in my sinnes I die For still the flesh is subiect to offende while yet the spirit groneth for thy grace But thou hast power the weakest to defende That vnto thee reueale their heauy case Then from that hande and mighty arme of thine Strengthen this weake wounded soule of mine Thou that hast saide prowde Esaw was thy hate And humble Iacob was thy chosen loue That dost the power of worldly pride abate And workst the heauen of humble hartes behoue Make Esawes life with lacobs loue agree Or kill the flesh the soule maie liue with thee And from despaire that poisned sting of death Deliuer lorde the sorrowes of desire And at the latest houre and gaspe of breath Let humble hart the hope of heauen aspire where faithfull soules maie in thy fauour see That onely loue doth onely liue in thee What booteth me the world for to possesse And want the iewell of my heauenly ioie what earths delight but is to me distresse when natures health doth proue the soules anoye No my sweete loue let this poore soule of mine Neuer haue life but in that loue of thine One precious droppe of thy pure oile of grace Power downe sweete loue into my wounded hart And to my faith so turne thy louing face That from thy fauour I maie neuer part Looke on thy Mary with her bitter teares That washt thy feete and wiptethe with her heares The greater depts forgiuen the greater loue Thy worde hath saide and it saies euer true when patience life in pitties loue doth proue In greatest mercy greatest glory grue where one mans sinne procured all mens paine And one mans grace gaue all men life againe Oh high creator of all creatures liuing who nothing wantst that all thinges dost possesse what hath the world that may be worth the giuing Vnto the honor of thy holines But onely thankes that thy true spirit moueth In that true hart that thy true mercy loueth But still I see my loue is sore displeasde And tels me of my great vngratefulnes when so my soule with sorrow is diseasde As in my hart findes nought but hatefulnes And with the teares of true repentance crieth Lorde saue the life that in thy mercy lieth For thou art loue the euerliuing God And onely God and onely of the liuing who though thou smitst thy children with thy rod Sweete is the care of thy corrections giuing In which thy sweete and kindest care correct me But in thy mercy neuer doe reiect me Let neuer death against thy life preuaile Nor euer hate once looke against thy loue Nor faithfull hope thy heaunly fauour faile But harts contrition happy comfort proue And let the soule euen at the dore of death Liue by the aiâ—…r but of thy heauenly breath Mine eâ—…es are dimme my flesh bare skin and bone My sinewes shroncke and all my limmes are num Mine eares are deafe but to the sound of mone My speech is but to sorrow stroken dum My bloode dried vp my hart with sorrow soken Oh helpe the soule before the heart be broken Behold the sorrowes that my soule doeth make And see what torments teare my heart a sunder where euery teare doth other ouertake where fearefull care puts faithfull comforts vnder Oh my sweete life though I be deadly wounded Let not my faith be vtterly confounded And Since oh king that thou art onely able To helpe the helples onely but in thee And by one crumme from thy true mercies table The wofull soule may well relieued be Of that sweete foode oh let my faith so tast That by thy loue my life may euer last What life is this that wretches here we leade Caring and carking for our fleshly liues Neuer wel fild when we are too much fedde where strange conceits for true contentment striues Tearing our harts and tiring out our mindes For that in fine which but repentance findes Where kindnes proues a kinde of leude conceite Leading the heart to lothsomnes of loue while wisest wits on wanton humours waite And wilfull fancies doe but follies proue where power pride so plage the world with woes That peace and vertue all to ruine goes Where gold is helde a God siluer a Saint And durt and drosse are dearest in regarde where frendship failes and faith beginnes to faint And curses rule while blessed thoughts are barde And all and some doe in conclusion proue wo to the world that liues not by thy loue Where valure proues but foolish hardines And greatest wit is wicked wilines And honour gotten by vnworthines Fils all the world with all vnhappines while vertue sighes at sinners wickednes And Angels mourne for our vngodlines Where parents grieue at childerns stubbornes And children smile at parents childishnes where masters sigh at seruants idlenes And seruants laugh at masters wantonnes while faithfull soules in sorrowes wretchednes Looke but in heauen to haue their blessednes Where subtle heads are simple harts illusion while Tyraunt thoughts vniustly make intrusion And outward shewes are inward thoughts allusion while strange delightes are strong desires delusion And heedles care doeth make vp this conclusion That lacke of grace is all the worlds confusion Where brightest truth by treason often blamed is VVhile faithles hart with falshood all enflamed is And carefull age with sorrow all ashamed is That careles youth so long at large vntamed is That where good nature all alas misnamed is The faith of honour vtterlie defamedis VVhere sore deâ—…aies the care of true Gentility And strong disquiet standeth for tranquility And vertue is of too much imbecility where faith is found but ful of al fragility when honors loue that liues by hopes humility Must walke among the beggars for ability Oh wicked fruit of woful hearts affection when once the soule is toucht with sins infection And wil not learne by care of thy correction To leade a life but by thy loues direction where in the fire of thy bright sunnes reflexion They maie behold the height of their perfection But what is Earth and what but earth are we A goodly brag begunne and endes in dust where old young all the world may see From whence we came and whetherto we must Short time we liue no sooner dead then rotten And scarce welburied but wee are forgotten Oh Lord thou knowest this world is all but wo where sinne doth seeke to get the vpper hand The flesh would faine the spirit ouerthrow But that her stay doth in thy mercy stand But since the soule may conquer sinne by thee Lord let thy mercy onely sight for me Let me but looke vpon thy holie loue And sucke my honie from that heauenlie hiue wherein my soule such sweetnes maie approue That with that foode shee maie for euer liue And feeding so vpon thy sacred will when shee is fedde yet maie shee hunger still Oh bring me home that long haue beene abroade And leade me streight that long haue gone astraie And raise me vp that haue beene ouertroade And
and many a winde blew sore That threatend ofte the course of their decay Besides the pirots that they put to flight which chrost their course with many a cruell fight One where they saw wrakes lie without reliefe An otherwhere whales tumbling in the waues An other while vnto their deadly griefe Stormes threaten sore the fishes maws their graues Yet when the worst of all these illes were past Safely arriu'de they came to shore at last Where wethring of themselues against the sunne First praising God by his almighty power That guided them since first their course begunne And brought them safely to that happy howre The hart laide downe the sences all to rest while Angels watch the waking spirit blest BVT when the spirit had but little time To giue the sences leaue to take their rest Nor was the laboure little for to clime The fiery ashes of a Phoenix nest Hee bad them sweetely from their sleepe arise And set them in their path to paradise Where walking on they met on their rigt hande A worlde of people making pitteous mone Some lost their goods some other lost their lande Their parents some and some their friends were gone Not one of all but some way were oppressed when all and some in some were al distrested The Courtier hee complainde of loues disgrace The souldier he cried out of lacke oâ—… paie The lawier lacke of hearing of his case The client how his coine went to decaie The merchaunt of the losse of his aduenture The prentice of the bandes of his Indenture The landlorde of his tenaunts beggery The passinger of lacke of amity The tenaunt of the landlordes misery The begger all of lacke of charity The church men of their small possessions The laie men of the church transgressions Now on the left hande went an other crue A hatefull sort of hellish company which to their welth and wortheles honor grue By wicked workes of wofull villany which by the trades of Machauile instructed were by the deuill to his hel conducted One he blasphemde and murthred many an othe An other made of honesty a iest An other made a tush at faith and troth An other boasted of a bloudy feast And some in power how will did gouerne reason And other of their pollicy in treason The Courtier boasted of this braue attire what lordshippes he had laid vpon his backe The souldier bragde what townes he set on fire How many citties he had helpt to sacke The lawier of his quidities and quirkes The client of the knowledge of his ierkes The landlorde of his tenants slauery And how hee kept the pesauntes all in awe The tenant of his cunning knauery when with his landlorde he could go to law The Merchant how his gaines were brought about The prentice how he got his freedome out The church men they wente boasting on their tenthes And twenties too and yet they would haue more The Laie men of their laying lines at lengthes And how a chalke did make a pretty skore The passinger offained amity The begger of the bagge of charity After all these vpon the right hand went A selly foole for so I tearme him right with wringing hands that seemed to lament Some crossing humor to a vaine delight For loue forsooth nought but loue it was That made a woman make a man an Asse Of Venus frailty and of Cupids blindenes He cried out oh that euer they were borne And of his mistris more then most vnkindnes That did so much his truest seruice skorne Yet still he lou'de her and he did so loue her It was his death he neuer coulde recouer And then he sight and sobde and hong the head And wept and wailde and cast vp both the eies And in a trance as if a man were dead Or did some dying kinde of fit deuise Vntill he walkte and then he cried oh loue That euer louer shoulde such sorrowe proue And then he redde his verses and his â—…imes wherein he praisde her to to out of reason And then he sight to thinke how many times he watcht the day the night the hower the season To finde some fruite of her deserued fauoure But al his flowers were weâ—…des that had no sauour And then farewell and then againe farewell And farewell loue and farewell louely sweete And farewel sweete where loue doth sweetly dwel And farewell dwelling for loue sweetenes meete And farewell meeting with loues stately store And farewell loue for hee coulde liue no more And thus the pilgrime let the poore man goe To loose his will and seeke his better wits which he had lost with following fancy so Vnto the fury of those franticke fits That in his hart had wrought that mallady that he must die there was no remedy Now on the left hande went another creature Or rather spirit in an ougly shape Hollow dead eies and most ilfauourde feature Mopping and Mowing like an olde she Ape which in the fury of youthes frenzy To crosse loues Ioie is called Ielousy Cursing that euer Venus was so faire Or Cupid had the power to bende his bow Or euer worde had passage through the Aier From fansies tongue to beauties eares to go when tickling humors in Affections brest By feare of loies is Ielousies vnrest Then winckt and pinckt and leerde and honge the lippe And seemde to start at euerie sodaine breath And grounde her teeth as though some priuy nip within her head did fret her hart to death when out she mumbled most vnhappy loue That makst the minde these passions to approue But when the pilgrime saw her Agony And in what taking wretched thing she was Little contented with such company He giues her leaue vpon her way to passe And keepes his course vntil an one he came Vnto a citty needles is the name Where entring in on each side of the gate He found it poorely al with beggars garded And by the forefront of that feeble state He thought smal wealth where poore were so rewarded Til entred further in the streetes he founde A worlde of wealth in euery streete abounde I meane such welth as worldly people chuse To make the comfort of their chiefest kinde And such a bait as wicked spirites vse To blinde the sight of a bewitched minde In euery shoppe or siluer golde or wares To starue the poore fill the rich with cares VVhen notinge wel by ettery doore he went He saw each house was with a plage infected where though they liu'de content with discontente were in the rules of better cares reiected For though the poison did not kill at first Yet did they swel vntil at last they burst One house was plaged with a wicked master An other with a most accursed dame An other with a childe that was a waster An other with a seruaunt out of frame The richmen most were plaged with disease The pooremen with smal vermin and fleas The Counsaile graue as best beseemde their place The Courtiers gallant full of fine
neuer to returne There did appeare a light of little worth A mocking loie whose end was but to morne Vpon the left hand of this selly creature Venus faire painted with her finest feature Who wanting nothing that might wel adorne A cunning dame to compasse her desire with looke askaunce as if shee had in scorne A meaner hope them might a heauen aspire with straunge deuises of a world of toies would stoppe his passage to his further loies And vp shee standes a tipto in her state As if the earth too base were for her feete with such a glaunce as if shee had in hate That lesse then Monarches should her presence meete when with such smiles so neare this walke she went As made them wonder what the vision ment When he that first had taken charge to view What might their trauaile hinder or auaile Finding that in his sight a dimnes grew whereby the cleerenes of his sence might faile Feeling the humor grow vnto an Itche Beganne to feare the wonder was a witch VVhen of the sodaine holding vp his hande Betwixte his sight and this same perlous thing Hauing no leasure on his thoughtes to stande what issue would of this ill humor spring wente on alonge and kepte his walke aright Vntill this vision vanisht out of sight VVhen on the right hand fourthwith did appeare Diana shee of whom the poets writ A dame of state yet with such smiling cheere As shewd where kindenes did with honor sit who with her nimphes appareld all in white Did seeme to pure an obiect for his sight VVhen fearing that the poets did not faine That did set forth Diana for diuine when in her Beauty was so bright a vaine As seemde that Phoebus on her face did shine Betwixt his sight and this conceiued sunne Helde vp his hande ere any hurte was donne And thus betwixt first Venus then Diane Onwardes he goes his right intended way And noting well what he had vndertane And that a stoppe might cause to longe a staie Keeping the path looking on neither side He followes on his best beloued guide When walking on his hoped happy way Vpon the left hande rose a sodaine sounde which might haue beene a most vnhappy staie But that a sodaine remedy was found For he that knew her Musicke was a charme His hearing stopt for feare of further harme And this was he that had the charge to heare And harken soundly to each secret sounde what noise might not by any meanes cum neare And where the Muses soone woulde be a ground who hauing heard but how her harpe was stronge would not vouchsafe the hearing of her songe But when shee saw how hardly shee was vsed Her Beauty first barde from the walke of blisse And then her Musicke so in skorne refused As idle noise wherein no honor is Awaie shee went all angry as shee was And left the poore man oâ—… his waie to passe When one the right hand of the sodeine rose An other sound but of a deeper sweete Where sure Diana with her Nimphes had chose The ground of grace where all the Muses meete To shew the world the heauenly harmony VVhere Nightingales doe make a company VVhen hee that heard the sweetnes of the sound Fearing what hurt might quickly growe vpon it If once his Muse vnhapply might be drownde In worldes delight ere wit had ouergonne it The hearing stopt of his vnworthy sence Of such a sound of such an excellence But when Diana plainly gan to find That one of all the world had warning tooke For comming neere vnto Acteons kinde And that her siluer sound was so forsooke Away shee went but yet with this sweet blessing Vertue is plac'd where pride may not be pressing VVhen these were gon that might haue stoptâ—… his waie Had he not kepte the course of better care A new devise againe to breede his staie Came Flora forth with all his fairest ware Laying abroad the wardâ—…ope of her wealth Her fairest flowers and â—…ittest herbes for health But he that had the charge to take the sente Of euery sauoure both the sower and sweete Knowing what best might comforte or contente How weedes were all to tread but vnder feete The hoâ—…some sauoure to his seruice vsed And faire flourd weedes as poison foule refused But when that Flora saw her great disgrace VVithered with griefe she shrunke into the ground And as it seemed displeased with the place For that so little fauour their she found She lets him goe vntill anone he met An other Lady with another let And this was she of whom the Poets writ Ceres the Princes of the Pesaunts treasure VVho both fortast and eke for hunger fit Did onely worke but for the bellies pleasure VVho with a cornu copia sweetely dight would staie the spirit with the flesh delight But he that had the charge to take a tast Of every fruit whereon they were to feede what soone would rot and what would longest last And what would proue the sweetest foode indeede Vpon his lippe his little finger plas't As if her gift were vtterly disgras't Not that the present seemed of no price But that their comforts were of other kinde And that God wot it was a base deuise with belly pleasures to abuse the minde which Ceres seeing parted in a rage And left the pilgrime to his pilgrimage Which selly creature softly going on Encountred with more crosses then before A world of fooles and deuils many a one In shape of men in shape and somewhat more which labourd sore to make some stoppe or stay To hinder loue in hitting vertues waie But he whose charge was charily to feele what grounde was best to grounde his footing on spurnde with his toe and kickt of with his heele Their stumbling stones till all the stops were gone which when they saw his blisse they could not balke They tanne away and left him to his walke By which good howre when heauens had happly tried How constant care his passage truely past And in the harte no vile desire did bide while patient will was with discretion plac't They rockt the rules of natures sence asleepe while Angels songs the soule did waking keepe But waking wit that had no will to rest Till ioie might come vnto her iourneies sende And that the spirit was not fully blest Till humble faith might see her heauenly friende Awakte this pilgrime from his pensiue vaine And set him sweetely on his waie againe When passing on they fell into a wood A thicket full of brambles thornes and briers A graceles groue that neuer did man good But wretched sendinges of the worldes desires where Snakes and Adders such venuâ—…d things Had slaine a number with their cruell stinges Some Metamorphosde like Acteon were Diana smiling at their lewde desires Some Semitawres and some more halfe a Beare Other halfe swine deepe wallowing in the miers All beastly mindes that could not be reformed were to the shapes of their owne shame transformed There
might he see a Monky with an Ape Climing a tree and cracking of a Nut One sparrow teache an other how to gape But not a tame one taught to keepe the cut And many a lacke daw in his foolish chat while parets prated of they knew not what But when shee saw humilities affection wonne from the world to seeke for heauenly fauour And that the soule by wisdome â—…ound direction In sacred flowers should finde the sweetest sauour Shee raisde him vp and badde him there receiue The true delightes should not the soule deceiue When lifted vp by that faire hande of loue That brought the hart an vnknowen happines And euery seruant sweetly did approue A blessing in their Masters blessednes with silent thoughtes they humbly did attende The words that did their comfort comprehende Poore wretch quod shee thy faithfull patient hart the highest powers in pitty doe regarde where true repentance pleades for no desart But bounties grace where mercy giues rewarde The heauens haue harde thy humble happy praier To helpe thy hope and keepe thee from despaire The labour that thy loue hath tane in hande Thy trauaile minding neuer to retire The happy staie whereon thy hope doth stande where humble praier but pitty doth aspire Haue got thee grace in mercies glorious eies To finde the path that leades to paradise This is the 〈◊〉 that patience onely treades where life doth goe on pilgrimage to loue whose humble hart the holy spirite leades vnto the height of blessed hopes behoue whom graces garde till perils al be past And faith resolu'de doe finde her rest at last Since thou hast scapte the vaunt of Venus vaine And not presumde Diana to approch Since Flora coulde no further fauour gaine Nor Ceres coulde thy carefull thought encroch Since fooles and deuils all are driuen awaie Bide but a night and thou shalt see the daie Since thou hast scapte the way of wretchednes where shameles mindes to shamefull shapes are turned And founde the waie of fairest blessednes where hart enflamde with vertues fire hath burned Keepe on the path and turne on neither side Grace to thy hope will be a happy guide Thinke it not longe to cumme to heauen at last Nor linger time to hinder happy speede Feare not the sunne though skies be ouercast And let a candell stande the night in steede So marke the light that liues in vertues eies And loue shall leade thee straight to paradise Feare not the foes nor forces thou shalt meete For thou shalt meete with monsters many a one But faith resolu'de treds fortune vnder feete where vertue comes will vices all be gone Hell cannot hurt whom heauenly powers defend where grace begins hope makes a happy end Lo neere at hand he that would hurt thee most An ougly Monster full af all corruption By whose illusion many soules haue lost Their liuely hopes by lowdenes interruption A Lier Theife and master of all evill The sier of sinne the fiendâ—… of hell the deuill Seauen are his heades as many are his tailes Ecâ—… head a tongue and every taile a sting And woe to them with whom his tongues prevailes within the compase of his tails to bringe But skorne his wordes or quite him with disgrace and thou shalt kill or make him fly the place His body is the very sinke of sinne Into which hole all hellish filth doth runne A plague of pride presumption did beginne An endles plague that was in pride begunne where every head the body standes in steed with poisoned soules the filthy paunch to feede His swordes are wordes with which he is to fight whose forces can but faithles hartes offende For if hee looke but once at vertues light He faintes for feare and feeles his forces ende But heare him speake and neuer feare his spight when vertue laughes at vanities delight His greatest head and that doth gape most wide Is proude Ambition swallowing worldly wealth which faithles soules infectes with filthy pride Killing the spirit for the bodies health Vpon which head he beares a triple crowne That Vertue sees is neere his tumbling downe In which great head his tongue is all vntruth Lies to bewitch the worlde vnto his will The ease of Age and high conceit of youth are greatest groundes of his vngratious skil To gouerne states is such a stately thinge what slaue is he that would not be a king And thus the villaine would the world perswade To prowde attemptes that may presume to high But earthly ioies wil make him proue a â—…ade when vertue speakes of loues diuinity where humble hart doth to that heauen aspire where is no place for any proude desire The seconde heade is wicked avarice Choking it selfe with trash in steade of treasure whose tongue is treason that can best deuise To hurte the spirite with the bodies pleasure But talke of vertues ioie in Misery And he wil pine to death in penury The thirde foule head is filthy Gluttony Deuouring more then it can well disgest Leading the harte to loathsome villany And of a man doth make an ougly beaste But answere him with fasting and with praier The very wordes will kill him with their aier The fourth bad head is beastly slothfulnes Sleeping and snorting like a filthy swine Loosing the time in loathsome Idlenes Dreaming of that which neuer was diuine But answere him with vertues carefull watching He faintes and falls to finde his ouermatching The fifte vile heade is filthy lechery which leades the hart to hateful wickednes His tongue a forge of fancies treachery To bring the soule to all vnhappines But answere him with vertues chaste desire And he will bite his very taile for ire The sixte is enuy full of malice fraught Feeding on Snakes that faine would vertue stinge which where they finde their forces come to nought Into his mouth they backe their poison bring But say how patience leades to paradise He frets and fumes and in impatience dies The seuenth is murther most accursed head whose tongue is blasphemy all dide in blood which with the harts of harmeles creatures feade Lappes in the broath of an Infernall foode But saie how vertue doth for vengeance crie And dead he falles or els awaie doth flie Now beare these heauenly lessons all by harte And take these bookes to benefite thy minde In each of which is hidde a secret arte whose proper vse maie profite in his kinde But chiefly doe this holly booke peruse where speciall comfortes maie thy spirit chuse When hauing giuen into his humble hande Seuen sundry bookes whereonto vse his wit And last the staie whereon the state did stande Of happy life where heauenly loue doth sit The holy booke of vertues blessed vaine Home shee returnes vnto her heauen againe Which when the pilgrime humbly did beholde Carying in minde the comforts of his hart which to his faith her fauour did vnfolde To keepe the soule from an Infernall smart Against the fury of this fiende of hell Onwardes he goes God speede
conceite The Ladies faire and full of honours grace The seruantes wise that humbly did awaite Nothing amisse that nature coulde deuise To please the humor of Affections eies And let me not to slightly ouerpasse The pleasing ground of euery priuate grace where euery sence so sweetely pleased was As brought the wits into a wondrous case And such a case as had not vertue ben To garde their sence they had ben ouerseene To see the presence of a princely Queene To marke the course of graue discretion care To note the sightes that are but seldome seene where youthes desartes in beauties fauoure are To heare the musicke of most siluer voices And finde the restes wherein the song reioices To see what pleasure power hath in her hande To heare how youth can courte his kinde desire To see how wisedome doth in power commaunde And finde how beauty sets the hart on fier while humble seruauntes shewe their diligence Are not these notes for sweete experience To see how vertues are in honor placed To see the aged all with reuerence serued To see the humble by their seruice graced And beauties fame by faithfull loue preserued To see peace plenty wisedome honour loue Are these not pleasures for the hart to proue Now heere the pilgrime did beginne to feare Some of his seruants woulde be stolne awaie Either the Sente the rast the Eie the Eare Or els the Feeling woulde be forst to staie Yet for they sware their seruice to his will He fearde the lesse to leade them from their ill And when he sawe what perill was in greatnes while idle thoughtes in youthfull humors sit And what a folly was in to much featenes where beauties wonders did but blinde the wit And what long suites did gaine but little grace And last what daungers doe possesse the place With humble praier vnto the powers on high To blesse that prince and all those princely peeres which in the honour of discretions eie were calde the wonders of these latter yeeres From care and cost fancy and wisedomes folly He tooke his walke vnto a waie more holly WHere ere they came they came yet by the way Vnto a Campe on rather kingly fielde where many a stop did feare too long a stay Such choice of honors did such humors yeelde where horse and foote were so in order planted As no direction in discretion wanted The chiefe commaunder in his stately tente with noble mindes of Martiall men attended For euery doubt of euery ill intent with strongest gardes of watche and warde defended whose graue discretion rulde by sounde aduise Performde the plot of many a rare deuise To see the carefull Collonels directed Ech to his quarter and his regiment And how ech Captaine valiauntly effected The wonder grace of warlike gouernement To see the true discharge of euery office And then the honor of aduentures seruice To note the greate prouision euery waie For victuaile first munition armor shot For forrege for their horse for grasse and hay And such prouaunte as cheapest may be got For euery grounde for euery quarterfit Are not the workes for euery simple wit To heere the drummes and 〈◊〉 the larum strike The horses neie and then the trumpets sounde To see the horsemen charge vpon the pike And then the pikemen laie the horse on grounde To heare the Canons roar the small shot rattle And see their triumph that doe winne the battaile To marke the ordring of a court de garde To note the rules in walking of the rounde The scintinels and euery watch and warde And of the mines and working vnder grounde To marke the planting of their Ambuscados And in the night their sodaine canuassados To see a Citty sende her bullets out Against the force of all her cruell foes To see her wals all fortified about To beare the force of all their cruell blowes To make her foes perforce their siege to raise And through the world to winne a wonder praise Are heere not sights of force to staie the eie Or soundes of power for to in chaunt the eare Nay maie not wel the hart be drawen awry From all conceites to keepe his compasse there Sure so it had had not the spirit still Preseru'de the sences from a secretill For then againe to see a citty sackte Her buildings ruinde and her people slaine Her wals al razed and her castles crackt And al her welth but in a woful vaine Her olde men mourning and her young men dying The mothers weeping and their children crying To see her streetes alrunne with streames of blood Her houses burning all in flames offier To see her state that al in honor stoode Yeelde to the forces of their foes defire Her roial strength become a ruful storie And death sorrow ende of al her glorie To see the fielde with dead men ouer spread To see the aire infected al with smoake To see the valiaunt Caualieros dead And many a soldiour hurt with many a stroake To see the steedes lie tumbling on the earth And through the campe a Sickenes or a dearth To see the soldiour starue with lake of foode And in his march to die with lacke of drincke To see the rich men liue on poore mens bloode And one close humor at an other wincke To see each Captaine euerie waie anoied And by disorder all the campe destroied Did make the pilgrime willing to depart The place so ful of daunger and distresse where wits might worke but woful was the Arte where one mans health bred many heauines And therefore making there but little staie He followes patience on another way AND on they walke vntil anone they came Vnto a Church not built of lime or stone But that true Church of that Immortal fame That is worldes wonder and heauens loue alone whose head is Christ whose Martirs are his pillers And al whose members are his wordes wel-willers The gate is Grace Contrition is the key The locke is loue the porter Penitence where huÌ„ble faith must heauenly fauour stay Till pitty talke with vertues patience while Angels sighes the sinners waie deuise To haue his entraunce into paradise Which is in deede the plot of al perfection Drawne by the compasse of diuine conceite whose line is life laide by his loues direction who makes al flesh vpon the spirite waite whose flowers are fruites of faithes eternal fauour Sweete to the soule in euerliuing sauour Here sorrowes teares doe quenche the heate of sine And fire of loue doth kindle life againe Heere doth the grounde of glory first beginne And heere is vertue in her highest vaine Heere is in some the state of honours story And of all goodnes the eternall glory And heere is lo that heauenly paradise whereto the pilgrime made his pilgrimage where saâ—…red hiâ—…rcy first did solempnize The spirite to the fleshe in mariage And here the hart did finde his spirit blest To bring the sences to eternall rest Gloria in excelsis Deo IN this 〈◊〉 plot of reasons
highest pleasure The heaunly courâ—… of the high king of kings where sacred spirits haue their speciall treasure And sweetest comfort of contentment springs God bring your sences by your harts desire To feele the comfort of his kingly fier THE COVNTESSE OF PENbrookes loue FAIRE in a plot of earthly paradise Vpon a hill the Muses made a Maze In midst whereof within a Phoenix eies There sits a grace that hath the world at gase which Phoenix is but name vnto a nature That shews the world hath scarcely such a creature This true loues saint by worthy beauty crowned Did seeme to wish but not expresse her will when straunge desires were in deuises drowned To finde out wonders farthest from her wil The worlde came in with presents many a one But yet alas her loue could like of none Cleare was the day when Phaebus shonne ful bright But her hartes eie did higher light aspire Aprill brought in both earth and Aires delight But earth nor Aire could answere her desire Fortune shee skornde friendes who durst be a foe Seruants a worlde would serue her will or no. Welth was buttrash and health was natures ioie Honour a Title beauty but a blast Power but a trouble pleasure but a toie Youth but a time to quickely ouerpast Learning alas it liueth in her schoole wisedome her will knowes worldly wit a foole Yet still she wisht but saide not what shee woulde when still the worlde did worke but still in vaine Care with conceite did all the best he coulde Brought in his giftes but bare them backe againe when welth helth beauty honor power nor ease wit youth nor learning could her humor please Some brought in pearles most orient to beholde Shee knew them pearles and so shee did regarde them Some brought in gemmes of diamondes set in golde Shee knewe their worth and so shee did rewarde them Some brought in workes of weomens rare deuises Shee knew their paines and so did giue the prices Some brought in musicke of most siluer sounde which all woulde cease if â—…hee but tucht astring Some brought in first the fairest flowers they founde Shee tooke them as the comforts of the spring Some brought in this and some woulde bringe in that But yet her wish was still shee knewe not what The souldiers came and brought in all their armes Shee smilde to see how beauty made a peace The pesants came and offred vp their farmes But shee saide loue did neuer make a lease The merchants came withall their mony treasure Shee put it off id did her minde no pleasure The lawiers came and laide downe all their bookes Shee knew that truth was all in yea and no The courtiers came with all their lofty lookes But when shee lookt she made them curtzy low The scholars came and brought in all their artes Shee knew their practise ere they learnd their partes The sailers brought their Rubies from the rocâ—…es But of such toies her treasure was to full The shepards brought the fairest of their flockes But shee coulde weare no cloth was made of woll Thus euery one did bring in what they coulde Yet still shee wisht but knew not what shee woulde The poets came and brought in their inuentions But well shee knew their fancies were but fained The muses brouhht the truth of their intentions which in their kindes were kindely entertained But yet the best with all her worthines Toucht not the humor of her happines But when the world could not come neare her wish And saw in vaine it was her will to seeke The earth coulde yeelde no fruite the sea no fishe That coulde be founde that might her fancy leeke Some with a sigh other with pitteous mone All went awaie and left her all alone They wil sweete loue is but the summe of wel Thy well is well wel better and the best That with thy loue thy liuing soules may dwell Safe in the hope of their eternal rest Thy rest the Ioie the soule cannot conceiue Thy soules the Saintes thy Mercy doth receiue Thy comfort is the tuch stone of true kindenes Thy kindenesse is the very life of loue Thy loue is light all other light but blindenesse Thy light is life that death can neuer proue Thy death was life thy life is Ioie for euer Vnto the soules that loue and leaue thee neuer VVhat was or is or on the earth shall be But that thou knowst and knowst al what they are And that they haue their beeing but in thee Made by thy hande and gouerne by thy care which thou dost prosper comfort or defende And when thou wilt shal wholy make an ende Grast is the King whom thou dost only crowne And wise the wit that only knowes thy wil Happy the state where thou dost blesse the towne And blest the hart that thou dost keepe from ill But yet the soule doth in her faith approue The life the life is onely in thy loue Shall I describe thy sweete and glorious seate But as thou art vnto thy seruants seene Or shall my spirite humbly elâ—…e entreate Some Angels help that in the heauens hath beene That to the world such glory may vnfolde Or saie it is too glorious to beholde Thy throne is Iudgement Iustice is thy sworde Mercy and truth are still before thy face Loue is thy law and wisedome is thy worde Vertue thy loue and Bounty is thy grace Pitty thy state where patience is the story Grace is thy gift and Mercy is thy glory Thus in the seate of sacred excellence With Virgins Saints and Angels all attended Dost thou possesse that princely residence Till Iudgement passe and Ioies be neuer ended When all the host of heauen and heauens do th sing An Alleluia to their heauenly king Where trembling Ioyes distill the teares of loue And louing feare doeth bring forth blushing faces And blushing faces in their faith approue Vnworthy creatures to behold their graces which graces doe this glorious musicke moue The life of life is in thy heauenly loue Now for thy loue it cannot turne to hate Thou hatest the life that once doth alter loue It is the staie of an eternall state A mansion house that neuer can remoue which on the rocke of true Religion standes And neuer feares the seas of errors sandes Now thy Religion is the rule of life whose chiefest blessing is the ioie of peace where loue cuts of the cause of euery strife And sweete accord doth bring out loues encrease And loues encrease is such a ioie to see As bringes the soule vnto his life in thee Alas alas all treasure is but trashe where loue is banisht by the state of strife The sweetest wine is but as swinish wash Vnto the water of the well of life No no the pleasures that the world can proue Are all but sorrowes to thy heaunly loue But let me see what fruite thy fauour yeeldes Or in thy loue what happy life is founde when sea and lande hils dales and fairest fieldes Doe all
but in thy blessed giftes abounde Besides the peace wherewith the hart is blest To bring the soule to thy eternall rest Thou dost not ioie to see a sinners death But true repentaunce pleaseth thee farre better Yea thou wilt helpe at latest gaspe of breath To make the soule confesse it selfe thy debter And where the soule such comforts doth approue Can there be thought a comfort like thy loue No no this worlde is full of wanton toies which oft keepes backe the comfort of thy care And many waies doth worke the harts anoies when fortunes hope doth proue but heauy fare Oh heauens who knew but halfe thy blessednes woulde hate the world with all his wretchednes Where shew of faith doth shape but falshods cloke when fancies teares proue drops offonde desire wherefree conceites will yeeld to kindenes yoke when sorrow paies repentance for their hire while in thy loue maie liuing faith vnfolde Hart may her hope hope may her heauen behold What shadowes here doe ouershroude the eie while Masking thoughts doe March before the winde where loues conceite doth but illusion trie when careles wit becometh the wilfull blinde And Nature findes her selfe still misconceiued where forme for matter hath the soule deceiued Not that my wits can touch the smallest worth Of that high wonder worthines of thine For from a sinner what can issue forth And who more sinner then this soule of mine which doth with teares of true repentance moue thy gratious helpe to glorifie thy loue For as vnto the sea a water droppe And to the sandes a little pibble stone And as a corne vnto a haruest croppe And vnto infinite the number one So are my Muses in their Musicke short thy Kingly prayse of prayses to report But as a scholer that doth goe to schoole To make a letter ere he learne to write And as the wit that knowes it selfe a foole Till higher wisedome teach it to endite So let my soule in her submission proue Hate of the world and honour of thy loue For what is heere that can content the hart That knowes content or what it doth containe what thought ◅o sweete but brings as sowre a smart Or pleasure such but breedes a further paine what thing so good but proues in fine so euil As but for God woulde beare men to the deuill What is the Earth the labour of our life what is the sea a gulfe of griezy lakes what is the Aire a stuffe of filthy strife what is the fire the spoile of what it takes when these are al whence euery thing doth springe what is the worlde but euen a woful thing What thing is man a cloddde of miry claie Slime of the Earth a slaue to filthie sinne Springes like a weede and so doth weare awaie Goes to the earth where first he did beginne Oh heauens thinke I when man is wholy such what is in man that man shoulde loue so much VVhat hath the worlde to leade the minde to loue In true effect a fardel ful of toies where wey the pith what euery one doth proue The perfectst gems are most vnperfect Ioies Consider al what fansie bringeth forth The best conceite will fal out nothing worth VVhat worldely thinges doe follow fansie most welth Beutie loue fine diet honor fame what findes affect both loue and labour lost Disdaine disease dishonor death and shame where care and sorrow death and deadly strife Doe rule the rost in this accursed life What thing is Beauty colour quickely gon And what is wealth when riches fal to rust what thing is loue a toy to thinke vpon Fine diet drosse to feede a filthy lust what worldly honour oft vnworthy praise what ease the cause whereby the life decaies What is disdaine the skorne of proud conceit And what disease the death of discontent Dishonour next the fruit of foule deceite And what is death but ende of ill intent Now what is shame a shamefull thing to tell And thus the world but euen the way to hell For beasts birds for fishes flowers trees And al such things created for our vse what thing is man to take such things as theese By want of grace to turne vnto abuse Oh wretched world when man that should be best In beastly things proues worse then al the rest But when I see this wretched state of man And al the world at such a woful passe That since the course of humane care began More ful of wo good nature neuer was when this my soule doth with her sorrow see Lord saies my Loue that I might liue with thee And leauing so the world with all his woes And looking vp to heauen heauenly ioies And to the grace where vertues glory goes Noting the life that neuer loue anoies when in my soule Idoe this sweetnes proue Lord saies my soule howe sweete art thou my loue I see the sunne the beauty of the skie The moone and stars the candles of the night They haue their essence in thy heauenly eie That blindes the proude and giues the humble light I see the raine-bow bended by thy hand That doth both heauen earth sea heauen cōmand Thou gauest the sunne the moone stars a course which they obserue according to thy will Thou makest the tides to take their due recourse And setst the earth where it doth settle stil. Thou framdst the substance of each Element And settst thy foote vpon the firmament Thus doest thou sitte in glory of thy throne with al the hoast of highest heaues attended who in thine ire hast kingdoms ouerthrowen And in thy loue hast little things defended whose glory more then may by man be knowen And glory most is in thy mercy showen Thus dost thou sit in honor of thy power Calling the poore vnto thy rich reliefe Sowing the sweete that killeth euery sower Giuing the salue that healeth euery griefe Making them liue that long were dead before And liuing so that they can die no more Thou madst the worlde and what it doth containe Onely but man thou madst vnto thy loue And mans good will was thy desired gaine Till proude attempt did high displeasure moue Thou plagst his pride yet when thou sawst his paine Thou ga◅st the s◅lue that heald the wound againe Vngratefull man whom thou didst onely make In loue to loue and with thy loue preseruest And for his loue enduredst for his sake Such death of life as dearest loue deseruest what cursed hart woulde to displeasure moue thee That giuing all askes nothing but to loue thee Oh loue sweete loue oh high and heauenly loue The onely lin◅ that leades to happy life Oh loue that liu◅st for louing hartes behoue And makst an ende of euery hatefull strife Happy are they that kindely can attaine thee And how accurst that dare but to disdaine thee Thy loue was cause that first we were created Loue is the life that thou wilt haue vs leade Loue is the cause we neuer can be hated Loue is our life
when other life is dead Loue is thy grace that higest good doth giue Loue me then lorde and I shall euer liue And with that worde proceeding from her hart The trickeling teares distilled downe her eies As if her sence possest in euery part A secret ioie that did the soule surprise when lifting vp her handes oh loue quod shee My soule is sicke she cannot be with thee And from the mercy of thy maiesty Beholde the sorrowes of my wounded soule Let pitties care of loues calamitie My ruthfull teares thy register enrowle And thinke vpon the passions that I approue For truely lorde my soule is sicke of loue And sicke it is and so well maie it bee A sweeter sickenes then a worldly health A healthfull sickenes to be sicke for thee where Natures want doth proue the spirits wealth while hart hath set her highest happines But to beholde thee in thy holines But I am sicke and sicke in euery vaine Sicke to the death but not to die to thee For why thy loue assures me life againe And there to liue where death can neuer be Oh sweetest sicknes where the soule may see The way through death to come to liue with thee To liue with thee oh euer liuing loue Oh let me die that I may liue no more Till in thy loue I may the life approue That may confesse I neuer liu'de before Life is but death where thy loue shineth neuer Onely thy loue is happy life for euer My sinnes my sinnes with sorrow and with shame Of faultes and follies couerd haue my face Death is my due I haue deseru'd the same Wo to the hart in such vnhappy case But if repentance mercy may obtaine Looke on me loue and I am well againe Vnhappy hart that euer thee offended Vnworthy eies thy blessing to beholde Vncarefull eare that euer tale attended But to the truth that hath thy mercy tolde vnfaithful soule that euer thought did moue From euerliuing with thine onely loue But now the hartis dead to worldes delight And eies in teares pronounce repentance truth The eare is deafe vntill the hart be right To see the life that of thy loue ensueth The faithfull soule of pleasure is depriued Dead till her life be by thy loue reuiued Nor let me teâ—…pt that 〈◊〉 loue of thine To hasten time beyonde thy holy will But only looke vpon this soule of mine That in thy loue may be her liuing still Till shee may heare this ioiful â—…ounde of thee Come away loue and euer liue with me But yet my loue me 〈◊〉 I see thee looke As though my soule had thee displeased sore But hath my loue so high displeasure tooke That he will looke vpon my loue no more Oh yes my loue will not be angry euer And where he loues he will be angry neuer Then though thou chide yet be not angry loue But in thy kindenes giues thy sweete correction That humble hart maie in repentance proue The dearest passage of thy loues direction whose blessed ende may in this only be To liue to die to die to liue to thee Me thinkes I see that glorious seate of thine whereto thy Saints and Angels al assemble And in the presence of thy power diuine with Ioifull feare how euen the highest tremble And when those spirits doe such passions proue Shall I presume to think vpon thy loue Oh sweetest loue that carries such a force As keepes the hart of humble hope in awe And sweete againe that caries such remorse As hath cut off the curses of the lawe And sweetest yit that in the soule doth proue There is no sweete indeede but in thy loue Which feeds the huÌ„gry with a heaueÌ„ly bread And cooles the thirsty from the liuing Rocke which heales the sicke giues life vnto the dead And wakes the careful with the morning Cocke which breedes the peace that stinteth euery strife And giues the fountaine of the well of life It is the key that opes the doore of grace Vnto the care that thou hast constant proued And shewes the fauour of thy shining face Vnto the blessed of thy deare beloued It is in summe the infinite sweete pleasure Of tried faith and true Repentance treasure Oh ioy ofioies what hart can comprehend thee Oh sweet of sweets what sence that can coÌ„ceiue thee Blest be the harts that truly doe attend thee And ten times blest that in their soules receiue thee And fairely blest whom thou hast faithful proued But chiefly blest whom thou hast chiefly loued Me thinkes I see how sweetly thou dost ride Aboue the heauens vpon the Cherubs high with all thine Angels set on euery side with all the sound of sweetest harmony wheral some their sweetest notes do frame To sing the praises of thy holy name Me thinkes I see thy holy Martyrs crowned On huÌ„ble knees cast down their crowns before thee And cry alowd be thou alone renowned Let heauen and earth and all the world adore thee when my poore soule with sinne oppressed sore Can say Amen yet though it say no more Oh that my soule could see that sacred light That might but leade me to thy holy will And learne the rule that keepes the soule aright In perfect faith thy precepts to fulfill And might so neere vnto thy hand abide As from thy loue might neuer steppe aside But what am Iâ—… a worme and wretched thing Vnworthy creature made of earth and claie Once to presume to speake vnto my King On whom the state of highest heauens doth staie Let not presumption thy displeasure moue But in thy pitty looke vpon my loue For I am sicke oh sauiour sende me health My hart is hurt come heale my deadly wounde And I am poore relieue me with thy wealth Yea I am dead oh raise me from the grounde My health my wealth my only resurrection let my soule liue but in thy loues perfection Beholde the tearâ—…s of my repentaunt truth And wey my sorrowes by my sighing sobbes And in the rule but of thy heauenly ruth Feele my poore hart in horror how it throbbes And when thou seest my soule thus wo begun her In thy sweete mercy sweete loue looke vpon her And from the dew of thy deare blessed loue Let fall one droppe vpon my dried hart wherein my soule such comfort maie approue As maie asswage the rigour of my smart And being so by thy sweete hand relieued Maie so reioice as neuer more be grieued Lorde who dare looke against thy liuing power Or what doth liue but onely in thy loue The sweete of sweets where there was neuer sower But ioies of ioies that can no sorrow proue Oh purest proofe of loue and lifes perfection Blest be the soule that liues by thy direction But my hart pantes my soule doth quake for feare And sorrowes paine possesseth euery part My heape of sinnes to heuy for to beare Presse downe desire with terror of desart And in great dread of deepe dispaire doth crie Grace giue me life for
on thy mercie let me onlie staie That my poore soule maie in thy comfort proue Lo what it is to liue but in thy loue Some wish for golde and some for golden graces Some wish for wit and some for worldely pleasure Some wish for power and some for stately places And some alone doe wish for worldely treasure But let my will those wishes all displace And wish alone thy fauour and thy grace Some in their chariots some in horses trust But be thou still a strong defence to me Some heere desire but to possesse their lust Let my soules loue be but to liue to thee Some wish but here to purchase worldly fame Let me but ioie to glorify thy name And not alone in sweetest wordes to moue The worldly eares to wonder at the same But in my workes thy praises I maie proue I doe but seeke the honour of thy name That all true soules maie iustly saie with me All that is good directly comes of thee Let me but tuch the garment of thy grace I shall be healed of my sickest sore Let me but looke vpon thy louing face Such health will come I shall be sicke no more Yea if thy mercy mi◅igate my paine If I were dead I shoulde reuiue againe Forget oh lorde the follies of my youth And giue me not the death of my desart But of the treasures of thy heauenly Truth Bestow an almes on my needy hart That in the secrets of thy sacred loue My carefull soule her comfort may approue Let not mine eare one listen to the sounde Of vaine conceits that but deceiue the minde Nor let the worlde so giue my hart a wounde That in my soule mine eie be stroken blinde But let my spirit onely make her choise But in thy loue and mercy to reioice Oh that my waies were all and whole directed Vnto the seruice of thy sacred will And that my faith had in my soule effected The happy comfort of that heauenly skill That in true loue might euer so attende thee As in default might neuer more offende thee That I might leaue this lothsome world of ours And chuse the honor of thy childrens awe And in thy heauen and with thy heauenly powers Learne but obedience to thy blessed lawe And with thy saints and holy Martyrs sing All lawde and glory to my heauenly king Then should my hart finde out my heaunly rest And sorrow then should tuch my soule no more But hart and soule both in thy mercie blest Should daie and night thy holy name dore And make the worlde by some effectes to see It is thy loue hath wrought this life in me And with that worde she sweetly fetch a sigh And then a sobbe and then a bitter teare As who should saie that either death was nigh Or els her hart was stroken with a feare Or els the spirit might be ouercome That for the time her tongue was stroken dumme But let it be all blessed is the traunce when so the soule is ouercome with loue That vertues choice doth finde it is no chaunce when humble faith doth heaunly fauour proue And when the sences from their sleepe arise The spirit findes the life that neuer dies So when it seemde shee waked from her sleepe Or sodaine traunce for so I tearme it right when such high care did so her sences keepe That shee awakt with glory of the light Oh sacred loue and sweetest life quod shee what happy figure hath appearde to me Did I beholde that fairest shining light That made me shake for feare to see thy face And weepe for ioie that in thy blessed sight My sinfull soule might come and sue for grace And did I see thy loue so sweetely vse mee That in thy mercy thou wouldst not refuse me And did thy mercy so thy loue entreate That iustice gaue her sworde to mercies hande And did thy mercy sit in iustice seate And did the iudgement in thy mercie stande Oh blessed loue where mercie doth approue The fruite of loue is mercie mercies loue I must confesse my conscience did cond◅mne me Of such offence as I coulde not denie And of such crime as thou migh◅st well contēne me when by my due I had deseru'd to die But when thy mercy did my sorrowe see How in thy pitty shee did pleade for me Beholde quod shee the true repentant hart which bleedes in teares with sorrowe of her sinne what passions haue perplexed euery part where penitence doth pitties suite beginne where true confession doth submission proue And true contrition cries to me for loue Beholde the faith that hath her fairest holde Vpon the gift of thy especiall grace Thy word of truth that to the world hath told The faithfull soule in heauen shall haue a place And true repentance shall by me obtaine The freed ioyes from euerlasting paine VVhen that vile serpent euery soules accuser That sought to bring my comforts to decay That ougly deuil al the worldes abuser In furies rage me thought did fly awaie And to the life but of thy mercy leaue me who to thy seruice sweetely did receiue me VVhen all thy Saintes and martyrs came vnto me And in their armes thine Angels did embrace me And all were glad what comfort they could doe me And in a seate of paradise so place me That al with ioie surprisde these ioies to see I wake and praie the vision true may bee For this is it sweete Lorde that I would haue The world is short in sounding my desire It is thy mercy that I onelie craue Thy vertues loue that set my hart on fire And in thy loue that onely liuing blisse That world may wish but know not what it is FINIS Errata Pag. 8 lin ◅ on for one p. 11. l. 2. end for sed l. 10. endings for sendings p. 28. l. 19. in gold her grace for her gold in grace lin 20. for worthines read worthles l. 21. lines for li◅es p. 40. lin 18. can offend me for offend me