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
fishing to the Seas Yet many Troutes are caught on little fordes That shallow séeme with other pretty fishe That at the length will make an honest dishe On little brookes men angle safe and dry In leather bootes and dread no drowning there On these rough Seas the least winde in the sky Tipes vp the Barke or brings a man in feare Some haue no hearts with roaring waues to striue Full gréene to sight and vggly to the eie Which on the rockes the silly vessels driue And knocks their Kéeles and makes poore Pilots cry Hale in the saile let goe the bowling mate Now in good faith such soddaine shocks I hate Yet some will thinke I am not setled so But I will séeke to try the Sea againe Why is the Earth so narrow would I know I cannot finde where I may well remaine The world is wide and men must burthens beare That ordaind are vnto no better chance That growes not here takes roote an other where Some shooteth ill yet hapneth by a glaunce To hit their game men ought to doe their best And séeke their lucke and let God worke the rest So for my part I shall likewise procéede And though I bid the Court and world farewell I meane to vse them both as I haue néede But for to say in Court I wish to dwell I minde it not as God me helpe and spéede And for the world his yoke still draw I must But sure I serue him all against my lust For in the same is neither hope nor trust Wherefore my leaue I take as powre I haue From him and his though course of life saith no. A worldling here I must be to my graue For this is but a May game mixt with woe A borrowde roulme where we our Pageants playe A skaffold plaine whereon we reuels make A crooked path a parlous false high way A toilesome soile where we much trauell take Good Reader now doe neither sting nor hisse At any thing that in this verse is plâ—est Where fault is found for fauour mend the misse This rouing rime was slubberd vp in hast And nought thereby the simple writer ment But neither Court nor world could him content FINIS A Tragicall Discourse of a dolorous Gentlewoman dedicated to all those Ladyes that holdes good name precious YOu wiues that wish to liue with worlds renowne And wisely way the worth of precious fame Come heare the voice that giues a woefull sowne Come heare her tale that dare not shew her name Come Countrey youth come noble Courtly Dame And marke my words whose workes in wondring daies With double blotte redounds to my dispraise From tender yeares till twenty two were past I nourisht was at pompe at pleasures papâ— But who can tell how long our ioy shall last For greatest calmes comes oft to thunder claps And swéetest hopes doe change to sowrest haps O tickle time that wanders swift as winde With haire before and bare and bald behind No gripe nor hand can take sure hold of thée Thou flitst so fast and leaues the world at worst Looke what time brings time takes away you sée Good time is blest bad time we hold accorst Time hurts them oft that time did helpe at forst Looke what we haue when youth is most in prime That shall we want in age by course of time My fresh delights doe fall and fade like flowre The blossomes gay from beauties buds are gone Our state of life doth alter euery howre As pleasures passe come sorrowes pacing on The world it selfe is like a rowling stone And on such whéeles our tombling haps doe runne They slide as swift as shadow in the Sunne Whiles carelesse witte doth carry youth about To sports and plaies that doth from pastime rise The merry minde is voide of feare and doubt And all the powres are glad to please the eyes But when wilde head or wanton waxeth wise The waighty thoughts that déepe foresight retaines Brings troubled sleepes and breaks the quiet brains In childishe daies I made no count of chaunce When friends tooke care to match me to their will So hoping long good hap would me aduaunce I kept me frée from wedlockes bondage still But parents wise that had good worldly skill With open checks rebukt the causes chiefâ— The more they stirde the greater grew my griefe As when a sore is rubde and handled hard The lesse it heales because yée touch it néere O Fathers graue if that you tooke regard How that with checks you vse your children déere Or in your moodes you would some reason héere They should be ioynde where they great ioy should haue And you of them enioy the thing you craue But wilfull men that wealth may wrest awry Will force poore babes to marry or to morne What father wil the childe may not deny He hurts his shins against the pricke shall spurne When match is made it is past time to turne When silly Lambe is to the slaughter led The Butchar brags the simple Sheepe is dead And yet in déede twere better children smart And match in time as cause and matter moues Then childrens choise should breake the fathers hart Or bréede debate as wilfull marriage proues Short is the ioy of them that longest loues When want comes on and woe begins to wring For lacke is thrall and slaue to euery thing Loue is not now as loue hath béene of old A gamesome babe to dandle on the knée Loue cares for nought but land and bags of gold That keepes both man and horse in stable frée They haue no witt that other louers be Wealth maister is and porter of the gate That lets in loue when want shall come to late Well as it was my friends could doe no good My fortune bore the sway and ruled all And I full long on will and fréedome stood Till flesh and bloud must néeds to fancy fall And then though hap and worldly wealth was small I lighted where I likte and loued well And where I vowde for terme of life to dwell My choise was likte for many gifts of grace He had though wealth sometime was not at will And for his sake in many a noble place I welcome was and purchast fauour still My candle blasoe like torch on top of hill And for content of minde where loue doth rest Mine owne poore choise might passe among the best Long liude we thus at home and eke abroad When kindred cleane in déede forsooke vs both What burthen fell I helpt to beare the load And glad in world to taste how Fortune goth The minde I had to God and sacred othe Made me refuse no trauaile for his sake Whome of frée will I choose to be my make The Seas we sailde the land we rode about The Court we saw the towne we dwelt long in The fields we walkt the gardens gay throughout We went vnto where many a feast hath bin We could not sincke for hap held vp the chin He prosperd well and looke what God
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
of troublesome seruitude or at least willing to see some sodaine sturre and strange accidents This mischieuous and male-contented mind is swift to sow discord and shed innocent blood and slow to saue his owne credit Countrey ready and apt to forget God and most vnwilling to forgiue any iniurie a beginner of all brable and contention and a mayntayner of all execrable acts and enterprises Now passing ouer the rusticall rable of Rogues Uacabounds Ruffians Roysters and rancke Rebels whose mischieuous minds surmounts all the rest in villanie filthynes reueling rudenes trecherie and treasons the fruites whereof are but beggery banishment and wretchednesse that brings the maislers of that misrule to Tiborne a shamefull end I come to the malicious mindes of our Forrein enemies many in number that are so drowned in a deadly desire of hatred wilfulnes obstinacie papistrie and old worm-eaten Religion that they cannot see nor well vnderstand what they goe about There minds carries them headlong into many hellish damnable deuises making account of that which neuer shall be there own I hope and making their boast of conquest victorie triumph before they dare fight for it or attempt manly to trie who shall finde Fortune most fauourable what partie hath God the right of their side And further to bee marueled at a matter most moÌ„struous in iudgement they were come into our Câ—astes in ships of great burthen fraught filled with great riches munition and men hauing in the same shippes to countenaunce their quarrell numbers of Noble houses Friers Priests English Traytors Spanish Women and such like people as were come to possesse a Country kingdom that easily should bee gotten which kingdome is so noblie peopled and furnished that I doubt not but the sight and bare vew of this stoute nation shall make the Spaniards abashed and yet behold to proue A man is but his mind our Enemies haue such minds to doe wrong and haue such hope that they are appoynted to bée the scourge of God that they saie openly they haue commission to kill man woman and child and to saue none aboue the age of seauen yeare old loe heere is a goodly mind a goodly commission and a goodly sorte of Fooles that thinks so populous a Countrey as this will be so soone supplanted a wise companie of wild Geese that with a little gagling and thrusting out the necke beleeus to bring to passe so great a matter you neuer heard of more madder minded men than these are that came to sit downe in other mens houses before they knew the good will of their Hosts and bow déerely they were like to pay for the purchase ere they shold make their entry or set their féet on any péece of this Land and by my troth they goe about a pretty Bargaine to offer the sheeding of so much blood and especially do bring hither so paltring a Commission so voide of Christianitie and shall cost so manie a broken head before any iott or parcell of the same commaundement be put in execution Now heere is to bee spoken and treated of good and godly mindes that peaceably shall possesse their soules in patience these patient mindes are those that sees other men preferd as the affection of some will haue it so and beholdes themselues abiects that neither want vertue nor valiance yea they find few good turnes and suffer many iniuries boastes little of their seruice and are greatly to be praysed being men of good years and experience and yet of bad Fortune and ability fauoured of some that can doe but little for them yet holpen or aided of no one body that haue power to aduaunce them the men of this minde makes much of a little and seldome comes to any greate portion and so because mine owne desteny is not the best and being loath to put on a worse minde then now last I haue spoken of I knit vp all this discourse in these fewe wordes and thus I bid you farewell Hoping that the mindes of men though they are seuerall in disposition will now draw all in one yoke to hold out the enemies of our Countrey and to stand together against all forraine inuasions and forget all kinde of quarrelling among our selues that often times hath bred in manie kingdomes ciuile warres and sorrowfull dissentions The plagues and plaine examples therof being well waighed will I doubt not make our noble Nation be not only mindful of their libertie and honor but in like manner make vs all of one good mind resolution courage and manhood FINIS TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull siâ— Edward Dimmocke Knight Champion by byrth to the Queenes Maiestie I would haue searched the bottome of my studies and chiefest of my labors good Sir Edward Dimmocke if my leasure had serued to haue fouÌ„d out some peece of worke worthy of your reading but doubting that verse delightes you not Tragicall discourses breeds but a heauie conceit in a pleasant disposition I thought it more fitter to treat of a Marshiall cause wherein great honor consists that may moue many considerations in a noble minde and so not only stir vp vertue but also beat downe all occasions that hinders the quiet sweet societie of meÌ„ not meaning that I see any motioÌ„ cause or action in this age that may procure my pen to go beyond the compas of my reach in reforming the same but to shew there is no greater blessednes on earth then freindly felowship and amitie among men and all the disturbers thereof are rather instrumeÌ„ts of dissention than mayntainers of good will And for that in your long trauells abroad where variaunce is moderated with wisdome manie quarrells you haue seene or heard off I haue written a little peece of the nature of a quarrell compounded on many accidents not teaching anye man a newe course peaceable order to his life but to nourish gentlenes kindlie loue among all our noble natioÌ„ So trusting no matter of mislike shal passe my Pen I present you with this little peece of paper that follows wishing you the good fame and honor your own hart can desire A Discourse of true Manhoode AMid the wickednes of a naughtie world quarells hatred and headstrong people a bridled mind knowes not what pace to hotde nor steppes to tread and where madnesse shews furie world mayntaynes follye wise ' alâ—mon were hee heere could not reforme the defect of this wilful age which neither regards God good Gouernours nor naturall loue or order And where libertie in mans wilfulnes is proclaymed good rule and lawe is not known and rud rashnes runs so farre beyond reason that euery sencible creature doth wonder at and stands astonied at the stubberne wickednes of mans vnstayed mind which growes so blood thirstie and eager after life that it seeketh nothing but death and destruction in a manner of his owne proper brother which was horrible in Cain and may bee odious in all kind of Christians Among
well to bee séene that none by Caesar might meddle with men of Warre And it séemeth this libertie was fetched from Alexanders dayes who called his olde souldiours Noble men and gaue them noble priuileges and rewardes to cause the Worlde that did followe to augmente their renowne and spreade theire fame to the highest Heauens that haue beene valliant on earth and Noble of minde Which great foresight of Alexander and other great Princes to aduaunce Souldiours hath made menne more like Gods than earthly creatures and done such good to the Worlde thereby that there is no Worlde but will make of men of Warre and giue place to the goodnesse of those that striue by stoutnesse of heart and labour of bodie to enlarge the limmets and boundes of his Countrey The effect of this aboue expressed was drawne out of Spanish and remaines among Christians as a matter worthy noting though Infidells did obserue them Now though a man haue had charge and borne a number of Offices yet the name of an old soldiour beautifies his title But yet perticularly I will goe through the offices as breefly as I maie and therein shew who may iustlie bée called Gentlemen among them A Collonell a Captaine and Ensigne bearer A Lieutenaunt a Corporall a Sergeant of the band and old souldiour though hée neuer bare any office are all gentlemen graunting and allowing that none of the officers were made for affection at home But had their beginning by seruice in the Feelde and aâ—e knowne of good courage and conduct and well experimented in Marshâ—all affaires The rest of other officers that haue noble roumes and places in the Campe néedes no setting out for all men know such officers as are chosen and made by the most noble in any gouernement are not to bee treated off for that euerye souldiour giues them due honour and place You may not looke for at my hands the originall discourse of all gentlemen albeit I go as farre as I dare in that behalfe For I loue not to meddle with thankelesse labour and would be lothe to roue beyond my reach and knowledge in a matter that my betters as yet haue not dealt withall For a doubtfull attempt brings a dangerous construction And with drawing a strong Bow a weake arme waxeth weary Wherfore I go no further in this matter desâ—ring the Reader to bear with my boldnes herein and regard souldiers as they deserue FINIS TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull Sir Iohn Sauage Knight one of the Lieutenants of Cheshire MY good and affectionate Worshipfull friend for manie curtesies I promised to dedicat some verses vnto you and finding no subiect better to write vpon then the maintenance of Hospitalitie I thought a little to touche the losse of time and charges that a number of Gentlemen spendeth at London not anie whit thereby blemishing the good bruite of that honorable Cittie so I praie you vnderstand me but shewing the inconuenience that commeth by ouer great charges bestowed and spent where nothing is gathered againe nor reaped at the last but repentance or such colde acquaintance as when money is gone will scarse knowe a man in time of necessity this being spoken generally of all the places and Citties in the worlde where men shall finde but strangenes when their owne wealth and estate begins to decline A Discourse of Gentlemen lying in London that were better keepe house at home in their Countrey I Muse why youth or age of gentle blood Borne vnto wealth and worldly worship héere In London long consumes both land and good That better were at home to make good chéere In London still they finde all vittells déere Hoist vp a height to bring our purses low And send men home with empty bags yée know The stréetes with fields may neuer matched be For all swéete aire at will abroad we finde What is it then in London that they sée But Countrey yéeldes and better glads the minde Perhaps some say the people are so kinde And curteous to in stately ciuill Towne As men thereby wins credite and renowne First for they séeme in Citty fresh and fine Most gay to eie and gallant as a rose But shall a man for pleasure of his eien And pompe or pride of painted goodly cloes He sees abroad at home his credite lose Our Elders did not so delight in trashe And tempting toyes that brings a man in lash For when they came to London there to stay They sent fat béenes before them for their store And went sometimes a shooting all the way With all their traine and houshold that is more Yet were they not at no lesse charge therefore Kept house in Ins and fedde the poore thereby That in hard world may now for hunger die They taried not in Towne to card and dice Nor follow long lewd lusts that lothsome are Which breedes rebuke and fosters secrete vice And makes tame birds to fall in Satans snare They loude plaine robes but hated purses bare Made much of men gaue neighbors béefe and bred Yet left their aires great wealth now they are dead Their care was still to kéepe good house and name Spend they might spare yet spare where cause they found And librall be when bounty purchast fame And let floud runne where water did abound Rulde all with wit and wary Iudgement sound Not bent in braues great hauocke for to make But drawne and moâ—de to spend for vertues sake Gaue much to poore that craude an almes at gate Kept buttry dore for straungers open still Made neighbours eate that earely came or late By which they wonne the Countreys great good will Could serue the Prince with coundit men and skill With their owne charge and pors a rare thing now That seelde is seene with loue and power throw They raisd no rents to make the tenant whine Nor clapt no yoke on friendly neighbours necke Nor made poore folke find fault with cuâ—â—hroat fine But had the hearts of people at a becke As we haue now our seruants vndâ—r checke O how plaine men would follow Landlord than Like swarmes of Bees when any warres began Yea glad was he that might with maister goe Though charge and wife be lest at home behinde In this fine world the manner is not so Hard handling makes men shew another minde Then loyall loue made mens affection blinde Now can they sée and will doe what they list Cast of like Hawkes comes when they please to fist What change finde you yong maisters in these daies What hath drawn backe the forward minds of men What makes somtime prâ—st souldier run his waies What makes this world much worse then world was then I dare not now expresse the cause with pen. But lay your hands vppon your brest and winke And you shall gesse what of these thinges I thinke Gay golden robes and garments pownced out Silke laide on sâ—â—ke and stitched ore the same Great losse and play and keeping reuell route With grosser knackes I list not now
doth destine giue And so with sorrowes breake the hart that hath no will to liue Good fréend quoth she haste not thine end with passions of the minde Hope after hap the world may mend thou maist good fortune finde No sure my glasse of life is runne Death drawes on me so fast I see my daies are almost done life may no longer last My haples yeares and aged bones desires no being heere To graue I go with sighs and grones I buy bad life too deere With losse of blood of time and youth and all that precious is With loyall seruice toile and truth and hope of earthly blisse All in one ballance now goes downe since guerdon get I none Nor no account in Court nor towne now I may hap vpon Adue day light shut close mine eies too long you stare for nought So farewell friends and you be wise for me take you no thought By this our ships were wend about and Cannons gan to rore As they to Brytaine passed out with bounsing shot great store At noyse whereof I wakned straight and calling for my close And saw the Sunne on such a height that sodainly I rose And so put all my dreame in verse would God a dreame it were For many things I now rehearse wil prooue too true I feare FINIS To the right honourable my Lady Puckering wife to the most honorable the L. keeper of the great seale of England GOod Madam strange it may seeme that a meere stranger to your Ladiship â—are aduenture to dedicate any peece of vvorke vvhere bold attempt and labour may be but strangely vnderstood if a greater hope in your goodnes exceeded not the greatnes of my matter but my 〈◊〉 your most honorable husbands bountifull dealings with me of late makes me the bolder because I must be thankful in this presumptioâ—◠〈◊〉 present some acceptable peâ—ce of that small talent God hath giuen me to your good L. as vvell to be knovven of you as to keepâ— me in my L. fauour and though that vvhich I oâ—fer be skarce vvorthy the taking Yet I trust first my seruiceable present hall not be misliked because the receiuing vvell thereof may procure a further peece of vvork better penned such as shall best become me to present as knovveth God 〈◊〉 novv and at all times augment his good gifts of grace in your good Ladiship LOng time in sute and seruice gets some grade Long crauing gaines both crust and crome ye know Long walking rids great ground away apace Long vse of legs makes traueiler easly go Long watching tâ—â—d brings ebbe at length to floâ— So loyall loue and dutie long in vre Full many waies doth great good will procure Whereon good turnes springs out as from a flood Runnes gushing waues that waters euery soile Whose moisture doth both fruit and flower much good And profite bringâ— to Plowmans painefull toile This faire land flood kept barren field from foile For if no deaw of heauen I had found Hot sommers drouth had soone dried vp my ground The fountaine had her course no sooner run With golden streames that cordiall is of kinde But straight began to shine the gladsome Sâ—n That sucker sends to tree to root and rinde The frost did thaw with milde warme westerne winde And all the springs and conduits of the towne Ran Claret wine in honour of the crowne When bill assignd by sute from Prince had past Lord how the world â—lood therewith well content The Clearkes they wrote and fréely laboured fast The seales were wonne when purse no penny spent The waxe was wrought throw grace that God had sent So seale and waxe and all that name I can Came franckly of to me from euery man Lo how hard world by meanes is easie made And mens good wils with tract of time we gaine In spring it sprouts at fall of leafe did fade The grasse grows greene with little showres of raine I reapt the crop and fruit of others paine What néeds more words each place where I did go For Princes grace did me great fauour sho They knew that Court had cleane consumde my youth And plead mine age with pretie pension now If so they thought in déed they gest the truth For youth and age perforce is pleased throw Saue that they bid me make my pen my plow And prooue awhile what printed bookes will doo To helpe old Tom to get a supper too But blest be her that did the dinner giue With too much meat we may a surfeit take Long with good rule and diet men may liue Full belly oft an emptie purse may make He feedeth best that eats for hungers sake Than porcion poore makes men ne proud nor rich Yet one good meale a day doth please me mich Where am I now I speake of liberall men That fréely gaue the seales and all the rest Which déed deserues both thankes and praise of pen For that is all from me they haue possest This course would make the learned Lawyers blest If of poore men they tooke no fee at all Whose wrongs are great and riches is but small To trot and trudge two hundreth miles or more And spend their goods in toyling too and fro And be long pincht with paine and labour sore And then compeld to costly tearme to go Craues great regard of them that conscience know Than wise graue heads that looks through euery cause Defend the poore with fauour of your lawes Their plaints may pearce through highest heauens all Their praiers brings great blessings to your dore Your fame doth rise where they good words let fall For happie are the hands that helpes the poore This sentence should be written on the floore Who can do good to those that stands in need Shall reape much corne where sowne was litle séed When iustice flowes from liberall noble mind Good turns in world wil make men liue like Saints When good cheap law poore silly soules do find The Court is not long troubled with complaints Franke heart goes throw where feeble courage faints Bountie winnes loue and lasts for euer more Who doth great good and little takes therefore The poore are more in number euery where Then are the rich that haue the world at wil Wherefore the more we ought with them to beare Because they liue in lacke and sorrow stil. The Lord that sits on his hie holy hill Lookt lowly down on Lazarus the poore That humbly askt an almes at Diues doore Most precious are the poore to God aboue Though heere below they walke like lambes were lost And one good turne to them doth get more loue Then fortie things we doe for worldly boast Who saues a ship that is with tempest tost And brings the barke where helpe and harbour is For thankful paines shall purchase heauen blisse When that great Iudge shal come to iudge vs all Such as did helpe the poore shal happy be For then that Iudge wil for those people call Who to the poore were alwaies franke
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
faurers wept In heade that tide a straunger fancie rose The eyes behelde before the eyes did close A writer there and Churchyard loe he hight Whose pen paints out mens tragedies aright In deadly dreame my tongue callde on that man As headlesse â—olke may fumble out a word You must beleeue the tongue a tale beganne Of earnest thinges and not a trifling borde Churchyard quoth he if now thou canst afforde Mee one good verse take heere thy penne in hand And send my death to thine owne natiue lande Which in my life I loude and honourd much A cause there was let that passe oer with time Thou man I saie that didst Shores wife so touch With louing phrase and friendlie English rime When pen muse were in chiefe pride and prime Bestow some paines on him that was thy friende Whose life thou knewst seâ—st mee make mine ende These wordes pronounst the head gan bléed anew My bodie laie along like lumpe of leade The limmes stretcht out stiâ—e as stake they grew And vnder cloath of blacke was made my bedd On thicke hard boordes that world might see me dead There did I lodge till starrs appearde in skye And goring bloode had glutted gasers eye Thus Churchyard now in wandring vp downe About affaires perhaps that toucht him nere Saw on Tolbothe in Edenborough towne My sencelesse head before his face appeare Why Morton then quoth he and art thou héere That long didst raigne and rule this Realme of late Then ruine and wracke oerreacheth each estate An Emperors life puft vp with pompe pride Maie not compare with plaine ploughman quoth he The climing foote is apt to slippe and slide The studious braine shall selde in suretie bee A bitter blast sone bites the brauest trée At honors seate blinde boltes men dailie shoote And wretched hap riues vp renowne by roote No wit nor wealth preuailes against mischaunce Whom fortune hates the people doe disdaine As wisdomes grace doth worthie witts aduaunce So priuie hate throwes downe hie harts againe The whitest clothe will take the greatest staine It is not strange to sée great men to fall For too much trust of worlde deceiues vs all Why doe wée wish to weald a world at will What follows pompe but hazard of good name Why would wise men in pleasure wallow still The end of toyle makes soule and bodie tame They take no rest that runnes still after fame Great charge breeds griefe and brings on care apace Great honor rules and lasteth but a space Who trauells farre comes wearie home at night The mounting Larke comes down to foulers hand Great birdes are borne about with feathers light All great renowne on tickle propps doth stand All wordlie blisse is builded on the sand Which when a puffe of winde beginnes to bloe In peeces small the painted postee will goe To greatest trées the birdes doe daily flock On highest hils wée walke to take the ayre And sudden stormes giue greatest oke a shock The ground is bare where many feete repayre All people drawe vnto a goodly faire But where most haunte is founde with iudging eye There is least hope and doth most daunger lye The fayre it selfe where all is bought and solde Showes méere deceipt to him that buies and sells The enemies strength striues still with strongest holde Disdaine doth drawe where greatest honor dwels All flies repayre to flowers of swéetest smells Each wicked worme to soundest kernell goes Ten thousand wéeds do growe about a rose Because the seate of honor standeth hye The baser sort do bend the browe thereat And honor is a moate in enuies eye Who vily thinkes and speaks he knows not what By enuies brute that bitter biting gnatt A blister growes in soft and smothest skinne So skarrs arise where cleerest shew hath binne O malice great thou monster sent from hell The heauens hate to heare thy naughty name If world thee skorn thou knowst not where to dwell O fugitiue O sonne of open shame No wisdomes lore nor men of noble fame Can scape thy scourge it giues so sore a yarke And so thy boltes are shot at eache good marke Men may not liue though great they are of race For malice rage and enuie now a dayes Proude practise proules about in eurie place To breede debate and cut of good mens praise Where malice sowes the séedes of wicked waies Both honor quailes and creadit crackes with all Of noâ—lest men and such as feares no fall At goodlie fruite that growes on topps of trées The people gase and somtime kudgels flinge Disdaine repines at all good things it sees And so like snakes doth enuie shoote his sting The angrie waspes are still about a king Who â—eekes by swarmes to hurt true meaning still So workes great harmes to those that thinks no ill True honor may full long in fauour bée If rigors wrath and malice did not meete And malice might lies not in meane degree It closely lurkes in craft and cunning sprete First fine deuice can kisse both handes and feete Then draw the knife that cuts the harmlesse throte Thus honor is by drifts in daunger gote These deadly driftes drinkes déepest riuers drie Sincks greatest grounds belowe past helpe of man Flings flat on floore the statelye buildings hye Shakes downe great harts let wit doe what he can Fine drift is hee that mischiefe first beganne Against whose force no reason maie resist That awefull worme on earth doth what it liâ—t Then noble birth and vertues rare must stowpe When daie is come and destines strikes the stroke This cunning world may make great minds to drowpe UUhen we are câ—lde men needs must draw the yoke UUhen life goes out our breath is but a smoke UUhen at the dore our drerie death doth knocke Take key in hand wee must turne backe the locke Who would haue thought Earle Morton should haue fell A graue wise man and gouernde manie a daye Rulde all at home and vsde his wit so well In foreine Realmes hee bare a wonderous swaie Of worldes affaires hee knew the readie waye Yet knowledge failde and cunning knew no boote When fortune came and tript him with her foote Loe lookers on what staie remaines in state Loe how mans blisse is but a blast of winde Borne vnto bale and subiect to debate And makes an ende as destine hath assignde Loe heere as oft as Morton comes to minde Dispise this worlde and thinke it nothing straunge For better place when we our liues doe chaunge FINIS qd T. C. SIR SIMON BVRLEIS TRAGEDIE who liued in the xi yeare of Richarde the seconde Looke Frozard the last part Fol. 108. AM I of blood or yet of birth so base O Baldwin now that thou forgetst my name Or doth thy penne want cunning for that case Or is thy skill or senses fallen lame Or dost thou feare to blase abroade my fame O shew some cause wherefore I sit in shade And why is thus my Tragedie vnmade UUho thinkes great scorne in
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
ioyne in a battaile against those dogs that biteth them The Fish in the floud swim in skulles arming themselues against their enemies and you shall reade in Plinie that among the Dolphins was such amity that a Dolphin being taken prisoner by a King and closely kept there assembled such a number of Dolphins together as is incredible and they neuer lefte mourning and playning showing by sorrowfull signes the dolour taken for the losse of their companion by which meanes they recouered him againe of the King Thus if Fish Fowle and Beast agrée in vnion with a wonderful league of amity men may blush to behold their own defects and Serpentine natures that neuer rests hissing stinging and casting out of venome bred in vaine mindes and nourished in hatefull brests The reason that man beareth and the forme and shape of his noble creation should be an euerlasting remembraunce to moue him vnto quietnes especially the renowne that is gotten by patience and fortitude should alwaies kéepe reasonable men from rages and be a bulwarke and target to beare of quarrels the destruction of life the hour glasse of death and the whole consumer of all good credite It is to be presupposed that prowd hearts growes so Princely and euery one that is quarrelous would séeme a King or a conquerour yet Princes take great aduisement before they breake peace and cunningly put of causes of warre waying the innumerable troubles daungers and losses that pertaines to a quarrell but the generall number of men runs headlong into mischiefe casting neither perill nor hazard as all our life and fame stood on slashing cutting roisting and striuing for vain-glory In our Elders daies fighters were called ruffians and ruffians were so lothsome that no honest man could abide their company If seruing men which alwaies should be ciuile had quiet sober maisters such buckelers with pikes such swords like spits and such long great daggers should not bee worne The weapon and countenaunce by maintainers of quarrels may cause cowards to be bold and cause corage to catch copper or creepe closely in cornes And now in the chiefe and highest degree of quarrelling where see you iarres questions brawls banding and the rest of disorders but where some party is ouer great playing on aduantage or weapons are not equall except it be among noble great mindes whose valiauncy can neither suffer iniury nor abide any blemishe of honour So euen now to them this worke is adressed the baser sort néedes not my perswasions nor but of good will and presumption this needeth not I speake of The whole world is fraught so full of malice that the least occasion can be ministred bréedes such great busines that quarrels are so common the custome thereof so olde it séemeth nothing straunge to beholde murthers odious practises shamefull poisnings and miserable man slaughters In Italy a simple quarrell but once conceiued neuer endes till death hath dispatched peraduenture both the parties and so greedily they goe to take away life that all the mischiefe can be imagined is put in exercises without delay taking breath regard of God feare of law or shame of the world so blouddy is the minde the body sléepes not till the handes haue done some abhominable outrage The minde cannot bee in quiet til open folly monstruous madnes haue disturbed the whole sences and brought the life and body in hazard of hell fire or daunger of worldly shame these are the fruits of fury The defects of nature the miseries of man and the brutish conditions of the counterfaite finesse in Italy In Fraunce if a lie may bée brought in by circumstaunces or a fine quarrell can be sifted out of grosse speeches present death followes or perpetuall hatred is set abroach wherein murthers are committed and many a mischieuous act is taken in hand odious to beholde and a great horror to heare but most vnchristianly executed And so generally in all countreys and kingdoms a quarrell once begon comes to butchery and bloudshed and commonly growes after in many generations and kindreds to deadly foed and shamelesse slaughters A quarrell in property nature may be compared to many bigge barrels of Gun-powder which once set on fire flames so vehemently that euery little corne thereof is throughout consumed and the blast and busines it makes ouerthrowes houses beateth downe great buildings and shakes a whole towne and the walles thereof in sunder Yea euen as a tennis ball the harder is stricken the further it flieth and the oftner it reboundeth the more he labors that strikes it so a sparke of spitefull hatred being blowen with the busy bellowes of mallice that kindleth coales which can neuer be quenched encreaseth such a smoothering smoke and fire that burnes like the hill of Ethna that neuer goeth out nor wanteth heate and fume to trouble a whole countrey And one especiall point is alwaies to be noted in the naughty nature of a quarrell that whosoeuer hath done any iniury or giuen a wound or a blow neuer can auoide daunger and vtter destruction without some amendes made crauing of pardon open repentance or secrete working of friends that are wearied with the long debating of the matter As one good turne doth craue another so an Iniury demands a quarrell a quarrell bréedes a thousand offences offences hardly can bee forgotten and the more a wrong remaines in minde â—he lesse hope is of forgiuing the fault and the more mischiefe is put in proofe and exercise And whosoeuer duely considers the ill inclination of people he shall finde thousands so apt and ready to take in hand a quarell that in some sort it is held a cowardise and a kinde of no courage to put vp a trifle so many desires to sée bloudshed so many sets men agog in vnhappines and so many goes about with tales and bad deuises to stur vp strife and contention Well since our imbecillity is much our fury not little and disposition so stout that all thinges must be disputed of and drawen to the vttermost degrée of dangerous quarrelling I wish peraduenture vpon some experience that mildnes might moderate the manner of our falling out and if nothing could qualifie the cruelty of courage a regard of God good reputation iust cause and honest dealing may be vsed exhorting all men to looke to life common society mutuall loue and the generall peace of a christian Kingdome For how so euer the Worlde may imagine of fighting and brawling the very route and grounde of disorder in a common wealth is vnreasonable quarels wherein is maintained a kinde of Turkishe tyranny and brutish boldnesse This not spoken beyond the compasse of dutie nor to the preiudice and hinderaunce of any mans manhood which may bee as well seene and vnderstood by the conquering of himselfe and maistring his owne passions as in hauing the victorie of others Which triumph and victorie cannot bée gotten without great bloodshed and businesse Thus Friend worshipfull I haue discoursed a matter worthy treating off
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
pray you can any man deny but it springeth of a great courage and zeale to the common wealth when a man forsaketh the pleasure of life to follow the painefulnesse of warre and daunger of death and refuseth no toile nor trauaile to purchase credite and attaine vnto knowledge Yea some such we read of as Marcus Cursius and Mucius Sceuola that refused no enterprises to doe their Countrey pleasure Yea some haue sold their patrimony and consumed their Treasure and riches to enriche their Princes with glory and euerlasting renowne Were not this a madnes and more then a méere folly to be a drudge to the world and a labourer for those that sits at rest and to watch and ward fight striue and struggle with straungers for victory and then to come home and be rewarded as common persons and walke like a shadow in the Sunne without estimation or countenance Would any that had wisedome vallue and courage be ouer runne with vicious fooles and cowardes or be made a footestoole to their inferiour when they haue climed vp the steps of honour and are gotten into the top gallant of worldly glory and warlicke triumph Among children that doe but play at the bucklars there is a preheminence and one will acknowledge the other to bée his better when good bobbes are bestowed and sodainely a stout taule lobber will lay downe the waster and yéelde to him that hath more practise and 〈◊〉 in the weapon then himselfe Then shalâ— not a man that hath coped with Champions buckled with Conquerours and abidden the hazard of the Canon stand on his Pantoffelles and looke to the steps he hath passed Yes sure and such a member of the state the baser sort are Ciphers ought to be made of deserueth place and preheminence and is no companion for punies nor méete to be matched with Milkesoppes whose manhood and manners differs as farre from the graue Soldiour as a Donkite in courage and condition differs from a Ierfaukon As the duetie to a mannes countrey and the wages that hee taketh bindes him to doe the vttermost he maie so were there not an other cause that forceth further matter Full coldly some would fight and full slowly some would march to the battell albeit the Princes quarrell and wages receiued commaundeth much and is a thing stoutly and wisely to be looked to But I tell you fame and reputation is the marke that men shoote at and the gréedinesse of glorie and ambition pricketh the mind so fast forward that neither the man lookes vpon the multitude of enemies Nor regards the daunger of death so he may be eternized liue in the good opinion of the Prince and people For he that but bluntly lookes about him and goeth to the warre for wealth which hardly is there gotten is led on with a couetous desire of that he shall not haue and may fight like an Oxe and die like an Asse But who so respecteth his credite and paiseth in ballaunce the worthynesse of fame that riseth by well doing doth combate like a Lion and either conquers like a man or dieth like a conquerour as many great Kings Captaines haue done whose ensamples a long while agoe as yet remaynes freshlye in memorie It may bee thought that euery mercinarie man and common hireling taken vp for a while or seruing a small season is a souldier fit to be registred or honoured among the renoumed sort of warlike people For such numbers of bezoingnies or necessarie instruments for the time are to fall to their occupation when the seruice is ended and not to liue idlely or looke for imbrasing For neyther they tarry long in the fâ—elde when they are prest to go foorth Nor are not often called againe to the like iourney so great is our store of such persons and so many shiftes they can make to putte of any paine and hazard But hee is to bee accounted the couragious Souldier that is giuen by his owne disposition to delight and folow the Cannon wheele whose countenaunce and chéerefull face beginnes to smile and reioyce when the Drumme soundeth whose hart is so high it wil not stoupe to no slauery But hath a bodie and minde able to answere that is looked for and hath often béen tried experimented in Marshiall affaires through haunting whereof he is become ignorant of drudging at home and made a skilfull Scholler in the discipline of warre which is not learned without some losse of bloode charges of purse consuming of time And this maye bée iudged and playnly presupposed that manie of that sort of men are not found aliue to trouble or burthen a common wealth because they are cut off through daungerous seruices or forced by séeking of Fame in the field to sell that they haue at home and so to trauell abroade subiect to all miserie and far from any friendship or prosperous estate And sometimes through the greatnes of their mindes that galloppâ— after glorie are carried away to séeke out new Kingdomes and refuse their old habitation A matter falling out well worthye to be liked but otherwise a heauy tale to be told and an experience bought with ouer much repentaunce But euery waye occasions they are that dispatcheth many a good Souldiour makes the number so little that it is reason such as are left aliue of that profession should eyther bee rewarded or at the least reape vp some such credite as the common sort of people should haue them in admiration and offer them such courtesie as the worthynesse of their Experience and Seruice requireth If in the old time our Forefathers vsed their men of warre nobly preferred them to promotions dealt honourably with them that serued then Countrey where warres were not so cruell Why should not this world wherein pollicies murthers and bloodshed is followed and hazards are meruelously escaped to the vttermost of mans power haue more regard to a Souldiour that shunneth no hazard nor refuseth no perill There is no more to say for the aunswering of this great ouersight but the hackney horse is vnhappy hauing borne a burthen all the day on his backe is cast off at night to a bare common there to séeke for foode and abide a hard fortune There is a worse matter thâ—n this to be treated off yet nothing but that so farre past remedie to be touched let any one seruing man get a good Maister and for following his héeles at an inch he shall be more spoken get more benefit then twenty of the best Souldiers that you can name that haue followed the warres all their life dayes and knew not howe to flatter fawne or crouch and coursâ—e for commoditie Yea such as serues at home and cannot goe out of the view of a faire house and smoke of a foule Chimney snatcheth vp good turnes and steales awaie preferments priuilie when those that merites more consideration oft goes openly a begging and findeth few among thousands that wisheth them well or doth them
any good Some say the cause of this hard happe to the one and good Fortune to the other is a certaine deadly dissention fallen betwéene the sword and the penne By which mortall malice is bred and nourished in bosome such a headstrong hatred and parcialitie that the penne is euer giuing a dash out of order against the commendation of the sworde and the sword being disgraced by a balde blot of a scuruie Goose quill lies in a broken rustie scabberd and so takes a Canker which eates awaye the edge and is in a manner lost for lacke of good looking to and consideration of a painfull Cutler And the penne as many people are perswaded is like the Pensell of a Painter alwaies readie to set out sundrie colours and somtime more apt to make a blurre then giue a good shape and proportion to any inuention or deuise that proceedes of a plaine meaning And as all pensels are as well occupied of a bongling Paynter as a cunning woorkeman So the scribling Penne is euer woorking of some subteltie more for the benefite of the Writer then commonly for the profitte or pleasure of the Reader yea and the penne is waxt so fine and can shew such a florishe that a Mayster of Fence though hée playde with a twoo hand Sworde might bee put to a foule foyle where the Penne is in place and is guided by a sleight handâ— and a shrewde head But vnder correcton if a man may bee plaine the Penne and the Sword can neuer agree because the Penne standes in such feare of the sword it would not come vnder the blow of the blade the sword is in such doubt to bee moiâ—ed with inke by the dash of a penne that it loues not to come where the pen may annoye it And so the dissention and quarrell betweene the Penne and the Sworde is neuer like to bee taken vp the harmes are so great that growes on their amitie and méeting and the aduauntage of them both is so much when they bee kept a sunder For the Sworde is the best and in his most brauery when it is shyning in the fielde where bloode may be shed and honour may bée wonne And the Pen is in the chiâ—fest pompe when it lies lurking in the Towne where pence may bée purchased and peace and quietnesse may do what it pleaseâ—h And the Pen is so glad to rest in the pennar till profite cals him out that hée cannot abide the hindrers of his commoditie nor the disquieter of his ease Which commeth by warres and proceedeth from the Sword when the Drum and the Trumpet puts the penne out of credit Now to speake roundly to the reason may bee alledged in the Pens behalfe and prayses of those that haue the vse of the same it cannot bée denied but the penne may both perswade warre and purchase peace And those that heere at home maintaine good Lawes sée iustice ministred vpholde the publike state plead controuersies at the barre studie to vnfold doubtes Labour at their Booke to bée profitable members and striue dayly to excell in learning and quiet the quarrellous people of their Countrey Such I saye that with Pen or tongue aduaunceth vertue and ouerthrows vice are méete to bée honoured deserueth great laude and ought to goe in the rancke and place of commendation and dignitiye For there is but foure sortes of true Nobilitie or Gentlemen The first Gouernours by whom all States and Kingdomes are guided brought to know order and made to possesse in quietnesse the goodes that eyther good Fortune or sweate of browes hath gotten The second are Souldiers whose venter and valliance hath beene great seruice and labour not little and dayly defended with the hazard of their liues the libertie of the Countrey The thirde are vpright and learned Lawiers that lookeâ—h more to the matter they haue in hand then the money they receiue And are neuer idle in doing their duty and studying for the quietnesse of matters in controuersie The fourth are Marchants that sayles forrain Countreys and brings commodities home and after great hazards abroad do vtter their ware with regard of conscience and profite to the publike estate And as from the beginning Gouernours and Rulers were ordayned by God and the rest of Gentilitie came in and did follow as reason required and desart did commaund So ancient birth and blood ioyned with good conditions is a thing much to bee honoured and esteemed and beautifies not only the noble race but bringes likewise a treable beatitude to the person so vertuously bent and nobly borne And as for the Souldiers and their originall of honours titles and calling the Romaines which were the Fathers of all Marshiall affaires and Conquerors of the world haue so much spoken of and praysed that no man can denie but they are the men of greatest antiquitie and people that Princes first preferred and gaue stippendes vnto Yea and the chiefest Conquerours that euer were before our dayes had a great glorye themselues to bee called Souldiours and Noble Captaynes For they thought none so worthie as the Souldier nor none so meete to compare themselues vnto as the man that stoode on his honour and would neyther stoupe to no kinde of slauerye nor yeelde to no villanous action But in verie deede to speake of euery one in their order there is none â—o much to bee feared loued and honoured as the Rulers and Leaders of the common people For the peaceable Gouernour and such as are experimented in Wordly pollicies knowes how to make warre and howe to auoyde troubles and as they are loth to fall from rest and wealth to ruffeling Warre and wickednesse that bréedes bloodshed and want So they can breake the bandes of peace and set men out to the field when causes commaundes them and oportunitie doth serue But since that my purpose is but to treate of Souldiers alone and that I lacke skill to set foorth the rest I will returne to my first Discourse and intent and leaue the wise to consider what good matter may bee sayde in the thing I leaue off The Souldiour because his life is in ballaunce and his death is at the dore hath so many mischieues to passe so few meanes to escape daunger that he is compelled to be honest and be ready to make an accompt euery houre of the day For as the Cannon may call him before he be aware or the pollicie of the enemie may cut off his yeares so is he assured that the pot which goeth often to the water comes home with a knock or at length is passhed all in peeces Through which accidents or crosse chances he is held so harde and curbed so shorte if any feare of God be in his breast that he hath no scope to runne at riot in nor play the parts of a wanton or prodigall sonne Albeit some hold opinion that Souldiours be giuen to spoile and offered to insolent life by a number of inconueniences yet may they so well bee
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
Walles at the taking of Fidena Now before a Burgoies shoulde at any time enioy this Crown Ciuique hée must rescue a Romaine Citizen and kill the Ennemie that ledde the Citizen away Prisoner It must bée likewise that the Enemie did holde and possesse the place that same day that the Romaine Citizen was rescued in It is necessarie that the man which hath béen succoured should confesse the same before the people For a Soldiours own witnesse in that behalfe serues to no purpose And furthermore it is required that he that was rescued be known to be a Burgois of Rome For if one doe rescue a King that commeth to serue the Romaines hée doth not merite for the same the Crowne Ciuique In like sort if one do rescue a generall of an Armie hee gets no more honor therefore then though hée had rescued a simple Citizen For they which established this ordinaunce had no regard but to the conseruation of the Citizens of Rome whosoeuer they were The Priuilege of this Crowne shall bée to giue power to weare a Hatte of broad leaues as ofte as hée pleased that had béene once Crowned for his well doing Further all the Senate had a custome to rise out of their places and to doe honor to them that haue had this Crowne when they goe to sée the common playes and pastimes And it is sufferable and permitted that they shall sitte in a seate néere the Senatours And they shall bée exempt from all ciuill charges not onely themselues but their naturall Fathers and Graundfathers And nowe beholde touching their Priuileges there was one Cicinius Dentatus according as wee haue sayde Crowned fourteene times And one Capitolinus had sixe times beene Crowned for hee rescued Seruilius then Generall of the Armie notwithstanding Scipio Affrican would not suffer them to giue him the Crowne Ciuique succouring his Father in the iourney of Trebia O ordinaunce worthye of immortalitie sayth Plinie that assigneth no other prayse for such great workes then this great honour which surpasseth all other warlike Crownes Thus far goes the verie words of Plinie many other auncient Aucthors that I could rehearse in the commendation of men of Warre which neyther in Tholomeus time Artaxerses dayes nor any of the mighty Monarkes long raigning before could bee forgotten but were so honoured that lawes â— orders was onely deuised for the enlarging of their Land and stirring vp their noble minds Yea Soldiours and Herraldes hadde power to denounce warres insomuch as the auncient Romaines who were the Fathers of all Marshiall affaires and conquerours of the world held this for a most certaine rule Nullum bellum iustum esse nisi pro rebus iniuste ablatis quod fecialis Romani antea denunciabant Which rule and order of the Romaines for the power and honour of soldiours and Herauldes declareth they are of great dignitie and calling may compare by this there authoritie to be no whit inferiour to the best sort of Gentlemen You may read in like manner that there was a man among the Romaines that merelie or peraduenture in contempt put a crowne Ciuique vppon his owne head and looking out at a great windowe into the stréete was espyed And thereuppon apprehended and brought before the Senate where hée was iudged presently to be put to death for touching and abusing that crowne Ciuique which was ordayned for the wearing onely of an honourable Souldiour and for such a one as had béene by desarte crowned with Triumph and Solempnitie in open audience So this foolish man albeit hée might meane but little harme was had to the place of execution and there lost his life to the great terrour of those that rashly meddle with thinges that become them not and to the great honour of those that are aduaunced by vertue and winneth with courage the wearing of this Crowne called the crowne Ciuique Now comming downe to this present age in the time of our peace where Souldiours haue nothing to doe there is ynough spoken and peraduenture too much for the Souldiours commendation yet let mee leade you a little further in that case For now is to be prooued what degrées of Souldiours hauing serued long or borne any office of credit are gentlemen and may vnrebukeable bee bold to take that name and title vpon them First you haue heard that seruing ten yeares honestly and truly he is not onely past his prentiship but also aboue a iourney man and ought from all ioyrneis to be spared As a man might saie though vnproperly compared a good frée horse after his long labour and many great iourneis is to bee ridden but seldome and kept in the stable till extreme necessitie requireth and then is to bée vsed gentelie least his stiffe limmes and olde bodie deceaues the Riders expectation So a Souldiour comming to this age and perfection or being past the iollitie of youth and youthfull actions ought to be prouided for and may without presumption plead for armes albeit hee neuer gaue anye before and can bring no great proofe of his house gentrie or dissent and though he be the first of that house stocke name that gaue armes his beginning is allowed of al our ancient writers and Princes and shall put his aduersaries to silence when in that point they séeke to deface him I remember once I saw and heard an Italian being in the Eâ—perour Charles the fifth his Campe so stand on his reputaâ—ion that when a meane Gentleman quarrelled with him and desired the Combate hee aunswered hee had béene Soldado Vetche an old Souldiour and had borne office and passed through sundrie Offices by order and that the Gentleman was but a young man and but of twoo yeares experience in Warre and farre vnméete to make challenge with him that had passed so many steppes of honour and places of credite But sayd the Italian to his aduersarie goe and doe that I haue doone or passe through the like and when thou hast mounted vp and troden on euerye steppe that I haue passed come to mée and I will fight with thée the Combate But to say I will stoupe so lowe and abase my selfe as a Lorde may in fighting with a Ruffian beyonde the compasse of my calling I will not nor no Law of Armes can commaunde mee The matter came in question before the Prince of Orrange that now is dead and the Duke of Sauoy yet liuing and the challenger had a foule disgrace in the audience of a multitude and the defendaunt had a rewarde of fiue hundreth Crownes allowed him by the Emperour for preseruing his honour and estimation so much This was done and openly seene a little before the siege of Renttie and standeth for a good record Then an old souldiour is a Gentleman both worthy to giue armes and colours and méete to be borne withall in causes of quarrell An other proofe for the maintenaunce of my matter I saw at the siege of Leeth a Gentleman of great courage and birth called Maister Ihon
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
tooke the ball and stroke it at rebound Thou canst not scape quoth he then light a downe Thou art but dead thy lyfe here shalt thou lose And there withall the carle began to frowne And laid his hand vpon my leather hose Through signes he made the towne by this arose And some by warres that lately lost their good Sought to reuenge the same vpon my bloud My guide leapt vp vpon the horse I rode And flang away as fast as he could driue Downe was I halde and on my face they trode And for my robes the tormenters did striue My guide did crie O leaue him not aliue An English churle he is his tongue doth showe And gold he hath good store ful wel I know They stript me streight from dublet to my shurt Yet hose they left vntoucht as God it would No power they had to doe me further hurt For as the knife to throate they gan to hold To saue my life an vpright tale I told They hearing that laid all their weapons downe And askt me if I knewe saint Quintains towne I past therby when to the Spawe I went Quoth I and there my pasport well was viewd If that be true said one thou shalt be sent From thence in hast and so they did conclude To towne I should from sauage countrey rude So in they hey they laid me all that night Yet sought my life before the day was light But as with weedes some suffrant flower groes So in that soile a blessed man was bred Which vndertooke to keepe me from my foes And saue my life by fine deuice of head He cald me vp when they were in their bed And bad me goe with him where he thought best Least in that place full small should be my rest I followed on as he did lead the trace He brought the safe where I in surety stood Thus God through him did shewe his might and grace Which ioyde me more than all this worldly good The other sort were butchers al for bloud And daily slue such stragglars as they tooke For whome they lay and watcht in many a noke That hazard past I found more mischieues still But none so great nor none so much to feare With toyle and payne with slight of head and skil From Fraunce I came and left all mischief there Now heere what fruit my natiue soyle doth beare See what I reape and marke what I haue sowne And let my lucke through all this Land bée knowne First let mée tell how Fortune did mée call To Garnesey thoe to staie my troubled minde Where well I was although my wealth was small And long had dwelt if destny had assignde But as the ship is subiect to the winde So we must chaunge as checking chaunces falls Who tosseth men about like tennis balles This chaunce is shée some saie that leades men out And bringes them home when least they looke therefore A dallying dame that breedes both hope and doubt And makes great woundes yet seldome salues the sore Not sure on sea nor certaine on the shore A worldly witch that deales with wanton charmes For one good turne shee doth ten thousand harmes A figge for chaunce this Fortune beares no shape The people fond a name to Fortune giue Which sencelesse soules doe after shadowes gape Great GOD doth rule and sure as God doth lâ—uâ— Hée grindes the Corne and sifts the meale through sâ—ue And leaues the bran as refues of the flowre To worke his will and shew his mightie power Promotion comes ne from the East nor West Ne South nor North it fals from Heauen hie For God himselfe sets vp whom hee thinkes best And casts them downe whose hearts would climbe the skiâ— Thus earthly haps in wordlings doe not lie Wee trudge wee run we ride and breake our braine And backward come the selfe same steps againe Till time approch that God will man prefarre With labours long in vaine we beat the ayre Our destnies dwell in neyther moone nor starre Nor comfortes come from people foule nor fayre Small hope in those that sits in golden chayre Their moodes their mindes and all wee goe about Takes light from him that puts our candle out This argues now all goodnesse fréely groes From him that first made man of earthly mold And floodes of wealth into their bosome floes That clearely can his blessed will behold As sheape heardes doe kéepe safe their shéepe in fold And Gardner knowes how flowres should watred bée So God giues ayde ere man the want can sée Helpes comes not sure by hap or heads deuice Though wits of men are meanes to worke the waxe And cunning handes doe often cast the dice. All these are toyes trust vp in tinkars packes No â—lame will rise till fire bée thrust to flaxe No braunch may bud till he that made the plant With dew of grace indeede supplies the want Can earth yeeld fruit till Spring time sap doe shoe Can ayre be cleere till â—ogges and mists be fled Can seas and flouds at euery season floe Can 〈◊〉 giue life to shaâ—es and bodies dead Such secrets passe the reach of mans vaine head So looke to reape no corne for all our toile Till haruest come and God hath blest the soyle The potter knowes what vessaile serues his turne And therein still he powreth liquor sweete The Cooke wel notes what wood is best to burne And what conceipts is for the banket meete The Captaine markes what Souldier hath most spréete And calles that man to charge and office great When he thinkes good and seruice is in heat Dare any wight presume to take the place Of worthy charge till he thereto be cald Dare subiect brag before the Princes face Or striue with states that are in honour stauld Dare village boast with Citie strongly wauld Dare children clime till they good footing finde No al things yeelds to him that leads the mind He lifts aloft he flingeth downe as fast He giues men fame and plucks renowne away Hap doth not so for chaunce is but a blast An idle word wherewith weake people play Hap hangs and holds on hazard euery way And hazard leanes on doubt and daunger déepe That glads but few and maketh Millions weepe I vse this terme of hap in all I write As well to make the matter large and long As any cause or dram of great delight I take thâ—rem But here I doe you wrong To lead your cares with such a sencelesse song From hearing that I promisd haue to ende The â—are discourse the haplesse man hath pend So comming home and crept from toyle abroad With charged brest and heauy heauing hart I thought in Court my burthen to vnloade And cast away the cares of former smart But there alas my chaunce is so oreth wart I sit and sighe and fold mine armes withall And in old griefes afresh begin to fal Yea there where most my hope and haunt hath bin Where yeares and dayes I spent vpon the stocke And
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
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
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
had not no sooner turnde my backe But husband heard how all this matter fell And yet alone awhile hee let mée dwell Till that hee saw I was so farre past shame I carde not what became of honest name Indeed the house where I my residence made With â—ustie Lads was haunted euery houre And I had those that well could tosse the blade To take my part if husband ganne to lowre His friendes were weake and I with strongest power Beganne to bragge and threaten him full sore And had preparde a bloodie band therefore I sought to bring my brethren to this braule But they were wise and would no quarrell take And putting off the harmes that might befall They wisely wrought a fraindly peace to make But euer I good counsell did forsake And thought to make my husband hide his heade By practise still till he poore man were dead Yet in a moode when least I lookt therefore He came and tolde me all was much amisse Whereat I cried alas and lowde I rore For neighbours helpe who quickely hearing this Came thrusting in as ofte the manner is How now good folke quoth he with bended brow Twéene man and wife dare you bee sticklars now No in good fayth quoth they and so retierd But still I lookt for other succour there And for that thing that husband then desired I tooke no care I ment a further feare To bring him in yet maide in giuing eare To honest wordes fell downe on knées at last And pardon craude for priuie knauerie past My husband then forgaue her and tooke leaue In hope my mind would gentle waxe thereby But I that ment my husband to deceaue In better place beganne a greater crie Where women were that markt my weeping eye And thought indeed I had béene handled ill So stayde me there perforce among them still My husband swore I should receiue no harme And home againe I should be safely brought But I had taught the women such a charme They would not then depart from me for nought That could be sayde thus hee like waâ—e was wrought And tempred so that home without his wife He went awaie the more my shamlesse life When shamefâ—â—â— lookes forsooke my modest face I waxt so bold I blusht no more than blocke Then clapt on Robes of gaie vaine-glories grace With colours faire to paint a foule blacke stocke Yet calde I was a Henne for each good Cocke A morsell sweete a whetstone fine forsoth To set on edge on euery daintie tothe I carde not how my husband murthred were By Magicks force or any Diuilish arte I shoude his sight and presence euery where As one that lodgde disdaine in hatefull harte And still I playde full many a filthie parte To rid him hence and take awaie his life Who God preserude to plague a paltring wife And for to hide those brainesicke prankes of mine I had a knacke to breake the marriage bande And so a dragme or draught of poyson fine I did deuise to hap in husbands hand And as that cuppe on tables ende did stand With feruent thirst he came and so it raught And in that heat dranke of the mortall draught When guiltie heart should make my face to blushe I braude it out in silkes and Ueluets gaye And carde not what world sayde of mee a rushe For I tooke time eâ—e time would weare awaye At gracelesse games and many a shamelesse playâ— And sowing seedes that Nettle flowers brought foorth I reapt but weedes or thistles nothing woorth I rufled long when husbande barely went And faste him out in stréets or ciuill towne My freends did force the man to stand content It was no boote to striue or sweare me downe For I had made the world on him to frowne And raisde a brute that he was bedlem mad Thus loe of him the conquest still I had My haunt was such emong the noblest sorte That I was calde a sober Sibill sage And worthy wits would build on my reporte For I knew how to flatter euery age And alwaies wrought to make my husband rage Wherby his life in hazard hard might fall And I the while run cleane away with ball I loued not one but lusted after all The puddell â—oule was fittest for a gigge The fountaine faire did drinke like bitter gall In filthy mud I wallowd like a pigge About the streets was gadding gentle rigge With clothes tuckt vp to set bad ware to sale For youth good stuffe and for olde age a stale A louing looke could make a Gudgeon bite A fine du gard could fetch in scoles of fish A cunning knacke could stir vp colde delight A glittring girle could feede a wantons wish And who doth not desire a dainty dish Whose sugred taste breeds secret eger moode That faine would feed findes most fearfull food I could in stréet bestur and stretch my limmes As though some sprite were vnder outward show Who angleth not for fish that smoothly swims At pleasant mark who doth not bend the bowe Small shafts are shot at many a cerraine Crowe Then if faire birds doo hap to come in way Blame not the Hauke that makes of foule a pray Not beauty here I claime by this my talke For browne and blacke I was God blesse the maâ—ke Who cals me faire dooth scarce know Cheese from chalke For I was formd when winter nights was darke And Natures workes tooke light at little sparke For kinde in scorne had made a moulde of Iette That shone like cole wherin my face was set Thrée yéeres I straied like waffe that waxeth wilde Two more at least I lay from husbands bed And all this while I vsde him like a childe For at no time I neither wrote ne sed Ne sent to him such toyes I had in head That stomacke â—â—iffe thought not to stoupe a whit For stubborne Colte in teeth had got the bit He let me run oer hedge oer hill and dale And would not plucke the raines of bridle back I could tell why but therby hangs a tale Would make me blush and shew of grace great lacke I had my will whiles all thing went to wracke What néeds more words I ran so rude a race I neuer thought againe to turne my face What sleight scapes frée from subtill searching head What wit workes not to serue lewde womens wyles What practise flies the foile of stained bed What is not wonne with words or worldly guiles What will not yéeld and faune where Fortune smiles What time is lost to gaine that women craue And all procéeds from waiward will we haue If that we loue the fury lasts not long If once we hate our malice hath no end If that we minde to offer husband wrong We want no wit the quarrell to defend Our stuborne hart had rather break then bend And custome hath among vs made such lawes That all our sexe will take our part and cause And where the floud and streame of strife doth runne In comes the tide of
dayly troubles great Yea where a storme or braule is once begun All bitter blasts repairs and breathes out heat the eyes will stare the face will frowne and sweat The tung must clap the head wil shake and nod And hart within hath cleane forgotten God Fréends must be wrought with blades to band it out Foes must be whipt and scourged in their kinde Worlde shalbe tost and turned round about Still to maintain the mischeefe of the minde Tale bearers then shall lye within the winde To bring bad newes and set the house a fier That flamde before with sparkes of spites desire My practise strange can all these plagues vnfolde That better were lapt vp in silence héerâ— Too late to call againe that tung hath tolde The wise should sell their words and worship déere But since in world my selfe I cannot cleere I wil goe through this heauy tale of mine That world may well at wicked waies repine Long after this he heard that I lay sicke And then from Court he comes with right great spéed Do comfort me that was both sound and quick To play the Fox or knaue againe for néed But though that time I would not be agréede I tooke his wine and sent him so away With scorne enough in signe of parting day For since that time he neuer saw my face Nor had no minde to come where was my haunt And since that storme I had so little grace In euery soile I make my boste and vaunte I conquerd him and so I doo you graunt For three yéeres more I haue doon what I please And liue at large in lust and lordly ease And these fiue yéeres I haue doon what I can By tung and art and figures that I cast And euery way to shame my plaine good man which shame I feare will sure be mine at last I am so learnd I can play loose and fast My skill is such in Planets hye and low I rule the Skies and heauens where I goe Good Fortunes sure some say that I can tell And many things by figures I vnfolde I say no more but wish that all were well For he that doth this wicked world beholde whose Godhead séeeth into this massie moulde Knowes well how oft I tread my shooe awry And in what plight my sinfull soule dooth lye And if this God regarde with angry chéere The vice on earth that vainely we commit And straitly looke vnto my dooings heere And like a Iudge in trembling conscience sit I am condemd there serues ne force nor wit Out is my Lamp the oyle hath lost his light And my faire day is turnd to foule blacke night The searching heads that sifts my manners throw Will shrinke aside when I draw néere their view The wiuely dames that seeth my blotted brow In my behalfe will blush and change their hue The gentle harts that others harmes doth rue Will much lament my life so lewdly runne And cleane vntwist the threed good name hath spun The basest dame whose faults are borne in brest Wil scorne to heare my folly blazde abroad The frumping flocke at me will make a iest The spitefull swarme wil poulte and swell like tode My guilty minde that beares moste heauy lode Will sinke downe right when worlde shall talke of grace And shame her selfe will slubber all my face The two braue boies I had from husbands bed That Stoner got staines now my honest name And witnes beares to world when I am dead Of secret sins that purchast open shame I kept that close long like a cunning dame Till husband had found out my paultring life Then he at Bathe forsooke his cogging wife The foule reports that dayly I giue him Rebounds like ball to mine owne bosome straight Yet I with craft fac'te out the matter trim But still I beare the blot for all my sleight My backe so crackes vnder this heauy weight That all the ioynts and bones I beare about Uofoldes my faults and filthy manners out The sober sorte that sets by noble brute Will shake their heads as they my boldenesse spie The clapping tungs will neuer sure be mute Shreawd people all will shewe alowryng eye But still I feare the Lorde that sits on hye Will loke more strange on me so late disgraste Then all the worlde that here beneath are plaste The Church wherin both faith and hand I gaue Shall witnes beare of breach of promise due The spousall bed and mariage day so braue Shall make me calde forsworne and most vntrue the holye booke the olde law and the new Against my soule shall such sharpe sentence giue In other worlde where sprite desires to liue Let matrons chaste and modest wiues eche one That falshood hates and loues their troth to kéepe In fury come and fling at me a stone And let no wight my death bewaile nor wéep Let daies vnrest and dreadfull dreames in sléepe Pursue me still and bring me to my graue Since God and man I so offended haue The steps I tread shall tell me my offence the féelds I walke shall bring my fault to minde The harmes I did in worlde shall haste me hence The wealth I wish shall waste and weare with winde The fame I séeke shall fling me far behinde And all good things that vertuous wiues enioy At my most need shal turne to mine annoy The wise that weighes my wiles in ballance right Shall see my wit want weight and be but baâ—e The foole himselfe shall finde my iudgement light In making choise to chop and change my race The poore shall point at me in euery place The rich and those that sway and rule doth heare With curbe of Law shall bring lewde life in feare The freends I had shall froune and shun my sight The foes I haue shall follow me with shame The neighbour loue that pleasde me day and night Shall now draw backe and looke on losse of name The merrie mate and homely countrey dame And all the towne and soyle where I was borne In Parish Church shall laugh my life to scorne The bande once broke that God himselfe hath blest Brings worldly woe and curses in by swarmes The mariage marde that God made for mans rest Turnes vpside downe from happie helpe to harmes The Bridall bed defiled with lothsome charmes Breedes wicked smoke and smoothing slanders base On whose foule sume a worlde of people gaze The knot of loue vnknit by hateful cause Calles greefes to count and cries to clouds for aide The lewde contempt and breach of sacred lawes Makes euery howre offendour sore afraid The fickle faith that is with scourges paide Bids falshood flie the plague that is preparde For those who lookes to life with small regarde No rouffling troupe that sâ—ash and swill vp wine Can ward the blowes that wrath of God sends downe No cunning knacks nor knacking fetches fine Can conquer troth and thrust him out of towne No treasons traine can take way true renowne No cloud can cloke the craft that all