I haue spoke and sped in matters small By helpe of him that hath my Verses all But farre God wot I am from that I seeke And misse the marke that many men do hit Wherfore salâ— tears do trickle downe the cheeke And hart doth feele full many a wofull fit And so aside in sollem sorrow sit As one in deede that is forsaken cleane Wher most he doth deserue and best doth meane No matter now though ech man march tread On him that hates the life he beares about Yet such as shall these heauy Verses read Shall finde I blame my fortune out of dout But sens on hope no better hap will sprout I yeild to death and vpward lift the minde Where lothsome life shall present comfort finde Sens hope can haue no hony from the Hiue And paines can plucke no pleasure for his toile It is but vaine for weery life to striue And streatch out time with torment and tormoile Get what we can death triumphes oer the spoile Than note this well though we win neer so mitch When death tacks al we leaue a mizer ritch To liue and lacke is doble death in deede A presente death exceeds a lingring woe Sens no good hap in youth did helpe my neede In age why should I striue for Fortune soe Old years are come and haests me hens to goe The tâ—me draws on I hate the life I haue When hart shall breake my griefe shall ende in graue Should I seeke life that finds no place of rest Ne sotle nor seate to shroude me from the ayre When cramping colde be clipps my carefull brest And dollor driues my hart in deepe dispayre For such foule dayes darke death is wondrous fayre As good to make the skrawlling worms a feast As pleas y world wher mischiefe maks her neast Hie time it is to haest my carkas hens Youth stoole awaye and felt no kinde of ioye And age he laft in trauell euer sens The wanton dayes that made me nice and coye Wear but a dreame a shadoe and a toye Sith slaurye heer I finde and nothing els My hoem is thear wher soule in freedome dwels In warrs and woe my yeers aer waested clean What should I see if lordly lief I led I loek in glas and finde my cheeks so lean That eury owre I do but wishe mee ded Now back bends downe forwards faulls the hed And hollow eyes in wrinckled brow doth shrowd As though two stars wear creping vnder clowd The lipps waxe cold and loeks both pael thin The teeth fawlls out as nutts forsoek the shaell The baer bald head but shoes whear hear hath bin The liuely ioynts waxe weery stiffe and staell The reddy tongue now folters in his taell The wearishe face and tawny collour shoes The corraeg quaills as strength decayes and goes The sweete delites are dround in dulled minde The gladsome sports to groning sighes are bent The frisking lims so farre from frame I finde That I â–ª forthincke the time that youth hath spent But when I way that all these things wear lent And I must pay the earth her dutie throw I shrincke no whit to yeld these pleasures now Had I possest the giftes of Fortune heer A house a wyfe and children therewithall And had in store to make my frendes good cheer Sutch commoÌ„ things as neighbours haue at call In such dispayre perchaunce I would not fall But want of this and other lackes a skore Bids me seeke death and wishe to liue no more Yet for to beare a peece of all my woes And to impart the priuie pangs I felt From countrie soile a sober wife I choes In mine owne house with whom I seldom dwelt When thousandes slepte I waekt I swet I swelt To compas that I neuer could attaine And still from hoem abroed I brack my braine The thatcher hath a cottage poore you see The sheppard knoes where he shal sleepe at night The daily drudge from cares can quiet bee Thâ—s Fortune sends some rest to eurye wight So borne I was to house and lande by right But in a bagg to Court I brought the same From Shrews brye towne a seate of auncient fame What thinkes my frindes that thear behind I laft What fault finds she that gaue me lief and suck O courting fien thou art to cold a craft The Carter haeth at hoem much better luck Well well I saye a due all worldly muck Ne howse nor land we bear away I knoe I naked cam and naked hence must goe The greatest kyng must pas the self saem way Our daye of byrth and buriall are alike Their ioye their pompe their wealth and rich araye Shall soen consuem like snow that lies in dieck No bucklar serues when sodayn death doth striek As soen may coem a poer mans soule to blys As may the rich or greatest Lord that is Well ear my breath my body doe forsaek My spreet I doe bequeath to God aboue My bookes my skrowls and songs that I did maek I leaue with frindes that freely did me loue To flyring foes whoe 's mallice did me moue I wyshe in haest amendment of their wayes And to the Court and courtiars happy dayes My fortuen straunge to straungers doe I leaue That strangly can retain such straung mishap To such as still in world did me disseaue I wyshe they may bewaer of such lyk trap To sclaundrous tongues that kyld me with their clap I wyshe moer rest than they haue gyuen me And bles thoes shreaws that corst and crabbed be To such as yet did neuer pleasuer man I giue those ryems that nyps the gawlled back To such as would do good and if they can I wyshe good luck long lief and voyd of lack To currysh karls a whyp and collyars sack And to the proud that stands vpon their braus A waynskot face and twenty crabtree staues To surly syers that scorns the meaner sort A nightcap foord with Foyns I them bequeath To such as skowll at others good report And sets much stoer by their owne paynted sheath In sien of luck I giue a willowe wreath To such as aer vnnaemd and merits mutch The stoen I leaue that tries the gold by tutch To gentill race with good conditions ioynd I wyshe moer ioy than man imagin maye And sens for pooer I haue no money coynd God graunt them all a mery mariage daye To such as doth delyte in honest playe I wyshe the gold that I haue lost thearby And all the wealth I want befoer I dye Now frends shack hands I must be gon my boyes Our myrth taeks end our triumph all is don Our tykling talk our sports and myrry toyes Do flyed away lyke shadow of the Son Another coms when I my race haue ron Shall passe the tyme with you in better plyt And finde good cause of greater things to wryt FINIS A DISCOVRSE HOVV vertue seames to sleape and Iustice is euer awaken WHen vertue layd her down to slepe and would
euerlasting light and louing Lord of blis The lusts of flesh and worldly pomp I hope are quentcht in me Throw faith a lone from sin and bond I haue escaped free And with that word in sine of ioye a Salme full loud she sange The sollemp noyes and sound therof thorowout the chamber range And endâ—â—g that to prayer streight of her own mind she fell The slanders by whose teares burst out at this her last farwell Began to giue her â—omfort than of life and welfare both Yea liue I shall and do right wel qd â—he I know for troth But that is in a nother world the hope of this is gon And reason is it should be so for here there liueth none But sees the vainnes of our state and tastes such torments still That sondry tymes they wish them selues from hence with right goodwill Heare is but toyle and sweate of browes â–ª and endles labour found And nothing reapt but wretched wrak and broken sleepes vnsound Where I shall go I seace from payne and so such ioye posses As heart skarce thinks nor head conceiues nor tongue may well expres Than hold your peace knit vp your talke and trouble not the spreet That drawes from hence and hopes it is for better place more meet A Lady thoe that vertue lykte and there some credit had Replyed and sayd O noble dame in deed you are to sad These panges shall passe these fits shal fade and all these pashons dye As they haue done whan you full oft in such like sort dâ—d lye O Madam speak no moer of that my tyme draws on qd shee I shal not dye but make exchange of breath and lyfe I sâ—e The Glas is run the clock wyll stryke Death doth aproch a pace My cours is don the Iudge draws néer to syt apon my cace No longer heere I may abyde the packing day is come Death byds me now vnarm my selfe and heere the mortal drom That calls me hence as naked suer as to the world I cam The cours of Nature shoes me to that earth and dust I am The Harrold of long home is sent to Sommon me in hast Than stay me not for in that poynt boeth tears and words ye wast Yet ear I part good friends qd shée behold what hoep I haue And note what fayth and badge of Christ I cary to my graue And marke how I confesse with mouth that Christ hath shed his Blood For me and those that earst in staâ—t of deepe damnation stood And by his Pashon I am sau'd and not by my dezarts But by the help of him that knowes the thoughts of secret harts Now staying heere she loekt about and to a Knight she spaek And him desired with humble words that he the paynes would take To show the prynce what past her mouth â–ª O tell him syr quod she This is the sute and last request that must be made by me Unto his highnes whose estate our blessed Lord maintaine And pray him to forgeue me now for I confesse â—â—t playne I made a â—ault and sore offence â–ª when I against his will Estrang'd my self from his good grace for any hope or skill But from my byrth vnto this day my hart and thought was cleer From breach of subiectes duetie sure and I protest it heer I neuer ment nor purpoesd yet in worde in deede nor thoght No harm nor lodgd one yll consayt nor spark of euell soght To hym as God may witnes bear â–ª to that which nowe I speak Saue nowe alas by ouersight of foule fancies weak I feell and fynde the pryce therof and suffer for the saem An open check and priuey plaeg and pynâ—ching publik blaem I hoep his hyghnes haeth forgoet the fault I dyd commit And as he is a noble Prince in regall throen to sit â–ª And iudge his subiects causis all so hoep I of his grace He wyll receyue my chyldren poer and help thear heauy cace O God forbyd for motheâ—s fault the children shuld a bye No grayn of grodg nor ground of gyell in gyltles baebs doth lye I do bequeath them nowe ê™ she vnto the Princis hands In hoep the fauour that they fynd shall eas the fathers bands My nature shoes a moorning chéer to part from them God knoes For chyldren fynd small comfort héer whan heâ—s the mother goes If God moue not the Princes mind to pitie thear estate Now as this Lady dyd at large about her baebs debate Uppon her deer boght Iewel than she cast her only thoght Yea for whose sake and great good wyll she was in troble broght And pawsing on this matter throwe a heuy syghe she gaue O good sir knight sayd she to one a thyng of you I craue CommeÌ„d me to my worthy frend and byd hym comfort take And hâ—ep in God and Princes grace â–ª thogh I do world forsake He may do wel and fredom get â–ª but me ye shall not meet Tyll from the caue of pampred fleashe departs his gronyng spreet Whyles lyfe I had I honord him and safly kept my vowe As lyfe dyd bynd me his in all so death doth lowse me nowe From hym and all my worldly ioyeâ— but thogh my frend I leaue On hye whear dwels a greater frend if hoep not me disseaue I trust to se his baebs and hym and thogh much greef hit is To leaue them heer in bitter baell â–ª yet noet I goe to blis Whear is no mind of combros caers nor cause of sorowes known O tell hym that aboue I hoep theas storms shal be oer blown â–ª And as a skrowll is lapped vp yea so shall all thyngs heer When sowlt shal be immortall maed vnto our vewe a peer No soener of the sowll she spoek but soddayn â—hang began In loeks and lyms of deadly shoe with collor paell and wan The eyes dyd staer the body streatch the strength and force dyd fayll The teeth they chattred in the cheeks the hands dyd quaek and quayll The mouth dyd â—â—em the head dyd shaek the fleashe hyt quiured fast The feet warâ— cold the face dyd sweat full swyft the polâ—s past The hart dyd heaue and beat in brest the breath lyk earth dyd sent At eares and nose the styeffled goest and vittall lyfe soght vent Thogh gasping breath broght pashons on and gript her hart full hard Yet showd she throw thoes sharp assaultes to frend a great regard And callyng for a boxe of ryngs among them choes she won In which was set by conning aert a ritch and preshoes ston Hold carry this ê™ she good Syer to my deer noble Knight He can remember what that stoen presentes vnto his sight The other token that I send hit is a weyghty ryng Best lykt and derest boght God wot of any earthly thyng And when ye shall gyue hym this gyft deâ—yer hym well to mynd The lyttell imps the pretty soules the bâ—â—bs I leaue behynd And byd hym bryng them vp in fear of
God and Prince I saye Loe that is al I do requier of hym my dyeing daye I haue no gold to send my baebs but blessing I them gyue Which God coÌ„fyrm with grace good stoâ—r As long as they shall lyue O yet thear is another ryng which loe my loue must â—e Whear is my picture death I mean and tell my friend from me That I as cold and sensles toe shal be in littell space As is that shadoâ— dom and deaff and spreetles shaep of face This don she tornd her hed a syed and bard them all faerwell Twear good quod she in syen of death â–ª I hard the passyng bell For sutch as lyue may pray the whiel and knoe when bell doth towll Into the bowells of the earth the boddy partts from sowll Yet meet they shall when trumpet sownds â–ª and that the dead aryes And boeth together shall assend I hoep to starry Skyes Wyth this began the battayl feers betwen her lyef and death Lyek gâ—â—st she lay whyells hart dyd groen â–ª and mouth gaept wyed for breath Than sayd she Lord in to thy hands I doo commend my spreet And so her self cloes'd vp her eyes and hyd her head in sheet And went away lyk enfantt yong clean voyd of storm or raeg Or lyk a boddy fawlls a sleep that can not speak for aeg Thus breathles laye this Lady nowe lyk weyghty lomp of claye That earst had lyef and feelyng force and past lyk slowre a waye But whan the nues of this was broght vnto her playffeers cares Wich roering voyce and blobbred eyes thear goeshed owt sutch teares That wytnest well with owtward syens what woe he felt within And truely told when she dyd end his dollâ—r dyd begin Bereft of sleep and roâ—bd of rest he roemed vp and down And cast of â—â—eds of worldly pomp and clapt on moornyng gown No eas nor pleasures could posses nor feell the taest of meat Resolud to pyen and â—â—arue him self his grâ—â—ss they wear so great No councell could him comfort long and styll aloen he drue To morn and moen to howll and crye and make complaynt a nue And worn away withâ—wofull syghes when sorrow helped not At lâ—yngth the lyef must be sustaynd with som releef ye wot But howe he takes this mischeef yet and howe the matter goeth Hâ—t passeth farre my reatch and wyt to iouâ— I tell you troeth His Lady gâ—n as you haue hard whâ—n dayes and yeeres wear spent In thraldom long yet after that was better forâ—uen sent For 〈◊〉 to princes grace again â–ª 〈◊〉 cam by blessyd chance And so he lyus in open world whear vertue may aduance Both him and many thousands moer that noble lyues doo lead And wyesly walk with vpright mynds and stepps of honour tread Loe heer you Daems of hy renown a Ladyes death set owt Whoe 's lyef for fayth full feaw shall fynd that seeks wyed world abowt To God and Prince repentant suer to world a myrrour bryght Whearfoer with tong and true report resownd her prays a ryght ¶ FINIS The Roed made by Syr william Druery Knight into Skotland from the East Seas to the VVest vvith sundry Gentlemen of good calling for the reformation of such causes as the Queens Maiestie and her Councel thoght coÌ„uenient In the .xiii. year of the raign of our soueraigne Lady Queene Elizabeth The names of the Captaines and Gentlemen in his company Syr Thomas Manners Syr George Cary. Syr Robert Constable Sâ—r Ierome Bovveâ— M. William Knovvls M. Henry Câ—ry M. Robert Knovvll M. Michell Carye Captaine Carye Captaine Caruill Captaine Austell Captaine Edington M. Edmond Varney MY Lord of Sussex now lord Chamberlayne hauing finished two famous and notable roeds into Skoâ—lande which I haue written of as chargeable as paynfull of no smal credit pollicy rested a season at Baâ—wyck by reason of a sicknesse taken by ouermuch trauell of body minde in the seruice rehearsed reposing him self in that towne for the benefite of health thought necessary in the present exploits seruice expected to institute another generall for the execution of such matters as he him self would gladly haue taken in hande if sicknesse had permitted and because eche gentleman souldiour seuerall bandes should duetifully obey in all points warlyke order the nue generall chosen for this purpose my Lord of Sussex made an oratioÌ„ in such forme â— manner as throughly explayned the whole substance of the seruice the vnsuretie of the season the difficult dealing of diuers aduersaries and vttered the excellencys of an Oratour At whoe 's elloqueÌ„ce the heerars rather stoed astonyed than vnsatysfyed in any poynt or parssell wherin he opened the bowells of rebellyon the practies of enemies and subborning of traytors and earnestly perswaded euery 〈◊〉 mynd to be myndfull of his Prince and countrey in the lybertie wherof boeth lyfe and lyuing is alwayes to be offered after which Oracion as custome is for seruice past and things to come he made these knights that heere are mentioned Syr VVilliam Drury Syr Thomas Manners Syr George Care and Syr Robert Constable and placing the Generall in full authoritie he committed them to God and the good conduct of their Chieftaine then presently with professed obedience each man desired to do a dayes seruice to venter his lyfe to shed his bloud or shew his duetie Whervpon and as great weighty cause moued my Lord of Sussex coÌ„mauÌ„ded them to martch forward so they did made that night a greater martch than was looked for yet no lesse speede than was needeful by which forwardnesse sodain exercises of Armes a brute blowen abrode of a more sooner departure the enemies wer discouraged hindred of their hoâ—p our men made masters of the fielde and possest in a maner their wish desired hap at the least taking aduauÌ„tage of the time they preuented the pushe of a perillous present pollicie auoyded the danger of a troublous time to come For the enemie regarding our readinesse desire of encounter with them retyred so fast backwarde that all their labour was lost which they tooke in hande before And now wer they somwhat abashed that before vsed ouermuch boldnesse yet in doubtfull ballance stoode the weight of this iorney considering what followed by the fyennes or falshod of double meaning friends beside the dangers insideÌ„t to the hazards of Fortune Our people being thoght at the first to be great in nomber wear suffred to martch wher they pleased but the enemy aduertised of our smal power not only lyke chafed Boares began to pluck vp the bryssells but also bruted abroad we were taken in a pitfold had neede of a treble company to accoÌ„plish the exploit taken in haÌ„d And after our power had passed â—denbrogh towards the force of y aduersaries the secret practisiens of mischief in the town set sodainly on our Lackkeis and such of y traine as could not coÌ„ueniently follow y Camp