came a messenger True Zeale which did prepare A chamber fresh which Paine it hight as we shall now declare Here the Author by Memorie taketh his rest at the ende of the desert of barren Age or Consumption And being lighted of their horses the Author sickeneth in the Chamber called Paine No sooner entred was I sure such paine in corps I felt That I was faine to lay me downe vpon a couch or pelt Till that true Diligence for me prepared had a bed And godly Zeale full readie had a kerchefe for my hed Thâ—s lying downe vppon my bed in dolefull sort gan mone Perceyuing well that néedes I must do that that earst was showne That is to â—â—aue this fleshly corps and chaunged lyfe to sée Which I long time sâ—ught to defend and yet it would not bée To thinke vpon that Will my horse my griefe did more abound Him to â—orgo it grâ—eâ—de me much euen lyke a deadly wound With that came Memory to me and bade me take good héede Not to dismay although the time by Ioue is full decréede Why doest thou sighe and languishe so it may thée not preuayle Lo Reason he shall so thée rule that thou shalt well preuayle To â—ide the saute of Thanatos he will thée so enflame That from Dispaire Disdaine and Ire thou shalt escape as game So long as thou wilt ruled be by Reasons sage aduise True Diligence and constant Hope will counâ— thée then full wise Lo Pacience straight will then appere and endlesse ioy and guide To driue away Distrust and Ire as golde thou must be tride With that came Reason to the bed and bid him not dismay For I sure am a friend of thine my loue I will display And lay abrode before thée so if thou wilt me regarde And after me as faythfull friendes alreadie are preparde That is faith hope and charitie which will thy minde allure To doe and saye all that shall proue and lyfe they will procure By me therefore now ruled be then marke what will insue A happie state and ioyfull lyfe these wordes as sure most true Beholde where I am resident there alwayes groweth fame To prince to king and euery state I still incurre good name So if thou wilt be rulde by me I will not fro thée part Till Clothâ—s he haue spâ—n hir thréede with all hir slily Art Till Attropos haue whet their knife the vitall thréede to ende Till Thanatos his course doth ende my loue I will extende Therefore of me thou mayest be sure if thou my wordes regarde No enimie sure shall thée 〈◊〉 although â—ull néere preparde When Reason thus had sayde his minde to Memory I sayde How like you this I pray you showe I néede now of your ayde With that she smilde as one yet glad espying not forgot His counsayle sure is certes good and sinnes away will blot No man on earth may Death withstande therfore vnwise is he Which will contend with yrefull wordes as all full well may sée For yrefull wordes bréedes cankered hate Debilitie to vex And Dolor he must néedes decrease beware of Discordes checks In sicknesse he that way ward is and will no reason héere Alwayes doth bréede his owne disease as may full well appéere The frantike mindes of many one so to their willes are bent That medicine and phisicke both may cause them to repent Such wilfull pacients therefore that will not turne in time May well be sure to féele the rod of pinching paine and crime For there as Reason may not rule nor Memory that Dame In stéede of hops of endlesse lyfe Distrust there reapes the game And where Distrust once bereth sway their straight apéeres Dispaire To draw away that soule from light and state thereby appaire God graunt therâ—fore all christian harts so to prouide in time That lyuely spirite of iust beliefe maye not from thée decline But that which feruent zeale doth showe by Ioue aboue diuine Disturbance he doth grudge and hate much more he doth repine For when he sées the féeble corps opprest with wo and paine Most busiest then he is to mée although most vile and vaine He will therefore prouide in time while prosperous state doth last In calling still for Gods merey shall not be made agast Of wicked spirites for to delude they shall not thée annoy Though thousands haue thy corps 〈◊〉 with gâ—â—lefull fanciâ—s coy No man on earth himselfe maye frée from the infirmitie â–ª Of fleshly lyfe while he haue breath such powers to disagrée I wishe therefore all faythfull hartes there mindes so fully bende And still to craue mercie and grace for that they haue â—â—â—nde These wordes when Memory had sayde they did my â—art such good My sicknesse I almost â—orgate but Reason with me stood My heart was lightned very much wherefore I calde amayne For armor then and Will my horse yet once againe to raine Wherewith that I wouâ—â— make an ende of this my trauayled time The soner then to ende this race of â—â—nkered yre and crime But séeing weaknesse so oppâ—â—sse my sâ—â—ly corps in déede On Will I gan my foe to â—â—â—â—te that Thanatos with spéede And being armde with Godly Zeale my selfe so did applye That not estate ne losse of liâ—â— coulde make me backe to flye But when he came his might was such I could not him withstand Forthwith I yéelded as captiue then and voyde of forraine land God graunt vnto all faythfull hartes such race alwayes to runne That no desyre of worldly welth their mindes once ouercume Then be you sure when vitall thred by Attropos is rent With Gods elect in lasting ioyes no care more to relent Farewell my friendes loe ye haue heard such newes as I haue séene In euery cost and lande where I long time and dayes haue béene Let this suffise your fickle mindes except you farther iorne So this now done my selfe doth please and so doth serue my turne Though playne and base not eloquent as well sure as I can A better may hereafter hap if that thou rightly skan Farewell adue yet once agayne marke well ere thou dispraise Least in the ende thou be to rash not trading Reasons waies FINIS Iohn 3. They shall die that beleeue not in Christ and the wrath of God abideth vpon them Eccle. 9. They that be deade know nothing such as are dead in sinne thy dead men shall lyue such as are dead in the workes of the fleshe shall be quickned in the spirit Sapiens 13. Among the dead there is hope among suche wicked as will be conuerted from their abhominations there is lyfe promised so that they returne not to their vomite againe ¶ Imprinted at London by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater-noster rowe at the signe of the starre Anno Domini 1569. Marcus Tulliuâ— Cicero By the Cap that Disagrement giueth to Memorie to deliuâ—â— to 〈…〉 is signified 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 meanes possible 〈…〉 Reason speaketh to y â— Author Here the Author is brought by Reason to his bed called rest Polichro lib. 2. cap. 1. sayth that Strabâ— saw the ships of Punie when they were 135. mile from him Cassandâ—r was sonne to Antipater which poysoned the king Alexander in Babilon Plutarchus in Romana historia ad M. ViniciuÌ„ sayth that one Titius slew Pampey but Polichronicon that yong Ptolomie did cut of his head and sent it to Iulius Cesar thinkâ—ng to haue done him great pleasure but he was therwith verie sorie Here Understanding giueth the Author charge to be mindefull of that which is shewed Here Understanding comforteth the Author Esopi fabulae Here the Author is weried by his horse will in the middest of the fielde called worldly pleasure Corrineus came and arriued w t Brute at the Ile of Totnesse in Cornwall and there in wrastling slew Goginagog a Gyant which there inhabited as sayth Polychronicon c. of Corrineus came the name of Cornwall and Cornishmen Some affirme that Cornwall came of Cornu a borne bicause it is fashioned like a horn in circuite or coÌ„passe which may so be but bicause the first is the older I doe suppose that to be the truest Here the Author â—â—cideth to Age. Bellepheton was a Knight of Arges and serued king Pircus Aurea was wife to Pircus which sought the Knights death for not consenting to hir adulterie Here Age giueth his charge to the Author The Poetes haue feyned that Cerberus was porter of hell hauing iij. heads which heades were three vices couetousnesse murder and lechery The Author agreeth to the counsell of Age. Age licenseth the Author to trauayle further Pluto son to Saturne the Poets feined that he was the diuell of Hell By the corse the Author meaneth the whole state of the earthy man being corrupted in sinne By weaâ—â—â—ed Age is meant the vnprofitable time spent the state of Age is barren when there is no fruits of good life appearing These combats were fought in the vale of â—gnorance being in the midst of the land called lost time The Harolde that weareth Deaths Cote with bones is called Defiance Here beginneth the Combâ—t twice these 〈◊〉 valiant Champions Debilitie and the worthy king Henrie y e eight The Author here lamentes the state of all fonde desired worldlings Here Memorie sheweth the Author the auncient monuments
did minde till Sathan wrought their awe That Woman first she did consent the Apple for to prooue Wherby the serpent did inuent all ioyes from them to mooue For their offence they were exilde out of that pleasaunt place And carth accursed forth did yéelde the crabbed thome a space The earth then fayne were they to till still laboring the ground Thus sathans drifts theÌ„ thought to spill he gaue that deadly wound Although that Adam did offend yet God so shewde his grace A newe Adam he after sent which did all sinne deface Such minde hath God alwayes to those that ioyes his lawes to looue And such as are his mortall foes with plagues he doth them prooue As Pharao that cruell king which did so sore oppresse The Israelites aboue all thing and would not them release It were to long all to recite I minde them to forgoe The swallow swift once taken flight then Auster streight doth bloe With nipping showres and frosts so colde few may it long endure But that once past then doth vnfold the swéete and pleasant showre Wherby all things do spring and grow with orient smell most swéete Till Hyems force himselfe doth show then Pisces ioyes in déepe So I as one bereft of ioy in order mindes to frame The gliding pace the state so coy yet loth were one to blame The state of one to nominate yet all I wish to looke Conceyue in minde doe nothing hate till read ye haue this booke He that disprayseth ere he know may well be thought a foole The Hart the Hind doth time foreshow yet void froÌ„ reasons schoole Of Dolor and Debilitie these two I chiefly name The first is hard to vnderstand the other maketh tame In bringing youthfull yeares to ende now know you what he is Be mindefull therefore what you read if not you may soone misse ¶ The fielde Tyme he with wings Thought the other the Author trauailing in the sayde fielde In time Thought moueth the Author IN Hyems force both trée and herbe doth vade as rest of life On sodeyne then to me appeard the state of worldly strife As I thus going all alone one did to me appeare Awake quoth he from pensiue mone of me haue thou no feare Both he and I togither went as friendes a certaine space Till at the last I did repent my former time and case Then stept I forth full sodainly as one bereft of glorie And to my minde I did apply to note therof some storie As afterwardes there shall be séene with such aduised héede The state of life I will beginne thus haue I full decréede Consider first both life and welth be mindefull still thereof For that will bring most perfite health so shall at thée none scoffe If that forgetfulnesse endure no hope there is of gaine Where state decreaseth be thou sure bereft from ioy to paine The time once past néedes must consume the pleasant orient smell Of trée and herbe that growes on ground as proofe full well can tell Likewise all trées that fruite doth beare in light they show a shade And time once past straight wil appeare y â— al things néeds must vade So likewise those that vainly spende their liues they care not how The wrath of God on such attendes and age of force must bow The trée that once cleane withered is can be by no meanes greene No more can Age be yong ywisse it neuer hath bene séene Conceyue therefore full well in minde and youthfull time so spende That when Death comes thou be not blinde to late then to amende Néedefull it is also to knowe and how thy selfe mayst stay That Dolor and Debilitie they guide a cruell way None may escape them by no wayes these knights so valiant are Yea Antropos with force them stays and sharply doth them snare Most horrible and daungerous the passage is to sée With combats great most marueilous not one away may flée Till that he be bereft of life they are so fiercely prest They neuer cease but still at strife at no time take they rest And Dolorousnesse by his great force an Thought doth still attend Debilitie thorow féeblenesse to death he all doth send Which death appeares inâ—isible with gliding dart most sharpe The dent thereof the life doth quell the soule from body part They neuer cease in working still which way they best may finde Both Prince and King they come vntill thereto they are assignde Sée now therefore ye vnderstand the Herault will appeare That Dolor hée will thée withstand of him be not in feare Sith thou thy selfe hast giuen the charge I will thée me regarde In spending youth be not to large thine enmy is preparde Who mindeth still thée to inuade with his great force and strength Arme thée therfore as I haue sayd some case to finde at length Thinkst thou thy selfe to be more stout than euer Sampsons grace Or Hercules which went about that Pluto to deface Art thou bereft from wisdomes schoole what Salamon to excéede Oh caytife base and simple foole refraine I say with speede Diomedes with Marshall skill doth farre excéede the state What got Absalon by his will could he from death escape Not one of all the worthies nine coulde Dolor once withstande Prouide therfore all things by Time still take him by the hande Sith that the howre draweth nie be ready at the sounde Of trumpet shrill with blast most cleere thine enmies to confounde The loftie sounde of trumpet blowne oft warneth to prepare With speare shield now all is knowne of these my words beware ¶ The armed Knight signifieth true Obedience in all estates his armour Strength the shielde Hope the sworde Courage the speare Aduenture deliuered to the Author by Thought being present in the fielde called Time The Author putting all feare aside armeth himselfe and so rideth foorth on his horse called Wâ—ll WHen Time had said to me his mind I pondred then in thought To worke doe as he assignde forthwith I armour cought As 〈◊〉 then forste I put it on by horned Cinthias light And armour dight or Phoebus shone so forth I tooke my flight The Horse wheron I sate was Will whose force few youth may stay My sworde was Courage prest to kill so rode I on my way My armour was both tough and strong of strength it was new made My shielde also was Hope among mine enimies to inuade My speare was wrought and fabricate with glittring gold most bright Thereby that I asswage mought Hate and put my foes to flight Thus rode I on couragious some prowesse for to winne In passing forth most venterous I practise did beginne Two dayes I rode but nothing saw among the hugie rockes Not one aduenture worth a straw so voyde I Momus mockes Whereby I might recite at large to please the Readers minde I let that passe and put in charge that Thought to me assignde It is not nâ—edefull here to tell my dolefull woe and paine A thousand griefes aye
Marke well where riches doth abounde the Time so steales awaye And causes many in the ende to perish and decay Bicause that such haue more regarde vnto the wordly mucke And time once past to late to call example of the Bucke Which Esope long ago declarde that praisde so much his hornes So fell at strife with his smal legs that streight was staid w t thornes The yelping voice and sound of dogs on sodeine made him start And crabbed horns which he so praisd both wrought his deth smart Such men therfore as will not sée and haue regarde in time May likened be to Esopes Hart that at his legges did pine Leaue off therefore from vaine delights least they at length you staye And leade you from the way of life to late then to dismaye But fonde desired Wilfulnesse oft thinks it ouerpast When oftentimes he scarce doth touch and he then at his last Both pleasure and felicitie from Time so fléetes awaye Euen as the winde is left behinde vnto their owne decaye Thus leauing off from troublous thought I gan againe to minde The iourney which I tooke in hande and how I was assignde Not once to stay till I had bene in euery land and coste Wherby that I such newes might bring as well to least as moste As I began to vew the fielde my Horse then named Will Began to run with such great force no Dale he sparde nor Hill Till he attainde in middest of plaine then gan him selfe to shake My armes and handes so weried was that straight began to ake As I behelde me rounde about the first that I there sawe Was a Knight with courage stout of whome I stoode in awe His standing was both stiffe and strong well weaponed and sure With valiant courage me abode in armour bright and pure With Trauaile he so armed was his Horse was called Paine And Shielde also faire painted eke with watch that doth disdaine The heauie minde and slumbring sléepe which oft on men doth fall Be ready therfore I you rede regarde him that doth call His Cote was of a certaine Maile the best and surest sure That could be sounde by Suffrance and constant Zeale most pure By semblanâ— show of his attire some trauailer to bée Which from some battell was escapte as Reason showde to mée As I behelde him thus me thought it good to stay a time To sée if that he would assayle or vse vnlawfull crime As I thus musing with my selfe to me he came amaine With courage stout his horse gan run which earst was called Paine ¶ Age here beginneth to make battaile with the Author in the fielde of worldly pleasure The Author after long fight yeeldeth him selfe to Age and receyueth his counsell promising to fulfill all such couenants as Age hath giuen charge withall and so taking his leaue proceedeth on his iourney FOrthwith my Speare I set on Rest ech other strongly stroke That therewithall to ground we fell both our speares we broke The dent of stroke did not dismay so much our strength and might But that full quickly we arose and strongly gan to fight Euen like vnto a valiant knight before me did vpstart With Falcon strong began to strike wherewith he made me smart And I as yet not voyde from strength with trunchion of my Speare Let slie amaine with courage eke not yet vanquisht by feare So long as Regiment my Speare did holde and was vnbroke So long did I the valiant knight kéepe off by dent of stroke But when he by his puisiance my Speare had all to rent Then did decrease my former strength which Ioue aboue had lent Thus fighting still he watched how some mortall wounde to giue But I by Regiment did defende that he me could not grieue His furiousnesse to me was such that wonder was to sée To recompence I showed the same amaine I strokes let flée When he espide my courage so that I tooke no regarde A new assault he gan on me that draue me to my warde His Falcon strong and sharpe also did me so much annoye That to defende then was I faine my selfe so to employe Full many a stroke I did awarde till all my Speare was rent I then was faine to draw my sword yet loth for to relent Although he séemde to vanquishe me I did the best I mought Till he so strake vpon my head that faine I was to stoupe This combat was in such sort fought that nought remained whole Both flesh and armour sore was cut thus Age doth deale his dole My shielde with strokes almost he claue whereon was all my staye As yet he coulde me not subuert nor once my hope dismaye Thus eche of vs still laboured the vtmost of our powre But lacking breath were faine to staye the space of halfe an howre Full glad was I and 〈◊〉 wise to leaue this cruell fight Till we attained had some strength and so recouerde might As I thus breathing on the ground full well then did beholde That gâ—iâ—y Age which we assâ—ide with countnance grim and bolde Then with my selfe I 〈…〉 how I might know where hée Did most remaine and in what coste as after you shall sée WIth Loue so much enflamde I was that streight to him I spake O Knight most worthy sayde I then my loue to thée doe take And show to me if that thou please thy name and eke thy place And then as friendes we hope to grée from yre to ioyes solace If thou wilt show thy name to me to satisfie my minde Demaunde the like if thée it please I ready am assignde To show to thée the like againe graunt me now my request And from henceforth thou shalt me finde obedient vnto rest He aunswerde me with héedfull speach with words most soft and wise I am of royall bloud discend and wilfull youth despise I am of more knowne on the earth than euer Hector was Or Corrin stout which slew by might the Giant tough as brasse My proper name is called Age the Register of Truth Which notes the time of euery one wherby great good ensuth No force of youth may me withstande although he doe excell In Marshall feates and prowes eke though thousands he doe quell This plaine of Time which thou art in not one may ouergoe But by my leaue and ayding helpe therby the way to knoe For he that thinkes from me to scape his labour is in vaine To striue with me he doth but get great sorrow griefe and paine Perforce to me hey néedes must come there is no saying nay Except they die in youthfull yeares then come they not this way What froward and malignant foole would séeme to striue with Age When lustie youth I win with force and make him serue as Page And forasmuch as thou art now thus fallen on my hande Thy selfe in time doe yeelde to me thou mayst not me withstande My puissant force thou soone shalt finde if thou wilt not relent An
not Debilitie Decrepitie nor none of his may stay eternitie Yelde thou thy selfe with all thy griefes to the eternall king And call for grace while thou hast space to Ioue he will thée bring By the aged or olde man traueling in the wood is signified the desert of Age that is when youth is consumed and the vitall powers decreased mans time is nothing else but paine of body possessed with Dolor and Debilitie still looking for the last combat which is Death In the desert of Age there is no going out decrepite or consumation of the body may not escape the prefixed time appointed Also the Author goeth further being not yet come to Decrepitie and sheweth of certaine combats done by diuers valiant Champions as followeth AS I thus was in the desert from Age no way to flye I thought then best with him to staye so stoode I him fast by Thus with my selfe I did agrée with Age to be content So wish I those that Age will sée least after they repent But yet a number I did see that Age did much disdaine In painting out their faces gaye and woulde not thence refraine Till Age decreast so much their state by force he made them yéelde For wrath therof they did proclaime to combat in the féelde Dame Daintie first began the broyle by Ignorance assent Which hoped sure poore Age to kill this was hir whole intent Full fast on rest she set hir speare on Pride she rode amaine Therby she thought so Age to feare thus did she him disdaine By graue assent he did retire a time to sée when shée Would leaue hir yre and go hir waye or vnto him agrée Dame Littlewit when that she sawe that Age gan to retire With vaine Beautie on Age she strake in hope of hir desire But when he had got all these Mates togithers on a rowe Then he let flie Time past and gone and made them him to knowe This combat sure was maruelous it caused me to smile To sée those fooles so trimly deckt themselues deceyued by guile Thus were they faine forthwith to yéelde as captiues vnto Age And to leaue off their fonde attire for all their force and rage Dame Flattrie with haste came in with worldly pleasures fine Receites for Dames therwith to paint their parched face to shine Dame Meretrix with brodered heares a wooden face she had For nothing she ashamed was Luxuria so hir clad With irefull voice she gan to rayle for losing of hir Mates And brought with hir Dame Flingbraine so w t many other states Whose names I minde so to recite in order if I can That all that reades this booke maye know those furies to withstan Dame Ire and Idell louing Mates Dame Discord and Pick thanke Beldame Coy and maistresse Nice with Prater sauce and cranke These hoped sure a fresh to fight they did their verie best But all in vaine such was their gaine he them so long opprest That they were faine by cruell paine of force he made them bow Thus were they forced to flie amaine frō youth they knew not how So fonde desire of Brainsick fooles oft bréedes their owne decay When they in time will not foresée but follow still their sway The enuious foole séekes still to striue yea though he haue the worse Decreasing still his owne estate and goes with thred bare purse Where Prodigalitie doth raigne and fonde Suberbitie With such as may no state maintaine such bréedes their miserie The one by large expence consumes the whole his father got The other he aloft doth looke from vertue sure a blot Of cancred déede and filthie life they practise with such tooles That Ignorance shall sure them dub to Uicar of Saint Fooles His Parisheners and friendly mates whose ende is dolefull wo. Except in time they doe foresée some other path to go So lōg they stroue till Age them caught by force he made them bowe And Youth so saw his state decrease to Age he made a vowe Thy course so runne on boysterous seas too high hoyse not thy sayle Let Reason rule so mayst thou best at all assayes preuayle What craft on earth can Age beguile if man long time remaine Where once he comes such hold he takes y ◠none may him refraine Till death appeares which brings the ende so long is he his guest Euen to the graue he doth all bring a time the bodies rest Now to declare the ayrie state some what I minde to saye Of all Complexions what they are and how they do decaye Sanguine fierce and valiant as Authors doe declare Melancholy full of ire with bodie leane and bare In Choler he full grosse doth waxe as grim as Bacchus grace And Flegmatike no cowarde is where he may hide his face But where these foure in one are knit by noble Nature shée There for a time the bodie spredes euen as the herbe or trée But when these signes do disagrée and Sperma doe decrease Then streight beginnes to putrifie the inner parts and grease To drinesse then the bodie growes with parched hands and skinne And so continues to the ende but Youth no more can winne Who woulde not trauaile all his life such science for to knoe As able is to rid from strife this carcasse bare and woe The state it selfe is nothing sure full soone doth vade away No earthly thing doth long endure but once he doth decay Why then is man so loth to goe this fickle life to leaue Sith he so well the state doth know he doth himselfe deceaue The pompeous state and worldly welth doth many mindes so blinde That when they should accomptes repay most farthest are behinde The Birde that in the Cage doth sing somtimes both shrill and cleere In ayrie skye with better note as doth full well appéere Bicause his kinde is there to be if he the Cage may scape Most ioyfull then beginnes his laye no more for feare doth quake But mans regarde is nothing so the Cage of sinne to flie The greater plague doth oft ensue when that the poore doth crie For many goods so well doth loue they care not how they get So they may haue to serue their mindes their whole desire is set To matters full of iolitie and newes both straunge and rare I minde to tell with modestie no more for thought to care Harke now beginnes my whole pretence though rude in eare it sound Yet doe not laugh till all you know least you your selues confound The Author and Memorie passeth the fielde of worldly pleasure and after talketh of the dreadfull combats not yet seene Will his Horse as yet nothing tired for all his long trauaile in the fielde of worldly pleasure AS I behelde this combat great twixt Age and all his foes And how they thought him to resist as straight I shall disclose And eke had vewde the barrainesse of all this ioylesse lande With all the incommodities that therein still doe stande And eke how many youthfull states began him
shoe With Speare in hande to giue thassault as séemed vnto mée A Harolde then went from the king most gorgeous for to sée And did ambassage from his Grace vnto the Champion stout Whose chalenge was to fight as séemed by trauising about Then asâ—te I Memorie what he meant and of the plaine by name And full curteously forthwith to me did show the same The fielde quoth Memorie so bare is wildernesse of Death Where euery mortall wight is forste to leaue his vitall breath The bony corps that thou doest sée is Death that puissant Prince Which with his finall Scepter doth all earthly things conuince The Champion that before him is Defiance sure is hight Who vilipendeth all estates for Death his Maister right The king quoth he in harnesse set so bolde in lyuely grace Is Henry stoute of Englande king the eyght of name and place Which wan such valyant battailes strong forrein townes laid wast Which rulde by prudent skill so well and pollitique forecast Which brought all nations vnder feare of his high maiestie Which made all forrein powers to quake through magnanimitie Which first began as Iosua did Gods foes for to dispoyle The same is he which first of all gaue Antichrist the foyle Which brake the neck of Papistrie and gaue a deadly wound Unto the Masse that romishe Hell that did our soules confound The same is he which first set to to breake the romishe clowde And first to sounde the Trumpet blast of Gods true worde alowde Which first defied the banning Pope and all his Bulles of lead And he which first denied the Pope to be the supreme head Which wanne himselfe preheminence by courage stoute and bolde And first began the Romishe clayme and tytle to withholde And did by Target bright of faith the Popes high cursse receaue And washing of the same gan first on Christes truth to cleaue Which staide the Popes reuenues here and puld the Abbeys downe And spoylde the Romishe lubbers all which lurckte in euery towne The same is he which did commaunde Gods pastors for to preache And gaue them leaue in Popes despite Gods holye worde to teache The same is Henry sure the eyght whose fame is fixt in skie Whose trumpe victoriously doth sound whose conquest can not die The Wight before him is quoth shée Debilitie by name The Champion stout of Death so pale it is the verie same He makes the way and winnes the fielde by weakenesse in his kinde Death doth triumph by his great force as daily we may finde The Harolde of the King to him is Valiauncie in déede Who goeth to know the Champions minde what he hath decréede Whose aunswere is that he must néedes for all his fame relent And vnto Death with all the reast as first to be content I sure am he which Philip slue and Alexander bothe Darius and that Ptholome though they were very lothe So forth we went and she with chéere bade harken to hir talke For she would show me more than this quoth she as we do walke Then spurres I set to Will my horse our iourney to passe on What chaunced after this I shall declare to you anon To haste on waye apace we rode till at the length we came Into that vale of restlesse time which so is callde by name That King in courage was so stoute against that Champion bolde That scarce he could the chalenge made his fingars from him hold For he was not afraide to passe the seas with all his hoste And bid his foes the battell stoute in their owne lande and coste He feared not to pitche his Campe in hart of forreine lande And battell wage with enimies force yea euen hand to hande At last Dame Memorie lookte back and straight she bade me stay And there I saw a worthy fight as truth I will display Debilitie the chalenge gaue and Death in iudgement sat But yet this worthy King did showe no blushing face thereat Then came Defiance with a scroule thou king sayd he take héede Debilitie shall thée conuince and vanquishe thée with spéede Though many Kings thou hast dismayde with that thy manly face And made thy foes abashed oft in presence of thy grace Yet thinke thou not vs to withstande yéelde therfore if thou wilt Least hap contemning long thy dayes with wearinesse be spilt The Champion now Debilitie or Weakenesse is by name At this triumphantly reioyste as glad to heare the same Then sent the King stoute Valiauncie ambassage for to tel That he wel knew their courage bold should not his power yet quel Ne yet will yéelde at thy prowde boast though hored heares he haue It is not thou with all thy bragges that canst him yet depraue With that the Champion made his course eke the King him met Then was the sight full cruelly betwéene them fiercely set Their fierie strokes and dreadfull blowes abasht my fearefull eyes I thinke the sounde of them was hearde abeue the lower skyes At last they paused for breath well nie both being quite dismayde Till iudgement came from Thanatos a while they stoutly stayde The sentence definite was this as I could vnderstande The winde so bare away the sounde that it could scarce be scande Omnia mortali mutantur lege creata All things created must chaunged be by mortall law no doute Therfore in vaine thou valiant King art thou so highe and stoute Abase thy selfe he must conuince yet now these words descrie Mori non turpe est sed turpiter mori It is not filthie for to die his file must cut the thréede But filthily to die that same is filthinesse in déede When as the King had heard these wordes he gan for to recite His noble actes which he had done that might him then requite No might sayde he no strength ne fame triumph nor victorie Can me resist which am the Prince of fatall destinie With that the King began againe a stroke or two to fight But soone he was by weakenesse spoylde and voide of courage quite Lo sayde Dame Memorie to me this Pageant didst thou vew All Wightes must suffer this conflict by destinie most trew First Age then eke Debilitie and Death must sure extende As of this King so of the rest in time to make an ende Dispaire not thou quoth she to me for yet I will thée show Of mo that suffred haue this fight whom thou didst truely know Make spéede quoth she and ride apace and so we did no doute Till we the sight of the bare fielde had wholy passed oute And then I askte Dame Memorie if I might make report Of that Combat which I had séene there tride in such a sort Yea quoth she feare it not to tell for doubtlesse this is trew King Henrie was a King full stoute as all men then well knew Which raigned thirtie seauen yeares as Chronicles doe tell And did in Marciall prowes then all other farre excell And yet at last with Dauid King and Salomon his
sonne With Iosaphat and Iosias his strength must néedes be donne And so must all mankinde likewise sayd she there is no way Of fatall stroke there is a meane to make a perfite stay Though long they liue as Nestor did or as Methusalye Yet once the time approches neare wherein they néedes must dye And therfore sayd she thinke thou still on Death and on thine ende And thou shalt kéepe thy life so straight that thou shalt not offende This talke we had as we did ride with much more I confesse Which were to long it to recite if I shoulde it expresse When we on way had iournayed long in Times most pleasant féelde To other talke Dame Memorie addrest hir selfe to yéelde Approching neare vnto a plaine of goodly pasture gréene Where many thinke of right good praise were plainly to be séene But when we were now entring in she bade me then prepare To sée and heare the chaunce and truth wherof I now declare The Author and Memorie riding forwarde in the fielde called Time stayeth in the middest therof beholding euery state there assembled The valiaunt Prince and King addressed with Valiancie his Harolde to biâ— defiance against Dolor and Debilitie Thanatos being iudge LOrde Thanatos in Throne I sawe as Prince of deadly chéere And eke defiaunce still him by as playnely did appéere Then asked I of Memory what ment him there to bée He ruleth all the earth she sayde as playnely thou shalt sée And there in iudgement is he set and iudgement to display Twixt two Champions that thou didst beholde this other day With that I harde a deadly sounde as séemed of Trumpets blast The noyse whereof euen dullde my spirites and made me sore agast Faint not quoth Memory to me ne dread this deadly sounde For now preparing is for fight as I did earst expounde At last out of an hollow Caue came one so stoute and braue As though he would within an houre all mortall Wightes depraue On sturdy stéede in harnesse bright and Helmet deckt with plume His countenaunce showde that he would soone all humaine strength consume His loftie gate made me to thinke on him I sawe before This same is he quoth Memory muse thou on it no more This same is stoute Debilitie that Champion blythe and strong Which thou shalt sée to winne the field before that it be long And lo sayde she cast vp thine eye on thother side the hill Forthwith approched straight in sight the glymce of speare and bill Then lookte I vp and sawe a farre a Prince both yong and fayre In complet harnesse bright and cléere resembling Marsis heyre About a seuentene yeres of age of comely stature true It did me good his Princely grace and personage to vewe In bewtie like Narcissus sure Dame Iunos comely face Begot of Iupiter he was I déemed by his grace And after him a goodly trayne of puissaunt men of might All so preparde in armor cléere and readie for to fight Then as we rode our iourney on and still sawe them draw néere I prayd y â— Memory would then make playne their names appéere That princely childe saide she that king that yong Narcissus faire Whose valiaunt hart showes him no lesse then worthy Henries heire That same is young Iosias tried the sixth Edward quoth shée That found Gods booke in brokeÌ„ walles and made it preachte to bée The same is he which read himselfe Gods booke with loftie sound And sent the preachers through his land it plainely to expound Helchias this king did estéeme as high Priest of his lande By whome all Arguments of truth should be with power scande This worthie Priest loued Zaphan well the Scribe aprooude in wit Which two did alwayes with the king in regall counsell sit By whose great wyt and pollicie and by this kings consent All false Idolatrie was quite out of his Region rent The hill Alters and groues in woodes and Priestes of Baall ech one Were sone broke downe they cast out from presence of his throne The lyuing God Iehouah he did worship and obaye All superstition that stoode vp he soone conuayde awaye The booke of Deutronomy pure he openly did réede And so commaunded as his lande in truth for to procéede In fine as earst his genitor king Henry had begoon By him the Romishe rable was quite ransackt and vndoon As noble Sire by noble minde had layde foundation sure So he that building finished his raigne for to endure The Pope he cléerely banished and named as supreme head He vtterly defied the Masse and all his Bulles of lead He brake downe all Balles Images and Pilgrimages vaine All Trentals Diriges â—riftes and rites of Rome he did dismayne He tooke the slyng of truth in hande and stone of zeale that flent And gaue the Pope Goliah sure a wounde and deadly dent He threwe his pardons out the dore his power he full defied And cast his care on Iesus Christ that Lambe which for him died Then this done he when Antichrist had lost his title cleane His honor and his power vsurpe which was not worth a beane By counsayle of that Zaphan wise this king erected right By Helchias the Priestes aduise in Antichristes dispight New lawes and institution within his realme and lande And purged the Englishe Church therwith of Popery out of hande He threw the Alters downe with force which made vs like the Iewes And set up Tables by and by as Christ himselfe did vse The bookes of God he made be read I meane Christes Testament Quoth she which Antichrist the Pope had hid long time and rent And made them playne in mother tongue translated for to be And made the people serue the Lorde in truth and veritie He rulde his lande seuen yeres quod she in such aduised wise As Fame therefore doth sounde his prayse euen to the starrie skies But whether rydes he now quoth I and all those Wightes so braue To age desert with spéede quoth shee as Natures course doth craue But range thy horse sayde Memory stande still be not afrayde For ere he come at Age byhalfe his iourney shall be stayde With that comes one euill fauored wight all deckte in straunge aray And crept among his sturdie wightes as they rode on their way Séest him quoth Memory to me I sée him well quoth I Thou shalt sée more of his vnhap quoth she euen by and by The same is he which sure will worke the fall of that same â—ing And him before the time of age vnto destruction bring Infortunate that is his name a wight most fierce and fell As thou shalt sée quoth she anone I néede not thee to tell With that I sawe an other wight Debilitie he hight Which crossing came another way vnto this yong king right And then I sawe before this king Dame Fortune shyning cléere With hir most glittering siluered bushe vnkemd as might appéere Which couered all hir face and brest it was so thick and long Me thought
set to quell and Time did me disdaine But when I had escapte the wayes being past the mountaines great A goodly greene there did appeare which worldly pleasure hight So much the place delighted me my selfe I cleane forgat Till that I did Aduenture sée in midst of pleasures plat A knight appeared there in sight of corps both huge and great Upon a stéede all Ire he hight as blacke as any Ieat And towards me he came a mayne with countnance fierce and grim Regard quoth he in time refraine of me thou naught mayst win Sée thou with spéede thy selfe prepare for I will haue no naye My might to prooue if that thou dare else here I will thée staye Forthwith I graunted his request but first his name to tell And then to proue if he thought best so would I with him mell With irefull speach and loftie voyce he aunswerde me in haste Disagreement who first hath choyse all fleshe to stroy and waste I Disagreement all would deflowre from quiet peace and rest Through Eluttonie encrease my powre all other I detest Not one if once I take in hande from me may scarce escape I rent and plucke as small as sand nay few to me dare prate Sith thou art not Debilitie nor Dolor which is fell Thy force I hope to mollifie I now thée know full well Debilitie and Dolor eke for these two doe I seeke Who kéepes the wood of Antropos and cause all flesh to gréete Debilitie to most is knowne by sicknesse or by age Bicause the state in man consumes to death his corps doth gage But Dolor now is verie straunge which may or may not bée Without corruption of that wherein one may it sée Debilitie therfore to him I haue so ioynde in kinde That Dolor he may well be callde a foe to friendly minde And why bicause all flesh is loth with goodwill hence to part Therefore I haue thought good as now to ioyne them as one hart Being both togither are as one still striuing man to win When youthful yeres are gone and past then age nedes must begin With hollow eyen and visage grim and countnance wan and pale Thus Ioue aboue all times assignes this newes account not stale From those two minde I to escape if that by power I maye Thou mayst be sure thou commest to late to vanquish or to fraye With that he spake with eger moode as one distraught of wit Though none of those yet sure their friende togither are we knit Thy selfe defende if that thou can I minde thy force to prooue Make no delay doe surely stande from me thou shalt not mooue Our Speares on rest we both fast set ech other so did méete That both to grounde we fell therwith and after fought on féete His Speare was shod with little Wit wherewith he downe me cast That counterbuffe I féele as yet and shall while life doth last Our speares at once cleane broken were with swords ech other strake So fierce was I none could me feare till Time my state did shake With the licour of foolishnesse therewith were both swords wrought With vaine desire and wilfulnesse ech other strake aloft The strokes were verie straunge to heare that ech to other sent And straight to me there did appeare the ydle life so spent Thus still togither did we fight as fooles to striue with Time Till at the last appeared night yet Cinthia gaue hir shine Whereby we both might well perceyue all goodnesse crept away By Diligence then was I faine to craue as guide and stay ¶ The Author fighteth with Disagreement the speare that Disagreement hath broken is called Littlewit the Authors speare is Aduenture both swoordes in thys place signifie foolishnesse wherewith eche striketh other till pleasant Ladie Memorie defendeth the Author from Disagreement in the fielde called Time Here Disagreement speaketh to the Author and so both beginnes the combat STill Disagreement me assaylde whose force so still enâ—rcast His restlesse strokes so did me quaile that fain I would haue ceast I sawe no way how to escape from him I might not start Nor knew not how to finde a mate to ayde me from my smarâ— And being thus in pensiue care still looking for my ende Deuoyde from ioy as one thréede bare nought hauing to defende That lustie Ladie Youth forth came on whom I did depende His strokes she counted but as game whereby we made an ende Hir feruent loue did so me ayde hir strength so did me staye Of nought by hir I was afrayde so rode I on my waye As I thus prest was forth to ride againe she did me call And willed me with Time to bide to sée what would befall To Disagreement thus she sayde doe graunt to my request And let him passe not once denayde for so I thinke it best To see more of the worldly state some prowesse for to winne Refraine therefore no time abate sith Youth doth now beginne He aunswerde me most currishly sith that I must of force A sure foundation see thou be to Age haue good remorse This Cappe here take a thing of price most méetest is and good To driue away all fonde deuice a salue to nourish blood It shall be like a springing Well which nourisheth the grounde Euen so all griefe it will expell and fonde deuice confounde When that I had this Cappe receiude I was so glad of chéere Away with hast full well appeasde I thought none then my péere The fatall chaunce and destenie of Herpelus his loue Auailed not to molifie although he long did proue A thousande moe I coulde recite yea thousand thousandes sure Which are so fonde in their delight deuoyde from ease or cure Where fickle fantasie moues the minde of fond desirde fooles Their youthfull race soone waxeth blinde falles betwixt two stooles For he that on two stooles will sit may chaunce misse on them both Where one will serue it is vnfit such fooles who will not loth â–ª Who euer in one age more sawe of vaine superbitée Regarde of lawes who standes in awe as all full well may sâ—â— So many as will venterers be your armour sée be fast Of Faith Hope Loue and Charitie then life be sure to tast Thus by the way I doe thee warne regarde my words full well Then be thou sure to voyde the harme of paines infernall hell By order seene shall euery state in what case here they toyle And how thou mayst thy selfe abate from Sathans drifts and soyle Thus striued I so long with Time till Youth was almost gone And Thought to me so did encline that wo began my song In suffring combats manifolde still hoping Time to rule Till Time in Courage waxed bolde then gan I streight to pule As one forsakte departed I not knowing where to rest In dolefull wo I gan to crie Thought did mée so molest Then rode I forth some way to finde and night approched néere And Vesper bright began to shine whereby I saw full
flie desire as I had earst begonne Forthwith was showed to me a glasse wherein I saw full cléere The former facts that I had done as well those past as néere Within that glasse espide I Age which noted well my trade And frowning browes to me he bent awaye consumde as shade Bicause I did so small regarde mine othe and promise iust He shewed himselfe most wrathfull still euen bent to bate my lust No sooner I graye heares espide and face with wrinkles full My youthfull courage then decreased lo thus did Age me pull Yet Lust and eke Concupiscence assaulted me so sore By their attempt I scarce could get then languisht I the more In sorrowes fell and deadly thoughts had not Remembrance bin No way coulde I escape them sure from that allured sin But Memorie declarde to me such words of liuely force That streight to hir I did incline and yéelded straight my corce As one full bent no more to straye hir counsell did I craue And she forthwith did show full plaine which way my selfe to saue No man that liueth on the earth may sinne so from him moue Therfore to suffer paines thou must so doth it thée behoue For Sathan he will tempt thée still and doe the best he can To trap thée fast in deadly sinne such is his trade with man Therfore in time doe call to minde away will go thy youth And séeke those things that will thée saue for troubles oft ensuth Disturbe not once thy memorie in things that passe thy wit For who doth so by fraude is caught for thée it is vnfit And albeit Concupiscence and Lust doe thée assayle Refraine them still then be thou sure in time thou mayst not quayle When I had well behelde them both then did I vnderstande Their counsels tolde to be deceit and foes to euerie lande Forthwith I called Memorie wherein stoode all my staye Desiring hir me to excuse from Lust I tooke my waye If any of these errors fell doe after me inquire Say that you know not where I am let them returne with yre Thus in the ende all was but vaine that Lust doth take in hande That Memorie by sundry wayes releast me from their bande From them she did me still defende and brought me in plaine way For ioy therof I did reuiue thus was she still my stay With courage then I tooke in hande from wilfull fraude and guile Wherein I saw no reason was at those I gan to smile Deceit and Guile fast brideled were for knowing any good In deserts drie I left them all and Reason by me stood Who bade me say adewe fonde loue now bid I thée farewell God graunt that I nor no man else desire with hir to mell Considering hir vaine estate and hir deceitfull loue To quietnesse my hart I set fonde loue no more to proue Not one estate that she regardes if she in them beare swaye Who list or will know hir therfore sure bréedes his owne decaye By Reason doe thy selfe content let Vnderstanding guide For they are those whose beautie shines surpasse the worlde wide The mightie Ioue that sittes on hie full well all states doth vewe The verie secretes of mens hartes oft times he chaunges a newe If that in time they doe repent with faithfull minde in déede He ready is vs to forgiue and that with feruent spéede Forth on my voyage iorned I with will and good intent My faithfull promise to fulfill by Ages commaundement Thus as I rode by Dale and Hill I ganne my way to vew And straight appéered I in sight of Age before I knew Where I on sodeine was beset with sights both huge and straunge The aire full dimme began to shine a show of state to chaunge The earth began to tremble eke it made me quake for feare Infections forth also gan flie which did much empeare With miseries replenished with carefull paine and griefe No lande it is of profite sure wherein doth rest reliefe For paine to paine there doth resort ech other so doth paye Thus wearied Age in barren lande a time doth beare his swaye The trées that there are beares no fruite so barren is the grounde But thornes sharp which sore doth grieue there sorowes doth abound Nothing at all that beareth tast a dungeon like it is Most tenebrous withouten light yet fewe that lande doth misse Most ruinous this place is sure there dolors doe increase Of vitaile eke there cometh none whereby Age to release The Well springs there full bitter are and called Violation So were the named sinnes their first state of darkned inclination No sunne nor Moone there doth appeere no light at all is séene No goodnesse there may haue recourse beware such trap or grin Dispaire Dispraise Disdaine and Ire so rules this place or lande That Loue Truth with cōstant Zeale may not w t these gests stād No place at all once Helth to finde he will not there abide Nor Gladnesse she may not be séene if wrath hir once haue spide This vacant lande that barren is euen froward Age doth show Which ruled is by fonde desire ouer such Gods wrath doth flow An other Ilande yet there is not farre from Violation Infirmitie also it hight most full of perturbation Decrepitie there bends his sayle so long as aire giues breath And in the ende preuayles so trim that health he turnes to death As yet I came not in that place but sure I felt the smell Which represents to me my state as Time full well can tell To thinke thereon it doth me feare with tremblings low I quake For that I know the count is great that I to Ioue must make Full sore I languish in my hart for to sée the worlde nowe Without regard of life to come from thence they bende and bowe A number mindes no life I trow ech man himselfe doth loue And to relieue y e poore they grudge no threats their minds may moue Our weakenesse and infirmitie no lasting lyfe can get On what then doth man hope vpon himselfe he doth but let For while he striues to get renowme the thred of life is cut On sodaine thus he leaues behinde that he so much did glut Beware of fonde desired life of Ill will and Dispaire For they as Mates togither are and Attropos chiefe aire Those thrée doth bring a double death I say therfore beware Their path doe flie receyue them not nor row with no such fare No kinde of benefit there is that may compare to health If it be such as euill holdes then bréedes it but small wealth No euill is on earth certaine of nomination small But if that thou employe to it will be a plague mortall The life of man may likened be vnto a barren lande With oughten people it to till or there to liue and stande Which lieth so all ouergrowne with Bremble Brier and Thorne So man deuoyde from vertues grace by Daemon straight is torne Auoyde therfore the path of ire feare
sinnes to repay New wayes man still inuenteth now his God for to offend And so God doth new plagues deuise to bring him to an ende Not new as though God shoulde haue néede new things for to inuent But new bicause man didnot trust as yet such punishment I therfore quoth Debilitie doe proue my selfe the best By whom mankinde in this his race is most of all opprest For sorow may be put away as cause thereof doth spring Of pensiue hart swéete instruments can ioye and solace bring To sorâ—e hart for poore estate a salue is to be had And that is money which forthwith reuiues and makes him glad If wo for lacke of fame or praise actiuitie comes in If grieude with wouÌ„ds the medicine streight his ease doth then begin But he that is to weakenesse brought Phisitions may take paine And minister by Art and skill to make him hole againe Yea cure his sicknesse as they may by knowledge euermore But yet his strength they will confesse God only must restore With that gan Dolor halfe distraught to fixe his speare on brest And straight Debilitie began likewise to be addrest Their words displeasant were to eche they were incenst with ire And so they gan to close amaine with strokes as hote as fire Assuredly like Champions stoute and valiant in the féelde It was not cowardnesse that coulde make either so to yéelde But pawsed and fought and pawsed againe so cruell was their fight And sure full deadly blowes were giuen on either part did light How likest thou this said Memorie sure saide I gracious Dame I neuer saw yet such conflict no worthier than the same It is but vaine quoth she certes for them thus to contende For sée where one doth sit in throne that shall their battell ende Why that is Attropos quoth I truth quoth she to mée And these two Champions to hir grace both but as seruants bée With that same worde I hearde a voyce and Attropos gan speake Wherwith these champions both at once their battell of did breake Hir iudgemeÌ„t was that Griefe or Paine or Weaknesse were but sent As Messengers of Attropos and for hir high entent Not for your selues quoth she that you to raging bée But that when eyther of you strike man might prepare for mée Your powre and strength is little worth except I be your guide The honor therfore sure is mine I fully haue it tride With that they stayde and flong their speares ech one out of his hand And cast their eyes to Attropos where as hir throne did stand And we rode by when all was done the furious battailes hot And through the Dale amaine we rode our horses for to trot But as we rode Dame Memorie gan talke as woont we were Of that same sight which we had séene whereof I was in fere So falling out and commoning as we rode on our waye Of many things she put in minde which she before did saye And eke how these two champions had ful many a Wight down cast And eke how man was but a flowre a bud or westerne blast And so among much other talke it came into my minde Talking of Princes and of Kings which yet was left behinde To aske hir who succéeded next after in Britaine lande That swéete comly Edward King whom Fortune did withstand Truly quoth she thou well hast spoke I had hir quite forgot Sith small desert of memorie she left behinde God wot Marie a bitter floure God knowes sprong of so swéete a trée Yet bright she was in splendent throne as any Quéene could bée Marie succéeded Edward sure a braunche of Henries blood Though that hir reigne with Hesperus did Britaine land smal good A noble Prince no doubt she was respecting reigne and crowne As reigning ouer such a lande as beares so high renowne And wise she was as such one coulde so left in brothers steade And wiser if she would haue sought to be the supreme heade But she cast downe that father raisde which brother eke made sure And set vp that which they cast downe of all things most vnpure Yet royally she ran hir race as fancie did hir guide And sure right godly was hir life if knowledge had bene tride A iust religious minde had she but wanting skill of truth Which caused in Britain land much wo much wailing paine ruth If thou wilt more said Memorie to me of Maries raigne The Actes and Monuments put forth of that time show thée plaine The tragicall discourse therof the bloudie slaughter fell Time will not serue me but that booke shall show thée verie well At last when she had raignde in pompe adioyned to such a throne Scarce willingly gaue place to death which Bellials sort did mone She séemed as yet to show a grace that fatalls to defie And with these Champions both she sought as time did them descrie But she alas was all to weake for all the pompe she had And all the helpe of Balams flocke which prayed as they were mad Which roared and bleared in euery route that she had lost hir life Bicause they knew if she were gone then would begin their strife Well yet at length Debilitie and Dolor so preuaylde That they of hir obtainde the price which they had long assaylde And Attropos when they had done cut off hir vitall thréede How grieuously and in what wise to show is more than néede And euen as Memorie had done this short discourse to mée Of this same Quéene hir raigne and end a Fort we gan to sée And eke a house or Mansion place as we rode vp the hill And vnderneath a valey faire but forth we rode on still Till we were come vnto the house where Memorie bade light There she constrained me to rest bicause it was nere night Here will we bide sayd she a while vntill the morow day And then of other matters straight I will to thée display At hir request I lighted downe and put our Stéedes to grasse Then went we in yet will we tell what after came to passe The Author and Memorie walking on foote beholdeth the auncient showe and Funerals of mightie Conquerours past Wherevpon the Author beholding the same desireth Memorie to show him the meaning thereof as earst to fore she â—ad begonne When clowdie night so darke and grim was paste then we arose Euen when Auroras comely hew gan mornings chéere disclose When Cinthias hornes were hid when Phaebus tooke his race In glittring Chariot through the skies fro Esterne throne apace Then sayde Dame Memory at once make spéede the day drawes on And so we tooke our curteous leaue and went to horse anon The pleasaunts Dame is Memory to ride or go withall She mooues the minde not to forget what after shall befall The chéerfulst Ladie on the way Dame Memory is sure That euer matched with Pilgrime tryde his fancies to alure Besides recouering vp the talke that we had ouer night The chéere the banquet and repast the