not rather rome abroad To séeke some pleasaunt sporte Then to be pend in study fast Like souldier in a forte To hawke to hunt to carde to dice To sing to daunce to play And can there bée more pleasaunt meanes To driue away the day To tosse the buckler and the blade Lewd women to entice Are not these vertues most estéemde And had in greatest price To lend ech man a firiendly looke And vse the glosers arte In outward shew to beare good will And hate him with our heart Are not such men as flatter best In euery coast estéemde Is not Tom teltroath euery where A busie cockscombe déeme It is a world to sée the sotte To haue a checke hée knowes And yet the noddy neuer linnes Mens vices to disclose Hée euer telles men of their faultes Such is his rude behauiour When hée by speaking nought at all Might purchase greater fauour Who countes it not a wisemans parte To runne with hare and hound To say and vnsay with one breath So winning may bée found Wherefore reioyce set cocâ—e on hoope Let nothing make thée sad Bée mery héere when thou art dead No mirth can then bée had Thus wanton will would euery day Still whisper in mine eare And wit which could not then be heard Was fled I know not where Who tries the hazard of the seas By sturdy tempest tost If that a drunkard guide their ship Are they not quickly lost How like I pray you is hée then Toâ— suffer shipwracke still VVhose wit and wisdome gouernde is By his vnruly will This Pilot vile in mée long time Did maisters roome supply Till good Aduice did tell mée plaine I ranne my course awry Hée spyed a time to breake his minde When Will was gone apart And thus to mée he did vnfolde The secretes of his heart O Man for whome Christ on the crosse His precious blood did spill What dost thou meane in mundane toyes To spend thy time so ill Dost thou not thinke that God hath eies To sée thy vile abuse What shew of reason canst thou bring Thy rashnes to excuse Did Christ sustaine must bitter death All sinneâ—â— to redâ—eme And wilt thou wallow still in lust And not his lawes estéeme If he by death and no meanes els Mens sinfull soules could saue Doest thou then thinke by wanton life Eternall ioyes to haue Too too too much thou art deceaude If so thou doe beléeue That he to haue men liue in vice Himselfe to death would geue With vpright eye peruse his lawes And thou shalt cléerely sée Into what sinkes of deadly sinne Thy will hath carried thée Thine eyes doe sée thine eares doe heare Thy senses all doe serue thée Yet canst thou neyther heare nor sée Such thinges as should preserue thée In earthly toyes thou canst discerne That which may best auayle thée But in such thing as touch thy soule Thy eyesight still doeth fayle thée O what a madnesse moues thy minde Thou séest and hast thy senses Yet wilt thou blindly wallow still In filth of vile â—ffences It better were for one to be Of sight depriued cléere Then sée to sinne and not sée that Which chiefly should be séenâ— Take héede therefore at length repent Its better late then neuer For Christ the Cockle from the corne At haruest will disseuer At day of doome the good and bad Shall not alike remayne The good shall taste vncessant ioyes The bad eternall payne Doste thinke that such as tospotlike Set all at sixe and seuen Are in a ready way to bring Their sinfull soules to heauen And those that in great Princes Courtes Doe Ruffian like behaue them Doste déeme that they thereby procure A ready meane to saue them To sweare to stare to bib bowse To flatter glose and lye Is this tell me the stedfast fayth That men are saued by If white be blacke if night be day If true pretence bée treason If fire be colde if senselesse things Fulfill the rule of reason Then may the pleasures of this worlde Be cause of our saluation For otherwise thou must confesse They further our damnation Take héede therefore and warned thus Let not the worlde beguile thée Ne let the lustes of lawlesse flesh With sinfull déedes defile thée Let wilfull will be banisht cleane With all his wanton toyes Which filles thy head with vayne delightes In stéede of stedfast ioyes Note well my wordes still serue the Lorde Repent and sinne no more Christ hath for true repentaunt heartes Great mercie still in store When good aduice had tolde this tale Prostrate I downe did fall And humbly holding vp my handes Thus on the Lorde did call OMighty God which for vs men Didst suffer on the Crosse The payneful pangues of bitter death To saue our soules from losse I yéeld thée héere most hearty thankes In that thou doest vouchsaue Of me most vile and sinfull wretch So great regard to haue Alas none euer had more cause To magnifie thy name Then I to whom thy mercies shewde Doe witnesse well the same So many brunts of fretting foes Who euer could withstand If thou hadst not protected me with thy most holy hand A thousand times in shamefull sort My sinfull life had ended If by thy gratious goodnesse Lorde I had not byn defended In stinking pooles of filthy vice So déepely was I drownde That none there was but thée alone To set my foote on ground Whenas the fiend had led my soule Euen to the gates of hell Thou caldst mée backe and doest me choose In heauen with thée to dwell Let furies now fret on their fill Let Sathan rage and rore As long as thou art on my side What néede I care for more MY Prayer sayde me thought I felt Such quiet in my mynde As shipmen after tempest past In wished harbour finde My wil woulde then no more presume To rule in reasons place For good aduice would bée at hand His doyngs to disgrace Who tolde me playne that wanton will Did alwayes serue the Diuell And was his busiest instrument To stirre vp men to euill Although the gallant be so braue And sell such pleasures here They that best cheape doe buy the same Shall find it all too déere Yet they that woulde aduenture there The Diuell and all may gayne With euery inch of pleasant ioyes He selles ten Elles of payne If that thou wisely wilt foresée Such winnings to eschew Ere beggery take thée by the backe Doe byd the Court adew Hencefoorth exile vile wanton will Which is thy chéefest foe Goe get thée home liue to thy selfe And let all courting goe Experience now should make thée know What vice in court doth rayne And tract of time shoulde teach thée shunne Her pleasures mixt with payne Though some may dayly there be séene That follow vertue still Which honour God obey their Prince And flie from dooyng ill Yet sure of them the greatest parte Are carried so away With vayne delightes that they ne thinke Nor mynde their soules decay O that
according to the vse of men nowadayes seing himself to fal out of fauor w t his maister had not rather haue ten burning feuers then lose this his fauor wheras if he had souÌ„d iudgemeÌ„t would not suffer himselfe to be corrupted w t false imagination he ought rather to choose the disfauour of foure maisters then to suffer one onely feuer for that the first is an euil springing onely of opinioÌ„ this is grounded founded in nature it self So likewise semeth it vnto me of pouerty y t if it be an euill w c I beleue not it taketh his original onely of y e fantasies thoughts of men of weak vnderstaÌ„ding hauing no foundatioÌ„ at all in nature And therfore Iesus Christ our sauiour most prudeÌ„tly diuinely coÌ„forted not only his disciples but al the poore also w t this goodly most beautiful exaÌ„ple of two sparowes Is not man saith Christ of greater price then twoo sparowes hath not God greater regard of him then of these litle byrds yet they want nothing that is néedful for theyr sustenance Shal any thing be wanting theÌ„ vnto men w t are had in greater estimatioÌ„ both w t God nature And verily it is not to be doubted but that pouerty riches sprang first of the diuisioÌ„ of dominions being brought in rather by the gréedines ambition of men then by any order of nature O blessed be yée litle beasts you féele not at al those pearcings priuy bytings of pouerty but liue freely and ioyfully in the pure law of nature without encombring your selues with eyther riches or pouerty Let pouerty bée what shée will I knowe not wherefore wée shoulde accounte of her when as she is not of the things that are within vs but reckoned in the number of those that are without vs. For man is made and framed of soule and body onely and it is not necessary to the composition of him that there shoulde appertayne a soule a body and riches Now if pouerty be not of the thinges within vs but without vs what euil I pray you can shée doe vs Surely it must be muche lesse then that which offendeth the parts of which we are truely composed sicknesse and diseases make death seeme vnto vs more bitter then gall likewise ignorance dulnesse enuie sinne and wickednesse corrupt the beauty of our soules of these in parte we are framed But what hath pouerty to doe with vs shée hath respect as hath béene sayde to the thinges without vs and shoulde not anoy vs if we enemies to our owne selues tooke not her dartes in our handes and with them most bitterly pearced our owne soules But I say vnto you farther that the restlesse griefe the lothsome irkesomnesse and cruell prickinges that pouerty procureth spring all from one roote which is the desire of superfluous things Take away the desire of those thinges that are néedelesse and all this troublesome Sea will presently become quiet and calme Of a troth that sentence manifested by the Philosophers celebrated of y e sages allowed by long experience that nature is contented with very fewe thinges is most true Whervpâ—Ì„ Cleanthus gaue vnto men this worthy lessoÌ„ Wilt y u said Cleanthus be quickly rich be thou then poore of desires I pray thée tell me how néedful is it from defending one from the cold to be clothed in veluet purple or gold to be alwaies in sundry fashions These garments bring no helpe vnto nature but increase the smoke of our ambition neither yet can we euer be satisfied wherby we gayne no other thing but to make our vanities the blind cloude of our desires more apparaÌ„t What necessity is there for the féeding of our body sustentation of our life to haue our tables loded with a hundred diuers meates al placed in vessels of siluer gold First this is certaine that if nature desire a measurable quantity of meate for her sustenance y â— which is takeÌ„ more is to the destroying corrupting both of nature life wherby it was wel truely spokeÌ„ that many more are slain by gluttony then by the sword And it is dayly séene that many of them at whome the foolish commonaltie so greatly woonder in the end are paide home with a deserued punishment for their ambitious gluttonie Some replenishing themselues with rhewmes others gaining to themselues the gout other some wasting and consuming their liuer causing their sinewes to shrink others dying miserably long before their time It is manifest also that with their sundry kindes of sauces they haue brought it so to passe that nothing sauoureth of it selfe and that they very seldome eate with appetite or delight O how true is that notable sentence and how well proued at all times That hunger is the best sawce of all others which makes all meates sauerie and delightfull The example of Darius is no lesse true then common who in his flight after a battaile being wearied and drinking a quantitie of muddy water did sweare that in all his life time hée neuer dranke more pleasauntly Beholde therfore the poore men are most rich of those things of which the rich through their blinde vnsatiablenes are most poore Finally it is manifest that this superfluous féeding is an example of crueltie First against theÌ„selues that vse it for because as it is said many are diseased many killed and many brought to miserie Next against a number of the poore who if it were well séene vnto might bée relieued temperately with that which these coÌ„sume immoderately How much better should they doe what more praise might they deserue both of God the world if restraining their diet to an honest temperat moderatioÌ„ al that which is vainly spent were by them conuerted into some better vse either in marrying some maides or in giuing exhibition to yong men addicted to studie or in vsing any other bountifull curtesie Truely I am not of opinion that for being rich they had néede to eat more neither that their welth doubling they should redouble their eating drinking y â— they encreasing these should encrease more also To procéed farther in the matter I say what néede is there for the kéeping vs from the raine the wind and the sunne to dwel in sumptuous pallaces replenished with most costly ornaments as though a little cottage might not bée sufficient to fence and defend vs from such impressions in which also for the most part more rest and safetie is found then in the other What a fondnesse yea what a monstrous appetite was it of Nero when that of all the mount Celio and more hée made but one onely house through which it was doubted least that therein hée would haue swallowed vp all Rome and hée was not ashamed to say that now hée began to lyue as was conuenient for men It pleaseth mée well that sumptuous and stately buildinges bée séene in the world not for any néede and tranquilitie of man
makes them humble and curteous we sée Pallantes the frée man of Clodius to bée out of measure rich we sée him likewise to be passing proude in such sorte that in a long season he would not vouchsafe to speake to any of his seruantes we sée Fabritius to be most poore we sée him therewith very lowlie and pleasant But one example may suffice for a thousand for wee may daily reade heare and see them This first Dowry therefore is to be detested that riches brings with her in that it makes men proude and insolent as that of pouerty is to be beloued in that it makes men humble and curteous Riches make not men onely to be puft vp with pride but also drowneth them in diuers kinds of voluptuous naughtinesse for it maketh them lasciuious vaine giuen to gluttonie alwayes occupied in earthly delightes and wallowing in worldly wantonnesse and filth of the fleshe for that being possessors of great riches they déem it a priuiledge and reckon it in place of great game that by the meanes of them they may feede their superfluous appetites and disordinate affections Wheras the poore acknowledging his estate for the most part liues sparingly temperatelie not so greatly corrupted nor defiled with vaine worldly allurements That Plutarcke saide verie wel tearming pouertie to be an abundant temperance and a strict obseruance of the Lawes in such sort that Arcesilaus was accustomed to say that pouertie was sharpe after the manner of craggie Ithaca but yet brought foorth good sonnes teaching them to abstaine and suffer and making them frugal concluding that it was a notable schoolehouse and open wrastling place for all vertue What shal I say more Riches make men become dispisers of God at the leastwise little acknowledging his power and bountie For the rich man seing himselfe to abound in wealth and encrease in substance semeth in his owne conceite not to stand in need of any other assistance wherefore he verie seldome hath recourse vnto God and seldome prayeth vnto him or is thankefull for his benefites but as it were dependeth of himselfe onely swelling and wondering at his owne wisedome and as one might say playing the Peacock in his felicity Wheras the poore man cōfessing his imbecillity runneth vnto God for refuge acknowledging his bounty cōmits himselfe wholy to his custodie lauding and praysing his name and calling him to his ayde and assistance But riches doe not onely corrupt the will but together therewith are a hinderance and impediment to the vnderstanding for these for the most part accounting it ynough to be rich seldome or neuer geue theyr mindes to good and laudable studies or noble and high contemplations eyther of philosophy or of any other science but rather addict theyr whole endeuours eyther to some vayn friuolous pastimes or to the encrease of their riches Whereof it comes to passe that the true and right end of science is changed into a false and counterfayte For that the right vse to learne science in déede is for the more and better perfecting and ennobling the mind of man But the common sort wrest it cleane contrary accounting the acquiring of substance to be the onely ende of the learning of Science Through which the rich man weaues the webbe of his owne woe saying in himselfe what cause is there that I shoulde trauell my selfe in studie if I be already rich I am come to the end what néede is it then that I haue recourse eyther to the beginning or midst But the poore man mooued eyther with the right or wrong way with great desire and feruent affection followeth his studie Through which it hath béene séene and is séene daily that many poore men by learning attayne vnto great excellency promotion and preferment So that Taletus the noble Philosopher said very well who so affirmeth quoth he that pouerty withdraweth a man frō Philosophy riches enflame him with the desire of it is deceaued greatly O God how many doe we sée hindred rather by abundance of substance then by scarcity is it not euident that the poore for the most part geue themselues to studie that the riche busied in other affaires either cannot or will not follow their learning So much of Taletus But let vs procéede farther Who séeth not that the rich men with great difficultie come to the knowledge of the troth hauing alwayes about them a company of fayned friendes swarme of flatterers Many examples might here be alleadged of rich men that haue bin abused by such dissemblers wheras y ◠poore man is frée from this plague none going about to circumuēt him by flattery it being a thing most manifest that they that professe to be his friends are true friends it being farre from any suspition that they should come to flatter him or fayn to be his friends to the end to pluck his wealth substāce from him who standeth more in néed to be reléeued himself then to giue to others What shal I here speak of the snares that are intended agaynst the rich both towards their substance and persons It were better for the beast called the Castor that he had not those vertuous stones when as for them he is so pursued of the hunters it should be better also for men y ◠they had not these riches whē as so many snares deceits are laid by other men for the getting of them But euen as the Castor as some write of him séeing the hunters pursue him bytes of his stones for the sauegard of the rest of his body so should that rich man doe which séeth himself besieged w t snares and counter watches for his substance rather to choose to cast al away then not to be assured of his life liberty That déede therfore of Crates the Philosopher was woorth the noting who séeing himself encombred and his estate indangered through a great quantity of iewels monie y ◠he had threw all into the Sea saying I had rather drowne you then yée shoulde cause me to perish or be destroyed Great are the nūber of the rich men w t are iniuried and pursued of the mighty to the end to procure their substance from them Wherefore was he that was banished at the instant request of Fuluia so hardly dealt with but that Fuluia woulde haue had his faire house from him The bookes of histories both old and new are replenished with examples of them w t makes me in opinion to be contrary to Anacarsus He said y ◠the lawes were like the spiders web into w t if any light or smal thing fell it there remained but being great it passeth through and brake it asunder Contrariwise I say that they are like vnto y e nets of hunters into the which if any little beast happen he presently passeth through the meshes the nets not béeyng made to that end but if any good beast enter therein as a hare a goate or a Déere he sticketh fast and is taken
being both good and profitable for the hunters Verily the couetous rich man liueth continually in great suspition feare least that his substance be taken from him or that he be beguiled of it or forced to depart with it against his will so that euery shadow séemeth a Bugbeare vnto him euery little stirring in the house disquieteth him so that both at home in his chamber and abroade in his iourney he is neuer without suspition not vnlike the man that is ielous of some woman whom he loueth Whereas the poore man not hauing his brest loaded with such feare and féeling himselfe to bee light in his iourney standes not in doubt to be robbed As that common verse sayeth The man that trauelling by the way no wealth with him doth beare Amids the troopes of theeues may sing not hauing cause of feare AND doubtlesse if it be well considered of the poore man hath but one care which is to procure a little sustenance wherewith to liue but the rich man hath thrée thoughts and cares together The one to conserue the riches that he hath the other how to encrease them the third how to dispose theÌ„ through which it comes to passe that the poore man is replenished with greater hope then feare and of the other part the rich man is assailed more with feare then hope He alwaies hopeth to change his poore estate and miserable fortune into the better béeyng already placed in the lowest degrée that Defilus sayde wâ—ll The man that is most poore most happy is of all For that he neuer feares in worse estate to fall This alwayes doubteth least that his swéete will bee transformed into sower through which it is euident that the poore féeleth a greater tranquillity in his minde being replenished with hope then doth the riche being surprised with feare What farther That pouerty bringeth foorth more woorthy effects then riches not onely in it selfe but in others also For pouerty rayseth pitie compassion in others which are most beautifull vertues in mans minde but riches inflame and stirre them vp to enuie which is a most wicked vice Wherefore if good effectes come of good causes and nanghtie of naughtie causes it is verie likely that pouertie is more vertuous that ingendereth vertue then are riches that produce vices in others What more shal I say that riches procure delightes delightes tendernes and delicasie of the bodie tendernesse and delicasie causeth weakenes and faintnesse through which it happeneth that rich men are lesse able to tollerate trauel heate and colde and other humaine discommodities then the poore are who by a patience perforce are taught to endure all labour and trauell and euery little impression of the ayre neyther are brought down w t euery litle trifling disease as the rich are What farther Riches ingender faintnesse of courage in the possessors of them in that for feare of abandoning of them they wil not aduenture to hazard them selues in any daunger neither for their friendes nor for their kinred nor countrie neither yet for themselues but are alwayes of a timerous and fearefull minde But the poore man not drawne backe with the ielosie of this worldly pelfe sheweth his valure boldely and couragiously exposeth himselfe to perils and daungers for the loue of his freendes countrie What besides this Abundant riches make men sluggish not suffering them to awake to any good exercise wheras pouerty seldom permits them to stand drowsie and idle but awakens them to beautiful inuentions and laudable trauels But let vs consider one point that toucheth rich men to the quicke but the poore nothing so muche All men both by the law of God and nature of necessity must once die But he that aboundes in riches with what griefe and torment doeth he depart this life hee would not leaue his fayre house his gallant village his costly apparrel his braue horses his bright siluer his glittering gold and other infinite commodities and delights that he tasteth in this world which séeing that he must néedes forgoe he is out of measure vexed and through inward griefe killes himselfe before the houre of his death approch But the poore man who takes litle ioy in this world makes no great reckoning to leaue it not tasting that bitter sorow with dying which the rich men féele hoping to inioy a better life in the world to come The poore also in this world haue great consolation and it is no smal comfort vnto them to think that the rich wil they nil they must die and that they are forced in spite of their téeth to forgoe al theyr substance Neither will we omit to say that somtimes honest pouerty bringeth with it more liberty contentment of life then vnmeasurable riches for that is franke and frée this is tyed and bounde to respects and suspitions So that now we perceaue that al is not pleasant delightful that is found in riches nor al vnsauery and bitter that is tried in pouerty but in this much of the swéete and in the other not a litle of the sowre in both séene felt and tasted Now let vs procéed a litle farther And if yée thinke it good let it be graunted that pouerty is euill and contemptuous and hath in it no consolatioÌ„ but truely it hath in it all these comforts of which we haue before made mention which béeing well tasted of the poore man hée shall féele no litle contentment in his pouerty let this be considered farther that he is not onely poore that this euill is not taken from all others and cast on him alone but the number of the poore are vnnumerable when as of the riche there are very few Through which if to haue company in ones aduersity make the euill to séems the lesse howe light should the euil of pouerty be the poore man hauing so great a number of other poore men to associate him Let vs consider farther that pouertie doth not alwayes pinche but onelie then when he féeleth the want of some thing that he greatly néedeth It is not like a quotidian Agewe which whiles it endureth alwayes vexeth and tormenteth a man but this yéeldes the rest and repose first whilest thou sléepest thou hast no féeling of her whereof this auncient Prouerbe tooke his original That in one halfe of theyr life there was no difference betwixt the happy and vnfortunate Further many houres of the day a man thinkes not of it but liues ioyfully as if he were rich and in good case I haue séene many poore men leade their liues so iocundly as did neuer king nor Emperour On the other side I haue knowne many rich men haue theyr myndes alwayes troubled and disquieted as if they were wrapped in extréeme want and misery neuer to laugh neuer to be gladsome nor ioyful wherby I haue noted that the true tranquillity of the mynde springs not of thinges that are without vs but of that delectable musicke and well tempered harmonie of the humayne affections
blooming trée brings forth When warre and strife yéeld crops of care and woe Rash rancours rage procures fond furious fightes Peace makes men swim in feaes of swéet delights If that this peace bée such a passing thing That it by right may challenge worthy prayse What thankes owe wée vnto our heauenly king Through whome we haue enioyde such happy dayes Next to our Quéene how déepely are wée bound Whose like on earth before was neuer found If England would perpend the bloody broyles And slaughters huge that foraine realmes haue tried It should me séemes by warnd by their turmoyles In perfect loue and concord to abide But out alas my heart doeth rue to tell Small feare of God amongst vs now doth dwell And where that wantes what hope doth els remayne But dire reuenge for rash committed crimes Heapes of mishaps will fall on vs amayne If we doe not lament our sinnes betimes Vnlesse with spéede to God for grace we call I feare I feare great plagues on vs will fall England therefore in time conuert from vice The pleasant spring abides not all the yeere Let foraine ylls forewarne thée to be wise Stormes may ensue though now the coastes be cléere I say no more but onely doe request That God will turne all things vnto the best For Souldiers Ye buds of Brutus land couragious youths now play your parts Vnto your tackle stand abide the brunt with valiāt hearts For newes is carried too fro that we must forth to warfare goe Men muster now in euery place souldiers are prest forth apace Faynt not spend blood to doe your Quéene countrey good Fayre wordes good pay wil make men cast al care away The time of warre is come prepare your corslet speare shield Me thinks I heare the drumme strike doleful marches to the field Tantara tātara y ◠trūpets sound w t makes our harts w t ioy aboūd The roring guns are heard a far euery thing denounceth warre Serue God stand stoute bold courage brings this geare about Feare not forth run faint heart faire Lady neuer woonne Yée curious Carpet knights that spende the time in sport play Abrode sée new sights your coūtries cause cals you away Doe not to make your Ladies game bring blemish to your worthy name Away to field win renoune w c courage beat your enimies down Stoute hearts gain praise when Dastards sayle in slaunders seas Hap what hap shal we sure shal die but once for all Alarme me thinkes they cry be packing mates be gone with spéed Our foes are very nigh shame haue that man that shrinks at néed Vnto it boldly let vs stand God wil geue right the vpper hand Our cause is good we néed not doubt in signe of courage geue a showte March forth be strōg good hap wil come ere it be long Shrinke not fight well for lusty lads must beare the bell All you that wil shun euil must dwel in warfare euery day The world the flesh Diuel alwayes doe séeke our soules decay striue w t these foes w t al your might so shal you fight a worthy fight That cōquest doth deserue most praise wher vice do yéeld to vertues wayes Beat down foule sin a worthy crown then shal ye win If we liue wel in heauen with Christ our soules shal dwell To his friende MUse not too much o wight of worthy fame At view of this my rude ragged rime I am almost enforst to write the same Wherefore forgeue if I commit a crime The cause hereof and how it came to passe I shall declare euen briefly as it was Reuoluing in my mind your friendly face Your bountie great your loue to euery man I heard my wit and will to scan this case If I should write or no thus wil began Take pen in hand thou fearefull wight she said To write thy mind what should make thée afraid Not so quoth wit acquaintance hath he small With him to whō thou bidst him write his mind What tho quoth will that skils nothing at all He writes to one that is to all a friend Him so to be quoth wit none can denie Thou art a foole quoth will then to reply Great cause quoth wit shoulde make him to refraine He would quoth wil declare his friendly heart What if quoth wit he chance to reape disdayne Of such foul fruits quoth wil friēds haue no part Perchance quoth wit it wilbe taken yll Wel meaned things who wil take yl quoth wil He hath no skil quoth wit how should he write Al want of skil quoth will good will supplies I sée quoth wit thou wilt worke him despite For counsell good thou geuest him rash aduice Wit said no more But will that stately Dame Still bad me write not forcing any blame Since will not wit makes me commit offence Of pardon yours the better hope I haue To shew my loue was all the whole pretence That made me write This onely doe I craue In any thing if pleasure you I can Command me so as if I were your man A renouncing of loue AL earthly things by course of kind Are subiect still to reasons lore But sure I can no reasons finde That makes these Louers loue so sore They fry and fréese in myldest weather They wéepe and laugh euen both together Euen now in waues of déepe despaire Their barke is tossed too and fro A gale of hope expels al feare And makes the winde to ouerblow Twixt feare and hope these Louers saile And doubtful are which shall preuayle At night in slumber swéetly laide They séeme to holde their loue in armes Awaking then they are afrayde And féele the force of thousand harmes Then doe they tosse in restlesse bed With hammers woorking in their head A merry looke from Ladies face Bringes them a foote which could not goe A frowning brow doth them disgrace And brues the broth of all their woe Hereby all men may playnely know That reason rules not Louers law But reason doth me thus persuade Where reason wants that nothing frames Therefore this reason hath me made To set aside all louely gaynes Since reason rules not Venus sport No reason bids me scale that forte A will or Testament VVHen dreadfull death with dint of pearcing darte By fatall doome this corpes of mine shal kill When lingring life shall from my life depart I thus set downe my testament and will My faythfull friendes executor◠shall remayne To sée performde what here I doe or dayne To thée O world I first of all doe leaue The vayne delights that I in thée haue found Thy fained shewes wherewith thou didst deceaue Thy fickle trust and promises vnsound My wealth my woe my ioyes commixt w t care Doe take them all doe fall vnto thy share And Satan thou for that thou wert the cause That I in sinne did still mispend my dayes I thée defie and here renounce thy lawes My wicked thoughts my vile and naughty waies And eke my
vice doe to thy lot befall From thée they came doe take them to thee all To thée O earth agayne I do restore My carrion corpes which from thée did procéede Because it did neglect all godly lore Let gréedy wormes vpon it alwayes féede Let it in filth consume and rot away And so remaine vntil the iudgement day But my poore soule whō Christ most déerly bought Which hated sinne and loathed to offend Together with ech good and godly thought Into thy handes swéete Iesu I commend O sauiour Christ doe guide my steppes so well That after death she stil with thée may dwell A Complaynt of a Louer IF euer wofull wight had cause to pipe in bitter smart I which am thrall to Cupids lawes with him may beare a part Whose ioyful dayes alas are gone whom daily cares doe tosse But wote yée why I thus take on my lucke is turnde to losse Erecruell loue my heart possest no cares did vexe my head But since he harboured in my brest my golden dayes are fled Time was when fortune did allow great gladnesse to my share But ah for that time is not now doth grow my cause of care Time was when I liude in delight and reapt of ioyes my fill But now time is workes me despite would waste had tarried still No hap so hard no griefe so great whereof I féele not part Now shiuering colde now flaming heate anoyes my wofull heart So that hope is the onely stay on which my life dependes Which if it once be tane away my date of liuing ends God graunt my hope such hap may sée that good successe ensue Which if it long prolonged be through griefe I die adiew For his friende I That in fréedome liued of late And neuer stoupt to Cupids lure Haue now made change of my estate And thousand torments doe endure As late abrode I cast my lookes In fancies lune I fast was cought And beauty with her bayted hookes Hath me alas in bondage brought I loue but lacke the thing I craue I liue but want my chiefest good I hope but hap I cannot haue I serue but starue for want of foode Then so to loue what state more yll Such life affoordes small time of ioy Such wauering hope doth often kill To serue and starue what worse anoy Yet wil I loue whiles life doth last And liue whiles any hope remaines And hope when dismal dayes are past To haue reward for all my paynes Loe thus I liue by hope sustaynd Yet through dispayre die euery houre In sorow glad in pleasure painde Now fed with swéete now choakt with sowre Deare Dame in humble sort I sew Since mine estate to you is known Voutsafe my dolefull case to rew And saue his life who is your owne Somewhat made of nothing at a Gentlewomans request YE gladly would haue me to make you some toy And yet will not tel me wherof I should write The strangenes of this doth bréed me anoy And makes me to séeke what things to endite If I should write rashly what comes in my braine It might be such matter as likes you not best And rather I would great sorow sustayne Then not to fulfill your lawfull request Two dangers most doubtful oppresse me alike Ne am I resolued to which I might yéelde Wherfore by perforce I am foretd to séeke This slender deuice to serue for my shield Since nothing yée geue me to busie my brayne Nothing but your nothing of me can yée craue Wherfore now receiue your nothing agayne Of nothing but nothing what els would yée haue Of the instability of Fortune WHo wisely waies false fortunes fickle change Which in short space turnes loue to mortal hate Shall find smal cause to déem it wondrous strange To fléete from happie life to worse estate For whie her swéete is alwaies mixt with sowre If now shée fawne she frownes within an houre Her smiles are wyles to cause men hope for hap Her traynes bréede paynes though pleasant be the show Him whom shée now doth dandle in her lap Straightway sustaines a wretched ouer throw And whom thou séest at foote of whéele downe cast Within short space shée hoyseth vp as fast The raging Seas which dayly ebbes and flowes The wauering winds which blow now here now there More constant are then fortunes flattering vowes Who in one hoode a double face doth beare To trust her lookes when shée doth fleere or laugh Is nothing els but trust a broken staffe Pollicrates as auncient writers tell On Fortunes whéele most highly was aduaunste And many a yéere shée fauourd him so well That no ill hap long time vnto him chaunst Yet in the end to shew her double wayes With hemping roape shée causde him end his dayes If thou wilt shun all sorow and distresse By fortunes threates doe set but litle store If thine affayres haue euer good successe Yéeld hearty thankes to God thy Lorde therefore If great annoyes doe fall vpon thée fast Thinke them due plagues for some offences past By prayer then make leuell with the Lorde Repentant hearts haue mercie when they call Loue him with feare delight to reade his worde So great good haps vnto thée will befall So shalt thou leade thy life without annoyes And after death possesse eternal ioyes Of the vanitie of this life I Reade in Poets faigned bookes That wise Vlysses wandring came Where Circes through her fawning lookes Did worke his men a spightfull shame She causde them quaffe great bowles of wine And presently they turnde to swine But hée which followed vertue still Refusde to taste this proffered charme And would not worke her beastly will As one that doubted farther harme Her witchcraftes and enchantmentes straunge Were not of force this man to chaunge The world with his alluring toyes Is Circes witch of whome they write Which temptes vs with her sugred ioyes And makes vs swimme in such delight That wée so play with pleasures ball As if there were no God at all If man would way what enemies Are alwayes prest him to deuoure Mée thinkes from sinne hée should arise And make defence with all his power For why the world the flesh and deuill Doe neuer cease to worke vs euill These so bewitch our foolish braines That nought wée force eternall paine And euery one in sinne remaines As if hell were a fable vaine Alas wée are seduced so That all true heartes do bléede for woe The shéepe doth yéerely yéelde his fléese The plodding Oxe the plow doth draw And euery thing in willing wise Kéepes and obayes dame Natures law But man in witte which should excell Against his Lord doth still rebell Ech doth deferre from day to day And thinkes the morow to amend But death arestes vs by the way And sodainly some makes their end O wretched case that they bée in Which die and not lament their sinne Thou silly man still feare the Lord Thy former sinnes with spéede forsake The iudgement day in minde record In which ech
déede a simple shift To serue in stéede of new yéeres gift Though slenderly I make it your pardon let mée haue If in good part you take it no more of you I craue So shall you binde mée day by day To pleasure you in what I may But I offend such words to spend in séeking in séeking That you should pardon mée If oft I doe that bréedes in you misliking misliking Corrected let mée bée My selfe to you I yéelde and giue As prisoner true whilst that I liue So may you be reuenged for my presumptuous heart Which hath perhaps offended to play so leawd a part Condemne mée to bée prisoner still So may you boldly worke your will Procéede my déere the case is cléere now stay not now stay not Giue iudgement out of hand If you ordaine perpetuall paine I way not I way not Your iust decrée shall stand And if you will award it so That I must now to prison go Your heart shall bée the prison wherin I will abyde Vntill by right and reason my case bée throughly tride O God how happy should I bée If such a gaile enclosed mée A delectable Dreame AS late abroad asléepe I lay Mée thought I came by wondrous chaunce Whereas I heard a harper play And saw great store faeries daunce I marched néere drawne by delight And prest these gallant Dames among When as their daunce being ended quite Of him that playde they craue a song My presence nought appalde their minde Hée tunde his harpe his voyce was cléere And as a foe to woman kind He sang this song that foloweth héere A Womans face is full of wiles Her teares are like the Crocadill With outward chéere on thée shée smiles When in her heart shée thinkes thée ill Her tongue still chattes of this and that Then aspine leafe it wagges more faâ—â— And as she talkes shée knowes not what There yssues many a troathlesse blast Thou farre doest take thy marke amisse If thou thinke fayth in them to finde The Wethercocke more constant is Which turnes about with euery winde O how in pittie they abound Their heart is milde like marble stone If in thy selfe no hope bée found Be sure of them thou gettest none I know some pepernosed dame Will tearme mée foole and sawcie iack That dare their credit so defame And lay such slaunders on their backe What though on mée they powre their spite I may not vse the glosérs trade I cannot say the crow is white But néedes must call a spade a spade Héerewith his songue and musik ceast The Faeries all on him did frowne A stately dame amongst the rest Vpon her face falles prostrate downe And to the Gods request did make That some great plagues might bée assind To him that all might warning take How they speake ill of womankind Héerewith a wonder to bée tolde His féete stoode fast vpon the ground His face was neither young nor olde His harpe vntoucht would yeeld no sound Long hayre did grow about his sâ—ull His skinne was white his blood was read His paunch with guts was bombast full No dogge had euer such a head His coulour oft did goe and come His eies did stare as hée did stand Also foure fingers and a thombe Might now bée seene in eyther hand His tongue likewise was plagued sore For that it played this péeuish parte Because it should offend no more 'Twas tyed with stringes vnto his heart Yet in his mouth aboad shée still His téeth like walles did kéepe her in Which now grinde meate much like a mill His lippes were placde aboue his chinne Thus was hée chaungd that none him knew But for the same hée was before By silent signes hée séemde to sue That Gods would now torment no more And hée would there without delayes Recant all that which erst hée spake Hée pardoned is on harpe hée playes And presently this songue did make AMongst all creatures bearing life A woman is the worthyest thing Shée is to man a faythfull wife Shée mother was to Christ our king If late by mée they were accusde I haue therefore receiued my hyre Vnlesse they greatly bée abusde They neuer are repleate with yre They neither chide fight brawle nor lye The gentlest creatures vnder sunne When men doe square for euery fly To make them friends the women runne And where they chaunce to fixe their loue They neuer swarue or seeke for chaunge No new perswasions can them moue Tis men that haue desire to raunge Like Turtles true they loue their spowse And doe their duties euery way â— hey fée good orders in the house When husbands are abroad at play And to conclude they Angells are Though héere on earth they doe remaine Their glittering hew which shines like Star And bewtie braue declares it playne This sayde the Faeries laught And séemd in countenance very glad To speake my minde I then had thought How some were good and some were bad But marke ill happe a friend came by Who as hée found mée sléeping so Did call mée vp with voyce so hye That slumber swéete I did forgoe To his most faythfull friend A Thing most straunge to tell of late did chaunce to me whiles y â— I tooke my pen in haÌ„d to writ my mind to thée As I had thought in hast to pach a verse or two Without regarde as common friends accustomd oft to doe I could not for my life mine eies so waking kéepe But that a sodain slumber came which made mée fal asléep In dreame I séemde to sée appeare before mine eine A comely Lady well be séene attirde in decent wise Most modest were her lookes most chéerefull eke her face Me thought therin was picturd out a worthy matroÌ„s grace O thanklesse wretch shée said and canst thou so neglect My worthy lawes is there w t thée of frends no more respect Dost know to whome thou writest is he a common frende Suffiseth it in coÌ„mon sort that thou shouldst shew thy mind Hath his desarts deserude of thée no better méede Is this due guerdon for y â— loue which did from him procéed In that he hath in déedes byn alwaies friend to thée Let him peceiue by friendly words thée thankful stil to be He lookes not for thy déeds he knowes thy power is smal And wilt thou then depriue him wretch of words of déeds al Brute beasts requite good turnes it cannot be denied Wilt thou theÌ„ be vngrateful which hast reasoÌ„ for thy guid Shal friendship dwell in beasts and men be found vnkinde Shal they for loue shew loue agayn thou forget thy friend With that shée gaue a becke and bad me to awake And said doe shew thy thankful mind so requitall make Herewith shée did depart my slumber past away I felt my chéeks bedewd w t tears through words y â— she did say Her bitter sharpe rebukes did make me muse a space Chiefly in that they did procéede out from so fayre a face But then I cald to minde that
past And sighes with dolefull grones So I a slaue to sinne With sobs and many a feare As one without thine ayde forlorne Before thy throne appeare O Lorde in rage of wanton youth My follies did abounde And eke since that I knewe thy trueth My life hath béene vnsound Alas I doe confesse I see the perfect way Yet frayltie of my féeble fleshe Doth make me run astray Aye me when that some good desire Woulde moue me to doe wel Affections fond make mée retire And cause me to rebell I wake yet am asléepe I sée yet still am blinde In ill I runne with hedlong race In good I come behinde Loe thus in life I daily die And dying shall not liue Vnlesse thy mercy spéedily Some succour to me geue I die O Lorde I die If thou doe mée forsake I shall be likened vnto those That fall into the lake When that one prop or onely stay Holdes vp some house or wall If that the prop be tane away néedes must the building fall O Lorde thou art the prop to which I cleane and leane If thou forsake or case mée of I still shall liue in paine Although my hard and stony hart Be apt to runne astray Yet let thy goodnesse mee conuert So shall I not decay Swéete God doe rue my plaints And shéelde mée from annoy TheÌ„ my poore sâ—ule this life once past Shall rest with thée in ioy ¶ Of the vncontented estate of Louers WHo so attempts to publish and display Of Cupids thrals the strange awkward fits Doth seeke to count the sand amidst the Sea And wades beyond the compasse of his wits Whose griping greefes and passions to disclose Is to describe a world of care and woes More easie its to weild the weightie charge That Atlas hath in bearing vp the Skies Then to vnsolde and picture out at large The vnâ—outh caresin louers brests that lies Whose rest is toyle whose ioy is endlesse greife They often sue but seeldome finde reléefe Yf Plutoes denne that vgly pit of hell Great griefly plague and tormentes hath in store I dare auouch that those in loue which dwell Do tast them all and twice as many more Which makes mée say not without good cause Thrice happlesse wights that yéelde to Cupids lawes As Aetna hill doth belke forth flakes of fire And hydeous sounds are harde within the same So Louers burne through inwarde hot desire And hollow sighes burst out amidst the flame Whose scorched harts dispaire and anguish gnaw Lyke gréedy Gripes that peck Prometheus maw In mirth they moane yet smile amidst their woe In fire they fréese in frost they fry straight way Swift legges to runne yet are not able goe Such is the state in which poore Louers stay As houering hope dooth hoyst them vp on hye Feare clips their wings so that they cannot flye They fayne in hell one only plague to fall For iust reuendge to those that doe amisse But they that loue are subiect to them all And neuer féele one lightning howre of blisse That to conclude thrice happy is their chaunce That neuer knew to treade the louers daunce A Newyeres gift to Mistresse C. P. SWéet wight be glad pluck vp your sprites Old Friendship is renewd Milde Concord hath thrown down the broth That Discord lately brewd Fowle Enuie Malice and Debate In teares their time doe spend In that the platforme which they layde Came not to wished end The mightie Ioue which ruleth all Their prayers heard no doubt Else could not their hot kindled wrath So soone bée quenched out Thus farre their furie did preuaile A time and place was set Wheras at their appoynted houre To try it out they met And dealt For vowes had rashly past So long foes to abide Vntill the one the others force In open field had tried I shrinke to thinke what horror great Now gripes your heart through feare I séeme to sée ech member quake As if yée had béene there To heare my muse vnto your eares This dolefull tale to tell Put feare to flight cast care aside All things are ended well But Rancour vile couldst thou powre forth Thy spite vpon none other But that to combat thou must bring My father and my brother And I my selfe with eies must sée And view this dolefull sight Goe packe thou hast sustaind the foyle For all thy poysoned might For by the blowes that they did giue Theyr friendship doth encrease And in their heartes establisht is An euerduring peace The séedes that thou in them didst plant Are pluckt vp by the roote Thy sister Discord neuer shall Againe set in her foote For if in dealing of their blowes Their handes had not bene blest A late repent had made them rew For harbouring such a gest But of vngrate discurtesies Wée iustly might complaine In that entreaties would not serue To make them friendes againe If in their mad and brainsicke heads Dame Reason had borne sway But malice rancour and debate Had banisht wit away So that occasion of this broyle Was not our faythfull friendes But these forenamed furies fell And other hellish fiendes Whose daily driftes are to deface Of friends the pure estate And makes them barbour in their hearts Great heapes of deadly hate In that things past betwixt them are For giuen and forgot Let vs imbrace and loue them so As if this happened not If straunge it seeme that straunger I in verse to you doe write Assure your selfe it doeth proceede through greatnesse of delite That I conceaue in that I see them reconcilde so well Whome no perswasions latelie serude their furies to expell These simple verses to your viewe I haue thought good to sende In token of a good neweyeere and so farewel I ende A straunge historie YEe that would heare a Story straunge To this example rare Attentiuely take héede Which pictures héere before your face A worthy wight indéede A Phenix well she may be calde Whose lyke cannot be founde Chast Camna was her name Endued with such comely giftes As none can tell the same All wiues that in those dayes did lyue This woman did excell In constant loue towardes her spouse As doth my Story tell Sinatus was her Husbande cald a gentleman by blood Whose graue aduice in time of néede did neighbours his much good In such chast loue this man and wife togither did remaine That no man could their spotlesse life With any blot distaine In selfe same citie where they dwelt A tyraunt vile bare rule Sinoris was his name Who being taken with her loue Did wooe this worthy Dame When after many onsets giuen Hée had sustaind repulse His trauayle spent in vaine Her worthy spowse Sinatus then Hée caused to bée slaine For he surmisde the feruent loue That shée to husband bare Did hinder him from his desires And eke procurd his care This done afresh this tyraunt vile Pursues in cursed suite Of her then that hée did before Hée reapes none other fruite The secret flames of Cupids fire
Now broyled so in his breast That nought but Camna could restore Sinoris wonted rest Resolued fully was he then To take this dame to wife Though baser in degrée When no meanes els could serue his turne To cracke her honestie Then suite was made vnto her friendes Who waying well his wealth Would haue her néedes consent Shée after great denialles made At length did séeme content Sinoris when he heard this newes Was passing measure glad And order gaue in al post hast For mariage to bée had To temple of Diana then VVith spéede these couple goe And with them sundry worthy wightes The mariage rites to doe In outward shew shée did expresse Great signes of mirth and ioy But in her heart shée did contriue This tyrant to destroy Ere that they fully were assurde Chast Camna bad one bring To her a drinking glasse Of which shée must to husband drinke As there the custome was She tempred had a pleasaunt drinke VVith balefull poyson strong Of which shée dranke one part And to Sinoris gaue the rest VVhich so did pricke his heart That Phisickes skill could not preuaile To saue his vading life VVhich well did please the minde of her That then should be his wife When Camna saw that her deuice Did frame euen as shée would She gréetes Dianas Image there VVith thankes a thousand folde And méekely knéeling on her knées Ah Goddesse then she sayde Thou knowest from murdring of my selfe How hardly I haue stayde Thou knowest quoth shée what bitter pangues Hath gripte my heart with griefe Since my deare husbands death And onely hope of iust reuenge Prolonged hath my breath VVhich since I see now come to passe VVith gladnesse will I die And séeke that soule to finde In life and death which then my selfe To me was déerer friend And thou thou caitife vile quoth shée Which didst my mariage craue In stéede now of a mariage bed Prepare thy selfe a graue But séeing then Sinoris dead To husbandes sprite shée cryed Oh let not thy swéete company To mée now be denied Come méete me now my louing mate Who still I tender most And saying so her armes abroad She yéelded vp the Ghost Amery lest SOmetimes in France a woman dwelt Whose husband being dead Within a yéere or somwhat more An other did her wed This good wife had of wealth great store Yet was her wit but thin To shew what happe to her befell My Muse doth now begin It chaunced that a scholler poore Attirde in course aray To sée his friends that dwelt farre thence From Paris tooke his way The garments were all rent and torne Wherwith this wight was clad And in his purse to serue his néede Not one denéere he had Hée was constrainde to craue the almes Of those which oft would giue His néedy and his poore estate With some thing to relieue This scholler on a frostie morne By chaunce came to the doore Of this old silly womans house Of whome wée spake before The husband then was not at home Hée craueth of the dame Who had him in and gaue him meate And askt from whence hée came I came quoth hée from Paris towne From Paradise quoth she Men call that Paradise the place Where all good soules shalbe Cham zure my vurst goodman is dere Which died this other yéere Chould geue my friend a good gray groate Some newes of him to heare Hée saw shée did mistake his wordes And thought to make some glée And saide your husband is in health I lately did him sée Now by my troth quoth shée cham glad Good scholler doe declare Was not hée wroth because I sent Him from this world so bare In déede quoth he he was disppleasd And thought it farre vnméete You hauing all to send him hence With nothing but a shéete Quoth shée good scholer let me know When thou returnst agayne Hée answerd Dame I will be there Within this wéeke or twayne Shée sayde my friend if that iche durst Presume to be so bolde Chould pray thée carrie him some clothes To keepe him from the colde Hée saide he woulde with all poste haste Into the towne shée hies Hat doublet shert coate hose and shoes Shée there for husband buyes Shée praying him in earnest sorte It safely to conuey Did geue him money in his purse And so he went his way Not halfe of halfe an howre was past Ere husband hers was come What newes shée heard from Paradise Shée tolde him all and some And farther did to him declare What token shée had sent Whereat her husband waxed wroth And woondrous ill content He calde her sotte and doating foole And after him doth ride The Scholler was within a Hedge And him a farre espide Hée was afrayde and downe doeth fling His fardell in a dike The man came néere andaskt him newes Of one whom hée did séeke That bare a fardell at his backe The scholler musde a while Then answearing said such one I saw Passe ouer yonder style With hasty spéede he downe alightes And doth the scholler pray Till he the man had ouertane So long the horse to stay Vntill hée passed out of sight Full still the scholer bides Who taking then his fardell on His horse away he rides When he returnd and saw himselfe By scholer flouted so Your selues may iudge what chéere he made If he were wroth or no. He sware I thinke a hundred oathes At length per mundum toots For that he had no shoes to weare Martch homewardes in his bootes His wife did méete him at the doore Hayée cought man quoth shée No Dame he sayde he caught my horse The Diuel take him and thée With that shée laught and clapt her hands And sayde cham glad ich sweare For nowe he hath a horse to ride He wilbe quickly there When that her husband well had wayde That remedy there was none He takes his fortune in good parte And makes no farther mone Now whether that this honest wife Did loue her first good man To such as shall peruse this tale The case I leaue to scan To his friend IF thou wilt shun the pricking briers And thornie cares that folly bréedes Put bridle to thy fond desires Make reason mistres of thy déedes Attempt nothing by rash aduice If thou thus doe then art thou wise Where Wit to Will is slaue and thrall Where fond affection beareth sway Ten thousand mischiefes do befall And vertue cleane is cast away For hauing rashnes for their guide Such cannot choose but wander wyde Their credite quickly lies in dust Which yéelde as bondslaues to their will And follow euery foolish lust Such leaue the good and choose the yll The wayes of vertue those forgoe And tread the pathes of care and woe Wilt thou possesse eternall ioyes And porte of blisse at length attayne Still prayse the Lord with heart and voyce From doyng yll thy steppes refrayne These things obserude be sure at last In heauen with Christ thou shalt be plast A Newyeeres gift to
I here tolde not a lye O were it not too true That very few theyr Princesse steppes In godlinesse ensue Should I passe on her golden giftes And graces to declare The sandes in bottome of the Seas More easily numbred are If tongue or pen should take in hand Her vertues to vnfolde Tongue should not speake pen would be worne Ere halfe the tale were tolde Shée is next God the onely spring From which our welfare flowes She is a trée on which nought els But graftes of goodnesse growes Shée is a Sunne that shines on vs with beames of blissefull happes Shée is a dew that daily drops Great plenty in our lappes When angry Neptune shipwracke threats Through force of wrestling waues Shée is a port of safe refuge Which vs from daunger saues When duskie cloudes of errors blacke Had dimde our ioyfull day Through Christ shée causde the Gospell shine Which draue them all away Shée worthy statutes hath ordaynd To kéepe men still in awe But euery man vnto himselfe Will now set downe a lawe Such as his will doth fancy best They neuer care how bad Nor farre from God and godlinesse So pleasure may be had If lawlesse lust were lawfull loue If wauering wordes were déedes Then would the Court bring foorth more fruite And not so many wéedes Thou knowest among the courting crew How little fayth is forced Sound friendship from the most of them Is vtterly deuorced Who cannot flatter glose and lie And set thereon a face Is neuer able for his life To get a Courtly grace Who sweates not in his sutes of silke And is not passing braue Amongst them beares no countenance They déeme him but a slaue As long as thou hast store of coyne And spendst it with the best In outward shew great friendlinesse To thée shalbe profest But if thy wealth begin to weare If pence begin to fayle thée Theyr friendship then in time of néede But little shall auayle thee For they will shrinke their heades aside And leaue thée posts alone If twenty were thy friendes before Now hardly getst thou one I pray thée let vs scan this case And doe thou sadly tell What thing at first did make thée like And loue the Court so well Didst thinke that there a godly life Might soonest be attaynde And motions of the sinfull fleshe Most easily be refraynd That cannot be for all men sée How vice is there imbraste And vertue with the greatest parte Is vtterly defaste Did hope of wealth first pricke thée foorth In Court to spend thy life Or didst thou thinke that liberal gifts With noble men were ryfe If ought thou carrie in thy purse Thou quickly there mayst spend it But when thy landes and rentes are gone How canst thou then amend it To begge would gréeue thy loftie mynde That earst had store of wealth And hanging is the end of such as take mens goodes by stealth Because thou serust a noble man Perhaps thou makst no doubt In hope that he at such a pinche Will alwayes beare thée out Such hope hath hanged many a one Whom wilful Will did guyde By often proofe in these our dayes Too true it hath béene tried For when a halters sliding knot Hath stopt their vitall breath He was say they a handsome man Its pitie of his death Thus all too late their pitie comes But seldome comes their ayde Wherefore doe not forget these wordes That I to thée haue sayde Be not sedewste by wanton will Let warnings make thee wise And after this in all thy déedes Be rulde by good aduise This tale béeyng tolde he heald his peace And I which found it true Did yéeld him thankes and gate me home And bad the Court adew We till to sowe we sow to reape We reape and grind it by and by We grinde to bake we bake to eate We eate to liue we liue to die We die with Christ to rest in ioy In heauen made free from all anoy FINIS A Preface to certaine questions and Riddles ensuing translated out of Italian verse into english verse by H. G. AL yee vnto whome the skanning and viewing Shal come of these questions riddles ensuing I let you first know thus much without fayning That all of them carry a good and cleane meaning If so they be constred aright in their sense Thus much may I boldly speake in their defence But if in ill part some fortune to take them We fayle of the end to which we did make them Which was for the solace of them that can vse them What thinges can be sound if men wil abuse them To such as are cleane what can be vnpure Such as are defilde ill thoughts haue in vre If of any riddle badde sense ye pick out Gesse at it againe ye fayle without doubt And doe not aright his meaning expound Their true exposition is honest and sound And that shall be proued if you will craue tryall So truely that no man will stand in deniall Committing the sequel to your approbation I finish the preface of this my translation 1 A Father once as bookes expresse Had sonnes twise sixe nor more nor lesse Ech sonne of children had scores thrée Halfe of them sonnes halfe daughters bée The sonnes are farre more white then snowe The daughters blacker then a crow Wee sée these children dayly die And yet they liue continually 2 A mightie blacke horse with gallant white winges Within his graund paunch beares many straunge things Hée oft doth trauayle for maysters auayle And caryes his bridle tyed fast to his taile In going hée flyes twixtearth and the ayre And oft where they would not his riders doth beare Hée hath diuers eies and yet cannot sée I pray you doe tell mée what may this beast bée 3 A certaine thing liueth in place néere at hande Whose nature is straunge if it bée well scand It sées without eyes it flyes without winges It runnes without féete it workes wondrous thinges To places far distant it often doth rome Yet neuer departeth but taryes at home If thou doe it couet to féele or to sée Thy labour is lost for it may not bée 4 What am I that wanting both handes féete and head Of all them that sée me being déemed for dead Of breath haue great store and moue too and fro Now vp and now downe now hye and now low Alas what hard fortune doth to mée befall That guiltlesse am spited of great and of small They strike me and push mee South West North East Yet doe I no harme to most neither least When as my breath fayling I can doe no more They then giue mée ouer and neuer before 5 I being the daughter of my vncles brother Am now of late become a mother And with my milke from my pappes which flowes I nourish a sonne my mothers owne spowse Now tell what I am declare mine estate For I giue him sucke that first me begate 6 None liueth more iocound in al the whole land Though head doth