liberally extende As longe as thou with mâ—ncy storde or qualities art freight most â—ayâ—e thy maister speekes to thee most ioyfull is his plight 〈◊〉 chearefull peares his pleasant face all times continually And still he saith he full is bent to help and chearish thee â—ayr words they say make fooles to faine trust not swet promise kind before the deedes agree to wordes which thou by proofe shalt finde For though thou be in fauour greatst yet coms a sudden blast that Maisters loue may turne to hate as one dispisde at last â—till shalt thou plie both carks and cares for maysters worthy state to ride to râ—â— in heate and colde at times both er and late In perels plungr and dangers greate thou fealst continuallie thy life thou dost aduenture oft for Maisters cause to dye When others â—â—â—ape in quiet bedde thou ridst in nightes that be in shewres and 〈◊〉 to do the thyng that Lorde commits to thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 swordes in groues and bushie place 〈…〉 for Masters cause thou runst in painfull race 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in presence be to shewe thy diligence 〈…〉 is but all thine owne expense 〈…〉 addresse both here and theare to goe 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 to talke and â—â—yle this is thy endles woe 〈…〉 now mistris speakes now vp and downe goe now 〈…〉 thou theare at all commaundes be thou Yet when thy Maister likes thee well thy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and thus betwene Caribdis rockes thou â—ailst in doubtfull state â–ª Yf both thee loue t is but for times they stande 〈◊〉 for maister geues his eare perhaps to fauâ—inge 〈◊〉 And then a preuie fooâ— maye worke a treuthles â—ale to â—ell that fauour fleeth and maister 〈◊〉 whom late he loued full well â–ª O cruell tonge O masters fonde that so will bende 〈◊〉 eares to cause a faithfull seruantes â—arâ— to mâ—ne in 〈◊〉 câ—eâ—reâ— But thousande wayes besides may â—rowe displeasurs great in place that shall thee bring from ioyfull hart into a dolefull case This is the surest certaintie of seruice that maie fall this is the wofull haps of men in place illiberall At beck thou art to come and goe a bondage t is yee see whâ— wilde liâ—â—â—t 〈◊〉 seruitude if well he may go free The crouked clowne with all his â—oyle fealth not one halfe thy paine to whom the tylled soyle restores for laboures gratefull gayne But thou for fruites so 〈◊〉 deserued by longe applied care perchaunce may get but only hate not one good worde to spare O Barraine lande O frutelesse feilde to bringe a fort to woes for when they hopde to haue rewarde nought els but hatred groes What man can iudge of such a soyle that hath both eyes to see but that he will accompt the ende a mortall misere If once thou hapst away to be when maister cals thee well what checks thou hast at thy retorne I neede not here to tell Yea oft we see for absence small though cause full great appeare thy maister taunth and maistris frownes as Heg of Hell she weare And once if thou from fauour fall then laboureth flatteryng spies to hoyse thee out of fauour cleane by lewde and knauish lies And commonly this thing doth hap when youth and goods are spent for then to driue thee of in deede his minde is fully bent And soone will he geue credit then to those that thee depraue alas for all our carkes and cares this is rewarde wee haue When faithfull man hath thus long serued in truth of tried hart in th end shall vice ingratytude retracte his iust desarte O youth beware O men be wyse what foole so blinde is hee that will spende out his youthfull yeres such seruingman to be A seruyngman what mome will loue their names are adsous their life abhorde as wicked waies and trade most impious This will the hellish sclaunderous lipps of honest man report and though the seruinge man be good yet rayles the enwous sort When thus is spent thy golden youth and many goodly yeres and left the waies of surer life where greater fruites appeares When spent be goods both stock and store and all in seruice eare and liued longe at charge of freinds whose bagges for thee go bare Then comth on thee displeasures great at one vnhappy howre that maister hates whom well he loued turnes thee out his dowre Then age with charge and toyling paines so many yeres of trust are now at once on sudden lost and all is layde in dust Thus thou for toyle and great expense hast smaller rewarde to take now age draweth on and all is spent and all men thee forsake And thou art left in beggers state that were in youth so fine what miserie is like to this what woes then like to thine In hope some liue to be preferde for worke to haue his gaine but hope may misse though wide he gap he gapeth perchauÌ„ce in vaine Where one wee see to be preferde three liue for lacke as staruid and other eke shall haue the fruites that they haue well deseruide And this is cause that I olâ—e man am poore whom none regarde for I haue felt for seruice longe the maisters short rewarde What greater plagues or woes can be then lost deserued meede and Lorde to turue his seruant of in time of greatest neede Of seruice longe this is the ende as still by proofe ye see for faithfull harts of seruants true these are rewardes that bee For longe expense and charge of freinâ—s this is rewarde againe for lost of time in golden youth this is the tried gaine For toyling paines and labours longe this fruitelesse endes that bee alas this is the death of some when Lordes ingrate they see But cheefe when age doth once appeare that labour none they haue the mistres cries what makst thou heare be packing doting knaue So are they like vnto the Dog in Hunt that runs his race who hath in youth been well esteemde and liuide in careles case But when in age he weried is that hunting all is past go hange they crie the cursed our this is roward at last This is the ende this is rewarde for paines and lost of age O learne yonge man that seruice then in none inheritage A signe of this of youth ill spent an aged man am I alas no refuge is for me O death nowe let me die O wretched state O cruell course O port of penurie O pitte of pagnes O pesilent race O sincke of miserie O witles wates O frutles factts O badge of beggers state O plumpe of paines O endles woes O man infortunate Retire my sonne this race to run that life vnsertaine is who liues in state of Seruitours liues still in doubtfulnes What is the cause ingratitude withdrawes the helpyng hande since seruing weights by dayly toyle are praise of noble band What is the state of noble troope if saruants haue no powres alone is knowen a princely porte by traine of seruitoures By seruice dew is well distinct of state the right degrees as seruants serue in hoping harts and crouch with humble knees Where are the men more courteous then men of seruice free what men are more of comely corps then Courtly seruants be Who knowes the course and trade of men but seruants daily care who are more feate or trim traind vp then manerd seruants are Who stronge or tall of personage but men of seruants route who beares the cares bront of wars but seruants arms so stoute What then of more necessitie then seruitours full trewe why then shall they haue ill rewards in th end their states to rewe Lo here good sonne I haue declarde some part of thy degre be ware be times hereafter say that I haue tolde it thee Then came this courtly Courtier wherin his prayse redownes and gaue vnto this aged man for helpe full twentie Crownes And saide till death in mindefull brest this counsall will I graue and eke in time I hope by wit thereof the fruites to haue I thanckes restord withe hartye loue which tongue dooth faint to tell god thee preserue in happie dayes O â—ather deare farewell Fare well quoth he with thousande thankes God thy iorney speede which thus hast helpe my aged yeres in times of greatest neede Thus sayd that aged man full glad with lingring steps on went. and laith his corps in plesant shade of Oken tree to bent For tonge with talke now werie was and hart for gift was glad wherefore he went to recreat his limmes that weaknesse had And laying downe his bodie weake he layde his Staffe him bye and leande his head on Elbow bare and closde his sleeping eye Finis Howell to his freinde keper THe seruynge state which you reiect By open cause that you detect Deserues so great a prayse in deede As great contempts cannot exceede Who serues not God is voyde of blisse In noble seruice freedom is And he that hath cleare eyes to see Perceaues that all men seruants bee For Princes greatst serue God aboue And men them serue in God by loue As God geueth gifts who him regards So Lord his seruant true rewards What greate rewards of Maisters be By seruice got wee dayly see Some Knights be dubde for their awards To greater state thence forth prefarde And eke wee see in meaner sort The Lords that keepe the stately port Theire seruants keepe in ioylitie And them prefar to dignitie If seruants then receaue their meede And eche man seruant is in deede In this disprayse of them so prest Include your selfe emongst the rest They are preferd why say ye noe Their Maisters gifts do dayly growe Exalt therfore good Courteours And eke the courte ef Seruitours Finis keeper his answer to H. FReind Howe I hope thou quietly To serue thy Lord most faithfully No man to much can prayse such men No Maister good depraues my pen. I speake of Maister Couetous Unkinde vniust vncourteous Unsweet vnmeet to serue at all Not good not iust not liberall Therfore ye take my worde amisse All saruants are most true it is Yet I do gesse by inwarde moode All seruants serue not Maisters good Finis ¶ Imprinted at London in fleetstreet beneath the Conduyt at the signe of S. Iohn Euangelist by Thomas Colwell
woes and care Finis A pithy Precept ¶ When youth hath ronne his race Olde age doth steppe in place In youth therfore beware Least age be clad with care Finis Another ¶ Who wanteth force against his foes to fight Shall seldom be deuoyde of painfull plight Finis The expressing of his vnluckie happes diuersly chaunced LYke as the shippe of force doth driue Which way the winde shall him constraine So out of natiue soyle I liue As destnie doth me leade and traine Now here now there now vp now downe As Fortune listes to smile or frowne And as the horse the rider rides Of force must take such way as he With pricking spours doth perse his 〈◊〉 Shall thinke most first for him to be So I of force must yelde to bide Suche hope as fate will me prouide As I by proofe doo playnly see Whiche longe haue sought in hope to finde Some place to ease my miserie With toyle I toste and troubled minde By seas by lande in many a coaste In daunger ofte like to be loaste I wish and wante what should I say I seeke and finde nothing at all I toyle and still in great decay I fayne woulde rise yet still do fall With sondrie cares I am oprest But Pen be still and take thy rest Finis His complaint to the God Cupide because he vvith his Darts perseth him alone OCupid Uenus darlynge deare Whose powre no mortall might may bide If once in hande thy bow thou beare And flaminge forckers by thy side Why dost thou this lie still and sleape When I to thee doo wayle and weepe Wheare is become thy wonted powre Art thou vanquisht and put to flight Or els art thou disposde to lowre On me alone most wofull wight Say no say no Oh I thee pray And turne the harte breedes mine anoy In whiche time â—arbes and trées that Winters winde did weare Enforce them selues to bud and growe some pleasant fruicte to beare The litle Byrde that reason wants doth then with chirping cheare From twig to twig and bushe to bushe greet oft his lotted feare The flotinge Fish in sturdie streames that trauels day and night Doth eke vnto their fancied feares repeare with all their might The weake and wreatched wormes forgetteth not this day Whom wée may finde aboute this time faste coplide by the way As nature hath decreede all these by course of kinde In thinges that reasons rule doth want right so hath man asingde For witnesse of the same in this apoinâ—ted time That euery man and woman eke shall haue a Ualentine In signe of that hir force whiche no wight can subdew Lo this the only cause I say that all thinges doth renew Lo this the cause also why Fortunes lots be had Whose hoped hap and haplesse hope doth make both wo and glad But I aboue the reast may Fortune highly prayse Who hath geuen me the fearest Dame that liues in these our daies Suche one I say whom Nature hath with Uertue so I deckte That none there is or shall haue powre hir name once to deteckte Euen suche a one whom I as Fortune hath asignde Will alwaies be at hir commaunds till death shall do his kinde Finis To a proude Dame. THe fem so fonde of vnaduised brayne That mountes in seate by pride of blinded harte No prayse may get but shewes a wisdom vaine Lo passe degrée in seate by no desart Be thou content to sit on squared stoole Least séeming wise thou prooue the fonder foole It might been sayd by prudent voyce of grace Presuming Dame retire from stately place Finis The lamentable ende of Iulia Pompeyes vvife SOre plungde in piteous paines and wofull smarte Bespred with trâ—ckling teares on death like face Downe trils the droppes on cheekes and sighes from harte To heare and see hir hus bandes greeuous case Thus goes the spouse O wofull Julia Besprent with bloud when Pompeis cote she saw Downe deap she faules in lamentable sounde Of sence bereft so great was Julis straine The childe conceiued within with deadly wounde Untimely fruite came forth with proching paine When all was doone for loue hir life she lost For Pompeyes sake she yéelded vp hir gost So dead she lay bewaylde with many teares A Matron wise a famous ornament O Cesar had liued full cherefull yeares If thou with Pompey couldst haue ben content But Ciuell warres hath wrought this fatall lawe To Pompeye death and death to Julia. Ye Matrones graue and worthy spoused mates Ye mayden Nymphes whiche liue in larger partes O reade and see vewe not and iudge of states And folow eke such faithfulnesse of harts Such liuely loue embrace saith vertue graue As Julie true for mate hir life she gaue Finis To his frovvarde friende THis is not solom Sophocles In learned trade which treads This is not hardie Hercules That conquerd Hydras heads Feare not his bousteous vantinge worde Though he woulde sée me to braule He will aduise his angrie sworde On whom his strokes doo fall Wordes be but winde to purge his heate His stomacke to abate Wherein he shewes his manly feate When most he seemes to prate Time may a swage these choloricke fomes Where Hercles is so bolde Thinke not good Hercles all are momes When all thy Cardes be tolde Wée know the Wood by sight of trees Wee know the fier is hot Wee know your power and wise decrees Though fooles you call our lot Farewell good hardie Hercules As hardie as thou arte Thou maiest be vext with litle Bees Though greater be thy harte Finis A friendly salutation to his beloued THese lines vew dearest friende Wherein I close my harte Beholde therein my great good will Prouokte by iust desarte This simple slender shew Accept your harte to mooue For this my harte and golden will Restore your golden loue For if greate riches coulde Encopled mates the more I haue both seen and liue as now Wherin I might haue store But naught I care the welth Nor yet the gorgeous gaine My handes and hart I only geue Thee only to obtaine You only woulde I craue Before all other wight Before the fayrest proferde Nimphes You most do me delight Whose choyse is now at will To take or els refuse And if it lay so much in me You only woulde I chuse Accept my proferde loue As trust by truth may binde If it thee please I am thine owne O my approued friende In worthy state to stay I will forsake thee neuer My harte my ioy my only care I will thée loue for euer Accepte and vewe these lines And thinke my hart you see Beholding eke this menssenger Somtimes consider mee Suppose I present were To talke in friendly parte But though my body absent be Yet bounde you haue my parte Finis Complaint of ingratitude MY Pen in piteous part Cannot in halfe descrie The inwarde woes in moning hart That gripes me secretlie If outwarde face coulde mone The woes of inwarde shape The senslesse trées and Flintie stone
Newe Sonets and pretie Pamphlets Written by Thomas Howell Gentelman Newly augmented corrected and amended ¶ Imprinted at London in Flete streete at the signe of the S. Iohn Euangelist by Thomas Colwell ¶ To his approued 〈◊〉 Maister Henry Lassels Gentelman Thomas Howell wysheth hartely well WHen I had first gathered together these fewe simple Sonets I thought nothing lesse then to commit so vnskilful a collectioÌ„ of fond phansies vnto the Printers charge hauing perswaded my selfe before that they were growen in a more frutelesse soile and vnlearned head then may well answer either the expectacion of the freindly Reader either the iudgements of the learned either the freidly eare to which I now commend theÌ„ whose chearefull ledes of freindship soâ—â—en â—n me a frutelesse Feilde do iustly require more profitable more plentifull 〈◊〉 then these trifling toyes are But afterwardes I had purposed to imprinte them being required eâ—â—sones by such a freind to whose earnest request in this matter after many denials I did seeme as reason wold partly to yelde â–ª aduenturynge rather the blasing a brode of these few Phansies to the plaine declaring of my vn learnednesse and ignorance then by vnfreindly denial to repel the earnest desiers of such my approued freinde I thought none more meet to whom I should present theÌ„ then vnto you my frend good Maâ—â—er Lasiels being a frend faithfull a hartie helper â–ª a welwiller of mine not doubtyng that you will as well accept the purpose of my Penne herein as I do already conceiue of you by offering the same the only good will of my welmeaning harte Though they be in deede bare toyes of small effecte yet take them as chearefull as Lewes once King of Fraunce accepted the hartie gift of a poore man but a rude present for a Prince being only a slender Radish roote which he yet considering not the value of the root but the good will of the geuer rooted in his hart highly estemed before all other costly iuels So if small gifts en crease a good opinion and a good opinion aug menteth loue and loue by proofe establisheth freindship and doth ratifie the same I doubt not then but that this signe and small gift or rathe simple shift shal be an occasion to ratifie that good will of yours with my entent is either to requite if I might or remember as I can or at the least wise not to treade it vnder foote as I will not to shew such ingratitude the sauadge beast the Lyon woulde not wher of Aulus Gellius maketh his reporte Wherfore good Maister Lassels receaue these my base and baraine labours which in signe of this new returned yere I geue vnto you committing it to the iudgementes of the skilful whose fauour I craue for that my Pen is not as well perfected as I would wish it both for the Readers commoditie and also the pleasure of you my freinde for whose cause I knowe it shall beare the lesse reproche and of some more accepted in doinge wherof I shall confesse a token of your friendship more added to the number of proofs which I haue at sundrie times receyued of you before Fare ye well Your assured freinde Thomas Howell TO HIS FAYTHFUL AND Fellow Maister Henry Lassels SOme prudent heads with pollicie do ponder how to please the freendly man by whose desart they haue founde healpe or ease And other some there be agayne which valiently doe â—eeke to do some deed by venture great that lookers on might like wherby Dame Fame shuld neuer cease triumphant Trumps to solid the pollicie and valientnesse which hath in them been founde But I offrancke and meare good will and not to gayne the praise as one that wanth a cunning skill to imetate their wayes Do present thes my triflyng toyes and far vnconning writes remembryng how the wise man saies the change of thinges delites Which not alone apereth trew by meates whereon wee feede but change in all thinges doth renew the apetite in deede When as the Uitale spirits be filde with vewe of learned Booke the world eyes do willyng craue on lighter thinges to looke And Musicke sounde doth much delight the eares and minde of man whose pleasant tunes so mightie be that banish cares they can The cause for which it hath this gifte is the varietie in it contaynde by learned shifte of skilfull Hermonie Doth not the sounde of homely Pipe that Shepperds rudely bloe refresh the hartes of rusticke route their simple skill to shoe Which is sufficient proofe inoughe that change contentes the minde wherefore I will pricke on my Plough some further change to finde By tillinge oft my fruitelesse feilde whose bare and barin soyle god knowes hath scarce the power to yeld one Corne for all my toile But yet where wanth the finer flower the coursest sorte doth ease in like case thinges of litle power the minde sometime may please Accept therefore my Lassels trewe these toyes in freindly part from him that meanes to thee nought els but show of faithfull hart Use them for change as Musicke rude for such is sure their grace Or els as coursest Flower is vsde when fine is out of place Thine till not his ovvne Thomas Howell Iohn Keper Student to the Vpright Reader of these pretie Pamphilets AS Feilde is none so ill where fruitlesse weedes do groe but y some herbe of vertue good his pearyng flowres may shoe So though in Howels soyle ilwillers seeme to see at first nought els but thriftlesse thornes and Thistles wilde to bee Yet who shall vew his Feildes and rightly them peruse shall see that frutes and frutfull Herbes do spryng of his sweet muse For playnly he depayntes the fits of youthfull loue whose modest Pen from honest act no mindefull man will moue Here learne affects to rule and youth in care to spende beware thou mayst by others harmes how youthly toyes do ende Here reape with other frutes precepts of mortall minde Are these no Herbs of goodly grace in fertile Feilde to finde Also his fined phrase shall get deserued prayse whose cunnyng verse of youthly yeres graue actes of age displayes Wysh him more workes to Pen by this his tried skill and hope to see by tract of time more frutes of painfull quill To Howels happie hande restore thou thankes for this and wish him after death to liue in wittie workes of his Finis IOANNES KEPER OXON AD tho Howell AVreamellislui voluuntur scripta Govveri Chauceri florent acta diserta senis Sic quoque Chauterida similis captobis honores Pergâ—re si vigilans vt modo pergis aues Vibene câ—pisti nullos male linque labores Gloria sudore est desidiaÌ„que dolor Finis William Howell to his Brothers Booke GO Booke wheras thou maist the best to please Passe not for curious heads or folish braines Of learned see thou craue thy greif to ease With rigour not to iudge wher loue remaines Go yet I say the best to please be
In shrubs harde shrowded by a wofull wight there lay Whose carefull corps through pining paine was welnie worne away Where powring out his plainte he curst his cruell fate That led him forth to hope for hier where he in fine founde hate He sight and beat his breast and bid all men take héede By him to trust no filed wordes where as they shew no déede For filed wordes me fed to folow fancie so That like the hooked Fish betraide I languish now in wo I looke and longe so death she leapes alofte in ioye Whose subtel sleights alas ê™ he hath wrought all mine anoye That fie on hir fayre face fie on her fained there For hir sake eke alone I bid fie on all women there Whereby he lookte aside and finding where I stoode Like one that sought to liue alone from me he fled as woode For whom such griping greefe my heauy hart did knawe That I my selfe there depe deâ—â—de like linke of Louers lawe Finis The britlenesse of thinges mortall and the trustinesse of Vertue TO you faire Dames whose fauoure now doth florish To you whose daintie daies in ioyes are spent To you whose corpes Dame nature yet doth poolish To you whom Cupide chiefly doth frequent To you I write with harte and good intent That you may note by this which I do say How natures giftes soone weare and waste a way Your loftie lookes the time will plucke full lowe Your statelie steps Age eke will alter quight Not one thinge now that doth geue pleasant showe But time of cuts and forseth to take the flight Saue Uertue sole in whiche who doth delight When wealth when pompe when beautie shall them leaue Uertue alone to such will sticke and cleaue Where is faire Helines bewtie now be come Or Cressed eke whom Troylus long time serued Where be the decked daintie Dames of Rome That in Aurâ—lius time so florished As these and many mo are vanished So shall your youth your fauour and your grace When nothing els but vertue may take place To vertue therfore do your selues applie Call Cressids lyfe vnto your youthly minde Who past her time in Troye most pleasauntly Till falsinge faith to vice she had inclinde For whiche to hir suche present plagues were sinde That she in Laâ—ers lodge hir life did ende Whiche wonted was most choysly to be tende Hir comly corpes that Troylus did delight All puft with plages full lothsomly there lay Hir Azurde vaines hir Cristall skinne so whight With Purple spots was falne in great decay Hir wrinkeled face once fayre doth fade away Thus she abode plagde in midst of this hir youth Was forst to beg for breaking of hir truth Lo here the ende of wanton wicked life Lo here the fruit that Sinne both sowes and reapes Lo here of vice the right rewarde and knife That cutth of cleane and tombleth downe in heapes All such as treadeth Cresids cursed steps Take heede therefore how you your youthes do spende For vice bringee plagues and vertue happie ende Finis The description of his lothsom life to his friende LIke as the wofull wight in Irons colde doth lie And hopes at Sise to be releast is then condemde to die Euen so alas my lot as contrarie doth fall As his who lookt for suger sweet and founde most bitter gaule My reastlesse labour now I iustly may compare To Sisiphus that neuer sleapes or els to Tâ—stius care For after sturdie stormes when calme I thinke to finde More rougher rage a new doth rise to gripe my greeued minde And when my carefull case by meanes I seeke to cure Most deepist dinte of inwarde wo alas I doo endure The cause of this my grief yet will I closly keepe And secretly my sorowes suppe when others sounde do sleape Finis The Louer almost in desperation moneth his estate MY carefull case and heauie pining plight Constraineth me against my will to wright The plungid state wherin I liue and dwell Doth force me forth my trimbling tale to tell My heaped woes all solace settes aside Whose secrete smarte alas I fayne woulde hide But as the subiect Oxe to yoke must yelde So vanquisht wightes are forst forsake the fielde My lucklesse lot denies me all releefe I seeke for help but finde increase of greefe I languish still in longe and deepe dispayre Yet feare to shew the cause of this my care I couit nought that reason might denie I seeke not for to clime the cloudie skie But what I seeke if I the same might finde Then should be easde mine vncontented mine Finis The infortunate ende of Cresus Kynge of Lydia a vvorthy note for Couetousnesse sake WHen darkenesse dim the earth did hide and husht was wood fielde when Beasts Birdes of painted pride to take their rest did yelde When Seas and waues of waters wilde their roring séemde to slake And eche thing els in silence sat on sleape their ease to take Then I whose wakefull troubled head no quiet rest coulde finde Lay mewsing how I best might ease mine vncontented minde At last I starte from out my bead and hauing present light Did finde a Booke whereon I read to driue away the night In whiche the life of Cirus Kynge of Persia I founde Writen by one hight Xenophon from whence I take my grounde The wonderous workes and worthy déedes of Cirus then I read His regale rule his liberall harte and how in warres he spead How he through his beneuolence not only eache hart won But kept himselfe thereby more sure then towne or garison Who when at any time he stoode of Golde or men in neede with wealth and will his people hast to strength him still with speede And breif to be suche noble déedes by Cirus dâ—â—ne I finde As iustly sure deserued hath to winne immortall minde Which I now passe ouer to them that better can indite As one who most vnable is his life at large to write But only this I note therin as thinge of wonders prise A mirrour méete for Maiestrats to set before their eies When Cressus he that cormrant Kinge which ouer Lyde did raigne Seyng the largenesse Cirus vsde wilde him his hande restraine He saide to heape his frendes in wealth was vnto him great pleasure If he then chaunst to stande in néede he tooke them for his treasure O noble Kynge woulde God thy life were grauen in Tables of Golde That Cresus kinde whiche now doth liue thy bountie might beholde So should they se what Fame thou wanne in lands and countries coste where Cresus Kynge was cleane â—â—â—sumde with that he honâ—rd moste Who ended thus his gréedie guttes were â—â—de and set on flote with glittering Golde that 〈◊〉 was â–ª and powred downe his throte Finis The contempt of Riches THe state of worldly things is straunge and most vnstable Both mirth and wo to man it brings through Fortune variable Wherfore I holde him best that hath sufficiente That likes the lot which God hath geuen