is somtimes fauning sōtimes frownīg somtime content somtimes displeased and lastly the little looue of fained fréends vnkind kinsmen for their priuate profit how it is soon forgotten and ended so that we may wel think it is better to rest from our Labours then with paine continually to toyl against nature the cōmon miserie the vnknowne paines the pinching penurie the sobbings the sorowings the trauelings the toylings the sower Bread of heauynes the bitter drink of carefulnes the afflictions as imprisonmēt derth Fire and swoord which before our eyes we rufully doo beholde the innocent opressed the poore man persecuted the rich man regarded Falshod fauored Trueth neglected all goodnes quite deuoured dooth or may driue vs to think the happy and thrise happy is he that hath passed this laborsome Laborinth in the pathes of Vertue goodnes honesty and come to the happy Hauen of rest quietnesse which is through Death the disoluere of mans misery For what other thing meanes the Poets whē they paint out Vlisses tedious troubles his perilous passages somtimes lighting on Poliphemus a terrible Giant redy to deuower him somtimes on the wanton Dame Calipso redy to allure him otherwhiles passing by the shoares where the subtel Sirens were redy to drowne his Barke by the inchātment of their meruelous Mellody for the resisting wherof being gouerned by the graue aduice of prudent Pallas he was faine to stop his eares with wax to binde him self to the Mast of the ship to feed of the swéet hearb Molie which was giuen him by Mercury to auoid all the incantations of Circe with the rest of like trechery Nothing I say but to paint out vnto vs as in a glasse that Man is a mirror of misery subiect to many hard aduentures and in daunger of many perrils Sathan our olde Enemie redy to pray on vs if our owne mighty captain Christe were not in our distresses redy to defend vs against his subtil assaults without all doubt wée should soone become Bondslaues to all sinne and iniquitie the wanton Allurements and wicked entisements of Dame Pleasures with her mīsing mates are so dressed vp in gallant brauery as hardly can we saue our Barkes and bodyes from drowning in the waues and woorks of wicked vanitie were it not that our great God Iehouah the heauenly wisdome by his good Counsaile dooth giue vs Vertuous Precepts of good liuing to the contrary I cānot forget the notable misfortunes and euill chaunces of Oedipus written by Euripides in slaying his Father Laius marying his owne Mother Iocasta of whom he begat his two infortunat sonnes Polynices and Eteocles who after the Citizens of Thebes had exiled their Father fel in contention one with another for the seat of gouernment For the gréef of these former wickednes Oedipus plucked out his owne eyes and became an exile and would often if his Daughter Antigone had not hindered him with glistering blade wrought his owne finall destruction but he often wished to dye in vaine yet at the last he was with a flame of lightning from heauen sudenly strooken to death The mening as we may partely gather by sence reason is that the wickednes of our desires in Venus deuelish delightes are so great that for the attaining therof we wil not let to murther our Parents kinsmen fréends yea then to mary in our owne blood and consanguinitie whervpon it comes to passe that our ofspring our children or sōe of them througth the sinne of the Parents violently and with all rigor séek by all means to percecute one another yea euen to Death All which detestable dealings being séen of the thundering Iupiter he of his mercy striketh vs vnawares with his Rod of correction and whippeth vs with his scourge of Vengeance by lightenings thunderings earthquakes Tempests strange noyses rumors of warres visions inundations of waters Pestilences new and strange diseases called Gentle warnings and somtime sudden Death to the'nd we might repent vs of our sinne and be the more redier when awful Atropos shall with her deadly darte sommon vs before the great and terrible Iudge either to our saluation if we repent and amend or els to our condemnation if we liue and dye without repentance Now what is the life of man wherof he so much bosteth I wil answer partly with Arristotle the pray of Time the play of Fortune the image of vnconstancie the slaue of Enuy the sea of worldly calamitie a fading flower a buble of water a blast of winde a fléeting shadow a smothering smoke a péeuish pilgrimage a slumbering sléep which as graue Homer tearmeth it is the brother of Death a Stage play the Acts wherof are vncertain and the length before we come to the Catastrop or end of our Comicall action is inforsed with infinit mischefes the relefer where of is dolful Death that inuincible Champion For euen as he which saileth on the Sea by wīde time and tides whether he be sitting or standing lying or going sléeping or waking at last all perils passed entreth the wished port of saftie So the life of man by course of age and yéeres wil he nil he how soeuer he spend his tickled time continually is caried to the end of his painful dayes and to the finishing of his carefull course to the happy harborow of eternall life for as life flieth a way with the wings of time so Death draweth on with the féet of age But forasmuch as Enius thīketh that that Death is not to be lamented the which immortall Fame foloweth Therfore he which hath sung much is not the best Musicion nor he that hath gouerned the Ship longest is the perfetest Pilot nor he that hath béen longest at the Vniuersitie is the best student but he which hath doon it the soonest quicklyest and perfectest So to knit vp in bréef if alredy I haue not béen to tedious I wil end saying that not he which liueth longest is moste blessedest because of his siluer heres and long time but he which hath liued wel and soonst trod his footsteps in the path of Vertue and dyed an honorable Death is the man that may be accounted moste hapyest Death dissolueth Dollors The Authors muse vpon this life in manner of a Dittie I Musing in my mestiue minde of this vaine fléeting life By perfect proofe this doo I finde t is nothing els but strife Which when I sée the pinching paine wherwith poore men are prest I déeme him happiest that hath this gaine by Christe eternall rest For héer I sée our cares abound and sorowes stil encrease And neuer lin til vnder ground our corps doo lye at ease Our labor then is ended sure and blessedst is that wight That greatest gréefs did here endure and led a life moste right For héer such spitefulnes dooth raine such swelling Pride aloft Such séeking all for worldly gain such sinne so déerly bought Such carking cares to kéep this life in brauest port and Fame Such séeking stil for
you that list from vvhence I came or vvhat good Stauely ment VVhose care vvas such to vvoork the vvay for vvhich his time vvas spent Read you vvhat he hath careful vvrit and follovv you his lore So death thou shalt learne to contemne that dreaded death before It 's follye for to feare that thing vvhich no man can eschevv Liue then to day as thou vvouldest dye so Staueley vvilles thee doe He tels thee vvhat thy life it is And vvhat thyne end must be To day a man to morovv none by proofe vve knovve and see VVhat troubles are in vvretched life and vvhat hangs ouer head Thou mayst beholde and heer for see vvhich oft thou doost not dread VVhich may thee teach for to be vvise hovv thou heerafter liues Eschevv the euil embrace the good as Staueley Counsail giues And so farvvel and him doo thank vvhich for thee tooke such paines His study is not for himself but thou the profit gaines If thou this platforme follovv vvil vvhich freendly he bestovves Then shalt thou suerly dye to liue as he in sequel shovves Finis VV. B. Oswald Speed to the Reder AS many men so many wittes Some lothe that which other looue And one thing neuer all men fits As this my fréend shall prooue What 's some mans meat dooth poyson some And this mans blisse is that mans doome In reading some condemneth those That in the plainest sort His meaning to them dooth disclose And some again report Him blest that hath the loftiest vaine And déem the rest of barrein braine Another sort dooth him commend That igmys in midle mean Not much affecting to offend Nor yet without it clean So one for this and some for that doo call That one man cannot please them all So he my fréend that writ this Booke Would willingly delight All those that on the same doo looke If possibly he might He séeketh nothing for his pain But Readers liking for to gain And thus fare you vvel The best is soone said Asvvell as the vvorst This all men can tel It is not best made That 's doon at the first Finis ê™ Oswold Speed. A Breef Discourse HAuing tasted of the insatiable sea of sowsing sorowes and drunk of the careful cup of peruerce perturbations aswel of minde as of body I finde by proof that dreadfull Death at the naming wherof we tremble is the dissoluer of our coÌ„tinuall cares troublesome cogitations mans moste miserable misery which to approoue verifie let vs first call vnto rememberance the gréeuous gronings of our painful Parents in the time of our natiuitie and education For with what wéeping wayling sobing and sighing at our first enterance into this vale of misery are we beyond all measure moste gréeuously afflicted The wery watchings the colde and long winter nights the rising the rocking the lulling the lameÌ„ting all to asswage our passions intollerable which we theÌ„ scarsly knowe although we moste sharpely féel might be a meane to daunt our haughty harts to a bandon our lewd liues liuiÌ„g in these careful calamities oppressed with sorowes innumerable But alas the first Act being finished we enter into another kinde of life seuere and strict as yunglings doo think it which is going to scoole to lern the precepts of Philosophie wayes to vertu wherby we become of monsters men of sencelesse soules learned lights notwithstanding indéed some for the attaining therof bide many a sharp shower with carefull and gréeuous correction which in my minde might often be wun sooner with mildnes of the Maister then with much seueritie When we haue got learning by reason wherof we are called in the Commonwelth to some publike Office and are the méeter to deale in our priuat affaires wherin our studyes are incessant our cares continuall our seruice moste painful to perfoorme our pretended purposes and the discharge of our desired duties Héer héer beginneth the tragicall discourse of our gréeuous gronings vnfortunat troubles at which time we think to reap some solace for our late sustained sorowes but euen then a thousand of troubles nay a hel of miseries vpon our heads when we think our selues in greatest safetie and moste securitie For Matrimony so presseth vs diuers wayes as scarsly can we bend our studyes to any good perfection it taketh away our liked libertie and bringeth these incombrances a Iangling wife vnquiet Children brawling sometimes vntrustie seruants with innumerable such like torments therfore all these being wel wayed it may séem to the vertuous and honest minde such a warfare of woes and such a tempest of troubles as he might think and iustly say that Death is the looser of mans moste lamentable liuing and the dissoluer of this wretched state cares incoÌ„perable Morouer there is such Enuy in many such Pride in generall and such séeking for gain as the vnquietnes of this life is rather to be lothed then the pleasuers therof to be wished or desired Doo we not sée what priuie detracting what Enuious maligning what cruell conspiring and all for offices libertie and lordly liuing The husbandman not content with his estate séeketh to liue like a Lord rather then an inferior person and would become of woorse then a yeoman a gentleman and so forwards But marke the vnquietnes of their mindes for though no delay may daunt them no calamities controule them yet the supernall powers perceiuing their ambitious intention in a moment by Death throweth downe hedlong that they vainly pretended and deuelishly attempted O if we which beare the names of men would but once remember the end of all which is Death assuredly assuredly then would burning hatred be cold secret matire ly dead and be quite quenched in the ashes But care to maintaine this life with abundance ambition pomp pleasures riches ryot Libertie same good fortune fauour Fréendship and goodly countenance is so super abundant as neither can we take our desired rest quietly eat or drink merily nor doo any moderat action to the contentation of our afflicted mindes so gréeuously are we turned on the whéel of carking care continually I haue red in the auncient Annualls of the renowmed Romains of the ciuil warres betwixt the puisant Pompey and the coragious Caesar only for Ambition and desire of a sole Regiment whose cares were continuall the one séeking the ouerthrowe of the other which Death first vsing the Tutors of young Ptolome as his instrument sléew Pompeyus and sent his head vnto Cesar who séeing it as writers report wept But by the hands of Brutus and Cassius Caesars life was shortly after finished for they in the stately Senat house of Roome gaue three and twentie wounds with Penkniues or bodkins moste cruelly bereuing Caesar of his lofty life O detestable desire of glory Oh deuelish deuice for honor Oh vaÌ„quisher of Vertue couldst thou not be satisfied vntil thou hadest the life of goodly Caesar who as Ignatius saith was moste wise in counsail ful of eloquence profound in wisdome valiant in
strength of body expert in marshall affaires and finally in him no exellent qualitie lacked that was requisit for any noble man I could tell you likewise how Tiberius was dispatched by the hands of Caligula for the gouernment and domination of the Empier of the Romains and how Caligula had his deadly wound of Tiberius Drusus who gouerned a short time the Regiment of that kingdome with infinit such like Thus may you sée héere that Death hath ended their couetous conceits and ambicious desires bridled their wilful wils and restrained their wicked entents Death is feareful yea but the losse of eternall life is more to be feared death depriueth vs of honors worldly renowne riches Fréends Parents and children yea but if we forgoe the Crowne of imortall glory the heauenly Riches the company of our déer fréends Moyses and the Prophets and the societie of our first Parents Adam Eue and their childreÌ„ Seth Enos Kenam Mchalael Iered Henoch and Methuselah who liued in this Pilgrimage nine hundreth thréescore nine yéeres this is a greater losse much more to be feared Death abaÌ„doneth our delicate delights our pleasant Pastimes our worldly solace taketh from vs all our bagges golde of siluer our treasures our famous buildings with all the rest of our ioyes Yea but in stéed of them it restoreth vs to a celestiall place fol of blessednes inspekable felicities which no eye hath séen no eare hath herd no hart can conceiue nor no tung able to vtter In this place is a heaueÌ„ly Ieruzalem where all ioyes incomporable are to be found and sorowes vtterly exiled But peraduenture some one wil say I liue a quiet life I haue the good gifts of Fortune she neuer frowneth on me my neighbours enuey not my estat of worldly felicitie nor my happy procéedings and I haue mountaines of welth and no man hateth me but I haue many Fréends by reason of my golde and therfore by this means I can procure my estate pleasure helth life and libertie to my liking O vain man doost thou not knowe that thy state is so much the more miserable by how much the more thou estéemest of thy self and those transitory things For I assure thée moste wretched is he that neuer hath tasted any misfortune and he is hated of the Gods that neuer féeleth any troubles Demetrius calleth a quiet life without aduersitie Mare mortuum a dead Sea. Pollicrates a tirant of the Samians whose good Fortune was such as he neuer felt any mischaunce in all his life time sauing towards his death who being wery of his continuall ioy and gladnes towing in a vessell for his pleasure into the depth of the Chanell and mening to turne his present good hap to changeable futer ill fortune wilfully cast a precious Ring of golde hauing 〈◊〉 Pearl in it of inestimable value into the waues therof which a hungry fish snapped vp the same in sted of other féeding which béeing presently taken with Fishermen presented into the Kichin of Pollicrates for her singuler rarenes the Cooke â—â—pping the belly vnawares found this Ring took it and deliuered it to his maister Although Pollicrates did now ride on the top of Fortunes whéel yet at the last the whéel turned and he had a great fall for in the warres which were betwéen him and Darius King of the Pertians Orantes the chéef Captain or Lieutenant of Darius tooke him prisoner after moste painful and terrible torments caused him to be honge vpon a gibet vpon the top of a stéep hill or mighty mountaine O blinde vnstable fortune Had it not béen better for Pollicrates now and then to haue tasted some of thy sower sops of sorow and sometimes to haue droonk of the bitter drink of Aduersitie then altogither in his brauest iollitie not only to lose his kingdoÌ„e but also his déer life in moste shamful manner As thou then deltst with him so since thou hast vsed others thy guests in like sort But yet you think that golde can redéem you from gréet Siluer from sorowe and déeds from Death no I tell you they are rather means to hasten your dispatch then to linger your delay For as Bion reporteth Arristippus a very wise Philosopher had a Seruant who was ouer charged with the waight and charge of his Maisters money therfore bidden by his maister to cast away the ouerplus and carry that which he might with his ease which doon Aristippus happening to be on the Sea with Pirats threw all his Golde and Siluer into the waues therof saying better it were that all this géere be throwne away by Aristippus then Aristippus by them meaning that the kéeping of the money might procure him a dismall day he béeing in the company of such falce and fained fréends Not much vnlike to this I finde as the worthy Poets record in their moste sacred Verses how Arion the exellent and cuning Musition who for to encrease his knowledge in forren contries and to augment his estate in gathering golde for sooke Lesbos his owne natiue soyle and Contry and sayling into Scicile remained there a season from thence he traueled into Italie where hauing got his wished desire of gaine and pretending to passe to Corinth being a Ship boord in moste safty as he thought with his owne contrie meÌ„ they vnderstanding what riches he had sought by all meanes priuily how to slay him but he perceiuing their intent desired of theÌ„ to take his golde and other treasures and saue his life which they would not agrée vnto but graunted him that he should throwe him self into the waues of the Sea hedlong and so stoppe his breth for that he should not bewray their mischeuous Act of Robbery wherfore with abundance of teares he requested the Marriners nay rather Théeues and Pirats for no other term can I better giue theÌ„ to grant him his lamentable Lute and eke his mourning Roab which béeing obtained he sung to his sollemn Lute a sory song and so amiddest the surging Sea did sée the face of Death yet being aliue But for all that he was deliuered by the help of a Dolphin fish who presently receiued him on her back and moste safely conuaied him a shore when he least looked for any such mater I remember that the renowned Poet Maro in his Eneidos of the destruction of the famous Citie of Troy writeth how the ancient and wise King Priamus fearing lest the mightie Gréekes should ouerthrowe and vtterly destroy all the regall blood and Issue there sent his yungest soÌ„ne Pollidorus to his cosen Pollimnestor being a King hauing a great some of Golde with him to minister vnto the Infant necessaries Polimnestor made much of Pollidorus so loÌ„g as his Father Priamus liued but he being dead the cruell Tirant for the gréedines of his golde slew him moste vnnaturally to his shame dishonor reproch and perpetuall infamie Wherin we may perceiue what little saue gard is in golden riches how vnstable fortune
A BREEF DISCOVRâ— wherin is declared of the trauailes anâ— miseries of this painful life that death is tâ—â— dissoluer of mans miserie Gathered out of dâ—uers good writers by Leonard Staueley Whâ— vnto is annexed the Authors muse of this life in English Vearse and his prayse likewise of Vertue Felicitie and true Gentillitie Cicero 1. Tuscul Moriendum est omnibus estque finis Miseriae in morte Death draweth on We must be gon From Bed to Béer In time repent Thy life ill spent Whiles thou art héer For after death Hath stopt our Breth We shall be sure In Heauen to dwel Or els in Hell Where paines indure Imprinted at London at the long shop adioyning vnto Saint Mildreds Church in the Pultrie by Iohn Allde To the Right Worshipfull Ancient and graue Knight Sir Robert VVingfeeld of Letheringham Leonard Staueley wisheth encrease of worship Vertue and Godly sluing with Nestors yeeres Craesus welth and Galliens happy helth FOr as much Right vvorshipfull as I finde in sundry histories of antiquitie of the thaÌ„kfulnes of diuers kindes of beastes vvhich vvant reason and vnderstanding shovved vnto their Benefactors and for that I vvere very lothe to be included in the number of vnthankfull Creatures I haue therfore presumed by this little trifle vpon the curteous inclination of your gentle nature vvhich to all men is apparant to shovve my self to be an other poore Sinatas vvhose good vvil and thankfullnes in hart and minde I trust you vvil vvay asvvel in a drop of svveet running vvater as if it vvere a gift of some precious or more greater value For as I remember Erasmus in his vvittie Appothegmes saith that Donum quodcunque dat aliquis proba Munerum animus est optimus But paraduenture your vvorship vvil meruail vvhy I beiÌ„g one of small or no vnderstanding haue attempted to put my Pen to the paper to vvrite of a more vvaightyer matter theÌ„ my vvittes or learning are able to attaine vnto The trueth is though I neuer vvent further then a little in the Grammer Schole yet by common experience reading of bookes and mine ovvne industry and trauel I haue conceiued some thing For vvhen I consider the sundry mischaunces of fickle Fortune if any such thing there be the miserable estate of mankinde novv puffed vp in Pompe of all Pleasures novv throvvne dovvn into the dungion of all dolors anon commeth a flovving flud by and by a lovve eb vvater so that the vncertaintie of this vaine fleeting life may be vvell compared to a violent flood vvhich is quick in rysing svvift and troublesome to passouer induring but for a vvhile in one condition and certentie VVherfore these as the first frutes of my good vvil vvhat soeuer they be I haue dedicated to your vvoorships Patronage vnder vvhose Sheeld of defence a number of afflicted members haue sure sauegard and gentle refuge amongst vvhome I am one vvho am bound by double dutie vvil be prest if seruice by hand or hart may doo any thing to you and yours for euer But for asmuch as the hugenes of the head defaseth a little slender body and a tedious tale may breed some offence lest in lengthning myne Epistle I should disgrace that small thing vvhich follovveth heer in breef I vvil end remembring that a little Musicque to the heauy hart is often found more delightfull and pleasant then a great deal of vntunable melody Your vvoorships moste humbly to commaund during life Leonard Staueley ¶ Verses Written vpon the name of the Right woorshipfull Sir Robert Wingfeeld Knight Regarding right way wel in minde Of life and death the end of all Beware of freends that are vnkinde And seek to kill by curteous call Recoyle from him which layes a net Thy silly Soule in sinne to get VVith harty looue like wel that frend Yn vvhome great vvisdome dooth remain Neclecting vice so in the end Great gifts of God thou sure shalt gaine Flee swift vvith Wing and vvin the Feeld Extolling Gods vvoord still on bye Liue vvel liue euer to Vertue yeeld Dred God and Prince moste carefully Keepe Conscience pure and paâ—y to God Not liuing like an Epicure If that thou doost his heauy rod Great plagues and vvoes thou shalt endure Heauens blesse the race being gody run The guerdon is vvhen life is doon Stand stedfast L. S. ¶ To the curteous and freendly Reader AS I haue seen by diuers and learned woorks moste gentle Reader that there was neuer yet any matter so handled but some fault hath escaped so for want of skill in mine owne dooings Lacking the benefit of exact knowledge I haue ruÌ„ne a Rouing without any order in my writinges But such as it is I present to thy frendly reading wherin I haue declared some parte of mans intollerable passions frailtie for redres wherof I say that death is the disoluer of his miserable misery If I gain thy good woord I haue my desire but if I reap thy reproch thou shewest but thy noysom nature wherfore hoping the best I wish thee vse this til time afford better as I heer of thy freendly report so wil I write of other matters to thy contentation profit and pleasure et sic Vale. Savwel The Book to the Reader I Rashly pend doo spring from barren braine A simple meÌ„e in prose for to declare vvhat sorovves sovver vvhat greefs piÌ„ching pain This life dooth bring vvherby vve may prepare VVith death to Christe avvay froÌ„ hence to fare VVherfore in gree accept vvhat heer is said Since meer goodvvil vvas cause that he it made I shovve in breef hovv Vertue vvinneth Fame Hovv she alone brings true Felicitie Hovv all that is on earth is nought but vain And hovv vve ought esteem Gentillitie Misconster nothing that thou spiest in me So by that meanes thou vvin'st his hart and all In promptest vvise to pleasure thee at call Blame not his skil for of good vvilâ— From him I came as only mean To purge him clean of thankles name As dooth behooue let him thy looue And good vvoord gain â–ª abandon Spite So maiest thou quite his little pain Looue is a solace Ba. He. to the Reader SWéet is the smel which pleaseth all mens sent Wel can he wryte which féedeth euery vain If this smel swéet to those who hath it sent The Author hath his hire for his pain To showe and prooue wise Solons saying true Til Death that none can be a happy man Good Staueley showes by that which dooth ensue And with his pen it prooues as best he can If paine for others gaine deserue but wel If toyle for common weale be woorthy prayse Commend the Author then who showes his skil To profit thée and others with his phrase His willing minde to write doo not repréeue All spiteful termes for enuious men reserue Let Staueley for his paine obtain thy looue And wish him wel as wel he dooth deserue FINIS T. F. William Brogdon in prayse of the Authors trauaile MVse
pleasures ryfe such follyes fond and vaine Such breaking sléeps such tugging toyle such watchings and such wiles Such séeking one of others foyle such teares of Crocodiles Such laying traps for th' innocent such séeking of his blood Such subteltie when trueth is ment such ill such little good Such woorking woe to harmeles harts such cloking Vice and sinne Such playing of moste cruell partes such lustes our liues are in Such framing of swéet hunnyed talk such luring of the wicked wil Such going wrong that few right walke such sights the soule to spil Such ielious fits such frantick partes such anger all for nought Such close deseits in holow harts such secret mischéefs wrought Such facyng of fine forgid tales such swearing all for pence Such falshood bothe in waights and scales such sauing of expence Such little hospitallitie vsed such pinching of the poore Such forsing them to be abused such Vice doon euery ower Such haunting of vile Venus trulles such brawling for their cause Such cutting slashing knocking skulls such breaking of the lawes Such Auarice in euery man such Vsury out of measure Such tossing of Liaeus Can such spending of their treasure Such biting with malicious tunges such scoffing at the wise Such slothfulnes such open wronges such stormes doo still arise As when I think vpon this life which nothing is I say But only cares and mortall strife and smoke that flyes away Then happy ten times blest is he whose ruthful race is run And dooth enioy Felicitie when all his cares are doone Which mightie Ioue graunt vs I pray The true Felicitie That we may at our ending day Receiue his great glory And that likwise héer in this vale of sorowes and of mone We may enioy without ten faile heauens blisse when life is gon Our gratious Quéen Elizabeth doo kéep O Lord we pray In glorious pomp and after Death in ioyes that rest she may Amen Life is strife His prayse of Vertue Felicitie and Ientillytie To the curteous and gentle Reder THese simple lines which heer I written haue Declare the force of Vertues good effect Good Reader beare with rudenes mine I craue For here therby no man I wil detect Vprightly iudge and then I need not feare But thou with it in freendly sort wilt beare Iudge iustly In prayse of Vertue Vertue only bringeth Felicitie ALthough Apollos filed phrase and Pallas learned skill Within my brest took neuer place to féed my muse at wil. Yet I like Pan in rurall rithme for good wil that I beare Vnto the race of Gentlemen wil wright as shall appéer It is not Fame ne flattering force ne hoordes of heaped golde But onely Vertue forceth me this sentence to vnfolde Dame Vertue she that heauenly Quéen and Perragon of price Is only cause that silly soules to honor doo arise She bringeth true felicitie and Vice she dooth expell She teacheth how to feare the Lord and saue thy soule from hell I read a wise Philosopher which Aristotle hight In stately stile hath left her force apparant to our sight Saying that Vertue aptest is to those of youthfull race A pleasant thing to ancient men to Riche a goodly grace And to the poore she profit bringes aduauncing him ful hye For Vertue only is the cause of true Felicitie Vnnoble men she noble makes and glory is their hap Whose chaunce is such to take their ease in Vertues lulling lap A solace she to woful wights whome carking cares oppresse She bringes them perfect Pacience and makes their gréef séem lesse Who sowes the séeds of Vertue swéet shall reap eternall Fame And true Fame ouercommeth Death through Vertue this we gaine A Sage of Gréece was asked once what thing to man was best Euen Vertue answered he because in her consists great rest Without the which no good thing may once wrought or spoken be For she alone brings perfect blisse and true Felicitie Wise Solon tolde rich Craesus King it was not flowing welth Ne strength of men ne Tagus sands Ne Gallens mery helth Ne Lordships great ne honors hye ne Pleasures hunnyed bait That happy made his stiffing dayes his frail and brittle state But if he made a godly end and vertuously did dye He he it is that knowes the vse Of true Felicitie But now who vertue dooth frequent who séeks this virgin pure Euen men of basest Parents born whom Honors doo allure Minerua ioyn'd with Diligence makes many woorthy be Because that Vertue giues the light of true Felicitie The ancient race of Gentlemen haue wun theire Shéelds of Armes Through Vertue and through valiancie defending Prince from harmes But now a dayes some Gentlemen doo giue bothe speare and shéeld Although indéed they neuer came in any foughten féeld Nor yet by Counsail graue at home did profit Common welth But sought their owne vtillitie and eke their priuate helth Golde makes the Heraldes paint such foorth as liketh best their haps Yet Apes are Apes though golden Roabs oft times be on their backs True Gentlemen of worthy race through Armor Speare and Shéeld Haue woon their Armes by dint of swoord and push of Pikes in féeld But now alas I must lament that Gentlemen of Fame Let passe their ancient Gentery forgetting clean the same Some scrape vp goods by crafty meanes Some royatly all spend Some through excesse of pounsing pride are brought to balefull end By thousand meanes good Gentlemen are brought to dire decay The reason is that vertues loare in them dooth beare small sway Vpstarts contrarily attend on Vertues rayall traine From step to step from grace to grace til honors step they gaine T is better farre a mean man born in Vertue to exséed Then one who Vice dooth still frequent though Gentle man indéed For noblenesse begins in him and in the other dye Which dooth appéer that Vertue brings the true Felicitie Who now is the true Gentleman euen bée as Seneca said Whome Nature with Mineruas skill to Vertues lore hath made If any man to praise thou chaunce because he Gentle is His Parents and his Ancestors thou praysest them iwis It is not Parents progenie As Ouid dooth vs tell But Vertue maketh Gentlemen alone for to excell Wherfore to Gentle men I write your ancient bloods renew With Vertuous Artes and Gentlenesse bid filthy Vice adieu And as the names of Gentlemen deseruedly you haue So frame your liues that you may passe with Vertue hence to graue Let Iustice mixt with Mercyes méed And Wisdome be your guide Riches contemn and Pleasures hate from Faith doo neuer slide Pride Couetousnesse Ambition Vnreuerentnesse likewise Vaine glory Discord Enuy eke at any hand despise Be humble to inferiors and haue a lowly hart Then wil the common people say a Gentle man thou art Séek learnings déep Philosophie and peace doo thou ensue Hate ireful rage and tirannie and Backus blisse eschew So in the end this glorious Gem Dame Vertue will thée giue A Garland of Immortall Fame wherby thou aye mayst liue For after Death