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
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
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
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
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
théefe that steales away our wealth Is sore afraide a true mans steps to sée The fearefull wight that doth misdoubt his health Will blushe to come where that sound people be The faithfull stands the faulty man will flée The rebell shrinks where rule and order swaies Troth bides the brunt the Traitor runs his waies Bold practise quakes when power supplants his pride Where biles breaks out there is rebellion spide Among good Ewes beware of scabbed shéepe The Wolfe with Lambe may not be matcht aright The flocke is spoilde where For the Géese doth kéepe The sicke with sound is sure no comely sight What néedes more tearmes who dares not bide the light In darkenesse dwels a blinde rebellious minde Is more corrupt then any thing we finde Then either heale the member that doth smell Or cut him of before he further swell But farre more fit that flesh should be reformde And sanâ—de from harme that else corrupt would grow The itching hand of force must needes be wormde Least skinne waxe rough and pimples rise ye know If knife pare well a corne vppon the toe The foote is easde and man shall march vpright Take slime from eies the blinde receiues his sight So cleansing cleane each part and member well The state of man in safety long shall dwell So all thinges meant that here doth passe the pen Woundes to be heald and searched as they ought All to be done for health and wealth of men And nought amisse in word in deede nor thought Yea when my verse so great a worke hath wrought To linke in loue good subiects all in one To stand as firme as rocke or marble stone Then shall my mouth my muse my pen and all Be prest to serue at each good subiects call FINIS THE HONOR OF A Souldier TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPful Sir George Carew Knight Lieutenant of the Ordinance Thomas Churchyard wisheth worldly felicity and heauenly blessednes IN calling to minde good Sir George our méeting in Ireland a long while agoe for the seruice of the Quéenes Maiesty your good brother then liuing to whome I was bound in good will I penned at that instant by his meanes the life and death of a Pirate and promised a further worke to your selfe which now I performe because your Souldiour-like disposition is aunswered with the aduauncements of Fortune and your ancient house and bloud is beautified with an honourable place the Prince hath possest you of a signe and token as I beleeue that a noble Souldiers profession shall neuer goe out of your remembraunce for the which cause I haue dedicated this worke called The honor of a Souldier vnto your protection in hope that which you haue séene and read for the commendation of Souldiers shall be a sufficient testimony of their value and worthines and shall not only procure you and others like your selfe to further their fame but like wise willing to read that I haue set downe in their behalfe for as briefely as my small Iudgement can discharge a true discourse thereof with good probable reasons and auncient authors of famous credite I minde to expresse and set foorth at large how Souldiours were made off and honoured in times past and what prerogatiue they hadde aboue other people And to declare how Princes held them in admiration and gaue them liberties titles and dignities farre beyond the rest of any that liued vnder their lawes and obedience And this by the waye is to bée thought that all my former discourse and rehearsall of warres attended to no other purpose and effect but for the aduauncement of Souldiours and to bee as it were a foile to sette foorth the matter I presentlye mind to publishe out For nowe I will in a manner shewe howe Gentility beganne and where and in what sort honour was first gotten and maintayned which argument as I hope shall not onely content the wise and well learned but also please euery degrée and make the simple sort plucke vp their courages and imitate by some honest exercises the liues of noble Souldiers I trust I néede not in this ready and ripe age wherein good writers great learning and studious iudgements doth florishe rehearse by particulars euery parcell and poinct that belongeth to a Souldiers profession Nor that you looke I should recite when and where the Romanes Lacedemonians Athenians and other nations did preferre and extoll men of Marshall minds and noble courages For their books and Commentaries and the innumerable Libraries of great antiquity are the very recordes of my discourse and remaine as mirrours for you to looke in And shall proue a thousand partes more in the commendation of Souldiours then either my penne or tongue by sufficient cunning hath power to expresse For it can not be that from a little gutte or Channell of water you should looke for so great a floud as from a multitude of springes from whence mighty Riuers takes originall and recourse And so I send you to the Welspring of knowledge I mean the auncient Fathers workes to fetch true intelligence of the thinges I make mention of touching the worthy reputation of a good Souldiour and the antiquity of his credite triumph and glory First looke in the sacred Scriptures and search from the death of Abell comming downe orderly to the birth of Christ And sée whether Souldiours were made of or no. And doubtlesse you shall finde they were not onely embraced and maintained but likewise they are of a long continuance and credite As all the Bible before Iohn the Baptistes time declareth And Christ himselfe in a sort did vtter when he saide he had not found such faith in Israell as he saw in a Centurion Yea and in the Apostles Actes there is a speciall poinct to be noted Deuout Souldiours were sent to Simon Tanners house to find out Peter Well now I committe you to the Scripture and I will follow prophane Histories begin at the very Infidels a scorne for a Christian to be taught by which are no small number nor of no little continuance people alwayes brought vp in war and Princes of great fame power and auctority Yea conquerours of the whole world and Kinges to whom all people did stoupe and doe homage These Paganes or as we may terme them lost shéepe to whome the great Shepheard would not be knowen and yet among them tormented and crucified did make such lawes and orders for Souldiers as the Turke to this day obserueth and holdeth in great reuerence Regard but the liberties and auctority of the Ianessaries and that shall manifestly proue that men of warre are had in great admiration But because you shall haue the more beliefe to the matter read the life of Alexander the Great The Commentaries of Iulius Caesar and the noble actes and victories of a number of other notable Princes And then assuredly you shall be perswaded that the renowne of Soldiours hath reached and spread as farre as fame can flie or good report could haue passage I
any iniurious person let him die And last of all Chaâ—les the Great the name of the Empire being translated to the Germaines after the conquest of the Saxons and Lombardes Caesar called Augustus hath rewarded them with this honour saying My Knights you noble men fellowes of Kinges and Iudges of faultes liue after your labour without trauaile prouide for Kings in a common name Take away vice Fauour women Helpe children Kéepe councell of the Prince and of him aske your apparell stipend and if any deny let him be accounted presumptuouâ— and slaunderous If any shall doe you iniury let him acknowledge himselfe guilty of empairing the Empire But take you héede least you defile such worshippe and such priuiledge gotten by iust trauaile of warre either by dronkennesse baudry or any other vice neither that we giue vnto you should redound vnto praise or peace which is to be taken of you If perhaps you shall exceede vs and our successors Kinges of the Romains for euer hereafter These before rehearsed woorde for woorde as I might I translated out of Latine finding therein a maruailous commendation of Souldiers and so is thereby to be pâ—rceiued that in all ages times and publique gouernements Kinges and mighty Monarkes tooke care as much for their men of warre as for their Common-weale and to bring them in heart if any dispaire or mislike should grow through slâ—cknes of looking vnto The Princes of their princely benignity and méere good will borne to Marshall people inuested them with titles names and honours such as alwaies pluckes vp a mannes courage and procures thousandes to valiauncy and seruice For who will not venter boldly a season when they know for tenne yeares toile and hazard he shall be honoured sitte at ease liue without daunger and remaine in a perpetuall priuiledge neither subiect to the mallice of lewde people nor worldly want whose plague persecuteth many millions of men and throwes downe in the dust the prayses of such as otherwise should shine like the Sunne before the â—ies of all nations And as those Kinges and Conquerours many hundred yeares agoe ordained by decrée and vertue of a Law that Souldiers should bée made honourable and possesse great contentation of minde So fell it out from time to time theyr seruices were considered And that Souldier-like King and triumphant Conquerour King Henry the eight hauing triall of Souldiers and a warlike heart to shew the honour belonging to that profession and to follow his noble predecessours Made a Law as yee may read in the Statutes that Souldiers might weare what they listed And further to the comfort of all men of warre he left no one worthy Souldier vnrewarded in what place so euer of his dominion or affaires the Soldiour had béene emploide In Fraunce our néere neighbours makes so great account of Souldiers namely those that they call Soldado Vetche that the greatest Dukes or Princes in the field Court or Towne encountering a Souldier salutes him with curtesie takes him to his Table and vseth him with such entertainement and reuerence that it is a world to beholde And when seruice is to bée séene either in battaile or at an assault The greatest Duke or noble man thinkes himselfe happy to bée ioyned with a knowen Souldier and commonly both olde and young of their nobility are formost in the â—ight and last that will retire It is a thing incredible among some ignoraunt persons to be told how Souldier-like and manlike in all poinctes they behaue themselues and how little account they make of life when death must be sought by seruice and thereby their honour and liberty of Countrey is to be preferred The Spaniards a Nation not inferiour to any yet named ioyne so in amity at their méeting make such courtesie and shew such fastnesse of friendship especially among Souldiers that euery one in presence embraceth his companion and in absence lets fall good report of the absent Yea their loue and constancy by custome and ceremonies knits them in such an vnion that no straunger can seperate and they giue so great place one to another that it is hard to know by their gestures and vsages which is the better of them And they haue theyr own Souldiers in such a liking that no people in the world shall be suffered to reape any péece of their glory The Italians Souldiers of great antiquity and of no lesse value with most humility and ciuill manner enterchaungeth their talke yéelding for one gentle word twenty good tearms smooth speeches and philed phrases And happening to come together either in seruice or otherwise they agrée like brethren and depart without quarrell And their great men and mightiest in power if they repaire where Souldiers are showes them selues of little authority as a man might gesse by their courtesie Refuseth to take any thing vppon them whâ—re the Marshall man approacheth and seemeth to be at the disposition of such as haue serued so great is the reputation of a Souldier among them The Scots men a stout and manly people beginning to take a sauour in the warre seekes sundry soiles to serue in and haue great delight to be in the company of souldiers and proue them selues worthy of commendation in any place they repair And for that they would become famous and attaine to some experience and credite they shunne no kinde of seruice that is offered and all the sorts of Gentility among them estéemeth much a Souldier Which is a signe that at the length Souldiers will come to their ancient dignity and admiration where the sound of Dromme or Trompet may be heard Now to speake of our owne Nation were superfluous although many haue serued well and sundry are yet in the exercises of warre because I haue named before diuerse thinges wherein our countrey men haue wonne desired fame and renowne yet for arguments sake and to enlarge this volume Further matter may be treated of neither hurtfull to the hearers that fauoureth well doing nor hatefull to any when nothing shall be touched but that which is necessary for the aduauncement of vertue Our soueraigne Lady by Gods prouidence to make vp the matter I bring for a testimony of great regard to Souldiers considering whom they are she hath holpen in some sort and respect and what good things haue passed among Souldiers as her highnesse heard well of or had intelligence giuen her to vnderstand the worthinesse of those that haue well deserued Doe but examine how many since her noble raign of Souldiers haue had Leases gotten liuings béene preferred to gouernment and gone from Court with full hands that beganne with empty purses And then tell the world openly what secret suits were passed and what open wrong they doe them that bountifully bestowed good gifts wher any good cause appeared Admit some by the report of their friendes stole away the benefites from the fountaine head yet looke to the rest of thinges that worthely fell out and you shall sée the best sort of
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
when some of them flue away I say not with my fethers and sat on the top of their aduancements gazing on the basenesse of my fortune which strange accidente ministred by the mutability of time makes me chuse faster friends whose noble disposition breeds greater regard whose constancies will longer continue and whose frendships bringes forth better fruite So good sir Iohn knowing your good inclination towardes the best sorte of men and faitfullnesse towardes your country and friendes I being tyed by good turns to remember you haue deuised a discourse I hope delightfull for your reading because in your sundry trauells beyonde the seas besides your good exercises at home you haue heard of many excellent men and artes of diuers natures and qualitie The worke I present you is a commendation of them that can or hath made gold if any such bee or hath bin the art wherof I haue not only commended but in some part touched as far as my simple capacitie can reach vnto touching setting downe in verse with comly termes some sufficient cause how by transmutation of mettals many men haue aduentured the making of gold Thus crauing the worlds goodwill and your fauour for the setting forth this bold discourse I passe to the matter wish you much worship wordly felicitie and heauenlie blessednesse Thomas Churchyard A Commendation to them that can make gold shewing that many heretofore hath found out the Philosophers stone WHat wordes of worth or â—â—led phrase of men May serue my turne to shew rare gifts of grace What percing speech what toong or flowing pen Is fiâ— to blase the valour of this case My wits are weake my sense and skill to base To talke or treate on thinges of such great weight That séemes so dâ—epe and reacheth such a height With Uirgills verse and Homers haughtie style In golden lines should knowledge glorie shine Would God one man were borne in this our Ile Could catch from cloudes great arts and grace diuine As he were taught of all the muâ—es nine To knowe the course of stars and stately skies And howe deepe seas and floudes doe fall and rise If mortall man may robbe the gods of skill And rule the son the moone and planets all And easly climbe the heauens when he will Or make the spirites belowe obey his call Or clap the earth into a compasse small Knowledge is he nay rather better seed A sacred power hath knowledge in his head That from the Lord of life and glory came No earthly gifte nor worldly wicked knacke For world is vaine most certaine sure I am And all foule artes makes worlolings liue in lacke The cleanest mindes are frée from ruine and wracke For vertue raignes and rules this wretched mould And drawes from drosse huge heapes of massie gold They neuer thriue that workes with hagges of hell Bare liues they lewd bare robes and wéedes they weare They seldome want that in ioyes doying well Great store of fruit a happie trée doth beare A blasted branch but withers euery where A vertuous man whose hart to grace aspires Findes good successe of all his whole desires Great studies gaines great grace and wisdome too Great wisdome lookes into Gods sacred throne And fewe doe knowe what speciall grace can doe Such secrets great doth rest in God alone And God giues man the Philosophers stone Then who hath that hath all that can be gote And needes not care for all the world a grote Some say that knowes how god is pleased best Good life helpes much to make men blessed héere If that be true God doth bad life detest where are we then where shall soule life appéere Who hath faire face who shewes a conscience cléere Such as can purge themselues with praiers still Gets greatest grace and gaineth greatest skil Good arts are armes to all our bodies throwe By force to worke by strength to strike all parts To make stife stones or steele to bend or bowe As nothing could escape the reach of arts Schollers in scholes and merchantes in their marâ—â— Can ply their thrift so they that maketh gold By giftes of grace haue cunning treble fold To catch the heate of son or fire by light And melt and myxe the mettals as they are And put by art compounds together streight As all should yeeld to fine inuention rare When science leaues all hidden secretes bare No mastry then to worke on waxe newe wrought A picture plaine to answere workmans thought Most néerest God the cleanest hartes doe goe They cast of flesh and Angels nature take And than throwe faith they may moue mountaines so Gold by that meanes a mortall man may make God doth great things for his great glories sake That world shall sée some vessels God hath chose To whome he doth his hidden giftes disclose vii of Wisdome The wise king said he saw how world was made How things began and how they end againe How fruits and flowers doe flourish and doe fade How vertues rare in herbes and roots remaine How out of stones comes dewe like drops of raine And how dry dust and earth that seemes nought worth Hides gold in hord yet brings great treasure forth He saw what grace and knowledge could discerne What wisdomes eies could sée in darkest night What God himselfe to his electe did learne What man might doe by Gods cleere lampe of light What might be knowne by simple sacred sight And what poore men by plainenesse might attaine And what fruit comes by trauell toile and paine To gather flowers and wéedes where ere they growe And take vp fruit from tops of trées that fall And mixe these things with flouds that ebbe and floe And at a becke to change their natures all Is art at will and knowledge we it call But to digge out from drosse the gold most fine Is secret skill and speciall power deuine To make fine glasse and giue it forme and shape Was sure an art that fewe at first did knowe A painter made quicke birds to picke the grape That pensell had most finely painted so In dome dead things life hath bin breathd you knowe Who reades shall sée great knowledge vnder son That was with men by grace and vertue won Mercurius Tres migistus king of the Egiptianes A king there was of yâ—er that Hermies hight Who fiâ—st found out the cause how gold was made Some at his torch did there dime candells light That earst did walke for want of Son in shade Since that in seas full many wits did wade To sound and sée how farre weake feete might goe And some did find the depth thereof I troe Gâ—bar a king likewise of great estate A volume large of this great art did write Throw studie long Gebar such knowledge gat That in his books great princes did delight Great thinges of him great actors doe resyte Greater then he some say was neuer none For he did teach how men should make the stone In a vision much matter may you read
vesssayle sinkes or barke is layd a ground Where leaking ships in safety still haue gone The harbour finde when hauen haue I none Hap calles them in when I am logde at large Thus plainnes créepes in cold cocke Lorels barge Full fifety yéeres both Court and warres I tride And still I sought acquaintance with the best And serud the state and did such hap abide As might befall and Fortune sent the rest When drum did sound a souldier was I prest To Sea or Land as Princes quarrell stoode And for the same full oft I lost my bloud In Scotland long I lingered out my yéeres When Wilford liud a worthy wight indéede And there at length I fell so far in briers I taken was as destny had decreede Well yet with wordes I did my foes so féede That there I liud in pleasure many aday And scapte so free I did no ransome pay Some said I found in Scotland fauour then I graunt my pomp was more than reason would Yet on my band I sent home sundry men That els had pynd in prison pincht with cold To French and scots so faire a tale I told That they beleeud white chalke and chéese was one And it was pearle that proud but pible stone In Lawther fort I clapt my selfe by sleight So sled from soes and home to friends I past The French in hast beséegd that fortresse streight Then was I like to light in fetters fast But loe a peace broke vp the seege at last When weary warres and wicked bloudshed great Made both the sides to seeke a quiet seat From thence I came to England as I might And after that to Irland I did saile Where Sellenger a wise and Noble Knight Gaue me such place as was to mine auaile Then teasters walkt as thich as doth the hayle About the world for loe from thence I bore For seruice done of money right good store Home came I thoâ— and so to France did fare When that their King wan Meatts through fatchis fine So on the stocke I spent al voide of care And what I gate by spoyle I held it mine Than downe I past the pleasaunt floud of Ryen And so I serud in Flanders note thesame Where loe at first my hap fell out of frame For I was clapt in prison without cause And streightly held for comming out of France But God did worke through iustice of the cause And helpe of friends to me a better chaunce And still I hopte the warres would me aduance So trayld the pike and world began a newe And lookt like hauke that lately came from mue Three yéere at least I saw the Emprours warres Then homeward drewe as was my wonted trade Where Sun and Moone and al the seuen starres Stode on my side and me great welcome made But whether fayre and flowres full soone wil fade So peoples loue is like new besomes oft That swéepes all cleane whiles brome is greene and soft Well once againe to warres I drew me fast And with Lord Gray at Giens I did remaine Where he or his in any seruice past I followed on amyd the warlike traine And sometime felt my part of woe and paine As others did that Canon wel could like And pleasure tooke in trayling of the pike At length the French did Giens beséege ye wot And little helpe or succour found we thoe By which foule want it was my heauy lot To Paris streight with good Lord Gray to goe As prisoners both the world to wel doth knoe By tract of time and wonders charge indéede He homeward went and tooke his leaue with spéede But post alone I stoode alacke the while And country cleane forgot me this is true And I might liue in sorrow and exile And pine away for any thing I knewe As I had bakt indéede so might I brue Not one at home did seeke my griefe to heale Thus was I cleane cut of from common wealâ— Yet loe a shift to skape away I found When to my faith my taker gaue no trust I did deuise in writing to be bound To come againe the time was set full iust But to returne forsoth I had no lust Since faith could get no credit at his hand I sent him word to come and sâ—e my band He came himselfe to court as I did heare And told his tale as finely as he might At Ragland then was I in Monmouth shiere Yet when in court this matter came to light My friends did say that I had done him right A Souldier ought vpon his faith to go Which I had kept if he had sent me so Well yet my mind could neuer rest at home My shoes were made of running leather sure And borne I was about the world to rome To sée the warres and kéepe my hand in vre The French ye knowe did Englishmen procure To come to Leeth at seege whereof I was Till French did seeke in ships away to passe A little breath I toke then after this And shapte my selfe about the Court to be And euery day as right and reason is To serue the Prince in Court I settled me Some friends I found as friends doe goe you sée That gaue me words as swéete as hony still Yet let me liue by head and cunning skill I crucht I kneeld and many a cap could vayle And watched late and early rose at morne And with the throng I followed hard at tayle As braue as bull or shéepe but newly shorne The gladest man that euer yet was borne To wayt and stare among the states full hye Who feedes the poore with many a friendly eye But who can liue with goodly lookes alone Or merry words that sounds like tabers pype Say what they will they loue to keepe their owne And part with nought that commeth in their gripe You shall haue Nuts they say when ploms are ripe Thus all with shalls or shalles ye shal be fed And gape for gold and want both Gold and lead The proof thereof made me to séeke far hence To Anwerp then I trudged on the spleene And all in hast to get some spending pence To serue my turne in seruice of the Quéene But God he knowes my gaine was smal I wéene For though I did my credit still encrease I got no wealth by warres ne yet by peace Yet harke and note I pray you if you please In Anwerp towne what Fortune me befel My chance was such when I had past the seas And taken land and thereon rested wel The people iard and range a larum bel So that in armes the towne was euery where And few or none of life stood certaine there A Noble Prince I saw amid that broyle To whome I went and sware his part to take The commons came al set on rage and spoyle And gaue me charge to kéepe my wits awake The Prince for loue of King and countries sake Bad me doe wel and shed no guyltles bloud And saue from spoyle poore people and their good I gaue
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
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