their turnes stricke not to play the Bée Scorne not for gaine in age to holde the doore They once were yong that were your bandes before 101 And now my larges giuen farewel foule guile Farewel O world no wile shal make me rich My mynd abhorres welth won by falshoodes vyle To mount by fraud I loth such loftie pitch I can not scratch the harmelesse ere they itch If due desart proude Flatterie pyneth still I list not fawne play hypocrite that will. 102 Fare wel fare wel O world farewel againe Thou now God wot froÌ„ wonted course doest réele The clergie once in preaching tooke great paine Whose words in works bare witnes of their zeale Most now in words but few in workes reueale They teach with toung when thought on tything is O wicked world thy wealth is cause of this 103 O world accurst in court thou settest pryde Whose mynions are fraude flatterie and disdaine They pyne desart before his truth be tryde They forge offened well meaning mindes to staine They cast at al yet sildome lose amaine Wo worth the world thy brauerie works the wracke Of such in court as well deserue and lacke 104 The souldier stout foreséeing small reliefe For seruice doone if spoyled honre he comes As forst to play no souldier but the théefe When fortune fits to gather vp his crumbes For once at home poore store of pence he thumbes O world thy wealth with rulers worketh so As what they haue they hardly will forgo 105 The lawe first made to wéede out wrongs for right To yeald amends vnto the poore opprest â—s wrested nowe for fauour or for spight Nowe monie so corrupts the Lawyers breast That daying is for poore mens suits the best Yea such effects in worldly muche doth lurke As iudges harme where helpe they ought to worke 106 Fine fare and slouth discases strange do bréede And grieued wights will spare no cost for ease But golden fées so doth Physicians féede As séelde or nere they rich mens paines appease With drinks and drugs they still do them displease O wicked world thy welth first wrought their grief Thy wealth againe doth hinder their reliefe 107 Desire of gaine make offices so heape As solde they be not giuen who best deserues Who buyeth deare séelde thriues by selling cheape Who wrongeth yet from honest getting swerues No force for that fewe nowe such course obserues Thus pelfe O world first makes the Doner foule To leauie mendes the Done néedes must poule 108 Each pleasant paine each swéete inticing sowre O world thou workst our wanton yeres to witch And not content we should our selues deuour But churles thou sett'st to clawe vs ere we itch Thou burnst the byrde and bastes the bacon stitch O spiteful world thou hap frank harts dost grutch And grieuest churles by giuing of too much 109 The merchant once bent all his care to seas In forreine soyle he sought desired gaine Then was his toyle to common wealth an ease And he deseru'd his wish in lye of paine But nowe at home he findes a swéeter vaine Sance venter nowe he will in wealth abound Foule fall the wight this second trade that found 110 The reachlesse héede youthes haue in large expence To flaunt it out their cost no care to thriue Inticeth churles with shewe of good pretence In prime of pride their maintnance to depriue For lymed once small bootes the wrong'd to striue Right Cousners haue such helps friends at néede As struange it is to sée how â—leare they spéede 111 Thy pryde O world doth bréede such wanton thought As most men nowe receiue dame Venus hyre To stoupe faire dames such sharp assaults are sought Such proffers large such wiles to winne desire As wonder t' is what fortes are set on fire Who sinneth not is such a gnawing bone To raise this siege that fewe will throwe a stone 112 Fye on the world fye on thy soule deceites Fye on thy fraude thy flatterie and thy pryde Fye on thy shifts thy subtilties and sleites Fye on thy cloakes thy filthy crimes to hyde Adieu adieu I can thée not abyde And thee O God for euermore I laude For kéeping me vntainted so with fraude 113 For though I haue consumd my dayes in thral Now death drawes néere my couÌ„t is quickly made And well I wot death doth all sorts appall The prince the poore yea men of euery trade Who lewdly liues with recknings huge is lade Thus worldlings griefe where mine doth eb doth flowe A sorrie swéete to end with sowre woe 114 Through conscience I féele no thought of hell I conquer'd haue of dreadful death the feare Where is thy sting where doth thy furie dwell Where is thy force O Death wher is thy speare Assault say I that with my Christe I were I ready am both euening noone and morne The diuell the world and all their works I scorne Lenuoy 115 YOu worldlings chiefe to you this tale I tell God graunt my words be to your woundes a leache The fruites of fraude vntold you knowe too well Yea better then my naked Muse can teach But to this end this dririe plaintes I preach That hencefoorth you to getting haue such eye As you may liue as though you dayly dye 116 And least the lewde should wrest my worde amis I do exempt the good of euery trade The which I trust will not repine at this To shew thy praise this checking verse was made The Clergie first at whome a glaunce I had Of them there be great store of preachers good To shewe the truth that will not spare their blood 117 There are in court that liue in worthy fame And well deserue renoune and credite both Some officers will take no bribes for shame Some laweyers are to sowe dissention loth And citizens with whome I séemde so wroth I néedes must graunt how so my Muse did square Of euery trade a number honest are 118 The souldier now whom I do honour much How so I toucht their faults that do offend I graunt we haue of noble souldiers such As maimes to fame that will those vices shend I blame none such the rest I wish amend Physicians good as many sure there be Will not repine the lewde reprou'd to sée 119 How so I toucht some scriueners faults at quicke There are of those I knowe of honest fame Such haue no cause against my Muse to kicke Nor yet the lewde that wisely weyes the same I blase abuse yet touch no creatures name Yea to be shore â—â—ypt no foot of men That truly can wâ—th malice charge my pen. Veritas non querit angulos G.W. opinion of trades as touching gaine written to his especiall friend maister R.C. MIne owne good friend â–ª since thou so faine wouldst know What kynde of trade doth yeald the surest gaine My iudgement now of some I meane to showe And after toyle which quiteth best thy paine The merchant he which cuts the mounting seas With
instruments of Rinaldos lamentable destnie in so much as neither shew of pleasure companie of acquaintance or persuasion of friendes could moue her vnto any comfort Well leaue we sorrowfull Giletta continually bemoning the death of her best beloued seruant and turne we to Rinaldo who after he had a while felt the furie of the floudes was wearie of dying so that for life he laboured vnto the shoare which happily recouered he felt his stomacke at that instant rather ouercharged with water then loue yet for that by sight of his sowre-swéete maistresse he would not renue his sorrowes nor that he coulde brooke in the court to be frumpt and slouted at he consented in a forrest neare adioyning vnto this riuer in miserie to consume the residue of his life And abasing his mind vnto the condition of his distresse he was content to take a hollow caue for his house and herbour the bare ground both for his bed and bedding For companions to make choice of wild beastes to bemone his fortunes vnto the wild forrests to make the night rauen his clocke his harmonie of hellishe noise of monsters his foode the fruits of the earth O strange effectes of loue that could vaile his mynde to vouchsafe these miseries that lately held at will almost what he could wish But leaue I now to write of loue his force whom no maÌ„ hitherto could either truly define or describe and turne againe to poore Rinaldos hard estate who roming in the wilde forrestes for foode espied an apple trée the fruit wherof put him in remembrance of the apple Giletta deliuered him wherin he found a letter that forst him to this penance the sight wherof with sorrow not only slaked his hunger but moued him to such impatiencie that in despaire and despight of the fruite vpon the trée he carued this inuention O Needlesse fruit of sinne the meane at first Thou forcedst Eue and Adam didst intice To byte their bale for which the earth was curst And headlong they from vertue fell to vice Thou wert the baite that Paris gaue the Dame Who in reward set stately Troy aflame Thou didst conuey the louing write that woode Dianas nymphe from chaste to foule desire By thée too soone I wretched vnderstoode Gilettas scorne that chaung'd her loue to yre And not content but when my woes were dead With former cares thou combrest fresh my head O enuious fruit in whom few vertues are Thy shew is all but who so on thée féedes Shall hardly finde thée helpe but health impaire Then sith to man such plagues thy beautie breedes Would God thy guilt vpon each apple trée Igrauen were for euery eye to see Roberto Rinaldo Rinaldo thus freshly entered into the consideration of his former loue likewise felt his former vnquietnesse of mynd faine would he haue found out some litle sparke of hope but out alas the sowre letter his swéete maistresse deliuered together with her hatefull shewe against him and her louing zeale towardes Frizaldo so hugely increased his distrust as by no means he could away with hope in so much quoth he O cowardly wretch why dost thou not by death at once dispatch thy sorowes rather theÌ„ to die a thousaÌ„d deaths by prâ—roging a lothed life canst thou brooke continual bondage wheÌ„ with one blow thou maist rid thy wretchednesse set feare aside vse force vpon thy selfe thou hast liued an exile too long since thou séest no hope of attonemeÌ„t at home nor fealest quietnesse abroad In this desperate passion Rinaldo was determined to commit murder vpon him selfe and yet he thought best to deferre the execution vntil he might conuey him selfe neare vnto Gilettas lodging that there her eyes might be witnesse of his loyaltie her owne crueltie To hasâ—eÌ„ which follie the next night he tooke his iourney towardes Bologna castle and by the way he deuised this petition EUen with the bloud that issues from his hart Rinaldo wretch this sorrie boune doth craue There may be grauen by some continuing Arte These woful words vpon his timelesse graue Loe here he lies that reaped hate for loue Which hard exchaunge to slea him selfe did moue These verses Rinaldo determined to write with bloud that issued from his deadly wound coÌ„ming vnto the place of his desired rest he drew his dagger in mind to finish his sorowes But finding his enterprise by reason of the dead time of night vnlikely to be troubled before he executed this tragedie he weakely wrested foorth this heauie farewell Oh God quoth he that the grones procéeding from my gored hart might now awake Giletta that she might sée the vse of my murthering knife then wold my yawning breath my bloudy sighs deadly gaspes no dout bedew her chéekes whiche hitherto my intollerable miseries with ruthfull teares could neuer wet so should she knowe my escaped dangers were but lightening ioyes for to inlarge my sorrowes so might she sée the vnfained confirmation of my loyaltie accuse her of inconstancie so séeing so vnnaturall a tragedie executed by the dome of her scorne vpon her faultlesse seruaunt remorse might happily moue her to repentaunce and pittie winne her from her wauering fancies But oh I tyre time with too néedelesse a tale she quietly sléepes to whom I thus sorrowfully talke Fare wel Giletta farewel These naked wals besprent with bloud shal shortly bewray my mone My breathlesse corps shal witnesse my constancie and purchase I trust so muche pitie as notwithstanding my carelesse prouision to be bestowed in some forgetlesse tumbe I can not stay thy answere and therfore I leaue it to thy curtesie Come wished death now vse thy force my will is made the time and place fitteth my desire my teares and sighes are already bestowed these waâ—â—es my executors only wanteth their hire my waste bloud I bequeath theÌ„ only to continue remembrance of my loyaltie c. Good Giletta continually lameÌ„ting the losse of her seruant both night day was smally disposed to rest in so much that leaning in her chamber window she heard though not perfectly this sorowful discourse and being moued with pitie as Rinaldos complaint grew to an end she vsed these words Yonder mans tong mone and miseries workes such fresh remembrance of my good Rinaldos destruction as for his sake I wil apply vnto his sorowes what honest comfort I can Therewithall she prepared her selfe to learne his cause of griefe Rinaldo amased with this souden comfort helde his hande from his throte till Giletta was at his elbowe who verie modestly demaunded both what he was what forst him so pitiously to coÌ„plaine Rinaldo on this small incouragement began now to mistrust yll measure in others and yet to trie in whome the fault might be he at the first both hid his name and the true cause of his griefe from Giletta Giletta earnestly noting the order of his talk began now to be so distempered with the thought of Rinaldo as she fell straight thus to bee moue his
Geneuora to shift for her selfe on whom Rodericos seruauntes soudainly seased ▪ blinding her with a scarfe with spéed cōuayd her where wretched Dom Diego liued Dom Diego somewhat comforted with the sight of his swéete mystresse began amaine to craue recōpence for his faithful seruice Geneuora so soone as she saw Dom Diego and knew that syr Roderico for his cause had murthered her miniō answered him exclaimed on thē both with what opprobrious speach she coulde yea the more they persuaded her with friendly requestes the more peruerse was her refusal Dom Diego thus seing an impossibilitie of fauour with inward sorrow fel into a swoon Dom Roderico seig the distresse of his deare friend and the continuance or rather increasing of Geneuoras disdaine cōmaunded presently her throte to be cut Dom Diego halfe reuiued seing one redie to execute this iudgement profered what reskue hée could Oh good Roderico stay quoth hée I allow of thy honest zeale yet attribute my wretchednes to fortune not her fault Wherefore for the loue thou bearest to mee for the loue I owe to her sée Geneuora without further damage safely conueyed home Geneuora seeing him offer reskue and craue her safe conduite whose death her frowardnes well nie had wrought on the soudaiue was wonne vnto pitie and louingly imbracing Dom Diego shée offered satisfaction for his sorrowes and for an earnest pennie shée freely kist him Dom Diego late the miserablest creature liuing vnwares became the happiest man aliue whose matchlesse pleasures appeare in this vnder written triumphe Dom Diego his triumphe WHo can report that neuer tasted bale What difference is twéene sorrow and delite And who may tell a more triumphant tale Then hée in ioy that late was kept in spite I am the man in mone there was none such My mone is past my mirth must be as much Sith so alone I rule in throne of ioy Of pleasures mount I weald the golden Mace Then leaue to bragge you Princes proud of Troy Your brayd delights by mée can haue no place Once beautes blisse to vaunt doth make you bould I haue such hap and tenne times more in hould And by your leane your Ladies blemisht are Aske Theseus who first lopt fayre Hellens loue Syr Diomede the spoile of Troylus ware Suppose them true whom none could euer proue Your lightning ioyes such lasting woes did brue As you may wish your fames to die with you But Lady mine I wrong thée much in this To peize thy praise with such as liu'de or liue For natures toile some wayes disabled is Shée frames our forme but can no fortune giue But thou wert shapt for feare of fortunes spight Of precious moold by force of heauenly might By heauenly might and worthie well such toyle Whose liuely limms the Indian riches showe Her haire fiue gold her front doth yuorie foyle Her eyes giue light as diamonds there did growe Her words of worth as cause doth cause her speake Twéene rockes of pearle their pleasaunt passage breake What should I say of truth from top too to These precious gems in beautie shée doth staine And more then that besides the outward sho Their vertues shée with vauntage doth retaine So that of force I forst must her define Not bound to kinde but wholy is diuine Thrise happie man whose loue this Saint did lure Dom Diego late euen very wretchednesse Now maist thou daunt thy vauntage is so sure That none aliue thy pleasures halfe possesse Through chaunce of loue do thousands chaunce on death But dying I my loue inlargde my breath The scource of woe is sauourie sauce to taste Our swéete delights if once delight wée féele The rough repulse if battring tyre be plaste Amends the spoile when walles perforce do réele Of euery thinge the goodnes doth increase If once afore the losse did vs distresse Sufficient proofe my lingring loue can shoe I tyred hope ere time my truth could trie Yea desperate wretch forworne with wreake of woe I left my sute and sought the meane to die Now winning her whose want wrought such annoy On former griefes I graft my fruites of ioy In waxe say I men easily graue their will In Marble stone the woorke with paine is wonne But perfect once the print remayneth still When waxen seales with euery browse are donne Euen so in loue soone wonne as soone is loste When forst through faith it bydes both fire frost I can not vaunt of easie conquerd loue I graunt with faith I foyle Geneuras scorne But now in peace Distrust shall neuer moue One ielous thought of wilde Acteons horne And yet forsooth this feare hée liueth in To lose the wight with words that words did win O happie loue whose torments proue so swéete O friendly foes whose treason tride my trueth O luckie man Dom Roderic to méete Geneura thou thrise honord for thy ruth Thou onely thou the rest of small auaile Didst saue my life when hope and all did faile Now forth I throw my Gauntlet for this grace To chalenge such as séeke to foile thy fame For sure the Armes that durst my swéete imbrace Dares to defend the honour of her name If which I faile in prison let mée sterue So doome my fault for so I should deserue The complaint of two louers restrained from their wished desires by the displeasure of their friendes WE lucklesse wightes in thraldome lincked still May sit and singe oure layes of déepe lament Whose wayward friendes accoyde in sullen will Both stirre and striue to sunder our consent And yet God wot 〈…〉 a sting is in vaine One will serues both 〈…〉 and in paine Haue they desire wée should bée shrinde in clay By sundring vs that loues each other so Will they not know Loue doth no Lawe obey Nor how hée wrappes the wysest wightes in wo Thinke they that force can force our selues to hate O no in vaine they séeke to sowe debate Our plighted faith shall neuer falled bée Constrainte of will our wishes cannot yoke Our woordes in woorkes in weale and woe agrée Such care wée haue to kéepe our vowe vnbroke O loue through whom wée liue in this vnrest Once ease thy thralles that thus obey thy hest Remoue their wrath that woorkes to wrack our will That after stormes wée may some sunne shine sée The fault is thine if loue betyde vs yll Which bound our selues that thou mightst set vs frée Wherefore vouchsafe to sowre our swéete at last That gleames of Grace our clowdes of woe may wast ¶ The Deuice of a Gentlewoman to persuade her louer of her constancie notwithstanding her show of hate which shee onely vsed to quench the ielous suspicion of her friendes SIth fortune threates to woorke our wreake of ioy By sowsing of our ship in seas of yre Sith sullen thoughtes doth so our friends accoy As wayward will still wresteth our desire I sée no meanes more méete for our behoue Then saile to strike till stormes 〈◊〉 and gone Our lookes must
vpon his auncestours did desire By dint of blade not bagges of drosse to honour to aspire Which when Vlrico wisely wayde and wanted on account He bent him selfe with hassard life by seruice for to mount But loe by lot he hit in loue a wonder small to tell Saue that his Ladies vertues did her beautie braue excell Her portion yet God wot was small yet all in wisdome lay A dowrie little reackt vpon where churles doth beare asway But Beautie here affection raysde then Vertue friendship wrought These two conioynd in séemely dame in loue Vlrico brought The earth quoth he is sure the Lords the fruites thereof his wracke And may it be the begger then shall clawe his seruants backe O no no wight as yet hath séene the righteous begge his breade Although the lewd through foule offence are often nipt with neade And if I should for gaine quoth he vnto some wanten bend Which venter into Cornewall would her honestie to send Vlrico haplesse then should be a common scorne of men Delight to dele from pleasure paine should chaunge his fortunes then To swimme in wealth he meanes not so to hassard his delight He somewhat hath and more may get by manhood and by might Thy choise if once thou winst thy choice in spight of Fortunes wracke Will saue what thy aduentures gaines for to relieue thy lacke Then maist thou liue in forreine soyle without a iealous braine Then maist thou taste at thy returne sweete pleasure for thy paine Why standst thou then amasde quoth he thy honest suite to moue The silent man the prouerbe sayth hath sildome hap in loue Confesse that constant long thou liu'dst y linckt in beauties bandes And challenge fréedome for thy truth at thy swéete maistresse handes This wayd Vlrico hies in haste whereas his Lady liues And there her friends in her behalfe him intertainment giues As time did serue he shewd his zeale vnto his only ioy She likte his words but more him selfe how so she séemed coy His gallant shape his vertues straunge his honour neuer stainde His truth once knowne the truth to tell her loue had soone obtainde And quickly eake with friendes consent them Iunoes rites doth glad He had his will and she her wish and what would more be had The nuptiall feastes y finished Vlrico with his dame Bids friends adewe to castle his they do their iourney frame Where one doth rayse the others ioy one rids the others care And thus contented with their choice in ioy their dayes they weare Till néede at length Vlrico nips who was in spending frée His rents but small these two accounts will hardly well agrée And yet to poll his tenants poore his honest mynde doth greaue What then he faine would serue his leage but loth his wife to leaue Sée here how passing loue is apt to rayse a iealous feare Withouten cause we so do dread the thing we hold full deare Vlricos mynd despiseth want yet dreads to séeke reliefe In absence least his Ladyes chaunge should worke his greater griefe And thus in silence long he mournes and ebs his ioyes with woe Till secrete sighes and heauie lookes his inward harmes foreshewe Which haply when his spouse espide to cleare his cloudes of scare Swéete heart quoth she vnto thy wife thy hidden sorrowes share So shall thy cares abridged be so shall I knowe thy mynde And haply in my counsell thou some comfort swéete maist finde These words Vlrico likte so well as straight he tels the truth Of present want of meane to wealth in order as insu'th Mine owne quoth he you know my state or present lacke withall Our charge is great our myndes are high our liuing is but small Of force we must our brauerie leaue or séeke some way of gaine And vayling to the valliant mynde is sure a matchlesse paine This is the meane to mend our want to serue my souereine leage Who now is bent with might and maine the Turke forto besiege Those warres ere this I well haue tryde vnder Cilia Count Those warres I trust shal force thy feare with wealth fame to mount But ah aye me I loth yet would vnfolde what makes me stay But sith swéete wench loue is the cause allowe what I shall say Long wisht at length I won thy loue O gem of al my ioy As loth I am to leaue thée now least absence make thée coy I call to mynd fayre Helens moode who trudg'd with Troian knight When as her Lord was forst from home with forreine foes to fight The ruffling rout at Ithaca Vlysses farre from home Doth force a thousand fearefull thoughts within my head to rome Then Penelopes constancie this dread would gladly weare She plaste alone without her leake a fresh doth raise my feare The speach of womans méekenesse eake my thoughtes doth run among And straight my thinkes I motions heare that do Vlrico wrong In mynd I viewe what batterie is against thy beautie bent In thought I sée what sharpe assaults in sugred wordes are sent What fearelesse othes what carelesse vowes do flée to foyle thy fame In sine thou forst with yealding will dost blot thy name with blame Then rage I straight the harmelesse gainst as thogh these toyes wer true And straight I checke those raunging thoughts with reason that insue Vlrico fye why wrongs thy wife so fouly with mistrust Whom hitherto thou couldst not finde in worde or déede vniust Whose modestie thou séest abhorres with rufflers for to prate To saue thy wealth whose mynd to worke giues wanton youth the mate Whose life with foule and leaude offence report could neuer spot What cause hast thou Vlrico then her fame with feare to blot To breake this brall faire Barbara so was this Lady namde With prettie nippes with pardon mixt this answere foorthwith framde Well sayde quoth she first faine you feare to frée my shrewd mistrust That choise and chaunge in wanton court wil make you proue vniust But simple I accept your shewe and faith I trust to finde But to my Lord if so he please I yet will shewe my minde I long ere this haue wayde our want and thought on meanes of gaine And sure I sawe the way for wealth was as you did explaine Yet durst I not vnfolde the same vnto my louing Lord Before his words foreshewd his thoughts with mine did wel accord By seruice you shall credite winne by seruice likewise fame By seruice you shall riches reape as you deserue the same By seruice fauour with our prince acquaintance in the court You sure shall finde slacke not these helpes your wife doth you exhort If God with children blesse our life their youth from vices fréed Your credite after in the court will stand them in some stéede And in your absence I so well will to your causes sée As you shall haue reliefe abroade sufficient left for mée Yea sure to braue it with the best yet liue within our boundes Such skyll I haue to most auayle to
fast your lawlesse loue to tame And further to allay your heate vnlesse you daily spinne This distaffe laden full of flaxe your fare will be but thinne This sayd the distaffe in she throwes and bad him thus adieu My tale is tolde you knowe your taske nowe worke as pleaseth you Alberto at these sorrie newes straight to this choller waxe Shall I from martiall exercise fall nowe a spinning flaxe Shall I that liu'd at libertie in prison thus be pend Shall I be sys'd of meate and drinke that late so much did spend And shall a Ladie foyle me thus whose hart the stoutest quaild There with he stroue to breake the doores but small his force auaild His griefe but gréene with termes of hate he blam'd this Ladie oft And supperlesse so went to bed which was not very soft But in respect of other plagues he thought the hardnesse small Who tyred with tormenting thoughts a sléepe did quickly fall When he had sleapt the night away and cares digested well Sharpe hunger so assayld this Lord as he to spinning fell His goutie and yll shapen thredes so moued him to smyle That well he likt the exercise his sorrowes to beguile At dinner time dame Barbaras mayde was to Alberto sent To share his lowance like his worke to whome this courtoll went And rudely calles to sée the yarne he had that morning sponne Alberto eger of his meate deliuerd what was donne By Saint Marie quoth this queane your buswiuerie is good And after she had frumpt him well she fetcht his sorrie foode A wéeke or more these hungrie meales in worth Alberto tooke In hope of grace which came so slowe as he his hope forsooke Sée yet desire of libertie sée nowe the fruites of néede Sée here how théeues their fellowes peche sée sée how hope doth féede Alberto for dame Barbara sendes to whom he shewes at large The wanton wager words and workes as I haue giuen in charge And how that Vdislao would ere long attempt the like Which straunge discourse the Ladie did into a wonder strike Oh God quoth she what cause giue I men should suspect my life I neuer clim'd beyonde my reach I am a louing wife And comes there yet another Lord that would my vertues staine Well let him come he shall abide hard penance for his paine This sayde she wild the gaylor sée Alberto spinne apace His newes thus recompenced were whome nowe I leaue a space To shewe what rumor in the court in euery corner roung Some say Albertos ioyes were such as loth to part he soung Vlrico oft his image viewd to sée what hue it bare And all the while it yealowe séemd he liu'd in perilous feare But when it turnd to white againe what so the courtiers say He knewe Alberto had the foyle and he had won the lay The other competitor thought his fellowes ioyes too great So that to haue a share with him he posted till he sweate And posting thus he at the length Vlricos castle spyde And making then more haste then spéede post haste he thether hyde Who safe arriu'd where he did wish to make his welcome more He had an errant readie stampt yea two or thrée in store He first commended to this dame her husbande 's happie health His speciall credite with his prince his fame and heapes of wealth And how on causes of his owne into these coastes he came And how he heard in happie time his friend Vlricos name And also how not farre from thence did dwell his Ladie faire And howe he bounde by courtesie to sée her did repaire The Ladie smiled in her mynde to heare this currant scuse And yet dissembling what she thought she friendly did him vse Yea courteously she crau'd he would his causes yet adiourne And at his friend Vlricos house with her awhile soiourne Her gentle offer to accept this Lord was nothing nice And yet ere longe her courtesse he bought at too hie price Well both contented as it séemd into the castle goe Where as faire Barbara glads her friend with welcomes great in shoe She talkt she walkt shee satt she stoode as likt this gallant best Yea many a straunge discourse did passe betwéene her and her guest In sinc to towle this lord in loue a sighing shée began And asked how Alberto farde as if shée lou'de the man The lord Vdislao did take this motion in good part Who smyld and said in secrete thought Alberto had her heart And for to strike her in a mase quoth hée I wott not well Since last he vew'd these countrye costes where as my frend doth dwel Faire Barbara as though she feard this lords welfare did faine And is hée not quoth shée returnde vnto your court againe This lure thus throwne to worke some hope in Vdislaos breast The Lady broke the prattle off and fell to feast her guest The lusty Hungarian lord likt well her kindnes showne Yet still he for aduauntage stayde to make his passions knowne Whose subtiltie when shée espide t'imbolden him the more Against her will her eyes dâ—d séeme more wanton then of yore And trained thus to treate of loue at length his tongue found scope She made it nice yet not so straunge but he might féede on hope Hée féeding still on showe of grace was loth to leaue the féeld She faring as shée likt his talke by péece meales gan to yéeld In fine she fainde how that his sute had wonne her to agrée And how shée would sometime that night her louers lodging sée Untill which time this frolicke lord committed her a Dio A fainde good night shée likewise gaue and wild her seruannts shoe Him where he should that night be lodgde whose lodging was prepard Next chamber to the prison where Alberto hardly farde Well Vdislao went to bedde full fraught with secrete ioy And still he lookt when his faire dame would kepe her promist foy But all in vaine he gapt for grace she glad he had him catcht Yet sée the fond conceites in loue in hope the night he watcht He hard no noyse no mouse could steare but streight in thought he smild O welcome Lady quoth his heart but when he was beguild He Sopor blamd for charging her with to much drowsie sléepe But of his faultes and wager fond at all he tooke no kéepe Wel al this night with fancies tost no sléepe lodgde in his breast When morning came this comfort came to set his heart at rest Dame Barbaras mayde brought him a réele and yearne Alberto made She tould him he should reele the same for that he had assaide To robbe her Lady of good fame to her then life more deare If he refusde to doe his taske he should haue sorrie cheare Loke you for neither meate nor drinke before your worke be donne And syr quoth shée t' incourage you the thread Alberto sponne Hée is your neighbour fare you well I can no longer stay These sorrie newes Vdislao nie out of his wittes did fray
his death forwarnes his friends A note of worth of quarreling that still with mischiefe endes And yet with such abuse I meane not him to tuch But this I say hée prou'd it true by once hée fought to much 3. An other note hée leaues the which to showe I quake His spéeding wound so reft his sense as word hée neuer spake Gods pleasure in the cause I leaue for to dispute Hée knewe his thoughts wée knowe his life then iudge t' were better mute Yet learne you by his fate if you examples feare You haue no charter of your life then best you do prepare Your selues eche houre to die least you be tarde tooke You are here warnd with ouer proofe into your conscience looke Hora mortis incertissima ¶ An Epitaphe on the death of his especiall friend Thomas Cornelius Gent slaine in the Prince of Orenge his seruice in Holland YOu lustie youthes that sometime were his friends Cornelius life here may you liuely reade In spite of death his vertues neuer endes Whose worthie pathes are méete for you to treade At home hée séeld in any quarels fell All sortes hée pleasd hée vsde himselfe so well When Flushing frayes were roung with swéete report Our English youthes post hast them thether hie Where as they found God wot but sorrie sport Farre from the speach that of the gaine did flie With whom in hope who hap did well deserue Away hée goes the Orenge Prince to serue And plaste at length amonge the drunken Dutch Hée quite forgot hée went to fight for pence The marke of fame was that hée sought to touch The which he hit before hée parted thence With slender pay at first hée was content And yet his minde stil with the foremost went. Though harebrainde youthes at such preferment spurne And gape for charge ere they them selues can guide Although hée had of friends to serue his turne Hée lâ—â—t such sute till his desert were tride In all Al-armes to fight hée soone was prest In heate of blowes as forward as the best That hée vnsawe syld skirmishes there were Such paines hée tooke to scale the fort of fame The coine hée had â–ª hée grudged not to share For their reliefe that sickly were or lame Of euery sort thus wonne hée worthie praise From best to worst that seru'd in Holland fraies Two yeares and more hée tasted souldiers toiles And did escape when other men were slaine But kéeping still a coile in bloudie broiles I sighe to show God wot hée caught his baine Who being dead though no man may reuiue Yet shall my Muse his vertues kéepe aliue Mors honesta ignominiosae vitae praeferenda VVhetstons inuectiue against Dice MY Muse to mount Parnassus hill Which whilom tokst delight Faire Venus ioyes to set to vew And wray blind Cupids spite Go shrowde thy selfe in Limbo lake This dririe tale to tell Of Dice to figure forth the frute A second showe of hell There craue the ayde of wrathfull sprites The Authors of this art And ioyne with them such hellish impes As waytes to woorke our smart For sure their plagues to paint aright Beséemeth well the toile Of him that pend the paines of hell How Plutoes thralles do broile The lustie youth with lyuing left Whose woe is wealth and ease To line his purse with powling fines His tenaunts pence doth fease Then doth hée beare a loftie saile As one that dreads no want These sneaking curs now raunge abrode To finde this nouis haunt One bitten dog aboue the rest Doth great acquaintaunce craue Whose kindred blasde and friendship voucht Hée treates of counsell graue Trust mée good cus trust mée hée cries When first I left my guide This towne did weaue my webbe of cares Before that craft I spyde Eche shifting slaue did search the meane A mate to make mée méete Then hée the names bewrayes of some Himselfe to make him swéete The lustie brute which feares no fraude Doth count his cunning blist Who thinkes he hath a saint in hand Yet shakes syr Sathans fist Their friendship new by gréeting oft Now grafted in their brest His kindred coynde in cousners stampe Inuites him as his guest Who kindly thankes him for his cost And craues amends to make Then trudge they to some tabling house Their hunger for to slake Where daintie fare great store they finde Their naperie faire and swéete And gallants gay with Conges kinde Their comming for to gréete A bounsing gyrle they sildome misse To furnish forth their messe Whose chyrping tongue with pleasaunt speach Doth cheare her chosen gesse There shall you heare described plaine Eche forreine towne and towre Augmented newes of warlike frayes Where fortune late did lowre As cold as snow some couch their scoffes And some to rayling prest In plesaunt speach some play the K. And makes thereon a ieast And some so plainly figures forth The fruites of Venus court That honest eares doth scorne to heare Their vaine and vile report Their dinner done they leaue this speach The gamsters call for dice Where posting Iacke to rub the bord Doth come euen with a trice To you you furies now I leaue This foule abuse to wray Their foysting shiftes my Muse doth mase Their othes my pen doth fray Tenne mine alowde some cogger cryes Thrée mine some youth doth say Gods bloud eleuen well sworne in faith The caster cryes to pay Sixe is the maine what do you sett Well tenne to sixe I haue Two flues gods hart then for the house The boxer streight doth craue And nine Come ye and nine this crowne Well chaunce at it I say Aumes ase gods wounds t' is not my lucke Two maynes to throwe this day Some hypocrites do murder othes Faire Gamsters for to séeme But of both euils to choose the best The doubt were hard I déeme Perhaps some gallant fortune hauntes Good hap his hand doth guide His purse aflote within his brest Doth lurke disdainfull pride Then roists hée in his ratling silkes And sortes with Venus dames Whose luring lookes inforce his heart To frie in Cupids flames To traine him in hee shall inioy Eche outward show of blisse In secrete sport they wil be coy They feare to do amisse A sute of Laune my Lady lackes Or else some trifling cheane A cawle of gold and other knackes My nouis purse must gleane The haggard then that checkt of late Will stoupe to fancies lure And inward bend at euery becke No storme shall chaunge procure Her christall eyes shall still be fixt To stare vppon his face Her daintie armes shall try their force Her louer to imbrace Her Rubâ—e lippes by stelth shée will Bée ioyning vnto his With courage vaunst her friend to force To fall to Venus blisse Then will shée play Galatheas part To make his ioy more swéete By striuing yéeld who neuer thought From such deuise to fléete To frame excuse for late offence The queane will cog apace She will alledge his sugred woordes
be pulde Once snarled in their gin The counter serues him for a cage Where bréeding holes there be â–ª But louer lights to scape away This doue cote lackes we sée For him that earâ—t did raunge abroade This ayre is not fit The Bench he thinks more fréedome hath For to refresh his wit. More haste then néedes he findes a meane His causeâ— to reméeue And that the body come with him The writ doth charge the shréene Well mand then comes he to the barre The iudge commaundes away Then tipstaues snatch him vp in haste They make no long delay Safe lockt they leaue him vnder charge Untill the court doth rise Then guarded to the mershals house This lustie gallant hies Who passing through the porters lodge Then findes no iesting game For Burton with his booke of doome Requesteth him his name Roger Woodcocke of vnthriftes rowe What gentleman or squire Ten grotes and two pence you must pay I do but right require Which payd a while to viewe the house He lets him go at large But soone the vermine comes againe To giue the second charge Your worship knowes the losse sayth he My maister should sustaine If any prisoner should escape Their ease his little gaine And therefore each of you he may By lawe in yrons lay Yet he for pitie trusteth you Your penance is to pay For them thrée halfpence in the pound Your actions yeald thus much Which trifle for your ease to giue Your worship néede not grutch Then may you in the garden walke When you haue payd your fées Thus euery way the poore is pincht To plucke him on his knées An answere faire the prisoner makes Which doth content the time Then he to séeke his fellow mates The stayres straight doth clime Some subtile lawyer soone he findes Who great acquaintance craues To whome he shewes his lucklesse lot Enforst by shifting slaues And lastly to his skill commends If yron fées be due Extortion plaine the Lawyer sayth His wordes be very true The statute here at large I haue Set downe for prisoners ease The Gaylor can by lawe receiue A groate no more for fées And in your other causes I The snudge will sharply yoke But looke your counsell lackes no coyne For monie strikes the stroke Which monie killes the heart of him Whome present néede doth pine Yet he at first do share him fées As though he had a mine And all on hoyh he rashly reakes His prisonment a scorne And vainely vaunts to plague his foe â–ª Till Saturday at morne Corrections then be sharply giuen To them which monie lackes Now Burton comes for yron fées My youth now stoutly crakes If he extort where is no right The statute to prepare And sweares to make him pay the paine And damage for his share But here no laweÌ„ nor right do rule Nâ— vaileth threats nor crakes With boltes and shackles on his shins His loade héeles he shakes Where late was golde an yron chaine Do well beseeme the necke His wrystes in steade of braslets braue With manacles be deckt And nowe they will him coole his féete He cloyde with yrons great For all his lawe is glad to pay Yea more then that entreate Thus he that thought Caribdis rockes By wisedome to escape By follie fell in Sillaes gulfe His greater griefes to shape How spéedes he nowe in all his suites When all his pence be spent Unféed do Lawyers ply his cause Till newe receit of rent Nay Niclas nihil dicet sure To nip him to the hart In execution layes him vp For feare that he should start He fast his fained friends yet frée To sée him be not rash And Mynx his minion hath a mate And leaues him in the lash For Haggard like she will not stoope But where she gets her pray His coyne consumd his courage coolde In hope she will not stay What restes nowe to this lucklesse man What pen his woes can wray Of friends forlorne of fréedome reft And he at beggers bay Thus gaulde with griefe his Lawyer yet This slender shift doth vse And sayth that prisoners be opprest And all men do refuse To ease their wants and therefore sure The best is to agrée He may the better plague his foes Abroad when he is frée Which freedome so doth féede his hart Whome present bondage nippes That he through hope before his hap For ioy now hops and skips And then in hast for holdfast sends Agréement for to make But once or twise he must be praid Ere hée the paines will take And then with one or two he comes And vp and downe he iets Nowe do I smile to shewe the speach Betwixt these counterfets The youth that roughly rayld of late A pitious plaint doth paint The diuell him selfe in Christian shewe Doth counterfet a Saint But after many wordes of griefe That either part can say The youth perforce the candle holdes And beares the blame away And gladly yealdes him selfe in fault Whose crauing suite nowe is That cutthrote will release him of The penance of his mis And take such order as they both In friendly league may liue The more that he in prison spendes The lesse he hath to giue As though that conscience mou'd his mynd The merchant doth lament Through péeuish pride and hautie hart His pence and time mispent And order takes his owne the gaine The losse he leaues to him Which thought without dame wisdomes bark In seas of ioyes to swimme From prison frée he nothing myndes The statute to prefare Nor for the cousning shiftes he vsde To cloy the churle with care But runnes vnto his former vaine If ought he haue to play To posting then he somewhat puts His commons to defray Some Cheater haply will him teach Some coging trickes at dice Whereby he may mainteine him selfe If therein he be wise Then is he set a sale to toule Some other yonkers in To make them bite at vnthrifts bayte While he their pence doth win Some can not brooke this seruile life But néedes in ventures barge Will séeke a price but howe they spéede I leaue to shewe at large The swéete report of souldiers gaine By them that lacke the sower Persuadeth straight some ventrous mynde To scale dame Fortunes bower But Flushing frayes hath wrought such feare That they suspend their hope If one did gaine then two were slaine The thirde did stretch a rope And beggers most returnd againe Unto their natiue soyle For Holland yealded litle thrift In lue of all their toyle And some with trifles séekes to thriue But fewe do spéede so well And with a litle haply learnes Repentance for to spell The seruing man that plyes this vaine A shorter cut doth make He hath no fines to fill his purse Nor racked rents to rake His way for to supply his want Is by the Scottish cog But finely he must strike his dye Least yrons do him clog And worse then
grace But all in league their dealings lewde beware For then they do the diuell and all of scare The reporter The Philosopher Diogenes sayth that Nature to this intent bestowed two eyes and two eares and but one toung on any man that he should heare and sée more then he should speake And sure who soeuer vnaduisedly slaundereth another hurteth him selfe In matters of controuersie who so feeleth his suite colde straight séeketh by pretie traines to take some aduauntage of his aduersaries wordes to whiche effect the craftie churle complained on for any notable cousenage to knowe the compleynants secretes worketh meanes to bring him into extreame passions of choler who being greatly wronged will not onely giue knowledge by what countenaunce and in what court he will trounse the defendant for his deceit but lightly vnaduisedly voweth to strike him or calleth him craftle knaue cousening churle c. Wherevpon the defendant to worke the compleynants discredite declareth to some iustice of account in what daunger of life he stoode in the compleynant being mischiefously ruffenly disposed hauing colour of wroÌ„g for slauÌ„derous words he claps such vnkynde actions on the compleynant that will he or nyll he he enforceth him to agréement who so is so wronged may take warning to temper his toung by Plasmos penance who being hugely abused gaue out hard yet true speaches of one of his aduersaries not withstanding by his owne negligence together with the extremitie of Lawe he payde roundly for recompence who to discharge his stomache of griefe a â—orrie amendes in fayth blamed his toung as followeth P.P. Inuectiue against his toung THy rash reuenge O tatling toung I rue Although with truth thou slaundredst late thy foe The prouerbe olde by proofe I finde too true Who fightes with words doth wound him selfe with woe The ciuil lawe so fauours fame and name As strumpets knowne by wantons oft resort Are sildome put to any open shame Les open sight makes proofe of Venus sport Who so is toucht with any foule abuse Though common speach the same for truth confirme The common lawe the guiltie will excuse If proofe by oth ne makes the knowledge firme Thus wanton fylthes and wily churles are scus'd If secretly they worke their foule amis Yet néedely they which are by these abus'd Must haue a meanes to vse reuenge ywis Where oft their toung is first addrest to fight Whose furious threats forewarnes their foe of yre Which knowne he straight doth séeke to match their might And first begins their griefes for to conspire My selfe by such makes proofe this tale is true Who wéend to feare with threatning words my foe At which he smilde preuenting what he knewe Woulde be a mâ—ane to worke his ouerthrowe Yea worse then that he tryst me for me toung With actions houge for slaundering of his fame For which my purse an honest quest so stuong That euer since in faith it hath béene same Thus losse to me no hurt to him at all O babbling toung thy rash reuenge hath wrought Else blowes in lawe had giuen him cause to brall Of both the best though best reuenge be naught For bobs do feare when words not ioynd with déede In wrangling mynds more â—nackred thoughts doth bréede The reporter I may now without offence enter into the plaine discourse of Plasmos following for tunes and inuentions for I haue hetherto layde the cause of his miseries vnto his youthfull vnthriftinesse the which I confesse was an instrument but there were ouerthriftie executioners of his harde fortunes whose names and doings for that it was supposed some of them were aliue according to my commission I haue lefte vnreported wishing them well to fare vpon their recompence and repentance Nowe returning againe vnto P. Plasmos estate who being wrapped in a thousand miseries and mischiefes barde of the benefit of his owne liuing to worke his quietnesse forsaken of friends in his distresse daily tormented with his enimies vnkind vexations looking vnto the condition of his former life his exercises and studies and finding his life full of lewdnesse his exercise to be dallying dauncing and suche counterfet delightes his studie Wanton Comedies Tragedies and discourses acknowledging theâ—e 〈◊〉 the instruments of his mishap sought if the refourming of these abuses would be a meane of his better fortunes so that vsing one day the reading of scripture for his studie and lighting on the 102. Psalme intituled Domine exaodi orationeÌ„ meam imploying his Muse vnto a more better vse then of yore he made his humble submission vnto the highest for the release of his miseries as followeth IN gayle of griefe in closâ—e of worldly friendes forlorne Thy mercy Lord to ease my mone vnto my prayers turne Hide not thy heauenly face from him that lies in thrall High time and tide good God it is to heare my plaint cast My dayes consume with griefe my myrth is maid with mone My hart doth wast like withred grasse my graue I am one My flesh with thoughts doth fret in shew I am a ghoste I drencht in bale my foes in blisse I harmd of hap they bost The world coÌ„mends their welth spites my withered woe Yea dooms my doings by my dole theirs by delight in showe Thus wrongd and scornd I am which crosse I do imbrace Attending when thy mercy Lord my miseries shall chace Which ioyne with iustice thine to foyle my foes in sight So shall I praise and others feare thy maiestie and might The reporter Plasmos in time wringing him selfe out of all the troubles and mischiefes that his enimies had wrapt him in and seing his estate for his troubles so sufficient as with good gouernment he might liue in indifferent good credite On the contrarie part seing some of his enimies through their lewdnesse starke beggers and other some of them to dye soudenly and miserably as well to giue God thankes for his deliuerie as for the ouerthrowe of his enimies made this sonet following TO thée O Lord with hart and voice I sing Whose mercy great from dole to sweete delight From mone to myrth my troubled spirite did bring Yea more thy yre hath foyld my foes in sight They liue in want that flourisht late in wealth They grone with griefe yea lacke both help helth Their conscience guilt doth gall them through their gaine And yet they waste more faster then they winne Thus swéete prou'd sowre their pleasure turnd to paine Yea liuing dyde to thinke vpon their sinne Their shadowes feard so souden was their fall But more their death when destenie did them call Their mone amasd a thousand wretches moe Who sight and shrynkt through motions of deceit To heare report this thundring threat to throwe Foule fall the fraude to bréede our bale a baite A bitter swéete that rots ere it be ripe A liuing care to souls a deadly stripe But how with hap the pikes of harme I past Of murdrous mates of myndes on mischiefe set â–ª Whose snares
for me them selues did fetter fast Whose baites for me them measht in beggers net Inforst men say of God loe here the might Which heales the harmd and lames the lewd in sight But I whose scare thy heauenly helpe did cleare Will daily sing with mynd with hart and voyce To thee O Lord be honour laude and feare Which foyldst my foes and madst me to reioyce Laude for thy grace and honour to thy name Feare cause thy wrath doth put the lewde to shame The reporter After that P. Plasmos had throughly passed the pikes of his troubles he foorthwith professed a newe course of life to witnesse which reformation making pouertie his excuse he sent this following farewell vnto fayre Laymos and other fine dames of his olde acquaintance â–ª which inuention he termed his farewel to wanton pleasures P. Plasmos farewell to wanton pleasures DAme Venus be content thy seruant should depart Who long hath bath'd in brauties blisse yet swam in seas of smart And willing nowe with losse to leaue his wanton sport Repentance hath reclaimed him from pleasures statly court Good loue my gouernesse thy charge that erst did raunge Is well content to carelesse youth to leaue his choice in chaunge My colours fresh and gay my pride in peacocks plumes I now resigne to Cupides thralls whose head with fancie fumes My sugred wordes that earst did wray my suites at large My scalding sighes to quench mistrust when iealousie gaue charge I will to salue their sore whome false suspect doth byte My vaunting speach I giue to those which soiourne with delight And fansie earst my friend of force I must forsake And lust my choice I leaue to those which rowes in leachers lake For wisdome rules my will and reason bids retire Least frosen feares through faythlesse loue doth followe hote desire Expence doth nip my purse my pride is pincht with paine Aspiring mynde hath caught a fall my lacke is linckt with gaine Yet losse this lesson learnd how pence my pleasure wrought Not pleasure pence but purses paine when néede the bottome sought A noddie for the nonce for faithlesse flurtes to flout Poore want was rayd in ragged clothes amongst dame pleasures rout Which picture when I sawe in fauour like my lacke Disdaine my thought did drowne my ioy despaire did bruse my backe Pure néede then prickt me foorth in faith good mistresse mine Ere scorne should worke me out of grace my seruice to resigne For if you rightly wey my want by former wealth Your selfe will iudge I can not serue without the ayde of stealth Then wrong will séeke reuenge with tryall of his bande And iustice soone will sentence giue to truce me out of hande Then conscience will accuse my coste in Venus court And warne my friendes by these my woes to shun dame pleasures sport And loth to dye will curse the causers of my smart Thus with your blame my one the shame perforce I shall depart The reporter After P. Plasmos had bid adieu to these counterfet delightes he made this ensuing recantation and sith it behoueth euery man that recanteth to shew with what errours he was led as well to discharge his owne conscience as to forewarne others of the like P. Plasmos in the saide recantation maketh discourse of loue betwixt faire Laymos and him self Wherein is discouered the subtile sleights of a cunning courtisane P. Plasmos recantation BEfore the world I here recant my life I do renounce both lingring loue and lust My wanton will with wisedome once at strife Hath lost the fielde the type of fansies trust My sugred toung bepoudred all with teares To chase mistrust from my swéete maistresse mynde With simple speach from humble sprite now weares That fauour I with my swéete Christ may finde My seattered sighes which I on earth did strowe I gather vp and sende them to the starres As messengers of my lamenting woe Twixt sine and soule so mortall is the warres Sith I repent no shame it is to wray My former life how farre from grace it swern'd Although from truth I silly shéepe did stray As good men God so I my Goddesse seru'd Her fauour heauen I reckt her frowning hell I swam in ioy when I attaind her grace I sunke in noy when she with wrath did swell Such strange effectes were shrowded in her face Saint Pandor then my aduocate I made Who pynde my purse yet fead my foolish vaine A thousand scornes with my fond sight did fade My suite in wordes such slender grace did gaine As Gods of olde my Goddesse honoured is Which sacrifice of kine and calues did craue But she inioynd in penance of my mis For fashion sake that first I yeald her â—laue With vowe of fayth my suite then must I showe But suites of lawne with toyes of déeper coste The duties were which I for grace did owe Such costly grace then found were better loste But miâ—â—es of loue did so bedim my eyes That wealth was slaue vnto my wanton thought Glad was my purse when he the toy espies Which with my loue a perfect liking wrought But I too sharpe did spurre so frée a wretch He pynde to naught to please her péeuish mynde Then lacke too late this lesson did me teach I seru'd no saint but one of Sathans kynde Who when she fawe pure néede to play his part With iealous speach gan straight to faine debate My second choice she sayde possest my heart As though pure loue had hatcht this souden hate But well I sawe despight did forge suspect And iealous speach was set to colour scorne My charge not change did frame with foule defect She fained griefe I wretch with woe forworne My plées of want then purchase little grace She wild me loue where I my wealth did waste For my nice choice she reckt her selfe too base Which here and there in change a new was plast Fonde fansie then presented to my will In desperate panges to pine away with paine Or purchase pence on top of Shooters hill If I escape my bootie grace would gaine For him that earst both hope and hap did vaunce To desperat thoughts to vayle his former blisse Blame not his mynde to cure this sorrie chaunce If ventur'd life did worke amends of misse And syth quoth I I must a martyr be Then burne to naught with blase of Cupides brands A gentler death is hanging on a trée I may escape the bowget makers hands In spight of scorne which haunts my Ladies hart Then shall I swim in seas of former grace And sorrow shall finde recompence of smart With foulded armes when I my ioy imbrace These drousie dumps which driues me to despaire Shall purged be with drugs of droynses store I glad he mad then mumping in his chaire When stéede is stolne too late shall shut the dore Thus I vile wretche led on by wanton lust A triumphe made within my wicked thought How I by hap the harmelesse threw to dust Ere I escapt or