king and lord whose minde they troubled sore And vext thereby his friends and fauourers all They fill in lash they felt the bloudy braule They lâ—st their goodes they got a great disgrace They fled from Court they were pursued in chace They were full â—aine for none offence or cause At open barre to pleade their case by lawes Such are the happes of those that hould with right Such cureles wounds they haue that sores would heale Such hate they heape in hucksters hands that light Such harmes they find that stands with common weale And such know not to whome they would appeale When wrong will rule and reuell fals to spoyle The faythfull flocke are forst to féele the foyle Dread driues desarts that dayly well haue done To slie from foes or else through fire to runne Because the Lords who lookt to leade the daunce Saw other step on stage ere they could rise By plaine fine force they would themselues aduaunce And for that feate this drift they did deuise Desire of fame doth so abuse the wise They end like fooles that erst beganne so well And soonest smart that ringes the larum bell For whéeles and all fals downe about their eares From rotten frames who first stood voide of feares But we who were besiegd by fortune so Betrayd I meane if troth may tell the tale Were scourgde plagude faine to fawne on Foe And sue to such as set our liues to sale Wée were shut vp they had the bouncing gale That blew their barke beyonde our compasse cleane With sailes asâ—aunt and had no merrie meane They clapt on all and went through streame flud When true mens feete stood fast in mire and mud I was the man that most of mischiefe had I was accusde and calde to count in haste I founde most cause to sigh and sit full sad I was layde vp and thereby cleane disgracste Myne en'mies sayd I did the treasure waste And held in hand the souldiers money too I was so nipt I knew not what to do My friends wext fainte or ferd the like mischaunce But I was he must leade the dolefull daunce A mitred head a Bishop bolde and braue Sayd I conuayde away Sainct Thomas shryne And that I ment the king of Beame should haue The same from me by priuie practise fine To hoyste me vp he layd both booke and line And so by friends he framde so flat a feate That I was cald to straight accompt in heate For this and more a libell long and large Of forged faultes that he layd to my charge No Clarke might come to make my reckning right No tale could serue to show my matter throw No deepe discourse could bring the troth to light No man of law could canuas cases now Strong hand did all I must both bend and bow The king knew not of halfe the wrongs I felt Nor none could find how finely cardes were dealt A packe was made and one had got the ace And trimely robd the trumps before my face No boote to bid the Players deale againe The game was won and I had lost the stake These Foysters fine could nick both by and mayne And cog out right when they the Dice did shake And of sweete spoyle a bitter banquet make They calde me in and I the only Gheaste Was bidden then vnto that bloodie feaste I was compeld to taste what dishe they wolde And in great heate to drinke vp Poyson colde I meane my fate and fortune was so harde I could not scape their hands that sought my life Who wreakt their wrath on me without regard Yet long in sheath they kept the murthering Knife For on my hap at first rose all this strife And on the freindes that I by hap had wonne This end I had and mischiefe was begonne For taking part with such as likt me well To ground full flat from top of trée I fell UUhen in the tower my Foes had clapt mée fast Few friends I found the world beganne to winke And so at length in Rerage was I cast And Poaste alone was left to swimme or sincke And iudgement was as I was forste to thinke That I should pay two hundreth thousand Frankes For all my toyle loe héere is all my thankes I did possesse my charges and my losse And paynes abroad came home by wéeping crosse And wanting wealth to pay this heauy summe With Billes and â—layues from prison was I led And so vnto the Tower-hill did I come To suffer death where soone I lost my head The King knew naught of this till I was dead Loe people héere how things about were brought And what disdaine and mighty malice wrought Loe héere is ende and sodayne sliding downe That was both true to God and to the Crowne As little twigs ore top of houses grow Whose braunches big spredes out a mighty trée Or as small brookes with Seas do swell and flow Yet hath no power to passe their bounds you sée Or as faire flowers that in gaie gardens bée Sprouts out a while and when they are at height They fade and fall then declineth streight So man doth mount a while on stages hie And at the best shootes downe like starre from skie When thinges are growen as farre as course is set And haue attaynde the fulnesse of their state They backward come and can no further get For cleane expierd yee see is then their date The life wée beare of force must yeeld to fate The steppes wée tread weares out by tract of time When ladder breakes wée can no higher clune Where fortune sits so fast doth grinde the mill The Wheele turnes round and neuer standeth still Long is the toyle or man to triumph commes Large is the plot where wée our Pagantes play Swéete is the saâ— and sowre are all the Plummes That payne pluckes off the pleasaunt planted spray Short is the time of all our glory gay Uayne is the hope of hazards héere in earth Great are the griefes of life from day of birth No surety growes of all is heere possest All comes to naught when people feareth least Loe what it is to stand on tickle staies Where hatred heaues the houshoulde out of square And when it falls the ioynts flee seuerall wayes And ioyfull wightes are clad with woe and care The seruants howle the wife and childe is bare The friends wring hands the foes do laugh and flyre Such chaunges chaunce to those that do aspyre The ground but gapes who first shall fall therein And who séekes most at length the least may win Loe Churchyard now my mirthlesse tale is tolde A mourning verse prepare thou straight for mée And in thy râ—â—e some stately order holde For that I sprong not out of base degrée Let euery line a liuely sentence bée To wake the wits of such as world would knowe And list to maâ—ke how wordly matters goe And when thou comst to touch the gauled backe Leape ore the horse or vse a riders
forraine friends did send for succour héere King Richard bad me aunswere make therein In presence then there stoode a greater Péere But I was he that did the fauour winne To speake and thus my credite did beginne And still increasde as one whose Lampe in déede Could want no Oile the blase and flame to féede My Candle blasde so cléere as Starre by night And where I came the Torche gaue little light And when the King for causes good and great Deuisde to match with one beyond the seas Twas I was thought most fit to worke the feate And in this case the King I did so please Of mariage there that knot was knit with ease And so from thence a Duke was sent with me For this behalfe the state of things to sée Thus still I was employde in great affaires As hap her selfe had hald me vp her staires An office héere I had of great renowne A place neere Prince and still in Court to be That might commaund the people vp and downe And thrust them out or call them in to me Bad I them run on flockes then would they flee Bad I them stand in déede they durst not sit I swaide them all as Horse is rulde by Bit. I bare in hand the Staffe that kept the stur And knockt their Pates that prest too néere the dur Lord Warden loe of the sincke Ports I was And Captaine both of Douer Castle tho Through Lordly roumes and places I did passe As easely sure as man can wish to goe I knew no Ebbe my Tide did daily floe I kept the traine I had the liuely troope I held vp head I neuer thought to droope I went no where but I was waited on And shone in Pompe like Pearle or Precious ston Among the chiefe yea chiefest was I held My Prince preferde me so for vertues sake And what he saw I able was to welde I had for which I seldome suite did make I stoode beneath whilst he did Apples shake Into my lap when least I lookt therefore As somewhat came so daily followed more By heapes as though great mounts of massy Gould In my most néede should aunswere what I would The flouds of wealth that doth refresh the minde With gladsome thoughts of thréefolde sweet delite Came gushing in against both Tyde and Winde On which faire baites each Fish desires to bite A carelesse eie I cast of Worlds despite That spurnes at such that Fortune liftes alofte A wicked Worme that waites on worship ofte A swarme of Wasps that vseth nought but sting On those that rise and rules about a King O hatefull flies yée hatcht of wretched broode On euery dish in hast yee blow and humme O canckred men of vile and noughty moode You doe infect all places where you cumme You make small shew yet sound as shrill as Drum In peoples eares and still your Poison restes On noble mindes and tender harmelesse Brests Yee mallice much the high and mighty sort To kill good name by brute of false report If poore men rise in fauour any way The rich repines to see how they are plaste As Hounds doe barke that houlds the Bucke at bay The people prate and spend much speech in waste Looke saith the lewde on new start vps in haste Looke who rules now looke what this man hath found Looke how in Lappe doth Fortunes Ball rebound They lookte not how to climbe for Uertues sake But how of World they may a wonder make So lofty mindes with lothsome lowring lookes Salutes the good that growes in Princes grace And watcheth close in corners and in Nookes How they by wiles the worthy may deface No maruaile sure it is a common case To heare them snarre whose natures are not like What Greiund can rest by currish countrey Tike What Hawke can sit in peace for carraine Crow What tongue can scape the skolding of a Shrow The dolt disdaines the déepe wise man ye wot The blunt abhors the quicke sharpe Wit in deede The Coward hates the hand that conquest got The Iade will winche to stand by sturring Stéede The Glutton grunts to see the hungry feede Thus things from kinde so farre can neare agrée No more then can the Catte and Dogge you see As choise is great of wealth and worldly goods Men differ much in manners and in moods One Iewell staines an other very farre And strife there is in mettalls grosse and fine And sundry happs belongs to euery starre And Planets to they say that can deuine One race and bloud doe seldome draw one line A graine of grudge is sowne so déepely heere That nothing scarce can scape from mallice cléere Thus mallice makes a murmur where it goes And strikes out right yet giues but secret blowes The gréedy Gnat and priuy eating Mothe A monster small that skarce is felt or seene Lies lurking still in plaits of finest cloth And little worms whilst Nuts are fresh and greene Creepes in and eats the kirnell as I weene So vnto them compare these péeuish pates That on small cause doe enuy great estates Yea enuy oft is coutcht and clokt as cleane In mighty folke as founde among the meane The flashing flames that from great Fornace flies Casts forth such heat as few men can abide The rage whereof doth dimme the dainty eies And breeds great griefe before the harme be spide Much mischiefe comes by pranks of powting pride Which puffes and blowes as it would mountaines moue And growes at first on nought but lacke of loue Whose spitefull sparkes doth spare no speach nor time Nor practise lewd to plucke them down that clime This Enuy is a mighty Monster great That swims like Whale among the little fry Whose gaping mouth would soone consume and eate The Gogions small that in small corners lie His thirsty throate would drinke all places dry And sucks vp all and so of all leaues nought Which should serue all if all did beare one thought O hungry Flie that would be all in all And Maggots brings when men for féeding call As greatest flouds most Grauell doe retaine And strongest Tides runnes ore the weakest walles So highest States doe nourish most disdaine And at rebound strikes out the tennis Balles Yea they who thinkes them furthest off from falles Are watching still in Court in Field or Towne Like stumbling stockes to trip their fellowes down And none doe striue and struggle for the goales But such as haue their hearts most full of hoales Yea heapes of them are harbred héere and theare In golden haules that shines like Phoebus bright Where flattrers flocke who tattles in the eare A thousand lies that neuer comes to light They worke the waxe with fire both day and night They spinne the webbe that takes the foolish flie They baite the Hooke that bleres the simple eie They shoue them out that should be called in They make the match that doth the wager win And they breede strife where all in quiet stood They packe the Cards
ioyne in a battaile against those dogs that biteth them The Fish in the floud swim in skulles arming themselues against their enemies and you shall reade in Plinie that among the Dolphins was such amity that a Dolphin being taken prisoner by a King and closely kept there assembled such a number of Dolphins together as is incredible and they neuer lefte mourning and playning showing by sorrowfull signes the dolour taken for the losse of their companion by which meanes they recouered him againe of the King Thus if Fish Fowle and Beast agrée in vnion with a wonderful league of amity men may blush to behold their own defects and Serpentine natures that neuer rests hissing stinging and casting out of venome bred in vaine mindes and nourished in hatefull brests The reason that man beareth and the forme and shape of his noble creation should be an euerlasting remembraunce to moue him vnto quietnes especially the renowne that is gotten by patience and fortitude should alwaies kéepe reasonable men from rages and be a bulwarke and target to beare of quarrels the destruction of life the hour glasse of death and the whole consumer of all good credite It is to be presupposed that prowd hearts growes so Princely and euery one that is quarrelous would séeme a King or a conquerour yet Princes take great aduisement before they breake peace and cunningly put of causes of warre waying the innumerable troubles daungers and losses that pertaines to a quarrell but the generall number of men runs headlong into mischiefe casting neither perill nor hazard as all our life and fame stood on slashing cutting roisting and striuing for vain-glory In our Elders daies fighters were called ruffians and ruffians were so lothsome that no honest man could abide their company If seruing men which alwaies should be ciuile had quiet sober maisters such buckelers with pikes such swords like spits and such long great daggers should not bee worne The weapon and countenaunce by maintainers of quarrels may cause cowards to be bold and cause corage to catch copper or creepe closely in cornes And now in the chiefe and highest degree of quarrelling where see you iarres questions brawls banding and the rest of disorders but where some party is ouer great playing on aduantage or weapons are not equall except it be among noble great mindes whose valiauncy can neither suffer iniury nor abide any blemishe of honour So euen now to them this worke is adressed the baser sort néedes not my perswasions nor but of good will and presumption this needeth not I speake of The whole world is fraught so full of malice that the least occasion can be ministred bréedes such great busines that quarrels are so common the custome thereof so olde it séemeth nothing straunge to beholde murthers odious practises shamefull poisnings and miserable man slaughters In Italy a simple quarrell but once conceiued neuer endes till death hath dispatched peraduenture both the parties and so greedily they goe to take away life that all the mischiefe can be imagined is put in exercises without delay taking breath regard of God feare of law or shame of the world so blouddy is the minde the body sléepes not till the handes haue done some abhominable outrage The minde cannot bee in quiet til open folly monstruous madnes haue disturbed the whole sences and brought the life and body in hazard of hell fire or daunger of worldly shame these are the fruits of fury The defects of nature the miseries of man and the brutish conditions of the counterfaite finesse in Italy In Fraunce if a lie may bée brought in by circumstaunces or a fine quarrell can be sifted out of grosse speeches present death followes or perpetuall hatred is set abroach wherein murthers are committed and many a mischieuous act is taken in hand odious to beholde and a great horror to heare but most vnchristianly executed And so generally in all countreys and kingdoms a quarrell once begon comes to butchery and bloudshed and commonly growes after in many generations and kindreds to deadly foed and shamelesse slaughters A quarrell in property nature may be compared to many bigge barrels of Gun-powder which once set on fire flames so vehemently that euery little corne thereof is throughout consumed and the blast and busines it makes ouerthrowes houses beateth downe great buildings and shakes a whole towne and the walles thereof in sunder Yea euen as a tennis ball the harder is stricken the further it flieth and the oftner it reboundeth the more he labors that strikes it so a sparke of spitefull hatred being blowen with the busy bellowes of mallice that kindleth coales which can neuer be quenched encreaseth such a smoothering smoke and fire that burnes like the hill of Ethna that neuer goeth out nor wanteth heate and fume to trouble a whole countrey And one especiall point is alwaies to be noted in the naughty nature of a quarrell that whosoeuer hath done any iniury or giuen a wound or a blow neuer can auoide daunger and vtter destruction without some amendes made crauing of pardon open repentance or secrete working of friends that are wearied with the long debating of the matter As one good turne doth craue another so an Iniury demands a quarrell a quarrell bréedes a thousand offences offences hardly can bee forgotten and the more a wrong remaines in minde â—he lesse hope is of forgiuing the fault and the more mischiefe is put in proofe and exercise And whosoeuer duely considers the ill inclination of people he shall finde thousands so apt and ready to take in hand a quarell that in some sort it is held a cowardise and a kinde of no courage to put vp a trifle so many desires to sée bloudshed so many sets men agog in vnhappines and so many goes about with tales and bad deuises to stur vp strife and contention Well since our imbecillity is much our fury not little and disposition so stout that all thinges must be disputed of and drawen to the vttermost degrée of dangerous quarrelling I wish peraduenture vpon some experience that mildnes might moderate the manner of our falling out and if nothing could qualifie the cruelty of courage a regard of God good reputation iust cause and honest dealing may be vsed exhorting all men to looke to life common society mutuall loue and the generall peace of a christian Kingdome For how so euer the Worlde may imagine of fighting and brawling the very route and grounde of disorder in a common wealth is vnreasonable quarels wherein is maintained a kinde of Turkishe tyranny and brutish boldnesse This not spoken beyond the compasse of dutie nor to the preiudice and hinderaunce of any mans manhood which may bee as well seene and vnderstood by the conquering of himselfe and maistring his owne passions as in hauing the victorie of others Which triumph and victorie cannot bée gotten without great bloodshed and businesse Thus Friend worshipfull I haue discoursed a matter worthy treating off
Then thousands doe the world doth so report FINIS A Discourse of an old Souldiour and a young To the right Worshipfull Sir Henry Kneuet Knight one of the Lieutenants of Willshire THE world cannot wonder nor the wise thereof thinke strange that experience commaunds me to keepe friends and my pen doth what it maie to purchase me fauour for that is all the fruites of my studies Which once taken from me I haue neither prop to vphold mee nor foundation to stand on so feaâ—ing the weaknes of my feeble buildings that lies open to enuies blast which soddenly may bee blown downe I seeke manie staies and craue manie supportations for the maintenance of my honest mind and workes framed for the world to behold So good sir Henry among the worthy company of my selected friends I honor you with a smal discourse of age youth where a little is spoken of the olde Souldiour and the young not in dispraise of anie of them both but in the commendation of knowledge courage conduct vnder which three vertues consists many noble actions so vnder your fauourable sufferaunce I passe to my purposed matter THere is a strife a swéete dispute I troe Betwene two sorres of men in these our daies On which debate doth many reasons grow That soundes in déede to each good Souldiours praise Whose fame my pen is ready for to raise But my intent is first with flat plaine truth To treat a verse or two of age and youth Age is the fire and father of great thinges That hath begot both science rule and wit Brought great renowne and honour vnto kinges And for mans wealth may well in councell sit Youth is for field and towne a member fit To vse the sword in Countreys cause and right In whose defence youth hath great force to fight Age may commaund because it knoweth most And best can iudge of euery thing it knowes Hath mightie mind yet makes but little bost On whose aduice men may their liues repose The worth of youth standes oft in outward shewes That fresh and gay to worlde it séemeth still Like bladder faire that is blowne vp with quill Age lookes like tree whose barke is rough without When winters waste hath made gréene leaues to fall But when spring comes that braunch should bud and sprout With threefold fruite the sprayes are loaded all Bare youth lookes like a picture on a wall That stands both mute and dumme like shadow weake To séeke for sence whom age beginnes to â—peake The brute in world is how old thinges decreace For that sweete sap at length forsakes the trée Yet men will aske old wittes in warres or peace Of this or that what the successe shall be In outward shewes young iudgements well can sée When old mens sightes that wisely lookes within The end beholdes as sâ—one as they beginne A great old Oake long time will akornes beare And small young graffes are long in sprouting out Some say old wine is liked euery where And all men knowe new ale is full of growt Old horse goes well young titts are much to doubt But sure old gold is more estéemed than new No hauke compares with haggard in the mue Old men knowes much though young men calls them fooles Old bookes are best for there great learning is Old authors too are dayly read in schooles New Sects are naught olde knowledge cannot misse Old guise was good and nothing like to this Where fraude and craft and finesse all would haue And plainest men can neyther powle nor shaue Old Fathers builte faire Colleges good store And gaue great goodes and landes to bring vp youth Young men loues not to make of little more But spendes away their thrift to tell the trueth Old men were full of mercie grace and rueth And pittie tooke on those that seemde to lacke Young gallants gay from poore doe turne their backe Old beaten wayes are ready still to hit These new be-pathes leades men on many stiles An old prouerbye hath no more worâ—es than wit New fangled heades at each old order smiles Old wisedome farre surmountes young fondlings willes Experience is the Doctor euerie daie That carries close all knowledge cleane awaie Young houndes are fléete the old huntes sloe and true Old dogges bite sore if all their teeth be sound Old auncient freindes are better than the new In younglings loue there is small suretie found For like a top light fancie turneth round Old clothe or silke made in our elders dayes Wears long and firme when new thinges soone decayes Old souldiers are the beauty of a state Young branches beare but blossomes many a day Old Doctors can deepe matters well debate Young punies knowes not what old doctors say King Harries crue brought conquest home away From Flowdayne field from France and many a soyle And put the proud by strength and force to foyle Old souldiers were great Allexanders ayde And chiefest ioy in all the warres he had The white gray head made beardlesse boyes affraide Where graue men ruld the countrey all was glad And where they lackt the fortune was but bad As all thinges doth to skill and knowledge yeeld So old men beare the honour of the field What needs more proofe of auncient souldiers nowe Both old and young are needfull members heere I want both time and power to praise them throw For seruice great in countries quarrell deere When cause requires ye know the case is cleere These champions must in field and open plaine With shining sword the right of kinges maintaine FINIS A DISCOVRSE OF CALAMITY To the right VVorshipfull my singuler good friend Sir William Hatton knight IN the remembrance of a sorrowful losse I had by the death of the last Lord Chancelor good Sir William Hatton and considering your great countenance partly declined by that soddaine accident besides the great soms of money you were left to pay For the parting from such an honourable friend I thought euery peece of cause well waied you knowe as well what calamitie is as a meaner man and feeling the smart and weight of that burthen before you were ready to support it your care and calamitie could not be little First for the losse of so great a comfort next for the sorrow trobles that belongs to such a losse though lands or liuings helps to beare of a peece of the vexasion of mind yet the body shall alwayes beare to the death a sorrowfull imagination of that hastie mishap the impression therof shal neuer goe out of your memory so long as life lasteth So good sir in signe of some consolation I present you a discourse of Calamity the right path to come to quietnesse and the very hie way that leades a good mind to thinke of the immortality of the soule thus presuming your fauorable acception of the same I passe to the discourse of Calamity wishing you much worship hartes ease health T. Churchyard A Discription or Discourse that declareth how
when some of them flue away I say not with my fethers and sat on the top of their aduancements gazing on the basenesse of my fortune which strange accidente ministred by the mutability of time makes me chuse faster friends whose noble disposition breeds greater regard whose constancies will longer continue and whose frendships bringes forth better fruite So good sir Iohn knowing your good inclination towardes the best sorte of men and faitfullnesse towardes your country and friendes I being tyed by good turns to remember you haue deuised a discourse I hope delightfull for your reading because in your sundry trauells beyonde the seas besides your good exercises at home you haue heard of many excellent men and artes of diuers natures and qualitie The worke I present you is a commendation of them that can or hath made gold if any such bee or hath bin the art wherof I haue not only commended but in some part touched as far as my simple capacitie can reach vnto touching setting downe in verse with comly termes some sufficient cause how by transmutation of mettals many men haue aduentured the making of gold Thus crauing the worlds goodwill and your fauour for the setting forth this bold discourse I passe to the matter wish you much worship wordly felicitie and heauenlie blessednesse Thomas Churchyard A Commendation to them that can make gold shewing that many heretofore hath found out the Philosophers stone WHat wordes of worth or â—â—led phrase of men May serue my turne to shew rare gifts of grace What percing speech what toong or flowing pen Is fiâ— to blase the valour of this case My wits are weake my sense and skill to base To talke or treate on thinges of such great weight That séemes so dâ—epe and reacheth such a height With Uirgills verse and Homers haughtie style In golden lines should knowledge glorie shine Would God one man were borne in this our Ile Could catch from cloudes great arts and grace diuine As he were taught of all the muâ—es nine To knowe the course of stars and stately skies And howe deepe seas and floudes doe fall and rise If mortall man may robbe the gods of skill And rule the son the moone and planets all And easly climbe the heauens when he will Or make the spirites belowe obey his call Or clap the earth into a compasse small Knowledge is he nay rather better seed A sacred power hath knowledge in his head That from the Lord of life and glory came No earthly gifte nor worldly wicked knacke For world is vaine most certaine sure I am And all foule artes makes worlolings liue in lacke The cleanest mindes are frée from ruine and wracke For vertue raignes and rules this wretched mould And drawes from drosse huge heapes of massie gold They neuer thriue that workes with hagges of hell Bare liues they lewd bare robes and wéedes they weare They seldome want that in ioyes doying well Great store of fruit a happie trée doth beare A blasted branch but withers euery where A vertuous man whose hart to grace aspires Findes good successe of all his whole desires Great studies gaines great grace and wisdome too Great wisdome lookes into Gods sacred throne And fewe doe knowe what speciall grace can doe Such secrets great doth rest in God alone And God giues man the Philosophers stone Then who hath that hath all that can be gote And needes not care for all the world a grote Some say that knowes how god is pleased best Good life helpes much to make men blessed héere If that be true God doth bad life detest where are we then where shall soule life appéere Who hath faire face who shewes a conscience cléere Such as can purge themselues with praiers still Gets greatest grace and gaineth greatest skil Good arts are armes to all our bodies throwe By force to worke by strength to strike all parts To make stife stones or steele to bend or bowe As nothing could escape the reach of arts Schollers in scholes and merchantes in their marâ—â— Can ply their thrift so they that maketh gold By giftes of grace haue cunning treble fold To catch the heate of son or fire by light And melt and myxe the mettals as they are And put by art compounds together streight As all should yeeld to fine inuention rare When science leaues all hidden secretes bare No mastry then to worke on waxe newe wrought A picture plaine to answere workmans thought Most néerest God the cleanest hartes doe goe They cast of flesh and Angels nature take And than throwe faith they may moue mountaines so Gold by that meanes a mortall man may make God doth great things for his great glories sake That world shall sée some vessels God hath chose To whome he doth his hidden giftes disclose vii of Wisdome The wise king said he saw how world was made How things began and how they end againe How fruits and flowers doe flourish and doe fade How vertues rare in herbes and roots remaine How out of stones comes dewe like drops of raine And how dry dust and earth that seemes nought worth Hides gold in hord yet brings great treasure forth He saw what grace and knowledge could discerne What wisdomes eies could sée in darkest night What God himselfe to his electe did learne What man might doe by Gods cleere lampe of light What might be knowne by simple sacred sight And what poore men by plainenesse might attaine And what fruit comes by trauell toile and paine To gather flowers and wéedes where ere they growe And take vp fruit from tops of trées that fall And mixe these things with flouds that ebbe and floe And at a becke to change their natures all Is art at will and knowledge we it call But to digge out from drosse the gold most fine Is secret skill and speciall power deuine To make fine glasse and giue it forme and shape Was sure an art that fewe at first did knowe A painter made quicke birds to picke the grape That pensell had most finely painted so In dome dead things life hath bin breathd you knowe Who reades shall sée great knowledge vnder son That was with men by grace and vertue won Mercurius Tres migistus king of the Egiptianes A king there was of yâ—er that Hermies hight Who fiâ—st found out the cause how gold was made Some at his torch did there dime candells light That earst did walke for want of Son in shade Since that in seas full many wits did wade To sound and sée how farre weake feete might goe And some did find the depth thereof I troe Gâ—bar a king likewise of great estate A volume large of this great art did write Throw studie long Gebar such knowledge gat That in his books great princes did delight Great thinges of him great actors doe resyte Greater then he some say was neuer none For he did teach how men should make the stone In a vision much matter may you read
doth destine giue And so with sorrowes breake the hart that hath no will to liue Good fréend quoth she haste not thine end with passions of the minde Hope after hap the world may mend thou maist good fortune finde No sure my glasse of life is runne Death drawes on me so fast I see my daies are almost done life may no longer last My haples yeares and aged bones desires no being heere To graue I go with sighs and grones I buy bad life too deere With losse of blood of time and youth and all that precious is With loyall seruice toile and truth and hope of earthly blisse All in one ballance now goes downe since guerdon get I none Nor no account in Court nor towne now I may hap vpon Adue day light shut close mine eies too long you stare for nought So farewell friends and you be wise for me take you no thought By this our ships were wend about and Cannons gan to rore As they to Brytaine passed out with bounsing shot great store At noyse whereof I wakned straight and calling for my close And saw the Sunne on such a height that sodainly I rose And so put all my dreame in verse would God a dreame it were For many things I now rehearse wil prooue too true I feare FINIS To the right honourable my Lady Puckering wife to the most honorable the L. keeper of the great seale of England GOod Madam strange it may seeme that a meere stranger to your Ladiship â—are aduenture to dedicate any peece of vvorke vvhere bold attempt and labour may be but strangely vnderstood if a greater hope in your goodnes exceeded not the greatnes of my matter but my 〈◊〉 your most honorable husbands bountifull dealings with me of late makes me the bolder because I must be thankful in this presumptioâ—◠〈◊〉 present some acceptable peâ—ce of that small talent God hath giuen me to your good L. as vvell to be knovven of you as to keepâ— me in my L. fauour and though that vvhich I oâ—fer be skarce vvorthy the taking Yet I trust first my seruiceable present hall not be misliked because the receiuing vvell thereof may procure a further peece of vvork better penned such as shall best become me to present as knovveth God 〈◊〉 novv and at all times augment his good gifts of grace in your good Ladiship LOng time in sute and seruice gets some grade Long crauing gaines both crust and crome ye know Long walking rids great ground away apace Long vse of legs makes traueiler easly go Long watching tâ—â—d brings ebbe at length to floâ— So loyall loue and dutie long in vre Full many waies doth great good will procure Whereon good turnes springs out as from a flood Runnes gushing waues that waters euery soile Whose moisture doth both fruit and flower much good And profite bringâ— to Plowmans painefull toile This faire land flood kept barren field from foile For if no deaw of heauen I had found Hot sommers drouth had soone dried vp my ground The fountaine had her course no sooner run With golden streames that cordiall is of kinde But straight began to shine the gladsome Sâ—n That sucker sends to tree to root and rinde The frost did thaw with milde warme westerne winde And all the springs and conduits of the towne Ran Claret wine in honour of the crowne When bill assignd by sute from Prince had past Lord how the world â—lood therewith well content The Clearkes they wrote and fréely laboured fast The seales were wonne when purse no penny spent The waxe was wrought throw grace that God had sent So seale and waxe and all that name I can Came franckly of to me from euery man Lo how hard world by meanes is easie made And mens good wils with tract of time we gaine In spring it sprouts at fall of leafe did fade The grasse grows greene with little showres of raine I reapt the crop and fruit of others paine What néeds more words each place where I did go For Princes grace did me great fauour sho They knew that Court had cleane consumde my youth And plead mine age with pretie pension now If so they thought in déed they gest the truth For youth and age perforce is pleased throw Saue that they bid me make my pen my plow And prooue awhile what printed bookes will doo To helpe old Tom to get a supper too But blest be her that did the dinner giue With too much meat we may a surfeit take Long with good rule and diet men may liue Full belly oft an emptie purse may make He feedeth best that eats for hungers sake Than porcion poore makes men ne proud nor rich Yet one good meale a day doth please me mich Where am I now I speake of liberall men That fréely gaue the seales and all the rest Which déed deserues both thankes and praise of pen For that is all from me they haue possest This course would make the learned Lawyers blest If of poore men they tooke no fee at all Whose wrongs are great and riches is but small To trot and trudge two hundreth miles or more And spend their goods in toyling too and fro And be long pincht with paine and labour sore And then compeld to costly tearme to go Craues great regard of them that conscience know Than wise graue heads that looks through euery cause Defend the poore with fauour of your lawes Their plaints may pearce through highest heauens all Their praiers brings great blessings to your dore Your fame doth rise where they good words let fall For happie are the hands that helpes the poore This sentence should be written on the floore Who can do good to those that stands in need Shall reape much corne where sowne was litle séed When iustice flowes from liberall noble mind Good turns in world wil make men liue like Saints When good cheap law poore silly soules do find The Court is not long troubled with complaints Franke heart goes throw where feeble courage faints Bountie winnes loue and lasts for euer more Who doth great good and little takes therefore The poore are more in number euery where Then are the rich that haue the world at wil Wherefore the more we ought with them to beare Because they liue in lacke and sorrow stil. The Lord that sits on his hie holy hill Lookt lowly down on Lazarus the poore That humbly askt an almes at Diues doore Most precious are the poore to God aboue Though heere below they walke like lambes were lost And one good turne to them doth get more loue Then fortie things we doe for worldly boast Who saues a ship that is with tempest tost And brings the barke where helpe and harbour is For thankful paines shall purchase heauen blisse When that great Iudge shal come to iudge vs all Such as did helpe the poore shal happy be For then that Iudge wil for those people call Who to the poore were alwaies franke
CHVRCHYARDS Challenge LONDON Printed by Iohn Wolfe 1593. To the right honourable Sir Iohn VVolley Knight Secretary for the Latin tung to the Queenes Maiestie and one of her priuie Councell Thomas Churchyard wisheth increase of honor blessednes of life and abundance of worldly felicitie and heauenly happines THe long trauell and tracing out of life in this wearisome pilgrimage right honorable hauing brought me now almost to the ende of my iourney makes me glad with a restles desire to be rid of the burthens of my minde and the labours of my body the one neuer free from studie and the other seldome voide of toyle and yet both of them neither brought great benefite to the life nor blessing to the soule in which small rest and vnquietnes many sorrowfull discourses in my dayes I haue written and numbers of bookes I haue printed and because they shall not be buried with me I challenge them all as my children to abide behinde me in the worlde to make them inheritors of such fame dispraise as their father which begat them on sweet inuention heere enioyes or deserues hoping they shall not be called bastards nor none aliue will be so hardy as to call them his babes that I haue bred in my bowels brought forth and fostred vp so carefully at mine owne charges and hazard of an enuious worlde And now indeede for that diuers of disdainfull disposition doo or may hinder the good reporte of those labors which I thinke well bestowed among my freends I haue set forth while I am liuing a great number of my works in this booke named my Challenge that after my death shalbe witnesses they were mine owne dooings not for any great matter in them but for the iustnes of troth and true triall of all my honest exercises and so to purchase credit and the more freends and fauourers to prop vp my poore reputation I not only dedicate this booke and all therein to your honor but haue made also in the same booke diuers dedications to sundry honorable and worshipfull personages protesting that there is nothing heerein but came from mine owne deuice which inuencions spoken as becomes me shal be in all honest sorte defended by pen or any way I may to the vttermost of my breath or abilitie ioying much with all gladnes of hart that they are presented to so honourable a personage and one of such singuler learning whose worth and value by a worthy and vertuous Princes is seene into and throwly considered of which gracious Queene hath alwaies made her princely choice in such an excellent and vnspeakable maner as God himselfe should deuinely appoint and direct to our great wealth and his great glory and in whose râ—re commendation all the pen men of the world may write Now good sir vnder your excellent fauour and countenance I shielde my presumption and boldenes that hath offred a booke of so many discourses to the iudgement of such a multitude that quickly can discouer the weakenes of my labors but hauing ventured so farre as to publishe them in print I must now of necessitie commit them to the common opinion of the world So in hope the best will fall out I present you with my studies and take leaue of your honor desiring of God what goodnes can be wished to be alwaies at your commaundement Dutifully and loyally in all at commaundement Thomas Churchyard To the worthiest sorte of People that gently can reade and iustly can iudge GOod Reader if my presumption were so great that I thought my booke might passe without your fauourable iudgement mine error were as much as my ouer-weening and yet to vse perswasions in purchasing your good liking I should passe the bounds of common reason and fall into the danger of adulation for your good wils are rather won with good matter then bare wordes and say what I can to gaine your affection toward my worke you will speake what seemeth best in your owne conceites For among many thousands are many of deepe consideration and some vndoubtedly of as shallow iudgement so that the one or the other cannot nor will not be led and caried away with any deuice of my pen though all the hye spirits and excellency of Poetry might drop out of the quill I writ withall wherefore now I must as well abide the hazard of your censure as I haue boldely vnfolded my selfe to the worlde there is now no crauing of pardon nor pleading for your furtherance to encrease my good fame my works must abide waight they are thrust into the ballance and I of necessitie must content me with your allowance and what price pleaseth you to set on my marchandise but if they proue too light in the skales I pray you helpe them with some graine of good skill that they be not condemned as trifles because they haue cost me great labour and study and put me to no little charges I freely offer them to you for three or foure causes the one to keep the reputation of a writer the second to pleasure my freendes with the reading of new inuentions and thirdly to desire my foes to giue me true reporte of those workes I haue made and last of all to affirme that euery thing in this my booke of Challenge is mine owne dooing which iustlye no man can deny Not boasting thereof as matter worthy memory but claiming a better regarde then enuy would giue me I stand to the praise or dispraise of all I haue done maruelling much that in my life time any one would take from me the honest laudation I deserue I striue no further in that point but commit to God and good people the indifferency and iustnes of my cause and the best is which shall beare it selfe the wise of the worlde and worthiest of knowledge and capacitie are the only Iudges shall yeeld me my right the rest are but hearers and lookers on whose voices may make a great noise but giues so vncertaine a sound they can doo no great harme because of nature and condition they neuer doo no great good Now my pleading time is past my booke must appeare in that bare fashion as I haue formed the matter I hope it shall not walke so nakedly abroade but shalbe able to abide the coldenes of ill will and the extreame heate of hatefull mens disposition God the giuer of goodnes guide my verses so well that they neuer happen into their hands that loues me not and make my prose and plainenes of speech be as welcome to the Reader as it was well ment of the writer So with double and treble blessing Farwell FINIS My next booke shalbe the last booke of the Worthines of Wales And my last booke called my Vltimum Vale shalbe if it please God twelue long tales for Christmas dedicated to twelue honorable Lords Heere followes the seuerall matters contained in this booke THe tragedie of the Earle of Morton The tragedie of sir Simon Burley A discours that a man
stormes I stoutly stood to sterne And turnd about the shippe to winne the winde And what defects and fauâ—tes I did discerne I readie was a quicke redresse to finde And no man durst restraine the Regents minde For were it good or bad I would haue done Unto that side would most of people runne Yet murmors rose among the mighty flocke Whose hidden hate huggd close in cankred brest To vndermine my strong and statelie rocke That stoode on propps and did on pillers cest For longer sure in Court I could not rest Then King might come to perfect age and yeares As thinges besell and by my fall appeares The secret swarmes of â—lie and subtill snakes That lurkes in grasse and vnder fayrest flowers The flattering cloudes that oft faire weather makes Great showers of raine vppon the people powers The smiling face that when it list it lowers Betraies the eyes of them that well beleeues When scorners flier and laugheth in their sléeues My hedge stood stackte with such weake sticks of woode That manie a gappe was made into my grownde I trusted much to freindship birth and blood But some of those in fine were faythlesse founde Most spake mee faire but least of them were sounde Some sought my ruyne that waighted hard at heeles For time so shapt the world went all on wheeles What is enuid but rule and high estate The seruant seekes ofâ— times his maysters fall The subiect beares to lawe a priuie hate The stubborne child is silde at fathers call The froward wiues findes fault with husbands all The scholler hates to heare his follie tolde And each degree abhors to be controlde Rule wants no foes the horse hée hates the bitt The dogge disdaines the leashe that holdes him in The hauke desires not long on pearch to sit Rule is despisde Rule doth no fauour winne The man that hath in courtly honor béene Can tell how oft he was with flattry fed And some there are with blinde affection led Whose humor weake the wilâ—e worldlings fede They followe fast and fawnâ— like whelpes a while Till great mens meanes hath â—erued their turne in déede Then gallants goe awaye and giue a smile Thus waâ—ters on doe nought but friends beguile And slipper lads as false and fine as those For no offence become most mortall foes With curtsie great and knéeling on the knée The harmelesse hartes of noble states are trapte They looke so high they can no tromperie see Untill the â—lye in spiders webbe be lapt And when by sleight the simple is mishapt The wandring world but maruels at the case And from the weake the strongest turnes the face Who had moe freindes or yet more wealth than I Who sounde lesse helpe O fie on friendships trust My stocke and race did reach to starrie skie Yet world trode downe mine honor in the dust And I was left alone thinke what I lust Weepe sigh or sob when Fortune gaue checkmate Ferâ—â— friends were fledd and I in wofull state Yet wisdomes grace helde vp my noble minde I scornde to thinke when sorest tempests blewe In face and cheere my courage men might finde I counted all and then the worst I knew It was but death a paiment that is due To yeild to day or else when date drew néere To paie the shot and make the reckning cléere What néeds more talke amid my chéefest ioyes A draught was drawne to driue me out of grace The newes whereof did fill my head with toyes But my stout hart would giue no practise place I stifly stoode in Court with manly face And thought to thrust them out that stroue with mée And so in spigt of world I would goe frée Great banding then began in Borough towne And to the view I had the strongest side For on my part were men of great renowne Yea as the fish doth follow greatest tide So people swarmd and crucifige cryed On Mortons foes for dayly eurye houre In Princes Court with pompe increast my power But when wée met that seuerall waies did draw Sweete words did walke bespyest with fained cheere In dulcet shell a kernell sowre I sawe That cunning crafte by cloude conuayd full cléere Our powdred speach most fresh would still appéere Till bitter taste bewrayd our meanings all Then honie combe in proofe became but gall So angrie bées burst forth from quiet hiue And offred stinge to those that neerest stood Then fearefull folke too féeble were to striue They floke so fast that daily sought my bloode Yet to the worlde I made my quarell good And craude no more but iustice in my cause And so to shifte by course of common lawes In open Court I was accused streight And straightlie chargde to keepe my chamber still Where if I had but vsed anie sleight I might haue scapte awaie and had my will But destnie did bewitch both wit and skill And robd mee so of spirite and feeling sence That I was méeke and neuer made defence But what I thought and what I hepte for both Is knowne to God and some that liueth yet In deede my feare was small I tell you trothe For manie things in compasse of my wit Did cleare mee cleane and so though I should sit In prison faste a time till thinges were tryed In duraunce long I hopte I should not bide But loe in haste I was from thence remoude And sent vnto the Castle there to staie And then perchaunce I was but finely proude To see for feare if I would flie awaie For mine owne folkes had there the whole conuaie Of bodie through the streetes such grace I gote But woe is me for then did th'old man doate Had I but sayde I would not be in pounde I would bee franke and free from daungers doubt I might haue turnde the worlde in Scotland rounde Like teâ—nis ball and thrust myne enemies out But who can bring a sternlesse barke aboute My wits were gone that guided all before My shipp on ground and I was set on shore Loe what God doth to make his glorie knowne Loe how mans life is cut off like a bough Loe lookers on how sone is man oerthrowne Loe where became my worldly wisdome nowe Loe héere a glasse that shewes your faces throughe You greatest Peeres and Lords of péereles prayse Your pride is past if God abridge your daies No sooner I beléeude I was so well But was conuayde vnto Don Bartyn than So all my friends that did in Scotlande dwell Made sure a shew to raise vp manie a man The King straight waies before these broyles began Fiue ensignes chose to kéepe the world in awe For sure defence of him and of his lawe Those bandes held backe some forward busines strange Yet in good faith my friendes were twise as strong The force of whom made worlde to feare a change But on and of alas they dalied longe And all the while I thought they did me wronge Yet vaine it was in armes to stande and striue For they had not that waye
of troublesome seruitude or at least willing to see some sodaine sturre and strange accidents This mischieuous and male-contented mind is swift to sow discord and shed innocent blood and slow to saue his owne credit Countrey ready and apt to forget God and most vnwilling to forgiue any iniurie a beginner of all brable and contention and a mayntayner of all execrable acts and enterprises Now passing ouer the rusticall rable of Rogues Uacabounds Ruffians Roysters and rancke Rebels whose mischieuous minds surmounts all the rest in villanie filthynes reueling rudenes trecherie and treasons the fruites whereof are but beggery banishment and wretchednesse that brings the maislers of that misrule to Tiborne a shamefull end I come to the malicious mindes of our Forrein enemies many in number that are so drowned in a deadly desire of hatred wilfulnes obstinacie papistrie and old worm-eaten Religion that they cannot see nor well vnderstand what they goe about There minds carries them headlong into many hellish damnable deuises making account of that which neuer shall be there own I hope and making their boast of conquest victorie triumph before they dare fight for it or attempt manly to trie who shall finde Fortune most fauourable what partie hath God the right of their side And further to bee marueled at a matter most moÌ„struous in iudgement they were come into our Câ—astes in ships of great burthen fraught filled with great riches munition and men hauing in the same shippes to countenaunce their quarrell numbers of Noble houses Friers Priests English Traytors Spanish Women and such like people as were come to possesse a Country kingdom that easily should bee gotten which kingdome is so noblie peopled and furnished that I doubt not but the sight and bare vew of this stoute nation shall make the Spaniards abashed and yet behold to proue A man is but his mind our Enemies haue such minds to doe wrong and haue such hope that they are appoynted to bée the scourge of God that they saie openly they haue commission to kill man woman and child and to saue none aboue the age of seauen yeare old loe heere is a goodly mind a goodly commission and a goodly sorte of Fooles that thinks so populous a Countrey as this will be so soone supplanted a wise companie of wild Geese that with a little gagling and thrusting out the necke beleeus to bring to passe so great a matter you neuer heard of more madder minded men than these are that came to sit downe in other mens houses before they knew the good will of their Hosts and bow déerely they were like to pay for the purchase ere they shold make their entry or set their féet on any péece of this Land and by my troth they goe about a pretty Bargaine to offer the sheeding of so much blood and especially do bring hither so paltring a Commission so voide of Christianitie and shall cost so manie a broken head before any iott or parcell of the same commaundement be put in execution Now heere is to bee spoken and treated of good and godly mindes that peaceably shall possesse their soules in patience these patient mindes are those that sees other men preferd as the affection of some will haue it so and beholdes themselues abiects that neither want vertue nor valiance yea they find few good turnes and suffer many iniuries boastes little of their seruice and are greatly to be praysed being men of good years and experience and yet of bad Fortune and ability fauoured of some that can doe but little for them yet holpen or aided of no one body that haue power to aduaunce them the men of this minde makes much of a little and seldome comes to any greate portion and so because mine owne desteny is not the best and being loath to put on a worse minde then now last I haue spoken of I knit vp all this discourse in these fewe wordes and thus I bid you farewell Hoping that the mindes of men though they are seuerall in disposition will now draw all in one yoke to hold out the enemies of our Countrey and to stand together against all forraine inuasions and forget all kinde of quarrelling among our selues that often times hath bred in manie kingdomes ciuile warres and sorrowfull dissentions The plagues and plaine examples therof being well waighed will I doubt not make our noble Nation be not only mindful of their libertie and honor but in like manner make vs all of one good mind resolution courage and manhood FINIS TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull siâ— Edward Dimmocke Knight Champion by byrth to the Queenes Maiestie I would haue searched the bottome of my studies and chiefest of my labors good Sir Edward Dimmocke if my leasure had serued to haue fouÌ„d out some peece of worke worthy of your reading but doubting that verse delightes you not Tragicall discourses breeds but a heauie conceit in a pleasant disposition I thought it more fitter to treat of a Marshiall cause wherein great honor consists that may moue many considerations in a noble minde and so not only stir vp vertue but also beat downe all occasions that hinders the quiet sweet societie of meÌ„ not meaning that I see any motioÌ„ cause or action in this age that may procure my pen to go beyond the compas of my reach in reforming the same but to shew there is no greater blessednes on earth then freindly felowship and amitie among men and all the disturbers thereof are rather instrumeÌ„ts of dissention than mayntainers of good will And for that in your long trauells abroad where variaunce is moderated with wisdome manie quarrells you haue seene or heard off I haue written a little peece of the nature of a quarrell compounded on many accidents not teaching anye man a newe course peaceable order to his life but to nourish gentlenes kindlie loue among all our noble natioÌ„ So trusting no matter of mislike shal passe my Pen I present you with this little peece of paper that follows wishing you the good fame and honor your own hart can desire A Discourse of true Manhoode AMid the wickednes of a naughtie world quarells hatred and headstrong people a bridled mind knowes not what pace to hotde nor steppes to tread and where madnesse shews furie world mayntaynes follye wise ' alâ—mon were hee heere could not reforme the defect of this wilful age which neither regards God good Gouernours nor naturall loue or order And where libertie in mans wilfulnes is proclaymed good rule and lawe is not known and rud rashnes runs so farre beyond reason that euery sencible creature doth wonder at and stands astonied at the stubberne wickednes of mans vnstayed mind which growes so blood thirstie and eager after life that it seeketh nothing but death and destruction in a manner of his owne proper brother which was horrible in Cain and may bee odious in all kind of Christians Among
beasts that wants reason remaynes no such crueltie For now a dayes men may not meete without snarring lostie lookes bitter wordes haughty fashions and froward behauioure on which stoutnes of stomacke malice is kindled contention is breed and quarrells are set abroach The accustomed curtesie sweete conuersation freindle gentlenes humane manners and ciuile humblnes in our common societie is almost forgotten brought in contempt and put out of exercise if Noble Parsonages shew it not and in place of the commendable vertues are corrupt conditions and newfangled vices closely crept to the great disquietnes of many and commoditie of no one person And now briefly to come to y e cause of this my bold argumēt my short worke shall only touch y e terrible brawels that lately on the shew of manhood are sprong vp among vs nourished to long in the stoute courages of men A matter more meeter to bee lamented than mayntayned and a new deuised wilfulnesse that our old Fathers taught vs not nor scarsely was known till our youth beganne to trauell straunge Countreys and so brought home strange manners It must be graunted and necessarie to bee allowed that weapons shall be worne alwaies of equall length and vsed in causes of defence And further for slaunders naughtie reports in absence and present spitfull speaches men ought for the mayntenance of good name somtimes vse an lawfull manner of correction this spoken not of the scripture for the sharpe sworde makes a blunt blockhead beware how hee vseth his tongue and if bold bablers were not snibbed for their sawsines this world would bee full of talkatiue merchants and no man would care what he spoke if wordes should not be wisely set to sale and in the end of an ill market be dearly bought For it is not fit that euery man should goe to Law about a trifle nor necessarie blood should be shed whatsoeuer in manhoods behalf I haue spokē wel to come to my purposed matter In the old time the sight of England was daungerous but not deadly couragious not cruell valiant but not villanous and most nobly vsed oftimes without anye great harme in which season men were as great Conquerors as they be now let Fraunce and Scotland witnes as loath to offend as men be at this presens when rapier fight is more desperate And generally then were as good men as valiant and venturous as now can bee found and yet they stoode not vppon such tearmes and quarrels as men doe now adayes a thousand iniuries could then bee forgiuen if they had eased their hearts a little at the sharpe weapon now life is sought in England for an Italian lie and nothing but blood and death can pacifie mens furies men are become such Cockes of the game they must fight in a sharppe scrat out each others eyes and thirst so much for blood that nothing can mitigate their wrath till one bee out of the world and the other bée fled God knowes whither A prettie quarrell that compells men to bée fugitiues for playing of beastly parts and bringeth such repentaunce as breedeth both beggerie and extremitie of Fortune and namely when friends shall forsake you and weeping can not helpe For whilst law persecuteth the offender the world is like a Laborinth endles is the labor and trouble of that bodie that thinks euery man follows him In the olde world when swords of one length and heartes of equal courage did meet some in differencie debated the matter and fewe were put to foile and many were worthely esteemed for their value And now when the rapier and dagger dispatcheth a man quickly neither he liues to heare his owne fame nor no man liuing can let fall a good word of the quarrell begun of such trifles maintaind with such terror and ended with such madnes not so manly as miserable nor so much praised among the fool hardy as condemned in the consideration of the wise And so to come to the right order of manhood courage valiancy and stoutnes of heart it lieth more in the Iudgement then in the iarring in the fortitude then in the forwardnes and restes more in the modesty then in the malice For anger of it selfe is but a sencelesse monster an vnreasonable rage a furious franzie a distemperate imperfection a priuy passion of choller and an open enemy of life The discouerer of the frailty and naughty nature of man and the discredite of as many as cannot maister that outragious disease of the minde Then how should the fury of mallice bring forth any other fruict but such a pestiferous fire as shall consume the beginners of hatred and the last reuengers of wretched wroth For reuenge is like a winde ball the more it is stricken and remembred with force of hand the higher it mountes makes the more rebound so that endlesse becomes a quarrell so long as the exercise of mallice is had in vre and men with euill disposition goe about to store vp mischiefe Now is to be decided euery degrée and manner of a quarrel and to shew how and in what sort an vniust quarrell may bee offered and a iust quarrel may be taken both by law of armes and nature and by a vsuall custome and manner among men prouing by antiquities and art military the matter purposed to treat vppon so that with patience you here out that may bée spoken As it is vnfit for a Gentleman that stands on reputation to play the ruffian and roister so it is most vncomely for him to stoupe so lowe as any way to abase his good calling with the bad conditions of a rude and rusticall fellowe by which prerogatiue the match is vnmeete the quarrell may be refused the strife hath no equality nor no honesty is gotten in brawling with inferiors or fighting with men of so small temperancy and credit but because most stoutnes and courage with hazard of life is betweene Gentlemen and trifles not taken vp growe to great busines their quarrels are most requisite to be spoken of redressed corrected and brought to better order First yée shall finde among Souldiers that are of greate mindes a kinde of stately consideration in all quarrels they take in hand They taking vppon them in the art military which well becomes their calling to maintaine honour defend their countrey and credite and to fight in no quarrell but Princes right and their owne honest causes haue set downe by certaine cerimonies what wordes may touch them what manner of men they may deale withall what occasions may force a combate what scope liberty pertaines to a iust quarrell and what restraines a manly minde from doing iniury to others or harming himselfe On which resolution the Souldier sets vp his rest and commonly hazards the winning or loosing of as great thing as life may be worth not with presumption procured to this danger but with estimation of his honor haled forewarde by daunger of enemy to leaue good example to those that comes after him But
beholde how this aduenture happeneth regard the circumstance of this hazard way well what difficulty is aboute the matter and marke the chiefe points and groundes of aduantage that breedeth busines and bringeth forth a combate Then must be noted a simple Souldier or mercenary man may not challenge a Captaine a meane Captaine or Centurion may not challenge a Corronell a Corronell though leader of a regiment may not challenge a Lord Marshall of the Field a Lord Marshall hauing charge of life and death may not challenge the Lord Lieutenant of the Army Aâ—d all these not onely in time of seruice for auoiding of mutiny but at all seasons are bound and ought to keepe themselues from brawling yea though any one be neerely touched and seeking the combat except a lie hath passed a slander is receiued a blow be giuen a mans name and credite be foiled and a quarrell be sought so narrowly that no man can auoide And yet all these degrees as their office and honour is one after another may without reproche refuse in euery place the daungering of their liues by priuate quarrell not meeting one another by chance whereon may busines growe looke what so euer be passed villany excepted There is no kinde of preiudice to any partie but mallice may surcease and society may reuiue friendship and quietnes should of all hands be sought Now of matter ministred in despight spoken to strike dead good name vttered for offence and brauery let fall to disgrace any person and maintained with threatnings daring and other open iniuâ—ies a number the case of quietnes is altered and surely no nature can so easely disgest those extremities but shall finde occasion of dislike and a great motion of quarrell Then must be considered the cause of those spéeches the persons credite that spake it in what presence and place the iniury was offered for some places are of such honour that no dishonestye may bee suffered in and some person that speakes iniuries in base company out of honourable presence the speakers meane calling aunsweres himselfe for wise men ought to make no more account of a badde fellowes babble then of the barking of an olde dog whose teeth are gone and can not bite An all the common kinde of iniuries are but as men do imagine them as scoulding of a coâ—queane railing of a ruffian taunting of a tosseblade frumping of fine fellowes and the brags and threatning of a varlette all these shamelesse rabble and sencelesse sort of shadowes are of so small substaunce and credite that their voices makes but a noise in the aire like a thunder cracke that neither brings raine nor argues any constant winde and weather There is besides these ordinary causes and crooked conditions of people a number of naughty natures that neuer will be quiet in countenaunce nor wordes but either with skrowling like conquerors or skorning like vices on a stage they striue with counterfaite courage to ouercome Lions and to be more terrible then Tigres snuffing and puffing as all the worlde were too little to containe their great lookes and disdainefull monstrous manners And their tongues are so talkatiue and filled with follies that none may speake but themselues on whose prowde presumptions are many mad disputes wilfully begon and moste wickedly ended To contend with those glorious Images is as a man shoulde sound a Trumpet at the roaring of euery bul Thus with extraordinary manners new fangled fancies olde stubburne nature and fresh fine cunning that wisedome condemneth a good minde may be ouerreached and a quiet man may be brought in some quarrelous brabble for the sight and sufferaunce of these shadowes whose substance is all in boasting and the society or contention with such counterâ—aite conquerors is an open enemy to all the good dispositions of men and a priuy worker of disquietnes to those that beholdes and heares any peece or iote of those vices before rehearsed for nothing bréedes more mislike or offendeth so much euery company as the continuall brags and audacious manners of the vnbrideled multitude who are neuer free from quarrels voide of villany nor without naughty brabbles a number Come now to generall occasions in Court Countrey towne and so foorth but principally of Court we ought to haue greatest regard where not only the Prince hold residens with a continuall maiestie but likewise by absolute power commaunds obedience restraynes Courtiars many wayes from offering of iniuries For plainely to speake in Chamber of presence or any place neere or about a Princes pallace mens tongues are tyed either to kéepe silence or ciuilly with reuerence to vse comly wordes méete for such a place and voyde of villanye or vicious intents chiefely of quarrels that may moue mischiefe and stirre vp disquietnes among the gentle Bees assembled together in a Hiue for the honoring of their king and publique profite of their estate The Court is no Cocke-pit to croe in no shraep for cocking no seat to be saucy in no place of contention nor no soile for brawlers and braggers that haue currish conditions and knowes not their duety but rather a place of royall dignity princely entertainements curteous behauiors and fine and friendly fashions that with orderly manner may set forth a Princes regality And though there some one wanting temperance rashly behaue himselfe and with warme wordes sturre the coales of a wicked quarrell mens dueties in generall by wisedome should either quench the heat thereof or cast imbers on the fire that the fury and flame should not burst out there nor be disputed of any other where to the preiudice of that place and looke what is offered in open hearing or secret whispering that may sow seedes of dissention shoulde be trodden vnder foote or passed ouer with sporting among the best iudgements for feare least a little braunch of spite doe sproute vp on some rash spéeches and grow out of order both past remedy and beyond the bounds of good manner If men in Court were as carefull to keepe peace as they are desirous to créepe in credite or common society should attende to no other purpose but to familiar behauior friendly affection brotherly loue and blessednes of life you shall behold a mutuall agreement among all kinde of creatures at their first méeting the birds with their like flées and feedes together and in theyr manner vse a kinde of reioysing when they encounter one another yea and taketh part with their fellowes against all that shall offend them flocking and crying as they may together in multitudes to shew their naturall inclination and how they al doe suffer torment by the disquietnes of one bird in their company The Bées séeing but one of their fraternity troubled or angry fly all in a swarme on euery thing offends them and vseth such fury for reuenge that they sting and hum out of measure The Beasts not onely agree in their fashion but in like sort takes one anothers part vehemently and chiefly the very Hogs
well to bee séene that none by Caesar might meddle with men of Warre And it séemeth this libertie was fetched from Alexanders dayes who called his olde souldiours Noble men and gaue them noble priuileges and rewardes to cause the Worlde that did followe to augmente their renowne and spreade theire fame to the highest Heauens that haue beene valliant on earth and Noble of minde Which great foresight of Alexander and other great Princes to aduaunce Souldiours hath made menne more like Gods than earthly creatures and done such good to the Worlde thereby that there is no Worlde but will make of men of Warre and giue place to the goodnesse of those that striue by stoutnesse of heart and labour of bodie to enlarge the limmets and boundes of his Countrey The effect of this aboue expressed was drawne out of Spanish and remaines among Christians as a matter worthy noting though Infidells did obserue them Now though a man haue had charge and borne a number of Offices yet the name of an old soldiour beautifies his title But yet perticularly I will goe through the offices as breefly as I maie and therein shew who may iustlie bée called Gentlemen among them A Collonell a Captaine and Ensigne bearer A Lieutenaunt a Corporall a Sergeant of the band and old souldiour though hée neuer bare any office are all gentlemen graunting and allowing that none of the officers were made for affection at home But had their beginning by seruice in the Feelde and aâ—e knowne of good courage and conduct and well experimented in Marshâ—all affaires The rest of other officers that haue noble roumes and places in the Campe néedes no setting out for all men know such officers as are chosen and made by the most noble in any gouernement are not to bee treated off for that euerye souldiour giues them due honour and place You may not looke for at my hands the originall discourse of all gentlemen albeit I go as farre as I dare in that behalfe For I loue not to meddle with thankelesse labour and would be lothe to roue beyond my reach and knowledge in a matter that my betters as yet haue not dealt withall For a doubtfull attempt brings a dangerous construction And with drawing a strong Bow a weake arme waxeth weary Wherfore I go no further in this matter desâ—ring the Reader to bear with my boldnes herein and regard souldiers as they deserue FINIS TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull Sir Iohn Sauage Knight one of the Lieutenants of Cheshire MY good and affectionate Worshipfull friend for manie curtesies I promised to dedicat some verses vnto you and finding no subiect better to write vpon then the maintenance of Hospitalitie I thought a little to touche the losse of time and charges that a number of Gentlemen spendeth at London not anie whit thereby blemishing the good bruite of that honorable Cittie so I praie you vnderstand me but shewing the inconuenience that commeth by ouer great charges bestowed and spent where nothing is gathered againe nor reaped at the last but repentance or such colde acquaintance as when money is gone will scarse knowe a man in time of necessity this being spoken generally of all the places and Citties in the worlde where men shall finde but strangenes when their owne wealth and estate begins to decline A Discourse of Gentlemen lying in London that were better keepe house at home in their Countrey I Muse why youth or age of gentle blood Borne vnto wealth and worldly worship héere In London long consumes both land and good That better were at home to make good chéere In London still they finde all vittells déere Hoist vp a height to bring our purses low And send men home with empty bags yée know The stréetes with fields may neuer matched be For all swéete aire at will abroad we finde What is it then in London that they sée But Countrey yéeldes and better glads the minde Perhaps some say the people are so kinde And curteous to in stately ciuill Towne As men thereby wins credite and renowne First for they séeme in Citty fresh and fine Most gay to eie and gallant as a rose But shall a man for pleasure of his eien And pompe or pride of painted goodly cloes He sees abroad at home his credite lose Our Elders did not so delight in trashe And tempting toyes that brings a man in lash For when they came to London there to stay They sent fat béenes before them for their store And went sometimes a shooting all the way With all their traine and houshold that is more Yet were they not at no lesse charge therefore Kept house in Ins and fedde the poore thereby That in hard world may now for hunger die They taried not in Towne to card and dice Nor follow long lewd lusts that lothsome are Which breedes rebuke and fosters secrete vice And makes tame birds to fall in Satans snare They loude plaine robes but hated purses bare Made much of men gaue neighbors béefe and bred Yet left their aires great wealth now they are dead Their care was still to kéepe good house and name Spend they might spare yet spare where cause they found And librall be when bounty purchast fame And let floud runne where water did abound Rulde all with wit and wary Iudgement sound Not bent in braues great hauocke for to make But drawne and moâ—de to spend for vertues sake Gaue much to poore that craude an almes at gate Kept buttry dore for straungers open still Made neighbours eate that earely came or late By which they wonne the Countreys great good will Could serue the Prince with coundit men and skill With their owne charge and pors a rare thing now That seelde is seene with loue and power throw They raisd no rents to make the tenant whine Nor clapt no yoke on friendly neighbours necke Nor made poore folke find fault with cuâ—â—hroat fine But had the hearts of people at a becke As we haue now our seruants vndâ—r checke O how plaine men would follow Landlord than Like swarmes of Bees when any warres began Yea glad was he that might with maister goe Though charge and wife be lest at home behinde In this fine world the manner is not so Hard handling makes men shew another minde Then loyall loue made mens affection blinde Now can they sée and will doe what they list Cast of like Hawkes comes when they please to fist What change finde you yong maisters in these daies What hath drawn backe the forward minds of men What makes somtime prâ—st souldier run his waies What makes this world much worse then world was then I dare not now expresse the cause with pen. But lay your hands vppon your brest and winke And you shall gesse what of these thinges I thinke Gay golden robes and garments pownced out Silke laide on sâ—â—ke and stitched ore the same Great losse and play and keeping reuell route With grosser knackes I list not now
bulwarkes against the assaults of fortune that no troubles can touch them nor make them yeeld to the common calamitie of our life but who soeuer so thinketh is vtterly deceiued For ritches is not gotten nor kept but with much care and labour and where it is possest it bringeth daunger dread disdaine and a thousand euills with it Tempting man to riot and lasciuious liuing and leadeth the soule to perdition by a number of infinite follies except a speciall grace doe vphold it it runneth headlong into hell and looketh seldome vnto heauen And commonly when men doe grow ritch they surfet so often with bankettes or bibbing that they are full of deseases and so shortens their daies Which libertie of life and boldnesse in abuses that springs on aboundance the roote of disorder puffes them vp in Pride pampers them in pleasures and blindeth so their iudgements that they neither can sée who deceiueth them nor finde out the right way of heauenly felicitie And yet the â—latterie of one and falsehood of an other about them bréedeth such businesse and raiseth such stormes where quietnesse is looked for that the ritch mans house is neuer without blonder brabble and braulinges So that vnder the calmest shewes ciuilest manners lurketh terrible tempestes and fearefull suspitions which in that kinde is a domesticall calamitie and miserie incurable And so al the iollitie and pompe of the earth enioyed by enheritaunce or purchased by fortune are accompanied with paine enterlarded with dolloure mixed with vnquietnesse and may bee compared to a rotten painted wall that vnder faire collours hath many a foule fret which deceiueth the eies of them that lookes on it or giues those a great ouerthrow that leaneth against it But this is no proofe y e riches is cause of sorrow but this rather shews that sorrow care many misfortunes doth follow riches pouertie so it be not bare indigence is void of hazard frée from fortunes mutability coumpted most happy in comparison of the goodnes that belonged to a blessed life God in beholding the vices of many and sées some bent to estéeme villanie or offence doth cut of their dayes by soddaine mischances or on a set purpose through the Deuine power because their euill shall not hurt the good And regarding the other sort that will or may amend leaues them to the touche of their consciences with good respite and leasure to repente sending them miserie trouble and disquietnesse onely as a restraint and bridle to plucke them from vices And so calamitie may bee accompted a precious purgation and prosperitie may be iudged a Pestilent desease which encreased or begun by disordered life is rather to be called a calamity sickenesse of the soule then a health of the minde or good renowme to the bodie Many great personages being ouercome with the casualties of this world and mutabilitie of fortune haue after their fall into persecution taken all thinges in good part and made but small ado nor account of their state when aduersitie approched and béene often time as glad to vse the libertie of minde in a seruiâ—e sort as they were well pleased when their bodies tooke most pleasure and had the world at commaundement For of necessitie stormes followe calmes and callamitie either last or first dooth visitte an earthly vessell For some come to Kingdomes from induraunce and some fall to miserie from wealth and honor Dyonisius was glad to keep a Schole after hee had lost his Empire and Andronico of Athens when his Countrey was subdued by the Romans was faine to serue sundry miserable Maisters and after led a Lyon about Rome to the end of his dayes But though I brought a Tyrante and and Infidell to shewe that calamitie must bee tasted so could I rehearse many Christen princes that calamitie hath touched and made them as happy by those crosses they haue borne as some others are blessed that makes boast that haue neuer suffered torment Calamitie is like a supplyng salue that heals a sore Canher A pretious preseruatiue to keepe the head from surie of folly A gentill medicine to reforme an infected conscience A bitter draught of drinke that purgeth a stout corrupt stomake A sowre sirope or sauce that seasoneth a lewde appetite And the sweete Salte of mans felicitie without the which no life can be well seasoned Who feeles himselfe afflicted hath cause to conceiue hee is not forgotten where fauour is most to be desired and be that is let alone to followe his owne pleasure walkes as a caste-away and hath nothing to reioyce of For his bad spirite leads him to distruction and his good Angell hath forsaken his companie which is a signe he is giuen ouer to his naughty inclinations and is suffered to slide or fall downe right when the afflicted by a speciall grace is kept from stumblidg The horse that findes the Bridle caste in his necke runneâ— out of order about the wild field And such as loueth lewde libertie and will not be briâ—eâ—ed good order runnes from them and foule reproch waâ—es at their héeles And if they chance to happen in any hazard the sodainnesse of the mischiefe breaketh their hart or the woundering of the worlde makes the wicked a wearie of his life But such as â—â—lamitie by custâ—me hath reclaimed taketh aduersitie as a qualifier of cursed conditions and being content to kisse the Rodde of perturbation are made children of promes and inheritours of the land they haue long looked for So blessed bee those babes then who in the trouble of their soules possesseth quietnesse and makes account of calamitie to be the perfit way and good meane to felicity and good hap The feeling of such a scourge and visitation lately sent me who gatte great benefitte by his trouble made me write this trifling treatise of calamity FINIS A Commendation to them that can make gold shewing that many heretofore hath found out the Philosophers stone To the right VVorshipfull my vvorthie greate friend Sir Iohn Russell knight one of the Lieuetenants of Worcester Shire I am bound in goodwil detted in ordinarie duetie and commanded for fauour receiued good Sir Iohn to publish openly in some little pamphlet the great desire I haue to bee registered in your memory so that I might merit by desearts the least part of your affectionate frendship not common to all but by a free election of minde offered to a fewe you thinke worthy of it in the purchase of which good liking I would bestowe a great portion of my studies accompting my selfe happie in dedicating a peece of my last labours to so worthy a knight The trueth is good sir in the first prime presumption of the gifte of pen I followed the fortunate fauourets of this world as well to be fauoured at their hands as to be enriched by their happes being learned that witte by those that lackte no wealth in obseruing that custome but the higher those fauorets were mounted the lower they lefte mee
the art to make the Lyon méeke There was no point wherein I was to séeke I tooke delight in doying each man good Not scratting all my selfe as all were mine But lookt whose life in neede and danger stoode And those I kept from harme with cunning fine On Princes traine I alwayes cast mine â—ine For lifting vp the seruants of a King I did throw court my selfe in fauour bring I offered ayde before they sued to me And promisd nought but would performe it streight I shaked downe sweete fruit from top of tree Made aples fall in laps of men by sleight I did good turnes whiles that I was a height For feare a flawe of winde would make me réele And blowe me downe when Fortune turnd her whéele I fild no chests with chynks to cherish age But in the harts of people layde my gold Sought loue of Lord of maister and of page And for no bribbe I neuer fauour solde I had inough I might doe what I would Saue spend or giue or fling it on the ground The more I gaue the more in purse I found Yf I did frowne who then durst looke awry Yf I did smile who would not laugh outright Yf I but spake who durst my wordes denye Yf I persude who would forsake the flight I meane my powre was knowne to euery wight On such a height good hap had built my bowre As though my swéete should nere haue turnd to sowre My husband then as one that knewe his good Refusde to keepe a Princes Concubine For seeing th'end and mischiefe as it stood Against the king did neuer much repine He sawe the grape whereof he dranke the wine Though inward thought his hart did still torment Yet outwardly he seemde he was content To purchase praise and win the peoples zeale Yea rather bent of kinde to doe some good I euer did vpholde the common weale I had delight to saue the guiltles blood Each suters cause when that I vnderstood I did prefer as it had béene mine owne And helpe them vp that might haue béene orethrowns My powre was prest to right the poore mans wrong My hands were frée to giue where néede required To watch for grace I neuer thought it long To doe men good I néede not be desired Nor yet with giftes my hart was neuer hyred But when the ball was at my foote to guide I playde to those that Fortune did abide My want was wealth my woe was ease at will My robes were rich and brauer then the sunn My Fortune then was far aboue my skill My state was great my glasse did euer runne My fatall throed so happely was spunne That then I sate in earthly pleasures clad And for the time a Goddesse place I had But I had not so soone this life possest But my good hap began to slide aside And Fortune then did me so sore molest That vnto plaints was turned all my pride It booted not to rowe against the tide Mine oares were weake my heart and strength did faile The winde was rough I durst not beare a saile What steps of strife belong to high estate The climing vp is doubtfull to endure The seate it selfe doth purchase priuy hate And honours fame is fickle and vnsure And all she brings is flowres that be vnpure Which fall as fast as they doe sprout and spring And cannot last they are so vaine a thing We count no care to catch that we doe wish But what we win is long to vs vnknowen Till present paine be serued in our dish We scarse perceiue whereon our griefe hath growen What graine proues well that is so rashly sowen Yf that a meane did measure all our deedes In steede of corne we should not gather wéedes The setled mind is frée from Fortunes power They neede not feare who looke not vp aloft But they that clime are carefull euery hower For when they fall they light not very soft Examples hath the wisest warned oft That where the trées the smalest branches beare The stormes doe blow and haue most rigour there Where is it strong but néere the ground and roote Where is it weake but on the highest sprayes Where may a man so surely set his foote But on those bowes that groweth lowe alwayes The little twigs are but vnstedfast stayes Yf they breake not they bend with euery blast Who trusts to them shall neuer stand full fast The winde is great vpon the highest hilles The quiet life is in the dale belowe Who treades on yse shall slyde against their wills They want no cares that curious artes doe knowe Who liues at ease and can content him so Is perfect wise and sets vs all to schoole Who hates this lore may well be calde a foole What greater griefe may come to any life Then after swéete to taste the bitter sowre Or after peace to fall at warre and strife Or after myrth to haue a cause to lowre Under such props false fortune buildes her bowre On sodaine chaunge her flittering frames be set Where is no way for to escape the net The hasty smart that Fortune sends in spite Is harde to brooke where gladnes we embrace She threatens not but sodainely doth smite Where ioy is mouÌ„ there doth she sorrow place But sure I thinke this is too strange a case For vs to feele such griefe amid our game And knowe not why vntill we tast the same As erst I sayde my blisse was turnd to bale I had good cause to wéepe and wring my hands And showe sad cheere with countenance full pale For I was brought in sorrowes wofull bands A piâ—ry came and set my ship on sands What should I hyde and coulour care and noy King Edward dyde in whome was all my ioy And when the earth receiued had his corse And that in tombe this worthy Prince was layde The world on me began to showe his force Of troubles then my part I long assayde For they of whome I neuer was affrayde Undid we most and wrought me such dispite That they bereft me of my pleasure quite Brought bare and poore and throwne in worldes disgrace Holds downe the head that neuer casts vp eye Cast out of court condemnd in euery place Condemnd perforce at mercies foote must lye Hope is but small when we for mercie crye The bird halfe dead that hauke hath fast in foote Lay head on blocke where is no other boote The rowling stone that tumbleth downe the hill Fynds none to stay the furie of his fall Once vnder foote for euer daunted still One cruell blowe strikes cleane a way the ball Left once in lacke féeles alwayes want of will A conquerd mind must yéeld to euery ill A weake poore soule that fortune doth forsake In hard extreames from world her leaue may take From those that fall such as doe rise and run The sound with sicke doe seldome long abide Poore people passe as shadowes in the Sun Like féeble fish that néedes must followe tyde Among the rich a
diuers doe good hap and frendship win And duetie makes a World of people flocke And thousands Loe drawes water from the Cocke I scearse may moyst my mouth when thirst is great And hart is cleane consumde with scalding heat A spring of kind doth floe aboue the brim Yet cannot stoppe a Fountaine if you would For through hard rockes it runneth cléere and trim And in some Ground it casts vp grayne of Gold It bursts the Earth and deepely digges the Ground It gusheth out and goes in sundry vaines From mountaines top and spreadeth al the playnes The Spring créepes vp the highest hil that is And many Wells thereon are easly found And this I wot where doe you water mis Small fruit doth grow it is but barraine Ground The soyle is sweete where pleasaunt springes abound The Cowslop sproutes where spring and fountaines bée And floodes beginne from fountaine heades you sée The laboring man thereat doth cole his heat The birdes doe bathe their breasts full brauely there The brutest beastes therein find pleasures great And likes not halfe so well another where What cause in mee what doubt what fault or feare That I may not in this so weake a plight Go drinke my fill where ech thing hath delight The more wée drawe the water from the well The better farre wee bring the spring in frame The seas themselues of nature rise and swell The more the wind and weather workes the same The fire burnes best when bellowes blowes the flame Let thinges stand still and stirre them not in time They shall decay by meane of drosse and slâ—â—ne I sée some streames with stickes are choked vp And Riuers large are marde with beds of sande I sée some bring from Doels an emptie cup Yet craue an almes and showes a néedie hand I see bare boyes before the banket stand And no man sayth loe poore man if thou wut Take heere a dish to fill thy hungrie gut Of cormorant kind some crammed Capons are The more they eate the more they may consume Some men likewise the better that they fare The worse they bee and sicker of the rume And some so chafe so frowne so fret and fume When others féede they cannot God hée knows Spare any time the dropping of their nose The bordes are spread and feasts are made thereon And such sits downe that hath their bellies full Whose greedy mouthes from dogge would snatch the bone Which snudges swell and looke like greiste wull They puffe they blowe yea like a bayted bull And shoue them backe that on small crumes would féede Whose patient heartes makes vertue of a neede The Glutton thinkes his belly is too small When in his eye a dayntie morsell is Hee grines and gapes as though no crum should fall From him and lookes as all the world were his Thus such as want are sure the post to kis For poulting pride doth presse so fast in place That poore plaine Tom dare scarse come shew his face Ech one doth seeke for to aspire and rise Yet hate wee those that doth by vertue clime The foole hee scornes the worship of the wise Yet dolts presume beyond the wise sometime And all this strife is but for drosse and slime That out of earth we dig with daungers deepe Full hard to winne and much more wordes to keepe This makes me muse when some haue heapes in hord They will not helpe the neerest friend they haue And yet with smiles and many a friendlie word They graunt to giue before a man doe craue Such Barbors fine can finely poule and shaue And wash full cleane till all away they wash Then good sir Grime like lob they leaue in lash What should men loose when they enough haue had If that they part with thinges that might be sparde A little peece out of a golden gad For seruice long might be a great reward No no as steele and flint is stiffe and hard So World is waxt and no good turne is found But where indeede doe double gifts rebound We make a legge and kisse the hand withall A French deuice nay sure a Spanish tricke And speake in Print and say loe at your call I will remaine your owne both dead and quicke A Courtier so can giue a lobbe a licke And dresse a dolt in Motley for a while And so in sléeue at silly Woodcocke smile If meaning went with painted wordes and shoes It might suffice such courteous cheare to tast But with the same disdaine and enuie goes And trumpry great with wind and wordes in wast Then arme in arme comes flattery full in hast And leads away the sences out of frame That vpright wits are thereby striken lame This lowting lowe and bowing downe the knée But gropes mens mindes to créepe in credits lap Like malte horse then he holdes vp head you sée That late before could vaile both knée and cap The Nurse a while can feede the child with pap And after beate him on the bréech full bare A swarme God wot of these fine Natures are There be that bites yet gronts and whines withall There be that winnes yet sweare and sayth cylose There be that stops and steales away the ball There be that plantes a weede and plucks a rose There be pleads want to whome the fountaine floes Such hides their haps to make the world to thinke At faire well head they need not for to drinke The whales you see eates vp the little fish The pretie Penk with Sammon may not swime The greatest heades are fed with finesh dish The foulest piss saire water runneth trime He gets the gaine that standeth néere the brime He blowes the cole that hath cold fingers still He starues for bread that hath no corne at mill A world to see the course and state of thinges Some would get vp that knows not where to light Some soer the skies that neuer had no winges Some wrastle well by cunning not by might Some seemes to iudge faire coulours without sight And euery one with some oddâ— shift or grace In world at will runnes out a goodly race But to be plaine I lag and come behinde As I were lame and had a broken leg Or else I cannot lye within the winde And hearken still what I might easely beg I neede no say in mouth I haue geg For I haue spoke and sped in matters small By helpe of him that hath my verses all But farre God wot I am from that to seeke And misse the marke that many men doe hit Wherefore salt teares doe trickle downe the chéeke And heart doth feele full manie a woefull fitt And so aside in solempne sorrow sit As one indeede that is forsaken cleane Where most he doth deserue and best doth meane No matter now though each man march and treade On him that hates the life he beares about Yet such as shall these heauie Verses reade Shall finde I blame my fortune out of doubt But since on hope no better hap will sprout I
and free Though world waxe blind the Lord doth daily sée Who helpes who harmes and who in hope and trust Laies vp their gold where riches cannot rust The wise no doubt doth so by gift of grace That gouernes man in euery honest cause Those noble minds that vertue doe embrace Are plac'â—t by Prince the Iudges of our Lawes At that wel head the poore cleare water drawes Yea poore and rich doe tast that running streame That spreads her vaines throw al this stately Reame Who could enioy a yard or foot of Land If Law did not decide true titles right Or who could holde his purse in his owne hand If Law brought not darke dealings vnto light Good Law doth see cléere day from clowdy night Discernes the troth from falshood finely cled Whose glorious grace deceaues each simple head Law lookes on all and sifts the flower from bran Law sets that straight that craft would crooked make Law is a stay to state and life of man Law with a word makes guilty conscience quake Law with the sword from shoulders head doth take Law forceth loue where hatred séeketh blood And Law mong men in world doth greatest good Where Law is none there ciuill order dies Both brute and rude and sauadge people groe Like Canibals they liue in beastly guise And naked too like mad wilde goats they goe The Féend they serue for God they do not know Where Law doth lacke and Iustice hath no place There neuer comes ne goodnes rule nor grace O God how glad the hungry is of food The heauie heart that woe hath wasted long To feele and find the Lawyers in such mood That they by Law redresse a poore mans wrong O sweet consort O pleasant well set song Where all the parts the singers haue by rote And out of tune is placed nere a note O noble Law where Iustice voyce doth sound Concordance right the prop of publicke state And where no iarre of musicke may be found Nor discord comes amisse to bréed debate Who loues no law doth all good order hate Law holds the ioynts to gather firme and fast That makes the house and timber long to last With equall waights in ballance all is tried By measure iust the world doth buy and sell A little graine in golde is quickly spied When in true skales good coyne is waied well Rest so I haue a further tale to tell God graunt my muse be in so good a vaine That I deserue but thankes for all my paine FINIS To the right worshipfull the Ladie Anderson wife to the right honorable Lord chiefe Iustice of the common Pleas. MY boldnes being much may passe the bounds of duty but the goodnes of your honourable husband good Madame passeth so farre the commendacion of my penne that vnder his iudgement and shield that is so iust a Iudge I make a sauegard to this my presumption that hazardeth where I am vnknowen to present any peece of Poetrie or matter of greater effect yet aduenturing by fortune to giue my Lady your sister somewhat in the honour of the Queenes Maiestie in the excellencie of her woorthy praise that neuer can decay I haue translated some verses out of French that a Poet seemed to write of his owne mistresse which verses are so apt for the honouring of the Phenix of our worlde that I cannot hide them from the sight of the worthy nor dare commit so grosse a fault as to let them die with my selfe wherfore and in way of your fauour in publishing these verses I dedicate them to your good Ladishippe though not so well penned as the first Authour did polish them yet in the best manner my muse can affoorde they are plainly expressed hoping they shalbe as well taken as they are ment so the blessed and great Iudge of all daily blesse you A few plaine verses of truth against the flaterie of time made when the Queens Maiestie was last at Oxenford SIth silent Poets all that praise your Ladies â—o My Phenix makes their plumes to fall that would like Peacockes goe Some doe their Princes praise and Synthia some doe like And some their Mistresse honour raise as high as Souldiers pike Come downe yee doe presmount the warning bel it sounds That cals you Poets to account for breaking of your bounds In giuing fame to those faire flowers that soone doth fade And cleane forget the white red rose that God a Phenix made Your Ladies also doe decline like Stars in darkesome night When Phenix doth like Phoebus shine and leands the world great light You paint to please desire your Dame in colours gâ—y As though braue words or trim attire could grace a clod of clay My Phenix needs not any art of Poets painting quil She is her selfe in euerie part so shapte by kindly skil That nature cannot wel amend and to that shape most rare The Gods such speciall grace doth send that is without compare The heauens did agree by constellations plaine That for her vertue shee should bée the only queene to raigne In her most happie daies and carries cleane awaie The tip and top of peerlesse prayse if all the world say nay Looke not that I should name her vertue in their place But looke on her true well-won fame that answers forme face And therein shall you read a world of matter now That round about the world doth spread her heauenly graces throw The seas where cannons rore hath yelded her her right And sent such newes vnto the shore of enemies foile and flight That all the world doth sound the glorie Phenix gote Whereof an eccho doth rebound in such a tune and note That none aliue shall reatch of Phenix honor great Which shall the poets muses teach how they of her shold treat O then with verses sweete if Poets haue good store Fling down your pen at Phenix féet praise your nimphes no more Packe hence she comes in place a stately Royall Queene That takes away your Ladies grace as soone as she is séene FINIS To the right Worshipfull my Ladie Fortescue wife to the right honourable Sir Iohn Fortescue Knight THe good turne and great labour good Madam your Honorable husband bestowed in my behalf bindes me so far as I must not be ingrat to him nor non of his chiefelie to remember your Ladishippe with some matter acceptable I than thinking of the great griefe that manie Soldiours found by the absence of the Queenes Maiestie in time of the plague when she laie last at Hampton court drew out some sadde verses of the sorrowe among Soldiers conceiued and presuming you will accept them I became so bolde as to present them to your handes had I anie worthier worke to offer I would bring better but hoping these fewe lines shall duetifullie show my good will I am to craue your fauour in presenting these verses vnto you desiring God to multiplie his benefites and blessinges in your good Ladishippe Verses of value if Vertue bee seene
shines so passing faire That sunne nor moone nor weather cannot staine If blastes of winde and stormes to beautie yelde And this well springe makes other fountaines drye Turnes tides and floodes to water baraine feeld Come sighes then home I liue and cannot die If her great giftes doth daunt dame fortunes might And she haue caught the hayres and head ot hap To others hard to her a matter light To mount the cloudes and fall in honours lap If shee her selfe and others conquers too Liues long in peace and yet doth warre defie As valiaunt kinges and vertuous victors doe Then sighe no more o heart I cannot die If such a prince abase her highnesse than For some good thing the world may gesse in mee And stoupes so low too like a sillie man That little knowes what Princes grace may bée If shee well waie my faith and seruice true And is the iudge and toutch that gold shall trie The colour cleere that neuer changeth hue Heart sigh no more I liue and may not dye If I doe vse her fauour for wy weale By reason off her gracious countenance still And from the sunne a little light I steale To keepe the life in lampe to burne at will If robberie thus a true man may commit Both I and mine vnto her merits flie If I presume it springes for want of wit Excuse mee than sad sighes or else I die If she do know her shape in heart I beare Engraude in breast her grace and figure is Yea day and night I thinke and dreame each where On nothing else but on that heauenly blisse If so transformde my mind and body liues But not consumde nor finde no cause to cry And waite on her that helpe and comfort giues Than come poore sighes your maister shall not die If she behold that here I wish no breath But liue all hers in thought in word and déede Whose fauour lost I craue but present death Whose grace attaind lean soule full fat shall féede If any cause doe keepe her from my sight I know no world my selfe I shall deny But if her torch doe lend my candle light Heart sigh no more the body doth not die But if by death or some disgrace of mine Through enuies sting or false report of foes My view be bard from that sweete face diuine Beleeue for troth to death her seruant goes And rather sure than I should ill conceiue Sighes mount to skies you know the cause and why How here below my lusty life I leaue Attend me there for wounded heart must die If shée beléeue without her presence héere That any thing may now content my minde Or thinke in world is sparke of gladsome cheere Where shée is not nor I her presence finde But all the ioyes that man imagine may As handmaides wayt on her héere vnder sky Then sighes mount vp to heauens hold your way And stay me there for I of force must die If I may feare that fragill beauty light Or semblance faire is to be doubted sore Or my vaine youth may turne with fancies might Or sighes full falles â—ains griefe or torment more Than heart doth féele then angry stars aboue Doe band your selues gainst me in heauens hie And rigor worke to conquer constant loue Mount vp poore sighes here is no helpe I die And so sad sighes the witnes of my thought If loue finde not true guerdon for good will Ere that to graue my body shalbe brought Mount vp to clowds and there abide me still But if good hope and hap some succour send And honor doth my vertuous minde supply With treble blisse for which I long attend Returne good sighes I meane not now to die Translated out of French for one that is bounde much to Fortune FINIS This is to be red fiue waies IN hat a fauour worne a bird of gold in Britaine land In loyall heart is borne yet doth on head like Phenix stand To set my Phenix forth whose vetues may theÌ„ al surmount An orient pearle more worth in value price good accounnt TheÌ„ gold or precious stone what tong or verse dare her distain A péerelesse paragon in whom such gladsome gifts remaine Whose séemly shape is wroght as out of war wer made y e mold By fine deuise of thought like shrined Saint in beaten gold Dame nature did disdaine and thought great scorn in any sort To make the like againe that should deserue such rare report Ther néeds no Poeâ—â—s pen nor painters peniel come in place Nor flatring frase of meÌ„ whose filed spech giues ech thing grace To praise this worthy dame a Nimph which Dian holds full déer That in such perfect frame as mirror bright christal cléer Is set out to our view thréefold as faire as shining Sunne For beauty grace and hue a worke that hath great glory won A Goddes dropt from sky for causes more then men may know To please both minde eie for those that dwels on earth below And shew what heauenly grace and noble secret power diuine Is séene in Prâ—ncely face that kind hath formd â—â—amd so fine Loe this is all I write of sacred Phenix ten times blest To shew mine own delite as fancies humor thinketh best FINIS TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull my Ladie Brocket wife to Sir Iohn Brocket knight one of the Lieutenants of Hartford Shire A Promise made to the good Ladie you Sister who died in the Towre good MadaÌ„ coÌ„mands me to shape somwhat of good will labour of pen to present your La withall for that I can not long liue in this world must needs take leaue therof sooner than I looke for I haue found out an old farewell that maie breed some new consideration and such a running and rouing rime it is I hope without offence as rather shall procure laughter than lowring it is enterlarded with conceits and mixed with familiar termes shortlie knit vp and without all curious circumstances as briefe to the Reader as vntedious to the writer hauing passed the censure of the world thirtie yeares agoe and is now put in print againe for a passing of the time and a farewell to the world So hoping your La receiues it in good part the matter beginneth I trust to your content and good likeing FINIS A FAREVVELL VVHEN I VVENT to studie written to the VVorld FArewell thou world that me betrayde so long Too dearly bought I find thy follies all Who shall thée serue is sure to suffer wronge Who scornes thy haps may shun thy sodaine fall Who fauwnes on thee shall drinke thy bitter gall Who flies thy toyes thy painted face shall finde Who sooner slides than those which at thy call Liues like thy slaues in bodie soule and minde First from a child with fancies was I fedd All at thy handes till I to manhoode grue Than in the darke loe blindfeld was I led So that my God my selfe nor man I knew Wild wit young blood olde vice new bred in bones
had sent With louing wife at home the same he spent He tooke great paines to come by that he had And trauailde sore through many a forraine soile To bring that home that makes the houshold glad And kéepe the wife and houshold folke from â—oile And I tooke care that nothing went to spoile And looke in deede what things that I did lacke Was seene in face or found vppon my backe The world might sée I went in garments good Though small I brought to him as I confesse I spent him much and at great charge I stood Which brings strong harts somtime to great distres But neuer that might make his loue the lesse For looke how he his liking first beganne In fine for troth he proude the selfe same manne I could not sléepe but where in bed he lay I could not eate but where he sate at boorde I could not laugh when liking was away I silent sat gaue he but halfe a woorde Ill newes of him strake me with mortall sword His minde and mine did draw so in one yoke The selfe same sittes he felt where of I spoke Full seauen yeares this constant course we kept Though often times there happened houshold iarrs And tratling tales that in betweene vs crept Made many wounds where yet remains the scarrs Yet alwaies peace tooke vp our brawling warrs And we did seeke to salue each others sore And passe old griefes and thinke thereon no more Swéete is that peace that patcheth vp great harmes Sharpe is the warre that teares a house in â—waine Woe worth those words that brings in brauleâ— by swarms Darke be those cloudes that alwaies threatens raine Curst be the cause that breedeth woe and paine And damnde in Hell those subtill spirites shalbe That councell gaue to part my choise from me Well as our chaunce together was to ioyne And dwell long while as here in briefe you hard So happe came on through hope of wealth or coine And drew my choise where he might be prefarde To warres and I that had a great regard To him that time when I his minde did know Gaue my consent that he to warres should goe With sighes and sobs and bitter teares among We parted tho with promise surely past That one should heare from other ere twere long And sadly so we seured at the last His goods his gold his friends both firme and fast He left me then to comfort me withall But nere a childe as Fortune so did fall He past the seas and sent me tokens still And money such as might supply my néede And for to shew his faith and great good will Long Letters large he made that I might réede Of promise past and to come home in déede But to what end should serue this businesse great My minde was turnde warme loue had lost his heat A new fine man both young and apt for chaunge I those and cleane forgat my former ioy And in a while I was become so straunge As Hagard Hauke that takes in head a toy And flées from Lure and waâ—eth nice and coy My wedlocke now not hearing of these newes Made no hast home till I was ore the shewes Yet knacks I wrought to bleare my husbands eies I made a bruite be blowne that I was dead When that he heard he did his life despise And so forsooke sléepe rest and tast of bread He rent his haire he sadly shooke his head He walkt the woods and shunned all repaire As one would be deuourd with fowles of thaire He daily bledde when little foode he tooke He would not come where woemen were in place And he so leane and like a Ghost did looke That Death it selfe was seene amid his face A noble Earle as he beheld this case Brake with the man that thus tormented was And so in sports the troubled time did passe But ague â—its and sicknesse followed on That in poore plite came home my husband thoe Not leane in purse but bare and néere the bone The bodye then was worne with warre and woe And yet full sound as al the world might know His limmes I saw but I so nice did waxe There was no flame of fire might come to flaxe For I could wéepe and quench by cunning art The hottest loue that euer husband bore And so two yeares I plaied a Foxes part Which ere I die I may repent full sore My husbands bedde I shund and furthermore I fainde I had a sickenesse let it goe I neuer minde that folly forth to shoe A finer â—ricke to compasse that I â—ought I plaide through fleight and casting figures trim To my good man a bastard gâ—rle I brought And from my friend presented her to him Hée saw thereby the find runne ore the brime Yet kept it close and sayd nothing at all Till out by chaunce might further matter fall And alwayes would my husbande tell mée plaine I did him wronge to keepe mee from his bedde But I could vse him in a pleasaunt vaine And make him soone forgett that hee had sedde My doore was lockt howe ere I layde my head My maydes and I kept solempne cheare alone How euer playne poore husbande made his monâ— Two yeares this wise I shoeffled Cardes full cleane Till husband spied a Letter of my hande Whereby hee found what follie I did meane But I was bent against my déede to stande So faest him down and swore when all was scande It was not mine but as hee soundly slept To his beds side my mayde and I wee stept And heaude him vp and so from bolster than Wee tooke his purse wherein the Letter laye When that wée had wee left the sillie man As saffe as hee that sléepes in Cocke of haye Well when he lookt in purse the other daye And found my fraude and falshood as it was Out of the doore in furie did hee passe Yet came againe that night and so fell sicke The cause whereof soone after you shall here Full long hee lay and toucht so neere the quicke That he was like to buy that sicknesse dere But when on foote hee stept and all was cleare He had farewell falâ—â— wife God send thée grace Thy wicked wayes makâ—s husband giue thee place I saw how world would wonder at this act And straight new tales on husband ganne I rayse With forged lies and rayling reasons rackt That still should sound vnto his most disprayse I faynde one while hee vsed wanton wayes With euery mayde that hee might touch or see And then he was to sicke a soule for mee Then poore hee was I sayde to cloke my pride When this serude not I â—wore the man was madd And in his rage would beate mee backe and side So euery daie a new deuice I had To make the world beléeue hee was too bad And at the length when all I had was sold My mayde and I goe trie the world we wold So shutting doore and trusting vp my packâ— I flang from home not bidding friendes farewell But I
dayly troubles great Yea where a storme or braule is once begun All bitter blasts repairs and breathes out heat the eyes will stare the face will frowne and sweat The tung must clap the head wil shake and nod And hart within hath cleane forgotten God Fréends must be wrought with blades to band it out Foes must be whipt and scourged in their kinde Worlde shalbe tost and turned round about Still to maintain the mischeefe of the minde Tale bearers then shall lye within the winde To bring bad newes and set the house a fier That flamde before with sparkes of spites desire My practise strange can all these plagues vnfolde That better were lapt vp in silence héerâ— Too late to call againe that tung hath tolde The wise should sell their words and worship déere But since in world my selfe I cannot cleere I wil goe through this heauy tale of mine That world may well at wicked waies repine Long after this he heard that I lay sicke And then from Court he comes with right great spéed Do comfort me that was both sound and quick To play the Fox or knaue againe for néed But though that time I would not be agréede I tooke his wine and sent him so away With scorne enough in signe of parting day For since that time he neuer saw my face Nor had no minde to come where was my haunt And since that storme I had so little grace In euery soile I make my boste and vaunte I conquerd him and so I doo you graunt For three yéeres more I haue doon what I please And liue at large in lust and lordly ease And these fiue yéeres I haue doon what I can By tung and art and figures that I cast And euery way to shame my plaine good man which shame I feare will sure be mine at last I am so learnd I can play loose and fast My skill is such in Planets hye and low I rule the Skies and heauens where I goe Good Fortunes sure some say that I can tell And many things by figures I vnfolde I say no more but wish that all were well For he that doth this wicked world beholde whose Godhead séeeth into this massie moulde Knowes well how oft I tread my shooe awry And in what plight my sinfull soule dooth lye And if this God regarde with angry chéere The vice on earth that vainely we commit And straitly looke vnto my dooings heere And like a Iudge in trembling conscience sit I am condemd there serues ne force nor wit Out is my Lamp the oyle hath lost his light And my faire day is turnd to foule blacke night The searching heads that sifts my manners throw Will shrinke aside when I draw néere their view The wiuely dames that seeth my blotted brow In my behalfe will blush and change their hue The gentle harts that others harmes doth rue Will much lament my life so lewdly runne And cleane vntwist the threed good name hath spun The basest dame whose faults are borne in brest Wil scorne to heare my folly blazde abroad The frumping flocke at me will make a iest The spitefull swarme wil poulte and swell like tode My guilty minde that beares moste heauy lode Will sinke downe right when worlde shall talke of grace And shame her selfe will slubber all my face The two braue boies I had from husbands bed That Stoner got staines now my honest name And witnes beares to world when I am dead Of secret sins that purchast open shame I kept that close long like a cunning dame Till husband had found out my paultring life Then he at Bathe forsooke his cogging wife The foule reports that dayly I giue him Rebounds like ball to mine owne bosome straight Yet I with craft fac'te out the matter trim But still I beare the blot for all my sleight My backe so crackes vnder this heauy weight That all the ioynts and bones I beare about Uofoldes my faults and filthy manners out The sober sorte that sets by noble brute Will shake their heads as they my boldenesse spie The clapping tungs will neuer sure be mute Shreawd people all will shewe alowryng eye But still I feare the Lorde that sits on hye Will loke more strange on me so late disgraste Then all the worlde that here beneath are plaste The Church wherin both faith and hand I gaue Shall witnes beare of breach of promise due The spousall bed and mariage day so braue Shall make me calde forsworne and most vntrue the holye booke the olde law and the new Against my soule shall such sharpe sentence giue In other worlde where sprite desires to liue Let matrons chaste and modest wiues eche one That falshood hates and loues their troth to kéepe In fury come and fling at me a stone And let no wight my death bewaile nor wéep Let daies vnrest and dreadfull dreames in sléepe Pursue me still and bring me to my graue Since God and man I so offended haue The steps I tread shall tell me my offence the féelds I walke shall bring my fault to minde The harmes I did in worlde shall haste me hence The wealth I wish shall waste and weare with winde The fame I séeke shall fling me far behinde And all good things that vertuous wiues enioy At my most need shal turne to mine annoy The wise that weighes my wiles in ballance right Shall see my wit want weight and be but baâ—e The foole himselfe shall finde my iudgement light In making choise to chop and change my race The poore shall point at me in euery place The rich and those that sway and rule doth heare With curbe of Law shall bring lewde life in feare The freends I had shall froune and shun my sight The foes I haue shall follow me with shame The neighbour loue that pleasde me day and night Shall now draw backe and looke on losse of name The merrie mate and homely countrey dame And all the towne and soyle where I was borne In Parish Church shall laugh my life to scorne The bande once broke that God himselfe hath blest Brings worldly woe and curses in by swarmes The mariage marde that God made for mans rest Turnes vpside downe from happie helpe to harmes The Bridall bed defiled with lothsome charmes Breedes wicked smoke and smoothing slanders base On whose foule sume a worlde of people gaze The knot of loue vnknit by hateful cause Calles greefes to count and cries to clouds for aide The lewde contempt and breach of sacred lawes Makes euery howre offendour sore afraid The fickle faith that is with scourges paide Bids falshood flie the plague that is preparde For those who lookes to life with small regarde No rouffling troupe that sâ—ash and swill vp wine Can ward the blowes that wrath of God sends downe No cunning knacks nor knacking fetches fine Can conquer troth and thrust him out of towne No treasons traine can take way true renowne No cloud can cloke the craft that all
people good Now bid al wiues defie this deuilish arte For my conceite is such a deadly darte That where I goe or walke in any place Me thinkes my faults are written in my face This discarded Gentlewoman went awalking twentye yeares and yet cannot finde the waie home to her husband FINIS To the right Worshipfull my Ladie Wawllar wife to the Souldioer-like Knight Sir VVater Wawllar I Had almost good Madam forgotte what I promised of my self touching a Book to be Printed yet at the kniting vp of a tedius tale I remeÌ„bred how to keepe promise and a friend bethought me of som matter pertaining to that cause waying that light and slender discourses became not me to offer nor your Ladishippe to heare So happening on a dolefull and tragicall Treatise I preferd it to your reading knowing that some humor of sorrow or sorrowfull penned matter would be answerable to your graue consistderation in which discourse following are numbers of heauie causes tâ—eated on and touched so narrowlie with a cleare conceite of the writer that no one point or other pertaining to a ruefull rehearsall of troubles is forgotten And though the tale seemeth long the varietie and life of words it bringeth shall I doubt not shorten the time that is spent in reading for that euerie passion of mind trouble of bodie and disquietnesse of the Soule is amplie and plainelie explained and vnfolded by that which followeth translated out of another language taught to speake English to those that vnderstandeth the heauie haps of such as haue fallen into misfortune so knitting vp my Booke with this discourse I expresse the matter I haue spoken of A DOLLFVLL DISCOVRSE OF A great Lorde and a Ladie Translated out of French into English DRaw néere good mindes that sadly markes the sway of worldly broyles And heare what I at large can say of troubles tumbling toyles Which did befall in forraine Land tweene two of Noble race To whose mishap and hatefull fate a world it selfe giues place Not long agoe the case so stood a Lord of great estate In natiue Soyle by destnies loâ— a Ladies fauour gate With whom he ioynde a hazard great his liking led him so That neyther feare of frowning Gods nor dread of earthly â—oe Could make him staine his plighted troth such constant mind hee bare For which this noble Fawkon may with turtle true compare But well away alas for woe his griefe thereby beganne In Prince displeasure throw this prank fell â—o this Noble man And Cesar frowing on the fact there was no other boote But flie the Realme or prostrate fall Full flat at Cesars foote O states by this come learne to stoupe no stoutnesse can preuayle When from the Heauens stormes do blow and striketh downe your sayle From thunder cracks both man and beast yea Sunne and Moone doth flie The Earth and all that liues below doth feare the ratling skie When Gods are moued in lowring clouds like dusky Mantles blacke The troubled ayre to mortall men doth threaten ruine and wracke I turnde my talke from such Discourse and treat of that turmoyle Which long this Knight and Ladie felt at home in Countrey soyle And somewhat of the cares abroade that hee perforce did taste I meane to write so that as troth my verses bee embraste For troth and time that tries out Gold â—ath tempreâ— so my talke That penne nor muse no pleasures takes on doubtfull ground to walke Now when these states with linkes of loue were tyds together fast And many a sad and heauy thought betweene them both had past Of Princes grace and fauour great to which regard they tooke As chiefest thing and onely cause Whereon they ought to looke They wayde in ballance of their breastes what â—ittest serude their turnes And like as wood takes flame of fire and so to Sinders burnes So through the heape of this mishapp they felt such sorrow thoe As though hard destnie swore they should consume themselues with woe The Ladie lost her fréedome straight the Gods had so decréed Her knight by sodaine flight abroad made vertue of a néede And liuing there with lingring hope in forraine Countrey straunge Where absence might through present toyes in some men worke a chaunge Hée stoode as firme as marble stone and kept both troeth and toutch To her who found few friendes at home and heartes disease was much Yea though this knight with offers great and treasure tempted was As they full well can witnesse beare which saw this matter pas Yet small account of Fortune new hee made for still in breast Was shrinde the Sainct that stonie walles and prison had possest No feere nor friend nor fellow-mate this Troylus mind might moue This Fawcon scornd to pray abroad at home hee left his loue Full many a sigh and heauie looke hee sent along the Seas And wisht himselfe in fetters fast to doe his Ladie ease What griefe of mind and torment strange shée suffred all that while Is knowen to those that bondage féeles whose friendes are in exile Could mischiefe fall on both the sides more harder then it did The one from ioy and worldly pomp in prison closely hid The other forst by fatall chaunce to seeke his fortune out And shonning daunger found â—ispayre in wandring Worlde about But waying well a Subiectes State and what was duties boundes Hee yeelded straight to open harmes for feare of secret woundes And ventring life yea Landes and goodes to heepe his name from blot And to requite with hazardes hard the loue that hee had got From Spaine with speede he did returne and setting foote on Lande Hee put his cause in Iustice dome and Noble Princes hande Though in the yoke with free consent the humble heart did fall The heauens stoode so out of tune hee gate no grace at all And clapped vp full fast in hold a Prisoners parte hee playes Where griping griefes gréeuous grones consumde his gladsome dayes Whiles hee aloofe full long remaynde and out of daunger crepte The dolfull Dame in great dispayre his absence sore bewept Yet great regard to promise past shee had as world well wist And therefore often wrong her handes when that her Knight shée mist. But now began the boistrous blastes to blow in bloudy brest And now the gulfe of sighes and sobs burst out with great vnrest For lo one house held both these wights yet both a sunder were And bâ—th in like displeasure stoode yea ech of both did feare Of Princes wrath and worlds disgrace a heauy tale to tell A plague past hope of heauens blisse a torment and a hell That is without redemption sure but what should more be saide Thus vnder locke and barred dores these Iewels safely laide They must abide the happy hours that God appoints in skies And drinke vp water swéete or sowre or what shal happe to rise The prison then did plead their case the wals both deafe and dum Did show by signes of fréedome gone what sorrowes were
mourning chéere to part from them God knowes For children finde small comfort héere when hence the mother goes If God moue not the Princes minde to pittie their estate Now as the Ladie did at large about her Babes debate Uppon her déere bought iewell than shée cast her onely thought Yea for whose sake and great good will shee was in trouble brought And pausing on this matter through a heauie sigh she gaue O good sir Knight sayd shee to one a thing of you I craue Commend me to my worthy friend and bid him comfort take And hope in God and Princes grace though I doe world forsake He may doe well and freedome get but mée hee shall not méete Till from the caue of pampred flesh departes his groning spréete Whiles life I had I honoured him and safely kept my vow As life did bind mee his in all so death doth loose mée now From him and all my worldly ioyes but though my friend I leaue On high where dwells a greater freind if hope not mée deceauâ— I trust to sée his babes and him and though much griefe it is To leaue them heere in bitter bale yet note I goe to blisse Where is no mind of combrous cares nor cause of sorrow knowne O tell him that aboue I hope these stormes shall be ore blowne And as a scroule is â—apped vp yea so shall all thinges héere When soule shall be immortall made vnto our view appeere No sooner of the soule shée spoke but sodaine chaunge beganne In lookes and limmes of deadly showâ— with colour pale and wan The eyes did stare the bodie stretch the strength and force did faile The teeth they chattered in the Cheekes the handes did quake and quayle The mouth did some the head did shake the flesh it quiuered fast The feet waxt cold the face did sweate full swift the pulses past The heart did heaue and beat in breast the breath like earth did sent At eares and nose the stiffled Ghost and vitall life sought vent Though gasping breath brought passioÌ„s on and gripâ— hâ—r heart full hard Yet showd she through those sharpe assaults to â—rend a great regard And calling for a boâ—e of Kinges among them chose shee one In which was set by cunning Art a rich and precious stone Hold carrie this quoth shee good Sir to my deere noble Knight He can remember what that stone presents vnto his sight The other token that I send it is a waightie ring Best likt and dearest bought God wot of any earthly thing And when you shall giue him this gift desire him well to minde The little Impes the pretty soules the babes I leaue behinde And bid him bring them vp in feare of God and Prince I saie Lâ—e that is all I doe require of him my dying daie I haue no gold to send my Babes but blessing I them giue Which God confirme with grace good storâ— as long as they shall liue O yet there is another ring which loe my lone must sée Where is my picture death I meane and tell my friend from mee That I as colde and sencelesse too shall be in little space As is that shaddow dum and deaffe and spritelesse shape of face This done shée turnde her head aside and bad them all farewell Twere good quoth shee in signe of death I heard the passing bell For such as liue may pray the while and know when bell doth toule Into the bowells of the earth the bodie parts from soule Yet meete they shall when trumpet sounds and that the dead arise And both together shall ascende I hope to starrie skies With this beganne the battell fierce betwéene her life and death Like Ghost shée lay whiles heart did grone and mouth gepte wide for breath Then sayd shee Lord into thy handes I doe commend my spréeâ— And so her selfe closde vp her eyes and hid her head in sheet And went awaie like infant young cleane voyde of storme or rage Or like a bodie falls a sléepe that cannot speake for age Thus breathlesse lay this Lady now like weightie lump of clay That earst had life and feeling force and past like floure away But when the newes of this was brought vnto her Playffeers eares With roaring voyce and blubbred eyes there gushed out such teares That witnest well with outward signes what woe heâ— felt within And truely tolde when shée did ende his delour did beginne Be rest of sleepe and robde of rest hée romed vp and downe And cast of wéedes of worldly pompe and clapt on mourning Gowne No ease nor pleasures could possesse nor féele the taste of meate Resolude to pine and staâ—â—e himselfe his griefes they were so great No councell could him comfort long and still alone he drue To mourne to mâ—ane to houle and cry and make complaint anâ—e And worne away with woefull sighes when sorrow helped not At length the life must be sustaynde with some reliefe yée wot But how he takes this mischiefe yet and how the matter goeth It passeth farre my reach and wit to iudge I tell you troth His Ladie gene as you haue heard when dayes and yeares were spent In thraldome long yet after that was better fortune seâ—t For into Princes grace againe hee came by blessed chaunce And so he liues in open Worlde where vertue may aduaunce Both him and many thousandes more that Noble liues doe leade And wisely walke with vpright mindes and steps of honour treade Loe héere you Dames of high renowne a Ladies death set out Whose life for faith full few shall finde that seekes wide world about To God and Prince repentaunt sure to worlde a mirrour bright Wherefore with tongue and true report resounde her prayse a â—ight FINIS Syr Symon Burley complains to him that knowes what sorrow meanes Sir Simon brought vp at Schoole with the Prince of Wales and Aquitayne Into Galatia to coÌ„duct Don Petro King of Castell Sir Simon was sent as one of chiefest for that purpose Hee appeased an vprore in the Citty of London The Dutches of Burbon prisoner and did raunsome Sir Simon Burley One Pascall was sent from the K. of Nauarhether for sauiour and Kinge Richarde made Sir Simon answer the Ambasdor the Earl of Salisbury and other in presence Kinge Richarde sent him to conclude a mariage and the Duke of Tasson was sent hither with Sir Simon from the king of Beam Almaine aboute this matter He was Lorde Chamberlain The Earle of Oxford called duke of IrelaÌ„d fauored much 〈◊〉 Simon The band that the duke made against the king the duke of Yorke the Earle of Salisbury the earle of Arundell the earle of Northumberland the earle of NottinghaÌ„ the archbishop of Canterburie A noble of euery 〈◊〉 in England was the taxe that the naughty duke sayd the king did demaund The Duke of Glocester and Duke of York with others maligned those the king fauoured King Richards best friends were by traytors frowardly handled The Bishop of Canterbury accusde him of sacrilege conuaying money ouer the Sea by night to the king of Beam The Prince of Orâ—nge M. Candeler maister of the assuraunces in the Royall Exchange is aliue witnesse to this M. Iosephe Loupo his Brother Peter two excellent musitionâ— are aliue witnesse to this in like sorte For poisning her maister A right figure of death A patterne of Death
and play most filthy prankeâ— They sharpe the sword that sheads the guiltles bloud They least deserue and alwaies gets most thankes They feed the stream that breaks the mighty banks They are the sheares that marrs the garment quite They haue the tongs that spares no speach nor spite They are the Babes still dandled on the knee And those are they rootes vp the soundest tree If fawners ded the house of mighty men And 〈◊〉 folke would frowne on fawning curres Deceipt should shunne the noble houses then And veluet wéedes should shake off cleaning burres But stirring stéedes are prickt that néeds no spurres Thâ—â— Palfray flings and flounceth out of frame That els of kinde were curteous meeke and tame A iombling iob doth strike the bowle awry Which of himselfe would close on bias lie For noble bloud must needs haue noble minde And fâ—ie the gate of fawcon gentle milde And sure it is against their noble kinde To play the Kite and cruell Coistrelâ— wilde Till tatlers come with tongues full finely filde And change their moodes and marre their manners cleane They skarce doe knowe what cankred hate doth meane But when from best to worst the good are wrought By busie braines all sortes of sleights are sought Then burnes the brest as hot as Ethna hill And rage beares rule where reason dwelt before The hasty head is swift to slay and kill The hauty heart hurds vp much hate in store The altred minde doth make the mischiefe more The kindled coales doth creepe in straw so farre That quarrels rise and peace is turnd to warre One haleth backe another drawes aside And weakest bones must needes the brunt abide As I aspierd by vertue and desarte And was by Prince cald vnto credite still So some by sleight did séeke to sucke my heart And of my bloud did thirst to drinke their fill They sought to stop the Water from the mill And turne the whéele and all the ioints awry Loe heare how cloase the swelling Serpents lie Loe how they cast their venome as they may And marke what hate they gaine that beareth sway For that I grew full great with Robert Vear A Noble man full wise and mighty both And had the guide of good Prince Edwards ear To show therein my duety faith and troth Great mallice rose as grudging daily groth Twéene many men that cannot rule their rage Almighty Duke there was well stept in age That sought to reape the corne that I had sowne And could not rest till I was quite orethrowne My roulmes and rule and things that I had gote My gaine my wealth and glory as it grew Was in his eie so bigge a mighty mote That loe this Duke my plague did still pursue UUith open mouth he so the bellows blue That sparkes of fire as thick flew in my face As in the sunne the gnatts do flie at chace Or as the ball rebounds at euerie stroke So lo his words did smore mée vp in smoke The dreadfull Duke did driue a wondrous drift To worke his will with slipperie sleight of hand And sought to giue king Richards friends a lift For whom he did prepare a secret band Whose bold attempts did trouble all this land But few could find the darnell in the corne Or iudge aright the rose from pricking thorne So close in cloud was clokte their cunning art That none could know who plaide the Foxes part This Duke did rayse a brute the king would haue A fare most straunge of all the realme throughout And to the Lords and Commons councell gaue Against the king to stand both stiffe and stout This practise proude was patcht with many a clout Heere did the wolfe lead silly lambes amisse And suckt their bloud as woluish manner is Heere traytrous tricks and treble trothlesse traynes In subiects brests beganne to spreade their vaynes The Duke of Yorke and diuers noble Péeres Forsooke the king and held with this vprore By which great strife was sowne in sundry Shieres And corzies rose that made a running sore Bigge viles brast out where flesh was sound before And though some time the Surgeon salue did find To heale the wound the skarre remaynde behind A common plague doth creepe along the Realme As skulls of fish swimmes vp and down the streame The greatest townes and Citties of most name As London Yorke and many mo beside These Dukes did drawe with folly out of frame And made some striue against both streame and tide Where banks be broke the water cannot bide Where flouds flooe out the fish doe â—ollow fast And then too late to call againe is past The Swallow flies no swifter vnder winge Then mens deuice that do forsake a King For fayth once staynde séekes straight for starting holes As Prisners do that hath their promise broke The seames once ript of shue farewell the soles The Oxe set frée will séeke to shunne the yoke The chimney bruste the house is full of smoke The fleuce drawne vp downe driues the dregs and all The strongest tript the weakest néeds must fall There is no stay to holde meane people in When might with mayne the mischiefe doth begin The Lords alledgd the King was gouernd still By such as came from base and poore estate And sayde he should no longer haue his will By which bolde speach there grew so great debate The land was bent on murther ruyne and hate Now seuerall waies from hiue flue out the Bées Now tempests came and tare vp mightie trees Now traytors flockt and fell to factions straunge Whose fickle mindes still gaped for a chaunge O Uipers broode and bloodie bosome snakes O Butchers curres that would your maister byte O Helhoundes rude of Plutos lothsome Lakes O cursed crue more cruell then the Kyte O cankred hartes so fraught with frowarde spite O Tygers wilde O monstruous men most vile Where was your loue and duty all this while How durst you speake so stoutly to his face To whom of right the stoutest ought giue place Among brute beasts that sauage are and wilde The Lion raignes and rules with regall power And so great birds stoupes downe like little childe To fathers becke if Eagle doth but lowre Than on a king dare people looke so sowre That they will force their soueraigne past their reach No scholler ought his learned tutor teach No member dare presume to rule the head None raignes rules but kings when all is sed Note how they shrinke that shapes to giue a shocke Against a king and marke how traytors spéede Note how their heads do tumble off the blocke That with vaine hope doe peoples humors féede And note from whence doth princes power procéede And note withall how farre doth stretch his fame And faulters quake that doe but heare his name For at the brunt say héere a king doth come Home run poor knaues down they fling the drome Harke how this Duke whereof I spake before By three estates vnto accompt did call Their