shoe With Speare in hande to giue thassault as séemed vnto mée A Harolde then went from the king most gorgeous for to sée And did ambassage from his Grace vnto the Champion stout Whose chalenge was to fight as séemed by trauising about Then asâ—te I Memorie what he meant and of the plaine by name And full curteously forthwith to me did show the same The fielde quoth Memorie so bare is wildernesse of Death Where euery mortall wight is forste to leaue his vitall breath The bony corps that thou doest sée is Death that puissant Prince Which with his finall Scepter doth all earthly things conuince The Champion that before him is Defiance sure is hight Who vilipendeth all estates for Death his Maister right The king quoth he in harnesse set so bolde in lyuely grace Is Henry stoute of Englande king the eyght of name and place Which wan such valyant battailes strong forrein townes laid wast Which rulde by prudent skill so well and pollitique forecast Which brought all nations vnder feare of his high maiestie Which made all forrein powers to quake through magnanimitie Which first began as Iosua did Gods foes for to dispoyle The same is he which first of all gaue Antichrist the foyle Which brake the neck of Papistrie and gaue a deadly wound Unto the Masse that romishe Hell that did our soules confound The same is he which first set to to breake the romishe clowde And first to sounde the Trumpet blast of Gods true worde alowde Which first defied the banning Pope and all his Bulles of lead And he which first denied the Pope to be the supreme head Which wanne himselfe preheminence by courage stoute and bolde And first began the Romishe clayme and tytle to withholde And did by Target bright of faith the Popes high cursse receaue And washing of the same gan first on Christes truth to cleaue Which staide the Popes reuenues here and puld the Abbeys downe And spoylde the Romishe lubbers all which lurckte in euery towne The same is he which did commaunde Gods pastors for to preache And gaue them leaue in Popes despite Gods holye worde to teache The same is Henry sure the eyght whose fame is fixt in skie Whose trumpe victoriously doth sound whose conquest can not die The Wight before him is quoth shée Debilitie by name The Champion stout of Death so pale it is the verie same He makes the way and winnes the fielde by weakenesse in his kinde Death doth triumph by his great force as daily we may finde The Harolde of the King to him is Valiauncie in déede Who goeth to know the Champions minde what he hath decréede Whose aunswere is that he must néedes for all his fame relent And vnto Death with all the reast as first to be content I sure am he which Philip slue and Alexander bothe Darius and that Ptholome though they were very lothe So forth we went and she with chéere bade harken to hir talke For she would show me more than this quoth she as we do walke Then spurres I set to Will my horse our iourney to passe on What chaunced after this I shall declare to you anon To haste on waye apace we rode till at the length we came Into that vale of restlesse time which so is callde by name That King in courage was so stoute against that Champion bolde That scarce he could the chalenge made his fingars from him hold For he was not afraide to passe the seas with all his hoste And bid his foes the battell stoute in their owne lande and coste He feared not to pitche his Campe in hart of forreine lande And battell wage with enimies force yea euen hand to hande At last Dame Memorie lookte back and straight she bade me stay And there I saw a worthy fight as truth I will display Debilitie the chalenge gaue and Death in iudgement sat But yet this worthy King did showe no blushing face thereat Then came Defiance with a scroule thou king sayd he take héede Debilitie shall thée conuince and vanquishe thée with spéede Though many Kings thou hast dismayde with that thy manly face And made thy foes abashed oft in presence of thy grace Yet thinke thou not vs to withstande yéelde therfore if thou wilt Least hap contemning long thy dayes with wearinesse be spilt The Champion now Debilitie or Weakenesse is by name At this triumphantly reioyste as glad to heare the same Then sent the King stoute Valiauncie ambassage for to tel That he wel knew their courage bold should not his power yet quel Ne yet will yéelde at thy prowde boast though hored heares he haue It is not thou with all thy bragges that canst him yet depraue With that the Champion made his course eke the King him met Then was the sight full cruelly betwéene them fiercely set Their fierie strokes and dreadfull blowes abasht my fearefull eyes I thinke the sounde of them was hearde abeue the lower skyes At last they paused for breath well nie both being quite dismayde Till iudgement came from Thanatos a while they stoutly stayde The sentence definite was this as I could vnderstande The winde so bare away the sounde that it could scarce be scande Omnia mortali mutantur lege creata All things created must chaunged be by mortall law no doute Therfore in vaine thou valiant King art thou so highe and stoute Abase thy selfe he must conuince yet now these words descrie Mori non turpe est sed turpiter mori It is not filthie for to die his file must cut the thréede But filthily to die that same is filthinesse in déede When as the King had heard these wordes he gan for to recite His noble actes which he had done that might him then requite No might sayde he no strength ne fame triumph nor victorie Can me resist which am the Prince of fatall destinie With that the King began againe a stroke or two to fight But soone he was by weakenesse spoylde and voide of courage quite Lo sayde Dame Memorie to me this Pageant didst thou vew All Wightes must suffer this conflict by destinie most trew First Age then eke Debilitie and Death must sure extende As of this King so of the rest in time to make an ende Dispaire not thou quoth she to me for yet I will thée show Of mo that suffred haue this fight whom thou didst truely know Make spéede quoth she and ride apace and so we did no doute Till we the sight of the bare fielde had wholy passed oute And then I askte Dame Memorie if I might make report Of that Combat which I had séene there tride in such a sort Yea quoth she feare it not to tell for doubtlesse this is trew King Henrie was a King full stoute as all men then well knew Which raigned thirtie seauen yeares as Chronicles doe tell And did in Marciall prowes then all other farre excell And yet at last with Dauid King and Salomon his
came a messenger True Zeale which did prepare A chamber fresh which Paine it hight as we shall now declare Here the Author by Memorie taketh his rest at the ende of the desert of barren Age or Consumption And being lighted of their horses the Author sickeneth in the Chamber called Paine No sooner entred was I sure such paine in corps I felt That I was faine to lay me downe vpon a couch or pelt Till that true Diligence for me prepared had a bed And godly Zeale full readie had a kerchefe for my hed Thâ—s lying downe vppon my bed in dolefull sort gan mone Perceyuing well that néedes I must do that that earst was showne That is to â—â—aue this fleshly corps and chaunged lyfe to sée Which I long time sâ—ught to defend and yet it would not bée To thinke vpon that Will my horse my griefe did more abound Him to â—orgo it grâ—eâ—de me much euen lyke a deadly wound With that came Memory to me and bade me take good héede Not to dismay although the time by Ioue is full decréede Why doest thou sighe and languishe so it may thée not preuayle Lo Reason he shall so thée rule that thou shalt well preuayle To â—ide the saute of Thanatos he will thée so enflame That from Dispaire Disdaine and Ire thou shalt escape as game So long as thou wilt ruled be by Reasons sage aduise True Diligence and constant Hope will counâ— thée then full wise Lo Pacience straight will then appere and endlesse ioy and guide To driue away Distrust and Ire as golde thou must be tride With that came Reason to the bed and bid him not dismay For I sure am a friend of thine my loue I will display And lay abrode before thée so if thou wilt me regarde And after me as faythfull friendes alreadie are preparde That is faith hope and charitie which will thy minde allure To doe and saye all that shall proue and lyfe they will procure By me therefore now ruled be then marke what will insue A happie state and ioyfull lyfe these wordes as sure most true Beholde where I am resident there alwayes groweth fame To prince to king and euery state I still incurre good name So if thou wilt be rulde by me I will not fro thée part Till Clothâ—s he haue spâ—n hir thréede with all hir slily Art Till Attropos haue whet their knife the vitall thréede to ende Till Thanatos his course doth ende my loue I will extende Therefore of me thou mayest be sure if thou my wordes regarde No enimie sure shall thée 〈◊〉 although â—ull néere preparde When Reason thus had sayde his minde to Memory I sayde How like you this I pray you showe I néede now of your ayde With that she smilde as one yet glad espying not forgot His counsayle sure is certes good and sinnes away will blot No man on earth may Death withstande therfore vnwise is he Which will contend with yrefull wordes as all full well may sée For yrefull wordes bréedes cankered hate Debilitie to vex And Dolor he must néedes decrease beware of Discordes checks In sicknesse he that way ward is and will no reason héere Alwayes doth bréede his owne disease as may full well appéere The frantike mindes of many one so to their willes are bent That medicine and phisicke both may cause them to repent Such wilfull pacients therefore that will not turne in time May well be sure to féele the rod of pinching paine and crime For there as Reason may not rule nor Memory that Dame In stéede of hops of endlesse lyfe Distrust there reapes the game And where Distrust once bereth sway their straight apéeres Dispaire To draw away that soule from light and state thereby appaire God graunt therâ—fore all christian harts so to prouide in time That lyuely spirite of iust beliefe maye not from thée decline But that which feruent zeale doth showe by Ioue aboue diuine Disturbance he doth grudge and hate much more he doth repine For when he sées the féeble corps opprest with wo and paine Most busiest then he is to mée although most vile and vaine He will therefore prouide in time while prosperous state doth last In calling still for Gods merey shall not be made agast Of wicked spirites for to delude they shall not thée annoy Though thousands haue thy corps 〈◊〉 with gâ—â—lefull fanciâ—s coy No man on earth himselfe maye frée from the infirmitie â–ª Of fleshly lyfe while he haue breath such powers to disagrée I wishe therefore all faythfull hartes there mindes so fully bende And still to craue mercie and grace for that they haue â—â—â—nde These wordes when Memory had sayde they did my â—art such good My sicknesse I almost â—orgate but Reason with me stood My heart was lightned very much wherefore I calde amayne For armor then and Will my horse yet once againe to raine Wherewith that I wouâ—â— make an ende of this my trauayled time The soner then to ende this race of â—â—nkered yre and crime But séeing weaknesse so oppâ—â—sse my sâ—â—ly corps in déede On Will I gan my foe to â—â—â—â—te that Thanatos with spéede And being armde with Godly Zeale my selfe so did applye That not estate ne losse of liâ—â— coulde make me backe to flye But when he came his might was such I could not him withstand Forthwith I yéelded as captiue then and voyde of forraine land God graunt vnto all faythfull hartes such race alwayes to runne That no desyre of worldly welth their mindes once ouercume Then be you sure when vitall thred by Attropos is rent With Gods elect in lasting ioyes no care more to relent Farewell my friendes loe ye haue heard such newes as I haue séene In euery cost and lande where I long time and dayes haue béene Let this suffise your fickle mindes except you farther iorne So this now done my selfe doth please and so doth serue my turne Though playne and base not eloquent as well sure as I can A better may hereafter hap if that thou rightly skan Farewell adue yet once agayne marke well ere thou dispraise Least in the ende thou be to rash not trading Reasons waies FINIS Iohn 3. They shall die that beleeue not in Christ and the wrath of God abideth vpon them Eccle. 9. They that be deade know nothing such as are dead in sinne thy dead men shall lyue such as are dead in the workes of the fleshe shall be quickned in the spirit Sapiens 13. Among the dead there is hope among suche wicked as will be conuerted from their abhominations there is lyfe promised so that they returne not to their vomite againe ¶ Imprinted at London by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater-noster rowe at the signe of the starre Anno Domini 1569. Marcus Tulliuâ— Cicero By the Cap that Disagrement giueth to Memorie to deliuâ—â— to 〈…〉 is signified 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 meanes possible 〈…〉 Reason speaketh to y â— Author Here the Author is brought by Reason to his bed called rest Polichro lib. 2. cap. 1. sayth that Strabâ— saw the ships of Punie when they were 135. mile from him Cassandâ—r was sonne to Antipater which poysoned the king Alexander in Babilon Plutarchus in Romana historia ad M. ViniciuÌ„ sayth that one Titius slew Pampey but Polichronicon that yong Ptolomie did cut of his head and sent it to Iulius Cesar thinkâ—ng to haue done him great pleasure but he was therwith verie sorie Here Understanding giueth the Author charge to be mindefull of that which is shewed Here Understanding comforteth the Author Esopi fabulae Here the Author is weried by his horse will in the middest of the fielde called worldly pleasure Corrineus came and arriued w t Brute at the Ile of Totnesse in Cornwall and there in wrastling slew Goginagog a Gyant which there inhabited as sayth Polychronicon c. of Corrineus came the name of Cornwall and Cornishmen Some affirme that Cornwall came of Cornu a borne bicause it is fashioned like a horn in circuite or coÌ„passe which may so be but bicause the first is the older I doe suppose that to be the truest Here the Author â—â—cideth to Age. Bellepheton was a Knight of Arges and serued king Pircus Aurea was wife to Pircus which sought the Knights death for not consenting to hir adulterie Here Age giueth his charge to the Author The Poetes haue feyned that Cerberus was porter of hell hauing iij. heads which heades were three vices couetousnesse murder and lechery The Author agreeth to the counsell of Age. Age licenseth the Author to trauayle further Pluto son to Saturne the Poets feined that he was the diuell of Hell By the corse the Author meaneth the whole state of the earthy man being corrupted in sinne By weaâ—â—â—ed Age is meant the vnprofitable time spent the state of Age is barren when there is no fruits of good life appearing These combats were fought in the vale of â—gnorance being in the midst of the land called lost time The Harolde that weareth Deaths Cote with bones is called Defiance Here beginneth the Combâ—t twice these 〈◊〉 valiant Champions Debilitie and the worthy king Henrie y e eight The Author here lamentes the state of all fonde desired worldlings Here Memorie sheweth the Author the auncient monuments
did minde till Sathan wrought their awe That Woman first she did consent the Apple for to prooue Wherby the serpent did inuent all ioyes from them to mooue For their offence they were exilde out of that pleasaunt place And carth accursed forth did yéelde the crabbed thome a space The earth then fayne were they to till still laboring the ground Thus sathans drifts theÌ„ thought to spill he gaue that deadly wound Although that Adam did offend yet God so shewde his grace A newe Adam he after sent which did all sinne deface Such minde hath God alwayes to those that ioyes his lawes to looue And such as are his mortall foes with plagues he doth them prooue As Pharao that cruell king which did so sore oppresse The Israelites aboue all thing and would not them release It were to long all to recite I minde them to forgoe The swallow swift once taken flight then Auster streight doth bloe With nipping showres and frosts so colde few may it long endure But that once past then doth vnfold the swéete and pleasant showre Wherby all things do spring and grow with orient smell most swéete Till Hyems force himselfe doth show then Pisces ioyes in déepe So I as one bereft of ioy in order mindes to frame The gliding pace the state so coy yet loth were one to blame The state of one to nominate yet all I wish to looke Conceyue in minde doe nothing hate till read ye haue this booke He that disprayseth ere he know may well be thought a foole The Hart the Hind doth time foreshow yet void froÌ„ reasons schoole Of Dolor and Debilitie these two I chiefly name The first is hard to vnderstand the other maketh tame In bringing youthfull yeares to ende now know you what he is Be mindefull therefore what you read if not you may soone misse ¶ The fielde Tyme he with wings Thought the other the Author trauailing in the sayde fielde In time Thought moueth the Author IN Hyems force both trée and herbe doth vade as rest of life On sodeyne then to me appeard the state of worldly strife As I thus going all alone one did to me appeare Awake quoth he from pensiue mone of me haue thou no feare Both he and I togither went as friendes a certaine space Till at the last I did repent my former time and case Then stept I forth full sodainly as one bereft of glorie And to my minde I did apply to note therof some storie As afterwardes there shall be séene with such aduised héede The state of life I will beginne thus haue I full decréede Consider first both life and welth be mindefull still thereof For that will bring most perfite health so shall at thée none scoffe If that forgetfulnesse endure no hope there is of gaine Where state decreaseth be thou sure bereft from ioy to paine The time once past néedes must consume the pleasant orient smell Of trée and herbe that growes on ground as proofe full well can tell Likewise all trées that fruite doth beare in light they show a shade And time once past straight wil appeare y â— al things néeds must vade So likewise those that vainly spende their liues they care not how The wrath of God on such attendes and age of force must bow The trée that once cleane withered is can be by no meanes greene No more can Age be yong ywisse it neuer hath bene séene Conceyue therefore full well in minde and youthfull time so spende That when Death comes thou be not blinde to late then to amende Néedefull it is also to knowe and how thy selfe mayst stay That Dolor and Debilitie they guide a cruell way None may escape them by no wayes these knights so valiant are Yea Antropos with force them stays and sharply doth them snare Most horrible and daungerous the passage is to sée With combats great most marueilous not one away may flée Till that he be bereft of life they are so fiercely prest They neuer cease but still at strife at no time take they rest And Dolorousnesse by his great force an Thought doth still attend Debilitie thorow féeblenesse to death he all doth send Which death appeares inâ—isible with gliding dart most sharpe The dent thereof the life doth quell the soule from body part They neuer cease in working still which way they best may finde Both Prince and King they come vntill thereto they are assignde Sée now therefore ye vnderstand the Herault will appeare That Dolor hée will thée withstand of him be not in feare Sith thou thy selfe hast giuen the charge I will thée me regarde In spending youth be not to large thine enmy is preparde Who mindeth still thée to inuade with his great force and strength Arme thée therfore as I haue sayd some case to finde at length Thinkst thou thy selfe to be more stout than euer Sampsons grace Or Hercules which went about that Pluto to deface Art thou bereft from wisdomes schoole what Salamon to excéede Oh caytife base and simple foole refraine I say with speede Diomedes with Marshall skill doth farre excéede the state What got Absalon by his will could he from death escape Not one of all the worthies nine coulde Dolor once withstande Prouide therfore all things by Time still take him by the hande Sith that the howre draweth nie be ready at the sounde Of trumpet shrill with blast most cleere thine enmies to confounde The loftie sounde of trumpet blowne oft warneth to prepare With speare shield now all is knowne of these my words beware ¶ The armed Knight signifieth true Obedience in all estates his armour Strength the shielde Hope the sworde Courage the speare Aduenture deliuered to the Author by Thought being present in the fielde called Time The Author putting all feare aside armeth himselfe and so rideth foorth on his horse called Wâ—ll WHen Time had said to me his mind I pondred then in thought To worke doe as he assignde forthwith I armour cought As 〈◊〉 then forste I put it on by horned Cinthias light And armour dight or Phoebus shone so forth I tooke my flight The Horse wheron I sate was Will whose force few youth may stay My sworde was Courage prest to kill so rode I on my way My armour was both tough and strong of strength it was new made My shielde also was Hope among mine enimies to inuade My speare was wrought and fabricate with glittring gold most bright Thereby that I asswage mought Hate and put my foes to flight Thus rode I on couragious some prowesse for to winne In passing forth most venterous I practise did beginne Two dayes I rode but nothing saw among the hugie rockes Not one aduenture worth a straw so voyde I Momus mockes Whereby I might recite at large to please the Readers minde I let that passe and put in charge that Thought to me assignde It is not nâ—edefull here to tell my dolefull woe and paine A thousand griefes aye
hir selfe so did behaue as one that ment him wrong For she hir balde and hearelesse head turnde towarde him behinde This represents sayde Memory that thing which he shall finde For though he haue bene fortunate hir forehead to beholde Yet spéedily she will turne back of this thou mayst be bolde No youth ne bewtie may preuayle no honor fame nor praise No welth nor dignitie be sure that Thanatos assaies As she the words haue vttred forth came Hope that heauenly Dame And gan to comfort vp his hart deseruing well the same High Enterprise was at his hande a noble Lorde and stoute With that Dame Memory bade me to leaue looking aboute And cast thine eye vpon the king so singe like that rode From whome deceytfull Fortune fled with all hir bushe abrode At whome he caught but all to late she had no heare behinde Saide Memorie now marke thou well to recreate thy minde But recreation none I sawe but dolefull griefe and wo To sée so swéete a King dismaide by guilefull Fortune so For why Debilitie gan praunce when he was nere the king And eke Defiaunce came in poste Ambassadge for to bring Mouth he vnto Debilitie now ply thy strength full well And suffer not olde Age to gayne ne yet thy power to quell With that the king espyed a farre this Champion stoute and strong And he to sende to knowe his minde did not the time prolong High Enterprise it was that rode Ambassage to display And eke to knowe to what ende he thus did beset his way Thy soueraigne Edward thinkes quoth he Debilitie I meane To passe to Ages lande as did his father stoute and cleane But doe thou write it may not be that he should it attayne I here am set him to preuent his iourney to restrayne High Enterprise retirde agayne and tolde the aunswere so Which made the kings couragious hart to be enflamed tho Shall I quoth he preuented be no fayth I will assayle To make the Champion stoute relent and eke his purpose quayle There Hope stept out and went before and he came downe amaine And met the Champion with such force that he had néere him slaine Then did Defiaunce sound the Trumpe of Death against the king At which the Champion gaue a blow that did him shrowdly wring He faynted at the stroke in déede and yet so stoute was hée That his yong Princely hart respire and thought reuengde to bée And bent his speare to strike amayne but as his stroke was bent That Féeblenesse behinde him came and did him much preuent Then strake Debilitie that Wight and downe fell Edward flat It would haue gréeued a faythfull minde for to haue bene thereat To sée a king so toward and stoute a right Iosias sure Such hard conflict and great mishap in childehood to endure In tender youth alas sayde I to Memory my friend What chaunce is this y â— this good childe so sone hath caught his end Unworthy sure quoth Memory the lande was of his grace Their vyle vnchristian thanklesse life made him to lose his place But sure quoth she this is the trade all men once néedes must go No Wight on earth but yong and olde must subiect be to wo. Then forth we rode but to looke back it gréeude me at the hart To sée that Princely childe dismayde and prest with deadly dart It grieued me sure to sée his fall and how he was dismaide And sure that strumpet Fortune then did make me sore afraide Oh who would trust sayde I with teares and dolefull heauie minde To Fortune that vnstable blast that wauereth like the winde Well yet sayde Memory to me come on nowe ride apace For I will showe thée more as yet beholde thou yonder place It was about a ken from vs so we did passe away Till we came néere then what befell hereafter I will say These two Champions signifie Valiauncie and Defiance a drest like Haroldes by outwarde shape bicause Dolor and Debilitie are certaine accidents or inwarde mouings the which are felt but not seene Eche striueth with other who shall be the chiefe Gouernor Thanatos taketh the supremacie and compelleth them both to serue him The Author anâ— Memorie beholdeth the cumbat marking wâ—li what is spoken of Queene Marie WHen we had rode a good long space in fielde that is so gréene When we had talked wel of things which we before had séene We came at last vnto a Dale where we went downe apace I saw two Champions prest in armes which redy were to chace One as it were a ken me thought from other in hollow plaine Both bent with countnance stout to sée to fight with might maine Thus as I cast mine eye about I saw a Harolde drest Which came as though some message he alreadie had exprest Whose irefull countnance made me shrinke his loftie spéech to heare Procéeding on his iourney still as after shall appeare Forth on I came with vised héede well marking euery pace Till both these Champions I sawe eche other lookte in face Their méetings were so valiant as rare appéerde in sight Which did so sore my hart dismay that voyde I was of might With hollow chéekes most straunge to sée and glymping eies sunk in Euen like to that Heraclites from wéeping doth not linne A witherde face and skin so parchte and bones by sorow made ful drie That I gan tremble all my flesh to sée him as I passed by The other sure did farre surpasse so leane so slender thin and bare As though he had bene pinde kept with very thin and homely fare And such a sent came from him warde as made me sicke in senses all It dulde my wittes it palde my sense yea sure it turned vp my gall And as I was thus out of frame I cast mine eie vp to the hill And there I saw olde Attropos in deadly throne there sitting still As though in iudgement she had ben to cut y â— thred that Clotho spon Alas saide I I am beset yea sure I thought I was vndon When I thought on the worthy sights pleasures great I passed fro Oh so my minde it did oppresse bewrapt I was in dolefull wo. The glorious Princes deckt so fine so many a lustie Wight The Countrie faire the fruitfull soyles that were before my sight The worthie plattes and orient lands the bewtifull adorned glée Now to forsake and thus in griefe of such a barren fielde to sée And eke such ougly wights therein such fearfull Champions twaine And most of all Dame Attropos hir sight was most my paine I shewed mine humaine nature then that thought in pleasures trace That no misfortune should haue hapt my courage to displace I thought as many thinke no doubt in midst their pleasures daunce In time of welth and iolitie of no such fatall chaunce Of Death nor of Calamitie of poore and wretched state I thought as many thinke I sée that beare a loftie gate Like diuers Wights as Philip king