stands at like stay Obscurely to consume away And last when humane force was none could part our loue wherin we liued My ladies life alas is gon most cruel death hath it bereued Whose vertues her to God hath wonne And left me here a man vndone FINIS F. G. 31. A worthy ditie song before the Queenes Maiestie at Bristowe MIstrust not troth that truely meanes for euery ielous freke Instead of wrōg cōdemne not right no hiddē wrath to wreke Looke on the light of fault lesse life how bright her vertues shine And measure out her steppes each one by leuel and by line Deeme eche desert by vpright gesse wherby your praise shall liue If malice would be match with might let hate no iudgement giue Enforce no feare with wresting wittes in quiet conscience brest Lend not your eares to busie tongues which breedeth much vnrest In doubtfull drifts wade not to farre it weries but the mind Seeke not to search the secret harts whose thoughts are hard to find Auoide from you those hateful heads that helpes to heape mishap Be slow to heare the flatterers voice that creepeth in your lap Embrace their loue that wills you good and sport not at their praise Trust not too much vnto your selfe for feeble are your stayes How can your seate be setled faste or stand on stedfast ground So propped vp with hollow harts whose surety is vnsound Giue faith to those that feare for loue and not that loue for feare Regard not them that force compels to please you euery where All this well waid and borne away shall stablish long your state Continually with perfect peace in spite of puffing hate FINIS D. S. 32. An Epitaph vpon the death of Sir Edward Saunders Knight Lord chiefe Baron of the Exchequer YOu Muses weare your mourning weeds strike on the fatal Drome Sound Triton out the trumpe of fame in spite of Parcas dome Distill Parnassus pleasant drops possesse Pierides place Apollo helpe with dolefull tune to waile this wofull case Wring hard your hands waile on your losse lament the fate that fell With sobs and sighes to Saunders say oh Saunders now farewell Whom Phaebus fed with Pallas pappe as one of Sibils seede Loe here where death did rest his corps the vermine foule to feede Whom Impes of Joue with Necter sweete long in Libethres noursht Behold how dreadful death him brought to that whence he came first Lycurgus he for learned lawes Rhadamanthus race that ranne An other Nestor for aduise Zalucus fame that wanne A Damon deare vnto his freend in faith like Phocion found A Cato that could counsell giue to prince a subiect found Not Athens for their Solon sage not Rome for Numa waile As we for Saunders death haue cause in fods of teares to saile Nor Sparta card for Chilos death ne proud Prienua prest To weepe for Bias as we wayle for Saunders late possest His learned pathes his talentes rare so now by death appeares As he that Salomon sought to serue in prime and youthfull yeeres His counsel sad his rules his lawes in country soyle so wrought As though in Cuma he had ben of sage Sibilla taught His vertuous life was such I say as Vertue did embrace By Vertue taught in Vertues schoole to grow in vertues race Might tender babes might orphāts weak might widows rere that cry The sound thereof should pearce the cloudes to skale the empire sky To bid the gods to battel bend and to dissend in sight Though farre vnfit and mates vnmeete with mortal men to fight Too late alas we wish his life to soone deceiued vs Death Too little wit we haue to seeke the dead agayne to breath What helplesse is must carelesse be as Natures course doth shewe For death shal reape what life hath sowen by nature this we know Where is that fierce Achilles sled where is king Turnus shroude What is become of Priamus state where is Periander proude Hector Hanno Hanibal dead Pompei Pirrhus spild Scipio Cirus Caesar slaine and Alexander kild So long there Fortune fast did floe and charged Fame to sound Till frowning Fortune foyld by face which fawning fortune found Shun Fortunes feates shake fortune of to none is fortune sound Sith none may say of Fortune so I Fortune faithfull found Beholde where Fortune flowed so fast and fauoured Saunders lure Tiliffckle Fortune false again did Saunders death procure Lo clothed could in cloddes of clay in drossy dust remaine By fate returnd frō whence he came to his mothers wombe againe Who welnigh thirtie yeeres was Iudge before a Iudge dyd fall And iudged by that mighty Iudge which Iudge shall iudge vs all The heauens may of right reioyce and earth may it bewayle Sith heauen wan and earth hath lost the guide and arke of vaile There gaine is much our losse is great their mirth our mone is such That they may laugh as cause doo yeeld we may weepe as much O happy he vnhappy we his hap doth aye encrease Happy he and haplesse we his hap shall neuer cease We liue to die he dyed to liue we want and he possest We bide in bands he bathes in blisse the Gods aboue him blest Being borne to liue he liued to dye and dyed to God so plaine That birth that life that death doo shew that he shall liue againe His youth to age his age to death his death to fame applied His fame to time his time to God thus Saunders liued and dyed O happy life O happier death O tenne times happy he Whose hap it was such hap to haue a Iudge this age to be Oh ioyfull time oh blessed soyle where Pallas rules with witte O noble state O sacred seate where Saba sage dooth sitte Like Susan sound like Sara sad with Hesters mace in hand With Judiths sword Bellona like to rule this noble land I had my will you haue your wish I laugh reioyce you may I wan now much you gaine no lesse to see this happy day Wherein I dyed wherein you liue Oh treble happy cost Wherein I ioyed in glory great wherein you triumph most Knele on your knes knock hard your brests soūd forth the ioyful drome Clap loude your handes sound Eccho say the golden world is come Reioyce you Iudges may of right your mirth may now be such As neuer earst you Iudges had in England mirth so much Here Cuma is here Sibill raignes on Delphos seate to sitte Here shee like Phaebus rules that can Gordius knot vnknitte I liued to nature long ynough I liued to honour much I liued at wish I died at will to see my country such As neither needes it Numas lawes nor yet Apollos sweard For Mauger Mars yet Mars shal be of this our Queene afeard O peerlesse pearle O Diamōd deer O Queene of Queenes farwell Your royall maiestie God preserue in England long to dwell Farwell the Phaenix of the world farwel my soueraigne Queene Farwel most noble vertuous prince Mineruas mate I weene No Iuel
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
In youth I rangde the feeldes where vices all did growe In youth alas I wanted grace such vice to ouerthrowe In youth what I thought sweete most bitter now do finde Thus hath the follies of my youth with folly kept me blind Yet as the Egle castes her bill whereby her age renueth So Lorde with mercy doe forgiue the follies of my youth FJNJS M. Hunnis No pleasure without some paine HOw can the tree but wast and wither away That hath not sometime comfort of the Sunne How can that flower but fade and soone decay That alwayes is with darke cloudes runne Is this a life nay death you may it call That feeles eche paine and knoweth no ioy at all What foodlesse beast can liue long in good plight Or is it life where sences there be none Or what auaileth eyes without their light Or els a tongue to him that is alone Is this a life nay death you may it call That feeles eche paine and knowes no ioy at all Whereto serue eares if that there be no sound Or such a head where no deuise doth growe But all of plaintes since sorrow is the ground Whereby the hart doth pine in deadly woe Is this a life nay death you may it call That feeles eche paine and knowes no ioy at all FINIS L. Vaux The fruite of feined friendes JN choise of frends what hap had I to chuse one of cirēs kind whose harp whose pipe whos melody could fede my ears make me blind Whose pleasant voice made me forget that in sure trust is great deceit In trust I see is treason founde and man to man deceitfull is And whereas treasure doth abound of flatterers there doe not misse Whose painted speach outward show do seme as frends be not so Would I haue thought in thee to be the nature of the Crocadill Which if a mā a slepe may see with bloudy thirst desires to kill And then with teares a while gan weepe the death of him thus slaine a sleepe O fauel false thou traitor born what mischief more might thou deuise Then thy deare frend to haue in scorne him to woūd in sundry wise Which still a frende pretends to be and are not so by proofe I see Fie fie vpon such trecherie W. H. If such false Shippes doe haunt the shore Strike downe the saile and trust no more M. Edwards A dialogue betweene a Gentleman and his Loue. A. SHall I no way winne you to graunt my desire B. What woman will graunt you the thing you require A. You onely to Loue me is all that I craue B. You onely to leaue me is all I would haue A. My deare alas now say not so B. To Loue you best I must say no A. Yet will I not flitt B. then play on the bitt B. I will B. doe still A. yet kill not B. I will not A. Make me your man B. beshrewe me than A. The swifter I followe then you flie away B. Swift haukes in their flying oft tymes misse their pray A. Yet some killeth deadly that flie to the marke B. You shall touche no feather thereof take no carke A. Yet hope shall further my desire B. You blowe the coales and raise no fire A. Yet will I not flitt B. then play on the bitt B. I will B. doe still A. yet kill not B. I will not A. Make me your man B. beshrewe me than A. To loue is no daunger where true Loue is ment B. I will Loue no ranger least that I repent A. My Loue is no raunger I make God auow B. To trust your smothe sayings I sure knowe not how A. Most truth I meane as time shall well trie B. No truth in men I ofte espie A. Yet will I not flitt B. then play on the bitt B. I will B. doe still A. yet kill not B. I will not A. Make me your man B. beshrewe me than A. Some women may say nay and meane Loue most true B. Some women can make fooles of as wise men as you A. In tyme I shall catche you I knowe when and where B. I will soone dispatche you you shall not come there A. Some speedes at length that ofte haue miste B. I am well armde come when you liste A. Yet will I not flitt B. then play on the bitt A. I will B. doe still A. yet kill not B. I will not A. Make me your man B. beshrewe me than A. Yet worke your kinde kindly graunt me Loue for Loue B. I will vse you friendly as I shall you proue A. Most true you shall finde me I this doe protest B. Then sure you shall binde me to graunt your request A. O happie threede now haue I spunne B. You sing before the conquest wonne A. Why then will you swarue B. euen as you deserue A. Loue still B. I will A. yet kill not B. I will not A. Make me your man B. come to me than FJNJS M. Edwards Exclaiming vpon his vnkind Loue his friend replieth wittely M. VVHat death may bee compared to Loue H. What griefe therein now doest thou proue M. My paines alas who can expresse H. I see no cause of heauinesse M. My Ladies lookes my woe hath wrought H. Then blame thine eyes that first hath sought M. I burne alas and blowe the fire H. A foole consumes by his desire M. What shall I doe than H. come out and thou can M. Alas I die H. what remedie M. My sugred sweete is mixed with gall H. Thy Ladie can not doe with all M. The more I seeke the lesse I finde H. Then striue not with the streame and wind M. Her most I loue although I smarte H. With her owne sworde thou slaiest thy hart M. Such pleasaunt baites who can refraine H. Such baites will sure breede thee great paine M. What shall I doe than H. Come out and thou can M. Alas I die H. what remedie M. Her golden beames mine eyes doe daze H. Vpon the Sunne thou maiest not gaze M. She might reward my cruell smarte H. She thinkes thou hardst a fained harte M. She laughes to heare my wofull cries H. Forsake her then in tyme be wise M. No no alas that may not bee H. No wise man then will pitie thee M. What shall I doe than H. come out and thou can M. Alas I die H. what remedie M. A liuyng death loe thus I proue H. Such are the fruites of froward Loue M. O that I might her Loue once gaine H. Thy gaine would not halfe quite the paine M. Her will I Loue though she be coye H. A foole him selfe will still annoye M. Who will not die for suche a one H. Bee wise at length let her alone M. I can not doe so H. then be thy owne fo M. Alas I die H. what remedie FJNJS E. S. The complaint of a Louer wearing Blacke and Taunie A Crowne of Bayes shall that man weare That triumphes ouer mee For Blacke and Taunie will I weare Which
profest The second trappe is grating talke that gripes each strangers brest The third deceite is greeting wordes with colours painted out Which bids suspect to feare no smart nor dread no dangerous doubt The fourth and last is long repaire which creepes in freendships lap And dayly hauntes that vnder trust deuiseth many a trap Loe how false freendes can frame a fetch to win the wil with wils To sauce their slightes with sugred sops shadow harme with smiles To serue their lustes are sundry sorts by practise diuers kindes Some carries honnie in their mouthes and venime in their mindes Mee thinkes the stones within the streetes should cry out in this case And euery one that doth them meete should shunne their double face FJNJS D. S. 27. A Lady forsaken complayneth JF pleasures be in painfulnes in pleasures doth my body rest If ioyes accord with carefulnes a ioyful hart is in my brest If prison strong is libertie in libertie long haue I bene If ioyes accord with miserie who can compare a life to mine Who can vnbind that is sore bound who can make free that is sore thrall Or how can any meanes be found to comfort such a wretch withall None can but he that hath my hart conuert my paynes to comfort then Yet since his seruant I became most like a bondman haue I beene Since first in bondage I became my words deedes were euer such That neuer once he could me blame except frō louing him too much Which I can iudge no iust offence nor cause that I deserue disdayne Except he mean through false pretēce through forged loue to make a train nay nay alas my fained thoughts my frēded my fained ruth My pleasures past my present plaints shew wel I mean but to much truth But since I can not him attain against my wil I let him goe And least he glory at my paine I will attempt to cloke my woe Youth learn by me but do not proue for I haue proued to my paine What grieuous griefs do grow by loue what it is to loue in vaine FJNJS M. D. 28. Finding worldly ioyes but vanities he wisheth death FOrlorne in filthy froward fate wherein a thousand cares I find By whom I do lament my state annoyd with fond afflicted mind A wretch in woe and dare not cry I liue and yet I wish to die The day in dole that semeth long I pas with sighes heauy cheere And with these eyes I vewe the wrong that I sustaine by liuing here Where my mishaps as rife doo dwell As plagues within the pit of hell A wailing wight I walk alone in desart dennes there to complaine Among the sauage sort to mone I flee my freends wher they remain And pleasure take to shun the sight Where erst I felt my great delight A captiue clapt in chaynes of care lapt in the lawes of lethal loue My flesh and bones consumed bare with crauling greefes full strange to proue Though hap doth bid me hope at least Whyles grasse doth grow yet statues the beast A seeged fort with forrain force for want of aide must yeeld at last So must my weried pined corse submit it selfe to bitter tast Of crauling care that carkes my brest Till hope or death shall breede my rest FJNJS F. M. 29. A replie to M. Edwards MAY. J Read a maying rime of late delighted much my eare It may delight as many moe as it shall reade or heare To see how there is shewed how May is much of price And eke to May when that you may euen so is his aduice It seemes he meant to may himselfe and so to vse his skill For that the time did serue so well in May to haue his will His onely May was ease of mind so farre as I can gesse And that his may his mind did please a man can iudge no lesse And as himselfe did reape the fruites of that his pleasant May He wils his freende the same to vse in time when as he may He is not for him selfe it seemes but wisheth well to all For that he would they should take May in time when it doth fall So vse your May you may it can not hurtfull be And May well vsed in time and place may make you mery gle Modest maying meetest is of this you may be sure A modest maying quietnes to Mayers doth procure Who may and will not take may wish he had so done Who may and it doth take may thinke he tooke too sone So ioyne your May with wisedomes lore and then you may be sure Who makes his May in other sort his vnrest may procure Some May before May come some May when May is past Some make their May to late and some doe May posthast Let wisedome rule I say your May and thus I make an ende And May that when you list to May a good May God you sende FJNJS M. S. 30. Hauing marryed a worthy Lady and taken away by death he complayneth his mishap JN youth when I at large did lead my life in lusty libertie When heuy thoughts no one did spread to let my pleasant fantasy No fortune seemd so hard could fall This freedome then that might make thrall And twenty yeeres I scarse had spent whē to make ful my happy fate Both treasures great were on me cast with lands titles of estate So as more blest their I stoode than Eke as me thought was neuer man For of Dame Fortune who is he could more desire by iust request Then health with wealth and liberty al which at once I this possest But masking in this ioly ioy A soden sight prooud al a toy For passing on these mery dayes with new deuice of pleasures great And now and their to view the rayes of beauties works with cunning feat In heauenly hewes all which as one I oft behelde but bound to none And one day rowling thus my eyes vpon these blessed wights at ease Amongst the rest one did I se who straight my wādring lokes did sease And stayed them firme but such a sight Of beautie yet saw neuer wight What shal I seke to praise it more wher tōgs cānot wel praise the same But to be short to louers lore I straight my sences all did frame And were it wit or were it chaunce I wonne the Garland in this daunce And thus where I before had thought no hap my fortune might encrease A double blis this chāce forth brought so did my ladies loue me please Her faith so firme and constant such As neuer hart can praise too much But now with tormēts strange I tast the fickle stay of fortunes wheele And where shee raised from high to cast with greater force of griefe to feele For from this hap of soden frowne Of Princes face she threw me downe And thus exchange now hath it made by liberty a thing most deare In hatefull prison for to fade where sundred from my louing feare My wealth and health
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
mournyng colours bee The more I followe on the more she fled awaye As Daphne did full long agoe Apollos wishfull praye The more my plaintes resounde the lesse she pities me The more I sought the lesse I founde that mine she meant to be Melpomene alas with dolefull tunes helpe than And sing Bis woe worthe on me forsaken man Then Daphnes Baies shall that man weare that triumphes ouer me For blacke Taunie will I weare which mourning colours be Drowne me you trickling teares you wailefull wights of woe Come help these hāds to rent my heares my rufull hap to showe On whom the scorching flames of Loue doth feede you see Ah a lalalantida my deare Dame hath thus tormented mee Wherefore you Muses nine with dolefull tunes helpe than And sing Bis woe worthe on me forsaken man Then Daphnes Baies shall that man weare that triumphs ouer me For Blacke and Taunie wil I weare which mourning colours be An Ancres life to leade with nailes to scratche my graue Where yearthly wormes on me shall feede is all the ioyes I craue And hide my selfe from shame sith that mine eyes doe see Ah a lalalantida my deare dame hath thus tormented mee And all that present bee with dolefull tunes helpe than And sing Bis woe worthe on me forsaken man FJNJS E. O. Finding no reliefe he complaineth thus JN quest of my reliefe I finde distresse In recompence of Loue most deepe disdaine My laugour such as wordes may not expresse A shower of teares my watrishe eye doth raine I dreame of this and doe define of woe I wander in the thoughtes of my sweete foe I would no peace the cause of warre I flie I hope I feare I burne I chill in Froste I lye a lowe yet mountes my minde on hie Thus doubtfull stormes my troubled thoughtes haue toste And for my paine this pleasure doe I proue I hate my selfe and pine in others Loue. The worlde I graspe yet holde I nought at all At libertie I seeme in prison pent I taste the sweete more sower then bitter gall My shippe seemes sounde and yet her ribbs be rent And out alas on Fortune false I crie Looke what I craue that still shee doth denie Both life and death be equall vnto me I doe desire to die yet craue I life My wittes with sundry thoughtes doe disagree My felfe am with my selfe at mortall strife As warmth of Sunne doth melte the siluer Snowe The heate of Loue beholde consumes me so FJNJS R. Hill Written vpon the death of his especiall good friend Maister Iohn Barnabie who departed this life at Bensted in the countie of Southampton 25. Ianuary 1579. Aetatis 78. MIne owne good father thou art gone thine eares are stopt with clay Thy gost is fled thy body dead thou hearste not what I say Thy dearest friends may sigh sobb thy children cry and call Thy wife may waile and not preuaile nor doe thee good at all Though reason would we should reioyce trickling teares restraine Yet kindlynes and friendlynes enforce vs to complaine Thy life was good our losse the more thy presence cherd our hart Thy lacke and absence turnd therefore our solace into smart I found thee both a kindly friend and friendly father too Barnabie lacks breath O cruel death couldst thou part vs two But death derides my wofull words to my saying saith Thou foolish wight I did but right I force nor friend nor faith The Lord of life Lord of death my threatning hand did let Els when that he in cradell lay I might haue claimd my debt His corps is clad in cloddes of earth his soule doth soore on hie Before the throne of God aboue whose seruaunt he did die And thou his friend she his spouse and they his children shall Behold the father friend and mate whose absence greeues you all But he nor can nor will returne to thee to her or them For heauen is his he liues in blisse ye dwell with mortall men Ye dwell in darke dreadfull denne in prison pent are yee He liues in light and all delight from thraldome franke and free Wishe not that he should come to you for then you doe him wrong But wishe that ye may goe to him the blessed saintes among FJNJS H. D. Coelum non solum JF care or skill could conquere vayne desyre Or reasons raignes my strong affection stay Then should my sighes to quiet brest retyre And shunne such signes as secret thoughts bewray Vncomely Loue which now lurkes in my breast Should cease my griefe through wisdomes power opprest But who can leaue to looke on Venus face Or yeeldeth not to Iunos high estate What witte so wise as giues not Pallace place These vertues rare eche Gods did yeelde a mate Saue her alone who yet on earth doth raigne Whose bewties string no God can well destraine What worldly wight can hope for heauenly hyre When onely sighes must make his secret mone A silent sute doth seeld to grace aspyre My haplesse happ doth roule the restlesse stone Yet Phebe fayre disdaynde the heauens aboue To ioy on earth her poore Edimions loue Rare is reward where none can iustly craue For chaunce is choyse where reason makes no clayme Yet luck sometimes dispayring soules doth saue A happy Starre made Giges ioy attayne A slauishe Smith of rude and raskall race Found meanes in tyme to gayne a Goddes grace Then loftye loue thy sacred sayles aduaunce My sithing seas shall flow with streames of teares Amidst disdayne driue forth my dolefull chaunce A valyaunt mynde no deadly daunger feares Who loues aloft and sets his heart on hye Deserues no payne though he do pine and dye FJNIS E. O. A Louer reiected complaineth THe trickling teares that falles along my cheekes The secret sighes that showes my inward greefe The present paynes perforce that loue aye seekes Bids me renew my cares without releefe In wofull song in dole display my pensyue heart for to bewray Bewray thy greefe thy wofull hart with speede Resigne thy voyce to her that causde thy woe With yrkesome cries bewayle thy late done deede For she thou louest is sure thy mortall foe And helpe for thee there is none sure But still in payne thou must indure The stricken Deare hath helpe to heale his wounde The haggerd Hauke with toyle is made full tame The strongest tower the Canon layes on grounde The wisest witte that euer had the fame Was thrall to loue by Cupids sleightes Then waie my case with equall weights She is my ioy she is my care and wo She is my payne she is my ease therefore She is my death she is my life also She is my salue she is my wounded sore In fine she hath the hand and knyfe That may both saue and end my lyfe And shall I liue on earth to be her thrall And shall I sue and serue her all in vayne And kisse the steppes that she lets fall And shall I pray the Gods to
here ment See all say naught holde thee content The Prouerbe is not South and West Which hath bee sayd long time agoe Of little medling commeth rest The busie man neuer wanteth woe The best way is in all world 's sent Se all say naught hold thee content FJNJS J. Haywood A description of the world WHat is this world a net to snare the soule A mas of sinne a desert of deceite A momentes ioy an age of wretched dole A lure from grace for flesh a lothsome bayre Vnto the minde a canker worme of care Vnsure vniust in rendring man his share A place where pride orerunnes the honest minde Where rich men ioynes to robbe the shiftlesse wretch Where bribing mistes doe blinde the Iudges eyes Where Parasites the fattest crums do catch Where good desartes which chalenge like reward Are ouer blowne with blastes of light regard And what is men dust slime a puffe of wynde Conceaude in sinne plaste in the world with greefe Brought vp with care till care hath caught his minde And then till death vouchsafe him some releefe Day yea nor night his care doth take an ende To gather goods for other men to spende Oh foolish man that art in office plaste Thinke whence thou camste and whether thou shalt go The haute hie Okes small windes haue ouercast When slender weedes in roughest weather groe Euen so pale death oft spares the wretched wight And woundeth you who wallow in delight You lusty youthes that nourish hie desire Abase your plumes which makes you looke so bigge The Collyers Cut the Courtiers Steede will tyre Euen so the Clarke the parsons graue doth digge Whoso happe is yet here long life to winne Doth heape God wot but sorrow vpon sinne And to be short all sortes of men take heede The Thunderboltes the lofty towers tare The lightning flashe consumes the house of Reede Yea more in time all earthly thinges will weare Saue only man who as his earthly time is Shall liue in woe or else in endlesse blisse FJNJS G. G. Being in Loue he complaineth MY haute desyre to hye that seeketh rest My feare to find where hope my help should giue My sighes and plaintes sent from vnquiet brest The hardned hart that will not truth beleeue Bids me dispayre and Reason saith to me Forsake for shame the sute that shameth thee But when mine eyes behold the alluring cayes Which only me to Cupids spoyle haue trainde Desyre a new doth worke his wonted wayes Thus shall I freeze and yet I frye in payne O quenchlesse fyre to quayle and quick agayn Such is the flame where burning loue doth last As hye ne low can beare with reasons bitte And such is loue wherein is setled fast That naught but death can ease his feruent fitte Then cannot I nor loue will me forsake Sweete is the death that faithfull loue doth make FINIS M. Edwardes The Complaint of a sinner O Heauenly God O Father deare cast downe thy tender eye Vpon a wretch that prostrate heare before thy face doth lye O powre thy precious Oyle of grace into my wounded hart O lette the droppes of mercy swage the rigor of my smart My faynting soule suppressed sore with carefull clogge of sinne In humble sorte submits it selfe thy mercy for to winne Graunt mercy then O Sauiour sweete to me most wofull thrall Whose mornefull crie to thee O Lord doth still for mercy call Thy blessed will I haue despised vpon a stubborne mynde And to the sway of worldly thinges my selfe I haue inclinde Forgetting heuen and heauenly powers where god saints do dwel My life had like to tread the path that leades the way to hell But now my Lord my lodestarre bright I will no more doe 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 therefore with earnefull plaint I doe thy mercy craue O Lord for thy great mercies sake let me thy mercy haue Restore to life the wretched soule that else is like to die 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 FJNJS F. Kindlemarshe The fruite that springes from wilfull wits is ruth and ruines rage And sure what headlesse youth commits repentaunce rues in age J Rage in restlesse youth and ruines rule my dayes I rue to late my rechlesse youth by rules of reasons wayes I ranne so long a race in search of surest way That leisure learnde me tread the trace that lead to leude decay I gaue so large a rayne to vnrestrayned bitte That now with proofe of after payne I wayle my wante of witte I trifled forth the time with trust to selfe conceites Whilste plenties vse prickt forth my tyme to seeke for sugred baites Wherein once learnde to finde I found so sweete a tast That due foresight of after speede selfe will 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 payne And he that euill seede doth sow euill fruite must reape agayne Let such therefore whose youth and purses are in prime Foresee and shunne the helpelesse ruth which sues mispence of time For want is next to waste and shame doth sinne ensue Euill speeding proofe hath heedelesse hast my self haue proued it true When neighboures next house burnes t is time there of take heede For fortunes wheele hath choyse of turnes which change of chaunces breede My saile hath bene aloft though now I beare but low Who climbes so high seeld falleth soft deadst ebbe hath highest flow FINJS ê™ Yloop. ¶ An Epitaph vpon the death of syr William Drury Knight Lord Justice and Gouernour of Yreland deceased at Waterford the thyrd of October An. Do. 1579. JN place where wantes Apollo with his Lute There peeuish Pan may prease to pipe a daunce Where men of skill and learned Clarkes are mute There Fooles may prate and hit the truth perchaunce Why spare I then to speake when all are mumme And vertue left forgot in time to come Giue pardon then to him that takes in hande Though neuer taught with Poets pen to write Will yet presume to let you vnderstand No straunge euent although a sieldome sight Which late I saw a dolefull tale to tell And followeth thus then marke how it befell I saw Report in mourning weede arayde Whose blubbered eyes bewrayde some secret greefe Besprent with teares with sighes and sobbes he sayd You martiall wights abandone all releefe Come wayle with me whose losse is not alone When you your selues haue greatest cause to mone For Drurie he the choyse of all your trayne Your greatest guyde and lampe of clearest light The only man Bellona did retayne Her Champyon chefe and made syr Mars his knight Euen he is now bereaued of his breath T is you t is you may most lament his death Then might I see a warlik crew appeare Came marching on with weapons traylde on ground Their outward show bewrayde their inward cheare Their droms and tromps did yeeld a dolefull sound They marched thus in sad and solemne sort As men amasde to heare this late Report And in the midst of this their heauy muse I might perceiue in sight a worthy Dame Who by her speech and tenure of her newes I knew her well and saw t was Lady Fame With Tromp in hand and thus me thought she sed You worthy wights your Drurie is not dead He liueth he amongst the blessed route Whose noble actes hath purchaste endlesse fame Whylste world doth last no time shall weare him out Nor death for all his spight abridge his name But Drurie still for euer shall remayne His Fame shall liue in Flaunders Fraunce and Spayne The Germanes eke Italyans and the rest Can well discourse of Druries deedes at large With whome he serude a Champyon ready prest At all assaultes the formost to giue charge In many a fraye himselfe he did aduaunce Tweene Charles of Rome and Henrie King of Fraunce In vayne to vaunt the credite he attaynde In natiue soyle where he was knowne so well And Brute hath blowne what glory he hath gaynde In Scotish Land where they themselues can tell In Edenbrough he wan there Mayden tower By fyrst assault perforce the scotishe power But Ireland thou thou thrise accursed soyle Thy luck is losse thy fortune still withstoode What mischiefe more to worke thy greater spoyle Then losse of him that ment thee greatest good Yet canst thou say syr Druries noble name In Ireland still shall bide in lasting fame Wherefore you worthy wightes leaue of to wayle Your Drury liues his fame for aye shall last His vertues byde though wretched lyfe do fayle And taking then her Tromp she blewe a blast Which sounded more his prayse then I can write Or with my tongue expresse in order right Then might I heare the Souldyers giue a shoute The sounde whereof redounded in the skie Great ioy was made amongst the armed route With streined throtes then all at once they cry He liues he liues our Drurie is not deed His vertues rare by Fame shall still be spread In order then themselues they did retire Their weapons vaunst with Ensignes braue displayde What would you more Report is made a lyer Syr Drurie liues sufficeth what is sayde What though his Corpes entombed be in clay His vertues shyne that neuer shall decay Viuit post funaera virtus By Barnabe Ritche Gent. Finis 1580.