PART 10. 73 Thy hand hath fashioned me therefore teach me thy holy will 74 So shall thy seruants all reioyce and I obey thee still 75 Thy iudgements Lord I graunt are iust I did thy wrath deserue 76 Haue mercie yet and pardon me thy promise cannot swarue 77 Lord let me liue I thee beseech thy law is my delight 78 Bring thou to shame my foes and driue the wicked out of sight 79 And let thy seruants all behold thy mercies showd to me 80 Who walking in thy statutes iust shall not ashamed be PART 11. 81 My soule is almost faint for feare yet on thy word 〈◊〉 82 My eyes are dim with looking sore send me thy comfort iust 83 My bones are withered with despaire till thou thy promise pay 84 My life is short thy iustice on the wicked Lord beâ—ray 85 By fraud they seeke to take my life contrary vnto right 86 But thou art iust vniust are they therefore put them to flight 87 They had almost consumed me my faith yet did not faint 88 Reuiue thou me and with thy truth my mouth I will acquaint PART 12. 89 O Lord thy word immutable in heauen doth still indure 90 Thy truth from euer was thou laidst the earths foundation sure 91 All things continue at a stay and do thy people serue 92 Vnlesse thy word did comfort me my faith with griefe would sterue 93 I neuer therefore will forget thy lawes which quicken me 94 I am thy seruant saue thou me who vnto thee do flye 95 The wicked seeke me to destroy but in thâ—e will 〈◊〉 rust 96 Thy truth endures for aye but else all things returne to dust PART 13. 97 So much I loue thy law ô Lord I studie on it still 98 Thy grace beyond my enimies doth me with true knowledge fill 99 I better vnderstand thy will then they which do me teach 100 I better know thy lawes to keepe then they which should them preach 101 That I thy word might keepe my feete refraine each eâ—ill way 102 My iudgement grees vnto thy law which taught me what to say 103 Then hony combe vnto my tast thy word is far more sweet 104 Thereby thy will I learne and falshood shun as most vnmeet PART 14. 105 Thy word is light vnto my feete and guides me in my way 106 My hart hath sworne I will performe thy 〈◊〉 â—ight and day 107 My soule is sore opprest ô Lord do thou me ioy now send 108 Teach me thy will to my request a gratefull â—earing 〈◊〉 109 Though I in daunger daily be thy lawes I not forget 110 But keepe them still while me to snare the prowd a bayâ— haue seâ— 111 They are the portion I haue chose they are my harts delight 112 My hart is vowd thy lawes to keepe with all my power and â—â—ight PART 15. 113 Thy word I loue but do detest the vanities of minde 114 My shield thou art my refuge safe in whom I trust do finde 115 Away from me ye wicked men my God alone I serue 116 He will performe my hope his word from truth doth neuer swerue 117 Support thou me then am I safe in thee is all my trust 118 Thou hast supprest the proud and such as follow worldly lust 119 I loue thee Lord because thou doest from earth the vaine remoue 120 Yet do I feare thy iudgements Lord which shall my sinnes reproue PART 16. 121 Let me not then oppressed be I iustice do obserue 122 Plead thou my cause gainst wicked men which froÌ„ thy will do swerue 123 My eyes are dim with longing Lord to see thy promist ayde 124 Teach me my God and let thy seruant be with mercy payd 125 I wait on thee let me therefore of wisedome thine haue part 126 Helpe Lord in time for all the world do from thy lawes depart 127 Yet do I thy precepts esteeme more then the richest gold 128 Most iust are they but such I hate as vnto sinne are sold. PART 17. 129 Thy testimonies I admire on them my soule doth muse 130 The wayes thereto do shine so bright the simple it may chuse 131 The zeale I bare vnto thy law did make my hast to moue 132 Looke on me then in mercy Lord because thy law I loue 133 Direct my deedes so that no sinne may beare in me asway 134 I keepe thy will to wicked men let me not be a pray 135 Thy shining face vnto me turne thy statutes teach thou mee 136 With teares my eyes do daily flow because they trespasse thee PART 18. 137 Thou righteous God most iust indeed thy iudgements all are found 138 To truth aâ—d equitie alone thy lawes thy seruants bound 139 My zeale doth burne because my foes thy lawes haue cleane forgot 140 Thy word we finde most pure and I haue chose it to my lot 141 Though I be poore and in contempt I do remember well 142 Thy righteous precepts which for aye in glorious truth excell 143 Anguish and eares vpon me come thy law yet do I loue 144 Teach me thy truth that I may liue eternally aboue PART 19. 145 Heare me ô Lord to thee â— cry thy â—â—atutes I will keepe 146 Saue me and graunt that in thy house I may in safetie sleepe 147 Before the 〈…〉 to thee I call and wait thy wâ—ll 148 By night I watch to meditate and studie of thee still 149 Heare me ô gracious God in time and quicken thou my spright 150 They are at hand that hate thy law and me pursue with spight 151 Thy promises assure me Lord that thou arâ— nigh at hand 152 I knew 〈◊〉 since thy high decree should firme for euer stand PART 20. 153 Behold my sorrowes then and helpe â—â—y pleasure I obay 154 Plead thou 〈…〉 me vpon thy word I stay 155 The wicked they are farre from helpe which do not thee regard 156 But for thy seruants we do know thy mercy is prepard 157 Many they are thaâ— me pursue yet will I follow thee 158 I see the wicked scorne thy â—ord and much it grieueth mee 159 Consider Lord my 〈◊〉 too thee so quicke 〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉 160 For from for aye thy word of truth and righteousnesse I finde PART 21. 161 Princes of might do me pursue yet onely thee I feare 162 Thy word delights my hart as if my richesse great it weare 163 Thy law I loue but do abhorte all falshood and deceit 164 Seauen times a day I praise thy name and on thee alwayes wait 165 The keepers of thy law shall stand from danger alwayes free 166 I keepe thy heasts because I hope thy sauing health to see 167 Yea for the loue I beare to them I will them not transgresse 168 Thou seest ô Lord in all my wayes thy name I do confesse PART 22. 169 Let then my plaint before thee come and be thou still my guide 170 Giue â—are vnto my sute and let thy promise firme abide 171 When thou hast me thy statutes taught my lips
race Where flesh and bloud against the world must fight On heauenly kingdome gazing with my sight Where is appointed scope of resting place Wingd with the will of zeale of heauenly grace I do indeuor alwayes to proceed In constant course vnto the arke indeed Where in thy mercies I behold thy face A feruent faith it doth my courage feed And make my heauie limbs become more light When in thy sonne I see thy glorie bright The pledge vnto my soule that hope shall speed This blessed seed Thou hast Lord sowne in me And all the frutes shal to thee offred be SON VII VVHere shall I finde fit words or proper phrase Wherewith to witnesse all the loue I owe Whose gratefull minde in thankfulnesse doth grow And to the world thy worthinesse would blase Vnfrutefully the greater â—ort do gase Vpon thy workes and blessings they receiue And carelesly thy honor they bereaue And suffer chance or wit thy same to rase Whilst vnacknowledged thy loue they leaue Forgetting all the gifts thou doest bestow Whose blinded nature so doth ouerflow That most vnkind to thee themselues they show But since I know By grace thy blessing great My pen thy praises alwaies shall repeat SON VIII THe more I seeke to dedicate my power In celebrating of thy honour great Whose throne is fixed in thy mercies seat The more my dutie groweth euerie hower Some times with Eagles flight aloft I tower And seeme to see the glorie of thy sunne But ere my willing wings haue scarse begunne To mount they droop with clog of heauie shower Vpon the hill of truth I footing wonne By faith which laboureth with feruent heat Of worthie praises thine for to intreat But ere I haue begune my worke is donne So farre I runne In seeking to begin I cannot write such maze my muse is in SON IX AS fareth with the man the which hath bin I perilll but of late to haue bene drownd Though afterward he do recouer ground Knowes not at first the safetie he is in So when I thinke vpon the flouds of sin Wherein I was neare drenched ouer hed What time all hope of comfort cleane was fled And I into dispaire to sinke begin My fainting faith with feare euen well nigh dead My minde amazed it doth so confound That though thy mercies freely do abound In port of peace I am not free from dred But being led Fro out the perils sight I shall enioy more pleasure and delight SON X. SInce thou ô Lord hast giuen to me at last The victorie against the deadly foe Who like a Lyon roaring still doth goe My soule poore Lot my kinsman deare to wast Since grace at length his pride hath now defast And by the hand of faith he is subdude And that my strength by thee is so renude That his affections almost are displast Since thy high Priest with present me pursude Of bread and wine the which he did bestow And with the same the blessing gaue also Whence life whence libertie whence health insude I haue indude As proper vnto thee Thy Church with tyth of faith thou gau'st to me SON XI IF he to whom his Lord did but remit A silly debt was thankfull to him found And that the more the sinnes forgiuen abound The more he loues that pardond is of it Then sure it seemes it were good reason fit That I whose soule was sold to death and hell Whose sinnes in multitude did so excell With idle braine should not ingratefull sit But as the flowing fauours daily swell So should my voice thy praises euer sound And since thou hast powrde oyle into my wound I should not spare thy mercies forth to tell And so as well as thou shalt giue me grace I will thee laud each season time and place SON XII NOw that I haue some safetie Lord attaind Fro out the laberinth wherein I was Since grace as guide therein to me did passe And loue was line which me my issue gaind Since that my wandring steps faith hath refraind And that thy word was Sybils braunch to mee Through hell and death away to let me see To Elizian fields where blisse for aye remaind I must not Lord so much vnthankfull bee To breake the vowes which once I made alas But I will show thy mercies in a glas That by my words men may acknowledge thee The onely hee Hath any power to saue And raisd my soule fro out the verie graue SON XIII I Shame to see how large my promise are How slow my deeds that should performe the fame I know the constant meaning whence they came But will and power are falne at strife and iarre What soule begins to do doth bodie marre What loue would build distrust would ouerthrow A plenteous offring zeale doth bid bestow But fainting faith likes not to set it farre My will at least his good intent shall show Which thou ô Lord cause vnto better frame A free will offring Lord thou wilt not blame Of such weake frutes as are on earth below Which yet shal grow More fruteful by thy grace And as they be wilt in thy sonne imbrace SON XIIII THe end whereto we all created were And in this world were plast to liue and dwell If we with iudgment do obserue it well Was nothing else but God to serue and feare In which we badges of his glorie beare To yeeld him right the most our weaknesse may Which to our strength we ought not him denay Who out of earth to heauen this dust shall reare Which when within my selfe I deeply way I do condemne the dulnesse which befell To me whose gifts in nothing do excell By which I might his glorie great display On whom do stay All things that being haue Who to each creature all things freely gaue SON XV. AS is the treasure frutelesse which is hid And blisse no blisse a man doth not enioy But rather is a meane to worke annoy To him that carefully preserue it did So often times the wisest sort haue slid Into like error whilst they do conseale The gifts of grace which God did them reueale And hide the talent which is them forbid As frutelesse is it to the common weale That men respectiuely become too coy And triflingly their time away do toy And without good to others let it steale I therefore deale To world and do impart These silly frutes which grow on feeling hart SON XVI THe pleasures of this new possessed land Fore-promised long since to children thine Whereto I haue arriued safe in fine And to enioy the same assured stand To paint with praises I would take in hand That so I might incourage many more To follow forth the conquest where is store Of corne of wine and oyle for faithfull band Our Iesus Christ himselfe is gone before And showes the clusters of the healthfull wine Whereof who tasts shall not with famine pine Nor starue when plentie is at Citie dore Ne need deplore The strength of Anaks race For
8 The end whereto 2. 14 The pleasures of 2. 16 The powerfull pen 2. 29 The shining face 2. 36 The chastisemnts 2. 84 The thundring voyce 1. 8 The slender Citie 1. 83 This stately stage 2. 30 Thou formest me 1. 72 Though with thy Saints 1. 40 Thou hast ô Lord 1. 86 Thankes will I 2. 22 To shun the rockes 2. 74 V   VNto thy Princely 1. 5 Voide of true life 1. 35 W   VVEre it not straunge 2. 75 Where shall I build 1. 58 Where shall I finde 2. 9 What am I else 1. 71 Whilst in this world 1. 70 Whilst with the wholesome 1. 64 Whilst in the garden 1. 51 Where so I cast about 2. 23 When thou vouchsafest 1. 55 Whilst in the vaile 1. 59 Whilst that the chosen 1. 62 Whilst that in wealth 1. 66 What strength hath 1. 95 When I begin 2. 83 When as my 2. 3 What toung or pen 2. 94 What should I render 2. 28 What present 2. 42 What wealth 2. 57 What is felicitie 2. 60 When I began 2. 87 When I with griefe 2. 95 When desolate I was 2. 79 Who so beholds 2. 43 Whilst in the plentie 1. 74 Whilst I do studie 2. 24 Why should he faint 2. 69 Why should this 2. 95 Why should I 2. 90 Within this Arke 1. 3 Within thy garden 1. 15 Within thy house 1. 68 Who so behold 2. 31 Who so could 2. 56 Who seeketh not 2. 57 Who so of perfect 2. 64 Who so would liue 2. 97 Would God 2. 5 Words may well want 2. Conclus A TABLE OF FEELING AFFECtions being the third Centenarie of Sonets  Sonet ALl will not serue 6 All men by naâ—ure 41 Alas how watchfâ—ll 86 Alas ô Lord 103 Although ô Lord 118 Amidst the daungerous dayes 05 Among the many fires 129 Among the many trials 51 As those with skill 50 As doth the fire 64 As doth the morning sunne 66 But will you know 14 Come to the counsell 22 Doth any man desire 92 Downe let vs fling 43 Exilde be mortall cares 2 Faine would I bring 2 For vs who do 74 Fro out what dreame 3 Feaâ—e is a frailtie 114 Giue all to him 13 Good wordes are praysd 70 Great are the graces 97 Heale sacred seate 102 Haue we not cause 45 He that to do no euill 27 How can I hope 5 How little comfort 24 How should I vse my time 69 How can he be 91 How could I Lord 107 I cannot chuse 76 If woe there was 32 I feele ô Lord 115 I go about 18 I list not iudge 67 If thou do feede 77 If common fame 84 If God should measure vs 89 I haue desiâ—ed 93 I maâ—uell much 8 I must commend 113 I now begin 9 In midst of plentie 23 I oftentimes 53 I often heare 93 I see sometimes 68 It is not causelesse 31 I should not seeme 33 It seemeth straunge 58 It is not rest 61 It is a thing 83 It is a custome 90 Leaue me not Lord 111 Like maister like 55 Kike as the sunne 100 Long do the wicked run 99 Me thinkes sometimes 16 My yonger thoughts 85 Might Elizeus wish 98 Not onely doth the Lord 46 Not euery action 88 Of thee and of thy prayse 1 O happie Symon of Syren 19 O that we could 54 O powerfull God 101 Our blinded natures 82 Since it hath pleased the Lord 48 Since we by Baptisme 71 Since shame of men 72 Since we are found 94 Since thus my selfe 104 Since nothing else 96 Since thou ô Lord 110 Since so simplicitie 106 Slow is our God indeed 52 Straunge are in truth 42 Sometimes cleane tired 15 Tempt me no more of feeling affections Epilogue To thee ô Lord who Introduction to Prayer The fatall haps 34 Though lawfull many things 37 The season of the yeare 40 There is great odds indeed 44 The weapons which I 60 The difference is 73 The parable of seede 75 Though long Preface to prayer The more ô Lord 112 The greatest plague 117 Tâ—ue is it sure 78 Vaine are the bragges 38 What vaâ—ne lip labour 17 What is thy measure full 4 What are our senses drownd 20 When I remember 10 What loue is this 11 Who so will serue 12 When I do see the 21 Well if I finde 25 Who toucheth pitch 26 When I looke backe 28 Who seeketh aide 30 Who sowes the seede 36 We had not need in idlenesse 47 What miracle so great 49 When I consider of 53 We may reioyce 56 Wise Moses and graue 57 Who would not craue 59 What is the cause 62 When I do heare 63 When I do seamen 65 What high presumption 79 Who sees in common 80 Who giues may take 81 We haue bene babes 87 When I behold the trauell 95 When I ô Lord 108 What trust may I 109 When I ô Lord 116 Weake are my champions 119 Why do we not 120 Where hast Preface to affections FINIS Sonnets of the Author to diuers collected by the Printer And first to the Lords of her Maiesties priuie councell To the right Hâ— and most reuerend father in God my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his grace IF Dauid did in passion iust arise When he recorded his exiled state Compar'd with happier Swallowes which deuise To build their nests so neare the Temple gate May I not mourne to see the world alate So swarme with bookes which euery where do fly Whose subiects as most base might merit hate Though curious braynes their wits therein apply When better matters buried long do ly For lacke of fauourers or protectors grace May I not take occasion thus to try My pen and craue that you the same imbrace Yes sure world knowes you can and will protect The cause why God and Prince did you erect To the Right Ho. Knight Sir Thomas Egerton Lord Keeper of the great Scale of England VVHat fame reports by mouth of good and wise It is not flattery to record the same The publike eccho of your prayse doth rise That you by iustice ballance iudgement frame Then may you not my pen of boldnesse blame If it present to your impartiall eye This holy worke to shield it with your name Which may among prophane in daungerly Wise Salomon childs parent true did try And Daniell false accusers fraud bewray By searching hearts affects and words whereby Ones fained loue the others guilt to way So iudge this worke and him shall it depraue So I desire you iustice prayse shall haue To the right Hon. the Lord Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England one of the most Noble order of the Garter c. IF Romaines held Sibillaes workes so deare Because they from Deuining spright did grow More precious present then receiue you here Which God on king king did on world bestow Our Sibill you our Salomon we know And so your words and workes the world doth prise To vertue you your selfe a father show Hence honor yours hence countries good doth rise
in delight Yet sweeter in the end we shall digest Deathes bitter pill which nature doth detest Yea though we in a sort offended wax With euils which we see so much abound Within our selues and for the good that lacks In vs and others which the good doth wound Yet this a cheerefull mendment will procure And rayse our hearts in sinne to fore secure 6. The hart of the wise is in the house of mourning but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth The wise they will like heedfull watchmen keepe A curious Sentinell in all their wayes Least death and ruine should vpon them creepe And turne to mournfull night their merry dayes They do obserue the frailtie of their state And rather fawne on death then feare too late Whilst foolish worldlings surfet with the ioy Which they vnfitly plast in earths vaine sweet And are surprisd with euery small annoy So sore that it to beare they are not meet And vnder euery aduerse cause do sinke Whilst others hope and ioy at perils brinke verse 7 More sweet are wise rebukes then notes which flattering fooles do sing verse 8 As blase of thornes so vainely passe the pleasures they do bring 7. Better it is to heare the rebuke of a wise man then that a man should heare the song of fooles And for we hardly see our owne amisse And each in others eyes a mote can spy My best aduice to do thee good is this That to thy friends reproofe thou do apply Yea such a friend as knoweth good from ill And thy misdeeds in thee reproue that will For better are the blowes that friends do giue Then smoothed actions flatt'rers do bestow Those to amendment do the wiser driue By th' others fooles from ill to worse do grow There Syrens songs do make thee sleepe in sin These rougher words thy soule from ruine win 8. For like the noyse of the thornes vnder the pot so is the laughter of the foole this also is vanitie And what delight indeed can wise men take In foolish tattle of the lewder sort Like crackling bushes in the fire they make A blast and blase foorth straight in their disport An outward show of mirth which ends with smart And laugh with mouth that haue a heauie hart The wise in ioy and myrth are temperate They ground their mirth on greater cause of ioy They are not so raysd vp with good estate Or beaten downe with any'aduerse annoy But that they can beare either state aswell As time or chaunce can make them ebbe or swell verse 9 Sure wise men wax with wrongs nere mad to see brybs so preuaile verse 10 But th' end is al who patient stayes shal thriue best without faile 9. Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad and the reward destroyeth the hart And yet it is I graunt a heauie thing And hardly is digested of the best To see how some the lawes to lust do wring And how thereby the weaker are opprest How wrong for right sometimes doth freely pas And no man will or dare say bad it was And to behold how bribes are busie still To blind the eyes that else would wisely see That Lay and Clergie great and small most will Giue take buy sell things that most holy bee Would make a man of sob'rest spright halfe mad And any good man be perplex'd and sad 10. The end of a thing is better then the beginning thereof the patient in spirit is better then the proud in spirit But men that note Gods iudgemēts for these things And can as sure they ought his pleasure stay Shall see the plagues that sinne vpon them brings And shall according to the prouerbe say That that is onely good and doth excell Which doth begin and also endeth well And therefore will with patience long expect The issue which God hath decreed before And as he limits times his will t' effect So till that time be silent euermore The rather since their agony and griefe Might wo increase not yeeld one iot reliefe verse 11 Be thou therefore to anger slow it fooles doth best befit verse 12 Muse not why tunes are chang'd it doth import but want of wit 11. Be not thou of an hasty spirit to be angry for anger resteth in the bosome of fooles Then be not thou with worlds peruerse euent Disquieted or moued vnto yre No though with malice men against thee bent With iust offence might kindle cholers fyre It is a passion that aboundant is In fooles and not reformes the thing amis If thou with reason be as be thou may Offended with the euils that abound Thou mayst reproue them sure I say not nay And hate the place whereas such sinnes are found For fooles they are and dog-like bite the stone That blame offence yet doer let alone 12. Say not thou why is it that the former daies were better then these for thou dost not enquire wisely of this thing But yet withall beware thou do not blame Thy God in gouernment of present age By calling him t' account why not the same Most hatefull vices which with vs do rage Did not in former times so much excell And we with them compare in doing well For it were folly and offensiue much To God and man and signe of hatefull pride In weale or woe we may at nothing grutch For through our sinnes those scourges vs betide And God that sends the ill can it amend Vpon his will our liking must depend verse 13 Wisedome with welth grees euer best of all things vnder sunne verse 14 They calme the mind yet quiet heart by wisedome best is wonne 13. Wisedome is good with an inheritance excellent to them that see the sunne Sure well is he that wisedome hath and grace To vse it alwayes well in weale and wo But who hath wealth withall in better case By farre I do confesse though few are so Few though there be yet some such may you find Though many more with worldly wealth are blind Wealth giueth meanes for exercise of good Wealth the temptations wants to many a sin By wealth mens faults are hid their foes withstood Wealth may performe such workes as fauour win Which wealth if by dissent not care we haue And wisedome both what can we farther craue 14. For man shall rest in the shadow of wisedome and in the shadow of siluer but the excellencie of the knowledge of wisedome giueth life to the possessors thereof This wisedome armed thus with worldly powers For pleasant shadow may compared bee Vnto an Arbour deckt with fragrant flowers Which sweetly from sunne beames protecteth thee From wind and raine that can thee well defend And sweet repast vnto thy bodie lend For wisedome teacheth thee thy wealth to vse Vnto the needfull ends they were ordaynd And as vnwise you may them well accuse That will reiect the goods may well be gaynd But wisedome wealth can get and spends it well And wisedome therefore chiefly doth excell verse 15 Behold
Gods works who can reforme his will then be content verse 16 In weale or wo both sent from God do serue the turne he ment 15. Behold the worke of God for who can make straight that which he hath made crooked In wisedome therefore set thy chiefe delight Come wealth come woe take all as God doth send Against the Lords decree it's vaine to fight He knowes thy need and giues what thou shalt spend More then he hath decreed thou shalt not haue Toyle while thou wilt and moyle vnto thy graue Canst thou reuoke the times the which are past Canst thou recount the dayes that are behind Canst thou pursew the chaffe that slyeth fast Canst thou proportion out the waight of wind Canst thou make straight the tree once crooked growne No nor thy state amend but God alone 16. In the day of wealth be of good comfort and in the day of affliction cosider God also hath made this coÌ„trary to that to the intent that man shold find nothing after him Then with thy state content thy quiet mind If wealth abound with ioy then vse the same If lesse thy store yet thinke not God vnkind And to thy portion do thy compasse frame In all estates a chearefull heart doth well What God intends for thee thou canst not tell God vseth like as wise Phisitians do By want sometimes to purge our humors ill And after plentie giues to strengthen vs to The worke whereto imploy our powers he will By proofe of contraries to teach vs how To vse those gifts as he doth best allow verse 17 In my short life the iust I saw decay and wicked thriue verse 18 Muse not hereof too much least it thee into dumps do driue 17. I haue seene all things in the dayes of my vanitie there is a iust man that peâ—â—â—heth in his iustice and there is a wicked man that coÌ„tinueth long in his malice As for such new incounters as befall To thee in crossing of thy quiet life Assure thy selfe they are not new at all But in my dayes and long before were rife Euen full of vanities and care I found My life as well as thy life to abound I saw both wise and honest men full oft Insnared by the wicked and destroyd Their counsels and their actions mockt and scoft Their innocencies cause they were annoyd The force the folly rapine and the wrong The wicked vsd protect their liues full long 18. â—e not thou iust ouermuch neither make thy selfe ouer wise wherfore shouldest thou be desolate What was the cause hereof thou maist inquire Sure first the hate the ill to good do show Then Gods decree whose iustice did require Their hidden sins a publike shame should know Some ouerweening wits do foolish proue And cause of these mishaps do fondly moue For excellence procureth enuy much And wise mens small offences haynous seeme And busie braines such tickle points may touch As vndiscreet you may their iudgement deeme Be thou not too precise nor ouer wise But with a modest meane thy gifts disguise verse 19 Be not too curious things to know least God correct thy pryde verse 20 Yet learne things fit and fearing God no ill shall thee betyde 19. Be not thou wicked ouermuch neither be thou foolish wherefore shouldest thou perish not in thy time Yet do not thou extenuate so thy skill That thereby into scandall thou do fall The very wicked so contemne thee will And good and bad will so condemne thee all None is so vile that vice he will commend Although his deeds to little better tend Ne do thou folly any whit affect For that doth ruine all that it doth vse Who will the foole or vndescreet protect Or trust to him or vse him may he chuse Well may men laugh at him and make disport But neuer trust in cause that doth import 20. It is good that thou lay hold on this but yet withdraw not thy hand from that for lie that feareth God shal come forth of them all In measure is we say a merry meane Twixt two extremes doth sacred vertue dwell Who will vnto true heauenly wisedome leane Must fly defect and all excesse expell With serpents wisedome must his iudgement see With Turtles humble mind yet clothed bee The loftie thought presumption doth instruct The abiect mind dispaire doth soone perswade From wings of Lucifer this quill is pluckt To hatefull serpents den that leades the trade But he whom heauenly wisedome doth inspire From both those snares in safetie shall retire verse 21 The wise by wisedome safer liue then Princes in their holds verse 22 Yet none so perfect liues their deed no sinne at all vnfolds 21. Wisedome shal strengthen the â—ise man more then ten mightie Princes that are in the citie For wisedome is indeed a heauenly gift Insusde to guide vs in earths pilgrimage Blest is his choice who therewith not vplift Doth peace procure and worldly cares asswage Who trusteth in the comfort of her ayd In no affliction need to be affrayd She stronger is and much of greater might Then any Princes power that euer was Yea Princes ten combind gainst her to fight In force and prowesse shall her no way pas The strongest bulwarks that they can erect Doth art by wisedome soone to earth deiect 22. Surely there is no man 〈◊〉 in the earth that doth good and â—â—nneth not This wisedome makes thee haue a secret peace Twixt God and thee which if thou once attaine To feede the same his grace will neuer ceace And that content for euer will remaine As for content the world afford thee can It s nothing worth for vaine is euery man Let this therefore be grounded in thy mind That man and all his workes vnperfect are That on the earth one man thou shalt not find That from true righteousnesse not strayeth farre Whose peruerse deeds do oftentimes bewray The wicked thoughts that in his bosome stay verse 23 Heare not all words of wrong lest thou thy seruaÌ„ts slaÌ„ders heare verse 24 Thou know'st thy self hast don the like though it did not appeare 23. Giue not thine heart also to all the words that men speake least thou doe heare thy seruant cursing thee How much then lesse shouldst thou be moued much By words of any one that thee offend Yea though euen very neere thy fame they touch And to thy great disgrace they seeme to tend Let passe like wind the blast of slanderous tong And thinke the best sometimes euen so are wrong Yea though thou oft mightst heare yet do not heare Or if thou do seeme as thou diddest not It s better farre both deafe and dumbe t' appeare Then listening ouermuch it were thy lot To heare thy seruant or some other speake The thing that being heard thy hart would breake 24. For oftentimes also thine hart knoweth that thou likewise hast cursed others Thou mayst remember what thy selfe hast done In like case vnto others absent oft And what dislike therefore thou mightst haue wonne
beseeme in euery case And how to walke to win our soueraignes grace It will aduise thee as I also do To be attentiue to thy Prince behest To be obsequious also thereunto So farre as may accord with all the rest Of lawes of God of nature and of state And to attend his pleasure rare and late verse 3 In ill persist not but giue place Princes their pleasure craue verse 4 His word of power who may withstand the thing he likes to haue 3. Hast not to go forth of his sight stand not in an euil thing for he will do whatsoeuer pleaseth him If so his liking did of thee require A thing vnfit not pleasing vnto thee I would not wish thee there withall retyre Or discontent in count'nance ought to bee But yeeld with patience rather to the same For to obedience subiects ought to frame But if thy selfe by indiscretion haue Offended him persist not in thy wrong Of him it is no shame thy pardon craue For vnto Princes homage doth belong They haue the power of subiects to dispose Thy life and goods to saue or else to loose 4. Where the word of the king is there is power and who shall say vnto him what dost thou The Princes wrath is messenger of death His will a law his words are firme decrees Their instruments are readie at a breath To pull the proudest rebels on their knees Such Maiestie and power in them is found With euery frowne a loyall hart they wound Who dare vnto account his soueraigne call Who to no power in earth inferiour is Who will not at his feet all prostrate fall Who hath the power to punish his amis As deputies to God on earth they raigne And by his sword of Iustice state maintaine verse 5 Who keepes the law is free from blame the wise they times do know verse 6 The wise with iudgement chuseth time for things lest trouble grow 5. He that keepeth the commaundements shal know none euill thing and the hart of the wise shal know the time and iudgement Whose lawes the godly wise both must and will Indeuour most exactly to obserue In euery point and tittle to fulfill And wittingly in nothing much to swarue So shall he for himselfe best safety find And leaue the better name to world behind And for they hardly can discharge aright Their duetie that their natiue lawes not know And that their ignorance cannot acquight Who may and will not learne more wise to grow The wise will therefore learne their duties furst The good refraine th' euill they might and durst 6. For to euery purpose there is a time and iudgement because the miserie of man is great vpon him And as in publike causes wise men vse To guide their actions warily and well And proper times and seasons euer chuse For all they do before therewith they mell For proper times there are for euery thing Which good or ill successe with it doth bring So in their priuate life they do obserue Expediencie of that they take in hand From care whereof whilst some do rashly swarue Because true wisedome they not vnderstand They into many mischiefes headlong fall Which afterwards too late they would recall verse 7 For what knowes he what shall succeed he can not mend his fate verse 8 In life death battell sinne cannot protect the wickeds state 7. For he knowes not that which shal be for who can tell him when it shal be For it lies not no doubt in powre of man To iudge aright of sequels and euents Though by obseruance of things past we can Sometimes right neere coniecture of intents As like to haue successe as we desire But none can iudge the truth that they require It is but chance not iudgement if they hit So many errors do incounter them Those future knowledges for God are fit And none but he that priuileage can claime For as for Reuelations few are now And diuelish arts Gods word will not allow 8. Man is not Lord ouer the spirit to retaine the spirit neither hath he power in the day of death nor deliuerance in battell neither shall wickednesse deliuer the possessors thereof And how should he be able to foretell An others haps or actions can you thinke That not foresaw what to himselfe befell Nor knew his perill being at pits brinke Nor could deferre his death or destiny With all the care he did thereto apply That could not tell the place the dart should light That he in battell flong against his foe That cannot saue himselfe amidst the fight But beares the brunt perhaps of ouerthroe No wicked slight or art can sinners saue But that they sure in fine their merits haue verse 9 All these I note and find sometime mans powre his ouerthrow verse 10 These wicked die yet worse succeed the godly none to know 9. All this haue I seen◠and giuē mine heart to euery worke which is wrought vnder the sunne and I saw a time that man ruleth ouer man to his owne hurt How farre alas doth all our skill come short Of that great knowledge we pretend to haue My selfe haue tryed the same in euery sort Of studie to the which my selfe I gaue And yet there is no knowledge so obscure Or easie but I did the same inure Nay of the things most common in my sight Which enery man can say and witnesse true I groped at as in obscurest night And could not see the reason how it grew That men euen to themselues most ruine bring And Magistrates their owne dependants wring 10. And likewise I saw the wicked buried they returned and they that came from the holy place were yet forgotten in the citie where they had done right this also is vanitie For which the foolish world become so farre From iust dislike of their iniust oppressions That liue and dead they fear'd and praysed are And whose posterities get more possessions They flourish rather most by doing wrong As if the earth did all to them belong But such as haue led long a holy life Deserued well of world and country all Haue bene pursued in life with hate and strife And euen at home forgot when death did call O vaine affection of the vulgar sort That maketh vice and vertue but a sport verse 11 Gods patience makes the wicked ones more bold to heap vp sin verse 12 Which long deferd is plagud in fine when iust men blessed bin 11. Because sentence against an euill worke is not executed speedily therefore the hart of the children of men is fully set on them to do euill These worldlings whilst they see the day deferd Of plague and iudgement of these wicked ones They do suppose their actions haue not erd But wisely were decreed for the nonce And so grew bold in practise of the same Till all the world therewith grew out of frame These wicked ones themselues grow insolent And pride their minds in their presumpteous trade They are so farre from meaning
how much more may we find in the direction of our sâ—ules to the proper hauen of their habitation euen to heauen a multitude of aduersaries lying in the way to hinder out tâ—auell to that Promised land how many afflictions of the minde frailties of the flesh bayts of the world and snares of Satan are bent against vs to slacken if not cleane to diuert our due course thitherwardes in such sort as if God of his infinite mercie and prouidence did not oftentimes preuent and stop our willes and powers and bridle the malice of these aduersaries we should all assuredly perish by the way But now such is his fatherly care and loue to vs in Christ that he hath left vs a direction ready way of safetie in the midst of all assaults or afflictions how perillous soeuer euen praier which being formed according to the rules prescribed vnto vs by his Sonne and with feruencie of faith offered vp vnto him are of power to penetrate the heauens purchase our safetie pay our debts and procure vs peace of heart in the midst of all earthly perils yea knowing our coldnesse herein and feare of our owne guilt deterring vs from his presence he doth not onely licence vs to this boldnesse but allurâ—th vs by many sensible blessings felt in our owne consciences and calleth vs by a supernaturall courage sometimes with confidence to come vnto him and euen to hope against hope in our most desperate necessities He doth direct our tongues oftentimes here in before our mindes and our mindes before our hearts being himselfe readier to giue then we to aske and giuing with more regard of our good then we can craue or conceiue for all which he expecteth nothing else at our hands but continually to flie vnto him and to yeeld him due praise to relie on him onely in the day of triall and to encourage others thereto for in this sort alone he will be honoured of vs. This our earthly pilgrimage being then so daungerous to all flesh so readie a way prescribed vnto vs for our safer passage therein â—e were very vnwise that would not furnish himselfe with such prouisioâ— which costs so litle as our wils to haue it more vncharitable that would nor do his best to assist his coÌ„panion in his iourney with both couÌ„sell coÌ„fort of the same For this cause gentle Readers I hauing through gods great goodnes felt in the direction and protection of my vnstable youth a plentifull portion of the wonderfull care he hath ouer vs of the vnspeakable force of praier thanksgiuing in all extremities the more to stirre vp my selfe to a memorie thereof haue thought good to set downe these abrupt passions of my passed afflictions as witnesses of the impedimeÌ„ts most stopping me in my Christian pilgrimage and testimonies of the meanes of my euasion hitherto which may serue for presidents for my selfe in the like future occasions and not be altogither vnprofitable for others to imitate In which as in a glasse may be seene the state of a renegerate soule sicke with sinne sometimes Ague-like shiuering with cold despaire straight waies inflamed with feruencie of faith and hope One while yeelding vnder the burden of sinne to eternall death and presently incouraged to runne chearefully forward the appointed course of this his pilprimage and like a practised traueller vsed to the change of company dyet heat cold paine pleasure plentie and want not to amaze himselfe long with any change but by a consideration of pleasures passed or rest expected patiently to passe ouer this world full of incombrances from a sence and feeling whereof in some measure no true child of God is any long time as I suppose expempt Now although I doubt not but euen these reasons will carry the iudgement of the godly Christian Reader to a fauourable interpretation of my purpose herein and to some delight in the tast thereof to whom no person or occasion style or phrase will seeme vnseasonable being imployed to the glorifying of God and profit of the Church or proceeding from a zeale of that effect yet the consideration that the greater number to whose handes this Treatise may happen to come are either not so well affected or so discreet and temperate as were to be wished maketh me thinke it needfull to say something in declaration of my purpose herein not in excuse of my exercising my selfe in such theames which in deede ought to be the common action in some measure of all men as oft as necessary affaires of this life wil permit them neither in that I make common with others this my exercise which seemeth in secret only to be practised by my selfe for that I take it not to be alwaies a token of pride or vaine-glory to make knowne for a common good to others that which may breed a suspect of ambition in the Author among the prophane or cauelling multitude though how herein I am caried my selfe I leaue to God the searcher of hearts to iudge only I would satisfie them first in the cause of my writing them in verse then of the confused placing of them without speciall titles To the first I was induced for that I find many oftentimes speciallie such as had most neede to praie and meditate to reade bookes rather for the affection of words then liking of matter and perhaps more to controll the compiling then commend the contents Such yet so as they read shal giue me al that I craue find I hope that good they loked not for if not in all yet in some among many of these Sonnets As for the apt nature of Poetrie to delight to contriue significatiuely in fewe words much matter to pearce and penetrate affections of men with the aptnesse thereof for helpe of memorie I will not saie much but for my deducing these passioÌ„s and affections into Sonnets it answereth best for the shortnesse to the nature and common humor of men who are either not long touched with so good motions or by their worldly affaires not permitted to continue much reading To the cause of my so preposterous placing of them and deuision onely into three sorts I confesse indeed I am perswaded their disorder doth best fit the nature of mankind who commonly is delighted with contraries and excercised with extreames and also as they were by God ministred vnto my mind to set downe by sundrie Accidents so I suppose my prouidence could not by a formall placing of them so soone hit the affection of euery reader as Gods direction by that which meÌ„ call chance might often do As they are therefore I recommend them to thy courtesie in reading and thee to Gods holy spirit in the perusing of them If they may haue the same working in thee that I praise God some of them had in me they shall not be vtterly vnprofitable If in matter they iumpe not to thy passions in all pointes thinke that in the great Arsenall of Satans Armor he hath
vplift Contend to cause the world thy name admire Thy prayses do not mortall praise require For lo alas they no way can come nye Vnto the holy hymnes thy Saints apply And Angels sing inflam'd with heauenly fire Yet shall my soule such zealous present bring As shall record my loue to heauens high king SON II. EXild be mortall cares raysd be my song To treat with stile condigne thy honor still O mighty Ioue who heauen and earth dost fill With myrror of thy power to thee belong All powers and wils of body and of mind Thou mak'st and blessest with thy prouidence Thy bountie to the needy is so kind As nought but mercieâ—and loue proceedeth thence At our right hand a readie safe defence If Satans practise once assaile vs will Thou holy motions dost in vs distill And dost illuminate our dulled sence Thou dost redeeme fro out the enemies throng The innocent whom worldlings vse to wrong SON III. VVRo out what dreame what sleepe what charmed rest Rouse I my selfe who too too long haue stayd With worldly cares and vanities dismayd And cleane forgot almost soules solace blest My greedy nature quaffed ouer much Restrained poyson potions of delight New libertie did former dyet grutch Though life the one death other show'd to sight Nature gainst grace prouoketh still this fight World to our wils doth yeeld accursed ayd Satan our senses dulles that not affrayd We worke our wracke with greedy force and might But waken me ô Lord I thee request With pleasure paine welth wo as likes thee best SON IIII. WHat is thy measure full dost thou suppose Of strength of perfectnesse of plenteous store Of frutes of faith profest that now no more Thou carest albeit thy tree true beautie lose It can not be whilst life and sap remaine That barren branch so holy plant should beare A faire greene tree of goodly leaues were vaine Vnlesse that kindly frute also there were Words are but leaues works fruits that should be there Shew that thou liu'st by charitie therefore True holinesse doth teach a righteous lore Whereby to neighbors good our thoughts we reare Vaine is our knowledge and our holy showes If in our life the fruite of loue not growes SON V. HOw can I hope for all my forward speed My fresh incounters of the riuals first My bold intent and zeale which venter dirst To runne so hard a race and long indeed To win the prize if past the greater paine I faint or do begin my speed delay Or trusting ouer much the goale to gaine Let euery leaden heele leade me the way In race of soule to heauen light many a stay And fainting body doth for pleasnre thurst The world strowes golden fruits of tast accurst Which toucht with loue we lose to soules decay Then let me still runne on so haue I need For constancie stands most the soule in steed SON VI. ALl will not serue the more I would beware The more I headlong fall and drowne in sinne So farre vnlike the victorie to winne That to his building morter I prepare One thing I say an other thing I do One show of worke I haue an other deed I runne cleane from the marke I looke vnto With one hand quench the fire with'other feed One error doth a hundred errors breed If one I cut to grow do ten begin This fleshly laberinth that I am in Is of the sinnefull race of Hydras seed But yet my trauell still I will not spare Because I know God hath on me a care SON VII FAine would I bring some fruit of sauorie tast For offering of freewill and of my zeale But I do feare my weakenesse to reueale Like new wine in a crazed vessell plast The vessell yet not liquor being mine And it fild in by master of the store I hope he will not at my gift repine But if it faile will it replenish more My weakenesse I do oftentimes deplore And for reliefe to him I do appeale Yet ioy the bounty that he daind to deale And halting hast to those that go before In hope that my nay his gifts shall be grast Through loue vnto his sonne whom he imbrast SON VIII I Maruell much sometimes to see my will Contraried by my selfe with harts consent To see me crosse the course my purpose ment And yet th' euent thereof proue better still I am by nature vnto euill prone And that pursue with forward fleshly ayd Straight way my mind is chaÌ„gd by means vnknown And heart consents my former will be stayd The cause hereof and issues I haue wayd And find them strange yet bending in intent Vnto my good sometimes though ill I ment And fayld of plots my greatest wisedome layd Which doth my soule in fine with comfort fill To see Gods prouidence my purpose spill SON IX I Now begin to doubt my present state For that I feele no conflict in my mind A settled concord needs must be vnkind Twixt flesh and spright which should ech other hate They neere agree but to their common woe And that through sin which luld them both a sleepe A warfare in this bodie would I goe Lest fraud or treason in through rest should creepe The practises of Sathan are so deepe Armed with flesh and lust whom prone we find That hardly can the soule his freedome keepe But that these fiendes would him with frailty bind Vnlesse with heauenly weapons at debate With them we stand and fight both rare and late SON X. VVHen I remember with what speed in post The Iewes return'd from bondage tooke in hand Their Temple to restore and armed stand In breach of wals to build what enemies crost When I their bountie note in offering store All freely giuen and more then they could vse How true their treasures were that would no more Their workmens faith accounts whilst Kings refuse How these our latter times which we accuse Of ignorance through fraud of Balaams band Did yet powre forth the plenty of the land To holy vse which other did abuse I sorrow much to see true zeale cleane lost And pure religion shakt for sauing cost SON XI VVHat loue is this whereof the world doth tell Which they to God professe and men admire Loue hath his lawes and doth effects require Of charitie to neighbour to excell For as the members of one bodie bee Partakers of the passion others haue And speedily concurre to helpe we see Because thereby the bodies good they craue So if their loue to God they freely gaue And held him head their zeale would burne like fire To serue his Saints the needy to attire And home the stray to call the lost to saue For how can they th'inuisible God loue well WheÌ„ they neglect their neighbors neer that dwel SON XII VVHo so will serue the Lord he must bestow The whole not part of body or of mind If in his heart dislike hereof he find His soule not yet regenerate we may know Betwixt two stooles no sitting
cause to blush full oft for shame To see how we neglect our neighbours need How slow to helpe where we might stand in steed How slight excuses we do vse to frame When yet our Sauiour seemeth to respect The silly Oxe which in the ditch doth lye Whose aide a stranger ought not to neglect If but by chance he saw it passing by But if our brother readie were to dye For very want necessities to feed We let him sterue and take of him no need Yea though he craue we sticke not to deny As though it vs suffisd to beare the name Of Christians yet in life deny the same SON XLVI NOt onely doth the Lord repute as good The deedes which he in vs himselfe hath wrought Yea though our wils gainst him in thē haue fought And he perforce by grace our powers withstood But if we euill do by stubborne will And seeke indeed no good at all thereby But euen our lewd affections to fulfill So that all grace in vs do seeme to dye Yet euen in them this good we shall espy If we his children be whom Christ hath bought That he permits vs not to fall for nought But that our frailtie and our wits we try And so more earnestly vnto him pray And find that pretious fruit a Christian may SON XLVII VVE had not need in idlenesse to spend The dayes both few and euill which we haue The reason powre strēgth helth which God vs gaue To some good end no doubt he did vs lend Full many businesses shall we find Enuironing our life on euery side Which if they were retayned still in mind In watch and trauell they should cause vs bide The worldly cares of all men well are tride The daunger of the soule I seeke to saue A world of lusts attend vs to the graue And Sathan lyes in waite to leade vs wide From heauen wherto true wisedome wils vs bend Thinke then if man haue need watch to the end SON XLVIII SInce it hath pleasd the Lord to send such store Of blessings to the bodie that it may In peace and plentie spend one ioyfull day Which many want and it long'd for before I not repin'd that it the same should vse But feard the frailty of the flesh alas Which made my soule for safest way to chuse With Iob in feare and care my time to pas For sacrifice my soule there offered was Thy holy spirit the Priest my will did slay His zeale inflam'd the thoughts which prostrate lay And quencht thy wrath with teares like fluent glas So that though Sathan readie was at dore Me to accuse and try I feare no more SON XLIX VVHat miracle so great hath euer bin So farre from reasons or from natures bounds What thing Gods glory and his prayse resounds More then his mercie in forgiuing sinne If things contrary to their natiue kind To ioyne accord producing strange effects Do admiration breed in euery mind What thing so much Gods glory then detects As this to see how daily he protects And blesseth vs in whom all vice abounds How he doth hide our faults which so him wounds Supplies the want which proper powre neglects Then since distrust his miracles keepe backe Let vs be sure that we true faith not lacke SON L. AS those whose skill with colours life-like draw The portraitures of men with shadowes rare Yet shapes deformed they ne will nor dare To shew to others as themselues them saw So when I make suruay by rule of truth Of all my actions and my soules estate I am asham'd to see the scapes of youth And feare to looke on that I lou'd of late And as I do my selfe euen for them hate So feare I others could no more me spare If I should shew my selfe naked and bare Who with these fowle affects held no debate Yet since they are but breaches of the law The Gospell will me shrowd from Sathans paw SON LI. AMong the many trauels of the iust The last which holy Iob alas sustaind I thinke his soule and bodie most it paind And like thereto vs likewise martyr must When we vpon vs feele Gods heauy curse For sinne from which no one of vs is free That comforters should seeke to make vs worse And friends like foes should our tormenters bee To hud-blind vs when most we need to see By colouring sinne which ought to be explaind Or amplifying errors which are faind To make our soules and bodies disagree All these he felt by friends he most should trust To hell by pride or by dispaire to thrust SON LII SLow is our God indeed and very slo To wrath and that the wicked dearly find His children sooner feele correction kind And so repent whilst sinfull forward go Slow though he be yet sure his iudgements are They are deferd they are not cleane forgot He tries our natures letting raines so farre Lose to our wils till we regard him not But when we furiously to hell do trot He stayes our steps and wils doth gently bind Whiles he the reprobates the more doth blind Till they through sinne do fall to Sathans lot By Gods correcting hand and patience so The one to sinne inclines the other fro SON LIII VVHen I consider of the holy band Of loue and mercie with the Iewes was made The heauenly and earthly blessings which did lade Their soules and bodies whilst in grace they stand When I examine cause of this their change And note in soule and bodie wofull fall How exiles comfortlesse the earth they range Depriu'd of knowledge glory hope and all When I as cause hereof to mind do call Their stubborne faithlesse and ingratefull trade With which the Prophets did them oft vpbrayd And causes were of wrath from heauen not small Me thinkes I see like iudgement neare at hand For trespasse like to punish this our land SON LIIII O That we could be rauished awhile Fro out these fleshly fogs and seas of sin Which grosse affections daily drench vs in And do the tast of perfect sense beguile That so whilst selfe-loue slept true loue might show That pride might so put on an humble mind That patience might in steed of rankor grow And naked truth from craft might freedome find That vertue had some harbor safe assignd And reason had his scope and did begin Of these fowle siends a victorie to win And them in bondage to the soule to bind Then should we see how farre they do exile Our perfect blisse whilst thus they vs defile SON LV. LIke master like the seruants proue say we We therefore are of like of Sathans traine His auncient lesson which did parents staine We learne as yet and lie as fast as he False are his rules himselfe an old deceiuer Vntrue he is vntruth he first did teach God being truth nought can so soone disseuer And no one sin to more offence doth reach Sathan himselfe can not Gods lawes appeach To be vniust nor say we iust remaine But by new
Then this no fiction that man doth deuise But built on best experience life can bring With patience reade and do it not despise Yâ—â— wise experience can confirme each thing It is not rated as Sibillaes were But priz'd by you it will the value reare To the Ri. Ho. the Earle of Esseâ— Great Master of the Horse to her Highnesse and one of the most Noble order of the c. NOt Neptunes child or Triton I you name Not Mars not Perseus though a Pere to all Such word I would find out or newly frame By sea and land might you triumphant call Yet were such word for your desert too small You Englands ioy you en'mies terror are You vices scourge you vertues fenced wall To Church a shield to Antichrist a barre I need not feare my words should stretch to farre Your deedes out-fly the swiftest soaring pen You praise of peace th' vndaunted powre of warre Of heauens elect the happieloue of men Not knowing then How to expresse my mind Let silence craue this gift may fauour find To the Ri. Ho. the Lord Charles Howard of 〈…〉 Admirall of England one of the most Noble order of the garter c. VVHen as wise Salomons most happie raigne Is registred in bookes of holy writ His greatnesse seemes increase of honour gaine By store of worthy Peeres his state which fit Whose excellence of courage and of wit His Impery'causd with wealth and peace abound Whose heads and hands did neuer idle sit But seeking commons good through world around By sea and land their swords free passage found Which subiects safetie bred and feare to foe Like fame vnto our Prince you cause to sound Both farre and neare whilst you victorious goe For which her trust our loue to you is due As pledge whereof I this present to you To the Right Ho. the Lord Cobham Lord Chamberlaine of her Maiesties houshold Lord Warden of the Sink ports and of the Noble order of the Gaâ—ter c. GIftes are not measur'd by the outward show Nor by the price of Peeres of Noble kind They shadowes are the harts intent to know And simple figures of a faithfull mind Then since your vertues high all hearts do bind To striue to testifie their grate intent Vouchsafe suppose my powre cannot yet find A present fit as will and heart was bent And what king writing once thought time well spent That reade you once as thing of some regard His mind ment well that it vnto you sent Time not spent ill in view thereof is spard If it more worth I more loue could expresse My due regard of you should yeeld no lesse To the Right Ho. the Lord North Treasurer of her Maiesties houshould I May not say I shun to shew my want Before your selfe whom I true noble hold Since I to others haue not made them scant And may of meaner men be well controld This common guilt of mine makes me more bold To prosecute the error I begunne Who craue your fauour not my faults vnfold Although my folly ouer-rashly runne If with the best they haue a pardon wonne They may the boldlier passe the common view What Princes like the people hold well done And fame in passage doth her force renew Which good or bad your censure is to make When now first flight it in the world doth take To the Right Honorable the Lord of Buckhurst AS you of right impart with Peeres in sway Of common weale wherein by you we rest So hold I fit to yeeld you euery way That due the which my powre affoordeth best But when I call to mind your pen so blest With flowing liquor of the Muses spring I feare your daintie eare can ill digest The harsh tun'd notes which on my pipe I sing Yet since the ditties of so wise a king Can not so lose their grace by my rude hand But that your wisedome can conforme the thing Vnto the modell doth in margent stand I you beseech blame not though you not prayse This worke my gift which on your fauour stayes To the Right Honor. Knight Sir William Knowles Controller of her Maiesties houshold OF auncient vertues honor'd ofsprings race Of true religions you blest progeny On which two pillers vertue built your grace And court by gracing you is grast thereby Of such since this worke treates such worke do I Well fitting hold for you to reade and shield Whose wisedome honor vertue doth apply To true religion on the which you build My selfe too weake so heauy a taske to wield As was the treating of so high a stile At first attempt began to fly the field Till some which lik't the theame bid pause awhile And not dismay the title would suffise To daunt the vaine and to allure the wise To the Right honorable knight Sir Iohn Fortescue Chauncellor of the Exchequor HE who in dutie much to you doth owe In power is little able to present For pledge of gratefull mind is forst bestow These ill limd lines best signes of hearts intent The scope whereof by Salomon was bent To teach the way to perfect happinesse By me transformed thus and to you sent To shew that I do wish to you no lesse To wish well is small cost I do confesse But such a heart as truly it intends Is better worth esteeme then many gesse And for all other wants makes halfe amends Such is my heart such be therfore your mind Then shall my mite a millions welcome find To the Right Honourable Sir Robert Cecill Knight principall Secretary to her Maiestie TO you my hopes sweet life nurse to my muse Kind foster father of deseruing sprights This Poem comes which you will not refuse I trust because of blessednes it wrights Your aged youth so waind from vaine delights Your growing iudgment farre beyond your yeares Your painefull daies your many watchfull nights Wherein your care of Common good appears Assureth him that of your fame once hears That you some heauenly obiect do aspire The sweet conceit whereof your soule so chears That earth 's bred vanities you not admire Such is this theame such was first writers mind For whose sakes I do craue it fauour find To other Lords Ladies and aproued friends To the Right Honourable the Earle of Oxford Lord great Chamberlaine of England IF Endors widdow-hâ—â—d had powre to raise A perfect bodie of true temperature I would coniure you by your wonted prayse Awhile my song to heare and trueth indure Your passed noble proofe doth well assure Your blouds your minds your bodis excellence If their due reuerence may this paines procure Your pacience with my boldnesse will dispence I onely craue high wisdoms true defence Not at my suit but for works proper sake Which treats of true felicities essence As wisest king most happiest proofe did make Whereof your owne experience much might say Would you vouchsafe your knowledge to bewray To the right Honorable the Earle of Northumberland VVHo would intreat of earthly happinesse