cannot bée without him Oh what haue I lost my Will Whither is he gone when will he returne who hath led him away or will bring him backe againe what company is he falâ—… into or how doth he leade his life Well time yet may turne him Till when I wishe for him heping to meete him but hope is vncertaine yet hope well and haue well Thus alone I cannot dwell if I finde him so it is if not then â—…wis I must be content with this Patience is a vertue But whome doo I beholde so neere It is my Will with heauie cheere well I am sory for this geaâ—…e Yet will I to him out of hand and knowe howe so the case dooth stand What Will Will. Who Wit Wit Whither away Will. Where I may Wit Whereto Will. Oh to doo Wit What Will. Teach thou me that Wit Why sighe not boye VVill. Oh all my ioye VVit Where is it VVill VVill. Among the ill VVit What Is it lost VVill. That greeues me most VVit And not to be recouered VVill. Oh my heart is almost dead VVit What Will Holde vp head I will be thy friend to death VVill. TheÌ„ giue me leaue to fetch my breath And welcome twise and thrise well met where my hearts ioy is set Many a walke haue I fet but no comfort could I get till now by thee mine onely friend with whome I meane my life to ende If thou wilt giue me leaue good wit VVit Yes good sweete will and glad of it will Then harke good wit vnto my tale not of amidde my blisse in bale nor any such like stuffe so stale I studie not to talke in verse but I will vnto thee rehearse a plaine discourse in homely prosse wherein I will at large disclose How I haue liued with whome and where how I was tossed heere and there How I did chaunce to trauaile hyther and so we will be merry togither Wit Contented Uerse is good sometime but sometime presse and sometime ryme But be it eyther prosse or verse what so thou wilt good will rehearse I meane to heare it to the ende And quit thee quickly as a friend But since thou likest prosse so well begin in prosse thy tale to tâ—…l Willes Tale. OH good wit if thou doost remember I lost thée in trauaile to the Well of Wisedome Since when I haue wandred through a wildernesse of woe which in the Mappe of that Countrey I finde is called the Desart of Desire Wherein I sawe so many wayes as new in this and then in that â—…t last I came to the hill of haâ—…de Happe which ledde mee downe into a Uale of Uanitie There did I liue in the Lake of Miseries with the lost people that hauing followed Fancie found Penitence the reward of running heades But Lord what a life it is I lothe to thinke on it Beleeue mee sweete wit there is such falling out with Fancie who shiftes all vpon Folly Such exclamation vpon Folly who bringes them to Fortune such cursing and banning of Fortune for her froward dealing in gentle helping them vppe vppon the wheele and then suddaine dinging them downe almost to theyr destruction that if there bee a Hell in this worlde there is the place God keepe all good mindes from such a â—…thy corner VVit Amen But tell me â—…w caâ—…st thou thence will I will tell you anon â—…ut first I will tell you more There is of all States Princes crye out of cares Lordes of lacke of liuing Ladyes oâ—… false Loue Souldiours of want of paye Lawyers of quiet Poore men of Lawe Merchauntes of shipwracke Marriners of scule weather Usurers of Sermons and Diuines of Usurie Players of Preachers and Preachers of Plâ—…yers Dicers of loosing and losers oâ—… Dicing Cryples of fighting and fighters of hurtes the Rich of sicknesse the Poore of want the Sicke of paine the healthfull of ill happe the vnhappie of the time that euer they were borne Oh it is a pittious crie I would not be there againe to heare it as I haue done for the gaine of Europe VVit Beléeue me I cannot blame thee but tell me how camst thou thence VVill. Oh brother I will tell you how you knowe sometime trauailers must néedes haue rest which they must come by as they may Now I hauing walked as I tolde you through this vnpleasant place weary at last I layde me downe in the ditch of Distresse where finding many dead skulles and other boanes I there thought to beginne a sléepe or sleepe my last now lying there in such sorte as I tell you mée thought in my sléepe I sighed in which sorrow a good motion of minde set my heart to prayer which tended to this effect that it would please the mightie and mercifull Maiestie of the most highest to sende me some meane to leade me out of this miserie beeing as it were from my Wit and altogither comfortlesse Now suddainly there appeared vnto me an olde aged man who tooke me by the hand with these words Arise thou sluggish wanton walke no longer out of thy way turne thee backe from this straye pathe experience doth teach thée what is VVill without VVit Prayer hath procured thee pardon the high and onely God hath giuen thée Grace by Grace goe seeke that is worth the finding looke where VVit is too him and make much of him With ioye of that worde I awaked and with shame of my Folly in leauing thee I hung the head with sorrowe whereof I was almost of life depriued but now by thy sweete welcome wholy reuiued now awake I shoulde say I sawe none but thee and now while I liue I will followe thée Wit Why was it heere you slept or haue you come farre since you waked Will. No no heere did I sleepe héere is the place of paine so vnpleasant but nowe I sée thee I haue receiued comfort for that I know thou canst leade me to Wisedome who will soone shew me the way to Paradise wit Why then will well hast thou slept better hast thou dreamed but best hast thou waked to hit on mée so happily who intende to bring thee to that good beginning that shall leade thee to endlesse blisse But to quit thy tale I will tell thée a little of my trauaile and so we will away togither Wits Tale. WIll thou knowest when I left thée in the lane of learning I went on straight to the schoole of Uertue and with her Testimoniall to the Well of Wisedome which standes within the Pallace of Patience where I found the Fountaine kept with foure Ladies whose names were Wisedome Temperance Fortitude and Iustice now when I came thither with suffient warning from Uertue yet for order sake they thus vsed me wisedome which stood with a Snake in her hand ouer whose head was written I see the holes that subtill Serpents make thus vsed her warie spéech vnto me Sirra quoth she how presume you into this place froÌ„ whence came you and how and whither will you Lady quoth
THE WIL OF WIT Wits Will or Wils Wit chuse you whether Containing fiue discourses the effects whereof follow Reade and iudge Compiled by Nicholas Breton Gentleman Non hà Che non sà LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede 1597. To Gentlemen Schollers and Students whatsoeuer GEntlemen or others who imploy your time in the studies of such Arts as are the Ornaments of Gentility to your courtesies I commeÌ„d the vnlearned discourse of my little wit which as I will not intreate you to commend deseruing the contrarie so I hope you will not disdaine though it deserue discommendation but so by your pardons excuse my small discretioÌ„ by great desire that hereâ—… with lesse haste I may take as great care as paines to publish a peece of worke somewhat more worth the perusing Till when wishing you all the fauor of God with good fortune of the world I rest in honor of learning to you and all Students A louing freend N. B. Gent. The Epistle to the gentle Reader A New Booke saies one true it came forth but tother day good stuffe saies an other Read then iudge I confesseit may seeme to a number a bolde attempt to set out a forme of wit considering the witty discourses of such fine wits as haue deserued such coÌ„meÌ„dation as may driue this meane peece of woorke of mine into vtter disgrace were it not that perfect courtesie dooth beare with imperfect knowledge regarding more the good minde in the writer then the matter written and therefore the best will giue good woords whatsoeuer they think to incourage a forward will to doo better when indeede it were a fantasticall heade that coulde doo worse VVell when VVit is a wool-gathering and VVill wandring the worlde without guide what a case that manne is in that is in such a taking I referre you to madde folkes of whome you maye see examples sufficient and so I beeing in a certaine melancholye moode past all Gods forbod tooke my Pen and Inke and paper and somewhat I would goe doo whatsoeuer it were to put out one conceit and bring in an other at last and at first of a suddaine vnwares and at aduentures by Gods good helpe and good fortune the litle wit that I had meeting with good Will I knew not how fell to worke at first I know not what but hauing written a while I made somewhat of it which though litle to any great purpose yet if it please the readers I am contented if any man thinke it well done then Wit shall thinke Will a good boy and Will shall thinke he tooke Wit in a good vaine and Will and Wit shall haue the more heart heereafter to fall to further woorke but if I haue bin more wilfull then wise to trouble your wiâ—…tes with a witlesse peece of worke pardon me for this once ye shall see I wil please you better heereafter in the meane time desiring your courtesies to commend what you thinke worthie and not to disdain without desert I rest wishing your content in what you wish well as I pray you wish me as I doo you Your freend Nicholas Breton Gentleman Ad Lectorem de Authore VVHat thing is Will without good Wit Or what is Wit without good Will The one the other doth so fit As each alone can be but ill But when they once be well agreede Their worke is likely well to speede For proofe behold good Bretons will By helpe of Wit what it hath writ A worke not of the â—…eanest skill Nor such as shewes a simple Wit But such a Wit and such a Will As hath done well and hateth ill I neede not to commend the man VVhom none can iustly discommend But doo the best the best that can Yet some will spite and so I ende VVhat I haue said I say so still I must commend this VVit and VVill. C. A FINIS Ad lectorem de Authore VVHat shall I say of Golde more then t is Golde Or call the Diamond more then precious Or praise the man with praises manifolde When of himselfe him selfe is vertuous Wit is but VVit yet such his Wit and Will As proouâ—…e il good or makes good to be ill Why what his Wit proceede and aske his Will Why what his Will reade on and learne of Wit Both good I gesse yet each a seuerall ill This may seeme straunge to those that heare of it Nay neere a whit for vertue many waies Is made a vice yet Vertue hath her praise Wherefore O Breton woorthy is thy worke Of commendations worthy to the woorth Sith captious Wittes in euery corner lurke A bolde attempt it is to set them forth A forme of Wit and that in such a sort As none offends for all is said in sport And such a spoâ—…t as serues for other kindes Both young and olde for learning armes and loue For Ladies humors myrth with mone he findes With some extreames their patient mindes to proue Well Breton write in hand thou hast the thing As when it comes loue wealth and fame will bring VV. S. A pretie and wittie Discourse betwixt Wit and VVill. LOng haue I trauailed much grounde haue I gone many wayes haue I trode mickle money haue I spent more labor haue I lost in seeking an old friend of mine whose coÌ„panie so courteous his counsaile commodious his presence so pleasant and his absence so graeuous that when I thinke of him and misse him I find such a misse of him as all things are out of frame with mée And out of frame can come to no good fashion Oh what shall I doo It is long since I lost him long haue I sought him And too long I feare it will be ere I finde him But wot you who it is Oh my wit I am from my Wit and haue beene long Alas the day I haue bin almost madde with marching through the world without my good guide my freende and Companion my Brother yea my selfe Alas where is hee When shall I sée him How shall I séeke him and whither shall I walke I was too soone wearie of him and am now weary of my selfe without him Well I will goe where I may I may hap to finde him but hap is vnhappie Therefore hap good or happe ill I will walke on still if I finde him happy man If I doo not what than Content my selfe euen as I can Patience where is no remedy VVit Long haue I lookt far haue I sought oft haue I wisht and sore haue I longed for my merry mate my quicke sprite my dearling and my dearest byrde Whose courtesie so contentiue whose helpe so necessary whose necessitie so great whose presence so pleased mee and absence so angers mee that when I would haue him and see I am without him I am not in order and being out of order can take no good course Alas what shall beâ—…ide mée I haue lost my loue or my loue hath lost mee Would God wee might meete againe and be merry togither which I
I from Fancies Forte I came and am now trauailing to the Forte of Fame I came now directly from the Schoole of Vertue brought thither by Learning had by reason seruant to instruction and héere beholde Patience who hath lead me who is further to pleade for me Welcome quoth shée but art thou not wearie no quoth I nor would be if the walke had béene longer to haue my will Will. Why didst thou thinke me there abouts oh Lord I was far wide Wit Peace VVill a while when I denide wearinesse Yea quoth Fortitude an other of the 〈◊〉 ouer whose head was written I yeelde to good but ouerthrowe the ill I will see if you be weary or not I must trie a fall with you â—…t first I made no account of her but when I begunne I sound her of great force Yet in the ende shee was content to giue mee ouer and let me come nâ—…re the Wâ—…ll Nowe vppon the Well brinkes stoode Iustice ouer whose heade was written My hande hittes right Death is my stroke my ballance wil not lye Then was my wordes written downe by Memorie and weyed with Truth which beeing euen in iudgement shee â—…ad mee welcome and so was content to let me lay my lippes to the sweet lye quor of Sapience Oh it is a delicate Water Nowe as I stoode I heard a Trumpette sounde which done I heard a voice which said VVhat Trompe can souÌ„d the true report of Fame Now desirous to see y â— place whence I heard this sound I craued the Ladies pasport to the saide place who gaue me no other pasport then the coÌ„maundement of Patience warning me in any wise to take holde of Time when I met him and turne him to my vse with these two I should come to the sort afore me I right glad of my good happe tooke leaue and forth I went anon I met Maister Time with his Sithe in his hand singing Saue Vertue all things I cutte downe that stand within my way But as he came working I watcht him neare and as he strooke aside I suddeinly stept to him tooke him by the noâ—…le and turnde him to my worke What wouldest thou quoth he I must not stand idle no quoth I thou shalt walke and leade me to the Fort of Fame Come then quoth he goe away softly quoth Patience content quoth I and so togither we go to this stately Court where being first entertained by Courtly we were brought to Fauour and so led vp to Fame Now being on knee before her highnesse shée first gaue me her hand to kisse and willed the Lordes to bid me welcome see héere quoth shee the perfection of affection what a trauaile he hath vndertaken onely for our fauour which he shall be sure off The Nobles vsed me honourably the Gentlemen courteously the Seruants reuerently and Faâ—…our fréendly Now as I stood I heard such swéete Musick such heauenly songs it made my heart leape to heare them The Prince did sing in praise of Peace the Lordes of Plentie the Ladies of true Loue the Lawiers of Quiet the seruaunts of Lawe the Merchauntes of Sayling and Saylers of faire weather the Rich of Health the Poore of Charitie the Healthfull of good happe and the happie of Gods blessing there was no Usurers Dicers Players nor fighters hearde off Oh there was a place of pleasure if in the world there bee a Paradize that was it Oh that thou haddest beene with mée Will. So would I but tell mée he we came you againe Wit I will tell thée When I had beene within and without and heard such sweete Hermony of such singuler Musicke at last I came downe into the base Court 〈◊〉 by Fauour to a lodging which was called the counting house there sate Memorie to take the names oâ—… such as had 〈◊〉 entertained and meant to sâ—…ke fauour at the handes of happy Fame But as I was going through the Court I mette one of the Maides of Honour attendâ—…unt vpon the Princesse whose name Fauour tolde mee was Beâ—…lezza accompanied with Gentilezza an other oâ—… the 〈◊〉 Nowe as I was walking I feared sâ—… earnestly an them that not looking to my 〈◊〉 I stumbled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and with the fall I awaked now awake I thought of my good Will and see how soone it was my happe to meete with 〈◊〉 but no sooner then I wished for thee nor then I am heartily glad of thee will Gramerâ—…y wit But yet I beshrowe thee wit Why so will For loosing mee VVit Thou mightest haue 〈◊〉 will You might haue helde me wit When will When I was neere you VVit Where was that VVill. Where you lost me But tel me one thing where was it you slept and awaked so soâ—…ainely What was it héere abouts Wit Yea heere Will heere heere is the Forte of Fame as thou shalt finde when thou hast beene with me a while there is no house but hath a sinke no hâ—…ld so fayre but hath a foule dâ—…tch no place so pleasant but hath a corner of anoyance he that runnes retchlesly falles headlong and hee that is in a hole he knowes not how must come out he knowes not when Care is to be had in all things at all times and in all places well thou hast knowne some sorrowe learne to leaue selfe-iudgement follow friend go with me VVill. Why I would neuer haue lost thâ—… but. wit But that thou wert wearie of me will Why I was not wearie but. VVit No but that you were a wanton VVil. Why I was not a wanton but. wit No but that you were wilfull VVill. Why I was not wilfull but. wit No but that you thought better of your selfe then any else wit Why but I did not thinke so but. wit Nay you may say you would not haue thought so but. VVill. But what or why wit But because you did not see your selfe will Yes indeede but I did I did sée my selfe and you too wit Indeede but you did not for if you had seene me you would not so haue lost mee VVit Yes but I did see you but when I had looked on you a while I looked on my selfe so long till you were out of sight and then I looked after you and could not sée you wit Well but then you sawe mee not and so you lost mee but since you now haue sound me follow me néere stay but a Buts length behinde mée least I suddainely steppe a flights shotte before you and then a furlong further you neuer ouertake mee will But soft runnes wit so fast will is wearie wit Goe too throwe off your clogge of care trust to me so you do as I bid you all shall bee well will Yes but. wit But What will But a ltttle of your helpe wit Yes but. will But What wit But that you must of your selfe labour wil. So I will but. wit But not too much well contented I will worke Wilt thou helpe wil. Yea willingly wit How long wil. Till death wit Why wilt thou dye
wil. Not with working yet will I worke sore wit Whereto wil. to winne my wishe VVit What that wil. You can tell wit But tell mee will What wit Is it Fauour will That is one parte of it wit Wealth wil. An other parte VVit Honour wil. The greatest next wit Content VVil. All in all wit Where will In heart wit Howe will By happe wit Howe that wil. By Hope wit Oh Hope is vaine will Oh doo not discomfort mee wit Doubt the worst will Wherefore Wit Because I bid thée will Why doo you bid mée Wit For this reason the best will helpe it selfe will What is the worst wit Enuie will What will hee doo wit Mischiefe will To whome wit To good mindes will Howe shall I doo then wit Let Patience vse Prayer God will preserue his seruants VVill. That I shall Then it is not impossible wit What wil. To gette Content wit It is harde VVill. What then wit Doo our best wil. Content VVit But harke wil shall I tell thee a little more of the Fort of Fame What I sawe and heard before I came away ouer the gate at the entrie I sawe written pretie Posies some in Latine some in Italian some French and some English In Latine I remember these Quid tam difficile quod non solertia vincit By that was written Labore vertus And by that vertute Fama And ouer that Fama immortalis And that was written in many places about the house In Italian was written Giouentù vecchezza by that vecchezza Morte et Morte Tempo et tempo Fama but ouer all sopra tutti triumpha Iddâ—…o In French Le sol Fortune il prudeÌ„t Fame Fame est diuine duinitie est pretieuse Dieu est nostre guarde In English was writteÌ„ Patience is a vertue Vertue is Famous Fame is diuine Diuinitie is gratious Grace is the gift of God And God is the onely giuer of grace Which by PatieÌ„ce seekes the vertue y â— is Famous to the diuine pleasure of the giuer of all good gifts Blessed be his name this shal he find that enters Fort of Fame VVill. Oh swéete spéeches wit Then will I tel thée further as I walked vp down with Fauour I heard Courtesie Content a couple of Courtiers discoursing of thée and mée Of the Uertues of wit and the vanities of will Wit they sayde was desirous of knowledge but Will could take no paine wit would haue Patience but will would be wood with anger wit would worke when wil would stand ydle wit would bee walking when will woulde bee slouthfull wit woulde call for willes helpe when will cared not for wits counsaile wit woulde bee wise and wil would be wanton wit would be Uertuous and wil vaine vvit would be Famous and vvil foolish vvit would be sober and vvil frantick vvit would be carefull and vvill carelesse wit studying and will playing vit at good exercise and wil idle and worse occupied wit mourning for wil wil making no mone for wit VVit in his dumps and wil in delights wit would doo well and haue wil doo no worse if he would followe him But wil would loose wit and wit must worke without wil and against wil and yet this is straunge they were sworne Brethren one could not be without the other Yet wit could make better shift alone wit could finde wil when he had lost himselfe and wil yet would please wit well when hee would bee a good boye Which he would neuer be till he were beaten and y â— with the smart of his owne rod then he would come home to wit follow wit as his best freend and neuer leaue him to the last houre Nowe when I heard this discourse I remembred thée and béeing able to tarie no longer the hearing of such matter against him whom I loue I entreated Fauour to bring mée forth into the Court towardes the Counting-house whither walking I stumbled by the way and fell as I tolde you wherewith I awooke Now good wil since I haue found thee and nowe thou seest the miseries of the worlde come followe me let me bring thée to a better course Let not mée mourne for thée nor other thus talke of thée I will make much of thée if thou wilt loue mée I will make thée giue them cause to say see what a chaunge wil is come home wit is content to bee ruled by wit hee workes with wit hee walkes with wit he mournes and is merie with wit he is trauailing to vertue with wit he wil finde Fame by wit why hee wil he is as welcome as wit as worthie as wit now hee hath learned of wit howe to direct his course beleeue me wil I loue thée VVill. Gramercie good wit and I thée But tel me one thing mee thinkes all this was but a Dreame for in the ende you did awake with the fall VVit True vvil I was in a Dreame and so wert thou wil. Oh then you did heare men talke so much of me in in your sleepe Awake I warrant you you shall uâ—…uer heare so much amisse of me VVit I hope so too nowe I haue mette with thée I wil shewe thée a way whereby thou shalt deserue no such difcredit VVill. Gramercie But shall I now tell thee a little that I had forgotten that I sawe and hearde in the Lake of Miserie Wit Contented good wil and gramercie too Wil. Then wit thou shalt vnderstand I heard these spéeches past among Penitent people when wit is wayward Wil is no body wofull wit blames wanton wil wanton Wit chides worthy vvil vnhappy vvit hasty wil faÌ„tastical VVit forward vvil Ouer that vvit thinks scorne of vvil but yet he cannot bee without him VVit hath lost vvil but yet he is glad to séeke him VVit mournes for Wil but Wit sees it not Will trauailes for the Stone that VVit must whet himselfe vppon VVil is painefull but vvit vnthankfull vvil is courteous but vvit curst Will soone content wit too curious will would bee ruled but wit had no reason wil would haue béene Famous had wit béene Uertuous wil had béene good had not wit beene bad wil had not lost wit had wit lookt vnto him Wil would doo well if wit woulde doo better wil woulde learne if wit woulde teache him But wil must worke without wit and against wit and yet it was woonderfull that sworne Brethren shoulde so disagrée yet one so necessarie for the other in all actions as nothing could hitte well when they were a sunder Wil coulde méete wit in a Maze and comfort him with his company wil could bring wit into a good order when hée was quite out of course Wit would be glad of wil but when when he found the want of his Fréende which he would neuer doo till he were wearie of working alone and then he would embrace wil make much of wil and neuer leaue wil for any worlds good Now when I heard so much of my good Wit I could not tarie any longer in the
your selues to Care And him acknowledge for your cheefest King VVith whome no King or Keisar may compare who beares so great a sway in euery thing At home abroad in Peace and eke in warre Care chiefly stands to eyther make or marre The Court he keepes is in a wise conceit His house a head where reason rules the wit His seate the heart that hateth all deceit His bed the braine that feeles no frantick fit His diet is the Cates of sweete content Thus is his life in heauenly pleasure spent His kingdome is the whole world round about Sorrowe his sword to such as dare rebell His counsaile wisedame that decides each doubt His skill foresight of things to come to tell His chiefe delight is studies of deuise To keepe his Subiests out of miseries Oh courteous King oh high and mightie Care VVhat shall I write in honour of thy name But to the vvorld by due desert declare Thy royall state and thy immortall Fame Then so I ende as I at first begun Care is the King of Kings vvhen all is done FINIS VVIll Surely I neuer heard so much of Care before but reason hath shewed me all is true that you haue spoken of him And therefore let vs humbly craue his helpe in this our worke which wee are to take in hand I dare warrant his fauour VVit Saist theu so VVill then let vs goe Time trudgeth away we haue talked long Mountaines neuer meete but freendes often good happe comes oft vnlookt for but neuer vnwelcome I thought not to haue found thée heere but we see Fortune doth much but Fates more to bring fréendes togither and friendship doth much where faith is fixed And faith is a Iewell and Iewelles are precious and precious is for Princes Oh God trust me wil we must be warie to work so with aduise of Care that as we are friends one to another so we may prooue in all actions to shew our chéefest Iewell our faithfull heart to God and her Maiestie To whom might we once be so happie as to present a péece of work worthie the receit oh how glad should then eur hearts bee which with faithful dutie would aduenture death for her most excellent fauour which til by desert we finde alwaies let vs loue and honour our singuler good Lord that hath vouchsafed vs his vndeserued fauour and let vs heartily praye for the preseruation of her most excellent Maiestie with long and prosperous reigne ouer vs as for the aduancement of his Honours estate who by his Uertues deserues and by desertes hath found Fauour of her Highnes loue of her Péeres honour of vs and a number our betters And so let vs away into my Closset of Conceit where from company we will thinke vpon such matters as heere weâ—… wil not talke on Wil. Content Wee wll goe togither studie thou and I will make my pen ready at thine or his Honours commandement And thus til we haue dispatcht our worke in hand lette vs take our leaue humbly of our good Lord and courteously of all our fréendes Wishing them to imploy their studies to the pleasure of God conteÌ„t of the best sort profit of themselues and good example to others and so Bacciando le mani del Signore let vs bid them all Adio From our heart this 20. of August 1597. Iâ—…genii voluntas The Authors Dreame of straunge effects as followeth NOT many daies since it was my hap to trauaile not farre hence into a Countrey called the Iland of Inuenâ—…on where I met with many of mine acquaintance as well fréendes as foes New my foes began to flatter mee and my fréendes as fast to frowne on me My fréends were wit and Reason Wisdome Care Wealth and ConteÌ„t My foes were Wil and Rage Folly and Rechlesnes Woe and Discontent now there were other betwixt fréendes and foes that stood looking at mee with a straunge countenaunce as who shoulde say wilt thou or wilt thou not these were Fancie Loue Frenzie and Patience Now there were two Ladies that sate in such a state that I had much a doo to looke vp to them these were Vertue and Fame Nowe belowe there were two Sprites which I was vily afraide off the one was pide of all colours and the other as blacke as a Coale the coloured was Vanitie and the other Infamie Nowe as I lookt about mee â—… remember my first words were these God blesse me from Sprites And then looking vpwardes I wisht to God I could clime vppe to the two Ladies But soft a while there is more in it then so more steppes in a Ladder then one and more stickes then one to the making of the steppes Soft fyre makes swéete Maulte Non cuiâ—…is attâ—…ngit adire Coriâ—…thum The Court is not for common persons let Beggers stand at Gates I am but a poore trauailer I must acqaint my selfe with meane men before I séeme to looke so high let me go speake with my friendes But what meane my foes â—…hus to vse me with courtesie What would they bee friends with me But let me see who is hée that so frownes on mee while I am looking on my foes Oh it is my friend VVit let mee go to him and learne the cause of his choller Why art thou angrie good VVit VVill is at thy commaunde if thou thinkest well of thy friende leaue those frowning lookes that will soone bring me out of loue with thee What quoth Reason remember who is thy friend haâ—… thou forgotten what I haue tolde thée what is will without wit yea quoth I and what is VVit without Reason Oh quoth VVisdome cold wordes VVisedome showes wit cannon want Reason yea but quoth I where is wisedome Oh quoth Care come to me and I wil telthâ—… tush quoth I what is Care without wealth Oh yes quoth VVealth Content is sufficient riches Yea marrie quoth I but where is that Tush quoth Fanâ—…e come away and go with mee Come thou hast béene from me a great while VVit iâ—… become a sworne brother to Reason and they two are seruants to wisdome VVisedome hâ—…e is consulted with Care to huâ—…t after wealth and wealth forsooth must winne Content Oh it were a trim life to take in hand to follow these fellowes Come go soft quoth I I haue béene fantasticall inough alreadie Then quoth Fancie looke whâ—…re Loue is tush quoth I my heart is done What wilt thou go with me quoth Frenzie no quoth I I would I were further from thée Then quoth Patience I trust you and I shall be friends yet no quoth I for I am sure thou neuer camest to me for any good With that Fancie turned her face Loue lookt another way Frenzie fomed at the mouth like a Bore â—… Patience lookt like a poore Companion Now came my foes neare me Will he comes swearing that Wit was so waywarâ—… that no bodie could abide him Rage hee swore Reason was so woonderfull as he knew not what to make of him Follie he badde fie vpon
haste may hinder thée and slouth may set thée behinde hand Looke where the Sprites be take héede least they catche holde of thée and then all we leaue thée and then bee sure the Ladies will euer disdaine thée nowe â—…llowe my counsaile and God spéede thée Thus with humble thankes vnto vvisdome I tooke vvit and â—…eason and set foorth towarde Fancie Syr quoth shee whither walks you Friend quoth vvit tell her whither vvit and Reason shall carrie me with Content frâ—…m Francie Lorde at this aunswere howe shee scoulde Canst thou not passe by mee quoth shee but thâ—…u must robbe mee of my Content Well thou must aske Loue leaue yet ere hee go and if hée will let him go take him to thée and away sheeflung to Follie Nowe as I came by Loue friend quoth shee whither newe let us haue a little talke with you Saye quoth vvit your Tale will bée too long I cannot tarrie I am going whither Carefull vvisedome wilde vvit and Reason to leade mee with Content from Loue. Oh howe he frowned what quoth hee wilt thou not leaue me my Content Well Patience hath a part in him Sée what shée will say to thee since â—… cannot keepe him so away hee ranne so Rage and so I lost him Nowe must I come by Frenzie who lookt on me so terribly that without giuing eares to his spéeches I fetched a leape almost from vvit and Reason too but thanked bee God when I came to Patience I founde them both againe Howe nowe quoth shee whither will you Tell her quoth vvit whither vvisedome with Care hath commaunded vvit with Reason to take Content from Patience and so to accompanie me till I return againe Alas quoth Patience Ultra posse non est esse I can not holde him thou must haue him and so heauiliâ—… shee went to wofull Discontent with whome shee abode till our returne againe Nowe was I â—… most daunger wee must passe along by the Spirits whome as I came by with Content in hande they snatcht and caught at vs. When vvit and Reason by carefull vvisdomes warning kept vs aloofe from their fingers Then when they sawe they could not catch vs Lorde what meanes they made to allure vs. Vanitie had a Million of toyes which so pleased mine eye that Wit and Reason had much a doo to holde me from her shee would shewe mee such gallant inchaunted Glasses and in them such swete Ladies such heauenly Faces such singular bodies with such excellent Graces that if I had had Fancie with mee shee had beene fast for starting if Loue he had beene linckt if Frenzie he had beene in his kinde if Patience shee would haue forgot her selfe I maye tell you that Wit and Reason had neuer so much in their liues to doo to kéepe Content and me from them But Carefull VVisedome maye doo much Now when Beautie could doo nothing then did shee fill out dilicate Wines into Artificicall Glasses and sette daintie Iunkettes to mooue me to that vaine delight But my stomacke was full what coulde I wishe more then Content When this would doo no good with mee then brought shee forth a sight of gallant Horsses their heades full of Feathers 〈◊〉 Content coulde goe on foote then thought shee now or neuer Oh shee had a Citterne on which â—…hee plaâ—…de me a fine peece of Italian Musicke and sung Che Compraâ—… Mâ—…tonne Tushe I was not then fasting and therefore I cared not for her fleshe Then did shée open a pretie Chest out of which shee drâ—…we out â—…che Iewelles rare Pearles precieus Stones and after them Silkes of all colours fine Ribbons Cutworke Ruffâ—…s Stringes Laces Purses 〈◊〉 Pinnes Gloues and a thousand things with what doo you lâ—…cke Syr Noneof these quoth Wit Reason would be gâ—…ne Now suddainly began the blacke Sprite to sound his Trumpet but Lorde what an vnpleasant noise it made Nowe it was time for I beganne to be afraide which Wit and Reason seeing comforted me with Content of hope to sée she ende of my happie iourney Now when I was past them I askt of wit what they were Why quoth hee wee shall heare by and by Knowledge here before kéepes the key of Vertues gates he will tell vs. Now when we came to him he told me the one was a Pyper and the other a Pedier Nowe Knowledge not ignoraunt of my trauaile nor my guides brought vs all before the two Ladies Vertue and Fâ—…me Before whome we fell on knee and first to Vertue beséeching fauour shee demaunded of Knowledge what and whence we werâ—… who reported no other then truth and shee considering the friends that sent vs her chiefe Councellours and VVit and Reason their chiefe Seruaunts badde Content bee of good chéere hée should receiue Courtesie so in short she did vouchsafe vs her fauour Nowe was I become seruant to Vertue But quoth shee for mine elder Sister Fame fauour you maye haue promise of but not entertainement vntill you haue fulfilled certaine of my commaundements Which are these heare them let Wit note thâ—…m Reason remember and Wisedome take care to see thée execute them The first is when you passe by Vanitie tell her you are sworne to Vertue And ere you go sweare to shunne Vanitie and â—…schew her Uiâ—…s Looke in her Glasses but loue not her painted faces Come not on the backe of her pampered Pâ—…lfrayes and giue a puffe at her foolishe Feathers Delight not in her Glasses Drinke not of her Wine nor feede of her Dainties stoppe thine eares from her fidling Musicke and close thine eyes from her Trumperies Shake thy heade at the shamefull sounde of Infaime and so passe that 〈◊〉 Passe aloÌ„g by Patience with pleasure flie by Frenzie with feare looke away from Loue with loyaltie to Vertue frowne on Fancie with Fidelitie to Fame Make much of wit and loue Reason honour wisedome by carefull wisdome seeke wealth sufficient let wealth not make thâ—… Couetous leâ—…st that thou loose Content This is the sum of my Will which as wisedome writes me woorde hee sees with Care performed â—…t your returne I promise you preferment to Fame and thus fare you well Thus backe againe went I through all the perillous passages y â— I had gone through before Now first I must passe by the two Spirits which as I came by the pieâ—… Spirit first began thus to play the Trull with mee shee helde mee out a Glasse wherein shee did liuelie showe me such intising toyes as woulde haue made a man that had any life in him to haue lookt towards them First shee shewed mee a trowpe of faire Ladies euerie one her Louer colling and kissing chinning and embracing and looking Badies in one anothers eyes Anon they were set downe euerie Ladie with her Louer hard by her with his head in her lay and his hand in her purse By them a sight of sweete Soules sitting by a Candle catching of Fleas There were other sights of more effect then all these to set a yong mans heart on
as when thou wouldest bring mee in liking with Loue therefore leaue thy illusions for I like neither them thee nor thy Loue farewell Nowe was hee skipt from Frenzie and got to Patience with whome when we had escaped Frenzie wee found sitting togither Nowe quoth Patience at last I trust though long first we shall bee friends Come let vs liue togither Soft quoth I no haste but good I remember an Italian Prouerbe Pacâ—…nccia â—… cosa 〈◊〉 Patience is the patterne of a Pesaunt Peace quoth Reason you will not bâ—… agaynst mee will you yes quoth I if I like you not Why quoth hee dooth not Reason affirme Patience a remedie in all perplexities a remedie quoth I no shee is a rest betwixt Rage and Reason in a Discontented minde Why quoth hee is shee not a Vertue Not quoth I as thou canst consider her Why quoth he dooth she not set the Discontented minde at quiet No quoth I but shee makes the minde that would ease the bodie with outward â—…age kill he heart with inwarde freatting No quoth hee Patience is a Content Yea quoth I with a Discontent What quoth he will you admit her no bodie yea quoth wisedome with naturall Reason but with Wisedome a forced Content in effect an vnwelcome rest to a wofull minde a Uertue amisse conceyued yet better so taken then refused for Rage but when bad is the best let both alone Thus Wisdome déemes her a Uertue that waites on Uillaines and such a Uertue as the vertuous minde doth not loue to trouble it selfe with all Adieu I haue no more to say to thée nor will I haue to doo with thée Well now was our first passage past ouer Nowe must we passe by Vanitie there was a peece of worke Now forsooth beganne Vanitie to reach out her hande Fréend quoth shée welcome I thought I had lest thée Soft quoth I hande off triumph not before the victorie Why quoth shée shall not Reason stay thée No quoth Wisdome tell her not when I sée him so neere Vanitie Why quoth Reason is not the beautie of Ladies the brauerie of Apparell the swéete sounde of Musicke the pleasaunt taste of Winâ—…s and delicate Dainties the gallaunt shewe of stamping Stéedes with â—…launting Feathers rich Iewels and such like sufficient to perswade thée to keepe vs companie Then art thou obstiâ—…ate I thinke No quoth I I see a sentence ouer your heades sufficient to set mee farre enough from you What is it quoth Reason Oh quoth I Vanitas vanitum omnia vanitas Nowe quoth hee I haue no more to saye I sée my Maister is too neere thée Vanitie farewell I must away with my Maister So away went we by Infamie who was readie to wéepe for sorrowe to see that now his Ladie had gotten neere a seruaunt nor he néere a companion to make him so merrie as to sound his Trumpette Nowe passing alone towardes the Gates of Vertue wée came to Knowledge who presently as hée had espied Wisdome vaylde his Bonnet fell at his feete and hauing done his duetie rose of his knée and led vs through the base Court and so to the Hall where first we mette with Courtesie who conducted vs to the garre Chamber there was Learning with his Artes which led vs to Experience who brought vs to Time whoÌ„ as we caught holde of they brought vs to Vertue Who first welcomming Wisdome and shewing good Countenance to Wit and Reason gaue mee a â—…endly nodde and so staying a while talking with Wisedome She came at last to mee with this sweete and fauourable speech Serâ—…aunt quoth shée I see thy duetie discharged my commaundement kept and my will obserued for thy continuance Wisedome hath giuen hie words and I am content to take it Nowe promise is to bée performed thou shalt haue entertainment of my elder Sister who I knowe at mine and Wisdomes requestes will not refuse thee So onwardes wee go towardes this goodliâ—… Ladie whom when I came before fell on knee shee bad mee welcome with these wordes Youth quoth shee the good report that Wisdome hath made of thee the good minde that my siâ—…er 〈◊〉 hath to thee doo make me desirous to doo thee good I wish thee well wâ—…th all my heart and vpon Wisedomes worde I could bee content to entertaine thee But there comes no man to me without he haue done some notable Acte worthie Memorie Iâ—… thou hast done any such thing let vs vnderstand it thou shalt bee presently admitted if not beeing seruant to my sister Vertue thou mayest soone attempt it and 〈◊〉 beguâ—… quickely finish it till then content thy selfe with her entertainment and thinke thou hast attaiâ—…ed no little honour So turning from me shee went to her sister to whom she vsed these wordes come let vs talke a little with Wisdome touching the trauaâ—…le of this fellow Content quoth shee so away they goe togither to the Garden of Delight a place of such pleasure as passeth my 〈◊〉 to set out Newe as they were going thither I hoping to heare some good newes of entertainment at the conuning backe againe of Wisdome I heard the suddaine sound of such a Trumpet as with the lowde â—…oyse thereof I started and so awaked Oâ—… good Dreame oh sweete sleepe oh blessed â—…sion to gaue so good instruction to kéepe me from destruction from which God deliuer me my well willers my friendes and foes and all one another that will thereto say Amâ—…n Now I haue beene entertained at the hands of Vertue sworne her seruant though in sleepe I must nâ—…we according to the coÌ„maundement oâ—… Fame attempt some such enterprise either by Learning or Ualiancie as may by Uertues knowledge purchase me entertainment of Fame Nowe for a young man it is harde for newâ—… a daies the gallauntest Youthes beâ—…me so amorâ—…us as that in long time they haue much to too and a great grace of God if euer they growe vertuous Well yet haue I better late then neuer beeing warned in sleepe taken caâ—…e nowe awake to dâ—…uise which way to worke â—… what to take in hand to deseruâ—… my Ladies fauour and this I will promise you there is mettalles in the fire which though they came from many Countries yet are they heere so mingled and abide so well togither as that if it shall please God to let mee finishe it I hope to bring to such perfection as shall bee worthie to be put in memorie Till when beseeching God to graunt me his heauenlie and fauourable aide and all good mindes to pray for the same I pray for them and all other that it will please God to graunt vs all his grace that wee may not attempt any thing but â—…rtuous that to his glorie may make vs Famous on earth and in heauen acceptable to his omnipotent mercie So be it N. Breton FINIS The Scholler and the Souldiour A Disputation pithily passed betweene them the one defending Learning the other Martiall Discipline VVritten by the saide Author N. B. Gentleman To the
greater pointes then Faith with pemtencâ—…e For worldlie causâ—…s touching Fame What greater vertue then Learning the grounde of all knowledge howe better knowne then by apparaâ—… and where but where there is none such I list not to trouble you with recounting the names of worthie Ladies let this suffice if there neuer were any so worthie â—…emmendation as men before this instant age yet nowe is to bée founde a Woman worthie a more worthie name if more worthie might bée who for repentant Faith with rare Uertues may bée as well honoured of all godly mindes as with woonderfull loue woorshipped of all good mindes Was there euer man learned so is shée and by his learning Uertuous no lesse is Shée and by his Uertues Faâ—…ous Shée as much as hée Nowe though there bée none such as Shée yet as shée is of all most excellent so are there some other for commendation more then indifferent But for that I will not giue too much to anie nor can giue her sufficient I say this for all Women that men are madde that séekes their dishonour The Prouerbe sayes That it is an euill Birde will file the owne nest Then let man consider the Henne that hatcheth him and he woulde bée loath to haue the Cocke haue all the meate from her Some disprayse Uirgins because they be obstinate for my selfe I thinke it a signe of ill nature in a Woman to bée hard hearted But if it come with care of Credite or content I will allowe it say Louers what they list for that fittes one mans â—…ye is farre from â—…tting another mans fancie He may like and she may loath shée may loue and he not like All are not of one mould one minde one nature one complexion nor one condition Loue hath no reason in his choyse then such as haue founde such hard dealing in fayre Damosels let them consider of thesâ—… clauses and let them alone Lucke is a great matter in loue and so let it rest Some will dispraise women for wantonnesse surely I am perswaded if the worlde were examined we should â—…nde a Iacke an Apâ—…s as wanton as â—… Monkie We should â—…nde a young man as wanton in looking Bâ—…bies in a Ladies eyes as her with flirting him on the Lippes with her lâ—…tle Finger him as wanton in wearing a Toy as her in wishing the like him as wanton in his deuices as shee in desyres and he in desires as much as shee in delights hee as wanton in câ—…st as shee in colours hee as wanton in gift as shee in receite What shall I say he as wanton as shee euery way and shee one way wiser then hee if shee bée bragge of her Beautie hee is as proude of his proper personage if shée stretch out a fine hande hée strouteth out a straight Legge if shee haue her hand on the Pette in her Cheeke hée is twyrking of his Mustachios if shee play the wanton with a little Dogge hée will bée so wanton as to wish himselfe a Whelpe To bée short if shée bée vaine in one thing hee will bée as little vertuous in an other Some will say Women are couetous are not men as handfast besides liberalitie of courtesie bréedes losse of credite Let not men bee niggards if they will haue Women franke hearted Some will say Women are yll Mystresses they giue slender wages in deede I haue heard some called â—…naus twentie tymes a daye yet hath not had halfe that hee deserued Some sawcie seruaunt will looke for a fauour before hée deserues a fayre looke And some seruauntes thinkes their Mystresse is couetous though they giue them neuer so much if they giue not themselues also But such as 〈◊〉 haue all shâ—…ll loose all Therefore let men weigh liberalitie in kinde and they shall finde Women frée hearted in extending fauour not fullie deserued and themselues couetous in béeing neuer contented Some will say Women are foolish hée neuer heard that the wisedome of a Woman should bâ—… no more then to goe out of the raine when shée is in it and know her husbands bedde from another mans But now a dayes men be so phantasticall I dare not say foolish that if a Woman bee not so wise as to make a man a foole shée is no wise Woman No forsooth but he is a very wise man to match with such a Woman Women haue Witte naturally wisedome must be hadde by Grace Grace was giuen to our Lady then who wiser then a woman Weigh worldly wisdome by wit and experience and let mee see who with all the experiments hée can deuise can make a Woman a foole in any thing but himselfe in the same as vâ—…wise Some will say Women are vnconstant but I say not all for Penelope and Cleopatra Lucâ—…etia with diuers more too long to rehearse shall stand for examples of such constancie as no man euer more constant And for â—…olly in Fancie who wiser then Salomon who more wanton in Loue Some will say Women are deceitfull but they that say so bee such as dâ—…ceiue themselues in Women so thinke them trustie For as well of men as Women it is sayde Fere nulla fides est in terris Lette not men cosen themselues with a wilfull conceite beleeue no more then reason leades them to And they shall finde Women but like themselues deuâ—…sing all meanes they may and employing the best witte they haue to worke theyr willes And for deceit what greater treason was euer found in any woman then in Iudaâ—… when he betrayed Christ. But leauing this some will say a Woman is a necessarie euill That sheâ—… is necessarie I graunt but euill I denie except iâ—… be meant onely in respect of man that desireth not any thing that is good and so his desire makes her ill in estimation of minde for that shée is the ontent of an ill conceite but indéede well considered he should finde that the ill were in his conceite onely and not in the Woman who is no other substance then another himselfe And if I must graunt as I cannot choose that there is none good but God so indéede I must yeelde that Woman is ill and man no better for if that Woman be ill howe can man be good vnto whome ill is so necessarie But whether may man bee thought worse then ill that will vse that ill worse then it should â—…e Therefore let man first mende his minde before hée so discommend a substance of his owne naturall kinde Some will say Women are pittifull howe is that knowne by lookes and speeches men are more which is showen as well in words of mouth as writing Some will say a Woman is a wo to man who put in that to did it of his owne authoritie and therefore it is not to be allowed For consider right of the word and the to is as well left out as the worde falsely written for indéede it ought to be written Woman not Woman for that shée dooth woo Man with her Uertues who weddeâ—… her with