little iealousie but beeing out of Italie grow prowd of Englands libertie where the practices of humanitie teach vs the true vse of cōuersation So that an vncorrupted heart is Canon-proof against a slanderous tongue but a wanton minde will turne vertuous sentences to laciuiousnesse if then you were well perswaded of my vertue to put all out of doubt there passed not one word which a diuine might not haue bene partaker of otherwise bee resolued that if I had not bene limited with the bands of respecting you I would haue bene tyed to the conditions concerning my selfe and neither haue giuen eare to immodest parlee nor way to any vndecencies and so if you are satisfied I am pleased But from hencefoorth bee more confident of my worth and lesse suspicious of my loyaltie Yours if you wrong her not To her best resolued friend F.G. MY true and worthy friend Your late discourse concerning absence and iealousie as if they were rather inflamers then extinguishers of loue hath almost startled my resolutions concerning the negatiue that is whereas I held an opinion that iealousie absence were rather deficiencies in themselues and meerely obstacles to continuing kindnesse I am now perswaded they may so march in the army of passions as to haue the Vauntgard in the encounter of affection but withall I haue learnd so much cunning in morality as thus to distinguish betweene their abuses Concerning absence there is a difference in that which is constrayned and that which is voluntary For there may be honourable causes of the one when the other at the best is but an vntoward triall of one another as imployment in martiall affaires legation to forraine Princes trauell to enrich experience necessitie of trafficke and such like to all which no worthy party beloued but will affoord a helping hand and admit of hope of returne patience to endure and wisedome to harken after his endeuours but voluntary absence if it could bee veiled vnder the adulterate shew of trials hath so many ill companions that it can neither doe well it selfe nor bring them to any good order For commonly it is accompanyed with carelesnesse slacknesse in obseruation suspition feare of idle humours vnkindnesse and at last meets with vtter obliuion with diuers of that sort and what shall the party beloued conceite if she first demand reasons of his departure and after finde a breach of vowes for his returne so that alledge what philosophicall inference you may and guild it ouer with the imposturing Art of Oratory I absolutely conclude that howeuer pleasure is the stronger in his rarity loue true honest and perfect loue is no way beholding to a wilfull absence Touching iealousie I confesse I haue read of a holy-day in hell when loue and iealousie were marryed together but howeuer they feasted for that day I am sure all the time after they were turmoyled with despight For except a great discretion ouermaster suspition feare rage madnesse watchings disquiet absteining from meate and rest torment of minde and vntoward distractions accōpany vs especially if there be the least cause giuen of the breach of vowes Oh then loue prooues like a beautiful glasse which once broken can neuer be cemented againe yet I confesse there may bee a ciuill emulation concerning a Riuals worthinesse and honest feare to hazzard the thing vnobtained but once wiued and contracted vnseparable there can be no man iealous but vpon his wiues disloyalty and she that giues the occasion must aduenture her honour I will not therefore haue the marryed man iealous and would tye the amorous suiter within certaine bounds lest by transcending he transshape his owne discretion into fury and quarrelsome humours of which a well disposed Gentlewoman would nor should be any way guilty and so till I heare further I leaue what you haue heard to a fauourable construction Yours wheresoeuer To the worthie and Noble L.B. MY best Lady I wold not now proue recreant to my former cōstancy considering I haue not only plaid the wanton with affliction but haue had you a looker on to my great encouragement yet some vnkinde feare begins now to stagger my resolution because I finde a falling away amongst your selues like loose earth from a maine banke and am resolued that this banishment will vtterly disioynt the frame of our long acquaintance and at last pull in peeces the bands of true friendship else how can it be that I am vnworthy the remembrance and who would haue thought I should so long haue passed vnregarded But this is the corruption of greatnesse either you thinke to make vs slaues by obseruation or dare not bee your selues vertuous for feare of cōbersomnes as for friendship kindnesse loue faith loyalty respect and generous dispositions they are but voyces and smoake and as you all vse the same like Tantalus Apples which once touched turne into cinders and yet hang with glorious shews to the eye But will you serue me so indeed and as the diuell seduced the woman the womā enticed the man the man offended his Maker run arme in arme in the race of contempt and at last triumph in my deiection Why doe a Gods name and then shall you see mee smile in distresse and reach at the helpe of all helpes out of heauen it selfe yet for al this I pray you do not mistake me but rather impute all to the distraction of my owne feares then your defects for I haue euer loued your worth and while I liue will thinke you worthy to bee beloued so that if amongst your other vertues you can pardon this vnsauorinesse I shall receiue a new life and with a further chearefulnesse present my duty once againe vnto you Yours if you prooue worthy To his much esteemed Mrs. P. MIstresse Me thinkes I behold you like a goodly ship at sea so that I which am a stander on the shore must needs be afraide when I consider the danger of boysterous winds and raging billowes the perill of the shelfes and sands the terror of rockes and shores the inconueniences of harbors and long voyages and the hazzard of incounters with pirats and men of warre Yet againe when I remember the excellent workemanship in your contriuing the strength of your building the comelines of your raising vp the delicacie of your trimming and aboue all the cunning and experience of your Pilot and steersman I am somewhat pacified and had rather expose you to the glory of famous voyages then see you lie still in safe harbour where time and many inconueniencies shall weare out your keele and obscure your beautie therefore go foorth a Gods name and let me see you vnder saile For the wisest of men hath compared a good wife to a ship at sea which bringeth her food from a farre and so I make no doubt you will esteeme your selfe and not aduenter abroade without care order and good prouision In which hope I leaue you to the fortune of the world and send my good
winne the game for a meane estate you shall be sure that the very best husbands will ouer-looke your grounds for you as glad to spie a fault in them or come with a tale to pleasure you euen with offering his seruice to amend it himselfe for you But withall is not the house of too great receipt costly to furnish chargeable to repaire dangerous to keepe and drawing on extraordinarie expences euen for fewell and maintenance besides is there not a certaine expectation of extraordinary house-keeping and entertaining of passengers Wherein to proceede it will drinke vppe the profite of the Farme like a Spunge wherein to drawe backe will drowne your reputation in vilipending This is that I would say vnto you so that if you meete with discretion and iudgement in so intricate a businesse surely I must applaude your choise for taking the mannor house but if you chance vpon iollitie or vaine-glory determining to thriue you will take as wrong a course in being a farmer as I haue done in aduising you against your minde and desires Yours with good wishes To his well aduised friend S. G. SIR When I opened your last letter and ouerviewed the sentences diuided into interrogatories I was almost affrighted as if there had bene a citation sent for me but after I considered the particulars and saw they were onely houshold aduertisements or if you will husbandly questions for the better setling a man in the possession of contentment I cheered my selfe and thought it good manners thus to answer them wherein if I pay you in your owne coine and not once to looke into the treasure house of Oratorie for any rhetoricall amplification remēber the iustice of my cause and the low flight of my subiect But to the purpose VVhereas you demand how you should build your house I answer thus That though former times esteemed it better to haue a house too litle for a day then too bigge for a whole yeare and cared for no conueniencie of lodgings so the hall and kitchin were bigge enough to dresse meate and entertaine company yet doe not you so but discouer a good spirite by the outward fashion of your building choose a handsome prospect and wholesome scituation let your lodgings bee warme and light for you may darken them at pleasure your staires easie and your roomes of entertainment large delightsome the out-houses conuenient the gardens and orchyards to the South and your owne chambers neere your husbandrie yet as farre from annoyance as you may In a word let the whole frame discouer your willingnesse to do well rather then brand you to hereafter memory for couetous and basely disposed and if you can leaue an estate of a thousand markes behinde you let the passers by viewing the house imagin it a 1000. pound a yeare For so a second good husband a good family to match in may raise it in another age and then followeth a kinde of repining that my father or grandfather was not well aduised and esteemed more of money then the reputation of his family But aboue all take heed you exceed not this proportion lest either you incurre derision for beginning a worke you were not able to finish or leaue the house to emptinesse and decay if your next heire be not sufficient to adorne and furnish it Whereas you demand what retinue to keepe I answer Haue rather one too few then two too many of al other things take heed to an idle seruāt for corrupting the rest for I cannot but resemble him to a stinking broad spreading burre who is not onely bad in it selfe but hinders the rest of the grasse growing round about it And concerning outward shew by that time your Clearke Coachman Butler keeper of your Wardrobe chiefe Bailiffe and better sort of husbandmen be instructed the houre of attendance and haue also an honest care and cunning cleanely to shift themselues there may be a sufficient ostentation for a hundred pound a yeare Wheras you demand what fare you should keepe I answer thus let not the Sunday so exceed as there be scarcitie in the weeke following giue the laborer sufficient for dainties fill not the belly allow not euery one a breakefast nor euery day three meales haue your meate warm and good but do not reserue the best dish till it be starke naught if a neighbour come in about businesse let him tarry a Gods name if he be inuited set before him what he hath not at home rather haue a litle fresh thē return a great deale to smell of the dry larder and aboue all let not the end of the table be so forgotten either to be serued with blowne drinke stale bread or refuse meate For goers and commers by the dore will looke for that and better because such a heart and tongue may sit at your boord as will repine at his nasty entertainment and be bold to publish your reproach Wheras you demand what cattell to keep I answer thus For a Gentleman Oxen are better then Horse because after any mischance they may be fed for the butcher and few men of sort would cart for mony or attend the court with a Teeme let such doe that as loue toile and mony and tast any paines taking with the sauerines of profit those geldings you keepe let them be wel orderly kept so that if your country must be serued you haue one in readines the seruāts which ride with you let them be honest carefull and well prouided and take heed of basenes as plowing cattell broken saddles patcht bootes vnmatched spurres a sword without a chape nay I would not haue the sword and hangers of one fashion and girdle or dagger of another with infinit such disparities and meerely ridiculous nastinesse Wheras you demand what gouernment to obserue I answer generally thus and for particulars you shall heare more heereafter Aboue all remember the Sabboth and rather feast of any day then of that not but that the Sabboath is a continuall feast but how for spirituall purposes not filthy gurmundice more then necessity of life and good vse of conuersation let no swearer nor prophane person once or twise admonished tarry with you giue good examples by your owne praiers and rather by gentle exprobration then filthy vndecncies reprehend your seruants but suffer them not to be masters amongst themselues To conclude be charitable towards offenders gentle to inferiors willing to giue carefull of good neighbours and remember the sicke labourer and fainting soule Yours with a true heart To his respected Friend Mrs. G. MY old acquaintance I vnderstand by your first seruant that you haue enlarged your minde with your house determining to lodge ciuill Gentlemen and to raise a benefit from their entertainment besides you adde for excuse want of company and that your house is ouer-great for your owne family here is now a subiect of plentifull matter and in dilating the same I must needes incurre displeasure on all
growing to vnderstanding make not nature a slaue to cunning or profit that is enforce them not against their owne inclination to follow that which is irkesome vnto them For if you tie a great spirit to a seruile trade hee will neuer proue good chapman or contend with dul capacitie about mistical secrets he will neuer grow good scholler so in the rest let them euer be where either the best company shal giue good example or if inconueniences follow they may haue the shadow of honourable purposes but aboue all let them neither practise deceit nor dishonestie for when a mind is once corrupted with basenes it resembles a stinking vessel which will neuer be througly sweetned Concerning your daughter presume not too much of our countrey liberty for wantonnesse standeth at the corner of euery Street to inuite the commers-by yet do not so restraine her that shee may eyther murmure at the same or complaine to her neighbours of her Parents hard hand as though shee were viciously inclined by nature If it bee possible rather school her within dores thē aduenture her with a pedant abroad and for dancing courtship and such like let thē be vsed rather like a feather to a litle dust which may be brushed from the garment the guard or seame which shall weare out with the cloath giue them warning of familiarity with the seruants For a curteous ciuility becommeth the children of Gentlemen but wanton embraces sitting on the knee bearing in armes and such like be fearefull signes of following confusion and too forward desires sitting vp late allow not nor giue way vnto night banquets For they resemble the stolne bread in the Prouerbs and a strumpets Title is the nethermost hell wherein the name of Virgine is perpetuallie damned make them not proud either of natures portion or the fathers dowry For women will looke in a glasse and shal not want any flattering to seduce them to vanity and concerning the vpshot of all reckonings which is mariage let her neither assume so dangerous a liberty as to run at randome without your consent nor be you so transported with a variety of selfe-loue as to draw her perforce to vnpreuentable inconueniences yea many times mischifes and confusion For these matches in infancy as contracts for mony without liking enforcemēts to vnequall yeeres or nasty disparily with diuers of that kind are meerely pullies to winde vp care sorrow and discontentments and at one letting flippe the hold to hurry them on the head of a poore afflicted virgin Yours in true libery To his ill aduised friend I. M. SIR I am not ignorant that the two mastring corbes that gouern the reines of the whole world are praemium and Poena reward and punishment I doe also know that in a statute against stabbing and wilfull murther there is a clause of exception inserted for fathers and masters in correcting their children and seruants yet will I giue no such way to the violence of passion as that a Gentleman or otherwise ciuill disposed liuer should strike or wound his seruant with any dangerous weapon nor can I any way colour your temeritie for contending so long with that boysterous knaue as to bee compelled to free your selfe for such be the words of your excuse out of his robustious closing with you by the stabbe of a dagger which ranne 9. inches vpward ouer his pappe Beleeue me it was a fearefull falling off and I wish in my heart there had beene no such occasion giuen to draw your discretion in question nay to endanger your person and estate For if he had miscaryed the king hauing lost a subiect you must needs haue beene brought to iudiciall triall then lawes are according to the Iudges construction or Iurors interpretation Well I hope from henceforh you will be better aduised and rather bring vp your seruants so that either they shall not offend or after the offence be apprehensiue of instruction with more gentle correction Therefore choose the sonnes of such men as rather will second their fathers honesty and credite then follow their owne wantonnesse and riot let euery one haue instruction for their feuerall places yet teach them al to obey when you command and not one to command another haue an eye vnto the honest diligence of the meanest and grace him with a cheereful reward If you chide for good occasion ler the ptowdest be the subiect of your first admonition wherein be so temperate that vndecent reuilings heate not your mouth but words sauouring of wisedome and iustice Thus shall the rest stand in awe when they see you are not partiall or fearefull if aduice serue not spare not a smarting blow which if it prooue a sturrer vp of rage or contēpt in him bring him to publike iustice but be not you on him your own executioner suffer neither oathes nor prophanation no gaming on the Sabbath nor for much mony at any time nay let it be rather a recreation with a modest acknowledging your wincking at small faultes then any comaunding voice to passe away the time or please themselues let them not slack the houres of attendance nor the entertainment of friendes giue eare to no busie bodies tale-tellers nor flatterers of your imperfections least gouernment turne to confusion and recreation to dissipation as pride is a drawer on of filthy enormities so nastines and vncomely adorning themselues brings surquedry and loathsomenes To conclude in one word let your seruants be such of all sortes as shall doe what you prescribe rather then make vse of the time to maintaine their owne pleasures and licentiousnes as for such as must performe inferior seruill duties pay them truly and send them to their worke orderly neglect no seruice of God for any cause and if you haue as you ought priuate praiers let all come and know what reuerence meaneth hearken to the time of sicknes and let them not complaine for want nor cry out to God for susteyning more then they can away with vpon good deseruing adde a recompence and let none presume to strike or reuile another Infinit other particulars would draw on many lines but these shall sufice till better conueniency to shew my loue and duty and serue for caution and aduertisement Yours in charitable aduise Politike Letters To his noble Lady and Vertuously respected T.G. WOrthy Lady I thinke it not befitting the time nor the tendernes of your sex to giue such life to your memory as Catalogue the praises of that worthy knight deceased or draw in question his want of iudgement in this one point or peraduenture abilitie in leauing you thus wrapped vntowardly in accounts and bringing you as hauing fiue daughters to marry to the house of care and sadnesse further then the sorrow of his losse and the ceremonies of his exequies pretended But I would rather open the store-house of instruction and comfort and shew you the Embleme of Fortune or Time shadowed with a hairy foretop as if we
might take hold thereon for any purpose and a bald head behind as if opportunity let slip were not to be recouered Therfore without ceremony if there were not necessitie yet out of a necessary policy let not the noble Iudge be dallyed with in his honorable purposes and considering the heat of youth is spent and as the Poets sing that Hiperions fires burne not with a wonted blase be rather cautelous for a well disposed life then indirect satisfaction of fancy this I would say if you were rich and childlesse good helpes in all times both good and bad but as time hath brought you to wrastle with some inconueniences you must learne if it be possible to giue a fall rather then a take foyle both for your own and childrens sake dispence with wantonnesse and be rather prouidently ambitious thē ambitiously improuident For by this match your quietus est shall be obtained your peace shall be made without disquiet your accounts shut out of the kings Exchequer your houshold affaires reducted to an vniformity your lap filled with money your eares with submissiue petitions and your chamber with the better sort of visiters your daughters shall still walke in the schoole of courtlinesse and befitting suters and rather be taught to step vp to honor then fall downe to feare of preferment euen their youthfull desires for ornament and cost shall bee so supplyed that you shall graunt without grudging and they demaund without timorousnesse or combersome importunity their portions shall be sure of augmentation For though he do not open the strings of his owne purse yet from custome the vnder officers will bring in presents and such Gentlemen as before would make question of some incombances shall now attend your house for resort and noble conuersation so that without controuersie there is no refusing his loue nor disputing with any maligne circumstances of his yeares and humours Yours in honest aduise To his much disquieted Friend A.S. SIR I am ashamed to shew my selfe a traitor to gentry and binde a free spirit to the seruitude of controwle for the wisest greatest must faile through imperfections and he which submits to the command of another cannot tell how he may bee driuen to impatience so that I could sweare that it were vnbefitting to a man of your estate a Gentleman of blood a housekeeper of account a Iustice of peace and a commander of many seruants to fall backe into the contemned estate of seruitude weare anothers blew coat Yet because pollicy hath some secret walks into which Vertue will not enter and that I see errors hale vs along to dangerous inconueniences without satisfaction of humours I am contented at this time to deceiue your apprehension with the mist of pollicie with guilefull feeding of ambitious and contentious humours If then your feare be so great of the knight your adioyning neighbour and Lord of the mannor that either you must come to triall of the law and profuse expences or meet with contracted browes and perillous encounters there is no such way to wipe away the feare of these encombrances as the supportation of the great Lord you speake of whose seruice must be orderly implored but cunningly obtained wherein I would haue you resemble the Lapwing which cryeth farthest from her nest and so fasten your selfe vpon him rather with admiration of his vertues which haue altogether attracted your submission then feare of your owne defects or desire to bee by his helpe reuenged on your aduersary and this you must strengthen a while with attendants and presence marking whom he admits to his secret familiarity and consorting with them not so much for fellowship as to be a mediation betweene your Lord and your self when occasion shall burst out shew some particulars of your wrongs where by way of discourse you may intimate that you wonder at your aduersaries audaciousnesse not to forbeare you now for his honors sake considering one vertue enclined to another and he would not maintaine any iniustice for a world As for those controuersies impending his Lordship should command him as his seruant and ouer-rule all as should seeme good to his honourable pleasure This is the surest channell as I take it to lanch foorth your ship in the troublesome Sea of contentions with your betters or at least such whom the worldes estimation reputeth in a higher eminence So that if you can dispence with some disgraces which may chance by distemperature of your Lord and calumniation standing on the tip of idle tongues abroade you may meet with sedition of countrey troubles and peraduenture carry the sway of applause and obseruation euen at publike imitations as your credit with your master is subiect to report or opinion Yours in honourable loue To her louing Neece G. B. MY dearest Loue There hath passed and ouer-passed a rumour of the young Counts affecting you wherein loue hath dealt like himselfe and chained him to certaine streights of passion so that by voluntary oath he hath protested conditionall mariage if you please to afford him a primordiall satisfaction wherein loue may Simpathise between you I know not but meerly out of honest honorable policy goe into the open channell rather then come neere the bankes of Nylus where Crocodiles may deceiue you with teares of all other things let no man boast of diuiding you til you yeeld him possession of al together this is a caution euen amongst wantons not to marry with him to whom dotage or misfortune hath prostituted them For what hope is there but a following eternall iealousie when a breach is so made a continuall roaring and thundering of whole vollies of checkes taunts and opprobrious tearmes of whore strumpet filth What had I but another might haue gotten and what know I but thou art still a broken glasse neuer to be cemented againe Therefore sweete Neece stand vpon a strong guard of circumspection and doe not expose the certaintie of your honorable merite and high attracting worthinesse to the vncertainty of deceiueable promises I care not though I tearme them fully resolued oathes For one way they are yet in the pleasure of the first maker another way in the danger of better resolued conceit when the heate of wantonnesse is reclaimed and some new displeasure shall open a gappe of both your ouer-sights But I hope I neede not ambiguously handle the cause of your vertue and modest inclination considering you haue many times cast a defiance in the face of temptation and will now surely when you are to bee tryed pure gold indeede not make it adulterate by ambitious desires or foolish credulitie Yours in preuailing truth To his louing Cousin at Court H.A. GOod Cousin Seeing you are resolued to follow the sway of time and become a Courtier with an intent to depend vpon the fauourite of the kingdome that noble and generous Count you may take your owne race to leape as high and farre as you can But as
wherein I am the rather emboldned because I hope I haue encountered with such a man that did not so much glory in the pleasuring of vs as reioyce in bringing his owne good purposes to perfection Your true obseruant To his Honourable Friend WOrthy Syr Amongst many others Martiall hath a prety Epigram against an hypocriticall Moecenas of learning who when a reasonable Poeme was presented vnto him accepted the same but returned the author without recompence which when Martiall perceiued was a tricke of couetousnes and bad disposition hee called him cousener and vrged the reason hee said hee had cheated him of his Time labour wit spirits and passion For how could a poore Scholler but repine at the miserie and curse the occasion that had preuented him from a further benefit else-where But on my soule you were not affrighted with this For I haue knowne you requite the writing of a Letter and when you rendered great recompence for a small kindnesse I haue heard you say Sic paruis componere magna solebam As for my poore businesse I wondered at your profusenes and thought it a donatiue from heauen and when I was telling of three pound for three sheetes of paper I suspected my selfe for dreaming till a creditor came in and not onely awaked my feares with assurance it was golde but was contented to take the most part of it away in part of payment of a greater summe Thus from your Noble bountie was I releeued a debt payed your Honour divulgued a good example discouered and all of vs assisted And thus must I sweare you worthie of all worth and bee my selfe prowd that euer I knewe your name and participated of your good condions wherein I hope as a Magnes you will draw others to imitation and teach me to take out a new lesson of loue dutie and obedience toward you Yours as you haue restored him To the right Honourable Lord. L. MOst Honorable Lord As often as I was comforted with the glorious sight of golde so often must I needes remember your Honour but when I make vse of the same to worthy purpose I blesse the cause and pray the giuer of all blessings to establish you as firmely as wishes and worldly meanes can contriue Oh what a difference is there betweene wants and aboundance betweene preferment and standing at a stay betweene imployment and idlenesse whereas before I walked vnre-garded now I fitte at ease admyred and how euer the heart is corrupted I am sure of an obsequious ceremony and cheerefull countenance where as before I was scarce welcommed to any I am now entertained of all and in steed of fretting my selfe for lacke of presents to giue my friends am now made cheerefull with many gratuities euen from my enemies whereas before I could not preuent necessities with great paines taking and trouble I now supply euen wantonnes with cheerefulnes and pleasures So that the feare is as great to be corrupted with felicitie as the vexation was greeuous to be tormented with aduersitie whereas before my sonnes were affraide to bee called the children of a beggerly Gentleman and the daughters sequestred themselues for want of outward ornaments the boyes dare now floorish with the best fashion and the girles take vpon them to demand what liuings shall equall their dowry and all this heate commeth from the Sun-shine of your fauours all this glorie from the raies of our regard all these riuulets of spreaching graces from the sweetning spring of your effectuall loue toward me so that as I liue I am beholding to nature but as I liue well I am beholding to you and the highest onely excepted none but you nor will acknowledge any vpholder of my state but your selfe while I liue Yours howeuer established To the worthy of Honourable titles Sir F. H. NOble Sir I perceiue that vertue and discretion is so predominant with you that you keepe equall correspondencie in all things For as I walked in your orchard I saw a yong tree scarcely rooted and doubly defenced for feare of a shaking wind and boysterous shouldring of carelesse commers and goers whereby remembred my selfe and businesse and when I recounted that in my last presumption by plunging my selfe into a turbulent sea that is in aduenturing to contend with my great and malicious aduersary I was readie to sinke vnder water had not your streched out arme held my head vpright I blessed heauen for sending such succor I blessed you for taking such compassion I blessed the cause that thriued so wel and I blessed my selfe that had obtained such fauour so that I must not onely be thankefull for the same but request the perseuerance to your continuall glory Oh how happy is hee that runneth well but ten times more happy that obtains the reward The good desires of men haue some allowance their charitable actions great estimation their noble beginnings warrantable hopes but a constant resolution and perseuerance assurance of felicity Therefore worthy Sir as much for your owne honour as my good I humbly request you to consider still of mee and as you holpe me out of a dangerous tempest so now vouchsafe to pull me out of a raging fire not that I would haue any contumacy in me abetted by your greatnesse but see true noblenesse in you spring vp to the eminentest height For Sir G. threatneth further and when he was not to be answered told me in publicke that neither I nor my Champion should cary it away as we presumed But good Sir you pleade for vertue and innocency and therefore I know will not be out-dared with power made wilfull by peeuishnesse in which confidence I will neither accumulate your praises nor flatter my well deseruing but settle my resolution to desire nothing at your hands which is vniustifiable nor despaire of any thing which your loue to mee and regard of the iustnesse of the cause may contriue Yours resolued To the Honourable Lady M. MOst worthily honored when Dauid gaue only care vnto Zibas complaint lame Mephibosheth was wronged and halfe his land was giuen to a Parasite which made Salomon more cautelous and from his fathers vniust proceeding in this kinde preuented the calumniation in himself and so admitting the harlots face to face decided the controuersie for the liuing child So that it cannot choose but that you haue thriued in searching the Scriptures and made vse of the same to your eternall comfort For which I thanke you and beleeue it it was nobly done both to send my accuser away without entertainement and not condemne mee for any triuiall enforcement before you heard my iustifications Why my best Lady you know and many better men then he haue told you that I am so farre from wronging you with a falshood that I haue maintained your honor against any as farre as truth would giue me leaue when as the time was that you gaue mee cause to distast your vnkindnesse I would not permit another to whisper
repent Nor hath he pardond all whom he hath shent Nor mad them happy whom he doth forbeare And so much wiser in so much mistrust They haue most hope that haue most doubt of tim the best assured hart must beare or brust Bare honesty is poore as Ballet-rime And somewhile counted for an heynous crime Yet store's no soare because the honest-wise Are feasted when they haue what will suffise Content's a royall portion for a Prince A minde at peace excelleth gouernment Hee hath abundance that hath competence Pleasde is a treasure neuer to be spent The patient man did neuer yet repent Nor hope in vaine nor yet in vaine repine For sufferance is sufferantly diuine And yet it is a hinderance to my Creede That neither sexe nor sorts in meanes or minde Neither for cause matter desert or deede Should haue a care of loue or loue of kinde Lost-labour so to seeke and such to finde Then seeke no more to finde such labours losses T is better not to liue then liue with crosses For touching life that we doe loue so much And court with such variety of fauour If that our wisedome and our grace were such To weigh our losse of time with losse of labour And iudge the mischiefe of our misbehauiour In both the courts of conscience repentance Our selues might giue both euidēce sentēce And scape the scrupule of a froward minde And clense the filth of our corrupted sence And in the molde of vanity soone sinde The foule occasions of our vilde offence Purging diseased sinnes with some pretence Wherby we liue so wretchedly so wrought on as neither GOD nor any good is thought on O wicked world growth of inconstant passions Wherein no vertue is at all abiding If now at ease streight sicke at least of fashions With whose impatience there is no desiding From whose deuises there is no diuiding Now this then that euē as the humor bread Now honor'd much aboue our small desert Anon more low then is the seruile slaue In whom ther is no hope no worke nor Art To purchase or prolong to wish or craue Oppression's humble and opinion's braue All things vncertaine yet most certaine too That what so ere Time made it shall vndoo Times past present teach vs what 's to come That fraile mortality is as fruitlesse aire Thogh much desirde honord much by some By some lesse happy in as much despaire In some most fowle in other some most faire Most fowl most fair most desprat most desird And all but with infection most inspirde So all alike the Noble and the Clowne Dye and with them their deeds as well as they For after-ages put the former downe Their murthred monumēts haue nought to say Their beauties with their bodies ayre clay Caesar and Alexander dead rotten The actors and their actions quite forgotten Dauid the Darling of th' Almighties-heart Predominant in pleasure and in power Most worthily till wickednes did thwart That heauenly Sunshine with a worldly showre The greatest winner hath a loosing hower For GOD did neuer yet make that man liue That hath not in his life some cause to grieue How trust we then to vaine abilitie The breath of howrs giddy Fortuns fauors Whose alterations worke debilitie And our loose-hopes with loosing happes mislabours time hūteth fools as fools hūt hares with tabers Beating vpon the toppe of stiles and stockes Tlll in the fire of pride they burne like blocks Sencelesse of all sence but sencelesse pleasure And that it selfe euen as it is affected Subscribing onely to the humors leisure By which alone they wholly are directed Till ill by worse be worthily detected Then car'd as little for as they haue car'de They feele the differēce to be spoyld or sparde Beauty and strength are but a vulgar blast And shape a subiect vnto euery beast Euen sence it selfe will leaue our selues at last When this shall be the subiect of the feast That vertues store will neuer be decreast Wher good men may recoūt without controule The golden reckoning of an humble soule And to dilate the matter somewhat more Let 's looke a little ore the world againe And see if that we haue not causes store to fret our selues and on our selues complaine that any worldly Soyle our soules should staine When nothing in the world is good or sure ther 's nothing good that can the world endure Princes of state the game of Fortunes wheele Are treasons subiects thralls to base despight tormented in their soules when as they feele A guilty conscience open inward sight to see how wrongs haue ouergrowne the right And how so ere theyr titles make them proud Yet must they dye like mē GOD saies aloud Nobles the breath of Kings are vaine in pride And vainer in opinion of vaine men Swelling with factious hearts gainst wind and tyde If they be crost or countermanded when The Lyon mongst the beasts coms from his den And peraduenture takes the Ape to play When Beasts of nobler kinde are chasde away Great Officers the wantons of the time Sifting theyr sences through sleight vanitie Teaching poore vertue that this durt slime Must worke our worldly base felicitie And further pleasures in iniquitie As for the soule let simple men regard it For being simple simple worths reward it Friends yet vntryde like golden hanging fruite With wordes of fauour and as smooth as oyle Smoake promises to helpe thee in thy sute But all to countnance pride and to beguile Simplicitie with many a fained smile For touch them once they crumble vnto dust like burnt cole-fruit which Tātalus did trust Acquaintance onely bubbles in the ayre Made out of sope and water by young boyes Swelling a while with pleasant shape and faire As long as our owne breath augments the ioyes but blown on burst prouing thēselues slight toyes For if that our misfortunes are espide They quickly shrink hang their heads aside Children the care of cares and harts disease In such a time of brauery and sinne Where disobedient sonnes must needs displease And daughters faire themselues to know begin Seeking a dangerous libertie to winne For what a Feuer makes the Father quake whē daughters hāds with fool or whore do take Women the torments of vnsetled hearts The very Fewell vnto burning lust Yet in themselues doe acte contrary parts Against such men as doe them truely trust For if they swell with wantonnesse vnburst They practise slye deceyts if they be good Yet oft with chafings they doe vexe thy blood Strūpets most dangerous baytes a burning fire Blacke coales consuming or for to bismeer Trothles to trust wrought vp with greater hire A foule consumption of the soule most deere Yet making boyles and botches to appeare O that fond mā wold liue with sweetned breath For their darke stincking houses lead to death Beautie a pleasing ornament to sight Ordainde to shew the Makers noble glorie But see how Pride and Nature doth delight To ouerthrow the goodnes