tree I clime I can not catche the fruite And yet the pleasant branches oft in yeelding wyse to me doo bowe When I would touch they spring aloft sone are they gone I wot not howe Thus I pursue the fleting flood like Tantalus in hel belowe Would god my case she vnderstood which can ful sone releue my woe Which yf 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 turne with rented sailes must needes retire And streame wind had plainely sworne by force to hinder my desire Like one that strikes vpon the rocks my weerie wrack I should bewaste And learne to know false fortunes mocks who smiles on me to small auaile Yet sith she only can my rented ship restore To helpe her wracked man but once I seeke no more Finis M. Edwardes 21. Trye before you trust IN freendes are found a heape of doubtes that double dealing vse A swarme of such I could finde 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 eche simple eare In humble port is poyson pact that plainenesse can not spie Which credites all and can not see where stinging serpentes lye Through hastie trust the harmelesse hart is easely hampred in And made beleeue it is good golde when it is lead and tin The first deceit that bleares mine eyes is faigned faith profest The second trappe is grating talke that gripes eche strangers brest The third deceit is greeting woordes with colours painted out Which biddes suspect to feare no smart nor dread no dangerous dout The fourth and last is long repaire which creepes in freendships lap And dayly hauntes that vnder trust deuiseth many a trap Lo how false freendes can frame a fetch to winne the wil with wyles To sauce their sleightes with sugred sops shadowe harme with smiles To serue their lustes are sundry sortes by practise diuers kindes Some carries honnie in their mouthes and venime in their mindes Mee thinkes the stones within the streetes should crie out in this case And euery one that doth them meete should shunne their double face Finis D. S. 22. A Lady forsaken complayneth IF pleasures be in painefulnesse in pleasures dooth my body rest If ioyes accorde with carefulnesse a ioyfull hart is in my brest If prison strong be libertie in libertie long haue I been If ioyes accord with miserie who can compare a lyfe to myne 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 paines to comfort then Yet since his seruant I became most like a bondman haue I beene Since first in bondage I became my woord and deede was 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 deserud disdayne Except he meane through false pretēce through forged loued to make a traine Nay nay alas my fained thoughts my frēded my fained ruth My pleasures past my present plaints shew wel I meane but to much truth But since I can not him attaine against my wil I let him goe And lest he glorie at my paine I wyl attempt to cloke my woe Youth learne by me but doo not proue for I haue proued to my paine What greeuous greefes do grow by loue what it is to loue in vaine Finis M. D. 23. Finding worldly ioyes but vanities he wysheth death FOrlorne in filthy froward fate wherein a thousand cares I finde By whom I doo lament my state annoide with fond afflicted mind A wretche in woe and dare not crie I liue and yet I wishe to dye The day in dole that seemeth long I pas with sighes heauy cheere And with these eyes I vewe the wrong that I sustaine by louing here Where my mishappes 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 frends where they remaine And pleasure take to shun the sight Where erst I felt my cheefe delight A captiue clapt in chaynes of care lapt in the lawes of lethall loue My fleshe bones consumed bare with crauling greefes ful strange to proue Though hap dooth bidde me hope at least Whiles grasse dooth growe yet starues the beast A seeged fort with forraine force for want of ayde must yeelde at last So must my weeried pined corse submit it selfe to bitter tast Of crauling care that carkes my brest Tyll hop or death shall breede my rest Finis F. M. 24. Hauing marryed a woorthy Lady and taken away by death he complayneth his mishap IN youth when I at large did leade my life in lustie libertie When heuy thoughtes no one did spreade to let my pleasant fantesie No fortune seemd so hard could fall This freedome then that might make thrall And twentie yeres I skarse had spent whē to make ful my happy fate Both treasures great were on me cast with landes and 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 coulde more desyre by iust request The health with wealth and libertie al which at once I thus possest But maskyng in this ioly ioy A soden syght prooud al a toy For passyng on these merie dayes with new deuice of pleasures great And now then to viewe the rayes of beauties workes with cunnyng fret In heauenly hewes al which as one I oft behelde but bounde to none And one day rowlyng thus my eyes vpon these blessed wyghts at ease Among the rest one dyd I see who strayght my wandryng lookes dyd sease And stayed them firme but suche a syght Of beautie yet sawe neuer wyght What shal I seke to praise it more where tongs can not praise the same But to be short to louers lore I strayght my senses al dyd frame And were it wyt or were it chaunce I woonne the Garlande in this daunce And thus wher I before had thought no hap my fortune might encrese ▪ A double blis this chance forth brought so did my ladies loue me plese Her fayth so firme and constant suche As neue◠hart can prayse too muche But now with torments strange I tast the fickle stay of fortunes whele And where she raysde from height to cast with greater force of greefe to feele For from this hap of soden frowne Of Princes face she threwe me downe And thus exchange now hath it made my libertie a thing most deare In hateful prison for to fade where sundred from my louing feare My wealth and health standes at like stay Obscurely to consume away And last when humaine force was none could part our loue
full fraught of noble praise Of all the goodes that there may be possest A faithfull freend I iudge to be the best O freendly league although to late begunne Yet time shall try our troth is well imployed And that we both shall see that we haue wonne Such fastned faith as can not be destroyed By enuious rage or slaunders bitter blowe That seekes the good to ouerthrowe Finis R. Hill. 11. No woordes but deedes THE wrong is great the paine aboue my power That yeeldes such care in doutfull dennes to drowne Such happe is hard where fortune dooth so lower As freendly looke is turned to froward frowne Is this the trust that faithfull treendes can finde With those that yet haue promise broke By deedes in dout as though no woordes can binde A vowed freend to hold him to his yoke O faithlesse freend what can assure your minde That doutes so soone before you haue cause why To what hard happe dooth Fortune here me binde When woordes nor deedes can no way satisfye What can I write that hath not oft been saide What haue I saide that other hath not affyrmed What is approued that ought to be assayed Or what is vowed that shall not be performed Cast of mistrust in haste no credite giue To this or that that breedeth freendes vnrest No doubt at all but trust me if I liue My deedes shall prooue that all is for the best And this beleeue the Sea shall ceasse to flowe The Sunne to shine within the setled skie All thinges on earth shall leaue to spring and growe Yea euery foule shall want his winges to flye Eare I in thought shall seeme once to retyre If you my freend remaine as I desyre Nowe lose no time but vse that whyle you may Forget not this a dogge shall haue a day Finis R. D. 12. He desyreth exchange of lyfe THE day delayed of that I most doo wishe Wherewith I feede and starue in one degree With wishe and want still serued in one dishe Aliue as dead by proofe as you may sowe To whom of olde this prouerbe well it serues Whyle grasse dooth growe the seelly Horse he sterues Tweene these extreames thus doo I rome the race Of my poore life this certaynely I knowe Tweene would and want vnwarely that dooth passe More swift then shot out of the archers howe As Spider drawes her line in vayne all day I watch the net and others haue the pray And as by proofe the greedy dogge dâ—â—â— gnâ—â—â— The bared bone all onely for the taste So to and fro this lothsome life I drawe With fancies forst and fled with vaine repast Narsissus brought vnto the water brinke So aye thirst I the more that I doo 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 nowe drenched in dispaire Trayned in trust for no reward assignd The more I haste the more I come behinde With hurt to heale in frozen yse to frye With losse to laugh this is a woonderous case Fast fetred here is forste away to flye As hunted Hare that Hound hath in the chase With winges and spurres for all the haste I make As like to lose as for to drawe 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 vnpaid That to the last of this my fainting breath I wishe exchange of life for happy death Finis L. Vaux 13. Of the instabilitie of youth WHEN I looke backe and in my selfe beholde The wandring wayes that youth could not descry And markt the fearefull course that youth did holde And mette in mind eache steppe youth strayed a wry My knees I bowe and from my hart I call O Lorde forget these faultes and follies all For nowe I see howe voyde youth is of skill I see also his prime time and his end I doo confesse my faultes and all my yll And sorrowe 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 geuen ignorance a fall And wit hath taught that folly could not finde And age hath youth her subiect and her thrall Therefore I pray O Lorde of life and trueth Pardon the faultes committed in my youth Thou that dydst graunt the wyse king his request Thou that in Whale thy prophet didst preserue Thou that forgauest the wounding of thy brest Thou that dydst saue the theefe in state to sterue Thou only God the geuer of all grace Wipe out of mind the path of youthes vaine race Thou that by power to lyfe didst rayse the dead Thou that of grace restorest the blinde to sight Thou that for loue thy life and loue out bled Thou that of fauour madest the lame goe ryght Thou that canst heale and helpe in all assayes Forgeue the gilth that grewe in youthes vayne wayes And nowe since I with faith and doubtlesse minde Doo fly to thee by prayer to appease thy yre And since that thee I onely seeke to finde And hope by faith to attayne my iust desyre Lorde minde no more youthes error and vnskill And able age to doo thy holy wyll Finis L. Vaux 14. Most happy is that state alone Where woordes and deedes agree in one BY painted woordes the silly simple man To trustlesse trappe is trayned now and than And by conseyte of sweete alluring tale He bites the baites that breedes his bitter bale To beawties blast cast not thy rolling eye In pleasaunt greene doo stinging Serpent lye The golden Pill hath but a bitter taste In glittering glasse a poyson ranckest plaste So pleasant woordes without perfourming 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 is to me Where woordes and deedes most faithfully agree My freend yf thou wylt keepe thy honest name Fly from the blotte of barking slaunders blame Let not in woord thy promise be more large Then thou in deede art wylling 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 lose of thy good name Wherefore my freend let double dealing goe In steade whereof let perfect plainenesse flowe Doo thou no more in idle woordes exceede Then thou intendes to doo in very deede So good report shall spreade thy woorthy prayse For being iust in woord and deede alwayes You worldly wightes that worldly dooers are Before you let your woord slip foorth to farre Consyder wel what inconuenience springes By breache of promise made in lawfull thinges First God mislikes where such deceite dooth swarme Next it redoundeth vnto thy neighbours
harme And last of all which is not least of all For such offence thy conscience suffer shall As barren groundes bringes foorth but rotten weedes From barren woordes so fruitelesse chaffe proceedes As sauerie flowres doo spring in fertill ground So trusty freendes by tryed freendes are found To shunne therefore the woorst that may ensue Let deèdes alway approue thy sayinges true Finis F. K. 15. Who wyll aspire to dignitie By learnyng must aduaunced be THE poore that liue in needie rate By learning doo great richesse gayne The riche that liue in wealthy state By learnyng doo their wealth mainteyne Thus ritch and poore are furthered still By sacred rules of learned skill All fond conceites of franticke youth The golden gyft of learning stayes Of doubtfull thinges to searche the trueth Learning sets foorth the reddy wayes O happy him doo I repute Whose brest is fraught with learninges fruite There growes no Corne within the feelde That Oxe and Plough did neuer tyll Right so the mind no fruite can yeelde That is not lead by learninges skill Of ignoraunce comes rotten weedees Of learnyng springes right noble deedes Like as the Captayne hath respect To trayne his souldiers in aray So Learning dooth mans mind direct By Vertues staffe his lyfe to stay Though Freendes and Fortune waxeth skant Yet learned men shall neuer want You Impes therefore 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 wyll glory winne With Learning fyrst must needes beginne Finis F. K. 16. Mans flitting life fyndes surest stay Where sacred Vertue beareth sway THE sturdy Rocke for all his strength By raaging Seas is rent in twayne The Marble stone is pearst at length With little droppes of drislyng rayne The Oxe dooth yeelde vnto the yoke The Steele obeyeth the hammer stroke The stately Stagge that seemes so stout By yalpyng Houndes at bay is set The swiftest Bird that flees about Is caught at length in Fowlers net The greatest Fishe in deepest Brooke Is soone deceiued with subtil hooke Ye man him selfe vnto whose wyll All thinges are bounden to obay For all his witte and woorthy skill Dooth fade at length and fall away There is nothing but time dooth wast The Heauens the Earth consume at last But Vertue sittes triumphing still Vpon the Trone of glorious Fame Though spitefull Death mans body kill Yet hurtes he not his vertuous name By Life or death what so be tides The state of Vertue neuer slides Finis M. T. 17. Nothing is comparable vnto a faithfull freend SIth this our time of Freendship is so scant Sith Freendship nowe in euery place dooth want Sith euery man of Freendship is so hollowe As no man rightly knowes which way to followe Sease not my Muse cease not in these our dayes To ryng loude peales of sacred Freendships prayse If men be nowe their owne peculier freendes And to their neighbours Freendship none pretendes 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 ryng disprayse of these vnfreendly men Did man of Freendship knowe the mightie power Howe great effectes it woorketh euery houre What store of hidden freendship it retaynes How still it powreth foorth aboundaunt gaynes Man would with thee my muse in these our dayes Ryng out loude peales of sacred Freendships prayse Freendship releeueth mans necessitie Freendship comforteth mans aduersitie Freendship augmenteth mans prosperitie Frendship preferres man to felicitie Then ryng my muse ryng out in these our dayes Ring out loude peales of sacred Freendships prayse Of Freendship groweth loue and charitie By Freendship men are linked in amitie From Freendship springeth all commoditie The fruite of Freendship is fidelitie Oh ryng my Muse ryng 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 shewe a freendly face That euery man may sowe such freendly seedes As Freendship may be found in freendly deedes And ioyne with me my Muse in these our dayes To ryng loude peales of sacred Freendships prayse Finis F. K. 18. Respise finem TO be as wyse as CATO was Or ritch as CRESVS in his life To haue the strength of Hercules Whiche did subdue by force or strife What helpeth it when Death doth call The happy ende exceedeth all The Ritche may well the Poore releeue The Rulers may redresse eche wrong The Learned may good counsell geue But marke the ende of this my song Who dooth these thinges happy they call Their happy ende exceedeth all The happiest end in these our dayes That all doo seeke both small and great Is eyther for Fame or els for Prayse Or who may sltte in highest seate But of these thinges hap what hap shall The happy ende exceedeth all A good beginning oft we see But seeldome standyng at one stay For fewe doo lyke the meme degree Then prayse at parting some men say The thing whereto eache wight is thrall The happy ende exceedeth all The meane estate that happy life Whiche liueth vnder gouernaunce Who seekes no hate nor breedes no strife But takes in woorth his happy chaunce If contentation him befall His happy end exceedeth all The longer lyfe that we desyre The more offence dooth dayly growe The greater paine it dooth require Except the Iudge some mercie shewe Wherefore I thinke and euer shall The happy ende exceedeth all Finis D. S. 19. He perswadeth his freend from the fond effectes of loue WHY art thou bound and maist goe free Shall reason yeelde to raging wyll Is thraldome like to libertie Wylt thou exchange thy good for ill Then shalt thou learne a childishe play And of eche part to taste and proue The lookers on shall iudge and say Loe this is he that liues by loue Thy wittes with thoughtes shal stand at stay Thy head shall haue but heauie rest Thy eyes shall watche for wanton prayes Thy tongue shall shewe thy hartes request Thy eares shall heare a thousand noyse Thy hand shall put thy pen to paine And in the ende thou shalt dispraise The life so spent for such small gaine If leue and list might neuer cope Nor youth to runne from reasons race Nor yf strong sute might winne 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 wyl prooue great fyre And bring free hartes to endlesse bond Finis 20. Wantyng his desyre be complayneth THe sayling ships with ioy at lenght do touche the long desired port The hewing axe the oke doth waste the battring Canon breakes the fort Hard hagard Haukes stope to the lure wild coâ—s in time the bridle tames There is nothing so out of vre but to his kinde long time it frames Yet this I finde in time no time can winne my sute Though oft the
braine Could kepe thee from their trecherie Suche Sirens haue we now adaies That tempt vs by a thousande waies Thei syng thei daunce thei sport thei plaie Thei humbly fall vpon their knees Thei sigh thei sobb thei prate thei praie With suche dissemblyng shifts as these Thei calculate thei chaunt thei charme To conquere vs that meane no harme Good ladies all letts ioyne in one And banishe cleane this Siren kinde What nede we yelde to heare their mone Since their deceipt we daiely finde Let not your harts to them apply Defie them all for so will I. And if where Circes now doeth dwell You wisht you witt aduise to learne Loe I am she that best can tell Their Sirens songes and them discerne For why experience yeldeth skill To me that scapt that Sirens ill Finis M. Bew. 55. Findyng no ioye he desireth death THe Cony in his caue the Feret doeth anoye And fleyng thence his life to saue him self he doeth destroye His Berrie rounde about besett with hunters snares So that when he to scape starts out is caught therein vnwares Like choise poore man haue I to bide and rest in loue Or els from thence to start and still as bad a death to proue I see in loue to rest 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 perse so my life it taks Thus then to fly or bide harde is the choise to chuse Since death hath caÌ„pde treaÌ„hed 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 request that faithfull loue professe When carcas cased is in chest and bodie laied on hears Your brinishe teares to saue suche as my corse shall moue And therewith write vpon my graue behold the force of loue W. H. Hope well and haue well IN hope the Shipman hoiseth saile in hope of passage good In hope of health the sickly man doeth suffer losse of bloud In hope the prisoner linckt in chaines hopes libertie to finde Thus hope breds helth helth breds ease to euery troubled mynd In hope desire getts victorie in hope greate comfort spryngs In hope the louer liues in ioyes he feares no dreadfull flyngs In hope we â—iue and maie abide suche stormes as are assignde Thus hope breds helth helth breds ease to euery troubled mind In hope we easely suffer harme in hope of future tyme In hope of fruite the pain semes swete that to the tree doeth clime In hope of loue suche glory growes as now by profe I finde That hope breds helth helth breds ease to euery troubled minde W. H. He repenteth his folly WHeÌ„ first mine eyes did vew marke thy beautie faire for to behold And wheÌ„ myne eares gan first to harke the pleasant words that thou me told I would as theÌ„ I had been free froÌ„ eares to heare eyes to se And when my hands did handle oft that might thee kepe in memorie And when my feete had gone so softe to finde and haue thy companie I would eche hande a foote had been and eke eche foote a hand so seen And when in minde I did consent to followe thus my fansies will And when my harte did first relent to tast suche baite my self to spill I would my harte had been as thine or els thy harte as soft as myne TheÌ„ should not I suche cause haue fouÌ„d to wish this moÌ„strus sight to se Ne thou alas that madest the wounde should not deny me remedy Then should one will in bothe remain to grauÌ„t one hart whiche now is twaine W. H. 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 blast The pleasaunt herbe that euery where a fragrant smell doeth cast The Lyons forse whose courage stout declares a princlike might The Eagle that for worthinesse is borne of kyngs in fight The Serpent eke whose poisoned waies doeth belche out venim vile The lothsome Tode that shunneth 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 vade from forme to claie But my true harte and seruice vowed shall last tyme out of minde And still remaine as thine by dome as Cupid hath assignde My faithe loe here I vowe to thee my trothe thou knowest right well My goods my frends my life is thine what nede I more to tell I am not myne but thine I vowe thy hests I will obeye And serue thee as a seruaunt ought in pleasyng if I maie And sith I haue no fliyng wings to see thee as I wishe Ne finnes 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 that I maie greetyng 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 M. Edwards He complaineth his mishapp SHall rigor raigne where youth hath ron shall fansie now forsake Shall fortune lose that fauour wonne shall not your anger flake Shall hatefull harte be had in you that frendly did pretende Shall slipper thoughts and faithe vntrue that harte of yours defende Shall nature shewe your beautie faire that gentle semes to be Shall frowardnesse your fancies ayer be of more force then she Shall now disdaine the dragg of death direct 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 last Shall I receiue rigor for ruth and be from fauour cast Shall I therefore berent my harte 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 your helpe hereto purtende Giue place to witt let reason seme your enemie to defende Lest that you thinke as I haue thought your self to striue in vaine And so to be in thraldome brought with me to suffer paine Finis M.H. 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 craft with smilyng cheare creps into bloudy brest I heare how fained speache speaks faire where hatred is possest I se the Serpent lye and Iurck vnder the grene alowe I see hym watche a tyme to worke his poyson to bestowe In frendly looks suche fraude is founde as faithe for feare is fleade
words you would me write a message must I sende A wofull errande sure a wretched man must write A wretched tale a wofull head besemeth to endite For what can he but waile that hath but all he would And yet that all is nought at all but lacke of all he should But lacke of all his minde what can be greater greif That haue lacke that likes him best must neds be most mischief Now foole what maks thee waile yet some might saie full well That hast no harme but of thy self as thou thy self canst tell To whom I aunswere thus since all my harmes doe growe Vpon my self so of my self some happ maie come I trowe And since I see bothe happ and harme betids to me For present woe my after blisse will make me not forget thee Who hath a field of golde and maie not come therein Must liue in hope till he haue forse his treasure well to winne Whose ioyes by hope of dreade to conquere or to lose So greate a wealth doeth rise and for example doeth disclose To winne the golden flese stoode Iason not in drede Till that Medeas hope of helpe did giue hym hope to spede Yet sure his minde was muche and yet his feare the more That hath no happ but by your helpe maie happ for to restore The ragyng Bulls he dread yet by his Ladies charme He knewe it might be brought to passe thei could doe little harme Vnto whose grace yelde he as I doe offer me Into your hands to haue his happ not like hym for to be But as kyng Priamus did binde hym to the will. Of Cressed false whiche hym forsooke with Diomede to spill So I to you commende my faithe and eke my ioye I hope you will not be so false as Cressed was to Troye For if I be vntrue her Lazares death I wishe And eke to thee if I be false her clapper and her dishe Finis R. L. ¶ Beyng in trouble he writeth thus IN terrours trapp with thraldome thrust Their thornie thoughts to tast and trie In conscience cleare from case vniust With carpyng cares did call and crie And saied O God yet thou art he That can and will deliuer me Bis. Thus tremblyng there with teares I trodd To totter tide in truthes defence With sighes and sobbs I saied O God Let right not haue this recompence Lest that my foes might laugh to see That thou wouldest not deliuer me Bis. My soule then to repentaunce ranne My ragged clothes berent and torne And did bewaile the losse it wanne With lothsome life so long forlorne And saied O God yet thou art he That can and will deliuer me Bis. Then comfort came with clothes of ioye Whose semes were faithfull stedfastnesse And did bedecke that naked boye Whiche erst was full of wretchednesse And saied be glad for God is he That shortly will deliuer thee Bis. Finis T. M. ¶ Beyng troubled in mynde he writeth as followeth THe bitter sweate that straines my yelded harte The carelesse count that doeth the same embrace The doubtfull hope to reape my due desarte The pensiue path 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 seks the golden gaine My luckles lot doeth alwaie take in worthe My mated mynde that dredes my sutes in vaine My piteous plaint doeth helpe for to set 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 from the gaze And to my hope I reape no other hire But burne my self and I to blowe the fire Finis I.H. ¶ Looke or you leape IF thou in suertie safe wilt sitt If thou delight at rest to dwell Spende no more words then shall seme fitt Let tonge in silence talke expell In all thyngs that thou seest men bent Se all saie nought holde thee content In worldly works 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 Se all saie nought holde thee content The makers oft are in fault founde The doers doubt of praise or shame The lookers on finde surest grounde Thei haue the fruite yet free from blame This doeth persuade in all here ment Se all saie nought holde thee content The prouerbe is not South and West Whiche hath be saied long tyme agoe Of little medlyng cometh rest The busie man neuer wanteth woe The best waie is in all world 's sent Se all saie nought holde thee content Finis Iasper Haywood ¶ He bewaileth his mishappe IN wretched state alas I rewe my life Whose sorrowes rage torments with deadly paine In drowned eyes beholde my teares be rife In doubtfull state a wretche I must remaine You wofull wights enured to like distresse Bewaile with me my wofull heauinesse What stonie harte suche hardnes can retaine That sharpe remorse no rest can finde therein What ruthlesse eyes so carelesse can remaine That daiely teares maie pitie winne For right I seeke and yet renewe my sore Vouchsalfe at length my saftie to restore My loue is lost woe worthe in woe I dye Disdainfull harte doeth worke suche hatefull spite In losse of loue a wretche must ioye to dye For life is death now hope is banisht quite O death approche bereue my life from me Why should I liue opprest with woe to be Finis R. H. ¶ The complaint of a Synner O Heauenly God O Father dere cast doune thy tender eye Vpon a wretche that prostrate here before thy trone 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 fainting soule suppressed sore with carefull clogge of sinne In humble sort submitts it self thy mercie for to winne Graunt mercie then O sauiour swete to me moste wofull thrall Whose mornfull crie to thee O Lorde doeth still for mercie call Thy blessed will I haue despised vpon a stubborne minde And to the swaie of worldly thyngs my self I haue enclinde Forgettyng heauen heaueÌ„ly powers where God and saincts do dwel My life had likt to tread the path the leads the waie to hell But now my lorde my lode starre bright I will no more doe so To thinke vpon my former life my harte doeth melt 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 plain 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 dye So shall my voyce vnto thy name syng praise eternally 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.K. ¶ The fruite that sprynges from wilfull wites 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 youthe by rules of reasons waies I ran so long a race in searche of surest waie That leasure learnde me tread the trace that led to leud decaie I gaue so large a raine to vnrestrained bitt That now with proofe of after paine I waile my want of witt I trifeled forthe the tyme with trust to self conceiptes Whilst pleÌ„ties vse prickt forth my prime to search for sugred baites Wherein once learnde to finde I founde so sweete a taste That dewe 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 frute must reape againe Let suche therefore whose youth and pursses are in Prime Foresee shun the helplesse ruthe whiche fews misspence of time For want is nexte to waste and shame doeth synne ensue Euil speding proofe hath hedeles hast my self hath proued it true When neighbours next house burnes t is tyme thereof take hede For fortunes whele hath choise of turnes which change of chaÌ„ses breds My saile hath been aloft though now I beare but lowe Who clims to high selde falleth soft dedst ebbe hath highest flowe Finis ê™ Yloop. ¶ Imprinted at London by Henry Disle dwellyng at the Southwest doore of S. Paules Churche 1576.