Then thousands doe the world doth so report FINIS A Discourse of an old Souldiour and a young To the right Worshipfull Sir Henry Kneuet Knight one of the Lieutenants of Willshire THE world cannot wonder nor the wise thereof thinke strange that experience commaunds me to keepe friends and my pen doth what it maie to purchase me fauour for that is all the fruites of my studies Which once taken from me I haue neither prop to vphold mee nor foundation to stand on so feaâ—ing the weaknes of my feeble buildings that lies open to enuies blast which soddenly may bee blown downe I seeke manie staies and craue manie supportations for the maintenance of my honest mind and workes framed for the world to behold So good sir Henry among the worthy company of my selected friends I honor you with a smal discourse of age youth where a little is spoken of the olde Souldiour and the young not in dispraise of anie of them both but in the commendation of knowledge courage conduct vnder which three vertues consists many noble actions so vnder your fauourable sufferaunce I passe to my purposed matter THere is a strife a swéete dispute I troe Betwene two sorres of men in these our daies On which debate doth many reasons grow That soundes in déede to each good Souldiours praise Whose fame my pen is ready for to raise But my intent is first with flat plaine truth To treat a verse or two of age and youth Age is the fire and father of great thinges That hath begot both science rule and wit Brought great renowne and honour vnto kinges And for mans wealth may well in councell sit Youth is for field and towne a member fit To vse the sword in Countreys cause and right In whose defence youth hath great force to fight Age may commaund because it knoweth most And best can iudge of euery thing it knowes Hath mightie mind yet makes but little bost On whose aduice men may their liues repose The worth of youth standes oft in outward shewes That fresh and gay to worlde it séemeth still Like bladder faire that is blowne vp with quill Age lookes like tree whose barke is rough without When winters waste hath made gréene leaues to fall But when spring comes that braunch should bud and sprout With threefold fruite the sprayes are loaded all Bare youth lookes like a picture on a wall That stands both mute and dumme like shadow weake To séeke for sence whom age beginnes to â—peake The brute in world is how old thinges decreace For that sweete sap at length forsakes the trée Yet men will aske old wittes in warres or peace Of this or that what the successe shall be In outward shewes young iudgements well can sée When old mens sightes that wisely lookes within The end beholdes as sâ—one as they beginne A great old Oake long time will akornes beare And small young graffes are long in sprouting out Some say old wine is liked euery where And all men knowe new ale is full of growt Old horse goes well young titts are much to doubt But sure old gold is more estéemed than new No hauke compares with haggard in the mue Old men knowes much though young men calls them fooles Old bookes are best for there great learning is Old authors too are dayly read in schooles New Sects are naught olde knowledge cannot misse Old guise was good and nothing like to this Where fraude and craft and finesse all would haue And plainest men can neyther powle nor shaue Old Fathers builte faire Colleges good store And gaue great goodes and landes to bring vp youth Young men loues not to make of little more But spendes away their thrift to tell the trueth Old men were full of mercie grace and rueth And pittie tooke on those that seemde to lacke Young gallants gay from poore doe turne their backe Old beaten wayes are ready still to hit These new be-pathes leades men on many stiles An old prouerbye hath no more worâ—es than wit New fangled heades at each old order smiles Old wisedome farre surmountes young fondlings willes Experience is the Doctor euerie daie That carries close all knowledge cleane awaie Young houndes are fléete the old huntes sloe and true Old dogges bite sore if all their teeth be sound Old auncient freindes are better than the new In younglings loue there is small suretie found For like a top light fancie turneth round Old clothe or silke made in our elders dayes Wears long and firme when new thinges soone decayes Old souldiers are the beauty of a state Young branches beare but blossomes many a day Old Doctors can deepe matters well debate Young punies knowes not what old doctors say King Harries crue brought conquest home away From Flowdayne field from France and many a soyle And put the proud by strength and force to foyle Old souldiers were great Allexanders ayde And chiefest ioy in all the warres he had The white gray head made beardlesse boyes affraide Where graue men ruld the countrey all was glad And where they lackt the fortune was but bad As all thinges doth to skill and knowledge yeeld So old men beare the honour of the field What needs more proofe of auncient souldiers nowe Both old and young are needfull members heere I want both time and power to praise them throw For seruice great in countries quarrell deere When cause requires ye know the case is cleere These champions must in field and open plaine With shining sword the right of kinges maintaine FINIS A DISCOVRSE OF CALAMITY To the right VVorshipfull my singuler good friend Sir William Hatton knight IN the remembrance of a sorrowful losse I had by the death of the last Lord Chancelor good Sir William Hatton and considering your great countenance partly declined by that soddaine accident besides the great soms of money you were left to pay For the parting from such an honourable friend I thought euery peece of cause well waied you knowe as well what calamitie is as a meaner man and feeling the smart and weight of that burthen before you were ready to support it your care and calamitie could not be little First for the losse of so great a comfort next for the sorrow trobles that belongs to such a losse though lands or liuings helps to beare of a peece of the vexasion of mind yet the body shall alwayes beare to the death a sorrowfull imagination of that hastie mishap the impression therof shal neuer goe out of your memory so long as life lasteth So good sir in signe of some consolation I present you a discourse of Calamity the right path to come to quietnesse and the very hie way that leades a good mind to thinke of the immortality of the soule thus presuming your fauorable acception of the same I passe to the discourse of Calamity wishing you much worship hartes ease health T. Churchyard A Discription or Discourse that declareth how
forraine friends did send for succour héere King Richard bad me aunswere make therein In presence then there stoode a greater Péere But I was he that did the fauour winne To speake and thus my credite did beginne And still increasde as one whose Lampe in déede Could want no Oile the blase and flame to féede My Candle blasde so cléere as Starre by night And where I came the Torche gaue little light And when the King for causes good and great Deuisde to match with one beyond the seas Twas I was thought most fit to worke the feate And in this case the King I did so please Of mariage there that knot was knit with ease And so from thence a Duke was sent with me For this behalfe the state of things to sée Thus still I was employde in great affaires As hap her selfe had hald me vp her staires An office héere I had of great renowne A place neere Prince and still in Court to be That might commaund the people vp and downe And thrust them out or call them in to me Bad I them run on flockes then would they flee Bad I them stand in déede they durst not sit I swaide them all as Horse is rulde by Bit. I bare in hand the Staffe that kept the stur And knockt their Pates that prest too néere the dur Lord Warden loe of the sincke Ports I was And Captaine both of Douer Castle tho Through Lordly roumes and places I did passe As easely sure as man can wish to goe I knew no Ebbe my Tide did daily floe I kept the traine I had the liuely troope I held vp head I neuer thought to droope I went no where but I was waited on And shone in Pompe like Pearle or Precious ston Among the chiefe yea chiefest was I held My Prince preferde me so for vertues sake And what he saw I able was to welde I had for which I seldome suite did make I stoode beneath whilst he did Apples shake Into my lap when least I lookt therefore As somewhat came so daily followed more By heapes as though great mounts of massy Gould In my most néede should aunswere what I would The flouds of wealth that doth refresh the minde With gladsome thoughts of thréefolde sweet delite Came gushing in against both Tyde and Winde On which faire baites each Fish desires to bite A carelesse eie I cast of Worlds despite That spurnes at such that Fortune liftes alofte A wicked Worme that waites on worship ofte A swarme of Wasps that vseth nought but sting On those that rise and rules about a King O hatefull flies yée hatcht of wretched broode On euery dish in hast yee blow and humme O canckred men of vile and noughty moode You doe infect all places where you cumme You make small shew yet sound as shrill as Drum In peoples eares and still your Poison restes On noble mindes and tender harmelesse Brests Yee mallice much the high and mighty sort To kill good name by brute of false report If poore men rise in fauour any way The rich repines to see how they are plaste As Hounds doe barke that houlds the Bucke at bay The people prate and spend much speech in waste Looke saith the lewde on new start vps in haste Looke who rules now looke what this man hath found Looke how in Lappe doth Fortunes Ball rebound They lookte not how to climbe for Uertues sake But how of World they may a wonder make So lofty mindes with lothsome lowring lookes Salutes the good that growes in Princes grace And watcheth close in corners and in Nookes How they by wiles the worthy may deface No maruaile sure it is a common case To heare them snarre whose natures are not like What Greiund can rest by currish countrey Tike What Hawke can sit in peace for carraine Crow What tongue can scape the skolding of a Shrow The dolt disdaines the déepe wise man ye wot The blunt abhors the quicke sharpe Wit in deede The Coward hates the hand that conquest got The Iade will winche to stand by sturring Stéede The Glutton grunts to see the hungry feede Thus things from kinde so farre can neare agrée No more then can the Catte and Dogge you see As choise is great of wealth and worldly goods Men differ much in manners and in moods One Iewell staines an other very farre And strife there is in mettalls grosse and fine And sundry happs belongs to euery starre And Planets to they say that can deuine One race and bloud doe seldome draw one line A graine of grudge is sowne so déepely heere That nothing scarce can scape from mallice cléere Thus mallice makes a murmur where it goes And strikes out right yet giues but secret blowes The gréedy Gnat and priuy eating Mothe A monster small that skarce is felt or seene Lies lurking still in plaits of finest cloth And little worms whilst Nuts are fresh and greene Creepes in and eats the kirnell as I weene So vnto them compare these péeuish pates That on small cause doe enuy great estates Yea enuy oft is coutcht and clokt as cleane In mighty folke as founde among the meane The flashing flames that from great Fornace flies Casts forth such heat as few men can abide The rage whereof doth dimme the dainty eies And breeds great griefe before the harme be spide Much mischiefe comes by pranks of powting pride Which puffes and blowes as it would mountaines moue And growes at first on nought but lacke of loue Whose spitefull sparkes doth spare no speach nor time Nor practise lewd to plucke them down that clime This Enuy is a mighty Monster great That swims like Whale among the little fry Whose gaping mouth would soone consume and eate The Gogions small that in small corners lie His thirsty throate would drinke all places dry And sucks vp all and so of all leaues nought Which should serue all if all did beare one thought O hungry Flie that would be all in all And Maggots brings when men for féeding call As greatest flouds most Grauell doe retaine And strongest Tides runnes ore the weakest walles So highest States doe nourish most disdaine And at rebound strikes out the tennis Balles Yea they who thinkes them furthest off from falles Are watching still in Court in Field or Towne Like stumbling stockes to trip their fellowes down And none doe striue and struggle for the goales But such as haue their hearts most full of hoales Yea heapes of them are harbred héere and theare In golden haules that shines like Phoebus bright Where flattrers flocke who tattles in the eare A thousand lies that neuer comes to light They worke the waxe with fire both day and night They spinne the webbe that takes the foolish flie They baite the Hooke that bleres the simple eie They shoue them out that should be called in They make the match that doth the wager win And they breede strife where all in quiet stood They packe the Cards
beasts that wants reason remaynes no such crueltie For now a dayes men may not meete without snarring lostie lookes bitter wordes haughty fashions and froward behauioure on which stoutnes of stomacke malice is kindled contention is breed and quarrells are set abroach The accustomed curtesie sweete conuersation freindle gentlenes humane manners and ciuile humblnes in our common societie is almost forgotten brought in contempt and put out of exercise if Noble Parsonages shew it not and in place of the commendable vertues are corrupt conditions and newfangled vices closely crept to the great disquietnes of many and commoditie of no one person And now briefly to come to y e cause of this my bold argumēt my short worke shall only touch y e terrible brawels that lately on the shew of manhood are sprong vp among vs nourished to long in the stoute courages of men A matter more meeter to bee lamented than mayntayned and a new deuised wilfulnesse that our old Fathers taught vs not nor scarsely was known till our youth beganne to trauell straunge Countreys and so brought home strange manners It must be graunted and necessarie to bee allowed that weapons shall be worne alwaies of equall length and vsed in causes of defence And further for slaunders naughtie reports in absence and present spitfull speaches men ought for the mayntenance of good name somtimes vse an lawfull manner of correction this spoken not of the scripture for the sharpe sworde makes a blunt blockhead beware how hee vseth his tongue and if bold bablers were not snibbed for their sawsines this world would bee full of talkatiue merchants and no man would care what he spoke if wordes should not be wisely set to sale and in the end of an ill market be dearly bought For it is not fit that euery man should goe to Law about a trifle nor necessarie blood should be shed whatsoeuer in manhoods behalf I haue spokē wel to come to my purposed matter In the old time the sight of England was daungerous but not deadly couragious not cruell valiant but not villanous and most nobly vsed oftimes without anye great harme in which season men were as great Conquerors as they be now let Fraunce and Scotland witnes as loath to offend as men be at this presens when rapier fight is more desperate And generally then were as good men as valiant and venturous as now can bee found and yet they stoode not vppon such tearmes and quarrels as men doe now adayes a thousand iniuries could then bee forgiuen if they had eased their hearts a little at the sharpe weapon now life is sought in England for an Italian lie and nothing but blood and death can pacifie mens furies men are become such Cockes of the game they must fight in a sharppe scrat out each others eyes and thirst so much for blood that nothing can mitigate their wrath till one bee out of the world and the other bée fled God knowes whither A prettie quarrell that compells men to bée fugitiues for playing of beastly parts and bringeth such repentaunce as breedeth both beggerie and extremitie of Fortune and namely when friends shall forsake you and weeping can not helpe For whilst law persecuteth the offender the world is like a Laborinth endles is the labor and trouble of that bodie that thinks euery man follows him In the olde world when swords of one length and heartes of equal courage did meet some in differencie debated the matter and fewe were put to foile and many were worthely esteemed for their value And now when the rapier and dagger dispatcheth a man quickly neither he liues to heare his owne fame nor no man liuing can let fall a good word of the quarrell begun of such trifles maintaind with such terror and ended with such madnes not so manly as miserable nor so much praised among the fool hardy as condemned in the consideration of the wise And so to come to the right order of manhood courage valiancy and stoutnes of heart it lieth more in the Iudgement then in the iarring in the fortitude then in the forwardnes and restes more in the modesty then in the malice For anger of it selfe is but a sencelesse monster an vnreasonable rage a furious franzie a distemperate imperfection a priuy passion of choller and an open enemy of life The discouerer of the frailty and naughty nature of man and the discredite of as many as cannot maister that outragious disease of the minde Then how should the fury of mallice bring forth any other fruict but such a pestiferous fire as shall consume the beginners of hatred and the last reuengers of wretched wroth For reuenge is like a winde ball the more it is stricken and remembred with force of hand the higher it mountes makes the more rebound so that endlesse becomes a quarrell so long as the exercise of mallice is had in vre and men with euill disposition goe about to store vp mischiefe Now is to be decided euery degrée and manner of a quarrel and to shew how and in what sort an vniust quarrell may bee offered and a iust quarrel may be taken both by law of armes and nature and by a vsuall custome and manner among men prouing by antiquities and art military the matter purposed to treat vppon so that with patience you here out that may bée spoken As it is vnfit for a Gentleman that stands on reputation to play the ruffian and roister so it is most vncomely for him to stoupe so lowe as any way to abase his good calling with the bad conditions of a rude and rusticall fellowe by which prerogatiue the match is vnmeete the quarrell may be refused the strife hath no equality nor no honesty is gotten in brawling with inferiors or fighting with men of so small temperancy and credit but because most stoutnes and courage with hazard of life is betweene Gentlemen and trifles not taken vp growe to great busines their quarrels are most requisite to be spoken of redressed corrected and brought to better order First yée shall finde among Souldiers that are of greate mindes a kinde of stately consideration in all quarrels they take in hand They taking vppon them in the art military which well becomes their calling to maintaine honour defend their countrey and credite and to fight in no quarrell but Princes right and their owne honest causes haue set downe by certaine cerimonies what wordes may touch them what manner of men they may deale withall what occasions may force a combate what scope liberty pertaines to a iust quarrell and what restraines a manly minde from doing iniury to others or harming himselfe On which resolution the Souldier sets vp his rest and commonly hazards the winning or loosing of as great thing as life may be worth not with presumption procured to this danger but with estimation of his honor haled forewarde by daunger of enemy to leaue good example to those that comes after him But
Let practise goe and play a subiects parte Playne troath yee knowe bids â—ie on cunning arte One God one law one mind and manner now In double world shews subiects duties throwe All other drifts doe drawthe wyer awrie And backward bends the bow that should bee streight Come neere no cloudes the reach is ouer hie Liue safely then no suretie comes by sleight Content below doth hate to climbe on height Who knows his owne hath wealth and wit ynough Hee soundly sleepes that only lookes to plough And such as wakes to ouerlooke this age May sing adew when foote is fast in cage O Countrey swéete perswade obedience héere Reforme the fond and still preserue the wise No plot of earth more proâ—ious nor more deere Than natiue soyle that for her children cries And calls for chicks where kites and puttocks flies O Babes well borne if you will bastards proue Bid welcome hate and farewell Countries loue And this be sure my friends goe where you please No goodnes growes by gadding ore the seas Note where you tooke both breath warme blood and life Your parents care and Countries right do waie Regarde what broyles and brawles beginne on strife Marke how stout hartes stand all on tickle staie And birdes of th'aire your follie doe bewraie And marke how God hath opened all your drifts And in your pride hath put you to your shifts And chiefely note how God and man doth knowe For want of grace wilde heades a gadding goe Religion Lord perhaps shall bee your shield Nay there a straw you meane an other thing You are so great you would faine march in fielde That world should iudge you feathers of one wing So busie birdes together all would sing Well waking Cockes yee crow for daie too soone Yee neither looke on starres ne sunne nor moone But clapping wings yee thrust out necke and throat And cares not who doth heare your midnight noate That sounds not right of no Religion sure Rebellion is the string you play vppon O God forbid that hauke forsooke the lure To feede on frog that sits one euery stone I say not much would God abuse were gone Rebellion dead and all her branches bare Faythlesse were fled and Countrey voyd of care But since strange toyes bréeds humming Bées in braine I meane to touch rebellion once againe When mother spight to world this monster brings A naughtie nourse vile nature then prepares Who cradle rockes and lullabie she singes Till retchlesse sence be brought a sléepe vnwares Then as in corne do créepe wild weeds and tares So cockle séede in common wealth is sowne Whereby good graine is quicklie ouergrowne The cause thereof is cunning craftie wittes That still workes woe and neuer idle sits O wretched rage that riues and rents a Realme In péeces small and gaines nothing thereby O labour lost that striues with flood and streame And dayly hopes to drinke great riuers drie O cruell plague that doe for vengeaunce crie O priue hate that open mischiefe bréedes O shameles sleight that honest people dréedes Accurst I hold rebellion is of kinde That neuer dies but liues in cankred minde The Countries weale and Princes honor both It cleane forgets and spoyle and hauocke cries Takes no regard to dutie faith or oath But claps on wood where fire and flame may rise Tels tatling tales shewes furious angry eies Makes brags and boast that all shall lie in dust And hath no hope but treason is his trust The wife the child the friend and neighbour toâ— Rebellion hates for hee will mischiefe doe It findeth fault with peace and ciuill Lawes Abhors good men and such as gouernes well Takes toy in head bolts out when is no cause Frames deuilish drifts to make this world a hell And at the length would King and Countery sell To wreak his wrath O vile reuenge most vaine When all is lost what doth rebellion gaine Ioyes it to see the wracke of natiue land Such fowle offence is whipt with his owne wand Their goodes their rent their honour and their liues Shall vnder foote be troden euery day Their kinde deflourde their children and their wiues Made captiue slaues in bondage many a way And when the land is made a straungers pray Like Israelites poore Iacobs house shall mourne Drawe in the yoke and sée their houses burne Beare burthens still and bend their backs to toile While enemies laugh and triumphs of the spoile What can procure a man to sell his life Forsake his Prince become a seruile slaue What cause can be in state to stir a strife What ioy or blisse by thraldome can we haue When men are well what deuill would they craue What makes men mad why dote they in this age To forraine foes to run in such a rage Their language sure I trowe is not so fine Their loue is grosse and tastes like troubled wine Want thou but gilt where they are maisters still There shalt thou starue for all their goodly showes With mockes and skornes and many another ill Poore hewlet stands among a many of Crowes The wandring wight that long a gadding goes Comes home at last by beggars wéepiâ—g crosse Like rowling stone that neuer gathers mosse A straunger doth but stare in trauailers face And smiles in sleeue at silly soules disgrace Rebellion likes the man he neuer saw If blouddy wars vpon that league may linke As to the sicke doth euill humors draw And from fowle pits comes smoake and noisome stinke So filthy flouds flow from rebellious brinke A troubled streame of puddle mixt with mire Doth quench the thirst of rebels hote desire The water cleare but skalds a rebels breast For cruell rage and ryot takes no rest It runnes with hare and hunts with blouddy hound It stands with strong and leaues the weake at worst In common wealth it makes a mortall wound It brags to fight and yet retireth forst It is a plague that God himselfe hath curst For it deuides in little péeces small Both Kingdomes great and mighty monarkes all Dissention workes to sowe but Sathans séedes And pluckes vp slowres and plants in stinking wéedes It créepes in hoales and corners close by ribs Prouides for friends to band it out for néede It bankets still and fréely quafs and bibs And with lewd words their wicked humor féedes Prates much of Prince makes boast of doughty deedes When feeble hearts lies quaking in their hose Much like bold Cocks that lowd on midding crowes But yet cries creake when that in sharpe they come For rebels can not bide the sound of Drome At May Powl mirth or at some mariage feast Or in a faire where people swarme like Bées These stinging wasps but new come out of neast Doe flie for life and so together grées Like little mites or maggots in a chéese The humming then that these wood wasps doe make Doth séeme at first as it would mountaines shake But out alas those lawlesse loytring soules Are hid in hast or crept in Conny holes The priuy
occupied in warre that they may bee occasion of great good and a great hinderer of many harmes For when houses are ready to be burnt impoteÌ„t persons poore women and children ready to bee slayne they may saue what they list and preserue an infinite number of thinges that a man at home can doe no good in nor none but the Souldiour in the fielde hath power to comfort and succour And for certame I know Souldiours of that disposition that hath beene occupied in these honest actions when some Helhoudes haue beene spoyling and murthering and founde by their follye and ouer great cruelitye a dispatch of their owne dayes and peraduenture the terrible wrath of God and damnation to their soules My Prince maie bée well serued and the Enemie not alwayes to the vttermost persecuted the Lesson that Sainct Iohn Baptist gaue the souldiours may suffice for this matter and carrie mens mindes from violence and doing wrong to quallifie furie and maintaine right with a regard to the innocent that ought not to bée touched for the offence of an ambicious Leader or one whose faultes the ignoraunt may not answers This point though simply it is passed ouer may containe a large volume and is to be looked into with a diuine 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Christian consideration Then if the souldiors as few there are in number be honest and is to be proued they are not to be reproued it followes that honor and reputation accompanies those souldiours and that a singular priuiledge and libertie may be had for those that haue such regard of their fame that they wil do no any one thing preiudicial to their credite in the compasse of which regard is knit valiancy modestie pitty hope of another life to come wheÌ„ thâ— affaires of this world shall dutifully and honestly be finished And for that the reader hereof shal not thinke but that great Princes thought their Souldiours to bee honest men that were worthy the making of whose doings regarde did argue and shew a speciall hope of another place to go to or a certaine fame and credite heere to be maintained I will shew you as I haue gathered by translation how triumphant kings princely potentates did ordaine set downe and deliuer a law rule for souldiours By the which they had honor libertie prerogatiue aboue and beyond the Commoners or common course of people The translation I speake of is not long and tedious but bringing willing mindes to heare know the truth you may read if leasure permit and you peruse that followeth First you must marke and make a good note of that Heraldes were at the beginning souldiours and were called auncient knights as well it séemeth to be true for they I meant Heraldes being brought vp in warre beheld who deserued renowne and had by their authoritie and experience a power to giue Armes and signe of honor to those which for well doing in field or publike state did merite remembraunce which power and place of the Heralde doth plainely expresse that from the fielde or honourable offices at home sprong vp our gentilitie generation of Gentlemen For as euery mans blood in a bâ—son lookes of one colour and when Adam was created and a long while after meÌ„ were al alike So vertuous actes that shines to the heauens hath made them to bee honoured and aduaunced where vicious liuers and bloodthirsty wretches were accursed of God and hated of man And had a marke set vpon them to be known by and be a testimony to the world that they were not worthy of honour and were appointed to reproch Let Cain that killed his brother Abell by an vniust warre be a witnes in this behalfe Aeneas Siluius doth derine Heraldes of ab Heroibus of Noble men For Heroes were auncient Knights otherwise called Souldiours and an Herauld signifieth Centonicum vocabulum videlicet and old man of Armes or an old Knight but at this daie sayd Eneas a long while since certayne seruile men feeble and weake messengers which neuer haue playde the Souldiours doe professe that office The priuileges and offices of the Herauldes in auncient time to this day continuing neuerthelesse And the first authour of them was Bacchus which India being conquered did call them by this name I absolue you of Warres and trauell and will that you bée auncient Souldiers and to bée called Heroes Your office shall bée to prouide for the Common weale to try out the originall of causes and to prayse the wise you shall call for greater rewardes in what place or Countrey you shall come And the Kings shall giue you meat and apparell You shall bée most honourable to all men Princes shall offer vnto you many thinges and shall licence you their apparell Credite shalbe giuen to your sayings you shall abhorre lies You shall iudge traytors and Aduâ—â—terers These infamous persons ye shall punish and in euery Nation you shall haue libertie and sure egresse and regresse shall bée vnto you if any man shall gayne say any of you in worde or déede let him die with the sword Alexander the Great hath annexed to these priuileges of noble men after a long season that they might vse purple golden and beautiful garments And that they should bring in princely and notable Armes at euery place in any Countrey or Region soeuer it shal bée If any man shal repulse these without respect or secretely defame in woorde hée shall bée accounted gilty of death and deposition of gooddes And so the same Eneas doth say Tucidides Herodotus Didimses Magashones and Zenophon together Thirdly then Octauian Auguste the Romaine Monarch being established hath beautified them on this condition Who so euer sayd hée hath played the Souldiour with vs the space of ten yeares and be of the age of fourty yeares whether he be horseman or els footeman he shall haue his wages and afterwards be absent from wars be a noble man and old Souldiers No man shal forbid thée the Ctity the Market the Church Hospitality and house no man shall impute any fault to thée thou shalt be discharged of that blemish or burthen no man shall aske any thing of thee if thou make fault in any thing onely looke thou for Caesars vengeance for what filthinesse men shall impute let them feare thée being a iudge and corrector whether they bée priuate or Princes what so euer thou sayest thou shalt affirme and no man contrary All iourneis and places shall bée free and plaine to thée let thy meat and drinke be in the houses of Princes and take daily of the common treasure wherewithall to kéepe thée and thine house Marry thou a wife of comely beauty and estéeme her aboue all other Whom thou wilt checke and reproch with infamy thou shalt say this man is an infamous reprobat Armes Ensignee names and ornaments of noble men beare thou Doe what thinges become Kinges and what thou wouldest doe or say in euery place and Nation make mention of it if there be
had sent With louing wife at home the same he spent He tooke great paines to come by that he had And trauailde sore through many a forraine soile To bring that home that makes the houshold glad And kéepe the wife and houshold folke from â—oile And I tooke care that nothing went to spoile And looke in deede what things that I did lacke Was seene in face or found vppon my backe The world might sée I went in garments good Though small I brought to him as I confesse I spent him much and at great charge I stood Which brings strong harts somtime to great distres But neuer that might make his loue the lesse For looke how he his liking first beganne In fine for troth he proude the selfe same manne I could not sléepe but where in bed he lay I could not eate but where he sate at boorde I could not laugh when liking was away I silent sat gaue he but halfe a woorde Ill newes of him strake me with mortall sword His minde and mine did draw so in one yoke The selfe same sittes he felt where of I spoke Full seauen yeares this constant course we kept Though often times there happened houshold iarrs And tratling tales that in betweene vs crept Made many wounds where yet remains the scarrs Yet alwaies peace tooke vp our brawling warrs And we did seeke to salue each others sore And passe old griefes and thinke thereon no more Swéete is that peace that patcheth vp great harmes Sharpe is the warre that teares a house in â—waine Woe worth those words that brings in brauleâ— by swarms Darke be those cloudes that alwaies threatens raine Curst be the cause that breedeth woe and paine And damnde in Hell those subtill spirites shalbe That councell gaue to part my choise from me Well as our chaunce together was to ioyne And dwell long while as here in briefe you hard So happe came on through hope of wealth or coine And drew my choise where he might be prefarde To warres and I that had a great regard To him that time when I his minde did know Gaue my consent that he to warres should goe With sighes and sobs and bitter teares among We parted tho with promise surely past That one should heare from other ere twere long And sadly so we seured at the last His goods his gold his friends both firme and fast He left me then to comfort me withall But nere a childe as Fortune so did fall He past the seas and sent me tokens still And money such as might supply my néede And for to shew his faith and great good will Long Letters large he made that I might réede Of promise past and to come home in déede But to what end should serue this businesse great My minde was turnde warme loue had lost his heat A new fine man both young and apt for chaunge I those and cleane forgat my former ioy And in a while I was become so straunge As Hagard Hauke that takes in head a toy And flées from Lure and waâ—eth nice and coy My wedlocke now not hearing of these newes Made no hast home till I was ore the shewes Yet knacks I wrought to bleare my husbands eies I made a bruite be blowne that I was dead When that he heard he did his life despise And so forsooke sléepe rest and tast of bread He rent his haire he sadly shooke his head He walkt the woods and shunned all repaire As one would be deuourd with fowles of thaire He daily bledde when little foode he tooke He would not come where woemen were in place And he so leane and like a Ghost did looke That Death it selfe was seene amid his face A noble Earle as he beheld this case Brake with the man that thus tormented was And so in sports the troubled time did passe But ague â—its and sicknesse followed on That in poore plite came home my husband thoe Not leane in purse but bare and néere the bone The bodye then was worne with warre and woe And yet full sound as al the world might know His limmes I saw but I so nice did waxe There was no flame of fire might come to flaxe For I could wéepe and quench by cunning art The hottest loue that euer husband bore And so two yeares I plaied a Foxes part Which ere I die I may repent full sore My husbands bedde I shund and furthermore I fainde I had a sickenesse let it goe I neuer minde that folly forth to shoe A finer â—ricke to compasse that I â—ought I plaide through fleight and casting figures trim To my good man a bastard gâ—rle I brought And from my friend presented her to him Hée saw thereby the find runne ore the brime Yet kept it close and sayd nothing at all Till out by chaunce might further matter fall And alwayes would my husbande tell mée plaine I did him wronge to keepe mee from his bedde But I could vse him in a pleasaunt vaine And make him soone forgett that hee had sedde My doore was lockt howe ere I layde my head My maydes and I kept solempne cheare alone How euer playne poore husbande made his monâ— Two yeares this wise I shoeffled Cardes full cleane Till husband spied a Letter of my hande Whereby hee found what follie I did meane But I was bent against my déede to stande So faest him down and swore when all was scande It was not mine but as hee soundly slept To his beds side my mayde and I wee stept And heaude him vp and so from bolster than Wee tooke his purse wherein the Letter laye When that wée had wee left the sillie man As saffe as hee that sléepes in Cocke of haye Well when he lookt in purse the other daye And found my fraude and falshood as it was Out of the doore in furie did hee passe Yet came againe that night and so fell sicke The cause whereof soone after you shall here Full long hee lay and toucht so neere the quicke That he was like to buy that sicknesse dere But when on foote hee stept and all was cleare He had farewell falâ—â— wife God send thée grace Thy wicked wayes makâ—s husband giue thee place I saw how world would wonder at this act And straight new tales on husband ganne I rayse With forged lies and rayling reasons rackt That still should sound vnto his most disprayse I faynde one while hee vsed wanton wayes With euery mayde that hee might touch or see And then he was to sicke a soule for mee Then poore hee was I sayde to cloke my pride When this serude not I â—wore the man was madd And in his rage would beate mee backe and side So euery daie a new deuice I had To make the world beléeue hee was too bad And at the length when all I had was sold My mayde and I goe trie the world we wold So shutting doore and trusting vp my packâ— I flang from home not bidding friendes farewell But I
beholde how this aduenture happeneth regard the circumstance of this hazard way well what difficulty is aboute the matter and marke the chiefe points and groundes of aduantage that breedeth busines and bringeth forth a combate Then must be noted a simple Souldier or mercenary man may not challenge a Captaine a meane Captaine or Centurion may not challenge a Corronell a Corronell though leader of a regiment may not challenge a Lord Marshall of the Field a Lord Marshall hauing charge of life and death may not challenge the Lord Lieutenant of the Army Aâ—d all these not onely in time of seruice for auoiding of mutiny but at all seasons are bound and ought to keepe themselues from brawling yea though any one be neerely touched and seeking the combat except a lie hath passed a slander is receiued a blow be giuen a mans name and credite be foiled and a quarrell be sought so narrowly that no man can auoide And yet all these degrees as their office and honour is one after another may without reproche refuse in euery place the daungering of their liues by priuate quarrell not meeting one another by chance whereon may busines growe looke what so euer be passed villany excepted There is no kinde of preiudice to any partie but mallice may surcease and society may reuiue friendship and quietnes should of all hands be sought Now of matter ministred in despight spoken to strike dead good name vttered for offence and brauery let fall to disgrace any person and maintained with threatnings daring and other open iniuâ—ies a number the case of quietnes is altered and surely no nature can so easely disgest those extremities but shall finde occasion of dislike and a great motion of quarrell Then must be considered the cause of those spéeches the persons credite that spake it in what presence and place the iniury was offered for some places are of such honour that no dishonestye may bee suffered in and some person that speakes iniuries in base company out of honourable presence the speakers meane calling aunsweres himselfe for wise men ought to make no more account of a badde fellowes babble then of the barking of an olde dog whose teeth are gone and can not bite An all the common kinde of iniuries are but as men do imagine them as scoulding of a coâ—queane railing of a ruffian taunting of a tosseblade frumping of fine fellowes and the brags and threatning of a varlette all these shamelesse rabble and sencelesse sort of shadowes are of so small substaunce and credite that their voices makes but a noise in the aire like a thunder cracke that neither brings raine nor argues any constant winde and weather There is besides these ordinary causes and crooked conditions of people a number of naughty natures that neuer will be quiet in countenaunce nor wordes but either with skrowling like conquerors or skorning like vices on a stage they striue with counterfaite courage to ouercome Lions and to be more terrible then Tigres snuffing and puffing as all the worlde were too little to containe their great lookes and disdainefull monstrous manners And their tongues are so talkatiue and filled with follies that none may speake but themselues on whose prowde presumptions are many mad disputes wilfully begon and moste wickedly ended To contend with those glorious Images is as a man shoulde sound a Trumpet at the roaring of euery bul Thus with extraordinary manners new fangled fancies olde stubburne nature and fresh fine cunning that wisedome condemneth a good minde may be ouerreached and a quiet man may be brought in some quarrelous brabble for the sight and sufferaunce of these shadowes whose substance is all in boasting and the society or contention with such counterâ—aite conquerors is an open enemy to all the good dispositions of men and a priuy worker of disquietnes to those that beholdes and heares any peece or iote of those vices before rehearsed for nothing bréedes more mislike or offendeth so much euery company as the continuall brags and audacious manners of the vnbrideled multitude who are neuer free from quarrels voide of villany nor without naughty brabbles a number Come now to generall occasions in Court Countrey towne and so foorth but principally of Court we ought to haue greatest regard where not only the Prince hold residens with a continuall maiestie but likewise by absolute power commaunds obedience restraynes Courtiars many wayes from offering of iniuries For plainely to speake in Chamber of presence or any place neere or about a Princes pallace mens tongues are tyed either to kéepe silence or ciuilly with reuerence to vse comly wordes méete for such a place and voyde of villanye or vicious intents chiefely of quarrels that may moue mischiefe and stirre vp disquietnes among the gentle Bees assembled together in a Hiue for the honoring of their king and publique profite of their estate The Court is no Cocke-pit to croe in no shraep for cocking no seat to be saucy in no place of contention nor no soile for brawlers and braggers that haue currish conditions and knowes not their duety but rather a place of royall dignity princely entertainements curteous behauiors and fine and friendly fashions that with orderly manner may set forth a Princes regality And though there some one wanting temperance rashly behaue himselfe and with warme wordes sturre the coales of a wicked quarrell mens dueties in generall by wisedome should either quench the heat thereof or cast imbers on the fire that the fury and flame should not burst out there nor be disputed of any other where to the preiudice of that place and looke what is offered in open hearing or secret whispering that may sow seedes of dissention shoulde be trodden vnder foote or passed ouer with sporting among the best iudgements for feare least a little braunch of spite doe sproute vp on some rash spéeches and grow out of order both past remedy and beyond the bounds of good manner If men in Court were as carefull to keepe peace as they are desirous to créepe in credite or common society should attende to no other purpose but to familiar behauior friendly affection brotherly loue and blessednes of life you shall behold a mutuall agreement among all kinde of creatures at their first méeting the birds with their like flées and feedes together and in theyr manner vse a kinde of reioysing when they encounter one another yea and taketh part with their fellowes against all that shall offend them flocking and crying as they may together in multitudes to shew their naturall inclination and how they al doe suffer torment by the disquietnes of one bird in their company The Bées séeing but one of their fraternity troubled or angry fly all in a swarme on euery thing offends them and vseth such fury for reuenge that they sting and hum out of measure The Beasts not onely agree in their fashion but in like sort takes one anothers part vehemently and chiefly the very Hogs
Soutch quarrell with Captaine Randall then Maior of the fielde And Mayster Soutch did vrge through ill words and stout language Captaine Randall verye farre which might haue mooued any manne living But Captaine Randall in a manner vsed those words that the Italian had done before expressed and going further on in communication commaunded the Souldiours to lay handes on Maister Soutch and swore hee would execute him and learne all other by his boldnesse to knowe their duties And when Mayster Soutch was stayed well qouth Captaine Randall since thou hast challenged mee I will not vse my power and authoritie ouer thee But by the fayth of a souldier when I am out of the Sergeaunt Maiors roume I will meete thee and make thy heart ake for those wordes thou haste giuen excepte thou repent before of thy lewde demeanour Mayster Soutch hauing disgested and wisely waighed this matter being talked withall of the Captaines in the campe came like a Gentleman on himselfe and acknowledged his fault most dutifully and with great repentaunce for which submission of his hee was the better thought on after This shewes and declares that an auncient souldiour and Officer hath a great Priuilege and not be compared with nor offered any iniurie because hee carries the admiration of the people and the honour of the field Yee shall find written in the Spanish and the Language of the Portugall which Portugalles founde out the Easte Indians that there was a mightie King of Calicute and many other Kinges in the Indians whose Souldiours were all Gentlemen and did liue euer on the sâ—ipend that the King allowed them And those Souldiours had many Priuileges and titles of honour and stood so much on their reputation that they would not touch a Husband mans handes nor suffer a Rusticall fellowe to come into their houses And the Husbande men were bounde when the Souldiours goe in the streetes to crie with a loude voyce to make place for the Souldiours For if those Gentlemen did come and bid the Common people goe out of the waie and they doe not obay their commaundement therein It was sufferable for the Gentlemen Souldiours to kill those obstinate and proude people And furthermore the King could not make Gentlemen iâ— they were not borne of some Noble stocke of the race of Souldiours They could not take their weapons nor enter into Combate before they were armed Knightes They must at the age of seauen yeares bée put to learne to play with all Weapons and to the ende they shoulde bee perfect their Maysters doe hale their armes verie farre out thereby to stretch their limmes and afterwarde they teach them such Fence as is apt for that purpose They did by an ordinaunce and custome of theirs honour and salute their Maysters that hadde taught them at the Weapons which were Graduates and cunninge menne wheresoeuer they mett them in the stréete They were bound twoo Monethes in the yeare to plie their schoole and take a Lesson at their Maysters handes By which reason they were verie skilfull of their Weapons and for that cause they greatlye estéemed themselues They coulde not bee knighted but by the Kinges owne handes who asked them before he layde his hande on their heades if they could obserue and keepe the custome and ordinaunce of gentlemenne Souldiours and they sayde and aunswered the king They minded to take that profession of Armes vppon them and so the king caused a Sworde to be girded about them and after embraceth those Gentlemen so knighted then they did sweare to liue and die with him and for him which oath they would keepe and obserue For if theyr Lord were slayne in the Warre they would fight to their last breath and kill him that had slayne theyr King Or if at that instaunt they could not bring their purpose to effecte they would watch and spie out a conuenient season for the perfourmaunce of their promisse and oath And vndoubtedlie some of them woulde reuenge their Maysters death They hadde a great regarde to their duety and endeuoure They thought nothinge so precious as fidelitie and their Princes fauour They cared not for life so glorye might bee gotten by theyr death They serued most faythfullye vnder them that gaue them intertaynemente They spared nothing but spent liberally They applied their onely studies for the mainteinaunce of their king and Countrey They would not suffer any dishonour nor offer anye iniurie They thought it a double death to loose their good name They made no accompt of their meat money sléepe or ease and little estéemed their owne liues or persons when they should make proofe and shewe of their manhood Their wages and stipende was so much and so well payde that euerye one of them might liue gallantlye and the meanest might keepe to waite on him a man or a boye The Lawe was that they might not marrie and yet hadde Lemmans and Women appoynted by order which they kepte and vsed well and all quarrells was auoyded by that meanes For they might not companie with their women but at certaine seasons appoynted Thus they past ouer theyr life time without the care and trouble of Wife and Children They might forsake vppon a good cause anye of their Lemmans And their Women might at their owne willes forsake the menne All those that accompanied these Souldiours were Gentlewoman and of good birth but might not bee married to anie person after shée hadde béene at the Souldiours commaundement And because many men by their often chaunging happen to haue the companye of one Woman they fathered not any Child though it were neuer so much like them and therefore their Brothers children did alwayes inherite their Landes and goodes And this Lawe that those Gentlemen Souldiours should not marrie was made by a King that woulde not haue a manne of Warre to fixe his loue on a wife and children nor thereby to waxe féeble spirited and effeminate But the king ordained because these Gentlemen should haue no womannish manners nor minds that they should haue all thinges at their willes and liue in such libertie as no one thing might drawe them from noble seruice nor commaunde them to seruile drudgerie And because they should be the more animated to liue in noble order and encouraged to serue well they were priuileged that no man might imprison them for anye cause nor they might not bee put to death by anye meane of ordinarie iustice Howbeit when one killed another or did sleepe with a Countrey Woman or did speake euill of the king then raigning Then would the king hauing iuste and true information of the matter make a Writing and sende the same to a head Officer commaunding him to cutte in péeces the offendour wheresoeuer hee was founde And after hee was deade there should bee hanged about him the kinges Writing to shewe the people wherefore hee suffered but no Law nor Iustice coulde touche him before the king had iustlye condempned him So by this Libertie and honour that Souldiours had is
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
the art to make the Lyon méeke There was no point wherein I was to séeke I tooke delight in doying each man good Not scratting all my selfe as all were mine But lookt whose life in neede and danger stoode And those I kept from harme with cunning fine On Princes traine I alwayes cast mine â—ine For lifting vp the seruants of a King I did throw court my selfe in fauour bring I offered ayde before they sued to me And promisd nought but would performe it streight I shaked downe sweete fruit from top of tree Made aples fall in laps of men by sleight I did good turnes whiles that I was a height For feare a flawe of winde would make me réele And blowe me downe when Fortune turnd her whéele I fild no chests with chynks to cherish age But in the harts of people layde my gold Sought loue of Lord of maister and of page And for no bribbe I neuer fauour solde I had inough I might doe what I would Saue spend or giue or fling it on the ground The more I gaue the more in purse I found Yf I did frowne who then durst looke awry Yf I did smile who would not laugh outright Yf I but spake who durst my wordes denye Yf I persude who would forsake the flight I meane my powre was knowne to euery wight On such a height good hap had built my bowre As though my swéete should nere haue turnd to sowre My husband then as one that knewe his good Refusde to keepe a Princes Concubine For seeing th'end and mischiefe as it stood Against the king did neuer much repine He sawe the grape whereof he dranke the wine Though inward thought his hart did still torment Yet outwardly he seemde he was content To purchase praise and win the peoples zeale Yea rather bent of kinde to doe some good I euer did vpholde the common weale I had delight to saue the guiltles blood Each suters cause when that I vnderstood I did prefer as it had béene mine owne And helpe them vp that might haue béene orethrowns My powre was prest to right the poore mans wrong My hands were frée to giue where néede required To watch for grace I neuer thought it long To doe men good I néede not be desired Nor yet with giftes my hart was neuer hyred But when the ball was at my foote to guide I playde to those that Fortune did abide My want was wealth my woe was ease at will My robes were rich and brauer then the sunn My Fortune then was far aboue my skill My state was great my glasse did euer runne My fatall throed so happely was spunne That then I sate in earthly pleasures clad And for the time a Goddesse place I had But I had not so soone this life possest But my good hap began to slide aside And Fortune then did me so sore molest That vnto plaints was turned all my pride It booted not to rowe against the tide Mine oares were weake my heart and strength did faile The winde was rough I durst not beare a saile What steps of strife belong to high estate The climing vp is doubtfull to endure The seate it selfe doth purchase priuy hate And honours fame is fickle and vnsure And all she brings is flowres that be vnpure Which fall as fast as they doe sprout and spring And cannot last they are so vaine a thing We count no care to catch that we doe wish But what we win is long to vs vnknowen Till present paine be serued in our dish We scarse perceiue whereon our griefe hath growen What graine proues well that is so rashly sowen Yf that a meane did measure all our deedes In steede of corne we should not gather wéedes The setled mind is frée from Fortunes power They neede not feare who looke not vp aloft But they that clime are carefull euery hower For when they fall they light not very soft Examples hath the wisest warned oft That where the trées the smalest branches beare The stormes doe blow and haue most rigour there Where is it strong but néere the ground and roote Where is it weake but on the highest sprayes Where may a man so surely set his foote But on those bowes that groweth lowe alwayes The little twigs are but vnstedfast stayes Yf they breake not they bend with euery blast Who trusts to them shall neuer stand full fast The winde is great vpon the highest hilles The quiet life is in the dale belowe Who treades on yse shall slyde against their wills They want no cares that curious artes doe knowe Who liues at ease and can content him so Is perfect wise and sets vs all to schoole Who hates this lore may well be calde a foole What greater griefe may come to any life Then after swéete to taste the bitter sowre Or after peace to fall at warre and strife Or after myrth to haue a cause to lowre Under such props false fortune buildes her bowre On sodaine chaunge her flittering frames be set Where is no way for to escape the net The hasty smart that Fortune sends in spite Is harde to brooke where gladnes we embrace She threatens not but sodainely doth smite Where ioy is mouÌ„ there doth she sorrow place But sure I thinke this is too strange a case For vs to feele such griefe amid our game And knowe not why vntill we tast the same As erst I sayde my blisse was turnd to bale I had good cause to wéepe and wring my hands And showe sad cheere with countenance full pale For I was brought in sorrowes wofull bands A piâ—ry came and set my ship on sands What should I hyde and coulour care and noy King Edward dyde in whome was all my ioy And when the earth receiued had his corse And that in tombe this worthy Prince was layde The world on me began to showe his force Of troubles then my part I long assayde For they of whome I neuer was affrayde Undid we most and wrought me such dispite That they bereft me of my pleasure quite Brought bare and poore and throwne in worldes disgrace Holds downe the head that neuer casts vp eye Cast out of court condemnd in euery place Condemnd perforce at mercies foote must lye Hope is but small when we for mercie crye The bird halfe dead that hauke hath fast in foote Lay head on blocke where is no other boote The rowling stone that tumbleth downe the hill Fynds none to stay the furie of his fall Once vnder foote for euer daunted still One cruell blowe strikes cleane a way the ball Left once in lacke féeles alwayes want of will A conquerd mind must yéeld to euery ill A weake poore soule that fortune doth forsake In hard extreames from world her leaue may take From those that fall such as doe rise and run The sound with sicke doe seldome long abide Poore people passe as shadowes in the Sun Like féeble fish that néedes must followe tyde Among the rich a