their turnes stricke not to play the Bée Scorne not for gaine in age to holde the doore They once were yong that were your bandes before 101 And now my larges giuen farewel foule guile Farewel O world no wile shal make me rich My mynd abhorres welth won by falshoodes vyle To mount by fraud I loth such loftie pitch I can not scratch the harmelesse ere they itch If due desart proude Flatterie pyneth still I list not fawne play hypocrite that will. 102 Fare wel fare wel O world farewel againe Thou now God wot froÌ„ wonted course doest réele The clergie once in preaching tooke great paine Whose words in works bare witnes of their zeale Most now in words but few in workes reueale They teach with toung when thought on tything is O wicked world thy wealth is cause of this 103 O world accurst in court thou settest pryde Whose mynions are fraude flatterie and disdaine They pyne desart before his truth be tryde They forge offened well meaning mindes to staine They cast at al yet sildome lose amaine Wo worth the world thy brauerie works the wracke Of such in court as well deserue and lacke 104 The souldier stout foreséeing small reliefe For seruice doone if spoyled honre he comes As forst to play no souldier but the théefe When fortune fits to gather vp his crumbes For once at home poore store of pence he thumbes O world thy wealth with rulers worketh so As what they haue they hardly will forgo 105 The lawe first made to wéede out wrongs for right To yeald amends vnto the poore opprest â—s wrested nowe for fauour or for spight Nowe monie so corrupts the Lawyers breast That daying is for poore mens suits the best Yea such effects in worldly muche doth lurke As iudges harme where helpe they ought to worke 106 Fine fare and slouth discases strange do bréede And grieued wights will spare no cost for ease But golden fées so doth Physicians féede As séelde or nere they rich mens paines appease With drinks and drugs they still do them displease O wicked world thy welth first wrought their grief Thy wealth againe doth hinder their reliefe 107 Desire of gaine make offices so heape As solde they be not giuen who best deserues Who buyeth deare séelde thriues by selling cheape Who wrongeth yet from honest getting swerues No force for that fewe nowe such course obserues Thus pelfe O world first makes the Doner foule To leauie mendes the Done néedes must poule 108 Each pleasant paine each swéete inticing sowre O world thou workst our wanton yeres to witch And not content we should our selues deuour But churles thou sett'st to clawe vs ere we itch Thou burnst the byrde and bastes the bacon stitch O spiteful world thou hap frank harts dost grutch And grieuest churles by giuing of too much 109 The merchant once bent all his care to seas In forreine soyle he sought desired gaine Then was his toyle to common wealth an ease And he deseru'd his wish in lye of paine But nowe at home he findes a swéeter vaine Sance venter nowe he will in wealth abound Foule fall the wight this second trade that found 110 The reachlesse héede youthes haue in large expence To flaunt it out their cost no care to thriue Inticeth churles with shewe of good pretence In prime of pride their maintnance to depriue For lymed once small bootes the wrong'd to striue Right Cousners haue such helps friends at néede As struange it is to sée how â—leare they spéede 111 Thy pryde O world doth bréede such wanton thought As most men nowe receiue dame Venus hyre To stoupe faire dames such sharp assaults are sought Such proffers large such wiles to winne desire As wonder t' is what fortes are set on fire Who sinneth not is such a gnawing bone To raise this siege that fewe will throwe a stone 112 Fye on the world fye on thy soule deceites Fye on thy fraude thy flatterie and thy pryde Fye on thy shifts thy subtilties and sleites Fye on thy cloakes thy filthy crimes to hyde Adieu adieu I can thée not abyde And thee O God for euermore I laude For kéeping me vntainted so with fraude 113 For though I haue consumd my dayes in thral Now death drawes néere my couÌ„t is quickly made And well I wot death doth all sorts appall The prince the poore yea men of euery trade Who lewdly liues with recknings huge is lade Thus worldlings griefe where mine doth eb doth flowe A sorrie swéete to end with sowre woe 114 Through conscience I féele no thought of hell I conquer'd haue of dreadful death the feare Where is thy sting where doth thy furie dwell Where is thy force O Death wher is thy speare Assault say I that with my Christe I were I ready am both euening noone and morne The diuell the world and all their works I scorne Lenuoy 115 YOu worldlings chiefe to you this tale I tell God graunt my words be to your woundes a leache The fruites of fraude vntold you knowe too well Yea better then my naked Muse can teach But to this end this dririe plaintes I preach That hencefoorth you to getting haue such eye As you may liue as though you dayly dye 116 And least the lewde should wrest my worde amis I do exempt the good of euery trade The which I trust will not repine at this To shew thy praise this checking verse was made The Clergie first at whome a glaunce I had Of them there be great store of preachers good To shewe the truth that will not spare their blood 117 There are in court that liue in worthy fame And well deserue renoune and credite both Some officers will take no bribes for shame Some laweyers are to sowe dissention loth And citizens with whome I séemde so wroth I néedes must graunt how so my Muse did square Of euery trade a number honest are 118 The souldier now whom I do honour much How so I toucht their faults that do offend I graunt we haue of noble souldiers such As maimes to fame that will those vices shend I blame none such the rest I wish amend Physicians good as many sure there be Will not repine the lewde reprou'd to sée 119 How so I toucht some scriueners faults at quicke There are of those I knowe of honest fame Such haue no cause against my Muse to kicke Nor yet the lewde that wisely weyes the same I blase abuse yet touch no creatures name Yea to be shore â—â—ypt no foot of men That truly can wâ—th malice charge my pen. Veritas non querit angulos G.W. opinion of trades as touching gaine written to his especiall friend maister R.C. MIne owne good friend â–ª since thou so faine wouldst know What kynde of trade doth yeald the surest gaine My iudgement now of some I meane to showe And after toyle which quiteth best thy paine The merchant he which cuts the mounting seas With
Geneuora to shift for her selfe on whom Rodericos seruauntes soudainly seased ▪ blinding her with a scarfe with spéed cōuayd her where wretched Dom Diego liued Dom Diego somewhat comforted with the sight of his swéete mystresse began amaine to craue recōpence for his faithful seruice Geneuora so soone as she saw Dom Diego and knew that syr Roderico for his cause had murthered her miniō answered him exclaimed on thē both with what opprobrious speach she coulde yea the more they persuaded her with friendly requestes the more peruerse was her refusal Dom Diego thus seing an impossibilitie of fauour with inward sorrow fel into a swoon Dom Roderico seig the distresse of his deare friend and the continuance or rather increasing of Geneuoras disdaine cōmaunded presently her throte to be cut Dom Diego halfe reuiued seing one redie to execute this iudgement profered what reskue hée could Oh good Roderico stay quoth hée I allow of thy honest zeale yet attribute my wretchednes to fortune not her fault Wherefore for the loue thou bearest to mee for the loue I owe to her sée Geneuora without further damage safely conueyed home Geneuora seeing him offer reskue and craue her safe conduite whose death her frowardnes well nie had wrought on the soudaiue was wonne vnto pitie and louingly imbracing Dom Diego shée offered satisfaction for his sorrowes and for an earnest pennie shée freely kist him Dom Diego late the miserablest creature liuing vnwares became the happiest man aliue whose matchlesse pleasures appeare in this vnder written triumphe Dom Diego his triumphe WHo can report that neuer tasted bale What difference is twéene sorrow and delite And who may tell a more triumphant tale Then hée in ioy that late was kept in spite I am the man in mone there was none such My mone is past my mirth must be as much Sith so alone I rule in throne of ioy Of pleasures mount I weald the golden Mace Then leaue to bragge you Princes proud of Troy Your brayd delights by mée can haue no place Once beautes blisse to vaunt doth make you bould I haue such hap and tenne times more in hould And by your leane your Ladies blemisht are Aske Theseus who first lopt fayre Hellens loue Syr Diomede the spoile of Troylus ware Suppose them true whom none could euer proue Your lightning ioyes such lasting woes did brue As you may wish your fames to die with you But Lady mine I wrong thée much in this To peize thy praise with such as liu'de or liue For natures toile some wayes disabled is Shée frames our forme but can no fortune giue But thou wert shapt for feare of fortunes spight Of precious moold by force of heauenly might By heauenly might and worthie well such toyle Whose liuely limms the Indian riches showe Her haire fiue gold her front doth yuorie foyle Her eyes giue light as diamonds there did growe Her words of worth as cause doth cause her speake Twéene rockes of pearle their pleasaunt passage breake What should I say of truth from top too to These precious gems in beautie shée doth staine And more then that besides the outward sho Their vertues shée with vauntage doth retaine So that of force I forst must her define Not bound to kinde but wholy is diuine Thrise happie man whose loue this Saint did lure Dom Diego late euen very wretchednesse Now maist thou daunt thy vauntage is so sure That none aliue thy pleasures halfe possesse Through chaunce of loue do thousands chaunce on death But dying I my loue inlargde my breath The scource of woe is sauourie sauce to taste Our swéete delights if once delight wée féele The rough repulse if battring tyre be plaste Amends the spoile when walles perforce do réele Of euery thinge the goodnes doth increase If once afore the losse did vs distresse Sufficient proofe my lingring loue can shoe I tyred hope ere time my truth could trie Yea desperate wretch forworne with wreake of woe I left my sute and sought the meane to die Now winning her whose want wrought such annoy On former griefes I graft my fruites of ioy In waxe say I men easily graue their will In Marble stone the woorke with paine is wonne But perfect once the print remayneth still When waxen seales with euery browse are donne Euen so in loue soone wonne as soone is loste When forst through faith it bydes both fire frost I can not vaunt of easie conquerd loue I graunt with faith I foyle Geneuras scorne But now in peace Distrust shall neuer moue One ielous thought of wilde Acteons horne And yet forsooth this feare hée liueth in To lose the wight with words that words did win O happie loue whose torments proue so swéete O friendly foes whose treason tride my trueth O luckie man Dom Roderic to méete Geneura thou thrise honord for thy ruth Thou onely thou the rest of small auaile Didst saue my life when hope and all did faile Now forth I throw my Gauntlet for this grace To chalenge such as séeke to foile thy fame For sure the Armes that durst my swéete imbrace Dares to defend the honour of her name If which I faile in prison let mée sterue So doome my fault for so I should deserue The complaint of two louers restrained from their wished desires by the displeasure of their friendes WE lucklesse wightes in thraldome lincked still May sit and singe oure layes of déepe lament Whose wayward friendes accoyde in sullen will Both stirre and striue to sunder our consent And yet God wot 〈…〉 a sting is in vaine One will serues both 〈…〉 and in paine Haue they desire wée should bée shrinde in clay By sundring vs that loues each other so Will they not know Loue doth no Lawe obey Nor how hée wrappes the wysest wightes in wo Thinke they that force can force our selues to hate O no in vaine they séeke to sowe debate Our plighted faith shall neuer falled bée Constrainte of will our wishes cannot yoke Our woordes in woorkes in weale and woe agrée Such care wée haue to kéepe our vowe vnbroke O loue through whom wée liue in this vnrest Once ease thy thralles that thus obey thy hest Remoue their wrath that woorkes to wrack our will That after stormes wée may some sunne shine sée The fault is thine if loue betyde vs yll Which bound our selues that thou mightst set vs frée Wherefore vouchsafe to sowre our swéete at last That gleames of Grace our clowdes of woe may wast ¶ The Deuice of a Gentlewoman to persuade her louer of her constancie notwithstanding her show of hate which shee onely vsed to quench the ielous suspicion of her friendes SIth fortune threates to woorke our wreake of ioy By sowsing of our ship in seas of yre Sith sullen thoughtes doth so our friends accoy As wayward will still wresteth our desire I sée no meanes more méete for our behoue Then saile to strike till stormes 〈◊〉 and gone Our lookes must
vpon his auncestours did desire By dint of blade not bagges of drosse to honour to aspire Which when Vlrico wisely wayde and wanted on account He bent him selfe with hassard life by seruice for to mount But loe by lot he hit in loue a wonder small to tell Saue that his Ladies vertues did her beautie braue excell Her portion yet God wot was small yet all in wisdome lay A dowrie little reackt vpon where churles doth beare asway But Beautie here affection raysde then Vertue friendship wrought These two conioynd in séemely dame in loue Vlrico brought The earth quoth he is sure the Lords the fruites thereof his wracke And may it be the begger then shall clawe his seruants backe O no no wight as yet hath séene the righteous begge his breade Although the lewd through foule offence are often nipt with neade And if I should for gaine quoth he vnto some wanten bend Which venter into Cornewall would her honestie to send Vlrico haplesse then should be a common scorne of men Delight to dele from pleasure paine should chaunge his fortunes then To swimme in wealth he meanes not so to hassard his delight He somewhat hath and more may get by manhood and by might Thy choise if once thou winst thy choice in spight of Fortunes wracke Will saue what thy aduentures gaines for to relieue thy lacke Then maist thou liue in forreine soyle without a iealous braine Then maist thou taste at thy returne sweete pleasure for thy paine Why standst thou then amasde quoth he thy honest suite to moue The silent man the prouerbe sayth hath sildome hap in loue Confesse that constant long thou liu'dst y linckt in beauties bandes And challenge fréedome for thy truth at thy swéete maistresse handes This wayd Vlrico hies in haste whereas his Lady liues And there her friends in her behalfe him intertainment giues As time did serue he shewd his zeale vnto his only ioy She likte his words but more him selfe how so she séemed coy His gallant shape his vertues straunge his honour neuer stainde His truth once knowne the truth to tell her loue had soone obtainde And quickly eake with friendes consent them Iunoes rites doth glad He had his will and she her wish and what would more be had The nuptiall feastes y finished Vlrico with his dame Bids friends adewe to castle his they do their iourney frame Where one doth rayse the others ioy one rids the others care And thus contented with their choice in ioy their dayes they weare Till néede at length Vlrico nips who was in spending frée His rents but small these two accounts will hardly well agrée And yet to poll his tenants poore his honest mynde doth greaue What then he faine would serue his leage but loth his wife to leaue Sée here how passing loue is apt to rayse a iealous feare Withouten cause we so do dread the thing we hold full deare Vlricos mynd despiseth want yet dreads to séeke reliefe In absence least his Ladyes chaunge should worke his greater griefe And thus in silence long he mournes and ebs his ioyes with woe Till secrete sighes and heauie lookes his inward harmes foreshewe Which haply when his spouse espide to cleare his cloudes of scare Swéete heart quoth she vnto thy wife thy hidden sorrowes share So shall thy cares abridged be so shall I knowe thy mynde And haply in my counsell thou some comfort swéete maist finde These words Vlrico likte so well as straight he tels the truth Of present want of meane to wealth in order as insu'th Mine owne quoth he you know my state or present lacke withall Our charge is great our myndes are high our liuing is but small Of force we must our brauerie leaue or séeke some way of gaine And vayling to the valliant mynde is sure a matchlesse paine This is the meane to mend our want to serue my souereine leage Who now is bent with might and maine the Turke forto besiege Those warres ere this I well haue tryde vnder Cilia Count Those warres I trust shal force thy feare with wealth fame to mount But ah aye me I loth yet would vnfolde what makes me stay But sith swéete wench loue is the cause allowe what I shall say Long wisht at length I won thy loue O gem of al my ioy As loth I am to leaue thée now least absence make thée coy I call to mynd fayre Helens moode who trudg'd with Troian knight When as her Lord was forst from home with forreine foes to fight The ruffling rout at Ithaca Vlysses farre from home Doth force a thousand fearefull thoughts within my head to rome Then Penelopes constancie this dread would gladly weare She plaste alone without her leake a fresh doth raise my feare The speach of womans méekenesse eake my thoughtes doth run among And straight my thinkes I motions heare that do Vlrico wrong In mynd I viewe what batterie is against thy beautie bent In thought I sée what sharpe assaults in sugred wordes are sent What fearelesse othes what carelesse vowes do flée to foyle thy fame In sine thou forst with yealding will dost blot thy name with blame Then rage I straight the harmelesse gainst as thogh these toyes wer true And straight I checke those raunging thoughts with reason that insue Vlrico fye why wrongs thy wife so fouly with mistrust Whom hitherto thou couldst not finde in worde or déede vniust Whose modestie thou séest abhorres with rufflers for to prate To saue thy wealth whose mynd to worke giues wanton youth the mate Whose life with foule and leaude offence report could neuer spot What cause hast thou Vlrico then her fame with feare to blot To breake this brall faire Barbara so was this Lady namde With prettie nippes with pardon mixt this answere foorthwith framde Well sayde quoth she first faine you feare to frée my shrewd mistrust That choise and chaunge in wanton court wil make you proue vniust But simple I accept your shewe and faith I trust to finde But to my Lord if so he please I yet will shewe my minde I long ere this haue wayde our want and thought on meanes of gaine And sure I sawe the way for wealth was as you did explaine Yet durst I not vnfolde the same vnto my louing Lord Before his words foreshewd his thoughts with mine did wel accord By seruice you shall credite winne by seruice likewise fame By seruice you shall riches reape as you deserue the same By seruice fauour with our prince acquaintance in the court You sure shall finde slacke not these helpes your wife doth you exhort If God with children blesse our life their youth from vices fréed Your credite after in the court will stand them in some stéede And in your absence I so well will to your causes sée As you shall haue reliefe abroade sufficient left for mée Yea sure to braue it with the best yet liue within our boundes Such skyll I haue to most auayle to
But now to you which haue both charge and sway You must be braue for fame and credite sake Yet must you pinch no souldier of his pay Lest nipt with néede poore slaue his héeles hée take In heate of blowes before his head doth ake What then well kept a few will do more good Then store of lowtes which feare to loose their blood 56 Dead payes will helpe to chéerish all the rest And likewise you shall finde therein some gaine And when to filch your souldiers are addrest Fléese you their pray theÌ„ chide them for their paine For stragling out from resdue of their traine Ne spare to spoile when force doth foile your foe Take time and tide least fortune play the shroe 57 The lawyer hée w doubtes that dulls his braine For tenne yeares space his time in studie spends Ere practise his doth purchase stoare of gaine Too long a plague so long to fawne on friends And spend on stoare in hope of after mends And therefore sure deceite deserues no curse For working meanes meane while to fill his purse 58 And yet in â—ooth a grote will buy his gift A booke of notes remembraunce t' is to ease Wherein is writ full many a prettie shift Post facto stuf and Non est factum please By larger grauntes the lease away to fease Conditioned releases how to frame By former wordes the latter for to lame 59 Such quillets nyce when thus you noted haue Some practise néedes must print them in your thought Set such at Lawe in wordes as late but straue And when they both in backhouse ditch are brought To poule them both let some deuise be wrought Forget not this when writings hit your hand If youthes them owe with doubtes to lame his land 60 With hope of gaine his gréedy minde else moue To voyde some graunt or worke some leases wracke A lease of trust then must the title proue At leasure yet this timelesse trust turne backe Your interest small his greatest right will sacke For once in proofe this prouerbe still doth last A little lyme A foule will fetter fast 61 Physicians now that weyes how weake wée are Newe cures must search our griefes are now so straunge Old Gallens drugges our time vnfitteth farre Augmented then his cures abroade must raunge For healthlesse men on euery hope will chaunge But once reteynde be sure thou vse this course Another blame although thy selfe be worse 62 Sée your receites some lightning yéeld at first To worke conceites within your patients thought Persuade him still his paine is at the worst Yet heale and harme till wished gaine be wrought But for the poore sée some reléefe be sought And for your paines let rich men gréeued pay No cure performde your custome will decay 63 But now to you whom office doth aduaunce For your behoofe I forst imploy my paine You come deuaunt vppon a sorrie chaunce Yea stocke you set vppon a tickle maine Durant levie no longer lastes your gaine And ere you sway some thousand poundes must fleâ— Which is not raysde in hast vppon your fée 64 In tenne yeares space fiue hundred markes a yeare Unto his heire who purchase not to leaue Shall sure be blamde of mysers euery where If truth cause lacke most say the rest deceaue If all be false few will such faultes conceiue Once wronge you must a thousand for this gaine How voyde you then the penall statutes paine 65 You are forbid inroulements for to rase To fit your friend or foile your hated foe To saue old seales to giue forg'd writtes their grace To chaunge records a frendly turne to showe For once you may both helpe and ouerthrowe Yet vse you must both meanes by slie deuise But frosted bée for feare of slippery yse 66 Prouide a cloake to couler stil your crime Then worke your will Apollo oft doth fléepe But if your wyles do come to light in time To salue such misse some carelesse seruaunt kéepe Plague him with blame when you the profite reape What if sharpe checkes do put you in some feare The gaine remaines the tauntes in time doth weare 67 Mas gaylor néedes must taste of this my gift Extortion cryes against his yron fées What then in hould this is your onely shift With shackles huge your prisoners to displease Thus pincht good soules they will pay pray and please Pence poucht ne dreade although they stoutly crake To vse redresse poore prisoners vnde lacke 68 Now gallants learne whom brauery still consumes To royst in silkes to flaunt in coulers gay To pranke your wiues vp in their Pecockes plumes To snuffe to scorne to looke beyond your sway To finde a mint to féede your mindes with play To hauke to hunt to boast to braule and fight Which are the thoughtes that féede you with delight 69 This cost is more then carelesse youthes forethinke But cost ne care their hautie mindes can vaile Syth not sée â—ines your farmers Eofers shrinke Of timber trées then strike the loftie saile The bodies next will serue for bord and pale If all these helpes your charge will not defraye But still your names in merchauntes iornalls staye 70 To flote your mindes if house and land must flée To two or thrée the same giue graunt and sell Caue emptor to thy assuraunce sée Hap well hap ill some spéedeth pretie well The rest must take their fortune as it fell Shift you for one the world to fraude is bent Coyne stayes your friend when fléering wordes are spent 71 Come merchaunts come and take in worth my gift Whose Lynxes eyes in younge mens state doe prie Their losse your gaine their spending is your thrift They broche your bagges till all their lyuing flie But holla hoe a bug is Usurie Hée houldes you backe from thrée times tenne to take On morgage good least no returne you make 72 What resteth then your coyne will rust saunce vse And statute loane cannot content your thought Well fare a shift both lawe and them t' abuse You know in prime each thing is easily wrought The dog to draw the horse to order brought The skillesse youth is wonne with euery gaude The reason is his thought is frée from fraude 73 To worke this feate sée that you vse this course When dolefull knell doth bidde a churle adue Send streight to know on whom death vsd this force Not to this end your neighbours fate to rue But of his heire in hast so 〈◊〉 a â—ew If hée be younge well left and easily wonne To feede his dame â–ª sée wordes and workes be donne 74 Some prettie summe on small assuraunce lend If youth be slowe at leasure bid him pay Some times bestowe good counsell as his friend But helpe him to ech toy to make him gay To pay for all at length will come a day By péecemeales thus in lash hée wil be brought In daunger once let this deuise be wrought 75 Get some
sâ—ooteth home Such is their force where credite beareth sway A perfect tale although the wronged tell Their thwarting speach what they mislike will stay The wronged wight with wrath may haply swell And pleades a fresh though not so passing well Then sausie knaue how maâ—lapeart hée is Away go packe your purpose you shall mis. But if the sot which in their fauour stand Do slammer forth a patched tale of lyes Their helping speach will force him vnderstand The way and meanes afresh for to deuise To frame his talke from shew of trueth to rise A vertue straunge their wordes can bring to passe That fooles séeme wise the wise in shew an Asse UUhat fréer life then others to commaund UUhat happier state then for to liue in rest What greater wealth then what a man demaund UUhat credite like the countnaunce of the best For thralles it were a heauen to reach the left But they aloft whom vertue doth aduaunce If more may bée inioy more happie chaunce UUho will not then both séeke and double séeke To reach this hap with hazard at the first The foreward wight though fortune giue the gléeke A fresh will toyle till that his harâ— doth burst â–ª If still shée frowne in faith the man is curst A fall saith he who recketh such a losse An asse shall ride and no hie sturring horsse For proofe againe the huge and mightie oke UUhose withered roote from falling cannot stay But downe hee comes by sturdie Boreas stroke His fall god wot doth crush the vnder spray Euen so it fares with those that beareth sway If by mishap they wrapped be in thrall The poore doth beare the burthen of their fall For where as mindes by mischiefe raisâ—e too hie Sedition sowe their natiue soilâ— to wring UUhen Princes might doth make such rebels flie The leaders chiefe well horst away do fling UUhen pesaunts stay and Sursum corde sing They sue for grace safe in anothers land When toyling thralles are trussed out of hand If in abuse of both their states be best Although the best in faith is very bad Deseruing well they are farre better blest They roist in silkes wheÌ„ clownes in raggs are clad They haue their will and what can more be had Who will not then how so sly hap saith nay Séeke out this chaunce if vertue sayes hée may ¶ An Epitaphe on the death of the right worshipful maister Robert Wingfield of Vpton in the countie of Northampton Esquier TO shewe their cause of dole whom Wingfields death doth pearse Good muse take thou a little paine his vertues to rehearse Hée wel was knowne to spring from house of auncient name Yea leaue his Armes and blase his actes and you shall sée the same His zeale to serue his God his care to saue his soule His stoute contempt of Romish ragges their taxe their tyth and toule The Gospell that hée lou'd his life that showde no lesse Bare witnesse that in words and workes the trueth he did professe Beléeue his blessings else which hée receyu'd from hie The first long life in happie health till age inforst him die And then this comfort swéete to frée his age from feares Hée sawe his children liue and like in credite many yeares Sufficient wealth hée had ynough hée thought a feast Hée had ynough hée spent ynough and with ynough deceast His credite with his Prince continued from his youth A sight most rare in office plast hée trust returnde with trueth Full fiftie yeares and twoe a Iustice place hee vsde For common peace and profite both hée séeldome paynes refusde Hée wéeded wronges from right by law and not by ame Hee kept this course to helpe the poore the lewd againe to blame His life vpright and iust hée ioyde in no mans thrall His dealings were both lou'd and likt among his neighbours all His bountie at his bord his store for euery sort The hie the lowe the riche the poâ—re wrought him a rare report And thus long time hée liu'de in credite and in loue Till death to worke his ioy our griefe his force began to proue But yet hée sicknes sent for to forewarne him first Whose honest minde whose conscience cleare straight bade him doe his worst And so with hope of heauen vnto the graue hee vailde Of which hée glad his friendes as sad if sorrowe ought preuailde Viuit post funera virtus ¶ An Epitaphe on the death of the right worshipfull maister Iohn Ayleworth Esquier IF men may waile their losse that death hath ridde from woe Then giue mée leaue to wéepe my fill my sorrowes so to showe And though to bathe in teares small botes now hée is gone Yet none can leaue so firme a friend and showe no signe of mone When brainesicke I a bruse with ouer brauery caught Hée first did cure my néede with coyne then soundly thus mée taught Bée stayde for rowling stones do sildome gather mosse I tryde his ayde I likt his wordes and still shall rue his losse His losse not I alone but thousands more lament His children friends seruaunts poore with brackish teares are sprent But Oh you fillie poore whom néede doth nip and pearce With hart with hand with might maine your heapes of woe rehearse Crye out of cruell death for reauing your reliefe You are the wightes that haue God wott the greatest cause of griefe When hunger faintes your heartes when you with cold shall frease The lacke of Ayleworths foode and fire your starued limms to ease When might would marre your right his counsell sound and sure His open purse to pleade your cause the paines hée but in vre When you poore soules shall misse with him that was your stay Then shall your griefes appeare as gréene as hée had dyde to day These were his fruites of faith these almes hée did of zeale Hee wayde no showe his woordes in workes the Gospell did reueale EXHORTATIO O life of much auaile O worldlings it insue So shall you not be ledde by gold but gold be rulde by you So shall you kéepe him bright that mouldeth in your chest So shall the world speake well of you your conscience so in rest The swéetest ioyes of all though death your farewell giue So so your soules with his in heauen your fames on earth shal liue ¶ An Epitaphe in the order of an admonition written on the death of his verie friend Iohn Note of Grayes Inne Gent. Vntimely flaine the 2. of Nouember 1575. WIth teares in thought imprint both frem and knowen frende Thrée speciall notes of much auaile by Notes vntimely ende 1. Note first his honest life of euery sort was lou'd Learned hée was and vertuous both his manhoode throughly prou'd A gallant witte hee had the which hée gouernde so As did content all sortes of men when cause the vse did show Hée had both health and wealth his fortune was to hard And yet in spite of froward chaunce Fame shall his vertues gard 2. His life would followed bée
of his mishap although it be some what tedious duely considered is tollerable for the nature of the distressed man is to call to remembraunce euery speciall matter of his misfortune to the intent although too late he may knowe the commodities of their contraries and sure although it was inuented to ease his mynde of griefe there be a number of caueats therein to forewarne other young Gentlemen to forestand with good gouernment their folowing yl fortunes especially the repreheÌ„sion of his youth for this is once brainsicke brauerie besides his own great expence inticeth the gréedie churle to huÌ„ger after the gallants liuing and for truth if his coÌ„science be corrupted with craft it is an easie matter for him to ouerthrowe the mistrustlesse and welmeaning man But the mischiefe is insuing shame without a cloke to couer his deceits who can haue no better colour to answer any complaint of cousnage preferd-against him then to say the compleynant is an vnthrift a quareler a proude and prodigall person c. Who to maintaine his brauerie departed bona fide vnto him being defendaunt such such parcels of lande the compleynants monie wasted by vnthriftinesse knowing the defendant to be desirous of quietnesse to wring more monie froÌ„ him to haue the matter quietly ended surmiseth these true and slaunderous complaints against him c. and although that wise men vpon the ripping vp of matters will smell out such merchants yet at the first shewe yea during the tryall the wronged youth is blamed so that in the meane time the gréedie carrion by vnkind verations enforceth the compleynant to agréement some proofe appeareth by this inuention folowing wherein Plasmos supposeth iustice to be diuorced and Ladie wrong to be matcht with might It séemeth on this occasion being wronged by diuers lewd and deceitfull coÌ„panions he preferd his complaint to certaine Commissioners against them the defendaunts colouring their cousenage with the report of his vnthriftinesse hauing their answeres soothed with the countenance of more wealthy then honest friendes with suche cheating varlots haue euermore in store lead the saide magistrates with such indiffereÌ„cie that in stead of redressing they increased his iniuries by giuing countenance to his enimies which Plasmos perceiuing prouoked to impatience whereas he came to complaine of one of the two he departed exclayming on them all and at leasure inuented as followeth WHy do I liue quoth he to sée this lothsome light Sith iustice is this day diuorst and wrong is matcht with might Where cousnage was the clarke where pollage was the priest Where déepe deceit which gaue this dame was father of the feast Where bryde men were abuse where briberie bare the cup Where gréedie earls as chiefest guestes in euery boll did sup Where coyne was cater made where cost the cookerie drest Where catchpoles false did fill the cups at this great marriage feast Where parasites did prate to frée each sullen moode Wher cheting churles did fill their pauÌ„ch where poore meÌ„ steru'd for food Where countenance once dynde and might haue cheard his mates Wide open then but not before the porter set the gates Yet thousandes preast to sée the res'due of the sport Some cloyd by craft lome foyld by force for succour did resort But well I sawe quoth he which sight I sore did rue How blastes of scorne the belly Gods among the needie blue How wealth did smile at want how riches railde on right How vertue was supprest by vice how pitie by despight How false suspect did forge a thousand flim flam stayes In rightfull suites to tyre the poore with cost and long delayes Anon the musicke soundes and force his office shewd Well meaning mindes he wrapt so hard that they his hart beshrewd First falshoode makes his choice next flatterie takes his chaunce Then tag and rag about the house deceitfull measures daunce A curious maske at night the bridemen doth ordaine With shews of fraud to féed their thoghts which care not how they gain Abuse did leade the bride extortion maskt with craft To sée deceit come hobbling on a hundred carrens laught Pure néede to get a place was glad to holde a torch But iustice during all this sport was placed in the porch Good Ladie then quoth he alas and well away You sometime did possesse this place this whilome was your day How hapneth Lucre hath infected so your mate How chaunceth Truth did suffer Craft to enter in your gate What though that gaine did sowe some seedes of Iealousie Might not Remorse attonement make betwéene thy féere and theée Is Conscience nowe exilde who sometime counseld Might For to regard dame Iustice suite and not to striue with right Are honest myndes nowe fled doth rigour rule the roft Is Iustice nowe diuorst from might doth wrong nowe scoure the coste Doth countenaunce cloake such crimes as iustice did vncace Dare couseners false defende their faults with shew of honest face They dare and doe God wot by maintenaunce of might Why liue I then alas he sayd sith no man fauours right With that adieu good hope and welcome woe quoth he I sée no gleames of grace appeare my cloudes of scare to frée The reporter It is more then straunge to sée the filthy confederacle of couseners how the wealthy churle to saue him selfe from shame when his deceites are discouered vseth the names of such lewd and carelesse persons as to compasse gaine haue a regard neither to open shame nor to their secret consciences and to tire the compleynant with delayes such as with bold countenaunce bolstred with the credite of the wealthy cousiner and his friendes will abide the tryall of the matter beâ—ide the worst that may he can be but punished for once the benefits of the deceit is in holdfastes handling so that lightly he that is wronged is like to reape but a colde amendes by his complaint Among which fellowship of fiendes there is euer an odde lawyer who secretly draweth their subtile déedes and craftie conueyances and priuily giueth them instructions how to deale in their lewd causes to forewarne all men of this packe of pickpurses making proofe by his owne hinderaunces Plasmos describeth a cousiner as followeth P. Plasmos description of couseners A Lawyers head to drawe a craftie déede A Harlots looke to witch with wanton sight A Flatterers toung with sugred words to féede A Tyrants hart to wound the harmelesse wight To toll with cheare a gréedie gluttons gorge A Merchants mouth of falshoode truth to forge A Scriueners fist by nimblenesse to race To scrape to forge to counterfet a name A Lackies leg to trudge in euery place A desperate mind which dreads no kinde of shame These lims well linckt and set on couseners soyle A worke were sure of all the diuels the toyle For each of them a fiende in force can binde Yet some I graunt by vertue guides their place But sildome t is that Kit ne followes kinde If one be good a score doth want the
grace But all in league their dealings lewde beware For then they do the diuell and all of scare The reporter The Philosopher Diogenes sayth that Nature to this intent bestowed two eyes and two eares and but one toung on any man that he should heare and sée more then he should speake And sure who soeuer vnaduisedly slaundereth another hurteth him selfe In matters of controuersie who so feeleth his suite colde straight séeketh by pretie traines to take some aduauntage of his aduersaries wordes to whiche effect the craftie churle complained on for any notable cousenage to knowe the compleynants secretes worketh meanes to bring him into extreame passions of choler who being greatly wronged will not onely giue knowledge by what countenaunce and in what court he will trounse the defendant for his deceit but lightly vnaduisedly voweth to strike him or calleth him craftle knaue cousening churle c. Wherevpon the defendant to worke the compleynants discredite declareth to some iustice of account in what daunger of life he stoode in the compleynant being mischiefously ruffenly disposed hauing colour of wroÌ„g for slauÌ„derous words he claps such vnkynde actions on the compleynant that will he or nyll he he enforceth him to agréement who so is so wronged may take warning to temper his toung by Plasmos penance who being hugely abused gaue out hard yet true speaches of one of his aduersaries not withstanding by his owne negligence together with the extremitie of Lawe he payde roundly for recompence who to discharge his stomache of griefe a â—orrie amendes in fayth blamed his toung as followeth P.P. Inuectiue against his toung THy rash reuenge O tatling toung I rue Although with truth thou slaundredst late thy foe The prouerbe olde by proofe I finde too true Who fightes with words doth wound him selfe with woe The ciuil lawe so fauours fame and name As strumpets knowne by wantons oft resort Are sildome put to any open shame Les open sight makes proofe of Venus sport Who so is toucht with any foule abuse Though common speach the same for truth confirme The common lawe the guiltie will excuse If proofe by oth ne makes the knowledge firme Thus wanton fylthes and wily churles are scus'd If secretly they worke their foule amis Yet néedely they which are by these abus'd Must haue a meanes to vse reuenge ywis Where oft their toung is first addrest to fight Whose furious threats forewarnes their foe of yre Which knowne he straight doth séeke to match their might And first begins their griefes for to conspire My selfe by such makes proofe this tale is true Who wéend to feare with threatning words my foe At which he smilde preuenting what he knewe Woulde be a mâ—ane to worke his ouerthrowe Yea worse then that he tryst me for me toung With actions houge for slaundering of his fame For which my purse an honest quest so stuong That euer since in faith it hath béene same Thus losse to me no hurt to him at all O babbling toung thy rash reuenge hath wrought Else blowes in lawe had giuen him cause to brall Of both the best though best reuenge be naught For bobs do feare when words not ioynd with déede In wrangling mynds more â—nackred thoughts doth bréede The reporter I may now without offence enter into the plaine discourse of Plasmos following for tunes and inuentions for I haue hetherto layde the cause of his miseries vnto his youthfull vnthriftinesse the which I confesse was an instrument but there were ouerthriftie executioners of his harde fortunes whose names and doings for that it was supposed some of them were aliue according to my commission I haue lefte vnreported wishing them well to fare vpon their recompence and repentance Nowe returning againe vnto P. Plasmos estate who being wrapped in a thousand miseries and mischiefes barde of the benefit of his owne liuing to worke his quietnesse forsaken of friends in his distresse daily tormented with his enimies vnkind vexations looking vnto the condition of his former life his exercises and studies and finding his life full of lewdnesse his exercise to be dallying dauncing and suche counterfet delightes his studie Wanton Comedies Tragedies and discourses acknowledging theâ—e 〈◊〉 the instruments of his mishap sought if the refourming of these abuses would be a meane of his better fortunes so that vsing one day the reading of scripture for his studie and lighting on the 102. Psalme intituled Domine exaodi orationeÌ„ meam imploying his Muse vnto a more better vse then of yore he made his humble submission vnto the highest for the release of his miseries as followeth IN gayle of griefe in closâ—e of worldly friendes forlorne Thy mercy Lord to ease my mone vnto my prayers turne Hide not thy heauenly face from him that lies in thrall High time and tide good God it is to heare my plaint cast My dayes consume with griefe my myrth is maid with mone My hart doth wast like withred grasse my graue I am one My flesh with thoughts doth fret in shew I am a ghoste I drencht in bale my foes in blisse I harmd of hap they bost The world coÌ„mends their welth spites my withered woe Yea dooms my doings by my dole theirs by delight in showe Thus wrongd and scornd I am which crosse I do imbrace Attending when thy mercy Lord my miseries shall chace Which ioyne with iustice thine to foyle my foes in sight So shall I praise and others feare thy maiestie and might The reporter Plasmos in time wringing him selfe out of all the troubles and mischiefes that his enimies had wrapt him in and seing his estate for his troubles so sufficient as with good gouernment he might liue in indifferent good credite On the contrarie part seing some of his enimies through their lewdnesse starke beggers and other some of them to dye soudenly and miserably as well to giue God thankes for his deliuerie as for the ouerthrowe of his enimies made this sonet following TO thée O Lord with hart and voice I sing Whose mercy great from dole to sweete delight From mone to myrth my troubled spirite did bring Yea more thy yre hath foyld my foes in sight They liue in want that flourisht late in wealth They grone with griefe yea lacke both help helth Their conscience guilt doth gall them through their gaine And yet they waste more faster then they winne Thus swéete prou'd sowre their pleasure turnd to paine Yea liuing dyde to thinke vpon their sinne Their shadowes feard so souden was their fall But more their death when destenie did them call Their mone amasd a thousand wretches moe Who sight and shrynkt through motions of deceit To heare report this thundring threat to throwe Foule fall the fraude to bréede our bale a baite A bitter swéete that rots ere it be ripe A liuing care to souls a deadly stripe But how with hap the pikes of harme I past Of murdrous mates of myndes on mischiefe set â–ª Whose snares
credite had I none Yet liue I must néede doth obey no lawe To worke for wealth yet wiâ—t I not the way The scourge for sinne did kéepe mée still in awe I durst not steale for feare of Tyborne play â–ª And other shiftes I knewe not to assay But to be short to soone to soone t' was knowne My will was good to take more then mine owne Then wily mates whose subtile eyes did sée In yonkers states and markt their youthfull vaine Made choice of mee the Instrument to bée In wanton trackes vnwayed youthes to traine Their wiles my wishe so swéete was speach of gaine My tongue was good my manhoode had in price My life was lewde I knewe and vsde eche vice Companion fitt for rufflers nowe adayes Whose wills rule witt and rage doth reason yoke Of which I searcht a crue of thriftlesse strayes Whom lewdly I to lewdnes did prouoke They bi tt my baite but other did them choke I bore the name when others layde the bane The shame was mine and others gleande the gaine But Oh I sigh to wray what wrought my thrall O Plasmos nowe I swoone through thought of thée I must confesse the goad that did the gall Was too too sharpe for friendship thine so frée I turnde my coate ere thou couldst fettered bée My wanton toyes could hardly thée intrap My falsed trust aye mée wrought thy ill hap And must I shewe wherein I was iniust Shame sayes conceale my conscience wil not soe I was a friend whose treason quited trust A counseller lewde that wrought my clientes woe Where I was lou'd I hated saue in shoe Yea twise accurst for mucke his life I sought Whose bloud and good for me hée ventred oft I forged déedes when fayled frée consent I rased roules to mend what hast did marre I put in vre what coemates mine inuent My woordes were graue as firme my friendship ware And yet forsooth to showe what mould I bare I prou'de it true how Cito ad suam Redierint res fictae naturam For though my wéedes foreshewde a settled minde God knowes my woorkes my wanton humour wraide The wyser sort my follies soone did finde They sawe full well my fancies were not staide Yet Plasmos hée of fraude was not afraide And truth to tell I baynde him with such baite As hardly hée could smell out my deceite Wise officers my falsehoode yet suspect To purchase land they thought my store to small And all to late to Plasmos they detect As they supposde I sought to worke his thrall Their sorrie newes did nip him to the gall Who like a man of hope of helpe dismayde Reportes the trust through which I him betraide Our foule deceite amas'de the hearers much They Plasmos wild from greement kept aloofe That open shame our villanies might tuch Our falles would be a warning of behoofe Our fraude thus found before it came to proofe What course were best should wée confesse our fault Noe noe wée ment to bide the first assault In euery Court our cousenages did ring â–ª Which bouldly wée vppon our othes denide For wée that dar'd commit so foule a thing Uppon our othes ne cared though wée lyde Yet durst wée not abide till trueth were tride In couseners clyffes wée feard sol fa to chaunt Howe so wée séemde on honestie to vaunt Yea wretched I that bore the blame of all Peccaui soung through pricke of conscience griefe How others scapt I sawe my shamefull fall I mou'de my mates to salue our great mischiefe In time or wée should suffer much repreafe But they that vsde their â—onâ—enage in my name If worst befell knewe I â—hould bide the shame To make amends would neuer yéeld consent What should I doe still Plasmos shot at mee False Frenos yet the mischiefe did inuent I plowde the lande the profite reaped hée Hée bounde me so saunce him I could not grée And thus through néede which I to show abhorre Against my will looke what hée would I swore Our cousenage knowen our likelyhoode of paine My earnest sute to some good end to growe Once mou'd him not to leaue ill gotten gaine Hée neuer blusht in conscience nor in showe But craft on craft hée layde to heape our woe T' ware straunge to heare the wealthy friends hée found Which ioynde with him to make our fraude séeme sound And boulstred thus for slaundring vs with truth Our actions huge poore Plasmos ouerlayde Wée knewe in néede friends faild the more the ruth Thus double wrong'd his huge distresses waide To cleare his land good store of coyne hée paide Least share whereof in faith to mée did fall Yet of this end I was the glad'st of all From open shame my selfe I iudged frée I tooke no héede to salue my conscience gall But God that doth all secrete dealinges sée Prouided whippes to scourge our sinnes withall And I that bare the blame of Plasmos thrall As sure I was the instrument of it The first man was that God with vengeaunce smit My onely child which should haue had the land With Plasmos bloud that faine I would haue bought Not sicke in sight first dyed out of hand Which heauie hap distempered so my thought As straight I was into a quarterne brought Whose frosen fittes brought downe my youthfull pride Do what I could it held mée till I dide A house I kept till I to cousening fell But loe beguilde euen with mine owne deceite My house I left and did in corners dwell To lay mée vp â–ª still Plasmos lay in waite Sometimes I was caught with a Sergeaunts baife And through a grate Presta quesimus sounge With care on care thus daily was I stounge I that sometime had wily witt good store As one bestrackt forgot what late I spake For all my cheates still was I very poore My friends did faile none would relieue my lacke On euery side I wretched went to wracke Yea Frenos he that drue the cousening plott Deuourde the gaine and gaue mée neuer a iott Two yeares well nie I liued in this woe God wot not worth the ground whereon I went And when I thought my ioyes againe would flowe Unhappie I that Plasmos murder ment Unto such ire the hie Iehoua bent That ah in stéede of drinke my thrist to slake I poyson dronke my timelesse ende to make Sée couseners sée my present lothsome state Loe here the ende of all my wanton race Behold the man that was so frolicke late A leaper foule in body legges and face At point of death cryes out to God for grace A warning fayre a mirror full of mone For greedie churles a bone to gnawe vppon Amende in time before Gods wrath you sturre Beware by mée false Frenos and the rest Quod diffeertur be sure non aufertur Unlesse euen from the bottome of your breast You both repent and to amends are preast Loe here my tale and life will haue an ende God