mourning chéere to part from them God knowes For children finde small comfort héere when hence the mother goes If God moue not the Princes minde to pittie their estate Now as the Ladie did at large about her Babes debate Uppon her déere bought iewell than shée cast her onely thought Yea for whose sake and great good will shee was in trouble brought And pausing on this matter through a heauie sigh she gaue O good sir Knight sayd shee to one a thing of you I craue Commend me to my worthy friend and bid him comfort take And hope in God and Princes grace though I doe world forsake He may doe well and freedome get but mée hee shall not méete Till from the caue of pampred flesh departes his groning spréete Whiles life I had I honoured him and safely kept my vow As life did bind mee his in all so death doth loose mée now From him and all my worldly ioyes but though my friend I leaue On high where dwells a greater freind if hope not mée deceauâ— I trust to sée his babes and him and though much griefe it is To leaue them heere in bitter bale yet note I goe to blisse Where is no mind of combrous cares nor cause of sorrow knowne O tell him that aboue I hope these stormes shall be ore blowne And as a scroule is â—apped vp yea so shall all thinges héere When soule shall be immortall made vnto our view appeere No sooner of the soule shée spoke but sodaine chaunge beganne In lookes and limmes of deadly showâ— with colour pale and wan The eyes did stare the bodie stretch the strength and force did faile The teeth they chattered in the Cheekes the handes did quake and quayle The mouth did some the head did shake the flesh it quiuered fast The feet waxt cold the face did sweate full swift the pulses past The heart did heaue and beat in breast the breath like earth did sent At eares and nose the stiffled Ghost and vitall life sought vent Though gasping breath brought passioÌ„s on and gripâ— hâ—r heart full hard Yet showd she through those sharpe assaults to â—rend a great regard And calling for a boâ—e of Kinges among them chose shee one In which was set by cunning Art a rich and precious stone Hold carrie this quoth shee good Sir to my deere noble Knight He can remember what that stone presents vnto his sight The other token that I send it is a waightie ring Best likt and dearest bought God wot of any earthly thing And when you shall giue him this gift desire him well to minde The little Impes the pretty soules the babes I leaue behinde And bid him bring them vp in feare of God and Prince I saie Lâ—e that is all I doe require of him my dying daie I haue no gold to send my Babes but blessing I them giue Which God confirme with grace good storâ— as long as they shall liue O yet there is another ring which loe my lone must sée Where is my picture death I meane and tell my friend from mee That I as colde and sencelesse too shall be in little space As is that shaddow dum and deaffe and spritelesse shape of face This done shée turnde her head aside and bad them all farewell Twere good quoth shee in signe of death I heard the passing bell For such as liue may pray the while and know when bell doth toule Into the bowells of the earth the bodie parts from soule Yet meete they shall when trumpet sounds and that the dead arise And both together shall ascende I hope to starrie skies With this beganne the battell fierce betwéene her life and death Like Ghost shée lay whiles heart did grone and mouth gepte wide for breath Then sayd shee Lord into thy handes I doe commend my spréeâ— And so her selfe closde vp her eyes and hid her head in sheet And went awaie like infant young cleane voyde of storme or rage Or like a bodie falls a sléepe that cannot speake for age Thus breathlesse lay this Lady now like weightie lump of clay That earst had life and feeling force and past like floure away But when the newes of this was brought vnto her Playffeers eares With roaring voyce and blubbred eyes there gushed out such teares That witnest well with outward signes what woe heâ— felt within And truely tolde when shée did ende his delour did beginne Be rest of sleepe and robde of rest hée romed vp and downe And cast of wéedes of worldly pompe and clapt on mourning Gowne No ease nor pleasures could possesse nor féele the taste of meate Resolude to pine and staâ—â—e himselfe his griefes they were so great No councell could him comfort long and still alone he drue To mourne to mâ—ane to houle and cry and make complaint anâ—e And worne away with woefull sighes when sorrow helped not At length the life must be sustaynde with some reliefe yée wot But how he takes this mischiefe yet and how the matter goeth It passeth farre my reach and wit to iudge I tell you troth His Ladie gene as you haue heard when dayes and yeares were spent In thraldome long yet after that was better fortune seâ—t For into Princes grace againe hee came by blessed chaunce And so he liues in open Worlde where vertue may aduaunce Both him and many thousandes more that Noble liues doe leade And wisely walke with vpright mindes and steps of honour treade Loe héere you Dames of high renowne a Ladies death set out Whose life for faith full few shall finde that seekes wide world about To God and Prince repentaunt sure to worlde a mirrour bright Wherefore with tongue and true report resounde her prayse a â—ight FINIS Syr Symon Burley complains to him that knowes what sorrow meanes Sir Simon brought vp at Schoole with the Prince of Wales and Aquitayne Into Galatia to coÌ„duct Don Petro King of Castell Sir Simon was sent as one of chiefest for that purpose Hee appeased an vprore in the Citty of London The Dutches of Burbon prisoner and did raunsome Sir Simon Burley One Pascall was sent from the K. of Nauarhether for sauiour and Kinge Richarde made Sir Simon answer the Ambasdor the Earl of Salisbury and other in presence Kinge Richarde sent him to conclude a mariage and the Duke of Tasson was sent hither with Sir Simon from the king of Beam Almaine aboute this matter He was Lorde Chamberlain The Earle of Oxford called duke of IrelaÌ„d fauored much 〈◊〉 Simon The band that the duke made against the king the duke of Yorke the Earle of Salisbury the earle of Arundell the earle of Northumberland the earle of NottinghaÌ„ the archbishop of Canterburie A noble of euery 〈◊〉 in England was the taxe that the naughty duke sayd the king did demaund The Duke of Glocester and Duke of York with others maligned those the king fauoured King Richards best friends were by traytors frowardly handled The Bishop of Canterbury accusde him of sacrilege conuaying money ouer the Sea by night to the king of Beam The Prince of Orâ—nge M. Candeler maister of the assuraunces in the Royall Exchange is aliue witnesse to this M. Iosephe Loupo his Brother Peter two excellent musitionâ— are aliue witnesse to this in like sorte For poisning her maister A right figure of death A patterne of Death
found me aliue Long was the talke of manie a farlye thoe Long did I looke for that which did not come But all those blasts in sine did ouerbloe I listned long to heere the sound of drumme Yet though I had the great good will of some God would not thâ—ell for one mans sake alone That broyles should cause a million make their mone When birde is limde farewell faire feathers all The fish in net maie bidde the sea adiew When world beholds a man is neere his fall It leaues him there and follows fancies newe When all is saide the olde prouerbe is true Who cannot swimme must sincke there is no boote Who hath no horse of force must goe on foote Thus â—yed to clogge and pende in prison fast My hope decaide my hart did heauie waxe So souldiers came and brought me foorth at last The butcher then began to whâ—t his axe All was on flame the fire was flowne in flaxe There was no choise I must a size abide Prooue foule or cleane and by my Peeres be tried To Edenbrough the captiue man was brought Along the fieldes where flockes of people were The sight of whom did trouble much my thought But when in deede I was ariued there Both streetes and stalles and windows euery where Were stuffed full to giue on me the gaze But that might not my manly mind amaze Yet neither one nor other small nor great Did me salute So turnde the moodes of men That colde deuice nay rather raging heate Could not appall my princely courage then For I did looke as I did nothing ken Yet knew the whole that some in secret bore So passed through the thronge what would ye more A russet cloake a garment rude and bare For such a state make what of mee they would With foule felt hat and robes but base I ware That people might my great disgrace beholde Alas poore lambe thy life was bought and soulde No force of weedes to couer clott of claye Morton was dead full longe before that daie Now Lawyers flockte and swarmde in ilke a place Now Lords repaird and Lardes came daily in Now learned heads did long debate my case Now did in deed my sorrowes all beginne Now was the time that I must lose or winne For I appeard before the iudgement seate And there maintainde my right with reasons great Made good defence to many matters sure Spake boldly still and did but iustice craue My pleading there did foure long houres endure And Lawyers then to me good leasure gaue But to what end did I long pleading haue I was condemnd the world would haue it so A thing there was but that the Lord doth know And I that héere confesse my former gylt A murther than was laide vnto my charge Which I concealde yet saw a Kings bloud spilt A fowle offence for which there is no targe Nor could not claime therefore to goe at large But byed the sence and censure of the lawes For fowle God wot and filthy was my cause The iudgement was a heauy thing to héere But what they did I could not call againe The sentence past too late my selfe to cleere Once iudgd to die condemnd I must remaine As silly shéepe in shopp must needes be slaine Then to the pot or pit our flesh must passe All flesh is dust vaine ashes earth and grasse Then thought I on some friend that absent was And spoke some words but askâ— not what they were So from the bench to prison did I pas And for to die did make me ready there The Preachers came and shed full many a teare To bring my soule in perfect patience than And make me die a faithfull christian man In secrete sort the Preachers there I told Great things of waight that in my conscience lay And so confest what right and reason would But thereon pawsde I would no further say Aske what they pleasde I did but troth bewray Whereat I knockt my troubled trembling brest And so desirde the Preachers let me rest O brethren mine your doctrine likes me well Qd. I good men bestow some praiers now In your beliefe looke that you daily dwell As you beganne so still continue through The bloud of Christ hath washt my blotted brow As white as snow I haue no doubt nor feare Shall be my sinnes that red as scarlet were The Preachers glad to bring my soule to rest Brought Scripture in and did the text vnfold And many a place and sentence they exprest Towardes the death to make my body bolde O my good Lord you may not now behold The pompe quoth they and glory that is past But you must thinke on that which aye shall last Both wealth and friends and worldly wisedome to Are banisht quite and blush to come in place When soule goes hence those things haue nought to doe With man that is then newly borne in grace The light of day hath darkenes still in chase The heauenly thoughts doe hate all earthly things And faith to clowdes doth flie with flittring wings They praide with me and wipt their wéeping eies My heauy sprite stood troubled sore that tide And as the sighes from panâ—ing heart did rise My groaning Ghost O Abba father cride The sobs flew forth the â—eares I could not hide As babe doth wéepe when he beholds the rod So then I feard the wrath of my good God Full soone reformde I was in godly wise Gaue ore the world forgot all earthly thing Heaud vp my hands and heart vnto the skies To God that did this plague vppon me bring And then I sued and sent vnto the King To scape the coard by losse of life and breath For heading was for me more Nobler death He graunted that and sad for my mishap He let me goe where God and man assignd Now euery fault lay open in my lap Each small offence came freshly to my minde The secret sinnes that we in conscience finde A muster made and passed for their pay Before great God that doth all things bewray The wrong I did to simple people plaine Bad heart â—orethinke the fury of mine ire The gréedy thirst of glory rule and gaine Made soule afeard of hote infernall fire My selfe I blamde for fleshly fond desire But falling thus full prostrate on my face From heauens hie I felt a sparke of grace Which warmd my sprites that waxed faint and cold The last conflict that in this life we haue Then comfort came and made weake body bold Care not for death for life mounts vp from graue Qd. knowledge then when Christ the soule shall saue With that I flong behinde all fearefull dread So cald for booke and many a Psalme did reade In lesse then halfe the time that I haue spoke Me thought I talkt with God whose face did shine Who from a cloude discende as thinne as smoke And entred in my breast by power diuine O mortall man said he come thou art mine Be strong and stout to fight the battell throw
â—orth I of necessitie must offer because my store is not great and such fancies as I haue I hope your Lad. amongst the rest of my friends wil stand pleased with til better matter fall out So in heart seruice and goodwill I betake you to the sweet blessing of the Almightie A Dreame I had the straungest thing that euer man might meet Me thought I bore amid a King a faire familiar spréet A Lady like the Fairie Queene that men behold but sâ—ld Who daunceth round about the greene by Moonshine oft in field This Ring on little finger worne did mysteries vnfold And made me walke from Eauen to Morne in sâ—cret where I would Among the Dames and Nymphes most chast when greatest glee they make And where sweet darlings are embrac'st and greatest pleasure take I came sometime where loues delight was drownd in deepe disdaine And fancie reapt but froward spight to counter-pace his paine Not sound a sléepe in slumber so this busie dreame I had That tossed senses to and fro with heauie motions sad That waits vpon a troubled mind that seldome taketh rest But wanders with each blast of wind and breath of panting brest And in this Dreame a world of toyes and trifles led me on Some of new cares some present ioyes and some of pleasures gone And some of gladsome haps to come those were dumme sights and showes Not worth a philip of my thombe if I should all disclose But as those fancies past like shade that followe man full fast Or brightnes of a shining blade whose glaunce small while doth last I came me thought into a caue where all the Sibbils dwel Asumptuous pallace builded braue not like a little Cell Or Cottage poore of small account for at the outer gate There stood a stately mighty mount wheron a Lady sate All clothed in white and wore a hoode of red round shapte indeed At sight of whom amazed I stood to see so strange a weed Why man quoth she feare not a whit A woman sure I am That doo among my neighbours sit as milde and meeke as Lamb. And spend the goods that God hath sent in worthy liberall sort With merrie meane and sad content that winnes a good report The poore I fâ—â—d the rich I feast and welcome hie and low And spent thus thirtie yeares at least more wealth than world doth know The wéedes that body doth disguise vpon vaine earth a spare At latter day when soule shall rise shall giue me greater grace I woondred at the words she spake she did discend withall So by the hand she did me take and led me through the hall Unto a pretie parlour fine where I beheld and saw A trifling counterfeit of mine that Arnold Oens did draw There sat of guests a table full that auncient friends had beene For the held house for them that wull make of her house their Inne Not for to pay as trauelers do for euery thing they take But feed and find great welcome to full free for friendships sake Sometime the chiefe and greatest sort of Dames and noble peere Unto her table doth resort to tast of her good cheere Yea most of all the worthie men that beares good name and sway Comes freely thither now and then to passe the time away It were a world to shew and tell what worthie dads she doth For world will sâ—aâ—ce beleeue it well that I do know forsooth Let passe in silence that a while my Dreams breeds greater doubt For some there at may chance to smile it faâ—es is strangely out The râ—ping thoughts of idle braine and 〈◊〉 in the head That feede the mind with humours vaine when body seemeth dead Are trustles â—oyes cleane voyd of truth which rise on meat and drinke Or weake conâ—aâ—â—s of age and youth whereon the heart doth thinke Well be thy vizions good or bad or sweauons of the night Such idle sâ—â—akes as fancy had now shall you heare aright Me thought a troupe of Dames I saw a thousand in a roe They would not tread vpon a strawe they minst the matter so All hand in hand they traced on a tricksie ancient round And soone as shadowes were they gone and might no more be found And in their place came fearefull bugges as blacke as any pitche With bellies big and swagging dugges more lothsome then a witch All these began to chide and charme as hellish hags they were And went about some secret harme as seemed plainely there For in a circle stoode they still and starde like Bull at stake They did no good but wisht much ill to them that sleepe or wake From these foule féends I thought to flye but I was quickly staide And in the twinckling of an eye was made full sore afraide For they with frownes and froward lookes did threaten my decay And said they had such counting bookes that should my sins bewray Thy filthy faults of youth quoth they shall now corrected be For plagues and scourges euery way there is prepar'd for thee First for thy soule offence to God in secret corners doone Thou shalt be whipt with many a rod of euery mothers Sonne Some shall thée wound with edged swoord and let out thy wilde blood And some shall shoot such bitter woords shall neuer doo thee good The Prince shall dayly speak thée faire but neuer thée preferre The people driue thee in dispaire and make thee open warre Thy fréends with flattery thée deceaue thy foes about thée flocke And in great mischéefe shall thée lead beset with many a mocke And ech disease that life abhorres shall dayly on thée steale With botch and blaines and stinking sores that no sweet salue shall heale So marked man passe where thou wilt Gods wrath shall follow thée As guerdon for thy wretched guilt which God alone dooth sée These words pronounc'st these hags of hell inhast and horrour both From thence did take a quicke farewell and downe those hell-hounds goeth Where Pluto dwels and darkenes is a place of endles paine And where foule Féends full far from blisse in torments still remaine Now sat I sadly all amaz'd to thinke on follies past And vpward to the heauens gaz'd from whence comes helpe at last Where at the Clouds a passage made to Angels as I weene That than discended downe in shade to come to world vnséene My ring disclos'd that secret straight and tolde me what they were Fye man quoth they vse no such sleight thou needst not now to feare We come to comfort féeble sence that all things takes awrie And not to punish mans offence that doth for vengeance cry God doth in mercy more delite than in his iustice still His anger is forgotten quite when men fore-thinke their ill The deuill driues men in dispaire by threatnings now and thâ—n And laies his snares in earth or aire to trap some silly man He is the Father of vntroth that hath great wits beguilde And still about great mischiefe goeth like roaring Lyon wilde Those bugges
CHVRCHYARDS Challenge LONDON Printed by Iohn Wolfe 1593. To the right honourable Sir Iohn VVolley Knight Secretary for the Latin tung to the Queenes Maiestie and one of her priuie Councell Thomas Churchyard wisheth increase of honor blessednes of life and abundance of worldly felicitie and heauenly happines THe long trauell and tracing out of life in this wearisome pilgrimage right honorable hauing brought me now almost to the ende of my iourney makes me glad with a restles desire to be rid of the burthens of my minde and the labours of my body the one neuer free from studie and the other seldome voide of toyle and yet both of them neither brought great benefite to the life nor blessing to the soule in which small rest and vnquietnes many sorrowfull discourses in my dayes I haue written and numbers of bookes I haue printed and because they shall not be buried with me I challenge them all as my children to abide behinde me in the worlde to make them inheritors of such fame dispraise as their father which begat them on sweet inuention heere enioyes or deserues hoping they shall not be called bastards nor none aliue will be so hardy as to call them his babes that I haue bred in my bowels brought forth and fostred vp so carefully at mine owne charges and hazard of an enuious worlde And now indeede for that diuers of disdainfull disposition doo or may hinder the good reporte of those labors which I thinke well bestowed among my freends I haue set forth while I am liuing a great number of my works in this booke named my Challenge that after my death shalbe witnesses they were mine owne dooings not for any great matter in them but for the iustnes of troth and true triall of all my honest exercises and so to purchase credit and the more freends and fauourers to prop vp my poore reputation I not only dedicate this booke and all therein to your honor but haue made also in the same booke diuers dedications to sundry honorable and worshipfull personages protesting that there is nothing heerein but came from mine owne deuice which inuencions spoken as becomes me shal be in all honest sorte defended by pen or any way I may to the vttermost of my breath or abilitie ioying much with all gladnes of hart that they are presented to so honourable a personage and one of such singuler learning whose worth and value by a worthy and vertuous Princes is seene into and throwly considered of which gracious Queene hath alwaies made her princely choice in such an excellent and vnspeakable maner as God himselfe should deuinely appoint and direct to our great wealth and his great glory and in whose râ—re commendation all the pen men of the world may write Now good sir vnder your excellent fauour and countenance I shielde my presumption and boldenes that hath offred a booke of so many discourses to the iudgement of such a multitude that quickly can discouer the weakenes of my labors but hauing ventured so farre as to publishe them in print I must now of necessitie commit them to the common opinion of the world So in hope the best will fall out I present you with my studies and take leaue of your honor desiring of God what goodnes can be wished to be alwaies at your commaundement Dutifully and loyally in all at commaundement Thomas Churchyard To the worthiest sorte of People that gently can reade and iustly can iudge GOod Reader if my presumption were so great that I thought my booke might passe without your fauourable iudgement mine error were as much as my ouer-weening and yet to vse perswasions in purchasing your good liking I should passe the bounds of common reason and fall into the danger of adulation for your good wils are rather won with good matter then bare wordes and say what I can to gaine your affection toward my worke you will speake what seemeth best in your owne conceites For among many thousands are many of deepe consideration and some vndoubtedly of as shallow iudgement so that the one or the other cannot nor will not be led and caried away with any deuice of my pen though all the hye spirits and excellency of Poetry might drop out of the quill I writ withall wherefore now I must as well abide the hazard of your censure as I haue boldely vnfolded my selfe to the worlde there is now no crauing of pardon nor pleading for your furtherance to encrease my good fame my works must abide waight they are thrust into the ballance and I of necessitie must content me with your allowance and what price pleaseth you to set on my marchandise but if they proue too light in the skales I pray you helpe them with some graine of good skill that they be not condemned as trifles because they haue cost me great labour and study and put me to no little charges I freely offer them to you for three or foure causes the one to keep the reputation of a writer the second to pleasure my freendes with the reading of new inuentions and thirdly to desire my foes to giue me true reporte of those workes I haue made and last of all to affirme that euery thing in this my booke of Challenge is mine owne dooing which iustlye no man can deny Not boasting thereof as matter worthy memory but claiming a better regarde then enuy would giue me I stand to the praise or dispraise of all I haue done maruelling much that in my life time any one would take from me the honest laudation I deserue I striue no further in that point but commit to God and good people the indifferency and iustnes of my cause and the best is which shall beare it selfe the wise of the worlde and worthiest of knowledge and capacitie are the only Iudges shall yeeld me my right the rest are but hearers and lookers on whose voices may make a great noise but giues so vncertaine a sound they can doo no great harme because of nature and condition they neuer doo no great good Now my pleading time is past my booke must appeare in that bare fashion as I haue formed the matter I hope it shall not walke so nakedly abroade but shalbe able to abide the coldenes of ill will and the extreame heate of hatefull mens disposition God the giuer of goodnes guide my verses so well that they neuer happen into their hands that loues me not and make my prose and plainenes of speech be as welcome to the Reader as it was well ment of the writer So with double and treble blessing Farwell FINIS My next booke shalbe the last booke of the Worthines of Wales And my last booke called my Vltimum Vale shalbe if it please God twelue long tales for Christmas dedicated to twelue honorable Lords Heere followes the seuerall matters contained in this booke THe tragedie of the Earle of Morton The tragedie of sir Simon Burley A discours that a man
knacke Beare euen hand and holde the bridle right Yet whiskt the wande sometimes for pleasures sake Yea spyce thy speach and tearmes with trifels light That lookers on may not thy mind mistake When store is gone yet doe thy budget shake Among the best and féede their fancies still No matter though a mouse créepe out of hill Small toyes may bréede great sporte in great estates And in great grounds men walke through little gates Doe wisely warne and warely vse thy pen Speake english playne and roue about the but And shoote at will and flaunt by wicked men Shale cut the shell and bid them cracke the Nut Shew some delight and so the sentence shut And bid the world beholde mee in a glasse That did to ruine from Pompe and pleasure passe Now I am gone I wish the rest behinde As they desire may better Fortune finde FINIS THE MAN IS BVT his Minde TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull my singular good friend Sir Iohn Skidmoer one of the Liefetenants of Haruordshire I Am not forgetfull good Sir Iohn of a promise made touching The man is but his minde Which worke now I present you though not so well penned as the matter requireth yet as wel ment as any peece of worke in this Booke written as well to keepe promise as to show the circumstance of the mistery that belongeth to euery mans minde and to hope that all I write thereof shall be as well taken as a dutifull writer can meane I haue plainely set downe mine opinion in that behalf doubting not but some one man or other shall see a peece of his owne minde in this my presumption of the same So wishing your good and vertuous minde augmented in grace and your selfe encreased in worship and contentation of mind I betake you to God and fall to my purposed discourse AS I was reading in the delightfull discourses of Ieronimus Cardanus his comforts among many pleasant passages and speciall sentences I founde that he said A man was but his mind either in the value of vertue or vanity of vice So waying the worth of that conclusion knowing that Manhood or Cowardize consistes in the selfe same opinion of the minde I considered that common quarrels and priuate reuengement of Iniuries receiued proceeded in a manner from this spring and flowing Fountaine that euer is fedde and nourished with som setled conceite or other For the minde is so noble watchfull and worthy that it is neuer vnoccupied whilest the man is awaken nor taketh any great rest when the body is a sleepe as some dreames and visions manifesteth plaine For euen as a cunning CarpeÌ„ter or Smith is hammering and heawing some péece of wood or iron to bring the same to such shape and perfection as the artificer would haue it So the minde the harber of all secretes and mouer of all good and bad motions can at no season be idle or wax weary of deuises The Imaginations thereof are so many and the innumerable conceites therein are so mighty the fire is of such vehement heat and operation that it must néedes burne or consume any thing that long remaines in it so the minde is of such force and power that it leadeth the man any way it listeth and shapes al the sences and vitall spirites in what forme or fashion it pleaseth For the longer the fancies of the head by rouling to and froe are tired and at length reposeth themselues in the constantnes of the minde the more is the mans reason subiect to the mindes resolution and the lesse strength the iudgement hath when it féeles the forces of the body captiuated and compeld to obay the greatnes of the minde Though learning education and good instructions be a meane and restraint that a peruerse mind shall not draw the whole body to destruction yet the minde being bent to some dangerous determination hath ouercome all the good causes rehearsed and brought both the body reputation and life into a shamefull disorder and made a cruell confusion not onely of the man but likewise brought a licentious liberty to the minde experience of proud practises hath proued this argument no fable but now to talke truely and probably of the minde what can be named or thought on if they be things to be executed but the minde dare attempt and the man may goe about it dare aduenture the hazarde of the soule the losse of life and goods and the cracking of estimation and credit if any purposed mischiefe hale the minde forewarde to some odious enterprises this showes but a weakenes of Iudgement naughtines of nature and a most wicked and wilfull disposition of a desperate conceite diuelishly drawen and enclined and carelesly coÌ„mitting it selfe to euery kinde of practises and dangerous determination But now to touch the noblenes of an inuincible minde that neither Fortune can conquer power may commaund nor worldly pompe nor wealth can winne The true discourse of this minde craues a writer of a higher knowledge for the vnspeakeable spirite that keepes life and breatheth continuall constancy in the brest where this minde makes his mansion house is to be explained and set forth by the profoundest pen man of the worlde that can lay open like an Anotomy the hidden and secrete partes of the body especially the diuine nature closed vp in flesh and bloud and secrecy belonging to the vertue of this manly and valiaunt minde Some men there are and though they boast not much the nuÌ„ber may be great that with a strong heart can suffer afflictions beare burthens abide disgraces and in their most torments seeme careles of all the crossings counterchecks is offered them yet they are armed within to withstand all outward assaults as it were a fortresse manned with souldiers and munition throughly to defend it selfe against the power of Princes practises of warlike people yea as they in peace can vse this approued patience so in the hottest broiles of the warre the hope to ouercome the cruelty of their enemies doth redouble their courages and so with a resolute minde the Cannon they approch the combate they present and the present daunger is presently forgotten a present matter of great momeÌ„t to be in the presence and presented before the vniuersall people placed vnder the cope of the heauens But yet I can not leaue out the mind they haue of honour in greatest extremities for minding the preseruation of Prince and countrey they clap on such a minde as Mucius Sceuola did that burned his hande in the â—ire for missing the killing of Porcena They care not in like sort for imprisonment penury hunger torting racking but can suffer all manner of misery as want of meat lacke of liberty and open aire and lie on the hard earth or bare strawe to kéepe their enemies out of the Fort or hould committed to their charge yea and in respect of the loue they loyally beare to their Countrey they suffer many a mortall wound and in the end offer
themselues to the death manifestly to showe that a man is but his minde and the minde is it that makes the man both famous immortall Now to the contrary come to the nature and condition of a Coward whose minde is neuer to do any noble act for he that can beare the infamy and blot of that name to be called a Coward liues carelesse of all other villanies and no reproche slaunder shamefull report fowle fact or what filthines can be rehearsed may make him blushe his miserable minde is so monstrous that all soiles kingdomes and countries are alike for him to liue in and as a countrey cur delightes to gnaw a bone on a midding so he is fed fatte among wretches of the world with folly beastlines lewd behauiour and a number of naughty conditions neither fit to be followed nor néedefull to be written of The studient that mindes nothing so much as learning takes such a pleasure and felicity in hearing and reading new deuises and auncient authors that his Bookes are onely his companions and solitary places the swéete soiles of his repaire and he holdeth time so precious anâ— deere that he spends in Idlenes no one howre of the day and hath such glory in gaining of knowledge shal he makes no account of any other Treasure knowing that he that hath vertue is next vnto God nor delighteth in any society or company but such as are learned wise graue and honest and when long labour and study hath gathered the swéete Sap of Iudgement as the Bée hath sucked Hony from the flowres he writeth new volumes and setteth out such workes and pamphlets as may merite commendation and purchase credite and benefite and be accepted and embraced among all posterities that mind hath a naturall disposition in all diuine graces and that mindâ— is as a day watch to the body and stands as a strong Guard to the Soule and euerlasting renown The ignoraunt minde that hates education and despiseth knowledge is an enemy to himselfe and all common wealthes most currish and rude of condition barbarous and sauage as an vnâ—amed beast he swels and powts like a Tode to heare the praise of a good man and mindes nor loues nothing but blockishnesse ribawdry and corrupt manners and hath so naughty an inclination and is subiect to so many defectes and deformities that this naught and lewde minde is not necessary to bee knowen among men nor made mention of where noble minds are estéemed Now in generall let euery particular man here somewhat of himselfe There are some kinde of men made of so fine a moulde whose mindes may not suffer them to here beholde touch or come neare any lothsome or vncleane thing such mindes disdaines to offend the sight which is a cleare candle of life with vnseemely shoes and will not haue the Soule defiled with conceiuing of filtâ—y matters that moues a general misliking in the whole Iudgement and euery part of the body and minde to abhorre the vnderstanding of any foule and infectious thing either ministred by talke or vttered by vew in open assembly Another sort of base minded fellowes haue their onely ioyâ— in fruitlesse babble foolish fancies and offensiue wordes that thunders in the aire and corrupts good maners that fils a house full of clamors and bruite and makes a fewe Idiots laugh and many wise men lowre but these haerbraine tratlers and fantasticall minded mates striuing to haue all the talke themselues and glorying to here their owne voice do sodainly become so audacious and bolde that they are not onely a trouble to the whole company but likewise a disquietnes to themselues as apparauntlye falleth out for when such vaine glorious minded marchaunts are knowen and perceiued they are glad that first can be rid of their fellowship and society A graue and modest minded man looks into a statelier kind of life and skornes to open his mouth but in causes of credite and matter of great moment and then the wel couched spéeches and swéete spised sentences comes flowing from his tongue as the faire water spouteth from the fountain a man of that aduisednes carries an easy hand ouer the rash multitude and gathers to his minde a greater knowledge of the course of this world and euen as the persing songs and musicall harmony of the Nightingale reioyseth the hearts of the hearers so the sweete tempred talke of a wise Orator drawes the eares of the audience after him and leades them in a string that haue anye motion and minde of vertue or can consider the value worth of such a well minded man The merry and pleasant companion in his kinde beares another disposition for his minde is so delightfull that his tonge is like a Taber and a Pipe prettily playing and gibing on euery mans mannors and he that carries this minde is continually tuning him selfe as a Minstrell were tempring and wresting of his Instrument to pleasure with sports the dumpishe people that sits listning to heare some straunge pastime but in this merry minde are many humors that are fedde with some sharpe and bitter conceits which often turns to ouer bolâ— boording and yet a well ordered minde can smoothly cast a clowde cunningly on the matter to auoide all suspition and to bringe the world in beliefe a merry fellow for the solasing of his own minde hath free scope and liberty to ride by his neighbours and yet keepe euery one cleane from dashing and he himselfe to be taken as a man whose mind meanes alwaies to make all the company merry A greedy minded groaper of this world lookes solemnly on all thinges he goes about and in a surly sort and fashion stands bending the browes and frowning at a number of accidents he beholdes his talke is of bargaines purchases buildings and prises of each thing that commeth to the market and mindeth so much his priuate gaine and profite that he forgets both common wealth and countrey neuer merry but when his money and bags be vnder his Elbow and alwaies sad when hee must depart with any great sumâ—e and payment though double benefite proceede from the same a minde ready to doe wrong and a body neuer apte to doe seruice in warres nor liue quietly without brabble in peace The vnthrift or more properly called a player at al manner of games sets his minde so earnestly thereon that he will losâ— meat sleepe and rest to winne somewat by gaming many times practising to packe the Cards and cogge the Dice sodenly moued for a little losse to fall into a great fury a minde that couets al and makes no conscience if it be at play to beguile his companion yet many of them haue such minde to be called fair players that they are as carelesse what they lose as they are desirous to gaine but if the losse be great full many a raw Pigeon lies wambling in their stomackes after their first sleepe and yet waking they minde nothing more then a reuenge eyther to take a
that by tasting of miseries men are become happie written for that souldiers alwayes beares the burthen of sorrow and suffers more calamitie then any other people RIght worshipfull for that calamitie and combersome chances doe seeme intollerable too beare and for our first fathers offence they are the burthens of life and companions of man till the hower of his death I being often charged with the heauie faâ—dle of misfortunes haue taken in hand to treate of a troubled mynd and shewe what blessednesse and benefit to the body and soule this worldly in felicity bringeth As the common afflictions of mankind are many in number and seeme at the first feeling so irksome and weightie that few can suffer them or support them So a multitude of miseries accustometh the mind so long in the sharpnesse of sorrowes that a sound iudgement is made the more able therby to abide the brunte of troubles and attende for a short season a remedie of mischâ—eâ—eâ— by proofe â—he troth of this is tried For let the laboryng man or ordinarie porter that daily carries great burthens be often vsed to lift vp packes he shall better beare a great burthen then an other that is fine fingered shall bâ—e able to heaue a small peece of Timber And there is none that laboureth so sore but is sure at one tyme or other to attaine to rest and commoditie So that all sorrowes are to be compted but a sharpe sause to season the appetite and bring the sweete and delicate dishes into such order that it glut not the stomacke And nowe to consider how all pleasures are possessed and proâ—ittes take their begininges The very issue and originall of those yearthly commodities springes onely from continuall care and paine and labourious vexation of body and minde The greatest glories and chiefest seates of honour any where are gotten and compassed by this kinde of calamitie and the least or most sparkes of mans delite is maintained and at the length enioyed by the meane of studious labour and painefull exersices But herein to be briefe paine and labour is the portion appointed for man in his pilgrimage and they that are most persecuted so they be not tempted aboue their strength are most to be thought in fauour with God and happiest among men if heauenly graces and correction be measured by the yearthly vesselles of vanitie that we carry about which without correction and refourming would growe so full of filthe and corrupt manners that they neither could holde good liquor nor serue to any good purpose Doe you not behold that the purest mettall with ill looking vnto becometh full of cankers and rust if it be not scoured rubbed and roughly handled his beautie decayeth and the worth and vallue of it is little because it hath lost his vertue and estimation So mans corrupt Nature were it not serched with sundrie instrumentes that takes away the dead flesh and toutcheth the quicke would putrifie and waxe lothsome to the whole world and to the creature himselfe that beares it in his bowells And for the auoiding of such an inconuenience calamitie must be tasted and troubles are necessary for the keeping cleane of a spotted conscience and fraile body puffed vp with Pride and vanitie of curious conceits And so I proue aduersitie is the bringer home of good spirites and gentill wittes that wanders after worldly follies and runnes a gadding beyonde the boundes of measure to the vtter confines of daunger and destruction Yea a little trouble and torment produceth great goodnesse and bringeth soorth noble bookes and goodly workes which the libertie of life and wantonnesse of pleasure denies and hinders As a thing that drawes man from the coueting of Fame and true searching of immortalitie Mans prosperous estate breedes but idlenesse nourisheth vice contemnes vertue and banisheth good studies and learning albeit some one among the richest at one season or other may looke on a booke fauor writers and giue good speeches of well dooyng Yet seldome comes any great worke from their handes that are in prosperity And none in a manner but the afflicted did at any time hetherto yeeld benefit to their countrey and knowledge to the vniuersall worlde Let Socrates Plato Aristotle Cleantes and a number of poore Philosophers yea princes of education be witnesse of that I speake from which Philosophers the fountaine of noble Arts Sciences did spring and aboundantly flow The body pampered bedecked with beautie full of ornamentes and set out to sale like flesh in the Shambelles Either would be bought quickly or will be tainted in hanging too long in the winde So that as horses doe waxe reistie for want of good vsage and cleanest thinges taketh corruption by lacke of looking vnto in season Pleasure and liberty in processe of time makes a man wild if callamitie tame not thâ— bodie and bring the minde in willing subiection Sorrow sadnesse and other passions of this worlde that comes by common causes puttes the wittes and iudgemente to such a plonge secret shifte and policy that all the senses openly makes a muster to defend the estimation and vpright body from falling to which assemblie comes Patience Reuerence and Modestie that the matter is so well taken iniuries are put vppe and wronges that haue beene offered woorkes in a wise head a world of deuises wherein vertue gettes victorie To beare the comfortable crosse of persecution is the true badge of blessednesse whereby the seruant is seene to follow his maister and all the vices of man he maistered or reformed by the crossyng chances of this worlde and vertuous operation of calamitie which miraculously worketh the distempered minde as the hote Fornace tries out the Golde and the warme fire bringes in temper and makes softe the hard and coldest Waxe A deuine secret to them that are chosen and familiar example to those that glories in wordly felicitie who knowes the naturall causes of earthly thinges If a man might aske wherefore was man made sent from the highest dignitie of pleasures to this lowe dongion of sorrowes and base soile of seruitude It may be aunswered Adam was thrust out of Paradice for offence he had committed and for that he was formed out of the earth on the race of the earth he should get his foode and liuing as a vessell ordained to beare all manner of liquour that is put into it and as a Creature condemned to tast and feele tormentes sorrowes and troubles wherein man sees Gods mercie and his owne infirmities And refusing to beare and suffer what is laied vpon him hee seemeth to holde an other course then God hath appointed and so seeketh that he cannot attaine For since the earth was cursed it neuer could bring forth but cares and griefe of minde The onely fruit and painefull portion that was from the beginning prepared for al Adams children and posteritie Now some will replie and say that the rich and wealthy of the worlde that may wallow and tumble on their treasure Haue builded such
when some of them flue away I say not with my fethers and sat on the top of their aduancements gazing on the basenesse of my fortune which strange accidente ministred by the mutability of time makes me chuse faster friends whose noble disposition breeds greater regard whose constancies will longer continue and whose frendships bringes forth better fruite So good sir Iohn knowing your good inclination towardes the best sorte of men and faitfullnesse towardes your country and friendes I being tyed by good turns to remember you haue deuised a discourse I hope delightfull for your reading because in your sundry trauells beyonde the seas besides your good exercises at home you haue heard of many excellent men and artes of diuers natures and qualitie The worke I present you is a commendation of them that can or hath made gold if any such bee or hath bin the art wherof I haue not only commended but in some part touched as far as my simple capacitie can reach vnto touching setting downe in verse with comly termes some sufficient cause how by transmutation of mettals many men haue aduentured the making of gold Thus crauing the worlds goodwill and your fauour for the setting forth this bold discourse I passe to the matter wish you much worship wordly felicitie and heauenlie blessednesse Thomas Churchyard A Commendation to them that can make gold shewing that many heretofore hath found out the Philosophers stone WHat wordes of worth or â—â—led phrase of men May serue my turne to shew rare gifts of grace What percing speech what toong or flowing pen Is fiâ— to blase the valour of this case My wits are weake my sense and skill to base To talke or treate on thinges of such great weight That séemes so dâ—epe and reacheth such a height With Uirgills verse and Homers haughtie style In golden lines should knowledge glorie shine Would God one man were borne in this our Ile Could catch from cloudes great arts and grace diuine As he were taught of all the muâ—es nine To knowe the course of stars and stately skies And howe deepe seas and floudes doe fall and rise If mortall man may robbe the gods of skill And rule the son the moone and planets all And easly climbe the heauens when he will Or make the spirites belowe obey his call Or clap the earth into a compasse small Knowledge is he nay rather better seed A sacred power hath knowledge in his head That from the Lord of life and glory came No earthly gifte nor worldly wicked knacke For world is vaine most certaine sure I am And all foule artes makes worlolings liue in lacke The cleanest mindes are frée from ruine and wracke For vertue raignes and rules this wretched mould And drawes from drosse huge heapes of massie gold They neuer thriue that workes with hagges of hell Bare liues they lewd bare robes and wéedes they weare They seldome want that in ioyes doying well Great store of fruit a happie trée doth beare A blasted branch but withers euery where A vertuous man whose hart to grace aspires Findes good successe of all his whole desires Great studies gaines great grace and wisdome too Great wisdome lookes into Gods sacred throne And fewe doe knowe what speciall grace can doe Such secrets great doth rest in God alone And God giues man the Philosophers stone Then who hath that hath all that can be gote And needes not care for all the world a grote Some say that knowes how god is pleased best Good life helpes much to make men blessed héere If that be true God doth bad life detest where are we then where shall soule life appéere Who hath faire face who shewes a conscience cléere Such as can purge themselues with praiers still Gets greatest grace and gaineth greatest skil Good arts are armes to all our bodies throwe By force to worke by strength to strike all parts To make stife stones or steele to bend or bowe As nothing could escape the reach of arts Schollers in scholes and merchantes in their marâ—â— Can ply their thrift so they that maketh gold By giftes of grace haue cunning treble fold To catch the heate of son or fire by light And melt and myxe the mettals as they are And put by art compounds together streight As all should yeeld to fine inuention rare When science leaues all hidden secretes bare No mastry then to worke on waxe newe wrought A picture plaine to answere workmans thought Most néerest God the cleanest hartes doe goe They cast of flesh and Angels nature take And than throwe faith they may moue mountaines so Gold by that meanes a mortall man may make God doth great things for his great glories sake That world shall sée some vessels God hath chose To whome he doth his hidden giftes disclose vii of Wisdome The wise king said he saw how world was made How things began and how they end againe How fruits and flowers doe flourish and doe fade How vertues rare in herbes and roots remaine How out of stones comes dewe like drops of raine And how dry dust and earth that seemes nought worth Hides gold in hord yet brings great treasure forth He saw what grace and knowledge could discerne What wisdomes eies could sée in darkest night What God himselfe to his electe did learne What man might doe by Gods cleere lampe of light What might be knowne by simple sacred sight And what poore men by plainenesse might attaine And what fruit comes by trauell toile and paine To gather flowers and wéedes where ere they growe And take vp fruit from tops of trées that fall And mixe these things with flouds that ebbe and floe And at a becke to change their natures all Is art at will and knowledge we it call But to digge out from drosse the gold most fine Is secret skill and speciall power deuine To make fine glasse and giue it forme and shape Was sure an art that fewe at first did knowe A painter made quicke birds to picke the grape That pensell had most finely painted so In dome dead things life hath bin breathd you knowe Who reades shall sée great knowledge vnder son That was with men by grace and vertue won Mercurius Tres migistus king of the Egiptianes A king there was of yâ—er that Hermies hight Who fiâ—st found out the cause how gold was made Some at his torch did there dime candells light That earst did walke for want of Son in shade Since that in seas full many wits did wade To sound and sée how farre weake feete might goe And some did find the depth thereof I troe Gâ—bar a king likewise of great estate A volume large of this great art did write Throw studie long Gebar such knowledge gat That in his books great princes did delight Great thinges of him great actors doe resyte Greater then he some say was neuer none For he did teach how men should make the stone In a vision much matter may you read
yeld to death and vpward lift the minde Where lothsome life shall present comfort finde Since hope can haue no honey from the Hiue And paines can plucke no pleasure for his toyle It is but vaine for wearie life to striue And stretch out time with torment and tormoyle Get what we can death triumphes ore the spoyle Then note this well though wee winne neere so mitch When death takes all wee leaue a mizer ritch To liue and lacke is double death indeede A present death exceedes a lingring woe Since no good hap in youth did helpe my neede In age why should I striue with Fortune so Old yeares are come and hastes me hence to goe The time drawes on I hate the life I haue When heart shall breake my griefe shall ende in graue Should I seeke life that findes no place of rest Ne soyle nor seate to shroude me from the ayre When cramping cold beclyps my carefull breast And dolour driues my heaâ—t in deepâ— dispayre For such foule dayes darke death is wonderous fayre As good to make the scrawling wormes a feast As please the world where mischiefe makes her neast Hie time it is to haste my caâ—kasse hence Youth stole awaie and felt no kinde of ioy And age he left in trauell euer since The wanton dayes that made mee nice and coy Were but a dreame a shadowe and a toy Sith slauerie heere I find and nothing else My home is there where soule in freedome dwels In warres and woe my yeares are wasted cleane What should I see if Lordly life I led I looke in glasse and finde my cheekes so leane That euery houre I doe but wish mee dead Now backe bendes downe and forward falls the head And hollow eyes in wrinkled brow doth shroude As though two starres were créeping vnder cloude The lips waxe cold and lookes both pale and thin The teeth fals out as nuts forsoke the shale The hare bald-head but shewes where haiâ—e hath bin The liuely ioyntes waxe verie stiffe and stale The ready tongue now folters in his tale The wearish face and tawney colour showes The courage quayles as strength decaies and goes The sweete delights are drownde in dulled mind The gladsome sportes to groning sighes are bent The frisking limmes so farre from frame I finde That I forethinke the time that youth hath spent But when I waigh that all these thinges were lent And I must pay the earth her dutie throw I shrinke no whit to yelde these pleasures now Had I possest the giftes of Fortune héere A house a wife and Children there withall And had in store to make my friendes good chéere Such common thinges as neighbours haue at call In such dispayre perchaunce I would not fall But want of this and other lackes a score Bids mee seeke death and wish to liue no more The thatcher hath a cottage poore you see The sheapheard knowes where he shall sleepe at night The dayly drudge at night can quiet beeÌ„ Thus Fortune sendes some rest to euery wight So borne I was to house and land by right But in a bagg to Court I brought the same From Shrewsburie towne a seate of auncient fame What thinkes my friendes that there behind I laft What fault findes shée that gaue me life and sucke O courting fine thou art too cold a craft The Carter hath at home much better lucke Well well I say adue all worldly mucke Ne house nor Land we beare away I knoe I naked came and naked hence must goe The greatest King must passe the selfe same way Our day of birth and buriall are alike Their ioy their pompe their wealth and rich aray Shall soone consume like snow that lies in dike No Buckler serues when soddaine death doth strike As soone may come a poore mans soule to blis As may the rich or greatest Lord that is Well ere my breath my body doe forsake My spriâ—e I do bequeath to God aboue My bookes my scronies and songes that I did make I leaue with friendes that freely me did loue To slyring foes whose malice me did moue I wishe in hast amendment of their waies And to the Court and courtiers happy daies My fortune straunge to straungers do I leaue That straungly can retaine such straunge mishap To such as still in world did me deceaue I wish they may beware of such like trap To slaunderous tongues that killde me with a clap I wish more rest than they haue giuen to mee And blesse those shreawes that curst and crabbed bee To such as yet did neuer pleasure man I giue those rimes that nips the gawled backe To such as would doe good and if they can I wish good lucke long life and voyde of lacke To currish Karles a whyp and Colliers sacke And to the proude that stands vppon their braues A wainscot face and twentie crabtree staues To surlie sirs that scornes the meaner sort A nightcap furd with Foynes I them bequeath To such as scowle at others good report And sets much store by their owne paynted sheat In signe of lucke I giue a willow wreath To such as are vnnamde and merits much The stone I leaue that tries the Gold by tutch To gentill race with good conditions ioynd I wish more ioy than man imagin may And since for poore I haue noe mony coynd God graunt them all a mery mariage day To such as doth delight in honest play I wish the Gold that I haue lost thereby And all the wealth I want before I die Now friends shake handes I must be gone my boyes Our mirth takes end our triumph all is done Our tykling talke our sportes and merry toyes Do slide away like shadowe of the Sun Another comes when I my race haue run Shall passe the time with you in better plite And finde good cause of greater thinges to write FINIS A DREAME To the right worshipfull my good Lady the Lady Paulet who was wife to the honorable sir Hugh Pauleâ— Knight AMong the manifold works in print pamphelets bookes volumes and deuises I neuer addressed my pen to your Ladiship till now though bound for many courtesies better to consider of so good a Lady and now worst able to redeeme duty forgotten I bring my selfe backeward to behold my great ouersight but presing forward to win ground I leese the keeping of a writers credit for no one thing is left worthy your view and looking on such hast haue I had in the spoiling of my selfe inuentions a prodicall point of bountie rather than the part of a wise bountiful writer especially to bestowe the best matters on others and present but a dreame to your Ladiship shewing thereby the shallownes of my iudgement but yet some such substaunce of matter as I trust is more delightfull than dainty For my Dreame hauing many significations may grow on many causes and hit on a nomber of Accidents fit for my humour but skarse meet for your graue consideration yet such fancies as a dreame brings
that late before thée stood are fancies of thy head Or on thy hart some heauy blood that haunts thee in thy bed This said the Angels vanisht all for I saw them no more Then for the Lady gan I call of whom I spake before She came with crootch now lymping on in garments white as snowe For pleasure pride and pomp was gone from her full long agoe What meanest thou man to call me thus quoth she thou homely guest For I was halfe asleepe I wis my yeeres requires some rest O curteous dame of fauour yet heare what I haue to say I seeke but councell at thy wit of things I shall bewray My life is tost and troubled long with sorrowes from my birth With many gréefes and maâ—y a wrong and wretched cares on earth I droup and drop away like lincke whose light is soone burnt out And still the more of worlde I think the more I liue in doubt The more I wish the lesse I haue and where I merite most There iust deserts doth dayly craue and there is labour lost Youth hath consumde his yéeres in waâ—â—e and gathers nought but gréefe Age is but scornde or cleane disgraste and starues without releefe O tell no more of this quoth she these fortunes many finde As heauy haps doo follow me if thou didst know my minde I meane as well as any wight that I by loue beare life And dare shew face for dooing right with widow maid or wife Yet worlde deceiues me euery day my good turnes haue no proofe No faith nor promise any way falles out for my behoofe In world there is such falshood vs'd the iust can neuer thriue A Saint himselfe might be abus'd if heere he were aliue But earth and ashes dung and stinke is all that héere we haue Men haue not one good thought to think from birth vnto their graue Uaine are the woords and déeds of all all is but scornes and lyes And all to dust and drosse shall fall thou seest before thine eyes She saide no more but pausde and staidâ— to heare how I replyed When I her words full well had waied and time to speake I spied These things are true quoth I gooddreame I know the wrongs you feele And how mishap turnes out of frame falles Fortunes fickle whéele And how vile world shall make an end and what short season héere We haue before from world we wend all that see I full cléere A greater gréefe stickes in my minde that none but God he knowes Which in my hart my freends shall finde when hence my body goes This shall I shrine in secret thought as it some tretcherie were Or might against great God we wrought to bring my soule in feare If my right hand knew that indéed I would cut of the same And bite my tung and make it bléed if tung those greefes would name No eare nor any liuing soule is fit to heare it thorow My head doth craue to stand on pole if I disclose it now The aire alone shall heare me sound the smart I beare in brest In hollow caues it shall rebound to breed me more vnrest Yea like a man bestraught of wit amid wilde woods and groues Where Howlets in dark nights doo sit and Hawkes for pray he houes There shall my hart his gréefes vnfolde there will I cry and yell To starres and cloudes it shalbe tolde that now I dare not tell Fye man be not so brute like beast to rage and run abroad From foes doo kéepe to freends at least thy conscience doo vnloade Some of those gripes that gréeues thée so good councell maiest thou take Swéet plaisters God prouides I know for men that moâ—e will make A fréend deere dame what words are those where dwels so true a wight No sooner secrets we disclose but then adue goodnight A stranger hath that he hath sought and newes is hard to kéep When freends are maisters of thy thoughts they laugh when thou doost weep And quickly loe behinde thy backe thy secrets must be knowne Shall freends a burthen beare in pack when thou holdst not thine owne That close in brest was locked fast a blabbing tung beware Strange tales flies euery where like blasts that sure vncertain are Perchaunce I seeke some secret drift that none should know but I Or practise some dishonest shift wheron my life may lye Or loue some Lady of estate a toy past hope in age A fancy that may purchase hate if reason rule not rage Should these things be put out to nurse where Wolues and Tigers feede And where things growe from ill to worse and men catch harme indéed Nay better swallow sorrows vp and dye in great distres Poyson drinke in spiced Cup then secrets so expres If matter of such weight you haue goodman doo what you please I doo no such great knowledge craue to finde out your disease And as for loue both you and I me think we should it leaue The moistnes of olde vaines wax dry if wit not me deceiue You may as well make madmen wise or clime beyond the Sun Or builde faire Castles in the Skies as such a course to run As follow loue that knowes you not when siluer haires doo shine And hath the pranckes of youth forgot and will no more be fine O toutch not me with no fond loue nor nothing therby ment For I did but your iudgement proue of secret sweet content Which I in sâ—lence carry still as my olde yeeres alow As much of hart as of goodwill I troe I tolde you now Perchaunce I may doo this or that as fancies men beguile But sure I neuer tolde you what I meaned all the while For I had rather dye then tell what makes my sorrow great My greefes the wise doth know full well that knoweth colde from heate Colde fortune may torment me sore and so may shifts some time Hot hatred troubles men much more then Uenus in her prime Loue lasts no longer as you say then whiles gaie flowers growe gréene In age then all delights decay which few or none haue séene For age knowes what true loue is worth and hath in loue great stay Youth brings light loue like blossoms forth that fades as flower in May. Loue is not lost if loue be set past reach of common men Though for great loue small loue we get loue is not hated then Which shewes good loue wins fauour still if loue be placed right Loue gets greaâ— thanks or gaines goodwill where euer loue doth light Some say that loue is oft disdaine that is where loue doth lack those folks are weake and feeble brainde that thinks loue but a knacke For through the world loue leads the Daunce where loue wants growes no good But springs vp spite and foule mischaunce and mischeefe flowes like Flood Though loue I praise this shewes no sparke of my close care and woes I hide my secrets in the darke that none but God it knowes Inough for me to suffer smart such lot
shines so passing faire That sunne nor moone nor weather cannot staine If blastes of winde and stormes to beautie yelde And this well springe makes other fountaines drye Turnes tides and floodes to water baraine feeld Come sighes then home I liue and cannot die If her great giftes doth daunt dame fortunes might And she haue caught the hayres and head ot hap To others hard to her a matter light To mount the cloudes and fall in honours lap If shee her selfe and others conquers too Liues long in peace and yet doth warre defie As valiaunt kinges and vertuous victors doe Then sighe no more o heart I cannot die If such a prince abase her highnesse than For some good thing the world may gesse in mee And stoupes so low too like a sillie man That little knowes what Princes grace may bée If shee well waie my faith and seruice true And is the iudge and toutch that gold shall trie The colour cleere that neuer changeth hue Heart sigh no more I liue and may not dye If I doe vse her fauour for wy weale By reason off her gracious countenance still And from the sunne a little light I steale To keepe the life in lampe to burne at will If robberie thus a true man may commit Both I and mine vnto her merits flie If I presume it springes for want of wit Excuse mee than sad sighes or else I die If she do know her shape in heart I beare Engraude in breast her grace and figure is Yea day and night I thinke and dreame each where On nothing else but on that heauenly blisse If so transformde my mind and body liues But not consumde nor finde no cause to cry And waite on her that helpe and comfort giues Than come poore sighes your maister shall not die If she behold that here I wish no breath But liue all hers in thought in word and déede Whose fauour lost I craue but present death Whose grace attaind lean soule full fat shall féede If any cause doe keepe her from my sight I know no world my selfe I shall deny But if her torch doe lend my candle light Heart sigh no more the body doth not die But if by death or some disgrace of mine Through enuies sting or false report of foes My view be bard from that sweete face diuine Beleeue for troth to death her seruant goes And rather sure than I should ill conceiue Sighes mount to skies you know the cause and why How here below my lusty life I leaue Attend me there for wounded heart must die If shée beléeue without her presence héere That any thing may now content my minde Or thinke in world is sparke of gladsome cheere Where shée is not nor I her presence finde But all the ioyes that man imagine may As handmaides wayt on her héere vnder sky Then sighes mount vp to heauens hold your way And stay me there for I of force must die If I may feare that fragill beauty light Or semblance faire is to be doubted sore Or my vaine youth may turne with fancies might Or sighes full falles â—ains griefe or torment more Than heart doth féele then angry stars aboue Doe band your selues gainst me in heauens hie And rigor worke to conquer constant loue Mount vp poore sighes here is no helpe I die And so sad sighes the witnes of my thought If loue finde not true guerdon for good will Ere that to graue my body shalbe brought Mount vp to clowds and there abide me still But if good hope and hap some succour send And honor doth my vertuous minde supply With treble blisse for which I long attend Returne good sighes I meane not now to die Translated out of French for one that is bounde much to Fortune FINIS This is to be red fiue waies IN hat a fauour worne a bird of gold in Britaine land In loyall heart is borne yet doth on head like Phenix stand To set my Phenix forth whose vetues may theÌ„ al surmount An orient pearle more worth in value price good accounnt TheÌ„ gold or precious stone what tong or verse dare her distain A péerelesse paragon in whom such gladsome gifts remaine Whose séemly shape is wroght as out of war wer made y e mold By fine deuise of thought like shrined Saint in beaten gold Dame nature did disdaine and thought great scorn in any sort To make the like againe that should deserue such rare report Ther néeds no Poeâ—â—s pen nor painters peniel come in place Nor flatring frase of meÌ„ whose filed spech giues ech thing grace To praise this worthy dame a Nimph which Dian holds full déer That in such perfect frame as mirror bright christal cléer Is set out to our view thréefold as faire as shining Sunne For beauty grace and hue a worke that hath great glory won A Goddes dropt from sky for causes more then men may know To please both minde eie for those that dwels on earth below And shew what heauenly grace and noble secret power diuine Is séene in Prâ—ncely face that kind hath formd â—â—amd so fine Loe this is all I write of sacred Phenix ten times blest To shew mine own delite as fancies humor thinketh best FINIS TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull my Ladie Brocket wife to Sir Iohn Brocket knight one of the Lieutenants of Hartford Shire A Promise made to the good Ladie you Sister who died in the Towre good MadaÌ„ coÌ„mands me to shape somwhat of good will labour of pen to present your La withall for that I can not long liue in this world must needs take leaue therof sooner than I looke for I haue found out an old farewell that maie breed some new consideration and such a running and rouing rime it is I hope without offence as rather shall procure laughter than lowring it is enterlarded with conceits and mixed with familiar termes shortlie knit vp and without all curious circumstances as briefe to the Reader as vntedious to the writer hauing passed the censure of the world thirtie yeares agoe and is now put in print againe for a passing of the time and a farewell to the world So hoping your La receiues it in good part the matter beginneth I trust to your content and good likeing FINIS A FAREVVELL VVHEN I VVENT to studie written to the VVorld FArewell thou world that me betrayde so long Too dearly bought I find thy follies all Who shall thée serue is sure to suffer wronge Who scornes thy haps may shun thy sodaine fall Who fauwnes on thee shall drinke thy bitter gall Who flies thy toyes thy painted face shall finde Who sooner slides than those which at thy call Liues like thy slaues in bodie soule and minde First from a child with fancies was I fedd All at thy handes till I to manhoode grue Than in the darke loe blindfeld was I led So that my God my selfe nor man I knew Wild wit young blood olde vice new bred in bones
men findes No salue but grace can heale infected mindes My hollow heart hath lost the hope I had What drops in now doth doubt and daunger bring In husbandâ— cares I spake that made me glad With newfound friends I talke that makes me wring The first good will from vertuous loue did spring The last delite and all that since fell out Began on lust and néeds must end in doubt Now open stréets by Dule flight must I walke And secret nookes and shifts must shadow fleight Except I care not what the world doth talke And mind to frame a crooked matter streight And then though pride holdes head a wonders height Shame pluckes downe heart and makes mee blush at last But well away that signe of grace is past Though in the téeth I haue the bridle got And that I run beyond my riders reach I dare not sing in queere too hie a note For feare of checke and tuter do me teach I play boe péepe least people me appeach I séeme a Saint when diuelish things I meane Yet much adoo I haue to carrie cleane O wretched change that brings repentance oft O bitter sweet whose tast deceiues vs all O poysoned lust that puffes vp pride aloft O gracelesse game full farc'st with sugred gall O tripping trust that swiftly giues a fall O spitefull sport that spends thy youth in shame And brings thine age in horrour and defame O greedy will that gaines but griefe of minde O gnawing worme that frets the conscience still O wicked Art that strikes the senses blind O leude desire more hote than Ethna hill O beastly blisse begun on bold consait And doth bewitch them all that bites the bayte O paultring playe and péeuish pastime vaine O sliding ioy that sinckes where suretie swims O perlous toye and pleasure mixt with paine O Peacocke proude that still fond feathers trims O lustie blood nay wanton lothsome limes That stoupes to filth and costly carrein gaye That giues bad gold and steals good name awaye My merry mates and minsing minions fine Speakes faire a while to winne their leude desire But wilely world can let me starue and pine And for reward can giue a flout or flire So lead mee on and leaue me in the mire And blab all out that hath béen closely wrought O prankes of youth O painted thing of nought O puddell soule that séemes at first full faire O cause of care and source of sorrow sowre O deadly hope and ground of deepe dispaire O pleasant weede and stincking rotten flowre O rauening wolues that doth poore wiues deuoure O smiling théeues that robbs the chastest harte O trayterous tongues that can play Iudas parte You layd your traynes as Foulers laies his nette You bosome Snakes your sting hath me vndone By louing you at length what shall I gette When you me lothe where shall the cast off run Wo worth that wight that woing first begun Curst be the crast that causeth clamours ryes And vengeaunce fall vppon your staring eyes A plague consume your songes and subtell sutes A wildfire catch your combrous knauish braynes A murrein take your foule vntimely fruites A canker eate your handes and azure vaines The Haggs of Hell reward you for your paines Both pen and ynke and all that helpt desire And you your selues I wish in flaming fire Fie on your scroules and Pistells full of lies An Oten strawe for all your stately stiells Your frisled haire and noughtie new-fond guise Your Lordly lookes your simpring shameles smilles Your wanton talke and priuie wincking willes I here bequeath to Sathan and his crue Good fellows fitte for such false ladds as you You are the frothe and scumme of worldes delite The dalling whelpes that can with feathers playe Of mischiefs all the marke the butte and white The iolly Frie that followes flood each waie The gallant flocke the stately starres of day The busie Bées that can no honey make But spoylers of each fruit and flowre yée take The waiting dogges that bite before they barke The couching currs that snatch at euery flie The figboies fine that iuggles in the darke The cunning crue that at receit can lie The sooking sponge that drawes faire fountains dry The greedy houndes that follows eurie game The blott and staine of each good womans name A robe or ring or trifling token bare You giue for that you neuer can restore Then are you â—one you haue your wished fare In straunger streames you loue to stire your Ore If honest wiues but knew your prankes before They would as soone sée of your suttle heds As by your drifts goe staine their husbands bedds In marriage house is friendly fastnesse found Though fare be meane content fills vp the dish In bordell bowre swéete banquets are vnsound Though dainties there wee haue at will and wishe At home we take in worth cold flesh or fish For warme good will doth season so the chéeâ—e That with small coste we banquet all the yéere Abroad wee sit as though we were affearde And scarce dare feede or talke for taunts and nipps At home we rule in spight of husbands bearde And play the Cooke and so may licke our lipps Abroad for nought our tongue is tane in tripps And then great hart can neyther drinke nor eate Thus deere is bought abroad our borrowde meate Looke what is sayd at home in cloth is lappt There speach is frée and honey sports wee vse O well awaie that this misfortune hapt And that I did my husband so abuse That I haue brought my selfe into a muse Lost home thereby lost God and good mens praise And now must run a gadding all my daies A plague most fit for them that vse to change A scourge wherein the wrath of God is seene A staffe of strife for pilgrime nothing strange A bléeding wounde that makes my sorrow gréene A sore rebuke for wits that ouer wéene A heauy crosse and sent me for the nones To breake my will and yet to bruse no bones But since my will did weaue this wofull webbe That neeâ—s must make a weede for wantons weare And that my flood is like to fall to ebbe By want of will that ought low saile to beare To punish Soule that else some other where Might suffer smart I vow in hand to take A better life and so false world forsake Away proud pompe and costly garments nice Come mourning gowne â— clothe the careful wight Awaie vaine showes and open signes of vice Come vertue now and giue my Lampe more light Come Summers day adue darke winters night I loue to liue and looke about mee farre When wound is heald time may amend the scarre Away young Frie that giues leawd Counsell nowe Awaie old trotts that sets young flesh to sale Awaie foule sluttes whose filth doth blott my browe Away trimme tongues that néere told honest tale Awaie bold beastes whose brabble bred my balâ— Away rude Waspes you stong me through the brest Go â—ite your heades and let me liue in
rest Awaie wild giggs that bounceth like a topp Awaie taâ—e louts that fawne like whelps for nought Awaie light heades that loues to chaunge and chopp Awaie fine witts that many mischiefs wrought Awaie slee Snakes that my destruction sought Away â—alse shrewes that neuer none may trust But such leawd girls as are beguilde by lust Awaie faire speach that me bewitch to long Away fowle workes that fild my face with blurs Come home poore sence that led my fancy wrong And packe from me you priuy biting curs That sticketh still together like wilde burs And where ye touch ye bring away the wull So from fine cloth pure honest name yée pull Tis time to looke how good report was lost And prop vp house that now is néere to fall A wretched bruite flies through the aire in post A whirling winde may come and trip downe all And though I list not come at husbands call I may not fly from God and follow man That still deuours like Wolfe what shéepe he can The swéetest wine at length will ware full sowre It proues sharpe sauce that once had sugred taste Fond fancies freaks will fade as fast as flowre And wantons loue with sports will weare and wast When hard in armes new commers are embrast Farewell old friend goe play you where you wull The Hauke hath praide the Haggards gorgs is full Loue staies not long it is but one yeares birde A foolishe fitte that makes wilde wits goe madde A gallant Coult that runneth for a girde A lime rod fine to catch a lusty ladde A youthfull prancke that makes age looke full sadde A merry mate so long as money lasts Good for a flight then of her bels shée casts Loue tarries not it is a pesting game That hath such hast it goes we know not where Now faire and fatte then crooked leane and lame Now plaies boe péepe now asking here and thers Now balde as Coote now trim with fresled heare Now gay and glad now shrewd and scarce wel pleasâ— Now sound as Chicke now sicke and soone diseasd With dalling much loue will be easly tierd When loue is cloyed the roile at gresse must ronne When hoofe is whole the hackney may be hierd When corne is solde the market cleane is done It ends with hate that was with loue begonne It may be loathd that long on liking lay Lust lacks no wings when loue wil flie away Loue must haue change to season swéete delite Loues minde wil range like Spaniel in the field Loue lookes like Doue when she wil proue a Kite Loue séekes to rule shée hath no minde to yéelde Loue will haue scope loue is restrained seelde If loue lack a ought she showes a lowring eye And then for nought the babe wil pule and cry Loue must be kolld and kissed round about Loue must goe gay and painted like a poste Loue must be péecst and patcht with many a clout Loue is a sprite a shadow or a Ghost A néedelesse charge that seldome quits the cost A practise bought with many a thred bare purse A wretched blisse that I and mine may curse It is the skum and onely drosse of youth That brings booth soule and body in decay A kinde of talke wherein there is no truth A Courting trade that doth much craft bewray A wily Foxe a wanton full of play A Sainct to show a Deuil God he knose That me betrayde and made me fréedome lose The Horse runs farre that neuer turns againe The beaten childe is learnd to feare the rod The double minde may fall to meaning plaine They may amend that féeles the feare of God The clouds may cléere that long hath threatned rain The time ill spent if reason will redéeme Cals home wild wits from toies that are extreme Youth takes his course and followes fancies freakes Age all reforms and sore repents tune past The bow long bent ye know in processe weakes Hard things at first may gentle waxe at last Who often fawls is taught to stand full fast And few there are but flides or fawls down right In youth or age our iudgements are so light When wit is bought and folly throughly waâ—ed An ounce of skill is worth a pound of drosse Till body smart the minde is neuer staied Gaine is not likt till we haue tasted losse Some say ech one is borne to beare his crosse My heauy faults now burthens breast so sore That heere or hence I must be scourgd therefore Swéete are those stripes that breaks ne bone nor lim And yet sets sound the soule and body both Sowre are those ioyes and worldly braurie trim That downe to hell with damned people goth Sweete are sharpe words that tels leud life the froth Sowre is sweete sauce that cloyes the stomacke still Swéete are those nips that doth restraine the wil. The pempred horse that still in stable stands Will waxe a iade if spurre ne wand he taste The wild-hed Colt is tamde by riders hands Ane so through bitte is made well traind and past Al hedstrong things are not reformde in hast But when regard lookes back where blindnes went The perill past bids pompe and pride repent Great is the scope that gréedy wil desires Smal gaine or grace doth grow by gadding out With heauy lode the weary legs retiers And heartfull fraught of worldly dread and dout And sure the ground from whence al vice doth sprout Is gadding geres that loues abroad to gase Who shame sends home in great sad muse and mase And when in dores dame dalliance close is drawn And notes what blot she did escape without Shée thinkes in stréete she put her name to pawne Or went abroad to play the bare banckrout Where wanton eyes did naught but stare about Where all a flant at full like shippe with saile Fine minions march as braue as Peacocks taile The crooked backe must bolstred be by arte The tawny skinne must shine by some trim knack The twinkling lookes for sport must play their part The per wickes fine must curle wher haire doth lack The swelling grace that fils the empty sacke And ietting pace with lims stretcht out ful streight To patch out pride are matters of great weight Then fle on al such trashe and trompry vile That sets forth shades in Sunny day to shine My youth is past I cannot world beguile Men wil not looke for babes in hollowd eyen A witherd grape hangs now on rotten vien From blasted branche the berry round is gone A dosky glasse is little lookte vppon Wherefore I vowe to weare a sory vaile To shrowd the face that few or none will like And get some shell to holde in head like Snaile For former faults in conscience so doth strike That I doe feare I shall my selfe mislike If shadowes doe not cloke defects I haue Or death dispatch and send me to my graue Now note my tale you dames of gentle blood Now waile with me al such as playes my part Now let my harmes doe harmelesse
people good Now bid al wiues defie this deuilish arte For my conceite is such a deadly darte That where I goe or walke in any place Me thinkes my faults are written in my face This discarded Gentlewoman went awalking twentye yeares and yet cannot finde the waie home to her husband FINIS To the right Worshipfull my Ladie Wawllar wife to the Souldioer-like Knight Sir VVater Wawllar I Had almost good Madam forgotte what I promised of my self touching a Book to be Printed yet at the kniting vp of a tedius tale I remeÌ„bred how to keepe promise and a friend bethought me of som matter pertaining to that cause waying that light and slender discourses became not me to offer nor your Ladishippe to heare So happening on a dolefull and tragicall Treatise I preferd it to your reading knowing that some humor of sorrow or sorrowfull penned matter would be answerable to your graue consistderation in which discourse following are numbers of heauie causes tâ—eated on and touched so narrowlie with a cleare conceite of the writer that no one point or other pertaining to a ruefull rehearsall of troubles is forgotten And though the tale seemeth long the varietie and life of words it bringeth shall I doubt not shorten the time that is spent in reading for that euerie passion of mind trouble of bodie and disquietnesse of the Soule is amplie and plainelie explained and vnfolded by that which followeth translated out of another language taught to speake English to those that vnderstandeth the heauie haps of such as haue fallen into misfortune so knitting vp my Booke with this discourse I expresse the matter I haue spoken of A DOLLFVLL DISCOVRSE OF A great Lorde and a Ladie Translated out of French into English DRaw néere good mindes that sadly markes the sway of worldly broyles And heare what I at large can say of troubles tumbling toyles Which did befall in forraine Land tweene two of Noble race To whose mishap and hatefull fate a world it selfe giues place Not long agoe the case so stood a Lord of great estate In natiue Soyle by destnies loâ— a Ladies fauour gate With whom he ioynde a hazard great his liking led him so That neyther feare of frowning Gods nor dread of earthly â—oe Could make him staine his plighted troth such constant mind hee bare For which this noble Fawkon may with turtle true compare But well away alas for woe his griefe thereby beganne In Prince displeasure throw this prank fell â—o this Noble man And Cesar frowing on the fact there was no other boote But flie the Realme or prostrate fall Full flat at Cesars foote O states by this come learne to stoupe no stoutnesse can preuayle When from the Heauens stormes do blow and striketh downe your sayle From thunder cracks both man and beast yea Sunne and Moone doth flie The Earth and all that liues below doth feare the ratling skie When Gods are moued in lowring clouds like dusky Mantles blacke The troubled ayre to mortall men doth threaten ruine and wracke I turnde my talke from such Discourse and treat of that turmoyle Which long this Knight and Ladie felt at home in Countrey soyle And somewhat of the cares abroade that hee perforce did taste I meane to write so that as troth my verses bee embraste For troth and time that tries out Gold â—ath tempreâ— so my talke That penne nor muse no pleasures takes on doubtfull ground to walke Now when these states with linkes of loue were tyds together fast And many a sad and heauy thought betweene them both had past Of Princes grace and fauour great to which regard they tooke As chiefest thing and onely cause Whereon they ought to looke They wayde in ballance of their breastes what â—ittest serude their turnes And like as wood takes flame of fire and so to Sinders burnes So through the heape of this mishapp they felt such sorrow thoe As though hard destnie swore they should consume themselues with woe The Ladie lost her fréedome straight the Gods had so decréed Her knight by sodaine flight abroad made vertue of a néede And liuing there with lingring hope in forraine Countrey straunge Where absence might through present toyes in some men worke a chaunge Hée stoode as firme as marble stone and kept both troeth and toutch To her who found few friendes at home and heartes disease was much Yea though this knight with offers great and treasure tempted was As they full well can witnesse beare which saw this matter pas Yet small account of Fortune new hee made for still in breast Was shrinde the Sainct that stonie walles and prison had possest No feere nor friend nor fellow-mate this Troylus mind might moue This Fawcon scornd to pray abroad at home hee left his loue Full many a sigh and heauie looke hee sent along the Seas And wisht himselfe in fetters fast to doe his Ladie ease What griefe of mind and torment strange shée suffred all that while Is knowen to those that bondage féeles whose friendes are in exile Could mischiefe fall on both the sides more harder then it did The one from ioy and worldly pomp in prison closely hid The other forst by fatall chaunce to seeke his fortune out And shonning daunger found â—ispayre in wandring Worlde about But waying well a Subiectes State and what was duties boundes Hee yeelded straight to open harmes for feare of secret woundes And ventring life yea Landes and goodes to heepe his name from blot And to requite with hazardes hard the loue that hee had got From Spaine with speede he did returne and setting foote on Lande Hee put his cause in Iustice dome and Noble Princes hande Though in the yoke with free consent the humble heart did fall The heauens stoode so out of tune hee gate no grace at all And clapped vp full fast in hold a Prisoners parte hee playes Where griping griefes gréeuous grones consumde his gladsome dayes Whiles hee aloofe full long remaynde and out of daunger crepte The dolfull Dame in great dispayre his absence sore bewept Yet great regard to promise past shee had as world well wist And therefore often wrong her handes when that her Knight shée mist. But now began the boistrous blastes to blow in bloudy brest And now the gulfe of sighes and sobs burst out with great vnrest For lo one house held both these wights yet both a sunder were And bâ—th in like displeasure stoode yea ech of both did feare Of Princes wrath and worlds disgrace a heauy tale to tell A plague past hope of heauens blisse a torment and a hell That is without redemption sure but what should more be saide Thus vnder locke and barred dores these Iewels safely laide They must abide the happy hours that God appoints in skies And drinke vp water swéete or sowre or what shal happe to rise The prison then did plead their case the wals both deafe and dum Did show by signes of fréedome gone what sorrowes were
with toyes and trifles light Thy prisoner was I borne to bée and Adams children all Like Captiues here condemnde to die must suffer for his fall But now the chaines and lothsome lincks that lay on shoulders weake And all the bandes and clogges of care in shiuers small shall breake And I from cage shall mount the skyes more swift then bird with wing And flickar like a simple doue where shining Angels sing I bring a badge and liuery both that my good mayster CHRIST Did leaue for such as beares his crosse through fogges of wordly miest Yea shaking off this sinfull Soyle mée thinke in clowdes I sée Among the pâ—rfit chosen Lambes a place preparde for mée Héere is no home nor harbring house but Cabbens built on sand That euery pirrie puffeth downe or still on proppeâ— doe stand Our Fathers spreets possesse in peace the Countrey that wee craue Wee are but straungers farre from home that nothing certaine haue These were her wordes and many moe which followes as shée spoke I did quoth shée by brittle life O Lord thy wrath prouoke For which I now repent mee sore and trusting to receaue Free pardon for my former faultes eare soule shall bodie leaue My faint and feeble vessell fraile so feares thy iustice great That it appeales from curse of Lawe vnto thy mercy seate I am but wormes meat well I wot all flesh is nought but grasse To earth and ashes out of hand must all my pleasures passe I want the force thou hast the might to striue with Death and Hell Thou art the Rocke the corner Stone the fountaine and the Well From whom the springes of life must run and vnto whom againe The thirstie soules and hungrie heartes for helpe doe trudge amaine Who hath beene washed in thy blood is whiter than the snow O let the streames and floud of grace with fauour on mee flowe In booke of life let write good Lord my name among the rest That ordaynde were eare world was made to sleepe in Abrams brest Blot out the blemish of my brow that at the latter daye May strike the conscience with dispaire and cloaked crimes bewraie Giue boldnesse to the bashfull sprite that feares from hence to flitte Make hope and fayth now flâ—me to sée great God in glorie sitte Wiâ—h closed hand than brest shee knockt so gaue a sigh and stayd And then conceiude some inward ioy with cheerfull face shee sayd Do mourne no more O trembling soule that knowes not where to staye Come from the kaytiffe carraine corpes and cabben â—ade of clays And looke vppon the Lambe of God whose death thy raunsome payde That blessed babe the virgins Sonne that borne was of a maide Come silly bud out of the Den where naught but darknesse is And looke on euerlasting light and louing Lord of blisse The lusts of flesh and worldly pompe I hope are quentch in méeâ— Through fayth alone from sinne and boâ—d I haue escaped frée And with that word in signe of ioy a Psalme full loud shee sang The solempne noyse and sound thereof thorowout the chamber rang And ending that to prayer straight of her owne mind shee fell The standers by whose teares burst out at this her last farewell Beganne to giue her comfort than of life and welfare both Yea liue I shall and doe right well quoth shee I know for troth But that is in another world the hope of this is gone And reason is it should bée so for heere there liueth none But sées the vainesse of our state and tastes such torments still That sundrie times they wish themselues from hence with right good will Héere is but toyle and sweate of browes and endlesse labour â—ound And nothing reapt but wretched wracke and broken sleepes vnsound Where I shall goe I cease from payne and so such ioy possesse As hart scarse thinkes nor head conceiues nor tongue may well expresse Then hold your peace knit vp your talke and trouble not the spréete That drawes from hence and hopes it is for better place more méete A Ladie thoe that vertue likte and there some credit had â—eplyde and sayd O noble dame indeed you are too sad These panges shal passe these â—â—ts shall fade and all these passions die As they haue done when you full oft in such like sort did lye O Madame speake no more of that my time draws 〈◊〉 quoth shée I shall not die but make exchaunge of breath and life I sée The glasse is run the Clocke will strike death doth approche apace My course is done the Iudge draws néere to sit vppon my case No longer héere I may abide the packing day is come Death bids me now vnarme my selfe and heare the mortall Drâ—â— That cals me hence as naked sure as to the world I cam The course of Nature shewes me too that Earth and Dust I am The Harrolde of long home is sent to summon mée in hast Then stay me not for in that poynt both teares and wordes yée wast Yet eare I part good friendes quoth shée behold what hope I haue And note what fayth and badge of Christ I carrie to my graue And marke how I confesse with mouth that Christ hath shed his blood For me and those that earst in state of deepe damnation stood And by his passion I am saued and not by my desarts But by the helpe of him that knowes the thoughts of secret hearts Now staying héere shée lookt about and to a Knight shee spake And him desired with humble wordes that he the paines would take To show the Prince what past her mouth O tell him sir quoth shée This is the sute and last request that must be made by mée Unto his highnesse whose estate our blessed Lord maintaine And pray him to forgiue me now for I confesse it playne I made a fault and sore offence when I against his will Estrangde my selfe from his good grace for any hope or skill But from my breath vnto this day my heart and thought was cléere From breach of subiects dutie sure and I protest it héere I neuer ment nor purposed yet in word in deed nor thought No harme nor lodgde one il conseit nor sparke of euill sought To him as God may witnesse beare to that which now I speake Saue now alas by ouersight of feeble fancies weakâ— I féele and finde the price thereof and suffer for the same An open checke and priuie plaguâ— and pinching publik blame I hope his highnesse hath forgot the fault I did commit And as he is a noble Prince in Regall throne to sit And iudge his subiects causes all so hope I of his grace Hée will receiue my children poore and helpe their heauy case O God forbid for Mothers fault the Children should abye No graine of grudge nor ground of guilâ— in guiltlesse babes doe lyâ— I doe bequeath them now quoth shée vnto the Princes handes In hope the fauour that they finde shall ease the fathers handes My nature shows a