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
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
Soutch quarrell with Captaine Randall then Maior of the fielde And Mayster Soutch did vrge through ill words and stout language Captaine Randall verye farre which might haue mooued any manne living But Captaine Randall in a manner vsed those words that the Italian had done before expressed and going further on in communication commaunded the Souldiours to lay handes on Maister Soutch and swore hee would execute him and learne all other by his boldnesse to knowe their duties And when Mayster Soutch was stayed well qouth Captaine Randall since thou hast challenged mee I will not vse my power and authoritie ouer thee But by the fayth of a souldier when I am out of the Sergeaunt Maiors roume I will meete thee and make thy heart ake for those wordes thou haste giuen excepte thou repent before of thy lewde demeanour Mayster Soutch hauing disgested and wisely waighed this matter being talked withall of the Captaines in the campe came like a Gentleman on himselfe and acknowledged his fault most dutifully and with great repentaunce for which submission of his hee was the better thought on after This shewes and declares that an auncient souldiour and Officer hath a great Priuilege and not be compared with nor offered any iniurie because hee carries the admiration of the people and the honour of the field Yee shall find written in the Spanish and the Language of the Portugall which Portugalles founde out the Easte Indians that there was a mightie King of Calicute and many other Kinges in the Indians whose Souldiours were all Gentlemen and did liue euer on the sâ—ipend that the King allowed them And those Souldiours had many Priuileges and titles of honour and stood so much on their reputation that they would not touch a Husband mans handes nor suffer a Rusticall fellowe to come into their houses And the Husbande men were bounde when the Souldiours goe in the streetes to crie with a loude voyce to make place for the Souldiours For if those Gentlemen did come and bid the Common people goe out of the waie and they doe not obay their commaundement therein It was sufferable for the Gentlemen Souldiours to kill those obstinate and proude people And furthermore the King could not make Gentlemen iâ— they were not borne of some Noble stocke of the race of Souldiours They could not take their weapons nor enter into Combate before they were armed Knightes They must at the age of seauen yeares bée put to learne to play with all Weapons and to the ende they shoulde bee perfect their Maysters doe hale their armes verie farre out thereby to stretch their limmes and afterwarde they teach them such Fence as is apt for that purpose They did by an ordinaunce and custome of theirs honour and salute their Maysters that hadde taught them at the Weapons which were Graduates and cunninge menne wheresoeuer they mett them in the stréete They were bound twoo Monethes in the yeare to plie their schoole and take a Lesson at their Maysters handes By which reason they were verie skilfull of their Weapons and for that cause they greatlye estéemed themselues They coulde not bee knighted but by the Kinges owne handes who asked them before he layde his hande on their heades if they could obserue and keepe the custome and ordinaunce of gentlemenne Souldiours and they sayde and aunswered the king They minded to take that profession of Armes vppon them and so the king caused a Sworde to be girded about them and after embraceth those Gentlemen so knighted then they did sweare to liue and die with him and for him which oath they would keepe and obserue For if theyr Lord were slayne in the Warre they would fight to their last breath and kill him that had slayne theyr King Or if at that instaunt they could not bring their purpose to effecte they would watch and spie out a conuenient season for the perfourmaunce of their promisse and oath And vndoubtedlie some of them woulde reuenge their Maysters death They hadde a great regarde to their duety and endeuoure They thought nothinge so precious as fidelitie and their Princes fauour They cared not for life so glorye might bee gotten by theyr death They serued most faythfullye vnder them that gaue them intertaynemente They spared nothing but spent liberally They applied their onely studies for the mainteinaunce of their king and Countrey They would not suffer any dishonour nor offer anye iniurie They thought it a double death to loose their good name They made no accompt of their meat money sléepe or ease and little estéemed their owne liues or persons when they should make proofe and shewe of their manhood Their wages and stipende was so much and so well payde that euerye one of them might liue gallantlye and the meanest might keepe to waite on him a man or a boye The Lawe was that they might not marrie and yet hadde Lemmans and Women appoynted by order which they kepte and vsed well and all quarrells was auoyded by that meanes For they might not companie with their women but at certaine seasons appoynted Thus they past ouer theyr life time without the care and trouble of Wife and Children They might forsake vppon a good cause anye of their Lemmans And their Women might at their owne willes forsake the menne All those that accompanied these Souldiours were Gentlewoman and of good birth but might not bee married to anie person after shée hadde béene at the Souldiours commaundement And because many men by their often chaunging happen to haue the companye of one Woman they fathered not any Child though it were neuer so much like them and therefore their Brothers children did alwayes inherite their Landes and goodes And this Lawe that those Gentlemen Souldiours should not marrie was made by a King that woulde not haue a manne of Warre to fixe his loue on a wife and children nor thereby to waxe féeble spirited and effeminate But the king ordained because these Gentlemen should haue no womannish manners nor minds that they should haue all thinges at their willes and liue in such libertie as no one thing might drawe them from noble seruice nor commaunde them to seruile drudgerie And because they should be the more animated to liue in noble order and encouraged to serue well they were priuileged that no man might imprison them for anye cause nor they might not bee put to death by anye meane of ordinarie iustice Howbeit when one killed another or did sleepe with a Countrey Woman or did speake euill of the king then raigning Then would the king hauing iuste and true information of the matter make a Writing and sende the same to a head Officer commaunding him to cutte in péeces the offendour wheresoeuer hee was founde And after hee was deade there should bee hanged about him the kinges Writing to shewe the people wherefore hee suffered but no Law nor Iustice coulde touche him before the king had iustlye condempned him So by this Libertie and honour that Souldiours had is
pray you can any man deny but it springeth of a great courage and zeale to the common wealth when a man forsaketh the pleasure of life to follow the painefulnesse of warre and daunger of death and refuseth no toile nor trauaile to purchase credite and attaine vnto knowledge Yea some such we read of as Marcus Cursius and Mucius Sceuola that refused no enterprises to doe their Countrey pleasure Yea some haue sold their patrimony and consumed their Treasure and riches to enriche their Princes with glory and euerlasting renowne Were not this a madnes and more then a méere folly to be a drudge to the world and a labourer for those that sits at rest and to watch and ward fight striue and struggle with straungers for victory and then to come home and be rewarded as common persons and walke like a shadow in the Sunne without estimation or countenance Would any that had wisedome vallue and courage be ouer runne with vicious fooles and cowardes or be made a footestoole to their inferiour when they haue climed vp the steps of honour and are gotten into the top gallant of worldly glory and warlicke triumph Among children that doe but play at the bucklars there is a preheminence and one will acknowledge the other to bée his better when good bobbes are bestowed and sodainely a stout taule lobber will lay downe the waster and yéelde to him that hath more practise and 〈◊〉 in the weapon then himselfe Then shalâ— not a man that hath coped with Champions buckled with Conquerours and abidden the hazard of the Canon stand on his Pantoffelles and looke to the steps he hath passed Yes sure and such a member of the state the baser sort are Ciphers ought to be made of deserueth place and preheminence and is no companion for punies nor méete to be matched with Milkesoppes whose manhood and manners differs as farre from the graue Soldiour as a Donkite in courage and condition differs from a Ierfaukon As the duetie to a mannes countrey and the wages that hee taketh bindes him to doe the vttermost he maie so were there not an other cause that forceth further matter Full coldly some would fight and full slowly some would march to the battell albeit the Princes quarrell and wages receiued commaundeth much and is a thing stoutly and wisely to be looked to But I tell you fame and reputation is the marke that men shoote at and the gréedinesse of glorie and ambition pricketh the mind so fast forward that neither the man lookes vpon the multitude of enemies Nor regards the daunger of death so he may be eternized liue in the good opinion of the Prince and people For he that but bluntly lookes about him and goeth to the warre for wealth which hardly is there gotten is led on with a couetous desire of that he shall not haue and may fight like an Oxe and die like an Asse But who so respecteth his credite and paiseth in ballaunce the worthynesse of fame that riseth by well doing doth combate like a Lion and either conquers like a man or dieth like a conquerour as many great Kings Captaines haue done whose ensamples a long while agoe as yet remaynes freshlye in memorie It may bee thought that euery mercinarie man and common hireling taken vp for a while or seruing a small season is a souldier fit to be registred or honoured among the renoumed sort of warlike people For such numbers of bezoingnies or necessarie instruments for the time are to fall to their occupation when the seruice is ended and not to liue idlely or looke for imbrasing For neyther they tarry long in the fâ—elde when they are prest to go foorth Nor are not often called againe to the like iourney so great is our store of such persons and so many shiftes they can make to putte of any paine and hazard But hee is to bee accounted the couragious Souldier that is giuen by his owne disposition to delight and folow the Cannon wheele whose countenaunce and chéerefull face beginnes to smile and reioyce when the Drumme soundeth whose hart is so high it wil not stoupe to no slauery But hath a bodie and minde able to answere that is looked for and hath often béen tried experimented in Marshiall affaires through haunting whereof he is become ignorant of drudging at home and made a skilfull Scholler in the discipline of warre which is not learned without some losse of bloode charges of purse consuming of time And this maye bée iudged and playnly presupposed that manie of that sort of men are not found aliue to trouble or burthen a common wealth because they are cut off through daungerous seruices or forced by séeking of Fame in the field to sell that they haue at home and so to trauell abroade subiect to all miserie and far from any friendship or prosperous estate And sometimes through the greatnes of their mindes that galloppâ— after glorie are carried away to séeke out new Kingdomes and refuse their old habitation A matter falling out well worthye to be liked but otherwise a heauy tale to be told and an experience bought with ouer much repentaunce But euery waye occasions they are that dispatcheth many a good Souldiour makes the number so little that it is reason such as are left aliue of that profession should eyther bee rewarded or at the least reape vp some such credite as the common sort of people should haue them in admiration and offer them such courtesie as the worthynesse of their Experience and Seruice requireth If in the old time our Forefathers vsed their men of warre nobly preferred them to promotions dealt honourably with them that serued then Countrey where warres were not so cruell Why should not this world wherein pollicies murthers and bloodshed is followed and hazards are meruelously escaped to the vttermost of mans power haue more regard to a Souldiour that shunneth no hazard nor refuseth no perill There is no more to say for the aunswering of this great ouersight but the hackney horse is vnhappy hauing borne a burthen all the day on his backe is cast off at night to a bare common there to séeke for foode and abide a hard fortune There is a worse matter thâ—n this to be treated off yet nothing but that so farre past remedie to be touched let any one seruing man get a good Maister and for following his héeles at an inch he shall be more spoken get more benefit then twenty of the best Souldiers that you can name that haue followed the warres all their life dayes and knew not howe to flatter fawne or crouch and coursâ—e for commoditie Yea such as serues at home and cannot goe out of the view of a faire house and smoke of a foule Chimney snatcheth vp good turnes and steales awaie preferments priuilie when those that merites more consideration oft goes openly a begging and findeth few among thousands that wisheth them well or doth them
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
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
to come The skréeking Owle in silent night at window clapt his winges To threaten death or badde successe of sundry doubtful thinges No ioyfull sound was heard with eare no newes of happy yeares No pleasure to the pinched heart in prison strong appeares Admit the Lute with touch of hand a heauy dumpe doth shoe A cooling comfort Musicke brings to wretches wrapt in woe No mirth with mourning moue may matche for mischiefe measure lacks And care consumes the minde of man as fire melts Uirgin Waxe In silly Sell and seuerall place these two estates did sit Whose comming out did far surmount the compasse of our wit As long they spent their tickle time in teene and terrour great So oft God wot of matters harde in head did hammers beat Now hoping that the clouds would calm and storms would stand at stay Then looking when the Planets turnd their course another way But shaken ships in Seas doe sincke when surges rise aloft And vnder waues for want of aide weake vessels welter oft So that no hope of succour seemes to come when tempests rage Except the gods draw back the plagues and winde and weather swage The present panges and parlous thoughts that pearceth troubled minds Is knowne to none but such I say that lacke of fréedome findes A prisner beares a simple port most glad to please and ply As subiect to the kéepers becke and iellouse Gailors eye Now tracing out a weary walke now whisht and quiet stands Now down on knées now to the clouds lookes vp with stretched hands Now listning after happy neweâ— now nipt with sorrowes old Now sore abasht and brought in muse now merry stout and bold Now ripe and ready for to speake now dombe and dare not store Now fearfull of each sodaine sound and clap of euery dore Now bent to beare and suffer wrong now full reposde on right Now faine to fawne on féeble folke now setting all thinges light These passions still awakes their spryets that carefull captiues are Such smart they tast such bread they bite that feedes on loaues of carâ— Yea some are serude with change of meats yet touch they neare a dishe But sits like Tantalus in Hell and wants that most they wishe These twaine I troe were not so vsde but yet when best they sped On heauie morfâ—els mixte with mone their hungrie stomackes fed No day stoode free from Fortunes foyle no houre but nourisht feare No season serude to salue the sores of soking sorrowes there No drinke could coole the furie hote of thraldomes thirstie throte No pleasant verie nor dittie framde to dolors dolfull note No booke nor story might reuiue their drowping dead delite For through the thoughts of thirled hartes are pleasures banisht quite To slowth to sléepe and mirthlesse moodes their dompish daies enclinde As from the clue of worldly cares should threde of life vntwinde Dispiesd the night abhord the daye and hated houre of birth Thought scorne of foode and cleane forsooke the pleasures of the earth Would faine haue lost both speach breath and looke when hearts would burst Beleude they were in mothers wombe or else in cradell curst Though drousie dreed did death desire and griefe sought quicke dispatch There was no parting from the place till day discharge the watch Wee cannot pay our borrowed breath before thâ—appoynted houre The end of strife nor staie of state stands not in peoples power The God that guides the heauens high in secret doth beholde The fine and fléeting féeble course of earth and massie molde The heart may heaue the breast may blâ—e the bodie sigh and swelt The face by open sinnes may show of priuy paâ—hons felt But all the stormes haue little force to rid mans wretched dayes As by these 〈◊〉 playne I prooue through torments sundrie waies Well those from whom the Gods restraine the scope and vse of will Must bend the backe and bow the ioyntes to beare the burthen still And yet no toyle nor griefe so great but findes at length some ease There follows after swelling floodes a quiet calmie seas By meane of sute and labours long and gracious Prince indeede A swéeter soyle these Prisoners sound that better blood did breed But kept apart as Fortune shapt and so in silent shade As place and time did licence graunt a fresh complaint they made Of crooked chaunce and straunge extremes that soâ—dred faythfull hartes Whose sugred loue was euer mixt with baâ—e and bitter smartes And neuer after like to méete nor set no eye nor vewe The one vppon the other Lord a matter much to rew Long in the broyle of this conflict and battle of the mind They past their time with bare beléefe of better happ behind And wearing out with wailings long their weary liues God wot And finding hauen chooked vp where passage should be got At ankor vnder watch and ward in tossed Barke they laye From whence there was no quiet meanes nor hope to scape awaie The Lady now for last farewell betooke her selfe to teares And of dispaire in pearsed brest a double portion beares Her hollow chéekes and daseled eyes declarde her death was néere And bad her kéepers to prepare both shrowding shéete and Beere For nature did denie her life her hart was taynted so That cankred thought should come ful soone and make an ende of woe Her colour changde her chéerfull lookes and countenaunce wanted spréete To â—allow ashes turnde the hue of beauties blossomes sweete And drery dulnesse had bespred the wearish bodie throw Ech vitall vaine did flat refuse to doe their dutie now The blood forsooke the wonted course and backward ganne retire And left the limmes as cold and swarâ—e as coles that wastes with fire The moysture taken from the trée the leaues droppe downe apace When sap dries vp and fayles the roote the braunches loose their grace Some bowes you see doe florish fayre and groes a goodly height And some by frost and cold ayre nipt and so are blasted streight As euery fruite and flowre in fielde to yéelde to sodaine claps So all that breathes with liuing soule are subiect to mishaps How should this dame desire to liue that hourely wore awaye Who would not shed some teares to sée this tender twig decay What stonie hart could suffer more and beare with euen hand The wearie wight of worldly woes and whiske or whipping wand And when she saw her hourâ— approche and death his dutie crauâ— And shee amid her chiefest prime must goe to gréedie graue Shée tooke of World a noble leaue and calling for a friend Who liueth yet and can report how she did make an end Shee sayd with loude and comely voyce O world I thee forsake I haue béene here a Pilgrime long and now my leaue I take Of all thy pompe and pleasures vaine that makes my sences blinde Whose glorie doth beginne with payne and ends with griefe of minde In dungeon déepe of dayntie thoughtes thou holdest euerie wight And féedes their foolish fancie still
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