carry longer to plaie our game but neuer too late to goe to an ill Bargaine for now we doe but talke our purses take no hurt but when the terme comes that wee maie ioyne issue in our cases I fear the kings head in fishâ—treet wil â—â—nd vs twâ— good clients but all is well that endes well excepte it were bad in the beginning as I think be this my letter for beeing troubled with I not tell you what leaste it shoulde make you thinke I care not what I haue written what you may read and doe as you see cause either to replie vpon imperfection or let it rest with a noâ— plus and so not doubting you to bee your selfe and to put mee in the number of your second selfe I rest to your selfe as my selfe One alwaies yours H. W. A replie to the last letter IF you were as wise as I could wish you I could take a little paines to write vnto you and yet for that you vnderstand your self I care not if I trouble you with a little idlenes In the parish of Sainâ— Asse at the sign of the hobby horse maid Marian and the foole fell together by the Eares with the Piper so y â— had not the good maÌ„ of y â— pewter candlestick set in for the Moris daunce the Maiegame had beene quite spoyled but when the game had gone rounde and the braynes were well warmed the legges grew so nimble that their heels went higher then their heades but in al this cold sweat while luâ—â—iguts and his best beloued were casting sheepe eies at a Cods-head hue and crie came thorough the streete that the foxe had killed a tame goose at the sodaine noyse where of the multitude were so skarde that all the moris Dauncers were deuided the foole ranne home to your town but because we haue some misse of him in our parish I pray you keep him not too long with you and so for lack of better present occurrents content your selfe with such newes as the time affoordes you heâ—reafter you maie haue better til when and alwaies I rest as you know Yours T. R. An Answere IF you were not more then half mad you wold not haue dauÌ„ced such a trenchmor with your little wits but yet since I ghesse it is about the full of moone I will hope shortly of your amendment in the meanâ— time let me aduise you to take patience with your vnderstanding to direct you in a better cours for when you waked out of your dreame you sawe no bodie but the man that you thought was tunne to our towne and hee was putting you on a coat of 4 elboes for Maid-marian she I thinke is troubled with you in her cream pot but for the hobby horse alas he hath forgot your turn and therefore you should do wel to make your repaire to our market I think it will be a Saints daie when if a naughty bird doe not crosse the Nightingale you shall heare some strange musique about our Medowe plot at the least you shall heare the old song that you were wonte to like well of song by the black browes with the cherry cheeks vnder the side of the pied Cowe come liue with mee be my loue you knowe the rest and so I rest Thine what mine N. R. An other Replie O Braue Oliuer leaue me not behind yow yow plaie y e Marchant al the week and make al whole vpon the holy daie you would be angry if you could tell how yet hauing y â— cards in your hand you cannot chuse but turn vp nâ—â—dy but the matter 〈…〉 great the tailer that sitted my Coate hath made â—ou many a â—â—cket where if it were not for displeasing of Iack an Apes â— could make him fall â—ut with his workeman for acquainting you with his inuention but let this passe and to a better purpose my neighboure and youre good friende hath a welcome in store for you and his eldest daughter would make you both a husband and a brother her wortâ— you know and his wealth wil doe no hurt I should bee glad of your good fortune and you I think should playe wel at be you pleased and so much for the coniuncâ—ioâ— câ—pulatiue newe for newes I bear none of late but that the Bailiffe of our hundreth hath had a mischaunce his wife taking a blowâ— that neuer smarted he hath a paine in his head that cannot be cured for hauing no other plaâ—ster but patience is resolued to make good cheere with his friends and finding him self alone is content to make merry with good felowes this is all for this time and so in hast I end Yours N. B. An Answere WHen wits goe a wool gathering the thred of it may bee fine if it bee well spunne I see you haue little to doe that haue so much leisure to play your leripups if I coulde meet you right I would fit you a penny worth but though I cannot pay you your due I will not die in your debt though I plaie at Noddy I will not take the carde out of your handâ— for I know not how you can spare him but leauing gamsters to their Tricks Iack an apes to his monkie let me tell you that for your neighbour you are so neer him that I need not tâ— trouble him and â—or his wâ—lth and her worth you know wel enough what to doe with them for my selfe I loue not to shake haÌ„ds w t your constable in the coÌ„pany of kind felowship but yet not wronging an honest wench I wil wish her better fortune then my Afflâ—ction and so commending thy selfe I will assist thee with my good praiers that the Bailiffe of the huÌ„dreth may find thee oâ—e among a thousand I meane to shake handes but not heads with and so in sâ—me little occasion of sodain busines I will heere conclude for this time and alwaies rest Thine R. M To my Honourable good Lord my Lord Morafi RIght honorable to expresse vnto your good Lordship the huÌ„ble dutie of my affection I cannot better do it then by this Bearer whom for many good parts fitting your honoures pleasure I can wel commend to your fauorable entertainmeÌ„t for as such maisters are like black Swans so such seruaÌ„ts are choys creaturs for a little matter of small moment wil hoyse vp folly aboue the clouds while wisedome runnes a course of a more careful teÌ„per such I hope shal I find your seruaÌ„t whose wit conscience take such counsaile in all his actions that the iudgments of good experience hold him worthy good account for my self least I may be partial I willeaue his prayse to your prooâ—e and in hope of your contentment onelie intreat your entertainment shortly I hope to see you till when perswaded that his seruice shall gaine him more praise then my penne I will leaue his qualities to your triall and his seruice to your fauour and so in infragible loue rest during life Yours assured in true affection
A POSTE WITH a packet of madde Letters The second part LONDON Printed by R. B. for Iohn Browne and Iohn Smethicke and are to be solde in S. Dunstones churhyard 1606. TO THE READER READER I knowe not what you are and therefore I cannot well tell What to saye to you onelye this at aduenture if you bee wise you will not play the fool in scoffing at that which perhappes may deserue a better countenaunce if you bee not wise I can but praye for your better vnderstanding howsouer you bee I will hope the beste of you that you will think of my work as it deserues which is as much as I desire if you get any good by it thank me for it if hurt thanke your selfe for youre abuse of that mighte serue you better this is all I can and will at this time saye vnto you my intente was to pleasure manie and you maie be one of them and to hurt none at all and therefore not you So leauing my booke to your liking as it falleth out I rest as I haue reason Your friend Nich. Breton A Poste vvith a Packet of madde letters The second part The letter betweene the Knight R.M. and the Lady E. R. SWeet should be that spirit which through the instinct of loue vnderstaÌ„deth the silence of truth whose tonge is the hearte whose words are sighs in which are hidden the secret fruites of those trees that onely grow in the paradise of reason vouchsafe then faire eie more brighte then the sunny beames with one faire glaunce of â—our gratious fauoure to blesse this rude and vnworthy paper the which if it haue made you any offence in the fire consume it but if thorough the power of the fates or the effect of your kindenes it maie doe you the leaste pleasure Let him be Metamorphosed to worse then nothing that woulde be any thing but that letter during your reading or euer any other thing then your will in your seruice for that vnder heauen hauing no cause of comforte but in my concealed hope of your grace let all worlds sweet be as bitternes to my thought that shal seeke sweetnes in other sence so looking for no felicitie but in the nest of the Phaenix in the admiration of honour in the humilitie of loue I rest Yours deuoted to be commanded Her Answere WIsedome mighte well appeare in that hearte which could pearce into the conceipte of that spirit that with the figures of loue deceiues the sence of Simplicitie which not suspecting euill findes seldome other substance O poore truthe how is thy Title made a shadow of deceipt while in seeking of paradise folly falls into hell yet not to wrong any Creature happy maie that liue that makes faith his felicitye and pardoned be that paper that doth but his masters message let then sighs be buried in the depth of forgetfullnes while silence vnderstandeth that vertue speaketh and in the fier of that flame whose heat is more felt then seen be that letter burned that offendes me with pleasure so assuring my selfe that if from the nest of the Phaenix you passe without a fether either the figure will be a Cipher or the fancie affection so leauing your beste thought to a blessed Issue I rest Affectionately Yours in what I maie E R. His Replie VNworthy should that heart bee of the least of loues happines that can haue power to giue place to the poyson of deceeite and more then miserable were the life that to hel makes sutch a passage Oh blessed creature do not thinke the world to be the Caue of the accursed nor doe a wrong to loue in the suspition of truth Simple faith hath no feare and true loue cannot faine but if Silence be the onely Aunswere of the expectation oâ— comforte hope in obscurenesse mâ—st seeke the happinesse of desire but let not fancy bee Cipher when faith knowes no fiction but let your fauoure bee the fether in the neste of my honours Phenix which till I maie kindly receiue I shal in the sunne beames of your beautie consume to the ashes of discomfort in which commending the sum of my life to the true and honourable seruice of loue I rest Yours what mine owne R. M. Her aunswere VNgratious is that spirite that thorough suspition of deceipte doth Iniury to loue and blessed is that fancie that liues onelie by faithe sweet is the warre where kindnes endes the quarrell and little the hurt where hope is a moste present and readie helpe in briefe they are blinde trauailers that in seeking to finde heauen goe to hell and if loue bee himselfe he hath life in Assurance let it then suffice you to finde the due of desart where desire exceedes not the limits of Reason so in the nature of that honour that giues vertue her best Grace commending the comfort of your care to the condition of your conceipte I reste as I haue occasion to equall honoure in true affection Yours as I finde cause E. R. A merry letter from a conceited friend to his like familiar HOnestie I hope I am in the righte excepte the greate winde haue blowen cleane awaâ—e youre beste witte giue me leaue spight of your teeth to tell you that I loue you leaâ—t I should growe deafe I would bee glad to heare of you for thoâ—gh I am â—ot blinde yet I cannot see you and therefore hauing a lit messenger I thought it not amisse to write to you not for any thing that I haue to saie to you but that while I think on you you shoulde see I doe not forgot you for though complimentes are but idle yet they make wordes in steed of better matter and so forth now to the purpose you shall vnderstand that at the writing hereof a sodaine occasion of busines made mee make an end ere I had begon thereore intending to write I know not what to abridge my conceite I know not how but hoping that you are wise enough to thinke what you lift I will onely praie for you that being in as good health as I leaâ—t you as soone as conueniently you can I may meet with you 〈◊〉 where it shal please you for as you know I am for you in al kindnes to quite you and so to him that made you euer to blesse and keepe you with my heartes commendation I leaue you Yours what mine owne B. An Answere to the same WAgge-pasty I am sure I am not in the wrong excepte the Sunne haue dried vp your brains since I left you Let mee for I will tell you that in my loue I outleape you and will not be so idle as not to answere you that my sences doe not so fayle me but that I vnderstand you and hauing no better company would be glad to bee troubled with you for you haue not a kind thought wherein I doe not quarrell with you whether is more force in the nature of true friendshippe which because fortune fauoures few fooles this yeare wee must
R.B. To my louing Cousen master T. VV. Iustice of peace SYr I would be glad to write you newes of the dispatch of your busines but yet it will not bee for Lawyers bâ—ing ful of Clyents cannot answere al men at once and therefore considering your matter is in a case of more conscience then gaine I must attend the leisure of your Counsellour who as he is wiâ—e I doubte not but will proue honest anâ— then a little time will be well 〈◊〉 with that brings a good houre at the last your aduersarie is full of mony and trudgeth vp and downe like a foxe but I hope in sâ—eed of a goose hee will bee choaked with a feather haue you no feare nor care of it for I doubt not to effect it to your content and so much for your lawe busines Now for other matters the occurrents of this time are either so friuolous or dangerous that I thinke silence better blamed then babbling for though there be fewe Partridges yet there are many setters heer in this town who listen for speeches intercept letters accuse the simple and vndoe the foolish and therefore I had rather bee silent with the Nightingale til May then prate like a Cuckoe out of season yet for that you shall not think me fearefull of sparrow blasting I wil write you a little news Tobacco is like to grow a great commoditie for there is not an Ostler nor a Tapster but will be at his whiffe or two and vse it as a shooing-horn to draw on a potte of Beere â—ottell Ale is more common then good and yet deare enough it is so taken vp with the drunken true Theeues are well weeded and yet besides shoue-groate Testers there are some lookers now and then Painting was neuer sâ— common and pretty cheape And for women some goe like Antickes some like maskers some proudly sober and some like carelesse Resolution but some few like angels but they are too high for men and therefore I leaue them to higher powers Now men are as in times past if young hardly wise though witty if aged wise if wealthy serued and honoured if poore at least scorned if not worse vsed If wise perhaps employed if folish baffled this I say for the most part for somtime for some cause both youth and age and pouerty and folly are lâ—â—ely borne withall but for that this is rather an old obseruation then any new matter I wil end my long letter with neuer ending loue And so in hope of your health commit you to the Almightie Your very louing Cousen VV. R To the right honourable his very good lord the Lord. VV. H. RIghte honourable your noblenesse neuer ceasing to binde my seruice to your kindnesse hath made me at this instant to presume a little vpon your good fauour So it is my good Lord that I am shortly to bestow a daughter of mine in mariage vpon a gentleman of some worth and according to our custome friends must bee feasted when a Paâ—â—y of Uenison is a grace to the whole seruice your honour shall much pleasure mee and as often heeretofore giue mee no little cause to bee thankeful my state is not greate but my loue so farre assured as wherein I maye deserue that I cannot requite I will faile of my hope but I will discharge some parte of my debte And so not doubting your honourable fauoure to this my sute for a Bucke beseeching God to adde happines to youre good health I humbly take my leaue Your honors in all humblenes R.S. To his deare friend M. F. R. at his lodging in the Temple YOu wrote of late vnto mee for my opinion of your intent and abuse for your course which two pointes I will touch as truelie and fitly as I can Your intent is to leaue your studie and first to Courte and then to Armes but what hath altered your intent in studie to fall vpon an entent to straunge courses For youre Bookes peaceably entreat of those thinges which you maye finde disquiet in passing through For touching your first course is it not bettâ—r to reade of Princes then to carrie theire crownes you cannot feel their burthens except you had their cares Howe full of perils are theire pleasures yea howe many instrumentes of mischiefe doth the deuill send into the worlde to crosse the courses of good Princes that are leading theire people to Heauen and if they bee Woolues to theire owne flockes how safe is it to bee farre from theire Courtes Now leauing good Princes to Gods blessing and other to his amendment goe a little to his counsell Oh howe greate are the weight of the charges and howe many the natures of their troubles who if they all bee of one minde and as if were one body of many members yet sometime a toe and a finger a hand or an arme a tooth or an eie a tongue or an â—are may perhaps bee out of temper and so that all the bodie maie be out of frame saye their wittes are greate thorough experience of place and their pleasures greate in the authoritie of power and their powers greate in the vertue of fauoure yet with all when experience is put to a newe studie prouidence muste â—rie the power of witte with no little trouble and when pleasures holde in power loue hath no place in seruilitie and when power restes vpon fauoure what is the feare of fortune And further â—is not the care of a common wealth a continuall toyl of witte power a daungerous sâ—eppe to pride hatefull in the highest eie and fortune vnfaithfull in all her fauoures rather read then the laudable cariage of their courses in the seruice of kings then seek in court to see their kingly courses for God only knoweth their consciences themselues onely their cares and thou canst not knowe their crosses But leauing theÌ„ to their honorable proceedings goe yet a little lower to the Ladies what shalt thou see either a creature like an Angell if vertuous or worse then a woman if vitious perhaps thou shalt see painting spoyl a good complexion or deceiue a simple â—ie-sight heate out of a fiue presence a fond spirit speak idlelie perhaps an idle wit playe the wanton Now what art thou benefitted by all this aâ—â—se thine eye with a picture offend thine â—are wish folâ—y or loose thy time a idlenesse Were it not better for thee to read yeâ—iction of Venus then to be seruant vnto vanitie and to laugh at a fancie then to follow folly â—et far there be a Phaenix among birds if hâ—r nest be too high take heed of climing for feaâ—e of a fall take heede of the obiect that makes an abiect of a subiect but looke a side at the attendants what shall you see Cost curtesie long seruice painefull duty hope of fauoure with feare of displeasure a great haruest many labourers â—ewe gaines and must be so for desires are many but deserts fewer and therefore they hope little In summe a Prince
out contrary to expectation you shall therefore doe well before you trouble any of them in it to make sure of the matter in such sort as may be best for your profit for the sute being effected to good purpose leaue to me to deal in it to your conteÌ„t ther is much muttering that you are like to be crossed in it I would therefore wish you to trie your strength in it not to slip time for it is pretious in a good course bear with me I beseech you if I moue your patience in vrging your speed for it is for your owne good against your comming to town I will haue some what else for you to set on foote for he that wil work must not haue the fire without an yron but not knowing your businesse I will forbear at this time to trouble you with idle newes and only praying for your health and harts ease coÌ„mit the consideration of your owne causes to the mannaging of your good discretion so humbly take my leaue for this time and rest alwaies Your Worships humble seruant I. T. To my assured louing friend T. B. with speed NOne paiment of debts is not onely a crack in credit but a losse of friends vpon your letter I furnished your want and fortune hauing bene your friend a large conscience mee thinketh doth not wel your excuse I yet know not noâ— can wel deuise it but acquaint me with it that I may not wrong your disposition for a seeled affection expecteth the like measure in kindnes the mony you had of me is not much but if it haue done you pleasure I am glad of it and if you can well spare it by this bearer I pray you returne it or the cause why you detaine it I haue lately bought sheepe to store a pasture that I haue taken to farme and my mony being short I am boulâ— to write to you for mine owne which if it come shall be welcome if not so that I know how it may steed you I will forbear it and for the conference betwixt your sonne and my daughter I think they are more ready for vs then wee for them youre mind I know and am contented with it for as I see their proceedings we will soone fall vpon agreement and to be plaine with you I think I were best rather to prouide you more mony then demand any more that you haue and therefore making your excuse in this onelie point of affection intreating pardon for my plaine manner of writing assuring you that if this matter goe forward as it is no other like as their loâ—es so shal our purses be one and thus hoping of your health as mine owne with commendations to youre kind sonne youre selfe and your good Shrew I commit you to the Almighty Caunterbury this fourth of August 1604. Your very louing friend N.T. To a Iudge in the behalfe of an offender MY good Lord your honourable care of Iustice I hope is seasoned with the charitable weight of mercy for though the law cutteth off offence by sharpe punishment yet death takes away repentance and where there is sorrow ther is signe of grace the best Iudge of true Iustice Christe Iesus pardoned the great sinner and with the gentle rebuke of sin no more called her to great grace now shall Iustice vpon the first fact vse an other course vpon an offender I knowe it is your oath to doe iustice yet may you giue time of repentance in reprieuing this poore man whose pardon will bee easily attained Your honor shall doe a good deede God in imitating his course in iustice will surely regard and reward you the penitent offender shall be bound euer to pray for you my selfe with all his friends will truly honor you and no doubt but our King who is full of mercie when his Maiestie shall heare of it will commeâ—d you beseeching therefore your honour to stay the sentence of his death vntill the next Aâ—â—ise or to graunt him a reprieue til the said time leauing the poore mans life to a word of your mouth with my humble and bounden seruice to your hoâ—orable commandemeÌ„t in prayer for your good health and all other happinesse I humbly take my leaue Your honors in all humblenes D. H. A Letter of complements To my very good friend master H. W. at his house in Kelton SYr if I could haue let passe so fit a messenger without some thankful remembrance I were vnworthy of so good a frieÌ„d but your kindnesse being such as wil euer worke in a good mind I praie you let me salute you with this little tokeÌ„ of my loue The runlet is of sucâ— sacke as Bristowe hath no better and the suger-lofe for your good Lady I assure you is right Barbary which at this time is bere of some price but vpon the câ—â—sing of the troubles there I hope we shall haue it cheape here in the meane time howsoeuer it be what you neede command in that or what else may bee in my power to accomplish and so wishing I were with you at the killing of one of your fat Buckâ— with my heartie commendations to your selfe and your good bedfellow manie thanks to you both foâ— my great good cheare and most kind entertainment hoping to see you at my house at your comming to towne where you shall make your owne welcome I commit you to the almightie London this xx of Iulie 1604. Your very louing and assured friend C. R. To his assured friend master Tho. Rise at his house in the Strand AGainst this time of my atteÌ„dance vpon the Iudge of this circuit I shall haue occasion to vse manie things whereof I am now vnfurnished your skill in chusing the best and knowing the prices I know long since by your kindnesse in the like trouble and therefore entreate you once more to take a little paines with this bearer my seruant in helping him in the laying out of his monie vpon such parcels as in my note for mine vse I haue set down your trauel nor kindnes shall not be vnthankfullie forgotten and wherin I may in this countrie or elsewhere pleasure you you shall not faile of my best meanes If you haue anie newes I praie you acquaint me with them and if the shippers be come from the Indies what good successe they haue had but some earnest businesse makes me briefer then I otherwise would be and therfore hoping of your health and not doubting of your kindnesse with heartie commendations I commit you to the Almightie Salop this twelfth of Iune 1606. Your assured friend T. M. To his very good friend Master S. B. at his house in Ferill SYr where you wrote vnto me touching the Sale of your Lorshippe of Bar I cannot answer you for two causes the one of price is too high the other your hast of monie is too great for touching your price the land you know is much impaired since the death of your father the woods are
thing to send thee with the loue of my heart I commit thee to the almighty Thine to the end M.R. An Answere THou mad villain what hath walke aboute thy braines to put thy wits in such atemper a tale of a tubbe and the bottome out well to quite your kindnes you shall knowe somewhat of our world So it is that the Foxe hath made a hand with most of our fat Geese the Woolfe meetes with our Lambes before they can welgoe from the damme and the water-rat hath so spoiled our sish-pools that if hee had not beene caught with a trap we might haue gone to y e Sea for a red herring Our Baâ—â—â—ffes Bul runnes through all the Rie in our parish and the Tanners dogge hath worried a wild Sow The Bailâ—ffe of our hundreth takes vpon him like a Iustice since the newe Alehouse was set vp the coâ—stable is much troubled but though oates be rank and rye bee ripe wheat is but thinne and Barlie short good fellowship goes down the wind and yet wenches are righte bred our Piper is falne sicke of an Ale surfet and olde â—uddle got a blowe at midnighte that makes him straddle all day Parnell shall haue her sweet heart in spight of Tom. Tinker and there is wâ—ndring in the towne that thou art not in the gaole before the Sessions but be thou ofâ— good chear there is time enough for a good turne and come when thou wilt thou shalte make thine owne welcome Oh mad staue let me be merry w t thee a little for thou knowest I loue thee thy Gransire is going to his graue and hath bequeathed thee a knaues portion the Bel hath gone for him but so soon as he is past I wil seÌ„d thee word in post that for griefe of his death thou maist drinke to all christen soules thy sister is where she was and sweares thou arte honester then thy father I will say no more but thou haste friends that thou knowest not and therefore come when thou wilt we will haue a health ere we part and so in hast farewell Thine to the proofe R. S. To a young man going to trauell beyond the Sea GOod Cousen I finde by your last letter your present intent to trauell I pray God it fall out for your good for though in respect of your yeares your bodie bee in good state to indure some hardnesse yet there is difference in the natures of countries both in the ayr and the diet but aboue these things there are many things to be observed that negligently regarded may be greatlie to your hurt as first for your religion haue a great care that your eies lead not your heart after the horror of Idolatry serue God sincerely not fondlie not in shewe but in truth of zeale and for all your comfort in all your course that you trust in him and none else now secondlie for your carkasse take heed of too much following the feminine set and praie for continencie it is a blessed vertue I speake not this for the common or base sort for I hope your spirit is too high to stoupe to such game but as the Sirenes whose faces are bewitching obiects and whose voices as Inchanting musique if these be in the waie of your eare or your eye hast you from them least too late you find it too true that you will hardly scape drowning when you are ouer head and eares such weeds will hang on your heeles as will so hinder youre swimming y t you will hardly ouercome it in health if you hap to scape with your life furthermore if you meete with some chast Penilasse whose beautie walks eâ—eÌ„ with her vertue let not a chast eie in her beget an vnchast thought in you I speak not this in feare of anie thinge but your youth yeâ— though I know you wel disposed in many waies I doubte you are not righte in all this being a thing that I know moste necessarie I thoughte in my loue to giue youâ—punc a note of nowe for your purse let it be priuate to your owne knowledge least it be an occasion of your vnhappinesse and breede you more partakers then for your profit Now for your tongue let it follow your wit and typpe it with truth that it may abide al â—utch and for your diet let it be sparing for better leaue with an appetite then goe to Phisick for a surfet now for your conuersation chuse the wise and rather heare them then trouble them and against all fortunes take patience in all your passage so seruing God and obseruing the word no doubt but you shall make a benefit of your voyage and I shall be ioyfull of your returne and thus loath to tier you with a long tale when I knowe in a little you wil vnderstand much in praier for your good successe and saâ—e returne I commit you to the Almighty Your affectionate kinesman and assured friend N.B. To his friend G.T. in his time of sicknesse and sorrow for a great misfortune DEare George knowing the cause though not the condition of thy sicknesse I am bold a little to aduise thee for the better recouerie of thy health Thou knowest that there is nothing passeth neither vnder nor aboue the heauens but either by the direction or permission of the wisedome of the Almightie ther is no day but hath his night no ElemeÌ„t but hath his contrarie nor comfort on the earth without a cros thou art sorry to see the cruelty of fortune but turne thine eies to a better light and thou shalt see it a trial of Gods loue for if nature bee accursed for sin thou must finde it in this world or another and the second death is worse then the first If sicknes makeÌ„ thee feel the hand of God shall not patience make thee trie his mercy and health make thee know his loue if losses make thee poore wert thou not beteer with patience be Gods begger then in pride the worlds king grieue not then at thy fortune but liue by thy faith â—e rather Iob then a Saul for there is no spurning against so sharpe a pricke as Gods purpose I am sorry for thy sicknesse but more for the cause for to mourn to no end is meeâ—e folly and a piâ—ing sicknesse is a signe of more passion then patience Christ suffered for thee suffer thou for thy selfe lay away thy too much melancholy for sighing is womanish and weeping is babish be wise therfore for thy selfe and be good to thy sefe pluck vp thy spirits and put thy selfe onelie vppon God liue not like a dead man but die like a liuing man let not fortune be a messenger of death nor impatience a preiudice to thy health take thy horse and ride ouer to me and take the time as it falls if faire the fewer clothes if foule take a cloak but deferre nâ—t the time for thought pearceth apace for the mind there is no phisick but patience and mirth bring the first with
possible to be true that the spirite of error could euer haue taken such possession of thy wit to make a saint of an Idoll and loose thy selfe in a maze why first the thinge loue is another worlde then this and hath little businesse with such creatures as thou keepest too I am sorrie to heare how thou windest thy selfe into such a net that thou canst no waie get loose fit vpon folly leaue thy faÌ„sy least thou be sorry too late then no maÌ„ wil pitty there whatâ— haue both eies and bee stark blinde ears and hast hearde nothing a nose and can smell nothing a witte and can perceiue nothing and a heart that can feele nothing to put thee froÌ„ this new-nothing which thou hast met with called loue Why let me tell thee what it is simplie I cannot tell thee but what are the qualities of it as I haue heard and read of it I wil deliuer thee It will Cuckold age and befoole youth betray beautie and wast wealth dishonor vertue and worke villanie this kind of loue I meane that makes thee dance trenchmore without a pipe it will not let one sleepe nor eat nor drink nor staÌ„d nor sit in quiet it will teach a foole to flatter a knaue to lye a wench to dance and a scholler to be a Poet before he can hitte the right way of a kind verse it will make a Souldiour lazie a Courtier wanton a Lawyeridle a Merchant poore and a poore man a begger it will make a wise man a fool and a fool quite out of his wits it will make a man womanish and a woman Apish To be short there is so much ill to be said of it that he is happy who hath not to doe with it If therefore thou be not too farre gone come back againe if thou caâ—st leaâ—e thy studie laie awaie thy booke and think of other matter theÌ„ the mouth of Venus least Mars bee angry or Vulcan play the villane when Cupid shall be whipt for shooting awaie of his arrowes In fine giue ouer thy humor for it is no bettter theÌ„ a fansie and liue with me but a daie thou wilt bee in hate with it all night for the desire is fleshly and the delight is filthy the sute is costlie and the fruit of it but folly Leaue beauty to the painter to helpe him in his Arte wit to the Scholler to helpe the weaknesse of his memorie and welth to the Merchant to encrease his stock Cases to the Lawyer to helpe his pleading honour to the Souldier to put forth his valour and so let thy mistris be deuided among them and when they are all together by the eares come thou awaie to mee and liue with me and credit mee thou wilte in the end thanke meâ— for dealing thus truelie and plainlie with thee In the meane time let me heare from thee what I shall hope of thee for as thou knowest I loue thee so in my loue haue I written to thee what I knowe is good for thee and what I wishe maye doe good with thee And thus till I see thee in heartie praier for thee and like commendations to thee to the Lord of heauen I leaue thee Thine as thou knowest L.E. Her Answere GOod Goose eate no more haye what a noise haste thou made with keaking at nothing Thou hast heard thou knowest not what and talkest thou knowest not howe take a woodcocke in a spring and touch not me with these termes now for thy mourning let it be for the losse of thy wit for I haue no feare of had I wist Loue quoth he yes neuer knew what it is and yet speake so much of it either you wrong it or your selfe that you no better vnderstand it for let me tell you you are mistaken in it it is the light of beautie the blis of nature the honour of reason and the ioie of time the coÌ„fort of age and the life of youth it is the tongue of truth the staye of wit and the rule of vnderstanding it is the bridle of wil the grace of sence it makes a man kinde and a woman constant and while fools and Apes play bo-peep for a pudding Louers haue a life that they would not leaue for a mountaine Now for Mars and Venus they are studies for schole boyes and hee that feareth Vulcan let him be whipt for Cupid To bee shorte thou art strangelie out of tune to write me such a peece of musique for were I but in the waie shal I turne back to thy whistle no thou knowest not what it is and therefore talk no more of it for hadst thou but once kindly had a tast of it thou wouldst die ere thou wouldst leaue it beleeue it I know it and therfore for thy derision of my mistrisse I wil take it as a dream and be sorry that awake thou hadst no more witte then to write it but let all vnkindnesse passe it may bee I wil shortly see thee and then make thee glad to yeeld to me that thou art in a foule error to wish me leaue my loue to liue with thee but since I know thy kindnes I will beare with thy weaknesse and in the faith of an old friend hearken to thee in an other matter so wishing thee no more to enuy so much against a matter of so excellent vertue I will leaue thee for this time and rest alwaies Thine as mine ovvne R.P. To his onelie and all beloued E. S. TRuelie sweet heart I am so out of order with my selfe with the extreamity of loue that I beare you that my hart is euen at my mouth to say sweet hart when I think on you and if I but hear your name it makes me start as though I should see you and when I looke on my handkerchiffe that you wrought me I thank you with couentry blew oh how I lift vp mine eies to heauen and saie to my selfe oh there is a wench in the world well goe to but when â— see my iet ring that you sent me by your brother Will I doe so kisse it as if you were euen within it Oh Nell t is not to be sâ—oken y e affection that I beare thee why I fereted all night for the Rabbot I sent â—hâ—e and haue been in the wood all day to seek a fine birds nest for â—hee my mother is mâ—king of a cheese-cake and she hath promisâ—d â—t me for thee well beleeue me loue thee and my 〈◊〉 shooes come home on Saterday â—le see thee on Sundaâ—e and we will drinke togethâ—r that 's once â—or indeede I to loue thee Why my heart is neuer from thee for ouer and besides that I think on thee al daie I â—oe so dream on thee al night that our folkes say in my sleep I call thee sweee hart when I am awake and remember my dreame I sigh and say nothing but I would I wotte what but t is no matter it shall bee and that sooner then some thinke