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 chaunce might neuer change successe Were such a life to lead or state to proue Who would not wish that such a life were loue But O the soury sauce of sweete vnsure When pleasures flye and flit with wast of wind The trustlesse traynes that hoping harts allure When sweete delightes do but allure the mind When care consumes and wastes the wretched wight Whyle fancie feedes and drawes of her delight What life were loue if loue were free from paine But O that paine with pleasure match should meete Why did the course of nature so ordayne That sugred sowre must sause the bitter sweete Which sowre from sweete might any meanes remoue What hap what heauen what life were like to loue FINIS W. R. 13. Who mindes to bring his Shippe to happy shore Must care to know the lawes of wisedomes love MY freend if thou wilt credite me in ought To whom the truth by tryall well appeares Nought worth is wit til it be dearely bought There is no wisedome but in hoary heares Yet if I may of wisedome oft define As well as others haue of happinesse Then to my words my freend thy eare encline The thinges that make thee wise are these I gesse Feare God and know thy selfe in each degree Be freend to all familiar but to fewe To light of credite see thou neuer be For tryall ought in trust dooth treason shewe To others faultes cast not too much thy eye Accuse no man of guilt amend thy owne Of medling much doth mischiefe ought arise And oft debate by tickle tongue is sowne What thing thou wilt haue hyd to none declare In word or deede beware of had I wist So spend thy good that some thou euer spare For freendes like Haukes doo soare from emptie fist Cut out thy coate according to thy cloth Suspected persons see thou alwayes flee Beleeue not him that once hath broke his troth Nor yet of gift with out desert be free Time quickly slips beware how thou it spend Of wanton youth repents a paynful age Begin nothing without an eye to th end Nor how thine eare from counsell of the sage If thou too farre let out thy fancy slip And witlesse will from reasons rule outstart Thy folly shall at length be made thy whip And sore the stripes of shame shall cause the smart To doo too much for old men is but lost Of freendship had to women comes like gayne Bestow not thou on children too much cost For what thou doest for these is all in vaine The olde man or he can requite he dyes Vnconstant is the womans wauering mind Ful soone the boy thy freendship will despyse And him for loue thou shalt vngreatfull sind The aged man is like the barraine ground The woman like the Reede that wagges with wind There may no trust in tender yeeres be found And of the three the boy is most vnkind If thou haue found a faithful freend in deede Beware thou lose not loue of such a one He shall sometime stand thee in better steede Then treasure great of gold or precious stone FINIS Iasper Heywood 14. Of the vnconstant stay of Fortunes giftes Jf Fortune be thy stay thy state is very tickle She beares a double face disguised false and fickle This day she seemes to smile to morow will she frowne What now shee sets aloft anone she throweth downe Fly Fortunes slye deceytes let Vertue be thy guide If that you doo intend in happy state to abide Vpon the setled rocke thy building surest standes Away it quickly weares that resteth on the sandes Dame Vertue is the rocke that yeeldes assured stay Dame Fortune is the sand tha skoureth soone away Choose that is certaine let thinge vncertayne passe Preferre the precious gold before the brittle glasse Sly Fortune hath her slightes she plaies vpon the packe Looke whom she fauours most at length she turnes to wracke But Vertue simply deales she shuns deceitful trayne Who is by Vertue raysed vp shall neuer fal agayne Sticke fast to Vertue then that giues assured trust And flye from Fortunes frekes that euer proue vniust FINIS F. K. 15. Promise is debt JN my accompt the promise that is vowed Among the good is holden such a debt As he is thought no whit to be allowed That setteth light his promise to forget And for my part I will not linke in loue With fickle folke whose fancies ought remoue My happy gaine I do esteeme for such As fewe haue found in these our doubtful dayes To find a freend I thinke it be as much As to win a fort ful fraught of noble prayse Of all the goods that there may be possest A faithfull freend I iudge to be the best O freendly league although to late begun Yet time shall trye our troth as well imployed And that we both shall see that we haue won Such fastned faith as can not be destroyed By enuious rage or slaunders bitter blowe That alwayes seekes the good to ouerthrowe FINIS R. Hill. 16. No words but deedes THE wrong is great the payne aboue my power That yeeldes such care in doubtfull dens to drowne Such hap is hard wher Fortune doth so lower As freendly looke is turnd to froward frowne Is this the trust that faithfull freendes can finde With those that yet haue promise broke By deedes in dout as though no wordes can binde A vowed freend to hold him to his yoke O faithlesse freend what can assure your mind That doubtes so soone before you haue cause why To what hard hap doth Fortune here me bind When words nor deedes can no where satisfye What can I write that hath not oft bine saide What haue I sayd that hath not bind affyrmed What not approued that ought to be assayed Or what is vowed that shall not be perfourmed Cast of mistrust in hast no credite giue To this or that that breedeth freendes vnrest No doubt at all but trust me if I liue My deedes shall proue that all is for the best And this beleeue the Sea shall cease to flowe The Sunne to shine within the setled skye 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 while you may Forget not this a dogge shall haue a day FINIS R. D. 17. He desyreth exchange of life THE day delayed of that I most do wishe Wherewith I feede and starue in one degree With wish and want still serued in one dishe Aliue as dead by proofe as you may see To whom of old this prouerbe wel it serues While grasse dooth grow the selly horse he sterues Tweene these extreames thus doo I rome the race Of my poore life this certaynly I know Tweene would and want vnwarely that do passe More swift then shot out of Archers bow As Spider drawes her line all day I watch the net and others
reward With al respects of ioyes regard Here I forsweare 47. Where reason makes request ther wisedome ought supply With freendly aunswere prest to grant or els deny I Sigh why so for sorrowe of her smart I morne wherfore or greefe that she complaynes I pitie what her oppressed hart I dread what harme the danger she sustaines I greeue whereat at her oppressing paines I feele what force the fittes of her disease Whose harme doth me and her alike displease I hope what happe her happy healthes retyre I wish what wealth no wealth nor worldly store But craue what craft by cunning to aspire Some skil whereto to salue her sickly sore What then why then would I her health restore Whose harme me hurtes how so so workes my will To wish my selfe and her like good and yll What moues thy mind whereto to such desire Ne force ne fauour what then free fancies choyse Art thou to chose my charter to require Each Ladyes loue is fred by custumes voyce Yet are there grauntes the euidence of their choyse What then our freedome is at large in choosing As Womens wils is froward in refusing Wotes shee thy wil she knowes what I protest Daynde she thy sute she daungerd not my talke Gaue she consent she graunted my request What didst thou craue the roote the fruite the stalke I asked them all what gaue shee Cheese or chalke That tast must try what tast I meane the proofe Of freendes whose wils withhold ther bowe aloofe Meanst thou good faith what els hopest thou to speede Why not O foole vntaught in carpel trade Knowest not what proofes from such delayes proceede Wilt thou like headlesse Cocke be caught in glade Art thou like asse too apt for burden made Fy fy wilt thou for saint adore the shrine And woo her freend eare she be wholy thine Who drewes this drift moued she or thou this match T was I oh foole vnware of womens wyles Long maist thou waite like hungry hounde at hatch She crafty Foxe the seely Goose beguiles Thy sute is shaped so fit for long delay That she at wil may chek from yea to nay But in good soothe tel me her freendes intent Best learne it first their purpose I not know Why then thy wil to worse and worse is bent Dost thou delight the vnkindled cole to blow Or childlike louest in anckred bote to rowe What meane these termes who sith thy sute is such Know of or on or thou afect too much No haste but good why no the meane is best Admit she loue mislike in lingring growes Suppose she is caught then Woodcocke on thy crest Til end approues what skorneful seedes she sowes In loytring loue such daugers ebbes and flowes What helpe herein why wake in dangerous watch That too nor fro may make thee marre the match Is that the way to end my weary worke By quicke dispatch to lesson long turmoyle Well wel though losse in lingering wontes to lurke And I a foole most fitte to take the foyle Yet proofe from promise neuer shall recoyle My words with deedes and deedes with wordes shall wend Til shee or hers gainsay that I intend Art thou so fond not fond but firmely fast Why foole her freendes wote how thy wil is bent Yet thou like doult whose witte and sence is past Sest not what frumpes do follow thy entent Ne know how loue in lewe of skorne is lent Adewe for sightes such folly should preuent Wel wel their skoffes with scornes might be repayd If my requestes were fully yead or nayd Wel wel let these with wisedomes payse be wayd And in your chest of cheefest secreates layd FINIS My lucke is losse 48. What ioy to a contented mind THe faith that fayles must needes bethought vntrue The freend that faines who holdeth not vniust Who likes that loue that changeth stil for new Who hopes for trueth where troth is voyde of trust No faith no freend no loue no troth so sure But rather failes then stedfastly endure What head so stayed that altereth not intent What thought so sure that stedfast doth remaine What witte so wise that neuer needes repent What tongue so true but sometime wonts to faine What foote so firme that neuer treades awrie What soner dimde then sight of clearest eye What hart so fixt but sone enclines to change What moode so milde that neuer moued debate What faith so strong but lightly likes to range What loue so true that neuer lernd to hate What life so pure that lasts without offence What worldly minde but moues with ill pretence What knot so fast that may not be vntide What seale so sure but fraude or force shall breake What prop of stay but one time shrinkes aside What ship so stauche that neuer had a leke What graunt so large that no exception makes What hoped helpe but freend at neede forsakes What seate so high but low to ground may fall What hap so good that neuer found mislike What state so sure but subiect is to thrall What force preuailes where Fortune list to strik What wealth so much but time may turne to want What store so great but wasting maketh skant What profites hope in depth of dangers thrall What ruste in time but waxeth worse and worse What helpes good harte if Fortune froun withall What blessing thriues against heauenly helples curse What winnes desire to get and can not gayne What botes to wish and neuer to obtaine FINIS My lucke is losse 47. Donec eris Felix multos numerabis amicos Nullus ad a missus ibit amicus opes EVen as the Rauen the Crow and greedy Kite Do swarming flocke where carren corpes doth fall And tiring teare with beak and talentes might Both skin and flesh to gorge their guttes withall And neuer cease but gather moe to moe Doe all to pull the carkase to and froe Till bared bones at last they leaue behinde And seeke elsewhere some fatter foode to find Euen so I see where wealth doth waxe at will And Gold doth grow to heapes of great encrease There freendes resort and profering freendship still Ful thicke they throng with neuer ceasing prease And slilie make a shewe of true intent When nought but guile and inward hate is ment For when mischance shall change such wealth to want They packe them thence to place of richer haunt FINIS My lucke is losse 49. Amantium irae amoris redinti graciae est IN going to my naked bed as one that would haue slept I hard a wife sing to her child that long before had wept She sighed sore and sang ful sweete to bring the babe to rest That would not cease but cryed stil in sucking at her brest She was full wearie of her watch and greeued with her child She rocked it and rated it til that on her it smilde Then did she say now haue I found this prouerbe true to proue The falling out of faithfull frends renuing is of loue Then tooke I
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
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
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
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
spent FINIS L. Vaux Trie before you trust TO counsell my estate abandonde to the spoile Of forged frendes whose grosest fraude it set with finest foile To verifie true dealyng wights whose trust no treason dreads And all to deare thacquaintaunce be of suche moste harmfull heads I am aduised thus who so doeth frende frende so As though to morrowe nexte he feared for to become a fo To haue a fained frende no perill like I finde Oft fleryng face maie mantell best a mischief in the minde A paire of angels eares oft tymes doeth hide a serpents harte Vnder whose gripes who so doeth come to late complaines the smart Wherefore I doe aduise who so doeth frende frende so As though to morrowe next he should become a mortall fo Refuse respectyng frends that courtly knowe to faine For gold that winnes for golde shall lose the self same frende againe The Quaile needes neuer feare in foulers netts to fall If he would neuer bende his eare to listen to his call Therefore trust not to sone but when you frende frende so As though to morrowe next ye feard for to become a fo FINIS L. Vaux He renounceth all the affectes of Loue. LIke as the Harte that lifteth vp his eares To heare the hounds that hath hym in the chase Doeth cast the winde in daungers and in feares With fliyng foote to passe awaie apace So must I flie of Loue the vaine pursute Whereof the gaine is lesser then the fruite And I also must lothe those learyng looks Where Loue doeth lurke still with his subtill slaite With painted mocks and inward hidden hoks To trapp by trust that lieth not inwaite The ende whereof assaie it who so shall As sugred smart and inward bitter gall And I must flie suche Cirian songs Wherewith that Circes Vlisses did enchaunt These wilie Watts I meane with filed tongs That harts of steele haue power to daunt Who so as Hauke that stoupeth to their call For moste desarte receiueth least of all But woe to me that first behelde these eyes The trapp wherein I saie that I was tane An outward salue whiche inward me destroies Whereto I runne as Rat vnto her bane As to the fishe sometyme it doeth befall That with the baite doth swallow hooke and al. Within my breast wherewith I daiely fedd The vaine repast of amourous hott desire With loitryng lust so long that hath me fedd Till he hath brought me to the flamyng fire In tyme as Phenix ends her care and carks I make the fire and burne my self with sparks FINIS L. Vaux Bethinking hym self of his ende writeth thus WHen I beholde the baier my laste and postyng horsse That bare shall to the graue my vile and carren corsse Then saie I seely wretche why doest thou put thy truste In thyngs eithe made of claye that sone will tourne to duste Doest thou not see the young the hardie and the faire That now are paste and gone as though thei neuer were Doest thou not see thy self drawe hourly to thy laste As shafts whiche that is shotte at birds that flieth faste Doest thou not see how death through smiteth with his launce Some by warre some by plague and some with worldlie chaunce What thyng is there on yearth for pleasure that was made But goeth more swifte awaie then doeth the Sommer shade Loe here the Sommer floure that sprong this other daie But Winter weareth as faste and bloweth cleane awaie Euen so shalt thou consume from youth to lothsome age For death he doeth not spare the prince more then the page Thy house shall be of claie a clotte vnder thy hedde Vntill the latter daie the graue shall be thy bedde Vntill the blowyng trumpe doeth saie to all and some Rise vp out of your graue for now the Iudge is come FINIS L. Vaux Beyng in Loue he complaineth ENforst by Loue and feare to please and not offende Within the words you would me write a message must I sende A wofull errande sure a wretched man muste write A wrecched 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 mynde what can be greater grief That haue and lacke that likes hym best must neds be moste mischief Now foole what makes thee waile yet some might saie full well That haste 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 fielde 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 dread 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 mynde 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 hame 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 forsoke with Diomed to spill So I to you commende my faithe and eke my ioye I hope you will not bee so false as Cressed was to Troye For if I bee vntrue her Lazares death I wishe And eke in thee if thou bee false her clapper and her dishe FINIS R. L. Beyng in trouble he writeth thus IN terrours trapp with thraldome thruste Their thornie thoughts to taste and trie In conscience cleare from cause vniuste With carpyng teares 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 sobs I saied O God Let right not haue this recompence Lest that my foes might laugh to se That thou wouldest not deliuer me Bis. My soule then to repentance ranne My ragged clothes all rent 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 the naked boye That erst was full of wretchednesse And saied be glad for God is he That shortly will deliuer thee Bis. FINIS W. H. Beyng troubled in mynde he writeth as followeth THe bitter sweate that straines my yelded harte The carelesse count that doeth the same emrace The doubtfull hope to reape my