Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
soul_n	blood_n	life_n	lord_n	4,921	5	3.7317	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13797	Alba The months minde of a melancholy louer, diuided into three parts: by R.T. Gentleman. Hereunto is added a most excellent pathetical and passionate letter, sent by Duke D'Epernoun, vnto the late French King, Henry the 3. of that name, when he was commanded from the court, and from his royall companie. Translated into English by the foresaid author.	Tofte, Robert, 1561-1620.; Epernon, Jean-Louis de Nogaret de La Valette, duc d', 1554-1642.	1598 (1598)	STC 24096; ESTC S111433	52,678	150

MONTHS MIND A ●hast Fault though no Follie in her finde Since that mine ALBA tooke her leaue of mee I leaue haue tooke of pleasure and of ioy And did with sorrow at that time agree To soiorne with him in his chiefe Annoy My Woes still greene encrease continually Which faine I would but cannot remedie And were it not but that my dauntlesse Hart Doth comfort me with hope of better cheere I soone would rid me of this vncouth smart And leaue this life which I haue bought too deare Oft do I weep to LOVE and him I pray Either to ease my paines or me to slay Yet though I beg I finde but small reliefe As do at Rich mens gates the Needy poore Who more they crie to aggrauate their griefe The lesse they finde their Almes at the doore So LOVE the more my cries I to him sen● The lesse my plants he skornefull doth attend And yet my sute is small small is the Grace That I desire for somewhat I deserue T is only for to die before her face From whom in Dutie yet I nere did swerue That she might know my life doth me annoy Vnles I might her company enioy Ladie when first vpon faire Venus Day I came acquainted with thy seemely ●elfe And vowde thy loyall Votarie to stay Proffring to thee my liuing life and welth As I was then so am I still the same Neuer to change for change exchangeth shame Within the Center of mine inward Hart As signe of euerlasting Monument Which fatall Death shall hardly from me part Thy high prizde Loue full surely haue I pent Neuer to be remou'd but there to lie World without end for aye continuallie For thee I longde for thee I much did dare For thee I hopte and feard bid sweet and sower Liking thee I for Others did not care Ore this my Hart thou hadst so great a power All othe● Faces in respect of thine I skornde as Masks thou only seemst Diuine Since LOVE then me with such affection framde That he hath me adopted Thine alone That I delight not but to heare thee namde And only like to heare thy praises showne Ah keepe thy plighted Faith vnstainde to me Though now farre off from hence thou Absent be Disdaine assaulted hath mine ALBA faire Fixing fast foot deep in her marble brest A blacksome Clowde hath darkt my beautious Aire Where cheerfull Sunne before with smile did rest She most vnlike her selfe a Tyrant showes Whilst as a Tiger mad with rage she growes All for her pleasure me for to displease Pitie she bandies from her tender hart Poyson not honey now must her appease Yet my Desire runs headlong to his smart Headlong he runs to her spite-tainted minde Which ouer fierce and cruell he doth finde My hopeles Chance through Vaile as t were I see Her quondam beautious eyes are bloodshot now Exorde desirde intreated they 'le not be They 'le not relent repent nor yeeld or bow Lightnings of Anger they do shew arigh● Thunders of Furie darting forth despight The dangers great my harmeles Hart doth spi● Yet for all this from her he 'le not retire And whilst more humble he fore her doth lie The more she sullen swels with wrathfull Ire A Monster then I may her mirorise Since she delights in such strange Tragedies Dried hath th'iniurious Feuer those faire Flowers VVhich in the cheekes of my faire ALBA lay Scorcht are those paradized coloured Bowers LOVES LOBBIE where he wantonly did play Yet not extinguisht is mine amorous flame Some sparkes are yet remainders of the same As she lookes now so lookes the Moone in skies When mongst the gloomie clowdes portending raine She with her watrie horned head forth pries Spreading abrode her dewie beames amaine So we Aurora vse for to depaint Mongst palish violets when she looketh faint Pitie is mixt with griefe in her faire face And Griefe with Pitie in the same conioyne Where LOVE though sick sits with a louely grace In midst of sickly palenes in her eyne Sicknes it selfe so louely nere did looke But since her Inne in ALBAS breast she tooke That stately Haughtines she had before Now changde is into low Humilitie And that same glance that faithles was of yore Now faithfull sheweth and full of Loyaltie So with her Colour if she did Cruell take Yet Pitifull her Palenes doth her make Like bloodie Lion or a stinging Snake With proud Disdaine to aggrauate my smart Loue into me vnaskt his way doth take Died all with blood and Blood t is of my Hart Which wounded deepe still languishing doth lie Expecting euery minute when to die Thousands of Wounds my life hath quite bereft And wanting blood Palenes sits in my face My soule this Corse his mansion House hath left Nor dares he back retire to his old place This Martyrdome although there 's many see None me caresseth or doth comfort mee My Life runnes fondly to his mortall Foe Hoping for Help where he his hurt did finde My spirits after him amaine doe goe Whilst liueles Bodie doth remaine behinde On which grim death doth seaze as on h●s pray And of his breath to reaue him doth assay A farre off Peace I see but Warre at hand Loue single strikes me but with double paine Kild is my hart by Cruell she 's Command And he that slew him cleped is Disdaine Loe here of my kinde Dame the Exercise Hate is her Chapman Blood her Marchandise Praxitiles and Myron workmen rare Apelles skilde learnde Homer famous wight Were these aliue the Picture of my Faire To carue to cut to paint and thereof write In marble brasse boord or in bookes at large They sone would faint ore prest with so great charge And yet may be her beautious Countenance With chisell toole with pensell and with pen They rightly might haue shadowed though by chance Because they in their Age were rarest Men. But had they come the nobler part to show Their cunning then had soone tooke th' ouerthrow If my bright Sunne renowmd per Excellence Through the illustrious splendar of her gleames Doth dimme and darken our Intelligence By vertue of her more then radiant beames What Hand or Thought in hand could euer take A worke so endles with good end to make Deare ALBA I by thee am still forbid By Statue Image Picture or by Verse To shew the Vertues rare within thee hid As not being able least part to rehearse It shall suffice as sacred I admire Thy spotles life thy more then chast Desire To thee farre off from me these sighs I send To thee farre off from Loue I neere to die To know if thou thy selfe will minde wilt mend Desisting from thy hatefull Crueltie Beautie if it be milde it is renound If it be proud a foule reproch t is found Thou makst a shew as if thou wouldst be kinde But t is a shadow not a substance right For comming vnto triall straight I finde Thy sdainfull chast lookes puts my Hope to flight Whilst

nor my Griefes decrease Thousands of quicksands hath he all about I thousand cares that on my Hart do sease His waues are cut in twaine my Hart throughout The whistling reedes about his banks do sound Sorrow in me is of my song the ground Both windes and raine vpon him daily fall I still distill salt showres and sighs amaine By tempests oft his Channels broke are all My Bowels cleft be with continuall paine His bott●me none can well perceiue or see My Torments without depth sauns sounding bee Only we differ thus he still doth bide Here swallowing them that passe alongst this place I vade away and Cruell Homicide Murther I do my selfe in pitious case Who then can rid me Notamie of Woe From these hell plagues None but my Cruell Foe ALBA I haue not liued ouer long Yet haue I hollow eyes and haires halfe gray My yeares not many for I am but yong Though wrinckled be my cheekes and lims decay But is this Destnie or i ft pure Deceit That hath on me thus wrought this cunning fea● I ft be the first why then none could preuent My wretched Stars to scape this miserie I ft be the latter that such ill me ment I needes must think it was mine Enemie It was indeed thy selfe it was Faire Witch That with thy beautie wrought me to be sich Thou art too Faire I see for to be true And too too False for one that is so Faire Yet for my wrongs thou seemest not to rue Nor for my Crosses ought at All dost care And yet my Loue 's more feruent still tow●rds thee My sparks growne flames my cinders bonfires bee Only I grieue my daies are at an end Fore I can of thee any fauour gaine And which is worse I likely am to spend All the Remainder yet no Grace obtaine Vnhappie Pilgrim I borne still to euill To shrine her for a Saint who is a Deuill When Beautie sickneth then Desire doth die Fauor doth vade most flouring in his prime Then LOVE doth ebbe when flowes Aduersitie But Friendship bides out euery stormie Time Ah ALBA I not doted haue on thee But lou'd thee deare as deere as deere might bee Affection alwaies either grounded is On Vertue and Vertue nere peeuish showe● Or else on Beautie counted chiefest blisse And Beautie praisde through Loue more fairer growes I neuer Peruerse was nor Sullen yet But praisde thy Beautie to mine vtmost wit To thee I both a Friend and Louer am Yet euery Louer is no Constant Friend But who a Friend in Nature is and Name As Louer true begins and true doth end Thy trues● Friend am I more then another And vnto thee the faithfulst loyalst Louer Vertue in me Affection shall subdue Wisedome all Lust my Friendship sweetest Beautie I le not be fickle false but constant true Seruing thee still with all respect of Dutie And when I shall be buried dead and gone My Ghost shall as thy Slaue thee tend vpon Ah Speake then shall these Torments I endure Of Bloody Thoughts and nere expressed paine Neuer remorse of stubborne thee procure And shall they breede still my eternall bane Yet grant me things impossible to wish To feede Conceite since that no hurt it is Then shalt thou see through this I holde so deare I le longe my life prolong and Spiri●s spend And to my selfe that Creature none may heare I le softlie call it Loue till life shall end And if what I thus whisper Any vrge I le name it Honor so my selfe to purge May I but this sweete Contemplation holde I then shall liue of All men most content Taking more pleasure in my Thoughts though olde Then ere I did in youthly Actions spent Grant me this ●race to thee t is matt●r small And all my Crosses I le sweete Blessings call Ah that tho'wldst daigne this might be christned Loue That Fauour as reward● for it might be But I doe feare I shall thee too much moue This ouer boldenes Dearest pardon me And l●t me hope one day some gentle power May turne to Sweete this my most bitter Sower Time was and is and euer shall be still That I to honor thee will n●uer spare But for to call it Loue or Pure Goodwill I neuer durst although I seemde to dare Then suffer me to follow this my Vaine Flatte●ing my selfe although I nothing gaine None pleased hath mine eyes but ALBA bright None but sweete ALBA doth possesse my Ha●t Mine eares in ALBA onely take delight And ●his my Soule from ALBA nere shall part To follow th●e all Fortunes I le forsake And vnto thee alone my selfe betake The God● haue set such difference twixt our slate That all must be pure Dewtie Reuerence Nothing I must ter●e LOVE such is my Fate Except thou daine therewith fo● to dispence And since I know that so th●u dost command I condescend will to it out of hand Yet my Vnspotted Thoughts my pining Corse My D●scontented Life let them obtaine One blessed Fauour throu●h thy kinde remorse Though they not merit least part of the same So I with Ioy shall end my wearie daies And dying sound abroad thy nere dying Praise The Conclusion of the last Part. IF Vertuous Loue be Honor and no Shame Let no man causeles seeke my chaste Desire To bridle in with base conceited raine Since Virtue kindled in my brest this fire The Wise I hope will no Exceptions take Nor Gainst my Loue nor gainst these Toyes I make For by the Diall of Discretion sound Mine Actions all ●nd Cariage I direct And fearefull am I least I should be found T' haue done amisse in any due respect LADIE I hope no liue is here set downe Sauns awfull looking backe vnto your frowne No Worthlesse Thought doth lodge within my brest Since as my Guides I follow thy faire Eyes Sparkes of true Vertue in me now d●e rest Infused by those beames in wondrous wise Those with an vncouth Flame set me on fire The rightest pathes of HONOR to aspire By these conducted to Eternall Ioy I hope fo● to be lifted vp to 'th Skie From all Disgrace from trouble and annoy Where of my selfe I nere d●●●mount so hie Be gracious then Sweete Goddesse of my Thought For thy power t is doth make me soare aloft Il Disgratiato R. T. G. CERTAINE DIVINE POEMS WRITTEN BY THE foresaid Author R.T. Gentleman ●mprinted at London by F. K. for Matthew Lownes Deo Optimo Maximo WIth Teares in Eyes with drops of Blood from Hart With skalding sighs from inward grieued Soule A CONVERTITE from Vaine LOVE now I part Whilst for my Sinnes fore Heauen I do condole I know and knowledge I haue liued wrong And wilfull sought mine owne Destruction long The Temple of my Heauenly GOD I haue For earthly Goddesse stainde blasphemously Selling my selfe to Satan for his Slaue Whilst I transgrest in vile Apostasie Banisht my selfe I haue from Paradize Through thriftles Toyes of base-borne Vanities O thou that on swift Cherubins dost

ride Creator of all Creatures that do liue Whose Loue was such as thou for Man hast dide Though he thee hated skorned and did grieue Vouchsafe to view and rue my desprate state And me once more from sinne regenerate Ah looke vpon me with milde Mercies eye Clense me with purest Water of thy Grace Remember not how I haue gone awry Since I renounce to runne more such a Race Ah glorious Spouse thy Beautie I desire For now to He●uen not Earth my Thoughts aspire Griefe that was once farre off remou'd from me Begins as now for to approach me nere Clad in his Weedes which Black and fearf●ll be And crownde with fatall Cypresse doth appeare With wringing Hands he doth bewaile my ruth And mournes that I haue straide so wide frō Truth Reason the Cochman to my wandring Thought As in a Christall glasse doth shew most plaine My gazing eyes how I haue fondly wrought Spending my Time in Toyes and Fancies vaine He shew'th me now another Nouell LOVE Another path wherein my feete to moue As One who in his Trauaile doth espie By chance a hideous Serpent or foule Snake That long before vnseene did closely lie Behinde some stub where he his Nest did make Shaking his three-forkt hissing tongue apace Quickly himselfe retireth from that place So I by louing wrong vnhappie Wight Hauing amisse straide long time and awrie When I at last of Death had but a sight Although farre off yet backward gan I hie Backward I came with hastie speedie foote Leauing that Course which I at first had tooke Thou w●ndring Spirit to whom Ioue doth commit Of this my Body fraile the gouernment Why gadding thus from Truth so farre dost flit Why are thine eyes with wilfull blindnes pent Why dost not marke what Danger is at hand What damned Death doth at thine elbow stand Ah be not flattred with this poysenous LOVE But call thy former Wits to thee againe Those wicked Thoughts roote out and hence remoue Whilst Life in thee to do it doth remaine What Mortall is by mortall Death suppresse Thy Gaine shall be the more thy Losse the lesse Heauen once thy Mansion was and dwelling place Now Hell thou seekst by running thus astray Vnhappie Soule to be in such a case So wilfully to seeke thine owne Decay Thou woundst thy selfe to God a Rebbell th' art And only striu'st to please the World in Hart. Alas in whom now dost thou put thy trust On whom dost thou relie or hope on now Ah turne and still liue shalt thou with the Iust Ah turne againe and trebble blessed thou Thou then shalt be whereas the Blessed are Pure Soule mongst Soules mongst Stars a brightsome Starre What 's God The Sourse of Goodnes and the Sprin● What is that Goodnes Such a Goodnes sound As aye increaseth without perishing How is it made In frame and fashion Round Like to a Forme that in it doth containe His End and his Beginning in the same This Goodnes first from whence did it proceede Three proper Veines there be that forth do runne Out of one sacred Sea from Heauen decreede Which co●passe doth All what so ere sees Sunne Cannot we see it This ESSENCE most Diuine No Mortall Man hath seene at any time How can it then be if it neere be seene That i● our mindes oft lifteth vp on High As if in Vision we in Heauen had beene It makes vs view such Wonders with Faiths eye With Faith● cleere eye which shines to vs so bright As vnto Heauen it is our Guide and Light What is that Faith A Gift which if Defect In him that firme beleeueth be not found It blindfold leades him yet with steps direct Vnto that place where perfect Ioyes abound Where God the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Doe raigne in Glorie great of Mightiest most Thou LIFE which Life art calde and yet art Death Thou DEATH which Death art termde and yet art Life Say which of you maintaine my v●tall breath Within thi● wretched Vale of Worldly strife Say which prolongs my Life most of you Twaine Or thou LIFE or thou DEATH say both the same I more then LIFE straight DEATH doth answer make Nay I quoth LIFE farre more then DEATH to me And for this Cause this only Name I take Of LIFE which by my meanes alone can be Because whilst I within thy Body liue Death no way can thee hinder hurt or grieue But I by cutting off DEATH straight replies This slender Thred whereby Men runne their race Bring euery Faithfull soule in friendly wise Where he a better path for aye may trace Making him leade a Life eternallie A LIFE that still doth liue and neuer die Wherefore what ere he be that meanes to ioy This other LIFE that is Celestiall He mu●● not scorne to scape from worlds annoy Nor thinke it much to come when DEATH shall call For DEATH no● LIFE doth help vs at the end LIFE is our Foe but DEATH our dearest Friend All fraile most happie Day in blessed wise A Day of Griefe yet Honorable Day In which the Father did for Sacrifise Offer his Sonne to saue Man from decay Clensing our Soules defilde with sinfull mind With Innocent with pure and pretious Blood Vpon that Crosse now sacred then Prophane He ●ide for vs who could not dye indeede Whilst closing his fayre eyes for Mortals gaine He opened all the Gates of Heauen with speede Restoring them that Kingdome we had lost VVhich nothing Vs but Him too dearly cost Not his but our Due was it for to Die Those Torments which he meekly did endure His Crowne of Thornes his Wounds done spitefully That Cursed Scourge that spilt his Blood so pure All these to Vs and not to him did long Yet for our sakes our Christ himselfe did wrong Then if for pitie Graues do open wide Hils cleaue and Marble pillars rent in twaine If Heauens themselues their Lights for griefe do hide And if the Sunne for sorow clipst remaine VVhat Mortall hart is there that doth not breake VVhen he but thinks or of this Day doth speake That Vertue through whose power rulde is my soule Only through Vertuous Loue from Loue set free Takes force afresh as one that would controule And finding strong himselfe within to bee Vnbridled Will he seekes to bridle now And tries to breake what fore he scarce could bow New Lords new Lawes New Customes breake the Olde And where before a dark and mistie clowde My minde as in a prison did infolde Now is it loosde from out that gloomie shrowde My Hart doth iump euen iust with his desire And by their Eye know both what to require My watchfull Soule recouered hath well nie The former state in which he liued in And being free doth call to memorie VVhat bound he did forget through wretched sin VVhil●● for his life repentant he attends Immortally to liue for his amends Not any part there is of Bodie mine But filled is with true not false Delight Yet doth it grieue

still at her former Crime And with Remorse doth mortifie the Spright VVhilst wronged Soule on Others layes the blame Yet reprehends her selfe euen for the same This earthly Beautie doth the Sence delight But Heauenly Beautie doth ●he minde mo●e please The one the World hath as an Obiect right And seekes the World to pleasure with sweet ease But th' other hath ●ehouah for hir glasse Nor she for any but for him doth passe The Sence doth burne with ●oues vnperfect works Which like a blaz● in th' aire doth flit away The Soule thirsts after that which neuer hurts And hunts for that which neuer will decay That which not subiect is to any time But of it selfe most Perfect and Diuine Thou Lord the Mortall and Immortall both Created hast marke humbly I require How much within my bodie they be wroth Marke how within me gainst me they conspire VVithin themselues they vary so and grudge That which of both shall win us hard to iudge My bad Conceits from Adam sprung of yore Doo headlong runne to endles death with shame And lesse that Reason do th●m bridle sore Hardly my Soule can ●asse from whence it came Then pardon Lord the Course that I haue runne And I from Sinne a new Man will become A Tirant great faire Beautie is in Loue When it doth triumph in a louely face And who with cold Disdaine this doth not moue Is caught by subtill sweet alluring Grace Who stands at Beauties Gaze and doth not flie Is soone entrapt by wilfull glan●ing eye This which of true Loue is but Picture bare With shadowing Vale doth dimme our cleerest sight And if to follow it we do not spare It soone deceiues vs with a false delight And to perpetuall prison sends our soule Vnles her sleights by Reason we controule Faire Pearle fine gold base ex●rements of th' earth What 's Beautie but a little White and Red Reuiued with a little liuely Breath With Winde or Sunne or Sicknes altered All this ●oth Time consume and bring to nought And all what ere into this world is brought The fairest Colours drie and vanish shall The yongst must pack as well as doth the Olde All mortall things to mortall death must fall And therefore first were cast in earthly molde That which doth ●●orish greene as grasse to day Tomorow withereth like to dried Hay Swift flies our yeares as doth a running streame And lothed Age comes stealing on apace Our youth doth passe away as t were a Dreame And Death doth follow for to take his place Death comes and our Lifes patent to his hand For to resigne he straight doth vs command Strength to his course and winde vnto his flight VVith feathers to his wings Time ioyneth fast And this sweet life which we so much do like Though nere so loth yet must away at last The fairest Flower must wither with the weede VVhat so doth liue to die was first decreede Thrise happie man and trebble blest is he That neuer treads his steps from rightest way Nor with the mist of VVorld will blinded be But keepes right path and neuer goes astray Contemning all these mundaine Treasur● base In hope to ioy the heauenly Wealth of Grace VVho dyeth ill dyes who dieth well neuer dies But liues a life aboue Eternallie Like good ●l●as who in wondrous wise VVas from base Earth tooke vp to liue in skie VVhere bide Th'elect of Christ for euer blest In Abrahams bosome there for aye to rest For thee my HART doth burne like fire Deare Lord Which freesde before like Frost and chillie Ice For thee to leaue my sinne I doe accord Through which thy heauenly grace I did despise All Follies now as Shadowes vaine I le leaue And vnto thee the Substance trew I cleaue In thee I burne and in my selfe I freese Frozen through feare but burning through thy Loue. Reason ore Senses mine now ouersees And her Authoritie ore them doth proue Which makes me humbly call to thee for grace Though proud before I runne a selfe wild race Repentance right sad Griefe salt Teares sure Faith Renue in me a sorie Contrite Hart My guiltie Conscience oft within me saith I Death deserue yet Mercifull thou art Sighs from ●y soule I offer for my Fee As pretious Blood thou offredst once for mee My Hart now clensde and yet not mine as now ●weet Christ to thee his first Home turnes againe ●rom me he flies and vnto thee doth bow ● giue it thee Accept I pray the same Ah Soueraigne Sauiour do not now despise A broken Hart for pleasing Sacrifise Weake is my Barke in which my Life doth rowe My wretched life through grieuous faults mispent And in the World his Ocean sayles but slowe Because it falles into the Occident My sickly Minde runnes selfe same doubtfull way And Soule doth grieue that Fancie ●o doth stray And though a gentle calmie Winde to blowe She findes about her as she fresh do●h sayle Yet vnder Waters doe I spie belowe The Foe of my poore Soule her to assayle And in that part wherein he doth espie The Ship to leake in that he close doth lie Ah now it grieues me now I doe repent My re●chlesse Race that I so Iewde haue runne Yet hath my God in mercie to me sent Helpe to my Vessell weake else I vndon● Hope at the left hand standes that part ●o guide And constant Faith on right hand doth abide Earth was my flesh before and earth againe Ere long it shall be but my Soule on hie Shall be lift vp in brightest Heauens ●o raigne If I from false alluring Sinne can flie When at his feete who first life to me gaue A Glorious Seat for euer I shall haue Full 7. times foure of yeeres my life hath runne Whil'st to my selfe a heauy B●rthen sore To others I a gainelesse charge become Soyled with beastly Thoughts vncleanly gore Whil'st in true Light being blind I farther goe From Reasons path which Iudgement did me show Slow to good works but too too swift to ill My Soule abroad with flitting wings doth flie And in the worlds darke bottom of Selfe will Mongst 1000. Snares she carelesly doth lie Where sensual Sense and Ignorance astray Her doubtfull leades quight out of her right way Too obstinate she headlong forward runnes In greatest Light she tumbleth in most darke Nor takes she thought what of her selfe becomes Be it right or wrong her course she doth not marke So that although Immortall she should liue Most mortall Death she seekes her selfe to giue But now thanks to the Soueraigne King of all She no more blinde the dangers gins to spie And looking backe vnto her former fall She doth repent through faith most heartily Where she doth see of Heauen the narrow Gate Which once was shut now ope for her escape King of all Kinges which from thy sacred Throne Doest ma●ke and view from forth the Heauens hie Thy Graces vnto Adams Ofspring showne Of thy great Loue although vnworthilie

Thou that do'st fill with true Delight the minde With true Delight wherein true Ioy we finde Behold how I ore laid with grieuous sinne With Soule defil'd with Heart infected sore Doe flie to thee thy Mercie for to winne And with Repentance doe my faultes deplore Lord if thy Lawes and thee I haue offended Let mine old Follies with new Teares be cleansed My Sorrowes to my Sinnes are sparkes but small So loathsome they appeare vnto my sight On thee I at thy Gate of Pittie call Thou art the Flame that canst them purge most brigh● The Bellowes is Amendements pure desire Which doth inflame through thy hotte louing Fir● Let thy great Bountie me forget forgiue And bad Conceites that idle Fancies wrought Let them no more within me working liue But to Confusion and Contempt be brought Oh let not Sinne my Soule still Satanise But with thy Spirit the same imparadise A most excellent patheticall and passionate Letter of Duke D'Epernoun MINION vnto Henry the third King of France and Polonia when through the Duke of Guizes deuise and meanes he was forbidden the presenc● of the King MY gracious Soueraigne a great combate had I in my minde and no little or small adoe to resolue my selfe what way to take hauing receiued expresse commandement not to approach the royall presence of your sacred Maiestie any more a matter of no small consequence as that was vnto me and such as was hard for me to beleeue and therefore not vnlikelie to be but of long resolution Willing I was my good Lord to obey your letter and so did I but yet for to make manifest the cause of so suddaine an alteration I did greatly desire to remoue from my heart whatsoeuer might haue displeased your Grace in any of my actions whatsoeuer yet could I finde none being thoroughly determined and wonderouslie desirous to answer the same with my life and bid you farewell with a liuely and open voyce before the face of all the world I most humbly beseech your Maiestie to pardon this my Disobedience seeing I haue not committed this fault onely for feare of disobeying you but rather because I am pricked forward by the great affection I owe vnto your seruice more than all the men in the world I see Sir I am the onely marke whereat the Enuie and Slaunder of France doe drawe their most fierce Dartes of their Rigor and Force I must needes vndertake ●o resist no lesse those who are Enuyers of my good Fortune then heretofore I haue done the Admirers thereof not doubting but that God will giue me the Grace not onely to repulse thē but also to beat thē downe wi●h the onely Sun-shining Beame of your royall Fauour which alone shal suffice without any more need of other Armour being as strong vnto me as the foundation of a Rocke which no Accidents whatsoeuer shall euer be able to vndermine For I do not place in the ranck of transitory thinges the Friendship wherewith your Maiestie with so great affection so long time hath honoured me It hath continued without ceasing with so great Good-will and sustayned so many sharpe assaultes that I feare nothing at all that it should perish in one small moment and on the sodaine Hap-hazard did not build it Fortune therefore shall not ouerthrow it and the workes of your Maiesties bountie shall neuer I hope yeelde vnto the malice of the Enemies of my Good Neither will I haue any other proofe of the Eternitie of your rare Fauours towards mee then the answere you made vnto one of the Neerest about your Maiestie who affirming you would make me too GREAT you answered And so Great will I make him that it shal not be in my power hereafter to vndoe him although willingly I would These are the wordes worthie Prince wherewith you haue pricked forwardes the violence of my malicious ill willers Wordes in trueth most worthie the greatest noblest and most bountifull Monarch of the worlde In so much as I haue engrauen in my soule an immortall desire to make my selfe worthie the effectes thereof But I must not nowe beholde nor at this time looke into what parte your Good-will hath shewed it selfe most firme and most affectionate to make famous my good Fortune The principall beginning there●● was resolued vpon with iudgement the sequell with reason and the end shall not be variable with ill destinie The proceedinges thereof were voluntary your Maiestie wil not suffer I trust that the chaunce thereof should be forced you haue raised me out of the dust vnto the greatest honours of your high Estate and of an vnworthie younger brother that I was you haue created me a great Duke I am of your owne fashioning I hope you will not suffer your worke to be vnperfect and for to lift me vp vnto the heauens of your greatnes you will not giue me winges of so soft a wax that I shall melt in the violent lightninges of the rage of mine enemies to make me miserablie to sincke into the bottomlesse flouds of their bloody desires But rather contrariwise that it would please you to protect me and to take a certaine kinde of pleasure and pride to see and beholde that the power you haue giuen mee may bee sufficient to ouerthrow these Infidels and base Creatures their 〈◊〉 estate being full of discommodities and t●eir diuelish determinations guiltie of horrible treasons But if your Maiestie desire to see the rest and quietnesse of your poore People imagining that I am the cause of their pouertie and neede and not the quarrels and conflicts that these Iewde fellowes haue attempted if my prosperitie causeth the trouble of your pleasures and if you thinke that ceasing the pretexte of your vnfained Good-will towardes mee by the same meanes they woulde cease their euill behauiours also let vs then Sir ouerthrow this good Fortune let vs remoue that which serues for a colour to the enterprises that these turbulent Companions goe about to put themselues into possession of your Estate let vs ouerthrowe the meanes which they call the Motiues and occasions of their Factions yet in the ende it shall plainly be seene that aspiring Ambition cankred Enuie of these malcontented mindes is the onely cynders which couers the fire wherewith they would imbrace your Realm and the breake necke ouerthrow into which they couet to thrust your people to accompany thē vnto their endles miseries But Soueraigne Liege I doe not hold the liberalitie your royall Person hath bestowed on mee so deare as I doe the least of your desires my obedience shall franckly yeeld to you all that which your princely Liberalitie hath bountifully giuen vnto me whether it be to take away the colour of the warres ensuing or to make it good in good-earnest vpon them which beare a shewe to desire it The losse of my Goodes shall be the least of my Crosses I haue alwayes considered that Fortune giueth no●hing but what she can alwayes take againe and that all worldly