had sent With louing wife at home the same he spent He tooke great paines to come by that he had And trauailde sore through many a forraine soile To bring that home that makes the houshold glad And kéepe the wife and houshold folke from â—oile And I tooke care that nothing went to spoile And looke in deede what things that I did lacke Was seene in face or found vppon my backe The world might sée I went in garments good Though small I brought to him as I confesse I spent him much and at great charge I stood Which brings strong harts somtime to great distres But neuer that might make his loue the lesse For looke how he his liking first beganne In fine for troth he proude the selfe same manne I could not sléepe but where in bed he lay I could not eate but where he sate at boorde I could not laugh when liking was away I silent sat gaue he but halfe a woorde Ill newes of him strake me with mortall sword His minde and mine did draw so in one yoke The selfe same sittes he felt where of I spoke Full seauen yeares this constant course we kept Though often times there happened houshold iarrs And tratling tales that in betweene vs crept Made many wounds where yet remains the scarrs Yet alwaies peace tooke vp our brawling warrs And we did seeke to salue each others sore And passe old griefes and thinke thereon no more Swéete is that peace that patcheth vp great harmes Sharpe is the warre that teares a house in â—waine Woe worth those words that brings in brauleâ— by swarms Darke be those cloudes that alwaies threatens raine Curst be the cause that breedeth woe and paine And damnde in Hell those subtill spirites shalbe That councell gaue to part my choise from me Well as our chaunce together was to ioyne And dwell long while as here in briefe you hard So happe came on through hope of wealth or coine And drew my choise where he might be prefarde To warres and I that had a great regard To him that time when I his minde did know Gaue my consent that he to warres should goe With sighes and sobs and bitter teares among We parted tho with promise surely past That one should heare from other ere twere long And sadly so we seured at the last His goods his gold his friends both firme and fast He left me then to comfort me withall But nere a childe as Fortune so did fall He past the seas and sent me tokens still And money such as might supply my néede And for to shew his faith and great good will Long Letters large he made that I might réede Of promise past and to come home in déede But to what end should serue this businesse great My minde was turnde warme loue had lost his heat A new fine man both young and apt for chaunge I those and cleane forgat my former ioy And in a while I was become so straunge As Hagard Hauke that takes in head a toy And flées from Lure and waâ—eth nice and coy My wedlocke now not hearing of these newes Made no hast home till I was ore the shewes Yet knacks I wrought to bleare my husbands eies I made a bruite be blowne that I was dead When that he heard he did his life despise And so forsooke sléepe rest and tast of bread He rent his haire he sadly shooke his head He walkt the woods and shunned all repaire As one would be deuourd with fowles of thaire He daily bledde when little foode he tooke He would not come where woemen were in place And he so leane and like a Ghost did looke That Death it selfe was seene amid his face A noble Earle as he beheld this case Brake with the man that thus tormented was And so in sports the troubled time did passe But ague â—its and sicknesse followed on That in poore plite came home my husband thoe Not leane in purse but bare and néere the bone The bodye then was worne with warre and woe And yet full sound as al the world might know His limmes I saw but I so nice did waxe There was no flame of fire might come to flaxe For I could wéepe and quench by cunning art The hottest loue that euer husband bore And so two yeares I plaied a Foxes part Which ere I die I may repent full sore My husbands bedde I shund and furthermore I fainde I had a sickenesse let it goe I neuer minde that folly forth to shoe A finer â—ricke to compasse that I â—ought I plaide through fleight and casting figures trim To my good man a bastard gâ—rle I brought And from my friend presented her to him Hée saw thereby the find runne ore the brime Yet kept it close and sayd nothing at all Till out by chaunce might further matter fall And alwayes would my husbande tell mée plaine I did him wronge to keepe mee from his bedde But I could vse him in a pleasaunt vaine And make him soone forgett that hee had sedde My doore was lockt howe ere I layde my head My maydes and I kept solempne cheare alone How euer playne poore husbande made his monâ— Two yeares this wise I shoeffled Cardes full cleane Till husband spied a Letter of my hande Whereby hee found what follie I did meane But I was bent against my déede to stande So faest him down and swore when all was scande It was not mine but as hee soundly slept To his beds side my mayde and I wee stept And heaude him vp and so from bolster than Wee tooke his purse wherein the Letter laye When that wée had wee left the sillie man As saffe as hee that sléepes in Cocke of haye Well when he lookt in purse the other daye And found my fraude and falshood as it was Out of the doore in furie did hee passe Yet came againe that night and so fell sicke The cause whereof soone after you shall here Full long hee lay and toucht so neere the quicke That he was like to buy that sicknesse dere But when on foote hee stept and all was cleare He had farewell falâ—â— wife God send thée grace Thy wicked wayes makâ—s husband giue thee place I saw how world would wonder at this act And straight new tales on husband ganne I rayse With forged lies and rayling reasons rackt That still should sound vnto his most disprayse I faynde one while hee vsed wanton wayes With euery mayde that hee might touch or see And then he was to sicke a soule for mee Then poore hee was I sayde to cloke my pride When this serude not I â—wore the man was madd And in his rage would beate mee backe and side So euery daie a new deuice I had To make the world beléeue hee was too bad And at the length when all I had was sold My mayde and I goe trie the world we wold So shutting doore and trusting vp my packâ— I flang from home not bidding friendes farewell But I
Made of a Phenix a King and a Queene MY Phenix once was wont to mount the skies To sée how birdes of baser feathers flew Then did her Port and presence please our eies Whose absence now bréeds nought but fancies new The Phenix want our court and Realme may rue Thus sight of her such welcome gladnes brings That world ioies much wheÌ„ Phenix claps her wings And flies abroad to take the open aire In royall sort as bird of stately kinde Who hates soul storms and loues mild weather fair And by great force can bore the blostring wind To shew the grace and greatnes of the minde My Phenix hath that vertue growing gréene When that abroad her gracious face is séene Let neither feare of plagues nor wits of men Kéepe Phenix close that ought to liue in sight Of open world for absence wrongs vs then To take from world the Lampe that giues vs light O God forbid our day were turnde to night And shining Sunne in clowds should shrowded be Whose golden rayes the world desires to sée The Dolphin daunts each fish that swims in Seas The Lion feares the greatest beast that goes The Bees in Hiue are glad theyr King to please And to their Lord each thing their duety knowes But first the King his Princely presence showes Then subiects stoopes and prostrate fals on face Or bowes down head to giue their maister place The Sunne hath powre to comfort flowrs and gras And purge the aire of soule infections all Makes ech thing pure wher his clear beams do passe Draws vp the dew that mists and fogs lets fall My Phenix hath a greater gift at call For vassals all a view of her doe craue Because thereby great hope and hap we haue Good turnes it brings and suiters plaints are heard The poore are pleasde the rich some purchase gains The wicked blush the worthy wins reward The seruant findes a meane to quit his paines The wronged man by her some right attaines Thus euery one that helpe and succour néedes In hard distresse on Phenix fauour feedes But from our view if world doe Phenix kéepe Both Sunne and Moone and stars we bid farewell The heauens mourne the earth will waile and weep The heauy heart it feeles the paines of Hell Woe be to those that in despaire doe dwell Was neuer plague nor pestlence like to this When soules of men haue lost such heauenly blisse Now suters all you may shoote vp your plaints Your Goddes now is lockt in shrine full fast You may perhaps yet pray vnto her Saints Whose eares are stopt and hearing sure is past Now in the fire you may such Idols cast They cannot helpe like stockes and stones they bée That haue no life nor cannot heare nor see Till that at large our royall Phenix comes Packe hence poore men or picke your fingers endes Or blow your nailes or gnaw and bite your thombs Till God aboue some better fortune sends Who here abides till this bad world amends May doe full well as tides doe ebbe and flow So fortune turnes and haps doe come and goe The bodies ioy and all the ioints it beares Lies in the head that may commaund the rest Let head but ake the heart is full of feares And armes acrosse we clap on troubled brest With heauy thoughts the mind is so opprest That neither legs nor féete haue will to goe As man himselfe were cleane orecome with woe The head is it that still preserues the sence And seekes to saue ech member from disease Deuise of head is bodies whole defence The skill whereof no part dare well displease For as the Moone moues vp the mighty seas So head doth guide the body when it will And rules the man by wit and reasons skill But how should head in déede doe all this good When at our neede no vse of head we haue The head is felt is seene and vnderstood Then from disgrace it will the body saue And otherwise sicke man drops downe in graue For when no helpe nor vse of head we finde The feete fals lame and gazing eies grow blinde The lims war stiffe for want of vse and aide The bones doe dry their marrow wasts away The heart is dead the body liues afraide The sinnowes shrinke the bloud doth still decay So long as world doth want the Star of day So long darke night we shall be sure of hâ—â—re For clowdy skies I feare will neuer cléere God send some helpe to salue sicke poore mens sores A bore of baulme would heale our woundes vp quite That precious oyle would eate out rotten cores And giue great health and man his whole delighte God send some sunne in frostie morning white That cakes of yce may melt by gentle thaw And at well head wee may some water drawe A Riddle Wée wish wee want yet haue that we desire We freese wee burne and yet kept from the fire FINIS This is taken out of Belleau made of his own Mistresse Sad sighes doth shew the heat of heartes desire And sorrow speakes by signes of heauie eyes So if hot flames proceed from holly fire And loue may not from vicious fancies eyes In tarrying time and fauor of the skies My only good and greatest hap doth lie In her that doth all fond delight dispies Than turne to mee sad sighes I shall not dye If that bee shee who hath so much mée bound And makes me hers as I were not mine owne Shee most to praise that maie aliue bee founde Most great and good and gracious througly knowne Shée all my hope in briefe yea more than mine That quickely maie bring life by looke of eye Than come chaest sighes a close record diuine Returne to mee and I shall neuer dye If from young yeares shee gainde the garland gaâ—e And wan the price of all good giftes of grace If princely port doe vertuous minde bewraie And royall power be found by noble face If she bee borne most happie graue and wise A Sibill sage sent downe from heauens hie O smothring sightes that faine would close mine eyes Returne to mee so shall I neuer die If most vpright and faire of forme shée bee That may beare life and swéetest manner showes Loues God good men and Countries wealth doth sée A queene of kinges all Christian princes knowes So iustly liues that each man hath his owne Sets straight each state that else would goe awrie Whereby her â—ame abroad the world is blowne Then seace sad sighes so shall I neuer die If shée the heart of Alexander haue The sharpe esprite and hap of Haniball The constant mind that Gods to Scipio gaue And Caesars grace whose triumphed passed all If in her thought do dwell the iudgement great Of all that raignes and rules from earth to skie And sits this houre in throne and regall seate Come sighes againe your maister can not die If she be found to tast the pearcing ayr In heat in colde in frost in snowe and rayne As diamond that
is but his minde A discourse of the true steps of manhood A discourse of the honor of a Souldior A discours of an olde Souldier and a yong A discourse and commeÌ„dation of those that can make Golde A discourse and rebuke to rebellious mindes A discourse of hospitalitie and consuming of time and wealth in London A discourse of misfortune and calamitie A discourse of law and worthy Lawyers A discourse of the only Phenix of the worlde A praise of that Phenix and verses translated out of French The tragedy of Shores wife much augmented A discourse of the ioy good subiects haue when they see our Phenix abroad The tragicall discourse of the haplesse mans life The adue the writer made long agoe to the worlde A discourse of a fantasticall Dreame A tragicall discourse of a dolorous Gentlewoman A tragicall discourse of a Lord and a Lady translated out of French I hope you look not that I should place euery Knight Lady in their degree for I must of necessitie follow my matter The bookes that I can call to memorie alreadie Printed are these that followes FIrst in King Edwards daies a book named Dauie Dicars dreame which one Camell wrote against whome I openly confuted Shores wise I penned at that season Another booke in those daies called the Mirror of Man In Queene Maries raigne a book called a New-yeares gift to all England which booke treated of rebellion And many things in the booke of songs and Sonets printed then were of my making Since that time till this day I wrote all these workes The booke of Chips dedicated to sir Christopher Hatton after Lord Chancellor The booke called Chance dedicated to sir Thomas Bromley L. Chancellor then The booke called my Charge to my L. of Surrye The booke called my Change in verse and proes dedicated to all good mindes The booke called my Choice dedicated to the L. Chancellor sir Christopher Hatton The book of the siege of Leeth and Edenbrough Castell The booke of sir William Druries seruice dedicated to sir Drue Drury The booke called the golden Nut dedicated to the Qu. Ma. The book of receiuing her highnes into Suffolk Norfolke The booke before of her highnes receiuing into Bristow The booke of the Earthquake to the good Deane of Paules The book of the troubles of Flanders to sir Francis Walsing The book called the scourge of rebels in Ireland to my Lord Admirall The booke called a rebuke to Rebellion to the good olde Earle of Bedford The book of a Sparke of freendship to sir Walter Rawley The book of Sorrows to D. Wilson when he was Secretary The booke of the winning of Macklin to my Lord Norrice The book called the Worthines of Wales to the Qu. Ma. The book giuen her Maiestie at Bristow where I made al the whole deuises The deuises of warre and a play at Awsterley her highnes being at sir Thomas Greshams The Commedy before her Maiestie at Norwich in the fielde when she went to dinner to my Lady Gerningâ—ms The whole deuises pastimes and plaies at Norwich before her maiestie The deuises and speeches that men and boyes shewed within many prograces The book of King Henries Epitaph and other princes and Lords to Secretary Wolley The book of my Deer adue to M. Iohn Stannop The book called a handfull of gladsome verses to the Qu. M. at Wodstocke The book called a pleasant coâ—ceite a new yeeres gift to the Queenes Maiestie These workes following are gotten from me of some such noble freends as I am loath to offend Aeneas tale to Dydo largely and truely translated out of Virgill which I once shewed the Qu. Ma. and had it againe A book of the oath of a Iudge and the honor of Law deliuered to a Stacioner who sent it the L. cheefe Baron that last dyed A book of a sumptuous shew in Shrouetide by sir Walter Rawley sir Robart Carey M. Chidly and M. Arthur Gorge in which book was the whole seruice of my L. of Lester mencioned that he and his traine did in Flaunders and the gentlemen Pencioners proued to be a great peece of honor to the Court all which book was in as good verse as euer I made an honorable knight dwelling in the black Friers can witnes the same because I read it vnto him A great peece of work translated out of the great learned French Poet Seignior Dubartas which worke treated of a Lady and an Eagle most diuinely written on by Dubartas and giuen by me to a great Lord of this land who saith it is lost An infinite number of other Songes and Sonets giuen where they cannot be recouered nor purchase any fauour when they are craued A new kinde of a Sonnet IN writing long and reading works of warre That Homer wrote and Virgils verse did show My muse me led in ouerweening farre When to their Stiles my pen presumde to goe Ouid himselfe durst not haue vaunted so Nor Petrarke graue with Homer would compare Dawnt durst not think his sence so hye did flow As Virgils works that yet much honord are Thus each man sawe his iudgement hye or low And would not striue or seeke to make a iarre Or wrastle where they haue an ouerthrow So I that finde the weakenes of my bow Will shoot no shaft beyond my length I troe For reason learnes and wisdome makes me know Whose strength is best and who doth make or marre A little Lamp may not compare with Starre A feeble head where no great gifts doo grow Yeelds vnto skill whose knowledge makes smal shew Then gentle world I sweetly thee beseech Call Spenser now the spirit of learned speech Churchyards good will THE EARLE OF MVRTONS Tragedie once Regent of Scotland and alwaies of great birth great wisedome great wealth and verie great power and credite yet Fortune enuying his estate and noblenes brought him to lose his head on a Skaffold in Edenbrough the second of Iune 1581. MAke place for plaints giue rowme for plagued men Step backe proud mindes that praise your selues too much Let me appeale to some true writers pen That doth the life and death of Princes touch For my miâ—hap and fatall fall is such That gazing world which heares my woefull end Shall maruaile much to see such matter pend The restles race that mortall men doe runne Seemes smooth to sight yet full of scratting breers Here is no rest nor surety vnder Sunne Sowre is the taste of flowers that sweete appeares Our gentle ioyes are in our tender yeares For as the Childe to wit and reason growes So iudgement comes and seedes of sorrow sowes Our wanton time doth steale away with sport But when that care hath crept in curious braines Long griefe beginnes and pleasure is but short For heart and head is vert with fancies vaine Then hord brings hate and gold breeds greedy gaine Desire of which with pompe and glory great So boiles in brest it makes mans browes to sweat Ambitious minde the busie
bellowes blowes The quenchles coales of Râ—le that burneth still And ore the banks the flouds of folly flowes And priuate wealth â—o blindes a worldlings will That wicked wit doth banish reasons skill Climes vp aloft cries fame and rare renowne Till heauy stone from top comes tottering downe The mounting heart that daily doth aspire With wilfull wings of pride to cloudes would flie And though he feeles his feathers singd with fire He will not stoupe he holdes his head so hie To beare a sway and alwaies casts his eie With eager lookes on honors stately throne He likes no mate but all would weld alone The simple sort that sées soore Fawcon rise Disdains to death the bird that flies too farre Then as on owle flocks crowes and chatring pies So at great dogs the little tikes doe snarre Tweene small and great when spite â—nes moues the warre There is no rest for rage runnes all on head Hate kindleth fire and loue growes cold as lead A greater strife is when two tides doe méete Both of one force like mighty strugling streames I meane when men doe striue of equall sprite The robe is ript or rented through the seames Great troubles grow in sundry ciuill Realmes For whilst the one in chiefest rowme is plaste The other comes and hales him downe in hast There is no meane where matches meete at shocke The strong shewes strength the stout stands wrangling still About the ball the finest fellowes flocke They winne the goale that hath the greatest skill The force of floud turns round the Water-mill So where two men doe wrastle for a fall Most might preuailes the weake is turnde to wall But why do I finde fault with greatest band My traine was such as I a King had beene In Court and Towne Earle Murton was so mand As euery day I had a world to winne That was the frette that did the warre beginne For those that sawe me waited on so well Did skorne the same and so like toades they swell At my renowne and loe a greater thing By chaunce befell for I had secret foes That daily sought my fall about the King And as on steps to stately stage I rose So my decay in Court and countrey growes For priuy hate and malice matchth with might Tooke out the oyle that gaue my lampe the light Yet through great helpe and friends as world may wéene Whose wisdoms was wel known both graue sage I regent was when many a broile was gréene And set abroach in Court by reuels rage I ruled all whilst King was vnder age And where I saw the people make offence I scowrgd them sore which kept them quiet sence Some did I hang and trust them vp on hye That slaughters made or murders did committe Some were redeemde that did for fauour crie And strongest heads I helde in hard with bitts With equall eares I would in iudgement sit Yea bent my braine to beate out right and wrong And conscience bad deferre not iustice long The rich by this were sory to offend The poore did dread to hang that faulty were And yet oft times when faulters did amend I hangd but one to bring the rest in feare To suters all I gaue a gracious eare By gentle waies and wisdomes modest meane From filthy facts I cleansed Countrey cleane By order good I made them feare the law I pincht the purse and pawsde in sheading blood I punisht sore where great abuse I saw Straight rules I sette to learne rude people good By which strong staies my state in surety stood So wealth came in with goodly gold and geare That paide for paines and did the charges beare Yea sure more wealth and riches I possest Then twenty Lords of Scotland any way I might compare for treasure with the best We call it Poess in our plaine Scottish lay I had the bags of Aungell nobles gay I had the chests fild vp vnto the brim With sondry stamps of coine and treasure trim My houses stood in gladsom soiles and sâ—ats Stuft with rich things and Arras clothes â—now My table spread with deare and dainty meates My ward robe storde with change of garments throw My corne in stacks my hay in many a mowe My stable great of gallant goldings good And I like Prince amidst these pleasures stoodâ— What I would wish I had with glorie great Each knée did bow and make their bodies bend Each eye stood fixt to gase on honors seat Eache friendlie face a louing looke would send To stately throne and I againe would lend A Lordlie grace to kéepe the worlds good will Whereby encreast my fame and honor still I buyâ—t me bowers sometime to banquet in Made plotts for walkes and gardens of delight Sought swéete conceits not fowsing soule in sinne With glutted gorge at pleasures baite to bite But pastime tooke to put off worlds despite My streamers stoode in topp of barke so braue That flaggs of ioy with each good wind wold waue For worldly pompe and worship waites at héele Where rule and power sets out gay glittring showes Who folowes not the swinge of fortunes wheele What fish forsakes the floode that daily flowes Both great and small with course of water goes Where sunne doth shine both beast birdes repaire And what flies not to pleasaunt weather faire But well away when we haue all we wish A house a home bedect with gallaunt grace A golden net beguiles a carlesse fish Wee haue no holde of fortunes flittering face For when wee doe worldes flattring giftes embrace Wee groope and gape for more vaine goodes so fast That gracelesse hap sweepes all away at last Our gréedy mind gaines gold and tyens good name Winnes wealth yet workes a wicked web of woe Breedes déepe disdaine and bringes a man in blame Breakes bandes of loue makes friend become a foe Shutes spitefull shaftes from malice sturdie bowe Strikes dead good name reares vp slaunders brute Sowes seedes of vice and brings foorth rotten fruite All these deâ—eâ—s doth follow gréedie minde But loe my skill and sight in publicke state For soaking soores a soueraigne salue could finde For where I fearde sharpe warres foule debate To cut off strife great friendes at hand I gat And by my wit to kéepe the King in right At my commaund I fréelie brought much might Which strake the stroke and stoutly rulde the roste Spent many dayes in broyles and making peace Bestowde great charge and carde not for no coste So that they could our common quarrels seace And euer as I sawe our brawles encreace I helpt the harmes by worthy wisdomes arte So planted peace rule in euery part For euery years some brawle was set abroche Some treason wrought some trecherie tane in hand Which without stay would sounde to my reproche Such falshood raignde and raged in the land In factions still did runne a bloodie bande About the Realme as wilde as wolues for praye But by my friendes I set these thinges in sâ—aye In greatest
stormes I stoutly stood to sterne And turnd about the shippe to winne the winde And what defects and fauâ—tes I did discerne I readie was a quicke redresse to finde And no man durst restraine the Regents minde For were it good or bad I would haue done Unto that side would most of people runne Yet murmors rose among the mighty flocke Whose hidden hate huggd close in cankred brest To vndermine my strong and statelie rocke That stoode on propps and did on pillers cest For longer sure in Court I could not rest Then King might come to perfect age and yeares As thinges besell and by my fall appeares The secret swarmes of â—lie and subtill snakes That lurkes in grasse and vnder fayrest flowers The flattering cloudes that oft faire weather makes Great showers of raine vppon the people powers The smiling face that when it list it lowers Betraies the eyes of them that well beleeues When scorners flier and laugheth in their sléeues My hedge stood stackte with such weake sticks of woode That manie a gappe was made into my grownde I trusted much to freindship birth and blood But some of those in fine were faythlesse founde Most spake mee faire but least of them were sounde Some sought my ruyne that waighted hard at heeles For time so shapt the world went all on wheeles What is enuid but rule and high estate The seruant seekes ofâ— times his maysters fall The subiect beares to lawe a priuie hate The stubborne child is silde at fathers call The froward wiues findes fault with husbands all The scholler hates to heare his follie tolde And each degree abhors to be controlde Rule wants no foes the horse hée hates the bitt The dogge disdaines the leashe that holdes him in The hauke desires not long on pearch to sit Rule is despisde Rule doth no fauour winne The man that hath in courtly honor béene Can tell how oft he was with flattry fed And some there are with blinde affection led Whose humor weake the wilâ—e worldlings fede They followe fast and fawnâ— like whelpes a while Till great mens meanes hath â—erued their turne in déede Then gallants goe awaye and giue a smile Thus waâ—ters on doe nought but friends beguile And slipper lads as false and fine as those For no offence become most mortall foes With curtsie great and knéeling on the knée The harmelesse hartes of noble states are trapte They looke so high they can no tromperie see Untill the â—lye in spiders webbe be lapt And when by sleight the simple is mishapt The wandring world but maruels at the case And from the weake the strongest turnes the face Who had moe freindes or yet more wealth than I Who sounde lesse helpe O fie on friendships trust My stocke and race did reach to starrie skie Yet world trode downe mine honor in the dust And I was left alone thinke what I lust Weepe sigh or sob when Fortune gaue checkmate Ferâ—â— friends were fledd and I in wofull state Yet wisdomes grace helde vp my noble minde I scornde to thinke when sorest tempests blewe In face and cheere my courage men might finde I counted all and then the worst I knew It was but death a paiment that is due To yeild to day or else when date drew néere To paie the shot and make the reckning cléere What néeds more talke amid my chéefest ioyes A draught was drawne to driue me out of grace The newes whereof did fill my head with toyes But my stout hart would giue no practise place I stifly stoode in Court with manly face And thought to thrust them out that stroue with mée And so in spigt of world I would goe frée Great banding then began in Borough towne And to the view I had the strongest side For on my part were men of great renowne Yea as the fish doth follow greatest tide So people swarmd and crucifige cryed On Mortons foes for dayly eurye houre In Princes Court with pompe increast my power But when wée met that seuerall waies did draw Sweete words did walke bespyest with fained cheere In dulcet shell a kernell sowre I sawe That cunning crafte by cloude conuayd full cléere Our powdred speach most fresh would still appéere Till bitter taste bewrayd our meanings all Then honie combe in proofe became but gall So angrie bées burst forth from quiet hiue And offred stinge to those that neerest stood Then fearefull folke too féeble were to striue They floke so fast that daily sought my bloode Yet to the worlde I made my quarell good And craude no more but iustice in my cause And so to shifte by course of common lawes In open Court I was accused streight And straightlie chargde to keepe my chamber still Where if I had but vsed anie sleight I might haue scapte awaie and had my will But destnie did bewitch both wit and skill And robd mee so of spirite and feeling sence That I was méeke and neuer made defence But what I thought and what I hepte for both Is knowne to God and some that liueth yet In deede my feare was small I tell you trothe For manie things in compasse of my wit Did cleare mee cleane and so though I should sit In prison faste a time till thinges were tryed In duraunce long I hopte I should not bide But loe in haste I was from thence remoude And sent vnto the Castle there to staie And then perchaunce I was but finely proude To see for feare if I would flie awaie For mine owne folkes had there the whole conuaie Of bodie through the streetes such grace I gote But woe is me for then did th'old man doate Had I but sayde I would not be in pounde I would bee franke and free from daungers doubt I might haue turnde the worlde in Scotland rounde Like teâ—nis ball and thrust myne enemies out But who can bring a sternlesse barke aboute My wits were gone that guided all before My shipp on ground and I was set on shore Loe what God doth to make his glorie knowne Loe how mans life is cut off like a bough Loe lookers on how sone is man oerthrowne Loe where became my worldly wisdome nowe Loe héere a glasse that shewes your faces throughe You greatest Peeres and Lords of péereles prayse Your pride is past if God abridge your daies No sooner I beléeude I was so well But was conuayde vnto Don Bartyn than So all my friends that did in Scotlande dwell Made sure a shew to raise vp manie a man The King straight waies before these broyles began Fiue ensignes chose to kéepe the world in awe For sure defence of him and of his lawe Those bandes held backe some forward busines strange Yet in good faith my friendes were twise as strong The force of whom made worlde to feare a change But on and of alas they dalied longe And all the while I thought they did me wronge Yet vaine it was in armes to stande and striue For they had not that waye
found me aliue Long was the talke of manie a farlye thoe Long did I looke for that which did not come But all those blasts in sine did ouerbloe I listned long to heere the sound of drumme Yet though I had the great good will of some God would not thâ—ell for one mans sake alone That broyles should cause a million make their mone When birde is limde farewell faire feathers all The fish in net maie bidde the sea adiew When world beholds a man is neere his fall It leaues him there and follows fancies newe When all is saide the olde prouerbe is true Who cannot swimme must sincke there is no boote Who hath no horse of force must goe on foote Thus â—yed to clogge and pende in prison fast My hope decaide my hart did heauie waxe So souldiers came and brought me foorth at last The butcher then began to whâ—t his axe All was on flame the fire was flowne in flaxe There was no choise I must a size abide Prooue foule or cleane and by my Peeres be tried To Edenbrough the captiue man was brought Along the fieldes where flockes of people were The sight of whom did trouble much my thought But when in deede I was ariued there Both streetes and stalles and windows euery where Were stuffed full to giue on me the gaze But that might not my manly mind amaze Yet neither one nor other small nor great Did me salute So turnde the moodes of men That colde deuice nay rather raging heate Could not appall my princely courage then For I did looke as I did nothing ken Yet knew the whole that some in secret bore So passed through the thronge what would ye more A russet cloake a garment rude and bare For such a state make what of mee they would With foule felt hat and robes but base I ware That people might my great disgrace beholde Alas poore lambe thy life was bought and soulde No force of weedes to couer clott of claye Morton was dead full longe before that daie Now Lawyers flockte and swarmde in ilke a place Now Lords repaird and Lardes came daily in Now learned heads did long debate my case Now did in deed my sorrowes all beginne Now was the time that I must lose or winne For I appeard before the iudgement seate And there maintainde my right with reasons great Made good defence to many matters sure Spake boldly still and did but iustice craue My pleading there did foure long houres endure And Lawyers then to me good leasure gaue But to what end did I long pleading haue I was condemnd the world would haue it so A thing there was but that the Lord doth know And I that héere confesse my former gylt A murther than was laide vnto my charge Which I concealde yet saw a Kings bloud spilt A fowle offence for which there is no targe Nor could not claime therefore to goe at large But byed the sence and censure of the lawes For fowle God wot and filthy was my cause The iudgement was a heauy thing to héere But what they did I could not call againe The sentence past too late my selfe to cleere Once iudgd to die condemnd I must remaine As silly shéepe in shopp must needes be slaine Then to the pot or pit our flesh must passe All flesh is dust vaine ashes earth and grasse Then thought I on some friend that absent was And spoke some words but askâ— not what they were So from the bench to prison did I pas And for to die did make me ready there The Preachers came and shed full many a teare To bring my soule in perfect patience than And make me die a faithfull christian man In secrete sort the Preachers there I told Great things of waight that in my conscience lay And so confest what right and reason would But thereon pawsde I would no further say Aske what they pleasde I did but troth bewray Whereat I knockt my troubled trembling brest And so desirde the Preachers let me rest O brethren mine your doctrine likes me well Qd. I good men bestow some praiers now In your beliefe looke that you daily dwell As you beganne so still continue through The bloud of Christ hath washt my blotted brow As white as snow I haue no doubt nor feare Shall be my sinnes that red as scarlet were The Preachers glad to bring my soule to rest Brought Scripture in and did the text vnfold And many a place and sentence they exprest Towardes the death to make my body bolde O my good Lord you may not now behold The pompe quoth they and glory that is past But you must thinke on that which aye shall last Both wealth and friends and worldly wisedome to Are banisht quite and blush to come in place When soule goes hence those things haue nought to doe With man that is then newly borne in grace The light of day hath darkenes still in chase The heauenly thoughts doe hate all earthly things And faith to clowdes doth flie with flittring wings They praide with me and wipt their wéeping eies My heauy sprite stood troubled sore that tide And as the sighes from panâ—ing heart did rise My groaning Ghost O Abba father cride The sobs flew forth the â—eares I could not hide As babe doth wéepe when he beholds the rod So then I feard the wrath of my good God Full soone reformde I was in godly wise Gaue ore the world forgot all earthly thing Heaud vp my hands and heart vnto the skies To God that did this plague vppon me bring And then I sued and sent vnto the King To scape the coard by losse of life and breath For heading was for me more Nobler death He graunted that and sad for my mishap He let me goe where God and man assignd Now euery fault lay open in my lap Each small offence came freshly to my minde The secret sinnes that we in conscience finde A muster made and passed for their pay Before great God that doth all things bewray The wrong I did to simple people plaine Bad heart â—orethinke the fury of mine ire The gréedy thirst of glory rule and gaine Made soule afeard of hote infernall fire My selfe I blamde for fleshly fond desire But falling thus full prostrate on my face From heauens hie I felt a sparke of grace Which warmd my sprites that waxed faint and cold The last conflict that in this life we haue Then comfort came and made weake body bold Care not for death for life mounts vp from graue Qd. knowledge then when Christ the soule shall saue With that I flong behinde all fearefull dread So cald for booke and many a Psalme did reade In lesse then halfe the time that I haue spoke Me thought I talkt with God whose face did shine Who from a cloude discende as thinne as smoke And entred in my breast by power diuine O mortall man said he come thou art mine Be strong and stout to fight the battell throw
For my right hand is here to helpe thée now Blush not to sée the raging worlds despite The bloudy are nor scaffolde full of bils My mercy seat shall be thy chiefe delihte And though on earth thine enimies haue their wils I am the God that stormes and tempests stils In quiet calme passe gently thou away And suffer much yet doe but little say Death is the end of all that beareth life Not one shall scape this world is but a dreame The seeds of sinne brings forth but flowres of strife In painted robes lies many a rotten seame It is but griefe to guide and rule a Realme Great charge and care a great accompt must make And when I frown the whole round world I shake I cause one wight to take anothers place To chop off heads to kill to hang and draw And when I take from rulers new my grace His head againe shall yeeld to sword and law Men blowes the cole but I put fire in straw And where doth fall the flame of my great â—e All things consumes to cinders in that fire Come Murton come and play thy pageant well Thou goest before perhaps a yeare or twaine But after thee shall passe to heauen or hell A number more that mercy now remaine World hath no stay I tell â—hee all is vaine Both raigne and rule and regall power most hie When bastards dreame in durt and dust shall lie My God thus sayd with that my sprites reuiude My wits were armde my sence redoubled than And with my flesh the holy Ghost he striude By Angels force but not by might of man A marulous stirre in stomacke then beganne For to subdue the â—arrein corps of care And burthend breast that sinfull body bare Now hope in hast made heauy heart full light The feare was fled that comes by course of law Gods promise wrought through mercy grace and might A noble worke in me cleare conscience saw A fig for death his force not worth a straw Qd. I a rush for worlds reproach and shame For written is in booke of life my name The Preachers then began to wéepe for ioy Your firme beliefe my Lord shall make you frée Qd they and sure your soule is from annoy Both in this world and where swéete Angels be And where right soone you shall Gods glory see Not with bare view but with immortall eies As body shall at latter day arise Then knéeld I downe and to the cloudes I looke The thought and care the while of world was past And I in God such ioy and pleasure tooke That at my héeles all earthly pompe I cast By this the houre of death approached fast The Gard gaue sign with halbards bright in hand I must prepare on Skaffold streight to stand The stréetes were full of souldiers armed well With shot and match and all belongs for warre I saw in house I could no lonâ—er dwell For people said the day was spent full farre Then ope the doore qd I draw backe the barre I will goe hence to better home I trust Here is no hope I see that die I must To comfort sence and strengthen vitall sprete I tasted foed and dranke a draught of wine And pawsde a while as I thought fit and méete But sure no dread of death within mine eine Was seene for God by speciall grace deuine Held vp my heart and head as high to shoe As when from home I did a walking goe Milde words I gaue when bitter spéech I hard So passed through them all with manly chéere And did no more this world nor earth regard Then though in deede I neuer had beene here But when in sight the Skaffold did appeare My minde was bent to fight the battle out And conquere death and banish feare and dout So stept I vp on Skaffold lightly than Where sundry came to aske me many a thing I lookte to God and made small count of man Saue that alowd I saide God blesse the King God giue him grace in peace the state to bring And shunne the harmes and dangers ore his head To finde on earth long life when I am dead Had I serud God aswell in euery sort As I did serue my king and maister still My scope had not this season beene so short Nor world haue â—ad the power to doe me ill But loe I liude against my makers will That feeles my flesh that feeles my soule alas That fault I feare where now my soule shall passe That that good Lord forgiue whilst breath I haue It is the sinne that to this world I brought It buried shall be with my flesh in graue It is a sore and sickenesse of the thought It is most vaine a wretched thing of nought A wicked wound that death doth heale alone Dwels last in flesh and first was bred in bone Pray you for me that sets your sinnes by mine And such as doe professe the faith I hold Marke who I am that here by power diuine Am forst this daie my conscience to vnfolde Looke neerely both to your owne Faults vntolde And pray as well for me with humble minde As for your selues that here I leaue behinde My matter stands before the iudge of all Men haue condemnd my body to the tort When that great iudge will for a reckning call Both you and I shut vp in sentence short Shall soone be known who gaines the best report There accuse ne small nor great this day My part is plaide and I must passe my way The faith this howre that all the Realme doth know I die in here and seale it with my blood To other faith beware bend not your bowe The râ—tten string will breake and doe no good Whilst in this land such trash aâ—d tromprie stood God was not pleasd the King not serude aright And we did walke in darkenes stead of light Good â—earers all my babes and children deere I brought you vp full long in this beliefe Your regent ones now preacheth to you here Chaunge not my barns religion to your griefe Serue first your God next honor King as chiefe This lesson keepe and so good friends adiew The dead from quicke so takes his leaue of you Thus full resolude temptation to resist Great time I stood and talkte in stoutest shoe Of sondry things as freely as I list But waying then that hence the soule must goe And that my necke must bide the blouddy bloe I stretched armes as hie as I could heaue So turnd my backe and did the audience leaue The heauenly hope that heart doth long vphold Did hale me hence and bad dispatch in haste As firme as rocke I stood say what they would For after this I spake no word in waste Then downe I lay and balefull blocke embraste And there receiude the blow as are did fall That cut me cleaue from cares and cumbers all The gasping head as in the Lorde I slept A vision had ye may the fame suppose I dreamde it saw how friende
and I hope for the benefite of many And so farewell FINIS TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull my singular good friend sir Michaell Blount Knight Lieutenant of the Towre IN trauailing abroad searching some secrets at home that closelie would lurke in corners vnknowen I found good M. Lieutenant manie occasions to write off but none more greeuous to behold than the wandring minds of this world sowers of dissention hatefull to themselues Enemies to their Countrey for reformation of their follies amendmeÌ„t of their liues I drew certain verses fit for those causes and I hope pleasant to read And because your good mind and office of worthie credit is as it were a curbe musrole to hold in such strong-headed wanderers wilfully bent wickedly disposed I did on goodwill dedicate this little Volume to your view and good consideration knowing that therein is no verse nor meaning of any matter but that attends only to the aduauncement of vertue rebuke of vice and loyaltie to our Countrey So wishing you much worshippe I enter into the discourse alreadie heere mentioned Yours in all at commaundment T. Churchyard A VVARNING TO THE VVANderers abroad that seekes to sow dissention at home MIne eyes they wéepe my heart it bléedes in brest My soule doth sob my body quakes for feare My fancies roule my minde can take no rest My sences blush as sprites amazed were My knowledge shrugges at rumors in myne eare My head doth muse my reason sore doth rewe These quarrels old that rise on brabblings new These bold attempts that Rebells set abroach To Gods dislike and Countries great reproach The rotten seames that in faire garments are Bée not espide by sodaine view of eye The spoyling moath that eates gay scarlet bare In foldes of cloath full long doth closely lie Time is the touch that trecherous trashe doth trie Foule cankred flesh by Surgeons arte is found And heald sometimes by searching of the wound Worlds sicknesse must with wisdome well be vsde That Doctors may sée how was health abusde For taynted fruit that is not sound at coare Smooth skin doth shew like apple ripe and good A playster faire may hide a filthy soare The painted face sets foorth no perfect blood By proofe the best from worst is vnderstood Faire shews but bleares the iudgement for a while And colours can not knowledge long begile Though salt be white the sugars taste is swéete And gall doth bite when honey comforts spréete Most bitter sowre doth foule Rebellion taste It bréedes on hate that heart hath harborde long And wicked will that wisheth woe and waste Whose raging mind delights in open wrong Stout stomake first with snakish stinging tongue Stirres vp the strife and blowes the blast abroad Then malice comes and lookes like swelling toad And venom casts where mischiefe may be wrought From mother spite so monster foorth is brought Rebellion is the monster that I meane A serpent vile that lines in stinking denne A grieslie ghost a gracelesse sprite vncleane That lurketh close in shapes of vainest men When it is bredde beholde what does it then It sowes discord and fostreth vp dislike Makes sharpe the sword that ready is to strike Lies listning still for newes and change of state And cares not how it bringeth in debate A Turke or Iew a Pagan or a dog A fiend of Hell or else a sprite of the aire A ventrous ladde that all can set a gog A pratling boy that fawnes and speaks full faire When Rebell falles in rage of rude dispaire Rebellion brings so hée reuenge may take The Deuill himselfe it will a Captaine make Rebellion lookes but how may blood bee shed And so vilde mindes in mischiefe runnes on head Rebellion springes of too much head and will That riot runnes without rebuke too farre In suffring harmes great wronges are offred still On little broyles beginnes a bloody warre The willfull man doth eyther make or marre The harebraine head a witlesse course holdes on Till feare of God and wordly care be gon All hope is past runne dogge or Deuill than No reason serues to rule the retchlesse man But what foule shame brings men to this lewd mind What bold abuse is this that bréedes such bale What vile deuice drawes nature out of kind What marres good wits what makes men pull and hale To seeke for death and sets their liues to sale Ist will alone â—ie on that wayward hart That for a toy makes all the bodie smart Fie on that tricke that turnes all out of frame Runnes farre a field and bringes home open shame Wée sée so long as house together standes From raine and stormes both man and wife doe sit So long as horse remaines in riders hands Hee keepes his pace and playes vppon the bitte So long as men be rulde by temprate witte Draw all one yoake take part as brethren ought So long you know they néede not take no thought But when they iarre and seuerall waies they goe They drawe too farre and breake true friendships bow Come home wilde heades then gad no more abroad To breede debate that workes your Countries wracke Lay vp your shippes and barques in quiet road Cast ankor there where cable cannot cracke Runne not to Rhemes to learne a cumbrous knacke That smels of smoake and sauors of discord Obay your Prince and so yée serue the Lord. To duties bounds reclaime your selues againe Against the streame who striues doe lose their payne Make Pope your head the Prince yée do forsake Obedience bids a subiect leaue dispute Indeede you doe the scripture cleane mistake If that your tree doe shew no better fruite But bring foorth brawles and raiseth slaunders brute Say what you please your conscience is not cleane Where dutie wants men doe some mischiefe meane And such as speakes against the Prince and Law Intends no good but flingeth fire in straw And when house burnes and flame beginnes to gloe Your fingers endes shall surely singed bee You smell on smoake as you the bellowes blowe Then put out fire where rotten wood you sée Cleare sight cannot with smothering smâ—â—ke agrée Good men are harmde with wicked bad deuise Of naughtie ware you know full well the price Make darke your shoppes to bleare the buyers eye When all is seene the light each thing shall trie If you doe wrong to Prince and publike state Your conscience shall accuse you in the end If legges and féete beginne the head to hate Sicke are the lims that should the head defend The bodie weake by medson may amend Wherefore doe fall to phisicke for your gréefe From candle cleare bee sure yee take the théefe For if in snuffe bée crept a little cole Through weeke and all is worne a curelesse hole And sothe light that glad the lookers on God wot is spoyld before his kindely houre When oyle or waxe or tallow cleane is gone The lamp or light to burne hath little powre You would plant wéedes where growes a goodly floure
Let practise goe and play a subiects parte Playne troath yee knowe bids â—ie on cunning arte One God one law one mind and manner now In double world shews subiects duties throwe All other drifts doe drawthe wyer awrie And backward bends the bow that should bee streight Come neere no cloudes the reach is ouer hie Liue safely then no suretie comes by sleight Content below doth hate to climbe on height Who knows his owne hath wealth and wit ynough Hee soundly sleepes that only lookes to plough And such as wakes to ouerlooke this age May sing adew when foote is fast in cage O Countrey swéete perswade obedience héere Reforme the fond and still preserue the wise No plot of earth more proâ—ious nor more deere Than natiue soyle that for her children cries And calls for chicks where kites and puttocks flies O Babes well borne if you will bastards proue Bid welcome hate and farewell Countries loue And this be sure my friends goe where you please No goodnes growes by gadding ore the seas Note where you tooke both breath warme blood and life Your parents care and Countries right do waie Regarde what broyles and brawles beginne on strife Marke how stout hartes stand all on tickle staie And birdes of th'aire your follie doe bewraie And marke how God hath opened all your drifts And in your pride hath put you to your shifts And chiefely note how God and man doth knowe For want of grace wilde heades a gadding goe Religion Lord perhaps shall bee your shield Nay there a straw you meane an other thing You are so great you would faine march in fielde That world should iudge you feathers of one wing So busie birdes together all would sing Well waking Cockes yee crow for daie too soone Yee neither looke on starres ne sunne nor moone But clapping wings yee thrust out necke and throat And cares not who doth heare your midnight noate That sounds not right of no Religion sure Rebellion is the string you play vppon O God forbid that hauke forsooke the lure To feede on frog that sits one euery stone I say not much would God abuse were gone Rebellion dead and all her branches bare Faythlesse were fled and Countrey voyd of care But since strange toyes bréeds humming Bées in braine I meane to touch rebellion once againe When mother spight to world this monster brings A naughtie nourse vile nature then prepares Who cradle rockes and lullabie she singes Till retchlesse sence be brought a sléepe vnwares Then as in corne do créepe wild weeds and tares So cockle séede in common wealth is sowne Whereby good graine is quicklie ouergrowne The cause thereof is cunning craftie wittes That still workes woe and neuer idle sits O wretched rage that riues and rents a Realme In péeces small and gaines nothing thereby O labour lost that striues with flood and streame And dayly hopes to drinke great riuers drie O cruell plague that doe for vengeaunce crie O priue hate that open mischiefe bréedes O shameles sleight that honest people dréedes Accurst I hold rebellion is of kinde That neuer dies but liues in cankred minde The Countries weale and Princes honor both It cleane forgets and spoyle and hauocke cries Takes no regard to dutie faith or oath But claps on wood where fire and flame may rise Tels tatling tales shewes furious angry eies Makes brags and boast that all shall lie in dust And hath no hope but treason is his trust The wife the child the friend and neighbour toâ— Rebellion hates for hee will mischiefe doe It findeth fault with peace and ciuill Lawes Abhors good men and such as gouernes well Takes toy in head bolts out when is no cause Frames deuilish drifts to make this world a hell And at the length would King and Countery sell To wreak his wrath O vile reuenge most vaine When all is lost what doth rebellion gaine Ioyes it to see the wracke of natiue land Such fowle offence is whipt with his owne wand Their goodes their rent their honour and their liues Shall vnder foote be troden euery day Their kinde deflourde their children and their wiues Made captiue slaues in bondage many a way And when the land is made a straungers pray Like Israelites poore Iacobs house shall mourne Drawe in the yoke and sée their houses burne Beare burthens still and bend their backs to toile While enemies laugh and triumphs of the spoile What can procure a man to sell his life Forsake his Prince become a seruile slaue What cause can be in state to stir a strife What ioy or blisse by thraldome can we haue When men are well what deuill would they craue What makes men mad why dote they in this age To forraine foes to run in such a rage Their language sure I trowe is not so fine Their loue is grosse and tastes like troubled wine Want thou but gilt where they are maisters still There shalt thou starue for all their goodly showes With mockes and skornes and many another ill Poore hewlet stands among a many of Crowes The wandring wight that long a gadding goes Comes home at last by beggars wéepiâ—g crosse Like rowling stone that neuer gathers mosse A straunger doth but stare in trauailers face And smiles in sleeue at silly soules disgrace Rebellion likes the man he neuer saw If blouddy wars vpon that league may linke As to the sicke doth euill humors draw And from fowle pits comes smoake and noisome stinke So filthy flouds flow from rebellious brinke A troubled streame of puddle mixt with mire Doth quench the thirst of rebels hote desire The water cleare but skalds a rebels breast For cruell rage and ryot takes no rest It runnes with hare and hunts with blouddy hound It stands with strong and leaues the weake at worst In common wealth it makes a mortall wound It brags to fight and yet retireth forst It is a plague that God himselfe hath curst For it deuides in little péeces small Both Kingdomes great and mighty monarkes all Dissention workes to sowe but Sathans séedes And pluckes vp slowres and plants in stinking wéedes It créepes in hoales and corners close by ribs Prouides for friends to band it out for néede It bankets still and fréely quafs and bibs And with lewd words their wicked humor féedes Prates much of Prince makes boast of doughty deedes When feeble hearts lies quaking in their hose Much like bold Cocks that lowd on midding crowes But yet cries creake when that in sharpe they come For rebels can not bide the sound of Drome At May Powl mirth or at some mariage feast Or in a faire where people swarme like Bées These stinging wasps but new come out of neast Doe flie for life and so together grées Like little mites or maggots in a chéese The humming then that these wood wasps doe make Doth séeme at first as it would mountaines shake But out alas those lawlesse loytring soules Are hid in hast or crept in Conny holes The priuy
Walles at the taking of Fidena Now before a Burgoies shoulde at any time enioy this Crown Ciuique hée must rescue a Romaine Citizen and kill the Ennemie that ledde the Citizen away Prisoner It must bée likewise that the Enemie did holde and possesse the place that same day that the Romaine Citizen was rescued in It is necessarie that the man which hath béen succoured should confesse the same before the people For a Soldiours own witnesse in that behalfe serues to no purpose And furthermore it is required that he that was rescued be known to be a Burgois of Rome For if one doe rescue a King that commeth to serue the Romaines hée doth not merite for the same the Crowne Ciuique In like sort if one do rescue a generall of an Armie hee gets no more honor therefore then though hée had rescued a simple Citizen For they which established this ordinaunce had no regard but to the conseruation of the Citizens of Rome whosoeuer they were The Priuilege of this Crowne shall bée to giue power to weare a Hatte of broad leaues as ofte as hée pleased that had béene once Crowned for his well doing Further all the Senate had a custome to rise out of their places and to doe honor to them that haue had this Crowne when they goe to sée the common playes and pastimes And it is sufferable and permitted that they shall sitte in a seate néere the Senatours And they shall bée exempt from all ciuill charges not onely themselues but their naturall Fathers and Graundfathers And nowe beholde touching their Priuileges there was one Cicinius Dentatus according as wee haue sayde Crowned fourteene times And one Capitolinus had sixe times beene Crowned for hee rescued Seruilius then Generall of the Armie notwithstanding Scipio Affrican would not suffer them to giue him the Crowne Ciuique succouring his Father in the iourney of Trebia O ordinaunce worthye of immortalitie sayth Plinie that assigneth no other prayse for such great workes then this great honour which surpasseth all other warlike Crownes Thus far goes the verie words of Plinie many other auncient Aucthors that I could rehearse in the commendation of men of Warre which neyther in Tholomeus time Artaxerses dayes nor any of the mighty Monarkes long raigning before could bee forgotten but were so honoured that lawes â— orders was onely deuised for the enlarging of their Land and stirring vp their noble minds Yea Soldiours and Herraldes hadde power to denounce warres insomuch as the auncient Romaines who were the Fathers of all Marshiall affaires and conquerours of the world held this for a most certaine rule Nullum bellum iustum esse nisi pro rebus iniuste ablatis quod fecialis Romani antea denunciabant Which rule and order of the Romaines for the power and honour of soldiours and Herauldes declareth they are of great dignitie and calling may compare by this there authoritie to be no whit inferiour to the best sort of Gentlemen You may read in like manner that there was a man among the Romaines that merelie or peraduenture in contempt put a crowne Ciuique vppon his owne head and looking out at a great windowe into the stréete was espyed And thereuppon apprehended and brought before the Senate where hée was iudged presently to be put to death for touching and abusing that crowne Ciuique which was ordayned for the wearing onely of an honourable Souldiour and for such a one as had béene by desarte crowned with Triumph and Solempnitie in open audience So this foolish man albeit hée might meane but little harme was had to the place of execution and there lost his life to the great terrour of those that rashly meddle with thinges that become them not and to the great honour of those that are aduaunced by vertue and winneth with courage the wearing of this Crowne called the crowne Ciuique Now comming downe to this present age in the time of our peace where Souldiours haue nothing to doe there is ynough spoken and peraduenture too much for the Souldiours commendation yet let mee leade you a little further in that case For now is to be prooued what degrées of Souldiours hauing serued long or borne any office of credit are gentlemen and may vnrebukeable bee bold to take that name and title vpon them First you haue heard that seruing ten yeares honestly and truly he is not onely past his prentiship but also aboue a iourney man and ought from all ioyrneis to be spared As a man might saie though vnproperly compared a good frée horse after his long labour and many great iourneis is to bee ridden but seldome and kept in the stable till extreme necessitie requireth and then is to bée vsed gentelie least his stiffe limmes and olde bodie deceaues the Riders expectation So a Souldiour comming to this age and perfection or being past the iollitie of youth and youthfull actions ought to be prouided for and may without presumption plead for armes albeit hee neuer gaue anye before and can bring no great proofe of his house gentrie or dissent and though he be the first of that house stocke name that gaue armes his beginning is allowed of al our ancient writers and Princes and shall put his aduersaries to silence when in that point they séeke to deface him I remember once I saw and heard an Italian being in the Eâ—perour Charles the fifth his Campe so stand on his reputaâ—ion that when a meane Gentleman quarrelled with him and desired the Combate hee aunswered hee had béene Soldado Vetche an old Souldiour and had borne office and passed through sundrie Offices by order and that the Gentleman was but a young man and but of twoo yeares experience in Warre and farre vnméete to make challenge with him that had passed so many steppes of honour and places of credite But sayd the Italian to his aduersarie goe and doe that I haue doone or passe through the like and when thou hast mounted vp and troden on euerye steppe that I haue passed come to mée and I will fight with thée the Combate But to say I will stoupe so lowe and abase my selfe as a Lorde may in fighting with a Ruffian beyonde the compasse of my calling I will not nor no Law of Armes can commaunde mee The matter came in question before the Prince of Orrange that now is dead and the Duke of Sauoy yet liuing and the challenger had a foule disgrace in the audience of a multitude and the defendaunt had a rewarde of fiue hundreth Crownes allowed him by the Emperour for preseruing his honour and estimation so much This was done and openly seene a little before the siege of Renttie and standeth for a good record Then an old souldiour is a Gentleman both worthy to giue armes and colours and méete to be borne withall in causes of quarrell An other proofe for the maintenaunce of my matter I saw at the siege of Leeth a Gentleman of great courage and birth called Maister Ihon
to name Hath by abuse brought world cleane out of frame And made them rich and prowd that borne were bare Yet liues by lust and sale of paltry ware Our fathers wore good frées to kéepe them warme And kendall gréene in sommer for a show Might better to take trifles for a farme Then these that now in silkes and veluets goe The former age made tenants duety know To Landlords all and so their cates they sold As much for loue as now they sell for golde Now is the case and custome altered cleane The tenant he in deede will part from nought For landlords weale nor lose by him a beane Nor sell him thing that is not dearely bought At tenants hand what euer may be sought Beares double price as though the farmer might Liue on himselfe and set his Landlord light This bréedes contempt in vassall past all cry And makes the Lord racke vp his rents a height And take great fines you see wherefore and why And lode the backes of Farmers with great weight This makes wise men vse many a craft and sleight To punish churles and pinch them néere the bone That doth small good yet all would haue alone Why plead they want where plenty is great store And God hath blest the earth with fruite and graine They say because they charged are so sore To pay such rent and take such toile and paine Well well there doth a fault in both remaine The one will not let nought in market fall The other still in London spendeth all Like one that flings more water in the seas Or casts away his gold where it is lost The Gentleman is seldome well at ease Till that he ride to London all in post And vp and downe the dice and cards be lost When he a while about the streets doth rome He borrowes pence at length to bring him home O saieth the boy or girle that kéepes the barre This man is frée and francke where ere he goes And spends as much as doth a man of warre That comes from spoile and conquest of his foes Cries fill the pot the ebbing water flowes The chencks are here we haue inough to spend Set all agog vntill bad world amend O Lord how soone a man is ore his shooes That wades and steps in streame or water déepe How soone from towne in countrey we haue newes That some spends all for they can nothing kéepe If such lads were at home in bed a sléepe Twere better sure then lie in London thus Uppon the score or like banckrouts iwus Fine shops and sights fine dames and houses gay Fine wares fine words fine sorts of meat is there Yea all is fine and nothing grosse they say Fine knaks costs much costs spoils vs euery where Spoile is a worme that wealth away will weare A cancker crept in Court for some mens crosse That eates vp lands and breeds great lacke and losse Expense and spoile waits hard on braueries héeles With daily debt and daunger of disgrace A crue of Dickas as world went all on whéeles With swashing Tom and goodman Maple face In sundry cloakes and thred bare liueries bace That neuer ware ne badge nor signe of thrift But certaine signes and showes they liue by shift And in the necke of al this retchles band Comes thought and care in sad and mourning wéede And sore forethinkes that he hath sold his land Or laide to gage good leases and old deedes No better fruite we ceâ—pe of ill sowne seedes But heauy sighes or 〈◊〉 thistels bare That doth destroy good ground where ere they are Spoile brings home plagues to wife children both When husband hath at play set vp his rest Then wife and babes at home a hungry goeth Thrice euery weeke where seld good meat is drest With rusty broach the houshold all are blest For potched egs in good howre be it spoke Must for a shift make kitchin chimney smoke A fine deuise to kéepe poore kaett in health A pretty toy to mocke an Ape withall No maâ—tter much though wife hath little wealth Shee hath for nâ—â—de a messe of creame at call A trim young boy to tosse and tirle the ball A 〈…〉 and pretty pus or catte And at a pinch a great deale more then that Gay gownes and geare God wot good store inough And faire milke maids as dainty as a Doe That fares as well as â—ob that holds the plough Yea chéere in bowles they haue sometime ye know Swâ—te whay and cruds a bancket for a Croe Such rule shee keepes when husband is farre of Whiles children weeps that séeds on hard browne lofe Thinke you these things nips not the pye crost néere And rubs the gaule that neuer will be whole The maister may keepe reuell all the yéere And leaue the wife at home like silly soule What recke of that who lists may blow the cole Though some doe starue and pine away with want Young lusty lads abroad liues all aflant Some come to Court to breake vp house at home Such kéepes a cloake vntill a rainy day Some weaues their yarne and cloth in other loeme At tabling house where they may fréely play Some walk to Pauls wher some maks many a fray The greatest summe are sworne to spend and spoile And royot runne at large in euery soile Great chéere is turnd at home to empty dishe Great bounty lookes like bare foote beggers bag Great hardnes brings to boord ne flesh nor fishe Great hast to giue comes limping lame and lag Great shew men make of house but thats a brag For if ten daies at home they kéepe great fare Thrée months abroad for that they absent are England was cald a librall countrey rich That tooke great ioy in spending béefe and bred In déede this day the countrey spendeth mich But that expense stands poore in little sted For they finde nought where hounds and hawks are fed But hard colde posts to leane at in great lacke Who wants both foode and clouts to cloth their backe Almes déedes are dead and conscience waxeth cold World scrats and scrapes pluckes flesh and fell from bone What cunning heads and hands can catch in hold That couetous mindes doth séeke to weld alone The poore complaynes and makes a gréeuous mone The ritch heares all and kéepes all safe in fist As all were his to spend it as he list Well spend on still a reckning must bée made When hee doth call that sendes you all the store You will be taught to vse another trade Or in the end full dearly paie therefore I wish you well you can desire no more Waie all my wordes as you haue reason still I find no fault but speakes this of good will And you deare friend that in Rocksauage dwell For whom I haue these verses heere set down To you no péece of this Discourse I tell For you lie not at charge so long in towne As others doe that are of like renowne Your house at home you hold in better sort
diuers doe good hap and frendship win And duetie makes a World of people flocke And thousands Loe drawes water from the Cocke I scearse may moyst my mouth when thirst is great And hart is cleane consumde with scalding heat A spring of kind doth floe aboue the brim Yet cannot stoppe a Fountaine if you would For through hard rockes it runneth cléere and trim And in some Ground it casts vp grayne of Gold It bursts the Earth and deepely digges the Ground It gusheth out and goes in sundry vaines From mountaines top and spreadeth al the playnes The Spring créepes vp the highest hil that is And many Wells thereon are easly found And this I wot where doe you water mis Small fruit doth grow it is but barraine Ground The soyle is sweete where pleasaunt springes abound The Cowslop sproutes where spring and fountaines bée And floodes beginne from fountaine heades you sée The laboring man thereat doth cole his heat The birdes doe bathe their breasts full brauely there The brutest beastes therein find pleasures great And likes not halfe so well another where What cause in mee what doubt what fault or feare That I may not in this so weake a plight Go drinke my fill where ech thing hath delight The more wée drawe the water from the well The better farre wee bring the spring in frame The seas themselues of nature rise and swell The more the wind and weather workes the same The fire burnes best when bellowes blowes the flame Let thinges stand still and stirre them not in time They shall decay by meane of drosse and slâ—â—ne I sée some streames with stickes are choked vp And Riuers large are marde with beds of sande I sée some bring from Doels an emptie cup Yet craue an almes and showes a néedie hand I see bare boyes before the banket stand And no man sayth loe poore man if thou wut Take heere a dish to fill thy hungrie gut Of cormorant kind some crammed Capons are The more they eate the more they may consume Some men likewise the better that they fare The worse they bee and sicker of the rume And some so chafe so frowne so fret and fume When others féede they cannot God hée knows Spare any time the dropping of their nose The bordes are spread and feasts are made thereon And such sits downe that hath their bellies full Whose greedy mouthes from dogge would snatch the bone Which snudges swell and looke like greiste wull They puffe they blowe yea like a bayted bull And shoue them backe that on small crumes would féede Whose patient heartes makes vertue of a neede The Glutton thinkes his belly is too small When in his eye a dayntie morsell is Hee grines and gapes as though no crum should fall From him and lookes as all the world were his Thus such as want are sure the post to kis For poulting pride doth presse so fast in place That poore plaine Tom dare scarse come shew his face Ech one doth seeke for to aspire and rise Yet hate wee those that doth by vertue clime The foole hee scornes the worship of the wise Yet dolts presume beyond the wise sometime And all this strife is but for drosse and slime That out of earth we dig with daungers deepe Full hard to winne and much more wordes to keepe This makes me muse when some haue heapes in hord They will not helpe the neerest friend they haue And yet with smiles and many a friendlie word They graunt to giue before a man doe craue Such Barbors fine can finely poule and shaue And wash full cleane till all away they wash Then good sir Grime like lob they leaue in lash What should men loose when they enough haue had If that they part with thinges that might be sparde A little peece out of a golden gad For seruice long might be a great reward No no as steele and flint is stiffe and hard So World is waxt and no good turne is found But where indeede doe double gifts rebound We make a legge and kisse the hand withall A French deuice nay sure a Spanish tricke And speake in Print and say loe at your call I will remaine your owne both dead and quicke A Courtier so can giue a lobbe a licke And dresse a dolt in Motley for a while And so in sléeue at silly Woodcocke smile If meaning went with painted wordes and shoes It might suffice such courteous cheare to tast But with the same disdaine and enuie goes And trumpry great with wind and wordes in wast Then arme in arme comes flattery full in hast And leads away the sences out of frame That vpright wits are thereby striken lame This lowting lowe and bowing downe the knée But gropes mens mindes to créepe in credits lap Like malte horse then he holdes vp head you sée That late before could vaile both knée and cap The Nurse a while can feede the child with pap And after beate him on the bréech full bare A swarme God wot of these fine Natures are There be that bites yet gronts and whines withall There be that winnes yet sweare and sayth cylose There be that stops and steales away the ball There be that plantes a weede and plucks a rose There be pleads want to whome the fountaine floes Such hides their haps to make the world to thinke At faire well head they need not for to drinke The whales you see eates vp the little fish The pretie Penk with Sammon may not swime The greatest heades are fed with finesh dish The foulest piss saire water runneth trime He gets the gaine that standeth néere the brime He blowes the cole that hath cold fingers still He starues for bread that hath no corne at mill A world to see the course and state of thinges Some would get vp that knows not where to light Some soer the skies that neuer had no winges Some wrastle well by cunning not by might Some seemes to iudge faire coulours without sight And euery one with some oddâ— shift or grace In world at will runnes out a goodly race But to be plaine I lag and come behinde As I were lame and had a broken leg Or else I cannot lye within the winde And hearken still what I might easely beg I neede no say in mouth I haue geg For I haue spoke and sped in matters small By helpe of him that hath my verses all But farre God wot I am from that to seeke And misse the marke that many men doe hit Wherefore salt teares doe trickle downe the chéeke And heart doth feele full manie a woefull fitt And so aside in solempne sorrow sit As one indeede that is forsaken cleane Where most he doth deserue and best doth meane No matter now though each man march and treade On him that hates the life he beares about Yet such as shall these heauie Verses reade Shall finde I blame my fortune out of doubt But since on hope no better hap will sprout I
doth destine giue And so with sorrowes breake the hart that hath no will to liue Good fréend quoth she haste not thine end with passions of the minde Hope after hap the world may mend thou maist good fortune finde No sure my glasse of life is runne Death drawes on me so fast I see my daies are almost done life may no longer last My haples yeares and aged bones desires no being heere To graue I go with sighs and grones I buy bad life too deere With losse of blood of time and youth and all that precious is With loyall seruice toile and truth and hope of earthly blisse All in one ballance now goes downe since guerdon get I none Nor no account in Court nor towne now I may hap vpon Adue day light shut close mine eies too long you stare for nought So farewell friends and you be wise for me take you no thought By this our ships were wend about and Cannons gan to rore As they to Brytaine passed out with bounsing shot great store At noyse whereof I wakned straight and calling for my close And saw the Sunne on such a height that sodainly I rose And so put all my dreame in verse would God a dreame it were For many things I now rehearse wil prooue too true I feare FINIS To the right honourable my Lady Puckering wife to the most honorable the L. keeper of the great seale of England GOod Madam strange it may seeme that a meere stranger to your Ladiship â—are aduenture to dedicate any peece of vvorke vvhere bold attempt and labour may be but strangely vnderstood if a greater hope in your goodnes exceeded not the greatnes of my matter but my 〈◊〉 your most honorable husbands bountifull dealings with me of late makes me the bolder because I must be thankful in this presumptioâ—◠〈◊〉 present some acceptable peâ—ce of that small talent God hath giuen me to your good L. as vvell to be knovven of you as to keepâ— me in my L. fauour and though that vvhich I oâ—fer be skarce vvorthy the taking Yet I trust first my seruiceable present hall not be misliked because the receiuing vvell thereof may procure a further peece of vvork better penned such as shall best become me to present as knovveth God 〈◊〉 novv and at all times augment his good gifts of grace in your good Ladiship LOng time in sute and seruice gets some grade Long crauing gaines both crust and crome ye know Long walking rids great ground away apace Long vse of legs makes traueiler easly go Long watching tâ—â—d brings ebbe at length to floâ— So loyall loue and dutie long in vre Full many waies doth great good will procure Whereon good turnes springs out as from a flood Runnes gushing waues that waters euery soile Whose moisture doth both fruit and flower much good And profite bringâ— to Plowmans painefull toile This faire land flood kept barren field from foile For if no deaw of heauen I had found Hot sommers drouth had soone dried vp my ground The fountaine had her course no sooner run With golden streames that cordiall is of kinde But straight began to shine the gladsome Sâ—n That sucker sends to tree to root and rinde The frost did thaw with milde warme westerne winde And all the springs and conduits of the towne Ran Claret wine in honour of the crowne When bill assignd by sute from Prince had past Lord how the world â—lood therewith well content The Clearkes they wrote and fréely laboured fast The seales were wonne when purse no penny spent The waxe was wrought throw grace that God had sent So seale and waxe and all that name I can Came franckly of to me from euery man Lo how hard world by meanes is easie made And mens good wils with tract of time we gaine In spring it sprouts at fall of leafe did fade The grasse grows greene with little showres of raine I reapt the crop and fruit of others paine What néeds more words each place where I did go For Princes grace did me great fauour sho They knew that Court had cleane consumde my youth And plead mine age with pretie pension now If so they thought in déed they gest the truth For youth and age perforce is pleased throw Saue that they bid me make my pen my plow And prooue awhile what printed bookes will doo To helpe old Tom to get a supper too But blest be her that did the dinner giue With too much meat we may a surfeit take Long with good rule and diet men may liue Full belly oft an emptie purse may make He feedeth best that eats for hungers sake Than porcion poore makes men ne proud nor rich Yet one good meale a day doth please me mich Where am I now I speake of liberall men That fréely gaue the seales and all the rest Which déed deserues both thankes and praise of pen For that is all from me they haue possest This course would make the learned Lawyers blest If of poore men they tooke no fee at all Whose wrongs are great and riches is but small To trot and trudge two hundreth miles or more And spend their goods in toyling too and fro And be long pincht with paine and labour sore And then compeld to costly tearme to go Craues great regard of them that conscience know Than wise graue heads that looks through euery cause Defend the poore with fauour of your lawes Their plaints may pearce through highest heauens all Their praiers brings great blessings to your dore Your fame doth rise where they good words let fall For happie are the hands that helpes the poore This sentence should be written on the floore Who can do good to those that stands in need Shall reape much corne where sowne was litle séed When iustice flowes from liberall noble mind Good turns in world wil make men liue like Saints When good cheap law poore silly soules do find The Court is not long troubled with complaints Franke heart goes throw where feeble courage faints Bountie winnes loue and lasts for euer more Who doth great good and little takes therefore The poore are more in number euery where Then are the rich that haue the world at wil Wherefore the more we ought with them to beare Because they liue in lacke and sorrow stil. The Lord that sits on his hie holy hill Lookt lowly down on Lazarus the poore That humbly askt an almes at Diues doore Most precious are the poore to God aboue Though heere below they walke like lambes were lost And one good turne to them doth get more loue Then fortie things we doe for worldly boast Who saues a ship that is with tempest tost And brings the barke where helpe and harbour is For thankful paines shall purchase heauen blisse When that great Iudge shal come to iudge vs all Such as did helpe the poore shal happy be For then that Iudge wil for those people call Who to the poore were alwaies franke
and free Though world waxe blind the Lord doth daily sée Who helpes who harmes and who in hope and trust Laies vp their gold where riches cannot rust The wise no doubt doth so by gift of grace That gouernes man in euery honest cause Those noble minds that vertue doe embrace Are plac'â—t by Prince the Iudges of our Lawes At that wel head the poore cleare water drawes Yea poore and rich doe tast that running streame That spreads her vaines throw al this stately Reame Who could enioy a yard or foot of Land If Law did not decide true titles right Or who could holde his purse in his owne hand If Law brought not darke dealings vnto light Good Law doth see cléere day from clowdy night Discernes the troth from falshood finely cled Whose glorious grace deceaues each simple head Law lookes on all and sifts the flower from bran Law sets that straight that craft would crooked make Law is a stay to state and life of man Law with a word makes guilty conscience quake Law with the sword from shoulders head doth take Law forceth loue where hatred séeketh blood And Law mong men in world doth greatest good Where Law is none there ciuill order dies Both brute and rude and sauadge people groe Like Canibals they liue in beastly guise And naked too like mad wilde goats they goe The Féend they serue for God they do not know Where Law doth lacke and Iustice hath no place There neuer comes ne goodnes rule nor grace O God how glad the hungry is of food The heauie heart that woe hath wasted long To feele and find the Lawyers in such mood That they by Law redresse a poore mans wrong O sweet consort O pleasant well set song Where all the parts the singers haue by rote And out of tune is placed nere a note O noble Law where Iustice voyce doth sound Concordance right the prop of publicke state And where no iarre of musicke may be found Nor discord comes amisse to bréed debate Who loues no law doth all good order hate Law holds the ioynts to gather firme and fast That makes the house and timber long to last With equall waights in ballance all is tried By measure iust the world doth buy and sell A little graine in golde is quickly spied When in true skales good coyne is waied well Rest so I haue a further tale to tell God graunt my muse be in so good a vaine That I deserue but thankes for all my paine FINIS To the right worshipfull the Ladie Anderson wife to the right honorable Lord chiefe Iustice of the common Pleas. MY boldnes being much may passe the bounds of duty but the goodnes of your honourable husband good Madame passeth so farre the commendacion of my penne that vnder his iudgement and shield that is so iust a Iudge I make a sauegard to this my presumption that hazardeth where I am vnknowen to present any peece of Poetrie or matter of greater effect yet aduenturing by fortune to giue my Lady your sister somewhat in the honour of the Queenes Maiestie in the excellencie of her woorthy praise that neuer can decay I haue translated some verses out of French that a Poet seemed to write of his owne mistresse which verses are so apt for the honouring of the Phenix of our worlde that I cannot hide them from the sight of the worthy nor dare commit so grosse a fault as to let them die with my selfe wherfore and in way of your fauour in publishing these verses I dedicate them to your good Ladishippe though not so well penned as the first Authour did polish them yet in the best manner my muse can affoorde they are plainly expressed hoping they shalbe as well taken as they are ment so the blessed and great Iudge of all daily blesse you A few plaine verses of truth against the flaterie of time made when the Queens Maiestie was last at Oxenford SIth silent Poets all that praise your Ladies â—o My Phenix makes their plumes to fall that would like Peacockes goe Some doe their Princes praise and Synthia some doe like And some their Mistresse honour raise as high as Souldiers pike Come downe yee doe presmount the warning bel it sounds That cals you Poets to account for breaking of your bounds In giuing fame to those faire flowers that soone doth fade And cleane forget the white red rose that God a Phenix made Your Ladies also doe decline like Stars in darkesome night When Phenix doth like Phoebus shine and leands the world great light You paint to please desire your Dame in colours gâ—y As though braue words or trim attire could grace a clod of clay My Phenix needs not any art of Poets painting quil She is her selfe in euerie part so shapte by kindly skil That nature cannot wel amend and to that shape most rare The Gods such speciall grace doth send that is without compare The heauens did agree by constellations plaine That for her vertue shee should bée the only queene to raigne In her most happie daies and carries cleane awaie The tip and top of peerlesse prayse if all the world say nay Looke not that I should name her vertue in their place But looke on her true well-won fame that answers forme face And therein shall you read a world of matter now That round about the world doth spread her heauenly graces throw The seas where cannons rore hath yelded her her right And sent such newes vnto the shore of enemies foile and flight That all the world doth sound the glorie Phenix gote Whereof an eccho doth rebound in such a tune and note That none aliue shall reatch of Phenix honor great Which shall the poets muses teach how they of her shold treat O then with verses sweete if Poets haue good store Fling down your pen at Phenix féet praise your nimphes no more Packe hence she comes in place a stately Royall Queene That takes away your Ladies grace as soone as she is séene FINIS To the right Worshipfull my Ladie Fortescue wife to the right honourable Sir Iohn Fortescue Knight THe good turne and great labour good Madam your Honorable husband bestowed in my behalf bindes me so far as I must not be ingrat to him nor non of his chiefelie to remember your Ladishippe with some matter acceptable I than thinking of the great griefe that manie Soldiours found by the absence of the Queenes Maiestie in time of the plague when she laie last at Hampton court drew out some sadde verses of the sorrowe among Soldiers conceiued and presuming you will accept them I became so bolde as to present them to your handes had I anie worthier worke to offer I would bring better but hoping these fewe lines shall duetifullie show my good will I am to craue your fauour in presenting these verses vnto you desiring God to multiplie his benefites and blessinges in your good Ladishippe Verses of value if Vertue bee seene