withall His pleasure sweete to staie when he to rest is bent An vgly shamble Flee approcheth to his tent And htere entendes by force his labours greate to win Or els to yelde his corse by fatall death therein Thus is the Spiders nest from tyme to tyme throwne downe And he to labour prest with endlesse paine vnknowne So suche as Louers bee like trauell doe attaine Those endlesse works ye see are alwaies full of paine FINIS M. Hunnis A Louers ioye I Haue no ioye but dreame of ioye and ioye to thinke on ioye A ioye I withstoode for to enioye to finishe myne annoye 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 moste sweete a frende moste sower I ioye for to embrace I hate the wrong and not the wight that workt my wofull case What thyng it is I knowe not I but yet a thyng there is That in my fancie still perswads there is no other blisse The ioyes of life the pangs of death it make me feele eche daie But life nor death this humour can deuise to weare awaie Faine would I dye 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 ioye would I aspire A thyng that is deuine belike to high for mans desire FINIS F. K. Euill to hym that euill thinketh THe subtill stilie sleghts that worldly men doe woorke The friendly showes vnder whose shade moste craft doeth often lurke Enforceth me alas with yernfull voyce to saie Wo worthe the wilie heads that seeks the simple mans decaie The birde that dreads no guile is sonest caught in snare Eche gentle harte deuoide of crafte is sonest brought to care Good nature sonest trapt whiche giues me cause to saie Wo worthe the wilie heads that seeks the simple mans decaie I see the Serpent vile that lurkes vnder the grene How subtilly he shroods hym self that he maie not be sene And yet his fosters bane his leryng lookes bewraie Wo worthe the wilie heads that leeks the simple mans decaie Wo worthe the feinyng looks on fauour that we doe waite Wo worthe the feined frendly harte that harbours deepe deceite Wo worthe the Vipers broode oh thrise wo worthe I saie All worldlie wilie heads that seeks the simple mans decaie FINIS M. Edwardes He assureth his constancie WIth painted speache I list not proue my cunnyng for to trie Nor yet will vse to fill my penne with gilefull flatterie With pen in hand hart in brest shall faithful promise make To loue you beste and serue you moste by your greate vertuts sake And sure dame Nature hath you deckt with gifts aboue the reste Let not Disdaine a harbour finde within your noble breste For Loue hath lead his lawe alike to men of eche degrre So that the Begger with the Prince shall Loue as well as he I am no Prince I muste confesse nor yet of Princes line Nor yet a brutishe Begger borne that feeds emong the Swine The fruite shall trie the Tree at laste 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 woorde or deede let Lightnyng Thunder fall And Furies fell with franticke fiâ—ts bereue and stay my breathe For an example to the reste if I shall breake my faithe FINIS M. Hunnis Complainyng his mishapp to his frende he complaineth wittely A. THe fire shall freze the frost shall frie the frozen mouÌ„tains hie B. What straunge things 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 ofte tymes the truthe 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. Suche haggard Haukes will soare awaie of them who can be sure A. With siluer bells and hoode my ioye was her to decke B. She was full gorgde she would the soner 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 chirpyng lips should chirpe to me swete words of her desire B. Suche chirpyng birdes who euer sawe to preach still on one brire A. She saied she loued me beste and would not till she die B. She saied in wordes she thought it not as tyme doeth 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 glidyng praie B. Sith that the dice doeth runne awrie betymes leaue of thy plaie A. I will no more lamente the thyng I maie 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 deceiue A. That is not straunge B. then let her raunge FINIS M. Edwardes No paines comparable to his attempt LIke as the dolefull Doue delights alone to bee And doeth refuse the bloumed branche chusyng the leaflesse tree Whereon wailyng his chaunce with bitter teares besprent Doeth with his bill his tender breaste ofte pearse and all to rent Whose greeuous gronyngs tho whose grips of pinyng paine Whose gastly lookes whose bloudie streams out flowyng froÌ„ ech vain Whose fallyng from the tree whose pantyng on the grounde Examples bee of myne estate tho there appere no wounde FINIS W. Hunnis He repenteth his follie A Lacke when I looke backe vpon my youth thatz paste And deepely pouder youthes offence and youths reward at laste With sighes and teares I saie O God I not denie My youth with follie hath deserued with follie for to die But yet if euer synfull man might mercie moue to ruthe Good Lorde with mercie doe forgiue the follies of my youthe In youth I rangde the feelds where vices all did growe In youth alas I wanted grace suche vise to ouerthrowe In youth what I thought swéete moste bitter now do finde Thus hath the follies of my youth
vertuous name By life or death what so betides The state of Vertue neuer slides FINIS M. Y. 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 disprayse 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 aboundaunt 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 prayse That man with man true freendship may embrace That man to man may shew a freendly face That euery man may sow 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 FINIS F. K. 23. Remember thy ende TO be as wise as CATO was or rich as CRESVS in his life To haue the strength of Hercules which did subdue by force or strife What helpeth it when Death doth call The happy ende exceedeth all The Rich may well the Poore releeue the Rulers may redresse each wrong The learned may good counsell giue but marke the end of this my song Who doth these thinges happy they call Their happy end exceedeth all The happiest end in these our dayes that all do seeke both small and great Is eyâ—ther for Fame or els for Prayse or who may sitte in highest seate But of these thinges hap what hap shall The happy end exceedeth all A good beginning ought we see but seeldome standing at one stay For few do like the meane degree then prayse at parting some men say The thinges wherto each wight is thrall The happy end 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 end exceedeth all The longer-life that we desire the more offence doth dayly grow The greater payne it doth require Except the Iudge some mercy shew Wherfore I thinke and euer shall The happy end exceedeth all FINIS 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 wil Is thraldom like to libertye wilt thou exchange thy good for ill Then shalt thou learne a childish play and of each part to tast and proue The lookers on shall iudge and say loe this is he that liues by loue Thy wittes with thoughts shall stand at stay thy head shall haue but heauy rest Thy eyes shal watch for wanton prayes thy tongue shall shew thy harts request Thy eares shall heare a thousand noyse thy hand shall put thy pen to payne And in the ende thou shalt disprayse thy life so spent for such small gaine If loue and list might euer cope or youth might runne in reasons race Or if strong sute might win sure hope I would lesse blame a louers case For loue is hotte with great desire and sweete delight makes youth so fond That little sparkes will proue great fyre and bring free harts to endlesse bond First count the care and then the cost and marke what fraude in faith is found Then after come and make thy bost and shew some cause why thou art bound For when the wine doth runne full low you shall 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 and kisse the crosse And though we find small fault of this Yet some will 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 delightes none other thing FINIS Tho. Churchyard 25. Wanting his desyre he complayneth THe sayling ships with ioy at length doo touch their long desired port The hewing axe the Oke doth wast the battring Canon breakes the fort Hard hagard haukes stoope to the lure wild coltes 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 When I would touch they spring aloft soone are they gone I wot not how Thus I present the fleeting floode like Tantalus in hel below Would God my case shee vnderstoode whirh 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 and wind hath plainly sworn by force to hinder my desire Like one that stricks vpon the rocks my wearie wracke I shoulde bewayle And learn to knowe false fortunes mockes 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 FINIS M. Ewardes 26. Trye before you truste IN 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 creadites 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 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
before the Queenes Maiestie at Bristowe MIstrust not troth that truely meanes for euery ielous freke In stead of wrong condēne not right no hidden wrath to wreke Looke on the light of faultlesse 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 prayse 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 secreat harts whose thoughts are hard to finde 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 prayse 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 pussing hate FINIS D. S. 32. An Epitaph vpon the death of Syr Edward Saunders Knight Lord cheefe Boron of the Exchequer YOV Muses weare your mourning weeds strike on the fatal Drome Sound Triton out the trumpe of fame in spite of Pareas dome Distill Parnassus pleasant drops possesse Pierides plase Apollo helpe with dolefull tune to wayle this wofull case Wring hard you hands waile on you 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 corpes the vermine foule to feede Whom Impes of Ioue 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 Another Nestor for aduise Zalucus fame that wanne A Damon deare vnto his freend in faith like Phocion found A Cato that could counsel giue to prince a subiect sound Not Athens for their Solon sage not Rome for Numa waile As we for Saunders death haue cause in fods of teares to saile Not Sparta card for Chilos death ne proud Prienna 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 youthful yeeres His counsel sad his rules his lawes in country soyle so wrought As though in Cuma he had benn 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 orphants weak might widows rere that cry The sound thereof shoulde pearce the cloudes to skale the empire sky To bid the gods to battel bend and to dissend in sight Though ffarre 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 ferce Achilles fled where is king Turnus shroude What is be come 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 Tyll frowning Fortune foyld by fate which fawning fortune found Shun Fortunes feates shake fortune of to none is fortune sound Sith none may say of Fortune so I Fortune faithful found Beholde where Fortune flowed so fast and fauoured Saunders lure Till fickle Fortune false again did Saunders death procure Lo clothed could in cloddes of clay in drossy dust remaine By fate returnd from 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 there mirth our mone is such That they may laugh as cause doo yeeld and 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 dye 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 Iudiths 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 wherin you triumpth most Kneele on your knees knock hard your brests sound 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 seat to sitte Here shee like Phaebus rules that can Gordius knot vnknitte I liued to nature long ynough I liued to honor 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 Diamond 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 Gemme no Gold to giue no pearles from Pactolus lo No Persian Gaze no Indian stones no Tagus sands to show But faith and will to natiue soyle a liue and dead I find My hart my mind my loue I leaue vnto my prince behind Farwel you nobles of this land farwel you
paper penne and ynke this prouerbe 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 shâ—e 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 frendes renuing is of loue She sayd that neither king ne prince ne lord could liue aright Vntil their puissaunce the did proue their manhod and their might When manhode shal be matched so that feare can take no place Then weary workes make warriours each other to embrace And leaued their forse that fayled them which did consume the rout That might before haue liued their time and nature out Then did she sing as one that thought no man could her reproue The falling out of faith ful freendes renuing is of loue She sayd she saw no fishe ne foule nor beast within her haunt That mett a stranger in their kind but could giue it a taunt Since fleshe might not endure but rest must wrath succede And forse 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 wel behoue The falling out of faithful frendes 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 knele some crouch some beck some chek some can 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 faithful freends is the renuing of loue FINIS M. Edwardes 43. Thinke to dye THe life is long which lothsomly doth last The doleful dayes draw slowly to their date The present panges and painful plages sorepast Yeldes grefe aye grene 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 he praysed I am well taught to know From whence man came and eke whereto he must And by the waye vpon how feeble force His terme doth stand till death doth end his course The pleasant yeeres that seemes so sweetely ronne The mery dayes to ende so fast that flete The ioyfull wightes of which dayes drawes so sone The happy howres which 〈◊〉 do misse then mete 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 wherin onely himselfe doth knowe If man would mind what burdeins 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 al it yelds 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 disolued 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 care and se but say the best If thou delight in quietnes of life Desire to shoun from bralls debate and strife To liue in loue with god with frend 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 ge eue But say for truth of happy liues assind The best hath he that quiet is in mind FINIS M. Hunnis 52. Beeing forsaken of his frend he complaineth WHy should I lenger long to liue In this desease of fantasie Sins fortune doth not cease to giue Thinges to my mind most contrarie And at my ioyes doth lowre and frowne Till she hath tourned them vpsidowne A freende I had to me most deere And of long time faithfull and iust There was no one my hart so neere Nor one in whome 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 faste The water streame should passe awrie The winds should leaue their strength of blast The Sunne and Moone by one assent Should both forsake the firmament The fishe in ayre should flye with finne The foules in floud should bring forth fry All thinges methinkes should erst beginne To take their course vnnaturally Afore my frend should alter so Without a cause to be my foe But such is Fortunes hate I say Such is his will on me to wreake Such spite he hath at me alway And ceasseth not my hart to breake With such despite of crueltie Wherefore then longer liue should I. FINIS E. S. 53. Prudens The history of Damacles Dionise WHo so is set in princely throne and craueth rule to beare Is still beset on euery side with peril and with feare High trees by stormy windes are shakt and rent vp from the ground And flashy flackes of lightning flames on turrets do rebound When little shrubs in sauetie lurke in couert all alowe And freshly florish in their kind what euer wind doe blowe The cruel king of Scisili who searing Barbars hands Was wont to sings his beard himselfe with cole and fire brands Hath taught vs this the proofe whereof ful plainly we may see Was neuer thing more liuely touched to shewe it so to be 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 we see Wilt thou then sayd this cruell king proue this my present state Possesse thou shalt this seate of mine and so be fortunate Ful gladly then this Damacles this proferd honour tooke And shooting at a princely life his quiet rest forsooke In honours seat then
with folly kept me blind Yet as the Egle casts her bill whereby her age renueth So Lorde with mercie doe forgiue the follies of my youth FINIS M. Hunnis No pleasure without some paine HOw can the tree but wast and wither awaie That hath not sometyme comforte of the Sunne How can that flower but fade and sone decaie That alwaies is with darcke clouds runne Is this a life naye death you maie it call That feeles eche paine and knoweth no ioye 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 hym that is alone Is this a life naye death you maie it call That féeles eche paine and knowes no ioy at all Wherto serue eares if that there be no sound Or suche a head where no deuise doeth growe But all of plaints since sorrowe is the grounde Whereby the harte doeth pine in deadlie woe Is this a life naye death you maie it call That feles eche paine and knowes no ioy at al. FINIS L. Vaux The fruite of feined frendes IN choise of frends what hap had I to chuse one of Cirēs kind whose harp whose pipe whose melody could fede my ears make me blind Whose pleasant voice made me forget that in sure trust is gret deceit In trust I see is treason founde and man to man deceitfull is And whereas treasure doeth abounde of flatterers there doe not misse Whose painted speache outward show do seme as frends be not so Would I haue thought in thee to be the nature of the Crocadill Whiche if a man a slepe maie see with bloudie thirst desires to kill And then with teares a while gan wepe the death of him thus slain a slepe O fauell false thou traitor borne what mischief more might thou deuise Then thy deare frend to haue in scorne hym to wound in sundry wise Whiche still a frende pretends to bee and are not so by proofe I see Fie fie vpon suche trecherie W. H. If suche false Shippes doe haunte the shore Strike doune the saile and trust no more M. Edwardes A dialogue betwene a Gentleman and his Loue. A. SHall I no waie winne you to graunt my desire B. What woman will graunt you the thyng 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 saie not so B. To Loue you beste I must saie no A. Yet will I not flitt B. then plaie 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 awaie B. Swift hauks in their fliyng oft tymes misse their praie 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 plaie 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 saiyngs I sure knowe not how A. Moste truthe I meane as tyme shall well trie B. No truthe in men I ofte espie A. Yet will I not flitt B. then plaie 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 maie saie naie and meane Loue moste 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 sone dispatche you you shall not come there A. Some speds at length that ofte haue miste B. I am well armde come when you liste A. Yet will I not flitt B. then plaie 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 frendly as I shall you proue A. Moste true you shall finde me I this doe protest B. Then sure you shall binde me to graunte your request A. O happie threede now haue I spunne B. You syng before the conquest wonne A. Why then will you swarue B. euen as you desarue A Loue still B. I will A. yet kill not B. I will not A. Make me your man B. come to me than FINIS M. Edwardes Exclamyng vpon his vnkinde Loue his frende replieth wittely M. WHat death maie bee compared to Loue H. What grief therein now doest thou proue M. My paines alas who can expresse H. I see no cause of heauinesse M. My Ladies looks my woe hath wrought H. Then blame thyne eyes that firste 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 must I Loue although I smarte H. With her owne sworde thou slaiest thy hart M. Suche pleasaunt baits who can refraine H. Suche baits will sure breede thee greate paine M. What shall I doe than H. Come out and thou can M. Alas I die H. what remedie M. Her golden beames myne eyes doe daze H. Vpon the Sunne thou maiest not gaze M. She might reward my cruell smarte H. She thinks thou hardst a fained harte M. She laughs to heare my wofull cries H. Forsake her then in tyme bee wise M. No no alas that maie 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. Suche are the fruits 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 hym self 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 FINIS E. S. The complaint of a Louer wearyng Blacke and Taunie A Croune of Baies shall that man weare That triumphs ouer me For Blacke and Taunie will I weare Whiche mournyng coulers bee The more I followe on the more she fled awaie As Daphne did full long agoe Apollos wishfull praie The more my plaints resounde the lesse she pities me The more I sought the lesse
annoye Thus contraries be vsed I finde of wise to cloke the couert mynde I Haniball that smiles for grief and let you Cesars grief suffice The one that laughs at his mischief the other all for ioye that cries I smile to see me scorned so you weepe for ioye to see me woe And I a harte by Loue slaine deade presents in place of Pompeis head O cruell happ and harde estate that forceth me to loue my fo Accursed bee so foule a fate my choyse for to prefixe it so So long to fight with secret sore and finde no secret salue therefore Some urge their paine by plaint I finde but I in vain doe breath my winde FINIS E. Ox. His mynde not quietly setled he writeth thus EVen as the waxe doeth melte or dewe consume awaie Before the Sunne so I behold through carefull thoughts decaie For my beste lucke leads me to suche sinister state That I doe waste with others Loue that hath my self in hate And he that beats the bushe the wished birde not getts But suche I see as sitteth still and holds the foulyng netts The Drone more Honie sucks that laboureth not at all Then doeth the Bee to whose moste paine least pleasure doeth befall The Gardner sowes the seeds whereof the flowers doe growe And others yet doe gather them that tooke lesse paine I knowe So I the pleasaunt Grape haue pulled from the Vine And yet I languishe in greate thirste while others drinke the wine Thus like a wofull wight I woue the webb of woe The more I would weede out my cares the more thei seme to growe The whiche betokeneth forsaken is of me That with the carefull Culuer climes the worne and withered tree To entertaine my thoughts and there my happ to mone That neuer am lesse idle loe then when I am alone FINIS E. Ox. That Loue is requited by disdaine IN searche of thyngs that secret are my mated muse began What it might be molested moste the head and mynde of man. The bendyng brow of princes face to wrathe that doeth attende Or want of parents wife or childe or losse of faithfull frende The roryng of the Canon shot that makes the peece to shake Or terrour suche as mightie Ioue from heauen aboue can make All these in fine maie not compare experience so doeth proue Vnto the torments sharpe and strange of suche as be in loue Loue lookes a loft and laughs to scorne all suche as grefe anoye The more extreme their passions be the greater is his ioye Thus Loue as victor of the felde triumps aboue the rest And ioyes to see his subiects lye with liuyng death in brest But dire disdaine let ts driue a shaft and gauls this braggyng foole He plucks his plumes vnbendes his bowe and sets hym newe to scole Whereby this boye that bragged late as conquerer ouer all Now yelds hym self vnto disdaine his vessall and his thrall FINIS W. Hunnis Of a contented state IN wealth we se some wealthie men abound in wealth moste welthely In wealth we se those men again in wealth do liue moste wretchedly And yet of wealthe hauyng more store Then erst of wealth thei had before These welthy men do seme to want thei seme to want the most thei haue The more postes the more thei craue the more thei craue the greater store That moste thei haue thei thinke but skant Yet not content wo be therefore The simple men that lesse wealth haue with lesser wealth we se contēt Content are thei twixt wealth and scath a life to lead indifferent And thus of wealth these men haue more Then those of whiche we spoke before FINIS W. Hunnis Beyng disdained he complaineth IF frendlesse faithe if giltlesse thought maie shielde If simple truthe that neuer meant to swarue If deare desire accepted fruite doe yelde If greedie luste in loyall life doeth sarue Then maie my plainte bewaile my heauie harme That seekyng calme haue stumbled on the storme My wonted cheare ecclipsed by the cloude Of deepe disdaine through errour of reporte If wearie woe enwrapped in the shroude Lies slaine by tongue of the vnfrendly sorte Yet heauen and yearth and all that Nature wrought I call to vowe of my vnspotted thought No shade I seeke in parte to shield my tainte But simple truthe I hunte no other sute On that I gape the issue of my plainte If that I quaile let Iustice me confute If that my place emongs the giltlesse sorte Repaie by dome my name and good reporte Goe heauie verse pursue desired grace Where pitie shrinde in cell of secret brest Awaits my haste the rightfull lot to place And lothes to see the giltlesse man opprest Whose vertues greate hath crounde her more with fame Then kyngly state though largely shine the same FINIS L. Vaux Of the meane estate THe higher that the Ceder tree vnto the heauens doe growe The more in daunger is the top when sturdie winds gan blowe Who Iudges then in princely throne to bee deuoide of hate Doeth not yet knowe what heapes of ill lies hid in suche estate Suche dangers great suche gripes of minde suche toile do thei sustain That often tymes of God thei wishe to bee vnkyngde again For as the huge and mightie rockes withstande the ragyng seas So kyngdomes in subiection bee whereas dame Fortune please Of brittle ioye of smilyng cheare of Honie mixte with Gall Alotted is to euery Prince in freedome to bee thrall What watches long what steps vnsure what grefes and care of minde What bitter broiles what endlesse toiles to kyngdomes bee assingde The subiect then maie well compare with prince for pleasant daies Whose silent nighe bryngs quiet rest whose steps no storme bewraies How muche bee we then bounde to God who suche prouision makes To late our cares vpon the Prince thus doeth he for our sakes To hym therefore let vs lifte vp our harts and praie a maine That euery Prince that he hath plast maie long in quiet raigne FINIS W. H. Of a contented mynd WHen all is doen and saied in the ende thus shall you finde The moste of all doeth hath in blisse that hath a quiet minde And cleare from worldlie cares to deame can bee content The sweetest tyme in all this life in thinkyng to bee spent The bodie subiecte is to fickle Fortunes power And to a million of mishapps is casuall euery hower And death in tyme doeth chaunge it to a clodde of claie When as the mynde whiche is deuine runnes neuer to decaie Companion none is like vnto the mynde alone For many haue been harmde by speach through thinking few or none Fewe often tymes restraineth words but maks not thoughts to cease And he speaks beste that hath the skill when for to holde his peace Our wealth leaues vs at death our kinsmen at the graue But vertues of the mynde vnto the heauens with vs haue Wherefore for vertues sake I can be well content The sweetest tyme of all my life to deeme in thinkyng
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 whome this wisedome flowes O wash therwith our sinful harts from vice that therin growes FINIS M. Edwardes 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 doleful brest The shame and power that vice obtaineth now Behold how God doth dayly profer grace Yet we disdayne repentance to embrace The suddes of sinne do soke into the mind And cancred vice doth vertue quite expel No change to good alas can resting finde Our wicked harts so stoutly do rebel Not one there is that hasteth to amend Though God from heauen his dayly threates downe send We are so slow to change our blameful life We are so prest to snach aluring vice Such greedy harts on euery side be rife So few that guide their will by counsel wise To let our teares lament the wretched case And call to God for vndeserued grace You worldy wightes that haue your fancies fixt On slipper ioy of terreine 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 he 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 hateful way FINIS R. Hill. 39. Sundry men sundry affectes JN euery wight some sundry sort of pleasure I do find Which after trauaile he doth seeke to ease his toyling minn Diana with her trayning chase of hunting had delight Against the fearful Deare she could direct her shotte aright The lofty yeeres in euery age doth stil embrace the same The sport is good if vertue doo assist the cheereful game Minerua in her chattering armes her courage doth aduaunce In trial of the bloudy wars she giueth luckie chaunce For sauegard men imbrace the same which do so needful seeme That noble harts their cheefe delightes in vse thereof esteeme In warlike games to ride or trye 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 science which the heauens aduaunce where it deserues to sit A pleasure apt for euery wight celeefe to careful mind For woe redresse for care a salue for sadnes helpe we find 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 lateli fel Whiles each did prayse 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 hawtie mindes the worthiest are estemed 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 FINIS R. Hill. 40. Of a Freend and a Flatterer A Trustie frend is rare to find a fawning foe may sone be got A faithful frend bere stil in mind but fawning foe regard thou not A faithful freend no cloke doth craue to colour knauery withal But Sicophant a Goun must haue to beare a port what ere befal A nose to smel out euery feast a brasen face to set it out A shamles child or homly geast whose life doth like to range about A fauning foe while wealth doth last a thefe to rob and spoile his freend As strong as oke til 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 FINIS M. Edwardes 41. Of sufferaunce commeth ease 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 them free These are the pacient pagnes 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 olde troth things proue not as they seeme Whereby it may befall in iudgement to be quicke To make them selues 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 bragges 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 constraind to change his lusty plight Of pleasures all that here we taste We feele the contrary at laste In spring though pleasant Zephirus hath fruteful earth inspired And nature hath each bush each 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 dout of stormes in skie is none king Phaebus shines so cleare Yet when the boistrous windes breake out and raging waues do swel The seely barke now heaues to heauen now sinckes againe to hel Thus change in euery thing we see And nothing constant seemes to be Who floweth most in worldly wealth of welth is most vnsure And he that cheefely tastes of ioy doth sometime woe endure Who vaunteth most of
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 FINIS 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 doo 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 thée by prayer to appease thy yre And since that thee I onely seeke to finde And hope by faith to attayne my iust desire Lord mind no more youthes error and vnskill And able age to doo thy holy will. FINIS 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 conseyt of sweete alluring tale He bites the baits that breedes his bitter bale To beawties blaze cast not thy rouing eye In pleasant greene 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 trusty faith and freendly meaning lyes That state therefore most happy seemes to be Where wordes and deedes most faithfully agree My freend yf 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 renoundeth vnto thy neighboures 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 trusty freendes by tryall soone are found To shunne therefore the woorst that may ensue Let deedes alway approue thy sayings true FINIS F. K. 20. Who wyll aspire to dignitie By learning must aduaunced be THE poore that liue in needy rate by learning doo great riches gayne The rich that liue in welthy state by learning do their welth maintayne 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 foorth the reddy wayes O happy him doo I repute Whose brest is fraught with learning fruite There growes no corne within the fielde that Oxe and 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 Captayne hath respect to trayne his souldiers in aray So learning doth mans 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 fountayne pure out from the which all 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 beareth sway THE sturdy Rocke for all his strength by raging Seas is rent in twayne The Marble stone is pearst at length with little droppes of drifling rayne The Oxe dooth yeeld vnto the yoke The Steele obeyeth the hammer stroke The stately Stagge that seemes so stout by yalping hounds 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 â—…e man him selfe vnto whose will all thinges are bounden to obey For all his witte and worthy skill dooth fade at length and fall 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 spitfull death mans body kill yet hurtes he not his