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
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
Pisardus passing well oftentimes came to visite him and would dine and suppe with him who noting the mild demeanour modest behauiour of Fiorella maruelled greatly saying within himselfe O God why was it not my hap to haue takeÌ„ Fiorella to wife as wel as my brother Pisardo Sée how shée gouernes the house and doth what he commandeth her most obediently But mine wretche that I am doeth cleane contrary not affoording me neyther a good word nor chéereful countenance vnlesse shée may haue her owne will in euery thing Siluerius on a certayne day walking alone with Pisardus and debating of diuers matters amongst other communication he said Brother Pisardus thou knowest the loue and good-will that hath long remayned betwixt vs. I would willingly learne of you what meanes yée vsed at the first in bringing your wife to such obedience and to winne her to make so much of you I can neuer so louingly commaund Spinella to doe any thing but she answeares me ouerthwartly and herewith doeth al things contrary to that I bid her Pisardus smyling hereat from poynt to poynt tolde him the order and meanes that he had vsed when he brought her first to his house persuading him to doe the like and prooue whether it woulde take effect which if it did not hee knewe not what aduise to geue him This liked Siluerius very well who taking his leaue of his friende and beyng come home to his house without any delay called for his wife and taking a payre of his owne bréeches and a couple of staues did as his friend Pisardus had couÌ„selled him Which Spinella séeing said vnto him What new thing Siluerius is this that yée are about to doe What buzzes are there put in your head Are you now become a foole Doe we not know thinke you that men and not women should weare bréeches and what necessity is there I pray you in doing these thinges so besides the purpose but Siluerius making no answere procéeded in his determinate order geuing her the rule and gouernment of his house Spinella maruelling heereat cuttedly saide vnto him Think you that I cannot doe these things sufficiently without these your godly instructions that you so hotly geue mée But her husband held his peace and going with his wife to the stable did the like to his horses that Pisardo had done before and killed one Spinella séeing such fondnes thought verily that he was besides himselfe and saide vnto him Alas I pray you tel me Sir what mad moodes are these what is there come in your braine What is there meant by these vnaduised parts y â— yée play Are yée witlesse Siluerius answered I am neither mad nor foolish But all they that liue at my charge and doe not obey me shalbe chasticed in like sorte as yée haue nowe séene Spinella perceruing to what end this was done by her vnwise husband â—aid vnto him Ah sot that thou art It séemeth wel that thy horse was a simple beast to suffer himself so miserably to be killed at thy haÌ„ds But what meane yée by this Thinke yée to doe that vnto me which ye haue done to your horse in truth if ye so thinke yée are deceaued greatly and ouerlate it is now to looke vnto that which yee woulde looke vnto The bone is ouer muche hardeÌ„ned the wound is nowe growne to a scarre neyther is there nowe any remedy Order should sooner haue beene taken with this your straunge maner of coniuration O foole O witlesse Goose doest thou not sée that thou sustainest both losse scorne by these innumerable â—ollies And what gayne yée hereby In good fayth nothing Siluerius hearing the wordes of his suttle wife séeyng his louing purpose like to come to no effect determined against his will paciently to suffer this his harde fortune till death should ende these his dolours And Spinella séeing her husbands counsel not to preuaile whereas shée tooke an inche of liberty before tooke an Ell afterwardes For a woman that is by nature obstinate had rather suffer a thousand deathes then alter her setled determination ¶ Maister Gasparinus a Phisition by his cunning healeth fooles THere dwelt in times past in Englande a very rich man who had one only sonne called Gasparinus whom he sent ouer too the vniuersity of Padua that he might there follow his studie but hee making no account of learning speÌ„t his time in gaming and rioting haunting brothel houses and other suspected places leading y e most dissolute life that might be His father thinking that he spent his time in the study of Phisicke he practized in stéed of bookes bowles for disputing diâ—ing and whereas he should haue attayned learning he altogether frequeÌ„ted loytring Hauing remayned there y e space of fiue yéeres he returned into his countrey and shewed by experience y â— he had learned backwards for going about to séem a Romaine he manifested himselfe to be a Barbarian and men noted him and poynted at him as a common laughing stocke in the towne where he dwelt What griefe it was vnto the poore father to sée his cost lost and his onely childe as it were cast away I referre the consideration thereof to your discretions Wherfore for the mitigating of his sorowes hée called his sonne vnto him and opening a chest full of money and iewels layde forth vnto him the one halfe of his goodes which verily he deserued not said Take here my sonne thy portion of thy fathers hereditamentes get thée farre froÌ„ me For I rather choose to remain without a child then to liue with thée in infamie No sooner were these words spoken but he most willingly obeying his fathers commandement fingering the money tooke his leaue departed And being farre distant from him at the entrance of a wood néere a riuer hée built a costly sumptuous pallace the gates being of brasse and with this riuer it was moated about Herein with a deuice of sluces he made certayne litle pooles whose depth hée woulde encrease or diminish at his pleasure Into some the water entred the depth of a man into some other y â— it would reach to his eyes others vnto the nauel some to the middle some to the knées vnto euery of these pooles an yron chaine was fastened Ouer the gate of this pallace was a title written which sayd A place wherein to heale fooles The fame of this pallace in short space was spread abrode in most places of the world fooles repayred thither in great abundance to be cured but to speake more néerer the troth to bée washed The maister according to the greatnes of their follies would plundge them in these pits and some of these he would heale with whippings some with watching some with fasting other some by little litle he would restore to their former estate vnderstanding by the teÌ„perature suttlety of y â— ayre On a time in a large court without the gates of this pallace as certayne of the meanest
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
soule account must make Confesse thy faultes to God therefore Repent amend and sinne no more Of the vanitie of the world AS I lay musing in my bed A heape of fancies came in head Which greatly did molest mée Such sundry thoughtes of ioy and paine Did méete within my pondring braine That nothing could I rest mée Sometimes I felt excèeding ioy Sometimes the torment of annoy Euen now I laugh euen now I wéepe Euen now a slumber made mee sléepe Thus did I with thoughtes of straunge deuice Lye musing alone in pensiue wise I knew not what meanes might health procure Nor finish the toyle I did indure And still I lay and found no way That best could make my cares decay Reuoluing these thinges in my minde Of wretched world the fancies blinde Alone a while I ponder Which when I had perused well And saw no vertue there to dwell It made mée greatly wonder Is this that goodly thing thought I That all men loue so earnestly Is this the fruit that it doth yéelde Whereby wée all are so beguilde Ah Iesus how then my heart did rue Because I had folowed them as true Alas wée haue lost the heauenly ioyes And haue béene deceaued with worldly toyes Whose fancies vaine will bréede vs paine If Christ doe not restore againe O wretched man leaue off therefore In worldly thinges put trust no more Which yéeldes no thing but sorow To God thy Lord with spéede conuert Because thou most vncertain art If thou shalt liue too morow Leaue of to quaffe to daunce and play Remember still the iudgement day Repent relent and call for grace For pardon aske whilst thou hast space Who doeth from his heart repentaunce craue Forgiuenes saieth Christ of mée shall haue Hée will not the death of a sinner giue But rather hée should repent and liue Stil laud the Lord peruse his word And let thy déedes with it accord A Lesson for all estates HAst thou desire thy golden dayes to spend In blisfull state exempt from all annoyes So liue as if death how thy life should end Still treade the pathes that leade to perfect ioy Bee slow to sinne but spéedie to aske grace How are they blest that thus runne out their race Ech night ere sléepe shut vp thy drowsie eyes Thinke thou how much in day thou hast transgrest And pardon craue of God in any wise To doe that's good and to forsake the rest Sinne thus shake of the â—â—end for enuie wéepes Sound are our ioyes most quiet are our sléepes Haue not thy head so cloyd with worldly cares As to neglect that thou shouldst chiefly minde But beare an eye to Sathans wilâ— snares Who to beguile a thousand shiftes will finde Vaine are the ioyes that wretched world allowes Who trust them most doe trust but rotten bowes Shunne filthy vice persist in doing well For doing well doth godly life procure And godly life makes vs with Christ to dwell In endlesse â—lisse that euer shall endure Wée pray thée Lord our follyes to redresse That wée thus doe thus liue this blisse possesse A Dreame IN pleasaunt moneth of gladsome May I walkt abroad to view The fieldes which nature had bedeckt With flowers of sundry hew The sight whereof did recreate My senses in such sort As passeth far beyond my power Thereof to make reporte Then sat I néere a pleasaunt wood And listened with desire Vnto the small birdes chirping charme Which set my heart on fire Of Goldefinch and of Nightingale I there might heare the voyce The Wren the Robin and the thrush Did make a heauenly noyse Whose swéete melodious harmonie My senses so bereâ—t That I in this delightfull plot A pray to sléepe was left In slumber mine an auncient dame Before my face appeares Whose hollow chéekes and wrinckled face Did argue many yéeres Her vesture was as white as snow Her countenaunce very sad It semed by her watry eine Some inward griefe shée had For why great streames of trickling teares Distilled downe her chéekes And thus to mée with trembling voyce This aged beldam speakes My friende quoth shée bée not dismayde At this my sodaine sight Ne let the spéeches I shall vse Thy fearefull minde afright I am not of the furies broode Ne damned sprites of hell But hée through whome my being is Aboue the skies doth dwell And Lady Concord I am calde From forraine Realmes exilde Once mutual Loue my husband was And plentie was our childe But ah quod shée a hagge of hell That long hath sought their spoyle Hath slaine them both vnlesse they dwell Within your english soyle Héerewith there yssued from her eine Of teares abundant store And sighes so stopt her féeble voyce That shée could speake no more The sight wherof mée thought did rayse Great dolours in my breast Yet praying her for to procéede She thus her minde exprest Vile Couetousnesse that furie fell Hath wrought vs all this woe To Concord and to Mutuall Loue Shée is a deadly foe Time was when wée were well estéemde And calde ech countries stay But Couetousnesse now rules the roast And beareth all the sway And were it not that in this land I finde some small reliefe I had béene dead long ere this time Through greatnesse of my gréefe Debate and rancour night and day On this vile Dame attend Whom shée to worke her beastly will About the world doth send These two haue raysde such warre and strife In partes beyond the Seas That now few nations in the earth Enioy their woonted peace Now gold is reuerenced as a God Eche hunts for priuat gayne Men care not how their soules shall spéede So wealth they may attaine Of conscience now few make account Him men estéeme most wise Which to beguile his neighbour poore Can craftiest meanes deuise This sayd mée thought the auncient dame Did vanish straight away And I awaking héere withall Went home without delay Where taking paper penne and inke With spéede I there enrolde The circumstaunce of all the tale That Concord to mée tolde Which makes me wish that euery one Would mutuall loue imbrace And that no spots of couetousnesse With sinne their déedes deface A Dreame LAyd in my quiet bed to rest When sléepe my senses all had drownd Such dreames arose within my breast As did with feare my minde confound Mée thought I wandred in a wood Which was as darke as pitte of hell In midst whereof such waters stoode That where to passe I could not tell The Lion Tiger Woolfe and Beare There thundered forth such hideous cries As made huge Eccoes in the ayre And séemed almost to pearce the skies Long vext with care I there aboad And to get forth I wanted power At euery footesteppe that I troad I feard some beast would mée deuoure Abyding thus perplext with paine This case within my selfe I scand That humaine helpe was all in vaine Vnlesse the Lord with vs doe stand Then falling flatte vpon my face In humble sorte to God I prayde That in this
lye buryed in mucke and in sand My beard it is gray though not very old The strong I make wéepe nor for heate nor for cold Yet such is my state that the poore loue me well And stil I am forst with great men to dwell 7 From south and west commeth a straunge warlike nation Attiâ—de and apparelâ— in wonderfull fashion In garments milke white these people are clad Which strike and oppresse both good men and bad But fauour they shew in dealing their blowes And saue him from danger ech on his way goes And on his backe caryes dead bodyes great store Which with their thicke buffets had beate them before Great furies are kindled at end of the fray VVhich makes this straunge nation all vanish away 8 Long is it since first to the world I came Small am I of body poore féeble and lame Yet none in this world nor one neyther other In richesse and substaunce surpasseth my mother 8 Not long am I graunted this life to enioy So many there are that worke mée annoy O Lord how they rent mée it cannot bée told What torments I suffer in heat and in cold One while am I drowned such hap doth befal Then next doe they rost me yet this is not al. When thus they haue vsde me they cannot forbeare me Ere first being beaten by péecemeale they teare me Then serue I the turne of euery estate But one kinde of people mée deadly doth hate 9 Doe tell me my friends what creature is hée That two times is borne as all men may sée And liueth a space though not very long And often is killed not hauing done wrong VVhen y â— his breath fayleth it liueth no more It then is baptised and neuer before Though many a one doe euill entreate it They loue it right well and often doe eate it 10 A certain dead creature in mine armes I take With her back to my bosome great glée doth she make As thus I doe hold her she greatly doth chéere mée And wel are they pleased that sée me and heare mée Whilst erst it remayned in forest and field It silent remayning no speech forth did yéeld But since she of life by death was depriued With language shée speaketh mens sprites are reuiued 11 A father begat me yet I haue no mother Nor Uncle nor aunt nor sister nor brother Straight when I was born I began to florish For euery estate tooke care me to norish Thus many score yéeres they haue loued me full well And eke entertaind me amongst them to dwell All partes of the world I viewd in short space And still was bad welcome in euery place Though many by me reape losse care and woe They neuer will licence me from them to goe 12 Hard fortun doth haunt me by nature estranged From male into female I often am chaunged And where as before I liud well contented With prickings and punchings I now am tormented Now more to accomplish their gréedy desire They cruelly heate mee and scortch me with fire Though badly they vse mée so milde am I still That I yéelde them life that thus doe mée kill 13 Amongst the firiendships rare Of which old writers tell This may bée plaste in highest roome And doth deserue it well Whiles death with gasping throte Did gape for bloody pray Life conquered death and saude that life Which death did séeke to slay That life which did this déede As death would straight haue flaine That life which late by him was saude Preserude from death againe 14 Begot wi hout father in earth I remaine And oft I am turnd to my mother againe By night and by day I labour alwaies And with my sharp sauor both please displease Thus héere in this earth my race out I runne And neuer haue issue nor daughter nor sonne 15 A female I by name Am sister to a brother In all the world may not bée found Our like nor one nor other For hée no sooner dies But I straightwayes doe liue And I oft yéelding vnto death Still life to him doe giue Oft after him I hie And gladly would him stay But hée than arow from the bow More swiftly flyes away Straight wayes hée folowes me My presence to attaine And as hée fled from me before I flye from him againe Though straunge our state doth séeme By proofe yée may it try That both of vs are still aliue Yet both doe dayly die That yée may better know What straungers great wée bée Wee day and night doe dine and sup With men of ech degrée 16 Two are we in name though in substaunce but one First framed by arte then finisht with mone Before we are ready for those that will buy Through greatnesse of torment wée howle and wée Cry Yet féele we no griefe for all this anoy Great numbers by vs haue comfort and ioy Who when for their profits we haue done what wée may They then do reiect vs and cast vs away 17 Fayre art thou and â—â—d deseruing great praise And all men thée reuerence and honour alwayes Whiles that thy white banner abrode still is spread For then thou doest comfort both liuing and dead But if thy blacke banner bée spread foorth in vew All honour farewell all gladnesse adew Such woe then thou bringest to more and to lesse As pen cannot write it nor tongue may expresse 18. Of thée O my friend a thing I doe craue Which thou neuer hadst nor neuer shalt haue If that for thy selfe thou purpose to gayne it Thy labour is lost thou mayst not obtayne it Although thou shouldst liue a whole thousand yéere And séeke it yet shouldst thou be nothing the néere Now if thou doe loue me euen so as thou sayest Doe geue it For truely I know that thou mayst The solutions of the riddles 1 THe father the yéere the xii soÌ„nes y â— xii months the ix children the xxx dayes and xxx nights 2 A Ship 3 Amans minde 4 A footeball made of a bladder 5 An old man being in prison his daughter comming to visite him woulde geue him sucke of her breasts so nourish him 6 An Onion 7 Men trauellng in the snow are beaten with it and carry the dead bodies on their garments vntill they come to a fire which makes them vanish away 8 Hempe 9 A chicken being first an Egge then a chicken 10 A Lute 11 Play at all kinde of games 12 Wheat being the Newter GeÌ„der in Latin is turned into farinam meale which is the feminine which is then coÌ„nerted into bread so nourisheth them that bake it 13 A man coÌ„ming to a fouÌ„taine to drinke saw a serpent climbing vp on a trée to deuour a neast of young Egles which serpent hee slewe with his sworde and so saued their liues beeing about then to drink of the water the young birdes scraping out the filth of their nests fowled it in such sort that it letted him from drinking a spaniel that he had there with him tasting of it was presently poysoned 14 Salt 15 The night and day 16 A paire of sheares 17 A good tongue and a bad 18 A mayde béeing in loue with a young man desires him to geue her a husbande which in marriyng with her hée might doe