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A15046 The rocke of regard diuided into foure parts. The first, the castle of delight: wherin is reported, the wretched end of wanton and dissolute liuing. The second, the garden of vnthriftinesse: wherein are many swéete flowers, (or rather fancies) of honest loue. The thirde, the arbour of vertue: wherein slaunder is highly punished, and vertuous ladies nad gentlewomen, worthily commended. The fourth, the ortchard of repentance: wherein are discoursed, the miseries that followe dicing, the mischiefes of quareling, the fall of prodigalitie: and the souden ouerthrowe of foure notable cousners, with diuers other morall, natural, & tragical discourses: documents and admonitions: being all the inuention, collection and translation of George Whetstons Gent. Whetstone, George, 1544?-1587? 1576 (1576) STC 25348; ESTC S111731 150,826 258

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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 frō 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 ●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 ●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 coūt 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 ●●ypt no foot of men That truly can w●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 ▪ 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
s●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 ma●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 har● doth burst ▪ 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 rais●e too hie Sedition sowe their natiue soil● 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 whē 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 po●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
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
to rest and vexe this thriftlesse youth Not at thy sute although by thy consent To frée himselfe from catchpoles litle ruth For thy goodwill to thée his minde is bent To mone his state his time and coyne mispent To faine thy heart to his behoofe is fixt Then let aduise with prettie tauntes be mixt 76 But to conclude lend him his turne to scrue Yet binde him sure least hée do slip away In statutes which lands goods and body sterue Twentie to one hée forfets at his day The vauntage then will double vsaunce pay Extent on land the sale will slaunder soe That fée in fine on easie prise will goe 77 You Burgoses which sell the costly stuffe That wares to ebb our gallants goodes and land This lesson learne and vtter wares ynough Beyonde the price of paying downe in hand His state and stay first wisely vnderstand Close fisted then deliuer him thy ware But binde him sure if thou his paiment feare 78 If day hée breake let Commens be no Leache No forfet once the citie custome giues In the hoystinges an outlawes note him teache Beare with his talk his crakes and yreful tauntes Lawe will him stoupe in spight of all his vauntes Collusion thoe this dealing some do reake Yet iumpe thou thus a penal law to breake Come Scriueners come the frie of all abuse Deceite beséemes you best of any men Why blush you so you néede not frame excuse You are to helpe a thousand with your pen Chetors Cousners merchauntes your selues like men Good reason you haue store of subtile skill Sith you are meanes each misers bagge to fill 80 Bée sure you haue the groundes of lawe by ro●e What wordes unlose and what as fast do binde Eche quillet nyse sée that you néerely note In paper booke as tendes to fraude you finde In morgages leafes couenauntes vnkinde Conditions bondes feoffments Graunts cetera In some one point the craftie lacke still play 81 For craft is that that doeth you credite gaine Rich Burgoses your chiefest clients are They lay the plot but you must take the paine Monie takers to meash in meates of care They fast farewell such will no vauntage spare Thus sith your trade doth tend to falsehoode vile Good reason you acquaint your selfe with guile 82 This monstrous mate had néede of thousand shiftes To feede the thoughtes of those whose forme hée beares A lawyers head hée hath full stuft with driftes A simple looke to frée rash youthes of feares A flatterers tongue to féede beléeuing cares A harlots face to witche with wanton sight A tyrauntes heart to wound the harmelesse wight 83 A scriueners fist a lackyes legge to trudge A merchauntes minde to mountaines that aspires A gluttons throte to shewe hée is no snudge What gaine may bée vngleand this monster then desires What youth vnspoilde whose wreake this féend conspires And sith this mate so manyes turne must serue This course for cheates Craft willes him to obserue 89 First flatterie thou must prye abroad for pray Thou wily must eache gallauntes state escrie Companion like with them thou néedes must play If able youth Dice neede to nip thou spie Unto his helpes be sure thou haue an eye And one some lose drawe neare and note his mone And proferre him supplie on easy lone 90 Now merchaunt hide thy hooke in golden baite In plaine Iohns name yet let this dealing bée His simple show will couler foule deceite To make false déedes let maister Lawyer sée To get them seald vse scriueners policie To meash him sure let flatterie still assay But be not yet to eger of your pray 91 With friendly show first worke him in conceite Then Epicure thy bountie let him féele To witch his witts make mystresse Mynxe a baite Hée snarled once ryng out the Cousners peale To forge to rase such stuffe then make him seale As ouer soone will put him to his shift Noe force for that hée might haue eyde his thrift 92 But fraude bewrayde if wronged youth complaine Then tyraunt start to saue the rest from shame To stay his sute by catchpoles lay a trayne With Actions huge his crased credite lame In prison popt there is no laughing game There friends do faile if monie ebbeth lowe His sute is cold his lawyer wil be slowe Hée nipt with néede and rest of fréedome both As one halfe dead in hast will sue for ease First make it coy as men to gréement loth His slaundrous plaint so doth your trueth displease As trial must this foule report appease In fine yet come and ere you goe agrée And featherlesse let my yonge maister flée 94 An other sort of cheating mates there are By néede inforst that sues to Craft for ayde Whom thriftlesse life hath wrapt in heapes of care In prison throwne of succour cleane dismayde Whose wealth is worne of friends whose woe vnwayde Whose hautie heartes gainst thraldome yet do spurne Néede workes for these some shiftes to serue their turne 95 If any such ripe witte or learning haue Want ioynde with Craft this counsell doth bestow To f●aunte it out in outward shew full braue To faine eche acte yea thought by art they know A salue for loue fooles fortunes for to shoe Goods stolne or lost with a vengeaunce for to fetch Or faine thou art for euery griefe a leach 96 But at the first to make your cunning knowne A baude or two send pryinge round about UUhere louing wormes or sickly wightes are throwne Old churles some haue some loue and reape a flout Some sicknes catch by keeping reuell route To wightes thus grieu'd though slender helpe you giue Use shewe of skil in hope to make them liue 97 If fortune hap to hitt some heartes desire You néede no trumpe your knowledge for to spred But by the way giue mother Bée her hire Then wil shée prate to bring a patch to bed And vouch for proofe how such and such haue sped Although in trueth this shifting is but theft Your coates for this the hangeman silde hath reft 98 You holy gyrles the hindmost in my gift Be formost yet in fraud and foule abuse While beautie lastes in blooming yeares to shift For your behoofe this counsell craft doth vse To make it nyce large offers to refuse Alooft to stand if Vobis rich do sue The more you flée the more he followes you 99 If carelesse boyes your coynesse cannot brooke Such gallants win with outward shew of grace They swallowing vp with sugred bayte the hooke With carelesse toyes their fancies can not chase And when you stoupe their hote desires t' imbrace Looke to your match the world is full of wyle And well you wot how sugred words beguile 100 Still haue an eye to beauties vading blase And prye for dames which soone in prime will be On painted stuffe though often gallants gase The wily sort your surfling straight will sée To fit
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 reprehēsion of his youth for this is once brainsicke brauerie besides his own great expence inticeth the gréedie churle to hūger after the gallants liuing and for truth if his cōscience 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 frō 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 cōpanions 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 indifferēcie 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 paūch where poore mē 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 be●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 wrōg for slaūderous 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 ●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 m●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 ●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 the●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 orationē 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 clos●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 cōmends 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 ▪ Whose snares