withall His pleasure sweete to staie when he to rest is bent An vgly shamble Flee approcheth to his tent And htere entendes by force his labours greate to win Or els to yelde his corse by fatall death therein Thus is the Spiders nest from tyme to tyme throwne downe And he to labour prest with endlesse paine vnknowne So suche as Louers bee like trauell doe attaine Those endlesse works ye see are alwaies full of paine FINIS M. Hunnis A Louers ioye I Haue no ioye but dreame of ioye and ioye to thinke on ioye A ioye I withstoode for to enioye to finishe myne annoye I hate not without cause alas yet Loue I knowe not why I thought to hate I can not hate although that I should dye A foe moste sweete a frende moste sower I ioye for to embrace I hate the wrong and not the wight that workt my wofull case What thyng it is I knowe not I but yet a thyng there is That in my fancie still perswads there is no other blisse The ioyes of life the pangs of death it make me feele eche daie But life nor death this humour can deuise to weare awaie Faine would I dye but yet in death no hope I see remaines And shall I liue since life I see a course of sorie paines What is it then that I doe seeke what ioye would I aspire A thyng that is deuine belike to high for mans desire FINIS F. K. Euill to hym that euill thinketh THe subtill stilie sleghts that worldly men doe woorke The friendly showes vnder whose shade moste craft doeth often lurke Enforceth me alas with yernfull voyce to saie Wo worthe the wilie heads that seeks the simple mans decaie The birde that dreads no guile is sonest caught in snare Eche gentle harte deuoide of crafte is sonest brought to care Good nature sonest trapt whiche giues me cause to saie Wo worthe the wilie heads that seeks the simple mans decaie I see the Serpent vile that lurkes vnder the grene How subtilly he shroods hym self that he maie not be sene And yet his fosters bane his leryng lookes bewraie Wo worthe the wilie heads that leeks the simple mans decaie Wo worthe the feinyng looks on fauour that we doe waite Wo worthe the feined frendly harte that harbours deepe deceite Wo worthe the Vipers broode oh thrise wo worthe I saie All worldlie wilie heads that seeks the simple mans decaie FINIS M. Edwardes He assureth his constancie WIth painted speache I list not proue my cunnyng for to trie Nor yet will vse to fill my penne with gilefull flatterie With pen in hand hart in brest shall faithful promise make To loue you beste and serue you moste by your greate vertuts sake And sure dame Nature hath you deckt with gifts aboue the reste Let not Disdaine a harbour finde within your noble breste For Loue hath lead his lawe alike to men of eche degrre So that the Begger with the Prince shall Loue as well as he I am no Prince I muste confesse nor yet of Princes line Nor yet a brutishe Begger borne that feeds emong the Swine The fruite shall trie the Tree at laste the blossomes good or no Then doe not iudge of me the worse till you haue tried me so As I deserue so then reward I make you iudge of all If I be false in woorde or deede let Lightnyng Thunder fall And Furies fell with franticke fiâ—ts bereue and stay my breathe For an example to the reste if I shall breake my faithe FINIS M. Hunnis Complainyng his mishapp to his frende he complaineth wittely A. THe fire shall freze the frost shall frie the frozen mouÌ„tains hie B. What straunge things hath dame natures force to turne her course awrie A. My Loue hath me left and taken a newe man B. This is not straunge it happes ofte tymes the truthe to scan A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is this not straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A. By skilfull meanes I here reclaime to stoope vnto my lure B. Suche haggard Haukes will soare awaie of them who can be sure A. With siluer bells and hoode my ioye was her to decke B. She was full gorgde she would the soner giue the checke A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is not this straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A. Her chirpyng lips should chirpe to me swete words of her desire B. Suche chirpyng birdes who euer sawe to preach still on one brire A. She saied she loued me beste and would not till she die B. She saied in wordes she thought it not as tyme doeth trie A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is not this straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A Can no man winne a woman so to make her Loue endure B. To make the Foxe his wiles to leaue what man will put in vre A. Why then there is no choise but all women will chaunge B. As men doe vse so some women doe Loue to raunge A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is not this straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A Sith slipper gaine falles to my lot farewell that glidyng praie B. Sith that the dice doeth runne awrie betymes leaue of thy plaie A. I will no more lamente the thyng I maie not haue B. Then by exchaunge the losse to come all shalt thou saue A. Loue will I refraine B. thereby thou shalt gaine A With losse I will leaue B. she will thee deceiue A. That is not straunge B. then let her raunge FINIS M. Edwardes No paines comparable to his attempt LIke as the dolefull Doue delights alone to bee And doeth refuse the bloumed branche chusyng the leaflesse tree Whereon wailyng his chaunce with bitter teares besprent Doeth with his bill his tender breaste ofte pearse and all to rent Whose greeuous gronyngs tho whose grips of pinyng paine Whose gastly lookes whose bloudie streams out flowyng froÌ„ ech vain Whose fallyng from the tree whose pantyng on the grounde Examples bee of myne estate tho there appere no wounde FINIS W. Hunnis He repenteth his follie A Lacke when I looke backe vpon my youth thatz paste And deepely pouder youthes offence and youths reward at laste With sighes and teares I saie O God I not denie My youth with follie hath deserued with follie for to die But yet if euer synfull man might mercie moue to ruthe Good Lorde with mercie doe forgiue the follies of my youthe In youth I rangde the feelds where vices all did growe In youth alas I wanted grace suche vise to ouerthrowe In youth what I thought swéete moste bitter now do finde Thus hath the follies of my youth
I founde that myne she meant to be Melpomene alas with dolefull tunes helpe than And syng Bis woe worthe on me forsaken man Then Daphnes Baies shall that man weare that triumphs ouer me For Blacke and Taunie will I weare whiche mournyng colours be Droune me you tricklyng teares you wailefull wights of woe Come helpe these hands to rent my heares my rewfull hap to showe On whom the scorchyng flames of Loue doeth feede you see Ah a lalalantida my deare Dame hath thus tormented me Wherefore you Muses nine with dolefull tunes helpe than And syng Bis woe worthe on me forsaken man Then Daphnes Baies shall that man weare that triumphs ouer me For Blacke and Taunie will I weare whiche mournyng colours be An Ancres life to leade with nailes to scratche my graue Where yearthly wormes on me shall feede is all the ioyes I craue And hide my self from shame sithe that myne eyes doe see Ah a lalalantida my deare dame hath thus tormented me And all that present bee with dolefull tunes helpe than And syng Bis woe worthe on me forsaken man FINIS E. O. Findyng no releef he complaineth thus INquest of my releef I finde distresse In recompence of Loue moste depe disdaine My langour suche as words maie not expresse A shower of teares my watrishe eye doeth raine I dreame of this and doe deuine of woe I wander in the thoughts of my sweete foe I would no peace the cause of warre I flie I hope I feare I burne I chill in Froste I lye a lowe yet mounts my mynde on hie Thus doubtfull stormes my troubled thoughts haue toste And for my paine this pleasure doe I proue I hate my self and pine in others Loue. The worlde I graspe yet holde I nought at all At libertie I seme in prison pent I taste the sweete more sower then bitter gall My shipp semes sounde and yet her ribbs bee rent And out alas on Fortune false I crie Looke what I craue that still she doeth denie Bothe life and death be equall vnto me I doe desire to die yet craue I life My witts with sondrie thoughts doe disagree My self am with my self at mortall strife As warmth of Sunne doeth melte the siluer Snowe The heate of Loue beholde consumes me so FINIS R. Hall. A Louer disdained complaineth IF euer man had loue to dearly bought Lo I am he that plaies within her maze And finds no waie to get the same I sought But as the Dere are driuen vnto the gaze And to augment the grief of my desire My self to burne I blowe the fire But shall I come nye you Of force I must flie you What death alas maie be compared to this I praie within the maze of my sweete foe And when I would of her but craue a kis Disdaine enforceth her awaie to goe My self I checke yet doe I twiste the twine The pleasure hers the paine is myne But shall I come nye you Of force I must flie you You courtly wights that wants your pleasaunt choyse Lende me a floud of teares to waile my chaunce Happie are thei in Loue that can reioyse To their greate paines where Fortune doeth aduaunce But sith my sute alas can not preuaile Full fraight with care in grief still will I waile Sith you will nedes flie me I maie not come nye you FINIS L. Vaux Beyng in Loue he complaineth IF care or skill could conquere vaine desire Or reasons raignes my strong affection staie Then should my sighs to quiet brest retire And shunne suche signes as secret thoughts bewraie Vncomely Loue whiche now lurks in my breast Should cease my grief through wisedomes power opprest But who can leaue to looke on Venus face Or yeldeth not to Iunos high estate What witt so wise as giues not Pallas place These vertues rare eche Gods did yelde amate Saue her alone who yet on yearth doeth raigne Whose beauties stryng no God can well destraine What worldly wight can hope for heauenly hire When onely sights must make his secret moue A silent sute doeth selde to grace aspire My haplesse happ doeth roule the restlesse stone Yet Phebe faire disdainde the heauens aboue To ioye on yearth her poore Edimions loue Rare is reward where none can iustly craue For chaunce is choise where reason maks no claime Yet lucke sometymes dispairyng soules doeth saue A happie Starre made Giges ioye attaine A slauishe Smithe of rude and rascall race Founde meanes in tyme to gaine a Goddes grace Then loftie Loue thy sacred sailes aduaunce My sithyng seas shall flowe with streames of teares Amidds disdaine driue forthe my dolefull chaunce A valiaunt mynde no deadly daunger feares Who loues alofte and setts his harte on hie Deserues no paine though he doe pine and die FINIS E. O. A Louer reiected complaineth THe tricklyng teares that falles along my cheeks The secret sighs that shewes my inward grief The present paines perforce that Loue aye seeks Bidds me renewe my cares without relief In wofull song in dole displaie My pensiue harte for to bewraie Bewraie thy grief thy wofull harte with speede Resigne thy voyce to her that causde thy woe With irksome cries bewaile thy late doen deede For she thou louest is sure thy mortall foe And helpe for thee there is none sure But still in paine thou must endure The striken Deare hath helpe to heale his wounde The haggerd Hauke with toyle is made full tame The strongest Tower the Canon laies on grounde The wisest witt that euer had the fame Was thrall to Loue by Cupids sleights Then waie my case with equall weights She is my ioye she is my care and wo She is my paine she is my ease therefore She is my death she is my life also She is my salue she is my wounded sore In fine she hath the hande and knife That maie bothe saue and ende my life And shall I liue on yearth to be her thrall And shall I sue and serue her all in vaine And kisse the stepps that she let ts fall And shall I praie the Gods to keepe the paine From her that is so cruell still No no on her woorke all your will. And let her feele the power of all your might And let her haue her moste desire with speede And let her pine awaie bothe daie and night And let her mone and none lament her neede And let all those that shall her see Despise her state and pitie me FINIS E. O. Not attainyng to his desire he complaineth I Am not as seme to bee nor when I smile I am not glad A thrall although you count me frée I moste in mirth most pēsiue sad I smile to shade my bitter spight as Haniball that sawe in sight His coūtrie soile with Carthage toune by Romain force defaced doun And Cesar that presented was with noble Pompeis princely heade As t were some iudge to rule the cace a flould of teares he semde to shed Although in deede it sprong of ioye yet other thought it was
are strangly wrought whiles ioyful MAY doth last Take MAY in time when MAY is gone the pleasant time is past All ye that liue on earth and haue your MAY at will Reioyce in MAY as I doe now and vse your MAY with skill Vse MAY whyle that you may for MAY hath but his time When all the fruite is gone it is to late the tree to clime Your liking and your lust is freshe whyles MAY dooth last When MAY is gone of all the yeere the pleasant time is past FINIS M. Edwardes 7. Faire words make fooles faine JN youthful yeeres when first my young desyres began To pricke me forth to serue in Court a sclender tal young man My fathers blessing then I askt vpon my knnee Who blessing me with trembling hand these words gan say to me My sonne God guide thy way and shild thee from mischaunce And make thy iust desartes in Court thy poore estate to aduaunce Yet when thou art become one of the Courtly trayne Thinke on this prouerbe old qd he that faire words make foles fain This counsell grauely giuen most straunge appeares to me Till tract of time with open eyes had made me plainely see What subtill fleightes are wrought by painted tales deuise When hollow harts with freendly shewes the simple do entise To thinke all gold that shines to feede their fond desire Whose sheuering cold is warmde with smoke in stead of flaming fire Sith talke of tickle trust dooth breede a hope most vayne This prouerbe true by profe I find that faire words make fooles fain Faire speach alway doth wel where deedes insue faire words Faire speach agayn alway dooth euill that bushes giues for birdes Who hopes to haue faire words to trye his lucky lot If I may counsell let him strike it whyle the iron is hot But them that feede on cloddes in stead of pleasant grapes And after warning often giuen for better lucke still gapes Ful loth I am yet must I tel them in words playne This prouerbe old proues true in them that faire words makes fooles fayne Wo worth the time that words so slowly turne to deedes Wo worth the time the faire swete flouers are growen to rotten weedes But thrise wo worth the time that truth away is fled Wherein I see how simple harts with words are vaynely fed Trust not faire words therfore Where no deedes do ensue Trust words as skilful falkeners do trust Haukes that neuer flewe Trust deedes let words be words which neuer wrought me gaine Let my experience make you wise and let words make foles faine FINIS M. Edwardes 8. In his extreame sicknesse WHat greeues my bones and makes my body faint What prickes my flesh and teares my head in twayne Why doe I wake when rest should me attaint When others laugh why do I liue in payne I tosse I turne I chaunge from side to side And stretch me oft in sorowes linkes betyde I tosse as one betost in waues of care I turne to flee the woes of lothsome life I change to spy if death this corpes might spare I stretch to heauen to ridde me of this strife Thus doe I stretch and change and tosse and turne Whyle I in hope of heauen my life do burne Then hold the still let be thy heauinesse Abolish care forgeat thy pining woe For by this meanes soone shalt thou find redresse When oft betost hence thou to heauen must goe Then tosse and turne and tumble franke and free O happy thryse when thou in heauen shalt be FINIS L. Vaux 9. For Christmas day Reioyce reioyce with heart and voyce In Christes birth this day reioyce FRom Virgins wombe this day did spring The precious seede that only saued man This day let man reioyce and sweetely sing Since on this day saluacion first began This day did Christ man soule from death remoue With glorious saintes to dwell in heauen aboue This day to man came pledge of perfect peace This day to man came loue and vnitie This day mans griefe began for to surcease This day did man receiue a remedie For each offence and euery deadly sinne With guiltie hart that erst he wandred in In Christes flocke let loue be surely plaste From Christes flocke let concord hate expel Of Christes flocke let loue be so embraste As we in Christ and Christ in vs may dwel Christ is the authour of all vnitie From whence proceedeth all felicitie O sing vnto this glittering glorious king O prayse his name let euery liuing thing Let hart and voyce like Belles of siluer ring The comfort that this day did bring Let Lute let Shalme with sound of sweete delight The ioy of Christes birth this day resight FINIS F. Kindlemarsh 10. For Easter dcy. ALl mortal men this day reioice in Christe that you redemed hath By death with death sing we with voice to him that hath appesd gods wrath Due vnto man for sinful path wherein before he went astray Giue thankes to him with perfect faith that for man kinde hath made this glorious day This day he rose frō tombe again wherin his precious corse was laid Whom cruelly the Iewes had slaine with blooddy wounds ful il araid O man be now no more dismaid if thou henceforth from sin do stay Of death thou needest not be afraide Christe conquered death for thys his glorious day His death preuailed had not whitt As Paule the apostle wel doth write Except he had vprisen yet from death to life by Godlike might With most triumphant glittering light This day his glorye shined I say and made vs brighte as sunne thys glorious day O man arise with Christ therfore since he from sin hath made thee fre Beware thou fall in sinne no more but rise as Christ did rise for thee So maist thou him in glory see when he at day of doome shall say Come thou my child and dwell with me God graunt vs all to see that glorious day FINIS qoth Iasper Haywood 11. For Whitsunday COme holy ghost eternall God and ease the wofull greefe That through the heapes of heauy sin can no where find releefe Doo thou O God redresse The great distresse Of sinful heauinesse Come comfort the afflicted thoughtes of my consumed hart O ryd the pearcing pricking paynes of my tormenting smart O holy ghost graunt me That I by thee From sinne may purged be Thou art my God to thee alone I will commend my cause Nor glittering gold nor precious stone shall make me leaue thy laws O teach me then the way Whereby I may Make thee my onely stay My lippes my tongue my hart and al shall spread thy mighty name My voyce shall neuer cease to sound the prayses of the same Yea euery liuing thing Shall sweetely sing To thee O heauenly king FINIS F. K. 12. No pleasure without some payne SWeete were the ioyes that both might like and last Strange were the state exempt from all distresse Happy the life that no mishap should tost Blessed
the chaunce might neuer change successe Were such a life to lead or state to proue Who would not wish that such a life were loue But O the soury sauce of sweete vnsure When pleasures flye and flit with wast of wind The trustlesse traynes that hoping harts allure When sweete delightes do but allure the mind When care consumes and wastes the wretched wight Whyle fancie feedes and drawes of her delight What life were loue if loue were free from paine But O that paine with pleasure match should meete Why did the course of nature so ordayne That sugred sowre must sause the bitter sweete Which sowre from sweete might any meanes remoue What hap what heauen what life were like to loue FINIS W. R. 13. Who mindes to bring his Shippe to happy shore Must care to know the lawes of wisedomes love MY freend if thou wilt credite me in ought To whom the truth by tryall well appeares Nought worth is wit til it be dearely bought There is no wisedome but in hoary heares Yet if I may of wisedome oft define As well as others haue of happinesse Then to my words my freend thy eare encline The thinges that make thee wise are these I gesse Feare God and know thy selfe in each degree Be freend to all familiar but to fewe To light of credite see thou neuer be For tryall ought in trust dooth treason shewe To others faultes cast not too much thy eye Accuse no man of guilt amend thy owne Of medling much doth mischiefe ought arise And oft debate by tickle tongue is sowne What thing thou wilt haue hyd to none declare In word or deede beware of had I wist So spend thy good that some thou euer spare For freendes like Haukes doo soare from emptie fist Cut out thy coate according to thy cloth Suspected persons see thou alwayes flee Beleeue not him that once hath broke his troth Nor yet of gift with out desert be free Time quickly slips beware how thou it spend Of wanton youth repents a paynful age Begin nothing without an eye to th end Nor how thine eare from counsell of the sage If thou too farre let out thy fancy slip And witlesse will from reasons rule outstart Thy folly shall at length be made thy whip And sore the stripes of shame shall cause the smart To doo too much for old men is but lost Of freendship had to women comes like gayne Bestow not thou on children too much cost For what thou doest for these is all in vaine The olde man or he can requite he dyes Vnconstant is the womans wauering mind Ful soone the boy thy freendship will despyse And him for loue thou shalt vngreatfull sind The aged man is like the barraine ground The woman like the Reede that wagges with wind There may no trust in tender yeeres be found And of the three the boy is most vnkind If thou haue found a faithful freend in deede Beware thou lose not loue of such a one He shall sometime stand thee in better steede Then treasure great of gold or precious stone FINIS Iasper Heywood 14. Of the vnconstant stay of Fortunes giftes Jf Fortune be thy stay thy state is very tickle She beares a double face disguised false and fickle This day she seemes to smile to morow will she frowne What now shee sets aloft anone she throweth downe Fly Fortunes slye deceytes let Vertue be thy guide If that you doo intend in happy state to abide Vpon the setled rocke thy building surest standes Away it quickly weares that resteth on the sandes Dame Vertue is the rocke that yeeldes assured stay Dame Fortune is the sand tha skoureth soone away Choose that is certaine let thinge vncertayne passe Preferre the precious gold before the brittle glasse Sly Fortune hath her slightes she plaies vpon the packe Looke whom she fauours most at length she turnes to wracke But Vertue simply deales she shuns deceitful trayne Who is by Vertue raysed vp shall neuer fal agayne Sticke fast to Vertue then that giues assured trust And flye from Fortunes frekes that euer proue vniust FINIS F. K. 15. Promise is debt JN my accompt the promise that is vowed Among the good is holden such a debt As he is thought no whit to be allowed That setteth light his promise to forget And for my part I will not linke in loue With fickle folke whose fancies ought remoue My happy gaine I do esteeme for such As fewe haue found in these our doubtful dayes To find a freend I thinke it be as much As to win a fort ful fraught of noble prayse Of all the goods that there may be possest A faithfull freend I iudge to be the best O freendly league although to late begun Yet time shall trye our troth as well imployed And that we both shall see that we haue won Such fastned faith as can not be destroyed By enuious rage or slaunders bitter blowe That alwayes seekes the good to ouerthrowe FINIS R. Hill. 16. No words but deedes THE wrong is great the payne aboue my power That yeeldes such care in doubtfull dens to drowne Such hap is hard wher Fortune doth so lower As freendly looke is turnd to froward frowne Is this the trust that faithfull freendes can finde With those that yet haue promise broke By deedes in dout as though no wordes can binde A vowed freend to hold him to his yoke O faithlesse freend what can assure your mind That doubtes so soone before you haue cause why To what hard hap doth Fortune here me bind When words nor deedes can no where satisfye What can I write that hath not oft bine saide What haue I sayd that hath not bind affyrmed What not approued that ought to be assayed Or what is vowed that shall not be perfourmed Cast of mistrust in hast no credite giue To this or that that breedeth freendes vnrest No doubt at all but trust me if I liue My deedes shall proue that all is for the best And this beleeue the Sea shall cease to flowe The Sunne to shine within the setled skye All thinges on earth shall leaue to spring and growe Yea euery Foule shall want his winges to flye Eare I in thought shall seeme once to retyre If you my freend remaine as I desyre Nowe lose no time but vse that while you may Forget not this a dogge shall haue a day FINIS R. D. 17. He desyreth exchange of life THE day delayed of that I most do wishe Wherewith I feede and starue in one degree With wish and want still serued in one dishe Aliue as dead by proofe as you may see To whom of old this prouerbe wel it serues While grasse dooth grow the selly horse he sterues Tweene these extreames thus doo I rome the race Of my poore life this certaynly I know Tweene would and want vnwarely that do passe More swift then shot out of Archers bow As Spider drawes her line all day I watch the net and others
vertuous name By life or death what so betides The state of Vertue neuer slides FINIS M. Y. 22. Nothing is comparable vnto a faithfull freend SIth this our time of Freendship is so skant Sith Freendship now in euery place doth want Sith euery man of Freendship is so hollowe As no man rightly knowes which way to followe Sease not my Muse sease not in these our dayes To ring loude peales of sacred Freendships prayse If men be now their owne peculier freendes And to their neighbours freendship none pertendes If men of Freendship shewe them selues so bare And of their brethren take no Freendly care Forbeare not then my Muse nor feare not then To ring disprayse of these vnfreendly men Did man of Freendship know the mighty power How great effectes it worketh euery houre What store of hidden freendship it retaynes How still it powreth forth aboundaunt gaines Man would with thee my muse in these our dayes Ring out loude peales of sacred Freendships prayse Freendship releeueth mans necessitie Freendship comforteth mans aduersitie Freendship augmenteth mans prosperitie Freendship preferres man to felicitie Then ring my muse ring out in these our dayes Ring out loude peales of sacred freendships prayse Of Freendship growes loue and charitie By Freendship men are linked in amitie From Freendship springeth all commoditie The fruite of Freendship is fidelitie Oh ring my muse ring out in these our dayes Peale vpon peale of sacred Freendships prayse That man with man true freendship may embrace That man to man may shew a freendly face That euery man may sow such freendly seedes As freendship may be found in freendly deedes And ioyne with thee my Muse in these our dayes To ring loud peales of sacred Freendships prayse FINIS F. K. 23. Remember thy ende TO be as wise as CATO was or rich as CRESVS in his life To haue the strength of Hercules which did subdue by force or strife What helpeth it when Death doth call The happy ende exceedeth all The Rich may well the Poore releeue the Rulers may redresse each wrong The learned may good counsell giue but marke the end of this my song Who doth these thinges happy they call Their happy end exceedeth all The happiest end in these our dayes that all do seeke both small and great Is eyâ—ther for Fame or els for Prayse or who may sitte in highest seate But of these thinges hap what hap shall The happy end exceedeth all A good beginning ought we see but seeldome standing at one stay For few do like the meane degree then prayse at parting some men say The thinges wherto each wight is thrall The happy end exceedeth all The meane estate that happy life which liueth vnder gouernance Who seekes no hate nor breedes no strife but takes in worth his happy chance If contentation him befall His happy end exceedeth all The longer-life that we desire the more offence doth dayly grow The greater payne it doth require Except the Iudge some mercy shew Wherfore I thinke and euer shall The happy end exceedeth all FINIS D. S. 24. He perswadeth his freend from the fond Affectes of loue WHY art thou bound maist go fre shal reason yeld to raging wil Is thraldom like to libertye wilt thou exchange thy good for ill Then shalt thou learne a childish play and of each part to tast and proue The lookers on shall iudge and say loe this is he that liues by loue Thy wittes with thoughts shall stand at stay thy head shall haue but heauy rest Thy eyes shal watch for wanton prayes thy tongue shall shew thy harts request Thy eares shall heare a thousand noyse thy hand shall put thy pen to payne And in the ende thou shalt disprayse thy life so spent for such small gaine If loue and list might euer cope or youth might runne in reasons race Or if strong sute might win sure hope I would lesse blame a louers case For loue is hotte with great desire and sweete delight makes youth so fond That little sparkes will proue great fyre and bring free harts to endlesse bond First count the care and then the cost and marke what fraude in faith is found Then after come and make thy bost and shew some cause why thou art bound For when the wine doth runne full low you shall be faine to drinke the lies And eate the flesh ful well I know that hath ben blowne with many flies We see where great deuotion is the people kneele and kisse the crosse And though we find small fault of this Yet some will gilld a bridles bosse A foole his bable will not change not for the septer of a king A louers life is nothing strange for youth delightes none other thing FINIS Tho. Churchyard 25. Wanting his desyre he complayneth THe sayling ships with ioy at length doo touch their long desired port The hewing axe the Oke doth wast the battring Canon breakes the fort Hard hagard haukes stoope to the lure wild coltes in time the bridle tames There is nothing so out of vre but to his kind long time it frames Yet this I find in time no time can winne my sute Though oft the tree I climbe I can not catch the fruite And yet the pleasant branches oft in yeelding wise to me do bow When I would touch they spring aloft soone are they gone I wot not how Thus I present the fleeting floode like Tantalus in hel below Would God my case shee vnderstoode whirh can full soone releeue my woe Which if to her were knowen the fruite were surely mine She would not let me grone and brouse vpon the rine But if my ship with tackle torne with rented sailes must needs retire And streame and wind hath plainly sworn by force to hinder my desire Like one that stricks vpon the rocks my wearie wracke I shoulde bewayle And learn to knowe false fortunes mockes who smiles on me to small auaile Yet sith she onely can my rented ship restore To helpe her wracked man but once I seeke no more FINIS M. Ewardes 26. Trye before you truste IN freendes are found a heape of doubts that double dealing vse A swarme of such I could find out whose craft I can accuse A face for loue a hart for hate these faigned freendes can beare A tongue for troth a head for wyles to hurt each simple eare In humble port is poyson pact that plainenesse can not spie Which creadites all and can not see where stinging serpents lye Through hastie trust the harmelesse heart is easely hampred in And made beleeue it is good gold when it is lead and tin The first deceit that bleares myne eyes is faigned faith profest The second trappe is grating talke that gripes each strangers brest The third deceite is greeting wordes with colours painted out Which bids suspect to feare no smart nor dread no dangerous doubt The fourth and last is long repaire which creepes in freendships lap And dayly hauntes that vnder trust
before the Queenes Maiestie at Bristowe MIstrust not troth that truely meanes for euery ielous freke In stead of wrong condēne not right no hidden wrath to wreke Looke on the light of faultlesse life how bright her vertues shine And measure out her steppes each one by leuel and by line Deeme eche desert by vpright gesse wherby your prayse shall liue If malice would be match with might let hate no iudgement giue Enforce no feare with wresting wittes in quiet conscience brest Lend not your eares to busie tongues which breedeth much vnrest In doubtfull drifts wade not to farre it weries but the mind Seeke not to search the secreat harts whose thoughts are hard to finde Auoide from you those hateful heads that helpes to heape mishap Be slow to heare the flatterers voice that creepeth in your lap Embrace their loue that wills you good and sport not at their prayse Trust not too much vnto your selfe for feeble are your stayes How can your seate be setled faste or stand on stedfast ground so propped vp with hollow harts whose surety is vnsound Giue faith to those that feare for loue and not that loue for feare Regard not them that force compels to please you euery where All this well waid and borne away shall stablish long your state Continually with perfect peace in spite of pussing hate FINIS D. S. 32. An Epitaph vpon the death of Syr Edward Saunders Knight Lord cheefe Boron of the Exchequer YOV Muses weare your mourning weeds strike on the fatal Drome Sound Triton out the trumpe of fame in spite of Pareas dome Distill Parnassus pleasant drops possesse Pierides plase Apollo helpe with dolefull tune to wayle this wofull case Wring hard you hands waile on you losse lament the fate that fell With sobs and sighes to Saunders say oh Saunders now farewell Whom Phaebus fed with Pallas pappe as one of Sibils seede Loe here where death did rest his corpes the vermine foule to feede Whom Impes of Ioue with Necter sweete long in Libethres noursht Behold how dreadful death him brought to that whence he came first Lycurgus he for learned lawes Rhadamanthus race that ranne Another Nestor for aduise Zalucus fame that wanne A Damon deare vnto his freend in faith like Phocion found A Cato that could counsel giue to prince a subiect sound Not Athens for their Solon sage not Rome for Numa waile As we for Saunders death haue cause in fods of teares to saile Not Sparta card for Chilos death ne proud Prienna prest To weepe for Bias as we wayle for Saunders late possest His learned pathes his talentes rare so now by death appeares As he that Salomon sought to serue in prime and youthful yeeres His counsel sad his rules his lawes in country soyle so wrought As though in Cuma he had benn of sage Sibilla taught His vertuous life was such I say as Vertue did embrace By Vertue taught in Vertues schoole to grow in vertues race Might tender babes might orphants weak might widows rere that cry The sound thereof shoulde pearce the cloudes to skale the empire sky To bid the gods to battel bend and to dissend in sight Though ffarre vnfit and mates vnmeete with mortal men to fight Too late alas we wish his life to soone deceiued vs Death Too little wit we haue to seeke the dead agayne to breath What helplesse is must carelesse be as Natures course doth shewe For death shal reape what life hath sowen by nature this we know Where is that ferce Achilles fled where is king Turnus shroude What is be come of Priamus state where is Periander proude Hector Hanno Hanibal dead Pompei Pirrhus spild Scipio Cirus Caesar slaine and Alexander kild So long there Fortune fast did floe and charged Fame to sound Tyll frowning Fortune foyld by fate which fawning fortune found Shun Fortunes feates shake fortune of to none is fortune sound Sith none may say of Fortune so I Fortune faithful found Beholde where Fortune flowed so fast and fauoured Saunders lure Till fickle Fortune false again did Saunders death procure Lo clothed could in cloddes of clay in drossy dust remaine By fate returnd from whence he came to his mothers wombe againe Who welnigh thirtie yeeres was Iudge before a Iudge dyd fall And iudged by that mighty Iudge which Iudge shall iudge vs all The heauens may of right reioyce and earth may it bewayle Sith heauen wan and earth hath lost the guide and arke of vaile There gaine is much our losse is great there mirth our mone is such That they may laugh as cause doo yeeld and we may weepe as much O happy he vnhappy we his hap doth aye encrease Happy he and haplesse we his hap shall neuer cease We liue to dye he dyed to liue we want and he possest We bide in bands he bathes in blisse the Gods aboue him blest Being borne to liue he liued to dye and dyed to God so plaine That birth that life that death doo shew that he shall liue againe His youth to age his age to death his death to fame applied His fame to time his time to God thus Saunders liued and dyed O happy life O happier death O tenne times happy he Whose hap it was such hap to haue a Iudge this age to be Oh ioyfull time oh blessed soyle where Pallas rules with witte O noble state O sacred seate where Saba sage dooth sitte Like Susan sound like Sara sad with Hesters mace in hand With Iudiths sword Bellona like to rule this noble land I had my will you haue your wish I laugh reioyce you may I wan now much you gaine no lesse to see this happy day Wherein I dyed wherein you liue Oh treble happy cost Wherein I ioyed in glory great wherin you triumpth most Kneele on your knees knock hard your brests sound forth the ioyful drome Clap loude your handes sound Eccho say the golden world is come Reioyce you Iudges may of right your mirth may now be such As neuer earst you Iudges had in England mirth so much Here Cuma is here Sibill raignes on Delphos seat to sitte Here shee like Phaebus rules that can Gordius knot vnknitte I liued to nature long ynough I liued to honor much I liued at wish I died at will to see my country such As neither needes it Numas lawes nor yet Apollos sweard For Mauger Mars yet Mars shal be of this our Queene afeard O peerlesse pearle O Diamond deer O Queene of Queenes farwell Your royall maiestie God preserue in England long to dwell Farwell the Phaenix of the world farwel my soueraigne Queene Farwel most noble vertuous prince Mineruas mate I weene No Iuel Gemme no Gold to giue no pearles from Pactolus lo No Persian Gaze no Indian stones no Tagus sands to show But faith and will to natiue soyle a liue and dead I find My hart my mind my loue I leaue vnto my prince behind Farwel you nobles of this land farwel you
paper penne and ynke this prouerbe for to write In regester for to remaine of such a worthy wight As she proceeded thus in song vnto her little bratt Much matter vttered she of waight in place whereas shâ—e satt And proued plaine there was no beast nor creature bearing life Could well be knowne to liue in loue without discord and strife Then kissed she her little babe and sware by God aboue The falling out of faithfull frendes renuing is of loue She sayd that neither king ne prince ne lord could liue aright Vntil their puissaunce the did proue their manhod and their might When manhode shal be matched so that feare can take no place Then weary workes make warriours each other to embrace And leaued their forse that fayled them which did consume the rout That might before haue liued their time and nature out Then did she sing as one that thought no man could her reproue The falling out of faith ful freendes renuing is of loue She sayd she saw no fishe ne foule nor beast within her haunt That mett a stranger in their kind but could giue it a taunt Since fleshe might not endure but rest must wrath succede And forse the fight to fall to play in pasture where they feede So noble nature can well ende the worke she hath begone And bridle well that will not cease her tragedy in some Thus in song she oft reherst as dyd her wel behoue The falling out of faithful frendes is the renuing of loue I meruaile much pardy quoth she for to behold the route To see man woman boy beast to tosse the world about Some knele some crouch some beck some chek some can smothly smile And some embrace others in arme and there thinke many a wile Some stand aloufe at cap and knee some humble and some stoute Yet are they neuer freendes in deede vntill they once fall out Thus ended she her song and sayd before she did remoue The falling out of faithful freends is the renuing of loue FINIS M. Edwardes 43. Thinke to dye THe life is long which lothsomly doth last The doleful dayes draw slowly to their date The present panges and painful plages sorepast Yeldes grefe aye grene to stablish this estate So that I feele in this great storme and strife That death is sweete that shortneth such a life And by the stroke of this strange ouerthrowe All which conflict in thraldome I was thrust The Lord he praysed I am well taught to know From whence man came and eke whereto he must And by the waye vpon how feeble force His terme doth stand till death doth end his course The pleasant yeeres that seemes so sweetely ronne The mery dayes to ende so fast that flete The ioyfull wightes of which dayes drawes so sone The happy howres which 〈◊〉 do misse then mete Do all consume as snowe against the Sunne And death makes end of all that life begunne Since death shall dure till all the world be wast What meaneth man to dreade death then so sore As man might make that life should alway last Without regard the Lord hath ledde before The daunce of death which all must runne on rowe The hower wherin onely himselfe doth knowe If man would mind what burdeins life doth bring What greeuous crimes to God he doth commit What plagues what perill thereby spring With no sure hower in all his dayes to sit He would sure thinke as with great cause I doe The day of death is happier of the two Death is the doore whereby we draw to ioy Life is the lake that drowneth all in payne Death is so dole it seaseth all away Life is so leude that al it yelds is vayne And as by life in bondage man is brought Euen so by death is freedome likewise wrought Wherefore with Paule let all men wish and pray To be disolued of this foule fleshly masse Or at the least be armd against the day That they be found good souldiers prest to passe From life to death from death to life againe And such a life as euer shall remaine FINIS D. S. 51. If thou desire to liue in quiet rest geue care and se but say the best If thou delight in quietnes of life Desire to shoun from bralls debate and strife To liue in loue with god with frend and foe In rest shalt sleepe when others cannot so Giue eare to all yet doo not all beleeue And see the end and then do sentence ge eue But say for truth of happy liues assind The best hath he that quiet is in mind FINIS M. Hunnis 52. Beeing forsaken of his frend he complaineth WHy should I lenger long to liue In this desease of fantasie Sins fortune doth not cease to giue Thinges to my mind most contrarie And at my ioyes doth lowre and frowne Till she hath tourned them vpsidowne A freende I had to me most deere And of long time faithfull and iust There was no one my hart so neere Nor one in whome I had more trust Whom now of late without cause why Fortune hath made my enemy The grasse me thinkes should grow in skie The starres vnto the earth cleaue faste The water streame should passe awrie The winds should leaue their strength of blast The Sunne and Moone by one assent Should both forsake the firmament The fishe in ayre should flye with finne The foules in floud should bring forth fry All thinges methinkes should erst beginne To take their course vnnaturally Afore my frend should alter so Without a cause to be my foe But such is Fortunes hate I say Such is his will on me to wreake Such spite he hath at me alway And ceasseth not my hart to breake With such despite of crueltie Wherefore then longer liue should I. FINIS E. S. 53. Prudens The history of Damacles Dionise WHo so is set in princely throne and craueth rule to beare Is still beset on euery side with peril and with feare High trees by stormy windes are shakt and rent vp from the ground And flashy flackes of lightning flames on turrets do rebound When little shrubs in sauetie lurke in couert all alowe And freshly florish in their kind what euer wind doe blowe The cruel king of Scisili who searing Barbars hands Was wont to sings his beard himselfe with cole and fire brands Hath taught vs this the proofe whereof ful plainly we may see Was neuer thing more liuely touched to shewe it so to be This king did seeme to Damacles to be the happiest wight Because he thought none like to him in power or in might Who did alone so farre excell the rest in his degree As doth the Sunne in brightnes cleare the darkest starre we see Wilt thou then sayd this cruell king proue this my present state Possesse thou shalt this seate of mine and so be fortunate Ful gladly then this Damacles this proferd honour tooke And shooting at a princely life his quiet rest forsooke In honours seat then
sonne no whit my harte should paine Eye Where fancie beareth swaye there Cupid will bee bolde And reason flies awaie from Cupids shafte of golde If you finde cause thereby some deale of painfull smarte Alas blame not your eye but blame consent of harte Auctour My harte must I excuse and laye the fault on thee Because thy sight did chuse when harte from thought was free Thy sight thus brought consente consent hath bred my grief And grief bids bee content with sorrowe for relief FINIS M. Hunnis 64. Fyndyng no ioye he desireth death THe Conie in his caue the Feret doeth annoye And fleyng thence his life to saue hym self he doeth destroye His Berrie rounde about beset with Hunters snares So that when he to scape starts out is caught therein vnwares Like choise poore man haue I to bide and reste in Loue Or els from thence to flie as badde a death to proue I see in Loue to reste vnkindnesse doeth pursue To rent the harte out of his breast whiche is a Louer true And if from Loue I starte as one that Loue forsaks Then pensiue thoughts my harte doeth pearce and so my life it taks Then thus to flie or bide hard is the choise to chuse Since death hath campd and trenched eche side saith life now refuse Content I am therefore my life therein to spende And death I take a salue for sore my wearie daies to ende And thus I you require that faithfull Loue professe When carcas cased is in cheste and bodie laied on hearse Your brinishe teares to saue suche as my corse shall moue And therewith write vpon my graue beholde the force of Loue. FINIS M. Hunnis Hope well and haue well IN hope the Shipman hoiseth saile in hope of passage good In hope of healthe the sicke man doeth suffer losse of blood In hope the prisoner linckt in chaines hopes libertie to finde Thus hope breds health and health breds ease to euery troubled mind In hope desire getts victorie in hope greate comfort spryngs In hope the Louer liues in ioyes he feares no dreadfull styngs In hope we liue and maie abide suche stormes as are assignde Thus hope breds health health breds ease to euery troubled mynde In hope we easely suffer harme in hope of future tyme In hope of fruite the paine semes sweete that to the tree doeth clime In hope of Loue suche glorie growes as now by propfe I finde That hope breds health health breds ease to euery troubled mynde FINIS M. Hunnis He requesteth some frendly comfort affirmyng his constancie THe mountaines hie whose loftie topps doeth mete the hautie sky The craggie rocke that to the sea free passage doeth deny The aged Oke that doeth resist the force of blustryng blaste The pleasaunt hearbe that euery where a fragrant smell doeth caste The Lions force whose courage stout declares a princelike might The Eagle that for worthinesse is borne of kyngs in fight The Serpent eke whose poisoned iaws doeth belche out venime vile The lothsome Tode that shumeth light and liueth in exile These these I saie and thousands more by trackt of tyme decaie And like to tyme doe quite consume and bade from tyme to claie But my true harte and seruice vowed shall laste tyme out of minde And still remaines as thyne by dome as Cupid hath assingde My faithe loe here I vowe to thee my trothe thou knowest right well My goods my frends my life is thyne what neede I more to tell I am not myne but thyne I vowe thy hests I will obeye And serue thee as a seruaunt ought in pleasyng if I maie And sithe I haue no fliyng wyngs to see thee as I wishe Ne sinnes to cut the siluer streames as doeth the glidyng fishe Wherefore leaue now forgetfulnesse and sende againe to me And straine thy azured vaines to write then I maie gretyng see And thus farewell more deare to me then chiefest frende I haue Whose Loue in harte I minde to shrine till death his fee doe craue FINIS M. Edwardes His complaneth his mishapp SHall rigour raigne where ruth hath run shall fansie now forsake Shall fortune lose that fauour wonne shall not your anger slake Shall hatefull harte be had in you that frendly did pretende Shall slipper thought and faithe vntrue that harte of yours defende Shall nature shewe your beautie faire that gentle semes to bee Shall frowardnesse your fancies heire be of more force then she Shall now disdaine the dragg of death directe and leade the waie Shall all the imps vpon the yearth reioyce at my decaie Shall this the seruice of my youth haue suche reward at laste Shall I receiue rigour of ruthe and be from fauour caste Shall I therefore berent my heares with wights that wishe to dye Or shall I bathe my self with teares to feede your fickle eye No no I shall in paine lye still with turtle Doue moste true And vowe my self to witt and will their counsels to ensue Good Ladies all that Louers be and that to be pretende Giue place to witt let reason seme your enemie to defende Lest that you thinke as I haue thought your self to stroue in vaine And so to be in thraldome brought with me to suffer paine FINIS M. Hunnis No foe to a flatterer I Would it were not as I thinke I would it were not so I am not blinde although I winke I feele what winds doe blowe I knowe where crafte with smilyng cheare creps into boldned breaste I heare how fained speache speaks faire where hatred is possesse I see the Serpent lye and lurcke vnder the greene alowe I see hym watche a tyme to worke his poyson to bestowe In frendly lookes suche fraude is founde as faithe for feare is fled And frendship hath receiude suche wounde as he is almoste ded And hatefull harte with malice greate so boiles in cankred mynde That flatterie flearyng in the face had almoste made me blinde But now I see all is not golde that glittereth in the eye Nor yet suche frends as thei professe as now by proofe I trye Though secret spight by crafte hath made a coate of Panter skin And thinks to finde me in the shade by sleight to wrapp me in Yet God bee praised my eye is cleare and can beholde the Sunne When falshood dare not once appeare to ende that he begunne Thus tyme shall trie the thyng amisse whiche God saue shortly sende And tourne the harte that fained is to bee a faithfull frende FINIS M. Hunnis His comparison of Loue. THe Spider with greate skill doeth trauell daie by daie His lymmes no tyme lye still to set his house in state And when he hath it wrought thinkyng therein to raigne A blaste of winde vnthought doeth driue it doune againe The proofe whereof is true to make his worke indure He paines hym self a newe in hope to dwell more sure And in some secret place a corner of a wall He frameth hym self a pace to builde and rest
annoye Thus contraries be vsed I finde of wise to cloke the couert mynde I Haniball that smiles for grief and let you Cesars grief suffice The one that laughs at his mischief the other all for ioye that cries I smile to see me scorned so you weepe for ioye to see me woe And I a harte by Loue slaine deade presents in place of Pompeis head O cruell happ and harde estate that forceth me to loue my fo Accursed bee so foule a fate my choyse for to prefixe it so So long to fight with secret sore and finde no secret salue therefore Some urge their paine by plaint I finde but I in vain doe breath my winde FINIS E. Ox. His mynde not quietly setled he writeth thus EVen as the waxe doeth melte or dewe consume awaie Before the Sunne so I behold through carefull thoughts decaie For my beste lucke leads me to suche sinister state That I doe waste with others Loue that hath my self in hate And he that beats the bushe the wished birde not getts But suche I see as sitteth still and holds the foulyng netts The Drone more Honie sucks that laboureth not at all Then doeth the Bee to whose moste paine least pleasure doeth befall The Gardner sowes the seeds whereof the flowers doe growe And others yet doe gather them that tooke lesse paine I knowe So I the pleasaunt Grape haue pulled from the Vine And yet I languishe in greate thirste while others drinke the wine Thus like a wofull wight I woue the webb of woe The more I would weede out my cares the more thei seme to growe The whiche betokeneth forsaken is of me That with the carefull Culuer climes the worne and withered tree To entertaine my thoughts and there my happ to mone That neuer am lesse idle loe then when I am alone FINIS E. Ox. That Loue is requited by disdaine IN searche of thyngs that secret are my mated muse began What it might be molested moste the head and mynde of man. The bendyng brow of princes face to wrathe that doeth attende Or want of parents wife or childe or losse of faithfull frende The roryng of the Canon shot that makes the peece to shake Or terrour suche as mightie Ioue from heauen aboue can make All these in fine maie not compare experience so doeth proue Vnto the torments sharpe and strange of suche as be in loue Loue lookes a loft and laughs to scorne all suche as grefe anoye The more extreme their passions be the greater is his ioye Thus Loue as victor of the felde triumps aboue the rest And ioyes to see his subiects lye with liuyng death in brest But dire disdaine let ts driue a shaft and gauls this braggyng foole He plucks his plumes vnbendes his bowe and sets hym newe to scole Whereby this boye that bragged late as conquerer ouer all Now yelds hym self vnto disdaine his vessall and his thrall FINIS W. Hunnis Of a contented state IN wealth we se some wealthie men abound in wealth moste welthely In wealth we se those men again in wealth do liue moste wretchedly And yet of wealthe hauyng more store Then erst of wealth thei had before These welthy men do seme to want thei seme to want the most thei haue The more postes the more thei craue the more thei craue the greater store That moste thei haue thei thinke but skant Yet not content wo be therefore The simple men that lesse wealth haue with lesser wealth we se contēt Content are thei twixt wealth and scath a life to lead indifferent And thus of wealth these men haue more Then those of whiche we spoke before FINIS W. Hunnis Beyng disdained he complaineth IF frendlesse faithe if giltlesse thought maie shielde If simple truthe that neuer meant to swarue If deare desire accepted fruite doe yelde If greedie luste in loyall life doeth sarue Then maie my plainte bewaile my heauie harme That seekyng calme haue stumbled on the storme My wonted cheare ecclipsed by the cloude Of deepe disdaine through errour of reporte If wearie woe enwrapped in the shroude Lies slaine by tongue of the vnfrendly sorte Yet heauen and yearth and all that Nature wrought I call to vowe of my vnspotted thought No shade I seeke in parte to shield my tainte But simple truthe I hunte no other sute On that I gape the issue of my plainte If that I quaile let Iustice me confute If that my place emongs the giltlesse sorte Repaie by dome my name and good reporte Goe heauie verse pursue desired grace Where pitie shrinde in cell of secret brest Awaits my haste the rightfull lot to place And lothes to see the giltlesse man opprest Whose vertues greate hath crounde her more with fame Then kyngly state though largely shine the same FINIS L. Vaux Of the meane estate THe higher that the Ceder tree vnto the heauens doe growe The more in daunger is the top when sturdie winds gan blowe Who Iudges then in princely throne to bee deuoide of hate Doeth not yet knowe what heapes of ill lies hid in suche estate Suche dangers great suche gripes of minde suche toile do thei sustain That often tymes of God thei wishe to bee vnkyngde again For as the huge and mightie rockes withstande the ragyng seas So kyngdomes in subiection bee whereas dame Fortune please Of brittle ioye of smilyng cheare of Honie mixte with Gall Alotted is to euery Prince in freedome to bee thrall What watches long what steps vnsure what grefes and care of minde What bitter broiles what endlesse toiles to kyngdomes bee assingde The subiect then maie well compare with prince for pleasant daies Whose silent nighe bryngs quiet rest whose steps no storme bewraies How muche bee we then bounde to God who suche prouision makes To late our cares vpon the Prince thus doeth he for our sakes To hym therefore let vs lifte vp our harts and praie a maine That euery Prince that he hath plast maie long in quiet raigne FINIS W. H. Of a contented mynd WHen all is doen and saied in the ende thus shall you finde The moste of all doeth hath in blisse that hath a quiet minde And cleare from worldlie cares to deame can bee content The sweetest tyme in all this life in thinkyng to bee spent The bodie subiecte is to fickle Fortunes power And to a million of mishapps is casuall euery hower And death in tyme doeth chaunge it to a clodde of claie When as the mynde whiche is deuine runnes neuer to decaie Companion none is like vnto the mynde alone For many haue been harmde by speach through thinking few or none Fewe often tymes restraineth words but maks not thoughts to cease And he speaks beste that hath the skill when for to holde his peace Our wealth leaues vs at death our kinsmen at the graue But vertues of the mynde vnto the heauens with vs haue Wherefore for vertues sake I can be well content The sweetest tyme of all my life to deeme in thinkyng
spent FINIS L. Vaux Trie before you trust TO counsell my estate abandonde to the spoile Of forged frendes whose grosest fraude it set with finest foile To verifie true dealyng wights whose trust no treason dreads And all to deare thacquaintaunce be of suche moste harmfull heads I am aduised thus who so doeth frende frende so As though to morrowe nexte he feared for to become a fo To haue a fained frende no perill like I finde Oft fleryng face maie mantell best a mischief in the minde A paire of angels eares oft tymes doeth hide a serpents harte Vnder whose gripes who so doeth come to late complaines the smart Wherefore I doe aduise who so doeth frende frende so As though to morrowe next he should become a mortall fo Refuse respectyng frends that courtly knowe to faine For gold that winnes for golde shall lose the self same frende againe The Quaile needes neuer feare in foulers netts to fall If he would neuer bende his eare to listen to his call Therefore trust not to sone but when you frende frende so As though to morrowe next ye feard for to become a fo FINIS L. Vaux He renounceth all the affectes of Loue. LIke as the Harte that lifteth vp his eares To heare the hounds that hath hym in the chase Doeth cast the winde in daungers and in feares With fliyng foote to passe awaie apace So must I flie of Loue the vaine pursute Whereof the gaine is lesser then the fruite And I also must lothe those learyng looks Where Loue doeth lurke still with his subtill slaite With painted mocks and inward hidden hoks To trapp by trust that lieth not inwaite The ende whereof assaie it who so shall As sugred smart and inward bitter gall And I must flie suche Cirian songs Wherewith that Circes Vlisses did enchaunt These wilie Watts I meane with filed tongs That harts of steele haue power to daunt Who so as Hauke that stoupeth to their call For moste desarte receiueth least of all But woe to me that first behelde these eyes The trapp wherein I saie that I was tane An outward salue whiche inward me destroies Whereto I runne as Rat vnto her bane As to the fishe sometyme it doeth befall That with the baite doth swallow hooke and al. Within my breast wherewith I daiely fedd The vaine repast of amourous hott desire With loitryng lust so long that hath me fedd Till he hath brought me to the flamyng fire In tyme as Phenix ends her care and carks I make the fire and burne my self with sparks FINIS L. Vaux Bethinking hym self of his ende writeth thus WHen I beholde the baier my laste and postyng horsse That bare shall to the graue my vile and carren corsse Then saie I seely wretche why doest thou put thy truste In thyngs eithe made of claye that sone will tourne to duste Doest thou not see the young the hardie and the faire That now are paste and gone as though thei neuer were Doest thou not see thy self drawe hourly to thy laste As shafts whiche that is shotte at birds that flieth faste Doest thou not see how death through smiteth with his launce Some by warre some by plague and some with worldlie chaunce What thyng is there on yearth for pleasure that was made But goeth more swifte awaie then doeth the Sommer shade Loe here the Sommer floure that sprong this other daie But Winter weareth as faste and bloweth cleane awaie Euen so shalt thou consume from youth to lothsome age For death he doeth not spare the prince more then the page Thy house shall be of claie a clotte vnder thy hedde Vntill the latter daie the graue shall be thy bedde Vntill the blowyng trumpe doeth saie to all and some Rise vp out of your graue for now the Iudge is come FINIS L. Vaux Beyng in Loue he complaineth ENforst by Loue and feare to please and not offende Within the words you would me write a message must I sende A wofull errande sure a wretched man muste write A wrecched tale a wofull head besemeth to endite For what can he but waile that hath but all he would And yet that all is nought at all but lacke of all he should But lacke of all his mynde what can be greater grief That haue and lacke that likes hym best must neds be moste mischief Now foole what makes thee waile yet some might saie full well That haste no harme but of thy self as thou thy self canst tell To whom I aunswere thus since all my harmes doe growe Vpon my self so of my self some happ maie come I trowe And since I see bothe happ and harme betids to me For present woe my after blisse will make me not forget thee Who hath a fielde of golde and maie not come therein Must liue in hope till he haue forse his treasure well to winne Whose ioyes by hope of dread to conquere or to lose So greate a wealth doeth rise and for example doeth disclose To winne the golden Flese stoode Iason not in drede Till that Medeas hope of helpe did giue hym hope to spede Yet sure his mynde was muche and yet his feare the more That hath no happ but by your helpe maie happ for to restore The ragyng Bulls he dread yet by his Ladies charme He knewe it might be brought to passe thei could doe little hame Vnto whose grace yelde he as I doe offer me Into your hands to haue his happ not like hym for to be But as kyng Priamus did binde hym to the will Of Cressed false whiche hym forsoke with Diomed to spill So I to you commende my faithe and eke my ioye I hope you will not bee so false as Cressed was to Troye For if I bee vntrue her Lazares death I wishe And eke in thee if thou bee false her clapper and her dishe FINIS R. L. Beyng in trouble he writeth thus IN terrours trapp with thraldome thruste Their thornie thoughts to taste and trie In conscience cleare from cause vniuste With carpyng teares did call and crie And saied O God yet thou art he That can and will deliuer me Bis. Thus tremblyng there with teares I trodd To totter tide in truthes defence With sighes and sobs I saied O God Let right not haue this recompence Lest that my foes might laugh to se That thou wouldest not deliuer me Bis. My soule then to repentance ranne My ragged clothes all rent and torne And did bewaile the losse it wanne With lothsome life so long forlorne And saied O God yet thou art he That can and will deliuer me Bis. Then comfort came with clothes of ioye Whose semes were faithfull stedfastnesse And did bedecke the naked boye That erst was full of wretchednesse And saied be glad for God is he That shortly will deliuer thee Bis. FINIS W. H. Beyng troubled in mynde he writeth as followeth THe bitter sweate that straines my yelded harte The carelesse count that doeth the same emrace The doubtfull hope to reape my