pardon mée and graunt you to amende The reporter The miserable end of Liros rather wrought a feare in straÌ„gers vnto the horrible cousenage then any repentance in false Frenos and other his confederats So hardeneth the deuil the heartes and blindeth the sightes of the raprobate as neither the example of other mens miseries nor pricke of their owne consciences can reclaime them from lewdenes And yet although a while they wallowe in their wickednes and seeme to holde the intising drâ—sse I meane wealth of this world at will in the pride of their prosperitie the most part of such worldlinges throughe Gods iustice are diuorced from their vaine delightes The soudaine fall of this Frenos proueth both the one and the other for notwithstanding he sawe the wretched death of Liros and knew that Liros did execute nothing but his deuise and direction yet séemed hée no wayes to be vexed in conscience for this offences being the author and only aduauntage reaper of his deceite and yet in the heate of his vnconscionable prouision he was soudainly arested with death Whom you may suppose as one amased with such soudaine visitation striuing for life to tell this disordered tale following Frenos complaint I Sée quoth hée death spares no sortes of men Our bagges of drosse may not withstand his might To moyle and toile for pelfe what bootes it then No whit God knowes if wée could sée aright But worldly cares our minds bewitched soe As thoughtes of heauen silde in our brestes do dwell The prouerbe saith the more such fathers woe Happ'is the childe whose father goes to hell But such prouerbes more common are then true Silde children kéepe that fathers lewdly gett And trust mée wealth if after want ensue With double griefe the néedie thrall doth frett To what ende then for mucke take wée such care To damne our selues and worke our childrens scare O wicked world so swéete thy torments séeme That when men tast thy drugges of vaine delight Their onely heauen thy thralles do thée estéeme With mistes of mucke thou blindest so their sight That wretched they whilst that in health they liue As Swine in myre do wallowe in their faultes An others fall nor conscience can them méeue To waile their sinnes till grislie death assaultes The thought of whom as thornes do pricke mée wretch Alas mée thinkes I sée his ghastly shape What did I meane to name him in my speach And can I not his furious force escape Oh noe my sinnes beginneth now to swarme To matche with him my selfe howe should I arme My conscience cryes confesse thy wicked life My wicked life such monstrous fraude presents As in my selfe I finde a hell of strife My gracelesse déedes the hope of grace preuents I sée I sée howe fierie fiendes do yell Before hie Ioue my wicked soule to haue My secrete sinnes condemnes mée wretch to hell They be so huge that nothing can me saue Where is the booke wherein Gods will is writ They say there in is balme that sinne can cure What ment I wretch I neuer studied it The booke is large my life will not indure So longe as I may reade and reape such grace The fault is mine I might while I had space I faint I faint my life will néedes away False Frenos now of force must yéeld to death These farewell woordes good friends yet note I pray Prepare your selues ere latter gaspe of breath So spend your liues as if you daily dyde Leste tarde you by death perhaps be tane Note well my fall in top of all my pride Before I wist hée gaue mée wretch my bane My worldly wealth for which I tooke such care I néedes must leaue in no good order sett A soudaine chaunge the chaunce yet nothing rare This is the proofe of goods that fraude doth get Loe this is all that death will let mée say But what is short may best be borne away The reporter This disordered complaint of Frenos is answerable vnto his disordered dealing but most of all vnto his sodaine death who hauing his conscience vnprepared tormented with the multitude of his sinnes stoode amazed what to say and yet howsoeuer it hange together it conteyneth matter of note which I leaue to the censure of the discrete reader And now to the rest of this report the next that death mett with in this Tragedie of couseners was Caphos a merchant whose name Frenos vsed in diuers of his craftie conueyaunces for that if néede so required hée had friendes to countenaunce monie to defend and an indifferent honest report to couler their lewde practises But notwithstanding his monie couler and countenaunce to set an honest shewe in the sight of the world of his subtile practises now that death attacheth him to make his accompt before the hiest you shall heare in what arerages he findes himselfe Caphos complaint THe Prouerbe saith as good wée eate the deuill As sup the broth wherein his body boilde As good wée do as giue consent to euill Which sorrie doome my coloured scuse hath foild My conscience throbs though I no fraude deuis'de My onely name that shadowed foule deceite In God his sight with Frenos fall is pris'de I féele my sinnes pluckes downe my soule with weight Yea Lyros and false Frenos both I knowe But leade the way that I must shortly goe Farre yet I am vnfit for such a iournie My compt falls short that I to God must giue If hée charge mée with filthie periurie It will not serue to saue mée from repreue To say how that for feare of after shame A manifest vntrueth I durst not sweare But Frenos gott a post knight of my name In stéede of mée that did both sweare and steare I must confesse I gaue thereto consent And God no doubt will punish my intent My subtile steightes to shadowe foule abuse May well lye hid and no man knowe the same But God doth knowe the fraude I put in vse For others heede deserued open shame The man that is with sicknes neuer vext Hath séeldome care what kinde of meate hée eates When such as are with surfets oft perplext Séeme daintie still to féede on diuers meates In worldly churles obserued is the like They feede on fraude till infamie them strike Marke well my woordes you worldlinges of all sortes But citizens your natures best I knowe There are of you haue méetely good reportes For riches sake and outward honest showe But how you get your monstrous heapes of gold Your conscience knowes and I can somewhat tell Your secret craft so séeldome is controld As what you gett you thinke you gett it well But how so héere your reckonings séemeth true A day will come when you shall count a newe Bée you reclaymde by others soudaine fall Sighe for your owne when others shames you sée Thinke that they are but patternes of your thrall If iustice should on you auenged bée A thousand wayes the highest séekes to winne
Our worldly mindes from loue of worldlie ioyes But if wée still will wallowe in our sinne The plagues are sharpe with which he vs destroyes To stay whose wrath I hould the next way is While wée haue space to sorrowe our amis Death comes God wot euen like a myching théefe With conscience cleare some wardes his wily blowe And some againe hee gawls with soudaine gréefe Whose thoughtes of sinne doth worke their double woe Had I but wayde the halfe that now I wray My coemates endes had made mée fitt for death But that is past this is my onely stay Gods mercie salues at latter gaspe of breath And yet thereof let no man hope to farre Presumptious sinnes of all the greatest are The reporter It séemeth by the deposition in Caphos complaint that the direction from time to time as concerning the afore reported cousenage came from some subtile head But whose deuise or direction soeuer it were there is yet an other a lawyer it séemeth by the order of his complaint that findes his conscience infected with Lyros Frenos and Caphos fellowship who likewise attached with death you may suppose with a troubled minde to wreast out this following complaint Pimos complaint at the houre of his death AYe mée quoth hée the case is altered quite My wylie skill that chaungde the sense of lawe My cunning Pleas that made a wronge seeme right Are nowe the bones whereon my conscience gnawe They force mée graunt the good from euill I knewe The good I left the euill too late I rue The common lawe the which I studied longe I finde condemnes mée wretch of many a crime The lawe it selfe how so we wreast it wronge Of God his lawe was founded in the prime Then since in one they both agrée in troth Abuse of one must be abuse of both And sure the one I turned as I list If I were wrong'd the lawe amends could make If I did wronge â–ª the lawe such power mist The case was chang'de the wronged might go packe Such helpes I had such quillets of delay That all séemde true that subtile I did say But now I am attached to appeare Afore a Iudge at no mannes faultes that winkes The diuell declares how I haue liued here My conscience guilt giues euidence me thinkes To learne the lawe sith studie I did vowe For breach of lawe I am indited nowe Before my God mée séemes I charged am For ayding those with credite coyne and skill Whose lewde deceites deserued whippes of shame And that to make me guiltie of their ill Consentientes your lawe sayth Ioâ—e doth say Et agentes plectentur pari pena My guiltie minde confesseth streight the act False Frenos fraud was boulstered vp by mée Condemnde of this streight comes an other fact I wronged men against all equitie When lawe doth say Hoc facias alteri In right and wronge quod vis tibi sieri This bitter doome giuen by the doome of lawe Mae sinnefull wretch as guiltie striketh mute The men I wrong'd within my conscience gnawe â–ª I spared none through pittie nor through sute What lawe did giue since I for vauntage tooke In breach of lawe should I for fauour looke O noe I must in proper person pleade Plaine not guiltie or guiltie of the crime No forreine Plea may now delayaunce bréede Untrauerst goes the Venu and the time No aduocate or letters here may serue The Iudge is bent to iudge as I deserue I guiltie am I must of force confesse By ignoraunce these faultes yet would I scuse But I vile I that had men in distresse And did their Pleas of ignoraunce refuse Mee thinkes that God doth rule mée ore with this Non excusat ignorantia iuris And thus I lye with deadly sicknes pinde Yea more my soule beseng'd with sinnefull gréefe The more I séeke to pacifie my minde The further off I wretched finde reléefe My dealinges great or rather great deceite Fall out so lewde as I no count can streight Do what I can the cause that causde my ioy When fleshe and bloud was fedde with worldly gaine Is nowe the cause that causeth my annoye Now feare of hell in place of fleshe doth raigne The soule and fleshe impugnes the other so As what likes one doth worke the others wâ—e What meane wée then sith th' one wée must displease To serue the flesh that beares no lasting sway And leaue the soule that couets still our ease Who foyling flesh in heauen doth liue for aye What worser match can any creature make Incerta then pro certis thus to take O sinfull wreth had I this ende foreséene I had not nowe come short vpon account I would haue lik't and lou'd the merrie meane Which euer doth to reckoning best amount For violents do sildome long indure They alwayes come from fortune most vnsure O wicked man had I séene heauen in thought Had I seru'd God like as in shewe of zeale I had not thus for poore mens liuings sought Nor purchast hell for lande for others weale Had I well wayde how tickle was my life I had ere this appeasd my conscience strife Or had I thought O most vnhappie wight Looke what I gaue that measure should I reape I sure had giuen to euery man his right This wicked world had not luld me asleape I had not then bene carelesse of my end My soule had watcht deathes furie to defend But oh in me the contrarie was plaste I was intyste on baytes of sinne to feede Which charm'd receits séemde suger swéete in taste But oh they say sweete meate sowre sauce doth néede Néede or not néede I proue the prouerbe true My brittle ioyes my endlesse woes do brue My conscience loathes what liked well my life My conscience rues the gaine I got by guile My conscience féeles the woes of wrangling strife My conscience wéepes at that my life did smile My conscience bléedes through that life thought a blisse My conscience wailes what life thought not amisse Well sith my life this wretched woe hath wrought Would God my life nay death through foule abuse Were noted so as all men might be taught By scriptures rule their talents here to vse And specially about their studies wall For lawyers héed would God were writ my fall Through sight whereof no doubt they would refuse To fish for gaine with nets of foule deceit To worke delayes they would no pleadings vse They sure would thinke they had account to straight My vexed mynde at death still in their eye Would will them liue as they did dayly dye If to such good my souden fall would proue Would life would last to tell a larger tale But how it proue in vaine for life I moue Death nowe assaults and wretched I must vale My breath doth fade the bell doth sound away From whence I came I néedes must turne to clay The reporters conclusion as touching the report of Paulus Plasmos aduentures and Lyros Frenos Caphos
sâ—ooteth home Such is their force where credite beareth sway A perfect tale although the wronged tell Their thwarting speach what they mislike will stay The wronged wight with wrath may haply swell And pleades a fresh though not so passing well Then sausie knaue how maâ—lapeart hée is Away go packe your purpose you shall mis. But if the sot which in their fauour stand Do slammer forth a patched tale of lyes Their helping speach will force him vnderstand The way and meanes afresh for to deuise To frame his talke from shew of trueth to rise A vertue straunge their wordes can bring to passe That fooles séeme wise the wise in shew an Asse UUhat fréer life then others to commaund UUhat happier state then for to liue in rest What greater wealth then what a man demaund UUhat credite like the countnaunce of the best For thralles it were a heauen to reach the left But they aloft whom vertue doth aduaunce If more may bée inioy more happie chaunce UUho will not then both séeke and double séeke To reach this hap with hazard at the first The foreward wight though fortune giue the gléeke A fresh will toyle till that his harâ— doth burst â–ª If still shée frowne in faith the man is curst A fall saith he who recketh such a losse An asse shall ride and no hie sturring horsse For proofe againe the huge and mightie oke UUhose withered roote from falling cannot stay But downe hee comes by sturdie Boreas stroke His fall god wot doth crush the vnder spray Euen so it fares with those that beareth sway If by mishap they wrapped be in thrall The poore doth beare the burthen of their fall For where as mindes by mischiefe raisâ—e too hie Sedition sowe their natiue soilâ— to wring UUhen Princes might doth make such rebels flie The leaders chiefe well horst away do fling UUhen pesaunts stay and Sursum corde sing They sue for grace safe in anothers land When toyling thralles are trussed out of hand If in abuse of both their states be best Although the best in faith is very bad Deseruing well they are farre better blest They roist in silkes wheÌ„ clownes in raggs are clad They haue their will and what can more be had Who will not then how so sly hap saith nay Séeke out this chaunce if vertue sayes hée may ¶ An Epitaphe on the death of the right worshipful maister Robert Wingfield of Vpton in the countie of Northampton Esquier TO shewe their cause of dole whom Wingfields death doth pearse Good muse take thou a little paine his vertues to rehearse Hée wel was knowne to spring from house of auncient name Yea leaue his Armes and blase his actes and you shall sée the same His zeale to serue his God his care to saue his soule His stoute contempt of Romish ragges their taxe their tyth and toule The Gospell that hée lou'd his life that showde no lesse Bare witnesse that in words and workes the trueth he did professe Beléeue his blessings else which hée receyu'd from hie The first long life in happie health till age inforst him die And then this comfort swéete to frée his age from feares Hée sawe his children liue and like in credite many yeares Sufficient wealth hée had ynough hée thought a feast Hée had ynough hée spent ynough and with ynough deceast His credite with his Prince continued from his youth A sight most rare in office plast hée trust returnde with trueth Full fiftie yeares and twoe a Iustice place hee vsde For common peace and profite both hée séeldome paynes refusde Hée wéeded wronges from right by law and not by ame Hee kept this course to helpe the poore the lewd againe to blame His life vpright and iust hée ioyde in no mans thrall His dealings were both lou'd and likt among his neighbours all His bountie at his bord his store for euery sort The hie the lowe the riche the poâ—re wrought him a rare report And thus long time hée liu'de in credite and in loue Till death to worke his ioy our griefe his force began to proue But yet hée sicknes sent for to forewarne him first Whose honest minde whose conscience cleare straight bade him doe his worst And so with hope of heauen vnto the graue hee vailde Of which hée glad his friendes as sad if sorrowe ought preuailde Viuit post funera virtus ¶ An Epitaphe on the death of the right worshipfull maister Iohn Ayleworth Esquier IF men may waile their losse that death hath ridde from woe Then giue mée leaue to wéepe my fill my sorrowes so to showe And though to bathe in teares small botes now hée is gone Yet none can leaue so firme a friend and showe no signe of mone When brainesicke I a bruse with ouer brauery caught Hée first did cure my néede with coyne then soundly thus mée taught Bée stayde for rowling stones do sildome gather mosse I tryde his ayde I likt his wordes and still shall rue his losse His losse not I alone but thousands more lament His children friends seruaunts poore with brackish teares are sprent But Oh you fillie poore whom néede doth nip and pearce With hart with hand with might maine your heapes of woe rehearse Crye out of cruell death for reauing your reliefe You are the wightes that haue God wott the greatest cause of griefe When hunger faintes your heartes when you with cold shall frease The lacke of Ayleworths foode and fire your starued limms to ease When might would marre your right his counsell sound and sure His open purse to pleade your cause the paines hée but in vre When you poore soules shall misse with him that was your stay Then shall your griefes appeare as gréene as hée had dyde to day These were his fruites of faith these almes hée did of zeale Hee wayde no showe his woordes in workes the Gospell did reueale EXHORTATIO O life of much auaile O worldlings it insue So shall you not be ledde by gold but gold be rulde by you So shall you kéepe him bright that mouldeth in your chest So shall the world speake well of you your conscience so in rest The swéetest ioyes of all though death your farewell giue So so your soules with his in heauen your fames on earth shal liue ¶ An Epitaphe in the order of an admonition written on the death of his verie friend Iohn Note of Grayes Inne Gent. Vntimely flaine the 2. of Nouember 1575. WIth teares in thought imprint both frem and knowen frende Thrée speciall notes of much auaile by Notes vntimely ende 1. Note first his honest life of euery sort was lou'd Learned hée was and vertuous both his manhoode throughly prou'd A gallant witte hee had the which hée gouernde so As did content all sortes of men when cause the vse did show Hée had both health and wealth his fortune was to hard And yet in spite of froward chaunce Fame shall his vertues gard 2. His life would followed bée
his death forwarnes his friends A note of worth of quarreling that still with mischiefe endes And yet with such abuse I meane not him to tuch But this I say hée prou'd it true by once hée fought to much 3. An other note hée leaues the which to showe I quake His spéeding wound so reft his sense as word hée neuer spake Gods pleasure in the cause I leaue for to dispute Hée knewe his thoughts wée knowe his life then iudge t' were better mute Yet learne you by his fate if you examples feare You haue no charter of your life then best you do prepare Your selues eche houre to die least you be tarde tooke You are here warnd with ouer proofe into your conscience looke Hora mortis incertissima ¶ An Epitaphe on the death of his especiall friend Thomas Cornelius Gent slaine in the Prince of Orenge his seruice in Holland YOu lustie youthes that sometime were his friends Cornelius life here may you liuely reade In spite of death his vertues neuer endes Whose worthie pathes are méete for you to treade At home hée séeld in any quarels fell All sortes hée pleasd hée vsde himselfe so well When Flushing frayes were roung with swéete report Our English youthes post hast them thether hie Where as they found God wot but sorrie sport Farre from the speach that of the gaine did flie With whom in hope who hap did well deserue Away hée goes the Orenge Prince to serue And plaste at length amonge the drunken Dutch Hée quite forgot hée went to fight for pence The marke of fame was that hée sought to touch The which he hit before hée parted thence With slender pay at first hée was content And yet his minde stil with the foremost went. Though harebrainde youthes at such preferment spurne And gape for charge ere they them selues can guide Although hée had of friends to serue his turne Hée lâ—â—t such sute till his desert were tride In all Al-armes to fight hée soone was prest In heate of blowes as forward as the best That hée vnsawe syld skirmishes there were Such paines hée tooke to scale the fort of fame The coine hée had â–ª hée grudged not to share For their reliefe that sickly were or lame Of euery sort thus wonne hée worthie praise From best to worst that seru'd in Holland fraies Two yeares and more hée tasted souldiers toiles And did escape when other men were slaine But kéeping still a coile in bloudie broiles I sighe to show God wot hée caught his baine Who being dead though no man may reuiue Yet shall my Muse his vertues kéepe aliue Mors honesta ignominiosae vitae praeferenda VVhetstons inuectiue against Dice MY Muse to mount Parnassus hill Which whilom tokst delight Faire Venus ioyes to set to vew And wray blind Cupids spite Go shrowde thy selfe in Limbo lake This dririe tale to tell Of Dice to figure forth the frute A second showe of hell There craue the ayde of wrathfull sprites The Authors of this art And ioyne with them such hellish impes As waytes to woorke our smart For sure their plagues to paint aright Beséemeth well the toile Of him that pend the paines of hell How Plutoes thralles do broile The lustie youth with lyuing left Whose woe is wealth and ease To line his purse with powling fines His tenaunts pence doth fease Then doth hée beare a loftie saile As one that dreads no want These sneaking curs now raunge abrode To finde this nouis haunt One bitten dog aboue the rest Doth great acquaintaunce craue Whose kindred blasde and friendship voucht Hée treates of counsell graue Trust mée good cus trust mée hée cries When first I left my guide This towne did weaue my webbe of cares Before that craft I spyde Eche shifting slaue did search the meane A mate to make mée méete Then hée the names bewrayes of some Himselfe to make him swéete The lustie brute which feares no fraude Doth count his cunning blist Who thinkes he hath a saint in hand Yet shakes syr Sathans fist Their friendship new by gréeting oft Now grafted in their brest His kindred coynde in cousners stampe Inuites him as his guest Who kindly thankes him for his cost And craues amends to make Then trudge they to some tabling house Their hunger for to slake Where daintie fare great store they finde Their naperie faire and swéete And gallants gay with Conges kinde Their comming for to gréete A bounsing gyrle they sildome misse To furnish forth their messe Whose chyrping tongue with pleasaunt speach Doth cheare her chosen gesse There shall you heare described plaine Eche forreine towne and towre Augmented newes of warlike frayes Where fortune late did lowre As cold as snow some couch their scoffes And some to rayling prest In plesaunt speach some play the K. And makes thereon a ieast And some so plainly figures forth The fruites of Venus court That honest eares doth scorne to heare Their vaine and vile report Their dinner done they leaue this speach The gamsters call for dice Where posting Iacke to rub the bord Doth come euen with a trice To you you furies now I leaue This foule abuse to wray Their foysting shiftes my Muse doth mase Their othes my pen doth fray Tenne mine alowde some cogger cryes Thrée mine some youth doth say Gods bloud eleuen well sworne in faith The caster cryes to pay Sixe is the maine what do you sett Well tenne to sixe I haue Two flues gods hart then for the house The boxer streight doth craue And nine Come ye and nine this crowne Well chaunce at it I say Aumes ase gods wounds t' is not my lucke Two maynes to throwe this day Some hypocrites do murder othes Faire Gamsters for to séeme But of both euils to choose the best The doubt were hard I déeme Perhaps some gallant fortune hauntes Good hap his hand doth guide His purse aflote within his brest Doth lurke disdainfull pride Then roists hée in his ratling silkes And sortes with Venus dames Whose luring lookes inforce his heart To frie in Cupids flames To traine him in hee shall inioy Eche outward show of blisse In secrete sport they wil be coy They feare to do amisse A sute of Laune my Lady lackes Or else some trifling cheane A cawle of gold and other knackes My nouis purse must gleane The haggard then that checkt of late Will stoupe to fancies lure And inward bend at euery becke No storme shall chaunge procure Her christall eyes shall still be fixt To stare vppon his face Her daintie armes shall try their force Her louer to imbrace Her Rubâ—e lippes by stelth shée will Bée ioyning vnto his With courage vaunst her friend to force To fall to Venus blisse Then will shée play Galatheas part To make his ioy more swéete By striuing yéeld who neuer thought From such deuise to fléete To frame excuse for late offence The queane will cog apace She will alledge his sugred woordes
had the mischiefe wrought But oh swéete Christ thy grace this folly stayd Thou cleardst my sight which mistes of loue did bleare Unto whose praise my conscience hath bewrayd My former life deuoyde of godly feare Thou crau'st good Lord no other aduocate But prayer mine to purchase heauenly grace The which thou sayst doth neuer come too late If I repent when prayer pleades my case A contrite hart is the swéete sacrifice That thou dost séeke ere we thy fauour winne The which deare God with sighes wéeping eyes I offer vp in recompence of sinne Attending still when triall of my fayth Shall treade downe death Sathan force to réele And boldly say till latter gaspe of breath My soul through faith the ioyes of heauen doth féele The reporter To make this recantation or repentance more perfect in shewe and in déede he wrote this following admonition vnto him selfe which he termed his farewel to follie P. Plasmos farewell to folly FArewell you fading ioyes Which fancie forst me loue Adieu'go trudge your tickle toyes Though late too soone I proue O wandring head leaue off Fonde fancies to imbrace And sugred toung nowe cease to scoffe Or others to disgrace Forsake O luring eyes To faine the louing art And scalding sighes be you no spies To wound a womans hart O mynde with verses vaine No more thy selfe acquaint Forsake in time faire Venus game Ere age doth thée attaint O hart on hoyh y set Be warnd by wisedomes lawe So shalt thou scape blinde Cupides net Of which thou stoodst in awe Beware of tenne and foure Which be the cheaters fare Least hassards hard thy swéete do soure And make thy purse full bare This double charge I giue To you vnhappie handes From quarels fond y frée to liue As foe to life and landes Now last to you my legges Which be my bodies stay Frame not your gate as men on egges Whome busting doth affray Nor yet so stoutly stride As mens that beares would binde For stately steps bewrayes the pride Which harbours in the mynde My other members all Be rulde by reasons lore Let vertue reigne where vice did stall And former faults deplore Least future plagues you pricke To worke your greater paine For why against the thornes to kicke I count it more then vaine Nunquam sero The reporter I thinke it good to leaue P. Plasmos in this good moode vntill time fitteth he thus forewarned for the report of his better fortunes naythelesse for others héede I will make discourse of the souden fal of foure of his enimies whoÌ„ Gods iustice worthily cut off in the prime or before the accoÌ„plishment of their lewde desires the first of them was Lyros the only executioner of al his copartners deceites who vpon the reuealement of his and their mischieues fell into an extreme quarterne ague which haunted him vntill his death he hauing but one only childe which soudenly without any shew of sicknesse died he for feare of arrest forsooke his house and liued in corners And yet to comfort his solitarie life he oft song a counter tenure he being before a lustie and able man became soudenly a most weake and miserable creature to accompanie whiche he lost the vse both of memorie and wit. And to make an end of his miseries in steade of drinke he dronke poyson so that shortly after he was in shewe a most lothsome lepre who thus distrest forsaken of friendes and vexed with his foes for want of succour miserably yet repentauntly died whose complaint almost in order as hée confessed insueth The complainâ— of one Lyros a notable Cousener supposed at the houre of his death AMonge their falles by filthie fraude which fell Let my mishappe registred be I pray Whose wanton toyes whose wily trickes to tell But chéefe of all whose wofull plight to wray No doubt the lewde will bring to better stay For whose behoofe loe here I paint my thrall My happ my harme my life my death and all Noe shame it is for mée to showe my euill Though gracelesse life from wisedomes lore did swerue A sinne it were to liue and die a deuill So soule and all with Tantals hope should sterue My warning here for others héede may serue Fresh harmes they say will force men to beware When had I wist comes after still the faire Then couseners first to you my tale I streach God graunt my wordes to heale your woundes auaile But you will say my selfe doth néede a Leach To heire my head to helpe eche perisht naile To ridde my scabbes my Leprosie to scaile To cleare my eyes which are now darke and dim My nummed ioyntes to make both lith and trim I néede God wot if néede could fauour winne But out alas too late doth come the cure When God is bent to punish filthie sinne Though longe hée stayes in fine hée striketh sure Best therefore then ere you his wrath procure You sée your helpe with his precept agrée Ante languorem medicinam adhibe Prouide a salue before that sicknes come Prouide a mends for sinne and foule amisse Before Gods wrath your due desert doth dome For note deare friends I whilome bathde in blisse I swam in ioy my heart at woe did hisse I then had strength with health and wealth at will. My hap was cleare I sawe no clowdes of ill Then muse you will to sée so rare a chaunge As manly force to faile in prime of youth As faire to foule as health to scabbes and maunge As hap to harme as ioy to gréefe and ruth But listen well and marke what woordes ensuthe And you shall sée what forced mée to fall What wrought my woe what turnde by ioy to thrall First wéene that wealth did puffe mée vp with pride Next forme and force enforst me to aspire Then loue and lust into my brest did glide Last fretting thought so set my heart on fire That mariage néedes must coole my hoate desire My choice was good if chaunge had béene exilde But follie faith and fancie truth begilde My wandring will directed mée this course Which brainesicke youth did duelie treade and trace And entred once I fell from bad to worse I made a pray of euery yéelding face â–ª Such wanton lust doth follow want of grace Ne was this life defrayde with small expence And I God wott had not a mine of pence While coyne did last yet carelesse did I spend A poore increase can spring on such a roote When coyne was spent ne did my fancies end With youth to striue for reason t' was no boote No lacke could treade my follies vnder foote While land did last my want I did supplie With â—urchases of Dedi concessi My liuing sould and monie in my purse My lauish minde had neuer thought of lacke To geâ—t or saue I quite forgot the course For euery toy my Testours went to wracke Which did my bagges vnto the bottome sacke My coyne consumde and yearely rents thus gonâ— â–ª What refuge then once
their turnes stricke not to play the Bée Scorne not for gaine in age to holde the doore They once were yong that were your bandes before 101 And now my larges giuen farewel foule guile Farewel O world no wile shal make me rich My mynd abhorres welth won by falshoodes vyle To mount by fraud I loth such loftie pitch I can not scratch the harmelesse ere they itch If due desart proude Flatterie pyneth still I list not fawne play hypocrite that will. 102 Fare wel fare wel O world farewel againe Thou now God wot froÌ„ wonted course doest réele The clergie once in preaching tooke great paine Whose words in works bare witnes of their zeale Most now in words but few in workes reueale They teach with toung when thought on tything is O wicked world thy wealth is cause of this 103 O world accurst in court thou settest pryde Whose mynions are fraude flatterie and disdaine They pyne desart before his truth be tryde They forge offened well meaning mindes to staine They cast at al yet sildome lose amaine Wo worth the world thy brauerie works the wracke Of such in court as well deserue and lacke 104 The souldier stout foreséeing small reliefe For seruice doone if spoyled honre he comes As forst to play no souldier but the théefe When fortune fits to gather vp his crumbes For once at home poore store of pence he thumbes O world thy wealth with rulers worketh so As what they haue they hardly will forgo 105 The lawe first made to wéede out wrongs for right To yeald amends vnto the poore opprest â—s wrested nowe for fauour or for spight Nowe monie so corrupts the Lawyers breast That daying is for poore mens suits the best Yea such effects in worldly muche doth lurke As iudges harme where helpe they ought to worke 106 Fine fare and slouth discases strange do bréede And grieued wights will spare no cost for ease But golden fées so doth Physicians féede As séelde or nere they rich mens paines appease With drinks and drugs they still do them displease O wicked world thy welth first wrought their grief Thy wealth againe doth hinder their reliefe 107 Desire of gaine make offices so heape As solde they be not giuen who best deserues Who buyeth deare séelde thriues by selling cheape Who wrongeth yet from honest getting swerues No force for that fewe nowe such course obserues Thus pelfe O world first makes the Doner foule To leauie mendes the Done néedes must poule 108 Each pleasant paine each swéete inticing sowre O world thou workst our wanton yeres to witch And not content we should our selues deuour But churles thou sett'st to clawe vs ere we itch Thou burnst the byrde and bastes the bacon stitch O spiteful world thou hap frank harts dost grutch And grieuest churles by giuing of too much 109 The merchant once bent all his care to seas In forreine soyle he sought desired gaine Then was his toyle to common wealth an ease And he deseru'd his wish in lye of paine But nowe at home he findes a swéeter vaine Sance venter nowe he will in wealth abound Foule fall the wight this second trade that found 110 The reachlesse héede youthes haue in large expence To flaunt it out their cost no care to thriue Inticeth churles with shewe of good pretence In prime of pride their maintnance to depriue For lymed once small bootes the wrong'd to striue Right Cousners haue such helps friends at néede As struange it is to sée how â—leare they spéede 111 Thy pryde O world doth bréede such wanton thought As most men nowe receiue dame Venus hyre To stoupe faire dames such sharp assaults are sought Such proffers large such wiles to winne desire As wonder t' is what fortes are set on fire Who sinneth not is such a gnawing bone To raise this siege that fewe will throwe a stone 112 Fye on the world fye on thy soule deceites Fye on thy fraude thy flatterie and thy pryde Fye on thy shifts thy subtilties and sleites Fye on thy cloakes thy filthy crimes to hyde Adieu adieu I can thée not abyde And thee O God for euermore I laude For kéeping me vntainted so with fraude 113 For though I haue consumd my dayes in thral Now death drawes néere my couÌ„t is quickly made And well I wot death doth all sorts appall The prince the poore yea men of euery trade Who lewdly liues with recknings huge is lade Thus worldlings griefe where mine doth eb doth flowe A sorrie swéete to end with sowre woe 114 Through conscience I féele no thought of hell I conquer'd haue of dreadful death the feare Where is thy sting where doth thy furie dwell Where is thy force O Death wher is thy speare Assault say I that with my Christe I were I ready am both euening noone and morne The diuell the world and all their works I scorne Lenuoy 115 YOu worldlings chiefe to you this tale I tell God graunt my words be to your woundes a leache The fruites of fraude vntold you knowe too well Yea better then my naked Muse can teach But to this end this dririe plaintes I preach That hencefoorth you to getting haue such eye As you may liue as though you dayly dye 116 And least the lewde should wrest my worde amis I do exempt the good of euery trade The which I trust will not repine at this To shew thy praise this checking verse was made The Clergie first at whome a glaunce I had Of them there be great store of preachers good To shewe the truth that will not spare their blood 117 There are in court that liue in worthy fame And well deserue renoune and credite both Some officers will take no bribes for shame Some laweyers are to sowe dissention loth And citizens with whome I séemde so wroth I néedes must graunt how so my Muse did square Of euery trade a number honest are 118 The souldier now whom I do honour much How so I toucht their faults that do offend I graunt we haue of noble souldiers such As maimes to fame that will those vices shend I blame none such the rest I wish amend Physicians good as many sure there be Will not repine the lewde reprou'd to sée 119 How so I toucht some scriueners faults at quicke There are of those I knowe of honest fame Such haue no cause against my Muse to kicke Nor yet the lewde that wisely weyes the same I blase abuse yet touch no creatures name Yea to be shore â—â—ypt no foot of men That truly can wâ—th malice charge my pen. Veritas non querit angulos G.W. opinion of trades as touching gaine written to his especiall friend maister R.C. MIne owne good friend â–ª since thou so faine wouldst know What kynde of trade doth yeald the surest gaine My iudgement now of some I meane to showe And after toyle which quiteth best thy paine The merchant he which cuts the mounting seas With
him vnto contempt will tourne Where haply else to try his wit them selues will him request To shewe his reasons and his mynde which side he liketh best For ofte the best the baser choose and leaues the high estate But knowes againe when to be strange lest he shuld proue checke mate In honest myrth is wisedome séene as time thereto doth fit For grauest heads must haue a meane for to refresh their wit Fewe wordes they say in order plaste the wise mans tale doth wray And silence is an answere fit the noddies toung to stay But ouer halte in séeking praise some myndes persuade the still Their knowledge silence will conceale what then auailes their skill When as betwéene the both extreames a modest meane doth lye For to direct the wise mans tong as néedes the vse shall try Against ingratitude PEriander of Corinth sometime prince A lawe ordainde ingratefull chuffes to paine Which was on proofe who could a churle conuince To reape rewardes vnrecompenst againe To leuie mendes he should no longer liue For why quoth he suche men deserues no grace As gladly take and grudge againe to giue A needefull lawe this shamelesse sect to chace For what may be a viler fault then this To be vnkinde to father or to friend Or how may men amend their foule amisse Which scornes the wights which dayly them defend A Farmer once a frozen snake did finde With pitie mou'd who layd her by the fire The snake reuiu'd did shewe her selfe vnkinde But what ensu'd he slue her for her hire A morall rule ingratefull wights to warne How thanklesse they do quite a friendly turne But out alas those varlets be so stearne That viper like they lawe and dutie spurne We dayly sée the parents painfull toyle Their restlesse care their children well to traine We likewise sée how thanklesse children spoyle Their parents goods or wish them dead for gaine The good man oft the friendlesse childe doth kéepe And fosters him with many a friendly grote who séekes his spoyle when he is sound asléepe Or giues consent to cut his maisters throte We sée some men aduaunst to honours hye By helpe of such which once did beare a sway Which quite forget what feathers forst them flye If founders theirs by froward chaunce decay The traitrous mate whose prince doth cal to grace Is subiect straight to sowe seditious strife No maruell then to root out such a race If Corinth king ordained losse of life But if in vre we nowe should put his doome Ingratefull gnufes each gallowes so would cloy That scarcely théeues to hang shuld haue a roome To ease the iust whom dayly they annoy Yet doubt I not some meanes would be preparde To cut them off for both may well be sparde The euill fortune of a couetous person and what profite ariseth by the death of a churle A Desperate wight his fortunes foule to frée By wilfull death to rid his cares did choose But as he trudgd to totter on a trée Untimely there his loathed life to loose A rare good hap a pot of golde he found The gold hée rapt his rope hée left behind Anon a carle came sheaking through the ground In stéede of gold a rope who there did finde Which haplesse sight so nipt him at the hart That loe for woe hée pissed where hée stoode At length quoth hée this cord shall cure my smart And so hée hung himselfe in fullen moode The sight were fayre if euery bough did beare Such kinde of fruites till caren churles were choakt Whose deathes inforce a thousand well to fare Their liues the poore as many wayes hath yoakt The wormes reioyce vppon a churle to gnawe The poore man then whom hée did pinch of yore Hath pennie dole and meate to fil his mawe Where scarcitie was forthwith appeareth store Pray for his soule the common people crie As for his life the world full well may spare His hordes of gold about the house then flie Catch who catch may his goods a hundred share His heapes of corne to euery market sailes Which close hée kept in hope of some deare yeare And where hée sparde the parings of his nailes His sonne may spend and make his friends good cheare If such increase comes by a carrens death Who would not wish a cord to stop his breath A briefe description of death DEath is a piller to the Prince true iustice to vphold A terrour to the trayterous mate his secretes to vnfould A stedfast stay to common weales a webbe of worldlings woe A father to the harmelesse wight vnto his friend a foe ¶ An Epitaphe vppon the death of Henrie Cantrell of Lincolnes Inne Gent. by his friend R. C. SIth vertuous life death neuer may depriue But liueth ay amidde the glorious crew Lament not then our Cantrell is aliue In heauen on highe with chaunged life a new Then death no dole sith life therein remaines But glad hee gone to blisse from worldly paines From wreake of woe from cutt of cares anoye From fainting frends froÌ„ dole of doubtful dome From vaine delights the counterfet of ioy From sobbing sighes whence sorrowes séedes do come From dread to die sith death doth cleare vs quit Lament not then good Henrie Cantrells hit The dalying dayes that here wée lead alonge On earthlie mould fills vp the sacke with sinnes Here mirth with mone is alwayes mixt amonge To sowre our swéete here fortune neuer linnes Hence pleasure parkes no ioy can here remaine No swalowed swéete not purgde with pills of paine Then laude the Lord lament no whit at all Though it hath pleasd his will and heauenly â—est From wretched vs this happie youth to call For sure I say his soule him liked best Thus best hée calls and leaues the worst alone His mercie such our heaped sinnes to mone Howe great a vice it is either for the vertuous or valiaunt man to accompanie himselfe with men of base condition when as acknowledging his dutie hee may aduenture into the companie of the best WHere vertue may or vallor one aduaunce To base his hap a loute to liue belowe Or credite seeke with men of meanest chaunce A fearefull hart a dunghill minde doe showe On thornes no grapes but sower flowes doth growe Euen so by sottes no fame but shame doth rise A faire catch for such to count thée wise The forward minde doth couet this at least To prease where hée is poorest of the traine And not to liue with those himselfe the best For sure hée shall a lowsie kingdome gaine Where vnder him do none but beggers raine By learninges lore who doth the idiot schoole In fine wil proue himselfe a passing soole The highest trées doth kéepe the vnder spray From Phoebus gleames from sugred dewes that fall So mounting mindes aloft doth beare the sway When meaner wittes doth liue belowe in thrall They sucke the swéete when sottes do gnawe the gall They wrong by might their will makes right a mome Who prickes at such but séeldome
glad to royst in rotten ragges My purse me oft prelerd to play in pleasures lappe Wel may I wish but want I shal by wāt to reach such hap The reporter This complaint folowing sufficiently sheweth that Plasmos being somwhat behind hand by reason of his former vnthriftines hauing notwithstāding very proper liuing vnhappilie hit in acquaintaunce with certaine couseners who seing his sufficiente abilitie supplied his want from time to time with monie till they had wrapt him in very daungerous and cumbersome bonds so that hée had no way to winde himselfe out of their daunger but either by long leasure or sellinge some parcell of his land but by reason that it was intayled none would deale with him vntil a recouerie were had therof Plasmos hauing no experience in those causes and reposing a great confidence in one Liros one of the said companions committed the trust of his recouery vnto him who traiterously persuaded and instructed by Frenos his confederate by chaunging and counterfetting o◠déedes had purchaste all Plasmos liuing for nothing if he and his felowes eagre desire of the possession by Plasmos vntimely destruction had not decyphered their deuilish deceites But sith the circumstances be longe and in reporting them I should passe my purpose I leaue their lewdnes vnto their owne reporting who in the prime of their mischiefes worthily visited with miseries to disburden their consciences of a number of villanies hereafter shall make discourse of their owne dealinges In the meane while Plasmos hauing new knowledge of and not yet remedied their indirect practises and also being a litle before maymed on his right hande by reason of a certaine quarel that Liros had raysed betwéene certaine youthes and himselfe the said Plasmos ioyning the said mischiefes with other his euill fortunes complayneth as followeth P. Plasmos to his mishap HOw should I frame my plaint how shall I tell my tale Whom should I blame whom shall I bane as worker of my bale Sith heauen and earth are bent to bruse mée with their hate What bootes mée wretch to rage at fraude or raile on lucklesse fate Whom neuer hap did haunt but thousand harmes affraide In prime of youth vntimely death first tooke my surest ayde Then rose a lawlesse friend that likt my rouing youth Hée gaue mée will to sucke my wealth alas the more the ruth I lothed forced thrift hée liked no expence And Tutors loue not for to toile without reward of pence Which lacke to late I rue The greater mischiefe mine But yet my thought at which offence perforce doth thus repine Why scornde I merchaunts trade with baites of fraude to fish Sith craft doth onely compasse wealth and wealth is that wée wish Or placed at my booke why plide I not the same Why sought I not by morall rules my madding yeares to tame Sith rule must leade our life or els wée liue awry Why Aristotles wise precepts then did I not apply Why likt I not the Lawe where huge deceites are sowen Sith wée by lawe do hurt our foe and hold that is our owne But leapt to libertie that longe I did desire Why was my hart so set on hoygh beyond my reach t' aspire Why was I wedded so to péeuish will and pride Sith pride are will and foes to wit and witt our wayes should guide But most of all to loue why was I wretch so thrall Why sought I so by raging lust my gadding yeares to gall Sith neither loue nor lust doth yéeld a quiet rest Why made I choice of both the euills when bad was very best Ah Laymos once my loue by froward fate my foe Ah Laymos first by the I knew the workers of my woe But Liros most vnkinde both spoild of loue and ruthe Ah Liros thou doest wound my hart to thinke on thine vntruth Why did I trust thy faith or fearelesse othes thou sware Thy fayned vowes thy sugred woords of my welfare thy care Sith faith is turnde to fraude and woordes to workes vniust Why likte I wretch thy wilye tongue sith treason quiteth trust And did I thus deserue in faith thy selfe be iudge If Plasmos had did Liros lacke O no hée did not grudge To giue thée what thou wouldst yea more then thou couldst craue What cankred thought then mou'de thy minde his life and all to haue Whose murdrous marke ay mée my maymed fist can showe Although thou feardst to strike the stroake the strife thy hart did sowe And should I spare thee then of death to stand in awe O Noe my conscience bids mee strike betide what may of lawe Although the worst befall death quites but death againe And sure there is no ioy to death to such as piue in paine Why miste my hart the blowe that hitt my harmelesse wrist My hart it was that wrought offence and not my faultlesse fist My hart did trust these mates my hart did sturre this strife My hand did naught but make defence to saue my sillie life My hart deuisde the toyes which puft mée vppe with pride My hart inforst my eye to loue which manly fist defide And yet my hand not hart is plagued for others mis Too parcial sure in my conceite the heauens were in this Too parcial wretch not so t' was neither heauen nor happe But harebrainde youth which leapt the hedge and left the open gappe T' was youth which stouped first to Laymos wanton lure T' was youth that likt the wily wordes which Liros put in vre T' was youth through smal forsight that wrought poore Plasmos thral T' was youth so present want were scrud that feard no future fall T' was youth that made him maske with visard of delight Delight not so but dririe dread to shunne the merchants sight And Dread the scourge of youth for safegard of me wretch Did lodge me vp with néedie griefe while craft did play the leach In déede he playde the leach to ease my present lacke But what should serue for future store his physicke put to sacke He toylde in my behalfe God wot I durst not steare Least craftie traine should tol me in the merchants wily snare And dread did daunt me so that death I did desire Before a life of fréedome reft my hart did so aspire A tayle yet cloyde the land which should me frolike make Where Timeles trust to curtoule it did so the ioynt mistake That land will bléede to death if conscience worke no cure Such waste wrought haste for fréedomes sake to trust ere I were sure A pestleuce blowe forsooth it hurt not lande alone But spoyld my fist by filthy strife and maymd my hart with mone Of which I youth may thanke he snarld me in this snare Of force to trust or else to sterue with dread distresse and care Where Trust for best I chusd although it prou'd the worst Such backward hap doth euer haunt the man that is accurst The reporter Plasmos digression from one action of miserie vnto another yea vnto all the actions
grace But all in league their dealings lewde beware For then they do the diuell and all of scare The reporter The Philosopher Diogenes sayth that Nature to this intent bestowed two eyes and two eares and but one toung on any man that he should heare and sée more then he should speake And sure who soeuer vnaduisedly slaundereth another hurteth him selfe In matters of controuersie who so feeleth his suite colde straight séeketh by pretie traines to take some aduauntage of his aduersaries wordes to whiche effect the craftie churle complained on for any notable cousenage to knowe the compleynants secretes worketh meanes to bring him into extreame passions of choler who being greatly wronged will not onely giue knowledge by what countenaunce and in what court he will trounse the defendant for his deceit but lightly vnaduisedly voweth to strike him or calleth him craftle knaue cousening churle c. Wherevpon the defendant to worke the compleynants discredite declareth to some iustice of account in what daunger of life he stoode in the compleynant being mischiefously ruffenly disposed hauing colour of wroÌ„g for slauÌ„derous words he claps such vnkynde actions on the compleynant that will he or nyll he he enforceth him to agréement who so is so wronged may take warning to temper his toung by Plasmos penance who being hugely abused gaue out hard yet true speaches of one of his aduersaries not withstanding by his owne negligence together with the extremitie of Lawe he payde roundly for recompence who to discharge his stomache of griefe a â—orrie amendes in fayth blamed his toung as followeth P.P. Inuectiue against his toung THy rash reuenge O tatling toung I rue Although with truth thou slaundredst late thy foe The prouerbe olde by proofe I finde too true Who fightes with words doth wound him selfe with woe The ciuil lawe so fauours fame and name As strumpets knowne by wantons oft resort Are sildome put to any open shame Les open sight makes proofe of Venus sport Who so is toucht with any foule abuse Though common speach the same for truth confirme The common lawe the guiltie will excuse If proofe by oth ne makes the knowledge firme Thus wanton fylthes and wily churles are scus'd If secretly they worke their foule amis Yet néedely they which are by these abus'd Must haue a meanes to vse reuenge ywis Where oft their toung is first addrest to fight Whose furious threats forewarnes their foe of yre Which knowne he straight doth séeke to match their might And first begins their griefes for to conspire My selfe by such makes proofe this tale is true Who wéend to feare with threatning words my foe At which he smilde preuenting what he knewe Woulde be a mâ—ane to worke his ouerthrowe Yea worse then that he tryst me for me toung With actions houge for slaundering of his fame For which my purse an honest quest so stuong That euer since in faith it hath béene same Thus losse to me no hurt to him at all O babbling toung thy rash reuenge hath wrought Else blowes in lawe had giuen him cause to brall Of both the best though best reuenge be naught For bobs do feare when words not ioynd with déede In wrangling mynds more â—nackred thoughts doth bréede The reporter I may now without offence enter into the plaine discourse of Plasmos following for tunes and inuentions for I haue hetherto layde the cause of his miseries vnto his youthfull vnthriftinesse the which I confesse was an instrument but there were ouerthriftie executioners of his harde fortunes whose names and doings for that it was supposed some of them were aliue according to my commission I haue lefte vnreported wishing them well to fare vpon their recompence and repentance Nowe returning againe vnto P. Plasmos estate who being wrapped in a thousand miseries and mischiefes barde of the benefit of his owne liuing to worke his quietnesse forsaken of friends in his distresse daily tormented with his enimies vnkind vexations looking vnto the condition of his former life his exercises and studies and finding his life full of lewdnesse his exercise to be dallying dauncing and suche counterfet delightes his studie Wanton Comedies Tragedies and discourses acknowledging theâ—e 〈◊〉 the instruments of his mishap sought if the refourming of these abuses would be a meane of his better fortunes so that vsing one day the reading of scripture for his studie and lighting on the 102. Psalme intituled Domine exaodi orationeÌ„ meam imploying his Muse vnto a more better vse then of yore he made his humble submission vnto the highest for the release of his miseries as followeth IN gayle of griefe in closâ—e of worldly friendes forlorne Thy mercy Lord to ease my mone vnto my prayers turne Hide not thy heauenly face from him that lies in thrall High time and tide good God it is to heare my plaint cast My dayes consume with griefe my myrth is maid with mone My hart doth wast like withred grasse my graue I am one My flesh with thoughts doth fret in shew I am a ghoste I drencht in bale my foes in blisse I harmd of hap they bost The world coÌ„mends their welth spites my withered woe Yea dooms my doings by my dole theirs by delight in showe Thus wrongd and scornd I am which crosse I do imbrace Attending when thy mercy Lord my miseries shall chace Which ioyne with iustice thine to foyle my foes in sight So shall I praise and others feare thy maiestie and might The reporter Plasmos in time wringing him selfe out of all the troubles and mischiefes that his enimies had wrapt him in and seing his estate for his troubles so sufficient as with good gouernment he might liue in indifferent good credite On the contrarie part seing some of his enimies through their lewdnesse starke beggers and other some of them to dye soudenly and miserably as well to giue God thankes for his deliuerie as for the ouerthrowe of his enimies made this sonet following TO thée O Lord with hart and voice I sing Whose mercy great from dole to sweete delight From mone to myrth my troubled spirite did bring Yea more thy yre hath foyld my foes in sight They liue in want that flourisht late in wealth They grone with griefe yea lacke both help helth Their conscience guilt doth gall them through their gaine And yet they waste more faster then they winne Thus swéete prou'd sowre their pleasure turnd to paine Yea liuing dyde to thinke vpon their sinne Their shadowes feard so souden was their fall But more their death when destenie did them call Their mone amasd a thousand wretches moe Who sight and shrynkt through motions of deceit To heare report this thundring threat to throwe Foule fall the fraude to bréede our bale a baite A bitter swéete that rots ere it be ripe A liuing care to souls a deadly stripe But how with hap the pikes of harme I past Of murdrous mates of myndes on mischiefe set â–ª Whose snares
The three following are the trade of surest gaine A cheating merchaunt lokes like a sneaking cur Crosbiting a kinde of cousoning vnder the couler of frendship The table exercise The fearelesse othes that dicers vse Murderers of othes Monie lightly wonn is as lightly spent Luers to stoupe a Curtisane A rape vnpunishable Fairewords makes fooles faine Like maister like scholers A notable vsurie Both infections can hardly bee cured There is no certaintie in dicers fortunes Dicers quarrells An il wind that driues no man to profite Some visite the sicke more in hope of gaine then deuotion What ensues after morgaging A statute a perilous bonde A welcome guest Credite once lost is not easilie obtained againe Bare words an yll plea against matter of recorde Necessitie tries frendâ— A cooling carde Lewde couÌ„sell Comin a Gauntalias a Serpent A gentle admittance A gentle persuasion The Kings Benche neuer without a subtil Lawyer Saturday a heauie daye to needie prisoners Might ouercomes right Necessitie obeys not lawe Nihil dicet a vauntage a cousiner seekes A miserable estate A nyce coÌ„panion The one through necessitie the other through hypocrisie The prouerbe verified The lawe prouides a remedy for extortion c. but the lacke of execution emboldeneth churles to breake theÌ„ Ventures barge Souldiers gaine Flushing Of seruingmen The hangmans cog Of husbandmen c. Pride Lecherie Sloth Blasphemie Wrath. Gluttonie Couetousnesse Despaire The sum of the whole discourse Exceptions God 1. Prince 2. Officers 3 Lawe 4. Expence 5. Scarcitie 6. Studie 7. Fraude 8. Exercise 9. Sloth 10. Companie 11. Vnthrifts 12. Modest talke 13. dispraise 14 The coÌ„ceit of excellencie 15. Silence 16. RecoÌ„pence 17 Ingratitud 18 Secretnes 19. Toung 20. Taylers 21. Apparel 22. Tauernes 23. Drunkenes 24 Quareling 25 Pertaking 26 â–ª Wanton dames 27. Dice 28. Wares on trust 29. Morgage 30. Cutthrots 31. Sealing and safe keping of writings 32.33 Suretiship 34. Friendship 35 Marriage 36. An ill wife 37 Countrie 38. London 39. Neghbors 40 Good report 41. House keeping 42. Poore 43. Seruant 44. Flatterer 45. Wrangling in the lawe 46. Duties of an honest maÌ„ 47 Reliefe 48. Fame 49. Death 50. Patience A perilous casualtie Note The religion of wanton louers like the papistes He was a wanton liuer A backward purchase He was made an instrument to execute other cousners deuises Plasmos the man hee abused Hee forged deedes Officers about the recouery of P.P. land suspected the deceite Periurie Frenos the Scriuener thaâ— deuisde the cousenage His miseries His sonne sodainly died A quarterne ague He brought himselfe in daunger to play the cousener for others commoditie His instrumeÌ„t He lost his wit He lost his memorie His friendes forsoke him in pouertie Goods ill got are lewdlye spent When death attacheth the wicked the thought of their sinne is more greuous then death Our owne sinnes giue euideÌ„ce against vs afore the highest Bible A pretie kind of periurie Noâ—â— A sweete comâ—orte Presumptious sinnes The common lawe was takeÌ„ out of Gods laâ—â— The diuel declares our offences before God our conscience is the witnes of our wickednes Note Ignoraunce will not serue The soule flesh are at coÌ„tinuall warre Vide fol. 38. Vide fol. 80. vsque 96. Vi. 24. A. 50 Vide. 50. vs. 66 Vide. 50. Vide. 98. 99 Vide. 87. Vide. 7. A. Vide. 36.47 Vide. 73. B. Vide. 6. Vide. 85. Vide. 17. C. vsque 25. 49. vs. 66. 70. vs. 78. Vide. 66.78 Vide. 46. Vide. 45. vs. 49 Vide. 16.49.70 Vide. 105. A. vsque ad fineÌ„ ¶ Imprinted at London for Robert Waley Anno. 1576.