more hast then néedes resortes Both hie and lowe the riche and poore of name Pro et contra for pence at euery barre In right and wronge the lawyers were at iarre In faith quoth I these men deserueth praise For Iustice cause which thus imployes their paine But I to hie a note their names did raise In right or wrong they still did gape for gaine And as I walkt I saw one wrapt in woe Which much complainde of matter de post facto Speake English man what meanes these words quoth I Oh syr hee said a quillet in the lawe Alas it is which makes mée howle and crie And looking backe another man I sawe Of whom I askt why hée did looke so glum Hée plagued was with plées of non est factum I smyling then to heare the clownish drone By néede inforst to talke hée wist not what But as I learnd the cause of all his mone More pittie sure a lawyers friend how that To pay him pence did enter into band The which hée seald and liuered with his hand But after catcht by craft the selfe same bill The former seale he falslie toke away An other seald the same which he did spill And vnsuspect the bond there downe did lay Which forfet once in law they fall at iarre The seale was off was pleaded then in barre There might I sée releasses finely framde Prouided yet that if such thinges were done Which latter wordes by former force were lamde Who so releast a faire thred then hée spunne With thousand toyes which I do here omitt Did cousening Craft within his capcase knitt I lately feard to sée the fearelesse blowes The proud attempes assayd by desperate men Here rouled bookes my manhoode ouer throwes I durst not bide the truncheon of a pen Yet well I markt how mercie bared sway The conquerd wightes were prisoners sent away But for this grace their raunsome sure was great The gaylor fléest the lawyer had a share If pence were spent cold yrons made him sweate Hard beds well payde poore chéere was costly fare Agréeued much extortion bare such sway To patience I mée thought these words did say Can cousening shiftes thus conscience foyle in sight Where is no right may hellhoundes thus extort Shall periurie condemne the guiltlesse wight And may it bee suborâ—ing should support The lewde in lies when grace is not their stay Can Iustice rule a right with parciall sway Content thy selfe quoth patience then to mée Good lawes are made to punish their amisse But pence their wronge doth couler oft wée sée And want doth ware the poore mans right I wisse And thus thou séest presented to thy sight The prouerbe old how might doth maister right Then out wée goe I glad to leaue this hell But soone wée shipt into as hard a vaine Where Usurie with bagges of gold did swell Who much complainde of penall statutes paine And ioynde with craft the same for to preuent Now this now that the myser doth inuent On casuall chaunce I may my monie lend Yet hassard small shall happen by my marte If I my wife my seruaunt child or friend Do goe to Powles and home againe reuert Then twentie in the hundred you shall pay This gaine is small forsooth doth Holdfast say Collusion then did catch him by the backe And feasde his pence which songe loth to depart To leuey mends the harmles went to wracke Thus salued was his sore by others smart Couetousnes went myching vpp and downe His iacket pilde and threadbare was his gowne But banckrowte sure did braue it with the best His cape of cloth with veluet linde within His hoase of silke with stitches straunglie drest More cost hée said more worship did him win But well I markt how soone this pride decayd his héeles he tooke when debtes should be defrayd Some kept their house and durst not shewe their face Some were betrayde and came in cutthrotes handes Then plees of néede did purchase litle grace Past starting now they tyde in Darbyes bandes In prison vile of force must lye and rott Till they haue paid their debt and cost God wott Then forth wée goe into a paltrie towne Where vnderprops eche stagering house did stay I chaunste to méete a sillie countrie clowne Of whom I askt what wrought their townes decay Who aunswerd straight your mastâ—ips honour sees Yond goodly place that pluckt vs on our knées Yond stately walles our chiefest stones did steale UUhich were the stay vnto our féeble farmes For want of strength then did our houses reale And worse then that to worke our greater harmes Inclosures great so in our commons créepe UUhere kine wée kept wée scase can kéepe a shéepe Yet racked rentes increase our landlords gaine UUée moile wée toile wée worke both morne and Euen Our landlords reape reward for all our paine To pay our rentes and make the world euen Doe what wee can wée compasse very hard UUith farmers now the wonted world is mard UUhen hée did raise besides his Landlords rent Old gold good store to serue him at his néede The cribel loafe about his bord then went Salt béefe good souce their hungrie mawes did féede A stand of ale hée euer had in store UUell come gossipe a cruse of ale to the dore Then droyling Dicke and toyling Tom did sturre To mucke his ground to make a fatter croppe To serue his hogges poore Madge his maide did spurre For winters cold he hedge rowes large might loppe To ride abroade he seeldome lackt a mare And in this sort the fermers life did ware But now god wott our rentes we hardly pay To barlie crustes is turnde our cribel bread Where béefe brawne souce our hungers did allay On cruddes and chéese wée hungerly do féede A pecke of malte doth make him ale good store Wellcome gossip no drinke now to the dore Where Hicke and Tom his boyes about did moyle He delues hée digges he labours for his hire And Ioane his wife perforce herselfe doth droyle In steede of woode now pestrow makes good fire Where earst hée ridde abroade vppon his nagge For falling now on tenne toes hee doth lagge Thus Iohn Adroynes did wray the farmers woe And I mée thought did pittie much their want Quoth patience then now time doth serue to showe The cause why care thy heauie hart doth haunt Thou sayest thy want is weade with others wealth Thy harmes are payste with weighes of others health Good reason why thou viewdst in courtiers trade Both good and bad a like did gaine expecte A like not so â–ª the good by vertuous ayde The bad did sâ—â—ke by traynes of false suspect The best to throw from grace despite to spell Whilst they by craft did catch such crummes as fell How hypocrites with shew of honest life In fauour créepes when goodmen be disdainde How souldiers winne the field with bloudy knife When cowards filch which their aduenture gainde How cutthrotes thriue where conscience beares no sway When simple men with want are
prayde till I could partridge get But I so long on carren crowes did pray My poysoned bloud in colour waxed pale In natures ayde myne age had wrought decay Now listen rampes for here begins my tale Before my blysse but now I blase my bale For Physickes arte my surffets can not cure Bound so perforce the worst I must indure In séeking sport my haire did shed in iest A sorrie ioy to ceaselesse sorrowe plight French feauers now in me can take no rest From bones to flesh from flesh in open sight With grinckcomes grease beholde a monstrous wight My louers olde with fawth their browes doth bend Of Cressids lust loe here the lothsome end Glad is she now a brownebreade crust to gnawe Who deintie once on finest cates did frowne To couch vpon soft seames a pad of straw Where halfe mislikt were stately beds of downe By néede enforst she begs on euery clowne On whom but late the best would gifts bestow But squemish then God dyld ye she sayd no. From top of state to tumble thus to thrall Too froward sure dame Fortune was in this But highest trées in fine haue hardest fall A merrie meane her parciall hand doth misse She pines with paine or bathes her thralles in blisse Best therfore then for to withstand her might With sword of fame in Uertues band to fight But ah in vaine I frame excuse by fate When due desart doth worke my ouerthrow Ne was I first by Fortune stauld in state My roome by byrth did high renoune bestow Though wicked life hath wrapt me now in woe A warning faire a myrrour full of mone For gadding gyrles a bone to gnaw vpon Take héede in time least Had I wist you rew And thus perforce I hold my tyred tong Me thinkes I heare the bell to sound adew My withered corps with deadly cold is clung A happier turne if I had dyed yong My shrouding sheete then had not béene of shame Who dying now doth liue in filthy fame Siuâ— bonuâ—â— sine malum fama est The Argument for the discourse of Rinaldo and Giletta GOod Reader to continue thy delight I haue made chaunge of thy exercise of reading bad verse with the proffer of worsser prose requesting as earst I haue that thou wilt vouchsafe my well meaning and mend what thou sindest amisse This discourse was first written in Italian by an vnknowne authour the argument of whose woorke insueth Rinaldo masking with faire Giletta at her brothers marriage was so straungly surprised with the loue of her that necessitie inforst him to discouer his sorrowes Giletta sufficiently persuaded of his constancie after long suite by Rinaldo made was in the end contented to loue After these two secretely had thus assured them selues Rinaldo fel sicke in whose absence one Seigner Frizaldo â–ª by her parentes consent was an earnest suter to Giletta â–ª who inferring on the familiaritie betweene Rinaldo and Giletta became iealous to quench whose mistrust Giletta for feare of her friendes displeasure waâ— forst to make a shewe of good will towardes Frizaldo whome she loued not and to hate Rinaldo whome she liked as hir life Rinaldo vnacquainted with his maistresse meaning by the peruerse practises of Frizaldo was driuen into despaire in so muche as he leapt into the riuer of 〈◊〉 of purpose to drowne himselfe But wearie of this enterprise labouring for life he recouered the shoare afterwards was knowne vnto Giletta and hauing notice of Frizaldos trecherie he slue him in a combat and after with the consent of her friendes married Giletta The storie at large IN Italie neare to the riuer of Poo there dwelled a noble man of great reputation called the Lord de Bologna who besides his speciall credite â–ª with his Prince his destered companie among the noble men his vncontrouled sway both in court and countrie the great possessions inheritaunces reuenues annuities and other commodities he had to maintaine his honourable calling to worke his chiefest comfort had by the Lady Katherine his wife a toward yong Gentleman to his sonne called Petro de Bologna and also a daughter whose name was Giletta at that time vnmatcht both for vertue beautie and shape Petro de Bologna hauing ouerrun ninetene or twentie yeares still ouerlookt with the counselling eyes of his naturall parents assured friends and carefull tutors became not now only desierous of more libertie but wonne with the intising pleasure of the Court and finding in him self sufficient cause of desart he bent him selfe wholy to professe the exercises of a perfect courtier where in in short time he so greatly profited as that he was reputed to be one of the gallantest Gentlemen in all Italie Petro de Bologna attaining this estimation liued awhile vnwitcht with the alluring beauties of braue Ladies yet on the souden subiected with the sight of fayre Iuliet a noble mans daughter of the sayd countrie ioyning her excelleÌ„t shape with the report of her matchlesse vertue he foorthwith transformed his late liking vnto such faythful loue as secretly he vowed that neyther change nor chaunce should whiles life lasted remoue his affection and to make his thraldome knowne by continuall seruice he craued reward Maistresse Iuliet finding his wordes â–ª in workes perceiuing by the ofteÌ„ alteratioÌ„ of his colour what humour most of all fead him ioyning the assured knowledge of his loyall loue with other his desarts presently in thought she gaue consent to loue so that afterward she vsed towardes Petro de Bologna what honest courtesie she coulde The newes of this loue was soâ—denly spread throughout the whole Court and in the end it came vnto their parents eares who waying the equalitie of the matche gaue willingly consent vnto that these two louers most desiered And to exile all iealous mistrust that lingring might bréede the marriage day was in great haste appointed To honour which a worlde of people resorted vnto the Lord de Bolognas castle For the intertainment of whiche guestes there neither wanted costly cheare curious shewes or pleasaunt deuises that eyther money friendship or cunning might compasse And to be short diuers Gentlemen that were the bridegromes companions the more to honour the marriage presented him one night with a maske so curiously set foorth as it yealded a singular delight vnto all the beholders AmoÌ„g the which maskers ther was one Roberto Rinaldo a Gentleman of better qualities and shape then either of byrth or liuing made choice to maske maistresse Giletta the bridegromes sister But on the souden he was so surprised with her passing beautie as he fared as one whose senses had forgone their dutifull office he ofte forgot to vse due reuerencâ— vnto his maistresse Sometimes he masked without measure and many times when the rest presented their Ladies with voluntarie prattle he vsed silence Thus continually visited with passionate fits of the beholders marked of his maistresse misliked time in the ende forced him and the rest from dauncing whiche done
by this time the open ayre hath purged it but if before this time I my selfe am infected it smally helpes to throwe away this poore braunch and so your counsel is out of season and yet for the same I courteously thancke you Well quoth Frizaldo snuffinge at this aunsweare you were best to perfecte your delighte to weare a Rose with your Rosemarie meaninge the first letters of those two flowers aunsweared her louers name Roberto Rinaldo These woordes stroake poore Giletta dead and yet shée pretily dissemblinge her knowledge of Frizaldoes minde found out meanes to cutte off those crosse speaches with argumente that méetely well contented him But poore wench so soone as shée was bestowed alone in her Chamber solitarinesse wroughte a freshe remembraunce of Frizaldoes doubtfull woordes but yet after shee had a space bewayled her Fortunes shée wisely entered into the consideration of her owne estate and waying howe greatly that Frizaldo was fauoured of her friendes and on the contrarie parte Rinaldo of small accompte shée concluded to please all her friendes and contente both her louers to vse this policie Frizaldo whom shee smally esteemed shée mente to féede with courteous delayes Rinaldo whom in déede shée honoured shée determined in heart to loue and in showe to hate thinking by this meanes that she should extinguish quench Frizaldos ielous suspicion which in very déede contraried her imagination For although he liked Gilettas intertaynment yet hee continually feared her affection towardes Rinaldo yea hée eyed her with such mistrust as that shée could hardly finde occasion to acquainte her Rinaldo with this deuise notwithstanding hopinge of fauourable time to execute her purpose shée continued her fained good will towards Frizaldo but Rinaldo shée would neither sée send nor write vnto Who wonderinge at this insolencie and straungenes althoughe hée had hardly recouered his empayred health yet hée aduentured abroade to learne the cause of this soudaine alteration But his ouermuch temeritie and makinge hast herein had wroughte wofull waste of his life had not God wonderfully saued him For repayringe vnto the place of his wonted ioy and accustomed comforte hée found his mystresse dallying with a fresh gallant On him shée would not vouchsafe to looke Yea if on occasion hée saluted her by the name of his mystresse very disdainfulâ—y and scornefully or not at all shée aunsweared him On him shée frowned with a curst countenaunce On his enimie shée fleared with a delightsome fauour with him shee would not speake with his enimie shée continually talked Which vnfriendly welcome was far worse God wot to Rinaldo then his late sicknes But worst of al he digested the report of the Courtiers who inferring on their familiaritie gaue out for certainty that Segnior Frizaldo should marie with mystres Giletta These newes poore Rinaldo was like ynough to credite himselfe seing such apparaunte proofe thereof yea hée credited them so farre as hée could not away with any thought of hope In so much that scorning both Courte and companie as one forsaken of himselfe hée forthwith went vnto his chamber wheras passionately discoursinge on his harde Fortunes which plaint hée powdred with a thousand sighes by chaunce hée fastned his eye on the Iewel which Giletta had bestowed on him and with litle lust reading the posie thereof supposinge she had falsified her vowe toucht with the proofe of his wretchednes hée forthwith wrote these vnder written Uerses For faithfull loue the hate I finde in lue My vowe performde the false of her behest The small reward I reape for seruice true Her ioy to sée mée plunged in vnrest Doth force mée say to finde an ende of paine O fancie die thou féedest hope in vaine I sue for grace shée smyles to sée my smart I pleade for peace shée séekes to sowe debate My sowre her swéete my griefe doth glad her hart I fawne shée frownes I loue and shée doth hate Sith soe I say to finde an ende of paine O fancie die thou féedest hope in vaine Starue thou desire which kéepeth life in loue And so my thought from showring woe shall cease But loue aliue while fancie hope may moue A lyuing death my sorrowes will increase Wherefore I say to finde an ende of paine O fancie die thou féedest hope in vaine My fancies dead I end of woes should finde My eyes nay seas God wot of brackish teares Would leaue to loue whom loue hath made so blinde My thorned thoughtes no more should foster feares But oh aye mée for to proroge my paine My fancies liue and féedeth hope in vaine Doe what I can I pray on plighted troth A simple thinke shée will not breake this bonde I vowe to loue I will not false my othe But ah I finde her false and I too fonde Wherefore good death at once delay my paine My fancies liue and féedeth hope in vaine Roberto Rinaldo Unto these Uerses Rinaldo set a very sollem note and the nighte following hée bestowed himselfe vnder Gilettas chamber windowe where playing on his lute hée very mournefully sounge this passionate inuentioÌ„ of purpose like vnto the Swanne that sings before her death to bid his mystresse adieu for euer Good Giletta hearing this sorrowfull farewell much lamented her seruants estate yet durst shée not at that instant any wayes comfort him The cause was Segnior Frizaldo was then in her chamber who knew very well that it was Rinaldo that with his sollem musicke saluted mystresse Giletta yea hée knew by the ouer often chaunging of her couler how notwithstanding her dissimulation she greatly sorrowed Rinaldos distresse and therefore he thought best during his discomforture by some slye policie at once to ouerthrow him with distrust and vntil the execution of this treachery he thought best to giue him this bone to gnaw vppon First to shew his credite to be admitted into her chamber at that time of the night Next to proue his authoritie hée called Giletta by the name of his subiect Who duetifully aunswered him with the title of her souereigne which done quoch hée looking out of the window it is for you sake faire Lady wée are presented with this swéete musicke although your vnknowen welwiller maketh show of the sorrowes hée suffers not yet courtesie wills you to intercept his paines with thankes Poore Rinaldo hearing Frizaldos tongue made no stay for Gilettas thankes but returning to his chamber as one that had foregone his senses a while in sighes he vttered his plainte And after his sorrowe was somewhat eased quoth hée alas good Giletta thy exchaunge is very hard to leaue to be Rinaldos mystresse to become Frizaldos subiect But Rinaldo worse is thy hap that thou must serue her that is subiect to thy mortal enimie thy thraldome is intollerable thy tornients without end with violent death dispatch both thy seruitude and sorrowes so shalt thou force them to pittie that now triumphe at thy miseries In this sort Rinaldo continually raged at his fortunes Well how euer Rinaldo fared
instruments of Rinaldos lamentable destnie in so much as neither shew of pleasure companie of acquaintance or persuasion of friendes could moue her vnto any comfort Well leaue we sorrowfull Giletta continually bemoning the death of her best beloued seruant and turne we to Rinaldo who after he had a while felt the furie of the floudes was wearie of dying so that for life he laboured vnto the shoare which happily recouered he felt his stomacke at that instant rather ouercharged with water then loue yet for that by sight of his sowre-swéete maistresse he would not renue his sorrowes nor that he coulde brooke in the court to be frumpt and slouted at he consented in a forrest neare adioyning vnto this riuer in miserie to consume the residue of his life And abasing his mind vnto the condition of his distresse he was content to take a hollow caue for his house and herbour the bare ground both for his bed and bedding For companions to make choice of wild beastes to bemone his fortunes vnto the wild forrests to make the night rauen his clocke his harmonie of hellishe noise of monsters his foode the fruits of the earth O strange effectes of loue that could vaile his mynde to vouchsafe these miseries that lately held at will almost what he could wish But leaue I now to write of loue his force whom no maÌ„ hitherto could either truly define or describe and turne againe to poore Rinaldos hard estate who roming in the wilde forrestes for foode espied an apple trée the fruit wherof put him in remembrance of the apple Giletta deliuered him wherin he found a letter that forst him to this penance the sight wherof with sorrow not only slaked his hunger but moued him to such impatiencie that in despaire and despight of the fruite vpon the trée he carued this inuention O Needlesse fruit of sinne the meane at first Thou forcedst Eue and Adam didst intice To byte their bale for which the earth was curst And headlong they from vertue fell to vice Thou wert the baite that Paris gaue the Dame Who in reward set stately Troy aflame Thou didst conuey the louing write that woode Dianas nymphe from chaste to foule desire By thée too soone I wretched vnderstoode Gilettas scorne that chaung'd her loue to yre And not content but when my woes were dead With former cares thou combrest fresh my head O enuious fruit in whom few vertues are Thy shew is all but who so on thée féedes Shall hardly finde thée helpe but health impaire Then sith to man such plagues thy beautie breedes Would God thy guilt vpon each apple trée Igrauen were for euery eye to see Roberto Rinaldo Rinaldo thus freshly entered into the consideration of his former loue likewise felt his former vnquietnesse of mynd faine would he haue found out some litle sparke of hope but out alas the sowre letter his swéete maistresse deliuered together with her hatefull shewe against him and her louing zeale towardes Frizaldo so hugely increased his distrust as by no means he could away with hope in so much quoth he O cowardly wretch why dost thou not by death at once dispatch thy sorowes rather theÌ„ to die a thousaÌ„d deaths by prâ—roging a lothed life canst thou brooke continual bondage wheÌ„ with one blow thou maist rid thy wretchednesse set feare aside vse force vpon thy selfe thou hast liued an exile too long since thou séest no hope of attonemeÌ„t at home nor fealest quietnesse abroad In this desperate passion Rinaldo was determined to commit murder vpon him selfe and yet he thought best to deferre the execution vntil he might conuey him selfe neare vnto Gilettas lodging that there her eyes might be witnesse of his loyaltie her owne crueltie To hasâ—eÌ„ which follie the next night he tooke his iourney towardes Bologna castle and by the way he deuised this petition EUen with the bloud that issues from his hart Rinaldo wretch this sorrie boune doth craue There may be grauen by some continuing Arte These woful words vpon his timelesse graue Loe here he lies that reaped hate for loue Which hard exchaunge to slea him selfe did moue These verses Rinaldo determined to write with bloud that issued from his deadly wound coÌ„ming vnto the place of his desired rest he drew his dagger in mind to finish his sorowes But finding his enterprise by reason of the dead time of night vnlikely to be troubled before he executed this tragedie he weakely wrested foorth this heauie farewell Oh God quoth he that the grones procéeding from my gored hart might now awake Giletta that she might sée the vse of my murthering knife then wold my yawning breath my bloudy sighs deadly gaspes no dout bedew her chéekes whiche hitherto my intollerable miseries with ruthfull teares could neuer wet so should she knowe my escaped dangers were but lightening ioyes for to inlarge my sorrowes so might she sée the vnfained confirmation of my loyaltie accuse her of inconstancie so séeing so vnnaturall a tragedie executed by the dome of her scorne vpon her faultlesse seruaunt remorse might happily moue her to repentaunce and pittie winne her from her wauering fancies But oh I tyre time with too néedelesse a tale she quietly sléepes to whom I thus sorrowfully talke Fare wel Giletta farewel These naked wals besprent with bloud shal shortly bewray my mone My breathlesse corps shal witnesse my constancie and purchase I trust so muche pitie as notwithstanding my carelesse prouision to be bestowed in some forgetlesse tumbe I can not stay thy answere and therfore I leaue it to thy curtesie Come wished death now vse thy force my will is made the time and place fitteth my desire my teares and sighes are already bestowed these waâ—â—es my executors only wanteth their hire my waste bloud I bequeath theÌ„ only to continue remembrance of my loyaltie c. Good Giletta continually lameÌ„ting the losse of her seruant both night day was smally disposed to rest in so much that leaning in her chamber window she heard though not perfectly this sorowful discourse and being moued with pitie as Rinaldos complaint grew to an end she vsed these words Yonder mans tong mone and miseries workes such fresh remembrance of my good Rinaldos destruction as for his sake I wil apply vnto his sorowes what honest comfort I can Therewithall she prepared her selfe to learne his cause of griefe Rinaldo amased with this souden comfort helde his hande from his throte till Giletta was at his elbowe who verie modestly demaunded both what he was what forst him so pitiously to coÌ„plaine Rinaldo on this small incouragement began now to mistrust yll measure in others and yet to trie in whome the fault might be he at the first both hid his name and the true cause of his griefe from Giletta Giletta earnestly noting the order of his talk began now to be so distempered with the thought of Rinaldo as she fell straight thus to bee moue his
fast your lawlesse loue to tame And further to allay your heate vnlesse you daily spinne This distaffe laden full of flaxe your fare will be but thinne This sayd the distaffe in she throwes and bad him thus adieu My tale is tolde you knowe your taske nowe worke as pleaseth you Alberto at these sorrie newes straight to this choller waxe Shall I from martiall exercise fall nowe a spinning flaxe Shall I that liu'd at libertie in prison thus be pend Shall I be sys'd of meate and drinke that late so much did spend And shall a Ladie foyle me thus whose hart the stoutest quaild There with he stroue to breake the doores but small his force auaild His griefe but gréene with termes of hate he blam'd this Ladie oft And supperlesse so went to bed which was not very soft But in respect of other plagues he thought the hardnesse small Who tyred with tormenting thoughts a sléepe did quickly fall When he had sleapt the night away and cares digested well Sharpe hunger so assayld this Lord as he to spinning fell His goutie and yll shapen thredes so moued him to smyle That well he likt the exercise his sorrowes to beguile At dinner time dame Barbaras mayde was to Alberto sent To share his lowance like his worke to whome this courtoll went And rudely calles to sée the yarne he had that morning sponne Alberto eger of his meate deliuerd what was donne By Saint Marie quoth this queane your buswiuerie is good And after she had frumpt him well she fetcht his sorrie foode A wéeke or more these hungrie meales in worth Alberto tooke In hope of grace which came so slowe as he his hope forsooke Sée yet desire of libertie sée nowe the fruites of néede Sée here how théeues their fellowes peche sée sée how hope doth féede Alberto for dame Barbara sendes to whom he shewes at large The wanton wager words and workes as I haue giuen in charge And how that Vdislao would ere long attempt the like Which straunge discourse the Ladie did into a wonder strike Oh God quoth she what cause giue I men should suspect my life I neuer clim'd beyonde my reach I am a louing wife And comes there yet another Lord that would my vertues staine Well let him come he shall abide hard penance for his paine This sayde she wild the gaylor sée Alberto spinne apace His newes thus recompenced were whome nowe I leaue a space To shewe what rumor in the court in euery corner roung Some say Albertos ioyes were such as loth to part he soung Vlrico oft his image viewd to sée what hue it bare And all the while it yealowe séemd he liu'd in perilous feare But when it turnd to white againe what so the courtiers say He knewe Alberto had the foyle and he had won the lay The other competitor thought his fellowes ioyes too great So that to haue a share with him he posted till he sweate And posting thus he at the length Vlricos castle spyde And making then more haste then spéede post haste he thether hyde Who safe arriu'd where he did wish to make his welcome more He had an errant readie stampt yea two or thrée in store He first commended to this dame her husbande 's happie health His speciall credite with his prince his fame and heapes of wealth And how on causes of his owne into these coastes he came And how he heard in happie time his friend Vlricos name And also how not farre from thence did dwell his Ladie faire And howe he bounde by courtesie to sée her did repaire The Ladie smiled in her mynde to heare this currant scuse And yet dissembling what she thought she friendly did him vse Yea courteously she crau'd he would his causes yet adiourne And at his friend Vlricos house with her awhile soiourne Her gentle offer to accept this Lord was nothing nice And yet ere longe her courtesse he bought at too hie price Well both contented as it séemd into the castle goe Where as faire Barbara glads her friend with welcomes great in shoe She talkt she walkt shee satt she stoode as likt this gallant best Yea many a straunge discourse did passe betwéene her and her guest In sinc to towle this lord in loue a sighing shée began And asked how Alberto farde as if shée lou'de the man The lord Vdislao did take this motion in good part Who smyld and said in secrete thought Alberto had her heart And for to strike her in a mase quoth hée I wott not well Since last he vew'd these countrye costes where as my frend doth dwel Faire Barbara as though she feard this lords welfare did faine And is hée not quoth shée returnde vnto your court againe This lure thus throwne to worke some hope in Vdislaos breast The Lady broke the prattle off and fell to feast her guest The lusty Hungarian lord likt well her kindnes showne Yet still he for aduauntage stayde to make his passions knowne Whose subtiltie when shée espide t'imbolden him the more Against her will her eyes dâ—d séeme more wanton then of yore And trained thus to treate of loue at length his tongue found scope She made it nice yet not so straunge but he might féede on hope Hée féeding still on showe of grace was loth to leaue the féeld She faring as shée likt his talke by péece meales gan to yéeld In fine she fainde how that his sute had wonne her to agrée And how shée would sometime that night her louers lodging sée Untill which time this frolicke lord committed her a Dio A fainde good night shée likewise gaue and wild her seruannts shoe Him where he should that night be lodgde whose lodging was prepard Next chamber to the prison where Alberto hardly farde Well Vdislao went to bedde full fraught with secrete ioy And still he lookt when his faire dame would kepe her promist foy But all in vaine he gapt for grace she glad he had him catcht Yet sée the fond conceites in loue in hope the night he watcht He hard no noyse no mouse could steare but streight in thought he smild O welcome Lady quoth his heart but when he was beguild He Sopor blamd for charging her with to much drowsie sléepe But of his faultes and wager fond at all he tooke no kéepe Wel al this night with fancies tost no sléepe lodgde in his breast When morning came this comfort came to set his heart at rest Dame Barbaras mayde brought him a réele and yearne Alberto made She tould him he should reele the same for that he had assaide To robbe her Lady of good fame to her then life more deare If he refusde to doe his taske he should haue sorrie cheare Loke you for neither meate nor drinke before your worke be donne And syr quoth shée t' incourage you the thread Alberto sponne Hée is your neighbour fare you well I can no longer stay These sorrie newes Vdislao nie out of his wittes did fray
Alberto toke his pennaunce ill but he did tenne times worse Hée rag'd he rau'd the Ladies scorne himselfe and all did curse But what for that how so he did himselfe agréeued feele One of these euills hée néedes must chuse to sterâ—e or else to réele And of both bads the best he chusde in fine to worke he fell His rash attempt had this successe which he deserued well Nowe that this vertuous dame hath gott the conquest of her foes These lordinges pennannce for their pride she to their seruants shoes In whose behalfe her bouutie here I must of force commende They wanted not for daintie fare how so they fast were pend These barons men at libertie streight posted to the Court And of their lords imprisonment there make they large report These newes of note about the Court went flinging every where So longe as both the king and Quéene these gallants fortunes heare The king to learne the certaine truth to Lady Barbara sent His chauncelour and other Lords where as they found fast pent Lord Alberto and Vdislao Alberto spinning thread And Vdislao réeting it with fretting well nie dead The Lady shewde the newe come Lords the matter all and some And how to tame their lawlesse loue the barons bid this dome The Chauncelor what earst is showne returned to the king Whose pleasure was he should with him with spéede both parties bring They al arriued at the Court the king iudg'd out of hand Vlrico had the wager wonne and he should haue the land And more against the spoiled lords with iustice to perseuer In penaunce of their lauish tongues they were exilde for euer Faire Barbara for foyling them did to this honour mount She was the chiefe about the quéene in credite and account Whereas she liued many dayes and helde her wish at will Nowe being deade in worthy fame her vertues liueth still Virescit vulnere virtus The complaint of the Lorde Alberto and Vdislao the two Hungarian barons that vnaduisedly wagered their land to winne the vertuous Ladie Barbara to wantonnesse Who hauing the foyle besides the losse of their liuings for their slaunderous opinions were condemned to perpetuall exile COme gallants come by both our falles take héede With our fonde faults you most infected are You worke more wrong in slaunder then in déede And yet in déede your flatterie worketh scare Learne learne by vs too lauish speach to spare Large offers though faire Ladies ofte intice Thinke there be dames that will not vaile to vice First mende your owne ere others faults you blame Sée that your life before you teach you trie Plucke out the beame that blindes your sighte with shame So may you finde a moate in others eye What yet you note reproue not openly Obserue this course heare sée and say the best For lauish words procureth much vnrest Had we but wayde that halfe experience shewes We might haue liu'd in honour as of yore The want we waile and warne you by our woes The least of which your hearts would much abhorre For what may be then this a mischiefe more Once lustie Lords nowe prisd at lowest rate And frée men borne to liue in banisht state What noble mynde whose hands could weapons vse Would brooke his handes should eyther réele or spinne To féede on crustes what foole would not refuse Whose coursest fare a messe of meate hath bin In this distresse perforce we liued in Too hard a plague say you for fault so small We thinke not so that haue indurd the thrall For who at full may value honest fame Whose wound so déepe as his that slaunders carud Our slaundrous thoughts suspected euery dame Our slaundrous toungs sayd all from vertue swaru'd For which exile we worthily desaru'd She vsde vs well whose praise we sought to spoyle In huswiues trades for meate to make vs moyle Our lande we lost by lawe and wager both He wonne it well that ventured for the same But worse then these the which to shewe I loth Our follies leane a memorie of shame Unto vs both a corsiue to our name Well what is paste too late we call againe Sufficeth nowe we warne with proofe of paine And knowe ye first what raisd this slaundrous thought Forsooth our liues in loytring daliance spent We other doomde by faults that they had wrought And ioynd with this their spoyles by fonde consent Which yealded bound vnto our louing bent Did make vs thinke at euery wanton whoope To lures of loue a Ladie faire would stoope What yet we thought our toungs did sore recoyle In slaundring them our liues for to accuse For who so vaunts of any louing spoyle Confesseth howe him selfe he doth abuse The greatest vice that worthy mynds may vse Deseruing wel their worth who should not praise Deseruing ill much lesse a thousand wayes Oh stay we here what meaneth our aduise When we God wot so much of counsell néede And how againe shall we vnhappie rise Alberto speake what way shall we procéede And art thou mute Vdislaoes hart doth bléede Oh men forlorne how wretched is our state Whome heauen and earth oppresse with heapes of hate Who will estéeme our manhoode and our might By Ladies force to carde to spinne and réele Where so we liue all women will vs spight And cause they haue with such disdaine to deale Yet plagues ynow we else in penance féele O slaunder thou on vs these haste brought Foule fall the cause thou harboredst in our thought Had wretched we for treason banisht bin Some would haue ru'de our miserie and mone But slaundrous speach is such a hatefull sinne As slaunders falls lamented are of none In bookes of shame their faults are rolld alone Their names are scornd their presence ten times more All filthy vice that all men thus abhore This resteth then for vs vnhappie men To leade our liues in houltes and vncouth woods A hollowe caue to make our homely den To foyle hunger with apples hawes and buds For nobles borne God wot but sorrie foodes There we poore we must rue our harmes alone Or monsters make companions in our mone O friendly death our worldly farewell giue From hated fleshe our loathed life diuorce Spare them good death the which in pleasure liue And vse at once on vs thy matchlesse force To thée alone our woes sues for remorce When all is done our helpe remaines in thée Then strike with spéede our sorrowes for to frée â–ª In praise of the right H. the Ladie I.S.G. of Wilton WHere loue affects or flatterie forgeth praise There fayles no will faire Ladies fames to wray But Art I lacke such parciall notes to raise Truth guardes the checke in what I write or say And warded thus when all their wit is showne I boldly vaunt although in barren verse This Ladie staines their Ladies euerie one She shewes in workes what they in wordes rehearse Past natures reach a gift of great imprise Her faultlesse life puts slaunder to his shifts And yet she
their turnes stricke not to play the Bée Scorne not for gaine in age to holde the doore They once were yong that were your bandes before 101 And now my larges giuen farewel foule guile Farewel O world no wile shal make me rich My mynd abhorres welth won by falshoodes vyle To mount by fraud I loth such loftie pitch I can not scratch the harmelesse ere they itch If due desart proude Flatterie pyneth still I list not fawne play hypocrite that will. 102 Fare wel fare wel O world farewel againe Thou now God wot froÌ„ wonted course doest réele The clergie once in preaching tooke great paine Whose words in works bare witnes of their zeale Most now in words but few in workes reueale They teach with toung when thought on tything is O wicked world thy wealth is cause of this 103 O world accurst in court thou settest pryde Whose mynions are fraude flatterie and disdaine They pyne desart before his truth be tryde They forge offened well meaning mindes to staine They cast at al yet sildome lose amaine Wo worth the world thy brauerie works the wracke Of such in court as well deserue and lacke 104 The souldier stout foreséeing small reliefe For seruice doone if spoyled honre he comes As forst to play no souldier but the théefe When fortune fits to gather vp his crumbes For once at home poore store of pence he thumbes O world thy wealth with rulers worketh so As what they haue they hardly will forgo 105 The lawe first made to wéede out wrongs for right To yeald amends vnto the poore opprest â—s wrested nowe for fauour or for spight Nowe monie so corrupts the Lawyers breast That daying is for poore mens suits the best Yea such effects in worldly muche doth lurke As iudges harme where helpe they ought to worke 106 Fine fare and slouth discases strange do bréede And grieued wights will spare no cost for ease But golden fées so doth Physicians féede As séelde or nere they rich mens paines appease With drinks and drugs they still do them displease O wicked world thy welth first wrought their grief Thy wealth againe doth hinder their reliefe 107 Desire of gaine make offices so heape As solde they be not giuen who best deserues Who buyeth deare séelde thriues by selling cheape Who wrongeth yet from honest getting swerues No force for that fewe nowe such course obserues Thus pelfe O world first makes the Doner foule To leauie mendes the Done néedes must poule 108 Each pleasant paine each swéete inticing sowre O world thou workst our wanton yeres to witch And not content we should our selues deuour But churles thou sett'st to clawe vs ere we itch Thou burnst the byrde and bastes the bacon stitch O spiteful world thou hap frank harts dost grutch And grieuest churles by giuing of too much 109 The merchant once bent all his care to seas In forreine soyle he sought desired gaine Then was his toyle to common wealth an ease And he deseru'd his wish in lye of paine But nowe at home he findes a swéeter vaine Sance venter nowe he will in wealth abound Foule fall the wight this second trade that found 110 The reachlesse héede youthes haue in large expence To flaunt it out their cost no care to thriue Inticeth churles with shewe of good pretence In prime of pride their maintnance to depriue For lymed once small bootes the wrong'd to striue Right Cousners haue such helps friends at néede As struange it is to sée how â—leare they spéede 111 Thy pryde O world doth bréede such wanton thought As most men nowe receiue dame Venus hyre To stoupe faire dames such sharp assaults are sought Such proffers large such wiles to winne desire As wonder t' is what fortes are set on fire Who sinneth not is such a gnawing bone To raise this siege that fewe will throwe a stone 112 Fye on the world fye on thy soule deceites Fye on thy fraude thy flatterie and thy pryde Fye on thy shifts thy subtilties and sleites Fye on thy cloakes thy filthy crimes to hyde Adieu adieu I can thée not abyde And thee O God for euermore I laude For kéeping me vntainted so with fraude 113 For though I haue consumd my dayes in thral Now death drawes néere my couÌ„t is quickly made And well I wot death doth all sorts appall The prince the poore yea men of euery trade Who lewdly liues with recknings huge is lade Thus worldlings griefe where mine doth eb doth flowe A sorrie swéete to end with sowre woe 114 Through conscience I féele no thought of hell I conquer'd haue of dreadful death the feare Where is thy sting where doth thy furie dwell Where is thy force O Death wher is thy speare Assault say I that with my Christe I were I ready am both euening noone and morne The diuell the world and all their works I scorne Lenuoy 115 YOu worldlings chiefe to you this tale I tell God graunt my words be to your woundes a leache The fruites of fraude vntold you knowe too well Yea better then my naked Muse can teach But to this end this dririe plaintes I preach That hencefoorth you to getting haue such eye As you may liue as though you dayly dye 116 And least the lewde should wrest my worde amis I do exempt the good of euery trade The which I trust will not repine at this To shew thy praise this checking verse was made The Clergie first at whome a glaunce I had Of them there be great store of preachers good To shewe the truth that will not spare their blood 117 There are in court that liue in worthy fame And well deserue renoune and credite both Some officers will take no bribes for shame Some laweyers are to sowe dissention loth And citizens with whome I séemde so wroth I néedes must graunt how so my Muse did square Of euery trade a number honest are 118 The souldier now whom I do honour much How so I toucht their faults that do offend I graunt we haue of noble souldiers such As maimes to fame that will those vices shend I blame none such the rest I wish amend Physicians good as many sure there be Will not repine the lewde reprou'd to sée 119 How so I toucht some scriueners faults at quicke There are of those I knowe of honest fame Such haue no cause against my Muse to kicke Nor yet the lewde that wisely weyes the same I blase abuse yet touch no creatures name Yea to be shore â—â—ypt no foot of men That truly can wâ—th malice charge my pen. Veritas non querit angulos G.W. opinion of trades as touching gaine written to his especiall friend maister R.C. MIne owne good friend â–ª since thou so faine wouldst know What kynde of trade doth yeald the surest gaine My iudgement now of some I meane to showe And after toyle which quiteth best thy paine The merchant he which cuts the mounting seas With
possesse in dreame that earst thou had Acquaintaunce for to craue aduentrous boy assay Thou wert not nise ne I abasht my secretes to bewray I showde thée all and some what I in vision sawe Thou wart mine owne by beauties dome vnlesse thou scorndst her law My wordes did like thée well or praises that I vsde And smyling saidst Dame beauties hest must no wayes be abusde Thus after slender sute thou knowste whom I euioyde But easily wonne as soone thou wert through sullon will accoyde And in thy wrangling rage I sawe thée raunge for newe I chafte through sight Dame beautie blamd cause Laymos was not true UUhich soone I did recant and yéelded for to haue My sute performde at beauties hands in forme as I did craue I askst a gallant gyrle which vaild at first assault I askte no faith nor none I found in whom was then the fault In him who now will learne to make his match more sure And as for thée thou dost but kinde to stoupe to euery lure The reporter This wrangling hate séemeth to be but a passion procéeding of Plasmos passing loue the which digested made his affection more perfect Neuerthelesse this following inuention wrayeth the euill fortunes of rash beléefe and cholericke reuenge after which for the most insueth repentaunce yet for that the Sonet it selfe foresheweth but a fitt of disquiet minde by loue occasioned it shal passe for mée without any preface FOwle fall thée false suspect so thriue thou ielous thought UUoe worth you both you reard the hate that all my harme hath wrought You did enuie my hap when late I liu'de in ioy You slaunder forg'd you mou'd mistrust you made my souereigne coy Shée wronged saunce offence good reason hath to hate But you no cause of filthie strife twixt friends to set debate But sith my heart did yeeld such motions to beléeue Both heart head and euery veine with fretting thoughtes to gréeue First loue renue thy force my ioyes for to consume And when desire hath blowen the cooles till all my fancies fume Then conscience guilt detect my follies day and houre And base desert exile remorse sée dreade my swéete thou soure Disdaine persuade my minde my Ladies passing loue Is chaungd to scorne from scorne to hate from hate reuenge to proue Tormenting passions eake abate my pride in showe Then scaulding sighes present my state vnto my friendly foe UUhich when shée once hath séene with wrecke of my delight Despaire end me dole with death in my swéete mistresse sight â–ª But least shée beare the blame of this my bloudy hand I craue vpon my timelesse tumbe this Epitaphe may stand Loe heare doth lie his corps Himselfe for woe who slue That Ielous thoughts his Lady blamde She euer liuing true The reporter These passionate verses wittingly lost wheras fayre Laymos might find them of likelyhoode she perceiuing his singular good loue hauing sufficient cause of quarell waxed euery day more straunger then other vntil poore Plasmos purse to make attonemeÌ„t prouided some pretie deuise that appeased her anger these louers thus reconciled it séemeth Plasmos to requite the friendship of his purse in praise whereof hée wrote these verses insuing P. Plasmos in praise of his Purse COme prettie purse the iewell of my ioy The daintie soile wherein delight is sowen Thou well deseru'st the title of a Ioy Who doth not feare whereas thy force is knowen UUho dare rebell where thou dost rule and reigne Thou foylest kinges by force of treason vile Thou clokest craft with flattrie feare or gaine UUhen Iustice should vncase his crooked guile By thée escapes the traytour and the théefe The murdrous mate which languisht late in woe Thou werst to ebb their tossing tydes of gréefe And graftest myrth where mone but late did growe To maske with pride thou art a visard fitt Thou heau'st him vp which held the plough of late Thou telst his tale which wants both Art and witt Thou wodcocke setst before the wise estate The wilie churle which wronges the wretch full oft The cousening mate whose mischiefe neuer endes Should sol fa singe in couseners cliffe aloft But that thou cloakst their craft with wealthie friends The thriftlesse childe by thée doth looke full hie UUhose sparing friends at home the plough doth hold In Court thou art the badge of brauerie UUho doth not fawne on gentle maister gold Deformed girles by thée are made full faire Dame Venus stoupes through thée to Vulcans lure The coffing churle doth match with beauties heire â–ª Such straunge consents can Lady Coyne procure UUhy stay I then swéete purse thée to embrace UUhose ayde I vsde when fortune most did lowre â–ª My clowdes of scare thou cleardst with gleames of grace My bale to blisse to swéete thou chaungst my sowre Thou saâ—'dst my life with passing loue nie pinde UUhich friendly turnes are written in my minde The reporter It is hie time to digresse from the report of Plasmos wanton deuises vnto other his inuentions touching his miseries and repentance which immediatly followed his wanton expences and for that want is the contrarie vnto wealth I thought good to plaâ—e after the praise of his purse his complaint of wante the commodities of the one and the discommodities of the other dulie considered are meanes to persuade the wise in prosperitie to haue an eye vnto aduersitie and once in fauour to make prouision for Fortunes chaunge For fewe are so happie but in their time they are visited with miserie so wel beloued but once in their life they are as deadly hated so highly fauoured but are as vnhappily scorned not withstanding all these chaunces and chaunges Coyne in the coffer is an assured friend whereas if thou haue respect but to serue thy present tourne in prosperitie thou art so ouer prodigal that when pouertie pincheth the remembraunce of thy former swéete delights doth increase thy sower passions proofe appeareth by Plasmos who being nipped with neede calleth to remembrance what pleasures he had receiued by his purse and crossed euery of the said commodities with the inconueniences occasioned by his want as followeth P. Plasmos complaint of want I Whilome writ a iest what ioyes my purse did plant But now I wray with litle lust the woes of withered want When Purse with pence did flow a thousand friends I found Now woÌ„ted wealth doth weare to ebb their freÌ„dship runnes aground When Coyne I had in claw my wronges weare doomde for right Since néede did nippe my rightfull sutes was ouerâ— ayde with might When wealth I had at wil my wished ioyes were wrought Now want doth choke those iestes with care cloyes my braynes with thought With wealth I fréedome wonne by wealth my woes did weare Through lacke restrainte of libertie doth foyle my hope with feare With Coyne I seruaunts kept which serued for mine ease By néede inforst now am I faine to pray to pay and please I ratlted then in silkes by brauerie of my bagges But pouer man now am I