long as any sparke of lyfe abydeth in my body it were great crueltye to contemne me or careleslye to cast me of without rendring me a recompeuce worthy my deseruing which I am fully perswaded that your curteous condicion cannot consent vnto and therefore am the more imboldened once againe to trouble you with my Letters And although you wordes haue hitherto giuen mee small hope of any further fauour then I haue already found yet am I so blinded with affection as I cannot but still perseuer in the same It pleased you at our laste conference amongest other thinges to enquyre of my estate which being in deede very simple in comparison of that which it hath pleased God to call you vnto If I shoulde haue made it better then it was when you should afterwardes haue proued the contrarye you mighte well haue deemed mee a Dissembler and worthye of greate blame for dealing so dublely with you and therefore I soughte rather to abase then better my selfe as I trust youre seemelye selfe haue well perceiued Yet would I not haue you thinke me so simple but that I shall be able alwayes to get an honest liuing to mainetayne me withall although I had none other helpes then that which God hath giuen me by nature much more then being matched with such a one as you are whose wealth is better knowne to others then wished of mee for myne owne priuate profite For as I knowe my selfe altogither vnworthy of so great a benefite so must I needes acknowledge the Fauoure that I haue already found at your handes farre to exceede my desartes And yet if you were priuie to my purposes and knew my true intent and the great god will and vnfayned affection that youre clemencye constrayneth mee to beare vnto you I doubte not but I shoulde fynde that friendlye fauour at your hands that otherwise were vnmete for one of my degree But peraduenture because I am a yong manne and haue but little to take vnto you thinke I woulde if I were once possessed of you seeke onely to liue vppon that which you haue and not being carefull for your commoditye nor respecting your person as I oughte to doe would carelessely consume your substaunce and when nothing remaineth to maintaine my ryots woulde leaue you to to shifte for your selfe as many vyld varlets doe at this day the more is the pitty But they be such as haue in them neither honestye nor wisedome or will doe well And if you so conceiue of me as I hope you do not how farre this imagination differeth from my good meaning God and mine owne conscieuce onely knoweth I beseech you therefore suffer no such thoughtes to sinke into youre minde for if my derdes bee founde anye thing differente from my wordes I wish that the earth may gape and swal low me vp or Fyre from heauen consume me Diuerse are the reasons that induce me thus earnestlye to solicite my sute vnto you First your personage which pleafeth me more then any that euer I sawe Secondly your curteous condttions vertues and wisdome being such as would well content any honoste and well minded man though the rest were wanting Teyrdelye your yeares which being at the full perfection neither to yong a wanton or to olde a Dotarde but one that are both hable for your experieuce to minister good councell to suche an vnskilfull yong man as I am and also sufficiently satisfye me in all other thinges requisite for my yong yeares Fowerrhlye youre wealth to supplye my wante whiche beeing so well ordred as I assure you it should be if I inioyed it it might not onelye be conserued but also increased to the great commoditie and comforte of vs both These be the causes that incourage mee so effectually to prosecute my purpose wherein if I finde you fauourable as I hope I shall I will not onelye bee readdye to perfourme my promyses in all respectes but also would be moste humbly at your commaundment as your moste bounden and obedient seruaunt Finis The fyrst Letter written to the same widdowe extolling her vertues which he allegeth to be the cause of his ardent affection he requyreth mariage of her THe commendable quallities togither wyth the incomparable curtesy that I haue hearde and partly seene to be in you hath in incouraged me thus boldly to presume to present you with my disordered Letters therebye to lette you vnderstand the harty good will and vntained affection which I haue long tyme borne vnto you though teare to offend you haue caused me hitherto to conceale it hoping that although my degree be farre inferiour to yours in euery respect yet will you not scorne my curtesy or requite my good will with crueltye My request is reasonable and my desyres not dishonest and therefore deserue the rather to be fauoured marriage is the marke I shoote at which is a holy thing and ordeyned by God from the beginning And although I craue to be matched with you yet if I might finde the fauour at your handes to be so accepted considering our inequallity and not desyring the Priueledge which perteineth to those that inioye their equals to were obediēce in the wife toward her husband I wold refer my self wholy vnto your discretion and yeild you the preheminence in al things as reason willeth being but as it were your steward woulde discharge you of those weighty and troublesome affayres that are incidēt to your calling As for my quallities and condicions what they are I will leaue tothe report of others But in deede my welth is verye small yet is that w 〈…〉 so supplyed with good will as I hope you shoulde haue no cause to repent you of the choyse of so base a persouage but rather reioyce that it was your lotte to light on so louing a friend For I am sure that the man liueth not on earth at this hower that would more esteeme loue and cherrish you then I would do if it would please you once to make triall of me I hope you should finde me in all things according to your hartes desyre which considered I doubt not but I shall finde you ready to releeue me by recompensing my good will with the lyke with which hope I will comforte my selfe till I heare the contrary and so crauing pardone for my boldenesse I commit you to God. A yong Gentlewoman wrighteth this for aunswere to a Gentlemans Letter that craued her loue and exhorteth her to keepe promise with him wherein excusing her selfe by her ouer yong yeres and his vnhabillitye she prayeth him to cease of his sute YOur Leeters syr I haue receiued and pondring well the same Haue now preparde my selfe thereto an aunswere fit to frome Though in your writ you rome and raunge aboute the bushe a while And vse huge heapes of needelesse wordes my sences to begyle I see you seeke but all in vaine to winne me to your wife Which I may not vouchsafe to graunt for feare of further stryfe Because
and after the mistes of misery if any happen to assaile vs bring vs to the cleare lighte of felicitye as he did fayre Adulatia who neither for fearroâ— fathers displeasure or care to continue his good will for loue of Imperiall dignity or dread of any daunger no not for the fierce assaults of froward Fortune or for any other cause would forsake her Aleran but preferring his loyall loue before all worldly pleasure and his presents before al princely Ornamentes both in health and sicknesse in wealth and woe and fynally at all assayes continued hys true and faithfull companion for tearme of lyfe Be fyrme therefore my good Parmena and fayle not but as I intend stil to continue as loyal a louer to thee as euer was Aleran to his Adulatia so be thou as faithful a friend vnto me as was Adulatia to her beloued Aloran So shall no emnity but am 〈…〉 no repentance but contenentment no 〈…〉 ing but ioy be euer betweene vs and though one friendes frown vpon vs or hindred contemne vs and our Parentes reproue vs yet through patient 〈◊〉 in trace of time which breedeth chaunge in all thinges we shall by Codes helpe and our owne dilligent iudultrye recouer all former good will and fauour and after all the assaul 〈…〉 of aduerse Fortune attaine to the happy porte of rest and tranquillity with which hope I purpose alwayes to comfort my selfe wishing you also to doe the like as I 〈◊〉 you will and hartily require you to doe so neare as you can as well for your owne releefe as for the rest and comforte of him that loueth you no lesse then his owne proper lyfe Fare you well Finis The Aucthour wrighting to a friend of his that was toward mariage exhorteth her to make choyse of a wyse and verteous person THere is nothing wherein we ought to take So great aduise as sayeth 〈◊〉 wise As when we mind a mariage for to make wherein we must be carefull and presise Or else thereby great perrill may aryse Because the knot once 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 doe May not be broke whateuer chaunce in sue But some there are that will without respect Of future harmes that may to them befall The councell of their aged friendes reiect As frantick wightes to folish fancy thrall And harkening to the S 〈…〉 sâ—â— the call Procure thereby their 〈◊〉 and decay Where else they might haue liude in lasting 〈◊〉 Yet would I not that women so attend To friendes aduice or so by them be led That fancy fixe vppon some faythfull friend They should forsake the same for feare or dread For so they may wone bring a foole to bed And being linckt to one they cannot leeke be moude amisse reuengement due to seeke Some sortes there are that welthy husbandes chuse Because they should maintaine thomsine and braue Some sortes there are that others all refuse A comely wight desyring most to haue A vallyaunt venterâ—ns youth some 〈◊〉 Some like of those that be most franke and free And some of those that harde and sparing be The gallant gay some chiefely doe esteeme In one that curteous is some moste delight A cunning craftes man some for best do deeme But few or none esteeme the vertuous wight By wise and prudent men they set but light Few linke for loue but all for greedy gaine Though in the ende it tourne them most to paine Bewty doth fade when crooked age creepes in And like a Flower the sommer season past Nipt with the cold when winter doth begin Doth wither soone and weare a way at last And sicknesse makes the mighty man agast And takes from him all strength and courage quighte But vertue still abides in perfect plight In welth or wo in paine or pleasure still Uertue remaines without reprofe at all Not dreadfull death that doth the Carcas kill The power of vertue may in ought appall It liues with praise and neuer perrish shall For after death his glory reflech rise That whilst he liude did leade a vertuous life Therefore my friend I friendly thee aduise To match with one that is to vertue bent For bewty brittle is and of no prise Money but muck and quickly will be spent Strength soone destroyde if sicknesse so consent But vertue still in perfect state doth stand It keepes his course as well by Sea as land Moreouer I would wish thee for to make Thy choyse thy selfe whereas thou likest best And though thy friendes perswade thee for to take Some other wight with greater wealth possest Yet if thy mind and fancy be not prest To like of him then would I thee aduise To leaue that loathsome lot if thou be wise For whereas loue doth lack twice man and wife There harred needes must harbour in their hart Where hatred hath his holde is endlesse strife where stryfe is styrde there pleasure hath no part where pleasure is displaste eare keepes the marte where care doth keepe lyfe cannot long indure Then eare thou linke let loue be setled sure Finis Of the great patience and clemency of King Antigonus WHen as Antigonus did heare His Souldiers cursing him apace Because that in an euening darke He led them through a myry place That thence they hardly could escape He came himselfe to them vnknowne And very well did helpe them out which friendship when he had them showne He sayd now curse Antigonus That led you lately in the myre But pray for him that helpt you out Acording to your hartes desyre Finis What misery and misfortunes mankinde is continually subiecte vnto WHat kinde of state can any choose but he there in shall fynde Great bitternesse and endlesse woe to mooue his troubled minde In field much toyle at home great care and feare in Forrein Lande If ought we haue by fortune lent In youth Dome Follyes hande Doth hold vs fast her she imbrace and wisedomes lore do leaue In age doth sickesse vs assayle and so our strength bereaue In marry age is vnquietnesse in lacking of a wife All sollitary we remaine and leade a loathsome lyfe If God to vs doe children sende we haue continuall care If none then are we halfe dismayde farre worser doe we fare Therefore one of these twaine is best desyred for to be Not to be borne or else to dye before these dayes we see Finis A louer hauing long concealed his loue at the last reuealeth it and craueth grace at the handes of his beloued mistresse LIke as the silly soule That feeles himself distrest With heauy burthen on his backe doth seeke to be at rest So I whome loue longtyme hath led in Captiue handes Enforced am at last to sue for fauour at thy handes That hast my hart in holde who onely mayst apply Some pleasaunt potion to a sâ—wage the greeuous mallady Which long with little ease and most incessaunt greefe Hath me conserude twixt life and death denoyde of all releefe But needes I must confesse There is no fault in thee That I doe want
cannot but be greatly greeued for the small regarde you hadde of so faithfull a friend and then when it is to late will repent you of your great ingratitude Be not therfore so obstinately bent I beseech you to seeke his confusion that woulde accoumpte all payne but pleasure which he shoulde suffer in seeking your safetye consyder in what case your deuine bewtye hath broughte him and be not so carelesse of his welfare as you will suffer him to perishe for wante of pittie that cannot receiue any comforte but by your clemencye which to denye him weare extreame crueltye and woulde procure your perpetuall infamy The rather for that the remedye rested in you and that my grefe being taken in time might be easily cured to my comfort and your contentment as you shal be forced in the end of your selfe to confesse if you haue pittie vpon me as I hope you will wherein being fully resolued I rest for euer Your pore faithfull friend and obedient seruaunt The great loue that Itafernes wyfe bare to her brother WHen I tafernes with all his famely Were taken captiue By Darius army And cast into prison with great extremity His wife euery day Came to the kings gate making pittifull mone That these her plaints to take pittie vpon At last he was moued with 〈…〉 rcye alone As wrighters doe say In so much aâ— one vnto her he sent Who willed hee then with right good intent In the Kings name to â—cast to lament And freelye to chose The deliuery of one and she should him haue Then she 〈◊〉 the rest her Brother did craue Whose life and libertie she most sought to saue To lessen her woes The King then wondring that she would prefer Her Brother before the rest that were there 〈…〉 and children most deare This aunswere she gaue An other husband I may get quoth shee And other Children if Gods will it be But my Parentes being dead more bretheren then he I neuer can haue A Louer that stoode at an vncertaine staye wrighteth this for aunswere to a Letter that he receyued from her whome he loued MYstresse 〈◊〉 I receiued your Letters whiche 〈◊〉 vnto me so 〈◊〉 as I a 〈…〉 thereby broughte as it were into a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of whiche I knowe not well how to winde me Some time you giue me hope and by and by crosse me with the contrary your wordes are so obscure as my simple capacitye cannot conceiue the meaning of them plaine dealing is best among friendes good meaning must not be couered with a counterfet collour I haue made you an honest demaund but can receiue 〈◊〉 certaine aunswere of it if you thinke mee vnworthye of you let me vnderstand it in plaine speeches and I will soone seace my fute for if you cannot fancy me I neither maye nor will inforce you to it If you like of my demaunde driue mee not of with doubtfull delayes for that is very daungerous Your vertuous education and commendable quallityes are the onely causes that haue constrained me to loue you for the which I more esteeme you being as you are then otherwise I woulde doe weare you neuer so welthye you say my sute is reasonable and yet ye reproue it as vnprofitable you confesse me to be worthy of you and yet refuse to render your selfe vnto me being the partie whome aboue all other I chiefely desyre and would most willingly possesse if so it pleased you In deede I confesse that good deliberation and carefull consideration is to bee had in so waighty a cause which I had in remembraunce before I made anye motion thereof vnto you yet if there bee anye thing that I haue neglected if you would let me vnderstaÌ„d wherein and what it is it should be better respected and being amisse most willingly amended And whereas you refuse to yeeld your consent without the counsel of others to aske councel in any thing it is commendable and to follow it if it be good is right profitable but whose counsell you craue I know not â—â—les it be your parentes which if it be the same I hope wil not be contrary to my contentation yet do I not so much depend vpon that as I will thefore seeke to them before I haue assayed you haue some assuraunce the thing I seeke for which is only in 〈◊〉 to graunt and without you cannot be obteyned or if it be it must be by compulsion then were a maÌ„ better be without it for forced mariages haue neuer good effect But peraduenture you haue some further purpose in it then I am priuy vnto it may be that you imagin my good will to be grounded vpon so light an occasyon as gaining my purpose I would quickly flie from my former professions make more haste in the matter then reason requyreth or vse some drifte to deceiue your present expectation but how farre my good meaning is from these imaginations God and myne own conscience only knoweth you challenge me as if I had bene ouer lauishe of my langwage in blazing things abrode that are not yet brought to passe which if I should doe as I take God to witnesse I haue not I might worthely be condemned for a foole serue as a laughing stock to all men that shal see it fal out otherwise hereafter And therefore I beseech you put such imaginations out of your minde and condemn me not as guiltye before you haue cause to accuse me And in conclusion I hartily beseech you not to trifle oute the time anye longer but to render me a ready aunswere to that whiche I demaund of you howsoeuer it be I care not for I can better brooke a flat refusall then suffer my selfe to be fedde with foolish hope for a thing so vncertaine and therefore where subtlely you say at the foote of your letter yours for so it may be henceforward either refuse me flatly or else put downe plainely in the place of it yours I am wil be so shall you both satisfy me sufficiently and also greatlye ease your self of the trouble that my tedious writing if so you accoumpte it doth presentlye put you vnto and so fare you well The straunge pangs of a pore passionate Louer NOt as I am nor as I wish to be But as falce Fortune frames mytroward fate Euen so I am not bound nor fully free Not quite forlorne nor yet in quiet state I wish for death and yet the death I hate This life leade I which life is wondrous strannge yet for no life would I my lyfe exchaunge I seeke the sight of that I sigh to see I ioy in that which breedes my great vnrest Such contraries doe dayly comber me As in one thing I find both ioy and rest Which gaine he gets that is Cupidos guest For whome he catcheth in his cursed snare He giues great hope yet kils his hart with care Finis Of the thankefulnesse of a Dragon towardes a man that had brought him vp AS Bruson mention makes one Thoas
THE FORREST OF Fancy WHEREIN IS CONTEINED VEry prety Apothegmes and pleasaunt histories both in meeter and prose Songes Sonets Epigrams and Epistles of diuerse matter and in diuerse manner VVith sundry other deuises no lesse pithye then pleasaunt and profytable Reade with regard peruse each point well thee and then giue thy iudgement as reason shall moue For eare thou conceiue it t were hard for to tell if cause be or no wherefore to reproue me ¶ Imprinted at London by Thomas Purfoote dwelling in Newgate Market within the new Rents at the Signe of the Lucrece 1579. The Booke speaketh to the Buyers To those that be welthy and passe by this place My talke only tendeth so conster the case WHat kind of thing I am my shape doth shew the same No Forrest though my father pleasde to tearme me by that name But Fancy fits me well For I am fully fraught With Fancies such as may correct but not corrupt the thought In me my friend thou mayst though thou be yong or olde Ritche poore of high or low degree thy duety here beholde For Yonkers I haue fonde and foolish trifles store For auncient syres such seemely sightes as shall content them more If thou a Louer bee come learne thy lesson here Where wilfull workes of witles wightes shall perfect playne appeare What treason is in trust how fickle friendes are found How wretched is the state of man what mischiefe doth abound What follies fond we frame our foolish fancy to Here mayst thou see and so discearne what best beseetes to do Sith then such profite may by meanes of me redounde To thee my friend before thou passe this present plot of grounde Put hand in purse for pence to purchase me withall What foole a Forrest would forsake that sees the price so small A Shilling is the moste a very slender share No hurt to him that hath ynough so small a peece to spare Finis qd Fancy The Authour to the Reader THe Husbandman when meetest time shall serue doth plow his ground and sow good seedes therein Then seekes he how he should the same preserue From carryon crowes that gape the graine to win Vntill that it to ripen doe begin And being ripe he makes no more delay But reapes it vp so soone as well he may His corne thus cropt and scattered on the ground Straight into sheafes he doth the same deuide And to his Barnes he beares it ready bound Whereas a while he suffers it to bide Till at the last he thrashers doth prouide Who from the corne the straw and stubble take And on a heape the graine togither rake Which as it is they put into a Fan And so deuise to driue the chaffe from it My selfe I count to be the Husbandman For in this booke as in a ground most fit To sow the seedes of my vnwildy wit I scattered haue my fancies in such wise And senst them so as I can best deuise All being done that doth thereto pertaine Good Reader I present to thee the same Desiring thee that thou wilt take the payne All thinges amisse to put in perfect frame And beare with me although I merite blame Considering that I sought of meere good will in all I might thy fancy to fulfill In Forrest wise here fancies I present To thee with hart that feruently doth craue Each curteous wight to way my good intent And note the cause why I presumed haue To thrust my selfe amidst the surging waue Not glory vaine or hope to purchase praise But sloth to shon my mind thereto did raise R. W. to the Reader in the Authours behalfe VVhat led Leander to presume so oft to swim through surging seas But hope to fynd his Hero there where he ariu'de his hart to ease What moude the Troyan to attempt to go to Greece but hope to haue The princely pearle the promised pray which most of all his hart did craue And what procured Aesans soone to put his life in perrill so To fetch the Fleece from Colcos Coste where to augment his greefe and wo So many perrils were preparde but that he hopte thereby to gaine Such glory great as after death should make his fame for aye remayne If all these hopte and had in fine the thing that they did hold most deare Let him that hath this prety booke for thy delight compyled heare Good Reader reape his iust reward to recompence his meere good will Receiue his gift in gratefull wise and of the same conceiue none ill For euill none he ment thereby what euer enuious mates surmise Right sure I am conceiue therefore of him and his none otherwise So shalt thou make him think his paynes imployed well in each respect And happy count his hap that some will with good will his work protect Finis The Epistle to the Reader SO variable are the minds of men gentle Reader and so diuerse their opinions that amongste twenty it is hard to fynd twaine that agree all in one thing For commonly that which one man lyketh another loatheth that which one man praiseth another reproueth that which one desyreth another disdayneth and whatsoeuer pleaseth one doth as much displease another The yong man taketh pleasure in all youthfull excersises as Daunsing Synging playing on instruments dallying with daynty dames and such like whereby his pleasure may be procured and increased without respecting any perrill that maye insue thereof The aunciente Syre whome experience hath taught to be more wise and wary of such vaine vanities hath an eye to his profit and reiecteth pleasure as a thing vnprofytable The couragious Captayne accompteth it for his greatest glory to be in the field marching among his men of warre or skirmishing with his enemies to trie his strength and courage with the hazarde of his life for the furtheraunce of his fame and increase of his commodity The man likewise that is inclyned to learning is alwayes best at ease when he is setled in his study there to tosse and turne his bokes perusing the workes of auncient wrighters whereby he may in tyme be able both to profite his countrey and purchase such prayse to himself as is due to his good desyres But as these great clarkes doe not all delight to study one onely science but some apply themselues to deuinity some to Philosophie some to phisicke some to Astronomy and some to euery one of them alike not making any speciall choyse of eyther of them So likewise the common sorte whose learning nor capacity cannot attaine to the full perfection or perfecte vnderstanding of such deepe misteries haue their seueral delightes as well in reading such workes as are in theire vulgare tongue as in any thing else For one will peruse pleasant Histories and other poeticall deuises this man merry tales and other like toyes that man deuine and morrall matter euery one seuerally according to his seuerall affection and naturall inclination and there is no man be he neuer so well stayed that will adict
ought beside be done that you like ill And that the same in euill part you take Goe seeke your mendes you may whereas you will I reke you naught this aunswere doe I make And though before offence were none committed yet this your writing fond would it procure which hath full well with your demeanour fitted Being rude and imprudent and ill to indure No more I neede at this time here to say For well you may by this my mind perceiue yet of one thing I warne you by the way That with vaine hope your selfe you not deceiue And so to conclude I bid you adue wishing you aduisedly my letters to view A yong man enamoured of a very fayre Gentlewoman declareth the dollorous passions that he suffereth for her sake and craueth mercy at her handes THe more I looke vppon her louely face whose like before dame nature neuer framde The more I like and long to liue in grace Of her that may Pandora well be namde whose deedes as due the highest place haue claimde A Phenic rale she may be tearmed right That so surmountes each other earthly wight Of Silke and Siluer seemes her heare to be Her teeth of pearle her eyes of Christall cleare Her lippes of Ruby wrought in each degree She doth excell and vaunteth voide of peere Her like did neuer liue that I could heare who would not then accompt himself in blis That might inioy so rare a iem as this Sir Aleran as may by bookes appeare A sily Sacon sought her loue to gaine That was the Emperour Othos Daughter deare And did in fine his wished will obtaine She graunted grace to quite his carefull paine And fearing nought her father 's furious yre Did yield her hart all whole at his desyre And Acharisto he but basely borne Besought the loue of fayre Euphimia who seemed nought his courtesy to scorn Though she were Queene of riche corinthia Yong Iason eke obtained Medea who though she knew not him nor his estate Forsooke her friendes to be his matched mate A million more I might alledge of those That did by seeking soone obtayne their will And when they were bewrapt in wretched woes Had speedy helpe to shield themselues from ill which otherwise their youthfull dayes would spill yea some we see from seruill state aduaunst By worthy dames whose grace to gaine they chaunst Then speake and speede be still and want thy hyre For many a time and oft I haue hard say And sometime proude that he that would aspire To that which will doth wish the wisest way Is to expulse dispayre which makes men stray Farre from the path of perfect peace and rest Sith Fortune still doth helpe the bouldest best For can the Leach recure his pacientes paine Before he see from whence his greefe doth grow Or can the Lawyer pleade a matter plaine Unles to him his case the client show Then should this dainty dame on me bestow Her loyall loue before she trye my truth The meetest meane to moue her mind to ruth Then welcome hope and foolish feare farewell Farewell all care and welcome pleasaunt ioy That guilefull gest no more with me shall dwell That would my helth and happy hap destroy What should I doubt sith she is nothing coy Her gentle hart can not his hurt procure That for her sake would any death indure On her my health on her my happy dayes Doe whole depend on her my myrth or mone My welth or wo my paine or pleasure stayes My lyfe and death doth rest in her alone By her I must alas or else by none Receaue releefe and hope to haue redresse Of all the paines that doe my mind oppresse And as her bewty brane bindes me to loue So doth her courtious countinaunce comfort yielde And as the paine I feele my mind doth moue So hope perswades that grace shall gaine the field But hap what may both loue and paine that builde Their bower in brest my sorrowes so renue That forst I am for grace to seeke and sue Behold therefore deare dame thy seruaunt heare Lies prostrate at thy feete to pleade for grace Oh rue my state let pittie plaine appeare For thou alas haste brought me in such case As if I find not fauour in thy face Like one that loathes his lyfe I wish my graue To quench the cares which doe my health depraue The bale I bide I would right happy count And thinke my selfe in Paradice to be Yea in good hap all others to surmount might it but please you once to deeme of me As I deserue and graciously agree To take me for your seruaunt slaue or swayne Whose mind to please I would refuse no payne Few wordes will serue a righteous cause to pleade If Iudge be iust by whome it must be tryde How said I what shall I her dealing dread No no I know she will not shrinke aside From reasons rule at any time or tide But render me my due deserued hyre Which is the somme of all my whole desyre Who serues deserues his recompence to haue Who truely loues ought to be loude againe Whose greefes are great must needes a medicine craue Or else permit himselfe to pine in paine Let me deare dame my guerdon then obtaine And doe not now in lew of lasting loue with deepe disdaine my rash attempt reproue Finis Certaine Verses written in commendation of the Nut cornell AS late for my delight when dumpes opprest my minde I walkte abrode the pleasaunt fieldes in hope some helpe to fynde By chaunce I lighted then Upon a huge great wood whereas in rankes right goodly trees of sundry sortes there stoode There were of large and lofty Okes great store in euery place Of Aspe and Elme with byrche and Boxe where euer I did trace There was great store of Holly to of willow asp and ew And all the ground was clad with flowers of sundry sent and hue Amongest the rest of Philberts fayre was plenty euery where And euery thing that hart could wish a man might find it there Then from this Philbert tree I pluct A cluster that were clong Togither fast in seemely sort as on the tree they hung And when I had them in my hand not knowing how to vse them I was at last by reason taught betwirt my teeth to bruse them which hauing done I found therein A Cornell fayre enclosde which for to be of pleasaunt tast I also then supposde And found it so for in my life I neuer tasted thing More pleasaunt then the Cornell was which from that tree did spring The Philbert Cornel is a dish for any Princes meete And they that of the same will tast shall find it wondrous sweete Aboue all other kinds of fruite the philbert in my minde Doth seeme most pleasaunt in the tast as they that proue shall find Such vertue in this cornel is that I haue heard men say Phisitions vse it many times their patientes paines to stay For many thinges this cornel is
the Adulterers that did her deflower The one did stay himselfe that present hower The other the ouersecers of the temple then Caused to be executed in the market place That he might be a warning to all other men To teach them the path of vertue to trace Finis Of one Cianippus who in his dronkennesse deflowred his owue daughter ciane OF Siracuse cianip Behause that he did offer His Sacrifise to all the Gods and none to Bachus proffer was stroke with such a drunckennesse that meeting in the darke His Daughter Ciane her deflourde but what did follow marke She to the end to vnderstand and know who did the deede From of his finger p 〈…〉 his ring whereby she saw with spéede That it had bene her Father deare and after when the Citty was plagued all for this foule facte and that by sentence wittie Of th' oracle it wined was the Authour of the act For to be sacrifised vp for this foule fylthy fact whereas none knew who it should be or what did cause the same Ciane with afflitted minde remembring it die frame Her Fathers death who being dead herselfe she also 〈◊〉 And on his corpes her corpes she 〈◊〉 for euery man to view Finis Of one Ceselius Bassus a Carthagenian who deceiued the Emperour Nero. CEselius Bassus on a time vnto king Nero tolde That in a Lane within his ground was hid great heapes of Golde which he he sayd supposde to be of Didos hiding there Unto which wordes he credite gaue and from that place to beare The same he did full many send the Orators in meane space 〈…〉 ded Nero saying that he stoode in fortunes grace And that he was of all the Gods beloude and fauourde most within whose time such welth was found That had so long bene lost And hidden in the bo 〈…〉 le of the earth full many a day Wherefore in hope of new found Wealth this Emperour made away The store he had but in the end when they were at the place whereas thi 〈…〉 should 〈◊〉 〈…〉 lius maâ—â— them trace From this to that place vp and downe to seeke the foresaid â—aue And myners many one did seeke by 〈◊〉 the same to haue If any there should hidden lye but laboured all in waine He said sorte sprite had him dertaude and did a furie fayrte But to auoyde the present teare and sh 〈…〉 that should arise He slow himselfe and N 〈…〉 ft still gaping for his prise Finis The Louer woried with long loue taking assuraunce of succour enduceth his Lady to receiue 〈◊〉 to her seruice FOr asmuch as euery thing by nature enforceth it selfe with all dilligent industry so much as it may to resiste the great enormities wherewith it is afflicted I am now constrained after long sufferaunce to let you vnderstand the ardent desyre which by little and little cons 〈…〉 me as may plainely appeare by many manifest tokens which shewe suffieiente testimonye of my true intence And thinke not that I haue bene moued her 〈…〉 at all aduentures or without some hope and assuraunce that I haue in time to obtaine that which by the liberall helpe of your accustomed clemency may bring mee suche comforte as shall well content me assuring my selfe that from a thing of such excellency as is your seemely selfe in whome besides your â—euine bowty there are assembled so many good graces and heroicall ve 〈…〉 man may not expecte any other but a sincere and good inclination to immitate almost in all thinges the customes of amorous humanitys making him to appeare pittifull in deede and word and redye to impart his liberall fauour to all those that craue it and by their good behauiour doe duly deserue it This also yeldeth some satisfactioÌ„ to my troubled mind that my words which were of late restrained haue now found free issue whereby I requyre helpe at your handes whilste I yet feele in my selfe sufficiente habillitye to receiue it assuring you that it will be to late for so sitall a benefit if you delay the time to let me inioy the formine of your friendly â—â—uour wherof being very desyrous I attend your curteous aunswere with assured hope that your good pleasure will be to accept me for your humble seruant that so long as any sparke of lyfe remaineth in mee haue vowed my selfe to your seruice and cannot but accounte you for my onely mistresse Assure your selfe the refore that my lyfe may not long indure if my 〈…〉 destinye doe denye me the fauour to fynde you agreeable to my affectionate desyre Finis The Louer hauing long time loued a fayre Gentlewoman at whose handes he had reciued small hope of obtaining his purpose wrighteth vnto her as followeth TO vse any long discourse my dearely beloued Parmenia in the declaration of my great good will and seruent affection towardes you I coumpte it but friuotous seing I am well assured that you haue long since perceyued and from time to time made perfect â—ryall of my true â—uer towards you yet to the hope so vncertain that I haue hitherto receiued froÌ„ you as I cannot assure my self of any further fauour at your handes then he that hath neuer deserued any at all and as it is the property of all those that loue faithfully so feare the worst so doe I many times misdoubt least through my owne euill destenye or the fained flattery of some false dissembler I shal bee depriued of that comfort which doth more content me then the Conquest of a whole kingdome wherefore being greatly greued with the vncertaintie of my present estate by meanes 〈◊〉 y mutability that many times I find to be in you not able any longer to sustain the torments that it putteth me vnto I haue thought good to write these few words vnto you most humbly beseeching you to dissolue me of this doubt without delay that if I finde not your aunswere agreeable with my desyre I may seeke if I can to suppresse the seruente affection that is nowe so deepelye rooted in my harft as I feare mee I shall hardlye remooue it Doe this my good Parmenia and feare not anye inconuenience that may growe thereby For I hope that by graunting mee youre friendlye fauoure you shall haue no cause to repente you of any thing that shall happen vnto you vnlesse it be because you haue so long lacked the company of so comfortable a companyon by whose meanes with the helpe of God you shal not only be deliurred of your long and grreuous sicknesse which cannot be otherwise cured but also leauing the life that now you â—eade be cid of all these your mallicious Enemies that with their enuye on deuill dealing doe daylye vndeseruedly deuise to doe you displeasure and withall purchase to your selfe so faithfull a friend as for anye aduenture will neuer forsake you but vsing his dilligente carefull industry to prouide for your maintenance which neede I hope shall neuer happen vnto you howesoeuer you esteeme my present state to
as was riquisite for one in his case SIr I am well assured that in seeking to giue councell to one so wise and consolaon to one of such constancy as you are I shall rather reape reproch for my rashnes then anye wayes purchase praise for my good meaning And although you that know what cause moued mee there vnto doe not so conceiue it yet they that shall heare reporte thereof being ignoraunte of the greate good will that I heare vnto you will be ready to imagine the worste of it But let them thinke what they list I had rather that all others shoulde accuse me of presumtion then that you should haue iust cause to condemne me of ingratitude or thinke my friendship to be of small effect And therefore though that I wright be not such as should seeme to proceede from a man indued with greate learning and wisedome yet being well assured that whatsoeuer it bee you will acceptablely receiue it and conster it to the best I will not fayle either by that or any other meane I may at all times to manifest my good meaning vnto you and the willing minde I haue to doe you good so farre forth as my weake witte and small habillitye can reach vnto It is not at al to be doubted but y miseries that raine in this wretched world are very many and very great but as they are necessary meanes to make vs knowe our selues and acknowledge the weakenesse of our humaine nature so should wee pacientlye tollerate the troublesome toyles and cormentes thereof as it is the part of a wyse and well disposed person alwayes to doe What though you be now forbidden the court whereyou haue long time liude in great estimation â–ª wil you therfore so vnmeasurably vex torment your selfe as though your sorrow should neuer take end It were no doubte a thing cleane contrary to your wisedome grauitie and would be a great disgrace to your noble nature the haughtinesse of your liberall hart to be found vnable by the rule of reason to resist the fierce assaultes of froward Fortune For as in time of prosperity you gouerned your selfe with great modesty so should you now that the contrary is happened be armed with as great pacience to sustaine the senister and sorrowfull euents that this wretched world rendreth vnto all them that therein haue their abiding Assure your selfe that those of your friends which now remain in the court are well contented that you haue so forsaken it withoute hope euer to retourne againe not because they are willing to wante youre companye for that is the thing they cheefely couet but because they knowe the misery of that place to bee suche as it shoulde rather bee shunted then sought for by all those that loue to leade a quiet and peaceable life And I am well assured that if you had the power to enter into the hartes of men to search their secrete thoughts you should find those of the Court accompanied with such continuall cares frighted with such fearefull fancies and fraught with such follyes subiect to so many daungerous discommodities and perplexed with suche straunge and perrillous passions as you your selfe since your departure from the Court neuer assayed the lyke but would bee foreed to confesse that their greefes doe farre surmount your owne Now by how much more greeuous and difficult it is to see then to heare those thinges that molest the mynde if by meanes of the miseries callamities of this wretched world which so greatly disturbeth the quiet state of all earthly creatures you suppose one place more painefull and troublesome to continue in then an other by so much should you thinke the same to be in the Courte rather then any where else for surely so it is as your selfe know right well what semblaunce soeuer you seeme to make to the contrary But you wright sometime like a Gnato enforced of necessitye either to praise that whiche is praise worthy or to doe that which is not desent but deseruing great blame both which are cleane contrary to your natural inclination Such is the wretchednesse of our age that euery one esteemeth his owne estate to be moste miserable what though men dispoyle you of those transitory ritches which Fortune sometime gaue you in great aboundance yet can they not bereaue you of that rare and renowned ritches to wete the excellent vertues of the mynde whiche God and Nature hath so graciously grafted in you from the beginning as they cannot by any meanes be altred or chaunged but do continually grow and increase in you are sufficiente though all thinges else were wanting for a hart conducted by honour and gouerned by reason to liue wel and happily withall Thus much haue I thought good to write vnto you to make proofe of your wisedome to the end she should again receiue into her handes the reine of reason which she had of late let slip whereby you were driuen for wante of her good guiding to wander out of the right way whiche you haue so long indueoured to follow I pray you wright oftener vnto me but let your letters conteine more myrth then those that heretofore you haue sent mee to the ende that I may finde for my satisfaction that my words were of the force to remoue from you al careful cogitations and fill your mynde with ioy and gladnesse praying the Almighty to graunt you your health and hartes desyre in all things Finis A yong Gentleman whose loue was hindred by falce reportes wrighteth to his Lady that had promised her good will so her friendes would agree vnto it THe poore wearied Traueyler that after long sayling the Seas in no small daunger and at the last attaineth to the wished Hauen is blowne backe againe and brought into greater perrils then before may most easily iudge the greatnesse of my greefes who being raised to the toppe of all felicity by the fauour I found at your friendly hands for furtheraunce of my desyred comforte I am nowe by myne owne euill desteny the mallice of malicious make-bates who more respecting their owne priuate profit then honest reputation the rather to preferre those that they like better of haue raised such slaunderous reports against me vtterly voyde of truth as haue mooued them to mislyke that of late liked well of me wherby I am driuen into such dangerous doubtes as if your good nature which I know cannot conceiue any ill of them that deserue wel did not somewhat releeue me all hope of comforte would quickly die in me and my cares so greatly abound as my harte should neuer be able to harbour such ioy as is meete for my yong yeares Your mother as I heare is so incensed against mee as not withstanding the many reasons alleaged and playne profes made to the contrary she will not reuoke that euill opinyon which the false perswations of lewde persons hath caused her vniustly to conceiue of me but let her or any other thinke of
may not onely order you as he ought to do but also bring vp his famely vertuously and in the feare of God for so shall God blesse him the better and al his actions shal haue a good prosperous end wheras if he be vicious of a lewd disposition his inferiors following his example wil be the like for such husband such wife such father such childreÌ„ such maisters such seruants so is it commonly seeneâ— so were he neuerso subtle witted or indued with neuer so great abundance one way or other al wold quickly go to wrach come to nothing for as much as the welth of y husband doth chiefely depeÌ„d vpon the good behauiour of his wife in y disposing of his houshold affairs I wold aduise you to be careful in all honest order to conserue increse y which your husband shall get not to spend super fluously vpon such trifles toyes as are but spurs to prouoke pride which is the pathway to perdition whereof the wife being the cheefest member of her husbands body shall be the fyrst that shall feele the smart of it when exchanging her gorgious garments for a pore patched cote her sine dellicate dishes for such scraps as she can get for Gods sake her soft fetherbeds and beds of downe for a Pallet of straw her gorgious buildinges for a silly sheepe cote or such like to be brought to that extremity that she shall rather wish to dye then line in that miserable estate when hauing bene a mistresse of manye seruauntes in her youth she shall her selfe in her olde age be faine to be a slaue and seruaunt to such as sometime she could commaund for it is no doubt a right miserable and wretched state atorment intollerable and a greefe in erplicable after so great plenty to feele such extreame pennry but it is thee meetest reward for them that wil not take heede before hande to repent them afterward when it is to late for when the steede is stolne it is no time to shutte the stable dore and it is most certaine one far from their good are neare to their harme for euery man basteth the fut hog but the leane shall burne before he be basted my meaning is and it is dayly seene that he that hath enough shal haue more he that hath a little shall haue lesse but hee that hath nothing at all of himselfe let him be sure that hee shall get nothing of another wherfore if you couet to be accounted wise and vertuous knowing how great an ennemye shee is to her selfe and into how many daungers she intrudeth herself that is negligent and care to conserue her husbands goods you will rather forbeare thinges necessary then you would be any hinderaunce to your husbands profit yea trauaile al that you can to increse his stock rather then one whit to deminish it wisely waighing that if any thing happen to her husband otherwise then well she is not one of the laste as I sayde before which shall feele the smart of it And thus praying you to print these precepts in your hart for feare to be oâ—eâ— cedious I leaue to trouble you anye more at this time Finis A pore yong mau being vehemently vexed for the loue of a fyre yong Gentlewoman craueth her fauour for the conseruation of his lyfe almost consumed SO rare is your bewtye bountie and grace that as the Adamante draweth yron vnto it so doeth the same draw the mindes of men vnto you and like Cirses charmes transporte them into what likenesse you list What maruaile is it then though manye worthy Gentlemen being bleared with the bright beames thereof be inforced for the appeasemente of their paine to seeke all meanes possible to purchase your gracious good will and fauour But my good mistresse amongst so many that haue made sute vnto you I maruaile you make choyse of none peraduenture it is because you cannot conceiue any constancye or faithful fidelitye to be 〈◊〉 in them if it be so behold I am he that can and will if you please supply that wante in you as you shold wel know if you made profe of me I doubt not but you should find me such a one as in all respectes would sufficiently satisfy your minde yea and so content you as the choyse of me shoulde not once mooue you to chaunge the basenesse of my byrth be any blemishe to your dignitie or your gentle accceptance to my offered curtesye moue you to repente you of so gracious a deede Pardon me I pray you if in this my rude writing I haue committed anye crime or done that which is contrarye to duty and impute the fault onely to loue whose burning flames hauing long tyme boyled in my brest not being able now any longer to concele the same I am thorow vehemency of the paine that thereby oppresseth my pore pensiue hart enforced at the last in hope of redresse to reueale my hidden greefes vnto you being the onely Mistresse of my health life and libertie without whose grace or mine owne great perrill may not possiblye be repressed nor my paines appeased for if they coulde then eyther feare of youre displeasure reason or duty woulde haue deteined me from this my present purpose and presumptious attempt and not haue permitted mee with woe to wade so farre in so daungerous a Sea seing therefore that the passion which oppresseth me is so paynefull the fyre that wasteth me so vehement the cause proceeding from you and the remedy resting only in your hands I thinke you cannot be so cruell harted but that pitty will moue you in the ende to rue the callamitye that youre poore Seruaunt hath for your sake so long sustayned and to hasten the remedy for his releefe that with the dewe of grace issuing from your moste delicate bodye you may speedilye quenche that consuming fyre whiche so continuallye inflameth his harte with desyre to doe suche seemelye seruice as shall be acceptable vnto you who accoumpting all payne but pleasure that hee sustaineth for your sake yeeldeth himselfe wholye vnto your clemencye to render him the finall sentence of lyfe or death which her dayly expecteth Finis How foolish women are in the choyse of their Louers THe Smith whose toyling trade besmeard his face with sweat And made him like a Croyden Knight with working in the heate More lucky was in loue then Hercules the stonte The one inioyde a dainty Dame the other went without Vulcanus had to wife the Lady cheefe of loue Whose passing bewty peerelesse was as Paris plaine did proue But long Alsides serude fayre Iole at her will In womans weede and yet did fayle to finde her fauour still For oft it is the trade of women to ellect Lewde lumpish loutes deuoyde of wit and wiser wightes reiect A Clowne that from the Cart is come in court to serue In whome there is no kinde of cause good liking to deserue Shall catch a gallaunt gyrle and
purchase at her handes That others lack whose faithfull hartes were scortcht with Cupids brands Then let him loue that list for I will leaue the lure Of those lewde Dames whose diuelish driftes such cursed cares procure Finis Damion wrighteth to his friend Sulippo exhorting him to seeke preferment whilst the time serueth SUrelye my Sulippo when I remember the poore estate wherin thou presently standest and cōpare it with the misery of this our age I cannot but greatlye maruaile to see thy slacknesse in seeking preferment cōsidering how hard a time it is to attain to any thing or to kepe y which wee haue with quietnesse euerye one beeing readye to pull the meate out of an other mans mouth that happy is he who hath any thing to stay vnto for if he want he shall finde few friendes in his necessity that will pittie his pouertie or set to their handes to helpe him be his neede neuer so great and therefore in my poore opinion it is good as they say to hold open the poke whilst the pigge is profered and taking the time whilst it serueth to stryke whilst the yron is hote and not with Esopes Dogge leauing the fleshe for the shadow forgoe a thing certayne for a hope vncertaine least repentaunce follow when it is to late for better it is to haue one byrde in hande then two in the Bushe seeing that often times whilste the Gratie growes the steede starues for hee that hopeth after deade mén shoes many times goeth barefoote many things happen betweene the cuppe and the lippe and therefore diuerse meanes there may be hereafter to hinder that which may now without any great difficultie be atchieued seeing there is nothing but onely the wante of mayster Moliscus good will to preuent your purpose which by good perswation and earnest intreaty may possibly be obteined the rather or that he seeth mayster Glomerok so desyrous to doe you good I pray you therefore finde some good time so soone as conueniently you can to talke with him about it for as it greeueth me to see the life that now you leade without either profite or pleasure so am I very desyrous to haue you prouide in Sommer against the extremity of the winter and seeke somewhat in your youth to maynetain you in your age to the end that you may be a comfort and not a corsie to the hartes of such your poore friendes as wish you well who will not fayle to do their vtturmost indeuour to further your preferment in all they may Thus praying you to remember what I haue written vnto you and to put it in practise so soone as you maye I bid you safe well Finis Varinus hauing found in the night time that which plesed his fancy he commendeth it much and craueth to be accepted for her seruant whom he intyrely loued THough many much mislike the long and weary winter nights I cannot but commend them still for diuerse dere delightes The night we see brings siluer sleepes sleepe courseth care away Cares being cast from out the mind there harboures happy ioye Where ioye aboundes there helth hath place where happy helth doth bide There life lastes long this proofe shewes plaine and may not be denyde Lo this the happy night procures which wrought my wished will Therefore I must before the day preferre and praise it still But some perhaps will maruaile much my fond effect to heare Let them not spare none knowes the cause why I so straunge appeare In this my vnacquainted verce such darke conceites to write Nor neuer shall but onely I and she whose bewty bright Did in the darke beth bleare mine eyes and lend me perfect light She she it is that knowes full well from whence my Muse proceedes Yea she it is that both my blisse and hale together breedes Her presence doth procure my rest her absence workes my woe Her chearefull lokes doe cheare my hart her sorrow makes to flow Whole floodes of teares from out mine eyes and killes my hart with care Whose comly grace and courtious deedes doe make her seeme as rare As in the world the Phenix is and blessed would I count My selfe and say that in good luck all others I surmount Might I but once such grace obtaine at her sweete handes to be Accepted as a seruaunt still no more is craude of me Which if I might atchieue no doubt I would my selfe apply To please her so in eche respect as she should truely trie And so confesse she neuer found so fyrme a friend before Or seruaunt of such secresy that did esteeme her more What so she could commaund or will by day or else by night On sea or Land I would fulfill though death appeard in sight Or all the greefes that griefly ghostes in Limbo lake sustaine Should me assayle with furious moode to make me to refraine Yet should it not withdraw my minde from doing her desyre Hap good or ill what so beside I would thereto aspyre And wages none at all Ieraue but leaue it to her will. According to her curtesy her fancy to fulfill But when she hath made profe of me as she shall best deuise And sees my seruice what it is if she in any wise Mislike thereof let her withdraw From me her fauour quight And vse what kinde of way she will. to worke me more despight For as my health on her dependes So if I want her grace I loth my lyfe and wish for death to reaue my rufull race Finis A pore yong man being in loue with a ritch Gentlewoman fynding it somewhat difficult to obtaine any fauoure at her handes sought to suppresse his fond affection but could not wherfore he wrighteth vnto her in effecte as followeth THere is nothing in the vniuersall worlde that maye more aptly be compared to the hatefull Hidra then the painefull passions of lawlesse loue for the Hidra being assayled by Hercules alwayes when he cutte of one of his heades there sprang two in the place of it so loue the more it is suppressed the more it increaseth and groweth still the greater as is plainly proued by me though to my payne I reporte it for considering on howe high a place my minde was setled wherevnto to attaine without great pertill I found it almost impossible I sought by reason to remooue it if I might but loue so abounded that reason bare no sway and therefore being ordeyned as it were by destiny to lyue and dye your loyall louer and poore faythful Seruaunte howesoeuer it shall please you to dispose of mee yea though I neuer gaine any grace at all at your handes yet must I perforce still perceuer in the same what soeuer betyde me desyring rather to dye to confyrme my constancye then lyue and lacke your friendlye Fauoure whereby I am onely sustayned knowing that when my vnhappye death shall happen to come to youre hearing it will moue such remorce in youre harte considering that the cause proceeded from your selfe as you