dayly troubles great Yea where a storme or braule is once begun All bitter blasts repairs and breathes out heat the eyes will stare the face will frowne and sweat The tung must clap the head wil shake and nod And hart within hath cleane forgotten God Fréends must be wrought with blades to band it out Foes must be whipt and scourged in their kinde Worlde shalbe tost and turned round about Still to maintain the mischeefe of the minde Tale bearers then shall lye within the winde To bring bad newes and set the house a fier That flamde before with sparkes of spites desire My practise strange can all these plagues vnfolde That better were lapt vp in silence héerâ— Too late to call againe that tung hath tolde The wise should sell their words and worship déere But since in world my selfe I cannot cleere I wil goe through this heauy tale of mine That world may well at wicked waies repine Long after this he heard that I lay sicke And then from Court he comes with right great spéed Do comfort me that was both sound and quick To play the Fox or knaue againe for néed But though that time I would not be agréede I tooke his wine and sent him so away With scorne enough in signe of parting day For since that time he neuer saw my face Nor had no minde to come where was my haunt And since that storme I had so little grace In euery soile I make my boste and vaunte I conquerd him and so I doo you graunt For three yéeres more I haue doon what I please And liue at large in lust and lordly ease And these fiue yéeres I haue doon what I can By tung and art and figures that I cast And euery way to shame my plaine good man which shame I feare will sure be mine at last I am so learnd I can play loose and fast My skill is such in Planets hye and low I rule the Skies and heauens where I goe Good Fortunes sure some say that I can tell And many things by figures I vnfolde I say no more but wish that all were well For he that doth this wicked world beholde whose Godhead séeeth into this massie moulde Knowes well how oft I tread my shooe awry And in what plight my sinfull soule dooth lye And if this God regarde with angry chéere The vice on earth that vainely we commit And straitly looke vnto my dooings heere And like a Iudge in trembling conscience sit I am condemd there serues ne force nor wit Out is my Lamp the oyle hath lost his light And my faire day is turnd to foule blacke night The searching heads that sifts my manners throw Will shrinke aside when I draw néere their view The wiuely dames that seeth my blotted brow In my behalfe will blush and change their hue The gentle harts that others harmes doth rue Will much lament my life so lewdly runne And cleane vntwist the threed good name hath spun The basest dame whose faults are borne in brest Wil scorne to heare my folly blazde abroad The frumping flocke at me will make a iest The spitefull swarme wil poulte and swell like tode My guilty minde that beares moste heauy lode Will sinke downe right when worlde shall talke of grace And shame her selfe will slubber all my face The two braue boies I had from husbands bed That Stoner got staines now my honest name And witnes beares to world when I am dead Of secret sins that purchast open shame I kept that close long like a cunning dame Till husband had found out my paultring life Then he at Bathe forsooke his cogging wife The foule reports that dayly I giue him Rebounds like ball to mine owne bosome straight Yet I with craft fac'te out the matter trim But still I beare the blot for all my sleight My backe so crackes vnder this heauy weight That all the ioynts and bones I beare about Uofoldes my faults and filthy manners out The sober sorte that sets by noble brute Will shake their heads as they my boldenesse spie The clapping tungs will neuer sure be mute Shreawd people all will shewe alowryng eye But still I feare the Lorde that sits on hye Will loke more strange on me so late disgraste Then all the worlde that here beneath are plaste The Church wherin both faith and hand I gaue Shall witnes beare of breach of promise due The spousall bed and mariage day so braue Shall make me calde forsworne and most vntrue the holye booke the olde law and the new Against my soule shall such sharpe sentence giue In other worlde where sprite desires to liue Let matrons chaste and modest wiues eche one That falshood hates and loues their troth to kéepe In fury come and fling at me a stone And let no wight my death bewaile nor wéep Let daies vnrest and dreadfull dreames in sléepe Pursue me still and bring me to my graue Since God and man I so offended haue The steps I tread shall tell me my offence the féelds I walke shall bring my fault to minde The harmes I did in worlde shall haste me hence The wealth I wish shall waste and weare with winde The fame I séeke shall fling me far behinde And all good things that vertuous wiues enioy At my most need shal turne to mine annoy The wise that weighes my wiles in ballance right Shall see my wit want weight and be but baâ—e The foole himselfe shall finde my iudgement light In making choise to chop and change my race The poore shall point at me in euery place The rich and those that sway and rule doth heare With curbe of Law shall bring lewde life in feare The freends I had shall froune and shun my sight The foes I haue shall follow me with shame The neighbour loue that pleasde me day and night Shall now draw backe and looke on losse of name The merrie mate and homely countrey dame And all the towne and soyle where I was borne In Parish Church shall laugh my life to scorne The bande once broke that God himselfe hath blest Brings worldly woe and curses in by swarmes The mariage marde that God made for mans rest Turnes vpside downe from happie helpe to harmes The Bridall bed defiled with lothsome charmes Breedes wicked smoke and smoothing slanders base On whose foule sume a worlde of people gaze The knot of loue vnknit by hateful cause Calles greefes to count and cries to clouds for aide The lewde contempt and breach of sacred lawes Makes euery howre offendour sore afraid The fickle faith that is with scourges paide Bids falshood flie the plague that is preparde For those who lookes to life with small regarde No rouffling troupe that sâ—ash and swill vp wine Can ward the blowes that wrath of God sends downe No cunning knacks nor knacking fetches fine Can conquer troth and thrust him out of towne No treasons traine can take way true renowne No cloud can cloke the craft that all
For my right hand is here to helpe thée now Blush not to sée the raging worlds despite The bloudy are nor scaffolde full of bils My mercy seat shall be thy chiefe delihte And though on earth thine enimies haue their wils I am the God that stormes and tempests stils In quiet calme passe gently thou away And suffer much yet doe but little say Death is the end of all that beareth life Not one shall scape this world is but a dreame The seeds of sinne brings forth but flowres of strife In painted robes lies many a rotten seame It is but griefe to guide and rule a Realme Great charge and care a great accompt must make And when I frown the whole round world I shake I cause one wight to take anothers place To chop off heads to kill to hang and draw And when I take from rulers new my grace His head againe shall yeeld to sword and law Men blowes the cole but I put fire in straw And where doth fall the flame of my great â—e All things consumes to cinders in that fire Come Murton come and play thy pageant well Thou goest before perhaps a yeare or twaine But after thee shall passe to heauen or hell A number more that mercy now remaine World hath no stay I tell â—hee all is vaine Both raigne and rule and regall power most hie When bastards dreame in durt and dust shall lie My God thus sayd with that my sprites reuiude My wits were armde my sence redoubled than And with my flesh the holy Ghost he striude By Angels force but not by might of man A marulous stirre in stomacke then beganne For to subdue the â—arrein corps of care And burthend breast that sinfull body bare Now hope in hast made heauy heart full light The feare was fled that comes by course of law Gods promise wrought through mercy grace and might A noble worke in me cleare conscience saw A fig for death his force not worth a straw Qd. I a rush for worlds reproach and shame For written is in booke of life my name The Preachers then began to wéepe for ioy Your firme beliefe my Lord shall make you frée Qd they and sure your soule is from annoy Both in this world and where swéete Angels be And where right soone you shall Gods glory see Not with bare view but with immortall eies As body shall at latter day arise Then knéeld I downe and to the cloudes I looke The thought and care the while of world was past And I in God such ioy and pleasure tooke That at my héeles all earthly pompe I cast By this the houre of death approached fast The Gard gaue sign with halbards bright in hand I must prepare on Skaffold streight to stand The stréetes were full of souldiers armed well With shot and match and all belongs for warre I saw in house I could no lonâ—er dwell For people said the day was spent full farre Then ope the doore qd I draw backe the barre I will goe hence to better home I trust Here is no hope I see that die I must To comfort sence and strengthen vitall sprete I tasted foed and dranke a draught of wine And pawsde a while as I thought fit and méete But sure no dread of death within mine eine Was seene for God by speciall grace deuine Held vp my heart and head as high to shoe As when from home I did a walking goe Milde words I gaue when bitter spéech I hard So passed through them all with manly chéere And did no more this world nor earth regard Then though in deede I neuer had beene here But when in sight the Skaffold did appeare My minde was bent to fight the battle out And conquere death and banish feare and dout So stept I vp on Skaffold lightly than Where sundry came to aske me many a thing I lookte to God and made small count of man Saue that alowd I saide God blesse the King God giue him grace in peace the state to bring And shunne the harmes and dangers ore his head To finde on earth long life when I am dead Had I serud God aswell in euery sort As I did serue my king and maister still My scope had not this season beene so short Nor world haue â—ad the power to doe me ill But loe I liude against my makers will That feeles my flesh that feeles my soule alas That fault I feare where now my soule shall passe That that good Lord forgiue whilst breath I haue It is the sinne that to this world I brought It buried shall be with my flesh in graue It is a sore and sickenesse of the thought It is most vaine a wretched thing of nought A wicked wound that death doth heale alone Dwels last in flesh and first was bred in bone Pray you for me that sets your sinnes by mine And such as doe professe the faith I hold Marke who I am that here by power diuine Am forst this daie my conscience to vnfolde Looke neerely both to your owne Faults vntolde And pray as well for me with humble minde As for your selues that here I leaue behinde My matter stands before the iudge of all Men haue condemnd my body to the tort When that great iudge will for a reckning call Both you and I shut vp in sentence short Shall soone be known who gaines the best report There accuse ne small nor great this day My part is plaide and I must passe my way The faith this howre that all the Realme doth know I die in here and seale it with my blood To other faith beware bend not your bowe The râ—tten string will breake and doe no good Whilst in this land such trash aâ—d tromprie stood God was not pleasd the King not serude aright And we did walke in darkenes stead of light Good â—earers all my babes and children deere I brought you vp full long in this beliefe Your regent ones now preacheth to you here Chaunge not my barns religion to your griefe Serue first your God next honor King as chiefe This lesson keepe and so good friends adiew The dead from quicke so takes his leaue of you Thus full resolude temptation to resist Great time I stood and talkte in stoutest shoe Of sondry things as freely as I list But waying then that hence the soule must goe And that my necke must bide the blouddy bloe I stretched armes as hie as I could heaue So turnd my backe and did the audience leaue The heauenly hope that heart doth long vphold Did hale me hence and bad dispatch in haste As firme as rocke I stood say what they would For after this I spake no word in waste Then downe I lay and balefull blocke embraste And there receiude the blow as are did fall That cut me cleaue from cares and cumbers all The gasping head as in the Lorde I slept A vision had ye may the fame suppose I dreamde it saw how friende
beholde how this aduenture happeneth regard the circumstance of this hazard way well what difficulty is aboute the matter and marke the chiefe points and groundes of aduantage that breedeth busines and bringeth forth a combate Then must be noted a simple Souldier or mercenary man may not challenge a Captaine a meane Captaine or Centurion may not challenge a Corronell a Corronell though leader of a regiment may not challenge a Lord Marshall of the Field a Lord Marshall hauing charge of life and death may not challenge the Lord Lieutenant of the Army Aâ—d all these not onely in time of seruice for auoiding of mutiny but at all seasons are bound and ought to keepe themselues from brawling yea though any one be neerely touched and seeking the combat except a lie hath passed a slander is receiued a blow be giuen a mans name and credite be foiled and a quarrell be sought so narrowly that no man can auoide And yet all these degrees as their office and honour is one after another may without reproche refuse in euery place the daungering of their liues by priuate quarrell not meeting one another by chance whereon may busines growe looke what so euer be passed villany excepted There is no kinde of preiudice to any partie but mallice may surcease and society may reuiue friendship and quietnes should of all hands be sought Now of matter ministred in despight spoken to strike dead good name vttered for offence and brauery let fall to disgrace any person and maintained with threatnings daring and other open iniuâ—ies a number the case of quietnes is altered and surely no nature can so easely disgest those extremities but shall finde occasion of dislike and a great motion of quarrell Then must be considered the cause of those spéeches the persons credite that spake it in what presence and place the iniury was offered for some places are of such honour that no dishonestye may bee suffered in and some person that speakes iniuries in base company out of honourable presence the speakers meane calling aunsweres himselfe for wise men ought to make no more account of a badde fellowes babble then of the barking of an olde dog whose teeth are gone and can not bite An all the common kinde of iniuries are but as men do imagine them as scoulding of a coâ—queane railing of a ruffian taunting of a tosseblade frumping of fine fellowes and the brags and threatning of a varlette all these shamelesse rabble and sencelesse sort of shadowes are of so small substaunce and credite that their voices makes but a noise in the aire like a thunder cracke that neither brings raine nor argues any constant winde and weather There is besides these ordinary causes and crooked conditions of people a number of naughty natures that neuer will be quiet in countenaunce nor wordes but either with skrowling like conquerors or skorning like vices on a stage they striue with counterfaite courage to ouercome Lions and to be more terrible then Tigres snuffing and puffing as all the worlde were too little to containe their great lookes and disdainefull monstrous manners And their tongues are so talkatiue and filled with follies that none may speake but themselues on whose prowde presumptions are many mad disputes wilfully begon and moste wickedly ended To contend with those glorious Images is as a man shoulde sound a Trumpet at the roaring of euery bul Thus with extraordinary manners new fangled fancies olde stubburne nature and fresh fine cunning that wisedome condemneth a good minde may be ouerreached and a quiet man may be brought in some quarrelous brabble for the sight and sufferaunce of these shadowes whose substance is all in boasting and the society or contention with such counterâ—aite conquerors is an open enemy to all the good dispositions of men and a priuy worker of disquietnes to those that beholdes and heares any peece or iote of those vices before rehearsed for nothing bréedes more mislike or offendeth so much euery company as the continuall brags and audacious manners of the vnbrideled multitude who are neuer free from quarrels voide of villany nor without naughty brabbles a number Come now to generall occasions in Court Countrey towne and so foorth but principally of Court we ought to haue greatest regard where not only the Prince hold residens with a continuall maiestie but likewise by absolute power commaunds obedience restraynes Courtiars many wayes from offering of iniuries For plainely to speake in Chamber of presence or any place neere or about a Princes pallace mens tongues are tyed either to kéepe silence or ciuilly with reuerence to vse comly wordes méete for such a place and voyde of villanye or vicious intents chiefely of quarrels that may moue mischiefe and stirre vp disquietnes among the gentle Bees assembled together in a Hiue for the honoring of their king and publique profite of their estate The Court is no Cocke-pit to croe in no shraep for cocking no seat to be saucy in no place of contention nor no soile for brawlers and braggers that haue currish conditions and knowes not their duety but rather a place of royall dignity princely entertainements curteous behauiors and fine and friendly fashions that with orderly manner may set forth a Princes regality And though there some one wanting temperance rashly behaue himselfe and with warme wordes sturre the coales of a wicked quarrell mens dueties in generall by wisedome should either quench the heat thereof or cast imbers on the fire that the fury and flame should not burst out there nor be disputed of any other where to the preiudice of that place and looke what is offered in open hearing or secret whispering that may sow seedes of dissention shoulde be trodden vnder foote or passed ouer with sporting among the best iudgements for feare least a little braunch of spite doe sproute vp on some rash spéeches and grow out of order both past remedy and beyond the bounds of good manner If men in Court were as carefull to keepe peace as they are desirous to créepe in credite or common society should attende to no other purpose but to familiar behauior friendly affection brotherly loue and blessednes of life you shall behold a mutuall agreement among all kinde of creatures at their first méeting the birds with their like flées and feedes together and in theyr manner vse a kinde of reioysing when they encounter one another yea and taketh part with their fellowes against all that shall offend them flocking and crying as they may together in multitudes to shew their naturall inclination and how they al doe suffer torment by the disquietnes of one bird in their company The Bées séeing but one of their fraternity troubled or angry fly all in a swarme on euery thing offends them and vseth such fury for reuenge that they sting and hum out of measure The Beasts not onely agree in their fashion but in like sort takes one anothers part vehemently and chiefly the very Hogs
Of this rich art that thousands hold full déere Remundus too that long liud héere indéede Wrate sundry workes as well doth yet appeare Of stone for gold and shewed plaine and cleere A stone for health Arnolde wrate of the same And many more that were too long to name But Ryppley may not scape my pen as yet Nor Norâ—ons bookes that are in written hand Two famous clarkes of ripe and ready wit Meere Englishmen borne both with in this land In the records of towre their workes doe stand Let this suffice how ere the matter séemd Among the wise this art was much estéemd Heere follovves the Tragedie of Shores VVife much augmented with diuers newe aditions To the right honorable the Lady Mount Eagle and Compton wife to the right honourable the Lord of Buckhursts son and heire GOod madame for that the vertuous and good Ladie Carie your sister honourablie accepted a discourse of my penning I beleeued your Ladiship would not refuse the like offer humbly presented and dutifully ment I bethoght mee of a Tragedie that long laye printed and many speake well of but some doubting the shallownesse of my heade or of meere mallice disdaineth my doeings denies mee the fathering of such a worke that hath won so much credit but as sure as god liues they that so defames me or doth disable me in this cause doth me such an open wrong as I would be glad to right with the best blood in my body so he be mine equall that moued such a quarrell but mine old yeares doth vtterly forbid me such a combat and to contend with the malicious I thinke it a madnesse yet I protest before God and the world the penning of Shores wife was mine desiring in my hart that all the plagues in the worlde maie possesse me if anie holpe me either with scrowle or councell to the publishing of the inuencion of the same Shores wife and to show that yet my spirits faile me not in as great matters as that I haue augmented her Tragedie I hope in as fine a forme as the first impression thereof and hath sette forth some more Tragedies and Tragicall discourses no whit inferiour as I trust to my first worke and good Madame because Rosimond is so excellently sette forth the actor whereof I honour I haue somewhat beautified my Shores wife not in any kind of emulation but to make the world knowe my deuice in age is as ripe reddie as my disposition and knowledge was in youth so hauing chosen a noble personage to be a patrones to support poore Shores wifes Tragedie againe I commend all the verses of her olde and newe to your good Ladiships iudgement hoping you shall lose no honour â—n the supportation of the same because the true writer thereof with all humblenesse of mind and seruice presents the Tragedie vnto your honourable censure wishing long life and encrease of vertues fame to make your Ladiships daies happie T. Churchyard Heere followes the Tragedie of Shores wife much augmented with diuers new aditions AMong the rest by fortune ouerthrowne I am not least that most may waile her fate My fame and brute abroade the world is blowne Who can forget a thing thus done so late My great mischance my fall and heauy state Is such a marke whereat each tongue doth shoote That my good name is pluckt vp by the roote This wandring world bewitched me with wiles And won my wits with wanton sugred ioyes In Fortunes freakes who trusts her when she smiles Shall find her false and full of fickle toyes Her triumphs all but fills our eares with noyse Her flattering giftes are pleasures mixt with paine Yea and all her words are thunders threatning raine The fond desire that we in glorie set Doth thirle our hearts to hope in slipper hap A blast of pompe is all the fruitâ— we get And vnder that lies hid a sodaine clap In féeking rest vnwares we fall in trap In groping flowres with nettels stung we are In labring â—ong we reape the crop of care Oh darke deceite with painted face for sho Oh poysned baite that makes vs eager still Oh fained friend deceiuing people so Oh world of thée we cannot speake too ill Yet fooles we are that bend so to thy skill The plague and scourge that thousands daily féele Should warne the wyse to shun thy whirling whéele But who can stop the streame that runnes full swift Or quench the fire that crept is in the straw The thirsty drinkes there is no other shift Perforce is such that néede obayes no lawe Thus bounde we are in worldly yokes to drawe And cannot stay nor turne againe in time Nor learne of those that sought too high to clime My selfe for proofe loe here I nowe appeare In womans weede with wéeping watred eyes That bought her youth and her delights full deare Whose lewd reproch doth sound vnto the skies And bids my corse out of the ground to rise As one that may no longer hide her face But néedes must come and shewe her piteous case The shéete of shame wherein I shrowded was Did moue me oft to plaine before this day And in mine eares did ring the trompe of brasse Which is defame that doth each thing bewray Yea though full dead and lowe in earth I lay I heard the voyce of mee what people saide But then to speake alas I was affraide And nowe a time for me I sée preparde I heare the liâ—es and falls of many wights My tale therefore the better may be heard For at the torch the little candle lights Where Pageants be smale things fill out the sights Wherefore giue eare good Churchyard doe thy best My Tragedy to place among the rest Because the truth shall witnes well with thée I will rehearse in order as it fell My life my death my dolefull destene My wealth my woe my doing euery deale My bitter blisse wherein I long did dwell A whole discourse by me Shores wife by name Now shalt thou heare as thou hadst séene the same Of noble blood I cannot boast my byrth For I was made out of the meanest moulde Mine heritage but seuen foote of th'earth Fortune ne gaue to me the gifts of gold But I could brag of nature if I would Who fild my face with fauour fresh and faire Whose beautie shon like Phoebus in the ayre My beautie blasd like torch or twinckling starre A liuely lamp that lends darke world some light Faire Phoebus beames scarse reacheth halfe so farre As did the rayes of my rare beautie bright As summers day exceedes blacke winters night So Shores wiues face made foule Browneta blush As pearle staynes pitch or gold surmounts a rush The Damaske rose or Rosamond the faire That Henry held as déere as Iewells be Who was kept close in cage from open ayre For beauties boast could scarse compare with me The kindly buds and blosomes of braue trée With white and red had deckt my chéekes so fine There stoode two balles like
yeld to death and vpward lift the minde Where lothsome life shall present comfort finde Since hope can haue no honey from the Hiue And paines can plucke no pleasure for his toyle It is but vaine for wearie life to striue And stretch out time with torment and tormoyle Get what we can death triumphes ore the spoyle Then note this well though wee winne neere so mitch When death takes all wee leaue a mizer ritch To liue and lacke is double death indeede A present death exceedes a lingring woe Since no good hap in youth did helpe my neede In age why should I striue with Fortune so Old yeares are come and hastes me hence to goe The time drawes on I hate the life I haue When heart shall breake my griefe shall ende in graue Should I seeke life that findes no place of rest Ne soyle nor seate to shroude me from the ayre When cramping cold beclyps my carefull breast And dolour driues my heaâ—t in deepâ— dispayre For such foule dayes darke death is wonderous fayre As good to make the scrawling wormes a feast As please the world where mischiefe makes her neast Hie time it is to haste my caâ—kasse hence Youth stole awaie and felt no kinde of ioy And age he left in trauell euer since The wanton dayes that made mee nice and coy Were but a dreame a shadowe and a toy Sith slauerie heere I find and nothing else My home is there where soule in freedome dwels In warres and woe my yeares are wasted cleane What should I see if Lordly life I led I looke in glasse and finde my cheekes so leane That euery houre I doe but wish mee dead Now backe bendes downe and forward falls the head And hollow eyes in wrinkled brow doth shroude As though two starres were créeping vnder cloude The lips waxe cold and lookes both pale and thin The teeth fals out as nuts forsoke the shale The hare bald-head but shewes where haiâ—e hath bin The liuely ioyntes waxe verie stiffe and stale The ready tongue now folters in his tale The wearish face and tawney colour showes The courage quayles as strength decaies and goes The sweete delights are drownde in dulled mind The gladsome sportes to groning sighes are bent The frisking limmes so farre from frame I finde That I forethinke the time that youth hath spent But when I waigh that all these thinges were lent And I must pay the earth her dutie throw I shrinke no whit to yelde these pleasures now Had I possest the giftes of Fortune héere A house a wife and Children there withall And had in store to make my friendes good chéere Such common thinges as neighbours haue at call In such dispayre perchaunce I would not fall But want of this and other lackes a score Bids mee seeke death and wish to liue no more The thatcher hath a cottage poore you see The sheapheard knowes where he shall sleepe at night The dayly drudge at night can quiet beeÌ„ Thus Fortune sendes some rest to euery wight So borne I was to house and land by right But in a bagg to Court I brought the same From Shrewsburie towne a seate of auncient fame What thinkes my friendes that there behind I laft What fault findes shée that gaue me life and sucke O courting fine thou art too cold a craft The Carter hath at home much better lucke Well well I say adue all worldly mucke Ne house nor Land we beare away I knoe I naked came and naked hence must goe The greatest King must passe the selfe same way Our day of birth and buriall are alike Their ioy their pompe their wealth and rich aray Shall soone consume like snow that lies in dike No Buckler serues when soddaine death doth strike As soone may come a poore mans soule to blis As may the rich or greatest Lord that is Well ere my breath my body doe forsake My spriâ—e I do bequeath to God aboue My bookes my scronies and songes that I did make I leaue with friendes that freely me did loue To slyring foes whose malice me did moue I wishe in hast amendment of their waies And to the Court and courtiers happy daies My fortune straunge to straungers do I leaue That straungly can retaine such straunge mishap To such as still in world did me deceaue I wish they may beware of such like trap To slaunderous tongues that killde me with a clap I wish more rest than they haue giuen to mee And blesse those shreawes that curst and crabbed bee To such as yet did neuer pleasure man I giue those rimes that nips the gawled backe To such as would doe good and if they can I wish good lucke long life and voyde of lacke To currish Karles a whyp and Colliers sacke And to the proude that stands vppon their braues A wainscot face and twentie crabtree staues To surlie sirs that scornes the meaner sort A nightcap furd with Foynes I them bequeath To such as scowle at others good report And sets much store by their owne paynted sheat In signe of lucke I giue a willow wreath To such as are vnnamde and merits much The stone I leaue that tries the Gold by tutch To gentill race with good conditions ioynd I wish more ioy than man imagin may And since for poore I haue noe mony coynd God graunt them all a mery mariage day To such as doth delight in honest play I wish the Gold that I haue lost thereby And all the wealth I want before I die Now friends shake handes I must be gone my boyes Our mirth takes end our triumph all is done Our tykling talke our sportes and merry toyes Do slide away like shadowe of the Sun Another comes when I my race haue run Shall passe the time with you in better plite And finde good cause of greater thinges to write FINIS A DREAME To the right worshipfull my good Lady the Lady Paulet who was wife to the honorable sir Hugh Pauleâ— Knight AMong the manifold works in print pamphelets bookes volumes and deuises I neuer addressed my pen to your Ladiship till now though bound for many courtesies better to consider of so good a Lady and now worst able to redeeme duty forgotten I bring my selfe backeward to behold my great ouersight but presing forward to win ground I leese the keeping of a writers credit for no one thing is left worthy your view and looking on such hast haue I had in the spoiling of my selfe inuentions a prodicall point of bountie rather than the part of a wise bountiful writer especially to bestowe the best matters on others and present but a dreame to your Ladiship shewing thereby the shallownes of my iudgement but yet some such substaunce of matter as I trust is more delightfull than dainty For my Dreame hauing many significations may grow on many causes and hit on a nomber of Accidents fit for my humour but skarse meet for your graue consideration yet such fancies as a dreame brings
mourning chéere to part from them God knowes For children finde small comfort héere when hence the mother goes If God moue not the Princes minde to pittie their estate Now as the Ladie did at large about her Babes debate Uppon her déere bought iewell than shée cast her onely thought Yea for whose sake and great good will shee was in trouble brought And pausing on this matter through a heauie sigh she gaue O good sir Knight sayd shee to one a thing of you I craue Commend me to my worthy friend and bid him comfort take And hope in God and Princes grace though I doe world forsake He may doe well and freedome get but mée hee shall not méete Till from the caue of pampred flesh departes his groning spréete Whiles life I had I honoured him and safely kept my vow As life did bind mee his in all so death doth loose mée now From him and all my worldly ioyes but though my friend I leaue On high where dwells a greater freind if hope not mée deceauâ— I trust to sée his babes and him and though much griefe it is To leaue them heere in bitter bale yet note I goe to blisse Where is no mind of combrous cares nor cause of sorrow knowne O tell him that aboue I hope these stormes shall be ore blowne And as a scroule is â—apped vp yea so shall all thinges héere When soule shall be immortall made vnto our view appeere No sooner of the soule shée spoke but sodaine chaunge beganne In lookes and limmes of deadly showâ— with colour pale and wan The eyes did stare the bodie stretch the strength and force did faile The teeth they chattered in the Cheekes the handes did quake and quayle The mouth did some the head did shake the flesh it quiuered fast The feet waxt cold the face did sweate full swift the pulses past The heart did heaue and beat in breast the breath like earth did sent At eares and nose the stiffled Ghost and vitall life sought vent Though gasping breath brought passioÌ„s on and gripâ— hâ—r heart full hard Yet showd she through those sharpe assaults to â—rend a great regard And calling for a boâ—e of Kinges among them chose shee one In which was set by cunning Art a rich and precious stone Hold carrie this quoth shee good Sir to my deere noble Knight He can remember what that stone presents vnto his sight The other token that I send it is a waightie ring Best likt and dearest bought God wot of any earthly thing And when you shall giue him this gift desire him well to minde The little Impes the pretty soules the babes I leaue behinde And bid him bring them vp in feare of God and Prince I saie Lâ—e that is all I doe require of him my dying daie I haue no gold to send my Babes but blessing I them giue Which God confirme with grace good storâ— as long as they shall liue O yet there is another ring which loe my lone must sée Where is my picture death I meane and tell my friend from mee That I as colde and sencelesse too shall be in little space As is that shaddow dum and deaffe and spritelesse shape of face This done shée turnde her head aside and bad them all farewell Twere good quoth shee in signe of death I heard the passing bell For such as liue may pray the while and know when bell doth toule Into the bowells of the earth the bodie parts from soule Yet meete they shall when trumpet sounds and that the dead arise And both together shall ascende I hope to starrie skies With this beganne the battell fierce betwéene her life and death Like Ghost shée lay whiles heart did grone and mouth gepte wide for breath Then sayd shee Lord into thy handes I doe commend my spréeâ— And so her selfe closde vp her eyes and hid her head in sheet And went awaie like infant young cleane voyde of storme or rage Or like a bodie falls a sléepe that cannot speake for age Thus breathlesse lay this Lady now like weightie lump of clay That earst had life and feeling force and past like floure away But when the newes of this was brought vnto her Playffeers eares With roaring voyce and blubbred eyes there gushed out such teares That witnest well with outward signes what woe heâ— felt within And truely tolde when shée did ende his delour did beginne Be rest of sleepe and robde of rest hée romed vp and downe And cast of wéedes of worldly pompe and clapt on mourning Gowne No ease nor pleasures could possesse nor féele the taste of meate Resolude to pine and staâ—â—e himselfe his griefes they were so great No councell could him comfort long and still alone he drue To mourne to mâ—ane to houle and cry and make complaint anâ—e And worne away with woefull sighes when sorrow helped not At length the life must be sustaynde with some reliefe yée wot But how he takes this mischiefe yet and how the matter goeth It passeth farre my reach and wit to iudge I tell you troth His Ladie gene as you haue heard when dayes and yeares were spent In thraldome long yet after that was better fortune seâ—t For into Princes grace againe hee came by blessed chaunce And so he liues in open Worlde where vertue may aduaunce Both him and many thousandes more that Noble liues doe leade And wisely walke with vpright mindes and steps of honour treade Loe héere you Dames of high renowne a Ladies death set out Whose life for faith full few shall finde that seekes wide world about To God and Prince repentaunt sure to worlde a mirrour bright Wherefore with tongue and true report resounde her prayse a â—ight FINIS Syr Symon Burley complains to him that knowes what sorrow meanes Sir Simon brought vp at Schoole with the Prince of Wales and Aquitayne Into Galatia to coÌ„duct Don Petro King of Castell Sir Simon was sent as one of chiefest for that purpose Hee appeased an vprore in the Citty of London The Dutches of Burbon prisoner and did raunsome Sir Simon Burley One Pascall was sent from the K. of Nauarhether for sauiour and Kinge Richarde made Sir Simon answer the Ambasdor the Earl of Salisbury and other in presence Kinge Richarde sent him to conclude a mariage and the Duke of Tasson was sent hither with Sir Simon from the king of Beam Almaine aboute this matter He was Lorde Chamberlain The Earle of Oxford called duke of IrelaÌ„d fauored much 〈◊〉 Simon The band that the duke made against the king the duke of Yorke the Earle of Salisbury the earle of Arundell the earle of Northumberland the earle of NottinghaÌ„ the archbishop of Canterburie A noble of euery 〈◊〉 in England was the taxe that the naughty duke sayd the king did demaund The Duke of Glocester and Duke of York with others maligned those the king fauoured King Richards best friends were by traytors frowardly handled The Bishop of Canterbury accusde him of sacrilege conuaying money ouer the Sea by night to the king of Beam The Prince of Orâ—nge M. Candeler maister of the assuraunces in the Royall Exchange is aliue witnesse to this M. Iosephe Loupo his Brother Peter two excellent musitionâ— are aliue witnesse to this in like sorte For poisning her maister A right figure of death A patterne of Death