then returning backe againe when she had foulded and layd them vp handsomely together she led Constance with her to Suse where being arriued she sayd vnto her My daughter I will bring thée to the house of a good Saracin Ladie for whom oftentimes I do such busines as she shall please to appoint me she is an old gentlewoman very wise and charitable I will recomend thée vnto her so well as I can and I am sure she will receaue thée willinglie and vse thée as if thou were her owne childe And for thy part when thou art with her conform thy selfe to serue her well and faithfully that thou maist winne her fauour and continue it vntill such time as it shall please the Lord to send thée better fortune This sayd she brought Constance to the Ladies presence who when she knew what she was and vnderstoode what had happened vnto her for Chereprise had informed her therof at large she earnestly beheld her and pitying her case the teares tickled downe her chéekes then receauing her into her seruice she kissed her and led her by the hand into her house where she remained after that amongest other women without the company of any man that were continually imployed aboute diuerse kindes of curious workes that they wrought with the needle which Constance learning in short time beganne to worke amongst them and by her good behauiour and great diligence won the fauour not only of her Mistres but also of other that were conuersant with her who quickely taught her to vnderstand and speake their language Whilest Constance was remayning at Suse her losse being greatly lamented in her fathers house it hapned that in the time of Mariubdile Kinge of Thunes there was a young Lord of a great linage very puisant remaining in Grenado who challenged the realme of Thunes to be his and for that cause leauying a huge army he came to make warre vpon the King thinking to driue him out of the country These thinges comming to the eares of Martuccio Gomitto who could very well speake the Barbary language when he vnderstoode that the King sought to make himselfe as strong as he could to withstand the malice of his enemy he sayd to one of his kéepers If I might be permitted to speake with the King I could geue him such councell as might easely gaine him the victory The keper told his Maister what Martuccio had said who went incontinently to make report thereof to the King who commaunded Martuccio to be brought before him and being come asked him what his councell was Martuccio with all reuerence aunswered him in this maner Worthy Prince since the time that I haue frequented your country I haue alwayes had good regard to the order of your fight and perceaue vnlesse I be deceaued that your greatest strength coÌ„sisteth in archers wherefore in any conceite if it might be so brought to passe that your enemies shoulde want arrowes and your people haue plentie it must nedes be that they shall be vanquished and you haue the victory In deede sayd the King if this coulde be done we néede not to doubt of the conquest Surely Syr said Martuccio if you please it may easely be done and in this maner First you must cause the stringes of your archers bowes to be made a good deale lesse theÌ„ those that are commonly vsed which done you must likewise cause the notches of their arrowes to be made fit for those strings but this most be done secretly and with such expedicion that your enemies haue no vnderstanding of it least by knowing your pollicy they seeke meanes to preuent it And this I say because you know it is the custome when the arrowes on either side be all spent then to store them selues with those that they receaue from their enemy and to returne them backe againe so long as the fight endureth Now by this deuice that I haue told you you may haue great aduauntage of your enemy For when you haue both discharged all your arrowes one against an other their arrowes being bigge notched shall serue your small stringes very well but your small notched arrowes shall not be able to serue their great stringes so shall you haue great plenty to assaile them a fresh and they none at all to resist you by this meanes ye may deale with them as you list and they shall no way be able to escape your handes The king that was a very wise Prince perceauing howe profitable this councell might be vnto him caused it with all diligence to be put in execution and finding it to fall out to his commoditie and the confusion of his enemies he greatly commended Martuccio and to shew him selfe thankefull for so great a benefite rewarded him very bountifully and aduaunced him to great authoritie The report of this ranne through out the whole countrie so that at last it came to Constance â—ares that Martuccio Gomitto whom she supposed to be dead long since was yet aliue wherefore the loue that she bare vnto him which by this time was almost quite extinct began now to kindle a fresh with a new flame which increasing more and more did quite remoue from her all desire to dye and opening her case to the good Lady that she serued told her that she greatly desired to go to Thunes to satisfie her eyes with that which her eares had heard to th end she might be more assured of his safety whose welfare she wished as her owne The good Lady greatly commended her prouided a barke and with all spéede went with her to Thunes where at their comming they were honorablie receaued by a kinsman of hers that was dwelling there where when they were setled she sent Chereprise that wente thither with her to harken after Martuccio who vndestoode that he was aliue and in greate authoritye whereof making report to the Lady she reioyced greatly at this good newes and desired to be the first that should bring tidinges to Martuccio of the welfare of his frend Constance and of her being in the country went one day to the place where he lodged and desiring to speake with him was permitted to come vnto him to whom she sayd Senior Martuccio there is a seruant of yours that came from Lippare arriued at my house whose desire is to haue some conference with you and because I would not trust any other as she requested me I am come my selfe to do the message vnto you Martuccio thanked her and went with her to her lodging where she left Constance who séeing that her deare frend Martuccio was rauished with excéeding ioy and not able to bridle her affection leaped sodainly about his necke imbraced him with open armes but the remembraunce of the passed paines and the pleasure she conceaued in her present fortune did so bereaue her sense that she could not vtter one word nor reframe from shedding teares in great aboundance Martuccio beholding her whom he so dearely loued the case
that she would be mine But yet content ye with your choise subscribe ye to my saint Whose worthy praise no siluer voice nor penne can fully painte Lenuoy Let it suffice I liue to proue it here In all respectes she neuer had her peere The despairing Louer TO painte the passions of a payned harte or shew the panges that foolish loue constraines When honest meaning lackes his due desarte the onely meane to purchase greater paines Alas I rue because my reason failes whilest fonde desire settes vp her swiftest sailes Too swifte in deede to passe the daungerous seas such daungerous seas as can be hardly paste Yet past all helpe and hope to purchase ease amidst the waues my â—rased barke I caste And cast the best although I count it vaine till fates accorde to sende reliefe againe A sorrowfull Sonette IF to the life that euer lastes this life a moment be If time consume our youthfull yeares which we no more shall sée If euery thinge that beareth breath doe waste and weare to nought Why dreamest thou in prisoned spright why doest thou take such thought VVhy doest thou so detest the day and wishe the darcksome night If to a safer place thou seeke to take thy speedie flight There is the good that euery soule ought chieflie to desire There is the rest whereto eachone woulde willingly aspire There loue doth lie there pleasure dwels there there my soule I say Amidst the highest heauens thou maist the image well suruay Of her whose beautie here on earth I haue adornde from time of birth The hurte that groweth by golde SOme say the golden worlde is gone but I suppose not so Now raignes the glistering golden age that greatly workes our woe For golde is now the God on earth now golde doth gouerne all Golde makes and marres if golde we wante in vaine for grace we call Golde geues and takes from kinges their crownes golde maintaines blooddie warre Golde bringes the greatest to theire graues and breedeth many a iarre Golde geues the iacke a gentils name and gaines him great account No faulte so foule but golde afoordes golde makes the meanest mounte Golde is the cause of all our care since first this golde was founde No faith nor frendshippe hath beene seene but fraude did most abounde Oh wretched golde would God thy name had neuer here beene knowen Then shoulde we not haue knowen the harme that by thy name hath growen He should I now haue cause to say so greatly to my griefe That wante of thee to winne good will doth make me wante reliefe The passions of a Louer MY Mistres eyes augment my kindled flame her golden lockes haue caught my captiue hart Her hurtfull hand my haples fall doth frame her wordes bewitch my minde and breede my smarte Her glistering eyes disgrace the brightest starre her crisped heare surmounts the glorious sunne Her handes in whitenes passe the Iuorie farre her wittie wordes immortall fame hath woon Her louely eyes doe much amase my minde her golden lockes alas doe linke me fast Beholde my state beholde what happe I finde no other ioy my pyning ghoast could tast Since cruel Loue within my breast did shrine her eyes her heare her handes her speach diuine The follie of Loue. ALas I see no hope is lefte at all by seruing thee to set my harte at rest Yet from this follie can I neuer fall nor leaue thy loue that likes my fancie best I am my selfe mine owne and onlie foe I see the pitte and plunge my selfe therein And though the meanes be founde to ease my woe foole that I am I seeke no ease to winne Though nothing happe that may my hope aduaunce from seruing thée yet can I not refraine No not though death or worse if worse might chaunce this is the good that I by lot doe gaine I see the best and know the worst aswell yet seeke the worst and bidde the best farewell To his vnconstant frend ROsetta retchlesse Dame since thou hast chaungde thy minde And in my absence to thy shame hast shewde thy selfe vnkinde I haue as well I might withdrawne my fonde desire From fancying one that is so light to make such quicke retire Henceforth for beauties blaze where no deserte is founde I will not set my selfe to gaze so great good will to ground This warning may suffice to make me wise at last Els greater daungers will arise then those alreadie past But tell when thou hast tride what good thou gaynste thereby Thou wast the first that gan to slide thy falshode made me flie Whilest I with store of teares did waile the wante of thee Thou toauest abroad with ruffeled heare and hadst no minde of me Forgetting my good will thou gauest thy selfe in charge To such as sought to spoyle thee still and leftst thy Loue at large As wauering as the winde that alters euery hower So wauering is thy wandring minde whereof thou hast no power But tell c. Where are thy solemne vowes at parting made to me Where are the teares with bended browes that then these eyes did see Would any man suppose such plaints should passe in vaine From one that onely loues to glose and glorie in her gaine O false periured wight accursed shall he be That in thy doinges takes delight or puttes his trust in thee But tell c. The man that holdes my place and pleades to please the best For all his faire dissembling face may loue thée with the least But she whom now I serue and honor with my harte Aboue all dames doth best deserue so prisde by due desarte Kéepe thou thy new come frende for I will stick to mine We loue and when our likes shal ende one toumbe our bones shall shrine But tell when thou hast tried what good thou gainst thereby Thou wast the first that gan to slide thy falsehoode made me flie The Louer ouercome with sorrow desireth death THe more my knowledge growes the more my power decayes To all mishappes my haples life is prone at all assayes My secrete flame augmentes amidst my floode of teares Before one griefe be fully gone another straight appeares Both night and day my thoughtes are chieflie on my graue In darcknes is my most delight no mirth my minde can haue The day dislykes me much the ceaseles griefes I taste At night when all things els take rest my woefull harte doth waste I neuer cease to weepe and yet I know not why In this vnconstant wauering worlde no trueth at all I trie A monstrous sea it is of sorrow griefe and payne Yet no where els can I finde meanes how I may comforte gayne Come therefore gentle death cutte of my line of life That by such death a thousande deathes may cease this secrete strife A Lady lamenteth the death of her louer WHy is my crased corps so strong against my wil that all the griefes I feele caÌ„not coÌ„sume me quite Who holdes my wretched soule whereas it likes so ill And will not let
†Youthes Witte OR The VVitte of Grene Youth Choose Gentlemen and Mez-dames which of them shall best lyke you Compiled and gathered together by HENRY CHILLESTER First view then reade last iudge with regard geue th' Auctor good wordes he claimes no reward ⧠VBIQVE FLORESCIT LONDON Imprinted by John Wolfe 1581. TO THE RIGHTWORSHIPFVLL Master GEORGE GORINGE Esquiere one of her Maiesties Gentlemen Pensioners HENRY CHILLESTER wisheth longe life with continuall health prosperity to Gods good will and pleasure AS the vnskillfull caruer that wanteth both Arte and iudgement cunninglie to contriue the worke he taketh in hande yet able to iudge of his owne imperfection findeth meanes for the better aduauncement thereof to erecte the same on the toppe of some high piller or such like place where the faulte cannot easilie be perceiued by the curious beholders Euen so Right worshipfull hauing perfected this my Youthes witte Or witte of Greene Youth a fitte name for so simple a Subiect I was moued partlie of mine own accord knowing your worthinesse which well appeareth to the worlde and partely at my frendes requeste that perswaded me you would courteouslie accept it to make my speciall choise of your worshippe to supporte and sustain by your vertue worthines this simple worke vnworthy such a Patrone For though it be sufficiently fraught with a few prettie conceites yet can I not my selfe in priuie conceite so much loue or like it as the Crow that thinketh her own birde fayrest to suppose it may well swimme through the sensural seas of such as haue either high Forheads and sharpe wittes or wante of iudgement with euil tōgues vnles it be guyded by such a Pilate as can safelie conducte it May it therefore please your worshippe of youre courtesie to allow my good wil and hereafter to like of the worke I shall haue what I especially wish for in this behalfe and care the lesse for the sharpe censure of such as disfauoure my doinges For I know that Apollo for all his skill refused not to heare the harishe Pipe of Pan though but a rurall God And Pallas though in Arte she farre surpassed Arachne yet vouchsafed she to handle the thridde of her spinninge and to say that her webbe was wel wrought and cunninglie contriued And Xerxes a mightie Prince thought no lesse well of the poore man that presēted him with a handfull of water then he did of the greatest giftes that euer anie bestowed vpon him And truth it is that such men as are either guyded by the rule of reason or indued with the courteous giftes of gratitude doe more regarde the minde of the geuer then the worthe of the presente Therefore to conclude I hūblie beseech your worshippe with the force of youre vertue to defende my YOVTHES WIT from the malitious reportes of those that mislike and seeke to disgrace it And in so doing your worshippe shall geue me incouragemente hereafter to attempte a better worke then this is For the smallest tree if it be well proyned will prosper and verie light laboure not mislyked is likely to grow so farre onwarde as to become Industrie it selfe And thus abruptlie finishing these rude lynes I committe you to the tuition of the Almightie Resting alwayes Youre worshippes most humble at commaundemente Henry Chillester TO THE READER MAy it please you amongst other bookes some good some bad to peruse this my YOVTHES WIT Or WIT OF GREENE YOVTH in such sorte as they were woonte to suruey the Tables of Phidias and the Pictures of Prazitiles that had before seene the excellent workemanshippe of Appelles betweene whome and the other though there were as greate difference as betweene the least twinckling Starre and the Sunne it selfe yet did they both like of the one as they had cause and looke on the other when occasion serued The praise that Homer purchased by his skill in Poetrie was not so great that it could quite disgrace the doinges of his Inferiors For Meuius and Bauius though not so excellent yet were they allowed for Poets of manie some haue desired to heare an Orator of euill vtterance to the ende they might afterwardes take the more pleasure when they hard one pleade that could pronounce his wordes distinctlie and with good discretion Cato the wise man of ROME was wonte oftentimes to vaunte that he learned no lesse good by conuersing with fooles and spying their faultes then he gote wisdome by the wysest and those of best behauiour And therefore I am thus farre to intreate you for this my simple worke that if it be not in your conceates worthy to be likened to Appelles Pattornes ye will vouchsafe at idle times to gaze vpon 〈◊〉 as a table of Phidias or Praxatiles If it beare not the beautie of a sunne beame then liken it to the least starre that shineth If it be not comparable to Homers poesie that was taken as a sufficiente dowrie with his daughter in mariage yet permit it to be allowed of some as were the verces of Bauius and Meuius If it taste nothinge at all of a good Orator yet accepte of it till a better come in place If it teache no wise conceate yet esteeme of it as a patterne of my foolish conceate wherby such as haue iudgemente may conceaue if they will a platforme of some wisdome Beare with me I pray you though I seeme in this linking of my lines together halfe to riddle with you and accepte my good will For I haue beene as much troubled in contriuing these my conceites as they that buylde castles in SPAYNE as the French Prouerbe vnderstandeth it Or as a Henne with two Chickens And so fare ye well In ZOILVM Richardus W. INuide cur acuis ringendo Zoyle dentes cur sulcat vultus ruga maligna tuos Sed tu Maeonidem ridebas Zoyle vatem similis nunquam desinis esse tui An non est Iuuenum iuuenilia condere Scripta sic capitur studijs ipsa Iuuenta suis Ve Cereri grata est peragen dis messibus aestas Bacchus in Autumno dulcia vina bibit Sic matura dabit posthac maturior aetas intera hoc placida perlege mente precor M. G. In commendation of the worke SVch sugred sappe such dewe of sweete delight As painefull Bees that bide on Hibla hill From fragrante floures both fresh and faire in sight With laboure greate do galne their hiues to fill Such and no more the well disposed minde Within this booke by reading soone may finde Then praise the wight whose paines shal please thée so And please thy selfe with that which profite bringes And with thy profite profite many moe And then reporte by proofe what profite springes From our Greene Youth and safelie say thou this Such witte doth wante in grauer heads then his Th. W. To the Reader THe prouerbe saith witte goeth not all by age the wise regard mennes deedes and not their time Let Zoylus then cease of his woonted rage and Momus graunt that greenest
deserues no whit at all God wot But as he is so shifte him to his mates and let him seeke for conquest without gates But pardon me which meaner conquest seeke what conquest i st would you so fayne it know No victor I the vanquisht is most léeke to conquere me as plaine I here will show So that I counte my selfe already quelde and meane to yealde before I be compelde The Dame that hath my conquering harte put downe and pulde alow the stomacke which I bare With blowes no no it was done with a frowne which bréedes to me the terror of my care Wherefore I meane to yealde me to thy grace some louely lookes thou wilt extende percace Then since to you I yealde as vassal heare and stande to craue for mercie at your handes Good Ladie then some pittie let appeare and lose from me the lewde and lucklesse bandes Which bindes me still to be to you a thrall ioy when I rise reioyce not when I fall Another THree new yeares giftes thrée ladies craude at once and thrice renewde their treble suite to me And three times thrice I wished for the nonce that I coulde sorte each Ladie out her fee. As they deserude so should it alwayes be which when I heard then did I cast in minde Chiefly what giftes for them I best might finde As gorgets braue or shadowes for the head Or shutes of lawne or nette that finely showes their glutted eyes with them be alwayes fed And for such toyes they nothing care God knowes in meaner thinges their mindes they doe repose And meanes to take such giftes as he can giue whereby the geuer by the gifte may liue Gloues say you then be they the giftes you craue To kéepe from sunne the whitenes of your handes alas good soules the sunne you faine would haue As weather serues and state of yeare now standes to coole your lillie white you néede no fannes The nipping frostes and blustering windes doe show what like good will you vnto summer owe. That like good will I would you ought to me Then like for giftes I surely you should finde no gloues it is that I craue of you thrée But méere good will which me to you wil binde for so be sure I still doe fixe in minde Not geuers you but I will waigh your gifte Crie not boe peepe t is but a simple shiste Another IN rage and griefe against the world I wright in dole deepe drencht in payne perplexed sore Aliue as dead I seeme in each mannes sight out of the worlde exempted cleane therefore That out I crie and crying stil will say fie vpon loue why breedst thou my decay Fie vpon loue why doe I thereof plaine nay rather fie vpon my gasing eyes That such a foile woulde let me to sustaine of one that doth both me and mine despise Which makes me crie and crying stil will say th' Italian blood doth breede my dire decay Th'Italian bloud fie fie vpon them all which craftely créepes out of Cresids kinde They loue to keepe both man and minde in thrall and in their woes they ioy stil in their minde Which makes me cry and crying still to say fie Italie why breedes thou my decay Fie Italie why doe I curse thee so nay rather fie vpon too forwarde will Which sought too soone to faune vpon my foe without the guyde of sacred wisdomes skill Which being spide she made me straight to say when you commaunde deare Mistres I le obay Obay but how too soone to frowarde minde which sought me cleane to ouerwhelme in care She scornde to sée how glad she did me finde to feede on griefe which was my daylie fare For which good deedes of hers I still will say fie on thee wretch why seekst thou my decay A Sonet WHat should I write what should I say what should I doe to weepe my fill I crouch I kneele I still obay and yet my harte she seekes to spill So that with griefe I grunt and groane with care which dayly is my sustenaunce and fare My meate is moane my drinke is dreadfulnes my solace sower my musicke nought but woe My minde is turnde vnto forgetfulnes and I lie wallowing in my sorrowes so That in the ende I crie for morning gray and wish for night tenne thousand times a day Loe thus I liue and liuing thus I die but dying now I hope to liue againe For by experience loe thus much I trie that dying well we neuer feele more paine When I am dead quite gone and layd in graue for me againe no wisdome t is to craue Another TRie ere thou trust the prouerbe sayth so true and trust not thou before thou wel hast tride For here to each I wil set downe in view what vile despight was hid ere I it spide In Ladie faire in whome I tooke delight who at the length wrought me this foule despight I loued her deare and she did like me well as then I thought that better could not be In wordes in shew in speach loe thus I tell the faulte was hers the foyle was mine you see And I poore soule thus flouted wente my way and she did laugh that wrought my dire decay Badde was the best that fell vnto my share and worse was hers if she doe waigh it well For though to me it bringe some carking care that her disgraces vilie I can tell So that I see my happe did fall out best to leaue a blackbirde cloase within her nest Amor altus COnstrainde by loue though halfe held back by feare headlong I runne into the handes of happe With minde amasde I wende I wote not where seeking no seate but in dame Venus lappe But downe proude harte doe not presume so hie Least fortune frowne I fall and then I die But liue or die affection doth enforce the hautie harte to clime although it fall Sweete pittie séemes to promise some remorce and loue will serue the highest Sainte of all To seruauntes fall sometime a happie hire for due desarte the somme of their desire To lie below and see our ioyes alofte what minde so base but venture would a ioynte What though I slippe and that I fall not softe if life yet holde I doe not care a poynte For hope of ioyes will helpe my present payne harte holde vp head hand helpe to clime againe Me thinkes I sée where Dame Diana sittes and Cupid cryes holde Hope and â—lime by care And Pallas by who doth instructe my wittes by humble suite to winne a happie share And Venus smiles what should I wishe for more vp sure I will and if I die therefore Another Riddle WHat thing on earth breedes greatest griefe Yet lends the heauiest harte reliefe That is the cause of greatest ioy Yet thousande wayes doth breede annoy Both spoyles and saues sleas and reuiues Prolonges and shortens many liues This thinge is very straunge I trow Yet I of thee the same would know Answere WHat bréedes delight yet worketh paine That hurteth
sore yet heales againe That is the cause of great despight And yet doth purchase sweete delight That healeth some of deadly smarte And strikes some other dead at harte It should be straunge what so it is But sure if I iudge not amisse T is all one with the same that I Propounded you T is loue perdie Mors mihi vita COnsumde with cares and ouerwhelmde with woes I bidde adue to such as liue in ioy Contented well my loathed life to lose as fortune stil did follow with annoy For as I féele my death drawe neareâ— on I see the smarte of all my sorrowes gone Whereby I see sweete death the ende of dole while life prolonges the wretched soule in payne The salue of death makes sickest hartes soone hole when care is found a comforte all in vaine Yet dying thus ere I be throughly dead accepte this counsaile of a carefull head Loue not to liue nor yet desire to die but liue to die so dying looke to liue Such dying life such liuing death haue I which makes me thus the world this comfort giue To dread no death but count him for our frend who bringes vs ioyes and makes our sorrowes ende The Nightingales note THe Nightingale that singes the sweetest note of any birde that flyeth in the ayre Whose choise of sounde with warblings in the throate reuiues the harte that dyeth in despayre In Aprill first recordes then sings in Maye and that mâ—onth past she singing goes awaye Which heauenly note might hold but halfe the yeare the ioy thereof woulde cloy our eares with sweete Nothing so good so rare nor yet so deare but chaunge for worse the foolish man thinkes meete So sweete and shorte is Philomelas songe and nought esteemed that lasteth once too longe But yet this songe that Philomela singes of sorrow groanes although the sounde delight Or harde mishappe wherof such mischiefe springes she but recordes the sounde of her despight So with that birde may I singe fie fie fie while others ioy in song to heare me crie Nil nisi probatum AMonge mishappes which kill a careful hart to finde a foe of an assured frend Is such a griefe as breedes that deadly smart which vntill death can neuer take his ende Oh wretched world where faith is so vniust that surest frendes are sometime harde to trust But all too late I finde the prouerbe true that frends are founde as fortune skoules or smiles But twise accurst that hollow harted crue whose flattering face the simple minde begiles And for my selfe since frendshippe such I finde I will accounte of each one in his kinde Faire wordes shal stande for open flatterie till faithfull deedes may merite no mistrust And secreat traynes shal stande for treacherie till tryall finde her dealinges not vniust But where I finde the trothe at neede I crie with such a friend I vow to liue and die The clogge of care THe clogge of care that hangs on heauie harte pulles downe the head from loftie mindes delight The sighes that grow of sorrowes secreat smarte in time consumes the wretched carcase quight But comforte yet may cut that clogge away the cause of dole whereby delights decay And then the harte will holde vp head on hie and ioy as much as it did mourne before Oh comforte come and cut of by and by that cruell clogge that cuttes my harte so sore I haue too long to carefull thoughtes bene tide my minde cannot the burthen long abide But all in vaine for comforte stil I crie my clogge of care is such I cannot goe I sée too plaine my dolefull destenie to waste my dayes in worlds of carefull woe Which makes me thus to ende my solemne songe the carefull harte can neuer holde out longe Another THe Plowman sure are ye and I the sandie field Your haruest then must needes be grosse that such a earth doth shielde The golde I meane my selfe the hutch my husbandes harte The Marte is done put vp your pipes goe whistle for your parte And let me liue at rest deuoyde of slaunders blotte Contented with my faithfull feere whome fortune did alofte For sure the Letchers loue comes euer out of time I meane not to deface my fame with such a couerte crime I am no Younckers pray I skilles am in scapes I doe detest the doting loue of Roysters and their rapes I meane to runne the race of these my poasting dayes In such a sorte that none shall check my youthfull wanton wayes Leaue then to ransacke her that careth for no chaunge Ne seeke to false her faulcones faith with haggarde hauke to raunge Vpon two Gentlewomens names MY fancie led me sodainlie as I did sitte and sow Amongst some other secrete thinges a secrete cause to know Remembring how the Poets vse Good Gentlewomen to abuse All in their ditties when they chuse Resounding fame to blow Extolling in their Sonets then The onely prayse of faithfull men They list not see how we women Passe them as I will show Harke not what Poets prattle then from reason they declinde In Platoes Schoole thou mayst it learne how frendship is definde Loue lyketh where is loyaltie Lyke loyaltie in lyke degree In wemen this is chiefe to see Peruse and you shal finde So saith he that this frendlines Only doth springe from humblenes None barreth women gentlenes Except they barre their kinde Perhappes I coulde adioyne to this where most affection dwels How there the flower of frendlines most pleasantly it smels Enritching womens goodly grace But here I neede not in this place Experience proueth well this case Aske her I say naught els Then sith it comes to vs by kinde Keepe not the secret cause to finde In Poetrie that is so blinde No true tale once it tels Sith loyaltie affection and likenes of degree On perfecte proofe from cradle vp hath linked thee to me No treasure riche nor golden mine Exchaunge shall make at any time For as I was so am I thine Reposing trust in thee Enduring so I doe pretende No chaunge to make till life doe ende Damon was neuer dearer frende So thou my Pithias be A merry conceate OVr Wilkin now will wedde the goodlyest girle I gesse That ere this countrey bredde it is that bounsinge Besse That euery iacke for ale and cakes At euery game his Lady makes He thinkes his Ladie beares the bel Pore horechit Hob And she belowtes the mome as well And there a bobbe How ere the worlde it wagges his Besse must needes be braue Gogs vish these rotten ragges are vitter vor a zlaue Then vor my Ladie zweares our Wil And therewithall he smackes his Gil. And she requites his busse againe He likes wel that He payes his Ladie for her paine That hittes her patte To beare his flaunting porte our Wilkin wanteth welth He shames to yeald the sporte and therefore seekes by stelth To maintaine this his iollie ruffe He stryketh handes with Saunder Snuffe So forth together they two trigge To make a