nought Who so is free doth seeme to serue such is not to be sought It bringes the owner to much harme and not to can doe ill Is better sarre than haue such vice adherent to thy will How many men haue bene destroide by to much liberty How many men in safety liue with bridles dost thou se And if thy children sicknesse vexe why shouldst thou weepe or waile Go seeke in hast to make them whole if that will not preuaile And if that death will haue them needes then vse a pacient minde Thou art not in this case alone but fellowes shalt thou finde The griefe that we with many beare we better may sustaine We all are borne to this intent to render lyfe againe For of our fyrst beginning doth the fatall ende depende And certaine is the time decreed for all away to wende And either sone or latter doth eche man his graue descende To death which is of euils alt the last and finall ende Not of the valiaunt to be fearde what doth it ought auaile The deathes of them with teares y t here haue lost their lyfe to wayle Is it a thing so wretched here to leaue this foolishe life To ryd thereby our mortall corps from all vnquiet strife And for the hurly burly here eternall lyfe to win Perpetuall reast by death we gaine or eke the comming in To lyfe againe but weepe thy fill in time thy teares shall staye And all thy cares and griefe besyde from thee shall time conuaye But if thou wanton children keepe or of a greater shame O father fonde deseruing stripes then thou art most to blame And causer chiefe of all their hurt who taughtst not them to know Both maners good and vertuousneseâ— while tender yeares did grow Not yet with vices foule defaced neglecting thou the minde Diost only bring their bodies vp like beastes of brutishe kinde Hereof so many foolish geese and noughty men remaine With whom eche citie pestred is for all in age retaine The maners that they did receiue when yonger yeares were rife And eche man as he liued in youth so leadeth he his life The tender twigge at first may bowe according to thy minde But when the bowes get elder strength no more thou shalt them winde Nor from the place that yong it helde thou shalt it cause to flye So doth a childe in tender yeares eche way himselfe applye But when that elder age is come looke which way first he went That kepes he still and will not change his first conceiude intent Of custome long is nature bred and yeldes hir force alway To vse that long time hath bene kept yet ought we for to pray To God within the mothers wombe that he may giue good seede For so we shew our selues in lyfe as wee therin doe breede Whosoeuer doth come nought froÌ„ theÌ„ce will seldome vertuous proue Though manners good the schole hym teach and thousande masters moue Well maist thou nature rule sometime but neuer hir expell For she is still of greater force thau all thy guiding well Yet somthing will she altred be with vse and daily toyle So with continuall husbanding doth beare the barren soyle So Lions fierce of mighty force obey to man as king So by continuall exercise eche Arte in time doth spring Wherefore instruct thy children well while tender yeares doe grow And teach them honest wayes to walke and vertuous lyfe to know Permit them not to rampe abrode according to their will Than liberty no kinde of thing for children is more ill If thou be wyse holde fast thy raynes and warely well them guide For mortall things by naturra force are moude in vice to slide And willingly thereto they run if helpe no labour bring For without Arte is nature wone to giue no perfect thing For God himselfe will not permit that we with slouthfulnesse Should heauy ware but stirres vs vp with cares and busynesse And as with spurres the slothfull pricks a pleasaunt place ther lies That ryseth vp with craggey rocke amid the steamy skies Full of delight than which more bleft a place can not be founde To whom the sweete Elysius fields and Temp of Thessale grounde Doth place resigne here nigh the pole and night the starres that shine Dame vertue dwels and there enioyes a thousande pleasures fyne But vengeance crabbed is the pathes â—oth narrow and vnplaine And so be grown wyth thickes of thorne that neuer can attaine The vile and slouthfull minde to passe of earthly cares possest And few pure minde a loft doth bring whom God hath chose as blest Aboue to dwell amid the skyes full crabbed is the way To vertue sure but plaine to vice by which we sone doe stray To which we all runne easely who therefore doth intende To trade a childe in vertuousnesse must labour him to mende For without labour nothing good can well perfourmed bee The force of daily labour doth all things dispatch we see First ought you fathers to take heede aboue all other things Your children haunt no ill resort for custome alwayes brings Eche kinde of manners vnto men yea though they sainctes should be Ill company will them corrupt but chiefely let them flie From haunt of lustye youthfull brutes for youth is alwayes bent Lo vices all and filthy be all filthy talke innent For wholly is this age advicse to naughty ryots deede That they vse not the haunt therefore of yong men take good heede Thou that intendest for to kepe a childe in vertuousnesse Now vse to chide and now the rod and plaine the way expresse By which they may their feete direct in no wyse fauour showe And euer angry let them not the loue of Fathers know For nothing can more hurtful be than speake them faire vnto Then greater heart in vice they take then all things dare they doe When thou for truthe shalte take theyr wordes and makst of them to much Bewitched sore with doting loue to children fauour such Is hurtefull sure for feare alone doth make them vice to fly Not reason then and sone they synne if they be not put by With brydels harde and as they doe full oft in vices fall Done causyng them so seldome they returne if none doe call According as they bring them vp so all men children haue Besyde all this we must inuent our bodyes health to saue For health is far more worth than golde the healthy deluing loute In better state accounted is than crased kyng no doute First ought the cause be knoweÌ„ wherof such sicknesse vile are sowne In corps of men tormenting them for once the causes knowne More easely mayst thou shun theffects and causes pulde away The effectes of them that did ensue incontinent decay The causer first of each disease is chiefest nature sure As oft as vnder naughty starres the byrth she doth procure While as the childe doth inwarde take the motions of the saye Or else begot of naughty seede the cause doth eften lye Amyd the parentes of
the childe when they perfour me the acte Disposed ill with naughty bloud or sore diseases racte More causes are there yet beside as labour toyle and rest Both colde heat with slepe and meat and ioyes of Uenus nest Eache one of these doth strength abate and hurt the liuely sprite As oft as we vse them to much or vse them else to lyght Excesse of both doth sicknesse bring of measure health proceedes The perturbations of the minde diseases often breedes And to much sadnesse feare and griefe and to much myrâ—h as well Doth kyll if we will credit such as hystories doe tell The ayre doth hurt the water harmes when they be both infected Hereof doth come the plaguie sore whereby the guttes are vered The common rot doth many kyll and diuers sicknesse sore Doth brawling fight and fawle procure with thousande perryls more These springs grouÌ„ds of mischiefes all if thou thy health set by By all the meanes thou canst inuent seeke thou from them to flye If thou be syck as nedes thou must sometyme what wilt thou doe Desyre not then the medcine long but loke thou sone thereto While as thy sore is yet but grene nor yet thy mortall fo Possessed hath his fired place amyd thy corps to goe A little water doth suffice to quench the breeding fyre But when that it is fully growne and flames begin to spyre Wyth vaunting course agayn y e starres scarce riuer spring or lake Will then suffice to quench it out shift therefore timely make To know the cause of thy disease and sone to put them out Use contraryes contrary things eche one expell no doubt If cold haue thus procurde thy harme vse things to heate agayne If trauayle toyle or meate thee hurt from them likewyse refrayne If nede require then seeke the aide of some Phisitians hand Or Surgians helpe in Surgians Arte more knowledge sure doth stand For playne and sure appeares the work that in his hand he takes But Leache whom we Phisitian name while he the water shakes Wherby he doth his iudgement giue and feeles the beating vayne And rakes the dung he is deceaude and doth deceaue agayne But wyth vnlike estate of harme the simple soule doth die And giues the balde religious men a cause to sing and crie The other hauing gotten golde accuseth God on hie And sayth that be was onely cause wherby the man did die And fast wyth siluer stuffes his purse wyth sweete reioicing hart All men alas are healed now by chaunce and not by Arte. For he that any Arte knowes well in practising of it But seldome he doth chaunce to erâ—e or doth offend no whitte But these among whereof we talke amongst a hundred yll There scarce is one whom they can saue or whome they do not kyll How chaunceth this But for bycause that fewe of them doth knowe What thing they do what Phisicke is but while they seeke to flowe Wyth wytty words and Logiks Arte the vulearned sort to binde Of Phisiks cure the principles they scarcely seke to finde Instructed thus wyth nedelesse Artes themselues they home wards hie And fast wyth Ergo there they prate and bygge they looke therby Hereby they stipendes do require and thinke inough the same Nor are they here deceyude for this that wyth an honest name They may be murderers of men O lawes of wretched kinde That can permit such mischtefs great O Kings and rulers bâ—inde That spye not thys deformed thing O you that guide and rayne Permit not such a wickednesse chase hence this plague agayne And succour bring to mortall kinde by these same murdring knaues How many men both night and day haue found their fatall graues Let them haue perfectly their Arte or let them not professe For other artes if they do erre the harme of them is lesse But this except it perfect be is full of perilles greate And priuily doth rage as doth at home the plaguy heate It is not good therfore to truste such men whose learning stands In precious habite to be seene and to adourne their hands Wyth rings and hoopes and precious stones but this that I shall tell Wherby thou mayst thy selfe retayne in minde reserue thou well See that thy diet holsome be and eate not thou to much For mischiefe great hath come to men by ouer feeding such Here of do most diseases breede beware especially As of a poyson strong that doth enforce the corps to dye That thou no meate agayne do take till that receiued last Be well consumed and perfectly his full digestion past And euery day vse exercise by pace or other feate Wherby thy ioynts thus moued may procure a warming heate For mouing is the cause of warmth and aydes the stomack well Encreaseth strength humors nought from out the flesh expell Breake not beside thy quiet rest for sleepe the body feedes And helps the mind wher harme to both excessiue watching breedes Expell thou sorrow farre from thee and heauinesse exile For it dries vp the sinowes all and makes the body vile And grested haires vntimely plants the ioyfull heart agayne Doth make thy limmes meÌ„bers stroÌ„g and youthfull yeares retayne The other things beholde thy selfe that erst I tolde to thee A thing more precious farre there is by which we happy bee And like to Gods and heauens haunt in earth remayning here Although his grace to fewe is giuen fewe worthy do appere Such honour hie for to possesse and if to know the same Thy minde desyres I wyll thee tell dame wisdome is her name This is the greatest good of all than this of greater grace The Gods can giue nothing to man to this resigneth place All that that breedes in red sea sandes or all the golden goodes That Lagus keepes that Hermus hath or in Pactolus flouds Whatsoeuer growes if truth be sayd to her no Princely raygne May be comparde she is the Mother of all Godly trayne And greatest vertue is O blesf yea blest and blest agayne As much as mortall man can be is he that doth obtayne Of God this goodly gyft to get but some perchaunce wyll seeke What wysdome is to knowe and sure the troth hereof to speake Nought else but knowledge chefe shee is by which the pured minde Whom neither mortal waight doth pres nor earthly thought can blinde Doth scale and clime the skies aboue and there in ayry place Wyth God doth dwel despising here all things in mortall case As vayne ascending alwayes vp much like the flames of fyre Regarding light these earthly things doth things aboue desire And doth discerne the good from yll and truth from falsehode nought And things of blind and mortall men that chiefest here are thought As pleasures realmes and riches great wyth hie triumphing geare For which both night and day they toyle esteming not a heare Bewayls the vayn and fading thoughts declaring here the way Of liuing well in order iust and eke the dying day The rest among the wiseman shines
of other partes through al the body forth do runne But of this same in other place more playnly shal we write If God therein do fauour vs and Muses graunt vs sprite Suffiâ—eth now affections fyrst of al things else to be Wythin the minde the causes sprong of things wythout we see And after they by member bloud or other humours might Are spread abrode in euery parte and so thrust out to light For seing minde and body are ioynde the mouing nedes must be Common to both the harmes al one and chaunge in like degree Whatsoeuer thing the one perceyues the other feeleth it They both in nature doe agree so strongly are they knitte But now bycause we seeme to touch the typ of Scorpions toe Let vs my Muse of senses speake here briefly as we goe Fyue senses nature gaue to sucâ— as perfect creatures be But vnto some he delt not all which may be worthely Unperfect namde as Moles wormes and Scallops of the baye And Wilks Irchin ekâ— whom pricks incompast rounde araye Aniong these senses al the syght is thought the best to bee Bicause it is the chiefest meanes wherwith the minde doth see Declaring plaine the wondrous workes beasts that nature here doth frame such floures such fruits such her vs such such plantes such stones of name Such sundry sortes of mettalles fayre and shewing also plaine What Fyshes Proteus feedes in seas what Monsters there remaine And more than thys the stately roomes wherein the Gods doe lye The glistering globes of starres aboue and Phaebus shining hye Besydes the things that men doe heare that tongue can not displaye Thys sense therfore doth all excell and fayrest farre away In which the seate and chiefest place wherin the minde doth dwell Is thought to be for when we meetâ— or talke in presence tell Upon the others eyes we gase as man and minde and all Did there consyst who so the eyes the glasse of minde doth call Shall say the truth for pleasaunt loue in them doth fyrst gyue lyght There hate and â—iercenesse doth appere with mylde and gentle sprite There sadnesse ioy and mischief shewes with zeale and wysedome great And follye pride and feare and rage with fault and wrathfull heat But wherof doth the syght proceede the mindes let other see Of learned men I briefely shewe as I think best to be One lyfe there must be knowne to be of substance eke so fine As syght can neuer comprehende of force and power dâ—uine Which nature deales God doth giue thys feedes and makes to growe Doth breed doth moue doth heare tast doth smell see feele and knowe Which is the chiefe and greatest power most nere to saints on hye These powres she through y e body spreds in certaine partes to lye And by the eyes doth lyght let in and sundry coulers see And iudgeth playne of euery shape and all things else that be Receaueth also by the nose the smelles of sundry sort And by the eares doth vnderstande sounde noyse and great report By tongue descernes eche kinde of tast by feling knowledge brings Of hote from colde of harde from soft of rough from smothest things Companions fyue these are to lyfe and faithfull seruants sure That shewes hir all without the which she nothing coulde procure The eyes therfore as glassye made and as the Christall clâ—re Lyke as a glasse receyue the shapes that we doe looke on here By power wherof are things desernde if that the eye be sounde These sorts of things vnto the minde for as in hyghest grounde Hir stately seate in head the holdes the eye doth plainely showe Whose ymage truely shadowed there she wyse doth straight wayes knowe So wondrously she doth perceiue a sundry sort of soundes When in the helthy vnharmed eares the ayre therof reboundes For ayre of slendrest substance is and moueth by and by Which beaten with the noise doth shuÌ„ne and from the stroke doth flye And pearcyng breakes into the eares though close be kept the glasse And close the dore so fine it is that inwarde it will passe For euen the fyshe when fyâ—hers harde with poales the floudes â—â—e plashe For feare of noyse flye fast from thence and thick in nettes doe mashe For ayre to depth of seas doth pearce vp mountes the waues thereby And tempests roares w t dreadfull noyse the shipman out doth crye And vowes to offer sacred giftes As oft therfore as wee Doe finde two things togither knockte as oft as ayre we see Moued vehemently but chiefly then when through these hollowed things By narrowe straightes it passeth out thence diuers voices springs As diuers are the sortes of them as place doth fashion take In which the ayre doth sundry soundes and sundry voices make So soundes the Trumpet otherwyse by farre than shalme doth blowe And well we may the Tymbrels tune from sounde of sawtrey knowe For as by stroke of stone in streame doe many cyrcles ryse So moued the ayre w t whirling wheele doth spread in largest guise And therfore into many eares one voice doth easely passe As where a number be one syght is seene in euery glaue But how the nose receiueth smell let vs say something here A slender fume from euery thing arisyng doth appere Which broade in ayre doth spred it selfe as Frankconcense we see Or Myrrhe if that vpon the coales the powder poured bee By meanes of tongue is taste perceiude and roufe of mouthe besyde For by these twaine the taste smatche of euery thing is tryde Which pearcing straight doth touch the sense therof is taste begonne But feeling bloud and sprite procures which through the bodye runne Thys sense doe creatures all possesse and taste they all receiue But man doth better them enioye and them more right perceiue Hereof to man more wysedome doth than to the rest aryse Some thys denye and saye the things foresayde are otherwyse Alowing not that formes receyued in eyes cause syght to be Or that the ayre we neede as meane to heare or for to see For the almighty King doth giue so many powers to minde As in the world he framed things that varie in their kinde That she might al things comprehend she knowes wel what to be Hir proper kinde and more perceyues Minde al things plaine doth see And al things ponders prudently that senses to hir brings And wyth celestial trial wayes the true and vertuous things To Lyfe therefore is minde the Sunne the senses Starres doe seeme So some affirme but we make haste and leaue these things to deeme To other men for nye we come to ende of Libra here Bycause the feete of Scorpion signe do playnly now appere My sayings yet do plainly teach the soule Celestiall To be which voyd of body liues and giueth lyfe to all Discerning also euery thing as farre as God giues leaue For al things here of him their force determinde do receyue To him eternal power belongs al things doth he create And makes al things that
worthinesse before the rest as in a battayle mayne Lieuetenants are and Captaines stout the rest of common traine These causes chiefe aboue the rest in wondrous sort assignes Thalmighty Lord that guides aboue the Starres the starry sygnes Who lyues in euerlasting lyght aboue the Heauens hye That at hys beck doth cause to turne the motions of the skye To euery cause assigning force and whereto they shall tende With certaine boundes encloseth them the which may none transcende And synce he wysely all things made of force it followe must That euery thyng continuallye keepe course and order iust For things that once are rightly framed and fault doe none receaue Ought not in tract of any times their wonted course to leaue The order thus of euery thing can neuer altred be Bicause thalmighty Lorde hath made all things in iuste degre If then the sprite that guides the earth be naught or worke amisse It is bicause the basest cause and farthest of is this From causer fyrst and lyght remoued a large and ample space And therefore vnto darknesse blynde the nerer hath hys place And onely shadowe shewes of truth which God doth so permit Bicause the state of all the world and order asketh it For as the daye determinde is by darknesse of the night And things contrary ended are by force of others might So sort and course of causes good as reason doth require In vyle and wicked cause must ende and fynally expyre which wycked kingdomes gouerne shal and mischiefes vile shall guide Hence discorde euermore proceedes wyth brawles and minde to chide Strong battailes frayes false diseyt with fyres and slaughters great Theftes wyles with nede robberies and plagues with raging heate Great earthquakes stormes tempests great of sycknesses such store So great a sort of perilles vile and daungers euermore And finally what harmes to hap in any place we knowe From thys so wretched cause Prince of all the earth doth flowe Full truely earst alas did say the famous Hermes wyse This world a heape of harms doth seme where euery mischiefe lyes Bicause the diuell that on earth the chiefest stroke doth smite Is mischieuous and euermore in cruelty doth delight For as the first of causes is the spring of all good things So is the last the fountayne chiefe from whence all mischiefe springs Wherefore if lecherours on earth beare al the rule and sway If Asses sxt in seate as Kings in pompe of proud aray If charge of sheepe commytted is to wolues of rauening kinde If Harâ—ots in the Churches dwel and men of monstrous minde If that the holy rytes of Christ the hands vnpure doth fyle If Heauen and purging place Sir John doth sell wyth greedy guile More if vnpunnished such crimes are styll before our eyes The fault not in thalmighty Lord but in this Diuell lies Whome fortune commonly we name and Pluto oft we call But vnto him an apter name Sarcotheus fyt doth fall For vnto him the power of flesh and guiding is assinde Him serues all such as loue them selues â—o much wyth fleshly minde Of him the bodies are therefore in synne they alwayes driue And to the soules as enimies contrary styl do stryue For of the heauens commes the soule and from the starry Skyes But earthly are the bodies here and heauens do despyse This same Sarcotheus thoe that guydes the lowest partes of all Such holy men as do despise the â—oyes â—errestrâ—all To vertue bent and Godly life he hates and styl pursues And vexeth grieueth them molests as commonly doth vse The naughty Prince and cruel King alwayes for to oppresse The wysest men and such as do ercell in vertuousnesse For vertue of the wicked men is euermore enuied Al things their enimies hate and feare and shunne from them asyde Therefore the Diuel many harmes prouâ—deth for the meeke And them whose mindes do mouÌ„t aloft and hearts do heauen seke Ne would he haue his malice seene for if he should be knowne Al men would him detest as head from whom al ylles haue flowne And bloudy butcher of our kinde him al should iustly hate And cursing cal him cruel beast deceyuer of our state Therefore he craftely lies hydde and from the wyse man flies Least he be knowne ne feares he Moles but leapes from Linceus eyes So theues do vse and wicked men alwayes the light to flye And in the darkest tyme reioyce that none their mischiefe spye Hereof it commes as often as men feele aduersity Al ignorant wyth blindnesse and of minde oppressed be For ignorance is causer chiefe of errors al that fal Thinking with anger and complaynt the guyde of goodnesse al Doth vex theÌ„ so they straightway curse his hâ—e and holy name The wicked Diuel daunceth then and grinneth at the same And ioyes to see himself vnknowne and mischiefe close to lye And that he thus hath power to hurt and no man could it spye A foe vnto â—halmighty God he is and ennimy By whome from heauen tumbled down in chaynes he here doth lye Enclosde betwene the earth and Mone and there he holdes his rayne Wherfore O wretched mortal men at length apply your brayne To know the cause of al your griefes from whence such ylles do flowe And heauy harmful things do hay your butcher learne to know For this Sarcotheus this is he that plagues you in such sorte That of your harmes greuous grefes doth make his chiefest sport None otherwise than Mars his child great realmes in thraldome brought Wyth death of wretâ—hed men or beastes a pleaâ—ant pastyme sought The Noble men the Gentlemen the commons all syt styll In diuers roomes assigned them as Othaâ—s lawes doth wyll Then enters in before them all the cutters for to fyght Or else some other yeldes hys lymmes to beastes thereon to byte The Lion or the Tiger stout or else some fierâ—â—r kinde Should at this play present himselfe to please the peoples minde Wyth death mangled much w t wound from whence the bloud doth flow Oft vnto some of others smart a great delight doth grow Wherefore they do most wickedly that rayling thus do brawle And dare blaspheme thalmighty Lorde the cause of goodnesse all From whome as from himself no yll can any tyme proceede Except contingently as Sunne doth darcknesse euer breede As oft as vnder earth it slydes and absent fyre we see Encreaseth colde yet cloud in Sunne nor colde in Fyre can be Wherfore I maruel much that some whose Learning is not smal Do say that he offended is or wrathful him do cal And that he plagueth vs as oft as we do him offend That milde and Lord of mercies is that goodnesse al doth send And that from him doth warres begin wyth plague and famine sore If that our deedes could him offend what thing vnhappier more Than he in al the world were found â–ª for euery day and houre We crimes commit and blasphemies out of our mouthes we poure Then surely should he neuer ioy nor
depart and shunne the common sort Contenting hym with fellowes fewe and wyth a slender port And solitary oftentimes to God both night and daye The mind wel purgde of naughty thou ghtes in feruent sprite to praye And wholly to addict himselfe the heauenly state to finde And all the cares that fleshe doth giue to banishe from his minde Then shall the Gods appere though he in valley lowe doe lye Or on the hylles or shadowy woodes or on the mountaines hye In cottage small do place himselfe it is not safe nor well With many for to liue or in the townes of fooles to dwell And in the company of theeues of slaues and couetous And cuthrote brawling swering mates or men ambitious But let the wyseman flye the croude of rude and common sort For of the common people is enuied the wysemans port Bycause of their contrary deedes contraries euermore Do one the other striue agaynst and let and hinder sore Here of haue many wisemen dyed bycause they would not spare When any naughty thing they saw the truth for to declare And to rebuke the mindes of Fooles which sith it could not beare Nor suffer such abuse of Fooles they slayne and punnisht were Wherefore least that the wiseman see such store of synful syght And least he fall in daunger by defending truth and right Let him wythdraw himselfe forthwith from common company And secret liue with two or three that good and learned be Though seldome shal he be without the Gods that guide the sky For Gods do often pleasure take in wisemens company Oft doth the wiseman heare them speak and seeth them oft with eyes They fil his heart with comfort greate in wondrous sorte and wise The wiseman blessed is on earth and blest aboue in Skies Go then O blinded mortal men go heape vp money than And fyll your caskets full of Golde by al the meanes you can Beset with rings your fyngers thick and let the Jewels round In gorgeous linekes of golde about your gracelesse neckes be wound Now ruffie in your sylkes abrode and brag it through the streete Go go I say you blinded fooles both Crownes and Scepter sweete And al that Fortune rash can giue to you with al your power Go seke yet all these goodly things shal vanish in an houre Al these things are but dreames toyes and haue but little stay Which quickly chaunce doth from you take or death doth snatch away Which sone doe vanish hēce like smoke and neuer turne agayne Go go O wretches seke to get these mystes and shaddowes vayne But when the dying day shal come and latest houre shal fall Then then when all your follies past in vayne to minde you call You shall perceyue that you did dote and stept from truth awry And mourne to late Alas in tyme your errour learne to spy O mischieuous vntoward soules O heartes of canckred kinde Why gaze you styll vpon he earth like beastes of brutish minde Why cast you not your eyes aloft vnto the starry Skies There there y e truest world doth stande there life most perfect lies For such as feare aad worship God there neyther chaunce hath place Nor churlish death can there the state wyth deadly darte deface There is the assured treasure found there lies the chiefe delight That God almighty hath preparde for them that serue him right Which neuer curse of fretting time hath power to ouerthrowe To this apply your mindes while states permit and life below Beholde you not of fading life the slender holde and stay Do not you see how all things here in shortest time decay And lyke to smoke in subtile ayre doth vanish quite away Where finde you now the stately kings in pomp of proud aray That heretofore haue bene or where do you esteme to be The Prelates chief that thought thēselues Gods fellowes in degree Their rotten bones entombed close in fylthy caues do dwell And for their soules perhaps they do kepe Christmasse now in Hell Farre banishde from the happy place wherto the good are brought And there they suffer payne for pryde and mischiefe that they wrought O Lord how gladly would they nowe if in their power it lay Enclose themselues in flesh agayne and take their olde aray That not esteming riches here and kingdomes leauing cleane They might liue Godly here on earth in pore estate and meane And by their righteous lyfe make hym their frende that guides the Skie And after death possesse a place aboue the heauens hie But he that shewes his wit to late his wisdome shewes in vayne Let euery man seeke God to please and worldly wealth disdayne And trauayle for the heauenly state of him example take Which of this worldly fading ioyes a small accompt doth make But only hopes in time to come the perfect ioyes to feale Which wel he knowes for God to hym such things doth oft reueale And such a wiseman late there liued since I remember may That with a fewe vpon the top of hye Soractis lay Full leane he was and bearded wel his house was smal and neate All clad he was in russet robes a man of learning great And comely countnance to be holde he had his dwelling place In wildernesse where round about the woods did him embrace Whose heauenly mind when as he lyst of things to come could tel And aunswers gaue such as for truth did Delphis not excel I moued and prouoked thus with fame that of him ran By paynfull iourneys long vnto this sacred hill I came And foūd the olde man sitting there in warme and Sunny caue Who after that I had receiude the like God Deane I gaue He wyllde me there to take my rest so downe by him I syt And therewithall I askde him thus what is the cause of it Quoth I that here you choose to lyue vpon this mountaine steepe Where almost euery thing doth lack that life of man should kepe Then aunswering me this holy man on this sorte there began My great delight was heretofore to liue in cities whan Both yong and ignoraunt I thought nought else to be requirde But riches here and such delight as life of man desirde Following y e example and the fault of rude and common sort Then ioyed I for to leade my life wyth great and much resort And with the rest for company I fell into the floud Of vayne delightes with colour false deceyude of trouth and good But when that greater age began wyth fading yeares to show And wisedome more in tract of time within my head to growe I then began to note and marke the partes that men do play And sundry sorte of liues they leade as God gaue grace to way Then many fylthy things I sawe there done and ful of shame And nothing else of iustice left but vayne and ydle name Th'vngilty to be punnished the gylty scaping free The vertue hydde in vice and vice in vertue hid to be The poore in euery place opprest and fauour