men ere they conceiued be God out of season neuer yet doth trie His children new conuerted by and by Man made of earth sounds not the seas profound Of Gods deepe iudgements where there is no ground The Lord law-maker iust and righteous Doth frame his lawes not for himselfe but vs. Gods wisdome guides this worlds societie With equall power and equall pietie Gods word which made the world and guides it still To diuers enâ—s conducts both good and ill He that preferres not God fore all his race Amongst the sonnes of God deserues no place He that the furrowes ploweth of Gods field May not turne backe his fainting face nor yeeld Sathan suggesteth ill God mooues to grace God can doe all saue that he will not doe Our mightie God alwaies for his elect Of wicked things can draw a good effect God keepes his watch aboue the starrie skies For his elect who neuer idle lyes Similies on the same subiect AS one poore drop is nothing to the sea So all we can is nothing in Gods sight As the bright Sunne defaceth candle-light So Gods great power controlleth all the world As Princes are to be both lou'd and fear'd So God the Prince of princes must haue more As with great care a Pilot guides the ship So with great grace doth God direct the world As when the soule departs the body dies So where God blesseth not all things decay As mothers hugge their children in their armes So God enfolds his chosen with his grace Examples likewise on the same PHerecides for his contemning God Was eate with lice and dyed miserably Lucian an Atheist and denying God Was afterward in pieces torne with dogs Iustinian for his light regard of God Became a foole and so in follie dyde Th' Athenians banished Protagoras Because his bookes question'd the deitie Socrates did confesse one onely God And tearnâ—'d the heathen Gods but vanitiâ— Plato when he wrote any serious thing Began still In the name of one sole God Of Heauen Heauen is Gods seat the throne of endles grace The Soules true home and Hopes desired place ALl powers are subiect to the power of Heauen Nothing but Heauen is perfect happinesse What heauen will haue that needs must come to passe The Soule is heauenly and from heauen relieu'd Heauen is as neere to sea as to the land Heauen sings for ioy when sinners truly pray The waking heauens will plague all sleeping ill When as the heauens are to iustice bent All things are turn'd to our iust punishment None can attaine what heauen and earth withstands Earth must come in when awfull heauen commaunds When heauen yeelds meanes they must not be neglect Though men reuenge not yet the heauens will Heauen is the habitation of th'elect Heauen is the iust mans true inheritance It 's hard to liue well easie to dye ill Hard to winne heauen easie to keepe from thence In vaine do men contend against the starres Heauen workes our fall but yet the fault is ours All men ought know they haue the Heauens aboue them No walles can hide vs from the eye of heauen Repentance carries heauens eternall keyes When heauens lampe shines all other lights are lost We neuer know what 't is in heauen to dwell Till wee haue had some feeling of grim hell Heauen is our home we are but straungers here All earthly things are darke to them diuine What heauen decrees sollie may notwithstand Earths admirations are the heauens delights Heauens deepe dessignes are hid from mortall eyes We are at heauens dispose and not our owne Heauen sets our time wherwith can nought dispence High heauens hand restraineâ— our wilfull powers Whose will must rule aboue this will of ours Heauen doth repaire what fortune hath destroid Things that are heauenly no corruption tast Whome heauen doth spight the earth disdaines to hate Heauens couers him that hath no buâ—iall Earth feeds on earth heauen giues the spirit food Prouiâ—ence heauenly passeth humane thought And doth for wretched mens reliefe make way Earth giues vs gold but heauen the wealth of grace The Sunne which shines in heauen doth light the earth Hell cannot hurt whome heauen doth preserue The care of heauen doth seeke the soules content It is the doome of heauen which can and will Conâ—ound the braunch whose root was planted ill Sinne is earths Sun the Sun of heauen sinnes death Thoughts sixt on heauen contemne all earthly things Mortals may feele heauens doome but not remooue All men are subiect to the powers aboue Heauens secrets are conceald from mortall sight By mortall lawes a bond may be diuorst But heauens decree by no meanes can be forst From heauen our soules receiue their sustenance Hell is the place of horror heauen of rest Good death is true inheritance in heauen The way to heauen is not so wide as hell Men looke vp to the starres thereby to know That as they progresse heauen they earth should so Heauen often winkes at mortall mens amisse Heauens Sun doth shine both on the good and bad All humane wishes neuer haue the power To hast or hold the course of heauen one hower Similies on the same subiect AS hell was made to punish sinnes proud guilt Euen so was heauen for comfort of the iust As base clothes ill become a princes court So none can enter heauen but purely clad As trauailers desire their natiue homes So should all soules long for their heauenly home As hells obscuritie excells all darke So nothing with heauens brightnesse may compare As Iacob for his Rachell thought sower sweet So we for heauen ought deeme all else but vile As all ioyes in this life are fraile and vaine So none but heauens ioyes are perfect gaine Of Conscience Conscience is that accuseth and condemnes Needing no other witnesse than it selfe FAults long vnfelt the conscience will bewray The feare of conscience entreth iron walls Where coyne preuailes conscience beares little sway Kings but the conscience all things can defend Death but an acted passion doth appeare Where truth giues courage and a conscience cleare Conscience owne doome doth halfe condemne a man No armour proofe against the conscience terror Weake consciences are with vaine questions wounded Sound conscience well is cald a wall of brasse Corrupted fit compar'd to broken glasse In conscience booke our faults are daily writ There conscience failes where faith beares no account A guiltie conscience neuer is secure The conscience stain'd with blood of innocents Is alwayes subiect to appeaching guilt Repentance brings the keyes of conscience After minds guilt doth inward griefe begin Runne where thou wilt into all lands betake thee Yet will a wâ—unded conscience nere forsake thee A stained conscience finds no ioy at all They dread no shame that vâ—e no conscience If thou but find thy conscience be vpright No matter for the worlds rebuke or spight Conscience will neuer suffer wicked thoughts Conscience needs no tormenter but it selfe Conscience sees that which no eye else can doe
Conscience once drownd in wealth and worldly pompe Esteemes all wisdome as meere foolishnes A guiltie conscience is a gnawing worme Conscience tâ—kes vengeance on her owne transgressions Nothing but true repent cleares conscience The riches we may carrie to our graue Is a good conscience blessed they that haue Conscience once faultie still abides in feare Innocence is the ioy of conscience A conscience standing free from all detect Feares no accuse or doth excuse respect Lookes confident and sober shew cleane soules Conscience for heauen contemns all worldly things To frame excuse before thou be accusde Shewes that thou hast not conscience truly vsde Conscience doth couet nothing but her owne Conscience craues nothing but by lawfull meanes Conscience wiâ—l willingly offend no man Conscience once loden with the weight of sinne Is Iudge and Iuror to it selfe therein Conscience doth bind vs to respect our kinne Conscience despiseth bribes in any case Conscience commaunds vs to relieue the poore A conscience cleare is like a well fenc't tower Not to be shaken by rough Canon shot Conscience to princes alwaies giues their due Conscience submits when Iustice doth commaund Similies on the same subiect AS persecution is the bodies death So foule despaire quite kills the conscience As the bright Sunne doth lighten all the world So a cleare conscience shineth in the soule As beautie is a thing glads mortall sight So vnstain'd conscience doth high heauen delight As wine cheeres vp the heart when it is sad So peace of conscience makes it much more glad As brazen walls defend a cittie best So conscience taintlesse is at peace and rest As gold is best when through the fire 't is tride So conscience is by troubles purifide Examples likewise on the same O Restes matricide was iustly plagu'd With sting of conscience by his mothers ghost And Nero whose foule fact did equall his Was whipt in conscience with her walking shape Caesar Caligula could neuer rest But conscience torment did him still molest Tullie affirmes a conscience well emploi'd Is chiefest comfort in aduersitie Plato saith Sweetly sleâ—peth innocence In the safe chamber of good conscience Lactantius writes that no sinne can preuaile Where quiet conscience sits and guides the saile Conscience must leaue a little while to grieue To let in horror comming to reprooue Of Religion Religion is the ground of euery grace And teacheth man saluation to embrace WHere God is not religion cannot be Sundrie religions make no religion Where saints are clarks there alwaies God is iudge Religions touchstone best doth trie the truth Religion is the soule of innocence Working in each vnspotted conscience After religion painted zeale doth runne Blessings come seldome but by earnest prayer Ignorance is religions enemie The Scriptures are sufficient to resolue All doubts that in religion can arise The word 's a med'cine to a troubled mind Religion is the perfect bond of loue No poyson worse than Scripture falsly taught Religion is in truth not fallacies No surer signe of kingdomes ouerthrow Than where religion liueth in contempt Change of religion is most daungerous Faith and not reason teacheth true religion Man was created for religions vse There is no error halfe so daungerous As that committed in religion Ill happens when religion we neglect Doubt in religion punishment deserues Where no religion is no vertue bides Religions cloake can couer much abuse Those men may well be cald religious That hate the world and nothing mind but heauen Religion linketh men in vnitie Religion to all vertues is the guide Humilitie expresseth true religion Religion doth relieue the fatherlesse And succours widowes in aduersitie Religion is the councell of the iust Religion only can support the weake Religion teacheth remedie gainst sinne Religion comforts all afflictions Similies on the same subiect LIke as a Torch directs vs in the darke So doth religion lighten all our hopes As these our bodies liue by earthly food So true religion doth our soules most good As yron maketh soft the rudest earth So doth religion temper hardest hearts As sore eyes cannot gaze against the Sun So wicked minds brooke no religion As want of food the body hunger-sterues So pines the soule through pure religions lacke As med'cines make sicke bodies whole and sound So doth religion wash out errours wound Examples likewise on the same BRennus for wronging of religion Was smitten with a thunderbolt to death Conomachus religious rites prophan'd But with an earthquake was he swallowed vp Pherecydes nick-nam'd religion For which he was consum'd by wormes aliue In Athens they would not create a king Except he had tane orders of a Priest The chiefest oath th' Athenians had was this Pugnabo pro sacris cum alijs solus Old Rome her sonnes sent to Hetruria To be instructed in religion Of Truth Truth is the fount of knowledge earths best light The scale to heau'n and onely rule of right THe weakest things are strongest props to truth Truth is most strong and alwaiâ—s findeth friends Truth neuer failes and true loue wants no might Triall doth certainliest the truth bewray Falshood with truth may by no meanes abide Deeds not by manhood or the doâ—rs might Are to be scand but by their truth and right What shineth nearest best holds truest worth Where then is truth if there be no selfe trust Truth is the onely shield of best defence When truely in our selues our faults we see We deeme them known to all as well as wee An honest tale speeds best being truly told Truth may be shent but neuer shall be sham'd Truth to all goodnesse is the perfect guide All doubts resoluing is by finding truth How shall he thinke to find a straunger iust That in himselfe dare put no confidence False dreames do euermore the truth deny Time shewes the truth and wit that 's bought is best Truth soundeth sweetly in a sillie tongue Who cherish wrongs are bent against the truth Truth needeth not the aid of Rhetoricke Happie the people blessed is the land Where truth and vertue get the vpper hand Nothing so hard but is by truth explain'd All hidden secrets truth can best disclose Truth to all goodnes is the perfect guide Truth hath two friends Wisdome and Constancie Truth standeth not vpon the tongues of men Nor Honour on authorities bigge frownes Truth triumphes long when falshood soone decaies The truth of things the end or time will trie The smoothest tale hath oft-times smallest truth Truth most delights when shee goes meanest clad The seate of Truth is in our secret hearts Not in the tongue which falshood oft imparts Truth needs no Orators to plead her cause Truth feareth nothing more than to be hid Truth with her owne light is best satisfide A certaine truth doth need no subtill glose Truth is a health that neuer will be sicke An endlesse life a Sunne that neuer sets Truth shewes her selfe in secrecie of trust A cleare case needs no shifting councellour Truth vnbefriended will find friends
Bel-vedére OR THE GARDEN OF THE MVSES Quem reâ—erent Muse viuet dum robora tellus Dum â—â—â—â—â—â—ollâ—â— â—â—â—â— veâ—â—t amnis aquas Imprinted at London by F. K. for Hugh Astley dwelling at Saint Magniâ— corner 1600. To the Vniuersitie of Oxenford Thou eye of Honour Nurserie of Fame Still teeming-Mother of immortall seed Receiue these blessed Orphanes of thy breed As from thy happie issue first they came Those flowing wits that bathed in thy foord And suck't the honie dew from thy pure pap Returne their tribute backe into thy lap In rich-wrought lines that yeelde no idle woord O let thy Sonnes from time to time supplie This Garden of the Muses where dooth want Such Flowers as are not or come short or scant Of that perfection may be had thereby So shall thy name liue still their fame ne're dye Though vnder ground whole worlds of time they lie Stat sine morte decus To the Vniuersitie of Cambridge Mother of Muses and great Nurse of Art Which lent'st the roote from whence these sweets are grown Now with increase receiue a bounteous part Which thou mayst iustly chalenge as thine owne That Grant may to the comfort of her streames Behold her Seedes of late now Dulcet flowres And with the plentie of the famous Thames Attyre her Nymphs and decke her watry bowres And cherishing these Choyces of delights With daintie Garlands Crowne the peacefull shore Prepard for Feasting and Triumphant sights More Beautifull than ages heretofore Whil'st all the Floods so famous but of late Shall giue their glorie to adorne her state Sua cuique gloria To his louing and approoued good Friend M. Iohn Bodenham TO thee that art Arts louer Learnings friend First causer and collectour of these floures Thy paines iust merit I in right commend Costing whole years months weeks daily hours Like to the Bee thou euery where didst rome Spending thy spirits in laborious care And nightly brought'st thy gather'd hony home As a true worke-man in so great affaire First of thine owne deseruing take the fame Next of thy friends his due he giues to thee That loue of learning may renowme thy name And leaue it richly to posterity Where others who might better yet forslow it May see their shame and times hereafter know it A. M. Of this Garden of the Muses THou which delight'st to view this goodly plot Here take such flowres as best shal serue thy vse VVhere thou maist find in euery curious knot Of speciall vertue and most preâ—â—â—us iuyce Set by Apollo in their seuerall places And nourished with his celestiall Beames And watered by the Muses and the Graces With the fresh dew of those Castalian streames What sente or colour canst thou but deuise That is not here that may delight the sense Or what can Art or Industry comprize That in aboundance is not gather'd hence No Garden yet was euer halfe so sweet As where Apollo and the Muses meet A. B. A Sonnet to the Muses Garden FAire planted Eden of collected sweets Cropt from the bosome of the fertile ground Where Science with her honey-current greets The sacred Sisters where her liberall sound Makes Angels ecchoes and to heauens rebound The repetition of sententious spirits Oh deare belou'd in vertues painfull merits Fruit-furnisht Tempe all the worlds abstract For flowres of vertue hearbs of rare effect From whence as well soules Physicke is extract As bodies gouernment hold in respect What Science giues though Ignorance reiect For euery maime and sicknesse of the mind A wounded life a precious balme may find Shee sends you not to search the hidden mynes For gorgeous iewels nor to forraine lands But in one casket all her wealth combines And giues it freely with heart-open hands Shee limits not her bountie within bands Looke first then like suruey take one or all Choose with the mind the eye is fancies ball W. Rankins Gent. Of the Booke THe sundry beames proceeding from one Sunne The hiue where many Bees their honey bring The Sea to which a thousand riuers runne The garden where suruiues contiâ—uall spring The Trophee hung with diuers painfull hands Abstract of knowledge Briefe of Eloquence Aiding the weake preseruing him that stands Guide to the soule and ruler of the sense Such is this Volume and the fraight hereof How-euer ignorance presume to scoffe R. Hathway Of God God is beyond â—raile sence to comprehend He first began all and of all is end VVHere God puts too his hand all else is vaine God thunders oftner than he strikes or beates God giues his wrath by weight but mercie free Where God doth blesse abundaÌ„ce quickly springs Gods wisdome too much sâ—archt is daungerous Gods iustice ouer-vrgde strikes heauily Without the vnderstanding of Gods will Our wiâ— is follie and our best sight ill God doth not hate to loue nor loue to hate God with his finger strikes and not his arme No m 〈…〉 o â—oâ—re but God can blesse his dayes Who â—aâ—iâ—n Iob did from the dunghill raise In vaine it is for man with God to stand God will controll when mortall men haue done Gods eqâ—â—â—â—â— doth euery action â—â—ooue Gods haâ—â—hâ—â—â—â—s thunder who dare him offâ—nd Faith finds â—â—â— passage to â—ods mercie seate Where vertue raiseth men to dignitie There God his blessings still doth multiply Little auailes Gods gifts where wants his grace Men order warre but God giues victorie Gods mercie doth his iustice farre exceed God deales not with vs as our sinnes deserue Gods doctrine is the rule of prouidence God is eternall therefore without end God made all mortall things and orders them According to his wisdome where and when Gods greatnes is more seene in loue than wrath God ne're made any equall to himselfe If God heâ—â—e not yet deeme him not vâ—iust Gods mercie is the worke of our redemption If thou lifâ— vp thy selfe God flyes from thee If thou be humble then he comes to thee If God dart lightning soon he dewes down raine Gods wrath soone kindled is as quickly quencht No misaduentures crosse where God doth guide Where God doth saue no other sâ—lue doth need How can that enterprise ill issue haue Where God himselfe doth guide doth speed doth saue Happy are they who fauour from God find God and our shame are staies vnto our sinne Gods iustice doth mans iustice farre excell Those that God loues in them he nothing hates How can a simple current him withstand Who all the mightie Ocean doth commaund God loues the faithfull but doth hate their sinne Good life begun in earth in heauen is ended When Sathan tempts he leads vs vnto hell But God doth guide whereas no death doth dwell When Sathan tempts he seekes our faith to foile But God doth seale it neuer to recoile God makes our burning zeale full bright to shine Amongst the candles of his Church diuine God euer seekes by triall and temptation To sound mans heart and secret cogitation God well knowes men and still his eye doth see All thoughts of
at last Truth hateth most to here a feigned tale Innocence smile before the Iudge by truth And falshood found before he was suspect Reprooue not rashly neither hide the truth Truth is a blab and will no treasons hide Truth is a text that troubles many minds Truth still hath certaine bounds but falshood none Similies on the same subiect AS the best steeled glasse bewraies the face So truth best shineth in an honest soule As purest Emeralds without foyles shine best So truth most pleaseth in her plainest clothes As wormwood fitteth not a lickerish taste So truth doth neuer please a lyars tongue As clouds oft threaten raine and yet shed none So stormes oft menace truth yet hurt her not As darkenesse is an enemie to light So falshood is continuall foe to truth As meane attire impaires not beauties face So poorest ragges to truth giue no disgrace Examples likewise on the same IVlian Apostat â—the foe to Tâ—uâ—h Cried out at length that Truth had conquerd him Nâ—sâ—â—riuâ— who contended with the truth His tongue was eaten in his life with wormes The Perâ—â—aâ—s in the honour of the truth Ordainâ—d death to such as did denie it Popiel king of Poland for vntruth Was as he late aliue deuouâ—â—d with Rats Câ—to was so râ—nowmed for the truth That he was onely said to speake the truth Vntruth saith Seâ—eca are meetest Armes For any coward or base minded man Of Vertue Vertue is Queene of labour Nource of loue The minds true grace and blessing from aboue ALl things decay but vertue cannot die Vertue makes beautie more angelicall Vertue is free from time and fortunes power Men cannot leaue their vertues to their heires Faire vertues seat is deepe within the mind And not by shewes but inward thoughts defin'd Vices are noted vertues soone forgot Vertues best store by giuing doth augment There is no vertue that is borne with vs. No vertue springs where wanteth due regard Vertues obscurde yeeld small and sorie gaines But actiuely employd true worth-retaines Winne fame by vertue let opinion goe Vertue is in the mind not the attire Vertue and fortune neuer could agree Vertue is loath'd of fooles lou'd of the wise Vertue is much more amiable and sweet When therewithall true maiestie doth meet Vice careth not if vertue sinke or swimme Wit shines in vertue vertue shines in wit Sweetest temptations most make vertue knowne Vertue it selfe turnes vice being misapplyed And vice sometimes by action dignified The field of honour vertue neuer looseth Vertue will beare what can on vertue fall True happinesse on vertue taketh ground The more vice reignes the lesse doth vertue thriue To vertues goods we onely ought to cleane The rest are good in semblancâ— but deceaue Vertue will liue when villanie shall die Vertue may be disturb'd but ne're disgrac'd No beautie like the vertue of the mind Vertue through darkest shades doth light her selfe Vertue in greatest daungers being best showne May be opprest but neuer ouerthrowne Vertue oft lyes where life is in disgrace If sinne were dead vertue could not be knowne Sweet is the gaine which vertuous trauaile brings All vertuous minds doe vertuous deeds declare Our vices nor our vertues neuer die Though vnder ground a thousand yeares we lye Vertue doth mortall things immortall make The bond of vertue alwaies surest binds Than vertue there can be no greater dower 'T is vertues selfe that her rewards doth pay Enuies black cloud would dim bright vertues rayes All sorrowes in the world are farre more lesse Than vertues might and valours confidence Sinne counted solace vertue is despisde Vaine praise is shame but honour vertues due Without defence of vertue nothing lasts Onely faire vertue scales eternitie Aboue earths all-abating tyrannie All Orators are dumbe when vertue pleads Vertue but stampt in Lead is rich enough That growes apace which vertue helpes to raise Vertue curbes in the most vnbridled will With goodnesse men doe sâ—one grow discontent Where states are ripe to fall and vertue spent True vertue is rich dower for chastitie In vertuous deeds all stratagems are good Vertue is beautie of the inward man Exclude discretion vertue turnes to vice Like to the Sunne so vertue lights the world Such as leaue off faire vertueâ— to esteeme Doe greatly erre that take things as they seeme Vertue will shine though ne're so much obscur'd Vertue depressed is expressed more Vertue makes women seeme to be diuine With honours eyes let vertues plaints be scand Vertue doth raise by very small degrees Where in a moment Fortune casteth downe While vertue suffers still it vanquisheth Need clad with vertue is aboundant rich Vertue is better and more sure than Artes. Vertue is not to get things but to keepe them Vertue on earth doth soonest bring vs fame Makes our graues glorious writes our names in heauen Vertue most grieueth at her owne disgrace A vertuous act seemes straunge in some mens sight A vertuous mind cannot be miserable Death is true life to euery vertuous man Though vertue many times wants due reward Yet seldome vice escapes deserued blame Vertue doth neuer enuie good desert Loue maketh vertue liue and vice to die Reports can neuer harme the vertuous He is not vertuous that 's too timerous Ech cunning sinne being clad in vertues shape Flyes much reproofe and many stormes doth scape Vertues are many times by faults disgrac'd Honours defects by vertues are supplyed Vertue still doteth on perfection Vertue in beauteous bodies shineth best All the gay pleasures that the world can prooue Are but sicke sorrowes to pure vertues loue Vertue is most renowm'd in honors eyes Vertue still smiles when vaine conceit doth crie Immortall vertue liues an endlesse datâ— Wisdome on Vertue as her handmaid waits The worldâ— opinion so doth vertue smoother Aâ— one beares that belongs vnto another Vertue makes euery where a straungers home Vertue doth conquer dissolute desires Vertue in Princes is most glorious Vertue deserueth more than wealth can doe The blasts of Fortune neuer can preuaile In the maîne sea where vertue â—oisetâ— saile All pompe is vile where vertue hath no place Vertue doth vanquish Fortune Time and Death Similies on the same subiect AS feare of torment holds the wicked in So vertues loue mâ—ke good men loath their sin Looke how one vice begets another sinne Euen so one vertue drawes another in As Musicke proâ—its nothing but by sound So vertue helpes not if it saile in life Like as the Sunne obscures all lesser lights So vertues lustre damps all enuies sleights As spices in their bâ—uising sauor most So vertue in affliction best is seene As wine refresheth sad dismayed minds So vertue comforts poore distressed soules Examples likewise on the same KIng Alexander got the name of Great By vertuous cariage of himselfe in warre Spurina chose to manglâ— his faire face Rather than be seduc'de from vertuous thoughts Hercules bad vaine pleasure get her gone And made faire vertue his companion Xerxes for beastlines was not so blam'd As
impaires not gold but makes it bright So greatest wrongs by patience are made light As physicke doth repaire decayed health So patience brings true blessings to the soule As water quencheth the extreamest fire So patience qualifies the mightiest wrongs As Diamonds in the darke are best discern'd So patience is in trouble best approou'd As angrie splenes are hastie in reuenge So discreete soules brooke all with patience Examples likewise on the same WHat-e're mishap Darius did befall Yet in his mind he was not moou'd at all Marcus 〈◊〉 said that patiâ—nce Had holpe him more than any thing be side Sylla endur'd reuilings patiently And mildly yeelded his Dictator-ship Mauritius moou'd not at his childrens death Although he saw them slaine before his face When Socrates was councel'd to reuenge Said If an Asse strike shall I strike againe In patience conflict saith Euripides The vanquisht doe exceed the vanquisher Of Man and Men. Man is a creature of such excellence As all else was created for his vse MAn in himselfe a little world doth beare All other creatures follow after kind But man alone is ruled by his mind All men to some peculiar vice encline The greater man the greater is the thing Be it good or bad that he doth vndertake A man once stung is hardly hurt againe Fond is the man that will atteâ—pâ— great deeds And loose the glorie that attends on them Where ease abounds men soone may doe amisse Men doe not know what they themselues will be When as more than themselues themselues they see The worth of all men by their end esteeme When men haue well fed and the bloud is warme Then are they most improuident of harme Birds haue the aire Fish water Men the land When from the heart of man ascends true sighes From Gods diuinest spiâ—it descendeth grace The man that seekes his thraldome merits it Man of himselfe is as a barren field But by the grace of heauen a fruitfull vine Men easily doe credit what they loue The man that liueth by anothers breath Looke when he dies is certaine of his death No man weighes him that doth himselfe neglect Men ought especially to saue their winnings In all attempts els loose they their beginnings Oft one mans sorrow doth another touch The man vniust is hopelesse fortunate Quickely misse-led but hardly reconcil'd It grieues a man to aske when he deserues Men are but Fortunes subiects therefore variable And times disciples therefore momentarie Deuise of man in working hath no end There liues no man so seiled in content That hath not daily somewhat to repent Ech man must thinke his morning shall haue night Mens imperfections often-times are knowne When they repine to thinke them as their owne Man neuer takes delight to heare his fault Men often iudge too well their owne deserts When others smile to see their ignorance Men honoured wanting wit are fruitlesse trees Man is but meere calamitie it selfe Man when he thinkes his state is most secure Shall find it then both fickle and vnsure Mans nature is desirous still of chaunge To greatest men great faults are incident Mishaps haue power o're man not he o're them Similies on the same subiect AS flowers by their sight and sente are knowne So men are noted by their words and workes As snow in water doth begin and end So man was made of earth and so shall end As waxe cannot endure before the fire So cannot vniust men in sight of heauen As all things on the earth are for mans vse So men were made for one anothers helpe As Toades doe sucke their venime from the earth So bad men draw corruption from foule sinne As fooles erect their houses on the sands So wise men doe rely their hopes on heauen Examples likewise on the same PHilip of Macedon was daily told Remember Philip thou art but a man Cyrus held no man worthie gouernment Except his vertues were to be admir'd Those men did Alcibiadâ—s count safe That kept their countries lawes vnchangeable Timon was cal'd the enemie to men And would perswade them to destroy them-selues What else is man saith Pindaruâ— but a dreame Or like a shadow we discerne in sleepe Homer cryed out Man was most miserable Of all the creatures that the world contain'd Of Women Women are equall euery way to men And both alike haue their infirmities WOmen by men receiue perfection Women and loue like emptie houses perish Like vntun'd golden strings faire women are Which lying lonâ— vntoucht will harshly iarre Faire and vnkind in women ill beseemes Women are wonne when they beginne to iarre Griefe hath two tongues and neuer woman yet Could rule them both without ten womens wit All women are ambitious naturally In womens tongues is quickly found a rub A womans will that 's bent to walke astray Is seldome chaung'd by watch or sharpe restraint Ripe still to ill ill womens counsels are All things are subiect but a womans will 'T is fast good will and gentle courtesies Reclaime a woman and no watching eyes Women are most wonne when men merit least Women that long thinke scorne to be said nay Neuer as yet was man so well aware But first or last was caught in womens snare Find constancie in women all is found Women desire to see and to be seene Great vaunts doe seeme hatcht vnder Sampsons lockes Yet womens words can giue them killing knockes Women haue teares for sorrow and dissembling Women allure with smiles and kill with frownes It is a common rule that women neuer Loue beautie in their sexe but enuie euer Women with wanton eyes haue wanton trickes Vertue is richest dowrie for a woman Though men can couer crimes with bold sterne lookes Poore womens faces are their owne faults bookes Women least reckon of a doting louer What cannot women doe that know their power If womens hearts that haue light thoughts to spill them Die of themselues why then should sorrow kill them No beast is fiercer than a iealous woman Women oft looke one to enuie another A womans teares are falling starres at night No sooner seene but quickly out of sight A womans fauour lasteth but a while Two things to be a woman and a Queene Women doe hold 't is ioyes life lifes best treasure Both to begin and leaue to kisse at leisurâ— Oft womens mercie more than mens is seene Some womens wits exceed all Art in loue A womans passions doth the aire resemble Neuer alike they sinne if they dissemble Loue women and inconstancie ne're part Blushes shew womens thoughts and teach men wit Those vertues that in women merit praise Are sober shewes without chast thoughts within A womans heart and tongue are relatiues Women may fall when there 's no strength in men Those women of their wit may iustly boast That buy their wisdome by anothers cost A womans mind is fit for each impression High praises hammer best a womans mind Thy wife being wise make her thy secretarie Else not for women seldome can keepe
please So gentle minds are easily ouer-rul'd As heauines fore-tels some harme at hand So minds disturb'd presage ensuing ills As sickly bodies brooke not heat nor cold So crazed minds dislike of euery thing As working vessels are by vent kept sound So troubled minds by conference find ease As fennie grounds send forth vnsauorie sents So bad minds blâ—nder out distempered thoughts Examples likewise on the same SCeuola in the greatnesse of his mind Entred Porsennaes Tent to murder him Queene Tomiris to shew her dauntlesse mind With Cyrus blood reueng'd her deare sonnes death Zenobia told Aurelian in the field He was not able to subdue her mind Lucius Dentatus neuer matcht for mind Came eighteene times a conquerour from field Cicero saith the goodnesse of the mâ—nd Is most discern'd in pardoning iniuries Socrates said His quietnes in mind Was cause he neuer sickned till his death Of Affection c. Affection and sweet fancies secret fire Kindle the coales that quicken vp desire WHere we affect we seldome find defect Of things vnknowne we can haue no desire Men ost affect them that doe loue them least And least doe loue them whome they should like best That one desires another doth disdaine Affection by the countenance is descried Full easily the fault may be redrest Where kind affection onely hath transgrest Kindly affection youth to liue with youth Truest affection doth no bounds retaine Affection is a â—ierce yet holy fire Free of him-selfe and chain'd to strong desire Desire with small encouraging growes bold It 's easie to desire but hard to chuse Affections speech that easily can dissolue Doth moisten Flint yet Steele in stiffe attire The sea hath bounds but deep desire hath none In darkest nights desire sees best of all Sweet are the kisses the embracements sweet When like desires with like affections meet Affections slaue regards no oathes nor lawes Luke-warme desires best fit with crazed loue Affection is a coale that must be coold Else suffered it will set the heart on fire Entire affection hateth nice coy hands Affection will like fire him-selfe betray Affection faints not like a pale fac'd coward But then wooes best when most his choise is froward The coales are quicke where fancie blowes the fire Desire can make a Doctor in a day Where loue doth reigne disturbing iealousie Doth call him selfe affections Sentinell Fauour and grace are tearmed fancies fuell An equall age doth equall like desires Bad mens affections turne to feare and hate And hate to daunger and deserued death That 's hardly kept which is desir'd of many The most maid-seeming is not without affection That needs must issue to the full perfection Hath grounded-being by the minds affection There 's nothing can affections force controll Drunken desire doth vomit his receit Affections gawdie banner once displayed The coward fights and will not be dismayed Things much restrain'd make vs the more desire them In meanest shewe the most affection dwells Small drops doe oft-times quench a mightie fire But hugest Seas not qualifie desire All qualifide affections loue doth hate Beautie strikes fancie blind vaine shewes deceiue Sad perâ—urâ—ations that affections guide Should not giue iudgement till their cause be tride Desire is life of loue and death of feare Death is the finall end of all desires Nothing can quench an infinite desire Once kindled through the first conceiued fire Sad sighes doe shew the heat of hearts desire Desire controld doth aggrauate desire Desire being fierce is spring of sighes and teares Men once degenerate and growne deprest Are pleasd to share affections with a beast Desire doth spring from that we wish and want Fancie is blind deafe and incredulous Fancie is watchfull and doth seldome sleepe Fancie compeld to Lute strings is compar'd Which ouer stretcht doe cracke before they sound Lawfull desires are honesties best notes Affection's rest lesse yet being perfect end-lesse Delay is preiudiciall to desire The greater part leane to example so That what they fancie they will sâ—ant forgoe Fancies best cure is mutuall affection Fancie soone â—ires but long before it quench When loue leads lookes no compasse keepes desire A hot desire on present heat doth dote When cold repentance will it not fore-note Low fortunes often times haue high desires Like fortunes globe euen so is fancies seat Appetites flame with wisdome best is quencht There neuer did all circumstances meet With those desires which were conceiu'd before Affection brooketh no diuision Sleepe hath no priuiledge ouer desire Similies on the same subiect AS poyson sweetly mixt is sooner ta'ne So fancie close conceal'd is soonest fier'd As Chrysolites are prooued in the fire So is affection in enforc'd restraint As cities wanting Magistrates decay Euen so desire vngouern'd hurts it selfe As all the world were darke but for the Sunne So life but for affection were vnsure As steele brings fire from the hardest flint So fancie mollisies the stearnest mind As Almond trees in age doe beare most fruit So yeares doth best approoue affections Examples likewise on the same ZAleucus to the Locrians made a law To loose their eyes that sinn'd in foule desires Appius was banished the cittie Rome For leud affection to Virginia Marke Anthonie disgrac'd his former fame By not restraining his affections King Alexander hated to the death In men or women loose and leud desires Fancie saith Aristotle often makes A frenzie in their soules are led thereby Desire saith Socrates no limits holds And therefore hardly can be mastred Of Disdaine c. Contempt and Scorne are Wits infirmitie Wherwith Disdaine and Scoffes keepe company FLint frost disdaine weares melts and yeelds we see Things long in getting quickly are disdain'd Present disdaine oft after-loue diuines Prayers preuaile not where is coy disdaine Better to die a thousand deaths and more Than liue contemn'd that honour'd was before Disdaine deliuers a depraued mind Griefe often-times giues place to nice disdaine Too much precisenesse sauours of selfe-loue Gibing demaunds deserue scornefull replyes Neither can wit or Art take any place Where aduerse scorne with feare strikes boldnesse dead Presumption giues no guerdon but disdaine Despised men on earth must liue in heauen There must be some contempt ere plagues ensue Disdaine attends where greatest honour haunts In high disdaine loue is a base desire And Cupids flames doe seeme but watrie fire Disdaine repines at all good things it sees They others vertues scorne that doubt their owne Mocke none in need beware thine owne mishap Scoffes without feare from follâ—e doe proceed The choice â—â—hard wheâ—e silence kills with griefe Oâ— speech reapes no reward but base contempâ— To mocke a friend is held no manly part Scorne can haue no reward but like contempt Ieasting is tollerable but scorne most vile Disdaine declares a proud presuming heart Loues passions quenched by vnkind disdaine Doth often times encrease the more desire Scorning is artificiall iniurie Who scorneth most shall be but paid with scoffes Scorne not thy wife least scorn'd she do thee
the Iudge that first condemnes To weepe alone is thought an yrkesome sore Yet companie disturbeth some much more Venus smiles seldome in a house of teares It 's better wake and weepe than sleepe and ioy Teares ease the mind though else doe small auaile Drops pierce the flint not by their force or strength But by oft falling weares it out at length Teares shed for vertues sake are blessed teares Teares worke no ruth but where the heart is tender Teares are the riches of a sighing soule Griefe-broken hearts doe liue with teares in eyes And dyâ— with mirth appearing in their lookes Griefe till all ends hath neuer perfect ending Sighes vsually proceed from griefe and smart Teares doe but blind the eyes as clouds the aire The rich man doth reuenge him-selfe by armes But poore men haue no other helpe than teares Whose griefes are great haue need of quickest cure Teares cannot change what God hath fore-decreed Teares do want eies which should giue tears to weep Teares are no remedies for sad distresse Neither can present plaints ease passed harmes Hearts true contrition is soules blisse beginner Teares are the badges of true penitence Similies on the same subiect AS some men weepe that are not rightly sad So many smile that are not rightly glad As trees by nature bringeth forth their fruit So sorrow doth by custome shed â—ad teares As thunder alwayes is not quencht with raine So griefe not euer is appeaâ—d with teares As too much boldnesse is in women bad So fits it not in men to be too â—ad As showres of raine doe cause the earths encrease So streames of teares doe giue the soule true peacâ— As weeping Oliue trees most fruitfull are So mourning minds doe soonest kill despaire Examples likewise on the same BRaue Coriolanus being banisht Rome â—oucht with his fault went forth and dide in teares The Romane matrons for old Brutus death For one whole yere did nothing else but mourne The wife of Lepidus her misbehauiour In teares and anguish did abridge his daies Crassus was neuer seene in all his life But once to smile but many times to mourne Senâ—eâ— saith That mightie men by power Reuenge themselues the weaker by their teares The broken heart saith Tullie hath moist eyes When often-times it faignes forth merrie lookes Of Humilitie c. Humilitie is lowlinesse of mind The onely way the seat of blisse to find HVmilitie lookes lowly on the ground Humilitie her friends with kindnesse feeds The lowly dales enuie not highest hills Humilitie to heauen the steppe the staire Is by deuotion heartie griefe and prayer The lowly mind doth highest gifts adorne Meeknesse of heart is glorie to man-kind Humilitie admires his paine with ioy The kindly dew drops from the higher tree And wets the little plants that lowly dwell The Cedar yeeldeth to the Axes edge Better sit still than rise and after fall The shrub is safe when the tall Cedar shakes Hâ— that high growth on Cedars did bestow Gaue likewise lowly Mushromes leaue to grow Humble and meeke becomes both young and old Gray hath lesse griefe than costly silken â—utes Humilitie walkes lowly on the earth Assur'd of certaine dignitie in heauen The lowest shrubs doe feele the fewest stormes The minds submission pulls downe loftie lookes When as the Eagle meanes his highest flight He makes his mounting in the lowest dale Great floods doe often rise from humble streames Content below ne're climbes to seeke aloft The cottage seated in the lowly dale Is more secure than highest soueraigntie Humilitie the â—oules chiefe beautie is Humilitie doth anger soone asswage A lowly life that feares no suddaine losse Is still content how-euer things goes crosse An humble mind sauours of pietie True humblenes doth all mens vertues praise A mind that feares no fall nor craues no crowne Is in the rightest way to true renowme Religions chiefe precept is humblenes Happie that man who is in honour humble Where humble thoughts doe to the heauens aspire There is no place for any proud desire The minds best armour is humilitie Lowlinesse is the perfect path to honour Humilitie hath brought those things to passe Which reason nor no vertue else could doe Pride wageth warre against humilitie By lowlinesse is true discretion wonne Proud minds can hardly learne humilitie Humilitie augments beneuolence Supporteth truth and keepes a kingdome safe Humilitie reuiues dead charitie The face doth soone expresse an humble mind Truth soone appeares to humble minded men The noble Lyon neuer slayes the least But alwayes preyes vpon the proudest beast Humilitie rules all the minds affects No way to heauen but by humilitie Humilitie winnes immortalitie Humilitie with perfect grace stands fast When all things else are vanished and past Breake not a bending reed spare the submisse Earth vessels with the brazen may not striue Similies on the same subiect AS lowlinesse of heart brings downe heauens grace So humble words can proudest tearmes deface As salt doth season euery kind of meat So lowlinesse doth shew all vertues best As vallies sertilnesse the hills exceeds So humble lowlinesse shewes fairest deeds As wine in lowest vaults is best preseru'd So grace in humble minds is best discern'd As proud presumption seekes his owne decay So lowlinesse to blisse directs the way As ignorance most scorneth to be taught So humblenesse desireth still to learne Examples likewise on the same PHilip for humblenes of mind was praisd Beyond all princes of the Macedons Antigonâ—â—s with great humilitie Bare off the â—launders of his enemies Scipio in all his fottunes neuer sweru'd From patient sufferance and humilitie Pericles most of all defam'd him-selfe By making scorne of true humilitie Tullie affirmes all vertues what-soe're Are soonest learned by humilitie Plato calls lowlinesse the soules defence And onely shield against extremities Of Authoritie c. Authoritie proud pompe and worldly power Makes monarchs but as marks wheÌ„ fate doth lower AVthoritie makes many mâ—n seuere Death giues no thanks but checks authority It is in vaine and fondly we resist Against proud might that can doe what it list A lawfull title counter-checks proud might The greatest oft may need a weaker helpe Little auailes a lawlesse vsurpation Which gaines ascepter but not rules a nation Might wanting measure prooueth surquedrie Nothing â—o â—â—lâ— as wâ—ong being arm'd with right Might is reputed absolute alone When of two powers there 's true coniunction Some leaâ—â—e to rule while others learne to liue They thâ—â— stand high haue many blasts to shake them Vainâ— is the vaunt and viâ—â—orie vmust Thâ—t more to might than â—ightfull cause doth trust When great leaues â—all then winter is at hand Needs must we doe what might will force vs doe The â—â—er-spreading pompe of greatest might Will darken weaknesse and debase his sight What mightie men misdoe they cannot mend Deepe are the blowes made with a mightie Axâ— More than enough he finds that finds his might Hath force to make all that he will haue right The more the mighâ—ier if