or proceeding from a zeale of that effect yet the consideration that the greater number to whose handes this Treatise may happen to come are either not so well affected or so discreet and temperate as were to be wished maketh me thinke it needfull to say something in declaration of my purpose herein not in excuse of my exercising my selfe in such theames which in deede ought to be the common action in some measure of all men as oft as necessary affaires of this life wil permit them neither in that I make common with others this my exercise which seemeth in secret only to be practised by my selfe for that I take it not to be alwaies a token of pride or vaine-glory to make knowne for a common good to others that which may breed a suspect of ambition in the Author among the prophane or cauelling multitude though how herein I am caried my selfe I leaue to God the searcher of hearts to iudge only I would satisfie them first in the cause of my writing them in verse then of the confused placing of them without speciall titles To the first I was induced for that I find many oftentimes speciallie such as had most neede to praie and meditate to reade bookes rather for the affection of words then liking of matter and perhaps more to controll the compiling then commend the contents Such yet so as they read shal giue me al that I craue find I hope that good they loked not for if not in all yet in some among many of these Sonnets As for the apt nature of Poetrie to delight to contriue significatiuely in fewe words much matter to pearce and penetrate affections of men with the aptnesse thereof for helpe of memorie I will not saie much but for my deducing these passioÌ„s and affections into Sonnets it answereth best for the shortnesse to the nature and common humor of men who are either not long touched with so good motions or by their worldly affaires not permitted to continue much reading To the cause of my so preposterous placing of them and deuision onely into three sorts I confesse indeed I am perswaded their disorder doth best fit the nature of mankind who commonly is delighted with contraries and excercised with extreames and also as they were by God ministred vnto my mind to set downe by sundrie Accidents so I suppose my prouidence could not by a formall placing of them so soone hit the affection of euery reader as Gods direction by that which meÌ„ call chance might often do As they are therefore I recommend them to thy courtesie in reading and thee to Gods holy spirit in the perusing of them If they may haue the same working in thee that I praise God some of them had in me they shall not be vtterly vnprofitable If in matter they iumpe not to thy passions in all pointes thinke that in the great Arsenall of Satans Armor he hath
choise of weapons for sundrie assaults and disposeth of them diuersly according to the strength or weaknesse of the partie he besiegeth which being as different in particular persons as Gods gifts are to them thou shalt doe well to thy abilitie to reforme or supply my defect therin If in manner of the verse or stile they be as I doubt not but they are to be amended much I do not greatly seeke the praise of a curious Architector neither without neglect of more necessary duties could I attaine to the required obseruances that way And therefore craue that thy discretion may excuse my intention and abilitie And thus I hartily recommend thee to the Almightie THE FIRST PART OF CHRISTIAN PASSIONS containing a hundreth Sonets of meditation humiliation and prayer PREFACE IT is not Lord the sound of many words The bowed knee or abstinence of man The filed phrase that eloquence affords Or Poets pen that heauens do pearce or can By heauie cheere of colour pale and wan By pined bodie of the Pharisay A mortall eye repentance oft doth scan Whose iudgement doth on outward shadows stay But thou ô God doest hearts intent bewray For from thy sight Lord nothing is conceald Thou formdst the frame fro out the verie clay To thee the thoughts of hearts are all reueald To thee therefore with hart and minde prostrate With teares I thus deplore my sinfull state SONET I. HOw should my soule Lord clad in earthly mold The prison where it readie is to pine Where vile affections captiue it do hold And threaten naught but ruine in the fine Vnto one thought of hope or helpe incline Or raise my eyes vnto the heauens bright How may it Lord take hold on mercies thine Or presse it selfe in presence of thy sight Or how canst thou therein at all delight If mercy be not spokesman in this case If merit of thy Sonne should not acquite The common guilt of Adams sinfull rase Which since by faith alone man may attaine Grant me first grace not faithlesse to ramaine SON II. FRo out the darknesse of this sea of feare Where I in whale remaine deuourd of sin With true remorse of former life I reare My heart to heauen in hope some helpe to win I do confesse my fault who did begin To flie from thee ô Lord and leaue vndone Thy seruice which of right should first haue bin Performd by which so many should be wonne To praise thy name but feare alas begunne To represent to me my iourny long The dangers of the world my life should runne Which made me to my soule to offer wrong But since by show of death thou caldst me backe Thy gracious helpe at need let me not lacke SON III. WIthin this arke where in my soule doth dwell My bodie floting on worldes troubled waue Which windes of fierce affections cause to swell And hardly can my power from sinking saue I crie to thee ô Lord and comfort craue Close vp this fountaine of stil flowing sin Let me by faith againe once footing haue On frutefull earth and holie life begin Lighten the burden so vncleane within Of brutish vices raging in my minde Let cleane affects the greater partie win And so increase that plentie I may finde Of sacrifices pleasing in thy sight Of faith and loue which are thy soules delight SON IIII. IN humble wise as fitteth best my state An abiect wretch deuoyd of all desert I here approch before thy mercy gate O Lord of life with broke and contrite hart I need not to reueale to thee my smart A lump of sin and shame I am I know Wounded so deepe with deadly poysned dart Of serpents sting which did from parents grow That now my humors so do ouerflow With foule affections of my feeble minde As presseth downe my eyes on earth so low As dares not search the heauens true helpe to finde Yet since thou hast made known to me my griefe Guide me by grace to fountaine of reliefe SONET V. VNto thy princely wedding Lord are bed Of euerie sort some guests to feast with thee One that a spouse but late before had wed One oxen bought one taken land to fee They from the banket therefore absent bee Regarding not thy messengers of grace In number of the like Lord hold not mee But let me haue I craue the offred place Yet ere that I appeare before thy face A wedding garment first I must put on My owne vnrighteous cloathing is too base And marchandise of merits now are gone Then since thou cal'st with faith do thou me cloth A lame blind begger Lord do thou not loth SON VI. IN pride of youth when as vnbridled lust Did force me forth my follies to bewray I challenged as patrimony iust Each vaine affection leading to decay And trusting to that treasure post away I wandred in the worlds alluring sight Not reason vertue shame or feare could stay My appetite from tasting each delite Till want and wearinesse began me bite And so perforce to father I retire To whom I prostrate kneele vnworthie wight To name of sonne not daring to aspire Receiue me yet sweet sauiour of thy grace Poore penitent into a seruants place SON VII Lame of my limmes and sencelesse of my state Neere fortie yeares Lord haue I groueling line Before Bethesda poole yet still too late To wash me in the fountaine I encline Whence health wold come when Angel giues the sine If any one to aide me readie were But helplesse thus I readie am to pine My selfe vnable duly vp to reare Vouchsafe thou then me to this bath to beare By the assistance of thy heauenly grace Let not the force of foule affects me feare To prease forth first when Christ appeares in place Who is the fountaine Angell and the man That bath that blisse that cure my senses can SON VIII THy thundring voice and Angell Lord of long Hath cald my soule from slumber where it lay The harmony of heauenly musickes song Hath made my wandring feete at last to stay Direct thou me also the readie way Vnto thy church that in thy holy place Thy word and law I may in heart obay And worship thee before thy peoples face Grant me I say such measure of thy grace That greedily by faith I swallow vp Thy booke of truth and so thy word imbrace That frutefully I taste saluations cup. Thou who doest rule the earth the sea and land In my defence with power and glory stand SON IX AMong thy sheepe ô Lord I seemd to feed By Sacraments receiu'd into thy stocke By preached word I watred was indeed And works with fleece did seeme inritch my stocke But at my doore true faith did neuer knocke Which should be shepheard of my soules defence But thiefe like fond affections reason mocke And by the window of my wilfull sence Do enter to my heart and steale from thence Each motion of amendment which doth rise And shepheardlesse of grace transported hence By Sathan
with heauenly grace My comfort wealth that hell cannot rebate In such a rate Thy fauour do I finde As bindes me loue a father found so kinde SON XXVIII WHat should I render thee my Sauiour deare For all the gifts thou doest on me bestowe Whose gracious measure so doth ouerflow As power of recompence cannot appeare I do imbrace thy gifts with ioyfull cheare And to thy alter speedily do runne To follow forth thy praise but new begunne Till all thy people may thy mercies heare Thy glorious image shineth in thy Sonne Thy loue to man did his obedience show His loue and mercy vnto man hath wonne The gifts of grace whence faith and comfort grow Where through we know That we are thy elect And these our feeble frutes wilt not reiect SON XXIX THe powerfull pen the which records thy praise O Lord of life hath many volumes made Thy wondrous works each leafe doth ouerlade Which aye increase as growing are my dayes Vnsearchable indeed are all thy wayes In multitude they number do exceed In glorie they do admiration breed Their goodnesse power of recompence denayes The hungry thou with plenteous hand doest feed Thy fauour to thy creatures doth not fade The more in view of all thy works I wade The more I finde my sense confound indeed But yet in steed Of Eccho to thy fame I will giue thanks and laud vnto thy name SON XXX THis stately stage wherein we players stande To represent the part to vs assignde Was built by God that he might pleasure finde In beautie of the works of his owne hand All creatures of the ayre the sea and land Are players at his appointment of some thing Which to the world a proper vse may bring And may not breake assigned bownds or band Some do in ioy still forth his praises sing Some mourne make their mone with heauy mind Some shew the frutes of nature weake and blind Some shew how grace base sin away doth fling God like a King Beholds Christ doth attire The plaiers with the shape their states require SON XXXI WHo so beholds with constant fixed eye The fauour and perfection of my choyce He cannot chuse but must in heart reioyce That mortall sight may heauenly blisse espie All earthly beautie he will straight defie As thing too base to occupie his braine Whose fading pleasures so are payd with paine That they true tast of pleasure do denie But who so can this perfect sight attaine Cannot containe but yeeld with cheerfull voyce An Eccho to the Angels heauenly noyse Who to his praise do singing still remaine They then are vaine Who fix their sight so low That such a glorious God they will not know SON XXXII O Heauenly beautie of loue the fountaine true Whose shining beames do penetrate my soule With such a zeale as former thoughts controll And drawes heart powre and will thee to insue Thou mak'st my fainting sight for to renue And dazeling eyes new strength thus to attaine To whom alone perfection faire is due Thou mak'st earths bewteous shadow seeme but vain Thy works of glorie and of powre remain Ingrauen in thankfull hearts which them inroll Thy loue and mercy made thee pay the toll Which to our dying soules true life did gain Thy loue doth wain My thoughts frō baser loue And mak'st my heart and mind to soare aboue SON XXXIII IF beautie be as men on earth suppose The comely shape and colours which agree In true proportion to the thing we see Which grace and fauour both do neuer lose If white and red be borrowd from the Rose If bright and shining to the sunne compar'd If high and straight to goodlinesse w'award And beautie haue such base descriptions chose Then let the wise this beautie true regard Where all perfections in one subiect be Surpassing frute of the forbidden tree Which but to tast man suffred deaths reward Which is prepard And offred to our sight In Christ to loue and feed vs day and night SON XXXIIII HOw may this be that men of searching mind Whose curious eyes in beautie do delight The pleasing obiect of their fancies sight In outward shape and colour comfort find And yet the better beautie leaue behind Vnsought or vnregarded of at all Compard to which none can it beautie call Vnlesse a buzzard whom affections blind This earthly forme of flesh it is so small Of worth to charme the sence of noble spright As is a starre before faire Phoebus bright Whose glory doth their borrowed beauti apall Thus wise men fall Whom camall eies do guide Whose iudgement may not vertues sight abide SON XXXV O Heauenly loue with God thou dwelst for aye Thou passest faith and hope in dignitie Thou keepst the law thy feet step not awrie In all mens danger thou the surest stay To our request thou neuer sayest nay Ne wrath ne enuy moue thee ere a whit Thou multitude of sinnes in man doest quit Thou law and Gospell both dost ouer sway Thou doest with God aloft in heauens sit With God in counsell thou art alwaies by Thou causest Christ mans weaknesse to supply And makest vs receiue the frute of it And euery whit Of goodnesse that we haue Loue made him send who loue therfore doth craue SON XXXVI THe shining face of my faire Phoebus deare Whose glorie doth eclipse each other light Presents himselfe vnto worlds open sight Their blinded eyes with ioyfull view to cheare But sluggish so the greater sort appeare That sleeping in selfe-loue and mind secure The cleare aspect of truth they not indure Nor of their blindnesse willingly would heare But so my sences do his beautie allure To gaze vpon his louely fauour bright That therein onely haue I may delight Where is all happinesse I do assure He doth procure A plentifull increase Vnto my soule of perfect loue and peace SON XXXVII AVaunt base thoughts incomber me no more By laying forth these earthly wants of mine As though thou wouldst perswade me to repine Because of wealth I haue not needlesse store If thou didst know thy nakednesse before He cloth'd thy soule and fed thy fainting minde With righteousnesse and faith in Sauiour kinde Thou wouldst that former state much more deplore And then confesse the comfort thou doest finde By peace of conscience in this flesh of thine Is greatest riches truly to define So that contentment be not left behinde These gifts me binde To praise his holy name And place chief wealth in knowledge of the same SON XXXVIII I Will not feare with feruency of zeale To follow forth this faire affect of mine To loue of thee which doth my soule incline O Sauiour deare who sure my griefe wilt heale Vnto thy proffred kindnesse I appeale Who of thy selfe didst call me vnto thee And promisedst I should thy darling bee Made free within thy Church and common weale Disparagement there is not now in mee Ne shall distrust forbid me to be thine But faith shall flie aloft to thee in
do creepe Into possession of my powre and will These thoughts and works which motions are to ill And trench themselues in fleshly fortresse deepe Whose base societie will with vices fill The holy brood which grace would spotlesse saue In such a boubt my yong affections waue That they consent I should them foster still But that would spill More vertuous heritage Therefore exilde these be though hell do rage SON LXXII SOmetimes my nature seemeth to repine To see the pleasure and the plenteous store The wicked do enioy for euermore Abounding in their corne their oyle and wine But when I see my weakenesse so encline To the abuse of portion I possesse My heart with ioy full often doth confesse Thy loue doth much in earthly scarstie shine These things are good and bad as thou doest blesse Which I dare not directly craue therefore Such danger followes them euen at the dore That plentie lightly doth the â—oule oppresse And as I guesse Contentednesse doth grow In gratefull mind though state be neare so low SON LXXIII IF he vnworthie be the sweet to tast That shuns the sowre as we in prouerbe say To honor pleasure profit in the way Great perill paine and cost so often plast If as vnworthie health he be disgrast That will refuse a bitter purge to take When he doth know it will his feauer slake So do temptations proue the mind more chast If we with courage do the combat make And to the end immoueable do stay The more that Satan doth his spight display The more the pride and powre of him we shake And he will quake And sin shall haue a fall And faith in Christ shall triumph ouer all SON LXXIIII TO shun the rocks of dangers which appeare Amidst the troubled waues of worldly life Which in each company are alwaies rife Which with soules perill most men buy full deare I feare almost to keep my course so neare The conuersation of such tickle tides And thinke him blest that banished abides In desert where of sin he may not heare But when I note where so a man him hides That still affections breed an inward strife That nature beares about the bloudie knife And to the death the proper soule it guides That fancie slides Away and I prepare In combats of the world to fight my share SON LXXV WEre it not straunge that members of the same One liuiâ—g bodie and one parents childe Should by the other daily be defilde And of vnseemly thing should haue no shame And yet we which of Christ do beare the name And children of his father vs do call At discord with this parent daily fall And Christ our eldest brother do defame It seemeth well we be but bastards all Though stock be true we be but Oliues wilde Who thinks vs better he is but beguilde Our frutes are bitter and increase but small And who so shall Examine well his works Shall see that gall in purest thoughts there lurks SON LXXVI IT is no light or curious conceipt O Lord thou knowst that maketh me to straine My feeble powres which blindfold did remaine Vpon thy seruice now at length to waight But onely shame to see mans nature fraight So full of pregnant speech to litle vse Or rather oftentimes to thy abuse Whilst to deceiue they laie a golden baight And do not rather thinke it fit to chuse By praises thine true praise themselues to gaine And leaue those fond inuentions which do staine Their name and cause them better works refuse Which doth abuse The gifts thou doest bestow And oftentimes thy high contempt do show SON LXXVII FOr common matter common speech may serue But for this theame both wit and words do want For he that heauen and earth and all did plant The frutes of all he iustly doth deserue No maruell then though oft my pen do swarue In middle of the matter I intend Since oft so high my thoughts seeke to ascend As want of wisedome makes my will to starue But thou ô Lord who clouen tongs didst send Vnto thy seruants when their skils were â—cant And such a zeale vnto thy praise that brant As made them fearelesse speake and neuer bend Vnto the end One iot from thy behest Shall guide my stile as fits thy glory best SON LXXVIII HOw happily my riches haue I found Which I no sooner sought but it is wonne Which to attaine my will had scarce begunne But I did finde it readie to abound The silly faith I had was setled sound In Christ although for feare it oft did pant Which I did wish more constantly to plant That it might all temptations so confound With feruency this little sparkle brant Till it inflamde my zeale and so did runne Vnto the fountaine of true light the sunne Whose gracious soyle to feed it was not scant Men finde more want The more they couet still But more man couets this it more doth fill SON LXXXIX WHen desolate I was of worldly ayde Vnable to releeue my selfe at need Thou hadst a care my fainting soule to feed Because my faith vpon thy fauour stayde My dying hope thou hast with mercy payde And as thou didst releeue thy seruant deare Elias whom the Rauens in desert cheare So am I comforted whom sin affrayde The cries of little Rauens thine eare doth heare And slakst their hunger kindly Lord indeed When parents do forsake deformed breed That so thy prouidence might more appeare Which shineth cleare In blessings euery day To me much more then I can duly way SON LXXX AMidst this pilgrimage where wandring I Do trace the steps which flesh and bloud doth tred My comfort is that aye mine eyes are led By gracious obiect which in faith I spy Whose brightnesse guides my steps which else awry Were like to slide through Satans subtil slight Gainst whom his holy Angels alwaies fight And suffer not my strength too farre to try By day his word and works are in my sight Like to a cloud to comfort me in dread By fire through deserts and the sea so red His hand doth gouerne me in dangerous night His fauour bright Conducting this my way An host of stops shall not my iourney stay SON LXXXI I See a storme me thinks approach a farre In darkned skie which threatens woe at hand Vnto my tackle I had need to stand Lest sudden puffs my purposd course debarre These tempting thoughts full oft forerunners are Of fierce affections which do moue the minde VVhich if resistance not in time they finde The strongest tackling they do stretch or marre I closely therefore will my conscience binde And arme my vessell with couragious band Of skilfull saylers which do know the land VVhose harbors for my safetie are most kinde And in my minde Shall faith the Pylot bee VVhose skill shall make me wished port to see SON LXXXII HOw is it that my course so soone would stay Before I haue begun the thing I thought If ease or pleasure I herein had sought I
of by most censured by some Which cannot iudge yet will not be refusde Where wants are pride into and soone accused If shape attire grace skill be not the best Where curious conceits will seeme abused If euery word phrase period bide not test Least that this worke too rashly be supprest Vntried halfe vnderstood disgraced quight I needfull thinke it be to some addrest VVho can and will protect from causelesse spight Which that you will vouchsafe I nothing feare Since to the matter you such zeale do beare To the vertuous Lady the Lady Woollie FArre fet deare bought doth fit a Lady best Such you deserue such would my will bestow Good things are rare rare things esteem'd you know Rare should yours be as you rare of the rest Such hold this gift fetcht from a forraine land Which wisest King as pretious did prouide Who viewing all the earth hath nought espide Whose worth herewith cōpar'd may longer stand The price I dare assure is very deare As puchasd by your merit and my care Whose trauell would a better gift prepare If any better worthy might appeare Then this accept as I the same intend Which dutie to the dead would will me send To the vertuous Lady the Lady Carey IF any thing might in this worke appeare Worthy the reading fit for to content I should then hold it best bestowed here Where most my time in frame thereof was spent By view of your rare vertues I was bent To meditate of heauen and heauenly thing By comfort of your counsell forward went My halting muse this heauenly note to sing And now that time doth forth this haruest bring Which must till need be layed vp in store As medicine meet to cure cares deadliest sting And to restore healths comfort weake before You Lady who of right best int'rest haue Must here receiue and keepe what first ye gaue To the vertuous Lady the Lady D IF kinred be the neerenesse of the blood Or likenesse of the mind in kind consent Or if it be like pronenesse vnto good Or mutuall liking by two parties ment If kindnesse be in truth a firme intent With open heart to testifie good-will If true good will be to contentment bent If true contentment cannot be in ill I know you will repute this token still A pledge of kinsmans loue in ech degree Which though it do your treasure litle fill Yet way to perfect wealth will let you see My selfe in kindnesse wish and hope in you Profit of mind and soules content t'insue To the vertuous Gentlewoman Mistresse E. Bowes AMong the many profits which do rise Vnto the faithfull which the truth do loue A greater comfort can I not deuise Then is the sweet societie they proue When each doth seeke for others best behoue To strengthen that which flesh and bloud doth shake Their weakned soules I meane which sorows moue Through feare of sin and guilty thoughts to quake Whereof by you since I experience make Whose mild and kind accord with neighbours woe Doth cause them oft the crosse with patience take And forward still in hope and courage goe I were vngrate if I should not indeuer To nourish that your grace I honord euer To the Honorable Ladies and Gentlewomen attendants in the Court. YE worthy Nymphes of chast Dyanaes traine Who with our Soueraignes presence blessed bee Whereby ye perfect beauty shall attaine If ye affect the gifts in her you see Scorne not to yeeld your mild aspects to mee Who with you do attend her high behest It can no whit disparage your degree To looke on that is liked of the best This worke for style inferiour to the rest Which many worthier wits to you present Craues welcome yet as some no common guest Whom best to greet your greatest care is spent For kings words these do guide to blisse you craue The fruit of fauour which you striue to haue To all other his Honorable and beloued friends in generall WHat shall I do proceed or stay my pen To either side great reason vrg'd my mind Vnto most powrefull would I yeeld but then Defect of powre makes hand to stay behind Of well deseruing friends I many find Of worthy persons vnsaluted more Those I neglect may hold my heart vnkind And some my iudgement partiall hold therefore Yet as I find so they must graunt the store Of happy Englands well deseruing state Exceeds the bounds my worke prescribd before And doth restraine my mind to stricter rate But if one word may shew a world of loues Vse this and me to all your best behoues