yeld to death and vpward lift the minde Where lothsome life shall present comfort finde Since hope can haue no honey from the Hiue And paines can plucke no pleasure for his toyle It is but vaine for wearie life to striue And stretch out time with torment and tormoyle Get what we can death triumphes ore the spoyle Then note this well though wee winne neere so mitch When death takes all wee leaue a mizer ritch To liue and lacke is double death indeede A present death exceedes a lingring woe Since no good hap in youth did helpe my neede In age why should I striue with Fortune so Old yeares are come and hastes me hence to goe The time drawes on I hate the life I haue When heart shall breake my griefe shall ende in graue Should I seeke life that findes no place of rest Ne soyle nor seate to shroude me from the ayre When cramping cold beclyps my carefull breast And dolour driues my heaâ—t in deepâ— dispayre For such foule dayes darke death is wonderous fayre As good to make the scrawling wormes a feast As please the world where mischiefe makes her neast Hie time it is to haste my caâ—kasse hence Youth stole awaie and felt no kinde of ioy And age he left in trauell euer since The wanton dayes that made mee nice and coy Were but a dreame a shadowe and a toy Sith slauerie heere I find and nothing else My home is there where soule in freedome dwels In warres and woe my yeares are wasted cleane What should I see if Lordly life I led I looke in glasse and finde my cheekes so leane That euery houre I doe but wish mee dead Now backe bendes downe and forward falls the head And hollow eyes in wrinkled brow doth shroude As though two starres were créeping vnder cloude The lips waxe cold and lookes both pale and thin The teeth fals out as nuts forsoke the shale The hare bald-head but shewes where haiâ—e hath bin The liuely ioyntes waxe verie stiffe and stale The ready tongue now folters in his tale The wearish face and tawney colour showes The courage quayles as strength decaies and goes The sweete delights are drownde in dulled mind The gladsome sportes to groning sighes are bent The frisking limmes so farre from frame I finde That I forethinke the time that youth hath spent But when I waigh that all these thinges were lent And I must pay the earth her dutie throw I shrinke no whit to yelde these pleasures now Had I possest the giftes of Fortune héere A house a wife and Children there withall And had in store to make my friendes good chéere Such common thinges as neighbours haue at call In such dispayre perchaunce I would not fall But want of this and other lackes a score Bids mee seeke death and wish to liue no more The thatcher hath a cottage poore you see The sheapheard knowes where he shall sleepe at night The dayly drudge at night can quiet beeÌ„ Thus Fortune sendes some rest to euery wight So borne I was to house and land by right But in a bagg to Court I brought the same From Shrewsburie towne a seate of auncient fame What thinkes my friendes that there behind I laft What fault findes shée that gaue me life and sucke O courting fine thou art too cold a craft The Carter hath at home much better lucke Well well I say adue all worldly mucke Ne house nor Land we beare away I knoe I naked came and naked hence must goe The greatest King must passe the selfe same way Our day of birth and buriall are alike Their ioy their pompe their wealth and rich aray Shall soone consume like snow that lies in dike No Buckler serues when soddaine death doth strike As soone may come a poore mans soule to blis As may the rich or greatest Lord that is Well ere my breath my body doe forsake My spriâ—e I do bequeath to God aboue My bookes my scronies and songes that I did make I leaue with friendes that freely me did loue To slyring foes whose malice me did moue I wishe in hast amendment of their waies And to the Court and courtiers happy daies My fortune straunge to straungers do I leaue That straungly can retaine such straunge mishap To such as still in world did me deceaue I wish they may beware of such like trap To slaunderous tongues that killde me with a clap I wish more rest than they haue giuen to mee And blesse those shreawes that curst and crabbed bee To such as yet did neuer pleasure man I giue those rimes that nips the gawled backe To such as would doe good and if they can I wish good lucke long life and voyde of lacke To currish Karles a whyp and Colliers sacke And to the proude that stands vppon their braues A wainscot face and twentie crabtree staues To surlie sirs that scornes the meaner sort A nightcap furd with Foynes I them bequeath To such as scowle at others good report And sets much store by their owne paynted sheat In signe of lucke I giue a willow wreath To such as are vnnamde and merits much The stone I leaue that tries the Gold by tutch To gentill race with good conditions ioynd I wish more ioy than man imagin may And since for poore I haue noe mony coynd God graunt them all a mery mariage day To such as doth delight in honest play I wish the Gold that I haue lost thereby And all the wealth I want before I die Now friends shake handes I must be gone my boyes Our mirth takes end our triumph all is done Our tykling talke our sportes and merry toyes Do slide away like shadowe of the Sun Another comes when I my race haue run Shall passe the time with you in better plite And finde good cause of greater thinges to write FINIS A DREAME To the right worshipfull my good Lady the Lady Paulet who was wife to the honorable sir Hugh Pauleâ— Knight AMong the manifold works in print pamphelets bookes volumes and deuises I neuer addressed my pen to your Ladiship till now though bound for many courtesies better to consider of so good a Lady and now worst able to redeeme duty forgotten I bring my selfe backeward to behold my great ouersight but presing forward to win ground I leese the keeping of a writers credit for no one thing is left worthy your view and looking on such hast haue I had in the spoiling of my selfe inuentions a prodicall point of bountie rather than the part of a wise bountiful writer especially to bestowe the best matters on others and present but a dreame to your Ladiship shewing thereby the shallownes of my iudgement but yet some such substaunce of matter as I trust is more delightfull than dainty For my Dreame hauing many significations may grow on many causes and hit on a nomber of Accidents fit for my humour but skarse meet for your graue consideration yet such fancies as a dreame brings
For my right hand is here to helpe thée now Blush not to sée the raging worlds despite The bloudy are nor scaffolde full of bils My mercy seat shall be thy chiefe delihte And though on earth thine enimies haue their wils I am the God that stormes and tempests stils In quiet calme passe gently thou away And suffer much yet doe but little say Death is the end of all that beareth life Not one shall scape this world is but a dreame The seeds of sinne brings forth but flowres of strife In painted robes lies many a rotten seame It is but griefe to guide and rule a Realme Great charge and care a great accompt must make And when I frown the whole round world I shake I cause one wight to take anothers place To chop off heads to kill to hang and draw And when I take from rulers new my grace His head againe shall yeeld to sword and law Men blowes the cole but I put fire in straw And where doth fall the flame of my great â—e All things consumes to cinders in that fire Come Murton come and play thy pageant well Thou goest before perhaps a yeare or twaine But after thee shall passe to heauen or hell A number more that mercy now remaine World hath no stay I tell â—hee all is vaine Both raigne and rule and regall power most hie When bastards dreame in durt and dust shall lie My God thus sayd with that my sprites reuiude My wits were armde my sence redoubled than And with my flesh the holy Ghost he striude By Angels force but not by might of man A marulous stirre in stomacke then beganne For to subdue the â—arrein corps of care And burthend breast that sinfull body bare Now hope in hast made heauy heart full light The feare was fled that comes by course of law Gods promise wrought through mercy grace and might A noble worke in me cleare conscience saw A fig for death his force not worth a straw Qd. I a rush for worlds reproach and shame For written is in booke of life my name The Preachers then began to wéepe for ioy Your firme beliefe my Lord shall make you frée Qd they and sure your soule is from annoy Both in this world and where swéete Angels be And where right soone you shall Gods glory see Not with bare view but with immortall eies As body shall at latter day arise Then knéeld I downe and to the cloudes I looke The thought and care the while of world was past And I in God such ioy and pleasure tooke That at my héeles all earthly pompe I cast By this the houre of death approached fast The Gard gaue sign with halbards bright in hand I must prepare on Skaffold streight to stand The stréetes were full of souldiers armed well With shot and match and all belongs for warre I saw in house I could no lonâ—er dwell For people said the day was spent full farre Then ope the doore qd I draw backe the barre I will goe hence to better home I trust Here is no hope I see that die I must To comfort sence and strengthen vitall sprete I tasted foed and dranke a draught of wine And pawsde a while as I thought fit and méete But sure no dread of death within mine eine Was seene for God by speciall grace deuine Held vp my heart and head as high to shoe As when from home I did a walking goe Milde words I gaue when bitter spéech I hard So passed through them all with manly chéere And did no more this world nor earth regard Then though in deede I neuer had beene here But when in sight the Skaffold did appeare My minde was bent to fight the battle out And conquere death and banish feare and dout So stept I vp on Skaffold lightly than Where sundry came to aske me many a thing I lookte to God and made small count of man Saue that alowd I saide God blesse the King God giue him grace in peace the state to bring And shunne the harmes and dangers ore his head To finde on earth long life when I am dead Had I serud God aswell in euery sort As I did serue my king and maister still My scope had not this season beene so short Nor world haue â—ad the power to doe me ill But loe I liude against my makers will That feeles my flesh that feeles my soule alas That fault I feare where now my soule shall passe That that good Lord forgiue whilst breath I haue It is the sinne that to this world I brought It buried shall be with my flesh in graue It is a sore and sickenesse of the thought It is most vaine a wretched thing of nought A wicked wound that death doth heale alone Dwels last in flesh and first was bred in bone Pray you for me that sets your sinnes by mine And such as doe professe the faith I hold Marke who I am that here by power diuine Am forst this daie my conscience to vnfolde Looke neerely both to your owne Faults vntolde And pray as well for me with humble minde As for your selues that here I leaue behinde My matter stands before the iudge of all Men haue condemnd my body to the tort When that great iudge will for a reckning call Both you and I shut vp in sentence short Shall soone be known who gaines the best report There accuse ne small nor great this day My part is plaide and I must passe my way The faith this howre that all the Realme doth know I die in here and seale it with my blood To other faith beware bend not your bowe The râ—tten string will breake and doe no good Whilst in this land such trash aâ—d tromprie stood God was not pleasd the King not serude aright And we did walke in darkenes stead of light Good â—earers all my babes and children deere I brought you vp full long in this beliefe Your regent ones now preacheth to you here Chaunge not my barns religion to your griefe Serue first your God next honor King as chiefe This lesson keepe and so good friends adiew The dead from quicke so takes his leaue of you Thus full resolude temptation to resist Great time I stood and talkte in stoutest shoe Of sondry things as freely as I list But waying then that hence the soule must goe And that my necke must bide the blouddy bloe I stretched armes as hie as I could heaue So turnd my backe and did the audience leaue The heauenly hope that heart doth long vphold Did hale me hence and bad dispatch in haste As firme as rocke I stood say what they would For after this I spake no word in waste Then downe I lay and balefull blocke embraste And there receiude the blow as are did fall That cut me cleaue from cares and cumbers all The gasping head as in the Lorde I slept A vision had ye may the fame suppose I dreamde it saw how friende
and play most filthy prankeâ— They sharpe the sword that sheads the guiltles bloud They least deserue and alwaies gets most thankes They feed the stream that breaks the mighty banks They are the sheares that marrs the garment quite They haue the tongs that spares no speach nor spite They are the Babes still dandled on the knee And those are they rootes vp the soundest tree If fawners ded the house of mighty men And 〈◊〉 folke would frowne on fawning curres Deceipt should shunne the noble houses then And veluet wéedes should shake off cleaning burres But stirring stéedes are prickt that néeds no spurres Thâ—â— Palfray flings and flounceth out of frame That els of kinde were curteous meeke and tame A iombling iob doth strike the bowle awry Which of himselfe would close on bias lie For noble bloud must needs haue noble minde And fâ—ie the gate of fawcon gentle milde And sure it is against their noble kinde To play the Kite and cruell Coistrelâ— wilde Till tatlers come with tongues full finely filde And change their moodes and marre their manners cleane They skarce doe knowe what cankred hate doth meane But when from best to worst the good are wrought By busie braines all sortes of sleights are sought Then burnes the brest as hot as Ethna hill And rage beares rule where reason dwelt before The hasty head is swift to slay and kill The hauty heart hurds vp much hate in store The altred minde doth make the mischiefe more The kindled coales doth creepe in straw so farre That quarrels rise and peace is turnd to warre One haleth backe another drawes aside And weakest bones must needes the brunt abide As I aspierd by vertue and desarte And was by Prince cald vnto credite still So some by sleight did séeke to sucke my heart And of my bloud did thirst to drinke their fill They sought to stop the Water from the mill And turne the whéele and all the ioints awry Loe heare how cloase the swelling Serpents lie Loe how they cast their venome as they may And marke what hate they gaine that beareth sway For that I grew full great with Robert Vear A Noble man full wise and mighty both And had the guide of good Prince Edwards ear To show therein my duety faith and troth Great mallice rose as grudging daily groth Twéene many men that cannot rule their rage Almighty Duke there was well stept in age That sought to reape the corne that I had sowne And could not rest till I was quite orethrowne My roulmes and rule and things that I had gote My gaine my wealth and glory as it grew Was in his eie so bigge a mighty mote That loe this Duke my plague did still pursue UUith open mouth he so the bellows blue That sparkes of fire as thick flew in my face As in the sunne the gnatts do flie at chace Or as the ball rebounds at euerie stroke So lo his words did smore mée vp in smoke The dreadfull Duke did driue a wondrous drift To worke his will with slipperie sleight of hand And sought to giue king Richards friends a lift For whom he did prepare a secret band Whose bold attempts did trouble all this land But few could find the darnell in the corne Or iudge aright the rose from pricking thorne So close in cloud was clokte their cunning art That none could know who plaide the Foxes part This Duke did rayse a brute the king would haue A fare most straunge of all the realme throughout And to the Lords and Commons councell gaue Against the king to stand both stiffe and stout This practise proude was patcht with many a clout Heere did the wolfe lead silly lambes amisse And suckt their bloud as woluish manner is Heere traytrous tricks and treble trothlesse traynes In subiects brests beganne to spreade their vaynes The Duke of Yorke and diuers noble Péeres Forsooke the king and held with this vprore By which great strife was sowne in sundry Shieres And corzies rose that made a running sore Bigge viles brast out where flesh was sound before And though some time the Surgeon salue did find To heale the wound the skarre remaynde behind A common plague doth creepe along the Realme As skulls of fish swimmes vp and down the streame The greatest townes and Citties of most name As London Yorke and many mo beside These Dukes did drawe with folly out of frame And made some striue against both streame and tide Where banks be broke the water cannot bide Where flouds flooe out the fish doe â—ollow fast And then too late to call againe is past The Swallow flies no swifter vnder winge Then mens deuice that do forsake a King For fayth once staynde séekes straight for starting holes As Prisners do that hath their promise broke The seames once ript of shue farewell the soles The Oxe set frée will séeke to shunne the yoke The chimney bruste the house is full of smoke The fleuce drawne vp downe driues the dregs and all The strongest tript the weakest néeds must fall There is no stay to holde meane people in When might with mayne the mischiefe doth begin The Lords alledgd the King was gouernd still By such as came from base and poore estate And sayde he should no longer haue his will By which bolde speach there grew so great debate The land was bent on murther ruyne and hate Now seuerall waies from hiue flue out the Bées Now tempests came and tare vp mightie trees Now traytors flockt and fell to factions straunge Whose fickle mindes still gaped for a chaunge O Uipers broode and bloodie bosome snakes O Butchers curres that would your maister byte O Helhoundes rude of Plutos lothsome Lakes O cursed crue more cruell then the Kyte O cankred hartes so fraught with frowarde spite O Tygers wilde O monstruous men most vile Where was your loue and duty all this while How durst you speake so stoutly to his face To whom of right the stoutest ought giue place Among brute beasts that sauage are and wilde The Lion raignes and rules with regall power And so great birds stoupes downe like little childe To fathers becke if Eagle doth but lowre Than on a king dare people looke so sowre That they will force their soueraigne past their reach No scholler ought his learned tutor teach No member dare presume to rule the head None raignes rules but kings when all is sed Note how they shrinke that shapes to giue a shocke Against a king and marke how traytors spéede Note how their heads do tumble off the blocke That with vaine hope doe peoples humors féede And note from whence doth princes power procéede And note withall how farre doth stretch his fame And faulters quake that doe but heare his name For at the brunt say héere a king doth come Home run poor knaues down they fling the drome Harke how this Duke whereof I spake before By three estates vnto accompt did call Their
Soutch quarrell with Captaine Randall then Maior of the fielde And Mayster Soutch did vrge through ill words and stout language Captaine Randall verye farre which might haue mooued any manne living But Captaine Randall in a manner vsed those words that the Italian had done before expressed and going further on in communication commaunded the Souldiours to lay handes on Maister Soutch and swore hee would execute him and learne all other by his boldnesse to knowe their duties And when Mayster Soutch was stayed well qouth Captaine Randall since thou hast challenged mee I will not vse my power and authoritie ouer thee But by the fayth of a souldier when I am out of the Sergeaunt Maiors roume I will meete thee and make thy heart ake for those wordes thou haste giuen excepte thou repent before of thy lewde demeanour Mayster Soutch hauing disgested and wisely waighed this matter being talked withall of the Captaines in the campe came like a Gentleman on himselfe and acknowledged his fault most dutifully and with great repentaunce for which submission of his hee was the better thought on after This shewes and declares that an auncient souldiour and Officer hath a great Priuilege and not be compared with nor offered any iniurie because hee carries the admiration of the people and the honour of the field Yee shall find written in the Spanish and the Language of the Portugall which Portugalles founde out the Easte Indians that there was a mightie King of Calicute and many other Kinges in the Indians whose Souldiours were all Gentlemen and did liue euer on the sâ—ipend that the King allowed them And those Souldiours had many Priuileges and titles of honour and stood so much on their reputation that they would not touch a Husband mans handes nor suffer a Rusticall fellowe to come into their houses And the Husbande men were bounde when the Souldiours goe in the streetes to crie with a loude voyce to make place for the Souldiours For if those Gentlemen did come and bid the Common people goe out of the waie and they doe not obay their commaundement therein It was sufferable for the Gentlemen Souldiours to kill those obstinate and proude people And furthermore the King could not make Gentlemen iâ— they were not borne of some Noble stocke of the race of Souldiours They could not take their weapons nor enter into Combate before they were armed Knightes They must at the age of seauen yeares bée put to learne to play with all Weapons and to the ende they shoulde bee perfect their Maysters doe hale their armes verie farre out thereby to stretch their limmes and afterwarde they teach them such Fence as is apt for that purpose They did by an ordinaunce and custome of theirs honour and salute their Maysters that hadde taught them at the Weapons which were Graduates and cunninge menne wheresoeuer they mett them in the stréete They were bound twoo Monethes in the yeare to plie their schoole and take a Lesson at their Maysters handes By which reason they were verie skilfull of their Weapons and for that cause they greatlye estéemed themselues They coulde not bee knighted but by the Kinges owne handes who asked them before he layde his hande on their heades if they could obserue and keepe the custome and ordinaunce of gentlemenne Souldiours and they sayde and aunswered the king They minded to take that profession of Armes vppon them and so the king caused a Sworde to be girded about them and after embraceth those Gentlemen so knighted then they did sweare to liue and die with him and for him which oath they would keepe and obserue For if theyr Lord were slayne in the Warre they would fight to their last breath and kill him that had slayne theyr King Or if at that instaunt they could not bring their purpose to effecte they would watch and spie out a conuenient season for the perfourmaunce of their promisse and oath And vndoubtedlie some of them woulde reuenge their Maysters death They hadde a great regarde to their duety and endeuoure They thought nothinge so precious as fidelitie and their Princes fauour They cared not for life so glorye might bee gotten by theyr death They serued most faythfullye vnder them that gaue them intertaynemente They spared nothing but spent liberally They applied their onely studies for the mainteinaunce of their king and Countrey They would not suffer any dishonour nor offer anye iniurie They thought it a double death to loose their good name They made no accompt of their meat money sléepe or ease and little estéemed their owne liues or persons when they should make proofe and shewe of their manhood Their wages and stipende was so much and so well payde that euerye one of them might liue gallantlye and the meanest might keepe to waite on him a man or a boye The Lawe was that they might not marrie and yet hadde Lemmans and Women appoynted by order which they kepte and vsed well and all quarrells was auoyded by that meanes For they might not companie with their women but at certaine seasons appoynted Thus they past ouer theyr life time without the care and trouble of Wife and Children They might forsake vppon a good cause anye of their Lemmans And their Women might at their owne willes forsake the menne All those that accompanied these Souldiours were Gentlewoman and of good birth but might not bee married to anie person after shée hadde béene at the Souldiours commaundement And because many men by their often chaunging happen to haue the companye of one Woman they fathered not any Child though it were neuer so much like them and therefore their Brothers children did alwayes inherite their Landes and goodes And this Lawe that those Gentlemen Souldiours should not marrie was made by a King that woulde not haue a manne of Warre to fixe his loue on a wife and children nor thereby to waxe féeble spirited and effeminate But the king ordained because these Gentlemen should haue no womannish manners nor minds that they should haue all thinges at their willes and liue in such libertie as no one thing might drawe them from noble seruice nor commaunde them to seruile drudgerie And because they should be the more animated to liue in noble order and encouraged to serue well they were priuileged that no man might imprison them for anye cause nor they might not bee put to death by anye meane of ordinarie iustice Howbeit when one killed another or did sleepe with a Countrey Woman or did speake euill of the king then raigning Then would the king hauing iuste and true information of the matter make a Writing and sende the same to a head Officer commaunding him to cutte in péeces the offendour wheresoeuer hee was founde And after hee was deade there should bee hanged about him the kinges Writing to shewe the people wherefore hee suffered but no Law nor Iustice coulde touche him before the king had iustlye condempned him So by this Libertie and honour that Souldiours had is
well to bee séene that none by Caesar might meddle with men of Warre And it séemeth this libertie was fetched from Alexanders dayes who called his olde souldiours Noble men and gaue them noble priuileges and rewardes to cause the Worlde that did followe to augmente their renowne and spreade theire fame to the highest Heauens that haue beene valliant on earth and Noble of minde Which great foresight of Alexander and other great Princes to aduaunce Souldiours hath made menne more like Gods than earthly creatures and done such good to the Worlde thereby that there is no Worlde but will make of men of Warre and giue place to the goodnesse of those that striue by stoutnesse of heart and labour of bodie to enlarge the limmets and boundes of his Countrey The effect of this aboue expressed was drawne out of Spanish and remaines among Christians as a matter worthy noting though Infidells did obserue them Now though a man haue had charge and borne a number of Offices yet the name of an old soldiour beautifies his title But yet perticularly I will goe through the offices as breefly as I maie and therein shew who may iustlie bée called Gentlemen among them A Collonell a Captaine and Ensigne bearer A Lieutenaunt a Corporall a Sergeant of the band and old souldiour though hée neuer bare any office are all gentlemen graunting and allowing that none of the officers were made for affection at home But had their beginning by seruice in the Feelde and aâ—e knowne of good courage and conduct and well experimented in Marshâ—all affaires The rest of other officers that haue noble roumes and places in the Campe néedes no setting out for all men know such officers as are chosen and made by the most noble in any gouernement are not to bee treated off for that euerye souldiour giues them due honour and place You may not looke for at my hands the originall discourse of all gentlemen albeit I go as farre as I dare in that behalfe For I loue not to meddle with thankelesse labour and would be lothe to roue beyond my reach and knowledge in a matter that my betters as yet haue not dealt withall For a doubtfull attempt brings a dangerous construction And with drawing a strong Bow a weake arme waxeth weary Wherfore I go no further in this matter desâ—ring the Reader to bear with my boldnes herein and regard souldiers as they deserue FINIS TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull Sir Iohn Sauage Knight one of the Lieutenants of Cheshire MY good and affectionate Worshipfull friend for manie curtesies I promised to dedicat some verses vnto you and finding no subiect better to write vpon then the maintenance of Hospitalitie I thought a little to touche the losse of time and charges that a number of Gentlemen spendeth at London not anie whit thereby blemishing the good bruite of that honorable Cittie so I praie you vnderstand me but shewing the inconuenience that commeth by ouer great charges bestowed and spent where nothing is gathered againe nor reaped at the last but repentance or such colde acquaintance as when money is gone will scarse knowe a man in time of necessity this being spoken generally of all the places and Citties in the worlde where men shall finde but strangenes when their owne wealth and estate begins to decline A Discourse of Gentlemen lying in London that were better keepe house at home in their Countrey I Muse why youth or age of gentle blood Borne vnto wealth and worldly worship héere In London long consumes both land and good That better were at home to make good chéere In London still they finde all vittells déere Hoist vp a height to bring our purses low And send men home with empty bags yée know The stréetes with fields may neuer matched be For all swéete aire at will abroad we finde What is it then in London that they sée But Countrey yéeldes and better glads the minde Perhaps some say the people are so kinde And curteous to in stately ciuill Towne As men thereby wins credite and renowne First for they séeme in Citty fresh and fine Most gay to eie and gallant as a rose But shall a man for pleasure of his eien And pompe or pride of painted goodly cloes He sees abroad at home his credite lose Our Elders did not so delight in trashe And tempting toyes that brings a man in lash For when they came to London there to stay They sent fat béenes before them for their store And went sometimes a shooting all the way With all their traine and houshold that is more Yet were they not at no lesse charge therefore Kept house in Ins and fedde the poore thereby That in hard world may now for hunger die They taried not in Towne to card and dice Nor follow long lewd lusts that lothsome are Which breedes rebuke and fosters secrete vice And makes tame birds to fall in Satans snare They loude plaine robes but hated purses bare Made much of men gaue neighbors béefe and bred Yet left their aires great wealth now they are dead Their care was still to kéepe good house and name Spend they might spare yet spare where cause they found And librall be when bounty purchast fame And let floud runne where water did abound Rulde all with wit and wary Iudgement sound Not bent in braues great hauocke for to make But drawne and moâ—de to spend for vertues sake Gaue much to poore that craude an almes at gate Kept buttry dore for straungers open still Made neighbours eate that earely came or late By which they wonne the Countreys great good will Could serue the Prince with coundit men and skill With their owne charge and pors a rare thing now That seelde is seene with loue and power throw They raisd no rents to make the tenant whine Nor clapt no yoke on friendly neighbours necke Nor made poore folke find fault with cuâ—â—hroat fine But had the hearts of people at a becke As we haue now our seruants vndâ—r checke O how plaine men would follow Landlord than Like swarmes of Bees when any warres began Yea glad was he that might with maister goe Though charge and wife be lest at home behinde In this fine world the manner is not so Hard handling makes men shew another minde Then loyall loue made mens affection blinde Now can they sée and will doe what they list Cast of like Hawkes comes when they please to fist What change finde you yong maisters in these daies What hath drawn backe the forward minds of men What makes somtime prâ—st souldier run his waies What makes this world much worse then world was then I dare not now expresse the cause with pen. But lay your hands vppon your brest and winke And you shall gesse what of these thinges I thinke Gay golden robes and garments pownced out Silke laide on sâ—â—ke and stitched ore the same Great losse and play and keeping reuell route With grosser knackes I list not now
drops of claret wine The beaten snow nor Lily in the field No whiter sure then naked necke and hand My lookes had force to make a Lyon yeeld And at my forme in gase a world would stand My body small framd finely to be spand As though dame kind had sworne in solemne sort To shrowd herselfe in my faire forme and port No part amisse when nature tooke such care To set me out as nought should be awry To fornish forth in due proportion rare A péece of worke should please a princes eie O would to God that boast might proue a lie For pride youth tooke in beauties borrowde trash Gaue age a whippe and left me in the lash My shape some saide was séemely to each sight My countenance did shewe a sober grace Mine eies in lookes were neuer proued light My tongue in wordes was chast in euery case Mine eares were deafe and would no louers place Saue that alas a Prince did blot my browe Loe there the strong did make the weake to bowe The maiestie that kings to people beare The stately port the awefull cheere they showe Doth make the meane to shrinke and couch for feare Like as the hounde that doth his maister knowe What then since I was made vnto the bowe There is no cloake can serue to â—ide my fault For I agréede the fort he should assault The eagles force subdues ech bird that flies What mettall may resist the flaming fire Doth not the Sun dasill the cléerest eyes And melt the yse and make the frost retyre Who can withstand a puissant kings desire The stiffest stones are perced through with tooles The wisest are with Princes made but fooles Yf kinde had wrought my forme in common frames And set me forth in colours blacke and browne Or beautie had beene parcht in Phoebus flames Or shamefast wayes had pluckt my fethers downe Then had I kept my fame and good renowne For natures gifts were cause of all my griefe A pleasaunt pray entiseth many a théefe Thus woe to thée that wrought my peacocks pride By cloathing me with natures tapestry Woe worth the hewe wherein my face was dyde Which made me thinke I pleased euery eie Like as the starres make men beholde the skye So beauties showe doth make the wise full fond And brings free harts full oft in endlesse bond But cléere from blame my friends can not be found Before my time my youth they did abuse In mariage yoke a prentise was I bound When that méere loue I knewe not how to vse But wel away that cannot me excuse The harme is mine though they deuisde my care And I must smart and sit in slaunderous snare Yet giue me leaue to pleade my cause at large Yf that the horse doe run beyonde his race Or any thinge that kéepers haue in charge Doe breake their course where rulers may take place Or meate be set before the hungries face Who is in fault th'offender yea or no Or they that are the cause of all this woe Note well what strife this forced mariage makes What lothed liues doe come where loue doth lacke What scratching briâ—rs doe growe vpon such brakes What common weales by it are brought to wracke What heauy loade is put on patients backe What strange delights this branch of vice doth bréed And marke what graine springs out of such a seede Compell the hauke to sit that is vnmande Or make the hounde vnraind to drawe the deere Or bring the free against his will in band Or moue the sad a pleasant tale to here Your time is lost and you no whit the nere So loue ne learnes of force the knot to knit She serues but those that féeles swéete fancies fit The lesse defame redounds to my dispraise I was muste by traines and trapt by trust Though in 〈◊〉 force remained yeas and nayes Unto my friends yet needes consent I must In euery thing yea lawâ—ull or vniust They breake the bowes and shake the trée by sleight And bend the wand that mought haue growne full straight What helpe is this the pale thus broken downe The deere must needes in danger run astray At me therefore why should the world so frowne My weakenes made my youth a Princes pray Though wisdome should the course of nature stay Yet try my case who list and they shall proue The ripest wits are soonest thralls to loue What néede I more to cleere my selfe so much A king me wan and had me at his call His royall state his princely grace was such The hope of will that women seeke for all The ease and wealth the gifts which were not small Beâ—â—eged me so strongly round about My powre was weake I could not holde him out Duke Hanniball in all his conquest great Or Caesar yet whose triumphes did exceed Of all their spoyles which made them toyle and sweate Were not so glad to haue so rich a méede As was this prince when I to him agreede And yéelded me a prisner willingly As one that knewe no way away to fly The Nightingale for all his merry voyce Nor yet the Larke that still delights to sing Did neuer make the hearers so reioyce As I with wordes haue made this worthy King I neuer iarde in tune was euery string I tempred so my tongue to please his eare That what I saide was currant euery where Sweete are the songs that merry-night crow singes For many parts are in those charming notes Swéete are the tunes and Pipes that pleaseth kings Sweete is the loue wherein great Lordings dotes But swéetst of all is fancie where it flotes For throwe rough seas it smoothly swimmes away And in déepe flouds where skulles of fish doe play And where loue slides it leaues no signe nor showe Where it hath gon the way so shuts againe It is a sport to heare the fine night-crow Chaunt in the queere vpon a pricke song plaine No musicke more may please a princes vaine Then descant strange and voice of faurets breesâ— In quiet bower when birds be all at rest No such consort as plaine two parts in one Whose rare reports doth carry cunning clean Where two long loues and liues in ioy alone They sing at will the treble or the meane UUhere musicke wants the mirth not worth a beanâ— The king and I agreed in such concorde I ruld by loue though he did raigne a Lord. I ioynd my talke my iestures and my grace In wittie frames that long might last and stand So that I brought the King in such a case That to his death I was his chiefest hand I gouernd him that ruled all this land I bare the sword though he did weare the Crowne I strake the stroke that threwe the mightie downe If iustice said that iudgement was but death With my sweete wordes I could the King perswade And make him pause and take therein a breath Till I with suite the fautors peace had made I knewe what way to vse him in his trade I had
people good Now bid al wiues defie this deuilish arte For my conceite is such a deadly darte That where I goe or walke in any place Me thinkes my faults are written in my face This discarded Gentlewoman went awalking twentye yeares and yet cannot finde the waie home to her husband FINIS To the right Worshipfull my Ladie Wawllar wife to the Souldioer-like Knight Sir VVater Wawllar I Had almost good Madam forgotte what I promised of my self touching a Book to be Printed yet at the kniting vp of a tedius tale I remeÌ„bred how to keepe promise and a friend bethought me of som matter pertaining to that cause waying that light and slender discourses became not me to offer nor your Ladishippe to heare So happening on a dolefull and tragicall Treatise I preferd it to your reading knowing that some humor of sorrow or sorrowfull penned matter would be answerable to your graue consistderation in which discourse following are numbers of heauie causes tâ—eated on and touched so narrowlie with a cleare conceite of the writer that no one point or other pertaining to a ruefull rehearsall of troubles is forgotten And though the tale seemeth long the varietie and life of words it bringeth shall I doubt not shorten the time that is spent in reading for that euerie passion of mind trouble of bodie and disquietnesse of the Soule is amplie and plainelie explained and vnfolded by that which followeth translated out of another language taught to speake English to those that vnderstandeth the heauie haps of such as haue fallen into misfortune so knitting vp my Booke with this discourse I expresse the matter I haue spoken of A DOLLFVLL DISCOVRSE OF A great Lorde and a Ladie Translated out of French into English DRaw néere good mindes that sadly markes the sway of worldly broyles And heare what I at large can say of troubles tumbling toyles Which did befall in forraine Land tweene two of Noble race To whose mishap and hatefull fate a world it selfe giues place Not long agoe the case so stood a Lord of great estate In natiue Soyle by destnies loâ— a Ladies fauour gate With whom he ioynde a hazard great his liking led him so That neyther feare of frowning Gods nor dread of earthly â—oe Could make him staine his plighted troth such constant mind hee bare For which this noble Fawkon may with turtle true compare But well away alas for woe his griefe thereby beganne In Prince displeasure throw this prank fell â—o this Noble man And Cesar frowing on the fact there was no other boote But flie the Realme or prostrate fall Full flat at Cesars foote O states by this come learne to stoupe no stoutnesse can preuayle When from the Heauens stormes do blow and striketh downe your sayle From thunder cracks both man and beast yea Sunne and Moone doth flie The Earth and all that liues below doth feare the ratling skie When Gods are moued in lowring clouds like dusky Mantles blacke The troubled ayre to mortall men doth threaten ruine and wracke I turnde my talke from such Discourse and treat of that turmoyle Which long this Knight and Ladie felt at home in Countrey soyle And somewhat of the cares abroade that hee perforce did taste I meane to write so that as troth my verses bee embraste For troth and time that tries out Gold â—ath tempreâ— so my talke That penne nor muse no pleasures takes on doubtfull ground to walke Now when these states with linkes of loue were tyds together fast And many a sad and heauy thought betweene them both had past Of Princes grace and fauour great to which regard they tooke As chiefest thing and onely cause Whereon they ought to looke They wayde in ballance of their breastes what â—ittest serude their turnes And like as wood takes flame of fire and so to Sinders burnes So through the heape of this mishapp they felt such sorrow thoe As though hard destnie swore they should consume themselues with woe The Ladie lost her fréedome straight the Gods had so decréed Her knight by sodaine flight abroad made vertue of a néede And liuing there with lingring hope in forraine Countrey straunge Where absence might through present toyes in some men worke a chaunge Hée stoode as firme as marble stone and kept both troeth and toutch To her who found few friendes at home and heartes disease was much Yea though this knight with offers great and treasure tempted was As they full well can witnesse beare which saw this matter pas Yet small account of Fortune new hee made for still in breast Was shrinde the Sainct that stonie walles and prison had possest No feere nor friend nor fellow-mate this Troylus mind might moue This Fawcon scornd to pray abroad at home hee left his loue Full many a sigh and heauie looke hee sent along the Seas And wisht himselfe in fetters fast to doe his Ladie ease What griefe of mind and torment strange shée suffred all that while Is knowen to those that bondage féeles whose friendes are in exile Could mischiefe fall on both the sides more harder then it did The one from ioy and worldly pomp in prison closely hid The other forst by fatall chaunce to seeke his fortune out And shonning daunger found â—ispayre in wandring Worlde about But waying well a Subiectes State and what was duties boundes Hee yeelded straight to open harmes for feare of secret woundes And ventring life yea Landes and goodes to heepe his name from blot And to requite with hazardes hard the loue that hee had got From Spaine with speede he did returne and setting foote on Lande Hee put his cause in Iustice dome and Noble Princes hande Though in the yoke with free consent the humble heart did fall The heauens stoode so out of tune hee gate no grace at all And clapped vp full fast in hold a Prisoners parte hee playes Where griping griefes gréeuous grones consumde his gladsome dayes Whiles hee aloofe full long remaynde and out of daunger crepte The dolfull Dame in great dispayre his absence sore bewept Yet great regard to promise past shee had as world well wist And therefore often wrong her handes when that her Knight shée mist. But now began the boistrous blastes to blow in bloudy brest And now the gulfe of sighes and sobs burst out with great vnrest For lo one house held both these wights yet both a sunder were And bâ—th in like displeasure stoode yea ech of both did feare Of Princes wrath and worlds disgrace a heauy tale to tell A plague past hope of heauens blisse a torment and a hell That is without redemption sure but what should more be saide Thus vnder locke and barred dores these Iewels safely laide They must abide the happy hours that God appoints in skies And drinke vp water swéete or sowre or what shal happe to rise The prison then did plead their case the wals both deafe and dum Did show by signes of fréedome gone what sorrowes were