or hers gainsay that I intende Art thou so fonde not fonde but firmely fast Why foole her frendes wote how thy will is bent Yet thou like dolt whose witte and sence is past Seest not what frumpes do follow thy entent Ne know how loue in few of scorne is lent Adue for sighes such follie should preuent Well well their scoffes with scornes might be repayed If my requestes were fully yead or nayed UUel well let these with wisedomes prayse be wayed And in your chest of chiefest secretes layed FINIS My lucke is losse 48. What ioye to a contented mynde THe fayth that fayles must needes be thought vntrue The frend that faignes who holdeth not vniust UUho likes that loue that chaungeth still for new UUho hopes for truth where troth is voyde of trust No faith no frend no loue no troth so sure But rather fayles then stedfastly endure UUhat head so stayed that altereth not intent what thought so sure that stedfast did remaine what witte so wise that neuer needes repent what tongue so true but sometime wontes to fayne what foote so firme that neuer treades awrie what sooner dimde then sight of clearest eye UUhat hart so fixt but soone enclines to chaunge what moode so milde that neuer moued debate what faith so strong but lightly likes to raunge what loue so true that neuer learnd to hate what life so pure that lastes without offence what worldly mynde but moues with ill pretence UUhat knot so fast that may not be vntide what seale so sure but fraude or force shall breake what prop of stay but one tyme shrinkes aside what ship so stauche that neuer had a leake what graunt so large that no exception makes what hoped helpe but frend at neede forsakes UUhat seate so high but low to ground may fall what hap so good that neuer found mislike what state so sure but subiect is to thrall what force preuayles where Fortune list to strike what wealth so much but time may tourne to want what store so great but wasting maketh scant UUhat profites hope in depth of daungers thrall what trust in time but waxeth worse and worse what helpes good hart if Fortune frowne withall what blessing thriues agaynst heauenly helpelesse curse what winnes desire to get and cannot gayne what bootes to wish and neuer to obtaine FINIS My lucke is losse 49. Donec eris Faelix multos numerabis amicos Nullus ad amissas ibit amicus â—pes EUen as the Rauen the Crow and greedy Kite Doe swarming flocke where carren corps doth fall And tiring teare with beake and talentes might Both skin and flesh to gorge their guttes withall And neuer cease but gather moe to moe Doe all to pull the carkas to and fro Till bared bones at last they leaue behinde And seeke elswhere some fatter foode to finde Euen so I see where wealth doth waxe at will And gold doth grow to heapes of great encrease There frendes resort and profering frendship still Full thicke they throng with neuer ceasing prease And slily make a shew of true intent when nought but guile and inward hate is ment For when mischaunce shall chaunge such wealth to want They packe them thence to place of richer haunt FINIS My lucke is losse 50. Amantium irae amoris redinte gratio est IN goyng to my naked bed as one that would haue slept I heard a wife sing to her child that long before had wept She sighed sore and sang full sweete to bring the babe to rest That would not cease but cried still in sucking at her brest She was full wearie of her watch and greeued with her child She rocked it and rated it till that on her it smilde Then did she say now haue I found this Prouerbe true to proue The falling out of faithfull frendes renuyng is of loue Then tooke I paper penne and Inke this Prouerbe for to write In register for to remaine of such a worthy wight As she proceeded thus in song vnto her little brat Much matter vttered she of waight in place where as she sat And proued playne there was no beast nor creature bearing life Could well be knowne to liue in loue without discorde and strife Then kissed she her little babe and sware by God aboue The falling out of faythfull frendes renuyng is of loue She sayd that neither King ne Prince ne Lord could liue a right Untill their puissance they did proue their manhood and their might when manhood shall be matched so that feare can take no place Then wearie workes make warriours eche other to embrace And leaued their force that fayled them which did consume the rout That might before haue liued their time and Nature out Then did she sing as one that thought no man could her reproue The falling out of faythfull frendes renuyng is of loue She sayd she saw no fish ne foule nor beast within her haunt That met a straunger in their kinde but could giue it a taunt Since flesh might not endure but rest must wrath succeede And force the fight to fall to play in pasture where they feede So noble Nature can well end the worke she hath begone And bridle well that will not cease her tragedie in some Thus in song she oft rehearst as did her well behoue The falling out of faithfull frendes renuyng is of loue I maruaile much pardy quoth she for to behold the rout To see man woman boy and beast to tosse the world about Some kneele some couche some becke some checke some caÌ„ smothly smile And some embrace others in arme and there thinke many a wile Some stand a loofe at cap and knee some humble and some stout Yet are they neuer frendes in deede vntill they once fall out Thus ended she her song and sayd before she did remoue The fallyng out of faythfull frendes renuyng is of loue FINIS M. Edwardes 51. Thinke to dye THe life is long which lothsomely doe last The dolefull dayes draw slowly to their date The present pangues and painefull plagues forepast Yeldes grief aye greene to stablish his estate So that I feele in this great storme and strife That death is sweete that shortneth such a life And by the stroke of this straunge ouerthrow All which conflict in thraldome I was thrust The Lord be praysed I am well taught to know From whence man came and eke whereto he must And by the way vpon how feeble force His terme doth stand till death doth end his course The pleasaunt yeares that seemes so sweetly runne The merrie dayes to ende so fast that fleete The ioyfull wights of which dayes drawes so soone The happie howres which moe do misse then meete Doe all consume as snow against the Sunne And death makes ende of all that life begunne Since death shall dure till all the world be waste what meaneth man to dread Death then so sore As man might make that life should alway laste without regarde the Lord hath led
to time doe quite consume and vade from time to clay But my true heart and seruice vowde shall last time out of minde And still remayne as thine by dome as Cupid hath assignde My faith loe here I vow to thee my troth thou knowest right well My goodes my freendes my life is thine what neede I more to tell I am not mine but thine I vowe thy hestes I will obay And serue thee as a seruaunt ought in pleasing if I may And sith I haue no flying winges to see thee as I wishe Ne sinnes to cut the siluer streames as doth the gliding fish Wherefore leaue now forgetfulnesse and send againe to me And straine thy Azured vaynes to write then I may greeting see And thus fare well more deare to me then chiefest friend I haue UUhose loue in hart I minde to shrine till death his see doe craue FINIS M. Edwardes ¶ He complayneth his mishap SHall rigour raigne where ruth hath run shall fansie now forsake Shall fortune lose that fauour wonne shall not your anger slake Shall hatefull heart be had in you that friendly did pretend Shall slipper thought and faith vntrue that heart of yours defend Shall Nature shew your beautie faire that gentle seemes to be shall frowardnesse your fansies heire be of more force then she shall now disdaine the dragge of Death direct and lead the way shall all the Impes vpon the yearth reioyce at my decay Shall this the seruice of my youth haue such reward at last shall I receiue rigour of ruthe and be from fauour cast shall I therefore berent my heares with wightes that wish to dye Or shall I bathe my selfe with teares to feede your fickle eye No no I shall in paine lye still with Turtle Doue most true And vow my selfe to wit and will their counsels to ensue Good Ladies all that louers be and that to be pretende Giue place to wit let reason seeme your enemies to defende Least that you thinke as I haue thought your selfe to striue in vayne And so to be in thraldome brought with me to suffer paine FINIS W. Hunnis ¶ No foe to a flatterer I Would it were not as I thinke I would it were not so I am not blinde although I winke I feele what windes doe blowe I know where craft with smiling cheare creepes into boldned brest I heare how fayned speeches speakes fayre where hatred is possest I see the serpent lye and lurke vnder the greene alowe I see him watche a time to worke his poyson to bestowe In friendly looke such fraude is founde as faith for feare is fled And friendship hath receiu'de such wound as he is almost dead And hatefull heart with malice great so boyles in cankred minde That flatterie flearing in the face had almost made me blinde But now I see all is not golde that glittereth in the eye Nor yet such friendes as they professe as now by proofe I trie Though secret spight by craft haue made a coate of Panters skin And thinkes to finde me in the shade by sleight to wrap me in Yet God be praysed my eye is cleare and can behold the Sunne UUhen falshood dare not once appeare to ende that he begunne Thus time shall trie the thing amisse which God saue shortly sende And turne the heart that fayned is to be a faithfull friende FINIS W. Hunnis His comparison of Loue. THe spider with great skill doeth trauell day by day His limms no time lye still to set his house in staie And when he hath it wrought thinking therein to raigne A blast of winde vnthought doth driue it downe againe The proofe whereof is true to make his worke indure He paines himselfe a newe in hope to dwell more sure And in some secret place a corner of a wall He frameth himselfe apace to build and rest withall His pleasure sweete to stay when he to rest is bent An vgly shamble Flee approcheth to his Tent And there intendes by force his labours great to winne Or els to yeeld his corse by fatall death therein Thus is the spiders nest from time to time throwne downe And he to labour prest with endles paine vnknowne So such as louers be like trauell doe attaine Those endlesse workes ye see are alwaies full of paine FINIS W. Hunnis A Louers ioye I Haue no ioye but dreame of ioye and ioy to thinke on ioye A ioye I withstoode to finish mine annoye I hate not without cause alas yet loue I know not why I thought to hate I cannot hate although that I should dye A foe most sweete a friend most sower I ioy for to embrace I hate the wrong and not the wight that workt my woefull case What thing it is I know not I but yet a thing there is That in my fancie still perswades there is no other blisse The ioyes of life the pangues of death it makes me feele eche daie But life nor death this humor can deuise to weare awaye Faine would I dye but yet in death no hope I see remaines And shall I liue since life I see a course of sory paines UUhat is it then that I doe seeke what ioye would I aspire A thing that is diuine belike too high for mans desire FINIS F. K. Euill to him that euill thinketh THe subtill sâ—ily slightes that worldly men doe worke The freendly shewes vnder whose shade most craft doth often lurke Enforceth me alas with yernfull voyce to say UUoe worthe the wilie heads that seekes the simple mans decay The bird that dreades no guile is soonest caught in snare Eche gentle harte deuoyde of craft is soonest brought to care Good Nature soonest trapt which giues me cause to saie woe worthe the wilie heades that seeke the simple mans decay I see the serpent vile that lurkes vnder the greene How subtilly he shrowdes himselfe that he may not be seene And yet his fosters bane his learing lookes bewray woe worthe the wilie heades that seekes the simple mans decay Woe worth the feyning lookes on fauour that we doe waite woe worth the feyned friendly heart that harbours deepe deceipt woe worthe the Uipers broode oh thrise woe worthe I say All worldly wilie heades that seekes the simple mans decay FINIS M. Edwardes ¶ He assureth his constancie WIth painted speech I list not proue my cunning for to trie Nor yet will vse to fill my pen with guilefull flatterie UUith pen in hand and hart in brest shall faithfull promise make To loue you best and serue you moste by your great vertues sake And sure dame Nature hath you deckt with giftes aboue the rest Let not Disdaine a harbour finde within your noble brest For Loue hath led his Lawe a like to men of eche degree so that the Begger with the Prince shall Loue as well as he I am no Prince I must confesse nor yet of Princes line Nor yet a brutish Begger borne that feedes among the swine The fruite shall trie the tree at last
before The daunce of Death which all must runne on row The howre wherein onely himselfe doth know If man would minde what burdens life doth bring what grieuous crimes to God he doth commit what plagues what perill thereby spring with no sure howre in all his daie to sit He would sure thinke as with great cause I doe The day of death is happier of the two Death is the doore whereby we draw to ioye Life is the lacke that drowneth all in paine Death is so dole it seaseth all awaie Life is so lend that all it yeeldes is vaine And as by life in bondage man is brought Euen so by Death is freedome likewise wrought wherefore with Paule let all men wishe and praie To be dissolued of this foule fleshly masse Or at the least be arm'd against the daie That they be found good souldiours prest to passe From life to death from death to life againe And such a life as euer shall remaine FINIS D. S. 51. If thou desire to liue in quiet rest Giue eare and see but say the best IF thou delight in quietnesse of life Desire to shun from braules debate and strife To liue in loue with God with friend and fo In rest shalt sleepe when others can not so Giue eare to all yet do not all beleeue And see the ende and then doe sentence giue But say for truth of happie liues assinde The best hath he that quiet is in minde FINIS W. Hunis 52. Beyng forsaken of his frend he complayneth WHy should I linger long to liue In this disease of fantasie Since Fortune doth not cease to giue Thinges to my minde most contrarie And at my ioyes doth lowre and frowne Till she hath tourned them vpsidowne A frend I had to me most deare And of long time faithfull and iust There was no one my hart so neare Nor one in whom I had more trust whom now of late without cause why Fortune hath made my enemy The grasse me thinkes should grow in Skie The Starres vnto the earth cleaue fast The water streame should passe awrie The windes should leaue their strength of blast The Sunne and Moone by one assent Should both forsake the firmament The fish in ayre should flie with finne The foules in floud should bring forth fry All thinges me thinkes should erst beginne To take their course vnnaturally Afore my frend should alter so without a cause to be my foe But such is Fortunes hate I say Such is his will on me to wreake Such spite he hath at me alway And ceasseth not my hart to breake with such despite of crueltie wherfore then longer liue should I. FINIS E. S. 45. Prudence The historie of Damacles and Dionise WHo so is set in Princely throne and craueth rule to beare Is still beset on euery side with perill and with feare High trees by stormy windes are shakt and rent vp from the ground And flashly flackes of lightning flames on turrets doe rebound When little shrubes in safetie lurke in couert all alow And freshly florish in their kinde what euer winde doe blow The cruell kyng of Scisile who fearing Barbares handes was wont to singe his beard himselfe with coale and fire brandes Hath taught vs this the proofe wherof full plainely we may see Was neuer thing more liuely touched to shew it so to bee This kyng did seeme to Damacles to be the happiest wight Because he thought none like to him in power or in might who did alone so farre excell the rest in his degree As doth the Sunne in brightnesse cleare the darkest starre we see wilt thou then sayd this cruell kyng proue this my present state Possesse thou shalt this seate of myne and so be fortunate Full gladly then this Damacles this proferd honour tooke And shooting at a Princely life his quiet rest forsooke In honours seate then was he plast according to his will Forthwith a banquet was prepard that he might feast his fill Nothing did want wherein twas thought that he could take delite To feede his eye to fill his mouth or please the appetite Such store of plate I thinke in Greece there scarsly was so much His seruitures did Angels seeme their passing shape was such No daintie dish but there it was and thereof was such store That through out Greece so Princely cheare was neuer sene before Thus while in pompe and pleasures seate this Damacles was plast And did begin with gladsome hart ech daintie dish to tast At length by chaunce cast vp his eyes and gan the house to vew And saw a sight that him enforst his Princely state to rew A sword forsooth with downward poinct that no stronger thred Then one horse heare that peised it direct vpon his hed Wherewith he was so sore amas'd and shooke in euery part As though the sword that hong aboue had stroke him to the hart Then all their pleasures tooke their leaue and sorrow came in place His heauy hart the teares declard that trickled downe his face And then forthwith with sobbing voyce besought the king of grace That he would licence him with speede to depart out of that place And sayd that he full long enough had tried now with feare What tis to be a happie man and princely rule to beare This deede of thine oh Dionise deserues immortall fame This deede shall alwayes liue with prayse though thou didst liue with shame Whereby both kinges be put in mynde their daungers to be greate And subiectes be forbid to climbe high steppes of honours seate FINIS M. Edwardes 55. Fortitude A young man of Aegipt and Valerian EChe one deserues great prayse to haue but yet not like I thinke Both he that can sustaine the yoke of paynes and doth not shrinke And he whom Cupids couert craft can nothing moue at all Into the hard and tangled knots of Venus snares to fall Besturre you then who so delightes in vertues race to runne The flying boye with bow ibent by strength to ouercome As one did once when he was yong and in his tender dayes Whose stoute and noble deede of his hath got immortall prayse The wicked Romaines did pursue the silly Christians than What time Valerian Emperour was a wicked cruell man who spared not with bloudy draughtes to quench his owne desire Dispatching all that stuck to Christ with hot consuming fire At length a man of tender yeares was brought before his sight Such one as nature seemed to make a witnesse of her might For euery part so well was set that nothing was depraued So that the cruell king himselfe would gladly him haue saued So loth he was to see a worke so rare of natures power So finely built so sodainly destroyed within an hower Then meanes he sought to ouercome or win him at the lest To slip from Christ whom he before had earnestly profest A bed prepard so finely dect such diuers pleasaunt smells That well it might appeare a place where pleasure onely dwells By him
hue May breedes and bringes new bloud May marcheth throughout euery lim May makes the mery mood May pricketh tender hartes their warbling notes to tune Full straunge it is yet some we see do make their May in Iune Thus thinges are straungely wrought whiles ioyfull May doth last Take May in time when May is gone the pleasaunt time is past All ye that liue on earth and haue your May at will Reioyce in May as I doe now and vse your May with skill Use May while that you may for May hath but his time UUhen all the fruite is gone it is to late the Tree to clime Your liking and your lust is fresh whiles May doth last When May is gone of all the yeare the pleasaunt time is past FINIS M. Edwardes 7. Fayre wordes make fooles fayne IN youthfull yeares when first my young desires began To pricke me forth to serue in court a slender tall young man My fathers blessing then I asked vpon my knee UUho blessing me with trembling hand these wordes gan say to me My sonne God guide thy way and shield thee from mischaunce And make thy iust desartes in Court thy poore estate to aduaunce Yet when thou art become one of the Courtly trayne Thinke on this Prouerbe old quoth he that faire wordes make fooles faine This counsell grauely giuen most straunge appeares to me Till tract of time with open eyes had made me plainly see UUhat subtill sleightes are wrought by painted tales deuise UUhen hollow hartes with frendly shewes the simple do entise To thinke all gold that shines to feede their fond desire Whose shiuering cold is warmde with smoke in steed of flaming fire Sith talke of tickle trust doth breed a hope most vaine This prouerb true by proofe I find that fayre wordes make fooles faine Fayre speech alway doth well where deedes insue faire wordes Faire speech againe alway doth euill that bushes giue for birdes Who hopes to haue fayre wordes to trie his luckie lot If I may counsell let him strike it while the Iron is hot But them that feed on cloddes in steed of pleasant grapes And after warning often giuen for better lucke still gapes Full loath I am yet must I tell them in wordes plaine This prouerb old proues true in them that faire wordes make fooles faine Wo worth the time that wordes so slowly turne to deedes Wo worth the time that fayre sweet flowres are growne to rotten weedes But thrise wo worth the time that truth away is fled UUherein I see how simple hartes with wordes are vainely fed Trust not fayre wordes therefore where no deedes do insue Trust wordes as skilfull Falkners do trust Haukes that neuer flue Trust deedes let wordes be wordes which neuer wrought me gaine Let my experience make you wise and let wordes make fooles faine FINIS M. Edwardes 8. In his extreame sickenesse WHat grieues my bones and makes my body faint UUhat prickes my flesh and teares my head in twaine UUhy do I wake when rest should me attaint UUhen others laugh why do I liue in paine I tosse I turne I chaunge from side to side And stretch me oft in sorrowes linckes betide I tosse as one betost in waues of care I turne to flie the woes of loathsome life I chaunge to spie if death this corpes might spare I stretch to heauen to rid me of this strife Thus do I stretch and chaunge and tosse and turne UUhile I in hope of heauen my life do burne Then hold thee still let be thy heauinesse Abolish care forget thy pining woe For by this meanes sone shalt thou find redresse When oft betost hence thou to heauen must goe Then tosse and tourne and tumble franke and free O happie thrise when thou in heauen shalt be FINIS L. Vaux 9. Eor Christmas day Reioyce reioyce with hart and voyce In Christes byrth this day reioyce FRom virgins wombe this day did spring The precious seed that onely saued man This day let man reioyce and sweetly sing Since on this day saluation first began This day did Christ mans soule from death remoue With glorious sainctes to dwell in heauen aboue This day to man came pledge of perfect peace This day to man came loue and vnity This day mans griefe began for to surcease This day did man receiue a remedy For ech offence and euery deadly sin With gilty hart that erst he wandred in In Christes flocke let loue be surely plaste From Christes flocke let concord hate expell Of Christes flocke let loue be so embraste As we in Christ and Christ in vs may dwell Christ is the authour of vnity From whence proceedeth all felicitie O sing vnto this glittering glorious king O praise his name let euery liuing thing Let hart and voyce like Belles of siluer ring The comfort that this day did bring Let Lute let Shalme with sound of sweet delight The ioy of Christes birth this day resight FINIS F. Kindlemarshe 10. For Easter day AL mortall mēn this day reioyce in Christ that you redemed hath By death with death sing we with voyce to him that hath appeasde Gods wrath Due vnto man for sinfull path wherein before he went astray Giue thankes to him with perfect faith that for mankinde hath made this glorious day This day he rose from tombe againe wherein his precious corse was layd Whom cruelly the Iewes had slaine with bloudy woundes full ill arayd O man be now no more dismaid if thou hencefoorth from sinne do stay Of death thou needest not to be afrayde Christ conquered death for this his glorious day His death preuayled had no whit as Paule the Apostle well doth write Except he had vprised it from death to life by godlike might With most triumphant glittering light This daie his glory shined I say and made vs bright as sunne this glorious day O man arise with Christ therefore since he from sin hath made thee free Beware thou fall in sinne no more but rise as Christ did rise for thee So mayest thou him in glory see when he at day of doome shall say Come thou my child and dwell with me God graunt vs all to see that glorious day FINIS Iasper Heiwood 11. For Whitsonday COme holy Ghost eternall God and ease the wofull griefe That through the heapes of heauy sinne can no where find reliefe Doe thou O God redresse The great distresse Of sinfull heauinesse Come comfort the afflicted thoughtes of my consumed hart O rid the pearcing pinching paines of my tormenting smart O holy Ghost graunt me That I by thee From sinne may purged be Thou art my God to thee alone I will commend my cause Nor glittering gold nor precious stone shall make me leaue thy lawes O teach me then the way Whereby I may Make thee my onely stay My lippes my tongue my hart and all shall spread thy mighty name My voyce shall neuer cease to sound the praises of the same Yea euery liuing thing Shall sweetly sing To
extremes thus doe I rome the race Of my poore life this certainely I know Tweene would and want vnwarely that doe passe More swift then shot out of the Archers vow As Spider drawes her line all day I watch the net and others haue the pray And as by proofe the greedy Dogge doth gnaw The bared bone all onely for the tast So to and fro this lothsome life I draw UUith fancies forst and fed with vayne repast Narsissus brought vnto the water drinke So aye thirst I the more that I doe drinke Loe thus I dye and yet I seeme not sicke UUith smart vnseene my selfe my selfe I weare UUith prone desire and power that is not quicke UUith hope a loft now drenched in disprayre Trayned in trust for no reward assignde The more I hast the more I come behinde UUith hurt to heale in frozen Ise to frie UUith losse to laugh this is a wonderous case Fast fetred here is forst away to flie As hunted Hare that Hound hath in the chase UUith winges and spurres for all the hast I make As like to lose as for to draw the stake The dayes be long that hang vpon desart The life is irke of ioyes that be delayed The time is short for to requite the smart That doth proceede of promise long vnpayed That to the last of this my fainting breath I wish exchaunge of life for happy death FINIS L. Vanx 18. Of the instabilitie of youth WHen I looke backe and in my selfe behold The wandring wayes that youth could not descry And marke the fearefull course that youth did hold And met in mynde ech step youth strayed awry My knees I bow and from my hart I call O Lord forget these faultes and folies all For now I see how voyde youth is of skill I see also his Prime time and his ende I doe confesse my faultes and all my ill And sorrow sore for that I did offende And with a minde repentaunt of all crimes Pardon I aske for youth ten thousand times The humble hart hath daunted the proude minde Eke wisedome hath geuen ignoraunce a fall And wit hath taught that follie could not finde And age hath youth her subiect and her thrall Therfore I pray O Lord of life and truth Pardon the faultes committed in my youth Thou that diddest graunt the wise king his request Thou that in the Whale thy Prophet diddest preserue Thou that forgauest the wounding of thy brest Thou that didst saue the theefe in state to sterue Thou onely God the giuer of all grace Wipe out of minde the path of youthes vayne race Thou that by power to life didst rayse the dead Thou that restorest the blind to perfect sight Thou that for loue thy life and loue out blead Thou that of fauour madest the lame goe right Thou that canst heale and helpe in all assayes Forgiue the gilt that grew in youthes vayne wayes And now since I with faith and doubtlesse minde Doe flie to thee by prayer to appease thy Ire And since that thee I onely seeke to finde And hope by faith to attaine my iust desire Lord minde no more youthes errour and vnskill And able age to doe thy holy will FINIS L. Vaux 19. Most happy is that state alone Where wordes and deedes agree in one BY painted wordes the silly simple man To trustlesse trap is trayned now and than And by conceipt of sweete alluring tale He bites the baytes that breedes his bitter bale To beauties blaze cast not thy rouing eye In pleasaunt greene doe stinging Serpentes lye The golden Pill hath but a bitter tast In glittering glasse a poyson ranckest plast So pleasaunt wordes without performing deedes May well be deemed to spring of Darnell seedes The frendly deede is it that quickely tries Where trusty faith and frendly meaning lies That state therfore most happy seemes to bee Where wordes and deedes most faithfully agree My frend if thou wilt keepe thy honest name Flie from the blot of barking flaunders blame Let not in word thy promise be more large Then thou in deede art willing to discharge Abhorred is that false dissembling broode That seemes to beare two faces in one hoode To say a thing and not to meane the same Will turne at length to losse of thy good name Wherfore my frend let double dealing goe In stead wherof let perfect plainnesse flow Doe thou no more in idle wordes exceede Then thou intendes to doe in very deede So good report shall spread thy worthy prayse For being iust in word and deede alwayes You worldly wightes that worldly doers are Before you let your word slip out to farre Consider well what inconuenience springes By breache of promise made in lawfull thinges First God mislikes where such deceipt doth swarme Next it redoundeth vnto thy neighbours harme And last of all which is not least of all For such offence thy conscience suffer shall As barren groundes bringes forth but rotten weedes From barren wordes so fruitlesse chaffe proceedes As sauerie flowers doe spring in fertill ground So trusty frendes by triall soone are found To shunne therfore the worst that may ensue Let deedes alway approue thy sayinges true FINIS F. K. Who will aspire to dignitie 20. By learnyng must aduaunced be THe poore that liue in needy rate by learnyng do great richesse gayne The rich that liue in wealthy state by learning doe their wealth maintayne Thus rich and poore are furthered still By sacred rules of learned skill All fond conceiptes of franticke youth the golden gift of learning stayes Of doubtfull things to search the truth learning sets forth the ready wayes O happy him do I repute UUhose breast is fraught with learning fruite There growes no corne within the field that Oxe and plough did neuer till Right so the mynde no fruite can yeld that is not lead by learninges skill Of ignoraunce comes rotten weedes Of learning springes right noble deedes Like as the Captaine hath respect to trayne his souldiours in aray So learning doth mans mynde direct by vertues staffe his life to stay Though frendes and Fortune waxeth scant Yet learned men shall neuer want You impes therfore in youth be sure to fraught your myndes with learned thinges For learning is the fountaine pure out from the which all glory springes Who so therfore will glory win With learning first must needes begin FINIS F. Kindlemarsh 21. Mans flittyng life findes surest stay Where sacred vertue beareth sway THe sturdy rocke for all his strength by raging seas is rent in twaine The marble stone is pearst at length with little drops of drilling raine The Oxe doth yeld vnto the yoke The Steele obeyeth the hammer stroke The stately stagge that seemes so stout by yalping houndes at bay is set The swiftest bird that flees about is caught at length in foulers Net The greatest fish in deepest brooke Is soone deceiued with subtill hooke Yea man himselfe vnto whose will all thinges are bounden to obay For all his wit
neuer parciall handes for to offend or please Giue me good Fortune all men sayes and throw me in the seas It is no fault or worthinesse that makes men fall or rise I rather be borne fortunate then to be very wise The blindest man right soone that by good fortune guided is To whom that pleasaunt Fortune pipes can neuer daunce amis FINIS M. Edwardes 36. Though triumph after bloudy warres the greatest brags doe beare Yet triumph of a conquered mynde the crowne of fame shall weare WHo so doth marke the carelesse life of these vnhappy dayes And sees what small and slender hold the state of vertues stayes He findes that this accursed trade proceedeth of this ill That men be giuen too much to yeld to their vntamed will In lacke of taming witlesse will the poore we often see Enuies the riche because that he his equall can not bee The riche aduaunced to might by wealth from wrong doth not refrayne But will oppresseth weaker sort to heape excessiue gayne If Fortune were so blind to giue to one man what he will A world would not suffice the same if he might haue his fill We wish we searche we striue for all and haue no more therein Then hath the slaue when death doth come though Cresus wealth he win In getting much we get but care such brittle wealth to keepe The rich within his walles of stone doth neuer soundly sleepe When poore in weake and slender house doe feare no losse of wealth And haue no further care but this to keepe them selues in health Affection may not hide the sword of sway in iudgement seate Least partiall fauour execute the law in causes great But if the mynde in constant state affection quite doe leaue The higher state shall haue their rightes the poore no wrong receiue It is accompted greater prayse to Caesars lofty state Agaynst his vanquest foes in warres to bridle wreckfull hate Then when to Rome he had subdued the people long vnknowne Whereby as farre as land was found the same abroad was blowne If honour can selfe will refuse and Iustice be vpright And priuate state desires but that which good appeares in sight Then vertue shall with soueraigne shew to euery eye reueale An heauenly life a wealfull state a happy common weale Let vertue then the triumph win and gouerne all your deedes Your yelding to her sober hestes immortall glory breedes She shall vpreare your worthy name shinyng into the skies Her beames shall blaze in graue obscure where shriued carkasse lyes FINIS M. Edwardes 37. Of perfect wisedome WHose will be accompted wise and truely clayme the same By ioyning vertue to his deedes he must atcheue the same But few there be that seeke thereby true wisedome to attayne O God so rule our hartes therfore such fondnesse to refrayne The wisedome which we most esteeme in this thing doth consist UUith glorious talke to shew in wordes our wisedome when we list Yet not in talke but seemely deedes our wisedome we should place To speake so fayre and doe but ill doth wisedome quite disgrace To bargayne well and shunne the losse a wisedome compted is And thereby through the greedy coyne no hope of grace to mis To seeke by honour to aduaunce his name to brittle prayse Is wisedome which we dayly see increaseth in our dayes But heauenly wisedome sower seemes too hard for them to win And wearie of the sute they seeme when they doe once begin It teacheth vs to frame our life while vitall breath we haue UUhen it dissolueth earthly masse the soule from death to saue By feare of God to rule our steppes from sliding into vice A wisedome is which we neglect although of greater price A point of wisedome also this we commonly esteeme That euery man should be in deede that he desires to seeme To bridle that desire of gayne which forceth vs to ill Our hautie stomackes Lord represse to tame presuming will This is the wisedome that we should aboue eche thing desire O heauenly God from sacred throne that grace in vs inspire And print in our repugnant hartes the rules of wisedome true That all our deedes in worldly life may like thereof insue Thou onely art the liuing spring from whom this wisedome flowes O wash therewith our sinfull hartes from vice that therein growes FINIS M. Edwardes 38. A frendly admonition YE stately wightes that liue in quiet rest Through worldly wealth which God hath giuen to you Lament with teares and sighes from dolefull brest The shame and power that vice obtaineth now Behold how God doth dayly profer grace Yet we disdayne repentaunce to embrace The suddes of sinne doe soke into the minde And cancred vice doth vertue quite expell No chaunge to good alas can resting finde Our wicked hartes so stoutly doe rebell Not one there is that hasteth to amend Though God from heauen his dayly threates downe send UUe are so slow to chaunge our blamefull life UUe are so prest to snatche a luring vice Such greedy hartes on euery side be rife So few that guide their will by counsell wise To let our teares lament the wretched case And call to God for vndeserued grace You worldly wightes that haue your fancies fixt On slipper ioy of terraine pleasure here Let some remorse in all your deedes be mixt Whiles you haue time let some redresse appeare Of sodaine death the houre you shall not know And looke for death although it seemeth slow Oh he no Iudge in other mens offence But purge thy selfe and seeke to make thee free Let euery one apply his diligence A chaunge to good within him selfe to see O God direct our feete in such a stay From cancred vice to shun the hatefull way FINIS R. Hill 39. Sundrie men sundry affectes IN euery wight some sundry sort of pleasure I doe finde UUhich after he doth seeke to ease his ioyling minde Diana with her trainyng chase of hunting had delight Against the fearefull Deare she could direct her shot a right The loftie yeares in euery age doth still imbrace the same The sport is good if vertue doe assist the chearefull game Minerua in her chattering armes her courage doth aduaunce In triall of the bloudy warres she giueth luckie chaunce For sauegard men imbrace the same which doe so needefull seeme That noble hartes their chief delightes in vse therof esteeme In warlike games to try or ride the force of armes they vse And base the man we doe attempt that doth the same refuse The siluer sound of Musickes cordes doth please Apollos wit A sentence which the heauens aduaunce where it deserues to sit A pleasure apt for euery wight relief to carefull mynde For woe redresse for care a salue for sadnesse helpe we finde The soueraigne prayse of Musicke still doth cause the Poetes fayne That whirling Spheres and eke the heauens doe hermonie retayne I heard that these three powers at variaunce lately fell UUhiles ech did prayse his owne delight the other to
he layd a naked wench a Venus darling sure With sugred speach and louely toyes that might his mynde allure such wanton louers as these he thought might easly him entise Which thinges he knew with lustie youth had alwayes bene in prise such wayes I thinke the Gods them selues could haue inuented none For flattering Venus ouercomes the sences euerychone And he himselfe was euen at point to Venus to consent Had his stout and manly minde resisted his entent When he perceiued his flesh to yeld to pleasure not wanton toyes And was by slight almost prouoked to cast of Venus ioyes More cruell to himselfe then those that glad would him vndoo With bloudy tooth his tender tongue bit quite and cleane in twoo Thus was the payne so passing great of this his bloudy bit That all the fire and carnall lust was quenched euery whit Do ill and all thy pleasures then full soone will passe away But yet the shame of those thy deedes will more decay Do well and though thy paynes be great yet soone ech one will cease But yet the prayse of those thy deedes will euermore encrease FINIS M. Edwardes 56. Iustice Zaleuch and his sonne LEt rulers make most perfect lawes to rule both great and small If they themselues obey them not it booteth not at all As lawes be nought but rulers dome containyng equall might So rulers should be speaking Ladies to rule by line of right Zaleuch the Prince of Locrine once appointed by decree Ech lecherer should be punished with losse of either eye His sonne by chaunce offended first which when his father saw Lord God how earnest then was he to execute the law Then ranne the people all by flockes to him with weeping eyes Not one among the rout there was but pardon pardon cries By whose outcries and earnest sute his sonne in hope did stand That he thereby should then obtaine some pardon at his hand But all in vayne for he is found to be the man he was And maketh hast so much the more to haue the law to passe The people yet renued their sute in hope of some relief Whose faces all besprent with teares did testifie their grief And cried all for pities sake yeld now to our request If all you will not cleane remit yet ease the payn at least Then somewhat was the father moued with all the peoples voyce And euery man did giue a shoute to shew they did reioyce well then quoth he it shall be thus the law shall be fulfilde And yet my sonne shall fauour haue according as you wilde One eye of his shall be pulde out thus hath his leudnesse got And likewise so shall one of myne though I deserue it not This word no sooner was pronounced but straite the deede was done two eyes no more were left betwene the father and the sonne Say now who can and on my fayth Appollo he shall be UUas he more gentle father loe or iuster iudge trow ye this man would not his lawes belike the webbes the spiders weue UUherein they lurke when they intend the simple to deceiue UUherewith small flies full soone be caught and tangled ere they wist UUhen great ones flie and scape away and breake them as they list FINIS M. Edwardes 57. Temperaunce Spurina and the Romaine Ladies IF nature beare thee so great loue that she in thee haue beautie plast Full hard it is as we do proue to keepe the body cleane and chast Twixt comelinesse and chastitie A deadly strife is thought to bee For beautie which some men suppose to be as tware a golden ill Prouoketh strife and many foes that seeke on her to worke her will Assaultes to townes if many make No towne so strong but may be take And this Spurina witnesse can who did for beautie beare the bell So cleane a wight so comely made no dame in Rome but loued well Not one could coole her hot desire So burning was the flame of fire Like as when baite cast in the floud forthwith doth cause the fishes come That pleasauntly before did play now presently to death to runne For when they see the baite to fall Straight way they swallow hooke and all So when Spurina they did see to him they flocked out of hand So happiest dame was thought to be that in his fauour most did stand Not knowing vnder sweete deceits How Venus hides her poysoned baites But when he saw them thus to range whom loue had linked in his chaine This meanes he sought for to asswage these Ladies of their greeuous payne His shape entending to disgrace UUith many woundes be scorcht his face By which his deede it came to passe that he that seemed an angell bright Euen now so cleane disfigured was that he became a lothsome wight And rather had he be foule and chast Then fayre and filthy ioyes to tast What pen can write or tong expresse that worthy prayses of this deede Me thinke that God can do no lesse then graunt him in heauen for his meede UUho for to saue himselfe vpright Himselfe hath first destroyed quite FINIS M. Edwardes 58. A braunche of hearbes and flowers IF that eche flower the Gods haue framed or shapt by sacred skill UUhere as I would no wrong to wish and mine to weare at will Or els ech tree with lustie top would lend me leaue to loue UUith sprigs displaied to spred my sute a wayling hart to proue Upon my helme some should you see my head aduaunced hye Some slip for solace there to set and weare the same would I Yet would I not for great delight the Daises straunge desire The Lillie would not like my lust nor Rose would I require The Marigolde might growe for me Rosemarie well might rest The Fenell to that is more fit for some vnfriendly gest Nor Cowslops would I craue at all sometime they seeme too coye Some ioly youth the Gelliflower esteemeth for his ioye The Lauender sometimes aloft allures the lookers eyes The Paunsie shall not haue the prayse where I may giue the prise And thus no flower my fansie feedes or liketh so my lust As that I may subiect my selfe to toyes of tickle trust For flowers though they be faire and fresh of sent excelling sweete Yet grow they on the ground below we tread them with our feete And shall I then goe stoupe to such or els goe seeke to chose Shall flowers enforce me once to faune for feare of friendes or foes Yet rather yeeld I to the right as reason hath assignd Mine author sayd there was no salue in flowers for me to finde And yet perhaps some Tree there is to shrowd me from the shower That with her armes may salue the soule that yeeldeth to her power UUhere I may finde some pleasaunt shade to salue me from the sunne Eche thing we see that reason hath vnto the Trees do runne Both men and beastes such foules as flies the treasures are the Trees And for my part when braunches fall I
comparable to a quiet minde IN lothsome race pursued by slippery life whose sugred guile doth glistering ioy present The carefull ghost oppressed sore with strife Yeeldes ghostly grones from painefull passions sent The sinnefull flesh that beares him here in vewe In steede of life doth dreadfull death pursue The way he seeth by touch of merites grace Wherein to runne alas he gladly would But filthie flesh his wretched dwelling place Doeth so rebell at that which doe he should That silly soule who feeles his heauie neede Can onely will but naught performe in deede Thy will through grace doeth oft desire the good But all in vaine for that the fleshly foe Yeeldes forth such fruites as sinnes hath bred in bud And blindly suckes the sap of deadly woe Esteeming shewes of fickle fancies knowne And scorning fruit by grace eternall sowen Though eye doth see that death doth swallow all Both life and lust and euery sound delight Yet wretched flesh through sinne is made so thrall That nought it markes apparant thinges in sight That might him traine to care of better grace Bothe doeth his bale with greedy lust imbrace Then since desert and al thinges weare away That nought remaine but fruite of grace or sinne God build in vs such conscience as can say This fruit not mine but sinne that dwelt in me For why to sinne I dayly doe in sight that vnto Christ I may reuiue my spright ê™ Candishe FINIS That Loue is required by disdayne IN search of thinges that secret are my mated muse began What it might be molested most the head and minde of man The bending brow of Princes face to wrathe that doth attende Or want of Parentes wife or childe or losse of faithfull friend the roaring of the Canon shot that makes the peece to shake Or terrour such as mightie Ioue from heauen aboue can make All these in fine may not compare experience so doth proue Unto the tormentes sharpe and straunge of such as be in Loue. Loue lookes a loft and laughes to scorne all such as grief anoy The more extreame their passions be the greater is his ioy thus loue as victor of the field triumphes aboue the rest And ioyes to see his subiectes lye with liuing death in brest But dire disdaine letts driue a shaft gaules this bragging foole He pluckes his plumes vnbeÌ„ds his bow setts him new to schoole Whereby this boy that bragged late as conquerour ouer all Now yeldes himselfe vnto disdaine his vassall and his thrall FINIS W. Hunnis Of a contented state IN wealth we see some wealthy men abounde in wealth most wealthely In wealth we see those men agayne in wealth do liue most wretchedly And yet of wealth hauing more store Then earst of wealth they had before These wealthy meÌ„ do seeme to want they seeme to waÌ„t that most they haue The more posses the more they craue the more they craue the greater store That most they haue they thinke but skant Yet not content woe be therfore The simple men that lesse wealth haue with lesser wealth we see content Content are they twixt wealth and scathe a life to lead indifferent And thus of wealth these men haue more Then those of which we spoke before FINIS W. Hunnis Beyng disdayned he complayneth IF frendlesse fayth if guiltlesse thought may shield If simple truth that neuer meant to swarue If deare desire accepted fruite do yeld If greedy lust in loyall life do searue then may my plaint bewayle my heauie harme That seeking calme haue stumbled on the storme My wonted cheare Eclipsed by the cloud Of deepe disdayne through errour of report If wearie woe enwrapped in the shroude Lyes slayne by tongue of the vnfrendly sort Yet heauen and earth and all that nature wrought I call to vowe of my vnspotted thought No shade I seeke in part to shield my tainte But simple truth I hunt no other sute On that I gape the issue of my plainte If that I quayle let iustice me confute If that my place emongest the giltlesse sort Repay by doome my name and good report Goe heauy verse pursue desired grace Where pitie shrinde in cell of secret brest Awaites my hast the rightfull lot to place And lothes to see the guiltlesse man opprest Whose vertues great hath crownde her more with fame then kingly state though largely shine the same FINIS L. Vaux Of the meane estate THe higher that the Cedar tree vnto the heauens do grow the more in daungers is the top when sturdy windes gan blow Who iudges then in Princely throne to be deuoide of hate Doth not yet know what heapes of ill lyes hid in such estate Such dauÌ„gers great such gripes of mynde such toyle do they sustaine that often tymes of God they wish to be vnkingd agayne For as the huge and mightie rockes withstand the raging seas So kingdomes in subiection be whereas dame Fortune please Of brittle ioy of smilyng cheare of honnie mixt with gall Alotted is to euery Prince in freedome to be thrall UUhat watches long what sleepes vnsure what grief and care of mynde UUhat bitter broyles what endlesse toyles to kingdomes be assignde The subiect then may well compare with Prince for pleasaunt daies whose silent night bringes quiet rest whose steppes no storme bewraies How much be we then bound to God who such prouision makes to lay our cares vpon the Prince thus doth he for our sakes to him therefore let vs lift vp our heartes and pray amaine that euery prince that he hath plaste may long in quiet raigne FINIS W. Hunnis Of a contented minde WHen all is done and said in the ende thus shall you finde the moste of all doth bathe in blisse that hath a quiet minde And cleere from worldly cares to deeme can be content the sweetest time of all this life in thinking to be spent The bodie subiect is to fickle Fortunes power And to a million of mishaps is casuall euery hower And death in time doth chaunge it to a clodd of clay UUhen as the minde which is deuine runnes neuer to decay Companion none is like vnto the minde alone For many haue beene harmde by speeche through thinking few or none Few often times restraineth wordes but makes no thoughtes to cease And stay he speakes best that hath the skill when for to hold his peace Our wealthe leaues vs at death our kinsmen at the graue But vertues of the minde vnto the heauens with vs haue wherefore for vertues sake I can be well content the sweetest time of all my life to deeme in thinking spent FINIS L. Vaux Trie before you trust TO counsell my estate abandonde to the spoile Of forged freendes whose grosest fraude is set with finest foile To verefie true dealing wightes whose trust no treason treades And all too deare th'acquaintance be of such most harmefull heades I am aduised thus who so doth friend friend so As though to morrowe next he feared for to become a foe To
haue a feined frend no perill like I finde Oft flering face may mantell best a mischief in the minde A paire of Angels eares oft times doth hide a Serpentes hart Under whose gripes who so doth come to late bewailes the smart wherfore I do aduise who so doth frend frend so As though to morrow next he should become a mortall foe Refuse respecting frendes that courtly know to fayne For gold that winnes for gold shall lose the selfe same frend agayne The quayle needes neuer feare the foulers netts to fall If he would neuer bend his eare to listen to his call Therfore trust not to soone but when you frend frend so As though to morrow next ye fearde for to become a fo FINIS L. Vaux He renounceth all the effectes of Loue. LIke as the Harte that lifteth vp his eares To heare the houndes that hath him in the chase Doth cast the winde in daungers and in feares UUith flying foote to passe away apace So must I flie of Loue the vayne pursute whereof the gayne is lesser then the fruite And I also must loth those learing lookes UUhere Loue doth lurke still with his subtile sleight with painted mockes and inward hidden hookes To trappe by trust that lyeth not in wayte The end whereof assay it who so shall As sugred smart and inward bitter gall And I must flie such Syrian songes Wherewith that Circes Vlisses did enchaunt These willie wattes I meane with filed tongues That hartes of steele haue power to daunt Who so as Hauke that stoopeth to their call For most deserte receiueth least of all But woe to me that first beheld these eyes The trappe wherein I say that I was tane An outward salue which inward me destroyes Whereto I runne as rat vnto her bane As to the fish sometime it doth befall that with the baite doth swallow hooke and all UUithin my breast wherewith I dayly fedde The vayne repast of amorous hote desire with loytering lust so long that hath me fedde Till he hath brought me to the flaming fire In time as Phenix endes her care and carkes I make the fire and burne my selfe with sparkes FINIS L. Vaux Bethinking himselfe of his end writeth thus WHen I behold the Baier my last and posting horse that bare shall to the graue my vile and carren corse Then say I seelie wretch why doest thou put thy trust In thinges either made of clay that soone will turne to dust Doest thou not see the young the hardie and the fayre that now are past and gone as though they neuer were Doest thou not see thy selfe draw hourely to thy last As shaftes which that is shot at birdes that flieth fast Doest thou not see how death through smiteth with his launce Some by warre some by plague and some by worldly chaunce UUhat thing is there on earth for pleasure that was made But goeth more swift away then doth the sommer shade Loe here the sommer flower that sprong this other day But winter weareth as fast and bloweth cleane away Euen so shalt thou consume from youth to lothsome age For death he doth not spare the Prince more then the Page Thy house shalbe of clay a clotte vnder thy hedde Untill the latter day the graue shalbe thy bedde Untill the blowing trompe doth say to all and some Rise vp out of the graue for now the iudge is come FINIS L. Vaux Beyng in Loue he complaineth ENforst by Loue and feare to please and not offend Within the wordes you would me write a message I must send A wofull errande sure a wretched man must write A wretched tale a wofull head beseemeth to indite For what can he but wayle that hath but all he would And yet that all is nought at all but lacke of all he should But lacke of all his minde what can be greater grief That haue and lacke that likes him best must needes be most mischief Now foole what makes thee waile yet some might say full well That hast no harme but of thy selfe as thou thy selfe canst tell to whom I aunswere thus since all my harmes do grow Upon my selfe so of my selfe some hap may come I trow And since I see both hap and harme betides to mee For present woe my after blisse will make me not forget thee UUho hath a field of gold and may not come therein Must liue in hope till he haue force his treasure well to win UUhose ioyes by hope of dread to conquere or to lose So great a wealth doth rise and for example doth disclose to winne the golden Fleece stoode Iason not in dread Till Medeas hope of health did giue him hope to speede Yet sure his minde was much and yet his feare the more That hath no hap but by your helpe may hap for to restore The raging Bulles he dread yet by his Ladies charme He knew it might be brought to passe they could do litle harme Unto whose grace yeld he as I do offer me Into your handes to hap not like him for to be But as king Priamus did yeld him to the will Of Cressed false which him forsooke with Diomede to spill So I to you commende my faith and eke my ioye I hope you will not be so false as Cressed was to Troye For if I be vntrue her Lazars death I wish And eke in thee if thou be false her clapper and her dish FINIS R. L. Beyng in trouble he writeth thus IN terrours trap with thraldome thrust Their thornie thoughtes to tast and trie In conscience cleare from cause vniust With carping teares did call and crie And sayd O God yet thou art he That can and will deliuer me Bis. Thus trembling there with teares I trod To totter tide in truthes defence With sighes and sobbes I sayd O God Let right not haue this recompence Least that my foes might laugh to see That thou wouldest not deliuer me Bis. My soule then to repentaunce ranne My ragged clothes all rent and torne And did bewaile the losse it wanne With lothsome life so long forlorne And sayd O God yet thou art he that can and will deliuer me Bis. Then comfort came with clothes of ioy whose seames were faithfull stedfastnesse And did bedecke the naked â—oe that earst was full of wretchednesse And sayd be glad for God is hee that shortly will deliuer thee FINIS W. Hunnis Being troubled in minde he writeth as followeth THe bitter sweate that straynes my yelded hart the carelesse count that doth the same imbrace The doubtfull hope to reape my due desarte The pensiue pathe that guides my restlesse race Are at such warre within my wounded brest As doth bereue my ioy and eke my rest My greedy will that seekes the golden gayne My lucklesse lot doth alway take in worth My mated minde that dreades my sutes in vayne My pitious plaint doth helpe to set it forth So that betwene two waues of raging Seas I driue my dayes in troubles and disease My
wofull eyes do take their chief delight To feede their fill vpon the pleasaunt maze My hidden harmes that grow in me by sight With pinyng paynes do driue me from the gaze And to my hope I reape no other hire But burne my selfe and I do blow the fire FINIS I. Haiwood Looke or you leape IF thou in suretie safe wilt sit If thou delight at rest to dwell Spende no more wordes then shall seeme fit Let tongue in silence talke expell In all thinges that thou seest men bent See all say nought hold thee content In worldly workes degrees are three Makers doers and lookers on The lookers on haue libertie Both the others to iudge vpon Wherfore in all as men are bent See all say nought hold thee content The makers oft are in fault found The deers doubt of prayse or shame The lookers on finde surest ground They haue the fruite yet free from blame This doth perswade in all here ment See all say nought hold thee content The Prouerbe is not South and west which hath bene sayd long time agoe Of little medling commeth great rest The busie man neuer wanteth woe The best way is in all worldes sent See all say nought hold thee content FINIS I. Haiwood A description of the world WHat is this world a net to snare the soule A masse of sinne a desart of deceipt A momentes ioy an age of wretched dole A lure from grace for flesh a lothsome baite Unto the minde a canker worme of care Unsure vniust in rendring man his share A place where pride orerunnes the honest minde where riche men ioynes to robbe the shiftlesse wretch where bribing mistes do blind the Iudges eyen where Parasites the fattest croms do catch where good vesartes which chalenge like reward Are ouer blowen with blastes of light regard And what is man dust slime a puffe of winde Conceiude in sinne plast in the world with grief Brought vp with care till care hath caught his minde And then till death vouchsafe him some relief Day yea nor night his care doth take an end To gather goodes for other men to spend Oh foolish man that art in office plaist Thinke whence thou camste and whether thou shalt goe The haut high ekes small windes haue ouercast when slender weedes in roughest weather grow Euen so pale death oft spares the wretched wight And woundeth you who wallow in delight You lustie youthes that nourish high desire Abase your plumes which makes you looke so bigge The Colliers Cut the Courtiers Steede will tire Euen so the Clarke the Parsons graue doth digge whose happe so is yet here long life to winne Doth heape God wott but sorrow vpon sinne And to be short all sortes of men take heede The thunderboltes the loftie towers teare The lightning flash consumes the house of reede Yea more in time all earthly thinges will weare Saue onely man who as his earthly time is Shall liue in woe or els in endlesse blisse FINIS G. Gask A wittie and pleasaunt consaite WHat fonde delight what fancies straunge what deepe despight what sodaine chaunge what stilling strife what deepe debates Doe runne so rife in doltishe pates Who vewes and sees and takes no heede who seekes degrees and can not speede In steade of ioyes shall reape such woes As breed annoyes twixt frendes and foes who wiuing wantes and liues alone when thriuing scantes is ouerthrowne who seekes to thriue and finde no way May chaunce to striue and marre the play who spendes his wealth and winnes the wine Doth hurt himselfe and helpe the swine who hauntes the house where Ale is sold May gayne a croust and lose his gold Who spinnes by spight and reeles to woe Who takes delight in roling so Doth dubbe himselfe a drousie hedde And bringes drousie foole to bedde Who rides a loft and cannot rule Who sitts not soft and keepes his stoole Doth both content themselues with wrong But wisemen will not vse it long FINIS I.H. ¶ The complaynt of a Sinner And song by the Earle of Essex vpon his death bedde in Ireland O Heauenly God O Father deare cast downe thy tender eye Upon a wretche that prostrate here before thy face doth lye O poure thy precious oyle of grace into my wounded hart O let the droppes of mercy swage the rigour of my smart My fainting soule suppressed sore with carefull clogge of sinne In humble sort submittes it selfe thy mercy for to winne Graunt mercy then O Sauiour sweete to me most wofull thrall UUhose mournefull crie to thee O Lord doth still for mercy call Thy blessed will I haue despised vpon a stubburne minde And to the sway of worldly thinges my selfe I haue inclinde Forgetting heauen heauenly powers where God and Sainctes do dwell My life had like to tread the pathe that leades the way to hell But now my Lord my Lodestarre bright I will no more do so To thinke vpon my former life my hart doth melt for wo Alas I sigh alas I sobbe alas I doe repent That euer my licencious will so wickedly was bent Sith thus therfore with carefull plaint I do thy mercy craue O Lord for thy great mercies sake let me thy mercie haue Restore to life the wretched soule that els is like to dye So shall my voyce vnto thy name sing prayse eternally Now blessed be the Father first and blessed be the Sonne And blessed be the holy Ghost by whom all thinges are done Blesse me O blessed Trinitie with thy eternall grace That after death my soule may haue in heauen a dwelling place FINIS F. Kindlemarshe The fruite that springes from willfull wittes is ruth and ruine rage And sure what headlesse youth committes repentaunce rues in age I Rage in restlesse youth and ruines rule my dayes I rue too late my restlesse youth by rules of reasons wayes I ranne so long a race in searche of surest way That leysure learnd me trade the trace that lead to leude decay I gaue so large a rayne to vnrestrained bitte That now with proofe of after payne I waile my want of witte I trifled forth the time with trust to selfe conceiptes UUhilst plenties vse prickt forth my time to seeke for sugred baites wherein once learnde to finde I founde so sweete a tast That due foresight of after speede selfewill esteemed wast which will through wilfulnesse hath wrought my witlesse fall And heedelesse youthes vnskilfulnesse hath lapt my life in thrall whereby by proofe I know that pleasure breedeth paine And he that euill seede doth sow euill fruite must reape againe Let such therfore whose youth and purses are in prime Foresee and shunne the helpelesse ruth which sues mispent of time For want is next to wast and shame doth sinne ensue Euill speeding proofe hath heedelesse hast my selfe haue proued it true UUhen neighbours next house burnes tis time therof take heede For fortunes wheele hath choise of turnes which chaūge of chaunces breede My sayle hath bene aloft though now I