the head with anger seemde to swell Like an Aposthume of a poisoned wounde which breaking inwarde of the sodaine shroncke Into the body oh most beastly troncke The heade of pride thus suddainely consumde Or shroncke into this filthy sincke of sinne The second head foule Auarice presumde with wicked wordes the miser mindes to winne Ah begger worme and needy wretch quod he what dost thou thinke that will become of thee Hath patience bred in thee this poore conceite That colde and hunger be thy harts content Doest thou not see how manie thousandes waite In honors fielde vpon the golden tente Or knowest thou not power wisedome wit and pleasure All haue their Essence in the golden treasure What face so faire that is not grac't in golde what wit of worth but hath in golde his wonder what learning but with golden lines doth holde what state so high but gold will bring him vnder what thought so sweete but gold doth better season And what rule best but in the golden reason Be lorde of landes and cram thy chest with coine Feare nought but neede mony will make a friende Let conscience learne the cunning to purloine wit without welth hath but a wofull ende The golden scepter and the golden crowne Doth make the subiect on his knees come downe The grounde is fat that yeeldes the golden fruite The study high that hits the golden state The labour sweete that gets the golden suite The reckning right that makes the goldeÌ„ rate The hap is sure that golden hope doth holde And rich is gaine that serues the god of golde And with that worde the wicked thing did cease when presently the pilgrime thus replied Oh cursed cancker crosse of conscience peace whose hatefull harte doth all ill humors hide Thou kindling cole of an Internall fire Die in the ashes of thy dead desire Impatient spirite liuing all by spoile Drunke like the dropsy and yet euer drye Consumde with care and tired out with toyle Seeminge to liue and yet dost ever die How duâ—…st thou so the name of god blaspheme To giue to drosse so great a Diademe Thou stone-colde hart with hungriâ—…g after coine My care in heauen doth seeke my hartes content Thou scrapst for pelfe I seeke not to purloine In vertues field I seeke but mercies tent When wisdome findes in power of highest pleasure The world al trash compard to heauenly treasure Fowle is the faire that hath her gold in grace worthines the wit that hath in wealth his wonder vnlearned liues put gold in honors place wicked the state that will to coine cume vnder Base the conceite that seasonde is with golde And begger rules that such a reason holde Thou plodst for landes I seeke a liuing place Thou fearste but neede I mony make no friâ—…de Thy conscience cunning and my care is grace Thy wits welth wo my harts wish heauen at ende Thy golde is drosse and vertue is my crowne where hartes submission puls ambition downe Earth giues thee golde heauens giue me higher grace Men study wealth but Angels wisedomes state Laboure seekes pence loue hath a higher place Death makes thy reckening life is all my rate Thy happe is hell my hope of heauen doth holde God giue me grace die deuill with thy golde And with that worde the head beganne to shrincke The face dead pale and hollow grew the eies And so at laste did all and wholy sincke Into that hell that heade of Auarice when vp did start the heade of Gluttonie Vomiting out theese wordes of villany Poore 〈◊〉 begger whereon dost thou feede well fare the mouth that feedes the belly full what staruing humor standes thy wit insteede The want of victuaile makes the body dull I finde it true no triumph to a feast the belly full the bones will be at rest Some feede their eies withstaring on the starres And starue the body to content the minde Some with their wittes will be so long at warres They grate on crusts when other men haue dinde But let the franticke so their humor please Giue me the life of meate and drinke and ease VVhen that the earth doth giue vs pleasing foode what reason is it nature shoulde refuse it If reason finde what wil doe nature good what bootes to haue it if we doe not vse it Then let me feede while I haue power to eat The mouth was made to giue the body meat Oh when the tongue is pleased with a tast The stomacke feeds vntil the hart do laugh And then a cuppe with a carowsing cast And then a health out of a frindely quaffe Then workes the braine in such a blessed wise As if the body were in paradise VVhen thinking more to speake his mouth ranne ouer with beastly humors loathsome to beholde And in such sort as he coulde not recouer Till that he did his filthy sence vnfolde when stopping so the pilgrime gan replie Die ougly venum in thy villany Thou filthy fat and ouerfoggy flesh Foule bagpipe-cheekes eies starting from the head whom heauenly humors neuer can refresh That all in hel hast made thy hateful bedde Heauens let me fast from such a loathsome feast where to much feeding makes a man a beast Earth fill thine eies heauens feede my humble hart Drosse fil thy belly Grace content my minde Of worldly lunckets take thy pleasing part Grace giue my soule one crum I haue dinde So with thy frensies doe thy fansie please Heauens be my rest whom earth can neuer ease Earth feedes of earth heauens giue the spirit foode Nature corrupted lost the key of reason The body knowes not of the spirits good Vse is abuse where truth is â—…aust with treason Then role and tumble in thy beastly â—…iot The dish of mercy be my spirits diet Oh when the tongue is toucht with cruel fire The stomacke feedes of an infernal flame A cuppe of coles to quench a foule desire A cureles hatt consuming in the same Then workes the spirit with such woful cries As proues in hel was neuer paradise When this same filthy hedde of Glotony Beastly bedight with his abhorred diet Choked with venum of such villany As breedes the ground of natures most disquiet Soncke backe into the belly of the beast which of such spirites made his speciall feast When started vp the head of slouthfulnes with ougly clawes picking his gummy eies who with the noddes of natures he uines Did in few wordes this filthy speech deuise what humor wretch doth thee so waking keepe That thou canst feede vpon so little sleepe Sleepe is the pride of ease the height of pleasure The Nurse of nature and the rule of rest The thoughtes attonement and the sences treasure The bedde of loue that likes the body best Against vnrest the only remedy And onely medicine to ech mallady And therewithall vnwilling more to speake Such heauy qualmes his harte had ouercome with stretching yawnes as if his Iawes would breake Hee stopt his speech as wholy stroken dumme when nodding
might he see a Monky with an Ape Climing a tree and cracking of a Nut One sparrow teache an other how to gape But not a tame one taught to keepe the cut And many a lacke daw in his foolish chat while parets prated of they knew not what But when shee saw humilities affection wonne from the world to seeke for heauenly fauour And that the soule by wisdome â—…ound direction In sacred flowers should finde the sweetest sauour Shee raisde him vp and badde him there receiue The true delightes should not the soule deceiue When lifted vp by that faire hande of loue That brought the hart an vnknowen happines And euery seruant sweetly did approue A blessing in their Masters blessednes with silent thoughtes they humbly did attende The words that did their comfort comprehende Poore wretch quod shee thy faithfull patient hart the highest powers in pitty doe regarde where true repentance pleades for no desart But bounties grace where mercy giues rewarde The heauens haue harde thy humble happy praier To helpe thy hope and keepe thee from despaire The labour that thy loue hath tane in hande Thy trauaile minding neuer to retire The happy staie whereon thy hope doth stande where humble praier but pitty doth aspire Haue got thee grace in mercies glorious eies To finde the path that leades to paradise This is the 〈◊〉 that patience onely treades where life doth goe on pilgrimage to loue whose humble hart the holy spirite leades vnto the height of blessed hopes behoue whom graces garde till perils al be past And faith resolu'de doe finde her rest at last Since thou hast scapte the vaunt of Venus vaine And not presumde Diana to approch Since Flora coulde no further fauour gaine Nor Ceres coulde thy carefull thought encroch Since fooles and deuils all are driuen awaie Bide but a night and thou shalt see the daie Since thou hast scapte the way of wretchednes where shameles mindes to shamefull shapes are turned And founde the waie of fairest blessednes where hart enflamde with vertues fire hath burned Keepe on the path and turne on neither side Grace to thy hope will be a happy guide Thinke it not longe to cumme to heauen at last Nor linger time to hinder happy speede Feare not the sunne though skies be ouercast And let a candell stande the night in steede So marke the light that liues in vertues eies And loue shall leade thee straight to paradise Feare not the foes nor forces thou shalt meete For thou shalt meete with monsters many a one But faith resolu'de treds fortune vnder feete where vertue comes will vices all be gone Hell cannot hurt whom heauenly powers defend where grace begins hope makes a happy end Lo neere at hand he that would hurt thee most An ougly Monster full af all corruption By whose illusion many soules haue lost Their liuely hopes by lowdenes interruption A Lier Theife and master of all evill The sier of sinne the fiendâ—… of hell the deuill Seauen are his heades as many are his tailes Ecâ—… head a tongue and every taile a sting And woe to them with whom his tongues prevailes within the compase of his tails to bringe But skorne his wordes or quite him with disgrace and thou shalt kill or make him fly the place His body is the very sinke of sinne Into which hole all hellish filth doth runne A plague of pride presumption did beginne An endles plague that was in pride begunne where every head the body standes in steed with poisoned soules the filthy paunch to feede His swordes are wordes with which he is to fight whose forces can but faithles hartes offende For if hee looke but once at vertues light He faintes for feare and feeles his forces ende But heare him speake and neuer feare his spight when vertue laughes at vanities delight His greatest head and that doth gape most wide Is proude Ambition swallowing worldly wealth which faithles soules infectes with filthy pride Killing the spirit for the bodies health Vpon which head he beares a triple crowne That Vertue sees is neere his tumbling downe In which great head his tongue is all vntruth Lies to bewitch the worlde vnto his will The ease of Age and high conceit of youth are greatest groundes of his vngratious skil To gouerne states is such a stately thinge what slaue is he that would not be a king And thus the villaine would the world perswade To prowde attemptes that may presume to high But earthly ioies wil make him proue a â—…ade when vertue speakes of loues diuinity where humble hart doth to that heauen aspire where is no place for any proude desire The seconde heade is wicked avarice Choking it selfe with trash in steade of treasure whose tongue is treason that can best deuise To hurte the spirite with the bodies pleasure But talke of vertues ioie in Misery And he wil pine to death in penury The thirde foule head is filthy Gluttony Deuouring more then it can well disgest Leading the harte to loathsome villany And of a man doth make an ougly beaste But answere him with fasting and with praier The very wordes will kill him with their aier The fourth bad head is beastly slothfulnes Sleeping and snorting like a filthy swine Loosing the time in loathsome Idlenes Dreaming of that which neuer was diuine But answere him with vertues carefull watching He faintes and falls to finde his ouermatching The fifte vile heade is filthy lechery which leades the hart to hateful wickednes His tongue a forge of fancies treachery To bring the soule to all vnhappines But answere him with vertues chaste desire And he will bite his very taile for ire The sixte is enuy full of malice fraught Feeding on Snakes that faine would vertue stinge which where they finde their forces come to nought Into his mouth they backe their poison bring But say how patience leades to paradise He frets and fumes and in impatience dies The seuenth is murther most accursed head whose tongue is blasphemy all dide in blood which with the harts of harmeles creatures feade Lappes in the broath of an Infernall foode But saie how vertue doth for vengeance crie And dead he falles or els awaie doth flie Now beare these heauenly lessons all by harte And take these bookes to benefite thy minde In each of which is hidde a secret arte whose proper vse maie profite in his kinde But chiefly doe this holly booke peruse where speciall comfortes maie thy spirit chuse When hauing giuen into his humble hande Seuen sundry bookes whereonto vse his wit And last the staie whereon the state did stande Of happy life where heauenly loue doth sit The holy booke of vertues blessed vaine Home shee returnes vnto her heauen againe Which when the pilgrime humbly did beholde Carying in minde the comforts of his hart which to his faith her fauour did vnfolde To keepe the soule from an Infernall smart Against the fury of this fiende of hell Onwardes he goes God speede
of his heade from side to side To his deafe eares the pilgrime thus replied Thou cursed serpent grounde of al disgrace By Idlenes begetting Ignorance which dost the sprigges of fairest rootes deface with lothsome course of lifes discountenaunce And makst a pleasure of the spirits paine Die in thy dreame and neuer wake againe Sleepe is the soules discase the mindes despight The curse of Nature and the crosse of rest The thoughtes disquiet and the darkesome night wherein the spirit likes the body lest A losse of time and reasons malladie where death is found but sorrowes remedy The watching virgins kindely were receiued when such as slept did loose their happy houre In dreames the sences often are deceiued when waking wits finde shadowes haue no power Then sleepe thy last where life hath neuer place God graunt my soule to watch praie for grace When thus the head of hateful slouthfulnes was soncke into the filthy sincke of sinne The harmeful head of al vnhappines Did lechery this loathsome tale beginne Alas poore pilgrime childe of chast desire Hast thou bin burnt thou canst not bide the fier A gentle iest a man to be a maide what minsing humor doth the sences measure That Nature can of beauty be afraide And loose her prime before she know her pleasure Fleshe hath no fauour in diuinity Nor Nature pleasure in virginity The childe that knowes not how to make his choice Must be a babe so babishe let him bee But he that knowes how better to reioice will seeke a worlde where sweeter thoughtes agree No thinke of loue to be that pleasing thought That for his will sets all the worlde at nought What figure findes not loue out of a face what humors notes he not in euery heare In beauties eies what stars doth he not place what roses in her cheekes doth she not beare what hony in her lippes and sweeter worth In her faire ground but he can gather forth It whets the wit and doth embolden will And maketh Arte to worke beyond her selfe It maketh nature study reasons skill And in her humors play the pretty elfe It bringeth fancy to a deinty feast And makes a man that woulde be els a beast What deinty glaunces passe from eies to eies when sweete conceites are secretly conceiued what comfortes can the kissing hearts deuise where kinde effectes of fauour are receiued Age can reporte and youth doth daily prooue There is no comforte to the course of loue And with that worde did ende his wicked charme Vnto which sounde the pilgrime gan reply Thou hatefull head and grounde of euery harme Venum compounded all of villany A foule infection of the fairest creature Die in the filth of thy corrupted nature Thou sleepy slouth that figurste out the swine with groueling humors tumbling on the grounde That canst not thinke vpon a thought diuine But liu'st in dreames where all deceits are founde How durst thou speake in that foule thoughts defence which breedeth nothing but the soules offence Vertue and vice were neuer friendes in deede Diana knowes that Venus is no maide But faith that doth on heauenly blessing feede Of foolish beauty maie be well afraide when Natures pleasure in virginity Shewes flesh hath fauoure in diuinity Equality is but a childish humor He is alone that keepes the lofty seate what voice is hard where al are in a rumor Or who is seru'd where euery one is great why patience is the paterne of a villaine That neuer came neare to a Kings pauilion And with that word she fed vpon her Snakes As if her heart did like none other foode where to the pilgrime soone this answere makes Vngratious grifte and voide of heauenly good Feede on thy Snakes vntill the poison fill thee And thine owne cancker with corruption kill thee Equality is childrens blessednes where many brethren are but one in loue The voice hard sweete whose sounde is holinesse And God wel seru'd where graces glory proue And he that patience paternes for a villaine shal neuer know the King of heauens pauilion Thou neuer readst the booke of Christ his Crosse Nor canst endure so sweete an A B C But thou art bounde to liue with labours losse where al the woes of al the worlde maie be God giue my spirit grace to seeke no more Then goe the waie his Sainctes haue gone before When as it seemde the venum wrought so sore within the hart as poisned so the heade As shrinking downe it sight and spake no more But with the rest the filthy body fedde when started vp the head of Murthring wrath As newly cumme from out summe bloody bath VVho grating of his teeth with knitting brow Shaking his fist as if he mente to fight Thou patch quod he where art thou plodding now hath patience thinkst thou such a princely might That shee can thee against my force defende And bring thee safely to thy Iourneies ende My life is most to lay me downe in blood I can endure no daunting of mine eie I onely loue to feede on bloody foode whom I once cease on they are sure to die How durst thou then approch so neere my sight whose fury standes withal the worlde to fight Poore patient hartes are tost from post to post when bloody swordes doe walke the worlde with wonder Poore patience many a patrimony lost while will resolu'de put wit and reason vnder Patience is oft from princely seate puld downe while bloody mindes do brauely beare the crowne Pitty is knowen sometime to marre a citty And Anger oftentimes is cause of quiet Sometime as good be wilful as be witty when bloody dishes make a dainty diet what armes of honor to a bloody field where Anger 's hande makes patient harts to yeelde VVhen as it seemde halfe stuffed vp with blood Stopping his tale the pilgrime thus replied Choke vp thy throat with that foule butchers food That neuer couldst the sounde of mercy bide But dost consume the hart of many a creature Die in the fury of thy filthy nature Fret fume and chafe I feare not of thy force I plod with patience where thou canst not cumme My patience hath such power in her remorse As furies sences quickely wil benumme And by her prowesse stoutly so defende me That thou nor thine nor ought els offende me Then lie and bath and tumble in thy bloode And stare stampe til thou hast donne thy worst Thy foule adherents I haue all withstoode And thou art but a spirit all accurst who though thou makst a number know thy might Where patience cums thou hast no power to fight Poore patient harts are tost from paine to peace When bloody swords do breede but hellish woes And patience patrimony is no leace But in a grounde where grace wisedome growes And patience sits with an Immortal crowne where tir aunt heads to hel are beaten downe Pitty must be the princesse of a citty And Anger breedeth nothing but disquiet wilful is good so that the wil be
neuer to returne There did appeare a light of little worth A mocking loie whose end was but to morne Vpon the left hand of this selly creature Venus faire painted with her finest feature Who wanting nothing that might wel adorne A cunning dame to compasse her desire with looke askaunce as if shee had in scorne A meaner hope them might a heauen aspire with straunge deuises of a world of toies would stoppe his passage to his further loies And vp shee standes a tipto in her state As if the earth too base were for her feete with such a glaunce as if shee had in hate That lesse then Monarches should her presence meete when with such smiles so neare this walke she went As made them wonder what the vision ment When he that first had taken charge to view What might their trauaile hinder or auaile Finding that in his sight a dimnes grew whereby the cleerenes of his sence might faile Feeling the humor grow vnto an Itche Beganne to feare the wonder was a witch VVhen of the sodaine holding vp his hande Betwixte his sight and this same perlous thing Hauing no leasure on his thoughtes to stande what issue would of this ill humor spring wente on alonge and kepte his walke aright Vntill this vision vanisht out of sight VVhen on the right hand fourthwith did appeare Diana shee of whom the poets writ A dame of state yet with such smiling cheere As shewd where kindenes did with honor sit who with her nimphes appareld all in white Did seeme to pure an obiect for his sight VVhen fearing that the poets did not faine That did set forth Diana for diuine when in her Beauty was so bright a vaine As seemde that Phoebus on her face did shine Betwixt his sight and this conceiued sunne Helde vp his hande ere any hurte was donne And thus betwixt first Venus then Diane Onwardes he goes his right intended way And noting well what he had vndertane And that a stoppe might cause to longe a staie Keeping the path looking on neither side He followes on his best beloued guide When walking on his hoped happy way Vpon the left hande rose a sodaine sounde which might haue beene a most vnhappy staie But that a sodaine remedy was found For he that knew her Musicke was a charme His hearing stopt for feare of further harme And this was he that had the charge to heare And harken soundly to each secret sounde what noise might not by any meanes cum neare And where the Muses soone woulde be a ground who hauing heard but how her harpe was stronge would not vouchsafe the hearing of her songe But when shee saw how hardly shee was vsed Her Beauty first barde from the walke of blisse And then her Musicke so in skorne refused As idle noise wherein no honor is Awaie shee went all angry as shee was And left the poore man oâ—… his waie to passe When one the right hand of the sodeine rose An other sound but of a deeper sweete Where sure Diana with her Nimphes had chose The ground of grace where all the Muses meete To shew the world the heauenly harmony VVhere Nightingales doe make a company VVhen hee that heard the sweetnes of the sound Fearing what hurt might quickly growe vpon it If once his Muse vnhapply might be drownde In worldes delight ere wit had ouergonne it The hearing stopt of his vnworthy sence Of such a sound of such an excellence But when Diana plainly gan to find That one of all the world had warning tooke For comming neere vnto Acteons kinde And that her siluer sound was so forsooke Away shee went but yet with this sweet blessing Vertue is plac'd where pride may not be pressing VVhen these were gon that might haue stoptâ—… his waie Had he not kepte the course of better care A new devise againe to breede his staie Came Flora forth with all his fairest ware Laying abroad the wardâ—…ope of her wealth Her fairest flowers and â—…ittest herbes for health But he that had the charge to take the sente Of euery sauoure both the sower and sweete Knowing what best might comforte or contente How weedes were all to tread but vnder feete The hoâ—…some sauoure to his seruice vsed And faire flourd weedes as poison foule refused But when that Flora saw her great disgrace VVithered with griefe she shrunke into the ground And as it seemed displeased with the place For that so little fauour their she found She lets him goe vntill anone he met An other Lady with another let And this was she of whom the Poets writ Ceres the Princes of the Pesaunts treasure VVho both fortast and eke for hunger fit Did onely worke but for the bellies pleasure VVho with a cornu copia sweetely dight would staie the spirit with the flesh delight But he that had the charge to take a tast Of every fruit whereon they were to feede what soone would rot and what would longest last And what would proue the sweetest foode indeede Vpon his lippe his little finger plas't As if her gift were vtterly disgras't Not that the present seemed of no price But that their comforts were of other kinde And that God wot it was a base deuise with belly pleasures to abuse the minde which Ceres seeing parted in a rage And left the pilgrime to his pilgrimage Which selly creature softly going on Encountred with more crosses then before A world of fooles and deuils many a one In shape of men in shape and somewhat more which labourd sore to make some stoppe or stay To hinder loue in hitting vertues waie But he whose charge was charily to feele what grounde was best to grounde his footing on spurnde with his toe and kickt of with his heele Their stumbling stones till all the stops were gone which when they saw his blisse they could not balke They tanne away and left him to his walke By which good howre when heauens had happly tried How constant care his passage truely past And in the harte no vile desire did bide while patient will was with discretion plac't They rockt the rules of natures sence asleepe while Angels songs the soule did waking keepe But waking wit that had no will to rest Till ioie might come vnto her iourneies sende And that the spirit was not fully blest Till humble faith might see her heauenly friende Awakte this pilgrime from his pensiue vaine And set him sweetely on his waie againe When passing on they fell into a wood A thicket full of brambles thornes and briers A graceles groue that neuer did man good But wretched sendinges of the worldes desires where Snakes and Adders such venuâ—…d things Had slaine a number with their cruell stinges Some Metamorphosde like Acteon were Diana smiling at their lewde desires Some Semitawres and some more halfe a Beare Other halfe swine deepe wallowing in the miers All beastly mindes that could not be reformed were to the shapes of their owne shame transformed There
his passage well When not to stand on circumstance too long He meetes anon with this same monster thing who by illusion of the Sirens song would seeke a worlde in bondage how to bring Turning himselfe into a thousand shapes To feare fond children and to cosen Apes And first he looks like to a fiery light which would consume what so did crosse his waie But soone was donne the force of his despight where vertue came he had no power to staie And then he would become a speaking birde But God once namde he durst not speake a worde And by and by he would become a Beare To feare young children with a foolish noise But when a man a beast can neuer feare He found it prou'de olde children were no boies when by and by he woulde become an Ape Oh beastly thing too neare a humaine shape But when that vertue founde the vile effect Of Apish humors with the Monckish mindes Shee wholy did the vermins iestes reiect And forst him seeke for shapes of other kindes when all his sleightes could doe him little boote For vertue knew the deuil by his foote No though into an Angell faire of light He coulde transforme him selfe for to deceiue Yet coulde he not his foote keepe out of sight But vertue coulde his filthy clawe perceiue So by his foote shee plainely did descrie him Bidding auaunte foule fiende shee did defie him When as the pilgrime lifting vp his eies To heauenly powers from hell for to defende him Sweete Christ once namde awaie the Serpent flies And for awhile vnable to offende him Til once againe the heauens had giuen him leaue To doe his worst sweete vertue to deceiue When in the shape whereof before I spake with his seuen heads the wicked Serpent standes with such a sounde as made the earth to shake As halfe the worlde were subiect to his handes when first his head of pride began to speake And to this pilgrime did this poison breake Thou little wretch quod he of lesser worth In humaine shape I know not what to name whom honors spirit neuer coulde bring forth To seeke the fortune of imperial fame How didst thou fal into this forlorne path wherein the worlde so little pleasure hath Where see the ground of euery secret griefe which mortifies the body with the minde Subiect to euery crosse and for reliefe Pitty the whole that thou must hope to finde Patience a paine set downe life but a death where care and sorrow draw a sickely breath VVhere eies must be embased to the ground Their pleasing humors barred to beholde And bended knees to cappe and courtzy bounde while bared head must bide the bitter colde The minde must stoupe the hande must loose his strength The hart must droupe and life must yeelde at length Is this the reach of Reasons noble wit To see a world and seeke for nothing in it In such a chaire doth charie humor sit To know a worke of worth and not beginne it who could of power conceiue the kingly pleasure would no conceit with such a comfort measure Humility a iolly creeping thought Patience a prety purgatory Sorrow a fit for the phisitian wrought And death a gentill ende of misery Fasting and praier al the spirits pleasure Notes for a King to looke vpon at leasure No stoupe no thought seeke only to subdue Set no conceit in honor with a crowne In begger minde true conquest neuer grew The village is a cotage to the towne The Monarchy doth shew the noble minde He hath no life that cummes of lower kinde VVhat slaue wil serue that easely may commaunde what sence wil stoupe that may be set alofte who wil desire that needes not to demaunde who loues the boordes may haue his bedde made softe Or who regardes the rascall beggers teares That may haue Musicke to contente his eares What poore conceit wil begge for crūmes of bread May haue his table furnisht all with cates Or breake his hart with hammers of his head May passe his humors with his pleasing mates Faire wise rich learned valiant young and olde Power is the hande doth at commandement holde And so he stopt but swelling with such pride As if his braine woulde haue with poison burst To whom the pilgrime presently replied Avaunt foule fiende and Monster most accurst Thou hate of heauen and greatest hagge of hell what wicked tale hast thou presumde to tell Wretched blasphemous spirit of presumption Ougly in shape and horrible in sence Thou cursed substance of the souls consumption The heauens displeasure and the worlds offence That knowst no worth art not worth the knowing Rot in thy roote ere thou haue further growing Thou wicked witch fonde fortunes first deuiser To bring a desperate spirit to defame And by illusion first the soules surpriser That heares thy wordes and wil beleeue the same How durst thou once presume so neere this path where hatefull humor neuer passage hath Thou grounde of griefe heere is the grounde of grace Thou foule infection heere is fairest health Thou crosse of crosses heere is comfortes place Thou pitties want and heere is pitties wealth Thou dire impatience dole and deadly strife Curst be the death that stoppes the waie of life Whose blinded eies are barde all blessed light whose crooked knees are crampt for crafty creeping whose triple crowne in vertues humble sight will breake thy necke and rest in better keeping whose hart subdued by hande of heauenly strength Must liue in paine of neuer ending length Calst thou the rage of wil the rules of wit Is all the world ought els but vanitie who in the chaire of chaunging choise doth sit Knowes nothing of diuine humanity Nor in conceit can comfort truly measure That knows not pride the plage of high displeasure Humility high Angels happy thought while patience is the deuils purgatory Sorrow a fit for faithes phisitians wroughte while high heauens mercy endes worldes misery Fasting and praier happines procuring while true repentance is but hope enduring Then stoupe foule pride whom heauens did full subdue Know that thy crowne is cumming tumbling downe Vertue doth see how by Illusion grew The worldes disgrace to grace thee with a crowne Monarch of mischiefe such is all thy minde Nor hath he life that cummes of such a kinde His seruice freedome that made thee a slaue His seate alofte that makes thee lie full lowe His wante a welth that sees thee nothing haue His boorde a bed that makes thee watch for woe His almes sweete that saues the beggers teares while thou hast naught but cries to fill thine eares A poore conceite that starues for lacke of crums And yet will tell the worlde of delicates who ofte for hunger feedst vpon thy thumbes when death and sorrowe are thy hellish mates Faire wise riche learned valiant olde and young Take heede of pride and of his poisned tongue And with that worde I knowe not how it fell But downe the crowne came tumbling on the grounde when as
highest pleasure The heaunly courâ—… of the high king of kings where sacred spirits haue their speciall treasure And sweetest comfort of contentment springs God bring your sences by your harts desire To feele the comfort of his kingly fier THE COVNTESSE OF PENbrookes loue FAIRE in a plot of earthly paradise Vpon a hill the Muses made a Maze In midst whereof within a Phoenix eies There sits a grace that hath the world at gase which Phoenix is but name vnto a nature That shews the world hath scarcely such a creature This true loues saint by worthy beauty crowned Did seeme to wish but not expresse her will when straunge desires were in deuises drowned To finde out wonders farthest from her wil The worlde came in with presents many a one But yet alas her loue could like of none Cleare was the day when Phaebus shonne ful bright But her hartes eie did higher light aspire Aprill brought in both earth and Aires delight But earth nor Aire could answere her desire Fortune shee skornde friendes who durst be a foe Seruants a worlde would serue her will or no. Welth was buttrash and health was natures ioie Honour a Title beauty but a blast Power but a trouble pleasure but a toie Youth but a time to quickely ouerpast Learning alas it liueth in her schoole wisedome her will knowes worldly wit a foole Yet still she wisht but saide not what shee woulde when still the worlde did worke but still in vaine Care with conceite did all the best he coulde Brought in his giftes but bare them backe againe when welth helth beauty honor power nor ease wit youth nor learning could her humor please Some brought in pearles most orient to beholde Shee knew them pearles and so shee did regarde them Some brought in gemmes of diamondes set in golde Shee knewe their worth and so shee did rewarde them Some brought in workes of weomens rare deuises Shee knew their paines and so did giue the prices Some brought in musicke of most siluer sounde which all woulde cease if â—…hee but tucht astring Some brought in first the fairest flowers they founde Shee tooke them as the comforts of the spring Some brought in this and some woulde bringe in that But yet her wish was still shee knewe not what The souldiers came and brought in all their armes Shee smilde to see how beauty made a peace The pesants came and offred vp their farmes But shee saide loue did neuer make a lease The merchants came withall their mony treasure Shee put it off id did her minde no pleasure The lawiers came and laide downe all their bookes Shee knew that truth was all in yea and no The courtiers came with all their lofty lookes But when shee lookt she made them curtzy low The scholars came and brought in all their artes Shee knew their practise ere they learnd their partes The sailers brought their Rubies from the rocâ—…es But of such toies her treasure was to full The shepards brought the fairest of their flockes But shee coulde weare no cloth was made of woll Thus euery one did bring in what they coulde Yet still shee wisht but knew not what shee woulde The poets came and brought in their inuentions But well shee knew their fancies were but fained The muses brouhht the truth of their intentions which in their kindes were kindely entertained But yet the best with all her worthines Toucht not the humor of her happines But when the world could not come neare her wish And saw in vaine it was her will to seeke The earth coulde yeelde no fruite the sea no fishe That coulde be founde that might her fancy leeke Some with a sigh other with pitteous mone All went awaie and left her all alone They wil sweete loue is but the summe of wel Thy well is well wel better and the best That with thy loue thy liuing soules may dwell Safe in the hope of their eternal rest Thy rest the Ioie the soule cannot conceiue Thy soules the Saintes thy Mercy doth receiue Thy comfort is the tuch stone of true kindenes Thy kindenesse is the very life of loue Thy loue is light all other light but blindenesse Thy light is life that death can neuer proue Thy death was life thy life is Ioie for euer Vnto the soules that loue and leaue thee neuer VVhat was or is or on the earth shall be But that thou knowst and knowst al what they are And that they haue their beeing but in thee Made by thy hande and gouerne by thy care which thou dost prosper comfort or defende And when thou wilt shal wholy make an ende Grast is the King whom thou dost only crowne And wise the wit that only knowes thy wil Happy the state where thou dost blesse the towne And blest the hart that thou dost keepe from ill But yet the soule doth in her faith approue The life the life is onely in thy loue Shall I describe thy sweete and glorious seate But as thou art vnto thy seruants seene Or shall my spirite humbly elâ—…e entreate Some Angels help that in the heauens hath beene That to the world such glory may vnfolde Or saie it is too glorious to beholde Thy throne is Iudgement Iustice is thy sworde Mercy and truth are still before thy face Loue is thy law and wisedome is thy worde Vertue thy loue and Bounty is thy grace Pitty thy state where patience is the story Grace is thy gift and Mercy is thy glory Thus in the seate of sacred excellence With Virgins Saints and Angels all attended Dost thou possesse that princely residence Till Iudgement passe and Ioies be neuer ended When all the host of heauen and heauens do th sing An Alleluia to their heauenly king Where trembling Ioyes distill the teares of loue And louing feare doeth bring forth blushing faces And blushing faces in their faith approue Vnworthy creatures to behold their graces which graces doe this glorious musicke moue The life of life is in thy heauenly loue Now for thy loue it cannot turne to hate Thou hatest the life that once doth alter loue It is the staie of an eternall state A mansion house that neuer can remoue which on the rocke of true Religion standes And neuer feares the seas of errors sandes Now thy Religion is the rule of life whose chiefest blessing is the ioie of peace where loue cuts of the cause of euery strife And sweete accord doth bring out loues encrease And loues encrease is such a ioie to see As bringes the soule vnto his life in thee Alas alas all treasure is but trashe where loue is banisht by the state of strife The sweetest wine is but as swinish wash Vnto the water of the well of life No no the pleasures that the world can proue Are all but sorrowes to thy heaunly loue But let me see what fruite thy fauour yeeldes Or in thy loue what happy life is founde when sea and lande hils dales and fairest fieldes Doe all
when other life is dead Loue is thy grace that higest good doth giue Loue me then lorde and I shall euer liue And with that worde proceeding from her hart The trickeling teares distilled downe her eies As if her sence possest in euery part A secret ioie that did the soule surprise when lifting vp her handes oh loue quod shee My soule is sicke she cannot be with thee And from the mercy of thy maiesty Beholde the sorrowes of my wounded soule Let pitties care of loues calamitie My ruthfull teares thy register enrowle And thinke vpon the passions that I approue For truely lorde my soule is sicke of loue And sicke it is and so well maie it bee A sweeter sickenes then a worldly health A healthfull sickenes to be sicke for thee where Natures want doth proue the spirits wealth while hart hath set her highest happines But to beholde thee in thy holines But I am sicke and sicke in euery vaine Sicke to the death but not to die to thee For why thy loue assures me life againe And there to liue where death can neuer be Oh sweetest sicknes where the soule may see The way through death to come to liue with thee To liue with thee oh euer liuing loue Oh let me die that I may liue no more Till in thy loue I may the life approue That may confesse I neuer liu'de before Life is but death where thy loue shineth neuer Onely thy loue is happy life for euer My sinnes my sinnes with sorrow and with shame Of faultes and follies couerd haue my face Death is my due I haue deseru'd the same Wo to the hart in such vnhappy case But if repentance mercy may obtaine Looke on me loue and I am well againe Vnhappy hart that euer thee offended Vnworthy eies thy blessing to beholde Vncarefull eare that euer tale attended But to the truth that hath thy mercy tolde vnfaithful soule that euer thought did moue From euerliuing with thine onely loue But now the hartis dead to worldes delight And eies in teares pronounce repentance truth The eare is deafe vntill the hart be right To see the life that of thy loue ensueth The faithfull soule of pleasure is depriued Dead till her life be by thy loue reuiued Nor let me teâ—…pt that 〈◊〉 loue of thine To hasten time beyonde thy holy will But only looke vpon this soule of mine That in thy loue may be her liuing still Till shee may heare this ioiful â—…ounde of thee Come away loue and euer liue with me But yet my loue me 〈◊〉 I see thee looke As though my soule had thee displeased sore But hath my loue so high displeasure tooke That he will looke vpon my loue no more Oh yes my loue will not be angry euer And where he loues he will be angry neuer Then though thou chide yet be not angry loue But in thy kindenes giues thy sweete correction That humble hart maie in repentance proue The dearest passage of thy loues direction whose blessed ende may in this only be To liue to die to die to liue to thee Me thinkes I see that glorious seate of thine whereto thy Saints and Angels al assemble And in the presence of thy power diuine with Ioifull feare how euen the highest tremble And when those spirits doe such passions proue Shall I presume to think vpon thy loue Oh sweetest loue that carries such a force As keepes the hart of humble hope in awe And sweete againe that caries such remorse As hath cut off the curses of the lawe And sweetest yit that in the soule doth proue There is no sweete indeede but in thy loue Which feeds the huÌ„gry with a heaueÌ„ly bread And cooles the thirsty from the liuing Rocke which heales the sicke giues life vnto the dead And wakes the careful with the morning Cocke which breedes the peace that stinteth euery strife And giues the fountaine of the well of life It is the key that opes the doore of grace Vnto the care that thou hast constant proued And shewes the fauour of thy shining face Vnto the blessed of thy deare beloued It is in summe the infinite sweete pleasure Of tried faith and true Repentance treasure Oh ioy ofioies what hart can comprehend thee Oh sweet of sweets what sence that can coÌ„ceiue thee Blest be the harts that truly doe attend thee And ten times blest that in their soules receiue thee And fairely blest whom thou hast faithful proued But chiefly blest whom thou hast chiefly loued Me thinkes I see how sweetly thou dost ride Aboue the heauens vpon the Cherubs high with all thine Angels set on euery side with all the sound of sweetest harmony wheral some their sweetest notes do frame To sing the praises of thy holy name Me thinkes I see thy holy Martyrs crowned On huÌ„ble knees cast down their crowns before thee And cry alowd be thou alone renowned Let heauen and earth and all the world adore thee when my poore soule with sinne oppressed sore Can say Amen yet though it say no more Oh that my soule could see that sacred light That might but leade me to thy holy will And learne the rule that keepes the soule aright In perfect faith thy precepts to fulfill And might so neere vnto thy hand abide As from thy loue might neuer steppe aside But what am Iâ—… a worme and wretched thing Vnworthy creature made of earth and claie Once to presume to speake vnto my King On whom the state of highest heauens doth staie Let not presumption thy displeasure moue But in thy pitty looke vpon my loue For I am sicke oh sauiour sende me health My hart is hurt come heale my deadly wounde And I am poore relieue me with thy wealth Yea I am dead oh raise me from the grounde My health my wealth my only resurrection let my soule liue but in thy loues perfection Beholde the tearâ—…s of my repentaunt truth And wey my sorrowes by my sighing sobbes And in the rule but of thy heauenly ruth Feele my poore hart in horror how it throbbes And when thou seest my soule thus wo begun her In thy sweete mercy sweete loue looke vpon her And from the dew of thy deare blessed loue Let fall one droppe vpon my dried hart wherein my soule such comfort maie approue As maie asswage the rigour of my smart And being so by thy sweete hand relieued Maie so reioice as neuer more be grieued Lorde who dare looke against thy liuing power Or what doth liue but onely in thy loue The sweete of sweets where there was neuer sower But ioies of ioies that can no sorrow proue Oh purest proofe of loue and lifes perfection Blest be the soule that liues by thy direction But my hart pantes my soule doth quake for feare And sorrowes paine possesseth euery part My heape of sinnes to heuy for to beare Presse downe desire with terror of desart And in great dread of deepe dispaire doth crie Grace giue me life for
on thy mercie let me onlie staie That my poore soule maie in thy comfort proue Lo what it is to liue but in thy loue Some wish for golde and some for golden graces Some wish for wit and some for worldely pleasure Some wish for power and some for stately places And some alone doe wish for worldely treasure But let my will those wishes all displace And wish alone thy fauour and thy grace Some in their chariots some in horses trust But be thou still a strong defence to me Some heere desire but to possesse their lust Let my soules loue be but to liue to thee Some wish but here to purchase worldly fame Let me but ioie to glorify thy name And not alone in sweetest wordes to moue The worldly eares to wonder at the same But in my workes thy praises I maie proue I doe but seeke the honour of thy name That all true soules maie iustly saie with me All that is good directly comes of thee Let me but tuch the garment of thy grace I shall be healed of my sickest sore Let me but looke vpon thy louing face Such health will come I shall be sicke no more Yea if thy mercy mi◅igate my paine If I were dead I shoulde reuiue againe Forget oh lorde the follies of my youth And giue me not the death of my desart But of the treasures of thy heauenly Truth Bestow an almes on my needy hart That in the secrets of thy sacred loue My carefull soule her comfort may approue Let not mine eare one listen to the sounde Of vaine conceits that but deceiue the minde Nor let the worlde so giue my hart a wounde That in my soule mine eie be stroken blinde But let my spirit onely make her choise But in thy loue and mercy to reioice Oh that my waies were all and whole directed Vnto the seruice of thy sacred will And that my faith had in my soule effected The happy comfort of that heauenly skill That in true loue might euer so attende thee As in default might neuer more offende thee That I might leaue this lothsome world of ours And chuse the honor of thy childrens awe And in thy heauen and with thy heauenly powers Learne but obedience to thy blessed lawe And with thy saints and holy Martyrs sing All lawde and glory to my heauenly king Then should my hart finde out my heaunly rest And sorrow then should tuch my soule no more But hart and soule both in thy mercie blest Should daie and night thy holy name dore And make the worlde by some effectes to see It is thy loue hath wrought this life in me And with that worde she sweetly fetch a sigh And then a sobbe and then a bitter teare As who should saie that either death was nigh Or els her hart was stroken with a feare Or els the spirit might be ouercome That for the time her tongue was stroken dumme But let it be all blessed is the traunce when so the soule is ouercome with loue That vertues choice doth finde it is no chaunce when humble faith doth heaunly fauour proue And when the sences from their sleepe arise The spirit findes the life that neuer dies So when it seemde shee waked from her sleepe Or sodaine traunce for so I tearme it right when such high care did so her sences keepe That shee awakt with glory of the light Oh sacred loue and sweetest life quod shee what happy figure hath appearde to me Did I beholde that fairest shining light That made me shake for feare to see thy face And weepe for ioie that in thy blessed sight My sinfull soule might come and sue for grace And did I see thy loue so sweetely vse mee That in thy mercy thou wouldst not refuse me And did thy mercy so thy loue entreate That iustice gaue her sworde to mercies hande And did thy mercy sit in iustice seate And did the iudgement in thy mercie stande Oh blessed loue where mercie doth approue The fruite of loue is mercie mercies loue I must confesse my conscience did cond◅mne me Of such offence as I coulde not denie And of such crime as thou migh◅st well contēne me when by my due I had deseru'd to die But when thy mercy did my sorrowe see How in thy pitty shee did pleade for me Beholde quod shee the true repentant hart which bleedes in teares with sorrowe of her sinne what passions haue perplexed euery part where penitence doth pitties suite beginne where true confession doth submission proue And true contrition cries to me for loue Beholde the faith that hath her fairest holde Vpon the gift of thy especiall grace Thy word of truth that to the world hath told The faithfull soule in heauen shall haue a place And true repentance shall by me obtaine The freed ioyes from euerlasting paine VVhen that vile serpent euery soules accuser That sought to bring my comforts to decay That ougly deuil al the worldes abuser In furies rage me thought did fly awaie And to the life but of thy mercy leaue me who to thy seruice sweetely did receiue me VVhen all thy Saintes and martyrs came vnto me And in their armes thine Angels did embrace me And all were glad what comfort they could doe me And in a seate of paradise so place me That al with ioie surprisde these ioies to see I wake and praie the vision true may bee For this is it sweete Lorde that I would haue The world is short in sounding my desire It is thy mercy that I onelie craue Thy vertues loue that set my hart on fire And in thy loue that onely liuing blisse That world may wish but know not what it is FINIS Errata Pag. 8 lin ◅ on for one p. 11. l. 2. end for sed l. 10. endings for sendings p. 28. l. 19. in gold her grace for her gold in grace lin 20. for worthines read worthles l. 21. lines for li◅es p. 40. lin 18. can offend me for offend me