so her vigor went Your birth your mariage natures gifts most rare With gift of grace herein may not compare To the Right Honorable the Countesse of Pembrooke OF all the Nymphes of fruitfull Braitaines race Of all the troopes in our Dianaes traine You seeme not least the Muses Trophes grace In whom true honour spotlesse doth remaine Your name your match your vertues honour gaine But not the least that pregnancie of spright Whereby you equall honour do attaine To that extinguisht Lampe of heauenly light Who now no doubt doth shine midst Angels bright VVhile you faire starre make cleare our darkned sky He heauens earthes comfort you are and delight Whose more then mortall gifts you do apply To serue their giuer and your guiders grace Whose share in this my worke hath greatest place To the Right Honorable the Countesse of Essex THese Oracles by holy spright distild Into the hart of wisest happie king To you most vertuous Ladie here are wild As heire to parent worthie in euerie thing His carefull trauell countries peace did bring His solide wisedome vertue did pursue His bountie to the poore the world doth sing Whose honour him suruiueth crownd in you So nobles if to God they yeeld his due So people ought to Nobles render fame So shall succeeding ages still renue By old records his euer reuerent name Wherein your double blessed spousall bed Shall wreath an Oliue garland on his head To the Right Honourable Ladie the Ladie Scroope THe bountie which your vertues do pretend The vertues which your wisdome hath imbrast The wisdome which both grace and nature lend The gracious nature which so well is plast Doth witnesse well the heauens your beauty grast With borrowed wisdome not of humane kind Which so hath fostred vertues mild and chast As benigne beautie might a dwelling find Fit to receiue such presents as in mind Are consecrated to that sacred shrine VVhereon as vestall Virgin you assignd Do worthie waight whose eye vouchsafe incline To take in worth reade iudge of and defend This worke weake record of my hearts intend To the Honourable Ladie the Ladie Rich. THe perfect beautie which doth most reclaime The purest thoughts from base and vaine desire Not seene nor leuied is by common aime Of eies whom coullers vse to set on fire The rare seene beautie men on earth admire Doth rather dazell then content the sight For grace and wisdome soonest do retire A wandring heart to feed on true delight Seldome all gifts do in one subiect light But all are crownd with double honour then And shine the more adornd with vertue bright But with Religion grast adord of men These gifts of nature since they meet with grace In you haue powre more then faire Venus face To the Right Honourable the Ladie of Hunsdon OF soule and bodie both since men consist Of diuers humors since our bodies be Since sundry affects do one selfe thought resist Since body soule thought will are all in me Thinke you not strange these passions new to see VVhich to my wonted humors different seeme They both are frute of one and selfe same tree The first for yonger hold this elder deeme If you of my indeuors well esteeme VVhom well the world doth know can iudge the best VVhose course of life a happie pitch doth cleeme In verteous proues wherein your fame is blest Then shall I haue a part of my desire VVho for my trauell craue but likings hire To the Honourable gentlewomen Mistresse Elizabeth and Anne Russels THe double giftes of nature and of grace Redoubled in you both with equall share VVhilst beautie shineth in the modest face And learning in your mindes with vertue rare Do well expresse of what discent ye are Of heauens immortall seed of blessed kind Of earths twise honord stock which ye declare In noble parts composd of eithers mind Them both in you rare gems we blessed find Ye both by them are honord happily Then both vouchfafe what I to both assignd To read and to conceiue of graciously So ye like to your kind the world shall know And to your selues frō hence some fruit shal grow To the Honourable Gentlewoman Mistresse Elizabeth Bridges SInce I haue growne so bold to take in hand A theame so farre indeed vnfit for me As by the reading you will vnderstand Whereto my style in no sort doth agree I cannot chuse but feare lest you should see Some signe of high presumption in my mind Which cause of iust reproch to me might be And for my sake the worke lesse fauour find Vnto you therfore haue I this assignd To craue for me remission at your hand VVhose vertues show you cannot be vnkind If kindnesse may with modest vertues stand And of and for true vertue do I pleade Which to desired blisse and honour leade To the Honorable Lady the Lady Southwell TO you the vowed seruice of my mind Faire Mistresse of the purest thoughts I bred As youths conceit could best inuention find I dedicated with affection fed My elder thoughts with your high honor led Haue often stroue to shew continued zeale But was discourag'd through mistrust and dred Of my defects which did my will conceale Yet now compeld my weaknesse to reueale Vnto a world of worthy witnesses I craue to be excusd if I appeale To you for grace to whom I guilt confesse And hope you will for auncient seruice sake Excuse my wants and this in worth will take To the Honorable Lady the Lady Cecill IN counter-poise of your right high desart My dutie made my gratefull mind consent To straine my braine to equall with my hart In finding forth for you some fit present Which to performe thus will and powre first bent Was checkt by iust regard of your esteeme Which me preuented of my hopes intent Since for your worth vain things not pleasing seeme Yet least a meere excuse you that might deeme To cloke a thanklesse heart with idle hand With more then natiue strength a pitch I cleeme To treat of blisse which I not vnderstand But Gods inspiring grace to king once tought I here as pawne of dutie haue you brought To the Honorable Ladie the Ladie Hobbye LEst that this change of style at first might breed A doubt in you whose worke it were and gift I thinke it fit your searching thoughts to feed With truth who writ it and therein his drift When scorne of hap did force my hope to shift The place wherein felicitie I sought As tyr'd on earth to heauen my thoughts I lift Which in me this strange Metamorphos wrought But so vnperfect fruit of what it ought Mixt with the dregs of old imprinted phrase Require a fauour in the Readers thought With kind construction frailties forth to raze To you my wants to me your vertues tryde Giues me good hope this sute is not denyde To the vertuous Lady the Lady Layton SInce stranger like to Court but newly come This home-bred child may hap for to be vsde Inquired
To the vertuous Lady the Lady Woollie FArre fet deare bought doth fit a Lady best Such you deserue such would my will bestow Good things are rare rare things esteem'd you know Rare should yours be as you rare of the rest Such hold this gift fetcht from a forraine land Which wisest King as pretious did prouide Who viewing all the earth hath nought espide Whose worth herewith coÌ„par'd may longer stand The price I dare assure is very deare As puchasd by your merit and my care Whose trauell would a better gift prepare If any better worthy might appeare Then this accept as I the same intend Which dutie to the dead would will me send ECCLESIASTES OTHERVVISE CALLED THE PREACHER Containing Salomons Sermons or Commentaries as it may probably be collected vpon the 49. Psalme of Dauid his father Compendiously abridged and also paraphrastically dilated in English poesie according to the analogie of Scripture and consent of the most approued writer thereof Composed by H. L. Gentleman Whereunto are annexed sundrie Sonets of CHRISTIAN PASSIONS heretofore printed and now corrected and augmented with other affectionate Sonets of a feeling conscience of the same Authors Psal. 144. 3 Lord what is man that thou regardest him or the sonne of man that thou thinkest vpon him 4 Man is like to vanitie his dayes like a shadow that vanisheth LONDON Printed by Richard Field dwelling in the Blacke-friers neare Ludgate 1597. TO THE RIGHT EXCELLENT AND NOBLE PRINCESSE LADIE OF RAREST VERTVES Queene Elizabeth our most gracious Soueraigne her Highnes faithfull subiect Henrie Lok wisheth perfect and perpetuall felicitie THE purest liquor drawne out of the heauenly fountaine of SALOMONS inspired wisdom I here with all zeale of your Highnesse seruice in most huÌ„ble dutie offer to your thrise sacred Maiestie vnder whose most glorious Empire hauing first receiued the breath of this life and by whose shining beames of most gracious gouernement that life hauing tasted part of the common comfort of your many happie subiects and peculiar fauor of your most princely countenance I cannot but as I acknowledge all my powers of right to pertain to your Highnesse disposition so to force my weake indeuours to testifie the sinceritie of the same This my present which in a rustie caske in steed of a golden cup I haue ventured to purchase for your Highnesse is I confesse farre vnworthie your Maiesties tasting of though in the benignitie of Dauids spirit I doubt not your Highnes will accept the same which as it is borrowed from the labours of so mightie and worthie a king as was Salomon the true Author therof it seems most fit the dedication to your Maiestie who in Empire being a peere vnto him in election a partner in happinesse a riuall and in wisedome a Sabian obseruer of his soundest doctrines can perfectliest iudge and will kindliest I assure my selfe welcome this his child for his fathers sake which must be and so I desire his onely grace For with me it is true that in the composition hereof it fared as with more worthie Nehemias when he attempted the repaire of the holy Citie who being oftentimes disturbed therein by the practise and malice of Sanballat Tobia and Geshem was sometimes forced to desist from his attempt and in the end to effect it with sword in one hand and mattock in the other so whilest common cares and domestik duties the direct enemies to all ingenious actions and proper poyson of pure inuention did many times confound my iudgement disturbe my leisure in a maner vtterly disable my disposition for so waighty an affaire remouing so often my hand from my mind and my minde almost from the affection of my heart I with half my weak selfe haue bene driuen thus to peece together this often broken off now vnworkmanly perfected taske VVhich yet as a well fauoured person euen in meane attires seemes yet euer comely will I doubt not shew some excellencie of the coÌ„posers spirit though it be not artificially clothed with borowed bewties froÌ„ my barren braine And your Highnesse whose course of life so wel conformeth with this his discourse teaching vs your subiects by holy practise what he by deuine precepts instructed his may as iustly chalenge me seemeth the publication of the like discourse as we without defrauding God of his honor your Highnesse of your due may not conceale the perfect resemblance your Highnes hath of him in name disposition and fortune we with his subiects in honor prosperitie and peace which albeit we your inferior subiects as the weake sighted eyes which cannot behold perfectly the face of the sunne but looking downe in the water nor see his first appearing in the East but by looking for the shadow in the VVest knowing our disabilities iudicially to obserue the cleare brightnes of your shining vertues referring to bordering Princes and attendant Peeres the more fit recording of the same we take palpable assuraÌ„ces of the blessed Spirit of God working in you by the like frute of peace prosperitie and plenty deriued by your Maiesties most excellent gouernement and wisdome vnto vs whos 's first worke of building vp the Church of Christ prouiding for learning restoring the decayd streÌ„gth and munitions of the realme enriching the treasurie of the land by refined coine retaining with most princely magnanimity the ancient ample bounds of your Empire the establishment of so many profitable factories for vnfrequented trafficke the chargeable discoueries of so many vnknown parts the honorable repulsioÌ„ of so many foes the bounteous purchase of so many neighbor frieÌ„ds the charitable relief of so many Christians oppressed the equal distribution of iustice vnto all all tending to the glory of God prosperitie of your raigne do sensibly without any disparagement of the greatnesse of that mightie Prince draw on a certaine liuely comparison of both your ê“perties blessings which therfore might excuse me of flatterie if in a few words I should point thereat But I wil leaue the ampler relatioÌ„ hereof to future posterities herein huÌ„bly crauing pardon of your Maiestie for this my presumption which indeed hath bene founded on your Highnesse gracious acceptance of my former Passionate present and recommending them anew to your Maiesties fauor herewithall augmented and reformed I will with all feruencie of prayer coÌ„mend your Highnes to the protection of the Almightie who as he hath confirmed your throne these now nigh fortie yeares amongst vs to the vniuersall peace and comfort of his Israell the Church of Europe so may he redouble and continue euen to the end if so his Highnesse please your Maiesties most happie raigne ouer vs for euer Your Maiesties most dutifull and loyall subiect HENRY LOK To the Christian Reader IT is the most fit subiect for the nobility of mans spirit to meditate of felicitie and a true saying of Aristotle that Omnia appetunt bonum Yea the common practise of our high minded age is to striue for the same in the
neighbour loue he owes Vnto those lower regions forth doth call From hils and dales exhaled breaths whence growes As many winds as on earths compasse blowes Which cleansing clouds and drying dampish soile Do whistling through earths hollow vaults recoile verse 7 Fresh waters from the sea thence flowes their ebs yet fill not it verse 8 All is but toyle man sees or heares with his insatiat wit 7. 〈…〉 The liquid streames of waters which arise Fro out the Cesterne of the Centors deepe Whose winding channels in a wondrous wise Through hils and dales in curbed wise do creepe A constant progresse do by nature keepe Till they the Ocean their deere mother meet Whose brackish tears for thē their drops make sweet Whose fruitfull wombe in gratefull wise repaies The yeelding earth the tribute of her loue By sending strayned springs through forced waies And Porus passages for mans behoue That so her selfe in bounds might mildly moue Who yeelds likewise to beare earths heauy brood And breeds her selfe some store of humaine food 8. All things are full of labour man can not vtter it the eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the eare filled with hearing And not these compound elements alone Are subiect to this intercourse of change But euen the foure pure elements ech one Doe from themselues to th' others natures range Though contrary by kind with motion strange Earth into water turnes moist into aire Pure aire to fire Condenst they backe repaire So all things labour euermore and tend Vnto their end which when they once attaine That forme doth chaunge and to another bend Which likewise in his time hath end againe And nothing in one state doth long remaine Whose wondrous frame in vaine man seekes to find Whilst no mans studie can suffise his mind verse 9 What euer hath bene shall be done for there is nothing new verse 10 What may we say is now the which was not before thinke you 9. What is it that hath bene that that shall be and what is it that hath bene done that which shall be done and there is no new thing vnder the Sun For proofe let me demaund but this of you Who most haue searched natures secret powre And you who are conuerst in stories true And you obseruers of ech day and howre Haue ye not found that time doth all deuour And that new times the like things doth produce As any former ages had in vse We dreame of secrets daily newly found And of inuentions passing former wits We thinke our world with wisedome doth abound And fame for knowledge vs much rather fits But ouer-weening thoughts this toy begits Their longer liues more temperately led In holy studie sure more knowledge bred 10. Is there any thing whereof one may say behold this it is new it hath bene already in the old time that was before vs. What one thing can we say is new indeed Excepting time it selfe which still renewes New sinnes perhaps this wicked age would breed Yet can not other then first age did vse The name of new indeede we do abuse By calling new the thing we newly know Which rather ignorance of skill doth show Those elder times no doubt in golden age When natures strength was in her youthfull prime When Will on Wisedome tended as a Page And loue of vertue banisht many a crime When humble thoughts did not for glory clime Then all things flourisht sure that now we see And actions all that are or that may bee verse 11 Things past forgotten are we see and future so shal bee verse 12 In Ierusalem Israels king I was who teacheth thee 11. There is no memorie of the former neither shall there be a remembrance of the latter that shall be with them that shal come after But they forgotten are as ours once shall Mans few and euill dayes with cares of mind Make many worthy things to dust to fall And vs to predecessors grow vnkind Whose fames with theirs shall vanish with the wind And as our stealing wits would clips their fame Deuouring time shall desolate our name For what more equall recompence is due To such as others merits doe depraue Then that like base contempt do them insue And of successors they like guerdon haue And so we see fame leaues vs at the graue Build then his happinesse on earth who will He but himselfe with care and scorne shall fill 12. I the Preacher haue bene king ouer Israell in Ierusalem By proofe I speake who once a mighty King Did sway the Scepter of the holy seed Whose blessed name of peace true peace did bring And publike wealth which happinesse did breed And all delights whereon the world doth feed From Dan to Bersaba there bound before And from Euphrates vnto Nylus shore My seat in Centor of earths Paradice In blest Ierusalem Gods dwelling place Neare to whereas mount Sion doth arise The holy hill which doth the countrey grace Wherein I ruled not a litle space For fortie yeares I raigned still in peace And in a ripened age I did decease verse 13 I gaue my heart God gaue this care true wisedome out to find verse 14 My studie found all vnder sunne to be but griefe of mind 13. And I haue giuen mine heart to search and find out wisedome by all things that are done vnder the heauen this sore trauell hath God giue to the sonnes of men to humble them thereby And all this time I bent my power and will To find faire wisedomes pallace that I there My homage due might pay vnto her still And trophes to her in my heart might reare Her loue made me all other loue forbeare Welth I and honour health and euery thing Disdaind that did not me true wisedome bring I therefore first did God most humbly craue To guide my steps in such a holy care Who thenceforth thereof such a measure gaue As none for wisedome might with me compare To proue all things I did my heart prepare Insatiat still as man by nature is Of skill so doomd for Adams first amis 14. I haue considered all the works that are done vnder the sunne and behold all is vanitie vexation of the Spirit What euer nature of her selfe brings forth Or skilfull Art by practise could produce What euer did to any seeme of worth Or for necessitie might seeme of vse Was still the obiect of my studious Muse Which out of all to gather did desire That happinesse whereto we would aspire But for my paines on earth did nought attaine But losse of time and agony of Spright A vaine desire replete with skill more vaine A carefull life disguisd with vaine delight A puft vp braine with dreames of wisedomes sight But to my heart vnfruitfull of content To wearied life a lode of time mispent verse 15 The crooked thing can none make straight or nūber things amis verse 16 I thought and said in power or wit none like me was or is 15. That which is crooked can none make
for delight might serue him any wayes My Orchards like to Paradice were held Wherein for shadie walkes and sweete prospects Ingenious art had nature so exceld That things gainst kind produc'd most kind effects All fruitfull trees of tast that man affects Were planted plenteously from Cedar tall To little shrubbe that clymbeth by the wall 6. I haue made me Cesterns of water to water therewith the woods that grow with trees From top of farthest cliffes through hils and dales I set my fountaine heads and crystall springs I forced riuers from the lower vales To mount their neighbor hils whose backs them brings Vnto those Cesternes which by spouts them flings Like Aprill showers dispersedly to fall And so bedeaw those bordering trees withall Whence softly they distilling to the ground Might coole the pride of sommers scorching rayes And cause the happy soyle with frute abound Which spring time like thus flourished alwayes Whose ouerplus of streames in chanell stayes That euery fish and foule might solace take Or men might bath on banke and banquet make verse 7 I housholds had of men maids and store of beefes and sheepe verse 8 With Princes treasures singing folke I did for pleasure keepe 7. I haue gotten seruants and maides had children borne in the house also I had great possession of Beeues and sheepe aboue all that were before me in lerusalem I was attended on in princely sort As well of Nobles as of seruile kynd Yea tributary kings did oft resort To doe the homage fealty did bynd Of Captiues I had store vnto my mynd And families of these and their of-spring To populate a countrey for a king My flockes of sheepe and heards of cattell great Wherewith my royall Court I dayly fed Who thirtie Beeues and fiuescore Sheepe did eat Besides such dainties as the countrey bred I fortie thousand horse to battell led And Charets more I had I dare well say Then any king in Iewry till this day 8. I haue gathered vnto me also siluer and gold and the chief treasures of kings and prouinces I haue prouided me men singers and women singers and the delights of the sonnes of men as a woman taken captiue women taken captiues Of treasure I had store and reuenue Sixe hundreth Talents sixtie sixe of gold Foure hundreth fiftie more from Ophire due And custome for all marchandize was sold With tributes more then number well you could So that like stones or drosse I siluer gaue And in my raigne for want few needed craue The choyse of all the spoyles of warre I had Both men and women singers rare of skill Whose melodie would cheare the mind most sad Whose beauties with delight the eye might fill And of these had varietie at will And what so euer humaine kind can craue To seeke delight therein my selfe I gaue verse 9 More mightie then forefathers all with wisedome ruling mind verse 10 I fed my will my will pleasd me this fruit my paines did find 9. And I was great and encreased aboue all that were before me in Ierusalem all my wisedome remained wâ—th me Thus grew I mightie and of greater fame Then any king Ierusalem had knowne From farre and neare great Princes sent and came To see my greatnesse which abrode was blowne Admir'd I was and loued of my owne Surpassing farre report that went of mee As Saba Queene confest that came to see And which few men in prosperous state can do By wisedomes rule I guided so my life That holy Iustice still I leand vnto And shielded innocence from Tyrants strife And had I not transgrest through heathnish wife Who made me winke at her Idolatry Few errors in my life you should espy 10. And whatsoeuer mine eies desired I withheld it not fâ—oÌ„ them I withdrew not mine hart from any ioy for mine hâ—rt reioyced in all my laâ—or and this was my portion of all my trauell Thus did I fill my eyes with their desire And fed my heart at full with all content No sooner did my thought a thing require But forward to effect it straight I went Thus I my dayes in ioy and solace spent Peace gaue me wealth power power fed my will My will sought happinesse in all things still But happinesse I had not as I thought For though in vse of things I seemed glad Yet afterward they to me loathing brought And things begunne in ioy were parting sad And yet that present ioy was all I had In recompence of all my trau'll and paine And to haue that was more then many gaine verse 11 I viewd in fine all I had done found all vaine and fruitlesse verse 12 Both wit folly for of both none knew more all prou'd bootlesse 11. Then I looked on all my workes that my hands had wrought and on the trauell that I had laboured to doe and behold all is vanitie and vexation of the Spirit there is no profit vnder the iunnâ— In fine now surfetting indeede with all My deare bought pleasure both begunne and past Vnto a reckoning I my iudgement call And true account of gaine of them I cast And did suruay my workes which yet did last To see the benefit I reapt thereby Because I would the truth of all things try Which when I found for most part vanisht quight And those remaining subiect to like fate I saw a world of vanitie and spight Which made me world and all her workes to hate As masse of miserie and vnkind debate As they shall find who thus forwarnd will proue Repentance being price of foolish loue 12. And I turned to behold wisedome madnes and folly for who is the man that will come after the king in things which men now haue done Then I a new comparison did make Twixt sacred wisedome heauens infused gift And humaine wisedome which doth patterne take Of presidents of morall actions drift The skill wherein doth worldly minds vp lift And this compard with foolish ignorance Which in the world doth many sotts aduance For if that knowledge on experience grow And that experience be the child of time If time her powre do to the studious show And labour doth to highest knowledge clime If iudgement flourish where these are in prime Then who hath me surpast or shall succeed In these whose censure may more credit breed verse 13 Yet found I wisedome it excell as light doth darknes farre verse 14 It sees that gropes yet wise and fond both in one hazard are 13. Then I sawe there is profite in wisedome more then in folly as the light is more excellent then darknesse And what I could impartiall conceiue Of ech of them I will thee truely tell I found that folly did a man deceiue And woe to them within her snares that fell But wisedome did all earthly things excell Immortalizing man with worthy fame And couering the defects of natures shame And looke how much the sunne in sommers day When he in Zenith of our Hemis-pheres Most
glorious beames of brightnesse doth display Suprasseth darkest nights that winter weares In frozen Zone for light some face he beares So farre and more the wise do fooles surpasse Or more then precious stones doe brickle glasse 14. For the wise mans eyes are in hâ—s head but the foole walketh in darknesse yet I know also that the same condition falleth 〈…〉 For why the wise call passed things to mind Obserue the present future doe fore-see Compare effects whereby they courses find And make their actions to best rules agree Like Eagle eyes and Linxes sights theirs bee Where fooles as blind-fold groping misse the way And vnto euery daunger are a pray Although in deede one end befalleth all The wise and foolish begger and the king All made of earth againe to dust doe fall And euery state is crossed with some thing Wisedome breedes care and folly want doth bring Wealth liues in feare and pouertie in wo Honor enuide base bloud contemn'd doth go verse 15 If so thought I then is it vaine more wisedome to aspire verse 16 All is forgot in time to come like death haue all for hire 15. TheÌ„ I thought in mine heart it befalleth vnto me as it befalleth to the foole why therefore doe I then labour to be more wise and I said in mine hart that this also is vanitie I therefore in my heart beganne to thinke If all estates some miserie must haue If wise and foolish both of one cup drinke If all by death must draw vnto the graue If wisedome may not man from daunger saue If sicknesse be the common guide to death If death the end of all that draweth breath Why then do I contend for wisedomes prayse With studious trauell why do I applie My time and spend away youthes pleasant dayes With paine and toyle why serues seueritie And temperance of life since all must die It is meere madnesse to be too precise Though fooles be vaine vaine also be the wise 16. For there shall be no remembrance of the wise nor of the foole for euer for that that now is in the dayes to come shall all be forgotten and how dieth the wise man as doth the foole Vaine in the highest point of vanitie If they suppose on earth true blisse to find As on a stage each step they tred awrie Is markt and fame defamd by slaunderous kind And their best name that they do leaue behind Is soone forgot as fooles facts also bee As we by daily proofe full well may see Alas is there no difference at all In length of dayes betwixt the fond and wise Can nought protect from death but must all fall As basest sort so those in honour rise Can man no way to lengthen life deuise Then vaine is he in them reposeth trust Whose ioyes with them so soone determine must verse 17 Then lothd I life all life bred griefe and did the mind torment verse 18 My owne workes were vnpleasing then possest by one vnment 17. Therefore I hated life for the worke that is wrought vnder the sunne is grieuous vnto me for all is vanitie vexation of the Spirit The thought whereof made me the world to hate And euery circumstance of life to blame The day of birth as day of cursed fate The length of life as heape of woe and shame The dayly looke for death as rotten frame Of natures weakest building earth doth beare Bred vp and nourished with care and feare Conceiu'd in sinne brought into world with paine With iust laments bewayling future case Who impotent doth hopelesse still remaine If pitie in the parents had not place Or foster mothers did him not embrace Whose youth sharpe tutors age the lawes restraine Whose vexed soule still carkes and cares in vaine 18. I hated also all my labor wherin I had trauelled vnder the Sunne which I shall leaue to the man that shall be after me Yea though my selfe was free from sundry things By reason of the greatnesse of my state With which the meaner sort full often wrings As want and suffering stroke of mighties hate Yet I my cares had in an other rate And far more forcible in me they were For prosperous states doe worst afflictions beare As feare of chaunge care of the common good Desire to eternize my name on earth Yet nothing more me thought my ioy withstood Then that I traueld for an others mirth For whom my fruits were gathred ere his birth Which made me all my workes of most desert Hate and disdaine euen from the very heart verse 19 Vnknowne if fond or wise who yet shall all enioy leaue verse 20 Which as most vain made me abhor my works which me deceaue 19. And who knoweth whether he shall be wise or foolish yet shal he haue rule euer all my labour wherein I haue trauelled wherein I haue shewed my selfe wise vnder the sun This is also vanitie For what knew I who should to me succeed In vse of all the wealth and pompe I left An infant of mine owne and proper breed Or else a stranger creeping in by theft I knew how easly crownes might be bereft If kings were Orphanes lacking yeares or wit Ne knew I if my child for rule were fit The proofe he yeelds and sentence God did giue Prognosticateth little good at all Yet as vnto mine heire in whom I liue I giue what wast he may and feare he shall The fruit euen of my wisest trauels all So that the world which witnessed my paine May hap record my trauels meerely vaine 20. Therefore I went about to make mine hart abhorre all the labour wherein I had trauelled vnder the Sunne This made me oft aide reason to contend With my affections and my pleased sence And gainst my selfe my selfe my wits to bend The loue of all my workes expulsing thence And taking on me truths sincere defence Said perturbations which affections guyde Should not giue iudgement where her cause is tryde I made my mind confesse the studie vaine Which was imployd on transitory thing I made my body graunt too great the paine Bestowd on any pleasure life doth bring My senses to conclude there was a sting And bitter tast attended on delight And so resolu'd worlds loue to banish quight verse 21 One toyles to get with right and skill a stocke for one most vaine verse 22 And no reward himselfe doth find for all his trauell ' and paine 21. For there is a man whose trauell is in wisedome and in knowledge in equitie yet to a man that hath not trauelled herein shall he giue 〈◊〉 portion this 〈◊〉 vanitie and a great 〈◊〉 For could there be a greater griefe beâ—ide Or iuster cause to make a man repent The paines and perils that he did abide In honest trade to purchase his intent Whereto his wits and diligence was bent Then for to thinke he doth for others toyle Manures the ground where others reape the soyle Who buildeth but in hope to dwell therein Who planteh but in hope
and shall Yet we as they one common end do find One dissolution of this earthly frame Whose matter doth returne vnto the kind From whence at first creation forth it came The memory whereof the mind should tame Of those ambitious braines vnbounded will Which whilst they liue the world with comber fill verse 21 Who knows mans soule ascends or beasts vnto the earth desceÌ„ds verse 22 Best then say I ioy in thy owne which thee thy knowledge ends 21. Who knoweth whether the Spirit of man ascend vpward and the Spirit of the beast descend downward to the earth And though indeed the soules immortall seed Which had his being from a cause more pure Vpon a higher hope doth iustly feed And shall in all eternitie endure Yet to the eye of man who can assure The same if faith the light vnto the soule Did not distrustfull fleshes thoughts controule For euen the selfe same instruments of life The same necessities of nutriment The same effects of sicknesse with vs rife The same abhorred death hath nature lent To euery creature that on earth she sent And at and after parting of the spright The carkasses of both seeme like to sight 22. Therfore I see that there is nothing better then that a maÌ„ should reioyse in his affayres because that is his portion for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him So that I see no vse of earths increase Fit for our bodies but whilst here we liue With them to cheere our sprights and purchase peace And vnto God for them due praise to giue Mans wit no further can his pleasure driue For he and they are subiect as you see To chaunge and to earths fraile mortalitee As for the care the wise and goodly haue Of their successors competent estate It is but due and nature doth it craue But for their loue our selues we ought not hate And toyling vex our soules with worlds debate What they will proue or what in time may grow We know not nor should curious be to know Chap. 4. verse 1 TheÌ„ earths vnrights I viewd tears of wroÌ„gd by worthles iudg verse 2 And therwith thought theÌ„ blessed dead need not the liuing grudge 1. So I turned conâ—idereâ— all the oppressions that are wrought vnder the sunne and behold the teares of the oppressed and none conforteth them and â—o the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them and none comforteth him BVt whither doth this passion me transport My thoghts with thinking haue forgot my thought Whilst earthly I with earthly worlds consort And to the bodies cares haue comfort brought My meditations haue the heauens sought And those eternities which passe my skill But now descend to earth againe I will And of more humaine actions will intreat Where we a tragedie of woes shall see Whilst weaker ones oppressed by the great Are destitute of place whereto to flee For succour since their foes their Iudges bee And farre too powrefull wherewith to contend And most men backward poore men to defend 2. Wherefore I prayied the dead which now are dead aboue the liuing which are yet aliue Which makes me thinke though nature it deny That much more happie is the dead mans state Then those that in this life such troubles try And life like death my heart begins to hate Death vnto endlesse life is but the gate But life is vnto death a longsome way Where tyresome troubles vexe vs day by day And death that lothsome state which life doth shun By life itselfe with care and toyle is sought Through perils men to purchase death do run And with lifes scorne holde death but cheaply bought Which honour to them selues or countrey brought For life could not exempted be from wo Whilst dying they all worldly cares forgo verse 3 The vnhorne better then them both who such ill daies not saw verse 4 It vexed me the spight to see that vertuous workes do draw 3. And I count him better theÌ„ them both which hath not yet bin for he hath not seene the euill works which are wrought vnder the suune But yet indeed since both by life and death The state of many men is wretched still They may most happie seeme which nere drew breath Or infants dyed neuer knowing ill And reason good for both produce I will The ones not being making them to bee Incapable of vengeance wicked see The other cleane exempt from humane care As being dead now needing nothing more Whose actuall crimes hels doome could not prepare Originall sinnes by grace were cleansd before And mercie guiding them to high heau'ns dore Whose want of reason liuing knew no wo But voyd of feare to death did mildly go 4. Also I beheld all trauell and all perfection of workes that this is the enuy of a maÌ„ against his neighbour this also is vanitie and vexation of the Spirit This other plague besides doth follow man A vice alas too common in this age The more of vertue that he glory can The more the baser sort repine and rage And with reprochfull slander malice swage Depriuing or deprauing best desart Or it Eclipsing with some guilefull art No foe to learning like the ignorant Nor to the good like to the bad we say Gods kingdome Beliall seeketh to supplant And vertue fayling his another way Euen viciously they vertue would betray Who herein yet themselues do but disgrace For slander can not iust deserts deface verse 5 The slothfull foole he folds his hands but hunger staru'd he pines verse 6 Whilst to a poore but lasie life his chosen course inclines 5. The foole foldeth his hands and eateth vp his owne flesh Themselues like fooles and feeble helplesse wights Vnable or vnwilling to attaine The trauell which belongs to vertues rights Doe poore disgracefull liue and so remaine And caterpiller like on others paine Doe feed and liue to world improfitable Driuen to depend on scraps of others table Nay well it were with some if so it were Who foodlesse are compeld to begge or starue Because their idle fingers doe forbeare The honest trades which might their liuing serue Whose folded hands no better doth deserue But as they to themselues do proue vnkind So they of others should no better find 6. Better is an handfull with quietnes then two handfuls with Iâ—bor and vexation of the Spirit Yet which is lamentable to be told They senselesse so in idlenesse delight That they their course of life to prayse are bold And all virilitie excluding quight Their base borne humours glose so well in sight As though an humble thought and peace of mind From all industrie did the honest bind As though that peace and plentie neuer met As if wealth were attain'd with bare desire As though they carelesse were that liue in debt As if they grieselesse who not wealth aspire As though God did not trauell'of vs require As though an humble mind appeard not best In modest vse of plentie and of rest verse
8 The end whereto 2. 14 The pleasures of 2. 16 The powerfull pen 2. 29 The shining face 2. 36 The chastisemnts 2. 84 The thundring voyce 1. 8 The slender Citie 1. 83 This stately stage 2. 30 Thou formest me 1. 72 Though with thy Saints 1. 40 Thou hast ô Lord 1. 86 Thankes will I 2. 22 To shun the rockes 2. 74 V   VNto thy Princely 1. 5 Voide of true life 1. 35 W   VVEre it not straunge 2. 75 Where shall I build 1. 58 Where shall I finde 2. 9 What am I else 1. 71 Whilst in this world 1. 70 Whilst with the wholesome 1. 64 Whilst in the garden 1. 51 Where so I cast about 2. 23 When thou vouchsafest 1. 55 Whilst in the vaile 1. 59 Whilst that the chosen 1. 62 Whilst that in wealth 1. 66 What strength hath 1. 95 When I begin 2. 83 When as my 2. 3 What toung or pen 2. 94 What should I render 2. 28 What present 2. 42 What wealth 2. 57 What is felicitie 2. 60 When I began 2. 87 When I with griefe 2. 95 When desolate I was 2. 79 Who so beholds 2. 43 Whilst in the plentie 1. 74 Whilst I do studie 2. 24 Why should he faint 2. 69 Why should this 2. 95 Why should I 2. 90 Within this Arke 1. 3 Within thy garden 1. 15 Within thy house 1. 68 Who so behold 2. 31 Who so could 2. 56 Who seeketh not 2. 57 Who so of perfect 2. 64 Who so would liue 2. 97 Would God 2. 5 Words may well want 2. Conclus A TABLE OF FEELING AFFECtions being the third Centenarie of Sonets  Sonet ALl will not serue 6 All men by naâ—ure 41 Alas how watchfâ—ll 86 Alas ô Lord 103 Although ô Lord 118 Amidst the daungerous dayes 05 Among the many fires 129 Among the many trials 51 As those with skill 50 As doth the fire 64 As doth the morning sunne 66 But will you know 14 Come to the counsell 22 Doth any man desire 92 Downe let vs fling 43 Exilde be mortall cares 2 Faine would I bring 2 For vs who do 74 Fro out what dreame 3 Feaâ—e is a frailtie 114 Giue all to him 13 Good wordes are praysd 70 Great are the graces 97 Heale sacred seate 102 Haue we not cause 45 He that to do no euill 27 How can I hope 5 How little comfort 24 How should I vse my time 69 How can he be 91 How could I Lord 107 I cannot chuse 76 If woe there was 32 I feele ô Lord 115 I go about 18 I list not iudge 67 If thou do feede 77 If common fame 84 If God should measure vs 89 I haue desiâ—ed 93 I maâ—uell much 8 I must commend 113 I now begin 9 In midst of plentie 23 I oftentimes 53 I often heare 93 I see sometimes 68 It is not causelesse 31 I should not seeme 33 It seemeth straunge 58 It is not rest 61 It is a thing 83 It is a custome 90 Leaue me not Lord 111 Like maister like 55 Kike as the sunne 100 Long do the wicked run 99 Me thinkes sometimes 16 My yonger thoughts 85 Might Elizeus wish 98 Not onely doth the Lord 46 Not euery action 88 Of thee and of thy prayse 1 O happie Symon of Syren 19 O that we could 54 O powerfull God 101 Our blinded natures 82 Since it hath pleased the Lord 48 Since we by Baptisme 71 Since shame of men 72 Since we are found 94 Since thus my selfe 104 Since nothing else 96 Since thou ô Lord 110 Since so simplicitie 106 Slow is our God indeed 52 Straunge are in truth 42 Sometimes cleane tired 15 Tempt me no more of feeling affections Epilogue To thee ô Lord who Introduction to Prayer The fatall haps 34 Though lawfull many things 37 The season of the yeare 40 There is great odds indeed 44 The weapons which I 60 The difference is 73 The parable of seede 75 Though long Preface to prayer The more ô Lord 112 The greatest plague 117 Tâ—ue is it sure 78 Vaine are the bragges 38 What vaâ—ne lip labour 17 What is thy measure full 4 What are our senses drownd 20 When I remember 10 What loue is this 11 Who so will serue 12 When I do see the 21 Well if I finde 25 Who toucheth pitch 26 When I looke backe 28 Who seeketh aide 30 Who sowes the seede 36 We had not need in idlenesse 47 What miracle so great 49 When I consider of 53 We may reioyce 56 Wise Moses and graue 57 Who would not craue 59 What is the cause 62 When I do heare 63 When I do seamen 65 What high presumption 79 Who sees in common 80 Who giues may take 81 We haue bene babes 87 When I behold the trauell 95 When I ô Lord 108 What trust may I 109 When I ô Lord 116 Weake are my champions 119 Why do we not 120 Where hast Preface to affections FINIS Sonnets of the Author to diuers collected by the Printer And first to the Lords of her Maiesties priuie councell To the right Hâ— and most reuerend father in God my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his grace IF Dauid did in passion iust arise When he recorded his exiled state Compar'd with happier Swallowes which deuise To build their nests so neare the Temple gate May I not mourne to see the world alate So swarme with bookes which euery where do fly Whose subiects as most base might merit hate Though curious braynes their wits therein apply When better matters buried long do ly For lacke of fauourers or protectors grace May I not take occasion thus to try My pen and craue that you the same imbrace Yes sure world knowes you can and will protect The cause why God and Prince did you erect To the Right Ho. Knight Sir Thomas Egerton Lord Keeper of the great Scale of England VVHat fame reports by mouth of good and wise It is not flattery to record the same The publike eccho of your prayse doth rise That you by iustice ballance iudgement frame Then may you not my pen of boldnesse blame If it present to your impartiall eye This holy worke to shield it with your name Which may among prophane in daungerly Wise Salomon childs parent true did try And Daniell false accusers fraud bewray By searching hearts affects and words whereby Ones fained loue the others guilt to way So iudge this worke and him shall it depraue So I desire you iustice prayse shall haue To the right Hon. the Lord Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England one of the most Noble order of the Garter c. IF Romaines held Sibillaes workes so deare Because they from Deuining spright did grow More precious present then receiue you here Which God on king king did on world bestow Our Sibill you our Salomon we know And so your words and workes the world doth prise To vertue you your selfe a father show Hence honor yours hence countries good doth rise