THE Castell of Courtesie Whereunto is adioyned The Holde of Humilitie with the Chariot of Chastitie thereunto annexed Also a Dialogue betwéene Age and Youth and other matters herein conteined By Iames Yates Seruingman 1582. Reade but not deride Accuse not without cause Such hastie doome accordeth not With reason nor her Lawes LONDON Imprinted by Iohn Wolfe dwelling in Distaffe Lane neere vnto the Signe of the Castle TO THE WORSHIPFVL his approoued good Master and Friend Master Henrie Reynolles Esquire ESpying by apparant shewe worshipfull Syr the greate good will you beare vnto those that abaÌ„don idlenes and applye themselues to some kinde of exercise where by often frequenting it may bring vnto them hereafter such praise and profite as they shal haue singular occasion to pray for those friendes which lende them ayde in the same It is not materiall to amplify or glose vnto such whose iudgement is vniuersall whose foresight in matters hath great foreshewe of silent interpretation I am to craue at your worshippes handes three things First not to condemne my boldnesse Secondly not to repulse my rudenesse And thirdly to accepte my simple good wil who wrote this with as zealous affection as euer Paris bare vnto faire Helena This simple peece which by my simplâ— industry I haue peÌ„ned is vtterly voyd of eloquence For why it was neuer as yet my chance to haue any conuersatioÌ„ where such societie accompanied together For Pallas will not be seene to intermeddle her selfe where Pan so peartly preaceth in place I am perchance too tedious vnto your worshippe and make a long Oration vnto litle effecte But as a shameles crauer hath not the ciuilitie to make an end So I the skilles writer haue not the perseuerance of inough I therfore to be short make this my present vnto you intituled The Castle of Courtesie whereunto is adioyned The Houlde of Humilitie a matter not so worthie as you are worthy to be a Patrone off But fame hath so spread your courtesie and humility your ciuilitie and humanitie as it abasheth me to speake because I wante the skill according I beseech your worship not to weigh the worke but the wil not the matter but the maker vvho vvil during life rest at your commandement vvishing vnto your vvorshippe vvith vnfayned faith your hearts request in vvhat soeuer and eternall felicitie in the vvorld to come Amen Your worshippes seruant dayly at commandement Iames Yates Verses on his name That vvell deserues the same Hee merits praise who vertuous life doth leade Experience shewes the bountie of his minde Neglecting not if he may stand in steade Redelie prest his friendlie ayde to finde Yn time of neede be stayeth not his hande Regarding those which in distresse doe stande Excluding coynesse from his courteous brest Yf Fauour faile in him it may be found Not skornefullie the simple to detest Or with disdaine his phrase of speech to sound With modestie he meekelie markes the ground Looking into true meaning of the hart Such as it is he takes it in good part FINIS Iames Yates Seruingman to the Courteous and Friendlie Reader IF my request may stande in steade to craue this at thy hande Then let I pray with courtesie this simple worke be skande â— My paine is for to pleasure thee ingratefull doe not seeme Least that thou doe discourage me if skoffingly thou deeme This skillesse worke which I commiâ— vnto the open view of those whose vpright meaning is inclyned to be true I boldly venture to present aâ— one that hath good will To gratifie those that deserue though simple be my skill Presuming that all Zoilus sect are sunke and vnder ground And that there are no SICOPHANTES I hope for to be founde But such as rather will amende fiue faultes ere they finde one O Lord it were a golden world if SICOPHANTES were gone I cannot couer nor conceale the fruites that I doe gaine But publikely must them display though they be base and plaine And as by tracte of time we see rare matters worke effecte So I in time may chance on choise some better to selecte In meane time my request is thus accept these as they be And you perchance ere it be long shall haue some more of me Which better shall content conceite receiue these as the first Good wordes they say as soone are sayde as are the vile and worst Farewell ¶ The Author to his Booke I Stande in doubt that some dispitefull matâ— Will closelie carpe concealing no dispraise But in contempt of thee and of thy state Will goe about discredite for to raise To seeke and search by all the meanes they may Thy true intent to murther and to slay But see thou seeme obedient and milde Beake thou and bende no hautinesse doe hauâ—t Confesse the trueth thy Author is a childe Who wanteth wit and so thou maist them graunt Yet willingnes should be esteemed as well As those whose phrase doth seeme for to excell No no not so therein you doe digresse The pregnant pate doth purchase all the praise Whose fluent vaine doth make the minde apresse By deepe delight alluering alwaies Attentiue eares to listen and to barke What such repeate me thinkes I see them markâ— Alas my booke thou art not for their frame Thy skiliesnesse must trouble no such place Be patient although thou suffer blame And be content though girded with disgrace I am disposed to deeme of thee what dout Thou shalt sustaine by this thy going out Yet when I had perfectionated thee And brought to passe that which was somes desire Sende it abroade they straight waies saide to me My friend vnsained of you wee doe require I readie was withouten stay or stint To giue them leaue thee for to put in pâ—int FINIS The Booke to the Author WHat doe you meane I pray Such kinde of speech to say Doubtfully to display What shall of me insuâ— There 's none will goe about To mock or for to floute Except it be some loute Of trothe I tell you true And as for such as those The trueth for to disclose I cannot fayne ne glose I passe them not a pinne I am not in their dette Wherefore they cannot let That which I downe haue set Sith nought by them I win And though their cunning be Superior ouer me Yet Sir for ought I see They faile though they be fine I would I had the skil According to my will Their curious cup to fill I would my selfe incline To speake in your defence With you they may dispence Esteeming your pretence Is for to gratulate Those to whom you are bound For fauor you haue found Whose friendship to resound Hath holpen your estate I loue not much to tell For why it were not well To seeme to chat or mell Least that I purchase blame But I will beake and bende And none I hope offende If iustly they intende Their sentence for to frame FINIS The Castell of Courtesie Anno. 1582 AS I alone abroade did walke
abused Lord graunt we may conuert and that with speede For well we know we neuer had more neede Let vs not linger and driue from day to day We haue beene warned sufficiently we know The Lord is angry and not without good cause And though he do but signes vnto vs shew Well let vs thinke if we do thus exceede In sinne so ryfe we shall it feele in deede Amend your liues for the kingdome of God is at hand Mat. 3. None good but God Verses written vnto his friend W. C. of not and nor NOt boyst crouse winds of Aeolus force caÌ„stir the hardy reckâ—s Nor wooden wedges can preuaile to cleane the knotty block Not absence he to frendly heartes can any breach procure Nor spiteful spite can do much hurte where frieÌ„dship doth assure Not frowning lookes of frowarde Mars that can my peâ— restraine Nor doubtfull speach can me reuoke in verse to shew my vaine Not want of good will ready prest shall be one let or cause Nor yet the feare of any man shall make me for to pause Not Time to tarry to deuise some pleasant thing to write Nor yet to proue for to be sine my verse for to indite Not that I thinke my friend he will for rashnesse laugh at me Nor that I stand in doubt if that this thing he take in grâ—â— Not that I am a Poet braue for to declare my minde Nor that I haue a curiouse head some pleasant thing to finde Not that my friend is scrupulousse but friendly be will take Nor that he is of Momus sect to mocks that I do make Not that I know my friend will now accept my ragged verse Nor I thinke he will reiect that which I do rehearse Not that the Time doth let me now some farder wordes to vse Nor that I meane in any thing my friend for to abuse In steade of giftes to thanke thee for Yake Yates his gifte of not and nor Verses written vpon the captiouse coniecture of one who not offended THe state of worldly wightes is straunge And mutall mindes do passe my skill The good haue bad for their exchaunge By cogitations wrong to will The iniury hath small repay Where maiestie doth beare the sway The supreame rule supporteth much Me thinkes it saith why I am hee Men know my nature to be such As scant my like is knowne to be For where I may I croppe I loppe I make them stoupe and bowe their toppe But Iustice sittes with sword in hand And Equity with ballance right The cause and truth to vnderstand To deale by equall Doome vpright For sure the Gods they will not see That worngfull iudgement geuen be Then preace in place thou guyltlesse minde Whose modest moode deserues no blame God will all misbeliues vnbinde And try thy truth with worthie fame And like as Laurell kepes the hue So truth the falshood shall subbue Conceyne no cause of ponstue thought In Nature good each small is greate The wise themselues haue wisely taught More then my pen can here repeat Wherefore I cease I stay to tell Hoping in end all shall be well Verses written vpon a Question I Being once occasioned Comparisons to vse A friend of mine a question put to aunswere or refuse The which was this VVhat thing vvas that vvhich longest doth remaine In happie blisse but at the last it tasteth of some paine Where with I grewe astonied an aunswere streight to make For why quoth I deliberation in this I had neede take Yet as my simple head a simple reason can render I hope you will accept it well though it be small and slender Then Sir I thus confesse as reason would I should To tell my minde I am content to speake the best I could The happiest thing quoth I is Gods eternall grace For that is that which doth remaine and stayes in happie case For els I knowe no thing that happie can be counted No worldly wealth no Towre high that to the skye is mounted No faith of any friend for why it shall decay We see it is like fortunes wheele which turneth euery way In faith my friend quoth he you haue me full resolued It seemes you trust not much the world from it you are dissolued The fragrant florishing feates and gallant glosing glee Is like a blast or puffe of wind which blowes the leafe from tree Esteeme it as it is and weigh and ponder thus That mindes of men change euery houre as fancie doth discusse But ah the changlesse state that euer shall endure Is Gods eternall blisse on hye of this we may be sure Verses written vpon Desire to vnload the minde THe Bird that buildes her nest doth order due obserue And therein takes her rest her younglings to preserue As nature doth ordaine each thing by course of kind So she doth them maintane till seekers do them find Like so where worldly woes doe dayly still increase And lucklesse chaunces shewe that sorrowes will not cease Till happy hap doth hit and course doth turnâ— and change And good lucke come to those to whome she hath bin strange Where want doth weaue the web there skâ—nt doth pleasure growe Wherâ— good 〈◊〉 doth 〈◊〉 there ill successe doth slowe Where Patience perforce in spight must vsed be Vnhappy is that course such haplesse hap to sec. As pleasantnesse doth vade and dieth like the flowre So ioyfulnesse consumes within one silly houre Or what doth boote it nowe in myrth for to abound When as we bend and bow to sorrowes sollemne sound The head opprest with dumpes the heart doth heauie make And wayward chances come our ioyes away to take And as the Impe that 's greene is tender for the knife So mirth is seldome seene whereas such cares be rife Verses vvhich signifie the ease Hovv medling least doth not displease THe busie heads whose harebraine wits With causelesse cause will haue to deale Doe often shewe but foolish fittes For nothing they can close conceale All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease The Royster and the quarreling foole That standes vpon his garde of strength May meete with one that shall him coole And ouercome his pride at length All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease The pratler he cannot abstaine No yet keepe in his tongue from prate O blame him not for t is his vaine He takes a glory in that rate All you that meane to liue at case To meddle least doth not displease T is vaine to put our hand in fire Or in a fray to take a parte When as no cause doth so require Perchance he comes vnto his smart All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease The prouerbe often thus doth shew Which warneth vs in this respect Heere much but little seeke to know That any tumult may erect All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease By busie pates strife
me vnhappely doth passe For why I dare not halfe so boldely no waspire I dare not once presume to warme me by the fire I dare not Parle nowe so bolde as I was wont For if I doe the aunswere comes both sharpe both tarte and blunt And head is hanged downe and eyes doe looke aside And faces of the other sorte are made as they woulde chide Wherfore you flattering flurt Dame fortune by your name A vengeance take thy truthles trade for thou didst cause the same But though in thy dispight yet will I vse my ioy And neuer soake my heart with care although they seeme so coy For they are but thy fittes I knowe it very well When pleasantnesse is so disposed such thinges he can expell To which most happy time I trust but not to thee For thou art still of flitting kind and euermore wilt be Verses declaring how each Desire Is satisfied in Time THe hungery soule that wantes of foode his Corpes to fill Is forced forth through pâ—â—ing 〈◊〉 to remedie his ill And if by happie lotte he lighteth in such place Whereas is foode abundantly to helpe his dolefull case Then you shall see this swame whom hungers hate had hist When he in Time hath had Desire doth skorne that ofte he mist The wight that keepes in Courtâ— and viewes the gallant shewes Of Princes Pallace deerely dect whose eyes it dayly knowes Esteemeth not so much the sight though it be rare As â—e esteemes a new fond toy where on his eyes may starâ— What is the cause of this because that he is fill'd And hath enough euen of the sight As much as he hath will'd The Goldsmith that doth worke vpon the Diamond rare Doth not so much esteeme the sight as sequell doth declare The Painter that doth make with pencell in his hanâ— Some passing peece of Portracture like liuely shape to stand At first time when he went with will to learne that art Desire was a mate of his and woulde not drawe a part And marke how he by Time of it hath had his fill He passeth more for greedie gold then he esteemes his skill Thus is Desire at length by Time brought into vre The Painter pleased is with Coynâ— as well as Portracture The Gentleman that keepes a Hauke for his delight And taketh pleasure for to view the swiftnesse of her dight With spannelles for to raunge the game alofte to spring At length we see he wearily accompteth of the thing The greedy Lyon eke that roareth for her pray Is neuer satisfied vntill Some faultlesse thinge she flayâ— And then when she hath fed and fulnesse her inuest She neuer passeth more for it till hunger doth request The Cat will watch adn wayte till she the Mouse hath got And then when she hath fedde her â—â—llâ— a dewe she careth not The Scriuener that takes paine with painfull penne to please Espieth not his labour wayed so much the more disease That company which keepes for a long time together By time grows strange as euer they were at first time comming hether The booke that newe is madâ— is more esteem'd of price And better liked on by some then workes of deepe deuice Wherefore the way to haue a thing esteemed well Is secretly to keepe the same and not abroade to tell For why I well perceiue examples put before That friendship failes when fancy findes new liking for her store Wherefore to learne to keepe in secret silent brest It is a poynt of wisedome sure in whom so ere it rest Thus is Desire fedde thus is Desire strange Thus doth Desire giue vs fill and makes our friendes to change Verses written vnto one which had wrote A Curious Commendation of his happie Exchange VVHy dost thou vaunt before thâ—u â—â—â—owe Why dost thou bragge before thou trie All is not golde that is of glittering shewe Nor trust not that which pleaseth the eye For in the same deceipte doth rest As proofe doth make it manifest For since thou wrot'st that glorious stile In praise of thy so good exchange A frowarde fit some did compile Which vnto thee did seeme full strange That at the first it did befall Such rough repulse to sleepe withall Wherefore I counsell thus doe giue To frame thy nature now to abyde And see that thou discreete doe liue And â—ainte not though some sondly chide For why thou wotst so much before You knowe my minde â—le say no more Verses written for a requisite remembrance of the earth quake which happened on wednesday the 6. of Aprill 1580. betwene 5. and 6 of the clocke at night of the same day WHen man doth least accompt of this his end And as he thinkes doth safely sit at rest Then suddenly or euer he beware Doth Death aproch his corps for to inuest And in a moment all his pompe and pride And glory vaine is quickly laide a side His house the which he takes for his Defence And as it were doth make a sure grounde Presuming that it standeth firme and fast Foundation such noâ— likely tâ— confound By any chaunce except the ground do fall The which high Ioue hath 〈◊〉 at his call Oh gratious God how wonderful are thy workes Thy secretes not known to mind of man Thou send'st vs signes and tokens of thy wrath And if with grace we rightly do them scanne We may thus thinke and also vnderstand Thy iudgemente day is very â—y at hand Yet mercifully thou doest vs all fore warne And wouldest not that we should sinke in sinne But penetently thy merry for to craue And leaue such leawdnesse as we do beginne Too much to vse alas the more the doth And God will scourge no doubt for our vntruth Oh sudden mosion and shaking of the earth No blustering blastes the weaâ—her calme and milde Good Lord the sudden rarenesse of the thing A sudden feare did bring to man and childe They verely thought as well in field as Towne The earth should sinke and the houses all fall downe Well let vs print this present in our heartes And call to God for neuer neede we more Crauing of him mercy for our misdeedes Our sinfull liues from heart for to deplore For let vs thinke this token doth portend A scourge nere hand if we do still offend Yet neuer was Gods word more diligently Preached vnto vs then it is at this day But out alas what boote is it to heare And presently forget what they do say For he which layes his hand vpon the plowâ— And turneth backe shall speed you know as how The wantonnesse and lewdnesse now adayes Is much to write therefore it is but vaine To seeme at large the same for to expresse The grauer sorte do much of it complaine And wish there were amendment of ill life Which euery where alas is too too rife Pride is too pearâ—e and falshood florisheth much Deceipte is deepe good Lord how it is vsed Enuy is rife blaspheming doth not want Wel in effect each thing is now