ngels Protect you both May your faire worth N atur'd like that Blest Tree first brought you forth L iue long So loue liue blest in one another Y our sweetnesse grant O Heau'n a ioyfull Mother Verses vpon Sr. Thomas Stanly his Lady her first beeing with Childe God to this world with safe deliu'rance bring That little world Prime Noble Pretious thing Within your happy Wombe Long may it liue To liue Times faire example truly giue Next God full ioy praise to that Bodies worth Blest Tree of Happinesse first brought it forth That 's all I can wish which to your true Ioy Through hearty Prayer I wish a louely Boy Hope Faith Charitie The blessed Syrens of Eternitie Firme Faith Sweet Hope and Sacred Charity For euer dwell faire Minded Vertuous Dame In your two Hearts now in one Bodies Frame Big with Rich Natures comely curious dressing Iewell of Glory God's Almighty Blessing O may your Pangs in Labour proue as milde As was the Virgin Mary she whose Childe Remember in your Throwes you then with ease Shall beare a Babe that best your minde shall please So happy Mother of a happy Sonne If Daughter happy Liue Heauens will be done A Memoriall vpon the Death of that True Honorable Valiant Commander Sr. Francis Carew Knight of the most noble and sacred Institution of the Bath to our Soueraigne Lord King Charles F all from mine Eyes yea Tragicke Teares of pitie R un to my Pen write write Times mournefull Dittie A nd to this dull Age tell in Sorrowes Tone N oble Wise Valiant Carew he is gone C onquer'd for Loue to Heau'n King Country State I n a iust cause he dy'd O happy Fate S oule suff'ring Vertue fully fortunate C all'd to the sacred Order of the Bath A Jemme he liu'd and dy'd a Knight of Faith R eligion drew him on to Warres fierce Fight E arth claim'd her due Death was to him delight W ho liu'd and dyde Heauens happy Fauorite An Epitaph vpon the Right Honourable Lady the Lady Francis Sister to Theophilus Earle of Lincolne and wife to Mr. Iohn Gorges Esquire YEe Eyes that ioy i' th rarenesse of that Life Which makes Man blest in a true Noble wife Behold here lies a Iemme bereau'd of Breath That Excellent Lady she that by Death Sterne Death subdu'd her life and loue did shine Cleare as Heau'ns star like a true wife diuine She was her Sexes wonder hate to sinne Made her the Glory of her Noble kinne She was what can be said Religious kinde A Saint on Earth that bore an Angels Minde Vpon the Death of Mistris Margaret Brograue M ilde At Rough Grim Assaults Restlesse Eu'n Tir'd B eguirt with Death mildely her soule aspir'd R ight vpward flew to that Arch-glitring Heau'n O f for and from whom shee at first was giuen G lory of Parents farewell modest kinde R are earthly Forme fram'd of a Heau'nly Minde A ll the fond fashions of the world's entice V aine Woman's wish she slighted tempting vice E uer she checkt with thoughts of Paradice Vpon my worthy Friend Mr. CHARLES AYTE CHARLES AYTE Anagram REALY CHASTE THe true expression of a gratefull Minde For your long since past loue to me so kinde I neuer shall forget accept then this Diuine Note on your Name Mans chiefest blisse Courts you faire Soule to such an happinesse Words are too weake to tell Pen to expresse While thousands in vaine Lust their life time waste Your Anagram is what Realy Chaste MARY HEATH Anagram HA MY HEART Thus exprest NEuer had Virgin sweetenesse to the view Of this vast World a happier Name then you Your Anagram is such 't is euer vs'd ' Mongst Turtle Louers that ne'r loue abus'd Vertues Chaste Queene to you doth here impart Infinite Ioy in these words Ha My Heart TO My much respected true Friend Master William Vtber W i th holy thoughts Lord make thee to repell I nfernall sinne ne'r may the charmes of Hell L asciuious Temptings nor the worlds delight L ocke thee from Heau'n the Lord of Day and Night I nspire thy Soule Rauish thy Noble Sight A rm'd with Faith Hope and Sacred Charitie M ount may thy Soule Eternall Victory V aine World what is it but a Theame of sorrow T imes slaue the stage of death from which we borrow B rau'ry for one Day and are dead to Morrow E arth's Pompe is nothing but a poys'ning Spell R iots vaine Glory Painted Iezabell TO His Respected Friend Mr. VALENTINE OLDIS V ertue on Earth firme Enemie to Vice A ppearing Glorious when the Worlds Intice L aies Seidge vnto the Soule and with delight E leuates holy Spirits gainst sinnes Fight N ames you the Man for Combate points thee on T o the Celestiall Race which thought vpon I nuites thy Soule to that perfection N o Tongue can tell not all the Words content E quals the Minde that 's truly Penitent O n Gods great Mercy euer cast an Eye L et thy knowne dang'rous Trauailes neuer die D eeds that haue past the Stormes of Sea and Land I n thee true Triall haue to make thee stand S in s Foe Truths Champion still at Heau'ns command TO My beloued Friend Mr. FRANCIS HVRST F ly Friend from all vaine thoughts let thy faire youth R unne Vertues Race be still in Loue with Truth A s Sea-Men striue in Neptunes Path to shunne N umberlesse Dangers so like Times best Sonne C leare thy Soule 's ship from eu'ry stormie Spell I n this Worlds wicked Sea Those waues of Euill S urges of Sinne the World the Flesh and Deuill H ere as you reade the Follies of the Time V ndaunted struggle to subdue each Cryme R owze thee from sinne striue Vertues Top to clime S o from the high Pyramides of Grace T here houers o're thy head an Angels place LOVES SONNET LEt me not be with bitternesse despighted That an with you and onely you delighted Beare witnesse Angells what I write is true I Loue and loue and loue and none but you Shall I then suffer Racke be rackt and torne Shall I then suffer hate and churlish scorne Will you my honest minde so much misuse Sweete Natures Loue to pittie not abuse O bee so sweete Liue and liue long to cherish My Pen and mee or I for euer perish Sorrowes Sonnet Once I did loue so lou'd and was belou'd As Heau'n was angry sure else we had prou'd No-Star-crost Louers our true Loues were such Alas we lou'd and lou'd and lou'd too much For see the lucke my Loue kept from mine eyes By her most cruell Friends for Loue she dyes Then like a burning Beacon set on fire At sight of her sad Funerall my dere Kindled burn'd fier'd flam'd as t would pierce the skie Then would I perish faine but Fates denie A thousand griefes at once me thought did moue In my Mad braine and then I was in Loue Starke Mad in Loue all ioyes bereft me And nothing but despaire Sad sorrow left me Vpon
the feare Rowze my flint Heart Simile that like a frighted Deere Amazed stands attaints mine eyes of treason Those eyes exclaime against the eyes of reason The eye of reason blames their wanton sight As ouer rul'd by foolish appetite Each guilty of their fault to sinne stand thrall No Limme but helps th' oppressed soule to fall * Man at the best his vertu's very little * His state a Bubble at the strong'st most brittle Simile * Mans life is like a Game at Tables where * A good chance happ'ning if you doe not there * Mend it with some good play the sad Games losse * Will vexe thy grieued soule proue the sole crosse * To all thy comforts All quietnesse than Simile * Leaues thee and like a drunken seruing-man 〈◊〉 * Which at his masters most need goes astray * Is euer sure still to be out o' th way What shall I doe Where whether shall I fly Here there I know not where lie downe and dye Vp soule to Heau'n there get a glorious Crowne I am too weake too vile sinne puls me downe O my vnworthinesse my shame my sinne When shall I shake thee of when when beginne No wilt not bee can I not doe the good I would Must I be rul'd by flesh and blood Weepe on weepe on dissolue hard heart of flint Melt melt thou stony rocke Teares neuer stint Drop Marble Mount drop to a crimson flood Sinke my sinnes in Seas of penitent blood Come folded Armes and you sad Eyes sad Heart Come Soule opprest with sorrow play thy Part Haste to some gloomy-groue there all alone On the greene mantled Earth sigh sob and grone Spend pretious time with sacred thoghts that beares Heau'n in their Eyes true Vertue in their teares Complaine I will to fortune not that whore Which makes leane art pale-fac'd wisdome poore I le not complaine to her but to that Ens Almighty Fortune in diuinest sense Groueling on Earth for sinne I le cast forth groanes Sighes shall conuert to Teares Teares into moanes Then will I start from ground my Body raise Shoote mine Eyes vpward against Heau'n I 'le gaze Thinke on my God my God whose sacred Will I haue abus'd my God most iust to kill Damne Soule and Body my rememb'rance blot Out of the Booke of Life I that forgot In midst of all vaine ioyes Intemp'rate healths Loose wanton chambering lasciuious stealths All-seeing Heauen a God so good so great He that to feed vs with Spirituall meate Tooke humane shape came downe from Heau'n The Natiuitie of Christ to Earth Enter'd the World at whose soule-sauing Birth The euerlasting gates of Mercy stood Open to all His houre of flesh and blood Turn'd night to day Heau'ns glittering Angell came And to poore men poore sheepheards did proclaime A Sauiour borne sinnes fury to controule Neuer was such sweet musicke to the soule Before his comming the Natiuitie Of Christ brings mortals firme felicitie * Milde was his Birth his Life creations wonder * His death deaths terror O thou God of thunder * Master of mans saluation all the Earth * Reapt plenitude of Ioy when thou tookst Birth * Mortalls were bigge with sinne villany ripe * Hells dreadfull Dragon ready for to gripe * Soules in his vggly pawes But then stept in * Our Sauiour he redeemd lost soules whose sinne * Gaue them to death eternall blessed houre * Blessed Natiuitie thrice blessed powre * Me thinkes at thought of thy Natiuitie * I lie perfum'd in Immortalitie When Christ was borne all were new borne agen Nere came like Musicke to the hearts of Men Angels for ioy clap their Celestiall Wings And eu'ry Saint eu'ry Crownd Martyr Sings Magnifico Deum to mortalls peace The calme of Conscience and shall mortals cease Their glad expressions No let hate to vice Dissolue sinnes cloud Eccho to Paradice Our Sauiours welcome let vs neuer more Lie downe to our dishonours like a whore Simile Dead to good councell neuer let darke deedes Defile the Soule Le ts roote vp all the seedes Of Pride Lust Enuie Hatred and in place Plant wisedome meeke humility and grace * Christs Glory came cloathd in humility * To teach our Hell-bred Pride Ciuility * Borne of a Virgin came to the world a stranger * His Palace an Oxe-stall his Bed a Manger O're whose obscure aboad Heau'ns Taper shinde And to the soules of wisest Men diuinde Great Natures wonder pointed them the way To finde the worlds Redeemer they obay Made towards that fixed starre which in the skie Was the blest Virgin Maries Canopie To Beth-lehem they came there with hearts glad Ador'd the King of Glory poorely clad Nor could blood thirstie Herods strict command Nor bloody butchering of Babes withstand His blessed Birth whose admiration brings Ioy to the world blest be that King of Kings He that to cure sinnes Leaporous disease A Heauenly Progresse fetcht the Geste these CHRIST'S Setting forth from 's Celestiall PALACE The Adamant of Glory Lodg'd in the Virgins Wombe from that blest PLACE To th' Manger went from Manger to the Crosse From Crosse departed with his deare Blouds losse Vnto the SEPVLCHER there made all euen And so Return'd Gloriously Home to HEAVEN To HEAV'N from whence LORD let thy SACRED FIRE GLISTER vpon my SOVLE whose sole Desire Begges MERCY for my Sinnes makes knowne to THEE THOV that hast RAVIHST ALL hast Rauisht Me. The Passion of Christ. Thirty three yeeres Christs sanctity did were The Cloth of our Redemption and did beare Times heauy yoake of crosses that we might With ease sustaine all wrongs in him delight Simile * Like Martyr'd Stephen whose lowd crying grones * Gain'd Heau'n i th' middle of a storme of stones * Loue lead him on in Death this Saint was Taster * And first that follow'd his Immortall Master * Christ Crucifide whom none that truly heares * But sure 't will thawe their frozen hearts to teares * Christs whole Life was a Martyrdome and Crosse * Actiue and Passiue and his deare bloods losse * The Tragicke Part the bloody Sceane which none * But he himselfe must Act and Act alone * Alone for vs Heau'ns Glorious Lampe of Grace * Grou'ling on Earth fell on his sacred Face * He that is euer Lord of Mercies seate * Water'd the Garden Cedron with the sweate * Of bloody Browes and Body heauinesse * And deadly sorrow seiz'd his blessednesse * A kisse betray'd him and a periur'd lie * Was the Reward for all his puritie In scorne this Prince of Heau'n was buffetted Spighted spitted at Extreamly scourged Yet Torture ne'r mou'd him he was silent In all his bitter suffrings patient Neuer did Earthly King free from annoy Receiue his Crowne nor with a greater ioy Went to his Coronation Dignifide As Glories King went to be Crucifide In him the Iewes derided Maiestie Condemned Innocence scourg'd Pietie * Head Hands Side Feet they to the Crosse did Fixe * Made him all o're a
Eye E uer beheld His Life was Vertues Story D epriu'd by death for his Immortall Glory Duke Richmonds Ghost To his Princely Dutches. L ife of that Loue to me on Earth most Deare O cease to grieue for me let no sad Teare D rop from thy Fun'rall Eyes Death came I went O 're ioyd from Earth to Heau'ns pure Parlaiment W hy then sad sweet which once my heart did burne I n true Loues Flames why dost thou sit and mourne C leare Eyes Looke vp ioy in th' Allternall Trine K eepe teares for sinne so Turtle liue Diuine S aint like they liue where Vertue rules high blood T ' is most most fearefull to be Great not Good V nlocke thy treasure then Heau'ns steward be A nd what I left vndone doe thou for me R eward thy Seruants Good Deeds lead the way T o make vs liue best in the latter day So farewell Sweet Good God from wayes vneuen Thy Ship of Life steere to the Land of Heauen Duke Richmonds Epitaph FRom fogs of vanity thicke Cloudes of Vice Lockt from each Soule seducing vaine Entice Here lyes Entoomb'd a gracious Prince whose Birth Almighty God fram'd of the purest Earth Through euery Conduite of the Flesh high straines Of Royall blood ranne through his Azure Veines Like a faire printed Godly pleasing Booke So did his Dead Corpes Liuing rarely looke His Eyes toth ' compleate carriage of his Head Were Leaues of Loue where none that knew but Read A Body so befitting euery Limme Neuer was more becoming then in Him But now in Graue that Forme is chang'd to Clay Which liuing shin'd like to a Sommers Day Gone is the subiect of my mournefull verse His Sun is set turn'd to a sable Herse Lodg'd in the Night within a death bed laide Form'd by rude hands the Picke Axe and the Spade To put the world in minde these dayes of sinne Death shall deface as if they ne'r had bin Witnesse the sad rememb'rance of that day When this dead Duke so early snatcht away How soone that Morne when to Attend his King For to enact some memorable thing Death by the King of Kings which writ was sent To send his Soule to Heau'ns pure Parlaiment An Epitaph Pawse Reader for me thinkes I see appeare Sorrow in thy Face there dropt a tender teare I' st euen so reade on here shalt thou finde His Heau'n on Earth the beauty of his minde No vaine affecting Pompe Pride nor Ambition Bred in the bosome of his sweet condition * Deseruing Loue Courteous he was to all * A Louer of Iustice Foe to Sathans thrall * True Friend to Vertue Learning wholsome Lawes * Wonderfull valiant in a Righteous Cause * Patron of Piety Fauourer of Arts * A Noble Cherrisher of all good Parts * What flourishing Vertue e're made Man blest * But tooke a Lodging in Duke Richmonds brest Heau'n gaue him high Birth Scotland Princely Name France courtly Language England Eternall Fame The modest garbe of graue ciuilitie Meeknesse with Loue and true Humility Vsher'd his Soule the perfect Path to proue The Rich content of Great Iehoua's Loue Round Crown'd with Glory sempeternall Light Glit'ring in Heau'n blest in his Makers sight He Liues that was not onely Great in blood But what is farre more Rare a Great man Good The Lord Marquesse HAMLETON His Epitaph I f there be sighes a Teare or grieuous Groane A Sorrow yet neuer to Mortall knowne M ake here your Rendeuoze sighs teares each moane E ach Eye behold by Fatall stroake here lies S trucke into Earth True Honou'rs Noble Prize H ow e're his Body in sad sickenesse sped A ngels with his faire Soule to Heau'n are fled M auger the poyson'd shafts of death and Hell L ing'ring disease Earths Witch-craft or sinnes spell E ternity so grac'd him Death was vext T o see him liue and therefore slew him next O f all to all our Worthyes lately sent N euer to die in Heau'ns True Parlaiment Arthur Lord Chichester His Epitaph A dmir'd blest Chichester Councellour at warre R eu'rent State worthy Wisedom's Earth-bred Starre T o the true griefe of Kingdomes he is gon H is faire Sun-set cold as the Marble stone V ictorious Viceroy O with what a zeale R ul'd he Hybernias troublesome Common-weale C urb'd rough hair'd Kerne in conqu'ring Rebels hearts H ee was belou'd and fear'd for his rare parts I ustice and Mercy Vsher'd him the way C onstant to Gouerne that could best obay H onour and Vertue still in him combinde E xprest the fulnesse of his Noble Minde S ighs turn'd to Teares sad Teares to greiuous groanes T hose sighs Teares to hunder'd thousand moanes E xprest for Him wise valiant most descreet R are Fruit made ripe for Heau'n for Earth too sweet To the Right Honorable Robert Earle of Warwicke his Anagram in Latine ROBERTVS RICH Anagramma CHRISTE ROBVR Englished O CHRIST my Strength Relligio Virtus Pietas hoc nomine constat CHRISTE ROBVR sacrae Relligionis Apex How well thy Name and Vertue do's agree Firme Faith is found in that all worth in thee To the Right Honourable Sr. Iulius Caesar Knight Mr. of the Rolls c. His Annagram IVLIVS CAESAR Annagramma IVS AC LIS VERA Englished IVST DEALING AND TRVE STRIFE IN this your Honours Anagram I finde Iust Dealing Arm'd with a Religious Minde Fixt in your Soule Friend to despised Art And Noble Vertue O thrice happy Heart Jacobs true strife with God for glorious Fame Shines in the Vertue of your Noble Name By your Just Dealing And True Strife with sinne You conquer Hell a holy Battle winne Striue on faire soule thy Zeale makes Heau'n thy friend And Heau'ns high Chanc'ry Court thy Iournies end VERSES Vpon the Principall Coate at Armes of my Honorable Friend Sir HENRY HART Knight of the Noble order of the Bath SYmbolus iste hominem designant honore Potentem Rex Leo concessum est Ceruus Princepsque Terrarum Thus exprest in English This Noble Armes faire Honor decks antient worth inuests The Lion is the King I grant the Hart the Prince of Beasts Attributes belonging to the Hart. Ingenious quicke long liu'd Chaste Noble wise Are attributes found proper that arise To this braue Creatures praise more to impart SERTORIVS lead his Army by a Hart And ALEXANDER tooke great pride to decke With Golden Collars the soft veluet Necke Of those Heroicque Rangers that tooke breath Hunder'd yeeres after Alexanders Death This being iust how much more stirres vp Art That Noble Name set in a bounteous Hart. An Acrosticke Compos'd at the Marriage Of my honour'd Friend Sir Thomas Stanly with the LADY his wife that now is Fidelitie Honor Loue M arriage that Sacred tye vniteing Hearts A mple in Circular Loue which neuer Parts R are gentle Bride in your blest Heart hath plac't Y our Husbands Heart he that so thinkes him grac't S o farre beyond expression nothing can T ell his high Ioy by you a Happy man A
soul 's shun the blest meanes of grace Let vs for euer then resist all Euill Wisedome commands vs to defie the Diuell To combate with our sinnes oppose temptation Fight against Hell the Diuell and Damnation This for a Caueat take striue to doe well Ingratitude to Heau'n picks open hell While Grace is offer'd then Watch Fast and Pray Ther 's no preuention in the latter day * None liues secure that to his Vice liues friend * A Vitious life oft makes a vitious end * Strengthen me my Creator make me fight * Thy HOLY BATTLE let not the Worlds delight * Disswade my soule sweet Iesus for thy merits * Enable mee Rowze my deiected Spirits * Vncharme Hells charme O Sacred God vntie * My fetter'd Soule let mee not euer lie * Lull'd in the Strumpet lap of deadly sinne * This Minute Sacred Sauiour now beginne * To giue Release and as thou didst prouide * An Army of Angels for Eliahs guide * Who to secure him guirt with Enemies * Mounted his soule from worldly vanities * So Heauenly Day-Star blessed Iesus end * This my Designe thy holy Angell send * To be my Guide my Guard my Sacred spell * Gainst all Enchantments witchcrafts death hell * So shall my Anthem euery morning be * Glory of Heauen shew mercy vnto me * To me Times wretch most wretched vilely base * Wanting thy sacred aide spirituall grace * Remember not my frailties make me to grow * Great in thy loue thou that dost truly know * Of all the Blessings vnto Mortals giuen * My chiefe desire on Earth is Grace from Heau'n * The Blessing of th' Almighty Lord of Hoast * The Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost * Preserue be with me now and for euer when * My Soule is most distrest Amen Amen Spes mea Christo THE WORLD VAine is this World this Strumpet World that can Yeeld nothing cōstant Loue 'twixt man man Which next his Maker should be most respected Is soonest broake and most of all neglected Ingratefull vile the World 's a very Whore Proud rich in Vice in Vertue most most poore Misse-led by eu'ry vaine Phantasticke Toy To forget God bewitch't with carnall ioy Bundles of Baubles imbecilitie Biles of Apparell Botch Nobilitie Lordships Ladyships Foolries and Fashions Lust-panting Humours ten thousand Passions Rich Men the more to blame as this Age goes Debarre house-keeping to maintaine gay Cloathes A Rich Caroach three hunder'd pounds a Gowne Thirty pounds a Smocke or their Wiues will frowne There is no liuing with them they must ride Where when and how they list in glit'ring Pride High flashing burning Brauerie blinde Eyes Flint Hearts dull Eares deafe to all poore Mens cries Such is the dullnesse of Mortalitie And such the World 's cold Hospitalitie * Each dustie Magist'rate with Brib'rie fed * One robs the liuing another robs the dead * A third the Arch-Theefe playes by cunning stealth * Knaue Knights by Patent rob the Common-wealth * Ioyne with much too much ill iniustice he * Zodomiticall Lecher for a greedie Fee * Dares license lust glad if he may preuaile * Sucke wealth from prostitute Harlots neuer faile Man's minde which most his Maker should affect With feare and trembling and that true respect Belongs to his high Maiestie the Net Of sinne so snares we worthlesse wormes forget God's Thunder-darting Vengeance glorious state Still forget God forget to contemplate With Rauishing Loue true loue pure heart pure eies That 's the defect makes hourely mischiefes rise * Ambitious Lords Attir'd in Anicke shape * Ioy in the wayes of Lust Murder and Rape * Ladies with charmes tricks humours that they haue * Abuse their Lords dispatch them to the Graue * The Iealious Husband mischieuous in ill * Through vaine suspect his constant wife to kill * The carelesse Cleargy man in his degree * Satan corrupts makes for a golded fee The greedy Lawyer fed by Clients strife Brib'd angels take for the true Angell life Iust Iudge the vniust dustie Magistrate Father the Sonne the Sonne the Father hate Brother the Brother prosecute to death Quarrell for Toyes stop one anothers breath The world do's hourly tempt fooles worldly wise The deceitfull Tradesman that seemes precise And is an arrant knaue to thinke the honie And onely blessed life still to get mony Mockes at the poore mans vertue and in pride Stiles him a vertuous foole thus knaues deride The pouertie of Men which do's as farre In Heauenly wealth transcend them as a starre The richest Iemme on Earth But t is not so With the worlds wealthy worldling they say no Rich enough Honest enough all they can Aimes at the outward not the inward man * Pouertie made a scoffe a scorne a winde * Gold smothers Vertue blackest Actions blinde * Gold got in God's name with an honest face * Comes slow but in the Diuels name apace Such is the world's condition Good Men's thrall On Earth ther 's no true comfort none at all * The honest minded Scholler shall ne'r lacke * Sorrow nor want of meanes to breake his backe * The pittifull Souldier in his greatest need * Ha's his throate cut he shall be sure to bleed * The faire Gamester for his milde square play * Is soonest coozen'd sure to lose eu'ry day * The faithfull Louer still is paid with hate * The more in loue the more vnfortunate Be rich or poore in high or low Estate I' th mod'rate Meane or fully fortunate Insatiate Mankinde euer discontent Desires to liue but neuer liues content In scarcity of Corne for plentie crie In plenty straight forget God instantly Such is Man's Erring soule which ought to know * Life 's but a long sad Pilgrimage of woe Simile * An Arke of trauell shop of vanity * Storehouse of trifles Inhumanitie * A Field of Stones a Path of thornie Prickes * Meadow of Scorpions Groue of Basilisckes The Worlds vnquiet rest is all Man's foe * Dangers attend vs where so ere wee goe * Mischieuous Deceits Brawles Quarrels Fightings * False-hearted Neighbour-hood base back-bitings * Friendship 's so faithlesse Ripe full blowne with euill * A friend to day the next for gaine proues Deuill The World's condition right 't is slaue to sinne Beware of it the worlds a cunning ginne * T will entrap soules call then to God for Grace * Let griefe for worldly Crosses ne'r take place * Neuer let sorrow runne into extreames * Vnlesse for sinne so shall Celestiall Beames * Glorifie thy Soule make it Immortall * Free it from ills what euer can befall In this false promising World this Maze of woe Where wretched Worldlings know not where to goe To winde them out such are the various wayes Of life oppressing Yeeres Months Weeks and Daies As Prose ill read abide too much misusing Or Vertuous verse when rogues haue the perusing * So fares it with the faire and flourishing Line * Of that sweet Heauenly straine Poesie Diuine * Basely neglected by the Monster
Crew * Of Puff-Paste muddie Mindes that pish and mew * Make a wry Close-stoole-face a squint ey'd glance * At Vertuous verse whose sad mischance * Is to goe vnregarded when the crime * Of a lasciuious Bastard Ballet rime * If baudy enough though ne'r so vnfit * Winnes fauour profit and the praise of wit * Read with delight and much too much requir'd * Coppies sought after greedily desir'd * When perfect Poetrie Musicke to the soule Truth 's firme Opposer ' gainst crimes filthy soule * If Read most read for fashion small delight * No comfort no respect but scornefull flight * And such is Vertues Foe the Worlds proud Minion * In whom ther 's no true Loue no perfect Vnion O Diuine Poesie I lament thy state To see thy Beautie disproportionate So poorely in esteeme their 's few I see Or none at all take true delight in thee * This wanton World farre sooner will approue * Ioy in Pot-Poets lousie Rimeing loue * Or wanton Ouids straine to itch the eare * And stirre the blood to lust rather then heare * The Glorious Godly Aime of Noble Verse * Which points at Heau'n and tels vs of that fierce All-threatning Thunderer he that descries Our secret deeds those blackest Actions spies At which amaz'd my Muse stands wrapt in wonder Beggs Mercy Mercy O thou God of Thunder Or we shall shipwracke all All too too blame Farre too vnmindfull of God's Sacred Name His Blessings day by day his great Mercy Long suffering and Excelling Safety Why should we worm's stand pretious in Heau'ns sight And not be damn'd to Euerlasting Night For our Foule erring sinnes sinnes that Excell The least whereof merits the Paines of Hell Hell that this instant Gapes to seize this world Deseruing euery moment to be hurl'd To endlesse Flames but for the Excellence Of OVR FATHER'S wonderfull patience O for the Pen of pure perfection To character Man's imperfection Open the blinde excessiue sinner's eyes Force Teares for sinne make him himselfe despise 'T were Musicke to the Soule Diuine delight Th' vndoubted Path to pleasures infinite Holla Commanding Empresse of my Braine Whether thus flings my Muse diuert thy Straine Man is so farre from making God amends That all his waies to wicked Actions bends The World 's a Racke Times Tenter-hooke to ketch At mindes most honest makes a man a wretch Thousands in want finding no way to cure it Hazard the Gallowes rather then endure it Mis'ry of Miseries when Coyne growes scant Man's Fortun 's Foot-ball ther 's no woe to want It dulls braue witts when nothing else can doe it Tames and makes desp'rate when Time brings vs to it Want makes a man turne Slaue vnto a Slaue Scoft scorn'd and flouted at by eu'ry knaue By eu'ry silken sodden-headed Foole That neuer felt Heau'ns scourge nor Mis'ries Schoole Want broacheth Mischiefes neuer thought vpon Makes many an honest woman wanton Want like a Madman makes Men sweare and Dice Simile Forget their God turne Vertue into vice Husband and wife the Sister and the Brother Compel'd through want deuoure one another Merchants Lawyers yea some Diuines will fall When want do's soundly Gripe tw'ill trie them all And therefore As an Antidote be sure First that thou pray to God that 's the maine Cure Gainst Woluish-want and then bethinke thee sure Vpon some honest meanes 't will new Create Thy vnderstanding put thee on a way With Reu'rent Soule on bended knees each day To serue thy God aright so he from falling Proues thy Protector giues thee a Vertuous Calling Heau'n grant the Honest Minde may neuer know The fierce Assaults of want that Hell of woe Torture of Minde Murderer of Modestie High-way to Theft Cut-throate of Chastitie The Key of Whoredome Bane of that true Loue Which many boast but few did euer proue Many vow Loue for euer to be true Yet when want comes Whores are not more vntrue How sweetly did that Sacred Psalmist sing And runne Times true Diuision on the string Of Misery when he of God did craue Nor Want nor too much Wealth least in the Graue Of damn'd Despaire much want might haile him in And Riches Mount him to the highest sinne Lackey his way to lewdnesse to mistrust God's Mercies and to practise wayes vniust A Holy feare seiz'd on that blessed King To dread want's Dangerous Dart Proud Riches sting May the Good Man still thirst for Mercies Cup Climbe Jacobs sacred Ladder and mount vp Into a fiery Chariot Burning Zeale Liue a bright Angell in Heau'ns Common weale Free from this World whose Pompe and Brauery Is but a Land of Durt meere slauery THE FLESH SInne Acts foule Lust vpon the Soule while it Stands Puritan Punck-like willing to commit The Flesh vnto the Soul 's a bitter Pill Sweet guilded Poyson Candide o're to kill Hurrid Carocht in Pride which glit'ring showe Of swelling Pompe whose sweet Effect is woe Fleshly delights beget much Misery Makes Couples marrie vnaduisedly Thinking Loue tittle tattles can feed their wishes Loue soone growes cold where there is empty dishes Of all the sinnes that are when nothing can Ruine the Soule the Flesh preuailes with Man His Eyes no sooner on Deuotion waite But in steps Carnall Concupiscence straight She 's at his Elbow still to itch him on Th' vnhappy path to his Confusion * Chaste wiues are Saints women that wantonize * Witches all poyson Hell is in their Eyes In which as in a Wildernesse of woe In striuing to get out on mad men goe Starke mad past sense spight of all Books and Schools Ruine their Fortunes proue the Slaues to Fooles For an alluring Minutes trifling Ioy A lewd Insatiate Longing a meere Toy * O woman woman thy bewitching motion * Fooles wisedome mads reason and blinds al deuotiō The Flesh false Traitor like striues to betray The Soule to Hell for an Infernall Prey Fleshly delight in Man feares want of Breath More then his God sinne or Eternall Death * When iust plagues come thē sin-sick sots can tremble * Make knowne to all the World how they dissemble * Pray with the lip not heart wrest sacred Text * To serue their owne Ends first and then God next * Prouide to liue in pestilent Times beginne * Take greater Care to flie from death then sinne * Ther 's nothing in our Flesh but wickednesse * Desire to liue and obscene wantonnesse We forget now that dreadfull dismall chance The Terrible Arrow of Gods vengeance When Death buried farre more then th' Earth could swallow And no man to the Graue his Friend durst follow O why should Mortals wish long life to liue What Comfort what true Ioy do's this life giue * Ther 's nothing not one thought that do's vs good * But it is strangled straight by Flesh and blood * Holy Saint Paul finding the Flesh Rebell * desir'd to be dissolu'd proud Flesh to quell * And Sacred Symeon sung ' gainst sinnes encrease * Lord let thy seruant now depart in peace