MAY is gone of all the yeere the pleasant time is past MAY makes the cheerful hue MAY breedes brings new blood MAY marcheth throughout euery lim MAY makes the mery mood MAY pricketh tender harts their warbling notes to tune Ful strange it is yet some we see doe make their MAY in June Thus thinges are strangly wrought whiles ioyful MAY doth last Take MAY in time when MAY is gone the pleasant time is past All ye that liue on earth and haue your MAY at will Reioyce in MAY as I doe now vse your MAY with skill Vse MAY while that you may for MAY hath but his time When all the fruite is gone it is to late the tree to clime Your liking and your lust is freshe whyles MAY dooth last When MAY is gone of all the yeere the pleasant time is past FJNJS M. Edwardes 7. Faire wordes make fooles faine JN youthfull yeeres when first my young desyres began To pricke me forth to serue in Court a sclender tal young man My fathers blessing then I aske vpon my knee Who blessing me with trembling hand these words gan say to me My sonne God guide thy way and shield thee from mischaunce And make thy iust desartes in Court thy poore estate to aduaunce Yet when thou art become one of the Courtly trayne Thinke on this prouerbe old qd he that faire words make foles fain This counsell grauely giuen most straunge appeares to me Till tract of time with open eyes had made me plainely see What subtill sleightes are wrought by painted tales deuise When hollow harts with freendly shewes the simple do entise To thinke all golde that shynes to feede their fond desire Whose sheuering cold is warmd with smoke in steede of flaming fyre Sith talke of tickle trust doth breede a hope most vayne This prouerbe true by profe I find that faire words make fooles fain Faire speeche alway doth well where deedes insue fayre wordes Faire speech again alway doth euill that bushes giue for byrdes Who hopes to haue faire words to trie his luckie lot If I may councell let him strike it while the yron is hot But them that feede on cloddes in steede of pleasaunt grapes And after warning often giuen for better luck still gapes Full loth I am yet must I tell them in wordes playne This prouerbe olde proues true in them that faire words make fooles fayne Wo worth the time that wordes so slowly turne to deedes Wo worth the time that faire sweet flowers are grown to rotten weedes But thrise wo worth the time that truth away is fled Wherein I see how simple harts with wordes are vaynely fed Trust not faire wordes therefore where no deedes doe insue Trust words as skilfull Falkeners do trust Hawkes that neuer flewe Trust deedes let words be words which neuer wrought me gayne Let my experience make you wyse and let words make fooles fayne FJNJS M. Edwardes 8 Jn his extreame sicknesse WHat greeues my bones and makes my body fainte What prickes my flesh and teares my head in twayne Why doe I wake when rest should me attaint When others laugh why do I liue in payne I tosse I turne I chaunge from side to side And stretch me oft in sorrowes linkes betyde I tosse as one betost in waues of care I turne to flye the woes of lothsome lyfe I change to spie if death this corpes might spare I stretch to heauen to rid me of this strife Thus doe I stretch and chaunge and tosse and turne Whyle I in hope of heauen my lyfe do burne Then hold thee still let be thy heauinesse Abolish care forget thy pining woe For by this meanes soone shalt thou finde redresse When oft betost hence thou to heauen must goe Then tosse and turne and tumble franke and free O happy thryse when thou in heauen shalt be FINIS L. Vaux 9. For Christmas day Reioyce reioyce with heart and voyce Jn Christes birth this day reioyce FRom Virgins wombe this day did spring The precious seede that onely saued man This day let man reioyce and sweetely sing Since on this day saluation first began This day did Christ mans soule from death remdite With glorious sainctes to dwell in heauen aboue This day to man came pledge of perfect peace This day to man came loue and vnitie This day mans griefe began for to surcease This day did man receiue a remedie For each offence and euery deadly sinne With guiltie hart that erst he wandred in In Christes flocke let loue be surely plaste From Christes flocke let concord hate expel Of Christes flocke let loue be so embraste As we in Christ and Christ in vs may dwell Christ is the authour of all vnitie From whence proceedeth all felicitie O sing vnto this glittering glorious king O praise his name let euery liuing thing Let hart and voyce like Belles of siluer ring The comfort that this day did bring Let Lute let Shalme with sound of sweete delight The ioy of Christes birth this day resight FINIS F. Kindlemarsh 10 For Easter day ALl mortal men this day reioyce in Christ that you redeemed hath By death with deth sing we with voice to him that hath appesd gods wrath Due vnto man for sinfull path wherein before he went astray Giue thankes to him with perfect faith that for man kinde hath made this glorious day This day he rose frō tombe again wherin his precious corse was laid Whom cruelly the Iewes had slaine with bloody wounds ful il araid O man be now no more dismayd if thou henceforth from sin do stay Of death thou needest not be afraide Christ conquered death for this his glorious day His death preuailed had no whit as Paule the Apostle wel doth write Except he had vprisen yet from death to life by Godlike might With most triumphant glittering light This day his glory shined I say and made vs bright as sunne this glorious day O man arise with Christ therfore since he from sin hath made the fre Beware thou fall in sinne no more but rise as Christ did rise for thee So maist thou him in glory see when he at day of doome shall say Come thou my child and dwell with me God graunt vs all to see that glorious day FINIS quoth Jasper Haywood 11. For Whitsunday COme holy ghost eternall God and ease the wofull greefe That through the heapes of heauy sin can no where find releefe Doe thou O God redresse The great distresse Of sinfull heauinesse Come comfort the afflicted thoughtes of my consumed hart O ryd the pearcing pricking paines of my tormenting smart O holy ghost graunt me That I by thee From sinne may purged be Thou art my God to thee alone I will commend my cause Nor glittering gold nor precious stone shall make me leaue thy laws O teach me then the way Whereby I may Make thee my onely stay My lippes my tongue my hart and al shall spread thy mighty name My voyce shall neuer cease
all thinges are bounden to obey For all his witte and worthy skill doth fade at length and fal away There is nothing but time doth wast The Heauens the Earth consume at last But Vertue sittes triumphing still vpon the Trone of glorious Fame Though spitefull death mans body kill yet hurts he not his vertuous name By life or death what so betides The state of Vertue neuer slides FINIS M. T. 22. Nothing is comparable vnto a faithfull freend SIth this our time of Freendship is so skant Sith Freendship now in euery place doth want Sith euery man of Freendship is so hollowe As no man rightly knowes which way to followe Sease not my Muse sease not in these our dayes To ring loude peales of sacred Freendships prayse If men be now their owne peculier freendes And to their neighbours freendship none pertendes If men of Freendship shewe them selues so bare And of their brethren take no Freendly care Forbeare not then my muse nor feare not then To ring dispraise of these vnfreendly men Did man of Freendship know the mighty power How great effectes it worketh euery houre What store of hidden freendship it retaynes How still it powreth forth aboundant gaines Man would with thee my muse in these our dayes Ring out loude peales of sacred Freendships prayse Freendship releeueth mans necessitie Freendship comforteth mans aduersitie Freendship augmenteth mans prosperitie Freendship preferres man to felicitie Then ring my muse ring out in these our dayes Ring out loude peales of sacred freendships prayse Of Freendship growes loue and charitie By Freendship men are linked in amitie From Freendship springeth all commoditie The fruite of Freendship is fidelitie Oh ring my muse ring out in these our dayes Peale vpon peale of sacred Freendships praise That man with man true freendship may embrace That man to man may shew a freendly face That euery man may sowe such freendly seedes As freendship may be found in freendly deedes And ioyne with thee my Muse in these our dayes To ring loud peales of sacred Freendships prayse FJNJS F. K. 23. Remember thy ende TO be as wise as Cato was or rich as Cresus in his life To haue the strēgth of Hercules which did subdue by force or strife What helpeth it when Death doth call The happy ende exceedeth all The rich may wel the poore releeue the Rulers may redresse ech wrong The learned may good coūsel giue but marke the end of this my song Who doth these thinges happy they call Their happy ende exceedeth all The happiest end in these our dayes that al do seeke both small great Is either for Fame or else for praise or who may sit in highest seate But of these thinges hap what hap shall The happy ende exceedeth all A good beginning ought we see but seeldome standing at one stay For few do like the meane degree their praise at parting some men say The thinges wherto each wight is thrall The happy ende exceedeth all The meane estate that happy life which liueth vnder gouernance Who seekes no hate nor breedes no strife but takes in worth his happy chance If contentation him befall His happy ende exceedeth all The longer life that we desire the more offence doth dayly grow The greater paine it doth require except the Iudge some mercy shew Wherfore I thinke and euer shall The happy ende exceedeth all FJNJS D. S. 24. He perswadeth his freend from the fond Affectes of loue WHy art thou bound maist go fre shal reason yeld to raging will Is thraldom like to liberty wilt thou exchange thy good for ill Then shalt thou learne a childish play and of ech part to tash proue The lookers on shal iudge and say loe this is he that liues by loue Thy wits with thoughts shal stand at stay thy head shal haue but heauy rest Thy eies shal watch for wātō praies thy tōgue shal shew thy harts request Thy eares shal here a M. noise thy hād shal put thy pē to pain And in the end thou shalt dispraise thy life so spent for such smal gaine If loue list might euer cope or youth might run in reasons race Or if strōg sute might win sure hope I wold lesse blame a louers case For loue is hot with great desire sweete delight makes youth so fond That little sparks wil proue great fire bring free hartes to endlesse bond First coūt the care then the cost marke what fraude in faith is foūd Thē after come make thy bost shew some cause why thou art boūd For when the wine doth run ful low you shal be faine to drinke the lies And eate the flesh ful well I know that hath ben blowne with many flies We see where great deuotion is the people kneele kisse the crosse And though we find smal fault of this yet sōe wil gilld a bridles bosse A foole his bable will not change not for the septer of a king A louers life is nothing strange for youth delights none other thing FINIS Tho. Churchyard 25. Wanting his desire he complayneth THe sailing ships with ioy at length do touch their long desired port The hewing axe the Oke doth wast the battring Canō breaks the fort Hard hagard haukes stope to the lure wild colts in time the bridle tames There is nothing so out of vre but to his kind long time it frames Yet this I find in time no time can winne my sute Though oft the tree I climbe I can not catch the fruite And yet the pleasant branches oft in yeelding wise to me do bow Whē I would touch they spring aloft soone are they gone I wot not how Thus I present the sleeting floode like Tantalus in hel below Would God my case she vnderstoode which can full soone releeue my woe Which if to her were knowen the fruite were surely mine She would not let me grone and brouse vpon the rine But if my ship with tackle torne with rented sailes must needs retire And streame wind hath plainly sworn by force to hinder my desire Like one that strikes vpon the rocks my weary wracke I shoulde bewayle And learne to know false fortunes mookes who smiles on me to small auaile Yet sith she onely can my rented ship restore To helpe her wracked man but once I seeke no more FJNJS M. Edwards 26. Trye before you truste JN freendes are found a heape of doubts that double dealing vse A swarme of such I could find out whose craft I can accuse A face for loue a hart for hate these faigned freendes can beare A tongue for troth a head for wyles to hurt each simple eare In humble port is poyson pact that plainenesse can not spie Which credites all and can not see where stinging serpents lye Through hastie trust the harmelesse heart is easely hampred in And made beleeue it is good gold when it is lead and tin The first deceit that bleares myne eyes is faigned faith
keepe the payne From her that is so cruell still No no on her worke all your will And let her feele the power of all your might And let her haue her most desire with speede And let her pine away both day and night And let her mone and none lament her needde And let all those that shall her see Despise her state and pittie me FJNIS E. O. Not attayning to his desyre he complayneth J Am not as I seeme to be nor when I smyle I am not glad A thrall although you count me free I most in myrth most pensiue sad I smile to shade my bitter spight as Haniball that sawe in sight His couÌ„try soile with Carthage towne by Romane force defaced downe And Cesar that presented was with noble Pompeis princely head As t were some iudge to rule the cace a floud of teares he semde to shed Although in deede it sprong of ioy yet other thought it was annoy Thus contraries be vsed I finde of wise to cloke the couert minde I Haniball that smiles for grief let you Cesars teares suffice The one that laughs at his mischief the other all for ioy that cries I smile to see me scorned so you weepe for ioy to see me woe And I a hart by Loue slaine dead presents in place of Pompeis head O cruell hap and hard estate that forceth me to loue my fo Accursed be so foule a fate my choise for to prefixe it so So long to fight with secret sore and finde no secret salue therefore Some purge their paine by plaint I finde but I in vain do breath my winde FINIS E. Ox. His minde not quietly setled he writeth thus EVen as the waxe doth melt or dewe consume away Before the Sunne so I behold through carefull thoughts deeay For my best lucke leades me to such sinister state That I doe waste with others Loue that hath my selfe in hate And he that beates the bushe the wished birde not gotts But such I see as sitteth still and holdes the fouling netts The Drone more Honnie sucks that laboureth not at all Then doth the Bee to whose most paine least pleasure doth befall The Gardner sowes the seedes whereof the flowers doe growe And others yet doe gather them that tooke lesse paine I knowe So I the pleasant Grape haue pulled from the Vine And yet I languish in great thirst whiles others drinke the wine Thus like a woefull wight I woue the webb of woe The more I would weede out my cares the more they seme to grow The which betokeneth ioy forsaken is of mee That with the carefull Culuer climes the worne and withered tree To entertaine my thoughtes and there my happ to mone That neuer am lesse idle loe then when I am alone FINIS E. Ox. No ioy Comparable to a quiet minde JN lothsome race pursued by slippery life Whose sugred guile doth glistering ioy present The carefull ghost oppressed sore with strife Yeeldes ghostly grones from painefull passions sent The sinfull flesh that beares him here in vewe In steede of life doth dreadfull death pursue The way he seeth by touche of merites grace Wherein to runne alas he gladly would But filthy fleshe his wretched dwelling place Doth so rebell at that which doe he should That silly soule who feeles his heauie neede Can onely will but naught performe in deede The will through grace doth oft desire the good But all in vaine for that the fleshly foe Yeeldes forth such fruites as sinnes hath bred in bud And blindly suckes the sapp of deadly woo Esteeming showes of fickell fancies knowen And scorning fruite by grace eternall sowen Though eye doth see that death doth swallow all Both life and lust and euery sound delight Yet wretched fleshe through sinne is made so thrall That nought it markes apparent thinges in sight That might him traine to care of better grace Both doth his bale with greedy lust imbrace Then sins desert and all things weare away That nought remaine but fruite of grace or sinne God build in vs such conscience as can say This fruite not mine but sinne that dwelt me in For why to sinne I dayly do in sight That vnto Christ I may reuiue my spright FJNJS ê™ Candish A Complaint IF Cressed in her gadding moode Had not gone to the greekish hoste Where she by Diomede was woode And wonne from him that loude her most She had not fallen to such mischeefe Nor turned Troylus to such greefe Nor Diomede had not vpbrayed To worthy Troylus Cressed spoyle Nor these two worthies had not frayed So oft ech others fame to foyle If Catterwaling Cressed coy Had taried with her loue in Troy No Troians foe nor cruell Greike Had triumphte ouer her good name If she had not gone forth to seeke The Campe where women winne no fame She had bene calde no common Gill If she in Troy had tarryed still She had not knowne the Lazars call With Cuppe and Clap her almes to winne Nor how infectiue scabbe and scall Do cloth the Lepre Ladies skinne She had no such distresse in Troy But honour fauour wealth and ioy Howbeit she could not tarry there But needes forsooth a gadding go To feele the tast of Straungers chere Nise noueltie lo prickt her so She could not hold where she was well But strayed and into ruin fell I pleasure not to blaze her blame Nor chiding cannot mend her mis But all good women by her shame May learne what Catterwaling is For wandring women most men say Cannot be good and goe astray It is not womens excercise To straye or gadde in field or towne Men count them neyther good nor wyse They blot and blemish their renowne They hurt their fame they please their foe And greeues their friend to see them so FINJS Troylus A Replye NO gadding moode but forced strife Compelled me retyre from Troy If Troylus would haue vowde his wife We might haue dwelt in former ioy Ne Diomede nor greekish wight Had sought my blame or his despight If ought the feeble force of mine Could haue withstood the Kingly heast If flowing fluds of stilled rine Had pittie found in Troians brest I had not bene Antenors prise Nor thus bene thrall to noted vise The blome of blame had not bine spread The seede of shame had not bine sowne If Knightly prowes his minde had lead By rightfull force to keepe his owne I had not thralled bine to ill If he in Troy had kept me still My heauie hart and dolefull case Which craues your pitie not your spight Full well you know hath had no place If he had garded well his right I see your curtesie small your store That blaze my plague to make it more You say in Troy I woulde not bee With gadding minde you charge me still When well you knowe that hie decree Did send me forth against my will Sith thus you triumph at my fall Ye ought to tell the cause withall If nought you ioy to blaze my
blame You woulde not hunt for termes of spight Nor faine me cause of all the same Small honour wonne in such a fight For they that noble minded bee Will rue the case and pittie mee I well allowe your finall clause To gadde and runne doth blot the name But lay the fault vnto the cause And graunt him gilthy of the same Who bred the bud that pleased my foe That greeued my friendes and hurt me soe FJNJS Cressida That Loue is requited by disdaine JN searehe of things that secret are my mated muse began What it might be molested most the head and minde of man The bending brow of Princes face to wrath that doth attend Or want of Parentes wyfe or chylde or losse of faithfull friend The roring of the Canon shot that makes the peece to shake Or terrour such as mighty Ioue from heauen aboue can make All these in fine may not compare experience so doth proue Vnto the tormentes sharpe and straunge of such as be in loue Loue lookes alofte and laughes to scorne all such as greefe anoy The more extreame their passions be the greater is his ioy Thus loue as victor of the field triumphes aboue the rest And ioyes to see his Subiectes lye with liuing death in brest But dire disdayne le ts driue a shafte and gaules this bragging foole He pluckes his plumes vnbendes his bowe and sets him new to scoole Whereby this boy that bragged late as conquerour ouer all Now yeeldes himselfe vnto disdayne his Vassall and his thrall FJNJS W. Hunnis ¶ Of a contented state JN welth we see some welthy men abound in welth most welthily In welth we see those men agayn in welth do liue most wretchedly And yet of wealth hauing more store Then earst of wealth they had before These welthy mē do seme to want they seme to wāt that most they haue The more posses the more they craue the more they craue the greater store That most they haue they think but skant Yet not content wo be therefore The simple men that lesse welth haue with lesser welth we se content Content are they twixt welth and scath a life to leade indifferent And thus of wealth these men haue more Then those of which we spoke before FINIS W. Hunnis Being disdayned he complayneth IF friendlesse faith if guiltlesse thought may shielde If simple truth that neuer meant to swearue If deare desire accepted fruite doe yielde If greedy lust in loyall life doth searue Then may my playnt bewayle my heauie harme That seeking calme haue stumbled on the storme My wonted cheare eclipsed by the cloude Of deepe disdayne through errour of report If wearie woe enwrapped in the shrowde Lies slayne by tongue of the vnfriendly sort Yet heauen and earth ayd all that Nature wrought I call to vowe of my vnspotted thought No shade I seeke in parte to shielde my taynte But simple truth I hunt no other sute On that I gape the issue of my plainee If that I quaile let Iustice me confute If that my place amongest the guiltlesse sort Repay by doome my name and good report Go heauie verse pursue desyred grace Where pittie shrinde in cell of secret brest Awaits my haste the rightfull lot to place And lothes to see the guiltlesse man opprest Whose vertues great hath cround her more with fame Then kingly state though largely shine the same FJNJS L. Vaux Of the meane estate THe higher that the Ceder tree vnto the heauens doe grow The more in daunger is the top when sturdy winds gan blowe Who Iudges then in princely throne to be deuoyde of hate Doth not yet know what heapes of ill lies hid in such estate Such dangers great such gripes of mind such toyle doe they sustain That often times of God they wish to be vnkingd agayn For as the huge and mighty rockes withstand the raging seas So kingdomes in subiection be whereas dame Fortune please Of brittle ioy of smiling cheare of hunny mixt with gall Alotted is to euery prince in freedome to be thrall What watches long what sleepes vnsure what greefe care of mind What bitter broiles what endles toiles to kingdomes be assignd The subiect then may well compare with prince for plesant dayes Whose silent nigh brings quiet rest whose steps no storme bewrayes How much be we then bound to God who such prouision makes To lay our cares vpon the Prince thus doth he for our sakes To him therefore ler vs lift vp our hartes and pray amayn That euery Prince that he hath plaste may long in quiet raigne FJNIS W. H. Of a contentcd minde VVHen all is done and sayd in the end thus shall you finde The most of all doth bath in blisse that hath a quiet minde And cleare from worldly cares to deeme can be content The sweetest time of all this life in thinking to be spent The body subiect is to fickle fortunes power And to a million of mishapps is casuall euery hower And death in time doth chaunge it to a clodde of clay When as the minde which is deuine runnes neuer to decay Companion none is like vnto the minde alone For many haue bene harmd by speech through thinking few or none Few often times restraineth wordes but makes no thoughts to cease And ste he speakes best that hath the skill when for to hold his peace Our wealth leaues vs at death our kinsmen at the graue But vertues of the mynde vnto the heauens with vs haue Wherefore for vertues sake I can be well content The sweetest time of all my life to decine in thinking spent FINIS L. Vaux Trie before you trust TO counsell my estate abandonde to the spoyle Of forged friendes whose grosest fraude it set with finest foyle To verifie true dealing wightes whose trust no treason dreades And all to deare thacquaintaunce be of such most harmefull heads I am aduised thus who so doth friend friend so As though to morrow next he feared for to become a fo To haue a fayned friend no perrill like I finde Oft flering face may mantell best a mischeefe in the minde A payre of Aungels eares oft times doth hide a serpentes hearte Vnder whose gripes who so doth come to late bewayles the smart Wherefore I doe aduise who so doth friend friend so As though to morrow next he should become a mortall fo Refuse respecting friendes that courtly know to fayne For gold that winnes for golde shall lose the self same friend agayne The Quayle needes neuer feare in Fowlers nets to fall If he would neuer bend his eare to listen to his call Therefore trust not to soone but when you friend friend so As though to morrow next ye fearde for to become a fo FJNJS L. Vaux He renounceth all the affectes of Loue. LIke as the Hart that lifteth vp his eares To heare the houndes that hath him in the chase Doth cast the winde in daungers and in feares With flying foote to passe away apace
THE PARADYSE of daintie Deuises Contayning sundrie pithie preceptes learned Counsels and excellent Inuentions right pleasaunt and profitable for all estates Deuised and written for the most part by M. Edwards sometimes of her Maiesties Chappell the rest by sundrye learned Gentlemen both of Honour and Worship whose names hereafter followe EGO SVM VIA ET VERITAS Imprinted at London by Henrye Dizle dwelling in Pater noster rowe and are to be solde at his Shoppe in Cannons lane neare the great North Dore of S. Paules Church 1580. IE NE CHERCHE Q'VNE The names of those who wrote these Deuises Saint Barnard E. O. Lord Vaux the elder W. Hunis Jasper Heywood F. Kindlemarsh D. Sand. M. Yloop. To the Right Honourable Syr Henry Compton Knight Lorde Compton of Compton RIGHT HONORABLE AND MY very good Lord presuming vpon your courtesy I am bolde to present vnto your Honour this small volume Entituled The Paradice of daintie Deuises being penned by diuers learned Gentlemen and collected togither through the trauaile of one both of worship and credite for his priuate vse who not long since departed this life which when I had perused ouer not without the aduise of sundry my friendes I determined by their good motion to set them in print who therevnto greatly perswaded mee with these and like wordes The writers of them were both of honour and worship besydes that our owne countreymen and such as for their learning and grauitie might be accounted of among the wisest Furthermore the ditties both pithie and pleasaunt as well for the inuention as meeter and will yeelde a farre greater delight being as they are so aptly made to be sette to any song in 5. partes or song to instrument Which well considering I purposed not to forsake so good an occasion beseching your honor to accept in good part cheefelye for the Authours sake who though some of them are departed this life yet their worthy doings shall continue for euer for like as the shadow followeth the body so praise followeth vertue and as the shadowe goeth sometimes before and sometimes behinde so doeth praise also to vertue but the later it cōmeth the greater it is and to be the better esteemed Thus fearing to offend your Honor with these my rude speeches I end wishing your L. many yeres of ioy Your good Lordships wholy to commaund H. D. The translation of the blessed S. Barnards Verses conteining the vnstable felicitie of this wayfaring world CVR mundus militat sub vana gloria cuius prosperitas est transitoria Tam cito labitur eius potentia quam vasa figuli que sunt fragilia VVHY doeth each state applie it selfe to worldly praise And vndertake such toyle to heape vp honours gayne Whose seate though seeming sure on fickle Fortune stayes Whose giftes were neuer proued perpetuall to remayne But euen as earthen pot with euery fillip fayles So fortunes fauour flits and Fame with Honour quayles Plus crede litteris scriptis in glacie quam mundi fragilis vanae fallasiae Fallax in premijs virtutis specie que nunquam habuit tempus siducie Thinke rather firme to fynde a figure grauen in yse Whose substaunce subiect is to heate of shyning sunne Then hope for stedfast stay in wanton worlds deuise Whose faigned fond delightes from falsheads forge doe come And vnder Vertues veyle are largely dealt about Deceiuing those who thinke their date will neuer out Magis credendum est viris fallacibus quam mundi miseris prosperitatibus Falsis insanijs voluptatibus falsis quoquae studiis vanitatibus The trifeling truthlesse tongue of rumours lying lippes Deserues more trust then doth the highest happy hap That world to worldlinges giues for see how honour slippes To foolish fond conceites to pleasures poysoned sap To studies false in proofe to artes applied to gaine To fickle fancies toyes which wisedome deemeth vaine Dic vbi Salomon olim tam nobilis vel vbi Sampson est dux inuincibilis Vel dulcis Jonathas multum amabilis vel purcher Absolon vultu mirabilis Where is the sacred King that Salomon the wise Who wisedome former time of duety did commend Where is that Sampson strong that monstrous man in size Whose forced arme did cause the mighty pillers bend Where is the Pearelesse Prince the friendly Ionathas Or Absolon whose shape and fauour did surpasse Quo Caesar abijt celsus imperio vel diues splendidus totus in prandio Dic vbi Tullius clarus elloquio vel Aristoteles summus ingenio Where is that Casar now whose high renowned fame Of sondry conquestes wonne throughout the world did sound Or Diues rich in store and rich in richely name Whose chest with Golde and dishe with daynties did abound Where is the passing grace of Tullies pleading skill Or Aristottles vayne whose penne had witte and will O esca vermium ò massa pulueris ò ros ò vanitas cur sic extolleris Jgnoras penitus vtrū cras vixeris fac bonum omnibus quam diu poteris O foode of filthie worme oh lumpe of lochsome clay O life full like the dew which morning soone doth waste O shadow vayne whose shape with sonne doth shrinke away Why gloryest thou so much in honour to be plaste Sith that no certaine hower of life thou doest enioy Most fit it were thy time to goodnesse to imploy Quam breue festū est haec mundi gloria vt vmbra hominū sic eius gaudia Quae semper subtrahit aeterna praemia ducunt hominum at dura deuia How short a banquet seemes the pompe of high renowne How like the sencelesse shape of shiuering shadow thine Are wanton worldly toyes whose pleasure plucketh downe Our harts from hope hands from works which heauen should win And takes vs from the trod which guides to endlesse gayne And sets vs in the way that leades to lasting payne Haec mundi gloria quae magni penditur sacris in litteris slos faeni dicitur Vt leue folium quod vento rapitur sic vita hominum hac vita tollitur The pompe of worldly praise which worldlinges hold so deare In holy sacret booke is likened to a flower Whose date doth not contayne a weeke a month or yeare But springing now doth fade agayne within an hower And as the lightest leafe with wind about is throwne So light is life of man and lightly hence is blowne FINIS My lucke is losse 1. Our pleasures are vantiies BEholde the blast which blowes the blossomes from the tree The ende whereof consumes and comes to nought we see Ere thou therefore be blowne from lyfe that may not last Begin for grace to call for time mispent and past Haue minde on brittle life whose pleasures are but vayne On death likewise bethinke how thou shalt not remayne And feare thy Lord to greeue which sought thy soule to saue To sinne no more be bent but mercy aske and haue For death who doth not spare the kings on earth to kill Shall reape also from thee thy
pleasure life and will That life which yet remaynes and in thy brest appeares Hath sowne in thee such seedes you ought to weede with teares And life that shall succeede when death is worne and past Shall spring for euer then in ioy or payne to last Where death on life hath power ye see that life also Hath mowen the fruites of death which neuer more shall grow FJNJS W. Hunis 2. Who waighteth on this wauering world and veweth ech estate By triall taught shall learne it best to liue in simple rate AMid the vale the slender shrubbe is hid from all mishap When taller tree that standes aloft is rent with thunder clappe The Turrets tops which touch the clouds are beat with euery blast Soone shiuered are their stones with storme and quickly ouer cast Best bodyed tree in all the world for timber beame is found And to the axe the sturdiest Oxe doth yeelde and fall to ground The highest hill doth soonest feele the flash of lightninges flame And soone decayes the pompe and pryde of high renowned name Of all the heard the huntman seekes by proofe as doth appeare With double forked arrow head to wound the greatest Deare The haughtiest head of all the droue enioyest the shortest life And stains the slaughter house with blood at prick of butchers knife Thus what thing highest place attaines is soonest ouerthrowne What euer fortune sets aloft she threats to throw it downe And though no force resist thy power and seeke thee to confound Yet doth the praise of weighty thinges declyne it selfe to ground For restlesse tipe of rowlling wheele example hath it tride To heauy burthen yeelde it must full soone and slippe asyde What vailes the rich his bed of downe that sighes for sleepeles thought What time in couch of flock the poore sleepes sound feareth nought At homely boord his quiet foode his drinkes in treene be tane When oft the proude in cuppes of gold with wine receiue their bane The bed the boord the dread in doubt with trayne to be opprest When fortune frownes their power must yeelde as wyre vnto the wrest Who so thou be that sits alow and tread the valleyes path Thou needes not feare the Thunder bolts of mighty Ioue his wrath If Icarus had not presumed to high to take his flight He had not yet bene drowned in Seas that now Jtarion hight If Phaeton had not enterprised to guide his fathers seate His fires had not inflamed the world nor bene destroyed with heate But who so climes aboue the meane there is no hope of stay The higher vp the sooner downe and nearer his decay Then you that here in pompe are plaste to guide the golden mace Let crowne and Scepter both obay the meane of vertues race For neither shall renowned vertue see the pitte of hell Nor yet in tombe of Marble stone she shall abide to dwell And in that Tombe full brauely dect When that she shall depart God send her rest and all thinges well according to desart But from Sepulcher flies she hence beyond the skies aboue And glistering in the blisfull starres she raignes with mighty Ioue FINJS Iasper Heywood 3. The perfect triall of a faithfull friend NOt stayed state but feeble stay not costly robes but bare aray not passed welth but presēt wāt not heped store but slēder skāt Not plenties purse but poore estate not happy hap but froward fate Not wish at wil but wāt of ioy not harts good helth but harts anoy No fredomes vse but prisoners thrall not costly seate but lowest fall Not weale I meane but wretched wo doth truly trie the friend frō foe And nought but frowarde Fortune prooues who fawning faynes or simply loues FINIS M. Yloop. 4. Being asked the occasion of his white head He aunswereth thus WHere seething sighes and sorrow sobbes Hath slaine the slippes that Nature set And scalding showers with stonie throbbes The kindly sapp from them hath fet What wonder their though that you see Vpon my head whyte heares to be Where thought hath thrilde and throwne his speares To hurt the hart that harmeth him not And groning grefe hath ground forth teares Myne eyne to stayne my face to spot What wonder then though that you see Vpon my head whyte heares to bee Where pinching payne himselfe hath plaste There peace with pleasures were possest And where the walles of wealth lye waste And pouertie in them is prest What wonder then though that you see Vpon my head whyte heares to bee Where wreatched woe will weaue her web Where care the clew can catch and cast And floods of ioy are fallen to ebbe So lo that life may not long last What wonder then though that you see Vpon my head white heares to bee These heares of age are messengers Which bid me fast repent and pray They be of death the Harbingers That doth prepare and dresse the way Wherefore I ioy that you may see Vpon my head such heares to be They be the liues that lead the length How farre my race is for to runne They say my youth is fled with strength And how old age is weake begunne The which I feele and you may see Vpon my head such lines to be They be the stringes of sober sound Whose musick is harmonicall Their tunes declare a time from ground I came and how thereto I shall Wherefore I ioy that you may see Vpon my head such stringes to bee God graunt to those that white heares haue No worse them take then I haue ment That after they be layde in graue Their soules may ioy their liues wel spent God graunt likewise that you may see Vpon your head such heares to be FINIS W. Hunis 5. Beware of had J wist BEware of had I wist whose fine bringes care and smart Esteeme of all as they deserue and deeme as deemde thou art So shall thy pefect friend enioy his hoped hyre And faithlesse fawning foe shall misse theffect of his desyre Good wilt shall haue his gayne and hate shall heape despight A faythlesse friend shall find distrust and loue shall reape delight Thy selfe shall rest in peace thy friend shall ioy thy fate Thy foe shall fret at thy good happe and I shall ioy thy state But this my fond aduise may seeme perchaunce but vayne As rather teaching how to lose then how a friend to gayne But this not my intent to teach to finde a friend But safely how to loue and leaue is all that I intend And if you prooue in part and finde my councell true Then wish me well for my good will t is all I craue adue FJNJS My luck is losse 6. M. Edwardes MAY. WHen MAY is in his prime then MAY eche hart reioyce When MAY bedecks eche branch with greene ech bird streins forth his voice The liuely sappe creepes vp into the bloming thorne The flowres which cold in prison kept now laughes the frost to skorne All natures Impes triumphes whiles ioyfull May doth last When