found me aliue Long was the talke of manie a farlye thoe Long did I looke for that which did not come But all those blasts in sine did ouerbloe I listned long to heere the sound of drumme Yet though I had the great good will of some God would not thâ—ell for one mans sake alone That broyles should cause a million make their mone When birde is limde farewell faire feathers all The fish in net maie bidde the sea adiew When world beholds a man is neere his fall It leaues him there and follows fancies newe When all is saide the olde prouerbe is true Who cannot swimme must sincke there is no boote Who hath no horse of force must goe on foote Thus â—yed to clogge and pende in prison fast My hope decaide my hart did heauie waxe So souldiers came and brought me foorth at last The butcher then began to whâ—t his axe All was on flame the fire was flowne in flaxe There was no choise I must a size abide Prooue foule or cleane and by my Peeres be tried To Edenbrough the captiue man was brought Along the fieldes where flockes of people were The sight of whom did trouble much my thought But when in deede I was ariued there Both streetes and stalles and windows euery where Were stuffed full to giue on me the gaze But that might not my manly mind amaze Yet neither one nor other small nor great Did me salute So turnde the moodes of men That colde deuice nay rather raging heate Could not appall my princely courage then For I did looke as I did nothing ken Yet knew the whole that some in secret bore So passed through the thronge what would ye more A russet cloake a garment rude and bare For such a state make what of mee they would With foule felt hat and robes but base I ware That people might my great disgrace beholde Alas poore lambe thy life was bought and soulde No force of weedes to couer clott of claye Morton was dead full longe before that daie Now Lawyers flockte and swarmde in ilke a place Now Lords repaird and Lardes came daily in Now learned heads did long debate my case Now did in deed my sorrowes all beginne Now was the time that I must lose or winne For I appeard before the iudgement seate And there maintainde my right with reasons great Made good defence to many matters sure Spake boldly still and did but iustice craue My pleading there did foure long houres endure And Lawyers then to me good leasure gaue But to what end did I long pleading haue I was condemnd the world would haue it so A thing there was but that the Lord doth know And I that héere confesse my former gylt A murther than was laide vnto my charge Which I concealde yet saw a Kings bloud spilt A fowle offence for which there is no targe Nor could not claime therefore to goe at large But byed the sence and censure of the lawes For fowle God wot and filthy was my cause The iudgement was a heauy thing to héere But what they did I could not call againe The sentence past too late my selfe to cleere Once iudgd to die condemnd I must remaine As silly shéepe in shopp must needes be slaine Then to the pot or pit our flesh must passe All flesh is dust vaine ashes earth and grasse Then thought I on some friend that absent was And spoke some words but askâ— not what they were So from the bench to prison did I pas And for to die did make me ready there The Preachers came and shed full many a teare To bring my soule in perfect patience than And make me die a faithfull christian man In secrete sort the Preachers there I told Great things of waight that in my conscience lay And so confest what right and reason would But thereon pawsde I would no further say Aske what they pleasde I did but troth bewray Whereat I knockt my troubled trembling brest And so desirde the Preachers let me rest O brethren mine your doctrine likes me well Qd. I good men bestow some praiers now In your beliefe looke that you daily dwell As you beganne so still continue through The bloud of Christ hath washt my blotted brow As white as snow I haue no doubt nor feare Shall be my sinnes that red as scarlet were The Preachers glad to bring my soule to rest Brought Scripture in and did the text vnfold And many a place and sentence they exprest Towardes the death to make my body bolde O my good Lord you may not now behold The pompe quoth they and glory that is past But you must thinke on that which aye shall last Both wealth and friends and worldly wisedome to Are banisht quite and blush to come in place When soule goes hence those things haue nought to doe With man that is then newly borne in grace The light of day hath darkenes still in chase The heauenly thoughts doe hate all earthly things And faith to clowdes doth flie with flittring wings They praide with me and wipt their wéeping eies My heauy sprite stood troubled sore that tide And as the sighes from panâ—ing heart did rise My groaning Ghost O Abba father cride The sobs flew forth the â—eares I could not hide As babe doth wéepe when he beholds the rod So then I feard the wrath of my good God Full soone reformde I was in godly wise Gaue ore the world forgot all earthly thing Heaud vp my hands and heart vnto the skies To God that did this plague vppon me bring And then I sued and sent vnto the King To scape the coard by losse of life and breath For heading was for me more Nobler death He graunted that and sad for my mishap He let me goe where God and man assignd Now euery fault lay open in my lap Each small offence came freshly to my minde The secret sinnes that we in conscience finde A muster made and passed for their pay Before great God that doth all things bewray The wrong I did to simple people plaine Bad heart â—orethinke the fury of mine ire The gréedy thirst of glory rule and gaine Made soule afeard of hote infernall fire My selfe I blamde for fleshly fond desire But falling thus full prostrate on my face From heauens hie I felt a sparke of grace Which warmd my sprites that waxed faint and cold The last conflict that in this life we haue Then comfort came and made weake body bold Care not for death for life mounts vp from graue Qd. knowledge then when Christ the soule shall saue With that I flong behinde all fearefull dread So cald for booke and many a Psalme did reade In lesse then halfe the time that I haue spoke Me thought I talkt with God whose face did shine Who from a cloude discende as thinne as smoke And entred in my breast by power diuine O mortall man said he come thou art mine Be strong and stout to fight the battell throw
beggar soone is spied When weake Shores wife had lost her staffe of stay The halt and blind went limping lame away The poore is pincht and pointed at in deed As baited bull were leading to a stake Wealth findes great helpe want gets no friend at néede A plaged wight a booteles mone may make A naked soule in street for colde may quake But colde or hot when mischiefes comes a roe As falles the lot the backe beares of the bloe Prefarment past the world will soone forget The present time is daily gazd vpon Yf merchant rich from wealth doe fall in debt Small count is made of his good fortune gon We feede on flesh and fling away the bone Embrace the best and set the worst aside Because faire flowers are made of in their pride You yonglings nowe that vaine delights leads on To sell chast life for lewd and light desires Poore gaine is gote when rich good name is gon Foule blot and shame liues vnder trimme attires World soone casts off the hackney horse it hiers And when bare nagge is ridden out of breath Tibbe is turnd lose to feed on barren heath Of flowers a while men doe gay poses make The sent once past a due dry withered leaues Loue lasts not long prickt vp for pleasures sake Straw little worth when corne forsaks the sheaues A painted post the gazars eie deceiues But when foule fauts are found that bleard the sight The account is gon of girlls or gugawes light Young pooppies play small season lasts you sée Old appish sportes are quickly out of grace Fond wanton games will soone forgotten be As sowre as crabbe becomes the sweetest face There needes no more be spoken of this case All earthly ioyes by tract of time decayes Soone is the glase runne out of our good dayes My fall and facte makes proofe of that is spoke Tels world to much of shadowes in the sunne Dust blowne with winde or simple proofe of smoake That flies from fire and fast throwe aire doth run It ends with woe that was with ioy begun It turnes to teares that first began with sport At length long paine finds pleasure was but short As long as life remaind in Edwards brest Who was but I who had such friends at call His body was no sooner put in chest But well was he that could procure my fall His brother was mine enemy most of all Protector then whose vice did still abound From ill to worse till death did him confound He falsely fainde that I of counsell was To poyson him which thing I neuer meant But he could set thereon a face of brasse To bring to passe his lewde and false intent To such mischiefe this tyrants heart was bent To God ne man he neuer stood in awe For in his wrath he made his will a lawe Lord Hastings bloud for vengeaunce on him cryes And many moe that were to long to name But most of all and in most woefull wise I had good cause this wrtched man to blam◠Before the world I suffered open shame Where people were as thicke as is the sand I pennance tooke with taper in my hand Each eye did stare and looke me in the face As I past hy the rumours on me ran But pacience then had lent me such a grace My quiet lookes were praisd of euery man The shamefast bloud brought me such collour than That thousands sayde that sawe my sober chéere It is great ruth to sée this woman heere But what preuayld the peoples pitie there This raging wolfe would spare no guiltles blood Oh wicked wombe that such ill fruit did beare Oh cursed earth that yéeldeth forth such mud The hell consume all things that did thée good The heauens shut their gates against thy spréete The world tread downe thy glory vnder féete I aske of God a vengeance on thy bones Thy stinking corps corrupts the aire I knowe Thy shamefull death no earthly wight bemones For in th◠life thy workes were hated so That euery man did wis◠thy ouerthroe Wherefore I may though parciall nowe I am Curse euery cause whereof thy body came Woe worth the man that fathered such a childe Woe worth the howre wherein thou wast begate Woe worth the brests that haue the world begylde To norish thée that all the worlde did hate Woe worth the Gods that gaue thée such a fate To liue so long that death deserude so oft Woe worth the chance that set thée vp aloft Woe worth the day the time the howre and all When subiects clapt the crowne on Richards head Woe worth the Lordes that sat in sumptuous hall To honour him that Princes blood so shead Woulde God he had bin boyld in scalding lead When he presumde in brothers seat to sit Whose wretched rage ruld all with wicked wit Yée Princes all and rulers euerechone In punishment beware of hatreds yre Before yée scourge take héede looke well thereon In wraths ill will if malice kindle fyre Your harts will burne in such a hote desyre That in those flames the smoke shall dim your sight Yée shall forget to ioyne your iustice right You should not iudge till things be well descernd Your charge is still to maintaine vpright lawes In conscience rules yée should be throwly lernd Where clemencie bids wrath and rashnes pause And further saith strike not without a cause And when yee smite doe it for iustice sake Then in good part ech man your scourge will take If that such zeale had moud this tyrants mind To make my plague a warning for the rest I had smal cause such fault in him to finde Such punishment is vsed for the best But by ill will and powre I was oprest He spoylde my goods and left me bare and poore And caused me to beg from dore to dore What fall was this to come from Princes fare To watch for crumes among the blind and lame When almes were delt I had an hungry share Because I knewe not how to aske for shame Till force and néede had brought me in such frame Than starue I must or learne to beg an almes With booke in hand to say S. Dauids Psalmes Where I was wont the golden chaines to weare A payre of beads about my necke was wound A linnen cloth was lapt about my heare A ragged gowne that trailed on the ground A dish that clapt and gaue a heauie sound A staying staffe and wallet there withall I bare about as witnesse of my fall The fall of leafe is nothing like the spring Ech eye beholdes the rising of the sunne All men admire the fauour of a King And from great states growne in disgrace they run Such sodaine claps ne wit nor will can shun For when the stoole is taken from our féete Full flat on floore the body falls in stréete I had no house wherein to hide my heade The open stréete my lodging was perforce Full oft I went all hungry to my bed My flesh consumde I looked like a corse
shines so passing faire That sunne nor moone nor weather cannot staine If blastes of winde and stormes to beautie yelde And this well springe makes other fountaines drye Turnes tides and floodes to water baraine feeld Come sighes then home I liue and cannot die If her great giftes doth daunt dame fortunes might And she haue caught the hayres and head ot hap To others hard to her a matter light To mount the cloudes and fall in honours lap If shee her selfe and others conquers too Liues long in peace and yet doth warre defie As valiaunt kinges and vertuous victors doe Then sighe no more o heart I cannot die If such a prince abase her highnesse than For some good thing the world may gesse in mee And stoupes so low too like a sillie man That little knowes what Princes grace may bée If shee well waie my faith and seruice true And is the iudge and toutch that gold shall trie The colour cleere that neuer changeth hue Heart sigh no more I liue and may not dye If I doe vse her fauour for wy weale By reason off her gracious countenance still And from the sunne a little light I steale To keepe the life in lampe to burne at will If robberie thus a true man may commit Both I and mine vnto her merits flie If I presume it springes for want of wit Excuse mee than sad sighes or else I die If she do know her shape in heart I beare Engraude in breast her grace and figure is Yea day and night I thinke and dreame each where On nothing else but on that heauenly blisse If so transformde my mind and body liues But not consumde nor finde no cause to cry And waite on her that helpe and comfort giues Than come poore sighes your maister shall not die If she behold that here I wish no breath But liue all hers in thought in word and déede Whose fauour lost I craue but present death Whose grace attaind lean soule full fat shall féede If any cause doe keepe her from my sight I know no world my selfe I shall deny But if her torch doe lend my candle light Heart sigh no more the body doth not die But if by death or some disgrace of mine Through enuies sting or false report of foes My view be bard from that sweete face diuine Beleeue for troth to death her seruant goes And rather sure than I should ill conceiue Sighes mount to skies you know the cause and why How here below my lusty life I leaue Attend me there for wounded heart must die If shée beléeue without her presence héere That any thing may now content my minde Or thinke in world is sparke of gladsome cheere Where shée is not nor I her presence finde But all the ioyes that man imagine may As handmaides wayt on her héere vnder sky Then sighes mount vp to heauens hold your way And stay me there for I of force must die If I may feare that fragill beauty light Or semblance faire is to be doubted sore Or my vaine youth may turne with fancies might Or sighes full falles â—ains griefe or torment more Than heart doth féele then angry stars aboue Doe band your selues gainst me in heauens hie And rigor worke to conquer constant loue Mount vp poore sighes here is no helpe I die And so sad sighes the witnes of my thought If loue finde not true guerdon for good will Ere that to graue my body shalbe brought Mount vp to clowds and there abide me still But if good hope and hap some succour send And honor doth my vertuous minde supply With treble blisse for which I long attend Returne good sighes I meane not now to die Translated out of French for one that is bounde much to Fortune FINIS This is to be red fiue waies IN hat a fauour worne a bird of gold in Britaine land In loyall heart is borne yet doth on head like Phenix stand To set my Phenix forth whose vetues may theÌ„ al surmount An orient pearle more worth in value price good accounnt TheÌ„ gold or precious stone what tong or verse dare her distain A péerelesse paragon in whom such gladsome gifts remaine Whose séemly shape is wroght as out of war wer made y e mold By fine deuise of thought like shrined Saint in beaten gold Dame nature did disdaine and thought great scorn in any sort To make the like againe that should deserue such rare report Ther néeds no Poeâ—â—s pen nor painters peniel come in place Nor flatring frase of meÌ„ whose filed spech giues ech thing grace To praise this worthy dame a Nimph which Dian holds full déer That in such perfect frame as mirror bright christal cléer Is set out to our view thréefold as faire as shining Sunne For beauty grace and hue a worke that hath great glory won A Goddes dropt from sky for causes more then men may know To please both minde eie for those that dwels on earth below And shew what heauenly grace and noble secret power diuine Is séene in Prâ—ncely face that kind hath formd â—â—amd so fine Loe this is all I write of sacred Phenix ten times blest To shew mine own delite as fancies humor thinketh best FINIS TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull my Ladie Brocket wife to Sir Iohn Brocket knight one of the Lieutenants of Hartford Shire A Promise made to the good Ladie you Sister who died in the Towre good MadaÌ„ coÌ„mands me to shape somwhat of good will labour of pen to present your La withall for that I can not long liue in this world must needs take leaue therof sooner than I looke for I haue found out an old farewell that maie breed some new consideration and such a running and rouing rime it is I hope without offence as rather shall procure laughter than lowring it is enterlarded with conceits and mixed with familiar termes shortlie knit vp and without all curious circumstances as briefe to the Reader as vntedious to the writer hauing passed the censure of the world thirtie yeares agoe and is now put in print againe for a passing of the time and a farewell to the world So hoping your La receiues it in good part the matter beginneth I trust to your content and good likeing FINIS A FAREVVELL VVHEN I VVENT to studie written to the VVorld FArewell thou world that me betrayde so long Too dearly bought I find thy follies all Who shall thée serue is sure to suffer wronge Who scornes thy haps may shun thy sodaine fall Who fauwnes on thee shall drinke thy bitter gall Who flies thy toyes thy painted face shall finde Who sooner slides than those which at thy call Liues like thy slaues in bodie soule and minde First from a child with fancies was I fedd All at thy handes till I to manhoode grue Than in the darke loe blindfeld was I led So that my God my selfe nor man I knew Wild wit young blood olde vice new bred in bones
For my right hand is here to helpe thée now Blush not to sée the raging worlds despite The bloudy are nor scaffolde full of bils My mercy seat shall be thy chiefe delihte And though on earth thine enimies haue their wils I am the God that stormes and tempests stils In quiet calme passe gently thou away And suffer much yet doe but little say Death is the end of all that beareth life Not one shall scape this world is but a dreame The seeds of sinne brings forth but flowres of strife In painted robes lies many a rotten seame It is but griefe to guide and rule a Realme Great charge and care a great accompt must make And when I frown the whole round world I shake I cause one wight to take anothers place To chop off heads to kill to hang and draw And when I take from rulers new my grace His head againe shall yeeld to sword and law Men blowes the cole but I put fire in straw And where doth fall the flame of my great â—e All things consumes to cinders in that fire Come Murton come and play thy pageant well Thou goest before perhaps a yeare or twaine But after thee shall passe to heauen or hell A number more that mercy now remaine World hath no stay I tell â—hee all is vaine Both raigne and rule and regall power most hie When bastards dreame in durt and dust shall lie My God thus sayd with that my sprites reuiude My wits were armde my sence redoubled than And with my flesh the holy Ghost he striude By Angels force but not by might of man A marulous stirre in stomacke then beganne For to subdue the â—arrein corps of care And burthend breast that sinfull body bare Now hope in hast made heauy heart full light The feare was fled that comes by course of law Gods promise wrought through mercy grace and might A noble worke in me cleare conscience saw A fig for death his force not worth a straw Qd. I a rush for worlds reproach and shame For written is in booke of life my name The Preachers then began to wéepe for ioy Your firme beliefe my Lord shall make you frée Qd they and sure your soule is from annoy Both in this world and where swéete Angels be And where right soone you shall Gods glory see Not with bare view but with immortall eies As body shall at latter day arise Then knéeld I downe and to the cloudes I looke The thought and care the while of world was past And I in God such ioy and pleasure tooke That at my héeles all earthly pompe I cast By this the houre of death approached fast The Gard gaue sign with halbards bright in hand I must prepare on Skaffold streight to stand The stréetes were full of souldiers armed well With shot and match and all belongs for warre I saw in house I could no lonâ—er dwell For people said the day was spent full farre Then ope the doore qd I draw backe the barre I will goe hence to better home I trust Here is no hope I see that die I must To comfort sence and strengthen vitall sprete I tasted foed and dranke a draught of wine And pawsde a while as I thought fit and méete But sure no dread of death within mine eine Was seene for God by speciall grace deuine Held vp my heart and head as high to shoe As when from home I did a walking goe Milde words I gaue when bitter spéech I hard So passed through them all with manly chéere And did no more this world nor earth regard Then though in deede I neuer had beene here But when in sight the Skaffold did appeare My minde was bent to fight the battle out And conquere death and banish feare and dout So stept I vp on Skaffold lightly than Where sundry came to aske me many a thing I lookte to God and made small count of man Saue that alowd I saide God blesse the King God giue him grace in peace the state to bring And shunne the harmes and dangers ore his head To finde on earth long life when I am dead Had I serud God aswell in euery sort As I did serue my king and maister still My scope had not this season beene so short Nor world haue â—ad the power to doe me ill But loe I liude against my makers will That feeles my flesh that feeles my soule alas That fault I feare where now my soule shall passe That that good Lord forgiue whilst breath I haue It is the sinne that to this world I brought It buried shall be with my flesh in graue It is a sore and sickenesse of the thought It is most vaine a wretched thing of nought A wicked wound that death doth heale alone Dwels last in flesh and first was bred in bone Pray you for me that sets your sinnes by mine And such as doe professe the faith I hold Marke who I am that here by power diuine Am forst this daie my conscience to vnfolde Looke neerely both to your owne Faults vntolde And pray as well for me with humble minde As for your selues that here I leaue behinde My matter stands before the iudge of all Men haue condemnd my body to the tort When that great iudge will for a reckning call Both you and I shut vp in sentence short Shall soone be known who gaines the best report There accuse ne small nor great this day My part is plaide and I must passe my way The faith this howre that all the Realme doth know I die in here and seale it with my blood To other faith beware bend not your bowe The râ—tten string will breake and doe no good Whilst in this land such trash aâ—d tromprie stood God was not pleasd the King not serude aright And we did walke in darkenes stead of light Good â—earers all my babes and children deere I brought you vp full long in this beliefe Your regent ones now preacheth to you here Chaunge not my barns religion to your griefe Serue first your God next honor King as chiefe This lesson keepe and so good friends adiew The dead from quicke so takes his leaue of you Thus full resolude temptation to resist Great time I stood and talkte in stoutest shoe Of sondry things as freely as I list But waying then that hence the soule must goe And that my necke must bide the blouddy bloe I stretched armes as hie as I could heaue So turnd my backe and did the audience leaue The heauenly hope that heart doth long vphold Did hale me hence and bad dispatch in haste As firme as rocke I stood say what they would For after this I spake no word in waste Then downe I lay and balefull blocke embraste And there receiude the blow as are did fall That cut me cleaue from cares and cumbers all The gasping head as in the Lorde I slept A vision had ye may the fame suppose I dreamde it saw how friende
faurers wept In heade that tide a straunger fancie rose The eyes behelde before the eyes did close A writer there and Churchyard loe he hight Whose pen paints out mens tragedies aright In deadly dreame my tongue callde on that man As headlesse â—olke may fumble out a word You must beleeue the tongue a tale beganne Of earnest thinges and not a trifling borde Churchyard quoth he if now thou canst afforde Mee one good verse take heere thy penne in hand And send my death to thine owne natiue lande Which in my life I loude and honourd much A cause there was let that passe oer with time Thou man I saie that didst Shores wife so touch With louing phrase and friendlie English rime When pen muse were in chiefe pride and prime Bestow some paines on him that was thy friende Whose life thou knewst seâ—st mee make mine ende These wordes pronounst the head gan bléed anew My bodie laie along like lumpe of leade The limmes stretcht out stiâ—e as stake they grew And vnder cloath of blacke was made my bedd On thicke hard boordes that world might see me dead There did I lodge till starrs appearde in skye And goring bloode had glutted gasers eye Thus Churchyard now in wandring vp downe About affaires perhaps that toucht him nere Saw on Tolbothe in Edenborough towne My sencelesse head before his face appeare Why Morton then quoth he and art thou héere That long didst raigne and rule this Realme of late Then ruine and wracke oerreacheth each estate An Emperors life puft vp with pompe pride Maie not compare with plaine ploughman quoth he The climing foote is apt to slippe and slide The studious braine shall selde in suretie bee A bitter blast sone bites the brauest trée At honors seate blinde boltes men dailie shoote And wretched hap riues vp renowne by roote No wit nor wealth preuailes against mischaunce Whom fortune hates the people doe disdaine As wisdomes grace doth worthie witts aduaunce So priuie hate throwes downe hie harts againe The whitest clothe will take the greatest staine It is not strange to sée great men to fall For too much trust of worlde deceiues vs all Why doe wée wish to weald a world at will What follows pompe but hazard of good name Why would wise men in pleasure wallow still The end of toyle makes soule and bodie tame They take no rest that runnes still after fame Great charge breeds griefe and brings on care apace Great honor rules and lasteth but a space Who trauells farre comes wearie home at night The mounting Larke comes down to foulers hand Great birdes are borne about with feathers light All great renowne on tickle propps doth stand All wordlie blisse is builded on the sand Which when a puffe of winde beginnes to bloe In peeces small the painted postee will goe To greatest trées the birdes doe daily flock On highest hils wée walke to take the ayre And sudden stormes giue greatest oke a shock The ground is bare where many feete repayre All people drawe vnto a goodly faire But where most haunte is founde with iudging eye There is least hope and doth most daunger lye The fayre it selfe where all is bought and solde Showes méere deceipt to him that buies and sells The enemies strength striues still with strongest holde Disdaine doth drawe where greatest honor dwels All flies repayre to flowers of swéetest smells Each wicked worme to soundest kernell goes Ten thousand wéeds do growe about a rose Because the seate of honor standeth hye The baser sort do bend the browe thereat And honor is a moate in enuies eye Who vily thinkes and speaks he knows not what By enuies brute that bitter biting gnatt A blister growes in soft and smothest skinne So skarrs arise where cleerest shew hath binne O malice great thou monster sent from hell The heauens hate to heare thy naughty name If world thee skorn thou knowst not where to dwell O fugitiue O sonne of open shame No wisdomes lore nor men of noble fame Can scape thy scourge it giues so sore a yarke And so thy boltes are shot at eache good marke Men may not liue though great they are of race For malice rage and enuie now a dayes Proude practise proules about in eurie place To breede debate and cut of good mens praise Where malice sowes the séedes of wicked waies Both honor quailes and creadit crackes with all Of noâ—lest men and such as feares no fall At goodlie fruite that growes on topps of trées The people gase and somtime kudgels flinge Disdaine repines at all good things it sees And so like snakes doth enuie shoote his sting The angrie waspes are still about a king Who â—eekes by swarmes to hurt true meaning still So workes great harmes to those that thinks no ill True honor may full long in fauour bée If rigors wrath and malice did not meete And malice might lies not in meane degree It closely lurkes in craft and cunning sprete First fine deuice can kisse both handes and feete Then draw the knife that cuts the harmlesse throte Thus honor is by drifts in daunger gote These deadly driftes drinkes déepest riuers drie Sincks greatest grounds belowe past helpe of man Flings flat on floore the statelye buildings hye Shakes downe great harts let wit doe what he can Fine drift is hee that mischiefe first beganne Against whose force no reason maie resist That awefull worme on earth doth what it liâ—t Then noble birth and vertues rare must stowpe When daie is come and destines strikes the stroke This cunning world may make great minds to drowpe UUhen we are câ—lde men needs must draw the yoke UUhen life goes out our breath is but a smoke UUhen at the dore our drerie death doth knocke Take key in hand wee must turne backe the locke Who would haue thought Earle Morton should haue fell A graue wise man and gouernde manie a daye Rulde all at home and vsde his wit so well In foreine Realmes hee bare a wonderous swaie Of worldes affaires hee knew the readie waye Yet knowledge failde and cunning knew no boote When fortune came and tript him with her foote Loe lookers on what staie remaines in state Loe how mans blisse is but a blast of winde Borne vnto bale and subiect to debate And makes an ende as destine hath assignde Loe heere as oft as Morton comes to minde Dispise this worlde and thinke it nothing straunge For better place when we our liues doe chaunge FINIS qd T. C. SIR SIMON BVRLEIS TRAGEDIE who liued in the xi yeare of Richarde the seconde Looke Frozard the last part Fol. 108. AM I of blood or yet of birth so base O Baldwin now that thou forgetst my name Or doth thy penne want cunning for that case Or is thy skill or senses fallen lame Or dost thou feare to blase abroade my fame O shew some cause wherefore I sit in shade And why is thus my Tragedie vnmade UUho thinkes great scorne in
beholde how this aduenture happeneth regard the circumstance of this hazard way well what difficulty is aboute the matter and marke the chiefe points and groundes of aduantage that breedeth busines and bringeth forth a combate Then must be noted a simple Souldier or mercenary man may not challenge a Captaine a meane Captaine or Centurion may not challenge a Corronell a Corronell though leader of a regiment may not challenge a Lord Marshall of the Field a Lord Marshall hauing charge of life and death may not challenge the Lord Lieutenant of the Army Aâ—d all these not onely in time of seruice for auoiding of mutiny but at all seasons are bound and ought to keepe themselues from brawling yea though any one be neerely touched and seeking the combat except a lie hath passed a slander is receiued a blow be giuen a mans name and credite be foiled and a quarrell be sought so narrowly that no man can auoide And yet all these degrees as their office and honour is one after another may without reproche refuse in euery place the daungering of their liues by priuate quarrell not meeting one another by chance whereon may busines growe looke what so euer be passed villany excepted There is no kinde of preiudice to any partie but mallice may surcease and society may reuiue friendship and quietnes should of all hands be sought Now of matter ministred in despight spoken to strike dead good name vttered for offence and brauery let fall to disgrace any person and maintained with threatnings daring and other open iniuâ—ies a number the case of quietnes is altered and surely no nature can so easely disgest those extremities but shall finde occasion of dislike and a great motion of quarrell Then must be considered the cause of those spéeches the persons credite that spake it in what presence and place the iniury was offered for some places are of such honour that no dishonestye may bee suffered in and some person that speakes iniuries in base company out of honourable presence the speakers meane calling aunsweres himselfe for wise men ought to make no more account of a badde fellowes babble then of the barking of an olde dog whose teeth are gone and can not bite An all the common kinde of iniuries are but as men do imagine them as scoulding of a coâ—queane railing of a ruffian taunting of a tosseblade frumping of fine fellowes and the brags and threatning of a varlette all these shamelesse rabble and sencelesse sort of shadowes are of so small substaunce and credite that their voices makes but a noise in the aire like a thunder cracke that neither brings raine nor argues any constant winde and weather There is besides these ordinary causes and crooked conditions of people a number of naughty natures that neuer will be quiet in countenaunce nor wordes but either with skrowling like conquerors or skorning like vices on a stage they striue with counterfaite courage to ouercome Lions and to be more terrible then Tigres snuffing and puffing as all the worlde were too little to containe their great lookes and disdainefull monstrous manners And their tongues are so talkatiue and filled with follies that none may speake but themselues on whose prowde presumptions are many mad disputes wilfully begon and moste wickedly ended To contend with those glorious Images is as a man shoulde sound a Trumpet at the roaring of euery bul Thus with extraordinary manners new fangled fancies olde stubburne nature and fresh fine cunning that wisedome condemneth a good minde may be ouerreached and a quiet man may be brought in some quarrelous brabble for the sight and sufferaunce of these shadowes whose substance is all in boasting and the society or contention with such counterâ—aite conquerors is an open enemy to all the good dispositions of men and a priuy worker of disquietnes to those that beholdes and heares any peece or iote of those vices before rehearsed for nothing bréedes more mislike or offendeth so much euery company as the continuall brags and audacious manners of the vnbrideled multitude who are neuer free from quarrels voide of villany nor without naughty brabbles a number Come now to generall occasions in Court Countrey towne and so foorth but principally of Court we ought to haue greatest regard where not only the Prince hold residens with a continuall maiestie but likewise by absolute power commaunds obedience restraynes Courtiars many wayes from offering of iniuries For plainely to speake in Chamber of presence or any place neere or about a Princes pallace mens tongues are tyed either to kéepe silence or ciuilly with reuerence to vse comly wordes méete for such a place and voyde of villanye or vicious intents chiefely of quarrels that may moue mischiefe and stirre vp disquietnes among the gentle Bees assembled together in a Hiue for the honoring of their king and publique profite of their estate The Court is no Cocke-pit to croe in no shraep for cocking no seat to be saucy in no place of contention nor no soile for brawlers and braggers that haue currish conditions and knowes not their duety but rather a place of royall dignity princely entertainements curteous behauiors and fine and friendly fashions that with orderly manner may set forth a Princes regality And though there some one wanting temperance rashly behaue himselfe and with warme wordes sturre the coales of a wicked quarrell mens dueties in generall by wisedome should either quench the heat thereof or cast imbers on the fire that the fury and flame should not burst out there nor be disputed of any other where to the preiudice of that place and looke what is offered in open hearing or secret whispering that may sow seedes of dissention shoulde be trodden vnder foote or passed ouer with sporting among the best iudgements for feare least a little braunch of spite doe sproute vp on some rash spéeches and grow out of order both past remedy and beyond the bounds of good manner If men in Court were as carefull to keepe peace as they are desirous to créepe in credite or common society should attende to no other purpose but to familiar behauior friendly affection brotherly loue and blessednes of life you shall behold a mutuall agreement among all kinde of creatures at their first méeting the birds with their like flées and feedes together and in theyr manner vse a kinde of reioysing when they encounter one another yea and taketh part with their fellowes against all that shall offend them flocking and crying as they may together in multitudes to shew their naturall inclination and how they al doe suffer torment by the disquietnes of one bird in their company The Bées séeing but one of their fraternity troubled or angry fly all in a swarme on euery thing offends them and vseth such fury for reuenge that they sting and hum out of measure The Beasts not onely agree in their fashion but in like sort takes one anothers part vehemently and chiefly the very Hogs
théefe that steales away our wealth Is sore afraide a true mans steps to sée The fearefull wight that doth misdoubt his health Will blushe to come where that sound people be The faithfull stands the faulty man will flée The rebell shrinks where rule and order swaies Troth bides the brunt the Traitor runs his waies Bold practise quakes when power supplants his pride Where biles breaks out there is rebellion spide Among good Ewes beware of scabbed shéepe The Wolfe with Lambe may not be matcht aright The flocke is spoilde where For the Géese doth kéepe The sicke with sound is sure no comely sight What néedes more tearmes who dares not bide the light In darkenesse dwels a blinde rebellious minde Is more corrupt then any thing we finde Then either heale the member that doth smell Or cut him of before he further swell But farre more fit that flesh should be reformde And sanâ—de from harme that else corrupt would grow The itching hand of force must needes be wormde Least skinne waxe rough and pimples rise ye know If knife pare well a corne vppon the toe The foote is easde and man shall march vpright Take slime from eies the blinde receiues his sight So cleansing cleane each part and member well The state of man in safety long shall dwell So all thinges meant that here doth passe the pen Woundes to be heald and searched as they ought All to be done for health and wealth of men And nought amisse in word in deede nor thought Yea when my verse so great a worke hath wrought To linke in loue good subiects all in one To stand as firme as rocke or marble stone Then shall my mouth my muse my pen and all Be prest to serue at each good subiects call FINIS THE HONOR OF A Souldier TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPful Sir George Carew Knight Lieutenant of the Ordinance Thomas Churchyard wisheth worldly felicity and heauenly blessednes IN calling to minde good Sir George our méeting in Ireland a long while agoe for the seruice of the Quéenes Maiesty your good brother then liuing to whome I was bound in good will I penned at that instant by his meanes the life and death of a Pirate and promised a further worke to your selfe which now I performe because your Souldiour-like disposition is aunswered with the aduauncements of Fortune and your ancient house and bloud is beautified with an honourable place the Prince hath possest you of a signe and token as I beleeue that a noble Souldiers profession shall neuer goe out of your remembraunce for the which cause I haue dedicated this worke called The honor of a Souldier vnto your protection in hope that which you haue séene and read for the commendation of Souldiers shall be a sufficient testimony of their value and worthines and shall not only procure you and others like your selfe to further their fame but like wise willing to read that I haue set downe in their behalfe for as briefely as my small Iudgement can discharge a true discourse thereof with good probable reasons and auncient authors of famous credite I minde to expresse and set foorth at large how Souldiours were made off and honoured in times past and what prerogatiue they hadde aboue other people And to declare how Princes held them in admiration and gaue them liberties titles and dignities farre beyond the rest of any that liued vnder their lawes and obedience And this by the waye is to bée thought that all my former discourse and rehearsall of warres attended to no other purpose and effect but for the aduauncement of Souldiours and to bee as it were a foile to sette foorth the matter I presentlye mind to publishe out For nowe I will in a manner shewe howe Gentility beganne and where and in what sort honour was first gotten and maintayned which argument as I hope shall not onely content the wise and well learned but also please euery degrée and make the simple sort plucke vp their courages and imitate by some honest exercises the liues of noble Souldiers I trust I néede not in this ready and ripe age wherein good writers great learning and studious iudgements doth florishe rehearse by particulars euery parcell and poinct that belongeth to a Souldiers profession Nor that you looke I should recite when and where the Romanes Lacedemonians Athenians and other nations did preferre and extoll men of Marshall minds and noble courages For their books and Commentaries and the innumerable Libraries of great antiquity are the very recordes of my discourse and remaine as mirrours for you to looke in And shall proue a thousand partes more in the commendation of Souldiours then either my penne or tongue by sufficient cunning hath power to expresse For it can not be that from a little gutte or Channell of water you should looke for so great a floud as from a multitude of springes from whence mighty Riuers takes originall and recourse And so I send you to the Welspring of knowledge I mean the auncient Fathers workes to fetch true intelligence of the thinges I make mention of touching the worthy reputation of a good Souldiour and the antiquity of his credite triumph and glory First looke in the sacred Scriptures and search from the death of Abell comming downe orderly to the birth of Christ And sée whether Souldiours were made of or no. And doubtlesse you shall finde they were not onely embraced and maintained but likewise they are of a long continuance and credite As all the Bible before Iohn the Baptistes time declareth And Christ himselfe in a sort did vtter when he saide he had not found such faith in Israell as he saw in a Centurion Yea and in the Apostles Actes there is a speciall poinct to be noted Deuout Souldiours were sent to Simon Tanners house to find out Peter Well now I committe you to the Scripture and I will follow prophane Histories begin at the very Infidels a scorne for a Christian to be taught by which are no small number nor of no little continuance people alwayes brought vp in war and Princes of great fame power and auctority Yea conquerours of the whole world and Kinges to whom all people did stoupe and doe homage These Paganes or as we may terme them lost shéepe to whome the great Shepheard would not be knowen and yet among them tormented and crucified did make such lawes and orders for Souldiers as the Turke to this day obserueth and holdeth in great reuerence Regard but the liberties and auctority of the Ianessaries and that shall manifestly proue that men of warre are had in great admiration But because you shall haue the more beliefe to the matter read the life of Alexander the Great The Commentaries of Iulius Caesar and the noble actes and victories of a number of other notable Princes And then assuredly you shall be perswaded that the renowne of Soldiours hath reached and spread as farre as fame can flie or good report could haue passage I
Then thousands doe the world doth so report FINIS A Discourse of an old Souldiour and a young To the right Worshipfull Sir Henry Kneuet Knight one of the Lieutenants of Willshire THE world cannot wonder nor the wise thereof thinke strange that experience commaunds me to keepe friends and my pen doth what it maie to purchase me fauour for that is all the fruites of my studies Which once taken from me I haue neither prop to vphold mee nor foundation to stand on so feaâ—ing the weaknes of my feeble buildings that lies open to enuies blast which soddenly may bee blown downe I seeke manie staies and craue manie supportations for the maintenance of my honest mind and workes framed for the world to behold So good sir Henry among the worthy company of my selected friends I honor you with a smal discourse of age youth where a little is spoken of the olde Souldiour and the young not in dispraise of anie of them both but in the commendation of knowledge courage conduct vnder which three vertues consists many noble actions so vnder your fauourable sufferaunce I passe to my purposed matter THere is a strife a swéete dispute I troe Betwene two sorres of men in these our daies On which debate doth many reasons grow That soundes in déede to each good Souldiours praise Whose fame my pen is ready for to raise But my intent is first with flat plaine truth To treat a verse or two of age and youth Age is the fire and father of great thinges That hath begot both science rule and wit Brought great renowne and honour vnto kinges And for mans wealth may well in councell sit Youth is for field and towne a member fit To vse the sword in Countreys cause and right In whose defence youth hath great force to fight Age may commaund because it knoweth most And best can iudge of euery thing it knowes Hath mightie mind yet makes but little bost On whose aduice men may their liues repose The worth of youth standes oft in outward shewes That fresh and gay to worlde it séemeth still Like bladder faire that is blowne vp with quill Age lookes like tree whose barke is rough without When winters waste hath made gréene leaues to fall But when spring comes that braunch should bud and sprout With threefold fruite the sprayes are loaded all Bare youth lookes like a picture on a wall That stands both mute and dumme like shadow weake To séeke for sence whom age beginnes to â—peake The brute in world is how old thinges decreace For that sweete sap at length forsakes the trée Yet men will aske old wittes in warres or peace Of this or that what the successe shall be In outward shewes young iudgements well can sée When old mens sightes that wisely lookes within The end beholdes as sâ—one as they beginne A great old Oake long time will akornes beare And small young graffes are long in sprouting out Some say old wine is liked euery where And all men knowe new ale is full of growt Old horse goes well young titts are much to doubt But sure old gold is more estéemed than new No hauke compares with haggard in the mue Old men knowes much though young men calls them fooles Old bookes are best for there great learning is Old authors too are dayly read in schooles New Sects are naught olde knowledge cannot misse Old guise was good and nothing like to this Where fraude and craft and finesse all would haue And plainest men can neyther powle nor shaue Old Fathers builte faire Colleges good store And gaue great goodes and landes to bring vp youth Young men loues not to make of little more But spendes away their thrift to tell the trueth Old men were full of mercie grace and rueth And pittie tooke on those that seemde to lacke Young gallants gay from poore doe turne their backe Old beaten wayes are ready still to hit These new be-pathes leades men on many stiles An old prouerbye hath no more worâ—es than wit New fangled heades at each old order smiles Old wisedome farre surmountes young fondlings willes Experience is the Doctor euerie daie That carries close all knowledge cleane awaie Young houndes are fléete the old huntes sloe and true Old dogges bite sore if all their teeth be sound Old auncient freindes are better than the new In younglings loue there is small suretie found For like a top light fancie turneth round Old clothe or silke made in our elders dayes Wears long and firme when new thinges soone decayes Old souldiers are the beauty of a state Young branches beare but blossomes many a day Old Doctors can deepe matters well debate Young punies knowes not what old doctors say King Harries crue brought conquest home away From Flowdayne field from France and many a soyle And put the proud by strength and force to foyle Old souldiers were great Allexanders ayde And chiefest ioy in all the warres he had The white gray head made beardlesse boyes affraide Where graue men ruld the countrey all was glad And where they lackt the fortune was but bad As all thinges doth to skill and knowledge yeeld So old men beare the honour of the field What needs more proofe of auncient souldiers nowe Both old and young are needfull members heere I want both time and power to praise them throw For seruice great in countries quarrell deere When cause requires ye know the case is cleere These champions must in field and open plaine With shining sword the right of kinges maintaine FINIS A DISCOVRSE OF CALAMITY To the right VVorshipfull my singuler good friend Sir William Hatton knight IN the remembrance of a sorrowful losse I had by the death of the last Lord Chancelor good Sir William Hatton and considering your great countenance partly declined by that soddaine accident besides the great soms of money you were left to pay For the parting from such an honourable friend I thought euery peece of cause well waied you knowe as well what calamitie is as a meaner man and feeling the smart and weight of that burthen before you were ready to support it your care and calamitie could not be little First for the losse of so great a comfort next for the sorrow trobles that belongs to such a losse though lands or liuings helps to beare of a peece of the vexasion of mind yet the body shall alwayes beare to the death a sorrowfull imagination of that hastie mishap the impression therof shal neuer goe out of your memory so long as life lasteth So good sir in signe of some consolation I present you a discourse of Calamity the right path to come to quietnesse and the very hie way that leades a good mind to thinke of the immortality of the soule thus presuming your fauorable acception of the same I passe to the discourse of Calamity wishing you much worship hartes ease health T. Churchyard A Discription or Discourse that declareth how
yeld to death and vpward lift the minde Where lothsome life shall present comfort finde Since hope can haue no honey from the Hiue And paines can plucke no pleasure for his toyle It is but vaine for wearie life to striue And stretch out time with torment and tormoyle Get what we can death triumphes ore the spoyle Then note this well though wee winne neere so mitch When death takes all wee leaue a mizer ritch To liue and lacke is double death indeede A present death exceedes a lingring woe Since no good hap in youth did helpe my neede In age why should I striue with Fortune so Old yeares are come and hastes me hence to goe The time drawes on I hate the life I haue When heart shall breake my griefe shall ende in graue Should I seeke life that findes no place of rest Ne soyle nor seate to shroude me from the ayre When cramping cold beclyps my carefull breast And dolour driues my heaâ—t in deepâ— dispayre For such foule dayes darke death is wonderous fayre As good to make the scrawling wormes a feast As please the world where mischiefe makes her neast Hie time it is to haste my caâ—kasse hence Youth stole awaie and felt no kinde of ioy And age he left in trauell euer since The wanton dayes that made mee nice and coy Were but a dreame a shadowe and a toy Sith slauerie heere I find and nothing else My home is there where soule in freedome dwels In warres and woe my yeares are wasted cleane What should I see if Lordly life I led I looke in glasse and finde my cheekes so leane That euery houre I doe but wish mee dead Now backe bendes downe and forward falls the head And hollow eyes in wrinkled brow doth shroude As though two starres were créeping vnder cloude The lips waxe cold and lookes both pale and thin The teeth fals out as nuts forsoke the shale The hare bald-head but shewes where haiâ—e hath bin The liuely ioyntes waxe verie stiffe and stale The ready tongue now folters in his tale The wearish face and tawney colour showes The courage quayles as strength decaies and goes The sweete delights are drownde in dulled mind The gladsome sportes to groning sighes are bent The frisking limmes so farre from frame I finde That I forethinke the time that youth hath spent But when I waigh that all these thinges were lent And I must pay the earth her dutie throw I shrinke no whit to yelde these pleasures now Had I possest the giftes of Fortune héere A house a wife and Children there withall And had in store to make my friendes good chéere Such common thinges as neighbours haue at call In such dispayre perchaunce I would not fall But want of this and other lackes a score Bids mee seeke death and wish to liue no more The thatcher hath a cottage poore you see The sheapheard knowes where he shall sleepe at night The dayly drudge at night can quiet beeÌ„ Thus Fortune sendes some rest to euery wight So borne I was to house and land by right But in a bagg to Court I brought the same From Shrewsburie towne a seate of auncient fame What thinkes my friendes that there behind I laft What fault findes shée that gaue me life and sucke O courting fine thou art too cold a craft The Carter hath at home much better lucke Well well I say adue all worldly mucke Ne house nor Land we beare away I knoe I naked came and naked hence must goe The greatest King must passe the selfe same way Our day of birth and buriall are alike Their ioy their pompe their wealth and rich aray Shall soone consume like snow that lies in dike No Buckler serues when soddaine death doth strike As soone may come a poore mans soule to blis As may the rich or greatest Lord that is Well ere my breath my body doe forsake My spriâ—e I do bequeath to God aboue My bookes my scronies and songes that I did make I leaue with friendes that freely me did loue To slyring foes whose malice me did moue I wishe in hast amendment of their waies And to the Court and courtiers happy daies My fortune straunge to straungers do I leaue That straungly can retaine such straunge mishap To such as still in world did me deceaue I wish they may beware of such like trap To slaunderous tongues that killde me with a clap I wish more rest than they haue giuen to mee And blesse those shreawes that curst and crabbed bee To such as yet did neuer pleasure man I giue those rimes that nips the gawled backe To such as would doe good and if they can I wish good lucke long life and voyde of lacke To currish Karles a whyp and Colliers sacke And to the proude that stands vppon their braues A wainscot face and twentie crabtree staues To surlie sirs that scornes the meaner sort A nightcap furd with Foynes I them bequeath To such as scowle at others good report And sets much store by their owne paynted sheat In signe of lucke I giue a willow wreath To such as are vnnamde and merits much The stone I leaue that tries the Gold by tutch To gentill race with good conditions ioynd I wish more ioy than man imagin may And since for poore I haue noe mony coynd God graunt them all a mery mariage day To such as doth delight in honest play I wish the Gold that I haue lost thereby And all the wealth I want before I die Now friends shake handes I must be gone my boyes Our mirth takes end our triumph all is done Our tykling talke our sportes and merry toyes Do slide away like shadowe of the Sun Another comes when I my race haue run Shall passe the time with you in better plite And finde good cause of greater thinges to write FINIS A DREAME To the right worshipfull my good Lady the Lady Paulet who was wife to the honorable sir Hugh Pauleâ— Knight AMong the manifold works in print pamphelets bookes volumes and deuises I neuer addressed my pen to your Ladiship till now though bound for many courtesies better to consider of so good a Lady and now worst able to redeeme duty forgotten I bring my selfe backeward to behold my great ouersight but presing forward to win ground I leese the keeping of a writers credit for no one thing is left worthy your view and looking on such hast haue I had in the spoiling of my selfe inuentions a prodicall point of bountie rather than the part of a wise bountiful writer especially to bestowe the best matters on others and present but a dreame to your Ladiship shewing thereby the shallownes of my iudgement but yet some such substaunce of matter as I trust is more delightfull than dainty For my Dreame hauing many significations may grow on many causes and hit on a nomber of Accidents fit for my humour but skarse meet for your graue consideration yet such fancies as a dreame brings
doth destine giue And so with sorrowes breake the hart that hath no will to liue Good fréend quoth she haste not thine end with passions of the minde Hope after hap the world may mend thou maist good fortune finde No sure my glasse of life is runne Death drawes on me so fast I see my daies are almost done life may no longer last My haples yeares and aged bones desires no being heere To graue I go with sighs and grones I buy bad life too deere With losse of blood of time and youth and all that precious is With loyall seruice toile and truth and hope of earthly blisse All in one ballance now goes downe since guerdon get I none Nor no account in Court nor towne now I may hap vpon Adue day light shut close mine eies too long you stare for nought So farewell friends and you be wise for me take you no thought By this our ships were wend about and Cannons gan to rore As they to Brytaine passed out with bounsing shot great store At noyse whereof I wakned straight and calling for my close And saw the Sunne on such a height that sodainly I rose And so put all my dreame in verse would God a dreame it were For many things I now rehearse wil prooue too true I feare FINIS To the right honourable my Lady Puckering wife to the most honorable the L. keeper of the great seale of England GOod Madam strange it may seeme that a meere stranger to your Ladiship â—are aduenture to dedicate any peece of vvorke vvhere bold attempt and labour may be but strangely vnderstood if a greater hope in your goodnes exceeded not the greatnes of my matter but my 〈◊〉 your most honorable husbands bountifull dealings with me of late makes me the bolder because I must be thankful in this presumptioâ—◠〈◊〉 present some acceptable peâ—ce of that small talent God hath giuen me to your good L. as vvell to be knovven of you as to keepâ— me in my L. fauour and though that vvhich I oâ—fer be skarce vvorthy the taking Yet I trust first my seruiceable present hall not be misliked because the receiuing vvell thereof may procure a further peece of vvork better penned such as shall best become me to present as knovveth God 〈◊〉 novv and at all times augment his good gifts of grace in your good Ladiship LOng time in sute and seruice gets some grade Long crauing gaines both crust and crome ye know Long walking rids great ground away apace Long vse of legs makes traueiler easly go Long watching tâ—â—d brings ebbe at length to floâ— So loyall loue and dutie long in vre Full many waies doth great good will procure Whereon good turnes springs out as from a flood Runnes gushing waues that waters euery soile Whose moisture doth both fruit and flower much good And profite bringâ— to Plowmans painefull toile This faire land flood kept barren field from foile For if no deaw of heauen I had found Hot sommers drouth had soone dried vp my ground The fountaine had her course no sooner run With golden streames that cordiall is of kinde But straight began to shine the gladsome Sâ—n That sucker sends to tree to root and rinde The frost did thaw with milde warme westerne winde And all the springs and conduits of the towne Ran Claret wine in honour of the crowne When bill assignd by sute from Prince had past Lord how the world â—lood therewith well content The Clearkes they wrote and fréely laboured fast The seales were wonne when purse no penny spent The waxe was wrought throw grace that God had sent So seale and waxe and all that name I can Came franckly of to me from euery man Lo how hard world by meanes is easie made And mens good wils with tract of time we gaine In spring it sprouts at fall of leafe did fade The grasse grows greene with little showres of raine I reapt the crop and fruit of others paine What néeds more words each place where I did go For Princes grace did me great fauour sho They knew that Court had cleane consumde my youth And plead mine age with pretie pension now If so they thought in déed they gest the truth For youth and age perforce is pleased throw Saue that they bid me make my pen my plow And prooue awhile what printed bookes will doo To helpe old Tom to get a supper too But blest be her that did the dinner giue With too much meat we may a surfeit take Long with good rule and diet men may liue Full belly oft an emptie purse may make He feedeth best that eats for hungers sake Than porcion poore makes men ne proud nor rich Yet one good meale a day doth please me mich Where am I now I speake of liberall men That fréely gaue the seales and all the rest Which déed deserues both thankes and praise of pen For that is all from me they haue possest This course would make the learned Lawyers blest If of poore men they tooke no fee at all Whose wrongs are great and riches is but small To trot and trudge two hundreth miles or more And spend their goods in toyling too and fro And be long pincht with paine and labour sore And then compeld to costly tearme to go Craues great regard of them that conscience know Than wise graue heads that looks through euery cause Defend the poore with fauour of your lawes Their plaints may pearce through highest heauens all Their praiers brings great blessings to your dore Your fame doth rise where they good words let fall For happie are the hands that helpes the poore This sentence should be written on the floore Who can do good to those that stands in need Shall reape much corne where sowne was litle séed When iustice flowes from liberall noble mind Good turns in world wil make men liue like Saints When good cheap law poore silly soules do find The Court is not long troubled with complaints Franke heart goes throw where feeble courage faints Bountie winnes loue and lasts for euer more Who doth great good and little takes therefore The poore are more in number euery where Then are the rich that haue the world at wil Wherefore the more we ought with them to beare Because they liue in lacke and sorrow stil. The Lord that sits on his hie holy hill Lookt lowly down on Lazarus the poore That humbly askt an almes at Diues doore Most precious are the poore to God aboue Though heere below they walke like lambes were lost And one good turne to them doth get more loue Then fortie things we doe for worldly boast Who saues a ship that is with tempest tost And brings the barke where helpe and harbour is For thankful paines shall purchase heauen blisse When that great Iudge shal come to iudge vs all Such as did helpe the poore shal happy be For then that Iudge wil for those people call Who to the poore were alwaies franke
had sent With louing wife at home the same he spent He tooke great paines to come by that he had And trauailde sore through many a forraine soile To bring that home that makes the houshold glad And kéepe the wife and houshold folke from â—oile And I tooke care that nothing went to spoile And looke in deede what things that I did lacke Was seene in face or found vppon my backe The world might sée I went in garments good Though small I brought to him as I confesse I spent him much and at great charge I stood Which brings strong harts somtime to great distres But neuer that might make his loue the lesse For looke how he his liking first beganne In fine for troth he proude the selfe same manne I could not sléepe but where in bed he lay I could not eate but where he sate at boorde I could not laugh when liking was away I silent sat gaue he but halfe a woorde Ill newes of him strake me with mortall sword His minde and mine did draw so in one yoke The selfe same sittes he felt where of I spoke Full seauen yeares this constant course we kept Though often times there happened houshold iarrs And tratling tales that in betweene vs crept Made many wounds where yet remains the scarrs Yet alwaies peace tooke vp our brawling warrs And we did seeke to salue each others sore And passe old griefes and thinke thereon no more Swéete is that peace that patcheth vp great harmes Sharpe is the warre that teares a house in â—waine Woe worth those words that brings in brauleâ— by swarms Darke be those cloudes that alwaies threatens raine Curst be the cause that breedeth woe and paine And damnde in Hell those subtill spirites shalbe That councell gaue to part my choise from me Well as our chaunce together was to ioyne And dwell long while as here in briefe you hard So happe came on through hope of wealth or coine And drew my choise where he might be prefarde To warres and I that had a great regard To him that time when I his minde did know Gaue my consent that he to warres should goe With sighes and sobs and bitter teares among We parted tho with promise surely past That one should heare from other ere twere long And sadly so we seured at the last His goods his gold his friends both firme and fast He left me then to comfort me withall But nere a childe as Fortune so did fall He past the seas and sent me tokens still And money such as might supply my néede And for to shew his faith and great good will Long Letters large he made that I might réede Of promise past and to come home in déede But to what end should serue this businesse great My minde was turnde warme loue had lost his heat A new fine man both young and apt for chaunge I those and cleane forgat my former ioy And in a while I was become so straunge As Hagard Hauke that takes in head a toy And flées from Lure and waâ—eth nice and coy My wedlocke now not hearing of these newes Made no hast home till I was ore the shewes Yet knacks I wrought to bleare my husbands eies I made a bruite be blowne that I was dead When that he heard he did his life despise And so forsooke sléepe rest and tast of bread He rent his haire he sadly shooke his head He walkt the woods and shunned all repaire As one would be deuourd with fowles of thaire He daily bledde when little foode he tooke He would not come where woemen were in place And he so leane and like a Ghost did looke That Death it selfe was seene amid his face A noble Earle as he beheld this case Brake with the man that thus tormented was And so in sports the troubled time did passe But ague â—its and sicknesse followed on That in poore plite came home my husband thoe Not leane in purse but bare and néere the bone The bodye then was worne with warre and woe And yet full sound as al the world might know His limmes I saw but I so nice did waxe There was no flame of fire might come to flaxe For I could wéepe and quench by cunning art The hottest loue that euer husband bore And so two yeares I plaied a Foxes part Which ere I die I may repent full sore My husbands bedde I shund and furthermore I fainde I had a sickenesse let it goe I neuer minde that folly forth to shoe A finer â—ricke to compasse that I â—ought I plaide through fleight and casting figures trim To my good man a bastard gâ—rle I brought And from my friend presented her to him Hée saw thereby the find runne ore the brime Yet kept it close and sayd nothing at all Till out by chaunce might further matter fall And alwayes would my husbande tell mée plaine I did him wronge to keepe mee from his bedde But I could vse him in a pleasaunt vaine And make him soone forgett that hee had sedde My doore was lockt howe ere I layde my head My maydes and I kept solempne cheare alone How euer playne poore husbande made his monâ— Two yeares this wise I shoeffled Cardes full cleane Till husband spied a Letter of my hande Whereby hee found what follie I did meane But I was bent against my déede to stande So faest him down and swore when all was scande It was not mine but as hee soundly slept To his beds side my mayde and I wee stept And heaude him vp and so from bolster than Wee tooke his purse wherein the Letter laye When that wée had wee left the sillie man As saffe as hee that sléepes in Cocke of haye Well when he lookt in purse the other daye And found my fraude and falshood as it was Out of the doore in furie did hee passe Yet came againe that night and so fell sicke The cause whereof soone after you shall here Full long hee lay and toucht so neere the quicke That he was like to buy that sicknesse dere But when on foote hee stept and all was cleare He had farewell falâ—â— wife God send thée grace Thy wicked wayes makâ—s husband giue thee place I saw how world would wonder at this act And straight new tales on husband ganne I rayse With forged lies and rayling reasons rackt That still should sound vnto his most disprayse I faynde one while hee vsed wanton wayes With euery mayde that hee might touch or see And then he was to sicke a soule for mee Then poore hee was I sayde to cloke my pride When this serude not I â—wore the man was madd And in his rage would beate mee backe and side So euery daie a new deuice I had To make the world beléeue hee was too bad And at the length when all I had was sold My mayde and I goe trie the world we wold So shutting doore and trusting vp my packâ— I flang from home not bidding friendes farewell But I
mourning chéere to part from them God knowes For children finde small comfort héere when hence the mother goes If God moue not the Princes minde to pittie their estate Now as the Ladie did at large about her Babes debate Uppon her déere bought iewell than shée cast her onely thought Yea for whose sake and great good will shee was in trouble brought And pausing on this matter through a heauie sigh she gaue O good sir Knight sayd shee to one a thing of you I craue Commend me to my worthy friend and bid him comfort take And hope in God and Princes grace though I doe world forsake He may doe well and freedome get but mée hee shall not méete Till from the caue of pampred flesh departes his groning spréete Whiles life I had I honoured him and safely kept my vow As life did bind mee his in all so death doth loose mée now From him and all my worldly ioyes but though my friend I leaue On high where dwells a greater freind if hope not mée deceauâ— I trust to sée his babes and him and though much griefe it is To leaue them heere in bitter bale yet note I goe to blisse Where is no mind of combrous cares nor cause of sorrow knowne O tell him that aboue I hope these stormes shall be ore blowne And as a scroule is â—apped vp yea so shall all thinges héere When soule shall be immortall made vnto our view appeere No sooner of the soule shée spoke but sodaine chaunge beganne In lookes and limmes of deadly showâ— with colour pale and wan The eyes did stare the bodie stretch the strength and force did faile The teeth they chattered in the Cheekes the handes did quake and quayle The mouth did some the head did shake the flesh it quiuered fast The feet waxt cold the face did sweate full swift the pulses past The heart did heaue and beat in breast the breath like earth did sent At eares and nose the stiffled Ghost and vitall life sought vent Though gasping breath brought passioÌ„s on and gripâ— hâ—r heart full hard Yet showd she through those sharpe assaults to â—rend a great regard And calling for a boâ—e of Kinges among them chose shee one In which was set by cunning Art a rich and precious stone Hold carrie this quoth shee good Sir to my deere noble Knight He can remember what that stone presents vnto his sight The other token that I send it is a waightie ring Best likt and dearest bought God wot of any earthly thing And when you shall giue him this gift desire him well to minde The little Impes the pretty soules the babes I leaue behinde And bid him bring them vp in feare of God and Prince I saie Lâ—e that is all I doe require of him my dying daie I haue no gold to send my Babes but blessing I them giue Which God confirme with grace good storâ— as long as they shall liue O yet there is another ring which loe my lone must sée Where is my picture death I meane and tell my friend from mee That I as colde and sencelesse too shall be in little space As is that shaddow dum and deaffe and spritelesse shape of face This done shée turnde her head aside and bad them all farewell Twere good quoth shee in signe of death I heard the passing bell For such as liue may pray the while and know when bell doth toule Into the bowells of the earth the bodie parts from soule Yet meete they shall when trumpet sounds and that the dead arise And both together shall ascende I hope to starrie skies With this beganne the battell fierce betwéene her life and death Like Ghost shée lay whiles heart did grone and mouth gepte wide for breath Then sayd shee Lord into thy handes I doe commend my spréeâ— And so her selfe closde vp her eyes and hid her head in sheet And went awaie like infant young cleane voyde of storme or rage Or like a bodie falls a sléepe that cannot speake for age Thus breathlesse lay this Lady now like weightie lump of clay That earst had life and feeling force and past like floure away But when the newes of this was brought vnto her Playffeers eares With roaring voyce and blubbred eyes there gushed out such teares That witnest well with outward signes what woe heâ— felt within And truely tolde when shée did ende his delour did beginne Be rest of sleepe and robde of rest hée romed vp and downe And cast of wéedes of worldly pompe and clapt on mourning Gowne No ease nor pleasures could possesse nor féele the taste of meate Resolude to pine and staâ—â—e himselfe his griefes they were so great No councell could him comfort long and still alone he drue To mourne to mâ—ane to houle and cry and make complaint anâ—e And worne away with woefull sighes when sorrow helped not At length the life must be sustaynde with some reliefe yée wot But how he takes this mischiefe yet and how the matter goeth It passeth farre my reach and wit to iudge I tell you troth His Ladie gene as you haue heard when dayes and yeares were spent In thraldome long yet after that was better fortune seâ—t For into Princes grace againe hee came by blessed chaunce And so he liues in open Worlde where vertue may aduaunce Both him and many thousandes more that Noble liues doe leade And wisely walke with vpright mindes and steps of honour treade Loe héere you Dames of high renowne a Ladies death set out Whose life for faith full few shall finde that seekes wide world about To God and Prince repentaunt sure to worlde a mirrour bright Wherefore with tongue and true report resounde her prayse a â—ight FINIS Syr Symon Burley complains to him that knowes what sorrow meanes Sir Simon brought vp at Schoole with the Prince of Wales and Aquitayne Into Galatia to coÌ„duct Don Petro King of Castell Sir Simon was sent as one of chiefest for that purpose Hee appeased an vprore in the Citty of London The Dutches of Burbon prisoner and did raunsome Sir Simon Burley One Pascall was sent from the K. of Nauarhether for sauiour and Kinge Richarde made Sir Simon answer the Ambasdor the Earl of Salisbury and other in presence Kinge Richarde sent him to conclude a mariage and the Duke of Tasson was sent hither with Sir Simon from the king of Beam Almaine aboute this matter He was Lorde Chamberlain The Earle of Oxford called duke of IrelaÌ„d fauored much 〈◊〉 Simon The band that the duke made against the king the duke of Yorke the Earle of Salisbury the earle of Arundell the earle of Northumberland the earle of NottinghaÌ„ the archbishop of Canterburie A noble of euery 〈◊〉 in England was the taxe that the naughty duke sayd the king did demaund The Duke of Glocester and Duke of York with others maligned those the king fauoured King Richards best friends were by traytors frowardly handled The Bishop of Canterbury accusde him of sacrilege conuaying money ouer the Sea by night to the king of Beam The Prince of Orâ—nge M. Candeler maister of the assuraunces in the Royall Exchange is aliue witnesse to this M. Iosephe Loupo his Brother Peter two excellent musitionâ— are aliue witnesse to this in like sorte For poisning her maister A right figure of death A patterne of Death