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 prouerb true to proue The falling out of faithfull freends reliuing is of loue Then tooke I paper penne and ynke this prouerb for to write In regester for to remaine of such a worthy wight As she proceeded thus in song vnto her little bratt Much matter vttered she of waight in place whereas she satt And proued plaine there was no beast nor creature bearing life Could well be knowne to liue in loue without discord and strife Then kissed she her little babe and sware by God aboue The falling out of faithfull freendes renuing is of loue She sayd that neither king ne prince ne lord could liue aright Vntill their puissance they did proue their manhood and their might When manhood shall be matched so that feare can take no place Then weary workes make warriours eche other to embrace And leaued their force that failed 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 faithfull freendes renuing is of loue She sayd she saw no fishe ne foule nor beast within her haunt That mett a straunger in their kind but could giue it a taunt Since fleshe 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 ende the worke she hath begone And bridle well that will not cease her tragedy in some Thus in song she oft reherst as dyd her well behoue The falling out of faithfull freendes is the renuing of loue I meruaile much pardy quoth she for to behold the route To see man woman boy beast to tosse the world about Some kneele sōe crouch sōe beck some chek some cā smothly smile And some embrace others in arme and there thinke many a wile Some stand aloufe at cap and knee some humble and some stoute Yet are they neuer freendes in deede vntill they once fall out Thus ended she her song and sayd before she did remoue The falling out of faithfull freendes is the renuing of loue FJNJS M. Edwards 51. Thinke to dye THe life is long which lothsomely doth last The dolefull dayes draw slowly to their date The present pangues and painfull plagues forepast Yeeldes griefe aye greene to stablish this 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 strange ouerthrowe All which conflict in thraldome I was thrust The Lord be praised 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 pleasant yeeres that seemes so sweetely ronne The merry dayes to ende so fast that fleete The ioyfull wightes of which dayes drawes so sone The happy howres which moe do misse then meete Do all consume as snowe against the Sunne And death makes end of all that life begunne Since death shall dure till all the world be wast What meaneth man to dreade death then so sore As man might make that life should alway last Without regard the Lord hath ledde before The daunce of death which all must runne on rowe The hower wherein onely himselfe doth knowe If man would minde what burdens life doth bring What greeuous crimes to God he doth commit What plagues what perill thereby spring With no sure hower in all his dayes 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 ioy Life is the lake that drowneth all in payne Death is so dole it seaseth all away Life is so leude that all it yeeldes is vayne And as by life in bondage man is brought Euen so by death is freedome likewise wrought Wherefore with Paule let all men wish and pray To be dissolued of this foule fleshly masse Or at the least be armd against the day That they be found good souldiers 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 geue eare and see but say the best If thou delight in quietnes of life Desire to shunne from brales debate and strife To liue in loue with god with freend and foe In rest shalt sleepe when others cannot so Giue eare to all yet doo not all beleeue And see the end and then do sentence geeue But say for truth of happy liues assinde The best hath he that quiet is in minde FJNJS M. Hunnis 52. Being forsaken of his freend he complaineth VVHy 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 turned them vpsidowne A freend I had to me most deere And of long time faithfull and iust There was no one my hart so neere 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 fishe in ayre should slye with finne The foules in floud should bring forth fry All thinges methinkes should erst beginne To take their course vnnaturally Afore my freend 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 Wherefore then longer liue should I. FINIS E. S. 54. Prudens The history of Damacles Dionise VVHo 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 do rebound When little shrubs in safetie lurke in couert all alowe And freshly florish in their kind what euer wind doe blowe The cruel king of Scisili who fearing Barbars hands Was wont to sludge his beard himself with cole and fire brands Hath taught vs this the proofe whereof full plainly we may see Was neuer thing more liuely touched to shewe it so to bee This king 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 brightnes cleare the darkest starre
pleasure life and will That life which yet remaynes and in thy brest appeares Hath sowne in thee such seedes you ought to weede with teares And life that shall succeede when death is worne and past Shall spring for euer then in ioy or payne to last Where death on life hath power ye see that life also Hath mowen the fruites of death which neuer more shall grow FJNJS W. Hunis 2. Who waighteth on this wauering world and veweth ech estate By triall taught shall learne it best to liue in simple rate AMid the vale the slender shrubbe is hid from all mishap When taller tree that standes aloft is rent with thunder clappe The Turrets tops which touch the clouds are beat with euery blast Soone shiuered are their stones with storme and quickly ouer cast Best bodyed tree in all the world for timber beame is found And to the axe the sturdiest Oxe doth yeelde and fall to ground The highest hill doth soonest feele the flash of lightninges flame And soone decayes the pompe and pryde of high renowned name Of all the heard the huntman seekes by proofe as doth appeare With double forked arrow head to wound the greatest Deare The haughtiest head of all the droue enioyest the shortest life And stains the slaughter house with blood at prick of butchers knife Thus what thing highest place attaines is soonest ouerthrowne What euer fortune sets aloft she threats to throw it downe And though no force resist thy power and seeke thee to confound Yet doth the praise of weighty thinges declyne it selfe to ground For restlesse tipe of rowlling wheele example hath it tride To heauy burthen yeelde it must full soone and slippe asyde What vailes the rich his bed of downe that sighes for sleepeles thought What time in couch of flock the poore sleepes sound feareth nought At homely boord his quiet foode his drinkes in treene be tane When oft the proude in cuppes of gold with wine receiue their bane The bed the boord the dread in doubt with trayne to be opprest When fortune frownes their power must yeelde as wyre vnto the wrest Who so thou be that sits alow and tread the valleyes path Thou needes not feare the Thunder bolts of mighty Ioue his wrath If Icarus had not presumed to high to take his flight He had not yet bene drowned in Seas that now Jtarion hight If Phaeton had not enterprised to guide his fathers seate His fires had not inflamed the world nor bene destroyed with heate But who so climes aboue the meane there is no hope of stay The higher vp the sooner downe and nearer his decay Then you that here in pompe are plaste to guide the golden mace Let crowne and Scepter both obay the meane of vertues race For neither shall renowned vertue see the pitte of hell Nor yet in tombe of Marble stone she shall abide to dwell And in that Tombe full brauely dect When that she shall depart God send her rest and all thinges well according to desart But from Sepulcher flies she hence beyond the skies aboue And glistering in the blisfull starres she raignes with mighty Ioue FINJS Iasper Heywood 3. The perfect triall of a faithfull friend NOt stayed state but feeble stay not costly robes but bare aray not passed welth but presēt wāt not heped store but slēder skāt Not plenties purse but poore estate not happy hap but froward fate Not wish at wil but wāt of ioy not harts good helth but harts anoy No fredomes vse but prisoners thrall not costly seate but lowest fall Not weale I meane but wretched wo doth truly trie the friend frō foe And nought but frowarde Fortune prooues who fawning faynes or simply loues FINIS M. Yloop. 4. Being asked the occasion of his white head He aunswereth thus WHere seething sighes and sorrow sobbes Hath slaine the slippes that Nature set And scalding showers with stonie throbbes The kindly sapp from them hath fet What wonder their though that you see Vpon my head whyte heares to be Where thought hath thrilde and throwne his speares To hurt the hart that harmeth him not And groning grefe hath ground forth teares Myne eyne to stayne my face to spot What wonder then though that you see Vpon my head whyte heares to bee Where pinching payne himselfe hath plaste There peace with pleasures were possest And where the walles of wealth lye waste And pouertie in them is prest What wonder then though that you see Vpon my head whyte heares to bee Where wreatched woe will weaue her web Where care the clew can catch and cast And floods of ioy are fallen to ebbe So lo that life may not long last What wonder then though that you see Vpon my head white heares to bee These heares of age are messengers Which bid me fast repent and pray They be of death the Harbingers That doth prepare and dresse the way Wherefore I ioy that you may see Vpon my head such heares to be They be the liues that lead the length How farre my race is for to runne They say my youth is fled with strength And how old age is weake begunne The which I feele and you may see Vpon my head such lines to be They be the stringes of sober sound Whose musick is harmonicall Their tunes declare a time from ground I came and how thereto I shall Wherefore I ioy that you may see Vpon my head such stringes to bee God graunt to those that white heares haue No worse them take then I haue ment That after they be layde in graue Their soules may ioy their liues wel spent God graunt likewise that you may see Vpon your head such heares to be FINIS W. Hunis 5. Beware of had J wist BEware of had I wist whose fine bringes care and smart Esteeme of all as they deserue and deeme as deemde thou art So shall thy pefect friend enioy his hoped hyre And faithlesse fawning foe shall misse theffect of his desyre Good wilt shall haue his gayne and hate shall heape despight A faythlesse friend shall find distrust and loue shall reape delight Thy selfe shall rest in peace thy friend shall ioy thy fate Thy foe shall fret at thy good happe and I shall ioy thy state But this my fond aduise may seeme perchaunce but vayne As rather teaching how to lose then how a friend to gayne But this not my intent to teach to finde a friend But safely how to loue and leaue is all that I intend And if you prooue in part and finde my councell true Then wish me well for my good will t is all I craue adue FJNJS My luck is losse 6. M. Edwardes MAY. WHen MAY is in his prime then MAY eche hart reioyce When MAY bedecks eche branch with greene ech bird streins forth his voice The liuely sappe creepes vp into the bloming thorne The flowres which cold in prison kept now laughes the frost to skorne All natures Impes triumphes whiles ioyfull May doth last When
it serues While grasse dooth grow the selly horse he sterues Tweene these extreames thus doo I rome the race Of my poore life this certainely I know Tweene would and want vnwarely that do passe More swift then shot out of Archers bow As Spider drawes her line all day I watch the net and others haue the pray And as by proofe the greedy dogge doth gnawe The bared bone all onely for the taste So to and fro this lothsome life I draw With fancies forst and fed with vaine repast Narsissus brought vnto the water brinke So aye thirst I the more that I do drinke Loe thus I dye and yet I seeme not sicke With smart vnseene my selfe my selfe I weare With prone desire and power that is not quicke With hope aloft now drenched in dispayre Trained in trust for no reward assignd The more I hast the more I come behind With hurt to heale in frozen yse to frie With 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 With 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 desert The life is irke of ioyes that be delayed The time is short for to requite the smart That dooth proceede of promise long vnpayed That to the last of this my fainting breath I wish exchange of life for happy death FJNJS L. Vaux 18. Of the instabilitie of youth WHEN I looke backe and in my selfe behold The wandring wayes that youth could not descry And markt the fearful course that youth did hold And mette in mind eache steppe youth strayed a wry My knees I bowe 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 end I doe confesse my faultes and all my ill And sorow sore for that I did offend And with a mind repentant of all crimes Pardon I aske for youth ten thousand times The humble hart hath daunted the proud mind Eke wysedome hath giuen ignorance a fall And wit hath taught that folly could not find 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 didst 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 mind the path of youthes vaine race Thou that by power to life didst raise the dead Thou that restorest the blind to sight Thou that for loue thy life and loue out bled Thou that of fauour madest the lame goe right Thou that canst heale and helpe in all assayes Forgiue the gilth that grewe in youthes vaine wayes And now since I with faith and doubtlesse mind Doo flye to thee by prayer to appease thy yre And since that thee I onely seeke to finde And hope by faith to attaine my iust desire Lord mind no more youthes error and vnskill And able age to doo thy holy will FJNJS L. Vaux 19. Most happy is that state alone Where words and deedes agree in one BY paynted words the silly simple man To trustlesse trap is trayned now and than And by conceyt of sweete alluring tale He bites the baits that breedes his bitter bale To beawties blaze cast not thy rouing eye In pleasant greeue doo stinging serpents lye The golden Pill hath but a bitter tast In glittering glasse a poyson ranckest plaste So pleasant wordes without performing deedes May well be deemed to spring of Darnel seedes The freendly deede is it that quickly tryes Where trustie faith and freendly meaning lyes That state therefore most happy seemes to be Where wordes and deedes most faithfully agree My freend if thou wilt keepe thy honest name Fly from the blot of barking slaunders 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 Wyll turne at length to losse of thy good name Wherefore my freend let double dealing goe In stead whereof let perfect playnenesse flowe Doo 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 dooers 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 deceit 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 words so fruitlesse chaffe proceedes As sauery flowres doo spring in fertil ground So trustie freendes by triall soone are found To shunne therefore the woorst that may ensue Let deedes alway approue thy sayings true FJNJS F. K. 20. Who will aspire to dignitie By learning must aduaunced be THe poore that liue in needy rate by learning doo great riches gaine The rich that liue in welthy state by learning do their welth maintaine Thus rich and poore are furthered still By sacred rules of learned skill All fond conceites of franticke youth the golden gift of learning stayes Of doubtfull things to search the truth learning sets forth the reddy wayes O happy him doo I repute Whose brest it fraught with learning fruite There growes no corne wtin the field the Oxe Plough did neuer tyll Right so the mind no fruite can yeeld that is not lead by learnings skill Of ignoraunce comes rotten weedes Of learning springes right noble deedes Like as the Captaine hath respect to traine his souldiours in aray So learning doth mās mind direct by Vertues staffe his life to stay Though Freendes and Fortune waxeth skant Yet learned men shall neuer want You Impes therfore in youth be sure to fraught your mindes with learned thinges For learning is the fountaine pure out frō the which al glory springes Who so therefore will glory win With learning first must needes begin FINIS F. K. 21. Mans flittyng life findes surest stay Where sacred Vertue bearteh 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 drisling raine The Oxe dooth yeeld vnto the yoke The Steele obeyeth the hammer stroke The stately Stagge that seemes so stout by yalping hoūds at bay is set The swiftest bird that flees aboue is caught at length in Fowlers net The greatest Fish in deepest Brooke Is soone deceiued with subtill hooke Yea man him selfe vnto whose will
all thinges are bounden to obey For all his witte and worthy skill doth fade at length and fal away There is nothing but time doth wast The Heauens the Earth consume at last But Vertue sittes triumphing still vpon the Trone of glorious Fame Though spitefull death mans body kill yet hurts he not his vertuous name By life or death what so betides The state of Vertue neuer slides FINIS M. T. 22. Nothing is comparable vnto a faithfull freend SIth this our time of Freendship is so skant Sith Freendship now in euery place doth want Sith euery man of Freendship is so hollowe As no man rightly knowes which way to followe Sease not my Muse sease not in these our dayes To ring loude peales of sacred Freendships prayse If men be now their owne peculier freendes And to their neighbours freendship none pertendes If men of Freendship shewe them selues so bare And of their brethren take no Freendly care Forbeare not then my muse nor feare not then To ring dispraise of these vnfreendly men Did man of Freendship know the mighty power How great effectes it worketh euery houre What store of hidden freendship it retaynes How still it powreth forth aboundant gaines Man would with thee my muse in these our dayes Ring out loude peales of sacred Freendships prayse Freendship releeueth mans necessitie Freendship comforteth mans aduersitie Freendship augmenteth mans prosperitie Freendship preferres man to felicitie Then ring my muse ring out in these our dayes Ring out loude peales of sacred freendships prayse Of Freendship growes loue and charitie By Freendship men are linked in amitie From Freendship springeth all commoditie The fruite of Freendship is fidelitie Oh ring my muse ring out in these our dayes Peale vpon peale of sacred Freendships praise That man with man true freendship may embrace That man to man may shew a freendly face That euery man may sowe such freendly seedes As freendship may be found in freendly deedes And ioyne with thee my Muse in these our dayes To ring loud peales of sacred Freendships prayse FJNJS F. K. 23. Remember thy ende TO be as wise as Cato was or rich as Cresus in his life To haue the strēgth of Hercules which did subdue by force or strife What helpeth it when Death doth call The happy ende exceedeth all The rich may wel the poore releeue the Rulers may redresse ech wrong The learned may good coūsel giue but marke the end of this my song Who doth these thinges happy they call Their happy ende exceedeth all The happiest end in these our dayes that al do seeke both small great Is either for Fame or else for praise or who may sit in highest seate But of these thinges hap what hap shall The happy ende exceedeth all A good beginning ought we see but seeldome standing at one stay For few do like the meane degree their praise at parting some men say The thinges wherto each wight is thrall The happy ende exceedeth all The meane estate that happy life which liueth vnder gouernance Who seekes no hate nor breedes no strife but takes in worth his happy chance If contentation him befall His happy ende exceedeth all The longer life that we desire the more offence doth dayly grow The greater paine it doth require except the Iudge some mercy shew Wherfore I thinke and euer shall The happy ende exceedeth all FJNJS D. S. 24. He perswadeth his freend from the fond Affectes of loue WHy art thou bound maist go fre shal reason yeld to raging will Is thraldom like to liberty wilt thou exchange thy good for ill Then shalt thou learne a childish play and of ech part to tash proue The lookers on shal iudge and say loe this is he that liues by loue Thy wits with thoughts shal stand at stay thy head shal haue but heauy rest Thy eies shal watch for wātō praies thy tōgue shal shew thy harts request Thy eares shal here a M. noise thy hād shal put thy pē to pain And in the end thou shalt dispraise thy life so spent for such smal gaine If loue list might euer cope or youth might run in reasons race Or if strōg sute might win sure hope I wold lesse blame a louers case For loue is hot with great desire sweete delight makes youth so fond That little sparks wil proue great fire bring free hartes to endlesse bond First coūt the care then the cost marke what fraude in faith is foūd Thē after come make thy bost shew some cause why thou art boūd For when the wine doth run ful low you shal be faine to drinke the lies And eate the flesh ful well I know that hath ben blowne with many flies We see where great deuotion is the people kneele kisse the crosse And though we find smal fault of this yet sōe wil gilld a bridles bosse A foole his bable will not change not for the septer of a king A louers life is nothing strange for youth delights none other thing FINIS Tho. Churchyard 25. Wanting his desire he complayneth THe sailing ships with ioy at length do touch their long desired port The hewing axe the Oke doth wast the battring Canō breaks the fort Hard hagard haukes stope to the lure wild colts in time the bridle tames There is nothing so out of vre but to his kind long time it frames Yet this I find in time no time can winne my sute Though oft the tree I climbe I can not catch the fruite And yet the pleasant branches oft in yeelding wise to me do bow Whē I would touch they spring aloft soone are they gone I wot not how Thus I present the sleeting floode like Tantalus in hel below Would God my case she vnderstoode which can full soone releeue my woe Which if to her were knowen the fruite were surely mine She would not let me grone and brouse vpon the rine But if my ship with tackle torne with rented sailes must needs retire And streame wind hath plainly sworn by force to hinder my desire Like one that strikes vpon the rocks my weary wracke I shoulde bewayle And learne to know false fortunes mookes who smiles on me to small auaile Yet sith she onely can my rented ship restore To helpe her wracked man but once I seeke no more FJNJS M. Edwards 26. Trye before you truste JN freendes are found a heape of doubts that double dealing vse A swarme of such I could find out whose craft I can accuse A face for loue a hart for hate these faigned freendes can beare A tongue for troth a head for wyles to hurt each simple eare In humble port is poyson pact that plainenesse can not spie Which credites all and can not see where stinging serpents lye Through hastie trust the harmelesse heart is easely hampred in And made beleeue it is good gold when it is lead and tin The first deceit that bleares myne eyes is faigned faith
Gemme no Gold to giue no pearles from Pactolos lo No Persian Gaze no Indian stones no Tagus sandes to show But faith and will to natiue soyle a liue and dead I finde My hart my mind my loue I leaue vnto my prince behinde Farwel you nobles of this land farwel you Iudges graue Farwel my felowes frends mates your Queene I say God saue What rise in time in time doth fall what floweth in time doth ebbe What liues in time in time shall dye and yeelde to Parcus webbe The sunne to darknes shal be turnd the starres from skies shall fall The Moone to blood the world with fire shal be consumed all As smoke or vapour vanish streight as bubbles rise and fall As cloudes do passe or shadow shiftes we liue we dye so all Our pompe our pride our triumph most our glory great herein Like shattering shadow passe away as though none such had bin Earth water ayre and fire as they were earst before A lumpe confused and Chaos calld so shall they once be more And all to earth that came from earth and to the graue descend For earth on earth to earth shall goe and earth shall be the end As Christ ascended vp in clowdes so Christ in clowdes shall come To iudge both good and bad on earth at dreadful day of dome From whence our flesh shall rise againe euen from the drossy dust And so shall passe I hope vnto the mansion of the iust FINIS Lodowick LLoyd 33. His good name being blemished he bewayleth FRamd in the front of forlorne hope past all recouery I stayles stand tabide the shocke of shame and infamy My life through lingring long is lodgde in lare of lothsome wayes My death delayd to keepe from life the harme of haplesse dayes My sprites my hart my witte and force in deepe destresse are dround The onely losse of my good name is of these greefes the ground And since my mind my wit my head my voyce tongue are weake To vtter mooue deuise conceiue sound forth declare and speake Such pearsing plaints as aunswere might or would my wofull case Helpe craue I must and craue I will with teares vpon my face Of all that may in heauen or hell in earth or ayre be found To waile with me this losse of mine as of these greefes the ground Helpe gods helpe saints helpe sprits powers that in the heauē do dwell Helpe ye that are aye woont to waile ye howling houndes of hell Helpe man helpe beasts helpe birds wormes that on the earth doth toile Helpe fishe helpe foule that flockes and feedes vpon the salt sea soyle Helpe Eccho that in ayre doth flee shril voyces to resound To waile this losse of my good name as of these greefes the ground FJNJS E. O. 34. Of Fortunes power POlicrates whose passing hap causd him to lose his fate A golden ring cast in the seas to change his constant state And in a fish yet at his bourd the same he after found Thus Fortune loe to whom she takes for bountie doth abound The myzers vnto might she mounts a common case we see And mighty to great misery she sets in low degree Whom she to day doth reare on hie vpon her whirling wheele Tomorrow next shee dingeth downe and casteth at her heele No measure hath shee in her giftes she doth reward eche sort The wise that counsell haue no more then fooles that maketh sport She vseth neuer partiall handes for to offend or please Geue me good Fortune al men sayes and throw me in the seas It is no fault or worthines 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 pleasant Fortune pipes can neuer daunce amis FJNJS M. Edwards 36 Though triumph after bloudy wars the greatest brags do beare Yet triumph of a conquered mind the crowne of fame shall weare VVHo so doth marke the carelesse life of these vnhappy dayes And sees what smal and slender hold the state of vertue stayes He findes that this accursed trade proceedeth of this ill That men be giuen too much to yeeld to their vntamed will In lacke of taming witlesse will the poore we often see Enuies the rich because that he his equal cannot be The rich aduaunced to might by wealth frō wrong doth not refraine But will oppresseth weaker sort to heape excessiue gaine 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 search we striue for all and haue no more therein Then hath the slaue when deth doth come though Cresus welth 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 do feare no losse of wealth And haue no further care but this to keepe themselues in health Affection may not hide the sword of sway in iudgement seate Least partiall fauour execute the law in causes greate But if the mind in constant state affection quite do leaue The higher state shal haue their rights the poore no wrong receiue It is accompted greater praise to Caesars loftie state Against his vanquist foes in warres to bridle wrekefull hate Then when to Rome he had subdued the people long vnknowne Whereby as farre as land was found the same abrode was blowne If honor can selfe will refuse and iustice be vpright And priuate state desires but that which good appeares in sight Then vertue shall with soueraigne show to euery eye reueale An heauenly life a wealefull state a happy common weale Let vertue then the triumph win and gouern all your deedes Your yeelding to her sober heastes immortall glory breedes She shall vpreare your worthy name shining into the skies Her beames shall blaze in graue obscure where shrined carkasse lyes FJNJS M. Edwards 37. Of perfect wisedome VVHo so wil be accompted wise and truely claime the same By ioyning vertue to his deedes he must atchieue the same But few there be that seeke thereby true wisedome to attaine O God so rule our harts therfore such fondnesse to refraine The wisedome which we most esteeme in this thing doth consist With glorious talke to shew in words our wisedome when we list Yet not in talke but seemely deedes our wisedome we should place To speake so faire and doe but ill doth wisedome quite disgrace To bargaine well and shunne the losse a wisedome counted is And thereby through the greedy coyne no hope of grace to mis To seeke by honor to aduaunce his name to brittle praise Is wisedome which we dayly see increaseth in our dayes But heauenly wisedome sower seemes to hard for them to win And weary of the sute they seeme when they do once begin It teacheth vs to frame our life while vitall breath we haue When it dissalueth
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 a pace to builde and rest withall His pleasure sweete to staie when he to rest is bent And vgly shamble Flee approcheth to his tent And there intendes by force his labours great to win Or els to yeelde his corse by fatall death therein Thus is the Spiders nest from time to time throwne downe And he to labour prest with endlesse paine vnknowne So such as Louers bee like trauell doe attaine Those endlesse works ye see are alwayes full of paine FJNJS M. Hunnis A Louers ioye J Haue no ioy but dreame of ioy and ioy to thinke on ioye A ioy I withstoode for to enioy to finishe mine annoy I hate not without cause alas yet Loue I knowe not why I thought to hate I can not hate although that I should dye A foe most sweete a freend most sower I ioy for to embrace I hate the wrong and not the wight that workt my wofull case What thing it is I knowe not I but yet a thing there is That in my fancie still perswads there is no other blisse The ioyes of life the pangues of death it make me feele eche day But life nor death this humour can deuise to weare away Faine would I die but yet in death no hope I see remaines And shall I liue since life I see a course of sorie paines What is it then that I doe seeke what ioy would I aspire A thing that is diuine belike to high for mans desire FJNJS F. K. Euill to him that euill thinketh THe subtill slily slights that worldly men doe worke The friendly showes vnder whose shade most crafte doeth often lurke Enforceth me alas with yernfull voyce to say Wo worth the wilie heads that seekes the simple mans decay The birde that dreads no guile is soonest caught in snare Eche gentle hart deuoide of craft is soonest brought to care Good nature soonest trapt which giues me cause to say Wo worth the wilie heads that seekes the simple mans decay I see the Serpent vile that lurkes vnder the greene How subtilly he shroudes himselfe that he may not be seene And yet his fosters bane his learing lookes bewray Wo worth the wilie heads that seekes the simple mans decay Wo worth the feining lookes on fauour that we doe waite Wo worth the feined friendly hart that harbours deepe deceite Wo worth the Vipers broode oh thrise wo worth I say All worldly wilie heads that seekes the simple mans decay FJNJS M. Edwards He assureth his constancie WIth painted speache I list not proue my cunning for to trie Nor yet will vse to fill my penne with gilefull flatterie With pen in hand hart in brest shall faithfull promise make To loue you best and serue you most by your great vertues sake And sure dame Nature hath you deckt with gifts aboue the rest Let not Disdaine a harbour finde within your noble brest For Loue hath lead 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 the blossomes good or no Then doe not iudge of me the worse till you haue tried me so As I deserue so then reward I make you iudge of all If I be false in worde or deede let Lightning Thunder fall And Furies fell with franticke fitts bereue and stay my breathe For an example to the rest if I shall breake my faith FJNJS M. Hunnis Complaining his mishapp to his friend he complaineth wittely A. THe fire shall freze the frost shall frie the frozen moūtaines hie B. What straunge thinges hath dame natures force to turne her course awrie A. My Loue hath me left and taken a newe man B. This is not straunge it happes oft times the truth to scan A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is this not straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A. By skilfull meanes I here reclaime to stoope vnto my lure B. Such haggard Haukes will soare away of them who can be sure A. With siluer bels and hoode my ioy was her to decke B. She was full gorgde she would the sooner giue the checke A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is not this straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A. Her chirping lips should chirpe to me swete words of her desire B. Such chirping birdes who euer saw to preach still on one brire A. She said she loued me best and would not till she die B. She said in wordes she thought it not as time doth trie A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is not this straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A. Can no man winne a woman so to make her Loue endure B. To make the Foxe his wiles to leaue what man will put in vre A. Why then there is no choise but all women will chaunge B. As men doe vse so some women doe Loue to raunge A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is not this straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A. Sith slipper gaine falles to my lot farewell that gliding pray B. Sith that the dice doth runne awrie betimes leaue of thy play A. I will no more lament the thing I may not haue B. Then by exchaunge the losse to come all shalt thou saue A. Loue will I refraine B. thereby thou shalt gaine A. With losse I will leaue B. she will thee deceaue A. That is not straunge B. then let her raunge FINIS M. Edwardes No paines comparable to his attempt LIke as the dolefull Doue delightes alone to bee And doth refuse the bloumed branche chusing the leaflesse tree Whereon wailing his chaunce with bitter teares besprent Doth with his bill his tender breast oft pearse and all to rent Whose greeuous gronyngs tho whose gripes of pyning paine Whose gastly lookes whose bloudy streames out flowing frō ech vain Whose falling from the tree whose panting on the grounde Examples bee of myne estate tho there appeare no wounde FINIS W. Hunnis He repenteth his follie A Lacke when I looke backe vpon my youth thatz paste And deepely ponder youthes offence youthes reward at laste With sighes and teares I say O God I not denie My youth with follie hath deserued with follie for to die But yet if euer sinfull man might mercie moue to ruthe Good Lorde with mercie doe forgiue the follies of my youthe
MAY is gone of all the yeere the pleasant time is past MAY makes the cheerful hue MAY breedes brings new blood MAY marcheth throughout euery lim MAY makes the mery mood MAY pricketh tender harts their warbling notes to tune Ful strange it is yet some we see doe make their MAY in June Thus thinges are strangly wrought whiles ioyful MAY doth last Take MAY in time when MAY is gone the pleasant time is past All ye that liue on earth and haue your MAY at will Reioyce in MAY as I doe now vse your MAY with skill Vse MAY while that you may for MAY hath but his time When all the fruite is gone it is to late the tree to clime Your liking and your lust is freshe whyles MAY dooth last When MAY is gone of all the yeere the pleasant time is past FJNJS M. Edwardes 7. Faire wordes make fooles faine JN youthfull yeeres when first my young desyres began To pricke me forth to serue in Court a sclender tal young man My fathers blessing then I aske vpon my knee Who blessing me with trembling hand these words gan say to me My sonne God guide thy way and shield thee from mischaunce And make thy iust desartes in Court thy poore estate to aduaunce Yet when thou art become one of the Courtly trayne Thinke on this prouerbe old qd he that faire words make foles fain This counsell grauely giuen most straunge appeares to me Till tract of time with open eyes had made me plainely see What subtill sleightes are wrought by painted tales deuise When hollow harts with freendly shewes the simple do entise To thinke all golde that shynes to feede their fond desire Whose sheuering cold is warmd with smoke in steede of flaming fyre Sith talke of tickle trust doth breede a hope most vayne This prouerbe true by profe I find that faire words make fooles fain Faire speeche alway doth well where deedes insue fayre wordes Faire speech again alway doth euill that bushes giue for byrdes Who hopes to haue faire words to trie his luckie lot If I may councell let him strike it while the yron is hot But them that feede on cloddes in steede of pleasaunt grapes And after warning often giuen for better luck still gapes Full loth I am yet must I tell them in wordes playne This prouerbe olde proues true in them that faire words make fooles fayne Wo worth the time that wordes so slowly turne to deedes Wo worth the time that faire sweet flowers are grown to rotten weedes But thrise wo worth the time that truth away is fled Wherein I see how simple harts with wordes are vaynely fed Trust not faire wordes therefore where no deedes doe insue Trust words as skilfull Falkeners do trust Hawkes that neuer flewe Trust deedes let words be words which neuer wrought me gayne Let my experience make you wyse and let words make fooles fayne FJNJS M. Edwardes 8 Jn his extreame sicknesse WHat greeues my bones and makes my body fainte What prickes my flesh and teares my head in twayne Why doe I wake when rest should me attaint When others laugh why do I liue in payne I tosse I turne I chaunge from side to side And stretch me oft in sorrowes linkes betyde I tosse as one betost in waues of care I turne to flye the woes of lothsome lyfe I change to spie if death this corpes might spare I stretch to heauen to rid me of this strife Thus doe I stretch and chaunge and tosse and turne Whyle I in hope of heauen my lyfe do burne Then hold thee still let be thy heauinesse Abolish care forget thy pining woe For by this meanes soone shalt thou finde redresse When oft betost hence thou to heauen must goe Then tosse and turne and tumble franke and free O happy thryse when thou in heauen shalt be FINIS L. Vaux 9. For Christmas day Reioyce reioyce with heart and voyce Jn Christes birth this day reioyce FRom Virgins wombe this day did spring The precious seede that onely saued man This day let man reioyce and sweetely sing Since on this day saluation first began This day did Christ mans soule from death remdite With glorious sainctes to dwell in heauen aboue This day to man came pledge of perfect peace This day to man came loue and vnitie This day mans griefe began for to surcease This day did man receiue a remedie For each offence and euery deadly sinne With guiltie hart that erst he wandred in In Christes flocke let loue be surely plaste From Christes flocke let concord hate expel Of Christes flocke let loue be so embraste As we in Christ and Christ in vs may dwell Christ is the authour of all vnitie From whence proceedeth all felicitie O sing vnto this glittering glorious king O praise his name let euery liuing thing Let hart and voyce like Belles of siluer ring The comfort that this day did bring Let Lute let Shalme with sound of sweete delight The ioy of Christes birth this day resight FINIS F. Kindlemarsh 10 For Easter day ALl mortal men this day reioyce in Christ that you redeemed hath By death with deth sing we with voice to him that hath appesd gods wrath Due vnto man for sinfull path wherein before he went astray Giue thankes to him with perfect faith that for man kinde hath made this glorious day This day he rose frō tombe again wherin his precious corse was laid Whom cruelly the Iewes had slaine with bloody wounds ful il araid O man be now no more dismayd if thou henceforth from sin do stay Of death thou needest not be afraide Christ conquered death for this his glorious day His death preuailed had no whit as Paule the Apostle wel doth write Except he had vprisen yet from death to life by Godlike might With most triumphant glittering light This day his glory shined I say and made vs bright as sunne this glorious day O man arise with Christ therfore since he from sin hath made the fre Beware thou fall in sinne no more but rise as Christ did rise for thee So maist thou him in glory see when he at day of doome shall say Come thou my child and dwell with me God graunt vs all to see that glorious day FINIS quoth Jasper Haywood 11. For Whitsunday COme holy ghost eternall God and ease the wofull greefe That through the heapes of heauy sin can no where find releefe Doe thou O God redresse The great distresse Of sinfull heauinesse Come comfort the afflicted thoughtes of my consumed hart O ryd the pearcing pricking paines of my tormenting smart O holy ghost graunt me That I by thee From sinne may purged be Thou art my God to thee alone I will commend my cause Nor glittering gold nor precious stone shall make me leaue thy laws O teach me then the way Whereby I may Make thee my onely stay My lippes my tongue my hart and al shall spread thy mighty name My voyce shall neuer cease
So must I flie of loue the vayne pursute Whereof the gaine is lesser then the fruite And I also must lothe those learing lookes Where loue doth lurke still with his subtle sleight With painted mocks and inward hidden hookes To trappe by trust that lieth not in wayte The end whereof assay it who so shall As sugred smart and inward bitter gall And I must flie such Cirian songs Wherewith thac Circes Vlisses did enchaunt These wilie 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 desarte receiueth least of all But woe to me that firste behelde 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 fishe sometime it doth befall That with the bayte doth swallow hooke and all Within my brest wherewith I dayly fedde The vayne repast of amourous hote desyre With loytering lust so long that hath me fed Till he hath brought me to the flaming fyre In tyme as Phenix endes her care and carkes I make the fire and burne my selfe with sparkes FJNIS L. Vaux Bethincking 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 seely wretche why doest thou put thy trust In things eithe made of clay that soone will turne to dust Doest thou not see the yong the hardy and the fayre That now are past and gone as though they neuer were Doest thou not see thy selfe draw howerly to thy last As shaftes which that is shotte at byrdes that flieth fast Doest thou not see how death through smyteth with his launce Some by warre some by plague and some by worldly chaunce What thing is there on earth for pleasure that was made But goeth more swift away then doth the Sommer shade Loe heare the Sommer flower that sprong this other day But Wynter weareth as fast and bloweth cleane away Euen so shalt thou consume feom youth to lothsome age For death he doth not spare the prince more then the page Thy house shal be of clay a clotte vnder thy head Vntill the latter day the graue shall be thy bed Vntill the blowing tromp doth say to all and some Rise vp out of your graue for now the Iudge is come FJNJS L. Vaux Being in loue he complayneth ENforst by loue and feare to please and not offende Within the wordes you would me write a message I must sende A wofull errand sure a wretched man must write A wretched tale a wofull head besemeth to indite For what can he but wayle that hath but all he would And yet that all is nought at all but lack of all he should But lack of all his minde what can be greater grefe That haue and lack that likes him best must needes be most mischief Now foole what makes thee wayle yet some might say full well That haste no harme but of thy self as thou thy self canst tell To whome I aunswere thus since all my harmes doe grow Vpon my self so of my selfe some happe may come I trow And since I see hoth hap and harme betides to me For present woe my after blisse will make me not forget thee Who hath a field of Golde and may not come therein Must liue in hope till he haue force his treasure well to winne Whose 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 Fleese stoode Iason not in dread Till that Medeas hope of health did giue him hope to speede Yet sure his mynde was much and yet his feare the more That hath no happe but by your helpe may happe for to restore The raging Bulles he dread yet by his Ladies charme He knew it might be brought to passe they could doe little harm Vnto whose grace yeeld he as I doe offer me Into your handes to haue his happe not like him for to be But as King Priamus did yeeld him to the will Of Cressed false which him forsooke with Diomede to spill So I to you comend my fayth and eake my ioy I hope you will not be so false as Cressed was to Troy For if I be vntrue her Lazares death I wish And eake in thee if thou be false her clapper and her dish FINIS R. L. Being in trouble he writeth thus IN terrours trappe with thralldome thrust Their thornie thoughtes to taste and trie In conscience cleare from cause vniust With carping teares did call and crie And sayd O God yet thou art he That canne 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 se That thou wouldest not deliuer me Bis. My soule then to repentaunce ranne My ragged clothes all rent and torne And did bewayle 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 steadfastnesse And did bedecke the naked boy That earst was full of wretchednesse And sayd be glad for God is hee That shortly will deliuer thee Biss FJNJS W. H. Being troubled in minde he writeth as followeth THe bitter sweate that straines my yeelded harte The carelesse count that doth the same imbrace The doubtfull hope to reape my due desarte The pensiue path that guides my restlesse race Are at such warre within my wounded brest As doeth bereaue my ioy and eake my rest My greedy will that seekes the golden gayne My luckelesse lotte doth alway take in wroth My mated minde that dreades my sutes in vayne My pittious playnt doth helpe to set it forth So that betweene two waues of raging Seas I driue my dayes in troubles and disease My wofull eyes doe take their cheefe delight To feede their fill vpon the pleasaunt maze My hidden harmes that grow in me by sight With pining paines doe driue me from the gaze And to my hope I reape no other hyre But burne my self and I doe blow the fire FINJS I. Haywood Looke or you leape IF thou in surety safe wile sit If thou delight at rest to dwell Spende no more wordes then shall seeme fitte 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 Wherefore in all as men are bent See all say naught hold thee content The makers oft are in fault found The doers doubt of praise or shame The lookers on finde surest ground They haue the fruite yet free from blame This doth perswade in all
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 poynt of wisedome also this we commonly esteeme That euery man should be in deede that he desires to seeme To bridle that desire of gaine which forceth vs to ill Our hauty stomackes Lord represse to tame presuming will This is the wisedome that we should aboue each thing desire O heauenly God from sacred throne that grace in vs inspire And print in our repugnant harts the rules of wisedome true That all our deedes in worldly life may like therof insue Thou onely art the liuing spring from whom this wisedome flowes O wash therwith our sinful hartes from vice that therin growes FJNJS M. Edwards 38. A freendly admonition YE stately wightes that liue in quiet rest Through worldly wealth which God hath giuen you Lament with teares and sighes from dolefull breast The shame and power that vice obtaineth now Behold how God doth dayly profer grace Yet we disdaine repentance to embrace The suddes of sinne do soke into the minde And cancred vice doth vertue quite expell No change to good alas can resting finde Our wicked hartes so stoutly do rebell Not one there is that hasteth to amend Though God from heauen his dayly threats downe send We are so slow to change our blamefull life We are so prest to snatch aluring 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 be no iudge in other mens offence But purge thy selfe and seeke to make thee free Let euery one apply his diligence A change 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. Sundry men sundry affectes JN euery wight some sundry sort of pleasure I do finde Which after he doth seeke to ease his toyling minde Diana with her trayning chase of hunting had delight Against the fearful Deare she could direct her shotte aright The loftie yeeres in euery age doth still embrace the same The sport is good if vertue doo assist the cheerefull game Minerua in her chattering armes her courage doth aduaunce In triall of the bloudy wars she giueth luckie chaunce For sauegard men imbrace the same which do so needfull seeme That noble hartes their cheefe delightes in vse thereof esteeme In warlike games to trie or ryde the force of armes they vse And base the man we do account 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 releefe to carefull minde For woe redresse for care a salue for sadnes helpe we finde The soueraigne praise of Musicke stil doth cause the Poets faine That whirling Spheres and eake the heauens do hermonie retaine I hard that these three powers at variance lately fel Whiles each did praise his owne delight the other to excel Then Fame as an indifferent iudge to end the case they call The praise pronounced by her to them indifferently doth fall Diana health and strength maintaine Minerua force doth tame And Musicke giues a sweete delight to further others game These three delightes to hawtre mindes the worthiest are esteemed If vertue be annexed to them they rightly be so deemed With ioy they do reuiue the witte with sorow oft opprest And neuer suffer solempne greefe to long in mind to rest Be wise in mirth and seeke delight the same doe not abuse In honest mirth a happy ioy we ought not to refuse FJNJS R. Hill 40. Of a Freend and a Flatterer A Trustie freend is rare to finde a fawning foe may sone be got A faithful frend bere stil in mind but fawning foe regard thou not A faithfull freend no cloke doth craue to colour knauery withal But Sicophant a Gun must haue to beare a port what ere befall A nose to smel out euery feast a brasen face to set it out A shamles child or homely gest whose life doth like to range about A fauning foe while wealth doth last a thefe to rob spoile his freend As strong as oke while wealth doth last but rotten sticke doth proue in the end Looke first then leape beware the mire Burnt Child is warnd to dread the fire Take heede my freend remember this Short horse they say soone curried is FJNJS M. Edwards 41. Of sufferaunce commeth case TO seeme for to reuenge each wrong in hasty wise By proofe of guiltlesse men it hath not bene the guise In slaunders lothsome brute where they condemned be with ragelesse moode they suffer wrong where truth shal try thē free These are the patient pangues that passe within the brest Of those that feele their cause by mine where wrong hath right opprest I know how by suspect I haue bene iudgd awry And graunted gilty in the thing that clerely I deny My faith may me defend if I might loued be God iudge me so as from the guilt I know me to be free I wrote but for my selfe the griefe was all mine owne As who would proue extremitie by proofe it might be knowne Yet are there such that say they can my meaning deeme Without respect of this old troth things proue not as they seeme Whereby it may befall in iudgement to be quicke To make themselues suspect therewith that needed not to kicke Yet in resisting wrong I would not haue it thought I do amisse as though I knew by whom it might be wrought If any such there be that herewithall be vext It were their vertue to beware and deeme me better next L. Vaux 43. All thinges are Vaine ALthough the purple morning brags in brightnes of the sunne As though he had of chased night a glorious conquest wonne The time by day giues place againe to force of drowsie night And euery creature is constrained to change his lustie plight Of pleasures all that here we taste We feele the contrary at laste In spring though pleasant Zephirus hath fruitefull earth inspired And neuer hath ech bush ech branch with blossomes braue attired Yet fruites and flowers as buds and blomes ful quickly withered be When stormie winter comes to kill the sommers iolitie By time are got by time are lost All thinges wherin we pleasure most Although the Seas so calmely glide as daungers none appeare And doubt of stormes in skie is none king Phaebus shines so cleare Yet when the boisterous windes breake out raging waues do swel The seely barke