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
deuiseth many a trap Loe how false freendes can frame a fetch to win the will with wils To sauce their slightes with sugred sops and 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 FINIS D. S. 27. A Lady forsaken complayneth JF pleasures be in paynfulnes in pleasures dooth 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 miserye 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 from louing him too much Which I can iudge no iust offence nor cause that I deserue disdaine Except he mean through false pretence 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 lest 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 greeuous griefes do grow by loue what it is to loue in vaine FINIS M. D. 28. Finding worldly ioyes but vanities he wisheth death FOrlorne in filthy froward fate wherin a thousand cares I find By whom I do lament my state annoid with fond afflicted minde A wretch in woe and dare not cry I liue and yet I wish to dye The day in dole that semeth long I pas with sighes heauy cheere And with these eyes I vewe the wrong that I sustain by liuing here Where my mishaps as rife doo dwell As plagues within the pit of hell A wailing wight I walke 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 captaine 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 starues the beast A seeged fort with forrain force for want of ayde 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 FINIS 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 eake 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 hurtful be And May well vsed in time and place may make you mery gle Modest maying mettest is of this you may be suer 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 suer Who makes his May in other sort his vnrest may procuer 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 anende And May that when you list to May a good may God you sende FINIS 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 twentie yeeres I skarse 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 then 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 syght prooud al a toy For passing on these mery dayes with new deuice of pleasures great And now and then 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 beauty yet saw neuer wight What shal I seke to praise it more wher tongs cannot wel praise the sāe But to be short to louers lore I straight my sences all did frame And were it wit or were it chaunce I woonne the Garland in this daunce And thus wher I before had thought no hap my fortūe might encrese 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 torments strange I tast the fickle stay of fortunes whele And where shee raised from high to cast with greater force of grefe 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 hateful prison for to fade where sundred from my louing feare My wealth and health stands at like stay Obscurely to consume away And last when humain 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
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
sonne no whit my harte should paine Eye Where fancie beareth swaye there Cupid will bee bolde And reason flies awaie from Cupids shafte of golde If you finde cause thereby some deale of painfull smarte Alas blame not your eye but blame consent of harte Auctour My harte must I excuse and laye the fault on thee Because thy sight did chuse when harte from thought was free Thy sight thus brought consente consent hath bred my grief And grief bids bee content with sorrowe for relief FINIS M. Hunnis 64. Fyndyng no ioye he desireth death THe Conie in his caue the Feret doeth annoye And fleyng thence his life to saue hym self he doeth destroye His Berrie rounde about beset with Hunters snares So that when he to scape starts out is caught therein vnwares Like choise poore man haue I to bide and reste in Loue Or els from thence to flie as badde a death to proue I see in Loue to reste vnkindnesse doeth pursue To rent the harte out of his breast whiche is a Louer true And if from Loue I starte as one that Loue forsaks Then pensiue thoughts my harte doeth pearce and so my life it taks Then thus to flie or bide hard is the choise to chuse Since death hath campd and trenched eche side saith life now refuse Content I am therefore my life therein to spende And death I take a salue for sore my wearie daies to ende And thus I you require that faithfull Loue professe When carcas cased is in cheste and bodie laied on hearse Your brinishe teares to saue suche as my corse shall moue And therewith write vpon my graue beholde the force of Loue. FINIS M. Hunnis Hope well and haue well IN hope the Shipman hoiseth saile in hope of passage good In hope of healthe the sicke man doeth suffer losse of blood In hope the prisoner linckt in chaines hopes libertie to finde Thus hope breds health and health breds ease to euery troubled mind In hope desire getts victorie in hope greate comfort spryngs In hope the Louer liues in ioyes he feares no dreadfull styngs In hope we liue and maie abide suche stormes as are assignde Thus hope breds health health breds ease to euery troubled mynde In hope we easely suffer harme in hope of future tyme In hope of fruite the paine semes sweete that to the tree doeth clime In hope of Loue suche glorie growes as now by propfe I finde That hope breds health health breds ease to euery troubled mynde FINIS M. Hunnis He requesteth some frendly comfort affirmyng his constancie THe mountaines hie whose loftie topps doeth mete the hautie sky The craggie rocke that to the sea free passage doeth deny The aged Oke that doeth resist the force of blustryng blaste The pleasaunt hearbe that euery where a fragrant smell doeth caste The Lions force whose courage stout declares a princelike might The Eagle that for worthinesse is borne of kyngs in fight The Serpent eke whose poisoned iaws doeth belche out venime vile The lothsome Tode that shumeth light and liueth in exile These these I saie and thousands more by trackt of tyme decaie And like to tyme doe quite consume and bade from tyme to claie But my true harte and seruice vowed shall laste tyme out of minde And still remaines as thyne by dome as Cupid hath assingde My faithe loe here I vowe to thee my trothe thou knowest right well My goods my frends my life is thyne what neede I more to tell I am not myne but thyne I vowe thy hests I will obeye And serue thee as a seruaunt ought in pleasyng if I maie And sithe I haue no fliyng wyngs to see thee as I wishe Ne sinnes to cut the siluer streames as doeth the glidyng fishe Wherefore leaue now forgetfulnesse and sende againe to me And straine thy azured vaines to write then I maie gretyng see And thus farewell more deare to me then chiefest frende I haue Whose Loue in harte I minde to shrine till death his fee doe craue FINIS M. Edwardes His complaneth his mishapp SHall rigour raigne where ruth hath run shall fansie now forsake Shall fortune lose that fauour wonne shall not your anger slake Shall hatefull harte be had in you that frendly did pretende Shall slipper thought and faithe vntrue that harte of yours defende Shall nature shewe your beautie faire that gentle semes to bee Shall frowardnesse your fancies heire be of more force then she Shall now disdaine the dragg of death directe and leade the waie Shall all the imps vpon the yearth reioyce at my decaie Shall this the seruice of my youth haue suche reward at laste Shall I receiue rigour of ruthe and be from fauour caste Shall I therefore berent my heares with wights that wishe to dye Or shall I bathe my self with teares to feede your fickle eye No no I shall in paine lye still with turtle Doue moste true And vowe my self to witt and will their counsels to ensue Good Ladies all that Louers be and that to be pretende Giue place to witt let reason seme your enemie to defende Lest that you thinke as I haue thought your self to stroue in vaine And so to be in thraldome brought with me to suffer paine FINIS M. Hunnis No foe to a flatterer I Would it were not as I thinke I would it were not so I am not blinde although I winke I feele what winds doe blowe I knowe where crafte with smilyng cheare creps into boldned breaste I heare how fained speache speaks faire where hatred is possesse I see the Serpent lye and lurcke vnder the greene alowe I see hym watche a tyme to worke his poyson to bestowe In frendly lookes suche fraude is founde as faithe for feare is fled And frendship hath receiude suche wounde as he is almoste ded And hatefull harte with malice greate so boiles in cankred mynde That flatterie flearyng in the face had almoste made me blinde But now I see all is not golde that glittereth in the eye Nor yet suche frends as thei professe as now by proofe I trye Though secret spight by crafte hath made a coate of Panter skin And thinks to finde me in the shade by sleight to wrapp me in Yet God bee praised my eye is cleare and can beholde the Sunne When falshood dare not once appeare to ende that he begunne Thus tyme shall trie the thyng amisse whiche God saue shortly sende And tourne the harte that fained is to bee a faithfull frende FINIS M. Hunnis His comparison of Loue. THe Spider with greate skill doeth trauell daie by daie His lymmes no tyme lye still to set his house in state And when he hath it wrought thinkyng therein to raigne A blaste of winde vnthought doeth driue it doune againe The proofe whereof is true to make his worke indure He paines hym self a newe in hope to dwell more sure And in some secret place a corner of a wall He frameth hym self a pace to builde and rest
THE PARADYSE of daynty deuises Conteyning sundry pithy preceptes learned Counsels and excellent inuentions right pleasant and profitable for all estates Deuised and written for the most part by M. Edwardes sometimes of her Maiesties Chappell the rest by sundry learned Gentlemen both of honor and worship whose names hereafter folowe EGO SVM VIA ET VERITAS Jmprinted at London by Henry Disle dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the Southwest doore of Saint Paules Church and are there to be solde 1578. IE NE CHERCHE Q'VNE Saint Barnard E. O. Lord Vaux the elder VV. Hunis Iasper Heyvvod F. Kindlemarsh D. Sand. M. Yloop. TO THE RIGHT HOnorable Sir Henry Compton Knight Lord Compton of Compton RIGHT HONORABLE AND my verye good Lord presuming vpon your curtesy I am bolde to present vnto your honor this smale volume Entituled The Paradise of deyntye deuises being penned by diuers learned Gentlemen and collected togeather through the trauell of one both of vvorshippe and credite for his priuate vse who not long sine departed this life vvhich vvhen I had perused ouer not vvithout the aduise of sundry my freendes I determined by their good motion to set thē in print who therunto greatlye perswaded me vvith these and like vvords The vvryters of them were both of honor and worshippe besides that our ovvne country men and such as for their learning and grauitie might be accompted of among the wisest Furthermore the dittis both pithy pleasant as wel for the inuentiō as meter and vvill yeelde a farre greater delight being as they are so aptly made to be sette to any song in .5 partes or song to instrument VVhich well considering I porposed not to forsake so good an occasion beseching your honor to accept it in good parte cheefely for the authours sake who thoughe some of them are departed this life yet their worthy doings shall continue for euer for like as the shadow folovveth the body so praise foloweth vertue and as the shadow goeth somtimes before and sometimes behind so doth praise also to vertue but the later it commeth the greater it is to be the better esteemed Thus fearing to offend your honor with these my rude speaches I ende wishing your L. many yeeres of ioy Your good Lordships wholy to commaund H. D. The translation of the blessed S. Barnards verses conteining the vnstable felicitie of this wayfaring world CVR mundus militat sub vana gloria cuius prosperitas est transitoria Tam cito labitur eius potentia quam vasa figula que sunt fragilia WHY dooth eache state apply it selfe to worldly prayse And vndertake such toyle to heape vp honours gayne Whose seate though seeming sure on fickle fortune stayes Whose giftes were neuer proued perpetuall to remayne But euen as earthen pot with euery fillip fayles So fortunes fauour flits and fame with honour quayles Plus crede litteris scriptis in glacia quam mundi fragilis venae fallabiae Fallsax in premijs vertutis specie que nunquam habuit tempus fiduciae Thinke rather firme to find a figure grauen in Ise Whose substance subiect is to heate of shining sunne Then hope for stedfast stay in wanton worlds deuise Whose fayned fond delightes from falshed forge doo come And vnder Vertues veyle are largely dealt about Deceiuing those who thinke their date will neuer out Magis credendū est viris fallacibus quam mundi miseris prosperitatibus Falsis insanijs voluptatibus falsis quoquae studijs vanitatibus The trifeling truthles tongue of rumours lying lippes Deserues more trust then dooth the highest happy hap That world to worldlinges giues for see how honour slippes To foolish fond conceytes to pleasures poysoned sap To studyes false in proofe to artes applied to gayne To fickle fancies toyes which wisedome deemeth vayne Dic vbi Salomon olim tam nobilis vel vbi Sampson est dux inuincibilis Vel dulcis Ionathas multum amabilis vel pulcher Absoln vultu mirabilis Where is the sacred king that Salomon the wise Whose wysedome former time of duety did commend Where is that Sampson strong that monstrous man in syze Whose forced arme dyd cause the mighty pillers bend Where is the pearles Prince the freendly Ionathas Or Absolon whose shape and fauour did surpasse Quo Caesar abijt celsus imperio vel diues splendidus totus in prandio Dic vbi Tullius clarus eloquio vel Aristoteles summus ingenio Where is that Caesar now whose high renowmed fame Of sundry conquestes wonne through out the world did sound Or Diues rich in store and rich in richly name Whose chest with gold and dishe with daynties did abound Where is the passing grace of Tullies pleding skill Or Aristotles vayne whose pen had witte and will O esca vermium ò massa pulueris ò ros ò vanitas cur sic extolleris Ignoras penitus vtrū cras vixeris fac bonum omnibus quam diu poteris O foode of filthy worme oh lump of lothsome clay O life ful like the dewe which morning sunne doth wast O shadow vayne whose shape with sunne dooth shrinke away Why gloriest thou so much in honour to be plaste Sith that no certayne houre of life thou doste enioy Most fyt it were thy time to goodnesse to employ Quam breue festū est haec mundi gloria vt vmbra hominū sic eius gaudia Que semper subtrahit aeterna praemia ducunt hominum ad dura eruia How short a banquet seemes the pomp of high renowne How like the senseles shape of shiuering shadow thine Are wanton worldly toyes whose pleasure plucketh downe Our harts from hope hands from works which heauen should win And takes vs from the trod which guides to enlesse gayne And sets vs in the way that leades to lasting payne Haec mundi gloria quae magni penditur sacris in litteris flos faeni dicitur Vt leue folium quod vento rapitur sic vita hominum hac vita tollitur The pompe of worldly prayse which worldlings hold so déere In holy sacred booke is likened to a flowre Whose date dooth not conteyne a weeke a moonth or yeere But springing now dooth fade againe within an houre And as the lightest leafe with wind about is throwne So light is life of man and lightly hence is blowne FINIS My luke is losse 1. Our pleasures are vanities BEholde the blast which blowes the blossomes from the tree The end whereof consumes and comes to nought we see Ere thou therefore be blowen from life that may not last Begin for grace to call for time mispent and past Haue mind on brittle lyfe whose pleasures are but vayne On death likewise bethinke how thou maiest not remayne And feare thy Lord to greeue which sought thy soule to saue To sinne no more be bent but mercy aske and haue For death who dooth not spare the kings on earth to kill Shall reape also from thee thy pleasure life and will That lyfe which yet remaynes and in thy
brest appeares Hath sowen in thee such seedes you ought to weede with teares And life that shall succeede when death is worne and past Shall spring for euer then in ioy or payne to last Where death on life hath power ye see that life also Hath mowen the fruites of death which neuer more shall grow FINIS W. Hunis 2. Who wayteth on this wauering world and veweth each estate By tryall taught shall learne it best to liue in simple rate AMid the vale the sclender shrubbe is hid from all mishap When taller tree that standes aloft is rent with thunder clap The Turrets tops which touch the cloudes are beat with euery blast Soone shiuered are their stones with storme and quickly ouer cast Best bodyed tree in all the wood for tymber beame is found And to the axe the sturdiest Oxe dooth yeeld and fall to ground The highest hill dooth soonest feele the flash of lightnings flame And soone decayes the pomp and pryde of high renowmed name Of all the heard the huntman seekes by proofe as dooth appere With double forked arrowe head to wound the greatest Deare The hautiest head of all the droue enioyes the shortest life And staines the slaughter house with blood at pricke of butchers knife Thus what thing hyest place atteynes is soonest ouerthrowne What euer Fortune sets a loft she threates to throw it downe And though no force resist thy power nor seeke thee to confound Yet dooth the payse of weighty things decline it selfe to ground For restlesse tipe of roulling wheele example hath it tryde To heauy burden yeelde it must ful soone and slip asyde What vayles the rich his bed of down that sighes for sleplesse thought What time in couch of flock the poore sleepes sound feareth nought At homely boord his quiet foode his drinkes in treene be tane When oft the proud in cuppes of gold with wine receiue their bane The bed the boord the dread in dout with trayne to be opprest When fortune frounes their power must yeelde as wyre vnto the wrest If Icarus had not presumed to high to take his flight He had not yet ben drowned in Seas that now Itarion hight If Phaeton had not enterprised to guide his fathers seate His fires had not enflamed the world nor ben destroyed with heate But who so climes aboue the meane there is no hope of stay The higher vp the sonner downe and nearer his decay Then you that here in pompe or place to guide the golden mase Let crowne and Septer both obay the meane of Vertues race For neither shall renowmed Vertue see the pit of hell Nor yet in toombe of Marble stone she may abide to dwell But from Sepulcher flies she hence beyond the skies aboue And glistering in the blisful stares she raines with mighty Ioue FINIS Iasper Heywood 3. The perfect tryall of a faythfull freend NOt stayed state but feeble stay not costly robes but bare aray Not passed welth but presēt wāt not heped store but sclēder skāt Not plenties purse but poore estate not happy hap but troward fate Not wish at wil but wāt of ioy not harts good helth but harts annoy No fredomes vse but prisoners thrall not costly seate but lowest fall Not weale I meane but wretched wo doth truely try the feend frō foe And nowght but frowarde Fortune prooues who fauning faines or simply loues FINIS M. Yloop. 4. Being asked the occasion of his white head he annswereth thus WHere seething sighes and sorow sobbes Hath slaine the slippes that nature set And skalding showers with stony throbbes The kindly sappe from them hath fet What woonder then though that you see Vpon my head white heares to be Where thought hath thrild and throwne his speares To hurt the hart that harmeth him not And groning griefe hath ground forth teares Myne eyne to staine my face to spot What woonder then though that you see Vpon my head white heares to be Where pinching payne himselfe hath plaste There peace with pleasures were possest And where the walles of wealth lye waste And pouertye in them is prest What woonder then though that you see Vpon my head white heares to be Where wretched woe will weaue her webbe Where care the clewe can catch and cast And flooddes of ioy are fallen to ebbe So loe that life may not long last What woonder then though that you see Vpon my head white heares to be These heares of age are messengers Which bidde me fast repent and pray They be of death the harbingers That dooth prepare and dresse the way Wherefore I ioy that you may see Vpon my head such heares to be They be the lines that lead the length How farre my race is for to runne They say my youth is fled with strength And how olde age is weake begunne The which I feele and you may see Vpon my head such lines to be They be the stringes of sober sound Whose musicke is harmonicall Their tunes declare a time from ground I came and how there to I shall Wherefore I ioy that you may see Vpon my head such stringes to be God graunt to those that white heares haue No worse them take then I haue ment That after they be layde in graue Their soules may ioy their liues wel spent God graunt likewise that you may see Vpon your head such heares to be FINIS W. Hunis 5. Beware of had I wyst BEware of had I wyst whose fine brings care and smart Esteeme of all as they deserue and deeme as deemd thou art So shall thy perfect freend enioy his hoped hyre And faithlesse fawning foe shall misse theffect of his desyre Good will shall haue his gayne and hate shall heape despite A faithlesse freend shall find distrust and loue shall reape delite Thy selfe shall rest in peace thy freend shall ioy thy fate Thy foe shall fret at thy good happe and I shall ioy thy state But this my fond aduise may seeme purchaunce but vayne As rather teaching how to lose then howe a freend to gayne But this not my intent to teach to find a freend But safely how to loue and leaue is all that I entend And yf you prooue in part and find my counsell true Then wysh me well for my good wyll t is all I craue adue FINIS My lucke is losse 6. M. Edwards MAY. WHen MAY is in his prime then MAY eche hart reioyce When MAY bedecks eche branch with greene ech bird streins forth his voice The liuely sappe creepes vp into the bloming throne The flowres which cold in prison kept now laughes the frost to skorne All natures Impes triumphes whiles ioyful may doth last When MAY is gone of all the yeere the pleasant time is past MAY makes the cheerfull hue MAY breedes bringes new blood MAY marcheth throughout euery lim MAY makes the mery mood MAY pricketh tender harts their warbling notes to tune Ful strange it is yet some we see doe make their MAY in Iune Thus thinges
are strangly wrought whiles ioyful MAY doth last Take MAY in time when MAY is gone the pleasant time is past All ye that liue on earth and haue your MAY at will Reioyce in MAY as I doe now and vse your MAY with skill Vse MAY whyle that you may for MAY hath but his time When all the fruite is gone it is to late the tree to clime Your liking and your lust is freshe whyles MAY dooth last When MAY is gone of all the yeere the pleasant time is past FINIS M. Edwardes 7. Faire words make fooles faine JN youthful yeeres when first my young desyres began To pricke me forth to serue in Court a sclender tal young man My fathers blessing then I askt vpon my knnee Who blessing me with trembling hand these words gan say to me My sonne God guide thy way and shild thee from mischaunce And make thy iust desartes in Court thy poore estate to aduaunce Yet when thou art become one of the Courtly trayne Thinke on this prouerbe old qd he that faire words make foles fain This counsell grauely giuen most straunge appeares to me Till tract of time with open eyes had made me plainely see What subtill fleightes are wrought by painted tales deuise When hollow harts with freendly shewes the simple do entise To thinke all gold that shines to feede their fond desire Whose sheuering cold is warmde with smoke in stead of flaming fire Sith talke of tickle trust dooth breede a hope most vayne This prouerbe true by profe I find that faire words make fooles fain Faire speach alway doth wel where deedes insue faire words Faire speach agayn alway dooth euill that bushes giues for birdes Who hopes to haue faire words to trye his lucky lot If I may counsell let him strike it whyle the iron is hot But them that feede on cloddes in stead of pleasant grapes And after warning often giuen for better lucke still gapes Ful loth I am yet must I tel them in words playne This prouerbe old proues true in them that faire words makes fooles fayne Wo worth the time that words so slowly turne to deedes Wo worth the time the faire swete flouers are growen to rotten weedes But thrise wo worth the time that truth away is fled Wherein I see how simple harts with words are vaynely fed Trust not faire words therfore Where no deedes do ensue Trust words as skilful falkeners do trust Haukes that neuer flewe Trust deedes let words be words which neuer wrought me gaine Let my experience make you wise and let words make foles faine FINIS M. Edwardes 8. In his extreame sicknesse WHat greeues my bones and makes my body faint What prickes my flesh and teares my head in twayne Why doe I wake when rest should me attaint When others laugh why do I liue in payne I tosse I turne I chaunge from side to side And stretch me oft in sorowes linkes betyde I tosse as one betost in waues of care I turne to flee the woes of lothsome life I change to spy if death this corpes might spare I stretch to heauen to ridde me of this strife Thus doe I stretch and change and tosse and turne Whyle I in hope of heauen my life do burne Then hold the still let be thy heauinesse Abolish care forgeat thy pining woe For by this meanes soone shalt thou find redresse When oft betost hence thou to heauen must goe Then tosse and turne and tumble franke and free O happy thryse when thou in heauen shalt be FINIS L. Vaux 9. For Christmas day Reioyce reioyce with heart and voyce In Christes birth this day reioyce FRom Virgins wombe this day did spring The precious seede that only saued man This day let man reioyce and sweetely sing Since on this day saluacion first began This day did Christ man soule from death remoue With glorious saintes to dwell in heauen aboue This day to man came pledge of perfect peace This day to man came loue and vnitie This day mans griefe began for to surcease This day did man receiue a remedie For each offence and euery deadly sinne With guiltie hart that erst he wandred in In Christes flocke let loue be surely plaste From Christes flocke let concord hate expel Of Christes flocke let loue be so embraste As we in Christ and Christ in vs may dwel Christ is the authour of all vnitie From whence proceedeth all felicitie O sing vnto this glittering glorious king O prayse his name let euery liuing thing Let hart and voyce like Belles of siluer ring The comfort that this day did bring Let Lute let Shalme with sound of sweete delight The ioy of Christes birth this day resight FINIS F. Kindlemarsh 10. For Easter dcy. ALl mortal men this day reioice in Christe that you redemed hath By death with death sing we with voice to him that hath appesd gods wrath Due vnto man for sinful path wherein before he went astray Giue thankes to him with perfect faith that for man kinde hath made this glorious day This day he rose frō tombe again wherin his precious corse was laid Whom cruelly the Iewes had slaine with blooddy wounds ful il araid O man be now no more dismaid if thou henceforth from sin do stay Of death thou needest not be afraide Christe conquered death for thys his glorious day His death preuailed had not whitt As Paule the apostle wel doth write Except he had vprisen yet from death to life by Godlike might With most triumphant glittering light This day his glorye shined I say and made vs brighte as sunne thys glorious day O man arise with Christ therfore since he from sin hath made thee fre Beware thou fall in sinne no more but rise as Christ did rise for thee So maist thou him in glory see when he at day of doome shall say Come thou my child and dwell with me God graunt vs all to see that glorious day FINIS qoth Iasper Haywood 11. For Whitsunday COme holy ghost eternall God and ease the wofull greefe That through the heapes of heauy sin can no where find releefe Doo thou O God redresse The great distresse Of sinful heauinesse Come comfort the afflicted thoughtes of my consumed hart O ryd the pearcing pricking paynes of my tormenting smart O holy ghost graunt me That I by thee From sinne may purged be Thou art my God to thee alone I will commend my cause Nor glittering gold nor precious stone shall make me leaue thy laws O teach me then the way Whereby I may Make thee my onely stay My lippes my tongue my hart and al shall spread thy mighty name My voyce shall neuer cease to sound the prayses of the same Yea euery liuing thing Shall sweetely sing To thee O heauenly king FINIS F. K. 12. No pleasure without some payne SWeete were the ioyes that both might like and last Strange were the state exempt from all distresse Happy the life that no mishap should tost Blessed
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
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
Iudges graue Farwel my felowes frends and mates your Queene I say God saue What rise in time in time doth fal what floweth in time doth ebbe What liues in time in time shall dye and yeelde to Parcas webbe The sunne to darknes shal be turnd the starres from skies shall fall The Moone to blood the world with fire shal be consumed all As smoke or vapour vanish streight as bubbles rise and fall As clowdes do passe or shadow shiftes we liue we dye so all Our pompe our pride our triump moste our glory great herein Like shattering shadow passe away as though none such had bin Earth water ayre and fire as they were earst before A lumpe confused and Chaos calld so shall they once be more And all to earth that came from earth and to the graue descend For earth on earth to earth shall goe and earth shall be the end As Christ ascended vp in clowdes so Christ in clowdes shall come To iudge both good and bad on earth at dreadful day of dome From whence our flesh shall rise again euen from the drossy dust And so shall passe I hope vnto the mansion of the iust FINIS Lodowick LLoyd 33. His good name being blemished he bewayleth FRamd in the front of forlorne hope past all recouery I stayles stand tab I de the shocke of shame and infamy My life through lingring long is lodge in lare of lothsome wayes My death delayd to keepe from life the harme of haplesse dayes My sprites my hart my witte and force in deepe destresse are dround The onely losse of my good name is of these greefes the ground And since my mind my wit my head my voyce and tongue are weake To vtter mooue deuise conceaue sound forth declare and speake Such pearsing plaintes as aunswere might or would my wofull case Helpe craue I must and craue I will with teares vpon my face Of all that may in heauen or hell in earth or ayre be found To waile with me this losse of mine as of these greefes the ground Helpe gods helpe saintes helpe sprits powers that in the heauen do dwell Helpe ye the are to waile aye woont ye howling houndes of hell Helpe man helpe beasts helpe birds wormes that on the earth doth toile Helpe fishe helpe foule that flockes and feedes vpon the salt sea soyle Helpe eccho that in ayre doth flee shril voyces to resound To waile this losse of my good name as of these greefes the ground FINIS E. O. 34. Of Fortunes power POlicrates whose passing hap causd him to lose his fate A golden ring cast in the seas to change his constant state And in a fish yet at his bourd the same he after found Thus Fortune loe to whom she takes for bountie doth abound The myzers vnto might she mounts a common case we see And mighty to great misery she sets in low degree Whom she to day doth reare on hie vpon her whirling wheele To morrow next shee dingeth downe and casteth at her heele No measure hath shee in her gifts shee doth reward each sort The wise that counsell haue no more then fooles that maketh sport She vseth neuer partiall handes for to offend or please Geue me good Fortune al men sayes and throw me in the seas It is no fault or worthines that makes men fall or rise I rather be borne Fortunate then to be very wise The blindest man right soone that by good Fortune guided is To whom that pleasant Fortune pipes can neuer daunce amis FINIS M. Edwardes 36. Though Triumpth after bloudy wars the greates brags do beare Yet Triumph of a conquered mind the crowne of fame shall weare WHo so doth marke the carelesse life of these vnhappy dayes And sees what smal and slender hold the state of vertue stayes He findes that this accursed trade proceedeth of this ill That men be giuen too much to yeeld to their vntamed will In lacke of taming witlesse wil the poore we often see Enuies the rich because that he his equal cannot be The rich aduauncd to might by wealth from wrong doth not refraine But will oppresseth weaker sort to heape excessiue gaine If Fortune were so blind to giue to one man what he wil A world would not suffice the same if he might haue his fill We wish we search we striue for all and haue no more therein Then hath the slaue when deth doth come though Cresus welch he win In getting much we get but care such brittle wealth to keepe The rich within his walles of stone doth neuer soundly sleepe When poore in weake and slender house do feare no losse of wealth And haue no further care but this to keepe themselues in health Affection may not hide the sword of sway in iudgement seate Least partiall fauor execute the law in causes greate But if the mind in constant state affection quite do leaue The higher state shall haue their rights the poore no wrong receaue It is accompted greater prayse to Caesers loftie state Against his vanquist foes in warres to bridle wrekeful hate Then when to Rome he had subdued the people long vnknowne Whereby as farre as land was found the same abrode was blowne If honor can selfe will refuse and iustice be vpright And priuate state desires but that which good appeares in sight Then vertue shall with soueraigne show to euery eye reueale A heauenly life a wealeful state a happy common weale Let vertue then the triumph win and gouern all your deedes Your yeelding to her sober heastes immortall glory breedes Shee shall vpreare your worthy name shining into the skies Her beames shall blaze in graue obscure where shrined carkasse lyes FINIS M. Edwards 37. Of perfect wisedome WHo so wil be accompted wise and truely claime the same By ioyning vertue to his deedes he must atchieue the same But few there be that seeke thereby true wisedome to attaine O God so rule our harts therfore such fondnesse to refraine The wisedome which we most esteeme in this thing doth consist With glorious talke to shew in words our wisedome when we list Yet not in talke but seemely deedes our wisedome we should plase To speake so faire and doe but ill doth wisedome quite disgrace To bargaine well and shunne the losse a wisedome counted is And thereby through the greedy coyne no hope of grace to mis To seeke by honor to aduaunce his name to brittle prayse Is wisedome which we dayly see increaseth in our dayes But heauenly wisedome sower seemes to hard for them to win And weary of the sute they seeme when they do once begin It teacheth vs to frame our life while vitall breath we haue When it dissolueth earthly masse the soule from death to saue By feare of God to rule our steppes from sliding into vice A wisedome is which we neglect although of greater price A poynt of wisedome also this we commonly esteeme That euery man should be in deede that he desires to seeme To
numbred freendes forgoe them al he must The fairest flesh and liuelest bloud is turnd at length to dust Experience giues a certen ground That certen here is nothing found Then trust to that which aye remaines the blisse of heauens aboue Which Time nor Fate nor Wind nor Storme is able to remoue Trust to that sure celestial rocke that restes in glorious throne That hath bene is and must be stil our anker hold alone The world is but a vanitie In heauen seeke we our suretie FINIS F. K. 44. A Vertuous Gentlewoman in the praise of hir loue J Am a Virgin faire and free and freely doe reioyce I sweetely warble sugred notes from siluer voyce For which delightful ioyes yet thanke I curtesie loue By whose almighty power such sweete delightes I proue I walke the pleasant fieldes adornd with liuely greene And view the fragrant flowers most louely to be seene The purple Columbine the Couslippe and the Lillie The Violet sweete the Daizie and Daffadillie The Wodbines on the hedge the red Rose and the white And each fine flowres els that rendreth sweete delight Among the which I choose al those of seemeliest grace In thought resembling them to my deare louers face His louely face I meane whose golden flouring giftes His euer liuing Fame to loftye skie vpliftes Whom louing me I loue onely for vertues sake When vertuously to loue al onely care I take Of al which fresh faire flowers that flower that doth appeare In my conceit most like to him I hold so deare I gather it I kisse it and eake deuise with it Such kind of louely speach as is for louers fit And then of all my flowres I make a garlond fine With which my golden wyer heares togither I do twine And sette it on my head so taking that delight That I would take had I my louer stil in sight For as in goodly flowres mine eyes great pleasure find So are my louers giftes most pleasant to my mind Vpon which vertuous giftes I make more sweete repast Then they that for loue sportes the sweetest ioyes do tast FINIS F. K. 45. Oppressed with sorow he wisheth death JF Fortune may enforce the careful hart to cry And griping griefe constraine the wounded wight lament Who then alas to mourne hath greater cause then I Against whose hard mishap both Heauen and earth is bent For whom no helpe remaines for whom no hope is left From whom all happy happ is fled and pleasure quite bereft Whose life nought can prolong whose health nought can procure Whose passed proofe of pleasant ioy Mischaunce hath chaunged to greefes anoy And loe whose hope of better day Is ouer whelmd with long delay Oh hard mishap Each thing I plainly see whose vertues may auaile To ease the pinching paine which gripes the groning wyght By Phisicks sacred skill whose rule doth seldome fayle Through labours long inspect is playnly brought to light I know there is no fruite no leafe no roote no rind No hearbe no plant no iuyce no gumme no metal deepely mind No Pearle no precious stone ne Ieme of rare effect Whose vertues learned Gallens bookes at large do not detect Yet al their force can not appease The furious fittes of my disease Nor any drugge of phisickes art Can ease the greefe that gripes my hart Oh strange disease I heare the wise affirme that Nature hath in store A thousand secrete salues which Wisedome hath out found To coole the scorching heate of euery smarting sore And healeth deepest scarce though greeuous be the wound The auncient prouerbe sayes that none so festred greefe Doth grow for which the gods them selues haue not ordayned releefe But I by proofe do know such prouerbs to be vaine And thinke that nature neuer knew the plague that I sustaine And so not knowing my distresse Hath left my greefe remedilesse For why the heauens for me prepare To liue in thought and dye in care Oh lasting paine By chaunge of ayre I see by hant of healthful soyle By dyet duely kept grose humors are expeld I know that greefes of mind and inwards harts turmoile By faithful freendes aduise in time may be repeld Yet al this nought auailes to kil that me anoyes I meane to stop these flouds of care that ouerflow my ioyes No none exchange of place can change my lucklesse lot Like one I liue and so must dye whom Fortune hath forgot No counsel can preuaile with mee Nor sage aduise with greefe agree For he that feeles the panges of hel Can neuer hope in heauen to dwel Oh deepe despaire What liues on earth but I whose trauaile reapes no gaine The wearied Horse and Oxe in stal and stable rest The Ante with sommers toyle beares out the winters paigne The fowle that flyes al day at night returnes to rest The Ploughmans weary worke amid the winters mire Rewarded is with sommers gaine which yeeldes him double hire The silly laboring soule which drudges from day to day At night his wages truely payd contented goth his way And comming home his drowsie head He cowcheth close in homely bed Wherein no sooner downe he lyes But sleepe hath straight possest his eyes Oh happy man. The Souldier biding long the brunt of mortall warres Where life is neuer free from dint of deadly foyle At last comes ioyful home though mangled all with scarres Where frankly voyde of feare he spends the gotten spoyle The Pirate lying long amid the fooming floods With euery flaw in hazard is to loose both life and goods At length findes view of land where wished Porte he spies Which once obtained among his mates he partes the gotten prise Thus euery man for trauaile past Doth reape a iust reward at last But I alone whose troubled mind In seeking rest vnrest doth find Oh lucklesse lotte Oh cursed caitife wretch whose heauy hard mishappe Doth wish tenne thousand times that thou hadst not ben borne Since fate hath thee condemned to liue in sorrowes lappe Where waylings waste thy life of all redresse forlorne What shal thy griefe appease who shal thy torment stay Wilt thou thy selfe with murthering hands enforce thy owndecay No farre be thou from me my selfe to stoppe my breath The gods forbid whom I beseech to worke my ioyes by death For lingring length of lothsome life Doth stirre in me such mortal strife That whiles for life and death I cry In death I liue and liuing dye Oh froward fate Loe here my hard mishap loe here my strange disease Loe here my deepe despaire loe here my lasting paine Loe here my froward fate which nothing can appease Loe here how others toyle rewarded is with gaine While lucklesse loe I liue in losse of labours due Compeld by proofe of torment strong my endlesse greefe to rue In which since needes I must consume both youth and age If olde I liue and that my care no comfort can asswage Henceforth I banishe from my brest All frustrate hope of future rest And trthlesse trust to times
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
I founde that myne she meant to be Melpomene alas with dolefull tunes helpe than And syng Bis woe worthe on me forsaken man Then Daphnes Baies shall that man weare that triumphs ouer me For Blacke and Taunie will I weare whiche mournyng colours be Droune me you tricklyng teares you wailefull wights of woe Come helpe these hands to rent my heares my rewfull hap to showe On whom the scorchyng flames of Loue doeth feede you see Ah a lalalantida my deare Dame hath thus tormented me Wherefore you Muses nine with dolefull tunes helpe than And syng Bis woe worthe on me forsaken man Then Daphnes Baies shall that man weare that triumphs ouer me For Blacke and Taunie will I weare whiche mournyng 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 self from shame sithe that myne eyes doe see Ah a lalalantida my deare dame hath thus tormented me And all that present bee with dolefull tunes helpe than And syng Bis woe worthe on me forsaken man FINIS E. O. Findyng no releef he complaineth thus INquest of my releef I finde distresse In recompence of Loue moste depe disdaine My langour suche as words maie not expresse A shower of teares my watrishe eye doeth raine I dreame of this and doe deuine of woe I wander in the thoughts 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 mounts my mynde on hie Thus doubtfull stormes my troubled thoughts haue toste And for my paine this pleasure doe I proue I hate my self and pine in others Loue. The worlde I graspe yet holde I nought at all At libertie I seme in prison pent I taste the sweete more sower then bitter gall My shipp semes sounde and yet her ribbs bee rent And out alas on Fortune false I crie Looke what I craue that still she doeth denie Bothe life and death be equall vnto me I doe desire to die yet craue I life My witts with sondrie thoughts doe disagree My self am with my self at mortall strife As warmth of Sunne doeth melte the siluer Snowe The heate of Loue beholde consumes me so FINIS R. Hall. A Louer disdained complaineth IF euer man had loue to dearly bought Lo I am he that plaies within her maze And finds no waie to get the same I sought But as the Dere are driuen vnto the gaze And to augment the grief of my desire My self to burne I blowe the fire But shall I come nye you Of force I must flie you What death alas maie be compared to this I praie within the maze of my sweete foe And when I would of her but craue a kis Disdaine enforceth her awaie to goe My self I checke yet doe I twiste the twine The pleasure hers the paine is myne But shall I come nye you Of force I must flie you You courtly wights that wants your pleasaunt choyse Lende me a floud of teares to waile my chaunce Happie are thei in Loue that can reioyse To their greate paines where Fortune doeth aduaunce But sith my sute alas can not preuaile Full fraight with care in grief still will I waile Sith you will nedes flie me I maie not come nye you FINIS L. Vaux Beyng in Loue he complaineth IF care or skill could conquere vaine desire Or reasons raignes my strong affection staie Then should my sighs to quiet brest retire And shunne suche signes as secret thoughts bewraie Vncomely Loue whiche now lurks in my breast Should cease my grief through wisedomes power opprest But who can leaue to looke on Venus face Or yeldeth not to Iunos high estate What witt so wise as giues not Pallas place These vertues rare eche Gods did yelde amate Saue her alone who yet on yearth doeth raigne Whose beauties stryng no God can well destraine What worldly wight can hope for heauenly hire When onely sights must make his secret moue A silent sute doeth selde to grace aspire My haplesse happ doeth roule the restlesse stone Yet Phebe faire disdainde the heauens aboue To ioye on yearth her poore Edimions loue Rare is reward where none can iustly craue For chaunce is choise where reason maks no claime Yet lucke sometymes dispairyng soules doeth saue A happie Starre made Giges ioye attaine A slauishe Smithe of rude and rascall race Founde meanes in tyme to gaine a Goddes grace Then loftie Loue thy sacred sailes aduaunce My sithyng seas shall flowe with streames of teares Amidds disdaine driue forthe my dolefull chaunce A valiaunt mynde no deadly daunger feares Who loues alofte and setts his harte on hie Deserues no paine though he doe pine and die FINIS E. O. A Louer reiected complaineth THe tricklyng teares that falles along my cheeks The secret sighs that shewes my inward grief The present paines perforce that Loue aye seeks Bidds me renewe my cares without relief In wofull song in dole displaie My pensiue harte for to bewraie Bewraie thy grief thy wofull harte with speede Resigne thy voyce to her that causde thy woe With irksome cries bewaile thy late doen deede For she thou louest is sure thy mortall foe And helpe for thee there is none sure But still in paine thou must endure The striken Deare hath helpe to heale his wounde The haggerd Hauke with toyle is made full tame The strongest Tower the Canon laies on grounde The wisest witt that euer had the fame Was thrall to Loue by Cupids sleights Then waie my case with equall weights She is my ioye she is my care and wo She is my paine 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 hande and knife That maie bothe saue and ende my life And shall I liue on yearth to be her thrall And shall I sue and serue her all in vaine And kisse the stepps that she let ts fall And shall I praie the Gods to keepe the paine From her that is so cruell still No no on her woorke all your will. And let her feele the power of all your might And let her haue her moste desire with speede And let her pine awaie bothe daie and night And let her mone and none lament her neede And let all those that shall her see Despise her state and pitie me FINIS E. O. Not attainyng to his desire he complaineth I Am not as seme to bee nor when I smile I am not glad A thrall although you count me frée I moste in mirth most pēsiue sad I smile to shade my bitter spight as Haniball that sawe in sight His coūtrie soile with Carthage toune by Romain force defaced doun And Cesar that presented was with noble Pompeis princely heade As t were some iudge to rule the cace a flould of teares he semde to shed Although in deede it sprong of ioye yet other thought it was
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
due desarte The pensiue pathe that guids my restlesse race Are at suche warre within my wounded brest As doeth bereue my ioye and eke my rest My greedie will that seeks the golden gaine My lucklesse lot doeth alwaie take in worthe My mated mynde that dreades my sutes in vaine My piteous plaint doeth helpe to set it forthe So that betwene twoo waues of ragyng seas I driue my daies in troubles and desease My wofull eyes doe take their chief delight To feede their fill vpon the pleasaunt maze My hidden harmes that growe in me by sight With pinyng paines doe driue me froÌ„ the gaze And to my hope I reape no other hire But burne my self and I doe blowe the fire FINIS I. Haiwood Looke or you leape IF thou in suertie safe wilt sitt If thou delight at reste to dwell Spende no more words then shall seme fitt Let tonge in silence talke expell In all things that thou seest men bent Se all saie nought hold thee content In worldly woorks degrees are three Makers doers and lookers on The lookers on haue libertie Bothe the others to iudge vpon Wherefore in all as men are bent See all saie nought holde thee content The makers ofte are in faulte founde The doers doubte of praise or shame The lookers on finde surest grounde Thei haue the fruite yet free from blame This doeth perswade in all here ment See all saie nought holde thee content The Prouerbe is not South and West Whiche hath bee saied long tyme agoe Of little medlyng cometh rest The busie man neuer wanteth woe The beste waie is in all world 's sent See all saie nought holde thee content FINIS Iasper Heywood Though Fortune haue set thee on hie Remember yet that thou shalt die TO die Dame nature did man frame Death is a thyng moste perfecte sure We ought not natures workes to blame She made nothyng still to endure That lawe she made when we were borne That hence we should retourne againe To render right we must not scorne Death is due debt it is no paine The ciuill lawe doeth bid restore That thou hast taken vp of truste Thy life is lent thou must therefore Repaie except thou be vniuste This life is like a pointed race To the ende wherof when man hath trode He must retourne to former place He maie not still remaine abrode Death hath in all the yearth a right His power is greate it stretcheth farre No Lorde no Prince can scape his wight No creature can his duetie barre The wise the iust the strong the hie The chast the meke the free of hart The riche the poore who can denie Haue yelded all vnto his darte Could Hercules that tamde eche wight Or els Vlisses with his witte Or Ianus who had all foresight Or chast Hypolit scape the pitte Could Cresus with his bagges of golde Or Irus with his hungrie paine Or Signus through his hardinesse bolde Driue backe the daies of Death againe Seyng no man then can Death escape Nor hire hym hence for any gaine Wee ought not feare his carraine shape He onely bryngs euell men to paine If thou haue ledde thy life a right Death is the ende of miserie If thou in God hast thy delight Thou diest to liue eternallie Eche wight therefore while he liues here Let hym thinke on his diyng daie In midst of wealthe in midst of chere Let hym accompt he must awaie This thought makes man to God a frende This thought doeth banishe pride and synne This thought doeth bryng a man in th ende Where he of Death the field shall winne FINIS T. Marshall The complaint of a Synner O Heauenly God O Father deare cast doune thy tender eye Vpon a wretche that prostrate here before thy throne doeth lye O powre thy precious oyle of grace into my wounded harte O let the dropps of mercie swage the rigour of my smarte My faintyng foule suppressed sore with carefull clogge of synne In humble sorte submitts it self thy mercie for to winne Graunt mercie then O Sauiour sweete to me moste wofull thrail Whose mornfull crie to thee O Lorde doeth still for mercie call Thy blessed will I haue despised vpon a stubborne mynde And to the swaie of worldly thyngs my self I haue enclinde Forgettyng heauen and heaueÌ„ly powers where God saincts do dwell My life had like to tread the pathe that leads the waie to hell But now my Lorde my lode starre bright I will no more doe so To thynke vpon my former life my harte doeth melte for woe Alas I sigh alas I sobbe alas I doe repent That euer my licencious will so wickedly was bent Sith thus therefore with yernfull plaint I doe thy mercie craue O Lorde for thy greate mercies sake let me thy mercie haue Restore to life the wretched soule that els is like to die So shall my voyce vnto thy name syng praise eternallie Now blessed be the Father first and blessed be the Sonne And blessed be the holie Ghoste by whom all thyngs are doen Blesse me O blessed Trinitie with thy eternall grace That after death my soule maie haue in heauen a dwellyng place FINIS F. Kindlemarsh The fruite that sprynges from wilfull wits is ruthe and ruins rage And sure what heedelesse youth committes repentaunce rues in age I Rage in restlesse ruthe and ruins rule my daies I rue to late my rechlesse youth by rules of reasons waies I ranne so long a race in searche of surest waie That leasure learnde me tread the trace that ledde to leude decaie I gaue so large a raine to vnrestrained bitt That now with proofe of after paine I waile my want of witt I trifled forthe the tyme with trust to self conceites Whilst plenties vse prickt forthe my prime to search for sugred baites Wherein once learnde to finde I founde so sweete a taste That due foresight of after speede self will estemed waste Whiche will through wilfulnesse hath wrought my witlesse fall And heedelesse youthes vnskilfulnesse hath lapt my life in thrall Whereby by proofe I knowe that pleasure breedeth paine And he that euill seede doeth sowe euill fruite must reape againe Let suche therefore whose youth and purses are in Prime Foresee and shun the helpelesse ruthe whiche sues misspence of tyme. For want is nexte to waste and shame doeth synne ensue Euill speedyng proofe hath heedelesse haste my self haue proued it true When neighbours nexte house burnes t is tyme thereof take heede For Fortunes wheele hath choise of turnes whiche change of chances breede My saile hath been a lofte though now I beare but lowe Who clims to high selde falleth softe dedst ebbe hath highest flowe FINIS ê™ Yloop. 1578.